US08971035B2
Provided is an electronic apparatus capable of reducing dependence of a connection state between a hard disc device and a connector on degree of fastening of a screw. A hard-disc-insertion opening serving as an opening through which a hard disc device is inserted into a housing is formed in a front plate portion of the housing. A connector of a circuit board is arranged facing the hard-disc-insertion opening on a back side of the hard-disc-insertion opening. A fastener for fixing the hard disc device to an electronic apparatus is inserted into the housing through a bottom plate portion of the housing.
US08971031B2
A display system includes a continuous flexible display, and two main display supports, hingeable with respect to each other and each structurally configured to support a respective portion of the flexible display. The two main display supports are rotatable in opposite directions connected to each other by a respective hinge of a hinge mechanism. The main display supports are rotatable between a configuration for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position. The two main display supports are coupled with each other by a movement synchronizing coupling enabling during movement between the closed and open position a mutual substantially synchronized rotating of the main display supports at substantially equal but opposite angles.
US08971029B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a multi-display hinge assembly. According to one embodiment, the multi-display hinge assembly includes a first housing and second housing in addition to a hinge that rotatably connects the first housing with the second housing. Still further, a coupling element is configured to join an edge of the first housing with an edge of the second housing when the first housing and the second housing are placed along the same plane.
US08971018B2
The present invention discloses a new construction of ultracapacitor utilizing particles of transition metal nitride having negligible amount of halide impurities. The construction is expected to attain high specific energy density by using transition metal nitride particles and higher reliability by avoiding potential corrosion of metal components with halide impurities. The transition metal nitride particles are preferably synthesized by basic ammonothermal process, which utilizes supercritical ammonia with alkali metal mineralizers. Transition metal nitride such as vanadium nitride, molybdenum nitride, titanium nitride, nickel nitride, neodymium nitride, iron nitride, etc. can be synthesized in supercritical ammonia with reducing mineralizers such as potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, and aluminum. Since supercritical ammonia has characteristics of both gas and liquid, it can over complicated fine structure or fine particles. The new method is suitable for forming a protective coating on complicated structure or forming micro- to nano-sized particles.
US08971016B1
A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an outer electrode arranged on a ceramic element body including inner electrodes, and a dielectric layer present between a pair of the inner electrodes adjacent in a stacking direction and extending to one of a pair of end surfaces of the ceramic element body that defines an inter-electrode dielectric layer. A gap extending in a direction connecting the inner electrodes sandwiching the inter-electrode dielectric layer is present in about 5% to about 90% of inter-electrode dielectric layers in the ceramic element body at a position near or adjacent to at least one of the pair of end surfaces of the ceramic element body.
US08971015B2
An electronic component includes a laminate including a plurality of insulating layers that are laminated on each other. A capacitor conductor is embedded in the laminate and includes an exposed portion exposed between the insulating layers at a predetermined surface of the laminate. An external electrode is provided on the predetermined surface by direct plating so as to cover the exposed portion. An outer edge of the external electrode is spaced away from the exposed portion by about 0.8 μm or more.
US08971012B2
The present invention relates to a variable-area capacitor for a micromechanical sensor, a micromechanical comb grid capacitor accelerometer and a micromechanical comb grid capacitor gyroscope. Among them, the variable-area capacitor structure comprises of a movable and a fixed electrodes in each capacitor unit; a front surface of aforesaid movable electrode is parallel to that of aforesaid fixed electrode; the front surface of aforesaid movable electrode is in a rectangular shape, and the front surface of the fixed electrode is in a triangular or sawteeth shape or the front surface of the movable electrode is in a triangular or sawteeth shape, and the front surface of the fixed electrode is in a rectangular form; the triangular front surface is only overlapped with one long side of aforesaid rectangular front surface. Micromechanical sensors with variable-area capacitor structures of the invention can adjust elasticity coefficient as compared with present technology.
US08971004B2
A high accuracy on-chip thermal sensor includes an integrated circuit and sensing elements. The thermal sensor finds application in various mobile and battery powered devices and includes a processor that analyzes a measured temperature signal and decides if the thermal sensor operates in low or high power operational mode, or if the device's CPU is to be reset. A method utilizing the thermal sensor includes making comparisons to two threshold temperatures and operating at low power mode below the first threshold temperature, high power mode between the two threshold temperatures and causing reset if the second threshold temperature is exceeded. Low power operational mode includes a lower clock frequency, lower bias current and lower power consumption. Higher power operational mode is used when the upper threshold temperature is being approached and includes a higher data sampling frequency and more accurate temperature control and uses higher power.
US08971001B2
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to an overvoltage protection circuit. In some embodiments, the overvoltage protection circuit includes: (a) an input receiving node configured to receive an input voltage; (b) an input transmitting node; (c) an input switch formed between the input receiving node and the input transmitting node, and configured to selectively electrically connect the input receiving node to the input transmitting node based on a switch control signal, where the input switch is configured to cut off an electrical connection between the input receiving node and the input transmitting node when the switch control signal is in an inactive state (e.g., a logic low state “L”); and (d) a control signal generation block configured to sense a transmission voltage of the input transmitting node and generate the switch control signal in the inactive state when the transmission voltage rises to a reference voltage or higher.
US08970998B2
The present invention relates to compound semiconductor ESD protection devices of three types. The device comprises a multi-gate enhancement mode PET (E-PET). For the type I compound semiconductor ESD protection device, the source electrode is connected to the plural gate electrodes through at least one first resistor, and the drain electrode is connected to the plural gate electrodes through at least one second resistor. For the type II compound semiconductor ESD protection device, at least one of the plural gate electrodes are connected to at least one of the inter-gate regions between two adjacent gate electrodes through at least one fourth resistor. For the type compound semiconductor ESD protection device, the plural gate electrodes are connected to the source or drain electrodes through at least one seventh resistor. Any two gate electrodes in the three types of compound semiconductor ESD protection devices can be connected by a resistor.
US08970986B2
A magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a trailing shield that forms a magnetic circuit with the main magnetic pole, a spin torque oscillator that is provided between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield, a first cooling layer that partially has a Heusler structure, and a second cooling layer that is provided on the first cooling layer and mainly comprised of silver. The first cooling layer and the second cooling layer are provided either between the main magnetic pole and spin torque oscillator or between the trailing shield and the spin torque oscillator, with either of the two cooling layers being disposed closer to the spin torque oscillator. A third cooling layer may be formed to be in contact with the first cooling layer.
US08970984B1
A spindle includes a fixed member, a hub rotatably attached to the fixed member, and a bearing between the rotatable hub and the fixed member. The bearing including a bearing lubricant. A seal reduces migration of the bearing lubricant away from the bearing. The seal includes an immobile cylindrical surface of the fixed member, and a rotatable cylindrical surface of the hub. One of these surfaces includes a plurality of grooves. The immobile cylindrical surface and the rotatable cylindrical surface are concentric about the hub rotation axis. The rotatable cylindrical surface faces and is separated from the immobile cylindrical surface by a gas-filled radial clearance of not less than 50 microns.
US08970981B2
A hard disk drive uses a second, reference burst field in a preamble to estimate burst phase and burst magnitude. Such estimations are used for position error signal integration and repeatable runout correction. Gain error is also derived from such estimations. Information contained in a preamble field is used in conjunction with the reference burst phase estimation to synchronize servo address marks.
US08970979B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a servo control system configured to control an actuator for actuating a head over a disk. Servo sectors are sampled at a servo sample frequency fs to generate a position error signal PES(k) that is filtered with a compensator to generate a first control signal u1(k). A first discrete-time sinusoid comprising a sinusoid frequency of fs+Δf is added to the first control signal u1(k) to generate a second control signal u2(k). The second control signal u2(k) is applied to the actuator, and a frequency response of the actuator is determined at the frequency |Δf|. The frequency response of the actuator is determined at the frequency fs+Δf based at least in part on the frequency response of the actuator at the frequency |Δf| and a measured signal of the servo control system when applying the second control signal u2(k) to the actuator.
US08970977B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk, and a ramp near an outer periphery of the disk. When an emergency condition is detected, the head is unloaded onto the ramp, and failure analysis data identifying a cause of the emergency condition is logged.
US08970974B2
A lens adapter is provided, comprising a cylindrical base, one end of the base is provided with a first mounting seat for connecting with a lens and a manual aperture controlling ring sheathed on the base, the other end of the base is provided with a second mounting seat for connecting with a camera. The lens adapter also comprises an adjusting mechanism connected to a lens aperture controlling rod and the manual aperture controlling ring. The manual aperture controlling ring is adjusted by the adjusting mechanism to make the rotation angle of the manual aperture controlling ring linearly proportional to the size variation of the lens aperture. The lens adapter allows the rotation angle of the manual aperture controlling ring linearly proportional to the size variation of the lens aperture in a manner of synchronously changing, thus facilitating the user to control the lens aperture.
US08970973B2
A lens actuating device includes a fixed member, an adjustable member, a driving unit and a movable support unit. The adjustable member is movably disposed in the fixed member along an optical axis, and has a lens module disposed therein. The driving unit is disposed between the fixed member and the adjustable member to provide a driving force for the adjustable member. The movable support unit is disposed at one side of the adjustable member opposite to the driving unit and has a first guiding structure formed on an inner side of the fixed member parallel to the optical axis, a second guiding structure, and a plurality of rolling members. The rolling members are configured into two rows and are disposed between the first and second guiding structures to fix the seconding guiding structure such that the displacement of the adjustable member is constrained along the optical axis.
US08970972B2
A camera lens is formed with a casing and a lens stack having at least one lens element, the lens stack arranged within the casing. A spring arrangement is pre-compressed to exert a clamping force between the casing and the lens stark basically in a direction of an optical axis of the at least one lens element.
US08970969B2
An image lens, in the order from the object side to the image side thereof, includes a first lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, a third lens including a fifth surface and a sixth surface, a fourth lens including a seventh surface and a eighth surface, a fifth lens including a ninth surface and a tenth surface, and an image plane. The image lens satisfies the following formulas: (1) D/TTL>0.94; (2) D/L>1.21; wherein D is the maximum image diameter of the image plane; TTL is a total length of the image lens, and L is a distance from an outmost edge of the tenth surface to an optical axis of the image lens along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
US08970967B2
The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a rear unit including one or more lens units, a distance between every adjacent lens units varies during zooming, and an aperture diaphragm on the image side of the first lens unit, a combined focal length of the rear unit at a wide-angle end being positive. One lens unit LG on the object side of the aperture diaphragm is made of a solid material, and includes an optical element GnNL having a negative refractive power and another optical element having a positive refractive power, and the predetermined conditions are satisfied.
US08970964B2
A projection objective lens system includes from an object plane to an image plane: a first lens group (S1) with a positive refractive power; a second lens group (S2) with a negative refractive power; a third lens group (S3) with a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group (S4) with a negative refractive power; and a fifth lens group (S5) with a positive refractive power being divided into two sub-lens groups. An aperture stop (AS) is provided between the two sub-lens groups. The following conditions are met: 0.12<|L/f|<0.4, and ΔR/R<1%, wherein, f is an effective focal length of the system, L is a distance between the object and image planes, ΔR represents a difference between radii at the aperture stop of a marginal field beam bundle and a central field beam bundle, and R represents a radius at the aperture stop of a central field beam bundle.
US08970961B2
A multifunction optical element including an image generating module that generates an image, and couples the image into a multifunction glass that has a coupling in area and a coupling out area. The image produced is coupled into the multifunction glass via the coupling in area, guided in the multifunction glass to the coupling in area, and coupled out via the coupling out area, in such a way that the user can perceive the coupled out image superimposed on the surroundings when the holding device is placed on the head of the user. The coupling out area has a Fresnel structure which receives light from the coupling-in-area via a folded beam path and couples the image out of the multifunction optical element. The coupling out element has an imaging property.
US08970949B2
An optical body includes a first optical layer having a concave-convex surface, a wavelength-selective reflecting layer formed on the concave-convex surface, and a second optical layer formed on the wavelength-selective reflecting layer to embed the concave-convex surface, the wavelength-selective reflecting layer having a multilayer structure formed by successively stacking at least a first high refractive index layer, a metal layer, and a second high refractive index layer, wherein, given that optical film thicknesses of the first high refractive index layer and the second high refractive index layer are x and y, respectively, and a geometrical film thickness of the metal layer is z, x, y and z satisfy the following formula (1): z ≤ 12.1 exp { - 1 2 ( x - 120 145.17 ) 2 - 1 2 ( y - 120 123.14 ) 2 } ( 1 )
US08970948B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as an optical modulator for pulsed signals. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the SOA can be biased with a negative voltage to suppress transmission and improve modulator extinction and biased with a positive pulsed signal with sufficient amplitude to forward bias the amplifier (SOA), both transmitting the carrier and increasing its amplitude by means of a gain provided by the SOA under forward biased conditions. In addition, the forward bias voltage may be selected to compensate for losses within the SOA.
US08970947B2
Embodiments of auto-cladded optical fibers are described. The fibers may have a refractive index profile having a small relative refractive index change. For example, the fiber may include an auto-cladded structure having, e.g., a trough or gradient in the refractive index profile. A beam of light propagating in the fiber may be guided, at least in part, with the auto-cladded structure. In some embodiments, the optical fiber may be all glass. In some embodiments, the optical fiber may include a large-core or an ultra large-core.
US08970946B2
An optical signal processing apparatus includes an input unit to which signal light is input; a wave coupling unit that couples the signal light from the input unit and pump light having a waveform different from that of the signal light; a first nonlinear optical medium that transmits light coupled by the wave coupling unit, the light being the signal light and the pump light; a dispersion medium that transmits the light that has been transmitted through the first nonlinear optical medium; and a second nonlinear optical medium that transmits the light that has been transmitted through the dispersion medium.
US08970937B2
Disclosed herein are novel electrochromic materials. The electrochromic materials produce various colors. The electrochromic materials can be used to form red electrochromic layers in a simple manner. Therefore, the electrochromic materials are suitable for use in the fabrication of RGB full-color electrochromic devices. Also disclosed herein are electrochromic devices fabricated using the electrochromic materials.
US08970925B2
A scanner for automatically detecting a scan target includes a transparent scan region configured to support the target, an image sensor including a light source for irradiating light toward the scan region and a light receiving element array for sensing the incident light through the scan region, a drive unit configured to linearly move the sensor across the scan region, and a control unit that controls the sensor and the drive unit. The control unit controls the light source of the sensor and the drive unit such that the sensor moves to a detection position and then the array senses the incident light through the scan region with the light source turned on and off. The control unit compares output signals of the array obtained by turning on and off the light source and automatically determines, based on the comparison, whether the target is placed in the scan region.
US08970923B2
A scanning device has a controller which is configured to judge whether the scanning device is to be operated in a conveyed sheet scanning mode in which the controller controls a conveying unit to convey a sheet and control the scanning unit to scan images on the sheet being conveyed, or in a held sheet scanning mode in which the sheet stationarily held by a sheet table is scanned, to display functions related to the conveyed sheet scanning mode on a display unit in a first prioritized manner when the controller judges that the scanning device is to be operated in the conveyed sheet scanning mode, and to display functions related to the held sheet scanning mode on the display unit in a second prioritized manner when the controller judges that the scanning device is to be operated in the held sheet scanning mode.
US08970922B2
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing; an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a stacking tray configured such that the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image formation unit is stacked; a discharge unit configured to discharge, to the stacking tray, the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image formation unit; and a reading device comprising a reading unit configured to read out an image formed on a document and a reversing unit configured to reverse a conveying direction of the document, and wherein the reading device is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction with respect to the stacking tray and on a downstream side in a discharging direction of the recording medium discharged from the discharge unit with respect to the discharge unit.
US08970918B2
A document management system including a two dimensional code region detection portion that detects a two dimensional code region included in image data, obtained by scanning a document to be managed; a two dimensional code decoding portion that decodes document management information included in the two dimensional code; a layout analysis portion that analyzes a layout of the document; a low resolution portion that obtains data in which a background image becomes low resolution; a two dimensional code character and background processing portion that changes the content of the document; a two dimensional code character encoding portion that encodes the two dimensional code; a background encoding portion that encodes data of the background image; a document filing portion that generates a document file; and a file management portion that adds document management information, decoded by the two dimensional decoding portion, to the document file formed by the document filing portion.
US08970902B2
A VDP workflow system and method are disclosed. The system includes an image memory to store a photograph image. The system also includes a VDP document tool to access the photograph image from the image memory and to generate a VDP document comprising the photograph image. The system further includes a red-eye removal tool to process the VDP document to discover red-eye artifacts and to remove the red-eye artifacts from the photograph image on the VDP document based on a programmable red-eye sensitivity value.
US08970897B2
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided for allowing a user to achieve a desired image quality while controlling toner consumptions. An amount of toner reduced is calculated based on a set toner reduction rate. For objects other than an object specified as an excluded object to which toner reduction is not applied, a toner reduction rate for achieving the calculated amount of toner saved is calculated.
US08970896B1
A method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: analyzing text in a digital document, to identify a text segment referring to a figure of the digital document; mapping said text segment to said figure; identifying, in said text segment, reference to one or more non-grayscale colors of said figure, to determine a level of importance of said one or more colors to legibility of said figure; and printing said digital document in accordance with the level of importance.
US08970892B2
Disclosed is a memory control device, including: an address mapping unit configured to assign a main scanning address and a sub-scanning address to a column address, a row address and a bank address of an SDRAM, to assign lower N bit(s) (N is a positive integer) for indicating an address corresponding to a burst size of a burst transfer among the main scanning address, to lower bit(s) of the column address, and to assign predetermined number of bit(s) arranged successively to an upper bit side of the lower N bit(s) among the main scanning address, to the bank address; and an access executing unit configured to read or write one line of image data in the main scanning direction by carrying out the burst transfer successively multiple times in a multibank operation while the sub-scanning address is changed at an end of the burst transfer.
US08970888B2
An image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus and a server apparatus. The image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing unit that captures an image of a printout produced by printing print data; an extracting unit that extracts identification information by decoding encoded information extracted from the captured image; a transmitting unit that transmits the extracted identification information to the server apparatus, and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the captured image and related information transmitted from the server apparatus. The server apparatus includes: an identifying unit that identifies the print data stored in the storage unit in a manner associated with the identification information received from the image capturing apparatus; and a transmitting unit that transmits the related information related to the identified print data to the image capturing apparatus.
US08970887B2
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an external terminal. The image forming apparatus generates first display data for a first operation screen that includes a key image for receiving an instruction to execute an external terminal program, on the basis of program information regarding the types of external terminal programs that are programs installed in the external terminal, and transmits the first display data to the external terminal. The external terminal displays the first operation screen on a display unit of the external terminal on the basis of the first display data.
US08970886B2
A write operation supporting apparatus 1 includes a camera 3 that images a placed document 10 as a reading target within an imaging area 6 and a projector 4 that displays information toward the imaging area 6. A control device 5 of the write operation supporting apparatus 1 displays, by the projector 4, operation supporting information for supporting an information writing operation using the document 10 toward the imaging area 6, based on positional information of the document 10 on the imaging area 6 acquired by the camera 3, with relative position relation with the medium 10 on the imaging area 6 maintained.
US08970882B2
Instead of receiving all pieces of job information accumulated in a server, some pieces of job information are acquired in addition to a total number of pieces of job information, and pieces of job information which can be displayed on one screen, and the latest information is acquired from the server as a scroll operation is performed.
US08970878B2
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for reducing consumption of paper and other resources in connection with printing, copying, etc, by converting a document suitable for combined-page print, to a combined-page output, even when the user has not specified combined-page output.
US08970877B2
An electronic message is received from a sender having a destination address indicative of a request to print data included in the message. A printer is determined to fulfill the request based at least in part on the sender address and a printer characteristic. The data to be printed is sent to the printer for fulfillment of the request.
US08970869B2
An image forming apparatus which logs into an external webmail server by using a web browser included in the image forming apparatus, the webmail is written on a webpage of the webmail server, a file to be attached to the webmail is selected, and the selected file is attached to the webmail so as to send the webmail to the webmail server.
US08970854B2
A document management system includes a storage section, a reference electronic manuscript acquisition section, an edit part identification section and a document editing processing section. The storage section stores at least one of an electronic manuscript and an electronic document generated by combining plural electronic manuscripts. The reference electronic manuscript acquisition section acquires a reference electronic manuscript used for identifying a reference position of an edit part in an edit electronic document that is an electronic document to be edited and is read from the storage section. The edit part identification section identifies the edit part in the edit electronic document based on the reference electronic manuscript. The document editing processing section performs editing processing for the edit part identified by the edit part identification section, in units of electronic manuscripts.
US08970852B2
A laser projector for chassis alignment has a laser light source emitting a laser light beam, an optical element which generates a structured laser light pattern when it is irradiated by the laser light beam, a detector which is situated in such a way that it is irradiated by a sub-area of the structured laser light pattern and generates an output signal which is correlated with the radiation, and an evaluation unit which compares the output signal generated by the detector with at least one predefined setpoint value and turns off the laser light source if it detects a significant deviation of the output signal from the setpoint value.
US08970849B2
This invention realizes accurate positional offset correction between a plurality of tomograms captured by using a tomography apparatus. The invention is a tomography apparatus which corrects the positional offsets between a plurality of two-dimensional tomograms constituting a three-dimensional tomogram. This apparatus includes a tomogram analysis unit (120) which extracts feature amounts representing the tissue of a measurement target, a tomogram selection unit (140) which selects a standard two-dimensional tomogram from the plurality of two-dimensional tomograms based on the feature amounts, and a tomogram position correction unit (150) which calculates the positional offset amount between the nth two-dimensional tomogram adjacent to the standard two-dimensional tomogram and the (n−1)th two-dimensional tomogram.
US08970848B2
A motion detector 220 calculates the Doppler frequency shift amount based on the movement velocity of an eye E. A drive controller 230 calculates the modulation frequency of the intensity of output light M based on this Doppler frequency shift amount. A light source unit 201 outputs the light M in which the intensity is modulated with this modulation frequency. The light M is divided into a signal light S and a reference light R. Interference light L is generated by superimposing the signal light S passing through the eye E and the reference light R. Two polarized components of the interference light L have a phase difference of 180°, resulting from a quarter-wave plate 207. The polarized components L1, L2 which are divided by a polarization beam splitter 211 are detected by CCD 212, 213. A computer 250 forms a tomographical image based on these detection results.
US08970841B2
An Advanced Laser Fluorometer (ALF) can combine spectrally and temporally resolved measurements of laser-stimulated emission (LSE) for characterization of dissolved and particulate matter, including fluorescence constituents, in liquids. Spectral deconvolution (SDC) analysis of LSE spectral measurements can accurately retrieve information about individual fluorescent bands, such as can be attributed to chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), phycobiliprotein (PBP) pigments, or chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), among others. Improved physiological assessments of photosynthesizing organisms can use SDC analysis and temporal LSE measurements to assess variable fluorescence corrected for SDC-retrieved background fluorescence. Fluorescence assessments of Chl-a concentration based on LSE spectral measurements can be improved using photo-physiological information from temporal measurements. Quantitative assessments of PBP pigments, CDOM, and other fluorescent constituents, as well as basic structural characterizations of photosynthesizing populations, can be performed using SDC analysis of LSE spectral measurements.
US08970839B2
A detection device includes an optical device, a suction section adapted to suck the fluid sample in the optical device, a light source adapted to irradiate the optical device with light, a light detection section adapted to detect light emitted from the optical device, and a control section adapted to perform drive control on the suction section. The optical device emits light reflecting the fluid sample to be adsorbed. The control section sets a suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V1 in a first mode including a period of performing detection by the light detection section, sets the suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V2 (V2>V1) in a second mode, and switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a signal from the light detection section.
US08970836B2
An invention being applied is a defect detecting apparatus that has: an illuminating optical system with a laser light source for irradiating a sample on whose surface a pattern is formed with light; a detecting optical system with a sensor for detecting light generated from the sample illuminated by the illuminating optical system; and a signal processing unit that extracts a defect from an image based on the light detected by the detecting optical system, in which an amplification rate of the sensor is dynamically changed during a time when the light is detected by the detecting optical system.
US08970818B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A surface of a component of the lithographic apparatus that is in a vacuum environment in use is provided with a repeating structure configured to increase the effective thermal accommodation coefficient of the surface.
US08970814B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate, a CF substrate opposite to and parallel with the TFT substrate, liquid crystal interposed between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, spacers arranged between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, and an enclosing resin frame arranged between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate and located along edges of the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. The TFT substrate and the CF substrate have inside surfaces that oppose the liquid crystal and are both provided with alignment layers. The alignment layers include flexible alignment films, which are in the form of thin membranes and are positioned on the inside surfaces of the TFT substrate and the CF substrate by being stuck thereto.
US08970803B2
The present invention provides a slim bezel liquid crystal display device, which includes a rear enclosure, a front enclosure mating the rear enclosure, and a liquid crystal display module arranged inside the rear enclosure. The rear enclosure forms a retention plate. The retention plate functions to retain a lower end of the liquid crystal display module so as to fix the liquid crystal display module in the rear enclosure. The slim bezel liquid crystal display device uses an inverted L-shaped retention plate mounted at a lower end portion of a rear enclosure to retain a liquid crystal display module in position so as to fix the liquid crystal display module in the rear enclosure. The structure is simple and assembling is easy so as to effectively achieve bezel slimming and device thinning of a liquid crystal display device.
US08970799B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of transparent substrates facing each other through a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween; a gate insulating film formed so as to cover a gate electrode formed in the pixel regions, disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer, of one of the transparent substrates; a semiconductor film provided on the gate insulating film, for forming a thin-film transistor; a first electrode provided on the semiconductor film through the first insulating film and the second insulating film; a second electrode provided on the first electrode through a third insulating film; and a contact hole formed collectively in the first insulating film, the second insulating film, and the third insulating film on the first electrode, where a second electrode is formed on the contact hole. A floating electrode is formed in the peripheral region of the contact hole.
US08970796B2
Apparatuses and methods of field-line repeater structures for sense arrays are described. One apparatus includes a substrate, a capacitive-sense array with electrodes disposed on one or more sides of the substrate in one or more layers and a protective cover layer disposed to cover the capacitive-sense array. A coating film is disposed over the protective cover layer and a field-line repeater (FLR) structure of floating electrodes is disposed between the coating film and the protective cover layer.
US08970793B2
This display device (100) includes a display panel (2) including a substrate mounting member (5) covering a backlight source (4b) and a cover member (6) arranged to partially cover the rear surface of the substrate mounting member and to expose a region in the periphery of at least an outer peripheral portion (51) of the rear surface of the substrate mounting member. The substrate mounting member has a side surface portion (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d), while a corner portion (51e, 51f, 51g, 51h) of the outer peripheral portion formed by the side surface portion of the substrate mounting member has such a shape that adjacent ones of the side surface portion are bonded to each other without a clearance.
US08970791B2
Provided a circuit board including an input terminal to which a high-frequency signal is input, a high-frequency amplifier for amplifying the high-frequency signal input to the input terminal, at least one distributor distributing the high-frequency signal, a plurality of high-frequency processing circuits of which transmission path lengths for inputting each of the high-frequency signals distributed by the distributor into signal inputting sections of the plurality of high-frequency processing circuits are different from one another, and a plurality of attenuating devices which are mounted at previous stages of each of the plurality of high-frequency processing circuits and possess amounts of attenuation which increase with decrease of the transmission path lengths.
US08970789B2
There is provided a receiving apparatus. The receiving apparatus comprises, among other things, a transmitting unit that transmits a power-on command that instructs the transmitting apparatus detected by the detecting unit to turn on power when there is no connecting unit whose status signal has been changed from “unable” to “able” as a result of the determination made by the determining unit, the transmitting unit causing the determining unit to perform the determination again after transmitting the power-on command, and a control unit that, when there is a connecting unit whose status signal has been changed from “unable” to “able” as a result of the determination made by the determining unit, controls the selecting unit so as to select the connecting unit.
US08970788B2
A gain-determining method for grayscale white balance of a display apparatus comprising a panel is provided. The method first displays a white, a red, a green, and a blue images on the panel respectively and measures the chromatic values and luminance of the images. Next, the chromatic values and luminance of a target white image is inputted. Following, according to the measured chromatic values and luminance of the white, the red, the green and the blue images, a first set of color mixture ratios is calculated. Then, according to the chromatic values and luminance of the target white image and the chromatic values and luminance of the red, the green and the blue images, a second set of color mixture ratios is calculated. Finally, according to the first set and the second set of color mixture ratios, a red gain, a green gain and a blue gain are calculated.
US08970787B2
Disclosed are an image quality improvement device and method. The image quality improvement device includes a filter which separates an input video signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, and a noise reduction unit which detects a motion in the input video signal by using the luminance signal separated by the filter, and thereby performing different filtering operations according to the existence of the motion.
US08970784B2
There is provided a driving apparatus which includes an acquisition section which acquires a parameter for driving an imaging element, which receives an optical image from a subject and outputs an imaging image as an electric signal, in an action mode which is desired by a user; a timing generation section which generates respective timings of the starting of each of a plurality of horizontal synchronization periods, where horizontal synchronization periods which are only different in terms of the number of clocks determined in advance are acquired in a mixed state, based on the parameter; and a driving control section which receives the optical image from the subject for each line which configures the imaging element by synchronizing the respective timings which are generated using the timing generation section.
US08970763B2
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of displaying a shooting azimuth for a user such that it can be intuitively understood with ease while keeping the amount of computations required to display a shooting azimuth small. When a though-the-lens image or a moving image from an image pickup sensor, which shoots a subject, is displayed on a TFT display, a shooting azimuth is displayed by a first azimuth display method based on shooting azimuth information, and when a though-the-lens image or a moving image from the image pickup sensor is not displayed on the TFT display, the shooting azimuth is displayed based on the shooting azimuth information by a second azimuth display method different from the first azimuth display method.
US08970758B2
An image pickup device is provided, capable of complete correction with data of once analog-to-digital conversion, and prevention of excess use of switches and analog devices and/or erroneous correction, including: an image sensor having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters determining conversion results from a digital signal of higher order bit through separate steps of two or more times; a first correction unit which has a correction factor for correcting nonlinear errors of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters so as to adapt to the analog-to-digital converters and corrects a nonlinear error of a digital signal output from respective analog-to-digital converters based on a correction factor corresponding to respective analog-to-digital converters, characterized in that the first correction unit corrects the nonlinear errors after converting the digital signals from the plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output.
US08970756B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, wherein the pixel array has a region formed from one of an electrical conductor and a semiconductor to which a fixed electric potential is supplied, each pixel includes a photoelectric converter, a charge-voltage converter which converts charges generated by the photoelectric converter into a voltage, and an amplification unit which amplifies a signal generated by the charge-voltage converter by a positive gain and outputs the amplified signal to an output line, and the output line comprising a shielding portion arranged to shield at least part of the charge-voltage converter with respect to the region.
US08970755B2
The present invention may suppress feedthrough components in video imaging. Namely, TFT driving waveforms are plurally overlapped, and an integration period of capacitors C of amplification circuits is set so as to encompass a generation period of a feedthrough component (OFF), a generation period of a feedthrough component (ON), and a period in which charges (a signal component) are read out from storage capacitors of pixels by ON states of the TFTs. A number of driving waveforms to be overlapped is determined in accordance with a frame rate, the integration period and a reset period, or the like.
US08970747B2
In a color filter array of a color imaging element 26, a G filter 34G to which other G filters 34G are adjacent in horizontal and vertical directions and a G filter 34G to which another G filter 34G is not adjacent are determined as dense and sparse G filters, respectively. Defective information on a sparse G defective pixel corresponding to the sparse G filter is more preferentially registered than defective information on a dense G defective pixel corresponding to the dense G filter. Thereby, interpolation processing for a pixel value of the sparse G defective pixel is more preferentially performed than interpolation processing for a pixel value of the dense G defective pixel.
US08970735B2
A capturing device includes: an image sensor generating an image signal; a storage unit setting a second region in a first region; a timing adjusting unit adjusting a timing at which the image signal is read out to write the image signal in the storage unit, and a timing at which the image signal is read out from the storage unit; an image conversion processing unit performing a predetermined process on the image, alternately writing a first image signal corresponding to a full image or a second image signal corresponding to a partial image in the first region in a different frame period, and writing an image signal that is different from the image signal written in the first region in the second region; and an output unit converting and outputting the first and second image signals into an image signal in a predetermined format.
US08970723B2
An image processing device includes: an extractor configured to extract a region of interest which satisfies a specified condition from a first image frame; a size decision unit configured to decide an image size according to a size of the region of interest extracted by the extractor; and an image converter configured to change the size of an image frame to be processed according to the image size decided by the size decision unit to generate a transformed image frame. The extractor extracts a region of interest which satisfies the specified condition from the transformed image frame.
US08970722B2
An image processing apparatus such as a digital camera and a method of controlling the same is provided. In one embodiment, the digital camera generates an HDR image by combining two of a plurality of images to be combined for normal HDR processing. Before image combining operation, the digital camera converts the tone characteristics of at least one of the two images so as to assign more tone values to a tone area of an entire tone area of the HDR image which is not properly covered by either of the two images than before conversion.
US08970721B2
An image capture device includes: an array of pixels 200 including a plurality of pixels 20 which are arranged two-dimensionally on an imaging area; a pixel signal reading section 30 for reading a pixel signal from each pixel 20; and an image generating section 32 for generating an image based on the pixel signals having been read by the pixel signal reading section 30. The array of pixels is divided into M unit pixel blocks 40 (where M is an integer of 2 or more) each containing N pixels (where N is an integer of 2 or more). The pixel signal reading section reads the pixel signals from the N pixels 20 contained in each unit pixel block 40 at every time interval T, with respectively different timings.
US08970718B2
An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.
US08970710B2
A method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a video is provided. The method comprises: generating a frame loss pattern of the video by indicating whether each frame in the video is lost or successfully transmitted; and evaluating the quality of the video as a function of the generated t came loss pattern.
US08970708B2
An alignment suite includes first and second targeting devices and an optical coupler. The first targeting device is configured to perform a positional determination regarding a downrange target. The first targeting device includes an image processor. The second targeting device is configured to perform a targeting function relative to the downrange target and is affixable to the first targeting device. The optical coupler enables the image processor to capture an image of a reference object at the second targeting device responsive to the first and second targeting devices being affixed together. The image processor employs processing circuitry that determines pose information indicative of an alignment relationship between the first and second targeting devices relative to the downrange target based on the image captured.
US08970700B2
An imaging apparatus includes: an electronic circuit unit (30) including an imaging device (31) to acquire an object image formed by an imaging optical system (20); and a housing member (13) housing the electronic circuit unit (30). The electronic circuit unit (30) includes a thermally-conductive heat transfer member (37) in contact with an outer peripheral surface thereof which is in parallel with a fitting direction of the electronic circuit unit (30) into the housing member (13). The heat transfer member (37) includes a soft material portion (37b) in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electronic circuit unit (37), and a plate portion (37a) in contact with the soft material portion (37b) and an inner peripheral wall surface of the housing member (13). The soft material portion (37b) is made of a shape-conformable member.
US08970698B2
The invention relates to a surveillance/monitoring system, comprising one or more peripheral devices for generating surveillance/monitoring signals and/or data, and a management system for controlling the peripheral devices. The management system comprises one or more applications, wherein each application is provided with an application-specific environment. The surveillance/monitoring system further comprises at least one value-added solution, each value-added solution comprising an external component and an application-independent adaption layer through which the external component communicates with the application-specific environment by implementing at least one first interaction request to the adaption layer according to a pre-defined application- independent interaction interface. The application-specific environment is configured to mediate at least one interaction between the value-added solution and the surveillance/monitoring system by matching the at least one first interaction request with at least one second interaction request from the surveillance/monitoring system and fulfilling the interaction if a match is found.
US08970694B2
A video processing system may include a display, at least one geospatial database, and a video processor. The video processor may cooperate with the display and the at least one geospatial database and be configured to display a georeferenced video feed on the display and defining a viewable area, and to overlay selected geospatially-tagged metadata onto the viewable area and relating to a geolocation outside the viewable area.
US08970677B2
A system for the vergence of images from a plurality of cameras, the system provides a first camera; a second camera disposed at some distance from that first camera; a focus adjustment whereby the focus of the first camera can be adjusted by a user; the focus adjustment being configured with a range finder whereby the distance from the first camera to a target is ascertained; a look up chart wherein divergence distance of images generated from the first camera from images of the second camera are provided for pre-calculated ranges; and a processor whereby the images generated by the first camera are superimposed on the images generated by the second camera by the divergence distance determined from the lookup.
US08970666B2
Systems and methods for low-scale and low-cost production of events. The system having a plurality of video cameras, each of the video cameras capturing a video stream, a video processing server receiving the video streams from the video cameras and generating a panoramic video stream from the video streams and a video production server selecting a region of interest based on a selection received from a user and generating a video broadcast including the region of interest, the region of interest being a portion of the panoramic video stream.
US08970664B2
A method of operating a display with gaps in between the pixels, a primarily transparent backlight and a camera is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises capturing an image in the camera through the primarily transparent backlight and gaps in between the pixels of the transmissive display during a capture period, not capturing an image in the camera during the display period and making the gaps in between the pixels of the transmissive display opaque during the display period.
US08970661B2
Methods and systems for routing video in conferencing are disclosed. A device receives one or more data streams from a media source, where each data stream associated with a data stream identifier. A media source identifier is assigned to each data stream from the media source. The data stream identifiers are mapped to the media source identifiers. At least one of the data streams may be modified by replacing an associated data stream identifier with the media source identifier. The modified data streams are provided to a destination device. A request is received from a destination device for data streams associated with a media source identifier. One or more data stream identifiers are associated with the requested media source identifier. The one or more data streams may be associated with Application sharing/Desktop Sharing, a video quality, a video resolution, a video frame rate, or an audio quality.
US08970655B2
A videoconferencing unit for enhancing direct eye-contact between participants can include a curved fully reflective mirror to reflect the image of the near end to a camera. The curved mirror can be placed in front of the display screen near a location where images of faces/eyes of far end participants are to appear. In another example, the videoconferencing unit can include a disintegrated camera configuration that provides an air gap between a front lens element and a rear lens element. The front lens element can be located behind an aperture within the display screen. The air gap can provide an unobstructed path to light from projectors and therefore avoid any undesirable shadows from appearing on the display screen. In another example, the videoconferencing unit can include a combination of the disintegrated camera configuration and mirrors for providing direct eye contact videoconferencing.
US08970650B2
An image forming apparatus is provided that reduces main scanning jitter with a simple configuration and performs light amount control with high accuracy. The image forming apparatus includes: a laser emitting luminous flux; a main-scanning aperture portion shaping the luminous flux; a beam splitter splitting the luminous flux passed through the main-scanning aperture portion into a reflected beam and a transmitted beam; a rotary polygon mirror deflecting the transmitted beam so that the transmitted beam scans the surface of a photosensitive drum; and an optical box in which the laser, the main-scanning aperture portion, the beam splitter and the rotary polygon mirror are disposed. The main-scanning aperture portion is disposed so as not to block a deflected and transmitted beam. The beam splitter abuts against the main-scanning aperture portion so as not to block a deflected and transmitted beam deflected, and is positioned by abutting against the main-scanning aperture portion.
US08970643B2
A light emission control method controls a display that includes a display portion, a scanning portion, and a driving portion. The display portion includes light emitting elements in a matrix form. The scanning portion is connected to common lines. Each common line is connected to the anode terminals of corresponding elements in corresponding row so that the common lines are scanned. The driving portion is connected to driving lines. Each driving line is connected to the cathodes terminals of corresponding elements in a corresponding column. The driving portion can drive selected elements when the common line corresponding to the selected elements is scanned. The method displays an image in each cycle including frames. All common lines are scanned in each frame. A part of the rows in one frame in one cycle is/are driven. Other part is driven in a frame after the one frame in the one cycle.
US08970642B2
In one aspect, the display device includes a display unit including a plurality of pixels connected to scan lines, light emission control lines, and data lines, where each pixel is configured to emit light with a driving current corresponding to image data signals transmitted through the data lines based on light emission control signals transmitted through the light emission control lines. Each of the pixels includes subpixels, each configured to display one of a plurality of colors. The device also includes a controller configured to convert external video signals to image data signals, output the converted signals to a data driver, generate light emission driving control signals for controlling the light emission duty ratio of the light emission control signals, and calculate the pixel-on-ratio for each subpixel to reduce the driving current.
US08970640B2
The present invention provides a drive method for an electronic paper display. The method comprises to display a present image. Then, color data of pixels of the present image is gathered. The color data is compared to select one of a first color and a second color to be as a main color. Finally, a refresh image is displayed in the electronic paper display following the present image based on the main color.
US08970639B2
A two-stage digital-to-analog converter for outputting an analog voltage in response to a M-bit digital input code includes a one-bit serial charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter having a high reference voltage input node for receiving a high reference voltage and a low reference voltage input node for receiving a low reference voltage. A voltage selector sets the high reference voltage and low reference voltage to selected levels depending on at least a portion of the M-bit digital input code.
US08970638B2
A low-resolution image is displayed at higher resolution and afterimages are reduced. Resolution is made higher by super-resolution processing. In this case, the super-resolution processing is performed after frame interpolation processing is performed. Further, in that case, the super-resolution processing is performed using a plurality of processing systems. Therefore, even when frame frequency is made higher, the super-resolution processing can be performed at high speed. Further, since frame rate doubling is performed by the frame interpolation processing, afterimages can be reduced.
US08970631B2
A signal discriminating and monitoring circuit provides a full black detection circuit which detects a full black signal input during the change of the video signal and holds the detection result of the full black signal only during the specified time period. When a full black video signal is detected in the full black detection circuit, the signal discriminating and monitoring circuit detects whether the resolution of the video signal input has changed by determining whether the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal included in the video signal of the next frame to be input changed above a preset value. When a change in the resolution of the video signal is detected, the change detected signal indicates that the detection result is output. When a scalar circuit receives the change detected signal, the video display signal is output as a constant value in order to set the display video in the static state.
US08970627B2
A method and an apparatus for setting a navigation screen update cycle in a mobile terminal are provided. In the method, at least one of a velocity of the mobile terminal and a map scale used by the mobile terminal is obtained. A screen update cycle is set with consideration of the at least one of the velocity and the map scale. A navigation screen display is updated according to the set screen update cycle.
US08970614B2
[Problem] The present invention provides an apparatus and a method, which can reduce required memory, for obtaining blur image in computer graphics.[Method of solution] The present invention performs processing leaving only the calculation results of the necessary column to obtain blur image without full memory of the SAT table. As a result, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method, which can reduce required memory, for obtaining blur image in computer graphics.
US08970604B2
A state display device capable of reducing a processing load applied to a microcomputer by performing part of a GUI process by hardware and a display method of the state display device are obtained. A rendering processing device starts a process in response to a rendering request stored in a rendering request region when a starting command is stored in a start/end instruction register. When a rendering request specified by an instruction address is a rendering termination request, the rendering processing means terminates the process performed in response to the rendering request, stores a termination factor in an interruption factor register, and issues an interruption to a central processing device.
US08970601B1
An animation sequence is generated, transmitted, and/or presented to a user. The animation sequence may depict a first object that moves relative to a second object. The second object may partially block the first object in a first portion of the animation sequence that includes a first frame and a second frame. Shape tweening between a masked image of the first object in the first frame and a masked image of the first object in the second frame may be implemented to depict the motion of the first object relative to the second object.
US08970598B1
A distributed execution environment includes various resources, such as instances of computing resources, hardware resources, and software resources. Values for attributes of the resources are collected. The collected attribute values for the resources are utilized to compute minhash values for the resources that describe the similarity between the resources. The computed minhash values are then utilized to generate a resource similarity visualization that provides a visual indication of the similarity between the resources.
US08970583B1
When rendering a three-dimensional (3D) image, a render list is generated. The render list is sorted according to proximity to a notional camera, where each element of the render list specifies geometry and texture of a portion of the 3D image, and where at least two elements of the render list correspond to different levels of detail (LODs). The render list is then traversed twice: in the first instance, the render list is traversed to render each element in the render list to a respective texture, which includes applying a depth management technique to account for occlusion; in the second instance, the render list is traversed in a back-to-front order to render each of the textures to a display buffer to generate the 3D image, which includes applying an image space manipulation technique to at least some of the textures.
US08970580B2
Provided is an apparatus, method and computer-readable medium rendering three-dimensional (3D) graphics. The 3D graphics rendering apparatus, method and computer-readable medium may predict a screen area to be updated in a subsequent frame based on at least one of object information of a current frame, rendered data of the current frame, and object information of the subsequent frame, and may extract rendering data of the predicted screen area from one of the current frame and the subsequent frame.
US08970578B2
Methods and systems utilizing the data provided by a non-contrast-enhanced CAC scan that is left unused by the “whole-heart” Agatston or volume scores. Agatston and volume scores summarize overall coronary calcium burden, but do not show the number of vessels involved, the geographic distribution of the lesions, the size and shape of the individual lesions and the distance of the lesions from the coronary ostium. The methods and systems described herein extract and use the enhanced information provided by 3-D CAC scan data and significantly increases its clinical predictive value by providing vessel and lesion specific CAC scores which are superior to the whole-heart Agatston and volume scores in predicting obstructive Coronary artery disease (CAD).
US08970576B2
A novel driving method is provided in which source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive is performed for a case of driving a plurality of source lines by one D/A converter circuit in a source signal line driver circuit of an active matrix image display drive that corresponds to digital image signal input. In a first driving method of the present invention, two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are supplied to a source signal line driver circuit in order to obtain output having differing polarities from a D/A converter circuit, switches for connecting to the two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are prepared in each D/A converter circuit, the grey-scale electric power supply lines connected to each D/A converter circuit are switched in accordance with a control signal input to the switches, and source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive are performed.
US08970572B2
A driving apparatus for a display device includes: a signal controller that generates a pre-clock signal, a charge sharing control signal and a scanning start signal; a clock signal generator that generates a clock signal swinging between a first voltage and a second voltage based on the pre-clock signal and the charge sharing control signal; and a gate driver that generates gate signals based on the scanning start signal and the clock signal, where the clock signal generator includes: a voltage generator that generates a third voltage; and a clock generator that receives one of the first to third voltages in response to the pre-clock signal and the charge sharing control signal, and outputs an output signal based on the one of the first to third voltages as the clock signal, where the third voltage is lower than the first voltage and higher than the second voltage.
US08970569B2
Computerized method for simulating looking into reflective mirror by operating the system in an idle mode and when presence of a user is detected in a field of view of the camera, switching the system to virtual mirror mode wherein the system performs the steps comprising: transforming the images captured by the camera to generate mirror images; storing the mirror images; displaying the mirror images on the monitor; and, determining whether the user has an existing account and, if so, opening the user account and displaying thumbnails corresponding to the user account on the monitor; if the user has no existing account, setting a temporary account and so long as the user is still in front of the monitor, enabling the user to control the temporary account; and, once the user exits the field of view, returning the system to idle mode.
US08970565B2
A stage of the shift register has (i) a set-reset type flip-flop which receives an initialization signal and (ii) a signal generating circuit which receives a simultaneous selection signal and which generates an output signal by use of an output of the flip-flop. In at least one example embodiment, the output of the flip-flop becomes inactive regardless of whether a setting signal and a resetting signal are active or inactive, as long as the initialization signal is active. The initialization signal becomes active before the end of the simultaneous selection, and then becomes inactive after the end of the simultaneous selection. This makes it possible to stabilize operation of the shift register after the end of simultaneous selection of a plurality of signal lines carried out by the display driving circuit at a predetermined timing.
US08970564B2
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for driving a liquid crystal display device. The apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel in which the same colors of three-color sub-pixels are arranged in the directions of a plurality of gate lines, a data driver for driving a plurality of data lines, a first gate driver for sequentially driving (4n−3)th and (4n)th gate lines among the gate lines during odd frame periods, a second gate driver for sequentially driving (4n−2)th and (4n−1)th gate lines among the gate lines during even frame periods, and a timing controller for generating different first and second gate control signals and a data control signal according to odd and even frame periods to supply the first and second gate control signals and the data control signal to the first and second gate drivers and the data driver, respectively.
US08970562B2
A temperature sensing apparatus (10) and associated method (60) wherein a temperature sensor (22) or a plurality of temperature sensors (22) is placed in or in near proximity to a liquid crystal display module (12) of a computer system (11, 11a, 11b). The temperature sensor(s) (22) are placed on, or in near proximity to the liquid crystal display module (12) at positions determined according to the requirements of a particular application. Temperature of the liquid crystal display module (12) is communicated digitally to an associated computer (14) by, for example, a bus such as an inter-integrated circuit interface bus (26). When the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit, remedial action, such as increasing fan speed, reducing speed and or power consumption of other components, or the like, is taken to reduce the temperature.
US08970561B2
A digital signature collection and authentication system includes an ink pen having an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits ultrasonic energy to a plurality of ultrasonic receivers. A computer triangulates the location of the pen versus time to generate the signature shape, and to generate velocity and acceleration data. The pen also includes a pressure sensitive tip to record pressure applied to the pen tip. The pen also includes a higher frequency burst transmitter useful to generate a time reference, and to transmit the pressure information. The computer packetizes the shape, velocity, acceleration, and pressure data with a time stamp and an IP address or phone number, encrypts the packet and sends it to a host computer for authentication. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08970553B2
Example embodiments are directed to light sensing circuits having a relatively simpler structure by using light-sensitive oxide semiconductor transistors as light sensing devices, and remote optical touch panels and image acquisition apparatuses, each including the light sensing circuits. The light sensing circuit includes a light-sensitive oxide semiconductor transistor in each pixel, wherein the light-sensitive oxide semiconductor transistor is configured as a light sensing device, and a driving circuit that outputs data. The light sensing circuit may have a relatively simple circuit structure including a plurality of transistors in one pixel. As a result, the structure and operation of the light sensing circuit may be simplified.
US08970544B1
A touch screen controller for a capacitive touch screen panel having row conductors intersecting column conductors to form pixels, the touch screen controller comprising: a transmitting unit configured to drive the row conductors with signals formed from an excitation matrix, and a receiving unit configured to sense signals from the column conductors and to determine the capacitance of the pixels using the sensed signals. In some embodiments, the receiving unit is configured to apply zero-ISI filtering to the sensed signals prior to the capacitance of the pixels being determined. In some embodiments, the transmitting unit is configured to spread each bit of the row drive signals with a pseudo-noise code, and the receiving unit is configured to de-spread the sensed signals with the pseudo-noise code. In some embodiments, the transmitting unit is configured to pulse shape the row drive signals.
US08970543B2
There are provided a touch sensing apparatus and a touch sensing method. The touch sensing apparatus includes a driving circuit unit applying a driving signal to at least one of a plurality of first electrodes; a sensing circuit unit generating an analog signal by detecting variations in capacitance in second electrodes intersecting the at least one of first electrodes to which the driving signal is applied; and a signal converting unit converting the analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the driving circuit unit controls a frequency of the driving signal according to electric noise and determines a level of the driving signal according to a dynamic range of the signal converting unit.
US08970539B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus including a substrate, a first touch sensing electrode layer on the substrate, a first protective layer on the substrate, the first protective layer covering the first touch sensing electrode layer, a ground layer on the first protective layer, the ground layer being electrically grounded, an insulating layer on the ground layer, and an organic light emitting device on the insulating layer.
US08970534B2
Provided is an electronic device including: a base; a panel; a support for supporting the panel with respect to the base; and a vibrator for causing the panel to vibrate at a given frequency. The support includes a first region located at a part corresponding to a node of vibration of the panel, and a second region located at a part other than the node of the vibration of the panel. The support has a rigidity that is smaller in the first region than in the second region.
US08970532B2
A touch sensor integrated type display device capable of reducing its thickness and simplifying its manufacturing process. The display device includes first electrodes, second electrodes, first connecting wires, and second connecting wires. The first electrodes are arranged on a substrate in parallel in a first direction, and the second electrodes are arranged in parallel in the first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction without contacting the first electrodes. Each first connecting wire is connected with at least one the first electrodes. Each second connecting wire connects the second electrodes to each other in the second direction. A touch driving voltage is supplied to the first connecting wires and a common voltage is supplied to the second connecting wires so that mutual capacitance is generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
US08970531B2
A tactile sensation providing apparatus determines a touched object and stores touch information based on the object in a memory unit 16. When an object in current touch information does not match an object in previous touch information stored in the memory unit 16, the tactile sensation providing unit 12 provides a first tactile sensation. When these objects match each other, the tactile sensation providing unit 12, based on the current touch information and the previous touch information, provides the first tactile sensation or a second tactile sensation, which is different from the first tactile sensation and provided with lower power than that for providing the first tactile sensation.
US08970528B2
In order to provide an information input device that solves the misclick caused by a clickable touch sensor without using information corresponding to pressure of the user's finger, the information input device includes: a touch information detecting unit that detects a touch information item obtained when a finger of the user is in contact with the touch sensor; a touch information sequence storage unit configured to store the touch information item for a predetermined period; and a pressing start position estimating unit configured to estimate a pressing start position at which the user started to press the touch sensor with the finger, based on touch information items stored in the touch information sequence storage unit, when the switch was pressed down, the touch information items including the touch information item.
US08970519B2
A method for applying a first or second set of threshold values for touch sensor gesture recognition based on the presence of one of a plurality of predetermined conditions is described herein. The plurality of predetermined conditions can include one or more of a lift detection, a speed threshold detection, and a button press detection. Lift detection can be detected by one or more of an optical sensor, gyroscope, or accelerometer. Speed detection can be detected by one or more of an optical sensor, gyroscope, or accelerometer. Button detection can be detected by a mechanical button, pressure sensitive button, or a touch sensor.
US08970517B2
A display device having a touch screen panel includes a display panel includes a common electrode; a touch screen panel including a plurality of first conductive patterns that are formed on one surface of the display panel and arranged in a first direction, and a plurality of second conductive patterns that are electrically insulated from the plurality of first conductive patterns and arranged in a second direction to cross over the first conductive patterns; a power source circuitry to supply a first common voltage to the common electrode and to supply a pulse voltage to at least one of the plurality of first and second conductive patterns; and a common voltage feedback circuit to remove an induction voltage induced to the common electrode by the pulse voltage supplied to the at least one of the plurality of first and second conductive patterns.
US08970513B2
A touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator which is deformable when protruded or depressed locally at a part to which a driving voltage is applied; and a flexible touch sensor which is disposed on the EAP actuator. The flexible touch sensor is deformable locally in correspondence with a deformation of the EAP actuator, and senses an input according to a contact or pressing operation.
US08970510B2
The present invention relates to an embedded touch sensitive display, which includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensing layer, a touch signal transfer circuit and a conductive media. The liquid crystal display comprises a top substrate, a bottom substrate, and a liquid crystal layer which is configured between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The touch sensing layer is disposed below the top substrate of the LCD for generating touch signals after sensing an outside touch action, and the touch signal transfer circuit is disposed above the bottom substrate of the LCD. The conductive media is disposed between the touch sensing layer and the touch signal transfer circuit for transferring the touch signals between the touch sensing layer and the touch signal transfer circuit.
US08970505B2
Disclosed herein is a contact detecting device including: a contact responding section configured to produce an electric change in response to an object to be detected coming into contact with or proximity to a detecting surface; and a contact driving scanning section configured to scan application of driving voltage to the contact responding section in one direction within the detecting surface, and control output of the electric change in time series, wherein the contact driving scanning section performs a plurality of scans of different regions of the contact responding section in parallel with each other, and outputs a plurality of the electric changes in parallel with each other.
US08970494B2
A portable electronic device including a first input/output unit including a monostable display element, a second input/output unit including a bistable display element, a main setting unit configured to selectively set either one of the first and second input/output units as a main input/output unit and the other one of the first and second input/output units as a sub input/output unit, and a conversion unit configured to convert the sub input/output unit into a touch pad for inputting a command on the main input/output unit.
US08970488B2
An operation input device includes: angular velocity detecting means for detecting an angular velocity; relative velocity detecting means for contactlessly detecting a relative velocity to a target object; distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the target object; and computing means for computing an amount of movement based on the angular velocity, the relative velocity, and the distance.
US08970486B2
In one embodiment a method of operating a mobile device includes sensing either an orientation or a movement of the mobile device, determining a command based on the sensed orientation or sensed movement, sensing a proximity of an object in relation to at least a portion of the mobile device, and executing the command upon the proximity of the object being sensed. In another embodiment, a method of operating a mobile device governs a manner of interaction of the mobile device relative to one or more other mobile devices. In at least some embodiments, at least one of the mobile devices includes an accelerometer and an infrared proximity sensor, and operation of the mobile device is determined based upon signals from those components.
US08970477B2
A exemplary key assembly for a handheld device includes one or more L-shaped key structures each having a first member configured to receive an input keystroke and a second member substantially orthogonal to the first member; and a frame configured to receive the one or more L-shaped key structures, the frame having a wall aligned with the second member of the key structure, with the wall further comprising a switch for each of the one or more L-shaped key structures associated with an inner surface of the wall, wherein each switch is associated with an actuator associated with the second member of the corresponding key structure such that depression of a given key structure causes the actuator of the second member of the key structure to engage the switch of the wall.
US08970471B2
A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a light source configured to output light. The computing device also includes a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device. The computing device further includes a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light source and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.
US08970460B2
A voltage amplifier circuit (300) comprises: an input voltage generating unit (302) that generates an input voltage (VL1) based on a set value (SL); an operational amplifier (303) that amplifies the input voltage (VL1) such that the input voltage (VL1) becomes equal to a feedback voltage (VL3), thereby generating an output voltage (VL2); a feedback resistor unit (304) that performs a voltage division between the output voltage (VL2) applied to one end of the feedback resistor unit and a reference voltage (VL4) applied to the other end of the feedback resistor unit, thereby generating the feedback voltage (VL3); a selector control unit (305) that generates a selector control signal (SS) based on the set value (SL); and a selector (306) that selects, based on the selector control signal SS, the reference voltage (VL4) from a plurality of candidates (GND/VR).
US08970454B2
Disclosed is a level shifter that includes an input node; first and second voltage shifter circuits configured to generate an output clock of a second voltage domain in response to an input clock of a first voltage domain input via the input node, and an output node configured to output the output clock, wherein the first and second voltage shifter circuits have the same structure and are connected in parallel between the input node and an output node.
US08970453B2
According to one embodiment, a display apparatus includes an image data generation unit configured to generate image data and an image projection unit configured to project a light flux including an image toward a human riding in a vehicle. The image is based on the image data. The image data generation unit is configured to generate the image data relating to the image including a first display object indicating a travel direction of the vehicle at a travel direction change point when a distance between the travel direction change point and the vehicle is a first distance. The image data generation unit is configured to generate the image data relating to the image including a second display object displayed to correspond to a position of the travel direction change point when the distance is a second distance shorter than the first distance.
US08970448B2
In accordance with some embodiments of the inventions, a display system is disclosed for manipulation of images on tiled displays. The display system can include at least one discrete display device and a control module configured to allow a user to move a graphical representation of an image to a plurality of positions on the at least one discrete display device to thereby define a requested position. The control module can be configured to determine a difference between the requested position and a plurality of predetermined positions on the at least one discrete display device. The control module can also be configured to move and/or stretch the image toward one of the predetermined positions based on the determination of the determined difference.
US08970442B2
The present invention relates to an antenna device (10) for executing several functions, particularly a transmitting function, a receiving function, and an energy transmitting function, comprising a rod core (20) made from a material that can be magnetized, extending along a rod core axis (22) and at least one rod core winding (24) about the rod core axis (22), a charged core (30) from a material that can be magnetized, extending along a charged core axis (32), and at least one charged core winding (34) about the charged core axis (32), with the charged core axis (32) and the rod core axis (22) being arranged angular in reference to each other.
US08970439B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a tunable liquid core patch antenna comprising a top-side patch, a ground plane, and a liquid core substrate positioned substantially between the top-side patch and the ground plane. The liquid core substrate can comprise a first liquid having a first dielectric constant and a second liquid having a second dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant. The first liquid and second liquid can form a mixture having an effective dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant and less than the second dielectric constant.
US08970433B2
An antenna assembly for a computing device is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a first radiating element coupled to a feed point and a first ground point of a printed circuit board, and a second radiating element coupled to a second ground point of the printed circuit board. The first radiating element is positioned adjacent to the printed circuit board so as to form a first gap that extends between the first radiating element and the printed circuit board along at least a portion of the length of the first radiating element. The second radiating element is positioned adjacent to the printed circuit board so as to form a second gap that extends between the second radiating element and the printed circuit board along at least a portion of the length of the second radiating element. The two radiating elements are spaced apart by a third gap.
US08970422B2
An electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device that includes a communication element. The communication element transmits data between the electromagnetic signal detector and the mobile communication device via a first communication standard. A user interface of the mobile communication device communicates the data to a user of the electromagnetic signal detector. The mobile communication device communicates with a communication network via a second communication standard. The first communication standard differs from the second communication standard.
US08970412B2
A signal quantizer includes a summing junction, a loop filter, a quantizer and a reconstruction filter. The summing junction is responsive to an input signal and to a modulated signal and is operative to combine the modulated signal and the input signal to generate a summing junction output. The loop filter is responsive to the summing junction output and is operative to generate a loop filter output and has a first regenerative gain associated therewith. The quantizer is responsive to the loop filter output and is operative to generate the modulated signal. The reconstruction filter is responsive to the modulated signal and is operative to generate a quantized output signal and has a second regenerative gain associated therewith that is substantially equal to that of the loop filter.
US08970399B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media provide for selective Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) notifications to be made to the crew of an aircraft according to the relevance of the NOTAM to a selected phase of flight of the aircraft. According to embodiments described herein, NOTAMs are received and parsed for subject and status codes. The subject and status codes are used with the selected phase of flight to determine a relevance code each NOTAM according to a set of relevance rules. The relevance rules provide a level of relevance of the NOTAM to the phase of flight and trigger a type of notification according to that level of relevance.
US08970396B1
An hourmeter system and method for monitoring engine operation in power equipment. A programmable controller monitors and updates an indication of the running times of an engine. An interface circuit is coupled to the programmable controller and also coupled to a power source for starting the engine. The interface circuit includes a detector circuit for detecting presence of a periodic noise signal whose presence is indicative of operation of the engine. The programmable controller is programmed to accumulate times of engine operation in a memory and communicate those times of engine operation for display.
US08970395B2
The present invention relates to a method comprising providing an activation signal from a wireless communication unit to a measurement unit to switch the measurement unit from its inactive state to its active state; providing a measurement request signal to the measurement unit to request measurement of a filling level of a product in a tank; and thereafter switching the wireless communication unit from its active state to its inactive state. The measurement unit measures the filling level and provides a measurement ready signal to the wireless communication unit; the wireless communication unit is switched from its inactive state to its active state in response to the measurement ready signal received from the measurement unit; the wireless communication unit retrieves the value indicative of the filling level from the measurement unit; and wirelessly transmits the value indicative of the filling level to the remote device.
US08970389B2
A stir alarm device for monitoring a forced air in-bin grain stirring system and alerting an individual when the stirring system malfunctions. The stir alarm device may include a movement device which is movably secured to the stirring system, such that movement of the stirring system causes movement of the movement device. The stir alarm device may further include a detection mechanism for monitoring the movement of the movement device. The stir alarm may also include a signaling device operably attached to the detection mechanism, the signaling device for signaling a malfunction when an amount of movement detected by the movement detection mechanism is below a threshold for a predetermined period of time and may include methods or components to control the operation of the stir machine and/or drying system.
US08970370B2
A system and method for calibrating physical data sensing devices with physical data control devices is disclosed. The system and method are particularly useful for calibrating physical data sensing devices that measure physical data at periodic intervals different from the periodic intervals in which the physical data control device measure the physical data. The system and method provide a quick and accurate calibration between devices sampling at different rates.
US08970363B2
A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter to be worn on the wrist of the operator and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to the vehicle. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter.
US08970359B2
In a method and a device for wear diagnosis of a motor vehicle, driving events and driving conditions occurring during driving operation are detected, the detected driving events and driving conditions are assigned in each case a wear index value using a table which is stored in a memory of the motor vehicle and which adds up the wear index values assigned to the detected driving events and driving conditions in order to form a total wear index value, and the determined total wear index value is compared with a reference total wear index value derived from a stored characteristic curve.
US08970357B2
A vehicle-mounted surrounding object recognizing apparatus, comprising: a camera that captures an environment surrounding an own vehicle; and an image processing device; wherein the image processing device is configured to process an image captured by the camera to calculate an index value of a color component with respect to an image portion having a luminance value greater than a predetermined value, and determine whether the image portion is related to a light from a surrounding vehicle based on a relationship between the calculated index value of a color component and a predetermined threshold, and the predetermined threshold is changed according to a lighting status of a forward lighting device of the own vehicle.
US08970355B1
An article is worn by a user. A plurality of indicating devices are coupled to the article. A processing unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of indicating devices. The processing unit selectively actuates at least one indicating device of the plurality of indicating devices based on positional data.
US08970353B2
Presenting comparative timing data to the audience of a sports or other competition multiple within an event, where timing or scoring data is stored during each heat, compared between heats, and displayed. Timing data includes lap times, split times, or other timing information. Timing data from each heat can also be compared with historical timing records such as Olympic, NCAA, or other records. A computing device coupled to timing equipment, storage, and a display operate to gather and store timing data from each heat, compare the timing data to generate comparative timing data, and present the comparative timing data to attendees. A software application running on the computing device allows a user to select particular timing data to compare with the current event timing data. Video and biographical information about a given competitor in the event can also be presented to the user.
US08970351B2
Systems and/or Methods are disclosed for acquiring data from a transceiver responsive to one or more signals that are received at the transceiver from one or more devices. In one embodiment, a transceiver is configured to transmit a signal responsive to having received a first signal from a first device, wherein the signal that is transmitted by the transceiver is configured to trigger a second device to transmit a second signal. The transceiver is further configured to transmit data responsive to having received the second signal that is transmitted by the second device. In other embodiments, a transceiver is configured to receive a signal from a first device over frequencies of a predetermined frequency band that the first device is authorized to use, to receive a signal from a second device over frequencies of the predetermined frequency band and to transmit data responsive to having received both the signal from the first device and the signal from the second device. The transceiver is further configured to require that both the signal from the first device and the signal from the second device be received at the transceiver before the data is transmitted. Analogous methods are also disclosed.
US08970347B2
In one embodiment, a human body communication apparatus includes a first human body communication terminal carried by a person, a second human body communication terminal and an authentication unit included in the first or second human body communication terminal. The first human body communication terminal includes a first detection unit to detect first living body physiological information of the carrying person. The second human body communication terminal includes a human body contact sensor and a second detection unit to detect second living body physiological information of the person who touches the human body contact sensor. The authentication unit acquires the first and second living body physiological information and determines a correlation between the first and second living body physiological information to permit communication between the first and second human body communication terminals in accordance with the correlation.
US08970342B2
The invention relates to a system and a method with at least one presence detector, wherein the presence detector has a radio transmitter. The system further comprises at least one radio receiver that is constructed in such a manner as to receive and evaluate signals of the presence detector transmitted via radio. The radio receiver further comprises at least one device that acts on downstream units as a function of the evaluation result.
US08970336B2
An electronic component capable of preventing the occurrence of magnetic saturation due to a magnetic flux surrounding each coil conductor and a method of manufacturing the electronic component are provided. The electronic component includes a laminate formed by stacking unit layers, where each unit layer includes a first insulating layer, and a coil conductor and second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer. Each second insulating layer has a Ni content greater than a Ni content of each first insulating layer. Portions of the first insulating layers have a Ni content lower than a Ni content of the second portions after the laminate is calcined.
US08970332B2
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
US08970325B2
A BPF comprises a first resonator and a second resonator connected in order between input/output terminals. The resonators each include an inductor conductor and a capacitor conductor formed in a laminate. The inductor conductors of both resonators have one open end and the other short-circuited end. The BPF further comprises a connection conductor for interconnecting the inductor conductors of the two resonators. This connection conductor connects the inductor conductor of the first resonator at a position close to the open end with the inductor conductor of the second resonator at a position close to the open end.
US08970324B2
A multilayer component includes a dielectric ceramic material that can be co-sintered with a varistor ceramic to form a monolithic multilayer component according to the invention. The multilayer component therefore includes a layer of a varistor ceramic and another layer of a dielectric. Both layers can be arranged directly adjacent to one another in the multilayer component. In the multilayer component, metallizations are arranged on or between the ceramic layers. The metallizations are structured to form conductor sections and metallized areas. The metallizations form together with the ceramic layers alongside a varistor at least one further component selected from at least one of the component functions.
US08970320B2
A filter circuit includes a filter part connected between an input terminal and an output terminal and configured to have a passband, and a path connected in parallel with the filter part between the input terminal and the output terminal, the path having an impedance that enables a first signal passing through the path from the input terminal to the output terminal and a second signal passing through the filter part from the input terminal to the output terminal to have an opposite phase relationship in a frequency band outside of the passband and have almost equal amplitudes in the frequency band.
US08970308B2
A power circuit includes a RF transistor and an input match network coupled to an input to the RF transistor and to an input to the power circuit. The input match network includes a resistor, an inductor and a first capacitor coupled together in series between the input to the RF transistor and a ground, and a second capacitor coupled in parallel with at least the resistor. The value of the second capacitor is selected so that the resistor is bypassed over at least a portion of the high frequency range of the power circuit.
US08970289B1
An integrated circuit device can include at least a first bi-directional biasing circuit having a first substrate portion containing a plurality of first transistors; a first control digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to generate any of a plurality of first target values in response to a first target code; a first detect circuit configured to generate a difference value between the first target values and a first limit value; and at least a first charge pump circuit configured to drive the first substrate portion between a forward body bias voltage and a reverse body bias voltage for the first transistors in response to first target values. Embodiments can also include a performance monitor section configured to determine a difference between the voltage of the first substrate portion and a target voltage. Control logic can generate first code values in response to the difference between the voltage of the first substrate portion and the target voltage. Methods are also disclosed.
US08970281B2
A load driver includes a switching element connected to a load, a constant current generator that generates a constant current, and a driver circuit that turns on the switching element for an on-period, which depends on a value of the constant current and is shortened with an increase in the value of the constant current. The constant current generator supplies a first constant current having a first current value to the driver circuit during the on-period, and supplies a second constant current having a second current value smaller than the first current value after the on-period has elapsed and the switching element reaches an on state.
US08970276B1
Circuits and methods are introduced to allow for timing relationship between a clock signal and a synchronization signal to be observed. The observations may include observing the timing relationship between a capture edge of the clock signal and a transition of the synchronization signal. Based on the observations the timing of the synchronization signal transition may be adjusted. Observing the timing relationship may include providing a delayed synchronization signal and a delayed clock signal. The delayed synchronization signal may provide what happens before the capture edge of the clock signal. The delayed clock signal may provide what happens after the capture edge of the clock signal.
US08970265B2
An electronic circuit for driving an electronic switch includes a first voltage terminal coupled to receive a first voltage from a power supply and a second voltage terminal coupled to receive a second voltage from the power supply. A driver circuit is configured to drive the voltage at a control terminal of the electronic switch to an intermediate voltage level in order to turn on the electronic switch during a high or normal voltage condition. A clamp circuit is configured to clamp the voltage at the control terminal of the electronic switch to the second voltage terminal in order to turn on the electronic switch during a low voltage condition, so that the electronic switch can enhance power provided to a load during the low voltage condition. A low voltage detection circuit detects the low voltage condition and provides a signal to activate the clamp circuit.
US08970260B1
Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods and apparatuses involving communications. As consistent with one or more embodiments, first and second sets of multiple current drivers are implemented respectively in a high-side and a low-side circuit. Current is driven via an output port in the high-side circuit by activating the first set of multiple current drivers until a steady-state high voltage is detected, and by deactivating one of the current drivers in the first set when the steady-state high voltage is detected. Current is driven in the low-side circuit by activating the second set of multiple current drivers until a steady-state low voltage is detected, and by deactivating one of the current drivers in the second set when the steady-state low voltage is detected.
US08970256B2
The present disclosure relates to a differential sense amplifier comprising first and second cross-coupled inverters with first and second complimentary storage nodes. A first current control element changes a current through the first cross-coupled inverter based upon an output of a second cross-coupled inverter, and a second current control element changes a current through the second cross-coupled inverter based upon an output of the first cross-coupled inverter. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US08970254B1
Methods and systems according to one or more embodiments are provided for frequency detection. In an embodiment, a frequency detector is provided that includes a capacitor that discharges or charges responsive to binary states of an input signal.
US08970251B2
Disclosed is a programmable logic device (PLD) which can undergo dynamic configuration at a high speed. The PLD includes a plurality of programmable logic elements (PLEs) and a switch for selecting electrical connection between the PLEs. The switch includes a plurality of circuit groups each of which includes first and second transistors. The second transistors of the circuit groups are electrically connected in parallel with one another. In each of the circuit groups, the electrical conduction between a source and a drain of the second transistor is determined based on configuration data held at a node between the gate of the second transistor and a drain of the first transistor, which allows the selection of the electrical connection and disconnection between the programmable logic elements by the selection of one of the circuit groups.
US08970250B2
Some embodiments provide an IC with configuration context switchers. The IC includes several configurable circuits, each of which configurably performs one of several operations at any given time, based on the configuration data set that it receives at that time. The IC includes several storage circuits for storing several configuration data sets for each of the configurable circuits. The IC also includes a context switching interconnect circuit for switchably connecting the configurable circuit to different sets of storage circuits to receive different sets of configuration data sets. The context switcher includes one or more stages for re-timing the data coming from the configuration storage elements. The stages can include interconnect circuitry or storage circuitry. Some embodiments build one of the stages in the configuration data storage elements. Some embodiments encode the configuration data bits and hence utilize a decoder in the context switcher to decode the encoded configuration data.
US08970248B2
A termination network for a receiver device is provided to support both D-PHY signaling and N-factorial signaling. The first end of each of a plurality dynamically configurable switches is coupled to a common node. A first end of each of a plurality of resistances is coupled to a second end of a corresponding switch. A plurality of terminals receive differential signals and each terminal is coupled to a corresponding second end of a resistance. Each of a plurality differential receivers is coupled between two terminals of the termination network, wherein a first differential receiver and a second differential receiver are coupled to the same two terminals, the first differential receiver is used when the differential signals use a first type of differential signal encoding, the second differential receiver is used when the differential signals use a second type of differential signal encoding.
US08970245B2
A probing device for a TFT-LCD substrate, which includes a device body, a device body, a circuit board mounted on the device body, a plurality of motors mounted on the device body, and a plurality of probe pins respectively mounted to the motors. The motors and the probe pins are arranged in a one-to-one corresponding manner. The circuit board includes a programmable logic controller and a man-machine interface terminal electrically connected to the programmable logic controller. The plurality of motors and the plurality of probe pins are electrically connected to the programmable logic controller. The plurality of probe pins is set at locations corresponding to locations of panel inspection signal input pads of TFT substrates of various sizes. The programmable logic controller uses the motors to control the elevation and lowering of the probe pins.
US08970237B2
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.
US08970233B2
A controller for use with a nondestructive inspection system communicates with the nondestructive inspection system and with a robot for moving an inspection probe of the nondestructive inspection system relative to an object under inspection. The controller is configured to periodically generate estimated position information of the probe moving relative to the object under inspection and communicate the estimated position information to the nondestructive inspection system as the nondestructive inspection system collects inspection data from the probe. The controller receives actual position information from the robot, the actual position information indicating an actual position of the probe, and corrects the estimated position information based on the actual position information.
US08970229B2
A method includes actuating a drive electrode to couple a majority of charge to a first sense electrode, a dielectric panel overlying the drive electrode, the first sense electrode, and a second sense electrode. The sense electrodes are separated by coupling gaps, the second sense electrode shielded from the drive electrode by the first sense electrode. The first sense electrode and at least one of the drive electrode and the second sense electrode each include at least two electrode elements, which are arranged interleaved on the dielectric panel in the sequence: drive electrode element, first sense electrode element, second sense electrode element, first sense electrode element, drive electrode element. The method includes sampling the first and second sense electrodes to collect respective first and second signal samples, subtracting the second signal sample from the first signal sample to obtain a final signal, and outputting the final signal.
US08970223B2
An apparatus for testing a cable or other capacitive load object with a VLF alternating cosine square, rectangular or trapezoidal test voltage, includes one or two DC voltage sources and a switching arrangement controlled by a measuring and control unit, to produce the test voltage with alternating switched polarity. The apparatus further includes a choke coil serving as an energy store, which is controlled by a switching element to be activated if the voltage/time slope arising during the switch-over after a respective half-wave of the test voltage falls below a defined threshold value.
US08970220B2
A combination lighting tester tool. The combination lighting tester tool includes at least three independent testing tools for identifying and diagnosing a problem in a lighting system. For example, the tester includes a lamp testing function in which a high voltage test signal is generated and transmitted using an antenna. When the test signal is in proximity to a gas filled lamp, the voltage is of sufficient magnitude to ionize the gas inside the lamp, causing the lamp to illuminate. The tester also includes a ballast testing function in which the power lines or wires connecting a ballast to a lamp or lighting fixture are tested, and a filament tester for testing the filaments in a lamp for continuity or resistance. The tester also includes a worklight for illuminating an area under test and one or more display devices (e.g., LEDs, an LCD display, or the like) which provide an indication of, for example, a test being performed or a result of a test.
US08970215B2
A sensor device for sensing particles of a sample, the sensor device including a sensing unit adapted for sensing a detection signal indicative of the presence of the particles, a viscosity measurement unit adapted for measuring the viscosity of the sample, and a correction unit adapted for correcting the detection signal based on the measured viscosity.
US08970210B2
The disclosure relates to a magnetic position sensor in at least two directions, the sensor including at least one magnetized element and a probe including at least two magneto-sensitive elements located substantially on the same point and each measuring one of the components of the magnetic field generated by the magnetized element, the magnetized element being movable relative to the magneto-sensitive elements. The probe includes at least one processing circuit capable of carrying out angle and module calculations on the basis of algebraic combinations of the components of the magnetic field and providing at least two independent signals representing the position of the movable element along, respectively, one and the other of the two directions. According to the disclosure, the magnetization vector of the magnetized element is variable in relation to the normal vector on the surface of the magnetized element that is placed opposite the probe in at least one of the dimensions of the magnetized element so as to define a single position of the probe in relation to the magnetized element.
US08970204B1
A wireless phasing voltmeter determines the phase difference between the voltage carried by a reference electrical conductor and a field conductor. The voltage signal from the reference conductor is detected by a first unit and compared to a precision 60 Hz wave form generated from a first 1 pps GPS signal. The phase difference between the wave form and the reference conductor, represented by nine data bits, is used to modulate a radio frequency carrier wave and transmitted via simplex transmission to a second unit near an electrical conductor in the field. The second unit receives the modulated carrier wave, decodes the phase angle difference and compares it to a second phase angle difference between the voltage on the field conductor and a second precision 60 Hz wave form generated from a second 1 pps GPS signal. The difference between the two phase differences determines the phase of the field conductor.
US08970193B2
An inductor L2 is inserted in series between an input power supply E and a switching device Q1. An input smoothing capacitor C2 is provided between a connecting point of the inductor L2 and the switching device Q1 and a ground point. Herein, let L2 be an inductance value of the inductor, C2 be an electrostatic capacity of the input smoothing capacitor, and T1 be a time since the switching device Q1 is switched from an ON state to an OFF state until the switching device Q1 is switched to an ON state again according to an output signal from a drive circuit DR, then T1 is set so as to satisfy 0
US08970191B1
An apparatus includes a constant on-time or constant off-time (COT) switching regulator configured to generate an output signal. The switching regulator includes a switch that is turned on or off for a specified amount of time during each of multiple switching cycles. The apparatus also includes a modulator configured to modulate the specified amount of time that the switch is turned on or off during at least some of the switching cycles. The specified amount of time that the switch is turned on or off during each of the switching cycles could be equal to tON/OFF+ΔtMODF(ωMOD), where tON/OFF denotes a constant amount of time, ΔtMOD denotes an amplitude of the second signal, ωMOD denotes a frequency of the second signal, and F( ) denotes a modulation function. This could help to modulate switching noise over a range of frequencies and spread electro-magnetic interference generated by the switching regulator.
US08970187B2
A voltage generator is disclosed. The voltage generator includes an operational amplifier, an offset voltage tuner, and an output stage circuit. The operational amplifier receives an input voltage and adjusts an offset voltage of the operating amplifier according to a control signal. The offset voltage tuner provides the control signal. The output stage circuit generates an output voltage according to a voltage on an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and provides the output voltage to the operational amplifier.
US08970184B2
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus determines an input voltage and an input current of a power system driving a low power factor load, the input voltage varying based on a power cycle, determines at least a first portion of the power cycle at which the input current exceeds a threshold, and couples at least one substantially resistive load to the low power factor load during at least a second portion of the power cycle different from the at least a first portion of the power cycle.
US08970179B2
A method for charging multiple battery packs is disclosed, which comprises the steps of providing full output power of the power conversion unit to a first battery pack in a charging cycle at the control of a first control signal; monitoring in real-time the charging acceptance of the first battery pack and when the charging acceptance detected is less than the available full output power of the power conversion unit, charging a second battery pack by the remaining output power, i.e. the output power difference between the full available output power and the charging acceptance of the first patent pack, at the control of a second control signal. The service life of battery is extended and the efficiency of the PV module is increased in the system where in the method is implemented. A device for charging multiple battery packs is also disclosed.
US08970178B2
The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a current pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charge, measuring a voltage at the terminals of the battery, determining a relationship of an open circuit voltage to an amount of charge in the battery using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery, calculating an open circuit voltage of the battery using the voltage measured at the terminals of the battery, a current applied to or removed from the battery and an impedance of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery using (i) the calculated open circuit voltage and (ii) the relationship of the open circuit voltage to the amount of charge.
US08970174B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit is capable of being supplied with battery current information and battery voltage information. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a memory function, a current integrating function, a voltage-based state of charge operating function, a current-based state of charge operating function, a comparison determination function, a correcting function, and a resistance deterioration coefficient output function. The memory function stores the relation between a state of charge of a battery and an internal resistance deterioration coefficient thereof. The full charge capacity outputted from the correcting function and the internal resistance deterioration coefficient outputted from the resistance deterioration coefficient output function are stored in the memory function when a voltage-based state of charge and a current-based state of charge compared by the comparison determination function are determined to substantially coincide with each other.
US08970168B2
Charging circuit for energy store of a portable electrical device has a first resonance switching circuit with a first receiver coil for receiving an alternating magnetic field which induces an electric voltage in the first coil, and an electrical component connected to a terminal of the first coil. The first coil and the further electrical component determine a resonance frequency (f0) of the first resonance switching circuit, A second resonance circuitry is also provided and has a second receiver coil and a further electrical component which determine a resonance frequency (f1, fn) of the second resonance circuitry. The resonance frequency of the second resonance circuitry is an integer multiple of the resonance frequency of the first resonance switching circuit. Receiver coils of the resonance circuitry are disposed such that during operation they are permeated by the same magnetic field lines of the alternating magnetic field.
US08970161B1
A modulation control scheme for a series-connected dual active bridge (DAB) DC to DC converter in a maximum power point tracking charge controller used in a photovoltaic system controls operation of the converter in a forward direction power flow mode to control charging of a battery bank with electricity produced by the photovoltaic array. The modulation control scheme is also capable of operating the converter in a reverse direction power flow mode to control the flow of electricity from the battery bank to a DC load. The modulation control scheme divides the converter's operating range in each mode into five main cases of minimum root mean square (M-RMS) operating regions and seven main cases of full zero-voltage switching (F-ZVS) operating regions, as well as transition operating regions between adjacent main cases, based on applicable power level and value of voltage differential.
US08970159B2
Provided are a method for compensating instantaneous power failure in medium voltage inverter and a medium voltage inverter system by using the same, the method for compensating instantaneous power failure in medium voltage inverter including a plurality of power cells supplying a phase voltage to a motor by being connected to the motor in series, the method including decreasing an output frequency of the plurality of power cells by as much as a predetermined value at a relevant point where an input voltage of the plurality of power cells is less than a reference value, decreasing the output frequency at a predetermined deceleration gradient, and maintaining the output frequency during restoration of input voltage as long as a predetermined time, in a case the input voltage is restored.
US08970150B2
An apparatus detects the position of a rotor of an electric motor having three phases and a plurality of windings. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to connect at least two of said windings between first and second reference voltages according to a first current path disconnect said at least two windings, and allow the current stored in said two windings to be discharged through a second current path. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit configured to measure the time period between the starting instant of storing the current in the two windings and the final instant of discharging the two windings and a rotor detector configured to detect the rotor position based at least in part on the measured time period.
US08970149B2
A motor circuit with power-off braking function includes a driving unit, a coil unit, and a braking unit. The driving unit includes a plurality of switch arms connected in parallel, with each switch arm having a series contact. The coil unit includes a plurality of coils and a central contact. Each coil includes an end connected to the series contact of one of the switch arms. The other end of each coil is connected to the central contact. The braking unit includes a brake loop switch coupled between the central contact of the coil unit and an end of the switch arms. When power is cut off, a plurality of brake loops is formed to share the transient current during braking.
US08970147B2
An apparatus in an electric vehicle including a propulsion electric motor powered by energy from an energy storage system, including a field oriented motor controller generating motor control signals for the electric motor, the motor control signals responsive to a flux command signal and a torque command signal; a torque command calculator, coupled to the motor controller, generating the torque command signal to command a desired torque; an optimal efficiency controller, coupled to the torque command calculator, generating an operating efficiency flux to operate the electric motor at a first determinable efficiency using a first power from the energy storage system while providing the desired torque; an excess dissipation controller generating an inefficient flux to operate the electric motor at a second determinable efficiency using a second power from the energy storage system independent of the desired torque wherein the second power is greater than the first power; and a mode controller setting the flux command signal using one of the optimal efficiency flux and the inefficient flux.
US08970136B2
A semiconductor light source lighting circuit includes a voltage step-down unit configured to generate a drive voltage lower than an input voltage by turning on or off a first switching element in a voltage step-down mode, a voltage step-up unit configured to generate the drive voltage higher than the input voltage by turning on or off a second switching element in a voltage step-up mode, and a controller. The controller includes a charge pump unit configured to repeat charging from the drive voltage to a second capacitor and discharging from the charged second capacitor to the first capacitor in the voltage step-up mode, and a switch drive unit configured to apply a voltage higher than the voltage at the other end of the first switching element to the control terminal of the first switching element by using a voltage of the charged first capacitor.
US08970130B1
A bedside lamp, features for such a lamp, and associated methodology. The lamp has at least two different sets of lighting elements, each having one or more groupings of LED lamp(s), where the one or more main LED lamp(s) provide the majority of the lighting when the lamp is at full brightness and no lighting during various reduced lighting states, and the one or more “auxiliary” LED lamp(s) provide less than a majority of the lighting when the lamp is at full brightness and all of the lighting during various reduced lighting states. The lamp has the means for the user to set a dimming time for which the lights dim from a set brightness to 0% brightness, and means to gradually dim the main and auxiliary LED lamp(s) according to the above description.
US08970120B2
A lamp driving apparatus and an illumination equipment using the same are provided. The provided lamp driving apparatus is responsible for driving a lamp. When any one of two terminals of the lamp is opened or the lamp is over-voltage, the provided driving apparatus stops driving the lamp, and thus achieving the purpose of open lamp and over-voltage protection/detection.
US08970118B2
The LED lighting tube compatible with an electronic ballast has two snubber circuits, a waveform conversion circuit, and at least one LED light string. The snubber circuits are connected to terminals of the LED lighting tube, and input terminals of each snubber circuit are connected to electrode pins of a corresponding terminal. Each snubber circuit has at least one resistor connected in series between the electrode pins of the corresponding terminal. The waveform conversion circuit has multiple rectifier diodes, and input terminals of the waveform conversion circuit are respectively connected to output terminals of the snubber circuits, with a recovery time of each rectifier diode being under 2.5 us. Two ends of the at least one LED light string are respectively connected to output terminals of the waveform conversion circuit, and each one of the at least one LED light string includes multiple LED units connected in series.
US08970113B2
A field emission device is configured as a heat engine, wherein the configuration of the heat engine is variable as a function of time. A method corresponding to a field emission device comprises applying an anode electric potential to an anode region that is greater than a cathode electric potential of a cathode region, applying a gate electric potential to a gate region to release a set of electrons from the cathode region, passing the set of electrons from the gate region to a suppressor region, applying a suppressor electric potential to decelerate the set of electrons between the suppressor region and the anode region, binding the set of electrons in the anode region, and varying at least one of the anode electric potential, gate electric potential, and suppressor electric potential as a function of time.
US08970101B2
A system including a base portion, which includes first and second sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit blue light having first and second wavelengths in first and second wavelength ranges in a spectrum of blue light, a glass layer arranged at a second predetermined distance from the base portion, and a plurality of coatings of first and second phosphors having a predetermined length arranged in an alternating pattern on a surface of the glass layer facing toward the LEDs. The LEDs of the first and second sets are arranged on the base portion in an alternating pattern and are separated from each other by a first predetermined distance. Centers of the coatings of the first and second phosphors respectively align with centers of corresponding LEDs in the first and second sets.
US08970099B2
The present disclosure relates to an ionization chamber with a built-in temperature sensor, which is especially adapted for devices, such as X-ray units, gamma irradiators and linear accelerators, whichever is used for performing radiation dose output measurement accordingly. In an embodiment, the ionization chamber comprises: a cavity, an inner electrode, a chamber wall, an outer electrode, a guard electrode and a calibrated temperature sensor for detecting real-time temperature inside the cavity of ionization chamber to be used in the correction process of radiation dose measurement signals. With the aforesaid device, not only the accuracy of measurement can be improved effectively, but also the time consumed in a radiation dose measurement period can be reduced greatly since it will no longer bear the disadvantage that the radiation dose measurement has to wait until the temperatures inside and outside the cavity of ionization chamber had reached a thermal equilibrium before the measurement.
US08970098B1
An ignition plug includes an insulator having an axial hole extending therethrough in the direction of an axis, a center electrode inserted into a forward end portion of the axial hole, and a metallic shell disposed externally of the insulator. The insulator includes a step portion engaged with an inner circumferential portion of the metallic shell and a leg portion extending forward from the forward end of the step portion. The porosity of the leg portion is 3.0% or less. Among three regions of the leg portion that are radially trisected in a cross section perpendicular to the axis, the outermost region is defined as a first region and the innermost region is defined as a second region. The porosity of the first region is equal to or more than 1.20 times the porosity of the second region.
US08970079B2
For an object on a bearing mounting having a magnetic bearing providing a magnetic field generally produced by an electromagnet, the bearing is regulated based on a position of the object relative to the bearing. The position of the object is determined by reference to an estimate of the inductance obtained using a least squares method, in which the electrical resistance of the bearing is taken into account. The resistance is subject to variations, for example due to temperature fluctuations; however, the electrical resistance can be estimated by regulating the inductance error, Δ{circumflex over (L)}={circumflex over (L)}2,sLS−{circumflex over (L)}1,sLS down to zero, where the resistance adjustment facility may be a low-pass filter and an integration controller.
US08970077B2
A rotary electric machine includes a rotor, a stator having coils wound to surround the rotor, a cylindrical ring member fixedly mounted on the stator by shrinkage fitting, and a frame disposed on the outside of the ring member with a gap created in between. The distance of the gap varies as a result of thermal expansion of the stator and the ring member. An outer surface of the ring member goes into contact with the frame when the stator and the ring member thermally expand, whereby the stator and the ring member are efficiently cooled.
US08970070B2
A wireless power transmission unit according to the present invention transmits power wirelessly from a power transmitting section 100 to a power receiving section 200 through a resonant magnetic field. The unit includes: the power transmitting section 100, which resonates at a resonant frequency f0; at least one relay section 300, which can resonate at a frequency that is selected from multiple frequencies including the resonant frequency f0; and a resonance control section 600 that outputs information that specifies a resonance condition to be imposed on the relay section 300 according to the arrangement of the power receiving section 200 and that makes the relay section 300 resonate on the resonance condition that has been specified in accordance with that information.
US08970068B2
A converter unit configured to couple to a photovoltaic panel (PV) may include a controller to sense an input voltage and input current obtained from the photovoltaic panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter coupled to a DC bus to regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point that reduces overall system losses, and removes non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also perform input voltage management and regulation, including maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the PV. The controller may probe the bus voltage using a probe waveform generated according to a pseudo-random bit sequence (PRBS), to provide a probe signal that is distinct from the control steps performed by the controller. A PV array may feature a respective converter unit coupled to each PV, with each respective controller using a different and unique seed for generating its PRBS.
US08970062B2
The power source apparatus has high-voltage-side power supply circuitry 4 that supplies driving battery 1 power to the first measurement circuit 2 and the second measurement circuit 3, isolation circuitry 5 that isolates output from the first measurement circuit 2 and the second measurement circuit 3 and outputs it to the vehicle-side, and low-voltage-side power supply circuitry 6 that supplies vehicle auxiliary battery 7 (12V) power to the isolation circuitry 5. The first measurement circuit 2, which is powered by the high-voltage-side power supply circuitry 4, outputs voltage signals to the vehicle-side via the first isolation circuit 5A, which is powered by the first low-voltage-side power supply circuit 6A, and the second measurement circuit 3, which is powered by the high-voltage-side power supply circuitry 4, outputs battery 10 error signals to the vehicle-side via the second isolation circuit 5B, which is powered by the second low-voltage-side power supply circuit 6B.
US08970056B2
An ocean wave energy system for generating power from ocean waves includes a platform supporting an array of hollow columns whose respective lower ends are in fluidic communication with ocean waves and whose respective upper ends are in air communication with a turbine arrangement such that wave motion occurring at the lower ends is operable to cause air movement within the columns for propelling the turbine arrangement to generate power output. The system further includes one or more position-adjustable and/or angle-adjustable submerged structures near the lower ends of the columns for forming ocean waves propagating in operation towards the lower ends of the columns to couple the waves in a controllable manner into the hollow columns.
US08970044B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate; mounting an integrated circuit over the substrate; forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit, the encapsulation having an encapsulation interior sidewall; forming a peripheral non-horizontal conductive plate directly on the encapsulation interior sidewall; and forming a peripheral vertical conductor directly on the peripheral non-horizontal conductive plate and the substrate.
US08970027B2
One aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a substrate. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming an electrical conductor on or in the substrate by providing a mixture comprising metal particles and an electroless deposition solution and electrolessly depositing a metal matrix and co-depositing the metal particles. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming an electrical conductor on or in the substrate by providing a mixture comprising metal particles and an electrochemical plating solution and electrochemically plating a metal matrix and co-depositing the metal particles. Another aspect of the present invention is a mixture for the formation of an electrical conductor on or in a substrate. Another aspect of the present invention is an electronic device.
US08970026B2
A first set of electrically conductive cladding is disposed on an inner section of one external side of a package substrate. The first set electrically conductive cladding is fabricated with a first solder compound. A second set of electrically conductive cladding is disposed on an outer section of the one external side of the substrate. The second set of electrically conductive cladding consists of a second solder compound. The outer section can be farther away from a center of the one external side of the substrate than the inner section. During a reflow process, the first and second solder compounds are configured to become completely molten when heated and the first solder compound solidifies at a higher temperature during cool down than the second solder compound.
US08970024B2
A package includes a first package component having a top surface, a second package component bonded to the top surface of the first package component, and a plurality of electrical connectors at the top surface of the first package component. A molding material is over the first package component and molding the second package component therein. The molding material includes a first portion overlapping the second package component, wherein the first portion includes a first top surface, and a second portion encircling the first portion and molding bottom portions of the plurality of electrical connectors therein. The second portion has a second top surface lower than the first top surface.
US08970008B2
A wafer has a number of IC areas and a kerf area arranged between the IC areas. The kerf area has a dicing area, a crack stop structure arranged between an IC area and a dicing area, and a trench arranged between the crack stop structure and the dicing area. The crack stop structure includes an extended layer extending beyond the crack stop structure towards the dicing area.
US08970006B2
An embodiment of a die comprising: a semiconductor body including a front side, a back side, and a lateral surface; an electronic device, formed in said semiconductor body and including an active area facing the front side; a vertical conductive connection, extending through the semiconductor body and defining a conductive path between the front side and the back side of the semiconductor body; and a conductive contact, defining a conductive path on the front side of the semiconductor body, between the active area and the vertical conductive connection, wherein the vertical conductive connection is formed on the lateral surface of the die, outside the active area.
US08970005B2
According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a MEMS element. The MEMS element includes a lower electrode having a surface on which a plurality of minute convex portions are formed. A plurality of dielectric bumps are provided on the upper surface of the lower electrode and are thicker than heights of the convex portions. A dielectric layer is provided on the dielectric bumps and the lower electrode. An upper electrode is provided above the dielectric layer. The upper electrode is movable so as to vary capacitance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.
US08970003B2
System and method for embedded passive integration relating to a multi-chip packaged device. The packaged device includes a capacitance layer that is configured for electrical coupling to a power supply and to a reference power supply. Further, the capacitance layer is configured for filtering the power supply and providing a filtered power supply. A semiconductor layer including a logic device is configured for electrical coupling to the filtered power supply.
US08969985B2
A semiconductor chip package and a method to manufacture a semiconductor chip package are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a substrate and a semiconductor chip disposed on the substrate and laterally surrounded by a packaging material. The package further comprises a current rail adjacent the semiconductor chip, the current rail isolated from the semiconductor chip by an isolation layer, a first external pad, and a via contact contacting the current rail with the first external pad.
US08969976B2
A double-sided diaphragm micro gas-preconcentrator has a micro-gas chamber which is formed by bonding an upper silicon substrate with a lower silicon substrate. One or more suspended membranes are provided on every silicon substrate. The silicon where the suspended membrane is provided is completely removed for forming a cavity. A thin-film heater is deposited on every suspended membrane. A sorptive film is coated on an inner wall of every suspended membrane. Thus, the upper and lower sides of the preconcentrator in the present invention are suspended membranes, which improve the area of the sorptive film on the diaphragm. As a result, the preconcentrating factor is improved while keeping the small heat capacity, fast heating rate, and low power consumption features of the planar diaphragm preconcentrator.
US08969974B2
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a field effect transistor (FET) structure. The FET structure includes shallow trench isolation (STI) features formed in a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of semiconductor regions defined in the semiconductor substrate and isolated from each other by the STI features; and a multi-fin active region of a first semiconductor material disposed on one of the semiconductor regions of the semiconductor substrate.
US08969973B2
A multi-gate semiconductor device with inter-gate conductive regions being connected to balance resistors is provided. The multi-gate semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a multilayer structure formed upon the substrate, a first ohmic electrode, a second ohmic electrode, a plural of gate electrodes, at least one conductive region, and at least one resistive component. When put into practice, the multi-gate semiconductor device is advantageous in reducing the voltage drop along the conductive region with a minimal change in device layout, improving the OFF-state linearity while retaining a low insertion loss, and minimizing the area occupied by the resistor and hence the total chip size.
US08969967B2
An integrated circuit includes a stack having a semiconductor substrate with a first type of dopant, an UTBOX type buried insulating layer, electronic components, formed in the substrate, ground planes disposed beneath the buried insulating layer so as to be respectively plumb with corresponding components, wells with the first type of dopant, the wells being respectively beneath corresponding ground planes, and a bias circuit enabling distinct voltages to be applied to the ground planes by the wells. The wells are separated from the substrate by a deep well with a second type of dopant. The wells are separated from each other by a separating structure, which is either a lateral well having a second type of dopant or a block of insulating material.
US08969964B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate stack formed on an active region in a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) portion of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate includes a n-type field effect transistor (nFET) portion. A gate spacer is formed over the gate stack. A source region and a drain region are formed within a first region and a second region, respectively, of the pFET portion of the semiconductor layer including embedded silicon germanium (eSiGe). A source region and a drain region are formed within a first region and a second region, respectively, of the nFET portion of the semiconductor layer including eSiGe. The source and drain regions within the pFET portion includes at least one dimension that is different from at least one dimension of the source and drain regions within the nFET portion.
US08969958B1
A split gate power transistor includes a doped substrate, a gate oxide layer on the substrate, and a split polysilicon layer over the gate oxide layer, which forms a polysilicon gate positioned over a channel region and a first portion of a transition region and a polysilicon field plate positioned over a second portion of the transition region and a shallow trench isolation region. The two polysilicon portions are separated by a gap. The field plate is electrically coupled to a source of the split gate power transistor. One or more body extension regions, each having the same doping type as the body substrate, extend at least underneath the edge of the field plate adjacent to the gap. The body extension regions force the portion of the transition region underneath the field plate into deep-depletion, thereby preventing the formation of a hole inversion layer in this region.
US08969946B2
A semiconductor device includes polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer. The polysilicon layer is doped with carbon or phosphorous. The silicide layer is formed over the polysilicon layer.
US08969943B2
A semiconductor device with a nonvolatile memory is provided which has improved characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a control gate electrode, a memory gate electrode disposed adjacent to the control gate electrode, a first insulating film, and a second insulating film including therein a charge storing portion. Among these components, the memory gate electrode is formed of a silicon film including a first silicon region positioned over the second insulating film, and a second silicon region positioned above the first silicon region. The second silicon region contains p-type impurities, and the concentration of p-type impurities of the first silicon region is lower than that of the p-type impurities of the second silicon region.
US08969939B2
A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.
US08969938B2
An ETSOI transistor and a capacitor are formed respectively in a transistor and capacitor region thereof by etching through an ETSOI and thin BOX layers in a replacement gate HK/MG flow. The capacitor formation is compatible with an ETSOI replacement gate CMOS flow. A low resistance capacitor electrode makes it possible to obtain a high quality capacitor or varactor. The lack of topography during dummy gate patterning are achieved by lithography in combination of which is accompanied with appropriate etch.
US08969935B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes a semiconductor substrate having a first area, a plurality of cell transistors arranged on the first area of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of cell capacitors each coupled to an associated one of the cell transistors, the cell capacitors being provided so as to overlap with one another on the first area.
US08969929B2
A general insulated gate power semiconductor active element with many gate electrodes arranged in parallel has a laminated structure including a barrier metal film and a thick aluminum electrode film formed over the gate electrodes via an interlayer insulating film. When the aluminum electrode film is embedded in between the gate electrodes in parallel, voids may be generated with the electrodes. Such voids allow the etchant to penetrate in wet etching, which may promote the etching up to a part of the electrode film in an active cell region which is to be left. Thus, an insulated gate power semiconductor device is provided to include gate electrodes protruding outward from the inside of the active cell region, and a gate electrode coupling portion for coupling the gate electrodes outside the active cell region. The gate electrode coupling portion is covered with a metal electrode covering the active cell region.
US08969923B2
Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for a memory layer layout for a three-dimensional memory. The memory layer includes a plurality of memory array blocks; a plurality of memory lines coupled thereto; and a plurality of zia contact areas for coupling the memory layer to other memory layers in a three-dimensional memory. The memory lines extend from the memory array blocks, are formed using a sidewall defined process, and have a half pitch dimension smaller than the nominal minimum feature size capability of a lithography tool used in forming the memory lines. The zia contact areas have a dimension that is approximately four times the half pitch dimension of the memory lines. The memory lines are arranged in a pattern that allows a single memory line to intersect a single zia contact area and to provide area between other memory lines for other zia contact areas. Other aspects are disclosed.
US08969912B2
A vertical III-nitride field effect transistor includes a drain comprising a first III-nitride material, a drain contact electrically coupled to the drain, and a drift region comprising a second III-nitride material coupled to the drain. The field effect transistor also includes a channel region comprising a third III-nitride material coupled to the drain and disposed adjacent to the drain along a vertical direction, a gate region at least partially surrounding the channel region, having a first surface coupled to the drift region and a second surface on a side of the gate region opposing the first surface, and a gate contact electrically coupled to the gate region. The field effect transistor further includes a source coupled to the channel region and a source contact electrically coupled to the source. The channel region is disposed between the drain and the source along the vertical direction such that current flow during operation of the vertical III-nitride field effect transistor is along the vertical direction, and the channel region extends along at least a portion of the second surface of the gate region.
US08969895B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: a light emission structure in which a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer are sequentially stacked; a first electrode formed on the first conductive semiconductor layer; an insulating layer formed on the second conductive semiconductor layer and made of a transparent material; a reflection unit formed on the insulating layer and reflecting light emitted from the active layer; a second electrode formed on the reflection unit; and a transparent electrode formed on the second conductive semiconductor layer, the transparent electrode being in contact with the insulating layer and the second electrode.
US08969894B2
A light emitting diode (LED) with a micro-structure lens includes a LED die and a micro-structure lens. The micro-structure lens includes a convex lens portion, at least one concentric ridge structure surrounding the convex lens portion, and a lower portion below the convex lens portion and the at least one concentric ridge structure. The lower portion is arranged to be disposed over the LED die. A first optical path length from an edge of the LED die to a top center of the microstructure lens is substantially the same as a second optical path length from the edge of the LED die to a side of the micro-structure lens.
US08969890B2
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a solid state light emitting device having a plurality of light-sources, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a growth surface; providing a mask layer on the growth surface, the mask layer having a plurality of openings through which the growth surface is exposed, wherein a largest lateral dimension of each of said openings is less than 0.3 μm and wherein the mask layer may comprise a first mask layer portion and a second mask layer portion, having the same surface area and comprising a plurality of openings wherein the first mask layer portion exhibits a first ratio between an exposed area of the growth surface and an unexposed area of the growth surface, and wherein the second mask layer portion exhibits a second ratio between an exposed area of the growth surface and an unexposed area of said growth surface, the second ratio being different from the first ratio; growing a base structure on the growth surface in each of the openings of the mask layer; and growing at least one light-generating quantum well layer on the surface of each of the base structures.
US08969887B2
A light emitting device includes: a support substrate; at least one light emitting laminate having a structure in which semiconductor layers are laminated and formed on the support substrate; a wall unit formed on the support substrate and surrounding the at least one light emitting laminate; and a wavelength conversion layer disposed above the at least one light emitting laminate.
US08969881B2
There are disclosed herein various implementations of a transistor having a segmented gate region. Such a transistor may include at least one segmentation dielectric segment and two or more gate dielectric segments. The segmentation dielectric segment or segments are thicker than the gate dielectric segments, and is/are situated between the gate dielectric segments. The segmentation dielectric segment or segments cause an increase in the effective gate length so as to improve resistance to punch-through breakdown between a drain electrode and a source electrode of the transistor when the transistor is off.
US08969877B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer made of first conductivity type SiC; a second conductivity type well region formed on the semiconductor layer and having a channel region; a first conductivity type source region formed on the well region and including a first region adjacent to the well region and a second region adjacent to the first region; a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer and having a first portion that contacts the first region; a second portion that contacts the well region and that has a thickness that is the same as that of the first portion; and a third portion that contacts the second region and that has a thickness that is greater than that of the first portion; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film and opposed to the channel region where a channel is formed through the gate insulating film.
US08969864B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting diode device including an anode, a cathode, an emission layer between the anode and the cathode, and a buffer layer positioned between the emission layer and the anode. The buffer layer includes an oxide, fluoride, quinolate, or acetoacetate compound of an alkaline metal or an alkaline-earth metal, as well as a material having a work function of about 2.6 to about 4.5 eV. The buffer layer also has a thickness of about 30 Å to about 400 Å.
US08969862B2
A main object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element including an electron injection and transport layer containing an organic boron compound, which has excellent characteristics such as efficiency and service life. The present invention achieves the object mentioned above by providing an organic EL element including: an anode; a light emitting layer formed on the anode; an electron injection and transport layer that is formed on the light emitting layer, contains an organic boron compound, and has a crystalline structure; and a cathode formed on the electron injection and transport layer.
US08969856B2
Optoelectronic devices that have enhanced internal outcoupling are disclosed. The devices include a substrate, an anode, a cathode, an electroluminescent layer, and a hole injecting layer. The hole injecting layer includes inorganic nanoparticles that have a bimodal particle size distribution and which are dispersed in an organic matrix.
US08969855B2
An organic light emitting device includes, a base part, patterned first electrodes on the base part, conductive material layers spaced apart from the patterned first electrodes and between the first electrodes, pixel defining layers between the patterned first electrodes, the pixel defining layers overlapping only a portion of upper surfaces of the conductive material layers, light emitting layers on the first electrodes, and a second electrode on the light emitting layers.
US08969854B2
To provide a highly efficient organic light-emitting element. An extremely thin layer (a monomolecular film or the like) containing an organic light-emitting material such as an iridium complex is provided between a layer of an n-type organic material (an organic material having a high electron-transport property) and a layer of a p-type organic material (an organic material having a high hole-transport property). In a structure described above, in a layer of the organic light-emitting material, electrons are injected from the LUMO of the n-type organic material to the LUMO of the organic light-emitting material, and holes are injected from the HOMO of the p-type organic material to the HOMO of the organic light-emitting material, whereby the organic light-emitting material is brought into an excited state and emits light.
US08969853B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) emitting light downward through a transparent substrate. The OLED embeds a microcavity formed between a cathode and an anode and includes a plurality of organic layers including a light emitting layer. The plurality of organic layers include at least a first layer made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of electrons; and at least a second layer made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of holes. The anode is obtained by deposition of a semitransparent layer of silver (Ag) over the transparent substrate to be directly in contact with the first doped organic layer. Then, thicknesses of the first and second doped organic layers can be freely adapted to best adjust the optical characteristics of the microcavity for the wavelength of monochromatic light to be produced by the OLED.
US08969848B2
A field emission device is configured as a heat engine. Different embodiments of the heat engine may have different configurations that may include a cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode arranged in different ways according to a particular embodiment. Different embodiments of the heat engine may also incorporate different materials in and/or proximate to the cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode.
US08969843B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes first and second conductive layers, a variable resistance portion, and a multiple tunnel junction portion. The variable resistance portion is provided between the first and second conductive layers. The multiple tunnel junction portion is provided between the first conductive layer and the variable resistance portion, and includes first, second, and third tunnel insulating films, and first and second nanocrystal layers. The first nanocrystal layer between the first and second tunnel insulating films includes first conductive minute particles. The second nanocrystal layer between the second and third tunnel insulating films includes second conductive minute particles.
US08969842B2
A photointerrupter includes a base, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a light-transmissive detector resin member covering the light receiving element, a light-transmissive emitter resin member covering the light emitting element, and a light shield layer covering the detector resin member and the emitter resin member. The emitter resin member is spaced apart from the detector resin member with an intervening clearance between them. The detector resin member includes a light incidence surface exposed from the light shield layer, and the emitter resin member includes a light output surface exposed from the light shield layer. The light incidence surface and the light output surface are arranged to face the clearance between the two resin members.
US08969837B2
A multi charged particle beam writing method includes dividing a maximum irradiation time per a shot into a digit number of first irradiation time periods, each of which is calculated by multiplying a corresponding second gray scale value by the quantization unit, where second gray scale values are gray scale values defined in decimal numbers converted from each digit value of data of binary numbers; dividing second irradiation time periods, which are a part of the first irradiation time periods into third irradiation time periods; dividing irradiation of each beam into the first irradiation steps of the third irradiation time periods and second irradiation steps of the remaining undivided first irradiation time periods; and irradiating a target object, in order, with the multi beams such that the groups are respectively composed of combination of at least two irradiation steps of first irradiation steps and second irradiation steps and the groups continue in order.
US08969830B2
The present invention provides for a programmable processor in a disinfecting radiation base unit for working in conjunction with a storage case for an ophthalmic lens. The processor is operative via executable software to provide disinfecting radiation base radiation for disinfecting an ophthalmic lens. A disinfecting radiation base unit and storage case may also include sensors for providing data and a digital storage for storing the data.
US08969825B2
The invention pertains to the field of nuclear physics and can be used in system for identifying nuclear explosions based on the measured activities in the atmosphere of naturally-occurring radioactive gases (NORG). The technical result is an increase in the determination efficiency and in the reliability of punctual estimations of deposits from various types of fission in the global activity for each krypton and xenon isotope.
US08969821B2
An apparatus for detecting an X-ray includes a photo diode having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a switching transistor, and a first storage capacitor that has one end connected to the cathode electrode and another end connected to the switching transistor.
US08969818B2
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation image detection unit including a flexible substrate, photoelectric conversion elements arranged on the substrate, and a phosphor member disposed on an upper part of the substrate, a housing accommodating the radiation image detection unit, and a support member having the substrate disposed along a side surface for non-radiation transmission in the housing from a surface for radiation transmission in the housing.
US08969817B2
The subject matters of the invention is a matrix device and method for determining the place and time of the gamma quanta interaction as well as the use of the device for determining the place and time of the gamma quanta interaction in positron emission tomography.
US08969816B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of a data processing unit for an integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system, the PCB assembly includes a plurality of PCB layers disposed in a stacked arrangement, first and second PET signal processing circuits carried by a first layer of the plurality of PCB layers, first and second ground plane structures carried by a second layer of the plurality of PCB layers and configured relative to the first and second PET signal processing circuits, respectively, and a ground partition that separates the first PET signal processing circuit from the second PET signal processing circuit on the first layer. The ground partition extends through the first layer to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding between the first and second PET signal processing circuits.
US08969813B2
A scintillation detector includes: a photodetector; a scintillating material configured to emit light in response to exposure to ionization particles; an optically transparent material having a light absorption coefficient that is less than a light absorption coefficient of the scintillating material, the optically transparent material optically coupled to a surface of the scintillating material and configured to transmit the emitted light; and a reflective material at least partially surrounding the scintillating material and the optically transparent material, the reflective material configured to reflect the emitted light and direct the emitted light toward the photodetector.
US08969807B2
A carrier includes attachment holes to which a catalyst attaches, and non-attachment holes to which the catalyst does not attach. An attachment quantity measurement device includes an electromagnetic wave output device that outputs a terahertz wave toward the carrier, an electromagnetic wave detector that detects the terahertz wave which has transmitted through the carrier, a reference value obtainer that obtains, based on a result detected by the electromagnetic wave detector, any one of an absorption rate, a group delay, and a dispersion of the terahertz wave in the non-attachment holes, and an attachment quantity obtainer that obtains, based on the result detected by the electromagnetic wave detector and the result obtained by the reference value obtainer, a weight or a density of the catalyst present in the attachment holes.
US08969805B2
The base plate is transmissive to terahertz waves, and a sample is disposed at the base plate. In the conductive periodic structure, plural transmission portions that transmit terahertz waves are arrayed with a predetermined period. The conductive periodic structure is disposed apart from a position at which the sample is disposed. The waveguide includes a total reflection surface provided at a boundary face with the conductive periodic structure. The total reflection surface totally reflects incident terahertz waves, and the waveguide guides incident terahertz waves toward the total reflection surface. The magnitudes of one or more of a distance between the position at which the sample is disposed and the conductive periodic structure, a property of the base plate, and the predetermined period are set such that a dip showing a characteristic absorption is formed in a predetermined frequency region of a spectrum of terahertz waves.
US08969804B2
A device for analyzing a sample using radiation in the terahertz frequency range is provided. The device comprises a transmitter (3) comprising a THz signal generator (5, 6, 7; 51) for generating an electromagnetic THz signal, the THz signal generator comprising a nonlinear transmission line (7; 52). The device further comprises a surface plasmon polariton generating unit (8) adapted to convert the THz signal into a surface plasmon polariton. The transmitter (3) and the surface plamon polariton generating unit (8) are either integrated on one common substrate or on two separate substrates.
US08969802B1
A method of reading suit and rank of playing cards is enabled on a system for controlled provision of image content of faces of a playing card that has: e) a support surface for playing cards; f) a source of infrared radiation; g) an infrared sensitive camera; and h) a processor. The infrared sensitive camera positioned to capture infrared radiation transmitted through the playing cards and transmit information based on the captured radiation to the processor; and the processor configured to provide suit and rank information of a playing card through which the infrared radiation was transmitted.
US08969796B2
The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserializer configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserializer as parallel data.
US08969793B2
Systems and methods for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays in a subterranean formation are provided. In one example, a downhole tool for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays may include a neutron source and a gamma-ray detector. The neutron source may emit neutrons according to a pulsing scheme that includes a delay between two pulses. The delay may be sufficient to allow substantially all neutron capture events due to the emitted neutrons to cease. The gamma-ray detector may be configured to detect activation gamma-rays produced when elements activated by the emitted neutrons decay to a non-radioactive state.
US08969789B2
A signal output unit generates an A phase output signal of a rectangular wave and a B phase output signal of a rectangular wave from the A phase sinusoidal wave signal and the B phase sinusoidal wave signal, respectively and outputs the generated signals. An internal signal generating unit (comparator) generates an A phase internal signal of a rectangular wave and a B phase internal signal of a rectangular wave from the A phase sinusoidal wave signal and the B phase sinusoidal wave signal, respectively, which are further processed by counters, and an abnormality detector. Each counter resets in response to a pulse edge of a signal for detection. The abnormality detector detects an abnormality when the count value of at least one of counters reaches a prescribed value.
US08969787B2
An optical detecting apparatus, which comprises: a detecting surface; a first light source, for providing light parallel to the detecting surface; an image sensor, for detecting an object close to the detecting surface, to generate object image data; and an object location determining apparatus, for computing location information of the object according to the object image.
US08969786B2
An optical proximity switch includes an optical transmitter for emitting a light signal, a transmitting lens with total internal reflection-using the light signal to form and transmit a light beam , a receiver, an imaging receiving lens for receiving and transmitting to the receiver the light signal, and an electronic circuit for evaluating the light signal received by the receiver.
US08969784B2
In one embodiment, an optical lens assembly comprising a primary lens and an optical structure located at an outer portion of the lens is disclosed. The primary lens is configured to direct a substantial amount of light to a predetermined first distance whereas the optical structure is configured to direct light towards a second distance that is relatively close to the optical lens assembly compared to the first distance. Other embodiments disclose light-emitting devices and proximity sensors having such an optical lens assembly. Alternative embodiments of the optical lens assembly are disclosed, including but not limited to an optical structure defining an optical surface located at a lens flange and optical structure defining a light guide located at a base portion of the optical lens assembly.
US08969781B2
An optical biosensor pixel for detecting the amount of light that is generated by the biosensing process and a biosensor array architecture that includes such biosensor pixels. The optical biosensor pixel includes a photodiode configured to convert an incident photon flux into a current. Additionally, the optical biosensor pixel includes an optical filter configured to select specific wavelengths and/or photon flux angles to reach the photodiode from a biological sample. The biosensor pixel further includes a trans-impedance amplifier coupled to the photodiode, where the trans-impedance amplifier is configured to convert the current into a voltage signal. Additionally, the biosensor pixel includes a 1-bit comparator coupled to the trans-impedance amplifier and a 1-bit digital-to-analog converter coupled to the 1-bit comparator, where the 1-bit digital-to-analog converter injects different levels of charge into an input of the trans-impedance amplifier at each cycle based on an output of the 1-bit comparator.
US08969779B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, including a photodetecting structure with one or more photon sensing layers of graphene; and an integrated graphene field effect transistor configured to function as a pre-amplifier for the photodetecting structure, where the graphene field effect transistor is vertically integrated to the photodetecting structure.
US08969778B2
An electronic device may be provided with imaging modules or communications modules. Imaging modules and communications modules may be improved with the use of plasmonic light collectors. Plasmonic light collectors exploit the interaction between incoming light and plasmons in the plasmonic light collector to redirect the path of the incoming light. Plasmonic light collectors may be used to form lenses for image pixels in an imaging module or to form light pipes or lenses for use in injecting optical communications into a fiber optic cable. Plasmonic lenses may be formed by lithography of metallic surfaces, by implantation or by stacking and patterning of layers of materials having different dielectric properties. Plasmonic image pixels may be smaller and more efficient than conventional image pixels. Plasmonic light guides may have significantly less signal loss than conventional lenses and light guides.
US08969774B2
An image sensor includes a pixel array having pixels arranged in rows and columns, a first successive-approximation-register (“SAR”) analog-to-digital-converter (“ADC”), a second SAR ADC, and first and second control circuitry. The first SAR ADC includes a first capacitor array (“FCA”) that shares a first common terminal coupled to a first comparator and coupled to receive first analog pixel signals. The second SAR ADC includes a second capacitor array (“SCA”) that shares a second common terminal selectably coupled to a second comparator and coupled to receive second analog pixel signals. The first and second control modules are coupled to selectably switch bottom plates of the FCA from a low reference voltage to the high reference voltage at a same time as selectably switching bottom plates of the SCA from a high reference voltage to the low reference voltage.
US08969771B2
An imaging system includes an A/D converter including a holding unit holding a pixel signal as a voltage level, a comparator comparing the voltage level held with a reference level, a circuit capable of changing the voltage level so as to approach the reference level at first and second rates, wherein the voltage level is changed at the first rate to determine higher bits in accordance with inversion of a relationship between the reference level and the voltage level, after that, the voltage level is changed at the second rate to determine lower bits in accordance with inversion of the relationship between the reference level and the voltage level, and an adjusting unit which adjusts the voltage level during a period until the voltage level is changed at the second rate after determination of the higher bits so that the lower bits and the voltage level hold a linear relationship.
US08969761B2
A laser beam machining method and a laser beam machining device capable of cutting a work without producing a fusing and a cracking out of a predetermined cutting line on the surface of the work, wherein a pulse laser beam is radiated on the predetermined cut line on the surface of the work under the conditions causing a multiple photon absorption and with a condensed point aligned to the inside of the work, and a modified area is formed inside the work along the predetermined determined cut line by moving the condensed point along the predetermined cut line, whereby the work can be cut with a rather small force by cracking the work along the predetermined cut line starting from the modified area and, because the pulse laser beam radiated is not almost absorbed onto the surface of the work, the surface is not fused even if the modified area is formed.
US08969758B2
A method and apparatus for the laser machining of an unfinished object into a cutting tool with a cutting edge and a free surface. A laser generates laser beam impulses which are directed by a redirecting arrangement onto a surface of the unfinished object. An impulse reaches an impact location on the surface of the unfinished object under an inclination angle between the laser beam direction (R) of the impulse and the surface to be formed. The redirecting arrangement is controlled so that the laser beam impulses impact at adjacent impact locations and form a pulse zone. With a positioning arrangement a relative movement between the pulse zone and the unfinished object of predetermined speed is established so that the pulse zone formed by the impact locations moves along the surface of the unfinished object and an ablation layer of a layer thickness (dS) is removed with each contour pass.
US08969748B2
A switch device including a bus bar, and a switch knife, wherein the knife is arranged so as to pivot around an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bus bar. The bus bar presents a projection which is an integrated part of the bus bar, and the knife is pivotable to a first position, in which it directly contacts said projection, and to a second position in which it is removed from contact with said projection.
US08969731B2
A patterned transparent conductor includes a substrate and additives at least partially embedded into at least one surface of the substrate and localized adjacent to the surface according to a pattern to form higher sheet conductance portions. The higher sheet conductance portions are laterally adjacent to lower sheet conductance portions.
US08969719B2
In one example embodiment, a method includes sputtering one or more absorber layers over a substrate. In a particular embodiment, the substrate is pre-heated to a substrate temperature of at least approximately 300 degrees Celsius prior to the sputtering and during the sputtering of each of one or more of the absorber layers, and the sputtering of at least one of the absorber layers is performed in a sputtering atmosphere having a pressure of at least 0.5 Pascals. Additionally, in a particular embodiment, the sputtering of at least one of the absorber layers comprises sputtering from a sputter target that comprises a chalcogenide alloy that comprises copper (Cu) and one or more of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), or tellurium (Te).
US08969716B2
The invention relates to a photovoltaic device for direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy, which comprises a concentrator lens system and at least one solar cell. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for producing a concentrator lens system which can be used in a corresponding photovoltaic device but also in other devices for, e.g. thermal, use of radiation.
US08969714B2
The solar cell module comprises: a string including solar cell elements, each including a first main surface being rectangular in shape and an electrode extending along a longitudinal direction on the first main surface, and an interconnection connecting the solar cell elements adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction; a light-transmitting member located to cover the string; and a sealing material located between the string and the light-transmitting member. Each of solar cell elements includes a silicon substrate with the first and second main surface, and a first and second side surfaces each connecting the first and second main surface, the second side surface being located on the back side of the first side surface. The first and second side surfaces are arranged along the longitudinal direction, where silicon is exposed on the first side surface and the second side surface is covered with an insulating layer.
US08969710B2
An electromagnetic energy collector and sensor use enhanced fields to emit electrons for energy collection. The collector and sensor collect energy from visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. The collector and sensor include a waveguide with a geometry selected to enhance the electric field along a conductor to create a high, localized electric field, which causes electron emission across a gap to a return plane.
US08969707B2
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.
US08969702B2
A pickup unit of an electric stringed instrument is constituted of a vibrator supporting strings, a support which is installed inside the recess of a lower bridge so as to support the vibrator, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements which convert vibrations of strings transmitted thereto via the vibrator into electric signals. At least one presser member is interposed between the vibrator and the support. The presser member is constituted of a screw that is put into the lower surface of the vibrator from the lower surface of the support, thus upwardly pressing the piezoelectric elements onto the vibrator. This makes it possible to efficiently transmit vibrations of strings to the piezoelectric elements, thus improving the tone color and sound quality of an electric stringed instrument.
US08969678B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV013497. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV013497, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV013497 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV013497 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV013497.
US08969658B2
The invention relates to a method for producing haploid H, doubled haploid HD and/or dihaploid DH plants, the HD and DH being homozygous or essentially homozygous, this method being a method such as those which come under the technique of gynogenesis induced by irradiated pollen. This method comprises a step of irradiating the reproductive material of the male parent at a dose of between 160 and 190 gamma ray and/or a step of selecting the haploid H and/or DH plants by using one or more molecular marker(s). The invention also relates to a method for producing homozygous haploid, doubled haploid and/or dihaploid plants, comprising a step of determining the appropriate irradiation dose(s) for increasing the yields of said plants according to multiple given factors such as the plant species, the genotypes of the male parent and of the female parent, the climatic and weather conditions, the time at which the fruits are harvested, the level of growth of the embryos collected with a view to the culturing thereof, the level of development of the embryos placed in culture. Moreover, the invention concerns the molecular marker(s) used in the selection step and also the haploid embryos and the dihaploid embryos obtained by means of the method of the invention, and the progeny and the seeds of the plants obtained by means of the method of the invention.
US08969654B2
Provided is a protein having an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the protein, and a method of using the protein and the gene. The protein can be obtained from a plant belonging to the genus Glychyrrhiza, which has an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene. Also provided is a transformant producing a triterpene oxidase into which a gene encoding the triterpene oxidase is introduced.
US08969650B2
The present invention provides a bodily fluid-absorbent structure improved so as to facilitate bodily fluids to disperse in a thickness direction of the structure. Core material of a bodily fluid-absorbent structure is formed of an aggregation of fluff wood pulp fibers. The aggregation has a basis mass in a range of 150 to 500 g/m2 and a specific volume in a range of 3 to 20 cc/g. In the aggregation, a relationship between horizontal orientation index IH and specific volume VSP of fluff wood pulp fibers is represented by a formula as follows: IH is less than or equal to −0.099VSP+2.4.
US08969645B2
We provide a process comprising: a. feeding a chlorinated-hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit at an elevated temperature to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon and HCl; and c. collecting the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides are removed. A second process comprises: a. creating an ionic liquid catalyst-rich zone in a distillation unit; b. passing chlorinated-hydrocarbon to the distillation unit; c. operating the unit under conditions causing removal of alkyl chloride to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon having a final boiling point close to a first final boiling point. A third process comprises: a. feeding alkylate gasoline blending component and ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit; and c. collecting a dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides have been removed and the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon has a second RON that is close to a first RON.
US08969629B2
Disclosed are: a cyclic compound which has high solubility in a safe solvent, is highly sensitive, enables the formation of a resist pattern having a good shape, and rarely causes resist pattern collapse; a process for producing the cyclic compound; a radiation-sensitive composition containing the cyclic compound; and a resist pattern formation method using the composition. Specifically disclosed are: a cyclic compound having a specific structure; a process for producing the cyclic compound; a radiation-sensitive composition containing the compound; and a resist pattern formation method using the composition.
US08969625B1
A single step method for producing a redox shuttle having the formula 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-phenylene tetraethyl bis(phosphate) is provided, the method comprising phosphorylating tert butyl hydroquinone with a phosphate-containing reagent. Also provided is method for producing 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-phenylene tetraethyl bis(phosphate), the method comprising solubilizing tert-butyl hydroquinone and tetrabutylammonium bromide with methyltetrahydrofuran to create a mixture; heating the mixture while adding base to the mixture in an amount to turn the mixture orange; and adding diethyl chlorophosphate to the orange mixture in an amount to phosphorylate the hydroquinone.
US08969613B2
A system and method for removing acetaldehyde from an acetic acid system, including providing a solution from the acetic acid system, the stream having methyl iodide and acetaldehyde, and contacting the solution with an ion-exchange resin and/or liquid catalyst.
US08969609B1
Provided is a ruthenium complex that is represented by general formula (1*) and is useful as an asymmetric reduction catalyst. (In the formula, * is an asymmetric carbon atom; R1 is an arenesulfonyl group, and the like; R2 and R3 are a phenyl group, and the like; R10 through R14 are selected from a hydrogen atom, C1-10 alkyl group, and the like, but R10 through R14 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms; X is a halogen atom and the like; j and k are each either 0 or 1; and j+k is 0 or 2.)
US08969598B2
A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction vessel at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst to generate a liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture containing the acid catalyst without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture from the reaction vessel as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds and/or acid catalyst to the reaction vessel. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in high yields. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.
US08969597B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing Nebivolol and, more in particular, to a fractional distillation method of a mixture of stereoisomers of formula intermediates useful in the preparation of nebivolol.
US08969595B2
This invention is directed to a process for preparation of acetal derivatives, 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (DMDBS) and 1,3:2,4-bis(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol (MDBS) by carrying out a dehydrocondensation reaction between an aldehyde and an alditol using an aqueous ionic fluid as the acid catalyst.
US08969593B2
Organic dyes and photoelectric conversion devices are provided. The Organic dye has the structure represented by formula (I), wherein, n is an integral of 2-11; the plurality of X is independent and elected from the group consisting of and combinations thereof; R, R1, and R2 comprise hydrogen, halogen, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group, or R1 is connected to R2 to form a ring having 5-14 members; R3 comprise hydrogen, halogen, nitro group, amino group, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C1-18 sulfanyl group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group; and Z is hydrogen, alkali metal, or quaternary ammonium salt.
US08969585B2
Provided is a process for producing an optically active compound represented by Formula (3): (wherein R1 is an alkyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkenyl group, an aliphatic heterocyclic group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group, and any hydrogen atom of R1 may be replaced with a substituent; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a group which is not reactive in the reaction below; and * represents a chiral center) or a salt thereof by subjecting a compound represented by Formula (1): (wherein R1 and R2 have the same meanings as defined in Formula (3)) to a ring closure reaction in the presence of a chiral ligand having 1 or more coordination sites, a Lewis acid represented by Formula (2): MmZn (2) (wherein M is a metal ion, Z is a counter anion of M, and m and n are integers of 1 to 4), and a sulfonyl halide having an optionally substituted alkyl or phenyl group.
US08969579B2
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel oxadiazole derivative as a substance having high excitation energy, in particular, a substance having high triplet excitation energy. One embodiment of the present invention is an oxadiazole derivative represented by General Formula (G1) below. In General Formula (G1), R1 represents either an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), R21 to R27 separately represent any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), α represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), Z represents either a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom.
US08969577B2
The present invention relates to curable compositions comprising a thermolatent amidine base and an organic material which is polymerizable or crosslinkable with a basic or nucleophilic catalyst. In particular, the invention relates to curable coating compositions, especially powder coating compositions, and curable adhesive compositions, as well as to the use a thermolatent amidine base as a curing catalyst for thermally induced base-catalyzed polymerization or crosslinking reactions.
US08969572B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing tetrazole-substituted anthranilamide derivatives of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and Z are each as defined in the description, and to a novel crystal polymorph of these derivatives and to the use thereof in agrochemical formulations.
US08969566B2
The present invention relates to compounds and processes for preparing compounds of Formula (I), including compounds such as trans-7-oxo-6-(sulphooxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3,2,1]octane-2-carboxamide and salts thereof (e.g., NXL-104).
US08969560B2
A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group X1 may be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18° C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Q2 atom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group X2 is defined as X1, X3 or X4 or represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q2. Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.
US08969556B2
A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting at least protein kinase in a cell of a subject includes a purine based triazole.
US08969554B2
Disclosed are compounds exhibiting sufficient herbicidal activity at low application dosage when they are applied to soils and foliage, and an agrochemical composition using the same, in particular herbicides. The compounds are triazine derivatives represented by following Formula 1 or salts thereof, and the herbicides containing them: [Chem. 28] wherein in the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom; a C1-C12 alkyl group; a C2-C6 alkenyl group, etc., R2 represents a C1-C12 alkyl group, etc., Y and Z represent an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and A represents a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group which may contain a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom.
US08969548B2
Amine chelates capable of antioxidant capacity and amyloid disaggregation are shown which may be useful in targeting metal-based oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disorders. Pyclen, a backbone commonly investigated for contrast agent imaging, may be repurposed as an anti-oxidant chelator for disaggregating amyloid. The antioxidant capacity of pyclen was enhanced dramatically via conversion of the pyridine backbone to a pyridol with cellular studies showing superior antioxidant capacity while retaining chelation ability to protect amyloid from metal ions aggregation and also disaggregate amyloid aggregates.
US08969547B2
Method for preparing fluticasone furoate (6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-17α-[(2-furoyl)oxy]-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester) by directly subjecting a compound of Formula III and a complex of a fluoromethylating reagent in presence of an organic base to a replacement reaction to obtain the target compound. Generation of impurities in a process via Compound IV is avoided; the method is simple with mild reaction conditions, suitable for industrial production, and yields products with purity of 98% by HPLC.
US08969542B2
The present invention is directed to HPV polyepitope construct and the use thereof for the prevention and/or treatment of HPV infection.
US08969531B2
The present invention discloses a method for assaying the binding of L104EA29YIg to a receptor. The receptor is preferably CD86 or CD80. The present invention also discloses antibodies to be used in the assay, as well as hybridomas expressing the antibodies.
US08969529B2
The invention is based on the discovery of the epitope in the Stx2 protein for the 11 E1O antibody. The invention features compositions containing non-full length Stx2 polypeptides that include the 11 E1O monoclonal antibody epitope. The invention also features methods of producing anti-Stx2 antibodies specific for the 11 E1O epitope of the Stx2 protein. Additionally, the invention features methods for treating a subject having, or at risk of developing, a Shiga toxin associated disease (e.g., hemolytic uremia syndrome and diseases associated with E. coli and S. dysenteriae infection) with a polypeptide that includes the 11 E1O epitope or with an anti-Stx2 antibody developed using the methods of the invention. Furthermore, the invention features the detection of Stx2 in a sample using the antibodies developed using the methods of the invention.
US08969525B2
Provided is a derivative of 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Also provided is a protein conjugated to the above derivative. Further provided is an antibody composition comprising antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Additionally, a method of making antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Also, a method of assaying for 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Additionally provided is a kit for detecting 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. A method of detecting an enzyme or enzymes utilized in phase II drug metabolism is also provided. Also, a method of detecting an enzyme that synthesizes 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Further provided is a method of evaluating progression of multiple sclerosis in a patient. Also provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for multiple sclerosis in a patient is effective. Further, a method of evaluating progression of Huntington's disease in a patient is provided. Additionally provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for Huntington's disease in a patient is effective.
US08969523B2
An object is to provide a sebum secretion inhibiting composition and a food or drink product using the same. The present inventors have conducted extensive studies and consequently found that the sebum secretion is inhibited by orally ingesting a collagen peptide, which is hydrolyzed collagen, and provide an oral sebum secretion inhibiting composition comprising a collagen hydrolysate and a food or drink product containing the composition.
US08969520B2
To provide a reagent for assaying anti-Treponema pallidum antibody which reagent contains a polypeptide antigen and which reagent provides high assay sensitivity and high specificity, and to provide an assay method employing the assay reagent.The reagent for assaying anti-Treponema pallidum antibody, for use in an assay of anti-Treponema pallidum antibody on the basis of antigen-antibody reaction is characterized in that the reagent contains, as an antigen, a recombinant polypeptide containing at least domain C and domain D of Treponema pallidum 47 kDa antigen but containing no domain A1 of the 47 kDa antigen.
US08969516B2
This invention relates to a method of hydrolysis of the peptide bond between R1 and B in a specific designed amino acid sequence R1BXJZR3R2, where R1 represents a polypeptide of interest, R2 represents a sequence capable of specific binding to another component or molecule or another domain which needs to be cleaved, R3 represents an optional short peptide sequence, B represents a residue capable of accepting an acyl group, J represents a residue capable of metal ion binding, and X and Z represent amino acid residues, wherein the said method is based on a novel molecular mechanism of peptide bond hydrolysis, occurring in a specific complex of this metal ion with the BXJZ sequence. This method can be used to remove BXJZR3R2 domains in recombinant polypeptides, such as sequences capable of specific binding to another component or molecule to yield pure, unmodified R1 polypeptides of interest. The intermediate hydrolysis product can be reacted with other compounds to obtain derivatives of polypeptides of interest modified covalently at the C-terminus.
US08969515B2
The proposed pharmaceutical compositions and methods connected thereto relate to the field of biotechnology and medicine, in particular to pharmaceutical compositions having an antiproliferative activity, and to a method of treating oncologic diseases, which includes introducing the aforementioned chimerical peptide into a mammal requiring such treatment. The object of the proposed compositions and methods is the development of a preparation that effectively penetrates the target cells and has a high cytostatic and cytotoxic action.
US08969514B2
This invention also provides a method to prevent, control, and treat a lipid metabolism disorder, a billary disorder, cardiovascular disease, obesity or an endocrine disorder by administering at least one agonist of guanalyte cyclase receptor either alone or in combination with a compound typically used to treat the disorder and or with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodieasterases.
US08969500B2
The present disclosure describes fluoropolymers having long chain branches and methods of making these fluoropolymers. These fluoropolymers may have improved melt processing properties. Shaped articles containing these fluoropolymers are also provided.
US08969499B2
A method for producing polymer particles includes a preparation step for preparing a first oily liquid containing an oily olefin monomer, a radical polymerization initiator, and an iodine molecule; a synthesis step for obtaining a second oily liquid containing at least an iodine compound produced by a reaction between a radical generated by cleavage of the radical polymerization initiator and the iodine molecule in the first oily liquid; a suspension step for obtaining an oil droplet of the second oily liquid by suspending the second oily liquid in an aqueous solution containing an oxidizing agent, an acid, and a dispersant; and a polymerization step for polymerizing the oily olefin monomer in the oil droplet.
US08969495B2
The present invention relates to compositions and processes of making ethylene/α-olefins. More particularly, the invention relates to processes of producing ethylene/α-olefin compositions having a controlled molecular weight distribution. The molecular weight distribution is controlled, for example, by controlling the relative monomer concentrations during contact with a pre-catalyst and/or using a catalyst comprising a catalytic amount of a molecule having the structure: wherein M=group 2-8 metal, preferably group 4 as a neutral or charged moiety; Y=any substituent including fused rings; L=any ligating group, especially a pyridyl or pyridylamide; X=alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, H or hydride, halide, or other anionic moiety; y=an integer from 0 to the complete valence of M; R=alkyl, aryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl, hydrogen, etc; x=1-6, especially 2; Dashed line=optional bond, especially a weak bond; and X and (CR2)x may be tethered or part of a ring.
US08969493B2
The present invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for continuous living polymerization of cationically polymerizable monomers, in which at least three feedstocks are mixed in one or more mixers with microstructures and then polymerized in at least one reaction zone.
US08969487B2
A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes. In particular, the coating shows no oil on the coating surface after curing.
US08969485B2
The present disclosure relates to coated biodegradable materials having a reduced amount of residual catalysts and methods thereof.
US08969484B2
Provided herein are methods for the preparation of mono- and multi-functional telechelic polyolefins via polymerization reaction with a terpene-based initiator.
US08969481B2
Thermoplastic elastomer compositions and methods for making same. The elastomer composition can include at least one partially cured rubber component that is an ethylene-alpha-olefin-vinyl norbornene elastomeric polymer, and at least one thermoplastic component. The rubber component is at least partially cured using a peroxide curative in an amount effective to yield a cure level of the rubber component of at least 85%. The rubber component has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) less than 6, and a branching index greater than 0.60.
US08969479B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a dispersion-based or hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesive based on at least one polymer, which involves crosslinking the at least one polymer, the polymer having functional groups Y, the polymer additionally being admixed with at least one kind of functionalized particles which have at least one polymeric base unit, characterized in that the particles have a monomer as base unit, the monomer having at least one kind of functional groups Z which are not able to enter into any reaction with the functional group Y and which, by thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy, are converted into the group X, the crosslinking of the polymer being brought about at least in part by a reaction of the functional groups X of the particles and of the functional groups Y of the polymer, and additionally to pressure-sensitive adhesives based on at least one crosslinked polymer component, wherein the crosslinking of the polymer component is brought about at least partly through incorporation of functionalized particles, the particles having at least one polymeric base unit and also a monomer with one kind of functional groups Z, these groups Z, following conversion into the groups X by means of thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy, being capable of reacting with functional groups Y that are present in the polymer component, and also to the use of surface-modified functionalized particles having a polymeric base unit as crosslinking reagents for the crosslinking of polymers for preparing pressure-sensitive adhesives.
US08969475B2
Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have superior gas barrier properties, but are inferior in bending fatigue resistance. The present invention improves bending fatigue resistance without reducing the gas barrier property and heat resistance. An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 50 percent by mole is modified by incorporating 0.01 to 1% mol of a structural unit expressed by the following formula (3): wherein, n indicates an integer of 2 to 5, m indicates an integer of 10 to 20, and R1 indicates a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group provided that R1 may contain a mercapto group, thioester group, sulfenamide, vinyl group, methacryloxy group, or acryloxy group. The modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer may be used as a gas barrier resin and this gas barrier resin may be shaped or laminated and used in various applications such as in pneumatic tires and hoses.
US08969469B2
Described herein is a method of coagulating a fluoropolymer latex comprising: providing an amorphous fluoropolymer latex; providing unmodified inorganic nanoparticles; contacting the amorphous fluoropolymer latex with a sufficient amount of unmodified inorganic nanoparticles to coagulate the amorphous fluoropolymer.
US08969467B2
The present invention relates to innovative materials which can be crosslinked by means of two different crosslinking mechanisms, the first crosslinking mechanism being an irreversible crosslinking. The second crosslinking mechanism is a thermoreversible mechanism.As a result of this thermoreversible change in the arc length, properties of the crosslinked material can be decisively changed and controlled, including flexibility, elasticity and other mechanical properties, but also chemical properties, the gas permeability and vapor permeability and storage capacity of the network. In this way it would be possible, for example, to store energy sources such as fuels.
US08969456B2
A method of making a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive. The method includes extruding a melt composition that includes a polymer, wherein the polymer has acidic groups covalently attached thereto, and a metal salt hydrate, wherein the metal salt hydrate has a melting point that is less than the maximum processing temperature.
US08969451B2
A method of producing a base compound for a liquid fluoroelastomer which is unaffected by the storage state of the added silica powder, and yields minimal fluctuation in the viscosity between production lots. Specifically, a method of producing a base compound for a liquid fluoroelastomer containing: (A) a linear fluoropolyether compound having at least two alkenyl groups within each molecule and having a perfluoroalkyl ether structure within the main chain, and (B) a hydrophobic silica powder, the method including: (1) heating the component (A) under normal pressure at a temperature of 50 to 100 ° C., (2) adding 20 to 60 parts by mass of the component (B) to 100 parts by mass of the component (A) that has been heated in step (1) while performing kneading to obtain a kneaded product, and (3) kneading the kneaded product obtained in step (2) at a temperature exceeding 100° C., either under conditions of heat and reduced pressure or under conditions of heat and pressure.
US08969435B2
The present invention relates to a method for enhancement of the minimal shear molding process utilizing pellets and/or micropellets produced through controlled extrusional and pelletization processes in combination with nonpowder melt flow rheology that incorporates reduced molding temperature and/or reduced cure time, reduced rotation axis ratios and/or reduced rotation rates. Molding can be uniaxial, biaxial, or multiaxial rotational or oscillatory or both. The molded items produced can be single or multiple layers and can be produced in one or more molding sequences using similar or different chemical compositions.
US08969433B2
This disclosure relates to thermoplastic compositions, in particular polycarbonate thermoplastic compositions containing a surface-treated talc, methods for the manufacture of such compositions, and articles formed from the compositions.
US08969429B2
Disclosed are low-tack, hydrophobic, high refractive index, acrylic materials. These materials, especially useful as intraocular lens materials, contain one or more aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers as principal device-forming monomers, a tack-reducing block copolymer additive and a glistening-reducing additive. In addition to their use as intraocular lens materials, the present materials are also suitable for use in other implantable ophthalmic devices.
US08969427B2
The present invention aims to provide a surface modification method for a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, which can impart excellent sliding properties and excellent durability against repeated sliding motion and can allow the surface to maintain the sealing properties, without using expensive self-lubricating plastics. The present invention relates to a surface modification method for modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer as an object to be modified, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on the object to be modified; step 2 of radically polymerizing a monomer, starting from the polymerization initiation points, by irradiation with LED light at 300 nm to 400 nm to grow polymer chains on a surface of the object to be modified; and step 3 of esterifying, transesterifying or amidating side chains of the polymer chains.
US08969419B2
This invention relates to animal feed compositions. The invention also provides comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of increasing and optimizing feed in animals.
US08969418B2
A cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation comprising licochalcone A and phenoxyethanol. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08969417B2
Pharmaceutical compositions are provided for treatment of Parkinson's disease comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a fixed dose combination of two active agents selected from compounds having either neuroprotective or symptomatic effects, or both, in Parkinson's disease patients, wherein the molar ratio of the two compounds is in the range of 1:1 to 1:100. The compositions are formulated for immediate release, controlled release, or both immediate and controlled release.
US08969415B2
Biodegradable implants sized and suitable for implantation in an ocular region or site and methods for treating ocular conditions. The implants provide an extended release of an active agent at a therapeutically effective amount for a period of time between 10 days and one year or longer.
US08969405B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having anticancer activity; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating disorders associated with uncontrolled cellular proliferation using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended to be used as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08969401B2
Compounds of a certain formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective HDAC inhibitors.
US08969396B2
The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsp90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for treating Bcr-Abl, FLT-3, EGFR, c-Kit, B-raf, and NPM-ALK associated cancers, in a subject in need thereof.
US08969391B2
The invention relates to the use of quaternary pyridinium salts of formula (I), wherein R is NH2, CH3, or N(H)CH2OH group, and X is pharmaceutically acceptable counterion, for the preparation of vasoprotective agent for the treatment or prevention of conditions or diseases associated with dysfunction of vascular endothelium, oxidative stress, and/or insufficient production of endothelial prostacyclin PGI2, in particular but not exclusively if the above coincides with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL level.
US08969387B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula: wherein A is pyridyl group having at least one substituent wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by halogen, R4 and R6 are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen, R5 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by halogen, and R7 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition containing the same.
US08969386B2
Compounds of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating CFTR mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US08969384B2
The present invention relates to flavanoid compounds of general formula (X1) wherein: R1 is selected from a group consisting of morpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylamino groups, and n ranges from 3 to 6, and process for preparation thereof. The present invention relates to the demonstration of anti Helicobacter pylori activity and gastric antisecretory activity of semisynthetically designed flavonoid compounds, to be used for the prevention and treatment of gastroduodenal disorders in general and peptic ulcer diseases in particular. The present invention also relates to a hetero-dimeric bi-functional molecule that can be used as monotherapy substituting/replacing/overcoming currently used triple/quadruple therapy, thereby implicating/anticipating/envisaging its commercial applicability.
US08969382B2
The present invention relates to modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”), compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using modulators of CFTR.
US08969379B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising: an active ingredient consisting of 4-(3-chloro-4-(cyclopropylaminocarbonyl)aminophenoxy)-7-methoxy-6-quinolinecarboxamide, salt thereof, or solvate of the foregoing; and (i) a compound, a 5% (w/w) aqueous solution or suspension of which has a pH of 8 or more, and/or (ii) silicic acid, salt thereof, or solvate of the foregoing is a highly stable pharmaceutical composition, wherein under humidified and heated storage conditions, the decomposition of said compound is sufficiently reduced, or the gelation on the surface of the pharmaceutical composition is sufficiently inhibited.
US08969378B2
The present invention is to provide an inhibitor that inhibits differentiation of T cells into Th1 cells.The inhibitor that inhibits differentiation of T cells into Th1 cells contains, as an active ingredient, pitavastatin or a salt thereof.
US08969374B2
Provided herein are novel iso-ergoline derivatives and compositions thereof. In other embodiments, provided herein are methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a variety of medical disorders such as, for example, migraine using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of agonizing receptors such as, for example, the 5-HT1D and/or the 5-HT1B receptor, without agonizing the 5-HT2B receptor using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of antagonizing or inhibiting activity at receptors such as, for example, the adrenergic alpha2A and/or the alpha2B receptors using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein.
US08969369B2
Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US08969363B2
Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that modulate kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, and compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, are described herein.
US08969348B2
Disclosed are small molecule inhibitors which are useful in treating various diseases and conditions involving chymase. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using and making the same.
US08969346B2
Provided are compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, X and m are as defined herein. Also provided is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.Also provided are methods of using a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08969339B2
The present disclosure is directed to methods of identifying a compound that binds to or interacts with a protein receptor involved in bone formation. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to methods of identifying a compound that regulates a Wnt pathway in a cell by binding to or interacting with cavities in proteins such as LRP5, LRP 6 and/or frizzled receptor and interfering with receptor binding to other proteins in a Wnt pathway. The present disclosure is further directed to methods and compositions that comprise an identified compound for treating or preventing a disease in a mammal in which Wnt pathway suppression plays a role.
US08969332B2
The present invention discloses an aryloxy dihalopropenyl ether compound with the structure shown as general formula (I), of which the group definitions can be seen in the specification. The present invention also discloses the use of the compound with general formula (I) as an insecticide in the agricultural field and an insecticidal composition using the compound with general formula (I) as an active component.
US08969330B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R is ethyl, propyl or allyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or amino acid conjugates thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as FXR agonists.
US08969328B2
The invention relates to 17-hydroxy-17-pentafluoroethyl-estra-4,9(10)-dien-11-aryl derivatives of formula I with progesterone-antagonizing action and methods of production thereof, use thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and use thereof for producing medicinal products for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, in particular uterine fibroids (myomata, uterine leiomyomata), endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, meningiomata, hormone-dependent breast cancers and menopause-associated complaints or for fertility control and emergency contraception.
US08969327B2
The disclosure relates to novel C4 and C6 substituted androst-4-ene diones as well as andros-1,4-diene diones and derivatives thereof, their process of preparation, pharmaceutical compounds containing them, and the use of said compounds for the treatment of hormone-related disorders in mammals. This includes hormone-dependent cancers, particularly those caused by elevated levels of estrogen and its intermediates. These compounds can also be used in the treatment of other hormone-related disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
US08969324B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 11-deoxy-prostaglandin compound represented by formula (I): and a fatty acid ester. By mixing the compound of formula (I) and a fatty acid ester, the compound of formula (I) will be stabilized.
US08969321B2
The present invention provides a method for using processed cellulose. Preferably, the processed cellulose is a highly refined cellulose (HRC). The HRC is useful in a number of medical and nutritional applications. These medical and nutritional applications can include, but are not limited to, administering effective amounts of the HRC for lowering values of risk factor measurements for such diseases as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Treatment of other diseases and conditions with the HRC is also possible.
US08969319B2
An agent for applying to mucosa capable of persistently exerting a therapeutic effect on disorders such as inflammation and lesions in the mucosa even by a lower frequency of administration because the agent can stay at a diseased site for a long period of time by exhibiting a high staying property in a mucosal epithelial layer is provided, said agent for application to mucosa containing glycosaminoglycan (GAG) into which a hydrophobic group is introduced via a binding chain, as an active ingredient.
US08969318B2
Disclosed are bispecific aptamers binding with high specifity to a tumour specific antigen (TSA) and a effector cell specific antigen (ESA) for treatment of cancer.
US08969315B2
Provided herein are methods of producing enhanced placental stem cells by modulatory RNA molecules. Also provided herein are methods of using enhanced placental stem cells, for example, to treat individuals having a disease, disorder or condition caused by, or relating to, an unwanted or harmful immune response. Further provided herein are compositions comprising said enhanced placental stem cells.
US08969307B2
A composition comprising from about 0.001% to about 0.4% cyclosporin A, a surfactant, and an oil having a specific gravity from 0.8 to 0.95 is disclosed herein.
US08969302B2
A method of alleviating a symptom of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in a human patient suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or a patient who has experienced a first clinical episode and is determined to be at high risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis comprising administering to the human patient three subcutaneous injections of a therapeutically effective dose of glatiramer acetate over a period of seven days with at least one day between every subcutaneous injection so as to thereby alleviate the symptom of the patient.
US08969299B2
Methods for modulating serum phosphorus levels are described, wherein calcimimetic agents are administered to a subject in need thereof. In one embodiment, the compound is cinacalcet, and in other embodiments the compound is comprised of a contiguous sequence of subunits, X1—X2—X3—X4—X5—X6—X7, wherein the X1 subunit comprises a thiol-containing moiety and the distribution of charge on the X2-X7 subunits. The compound, when administered at selected times to a patient undergoing dialysis, lowers serum phosphorus levels, relative to pre-dosing levels, and achieves a sustained reduced level for a period of time after administration.
US08969297B2
Provided herein are methods for the induction of hypothermia and the treatment of clinical insults in a subject through the administration of a regulated hypothermic multidrug combination. The compositions or multidrug combinations of the invention comprise a regulated hypothermic compound or a dopamine receptor agonist; a vasoactive compound; and an antiarrhythmic compound or a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Additional agents can be included in the composition including at least one of an antioxidant, a vitamin, N-acetylcysteine, and an antihyperglycemic compound. The invention further recognizes that a two phase delivery of multidrug combinations, a rapid infusion of the composition to induce hypothermia followed by a period of slow infusion to maintain the hypothermic state for a sustained period of time. Using the two phase delivery method of the invention, the composition may comprise ethanol and, optionally, at least one of a vasoactive compound, an antiarrhythmic compound, a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, an antioxidant, a vitamin, N-acetylcysteine, and an antihyperglycemic compound. This two phase delivery method can be used to deliver any of the compositions of the invention and provides significant benefits to a patient.
US08969295B2
The present invention provides methods for identifying genes and pathways involved in plasticity. The invention applies some of these methods to identify genes that are differentially regulated in at least a portion of the nervous system of an individual subjected to conditions known to result in altered nervous system plasticity, i.e., dark rearing (DR) or monocular deprivation (MD). The genes are targets for pharmacological agents that modify plasticity. The invention also identifies biological pathways that are enriched in genes that are differentially regulated under conditions known to result in altered nervous system plasticity. The present invention further provides methods and compositions for modifying plasticity in the nervous system of a subject. The invention includes a method for modifying plasticity in the nervous system of a subject comprising administering a plasticity-modifying agent to the subject, wherein the plasticity-enhancing agent modulates a gene or pathway that is differentially regulated in developmental conditions that alter nervous system plasticity (e.g., DR or MD). The methods and compositions may be administered to a subject suffering from damage to the nervous system or from a neuropsychiatric disorder in order to enhance recovery, reorganization, or function of the nervous system. The methods optionally include administering a proteolysis-enhancing agent to the subject.
US08969291B2
The present invention is directed to methods for modulating the Th1 /Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells in a subject comprising decreasing the amount, the expression, or the activity of leptin in a subject sufficient to modulate the Th1 /Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells. The invention is also directed to methods of treatment of an immune-related disorder in a subject comprising decreasing the amount, the expression, or the activity of leptin in the subject sufficient to treat the immune-related disorder.
US08969289B2
The present invention relates to an antibody-like protein based on the tenth fibronectin type III domain (10Fn3) that binds to serum albumin. The invention further relates to fusion molecules comprising a serum albumin-binding 10Fn3 joined to a heterologous protein for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US08969287B2
Disclosed here is a method for measuring the kinetics (i.e., the molecular flux rates-synthesis and breakdown or removal rates) of a plurality of proteins or organic metabolites in living systems. The methods may be accomplished in a high-throughput, large-scale automated manner, by using existing mass spectrometric profiling techniques and art well known in the fields of static proteomics and static organeomics, without the need for additional biochemical preparative steps or analytic/instrumental devices.
US08969281B2
According to the present invention there is provided a pearlescent liquid treatment composition suitable for use as a laundry or hard surface cleaning composition comprising a rheology modifier providing a pouring viscosity at 20 sec−1 of from 50 to 700 cps, a viscosity at constant low stress of 0.1 Pa which is at least 300 cps, preferably 500 cps and a pearlescent agent, said pearlescent agent having D0.99 volume particle size of less than 60 μm.
US08969280B2
The present invention is directed to visually contrasting aesthetic particles having increased water solubility, particularly useful for combination with granular laundry detergent composition.
US08969263B2
A treatment fluid comprises: water; a carboxylate; and a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises silicone, an ether monomer residue, and an amine functional group; wherein a test fluid consisting essentially of the water, the carboxylate, and the corrosion inhibitor, and in the same proportions as in the treatment fluid, is capable of providing a corrosion weight loss to a metal plate of less than 0.05 pounds per square feet (lb/ft2) under testing conditions of 200° F. (93.3° C.), a pressure of 500 psi (3.4 MPa), and a time of 24 hours whereas a substantially identical test fluid without the corrosion inhibitor provides a corrosion weight loss of greater than 0.05 lb/ft2 under the testing conditions. A method of treating a portion of a well comprises: forming the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well.
US08969260B2
The present invention relates to glycerol based drilling fluids. In particular, the invention relates to drilling fluids comprising a 95-20 volume % glycerol/water solution capable of stabilizing water-sensitive formations during drilling and the use of such solutions for drilling a well having water-sensitive formations.
US08969259B2
A method is provided involving altering the viscosity of bio-derived paraffins to produce a paraffinic fluid, where the altering step includes oligomerizing bio-derived paraffins, unsaturating bio-derived paraffins, chlorinating bio-derived paraffins, or a combination of any two or more thereof; the bio-derived paraffins are produced by hydrodeoxygenating a bio-based feed; the bio-based feed comprises bio-derived fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or a combination thereof; the bio-derived paraffins comprise n-paraffins; and the n-paraffins have a biodegradability of at least 40% after about 23 days of exposure to microorganisms. Also provided are methods of protecting a substance by applying a paraffinic fluid and a method of producing an orifice in a substrate by at least injecting a paraffinic fluid into the substrate.
US08969257B1
A reactor assembly having a plurality of reaction chambers defined therein is provided. The reactor assembly includes a fluid flow module that provides a pressurized control flow of fluid from an open container. In another embodiment, the reactor block includes a plurality of passageways defined over a surface of a substrate to accommodate the combinatorial processing in order to obtain multiple data points from a single substrate.
US08969255B2
The invention provides arrays of compound for use in profiling samples. The arrays include compounds bind to components of the samples at relatively low affinities. The avidity of compounds binding to components of the samples can be increased by forming arrays such that multivalent components of the samples (e.g., antibodies or cells) can bind to more than one molecule of a compound at the same time. When a sample is applied to an array under such conditions, the compounds of the array bind to component(s) of the sample with significantly different avidities generating a profile characteristic of the sample.
US08969254B2
Oligonucleotide-based microarrays for tissue typing (e.g., HLA tissue typing) are provided. More particularly, the microarrays are high resolution arrays useful for diagnostic evaluations and determining donor/recipient transplant compatibility.
US08969253B2
The present invention relates to a method for screening phage display libraries against each other. In particular, the invention relates to a method for screening at least two phage display libraries against each other to identify and/or select one or more interacting binding partners or binding molecules making up such interacting binding partners. Kits providing two bispecific phage display libraries are also provided.
US08969252B2
The present invention includes methods for producing magnetic nanocrystals by using a biological molecule that has been modified to possess an amino acid oligomer that is capable of specific binding to a magnetic material.
US08969247B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling aquatic weeds by applying a herbicidally effective amount of at least one inhibitor of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) or an agriculturally acceptable salt, ester or amide thereof to aquatic weeds and/or their aqueous habitat containing seeds or other propagating organs of said aquatic weeds.
US08969245B2
A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.
US08969244B2
A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.
US08969243B2
Hybrid topcoat formulations comprising a water soluble polymer and a water dispersible polymer provide improved adhesion to underlying surfaces. Paper products coated with these formulations, such as thermal paper, achieve high stain resistance and improved adhesion of UV cured silicone release layers.
US08969237B2
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods of forming coated substrates for use in catalytic converters, as well as washcoat compositions and methods suitable for using in preparation of the coated substrates, and the coated substrates formed thereby. The catalytic material is prepared by a plasma-based method, yielding catalytic material with a lower tendency to migrate on support at high temperatures, and thus less prone to catalyst aging after prolonged use. Also disclosed are catalytic converters using the coated substrates, which have favorable properties as compared to catalytic converters using catalysts deposited on substrates using solution chemistry. Also disclosed are exhaust treatment systems, and vehicles, such as diesel vehicles, particularly light-duty diesel vehicles, using catalytic converters and exhaust treatment systems using the coated substrates.
US08969234B2
A method of preparing a fuel cell electrode catalyst by preparing a platinum-carbon core-shell composite, which has a platinum nanoparticle core and a graphene carbon shell, using a simultaneous evaporation process, a method for preparing a fuel cell electrode comprising the catalyst prepared thereby, and a fuel cell comprising the same. A fuel cell comprising an electrode catalyst consisting of the core-shell composite prepared by simultaneously evaporating the platinum precursor and the organic precursor can have high performance and high durability, because the platinum particles are not agglomerated or detached and corroded even under severe conditions, including high-temperature, long use term, acidic and alkaline conditions.
US08969232B2
This invention is for a catalyst for conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst contains a zeolite with one element from Group 13, Group 14, or the first series transition metals and, optionally, germanium and/or aluminum in the zeolite framework. At least one Group 10 metal, such as platinum, is deposited on the zeolite. Examples of the elements in the framework are tin, boron, iron or titanium. The catalyst is prepared by synthesizing a zeolite with one element from Group 13, Group 14, or the first series transition metals and, optionally, germanium and/or aluminum in the zeolite framework; depositing the metal; and calcining after preparation of the zeolite and before or after depositing the metal. The catalyst may be used in a process for the conversion of hydrocarbons, such as propane to aromatics, by contacting the catalyst with alkanes having 2 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule and recovering the product.
US08969231B2
A method of producing an alumina-supported cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, which comprises: calcining an initial γ-alumina support material at a temperature to produce a modified alumina support material; impregnating the modified alumina support material with a source of cobalt; calcining the impregnated support material, activating the catalyst with a reducing gas, steam treating the activated catalyst, and activating the steam treated catalyst with a reducing gas.
US08969227B2
Sintered bodies containing zirconia-based ceramic materials and partially sintered bodies that are intermediates in the preparation of the sintered bodies are described. The zirconia-based ceramic material is doped with lanthanum and yttrium. The grain size of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be controlled by the addition of lanthanum. The crystalline phase of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be influenced by the addition of yttrium.
US08969224B2
A sea-island composite fiber has an island component which is ultrafine fibers having a noncircular cross-section, the ultrafine fibers being uniform in the degree of non-circularity and in the diameter of the circumscribed circle. The sea-island composite fiber includes an easily soluble polymer as the sea component and a sparingly soluble polymer as the island component, and the island component has a circumscribed-circle diameter of 10-1,000 nm, a dispersion in circumscribed-circle diameter of 1-20%, a degree of non-circularity of 1.2-5.0, and a dispersion in the degree of non-circularity of 1-10%.
US08969223B2
A three dimensional woven preform, a fiber reinforced composite incorporating the preform, and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The woven preform includes one or more layers of a warp steered fabric. A portion of the warp steered fabric is compressed into a mold to form an upstanding leg. The preform includes the upstanding leg and a joggle in a body portion. The body portion and upstanding leg are integrally woven so there is continuous fiber across the preform. A portion of the warp steered fabric includes stretch broken carbon fibers in the warp direction, and another portion includes conventional carbon fibers. The warp steered fabric can be woven on a loom equipped with a differential take-up mechanism. The warp steered fabric can be a single or multilayer fabric. The preform or the composite can be a portion of an aircraft window frame.
US08969222B2
A coated fabric includes a reinforcement, a first coating disposed on the reinforcement, and a second coating disposed on the first coating. The first coating includes perfluoropolymer. The second coating includes perfluoropolymer and a silicone polymer in an amount in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt %.
US08969212B2
A method of etching exposed patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a reactive precursor. The plasma power is pulsed rather than left on continuously. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents selectively remove one material faster than another. The etch selectivity results from the pulsing of the plasma power to the remote plasma region, which has been found to suppress the number of ionically-charged species that reach the substrate. The etch selectivity may also result from the presence of an ion suppression element positioned between a portion of the remote plasma and the substrate processing region.
US08969211B2
The present invention provides a plasma processing method that uses a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma processing chamber in which a sample is plasma processed, a first radio-frequency power supply that supplies a first radio-frequency power for generating plasma, and a second radio-frequency power supply that supplies a second radio-frequency power to a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, wherein the plasma processing method includes the steps of modulating the first radio-frequency power by a first pulse; and controlling a plasma dissociation state to create a desired dissociation state by gradually controlling a duty ratio of the first pulse as a plasma processing time elapses.
US08969207B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a patterned hard mask layer comprised of a plurality of discrete openings above a structure, wherein the patterned hard mask layer is comprised of a plurality of intersecting line-type features, forming a patterned etch mask above the patterned hard mask layer that exposes at least one, but not all, of the plurality of discrete openings, and performing at least one etching process through the patterned etch mask and the at least one exposed opening in the patterned hard mask layer to define an opening in the structure.
US08969176B2
A package for a plurality of semiconductor devices having: an electrical interconnect structure, comprising: an electrical interconnect structure; and an active device structure, comprising the plurality of semiconductor devices on an active device substrate. The electrical interconnect structure is bonded to the active device structure and the electrical interconnect structure provides electrical interconnection among the semiconductor devices.
US08969174B2
A spalling method is provided that includes depositing a stressor layer on surface of a base substrate, and contacting the stressor layer with a planar transfer. The planar transfer surface is then traversed along a plane that is parallel to and having a vertical offset from the upper surface of the base substrate. The planar transfer surface is traversed in a direction from a first edge of the base substrate to an opposing second edge of the base substrate to cleave the base substrate and transfer a spalled portion of the base substrate to the planar transfer surface. The vertical offset between the plane along which the planar transfer surface is traversed and the upper surface of the base substrate is a fixed distance. The fixed distance of the vertical offset provides a uniform spalling force. A spalling method is also provided that includes a transfer roller.
US08969173B2
A method of fabricating an electronic component includes: mounting a device chip on an upper surface of an insulative substrate; forming a sealing portion that seals the device chip; cutting the insulative substrate and the sealing portion; and forming a plated layer covering the sealing portion by barrel plating.
US08969170B2
A method comprises forming a first layer of an electrically insulating material over a semiconductor structure. A recess is formed in the first layer of electrically insulating material. A capacitor layer stack is deposited over the first layer of electrically insulating material. The capacitor layer stack includes one or more bottom electrode layers, a dielectric layer and a top electrode layer, wherein a first portion of the capacitor layer stack is arranged in the recess and a second portion of the capacitor layer stack is arranged over a portion of the first layer of electrically insulating material adjacent the recess. A chemical mechanical polishing process is performed. The chemical mechanical polishing process removes the second portion of the capacitor layer stack, wherein the first portion of the capacitor layer stack is not removed.
US08969162B2
Provided is a three-dimensional semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same. The device includes a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure stacked sequentially on a substrate. The first and second electrode structures include stacked first electrodes and stacked second electrodes, respectively. Each of the first and second electrodes includes a horizontal portion parallel with the substrate and an extension portion extending from the horizontal portion along a direction penetrating an upper surface of the substrate. Here, the substrate may be closer to top surfaces of the extension portions of the first electrodes than to the horizontal portion of at least one of the second electrodes.
US08969154B2
A semiconductor device structure is disclosed. The semiconductor device structure includes a mesa extending above a substrate. The mesa has a channel region between a first side and second side of the mesa. A first gate is on a first side of the mesa, the first gate comprising a first gate insulator and a first gate conductor comprising graphene overlying the first gate insulator. The gate conductor may comprise graphene in one or more monolayers. Also disclosed are a method for fabricating the semiconductor device structure; an array of vertical transistor devices, including semiconductor devices having the structure disclosed; and a method for fabricating the array of vertical transistor devices.
US08969151B2
An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including a first region and a second region; forming a first device over the first region and a resistance device over the second region; forming a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; and annealing the integrated circuit system to remove dopant from the resistance device.
US08969141B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a programmable poly fuse includes a P type resistive poly segment forming a P-N junction with an adjacent N type resistive poly segment. The programmable poly fuse further includes a P side silicided poly line contiguous with the P type resistive poly segment and coupled to a P side terminal of the poly fuse. The programmable poly fuse further includes an N side silicided poly line contiguous with the N type resistive poly segment and coupled to an N side terminal of the poly fuse. During a normal operating mode, a voltage less than or equal to approximately 2.5 volts is applied to the N side terminal of the programmable poly fuse. A voltage higher than approximately 3.5 volts is required at the N side terminal of the poly fuse to break down the P-N junction.
US08969140B2
A reconstituted wafer includes a rigid mass with a flat surface and a base surface disposed parallel planar to the flat surface. A plurality of dice are embedded in the rigid mass. The plurality of dice include terminals that are exposed through coplanar with the flat surface. A process of forming the reconstituted wafer includes removing some of the rigid mass to expose the terminals, while retaining the plurality of dice in the rigid mass. A process of forming an apparatus includes separating one apparatus from the reconstituted wafer.
US08969134B2
A tape capable of laser ablation may be used in the formation of microelectronic interconnects, wherein the tape may be attached to bond pads on a microelectronic device and vias may be formed by laser ablation through the tape to expose at least a portion of corresponding bond pads. The microelectronic interconnects may be formed on the bond pads within the vias, such as by solder paste printing and solder reflow. The laser ablation tape can be removed after the formation of the microelectronic interconnects.
US08969123B2
In an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell, a photosensitization dye solution makes contact with an electrode material layer that functions as a working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell so that the photosensitizing dye is adsorbed on the layer. Such an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell has a substrate housing section to house a substrate with the electrode material layer formed on its surface, and a circulation mechanism to circulate the photosensitization dye solution in such a way that the solution passes a surface of the substrate housed in the substrate housing section. In such an apparatus, a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in a portion facing the substrate in the substrate housing section is set smaller than a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in other portions.
US08969115B2
A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted carbon-containing material is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of a carbon-containing material and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of carbon-containing material to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of carbon-containing material and no work function modifying material.
US08969098B2
Disclosed are methods and systems adapted to provide mixing of a liquid reagent in an automated clinical analyzer. The methods include aspirating an air separator (e.g., an air slug) into the interior of a probe. A relatively small volume of reagent liquid is also aspirated into the probe adjacent to the air separator; the volume of liquid reagent being entirely contained within the probe. The volume of liquid reagent may be repeatedly aspirated and dispensed at a relatively high frequency to accomplish reagent mixing in the reagent container. Improved sample and reagent mixing may be promoted using a similar method. Systems carrying out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.
US08969097B2
Disclosed are devices, arrangements and methods for quantifying the concentration of an analyte present in bodily fluid, including: an assay pad having at least one chemical reagent capable of producing a detectable signal in the form of a reaction spot upon reaction with the analyte; a light source; a detector array; a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising: (a) at least one value indicative of one or more of: (i) the level of hematocrit contained in the sample; (ii) the volume of the sample applied to the assay pad; or (iii) imperfections present in the reaction spot; and (b) at least one algorithm for calculating the concentration of the analyte contained in the sample.
US08969094B2
The present invention relates to a method for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber and a kit for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber.
US08969086B2
A sample processing system 101 that may be automated and methods are disclosed where sample(s) 198 are arranged on a carrier element 197 and a process operation control system 171 automatically processes the sample(s) perhaps robotically according to an desired aggregation of event dictated by an input 173. Alteration of an initial aggregated event topology may be accepted while the system is processing an initial aggregation and varied-parameter robotic control simulation functionalities 606 may be accomplished to determine an enhanced sequence for processing. Suggested operator actions may be displayed that might further enhance the scheduling of the altered aggregated event topology together with an automatic operator need prompt 608 that may inform an operator of a need for a particular action in order to accomplish the desired tasks. Reversibility to proposed changes may be made available so that an operator may avoid having to activate proposed changes if they cause a processing result that is not acceptable.
US08969083B2
A method that identifies the compounds contributing to a fish-like odor from an air conditioner and artificially reproduces the fish-like odor, and prepares a corresponding fish-like odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the fish-like odor from an air conditioner are identified and quantified. The fish-like odor is reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced fish-like odor provides significant data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odor.
US08969078B2
There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.
US08969070B2
Disclosed herein is a thin-film layered centrifuge device and an analysis method using the same. One example of an embodiment of the present invention is a thin film layered centrifuge device where a device, such as a lab on a chip, a protein chip and a DNA chip, for diagnosing and detecting a small amount of material in a fluid is integrated into a rotatable thin-film layered body, and to an analysis method using the thin-film layered centrifuge device.
US08969064B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein) comprising: (a) providing a host cell comprising a first recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a first chaperone protein, a second recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a second chaperone protein and a third gene, such as a third recombinant gene, encoding a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein), wherein the first and second chaperones are different; and (b) culturing the host cell in a culture medium to obtain expression of the first, second and third genes.
US08969061B2
Compositions, methods and a kit are described relating to a novel family of enzymes which preferentially bind to a hydroxymethylated cytosine or a glucosylated hydroxymethylated cytosine and cleave double-stranded DNA at a defined distance 3′ of the recognition site to produce a cleavage fragment with a 1-3 base overhang.
US08969056B2
The present invention relates to a process for integrated production of ethanol and seaweed biofertilizer from fresh red seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii. Specifically, the present invention describes a process for the production of ethanol, as a byproduct, from Kappaphycus alvarezii. The process includes crushing the fresh weeds to release the sap, a proved biofertilizer, and recovering the residual carrageenan rich biomass, hydrolyzing the biomass using dilute acid at elevated temperature, neutralizing the hydrolysate by using inexpensive calcium hydroxide and removing the insoluble salts through filtration or centrifugation, desalting soluble salts from the hydrolysate by electrodialysis, enriching with nitrogen source, inoculating with yeast and fermenting it to form a fermented broth containing ethanol and separating ethanol from the fermented broth by distillation and using residual hydrolysate, generated CaSO4 and reject obtained from electrodialysis as manure.
US08969055B2
A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.
US08969054B2
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB). Also provided is a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathways, the pathways include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate:CoA transferase, 4-butyrate kinase, phosphotransbutyrylase, α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase or an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Additionally provided are methods for the production of 4-HB and BDO.
US08969053B2
The present invention concerns a method for the production of a biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of the biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the desired biochemical which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a YqhD enzyme which catalytic efficiency toward NADPH is increased.The present invention also relates to a mutant YqhD enzyme comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the YqhD activity of the parent enzyme and the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the mutant YqhD is increased as compared with the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the parent enzyme.
US08969049B2
Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (dgat2) gene are disclosed and have been found to be particularly effective for the expression of heterologous genes in yeast. These promoter regions will be useful for driving high-level expression of genes involved in the production of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
US08969041B2
The present invention refers to: 1) the method for the production of recombinant FVIII in human Sk-Hep-1 cells, comprising von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and 2) the population of human cells transduced with a vector encoding the clotting protein (FVIII). The technical object of the present patent application is intended for the cultivation of human cells in suspension and in adhesion and isolation of the culture medium containing the desired protein. The object of the invention is to provide a safer product (free of potential human viruses), that is cheaper and more stable, by means of a method that provides sufficient amounts and on industrial scale to meet the National demand.
US08969022B2
The invention provides a method and system for developing and using diagnoses of lymphosarcoma in feline subjects using thymidine kinase (TK) and haptoglobin (HP) as biomarkers. The invention provides a method for obtaining the level of each biomarker and computing an index for a feline subject. The invention provides predefined index ranges to which the index value may be matched in order to determine whether the subject has a high probability of being affected by lymphosarcoma, even when the subject shows apparent symptoms that may be common with inflammatory bowel disease.
US08969020B2
An isolated sequence SGSSEEKQNAVSSEET (OPNcPEP) SEQ ID NO: 8, and uses thereof. The peptide enhanced soft agar clone formation but did not support the growth of cells in plastic dishes, consistent with supporting anchorage-independence rather than growth. This sequence represented and is unique for a domain around the splice junction of OPN variant -c (OPN-c). OPN-c was expressed in a variety of tumor cell lines, but not in normal tissues (e.g., non-cancerous tissue) or in benign tumors. OPN-c antibody may be administered to a patient with a cancer associated with OPN-c expression to prevent the formation and growth of metastases. OPN-c may be used as a diagnostic to determine whether a patient has a malignant, rather than a benign, growth. OPN-c may be used to detect or identify agents that inhibit or mimic OPN-c expression or activity.
US08969007B2
A microchamber electrochemical cell and method of using the cell for performing quantitative analysis of various charged macromolecules is presented. The microchamber electrochemical cell includes a substrate, opposing electrodes and at least one nanoslot. The substrate is configured to define a pair of opposing fluid reservoirs. The pair of opposing electrodes are respectively positioned within the opposing fluid reservoirs. Each nanoslot is configured to fluidly connect the opposing fluid reservoirs together. The opposing fluid reservoirs of the microchamber electrochemical cell are fluidly connected to each other only through each nanoslot. Each nanoslot is physically restricted to less than 500 nanometers. One method includes the steps of coupling, filling, measuring, obtaining, performing and preparing.
US08969004B2
The present invention provides methods for determining the presence of immobilized nucleic acid employing unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that are derivatives of thiazole orange, a staining solution and select fluorogenic compounds that are characterized as being essentially non-genotoxic. The methods comprise immobilizing nucleic acid, single or double stranded DNA, RNA or a combination thereof, on a solid or semi solid support, contacting the immobilized nucleic acid with an unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound and then illuminating the immobilized nucleic acid with an appropriate wavelength whereby the presence of the nucleic acid is determined. The cyanine dye compounds are typically present in an aqueous staining solution comprising the dye compound and a tris acetate or tris borate buffer wherein the solution facilitates the contact of the dye compound and the immobilized nucleic acid.
US08969002B2
The present invention provides for methods and systems for Electronic DNA sequencing, single molecule DNA sequencing, and combinations of the above, providing low cost and convenient sequencing.
US08968991B2
Numerous embodiments of a system and method for treating cardiac tissue are described. In one embodiment, bone marrow cells are extracted from a patient. The cells are then processed to isolate mononuclear cells, which can then be delivered back near the cardiac tissue of the patient.
US08968990B2
A method of forming a resist pattern, including: step (1) in which a resist composition including a base component, a photobase generator component and an acid supply component is applied to a substrate to form a resist film; step (2) in which the resist film is subjected to exposure without being subjected to prebaking; step (3) in which baking is conducted after step (2), such that, at an exposed portion of the resist film, the base generated from the photobase generator component upon the exposure and an acid derived from the acid supply component are neutralized, and at an unexposed portion of the resist film, the solubility of the base component in an alkali developing solution is increased by the action of the acid derived from the acid supply component; and step (4) in which the resist film is subjected to an alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern.
US08968985B2
The presently described embodiments use a printing process, e.g. a wax printing technique, to pattern a mask layer (such as a soldermask layer) of, for example, a printed circuit. Substantially all other conventional processes in developing soldermask and exposure processes can be maintained. According to the presently described embodiments, each printed circuit will have a unique pattern that matches uniform and non-uniform runout. In one form, the pattern is comprised of wax single drops having a specified gap to make the process transparent to the current industry practice. Furthermore, the single drops can be used for both large and small areas without any development time differences. In at least one form, the wax pattern and the soldermask in the gap are removed during development.
US08968978B2
A method for reclaiming an out-of-spec emulsion material includes recovering the out-of-spec emulsion material from a scrap manufacturing batch; distilling the out-of-spec emulsion material to raise a solids content of the out-of-spec emulsion material to about 45 wt % or more based on a total weight of the emulsion material; dissolving the distilled emulsion material in a solvent to form a first mixture; adding a base to the first mixture to neutralize acid groups present in the distilled emulsion material, forming a second mixture; emulsifying the second mixture by adding water to the second mixture; and forming particles having an average particle diameter (D50v) within a target range, wherein the out-of-spec emulsion material has an average particle diameter falling outside of the target range.
US08968974B2
Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.
US08968969B2
A reflective extreme ultraviolet mask includes a mask substrate having an exposing region and a peripheral region, the mask substrate including a light-scattering portion in the peripheral region, a reflective layer on an upper surface of the mask substrate, the reflective layer having a first opening exposing the light-scattering portion, and an absorbing layer pattern on the reflective layer, the absorbing layer pattern having a second opening in light communication with the first opening.
US08968966B2
Provided is a fuel battery including: a fuel battery cell assembly having at least two fuel battery cells coplanarly disposed, the fuel battery cell including a membrane electrode assembly having an anode, an electrolytic membrane, and a cathode stacked on one another in this order, and a flow channel plate provided on an anode side and having on an anode-side surface thereof an in-cell fuel flow channel through which liquid fuel flows; and a fuel distributor having an out-cell fuel flow channel connected to each of the in-cell fuel flow channels to distribute the liquid fuel to the fuel battery cells.
US08968963B2
A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 20 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and an anionic group; (iii) 15 to 45 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; wherein the molar ratio of (i):(ii) is 0.1 to 1.5. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes.
US08968958B2
A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system.
US08968956B2
A repeat unit for a fuel cell stack, the repeat unit having: a conductive interconnect plate; an electrolyte-supported fuel cell, wherein a dense sealing perimeter extends around the entire perimeter of the fuel cell; a cathode gasket adjacent the cathode side of the fuel cell; and an anode gasket adjacent the anode side of the fuel cell. First and second air manifolding ports, and first and second fuel manifolding ports are provided in each of the interconnect plate, dense sealing perimeter of the fuel cell, cathode gasket and anode gasket. An SOFC stack having an aligned stack of a plurality of repeat units is also provided, as well as an SOFC stack configured for cascade fuel flow.
US08968951B2
A system and method for controlling an output of a dynamic fuel cell is provided. A dynamic fuel cell has a membrane wherein a dimension of the membrane is variable during operation of the dynamic fuel cell in response to a control signal from an intelligent controller. By varying the dimension of the membrane, the output voltage of the dynamic fuel cell can be altered. An intelligent controller is provided that can measure a number of outputs and input parameters of the dynamic fuel cell and approximate input parameters using the measured values to adjust the input of the dynamic fuel cell to the approximated values.
US08968947B2
The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.
US08968929B2
The present disclosure is directed at an electrode and methods for forming such electrode for a battery wherein the electrode comprises silicon clathrate. The silicon clathrate may include silicon clathrate Si46 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 24-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings and/or silicon clathrate Si34 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 28-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings. The silicon clathrate may be present as particles having a largest linear dimension in the range of 0.1 μm to 100.0 μm.
US08968927B2
A biodegradable battery is provided. The battery includes an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic and a cathode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode, wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material presents a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.
US08968923B2
Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte composition (electrolytic solution), characterized in that: the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material represented by: aLi[Li1/3M12/3]O2.(1−a)LiM2O2 (where M1 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Zr and V; M2 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cr, Fe, V, Mg and Zn; and a represents a composition ratio and satisfies a relationship of 0
US08968922B2
In one aspect, a rechargeable lithium battery including a positive electrode having a positive active material, a negative electrode having a negative active material, and an electrolyte is provided. The positive active material can include manganese-based oxide, and the electrolyte can include fluoroethylene carbonate, lithium bis(oxalato)borate, and tris(trialkylsilyl)borate.
US08968916B2
An apparatus is provided that includes a two or more cell elements stacked internally to create a single cell with a non-uniform height. A first bus bar may electrically couple to a first side or first end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements. A second bus bar may electrically couple to a second side or second end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements.
US08968912B2
A battery module assembly and method of assembling a battery. The battery module assembly includes a plurality of modules in which a plurality of battery cells are preassembled. The modules are compressed by end plates that are held together under compression by a plurality of linking members. The end plates may include a protrusion that applies pressure to the central portion of the battery cells within the modules. The central portion of the end plates may be partially spherical, partially cylindrical or a flat surface.
US08968911B2
A battery assembling device has two brackets and an assembling unit. The brackets abut each other and can be securely mounted around two battery units. The assembling unit has a quick-release housing and two clamps. The quick-release housing has two electrode holes. The clamps are respectively mounted in the electrode holes and each clamp has two opposite threaded inner surfaces. The battery units can be bundled by the brackets in advance to form regular battery modules. Because the assembling unit is easily and quickly connected with the battery modules, the assembling of a cell of an electrical vehicle is greatly convenient and fast.
US08968910B2
A lithium rechargeable battery, and more particularly, a lithium rechargeable battery having a multidirectional lead-tab structure is provided. The lithium rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly in which a separator and an electrode plate having a current collector, an active material, and a tab are alternately stacked; a lead electrically connected to the tab; and a battery case, wherein the lead is divided into a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, and at least one positive electrode lead and at least one negative electrode lead are provided. The lithium rechargeable battery is appropriate for using a high current even while using a conventional lead-tab size.
US08968898B2
Disclosed herein is a cap assembly disposed at an open upper end of a cylindrical container of a battery in which an electrode assembly (jelly roll) of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in the cylindrical container, wherein an electrode lead of the jelly roll is electrically connected to the lower end of a safety vent having notches, which are ruptured to discharge high pressure gas when high pressure is generated in the battery, and a safety element to interrupt current at a predetermined temperature is provided between the safety vent and the electrode lead.
US08968892B2
A battery pack includes a plurality of bare cells electrically connected in series or parallel to one another, and a protection circuit module provided with a thermistor. In the battery pack, the protection circuit module is electrically connected to the bare cells, and the thermistor is provided to be parallel in the length direction of the protection circuit module between the bare cells and the protection circuit module so as to measure a variable resistance by sensing a temperature of the bare cells and to transfer the measured resistance as an electrical signal to the protection circuit module.
US08968889B2
A novel organic compound suitable for emitting green light and an organic light-emitting device including the organic compound are provided. The organic compound is represented by general formula (1). In general formula (1), R1 to R18 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.
US08968869B2
A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) at least one photoactivatable composition that, upon exposure to radiation, generates at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof; wherein at least one of the components (a) and (b) has an average reactive silane functionality of at least three.
US08968865B2
In one embodiment, an aerogel includes a layer of shaped particles having a particle packing density gradient in a thickness direction of the layer, wherein the shaped particles are characterized by being formed in an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using an impurity. In another embodiment, a method for forming a functionally graded porous nanostructure includes adding particles of an impurity and a solution to an EPD chamber, applying a voltage difference across the two electrodes of the EPD chamber to create an electric field in the EPD chamber, and depositing the material onto surfaces of the particles of the impurity to form shaped particles of the material. Other functionally graded materials and methods are described according to more embodiments.
US08968859B2
A heat extensible fiber comprises a conjugate fiber including a first resin component having an orientation index of 30% to 70% and a second resin component having a lower melting point or softening point than the melting point of the first resin component and an orientation index of 40% or more, the second resin component being present on at least part of the surface of the conjugate fiber in a lengthwise continuous configuration. The conjugate fiber is a heat-treated or crimped fiber and being configured to thermally extend when heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of the first resin component. The heat extensible fiber has higher heat self-extensibility than conventional extensible fibers.
US08968855B2
A component includes a cast portion and an insert. The cast portion includes a sacrificial suspension device. The insert is configured to provide damping to the component. The sacrificial suspension device is dissolved during a casting process, into a molten material, forming the cast portion such that the insert is fully encapsulated by the cast portion, including the dissolved suspension device.
US08968849B2
Polyester compositions for use in injection stretch blow molded articles having intrinsic viscosities in the range from about 0.65 to about 0.78 dl/g, and carboxyl end group concentrations of about 47 mmole/kg or more are provided. Stretch blow molded articles formed from these polyester compositions and methods to produce these articles are also described.
US08968831B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles including anti-fingerprint and/or smudge-reducing coatings, and/or methods of making the same. Oil from fingerprints and the like may easily transfer to the surface of an article. However, it has been found that in certain example embodiments, a reduced-smudge and reduced-glare effect on a glass substrate may be achieved by micro-engineering a glass surface's properties, such as surface morphology and/or roughness. In certain example embodiments, a thin film coating may be introduced to the glass surface in order to alter the contact angle of the article, or for other optical, electrical, mechanical, chemical and/or environmental purposes and/or durability. It has further advantageously been found that by altering the contact angle of the surface, the anti-smudge and anti-glare effects of the substrate may be further improved.
US08968826B2
The invention relates to a laminated strip, in particular a decorative strip, comprising an upper layer (12) consisting of metal, preferably aluminum, whose upper face (22) is embossed with a structure in relief (18) and whose underside (24) is fixed to a reinforcement layer (14) consisting of plastic. During the production of the strip, the reinforcement layer (14) and the protective layer (16) are applied after the structure in relief (18) has been embossed on the upper layer (12).
US08968815B2
The present invention discloses a safer, more effective and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low which comprises, upon removing by crystallization a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride each of which is contained in fats and oils comprising 50 to 90 mass % of a XUX triglyceride in total triglycerides, the step of conducting such removing by crystallization in the presence of a fatty acid lower alkyl ester. This method is a more efficient and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low.
US08968812B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a liquid mixed product from at least one liquid base component and at least one liquid additive, which is added to the base component in a metered manner, wherein the at least one liquid additive is metered into the base component depending on the amount of the mixed product removed from the mixing chamber (2.3).
US08968803B1
A powdered teat dip for use on an organic dairy is disclosed. The powdered teat dip may include Chlorhexidine or Chlorhexidine Acetate at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, Comfrey leaf powder at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, and corn starch at about 40 to about 65 percent by weight.
US08968792B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical combination for the treatment of renal failure in pets, caused by various diseases or ineffective to traditional renal therapy or renal replacement therapy thereby incapable of restoring health. The pharmaceutical combination of the present invention is administered by subcutaneous injection to pets in need thereof, with various advantages including simple use, no requirement for surgery, hospitalization and/or fluid infusion, faster recovery of health status, reduced medical costs, significantly improved recovery rate, reduced mortality and the likes. The pharmaceutical combination of the present invention can also be used for the continuous care treatment of pets with renal failure.
US08968789B2
The present invention is directed to sulfonic esters of metal oxides including those of formulas I and II:
US08968781B2
The present invention provides oral formulations of poorly bioavailable and/or poorly absorbable, and/or poorly water soluble therapeutic agents. The invention features pharmaceutical composition including a biopolymer, a therapeutic agent, for example an antimicrobial agent such as ceftriaxone, and an absorption enhancer, for example a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether absorption enhancer. Methods of making and using the pharmaceutical compositions is also described.
US08968765B2
The present disclosure provides a brush polymer, including: a linear polymer main chain; and brush structural side chains, including: a hydrophobic molecular branch, and a hydrophilic molecular branch and/or an anti-biofilm/or an anti-microbial molecular branch, wherein the linear polymer main chain is conjugated to the side chains by covalent bonds formed between a hydroxyl group and a reactive functional group, wherein the reactive functional group includes: isocyanate, carboxyl, or epoxy. The present disclosure also provides a medical application of the brush polymer.
US08968755B2
The invention provides skin-protecting and penetrating, easy-to-administer base and active agent-containing compositions, such as those including hydrocortisone, for treating the skin of mammals for different dermatologic disorders. This is effected by topically administering effective amounts of the compositions thereto in forms that address the skin and mucosa of the mouth and lips, and the rest of the body. Additionally, an optional flavoring addition to these products affords significantly better tasting, and less bitter, compositions, allowing a more pleasant experience and better compliance by patients. The compositions include a unique formulation of FANCOL VB, Natunola Castor 1023, Finsolv TN, bees wax and, optionally, one or a plurality of plant or plant seed oils, fatty alcohols, fats and flavorings, in desirable weight percents thereof, in various forms, and preferably in a form of a solid roll-on stick in a variety of sizes and of a jar or pot.
US08968746B2
The present invention is directed to a polymeric carrier cargo complex, comprising as a cargo at least one nucleic acid (molecule) and disulfide-crosslinked cationic components as a (preferably non-toxic and non-immunogenic) polymeric carrier. The inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex allows for both efficient transfection of nucleic acids into cells in vivo and in vitro and/or for induction of an (innate and/or adaptive) immune response, preferably dependent on the nucleic acid to be transported as a cargo. The present invention also provides, pharmaceutical compositions, particularly vaccines and adjuvants, comprising the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen, as well as the use of such the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen for transfecting a cell, a tissue or an organism, for (gene-)therapeutic purposes as disclosed herein, and/or as an immunostimulating agent or adjuvant, e.g. for eliciting an immune response for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases as mentioned above. Finally, the invention relates to kits containing the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and/or the inventive pharmaceutical composition, adjuvant or vaccine in one or more parts of the kit.
US08968743B2
The invention concerns the development of a system to deliver vaccines via cutaneous route. The invention more particularly concerns the use of a device comprising a condensation compartment for epicutaneous vaccination. The invention also concerns protocols for epicutaneous vaccination allowing an efficient immune response to be obtained without any skin treatment. The invention can be implemented in any mammal, preferably in human beings, to induce a therapeutic or preventive immune response against any type of antigen.
US08968739B2
The present invention provides compositions, methods, and assays for treating an inflammatory and/or autoimmune disease, and/or transplanted tissue rejection using anti-αβ TCR antibodies and antibody fragments. Anti-αβ TCR antibodies are antibodies which bind to a αβ TCR. Anti-αβ TCR antibodies produced by the hybridoma TOL101 MCB are also provided. Methods for treatment of an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease and for tissue transplant rejection using therapeutic dosing regimen of anti-αβ TCR antibodies and antibody fragments and for upregulating the numbers of Treg T-cells are also provided
US08968738B2
Methods of using anti-FceRI or anti-IgE antibodies for treating an autoimmune disease are disclosed. Also disclosed is a composition comprising an anti-FceRI antibody or anti-IgE antibody for use in treating an autoimmune disease. Also disclosed are non-antibody compounds that specifically activate basophils and/or mast cells, either by cross-linking IgE or FceRI, or by activating the cells through an FceRI-independent pathway and methods of using the same to treat autoimmune diseases.
US08968735B2
Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. Methods are described for treating demyelinating diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system of humans and domestic animals, using polyclonal IgM antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies sHIgm22(LYM 22), sHIgm46(LYM46) ebvHIgM MSI19D10, CB2bG8, AKJR4, CB2iE12, CB2iE7, MSI19E5 and MSI10E10, active fragments thereof and the like. The invention also extends to the use of human antibodies, fragments, peptide derivatives and like materials, and their use in above referenced therapeutic applications, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, that may be administered in desirably low doses to treat conditions involving demyelination and to promote remyelination.
US08968732B2
Use of antagonists to IL-31 are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08968727B2
The present invention provides a telomerase activity inhibiting polypeptide. The expression of the polypeptide in tumor cells can inhibit significantly tumor cell telomerase activity, tumor cell growth, and lead to the death of such cells. The present invention further provides a preparation method for the polypeptide and an application thereof in targeted treatments of tumors.
US08968726B2
Compositions are described which contain lactoferrin and angiogenin. The described compositions are useful in treatment of a variety of conditions, particularly in promoting bone health and relief of menopausal symptoms.
US08968724B2
The invention relates to the use of viral inactivated-plasma cryoprecipitate concentrate (VIPCC) comprising a suitable fibronectin/fibrinogen ratio for treating a spine disease, disorder or condition such as intervertebral disc degeneration.
US08968720B2
The invention provides a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a heat shock protein (hsp) gp96 polypeptide. The invention also provides a method of stimulating an immune response to a tumor by administering a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a gp96 polypeptide.
US08968718B2
A bacterial mixture usable in an inoculum usable in a bioremediateion method for accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region includes a plurality of isolated cold-adapted autochthonous bacterial strains. Each of the bacterial strains has petroleum hydrocarbons degrading activity at an ambient temperature of −3° C. and each has a different temperature tolerance range, a different salinity tolerance range, a different petroleum hydrocarbons degradation spectrum, and a different capacity to emulsify oil.
US08968705B2
The present disclosure is directed generally to gold/lanthanide nanoparticle conjugates, such as gold/gadolinium nanoparticle conjugates, nanoparticle conjugates including polymers, nanoparticle conjugates conjugated to targeting agents and therapeutic agents, and their use in targeting, treating, and/or imaging disease states in a patient.
US08968701B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of radiotracers. In particular, this invention relates the isolation of radiotracers with containers filled with a stationary phase.
US08968697B2
The present invention discloses a method for thermochemical production of hydrogen and oxygen from water by a low temperature, multi-step, closed, cyclic copper-chlorine (Cu—Cl) process involving the reactions of copper and chlorine compounds. A method for production of hydrogen via Cu—Cl thermochemical cycle consists of four thermal reactions and one electrochemical reaction and one unit operation. The cycle involves six steps: (1) hydrogen production step; (2) copper production step; (3) drying step; (4) hydrogen chloride production step; (5) decomposition step; (6) oxygen production step. The net reaction of the sequential process is the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The methods for production of copper oxide which comprises contacting copper chloride particles with superheated steam and production of oxygen comprises reaction of copper oxide with dry chlorine as a part of hydrogen production by thermochemical Copper-Chlorine (Cu—Cl) cycle. The reactions are performed in a flow through type quartz reactor as fixed bed type at high temperature and atmospheric pressure.
US08968684B2
Microplates, reaction modules and optical detection systems for chemical and/or bio-chemical reactions including polymerase chain reactions.
US08968683B2
The invention relates to a tissue sample handling apparatus, in particular for grasping histological samples after infiltration of an embedding medium such as, for example, paraffin, which is characterized in that a sample is immobilizable on the handling apparatus, in particular in a sample holding position, by means of negative pressure.
US08968681B2
A method and device is provided for collecting filterable material to perform assays on a filtration apparatus by applying negative-pressure to the inlet chamber of the filtration apparatus which is independent of negative or positive pressure applied to its fluid path. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber serves to actively aspirate fluid and promote flow into the inlet chamber via the fluid pathway. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber facilitates the use of either negative or positive-pressure based fluid-filtration approaches. Use of the invention improves the functionality and scope of applications that can be performed with enclosed filtration apparatuses.
US08968679B2
A multi-well assembly including a filter plate and receiver plate. Each plate includes a plurality of wells, which, when the filter plate is placed in nesting relationship with the receiver plate, each filter plate well has a corresponding receiver plate well into which it extends. The receiver plate wells are of a non-uniform cross-section in order to increase the gap between the outer walls of the filter plate wells and the inner walls of a corresponding receiver plate well when the receiver plate and filter plate are in nesting relationship. The increased gap size reduces wicking and cross-contamination. A multi-section well of maximum cross-section in an upper region and a minimized cross-section in a lower region, with a gradual transition between the regions, is thus provided. The multi-well assembly of the present invention also improves the repeatability of positioning the filter plate and receiver plate in proper nesting relationship and provides stability during handling, mixing and shaking operations.
US08968675B2
In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.
US08968638B2
The apparatus for injecting slurry contains the first member having the cavity therein; and the second member having a plurality of convex sections, each of the convex sections having the injection hole formed therein communicating with the cavity, wherein the protrusion length of the convex section is in a range from 3 to 5 mm, and the distance between centers of adjacent convex sections is in a range from 3 to 13 mm.
US08968636B2
A mold device and a method related thereto for forming a plastic container from a preform. The mold device comprises a mold defining a mold cavity, a stretch initiation rod system for engaging an interior portion of the preform to define a stretch initiation area, and a centrally disposed pressure source positionable within the preform for introducing a pressurized fluid.
US08968630B2
An imprint lithography template is provided with an alignment mark, wherein the alignment mark is formed from dielectric material having a refractive index which differs from the refractive index of the imprint lithography template, the dielectric material having a thickness which is such that it provides a phase difference between alignment radiation which has passed through the dielectric material and alignment radiation which has not passed through the dielectric material.
US08968626B2
Devices and methods for high-throughput manufacture of concentrically layered nanoscale and microscale fibers by electrospinning are disclosed. The devices include a hollow tube having a lengthwise slit through which a core material can flow, and can be configured to permit introduction of sheath material at multiple sites of Taylor cone formation.
US08968624B2
A method for producing a three dimensional green article includes: (a) providing a slurry composition that contains an inorganic powder, a binder, and a solvent; (b) forming a slurry layer made of the slurry composition; (c) removing the solvent of the slurry layer from an upper surface of the slurry layer so as to form the slurry layer into a green layer with a plurality of pores; (d) scanning the green layer with an energy beam having a power sufficient to vaporize or burn the binder such that the vaporized binder or the burnt binder escapes from the green layer through the pores, while leaving the inorganic powder which is not bound by the binder; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d).
US08968623B2
A method for demolding concrete blocks which are cast in a resilient mold supported in a rigid frame, the mold having a top surface and at least one cavity with an opening on the top surface, which cavity holds a cured cast concrete block. The mold has two opposing edges. The demolded blocks are stacked on a collection surface. A support is positioned over the cavity and the mold, the support and the frame are inverted and positioned in demolding apparatus. After two opposing edges of the mold are engaged by the demolding apparatus, the support is withdrawn to allow the mold to sag. The blocks may release from the mold and fall onto the collection surface. If any blocks remain in the mold, a plunger mechanism is pushed against the sagging mold to release the blocks. Guide members may facilitate positioning the blocks on the collection surface.
US08968615B2
A bulk of polyester polymer particles comprising polyester polymer comprising greater than 75% virgin polyester polymer, the particles having: A) an It.V. of at least 0.72 dl/g, and B) 10 ppm or less of residual acetaldehyde; and C) at least two melting peaks, wherein one of said at least two melting peaks is a low peak melting point within a range of 140° C. to 220° C. and having a melting endotherm area of at least the absolute value of 1 J/g. The particles may also have a degree of crystallinity within a range of 20% and a maximum degree of crystallinity Tcmax defined by the equation: Tcmax=50%−CA−OH where CA is the total mole % of all carboxylic acid residues other than terephthalic acid residues, based on 100 mole % of carboxylic acid residues, and OH is the total mole % of all hydroxyl functional compound residues other than ethylene glycol residues, based on 100 mole % of hydroxyl functional compounds residues. The preforms and bottles made from these particles can be obtained by melt processing these particles at either lower overall power, faster screw speeds, lower residence time, or lower overall cycle time to thereby reduce the level of residual acetaldehyde generated in the melt.
US08968613B2
A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.
US08968608B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a conductive material that allows a low electric resistance to be generated, and that is obtained by using an inexpensive and stable conductive material composition containing no adhesive. The conductive material can be provided by a producing method that includes the step of sintering a first conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm, and a metal oxide, so as to obtain a conductive material. The conductive material can be provided also by a method that includes the step of sintering a second conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm in an atmosphere of oxygen or ozone, or ambient atmosphere, at a temperature in a range of 150° C. to 320° C., so as to obtain a conductive material.
US08968600B2
Disclosed herein are phosphor compositions having high gadolinium concentrations. Some embodiments include a thermally stable ceramic body comprising an emissive layer, wherein said emissive layer comprises a compound represented by the formula (A1-x-zGdxDz)3B5O12, wherein: D is a first dopant selected from the group consisting of Nd, Er, Eu, Mn, Cr, Yb, Sm, Tb, Ce, Pr, Dy, Ho, Lu and combinations thereof; A is selected from the group consisting of Y, Lu, Ca, La, Tb, and combinations thereof; B is selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Si, Ga, In, and combinations thereof; x is in the range of about 0.20 to about 0.80; and z is in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.10. Also disclosed are thermally stable ceramic bodies that can include the composition of formula I. Methods of making the ceramic body and a lighting device including the ceramic body are also disclosed.
US08968596B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal reactive monomer on a polyimide surface of an alignment film and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal reactive monomer has a hard core and is contained in a liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal reactive monomer is represented by the formula (I) or the formula (II), and the molecular weight thereof is greater than or equal to 300. The solubility of the liquid crystal RMs is significantly improved in a liquid crystal matrix while the returning force of liquid crystal molecules is increased, so as to solve the image sticking issue, increase the polymerization capacity of the liquid crystal molecules, raise the curing speed of the curing reaction between the liquid crystal RMs and the polyimide surface and shorten the curing time, so that the purpose of energy saving and carbon reduction can be achieved.
US08968585B2
Methods to fabricate reaction cartridges for biological sample preparation and analysis are disclosed. A cartridge may have a reaction chamber and openings to allow fluids to enter the chamber. The cartridge may also have handles to facilitate its use. Such cartridges may be used for polymerase chain reaction.
US08968581B2
A square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other like printing presses, includes a container having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section with an open top, an outlet port on one side approximate the bottom of the container, a sloped bottom, where the sloped bottom being toward the outlet port, an inlet port on one side approximate the top of the container, and an internal ledge. A lid is adapted to close the open top of the container. A hinge couples the lid to the container, where the lid is hinged to the container on one side. A lid compression device is adapted to compress the lid to the container. A containment basket is adapted to fit inside the container, and has a plurality of holes on all sides and a lip adapted to rest on the internal ledge of the container.
US08968579B2
A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.
US08968573B2
Method for cleaning hydraulic liquid in a industrial truck, wherein said industrial truck is an electrically powered industrial truck having a battery as an energy source with a hydraulic system comprising, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and a return pipe to the hydraulic reservoir with a return filter, wherein the method comprises the steps of, the hydraulic pump is activated for hydraulic activity, the hydraulic pump pumps the liquid for the hydraulic activity and in relation to this return flow through the return filter to the hydraulic reservoir occurs, the hydraulic pump can be activated by means comprised in the industrial truck, when hydraulic activity is not present, by that achieving a circulation to the hydraulic reservoir through the return filter such that sufficient filtration of the hydraulic liquid is reached, further a time Tb for circulation without hydraulic activity can be accumulated and/or a sensor for determining the quality of the hydraulic oil can be arranged in the industrial truck. Termination of the circulation is based on Tb and/or the measured quality. The application also relates to a computer program product, a control unit and an industrial truck that can perform the method.
US08968566B2
A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least two permeate exhaust conduits and not comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit. Each permeate exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the permeate exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said permeate exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least two permeate carrier layers, and at least two membrane layers. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element.
US08968564B2
A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
US08968563B2
A fractionating and refining device includes a solution sending flow path for supplying a solution, including a fractionated target component, a gas supply flow path, a collecting vessel, a warming mechanism for warming the collecting vessel, and a probe formed by integrating tip end portions of the solution sending flow path and the gas supply flow path with each other. A lid of the vessel includes a solution inlet to which the tip end portion of the solution sending flow path is connected, gas inlets to which the tip end portion of the gas supply flow path is connected, and gas discharge ports connecting an inside and an outside of a vessel main body of the vessel.
US08968562B2
The present is a hydrophilic polymer microparticle, which has a DW/DA ratio of 2.0 or less, the DW representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in water, the DA representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in acetone, each of the particle diameters measured by a particle size distribution analyzer after the hydrophilic polymer microparticle is dispersed in water or acetone, subjected to irradiation with ultrasonic waves for 15 minutes, and allowed to stand at a temperature of 25° C. for 240 hours for equilibration; and has a contact angle with water of 70° or less, the contact angle measured using a contact angle measurement apparatus at a temperature of 25° C. by forming a droplet of pure water on a single layer of the hydrophilic polymer microparticles arranged with no space therebetween.
US08968559B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a biodegradable, disposable debris bag for a pool cleaner. The debris bag includes biodegradable fabric filtration media stitched together to form an opening capable of being coupled to an outlet of the pool cleaner and a hollow interior portion to capture debris from the pool cleaner. The biodegradable fabric filtration media is folded over and stitched together to create the opening and the hollow interior portion.
US08968556B2
A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.
US08968547B2
A method for stabilizing a nuclear material may include electrolytically reducing the nuclear material in a first molten salt electrolyte of an electroreducer to produce a reduced material. A reducer waste may accumulate in the first molten salt electrolyte as a byproduct of the electroreduction. After the electroreduction, the reduced material may be electrolytically dissolved in a second molten salt electrolyte of an electrorefiner to produce a purified metal product on a refiner cathode assembly of the electrorefiner. As a result of the electrorefining, a first refiner waste may accumulate in the second molten salt electrolyte and a second refiner waste may accumulate in a refiner anode assembly of the electrorefiner. The reducer waste from the electroreducer and the first refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a ceramic waste form, while the second refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a metallic waste form.
US08968544B2
An apparatus to remove ions, the apparatus having a housing including an inlet to let water in an interior of the housing, an outlet to let water out of the interior of the housing, a first electrode having a current collector, a second electrode, and a spacer to separate the first and second electrodes and to allow water to flow between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus also has a connector to connect the first electrode, or the second electrode, or both first and second electrodes, with an electrical source. The connector may have two connector parts to clamp the current collector in between the connector parts, the connector constructed and arranged to avoid water-metal contact.
US08968539B2
Disclosed here are methods useful for incorporating protein into lipid bilayers using voltage induced insertion. The methods presented herein can decrease time and costs associated with incorporation of proteins into naturally derived or artificially created lipid bilayers. A method for incorporating a protein capable of translocating a ligand also is disclosed herein.
US08968532B2
A substrate plating processor has a vessel on a support structure and a head support fixed in place relative to the support structure. A head having a rotor is attached to the head support. A lifter associated with the head support moves the head into and out of engagement with the vessel. An alignment assembly attachable to the rotor has at least one sensor adapted to detect a position of an inside surface of the vessel when the head is engaged with the vessel. The sensor may be a physical contact sensor positioned to contact the inside surface of the vessel.
US08968531B2
In an electro processor for plating semiconductor wafers and similar substrates, a contact ring has a plurality of spaced apart contact fingers. A shield at least partially overlies the contact fingers. The shield changes the electric field around the outer edge of the workpiece and the contact fingers, which reduces or eliminates the negative aspects of using high thief electrode currents and seed layer deplating. The shield may be provided in the form of an annular ring substantially completely overlying and covering, and optionally touching the contact fingers.
US08968525B2
A method of reducing a film of graphite oxide. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a film of graphite oxide with a thickness d0; and delivering optical energy in a single pulse to the film of graphite oxide at a distance no more than 1.0 cm away from the film of graphite oxide to reduce the film of graphite oxide to a film of graphene with a thickness d, wherein the optical energy has a radiant exposure in the range of between 0.1 and 2 J/cm2, and wherein the thickness d is greater than the thickness d0. In one embodiment, the thickness d≧10×d0.
US08968517B2
A multi-layer through air dried tissue including an interior layer having an ionic surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant, introduced as wet end additives.
US08968515B2
A method of alkaline pretreatment of biomass, in particular, pretreating biomass with gaseous ammonia.
US08968512B2
Provided is a temperature adjusting mechanism, which can keep deviation of a temperature of a portion in contact with the temperature adjusting mechanism to be small by controlling the temperature accurately at a high speed. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus using such temperature adjusting mechanism is also provided. A cooling jacket (6) is provided with a cooling channel (61), and a heat lane (62). The heat lane (62) is provided with a heat receiving section (63), and a heat dissipating section (64), and seals a two-phase condensable working fluid (hereinafter referred to as the working liquid) in an annular narrow tube alternately folds back and forth therebetween. The heat dissipating section (64) is a portion to be cooled by the cooling channel (61), and the heat receiving section (63) is a portion having a temperature higher than that of the heat dissipating section (64). In the heat receiving section (63), heat is received, the working liquid is self-excited by nucleate boiling, and the working liquid transfers sensible heat while being circulated. Furthermore, in the heat receiving section (63), a liquid phase absorbs heat and the phase is transformed into a vapor phase, and in the heat dissipating section (64), a vapor phase dissipates heat and is cooled and condensed, the phase is transformed into a liquid phase, and latent heat is transferred by vapor-liquid phase transformation. Heat is transferred between the heat receiving section (63) and the heat dissipating section (64), and the temperature is uniformized in a short time.
US08968509B2
Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.
US08968505B2
A process of manufacturing a stretch composite is disclosed. The process comprises providing a polyolefin based substrate, providing a letterpress adhesive application system comprising a pattern roll and an applicator roll, and depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the applicator roll. The process further comprises transferring only a portion of the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, from the applicator roll to the pattern roll, by contacting the pattern roll with the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, and transferring substantially all of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate, by contacting the substrate with the elastomeric composition that is on the pattern roll, without damaging the substrate.
US08968502B1
A method for coating an artificial athletic turf made of a backing having a top face and a bottom face and having yarn tufted through the backing such that cut pile extends from the top face and backloops of yarn are closely adjacent the bottom face so that a porous coat is disposed over the backloops and bottom face in order to bind the yarn to the backing. Tiny droplets of coating material are sprayed onto the bottom face of the tufted backing at an inclination angle of less than 45 degrees to the plane of the backing and under conditions which cause sprayed droplets of material to bind the backloops to the backing, but not deposit along narrow areas of the backing between rows of backloops, thus, allowing the turf to remain porous.
US08968498B2
A method of fabricating a crystal oscillator includes applying an adhesive to an electrode pad; determining whether the applied adhesive is in an area outside of the electrode pad; removing at least part of the adhesive in the area outside of the electrode pad using a laser beam when a portion of the applied adhesive is determined to be in the area outside of the electrode pad; and disposing an electrode of a crystal resonator on the adhesive applied to the electrode pad.
