US08873741B2
An apparatus for removing an echo(es) from audio content may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including receiving combined audio content including voice data associated with speech of users in a call and information including audio data provided to the users. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to remove a first echo of a first item of voice data associated with a user(s), from the combined audio content, based in part on a prior detection of the first item of voice data. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to remove a second echo of the audio data, from the combined audio content, based in part on a previous detection of the audio data or a previous detection of data corresponding to the audio data. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US08873737B2
A system for routing communication sessions between a contact and an agent of a contact center is disclosed. The system is arranged to simultaneously connect more than one contact to an agent of the contact center capable of simultaneously handling a plurality of contacts. Typically, the contacts comprise non-voice contacts The system is arranged to obtain a respective time-varying characteristic associated with the various agents indicating an intermediate level of activity for the agents between the agents being unoccupied and the agents being fully occupied with handling contacts. New contacts received at the contact center are routed to an agent based at least partially the time-varying characteristic for the agents.
US08873736B1
A process and system for capturing site maintenance and repair information and creating a closeout package in near real time. The process involves an on-site technician calling into a call center to establishing voice communication with the call center personnel. The personnel connect to the cloud to access photos that are to be taken by and automatically uploaded to the cloud using the technician's smart device. The technician then goes through a predetermined list of work items or actions while verbally describing to the call center personnel each item and while taking photos of key items. The call center personnel record in their computer item descriptions, information and photos in real time as the work is completed. Upon finishing the on-site work, the technician signs out and the call center personnel trigger the auto-generation of a closeout package that is immediately available to the customer via web access.
US08873733B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for feedback of survey results comprises a data center, a call center, and a survey platform communicably coupled to the data center and to the call center, wherein the data center receives a communication initiated by an individual, wherein the communication is routed to the survey platform after an event, wherein data related to at least one of: the individual and the communication is collected, wherein the individual is prompted for participation in a survey, if the individual agrees to participate in the survey, the data is routed to the call center, based on the data and information related to the individual, the individual is routed to an agent within a call center, wherein the agent conducts a survey, and wherein results of the survey are dynamically provided to quality control database.
US08873725B2
AIN based methods and apparatus for authenticating and authorizing people to register information corresponding to a telephone number, e.g., in an ENUM database, are described. The methods of the invention may be used to authenticate a party seeking to register telephone number related information with ENUM. A trigger is set on an ENUM registration line. Calls to the ENUM registration line activate the trigger causing LIDB information corresponding to the calling party number to be retrieved. The retrieved information, e.g., name, address and/or phone number is supplied to an ENUM registration service which returns a password to be used when updating or supplying ENUM registration information corresponding to the phone number from which the registration call is placed at some future time, e.g., via the Internet. Assigned ENUM passwords can be obtained when forgotten by placing a call to the registration service from the registered or associated phone number.
US08873716B2
An x-ray tube is described that includes components for increasing x-ray image clarity in the presence of a moving x-ray source by modifying focal spot characteristics, including focal spot size and focal spot position. In a first arrangement a static focal spot is moved in a direction contrary to the movement of the x-ray source so that an effective focal spot position is essentially fixed in space relative to one of the imaged object and/or detector during a tomosynthesis exposure. In a second arrangement, the size of the static focal spot is increased, and the resulting increase in tube current reduces the exposure time and concomitant blur effect. The methods may be used alone or in combination; for example an x-ray tube with a larger, moveable static focal spot will result in a system that fully utilizes the x-ray tube generator, provides a high quality image with reduced blur and, due to the decrease in exposure time, may scan the patient more quickly.
US08873714B2
This invention includes a radiation detector to detect the radiation transmitted through an object while being in a portable state or mounted on a detector holder, a control unit to control capturing of a radiographic image using the radiation detector, and a plurality of relay stations to relay wireless communication from the radiation detector. The detector holder includes a detection unit to detect the mounting of the radiation detector. The control unit determines the usage pattern of the radiation detector or the mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder based on detection information from the detection unit or a connection request from the radiation detector, and selects one of the relay stations based on the determination result.
US08873712B2
A method for sensing a level of ionizing radiation directed from a radiation source through a subject and toward a digital radiography detector, executed at least in part by a logic processor, obtains image data that relates the position of the subject to the digital radiography detector and assigns one or more radiant-energy sensing elements of the digital radiography detector as one or more exposure control sensing elements. The one or more exposure control sensing elements are sampled one or more times during exposure to measure the exposure directed to the subject. A signal is provided to terminate exposure according to exposure measurements obtained from the one or more exposure control sensing elements within the digital radiography detector.
US08873710B2
An arc radiotherapy and imaging system is provided which includes a first radiation source and a second radiation source. The first radiation source is suitable for treating a region of a patient, and the second radiation source is suitable for imaging the region of the patient. A control is also provided for automatically adjusting system operation, according to a defined schedule, between treating the region of the patient using the first radiation source and imaging the region of the patient using the second radiation source, thereby facilitating both treating and imaging of the region of the patient.
US08873709B2
A radiographic imaging system is capturing a radiographic image of a subject. The radiographic imaging system has a radiation detector that detects radiation from which the radiographic image is obtained, a radiation source that irradiates the radiation detector with the radiation, a partition that is disposed adjacent to the radiation detector and that locates the subject at a predetermined position relative to the radiation detector, a distance measuring unit that measures a distance between the partition and the radiation source, a tilt detecting unit that measures a tilt of the partition, and an image processor that corrects the captured radiographic image based on the distance between the partition and the radiation source obtained by the distance measuring unit and the tilt of the partition obtained by the tilt detection unit.
US08873708B2
A radiographic image capturing device includes a capturing unit that captures a radiographic image based on radiation (for example, X-rays) which penetrates through an object. A system control section extracts one still image from the radiographic image that is captured by the capturing unit, and displays the extracted still image on a second display section of a graphical user interface. The system control section displays a mark on a predetermined portion, which corresponds to a portion to be subjected to surgery, of the still image that is displayed on the second display section. When the mark that is displayed on the still image is selected, the system control section performs control of capturing an image of a corresponding portion of the object that corresponds to the predetermined portion using the capturing unit.
US08873704B2
A filter for an x-ray device to shape an intensity profile of x-ray radiation emanating from an x-ray source of the device has a filter body made of a material that attenuates x-ray radiation. The filter body is designed with a propeller shape and has two blades connected by an axle of the filter. The filter body is rotatable around the axle, which is permeable to the x-ray radiation. The x-ray device embodies at least one such filter.
US08873701B2
A water-soluble salt of a metal with a high atomic weight is selected as an X-ray contrast substance providing a selective ion-exchange reaction with a component. The salt has a general formula R+M−, where R+ is selected from a group consisting of Ba2+; Sr2+; Tl+; Rb+ . . . , and M− is selected from a group consisting of Cln; NOn; OHn; CH3COO, SO4; . . . in accordance with a standard table of inorganic substances' water solubility. The X-ray contrast substance is injected into a sample of a porous material. Upon completion of the selective ion exchange reaction a non-contrast displacing agent is injected into the sample. The sample is scanned by computer X-ray microtomography and spatial distribution and concentration of the component in question is estimated by analysis of the obtained computer tomographic image of the sample.
US08873700B2
A method for core sample effective thermal conductivity provides for scanning a core sample by X-ray micro-computed tomography scanner and transferring a three dimensional scan image to an image analysis computer for processing. Then a layer thickness to be analyzed is set and a layer with maximum thermal resistance is defined within the image. The value of core effective thermal conductivity is defined by the allocated layer.
US08873689B2
A phase interpolator for a CDR circuit produces an output clock having level transitions between the level transitions on two input clocks. The input clocks drive cross-coupled differential amplifiers with an output that can be varied in phase by variable current throttling or steering, according to an input control value. The differential amplifiers produce an output signal with a transition spanning a time between the start of a transition on the leading input clock up to the end of the transition on the lagging input clock. The output clock is linear so long as the transitions on the two input clocks overlap. Active integrators each having an amplifier with a series resistance and capacitive feedback path are coupled to each input to the cross-coupled differential amplifiers, which enhances overlap of the input clock rise times and improves the linearity of the interpolated output signal.
US08873683B2
A receiver circuit receives a signal including a first reference signal from a first antenna port that is allocated to the UE. The receiver circuit includes a descrambling and despreading unit that despreads and descrambles the signal using a spreading code of the first antenna port and a scrambling sequence assigned to the UE to generate a first antenna port signal. The descrambling and despreading unit despreads and descrambles the signal using a spreading code of a second antenna port and the scrambling sequence assigned to the UE, wherein the second antenna port is unallocated to the UE to generate a second antenna port signal. A channel estimator generates a channel estimate of the first antenna port based on the first antenna port signal. An estimation unit estimates an interference and noise covariance measure based on the first antenna port signal, the channel estimate and the second antenna port signal.
US08873677B1
An apparatus for envelope tracking calibration for use in a wireless communication is provided. The apparatus includes a transmission signal path configured to carry a transmission signal to an antenna. An envelope signal path configured to feed an envelope signal with an envelope tracking power amplifier. A controller is configured to transmit a normal envelope signal being generated in a normal operation mode and measure a first Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR) corresponding to the normal envelope signal. The controller is further configured to transmit a comparison envelope signal being generated in a comparison operation mode and measure a second ACLR corresponding to the comparison envelope signal. The controller is configured to calculate a time misalignment between the transmission signal path and the envelope signal path based on a difference between the first and second ACLRs.
US08873673B2
A method of transmitting, by a transmitter, information in a wireless communication system, the method includes generating first and second symbols; generating first and second transmit vectors on the basis of an Alamouti code from the first and second symbols; and transmitting the first transmit vector through a first antenna and transmitting the second transmit vector through a second antenna. The first transmit vector consists of a first transmit symbol and a second transmit symbol. The second transmit vector consists of a third transmit symbol and a fourth transmit symbol. The first, second, third, and fourth transmit symbols are transmitted based on first and second resource indexes. The first symbol is a first modulation symbol for first information, and the second symbol is a second modulation symbol for second information.
US08873658B2
An apparatus for receiving signals includes a receiver for receiving a time domain signal from a transmitter, wherein at least one first information bit is mapped, resulting in at least one first mapped symbol; at least one second information bit is mapped, resulting in at least one second mapped symbol; the at least one second mapped symbol is multiplied by at least one third information bit; and the time domain signal is generated from the at least one first mapped symbol and the at least one second mapped symbol.
US08873657B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a data transmission method and a related device and system. A data transmission method includes: A transmitter performs scrambling, constellation modulation, and multiple-input multiple-output precoding processing sequentially on downlink user data to obtain a precoded symbol sequence; performs time-frequency resource mapping on the precoded symbol sequence to obtain frequency domain data of an OFDM symbol; performs conjugate symmetric extension and IFFT on the frequency domain data of the OFDM symbol to obtain a time domain real-number sequence; performs CP insertion processing on the time domain real-number sequence to form a first downlink time domain baseband signal; loads the first downlink time domain baseband signal onto a direct current of a LED lighting circuit to form a LED driving electrical signal; and converts the LED driving electrical signal into a visible beam of the LED for transmission.
US08873655B2
Technology is discussed for increasing the spectral efficiency of an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. Spectral efficiency can be increased by adding information to a band edge of the OFDM symbol in connection with measures taken to reduce OOB spectral leakage from the OFDM symbol. Spectral leakage reduction measures can include application of a tapering window to at least a portion of OFDM data in the time domain to reduce power in side-lobes in the frequency domain. In some examples, such measures can comprise reducing transmission power at certain frequencies for a set of adjacent sub-carriers within the OFDM symbol at or near the band edge of the OFDM symbol. The additional bandwidth at the OFDM symbol can be used for many different applications, such as, without limitation, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication and/or Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication.
US08873654B2
A method for improving channel estimation performance in dynamic spectrum access multicarrier systems is disclosed. The method includes determining a pattern of pilot symbols to be included in transmitted signals sent from a sender to a receiver through an interference-affected propagation environment by deriving a covariance matrix of interference and white Gaussian noise (Rww) based on external measurements for the propagation environment, determining the placement of a predetermined number of equally powered pilot symbols by computing a placement that results in the minimum sum of square errors of a maximum likelihood channel estimation performed based on the covariance matrix, and with the pilot symbols in their placed positions, determining a relative power distribution between the placed pilot symbols by computing the power distribution that results in the minimum sum of square errors of a maximum likelihood channel estimation performed based on the covariance matrix.
US08873649B2
Disclosed are a method for generating a code sequence that can be used for acquisition of initial synchronization, cell detection, channel estimation, etc. in a mobile communication system, and a transmitter. A method for generating a code sequence in a transmitting side of a mobile communication system includes combining at least two code sequences with each other, and converting a code sequence generated by the combining step into a time domain signal.
US08873648B2
A serial communication apparatus includes a slew rate control circuit, an output circuit, a detection circuit, and a switching circuit. The slew rate control circuit has a predetermined impedance, and supplies a constant current from an output according to an input signal. In the output circuit, first capacitance is charged and discharged by the constant current from the slew rate control circuit. The output circuit outputs a digital signal from an output terminal according to a drive voltage. The noise detection circuit detects noise propagated from the output terminal, and outputs a switching signal according to a detection result. The switching circuit switches an impedance of the slew rate control circuit to a value smaller than the predetermined impedance according to the switching signal.
US08873646B2
Methods and devices that establish communication between a first station and a second station are provided. To this end, an identifier, which identifies the first station and the second station as communication partners for communication, is transmitted between the first and second stations on a first partial connection. After receiving the identifier, communication is started between the first and second stations via a communication connection, wherein the transmission of the identifier via the first partial connection and the communication connection are based on different physical connections. The methods and systems can be used for loading or unloading processes of electrical vehicles, such as autonomous systems in the hospital field, or for vehicles for personal transportation. The methods and systems may provide reliable and cost-effective communication between the first and second stations.
US08873645B2
A transmission circuit transmits a header pulse signal which has signal length being equal to or more than twice as long as reference time, pulse period having predetermined ratio thereof to the signal length, and pulse stop period being successive and longer than the reference time via transmission path. The transmission circuit subsequently and successively transmits a plurality of data pulse signals which have signal length being the same as the reference time, pulse period having predetermined ratio thereof to the signal length associated with data, and pulse stop period being located before and after the pulse period via the transmission path. A reception circuit receives pulse signals via the transmission path, detects the header pulse signal based on the pulse stop period of the received pulse signal, and obtains a plurality of pieces of data based on the pulse period of pulse signals following the header pulse signal.
US08873644B1
Self-monitoring reset circuitry is presented for use in analog-to-digital converters and other modulator circuitry with capacitively coupled isolation barriers in which the modulator output data is monitored for inactivity by a reset circuit synchronized to the modulator clock, and extra pulses are selectively introduced into the data prior to transmission across the isolation barrier if no modulator state changes occur within a predetermined number of clock cycles to provide a predictable data output value for each end of the analog input range and to reset the output to the correct state in situations where transient noise toggles the output and the modulator output is static.
US08873642B2
An exemplary method includes a video content analysis system capturing a first set of video frames representative of a first video content instance and a second set of video frames representative of a second video content instance, applying a morphing heuristic to at least one of the first and second sets of video frames to result in the first and second sets of video frames having a common aspect ratio, a common resolution, and a common container, frame synchronizing, subsequent to the applying of the morphing heuristic, the first and second sets of video frames, and performing a comparative analysis of the frame synchronized first and second sets of video frames. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08873637B2
A hardware pixel processing pipeline and a video processing instruction set accelerate image processing and/or video decompression. The pixel processing pipeline uses hardware components to more efficiently perform color space conversion and horizontal upscaling. Additionally, the pixel processing pipeline also reduces the size of its output data to conserve bandwidth. A specialized video processing instruction set allows further acceleration of video processing or video decoding by allowing receipt of a single instruction to cause multiple addition operation or interpolation of multiple pairs of pixels in parallel.
US08873624B2
A video coder performs a motion-compensated prediction both in the base layer and in an enhancement layer to determine motion data of the enhancement layer by using the motion data from the base layer and/or to predict sequences of residual error pictures after the motion-compensated prediction in the enhancement layer by using sequences of residual error pictures from the base layer via an intermediate layer predictor. On the decoder side, an intermediate layer combiner is used for canceling this intermediate layer prediction. Thereby, the data rate is improved compared to scalability schemes without intermediate layer prediction with the same picture quality.
US08873623B2
A video coder performs a motion-compensated prediction both in the base layer and in an enhancement layer to determine motion data of the enhancement layer by using the motion data from the base layer and/or to predict sequences of residual error pictures after the motion-compensated prediction in the enhancement layer by using sequences of residual error pictures from the base layer via an intermediate layer predictor. On the decoder side, an intermediate layer combiner is used for canceling this intermediate layer prediction. Thereby, the data rate is improved compared to scalability schemes without intermediate layer prediction with the same picture quality.
US08873622B2
In the scalable video coding in connection with motion compensation both in a base layer and in an enhancement layer, a prediction of the motion data of the enhancement layer is performed by using the motion data of the base layer to obtain a scalability concept, which provides, on the one hand, a maximum flexibility for the calculation of the motion data of the different layers and, on the other hand, allows a lower bit rate.
US08873617B2
A system encoding and decoding video that uses a parallel encoding and decoding technique.
US08873616B2
A pulse width modulator has a first clock source providing a clock signal to a set input of an output controller configured to set a pulse width output signal and having a reset input to reset the pulse width output signal. A duty cycle control unit is coupled with the reset input of the output controller, wherein the duty cycle control unit has a numerical controlled oscillator (NCO) being coupled with a register and configured to provide for a direct digital synthesis to produce a specified frequency according to a value set in the register. Furthermore, logic is provided for receiving a signal from a second clock source and the pulse width output signal to trigger the numerical controlled oscillator.
US08873614B1
A system including a storage medium, a demodulator, and a decoder. The demodulator is configured to receive an input signal from the storage medium and demodulate the input signal. The decoder is configured to estimate data stored in the storage medium by decoding the demodulated input signal to provide an output signal. The decoder includes a filter and first and second processors. The filter is configured to generate a first equalized signal based on the output signal. The first processor is configured to, based on the first equalized signal and a first Viterbi algorithm, generate a first estimate of the data and an estimate of noise. The second processor is configured to generate a second estimate of the data based on the first estimate of the data, the estimate of the noise, and a second Viterbi algorithm. The output signal includes the second estimate of the data.
US08873612B1
One or more embodiments describe a decision feedback equalizer with multiple cores for highly spectrally efficient communications. An equalization circuit in a receiver may include a decision feedback equalizer circuit having a first plurality of tap coefficients that are determined based on a cost function that receives as input an error signal that is an inter-symbol-correlated (ISC) signal. The decision feedback equalizer circuit may further include a second plurality of tap coefficients that are determined based on a filter with an ISC response. The cost function may determine the mean square of the error signal. The cost function is constrained or unconstrained. The error signal may represents error caused by a channel. In some embodiments, the ISC signal may be a partial response signal, and the filter with an ISC response may be a partial response filter.
US08873603B2
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for amplitude modulation of a spread signal that can increase a data transmission rate and frequency use efficiency by loading information on the amplitude of the spread signal used in digital communications. A method for amplitude modulation of a spread signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: receiving a first data signal; generating a spread signal by applying a spreading code to the first data signal; receiving a second data signal; and outputting the spread signal at an amplitude corresponding to a value of the second data signal.
US08873589B2
This invention relates to methods and devices for clock synchronization. The invention makes particular use of IEEE 1588 with offset and skew correction. In embodiments of the invention, the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol is used to exchange time stamps between a time server and a client from which the client can estimate the clock offset and skew. In embodiments of the invention a free running clock at the client is provided with an estimation technique based on the time stamps from the IEEE 1588 PTP message exchange between the server and client clocks. The offset and skew from the estimation process can be combined with the local free running clock to give a synchronized local clock which is an accurate image of the master clock.
US08873587B2
A communication method using time-division multiplexing that enables permanent communication between user terminals. One of the terminals is a master terminal, the others being slave terminals. The transmission channel is divided into frames, each frame being divided into time slots. Each slave terminal identifies a free time slot in the current frame, in listening mode, and transmits data in the identified time slot, in transmission mode, during at least one following frame. As soon as the slave terminal ceases transmitting, the identified time slot becomes free again.
US08873582B2
A method of transmitting a data block in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes generating a data block used for multi-user transmission, the data block comprising a first control field and a data field for a plurality of users, the first control field indicating multi-user transmission of the data block, the data field comprising a plurality of data units, each data unit comprising a PSDU(PLCP(Physical Layer Convergence Procedure) Service Data Unit) for each user and padding bits which are appended to the PSDU for each user; and transmitting the data block to the plurality of users; wherein the number of the padding bits in each data unit is determined so that lengths of the plurality of data units are same and the number of the padding bits in each data unit is determined by Nsym, NDBPS,k, NPSDU,k, where Nsym denotes the number of OFDM symbols of the data field, NDBPS,k denotes the number of data bits per OFDM symbol for k-th user, and the NPSDU,k denotes the length of the PSDU for k-th user.
US08873581B2
A graphics multi-media integrated circuit (GMIC) is connected to a host processor over two serial links: a half duplex bi-directional serial link which accords to a display serial interface protocol, and a uni-directional serial link which accords to a camera serial interface protocol. The GMIC receives packets from the host over the half duplex bi-directional serial link and processes these packets. The GMIC sends packets over the uni-directional serial link. A packet from the host can request a processing operation by the GMIC or can initiate a memory operation at the memory of the GMIC. The GMIC can also send packets to the host to initiate a host memory operation and may be connected to a display over a bi-directional serial link and to a camera over a uni-directional serial link and a bi-directional control link allowing the host to control the display and camera.
US08873574B2
A network-attached storage apparatus is configured to be in communication with a local device. The apparatus includes storage devices for storing data, one interface for establishing communication with the network and another interface for establishing communication with the local device. A processor enables the interfaces to alternatively establish communication with the local device or the network.
US08873566B2
An apparatus comprising an Edge Virtual Bridging (EVB) bridge coupled with an EVB station wherein the EVB bridge is configured to communicate to the EVB station a Filter Information (Info) field of a virtual station interface (VSI) discovery and configuration protocol (VDP) Associate Response message, and wherein the Filter Info field specifies a default Priority Code Point (PCP) value associated with at least one or all of a plurality of VID values carried by that VDP TLV Response.
US08873560B2
The method and system as disclosed relates to streaming of large quantities of time critical data over multiple distinct channels from a wireless communications device to a central receiver. More specifically the disclosure deals with the challenges and problems of maintaining consistent data reception quality when faced with the anomalies of a moving sender that is sending data using a relatively unstable radio frequency (RF) method. This is achieved by converting single source data into multiple data streams, placing them in transport buffers and storing them for forwarding. A plurality of radio frequency modules provide wireless connectivity to a plurality of wireless network. Links are maintained to provide feedback on network connections to allow for the transfer of data from one network to another and to adjust the amount of data being transmitted.
US08873559B2
In an interconnection network, multiple nodes are connected to one of a first layer of switches. The first layer of switches is connected to one another through a second layer of switches. Each of the nodes is connected through one of multiple shared links connecting the first layer switches and the second layer of switches. A pipelined broadcast manager schedules broadcast steps for a pipelined broadcast through the crossbar switches according to each separate, single static route set through at least one of an inter-switch broadcast phase during which at least one packet is passed from at least one switch of the crossbar switches to another of the crossbar switches and an intra-switch broadcast phase during which the at least one packet is passed only among a selection of nodes connected to the another of the crossbar switches.
US08873558B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at an interface at a network device having a plurality of interfaces connected to a plurality of links forming a bundle, performing a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) check on the received packet, and forwarding the packet if it passes the RPF check. The RPF check includes a lookup in an RPF table having a plurality of entries for the bundle, each of the entries including the bundle and one of the links in the bundle, and verification that the interface receiving the packet is connected to one of the links in the bundle identified in the lookup. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US08873545B2
A gateway apparatus receives a call control signal and/or a packet that has voice data stored therein in a predetermined protocol or payload format from an access point, converts a protocol of the call control signal and/or a protocol or payload format of the packet into a circuit switched protocol used when an RNC connects to the circuit switching equipment for output to the circuit switching equipment, receives a call processing signal that uses the protocol as that used when the circuit switching equipment outputs to the RNC and a voice signal that uses the same protocol, converts protocol of the call processing signal and/or the voice signal for output to the access point.
US08873535B2
Systems, devices, and methods for retransmitting protocol data units in wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, a device configured to communicate via a wireless communication link includes a processor. The processor is configured to transmit a plurality of protocol data units (PDUs) to a receiving device, select a first PDU from a set of PDUs that has not been acknowledged by the receiving device, retransmit the first selected PDU with a first poll indicator, select a second PDU from the set, and retransmit the second selected PDU with a second poll indicator. The second PDU is different than the first PDU. In some aspects, the PDUs are selected based on the PDUs' original transmission time. In other aspects, the PDUs may be selected based on the PDU's most recent transmission time.
US08873528B2
An embodiment of a mobile router, comprises: a wireless wide area network interface to access a cellular network; a local area network interface to provide access to devices for transfer of data; priority information associated with predetermined types of download data; data rate information associated with the priority information; first apparatus to determine the priority of download data via the wide area network interface; second apparatus to determine if data is being transferred via the local area network interface; and third apparatus to control the data rate for the download data based on the priority information, the data rate configuration information, and whether data is being transferred via the local area network interface.
US08873523B2
Methods and apparatus that enable solicited access to a secure wireless network having complex security protocols. In one embodiment, such solicited access is performed using a streamlined or reduced number of steps and includes an exemplary active/passive scanning protocol and use of an optimized service discovery protocol (SDP). Furthermore, multiple aspects of the invention are directed to improving and enhancing user experience, including a reduction of “human” interaction requirements for secure network operation (such as changing settings, entering addresses, etc.), and furthermore, integrated utilization of human readable text.
US08873519B2
The present invention relates to a system that includes a transmission/reception point and a user equipment having different configurations in inter-band and performs a TDD (Time Division Duplex) method.
US08873508B1
Methods and devices for assigning a resource to a wireless communication device (WCD) based on soft handoff capabilities are presented. In particular, a radio access network (RAN) component, such as a base station controller (BSC) may receive call initiation requests from multiple WCDs. Some of these WCDs may be eligible for channel-assignment-into-soft-handoff (CASHO), wherein a WCD is assigned multiple traffic channels from multiple wireless coverage areas during call initiation procedures. However, the RAN component may take into account the effects of CASHO on WCDs with limited wireless coverage. Thus, if CASHO procedures could result in one or more WCDs not being assigned a traffic channel, the RAN component may refrain from performing CASHO, or at least refrain from performing CASHO to its full extent, in order to assign at least one traffic channel to other WCDs.
US08873502B2
First and second indicators of a first available amount of an air-interface resources associated with a first and second channel, respectively, is received. A request for an allocation of an amount of the air-interface resource is received. Based on the request for the allocation, first and second ranking values associated with the first and second channels, respectively are determined. The first and second ranking values are selected such that the efficient allocations receive higher ranks. Based on the first ranking value and the second ranking value, the first frequency band is selected to provide the allocation of the amount of the air-interface resource.
US08873493B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink signal are disclosed. The method for transmitting an uplink signal by a communication apparatus in a wireless communication system includes channel encoding control information, and multiplexing the channel encoded control information with a plurality of data blocks by performing channel interleaving, wherein the number of channel encoded symbols for the control information is determined using an inverse number of the sum of a plurality of spectral efficiencies (SEs) for initial transmission of the plurality of data blocks.
US08873486B2
The present invention relates to a method for communicating between a primary station and a plurality of secondary stations, comprising (a) the primary station configuring a secondary station to search on a first channel at least one of a plurality of search spaces having a first structure, said first structure consisting of at least a first number of resource sets, where at least one resource set might be used to transmit a message to a secondary station, (b) the primary station setting a characteristic of the first channel to a first value. (c) the primary station changing the characteristic of the first channel to a second value upon detection of a capacity event in the search spaces.
US08873482B2
A network virtualization method in a wireless communication system includes aggregating sets of uplink and downlink flows on a cellular basestation into groups; allocating wireless resources to each of the sets as a respective basestation slice; and enabling each of the sets of flows to be under a distinct administrative entity.
US08873478B2
The equipment and techniques disclosed herein introduce a deferred acknowledgement (DACK), in the context of a protocol for a wireless station to request and obtain access to a wireless network resource for communication of one or more data packets. Essentially, a network node, such as a wireless base station, sends the DACK instruction in response to the access request telling the requesting station that the node has heard the request but that the requesting station should defer its transmission. The requesting station need not back off and re-initiate its access request. Instead, the requesting station waits for a later acknowledgement (ACK) granting access to a resource as requested. Although the DACK provides additional signaling, this technique can still utilize a fast ACK type message, that is to say a relatively short signaling packet.
US08873469B2
To reduce latency in accessing a wireless communication system, which is highly desirable for time sensitive applications such as push-to-talk call, a wireless device performs an overhead update procedure and a transmit clock synchronization procedure in parallel. The overhead update procedure obtains up-to-date overhead information from the system, such as access parameters used to access the system. The transmit clock synchronization procedure updates transmit timing to current system time, e.g., resets a long or scrambling code and pseudo-random number (PN) sequences used to transmit signaling to the system. After the overhead information has been updated and the transmit clock synchronization procedure has been completed, the wireless device performs an access probe procedure to send signaling (or access probes) to the system to attempt to access the system.
US08873463B2
A method and device for transmitting or transceiving data in a wireless system. The method includes: transmitting or transceiving a downlink signal by using a special subframe. The special subframe includes a first transmission period and a second transmission period. The first transmission period is set to transmit the downlink signal to the relay node or the terminal. The second transmission period is set to transmit the downlink signal to the relay node and is set to not decode a reference signal by the terminal.
US08873460B2
A sniffer for an ad-hoc network including an RF transceiver for receiving network packets from the ad-hoc network, the RF transceiver being operable to receive the network packets without the sniffer being connected to the ad-hoc network; a microprocessor connected to the RF transceiver for processing the network packets to create associated FIFO packets; a memory connected to the microprocessor for storing the associated FIFO packets, and a communications interface for receiving the associated FIFO packets from the memory and for transmitting the associated FIFO packets to a computer.
US08873454B2
An apparatus and method for relay operation in a wireless communication system comprising determining a first set of subframes for downlink communication from an eNB to a relay node; determining a second set of subframes for uplink communication from the relay node to the eNB; determining a downlink (DL) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) timing between a first control transmission and a HARQ acknowledge (ACK) message based on a first minimum delay and the first and the second sets of subframes; and determining an uplink (UL) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) timing between a second control transmission and an uplink transmission based on a second minimum delay and the first and the second sets of subframes.
US08873451B2
A resource allocation method for dynamic multiplexing of Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) can be used to improve resource utilization efficiency when multimedia multicast services share a channel. A network side device configures a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for said logical channels or the Multicast/Broadcast over Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes bearing said logical channels according to the transmission requirements of logical channels, and implements modulation and coding processing for the data of Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH) borne by MBSFN subframes bearing said logical channels by using said MCS. The network side device can employ different modulation and coding in the physical layer according to different Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of different logical channels of MBMS services, thereby achieving the purpose of improving resource utilization efficiency and satisfying different service requirements.
US08873449B2
Example methods and apparatus to maintain call continuity are disclosed. A disclosed example method to authorize a request with service information (SI), including detecting whether the SI pertains to an existing Internet Packet (IP) flow, when the SI pertains to an existing IP flow, detecting whether the existing IP flow includes circuit switched (CS) media, and when the existing IP flow includes CS media, determining a response to the request independent of a CS media indicator.
US08873448B2
In a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zones each of which comprises at least one base station, there is provided a method for providing a multicast and broadcast service to a mobile terminal capable of moving from one MBS zone to another. The method comprises the steps of: providing the mobile terminal with one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions comprising at least one multicast connection identification (MCID) associated with an MBS zone other than a current MBS zone at which the mobile terminal is currently receiving the one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions; retrieving information regarding the at least one MCID; and upon detecting that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving transmissions associated with the other MBS_ZONE, utilizing the MCID associated with that other MBS_ZONE to receive multicasting/broadcasting transmissions intended for that mobile terminal.
US08873446B2
The present invention relates to a multicast supporting method for AV data in a network such as UPnP AV network. In the present invention, it is checked based on protocol information of an object containing media data whether multicasting of the object is supported and, if supported, a multicast address is assigned to the object to which an IP address has not been allocated.
US08873443B2
A method and apparatus for power control for wireless transmissions on multiple component carriers associated with multiple timing advances are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may perform power scaling or other adjustments on physical channels in each subframe to be transmitted on component carriers that belong to different timing advance groups (TAGs) if a sum of the transmit powers of the channels would or is to exceed a configured maximum output power for that subframe where each TAG may be associated with a separate timing advance value for uplink transmissions. The WTRU may adjust the transmit power of at least one physical channel if a sum of transmit powers in an overlapping portion of subframes of a less advanced TAG and a more advanced TAG would or is to exceed a configured maximum WTRU output power during the overlap.
US08873441B2
A method for LTE or WiMAX scheduling includes collecting, by a basestation BS, channel feedback from multiple mobiles with downlink traffic. The channel feedback enables the BS to determine an achievable rate or block error probability if transmitting to a mobile with a given modulation and coding scheme MCS and multiple-input multiple-output MIMO mode. The method includes determining, by the BS, which of the mobiles is scheduled on each resource block RB and what the MCS and MIMO mode is selected for each scheduled mobile, and allocating bits on the set of the RBs assigned to each scheduled mobile.
US08873433B2
A network test tool can determine if it is linked to directly to an indicated managed device or an intermediate unmanaged device. Discovery protocols and spanning tree are designed to map network topology and eliminate closed loops in networks. As such these management packets are among the first emerging from managed switches immediately upon acquiring a new link. By analyzing the first few packets, with timeouts, the tool can determine with a high degree of accuracy if it is really connected to the advertised nearest switch. If an unmanaged switch exists between the managed switch and tool, the managed switch will not detect the link event therefore not immediately send discovery packets. Once the tool determines it is not linked to the managed switch, further packet analysis can indicated if the intermediate device is a Layer 2 switch or Hub.
US08873428B1
Embodiments provide a method for discovering, by a network device of a network, a plurality of network devices of the network; establishing, by the network device, a group of network devices, wherein the group of network devices comprises the network device and a subset of the plurality of network devices; receiving, by the network device, information that is pertinent to one or more network devices included in the group of network devices; processing the information to generate processed information; and propagating the processed information to one or more network devices of the subset of the plurality of network devices.
US08873408B2
Methods and arrangements for reporting of measurements in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The embodiments relate to methods and arrangements exercising automated collection of network performance statistics as an alternative to drive tests and reporting function called Minimizing Drive Tests (MDT). The described embodiments for reporting of measurements in a wireless communication system include acquiring suitable confidence information.
US08873403B2
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing automatic Differentiated Services Code Point tracing for XoIP elements. A system configured as an agent maintains a cache of destination network addresses based on prior network communications. Then, the system identifies a destination network address to test. The system can identify the destination network address to test based on the cache of destination network addresses. The cache can include additional information, such as network test results, traffic information, port numbers, DSCP trace value, measurements of traffic protection, service provider information, etc. Next, the system automatically sends to the destination network address a network test configured to determine a Differentiated Services Code Point trace. The system can perform the network test for any type of network traffic and port.
US08873400B2
Femto base stations and methods described herein suppress the need for an external GPS antenna and cable, while still providing a network service provider with the ability to obtain the desired GPS location coordinates and the user with the flexibility of placing the femto cell at the location of their choice within a home regardless of GPS signal strength.
US08873394B2
A client device having a networking layer and a network driver layer for transmitting network packets comprising: a plurality of transmit queues configured at the network layer, each of the transmit queues having different packet service classifications associated therewith, packets being queued in one of the transmit queues according to traffic service classifications assigned to the packets; a classifier module for classifying packets according to the different packet service classifications, wherein a packet to be transmitted is stored in one of the transmit queues based on the packet service classifications; and a network layer packet scheduler for scheduling packets for transmission from each of the transmit queues at the networking layer, the network layer packet scheduler scheduling packets for transmission according to the packet service classifications.
US08873385B2
Implementations are described for controlling, avoiding, and/or minimizing incast congestion in a network. In various embodiments, the network may be a data center network, which may include one or more senders and a receiver that transmit data across the network using Transmission Control Protocol. The receiver may be associated with a receive window that may determine amount of data that may be received by the receiver at a single time. Moreover, a size of the receive window may be adjusted based at least in part on an available bandwidth of the receiver. As a result of an increase or decrease in the receive window, the one or more senders may not be constrained in transmitting data to the receiver and incast congestion at the receiver may be reduced and/or avoided.
US08873380B2
In a multi-ring communication network, first and second rings include first and second connection nodes, respectively, that are adjacently connected to each other. The first connection node receives, from adjacent nods, traffic information storing a pair of input and output node identifiers in association with each of storage areas included in a frame to be transmitted, where the input node identifier identifies an adjacent node from which data is inputted, and the output node identifier identifies an adjacent node to which the data is outputted. When the received traffic information includes the output node identifier identifying the second connection node, the first connection node sets a plurality of redundant path segments each including the second connection node, based on the received traffic information, where the plurality of redundant path segments includes a currently-used path segment.
US08873377B2
A device includes a master control card that performs control plane processing, a backup control card, where the backup control card takes over control plane processing if the master control card goes out of service, and a database card that connects to the master control card and the backup control card, where the database control card stores information relating to control plane processing. A method of achieving hitless failover in a network element includes detecting that a master control card of the network element has gone out of service, designating the backup control card as a new master control card of the network element, establishing communication with a database card of the network element, and retrieving protocol states information from the database card.
US08873373B2
The present invention, provides an Ethernet transmission apparatus comprising a first and second MEPs provided for each of transmission lines of operational and non-operational systems and for performing the transmission/reception of a frame to be transmitted over each transmission line in a duplexed manner, and a switching processing part for switching the MEP to be used for reception by using ETH-CC which is transmitted at regular intervals, in which the above described first and second MEPs are configured to be able to confirm each other's received content and are adapted to add a continuous sequence number to the ETH-CC when transmitting the ETH-CC, and when the sequence number of the received ETH-CC is smaller than the sequence number of the ETH-CC received by the operational system side, the MEP of the non-operational system side is adapted not to transmit the frame.
US08873371B2
A technique to receive a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) broadcast, in which a plurality of source symbols and repair symbols of a broadcast from a broadcast source are received at a User Equipment or User Device (UE). The source symbols and repair symbols are based on fountain codes, so that not all of the repair symbols are used to recover the originally sourced data. An application layer of the UE recovers the sourced data and places the receiver in a power-save mode following the last repair symbol used to recover the sourced data, so that remaining repair symbols are not received by the receiver and subsequently processed.
US08873365B2
For transmit diversity in a multi-antenna OFDM system, a transmitter encodes, interleaves, and symbol maps traffic data to obtain data symbols. The transmitter processes each pair of data symbols to obtain two pairs of transmit symbols for transmission from a pair of antennas either (1) in two OFDM symbol periods for space-time transmit diversity or (2) on two subbands for space-frequency transmit diversity. NT·(NT−1)/2 different antenna pairs are used for data transmission, with different antenna pairs being used for adjacent subbands, where NT is the number of antennas. The system may support multiple OFDM symbol sizes. The same coding, interleaving, and modulation schemes are used for different OFDM symbol sizes to simplify the transmitter and receiver processing. The transmitter performs OFDM modulation on the transmit symbol stream for each antenna in accordance with the selected OFDM symbol size. The receiver performs the complementary processing.
US08873363B2
The present invention relates to cellular radio communication and in particular to providing information on neighbour cells to enable terminals to perform neighbour cell measurements. In the prior art the terminal attempts to make neighbour cell measurements in a reference signal structure that is the same in the neighbour cell as in the cell the terminal camps in. The present invention is based on the insight that the reference signal structure may differ between neighbouring cell for example in the situation of an MBSFN area that is restricted to a region of all cells of a radio network, or in the situation of TDD mode being applied there may be different regions with different allocation of sub-frames for transmission in the uplink and downlink directions. The present invention solves the problem by broadcast information in a cell indicative of the reference signal structure in neighbour cells.
US08873361B2
There is disclosed an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for optically recording and/or reproducing information in and from an optical recording medium. The apparatus has an oscillator light generator for generating oscillator light that is made to overlap and interfere with reproduced light from the optical recording medium, an oscillator light modulator for producing a given phase difference between the oscillator light and the reproduced light, a light detector for detecting interference light in which the oscillator light and the reproduced light overlap each other, a wavefront deviation detector for detecting an amount of wavefront deviation between the oscillator light and the reproduced light from an output from the light detector, and a compensation amount calculation unit for calculating a wavefront compensation amount from the amount of wavefront deviation. The phase difference produced by the oscillator light modulator is controlled based on the wavefront compensation amount.
US08873357B2
A recording management apparatus includes: a control unit configured to perform track setting processing arranged to set, by recording purpose, a plurality of tracks serving as continuous recording areas to one layer of a recording medium having a plurality of layers serving as recording layers where recording of information is performed by laser irradiation, and closing track processing arranged to set each track to a continuous recording completed state within one layer alone.
US08873353B1
Fixed patterns are written on a track of a heat-assisted, recording medium at multiple, heater-induced write clearances via a recording head. The writing involves heating the recording medium via a near-field transducer of the recording head. Amplitudes of the fixed patterns are read back at a predetermined read clearance. A clearance difference between a start and an end of a first data sector of the track is determined based on the amplitudes. A narrow, laser-induced protrusion is estimated at the near-field transducer based on the clearance difference.
US08873335B1
The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.
US08873334B2
A method for surveying, may include receiving, by a processor, first survey data from a first source, the first source comprising a first signal generated by a subsurface earth formation in response to a passive-source electromagnetic signal, wherein the electromagnetic signal is generated by an electroseismic or seismoelectric conversion of the passive-source electromagnetic signal. The method may also include receiving, by the processor, second survey data from a second source and processing the first survey data and the second survey data to determine one or more properties of a subsurface earth formation.
US08873330B2
A plurality of address conversion circuits are provided for memory cores respectively, and convert logical address data supplied from outside to physical address data. In an interleave operation, the address conversion circuits output the logical address data as the physical address data without converting the logical address data when a first memory core is to be accessed earlier than a second memory core, whereas output address data obtained by adding a certain value to the logical address data as the physical address data when the second memory core is to be accessed earlier than the first memory core.
US08873329B1
Row activation operations within a memory component are carried out with respect to patterns of storage cells that constitute a fraction of a row and that have been predicted or predetermined to yield a succession of page hits, thus reducing activation power consumption without significantly increasing memory latency. The patterns of activated storage cells may be predicted or predetermined statically, for example, in response to user input or configuration settings that specify activation patterns to be applied in response to memory request traffic meeting various criteria, or dynamically through run-time evaluation of sequences of memory access requests.
US08873322B2
A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a memory cell configured to receive a first current and a second current through a bit line which is connected to a sensing node; a sensing node level control unit configured to be driven in response to a control signal, compare a reference voltage and a voltage of the sensing node, and output a driving signal to a driving node; a first current driving unit configured to output the first current to the driving node by using a first driving voltage in response to the driving signal; and a current control unit configured to perform a discharge operation of the bit line or electrically connect the driving node and the sensing node, in response to the control signal.
US08873313B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes: a memory cell block configured to store data; a fuse block including a plurality of fuses configured to store fuse information; an I/O driver configured to output the data transmitted through a global line to a pad; and a fuse driver configured to output the fuse information transmitted through a test global line to the pad during a test mode.
US08873312B2
The present invention provides a row decoder of a semiconductor storage device that prevents an increase in a circuit area while maintaining a high operation speed. Namely, the row decoder of the semiconductor storage device includes a word line selection circuit that has voltage application MOS transistors for each of plural word lines, the voltage application MOS transistors applying a normal voltage to the word lines corresponding to memory cells selected among plural memory cells positioned at a portion where the plural word lines intersect plural bit lines in a predetermined normal operation, and applying a high voltage in a predetermined high voltage operation; and a level shift circuit that outputs the normal voltage or a ground voltage lower than the normal voltage in the normal operation, and that outputs the normal voltage or the high voltage in the high voltage operation, to the voltage application MOS transistor.
US08873309B2
A memory includes a module and a demultiplexer. The module is configured to monitor outputs of sense amplifiers. Each of the outputs of the sense amplifiers is configured to be in a first state or a second state. The module is configured to determine that two or more of the outputs of the sense amplifiers are in a same state. The same state is the first state or the second state. The module is configured to output the state of the two or more outputs of the sense amplifiers. The demultiplexer is configured to provide the state of the two or more outputs of the sense amplifiers to a latch.
US08873302B2
An array of memory cells, in which one or more memory cells have a common doped region. Each memory cell includes a transistor with a floating gate, source and drain regions, and separate gate and drain voltage controls. Each memory cell also includes a coupling capacitor electrically coupled to and located laterally from the floating gate. In the array, first bit lines are oriented in a first direction, wherein a first bit line is coupled to drain regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array includes second bit lines also oriented in the first direction, wherein a second bit line is coupled to source regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array also includes word lines oriented in a second direction, wherein each word line is coupled to control gates of coupling capacitors that are arranged in a row.
US08873297B2
Methods for programming select gates, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for programming, a program inhibit voltage is transferred from a source to unselected bit lines. Bit line-to-bit line capacitance, between the unselected bit lines and selected bit lines to be program inhibited, boosts the bit line voltage of the selected, inhibited bit lines to a target inhibit voltage. In one embodiment, the voltage on the selected, inhibited bit line can be increased in a plurality of inhibit steps whereby either one, two, or all of the steps can be used during the programming of unprogrammed select gates.
US08873296B2
A control circuit is configured to execute an erasing operation on a selected cell unit in a selected memory block. In the erasing operation, the control circuit raises the voltage of the bodies of the first memory transistors included in the selected cell unit to a first voltage, sets the voltage of the bodies of the first memory transistors included in the non-selected cell unit to a second voltage lower than the first voltage, and applies a third voltage equal to or lower than the second voltage to the gates of the first memory transistors included in the selected cell unit and the non-selected cell unit.
US08873291B2
An embodiment of a nonvolatile-memory device includes: a body accommodating at least a first semiconductor well and a second semiconductor well; an insulating structure; and at least one nonvolatile memory cell. The cell includes: at least one first control region in the first well; conduction regions in the second well; and a floating gate region, which extends over portions of the first well and of the second well, is capacitively coupled to the first control region and forms a floating-gate memory transistor with the conduction regions. The insulating structure includes: first insulating regions, which separate the floating gate region from the first control region and from the second well outside the conduction regions and have a first thickness; and second insulating regions, which separate the floating gate region from the first well outside the first control region and have a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
US08873286B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed to manage non-volatile media. A method includes determining a configuration parameter for a set of storage cells of a non-volatile recording medium. A method includes reading data from a set of storage cells using a determined configuration parameter. A method includes adjusting a configuration parameter based on read data.
US08873284B2
A multi-layer memory and method for operation is disclosed. The memory includes an interface, at least one flash memory die having a plurality of layers and a controller. The controller is configured to select an appropriate one of a predetermined number of program cycles for programming a fixed amount of host data, and for carrying out maintenance operations in one or more of the layers sufficient to permit a next host data write operation. The controller calculates an interleave ratio of maintenance operations to host data programming operations in each of the layers used in the determined programming cycle so that creation of free space is interspersed with host data writes in a steady manner during execution of the determined programming cycle.
US08873280B2
A spin transfer torque random access memory includes a substance unit, a source line unit, an insulation unit, a transistor unit, a MTJ unit, and a bit line unit. The substance unit includes a substance layer. The source line unit includes a plurality of source lines formed inside the substance layer. The transistor unit includes a plurality of transistors respectively disposed on the source lines. Each transistor includes a source region formed on each corresponding source line, a drain region formed above the source region, a channel region formed between the source region and the drain region, and a surrounding gate region surrounding the source region, the drain region, and the channel region. The MTJ unit includes a plurality of MTJ structures respectively disposed on the transistors. The bit line unit includes at least one bit line disposed on the MTJ unit.
US08873274B2
A memory cell includes a plug-type first electrode in a substrate, a magneto-resistive memory element disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the magneto-resistive memory element opposite the first electrode. The second electrode has an area of overlap with the magneto-resistive memory element that is greater than an area of overlap of the first electrode and the magneto-resistive memory element. The first surface may, for example, be substantially circular and have a diameter less than a minimum planar dimension (e.g., width) of the second surface. The magneto-resistive memory element may include a colossal magneto-resistive material, such as an insulating material with a perovskite phase and/or a transition metal oxide.
US08873265B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory system includes a substrate, a plurality of elements and an adhesive portion. The substrate has a multilayer structure in which wiring patterns are formed, and has a substantially rectangle shape in a planar view. The elements are provided and arranged along the long-side direction of a surface layer side of the substrate. The adhesive portion is filled in a gap between the elements and in a gap between the elements and the substrate, where surfaces of the elements are exposed.
US08873262B2
Provided is an efficient inverter driving method. A pulse with very short pulse width is supplied as a primary driving pulse of a transformer, and the secondary output voltage of the transformer caused by a transient phenomenon can be enlarged several times while keeping the power source voltage for input current constant by shortening the time interval of the primary driving pulse.
US08873250B2
An extendable and retractable earpiece or audio headset cable assembly for mobile electronic devices having an audio output port having a mount attached to a portion of the mobile communication or sound device, such as the battery access door or panel. An earpiece cable reel housing is removably connected to the mount, and the mount includes a flange having an outwardly extending rim. The reel housing includes a slot that receives and engages the rim of the flange to removably attach the reel housing to the mount. In another embodiment, the mount is integrally formed with the battery access door or panel. In a further embodiment, the reel housing is integrally formed with a protective casing that is attached to the mobile electronic device.
US08873237B2
One embodiment of a system for cooling a heat-generating device includes a base adapted to be coupled to the heat-generating device, a housing coupled to the base, a liquid channel formed between the base and the housing, where a heat transfer liquid may be circulated through the liquid channel to remove heat generated by the heat-generated device, and a heat pipe disposed within the liquid channel, where the heat pipe increases the heat transfer surface area to which the heat transfer liquid is exposed. Among other things, the heat pipe advantageously increases the heat transfer surface area to which the heat transfer liquid is exposed and efficiently spreads the heat generated by the heat-generating device over that heat transfer surface area. The result is enhanced heat transfer through the liquid channel relative to prior art cooling systems.
US08873236B1
An electronic device with a housing or enclosure. At least one heat-generating electronic component is contained within the housing. The electronic device further comprises a fan module configured to direct cooling air over the at least one heat-generating electronic component. The fan module is pivotably secured to the housing and capable of pivoting through at least 180°, such that the cooling air can be directed in a front-to-back flow path or a back-to-front flow path. Either of a manufacturer and a customer can reconfigure the direction of airflow.
US08873235B2
A container data center includes a container having a raised floor defining a number of vents, a server system including a cabinet supported on the raised floor adjacent to the vents, a cooling device, an adjusting plate movably installed to the cabinet for covering or uncovering the vents, a driving member, a temperature sensor mounted to the cabinet, and a micro control unit (MCU) electrically connected to the driving member and the temperature sensor. The cooling device releases cooling air into the container under the raised floor. The temperature sensor senses the temperature in the cabinet. The MCU receives the sensed temperature and compares the sensed temperature with a preset temperature, to direct the driving member to drive the adjusting plate to move relative to the vents.
US08873234B2
A host for a portable computer is disclosed. A main board is disposed in a casing. A socket mechanism is rotatably disposed in the casing, is electrically connected to the main board, and detachably connects to an electronic device. The electronic device protrudes to the exterior of the casing when the socket mechanism rotates to a first position. The electronic device is received in the casing when the socket mechanism rotates to a second position.
US08873229B2
An electronic device includes a housing, a card holder, and a card holder mechanism. A sidewall of the housing defines a slot. A projection protrudes from the card holder. The card holder control mechanism includes a knob and a rotatable plate. The knob includes an operation portion and a connecting portion. The operation portion is external to the housing for operation, and the connecting portion is received in the housing and secured to the rotatable plate. When the knob is rotated from a first orientation to a second orientation, the rotatable plate is driven to rotate by the rotation of the knob. During the rotation of the rotatable plate, the rotatable plate resists the projection of the card holder to drive the card holder to move toward the slot until a portion of the card holder extends the housing.
US08873227B2
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.
US08873221B2
Provided is a solid electrolytic capacitor having reduced manufacturing man-hour, low leak current, low initial ESR, low ESR after long year use, and long life. The solid electrolytic capacitor includes a anode member made of a valve action metal, a dielectric coating layer formed on a surface of the anode member, a solid electrolytic layer formed on the dielectric coating layer, and a conductive solid layer covering the solid electrolytic layer, in which the conductive solid layer contains silver and nickel, and the weight ratio of nickel to silver is set to 3 to 30%.
US08873220B2
This document provides an apparatus including a sintered electrode, a second electrode and a separator material arranged in a capacitive stack. A conductive interconnect couples the sintered electrode and the second electrode. Embodiments include a clip interconnect. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a comb-shaped connector. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a wire snaked between adjacent sintered substrates.
US08873218B2
According to one embodiment, an actuator includes a substrate, a lower electrode disposed on the substrate, an upper electrode, a support and a driving unit. The upper electrode is opposed to the lower electrode. The support supports the upper electrode. The driving unit is connected between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and feeds a driving voltage. The driving voltage at which the lower and upper electrodes start to come into contact with each other is defined as a pull-in voltage. A capacitance between the lower and upper electrodes is defined as a pull-in capacitance. There exist a first region and a second region. In the second region, a change rate of a capacitance ratio changes more slowly than in the first region, when the absolute value of the potential difference is further increased. The driving unit feeds the driving voltage in the second region.
US08873216B2
The plasma generation device 30 is provided with a high frequency generation device 37 that generates a high frequency wave, and a high frequency radiator 15 that radiates the high frequency wave outputted from the high frequency generation device 37 to a target space 10, and generates plasma by supplying energy of the high frequency wave to the target space 10. In the plasma generation device 30, the high frequency generation device 37 is provided with an oscillator 41 that oscillates a high frequency wave, and an amplifier 42 that amplifies and outputs the high frequency wave oscillated by the oscillator 41 to the high frequency radiator 15. In the high frequency generating device 37 the amplifier 42 alone is integrated with the high frequency radiator 15, from among the oscillator 41 and the amplifier 42.
US08873208B2
An electric safety circuit for use with an electric receptacle includes a relay and contacts in which power from a mains is supplied through the contacts to the receptacle only when the contacts are closed; a transistor for controlling the relay to open or close the contacts; an enabling device for supplying an enabling signal to the transistor to close the contacts when a plug of an electrically connected device is inserted into the receptacle, the electrically connected device is turned on, and there is no electrical contact by a person with the power supplied to the electrically connected device; and a disabling device for supplying a disabling signal to the transistor to open the contacts when there is electrical contact by a person with the power supplied to the electrically connected device.
US08873204B1
A two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) read head structure has the lower read sensor free layer magnetization biased by side shields of soft magnetic material. A center shield between the lower and upper sensors is an antiparallel coupled magnetic structure, i.e., first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is ferromagnetically exchange coupled to the side shields of the lower sensor to stabilize the magnetization of the lower sensor's free layer. The first ferromagnetic layer of the center shield is a multilayer of a lower NiFe layer and an upper CoFeB alloy layer inserted below the APC layer. The CoFeB alloy insertion layer increases the antiparallel coupling of the first and second ferromagnetic layers of the center shield after two orthogonal anneals so that the magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer is aligned parallel to the air-bearing surface (ABS) of the TDMR structure.
US08873199B2
A recording head comprising a write pole and a coil structure asymmetric with respect to the write pole and configured to generate more magnetic flux on a trailing side of the main pole than the magnetic flux on a front side of the main pole.
US08873194B1
Touchdown detection in magnetic storage devices is provided to detect contact between a storage medium and a magnetic head having an embedded contact sensor. A sample stream is obtained, which includes samples of a sensor signal output from the embedded contact sensor. The sample stream is segmented into multiple segments. A modulation depth is determined for each of the segments. A combined modulation depth is determined by combining the modulation depths of the segments using a weighting function. The combined modulation depth is compared with a threshold. A determination is made as to whether the magnetic head makes contact with the storage medium based on a result of the comparing.
US08873190B1
Disk drive generating fly height measurement from servo burst and adjusting by position error signal
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts. The servo bursts in a servo sector are read to generate a read signal, and a position error signal (PES) is generated in response to the read signal, wherein the PES represents a position of the head over the disk. A fly height measurement (FHM) is generated in response to the read signal, and the FHM is adjusted based on an adjustment value generated in response to the PES.
US08873182B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for processing data in a multi-path data processing circuit. For example, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a first filter operable to process a first digital data stream to yield a first filtered digital data stream, a second filter operable to process a second digital data stream to yield a second filtered digital data stream, wherein the first and second digital data stream are representative of a same data set and wherein the first and second digital data stream have a different phase, a combining circuit operable to combine the first filtered digital data stream and the second filtered digital data stream to yield a combined data stream, and a data detector operable to detect a data sequence in the combined data stream.
US08873177B2
Hardware-based methods and apparatus are provided for inter-track interference mitigation in magnetic recording systems. Inter-track interference (ITI) is mitigated in a magnetic recording system by obtaining ITI cancellation data; and providing the ITI cancellation data to an ITI mitigation circuit using a write data path in the magnetic recording system. The write data path can optionally operate substantially simultaneously with the read data path performing the read operation. The ITI cancellation data comprises, for example, user data and/or media data.
US08873167B2
Low ghosting wide-angle lens designs are presented. The dimensions and materials are selected such that the lens has a field of view of at least 145 degrees, f# of 2.2-2.9 and all secondary images of an object imaged on the image plane are focused such that they fall either outside of the image plane thus having a relative intensity that is less than 10−4 times the intensity of the primary image.In one embodiment a set of conditional expressions are all met. In another embodiment the conditional expressions are all met and the conditional expressions related to the physical size of the lens is narrowed. In another embodiment five and seven element designs are produced.
US08873155B2
A zoom lens includes first to third lens units having positive, negative, and positive refractive power, respectively, and a rear lens group having positive refractive power. An aperture stop is arranged between a lens surface of the second lens unit closest to the image side and a lens surface of the third lens unit closest to the image side. The third lens unit includes first and second positive lenses each including an aspheric surface, and a negative lens. In the third lens unit, a refractive index of the first positive lens, and an Abbe number and relative partial dispersion of the second positive lens are appropriately set.
US08873152B2
A liquid optical element array with good long-term stability is provided. The liquid optical element array includes: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; barrier ribs arranged upright on a surface facing the second substrate of the first substrate and sectioning a region on the first substrate into a plurality of cell regions; a first electrode and a second electrode arranged on wall surfaces of the barrier ribs to face each other; a third electrode arranged on a surface facing the first substrate of the second substrate; a projection arranged upright in each of the cell regions on the first substrate or the second substrate; and a polar liquid and a nonpolar liquid sealed between the first substrate and the third electrode and having different refractive indices.
US08873143B2
A three-dimensional image display apparatus is described. The three-dimensional image display apparatus includes a display panel and a film-type patterned retarder. The three-dimensional image display apparatus allows the phase retarding regions of the film-type patterned retarder to be deviated from the pixel regions of the display panel so that the line of vision the viewer along the extension of the phase retarding direction corresponds to the pixel regions of the display panel. In other words, the phase retarding regions of the film-type patterned retarder deviate from the pixel of the display panel to avoid the image crosstalk when the viewer looks on the three-dimensional image display apparatus.
US08873138B2
A focusing device for an optical microscope may include a light emitting unit configured to emit laser light having a specific wavelength, a wedge mirror configured to enable the emitted laser light to be incident on a plurality of locations of a surface of a specimen, first and second light receiving units configured to detect an amount of laser light reflected from the surface of the specimen, a spatial filter configured to eliminate out-of-focus light from light beams reflected from the surface of the specimen and to detect an amount of in-focus light, and a control unit configured to generate a control signal used to carry out focus adjustment of the optical microscope using a plurality of light-amount information detected by the first and second light receiving units and the spatial filter.
US08873135B2
An extended dynamic range optical amplifier, a method of operation, and a line amplifier configuration include an optical amplifier that can be optimized for high or low span loss conditions by switching an internal stage in or out of an internal light path within the amplifier. The extended dynamic range optical amplifier can include a low gain mode and a high gain mode with an internal switch to switch out a gain mid-stage in a low gain mode to extend the useful dynamic range of the amplifier. Further, the extended dynamic range optical amplifier can use residual pump power from an initial stage to pump the gain mid-stage in the high gain mode. Additionally, the extended dynamic range optical amplifier includes remapping of gain in the initial stage and the gain mid-stage to optimize the amplifier noise performance based on the maximum output power of the amplifier.
US08873133B2
A system for conversion or amplification using quasi-phase matched four-wave-mixing includes a first radiation source for providing a pump radiation beam, a second radiation source for providing a signal radiation beam, and a bent structure for receiving the pump radiation beam and the signal radiation beam. The radiation propagation portion of the bent structure is made of a uniform Raman-active or uniform Kerr-nonlinear material and the radiation propagation portion comprises a dimension taking into account the spatial variation of the Raman susceptibility or Kerr susceptibility along the radiation propagation portion as experienced by radiation travelling along the bent structure for obtaining quasi-phase-matched four-wave-mixing in the radiation propagation portion. The dimension thereby is substantially inverse proportional with the linear phase mismatch for four-wave-mixing. The system also includes an outcoupling radiation propagation portion for coupling out an idler radiation beam generated in the bent structure.
US08873123B2
Illuminating light is two-dimensionally scanned without changing the ability to focus illuminating light on a specimen. A microscope has a spatial light modulator for the wavefront of illuminating light from a light source; a scanner having two mirrors independently pivoted about two non-parallel axes; a relay optical system guiding the illuminating light, whose traveling direction has been changed by the scanner, to an objective optical system; and an adjusting unit that moves a wavefront modulation region of the modulator, in which an image is formed, in response to pivoting of the mirrors, such that an image at the pupil position of the objective optical system assuming that the mirrors are stopped is moved opposite to the direction of movement of the image relayed to the pupil position of the objective optical system assuming that the mirrors are pivoting while the image on the spatial light modulator is fixed.
US08873116B2
A sheet scanner comprises a sheet inlet on a front side, a scanned sheet outlet on a rear side, and a deflector to direct scanned sheets from the outlet towards the front side of the scanner, over the top cover thereof, and further comprises a stopper on the top cover, at the front side of the scanner and above the sheet inlet, to temporarily restrain the leading edge of a scanned sheet such that the sheet advances and folds over itself and beyond the stopper, the leading edge being released from the stopper when the sheet folded over itself and beyond the stopper pulls it downwards.
US08873103B2
Uneven glossiness is effectively suppressed between areas where light inks are mainly used and areas where dark inks are mainly used. The gloss is raised in areas where dark cyan ink C is used. In other words, the application amount of second clear ink applied by after application printing is set to 32% at primary cyan (grid point 16) to equalize the gloss with areas where light cyan ink LC is used. Also, the application amount of first clear ink applied by common printing is set to 32% in a highlight portion (grid point 8) to equalize the gloss with the maximum gloss reached using dark cyan ink C. In so doing, it is possible to keep the gloss nearly constant over the entire range from white to cyan, or in other words, suppress uneven glossiness.
US08873101B2
A correction in less than one pixel raises an issue of generation of image defect such as density unevenness caused by a destruction of a screen pattern that generates a cycle of image data. To solve this issue, an image processing apparatus includes a correction unit configured to perform a correction less than one pixel on image data, and a changing processing unit configured to perform a correction by one pixel on image data, wherein the correction unit performs processing for correction in less than one pixel by shifting a pixel according to a moving locus synchronized with a cycle of the image data.
US08873097B2
An information transmitting apparatus includes a first interface connected to a first network; a second interface connected to a second network; a saving unit that saves, when the first or second interface receives information from a device belonging to the first or second network, identification information of the device in a memory; and a transmitter that transmits, at a certain timing, information to the device indicated by the saved identification information. The saving unit saves, when the first or second interface receives information transmitted from a device belonging to the first or second network, interface information indicating the network interface that has received the information and identification information of the device in an associative manner in the memory. The transmitter obtains the interface information associated with the saved identification information and transmits information via the network interface indicated by the obtained interface information.
US08873092B2
A printing system is configured such that, when authentication data is input by a user and a print request is made, if print data regarding the print request is stored in a printing device side storage, the printing device prints images on a printing sheet based on the print data stored in the printing device side storage, while, if the print data has been deleted by the printing device side deletion unit and is not stored in the printing device side storage, the printing device transmits print data request data identifying the print data regarding the print request to a host device and obtains the print data regarding the print request, and prints images on the printing sheet based on the obtained print data.
US08873091B2
In a printing system configured such that a computer and an image forming apparatus can be connected via a network, the computer sets a stamp image and transmits the set stamp image to the image forming apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus includes a reading device that reads an original image, an image combining unit that reads out at least one stamp image from a storage unit, combines the stamp image with the original image read by the reading device, and forms a composite image, and a printing unit that prints the composite image on recording paper.
US08873086B2
Document processing devices and account manager systems are presented which verify validity of pairings of installed consumables and document processing devices for permissive enablement of document processing functionality based on validity of the pairings.
US08873085B2
When attribute information for a user has been acquired by authentication using an authentication apparatus, a restriction on a useable function is imposed according to the attribute information. When a fee has been collected by a fee collection apparatus, a restriction is imposed on preset functions. In either of these cases, use of the image forming apparatus by another user is prohibited until use by the first user in the useable state is finished.
US08873076B2
An information processing system configured to control assignment of processor cores to a processing unit that generates printing data from intermediate data based on an amount of the stored printing data. Intermediate data are generated using a specified processor core of a plurality of processor cores and stored in an intermediate data storing unit. Printing data are generated by processing the intermediate data using a processor core other than the specified processor core, and stored in a printing data storing unit. The number of processor cores used by the first processing unit is adjusted on the basis of an amount of intermediate data stored in the intermediate data storing unit. The number of processor cores used by the second processing unit is adjusted on the basis of an amount of printing data stored in the printing data storing unit.
US08873075B2
An operation device including: a touch screen;an orientation setting information storage unit that stores orientation setting information regarding a display orientation of the preview image;an orientation setting information acquisition unit that acquires the orientation setting information from the orientation setting information storage unit when the preview image is displayed on the preview image window in the predetermined display orientation; a tab display acceptance unit that selectably displays a tab key on the preview image window, the tab key including the orientation setting information acquired from the orientation setting information acquisition unit; and a display adjustment unit that displays the tab key seamlessly with the preview image on the touch screen, the tab key including the orientation setting information corresponding to the display orientation of the preview image displayed on the preview image window.
US08873074B2
A document camera includes: n (n≧2) imagers; a temporal storage that temporarily stores m sets of image data captured by m (1≦m≦n) imagers among the n imagers; an image processor that performs predetermined image processing according to the number of image data sets m on the m sets of image data stored in the temporal storage; and an output image data output unit that outputs output image data to a display apparatus, the output image data being a single output image data set produced in the predetermined image processing.
US08873071B2
Provided are an image forming method using a universal printer driver and a device for performing the image forming method. According to the method, printing data may be output through an image forming device supporting a desired printing option, without checking printing options of image forming devices whenever the printing data is to be output, by providing a user interface displaying printing options supported by image forming devices connected to a host device in which a universal printer driver is installed; selecting at least one printing option from the provided user interface; and selecting on of the image forming devices determined to support the selected printing option and outputting printing data through the selected image forming device supporting the selected printing option.
US08873065B2
A tomographic imaging apparatus includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with a plurality of measurement light beams, a sensor configured to convert into an electric signal a plurality of combined light beams via an optical imaging system by making return light beams from an inspection target, which are generated due to the plurality of measurement light beams, interfere with reference light beams, an output unit configured to output light beams of a single wavelength based on a wavelength width of the plurality of measurement light beams, and a generation unit configured to generate a tomographic image from an electric signal acquired by the sensor via the imaging optical system, based on a position of the light beam of the single wavelength on the sensor.
US08873063B2
A low-noise resonator fiber-optic gyroscope is provided. The low-noise resonator fiber-optic gyroscope includes at least one laser to output a reference optical beam, a first-optical-beam frequency controller to modulate the first optical beam at a first-modulation frequency, a second-optical-beam frequency controller to modulate the second optical beam at a second-modulation frequency to form a second-frequency-modulated optical beam, a fiber resonator having a counter-clockwise-input end configured to input the first-frequency-modulated optical beam and the clockwise-input end configured to input the second-frequency-modulated optical beam; a first-frequency demodulator to demodulate an optical beam output from the clockwise-input end of the fiber resonator; and a second-frequency demodulator to demodulate an optical beam output from the counter-clockwise-input end of the fiber resonator. The first-modulation frequency and the second-modulation frequency are adjusted so that sideband noise spectrum centered on the first and second modulation frequencies are from each other.
US08873061B1
Systems and methods measure a physical parameter of a first substance having an absorption feature that varies based on the physical parameter. A tunable-frequency laser may transmit a first laser beam through the first substance and a second laser beam through a second substance having an isoclinic point. A first output is based on an intensity of the first laser beam transmitted through the first substance, and a second output is based on an intensity of the second laser beam transmitted through the second substance. Controller circuitry locks a first frequency of the first laser beam to the absorption feature based on the first output, and locks a second frequency of the second laser beam to the isoclinic point based on the second output. Measurement circuitry calculates the physical parameter of the first substance based on a difference between the first and second frequencies.
US08873060B2
An uncoated polymer optical fiber (POF) that is sensitive to a chemical (e.g. water) and is used to generate a detectable change in its optical properties for the purpose of detecting that chemical when it is dissolved in liquid fuel. The presence of the chemical directly affects the optical properties of the optical fiber. The POF may be made of water-permeable plastic material and may have a grating section comprising a periodic refractive index modulation that exhibits a characteristic reflection or transmission profile to be monitored by a detector. The water-permeability of the constituent material of the POF permits diffusion of water into the fiber, thereby affecting its refractive index or geometry and hence altering the characteristic reflection or transmission profile of the grating section.
US08873036B2
Certain examples described herein are directed to optical devices and systems for use in spectroscopy. In particular, certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices and methods that may separate excitation light and Raman optical pathways, prior to sample irradiation, so that, if desired, the excitation light and the Raman scattered radiation may be independently manipulated.
US08873030B2
A testing device, a detection system, and an automatic detection method thereof are disclosed. The detection system is used for testing an optical capturing module and includes a controlling module and the testing device. The controlling module is electrically connected to the optical capturing module. The testing device includes a base, a fixing unit, a testing unit and a track. The fixing unit is disposed on the base and used for mounting the optical capturing module. The testing unit is used for the optical capturing module to capture a sensing signal. The track is disposed on the base for the testing unit to move along the track. When the testing unit is moving, the optical capturing module is use for capturing a sensing signal curve according to the continuous movement of the test element and the control module determines whether the sensing signal curve is exceed a predetermined value.
US08873024B2
The invention concerns an illumination system for use in a stereolithography apparatus, comprising a planar support supporting a two-dimensional array of individually controllable wide-angle light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and a multilens projector array arranged relative to the array, and adapted to project a focused image of the LEDs onto a work area. The multilens projector array is arranged to project light from the LED array having a light emitting edge area image spot size which is smaller than or equal to a light emitting central area image spot size.
US08873023B2
An illumination system for microlithography serves to illuminate an illumination field with illumination light of a primary light source. A first raster arrangement has bundle-forming first raster elements which are arranged in a first plane of the illumination system or adjacent to the plane. The first raster arrangement serves to generate a raster arrangement of secondary light sources. A transmission optics serves for superimposed transmission of the illumination light of the secondary light sources into the illumination field. The transmission optics has a second raster arrangement with bundle-forming second raster elements. In each case one of the raster elements of the first raster arrangement is allocated to one of the raster elements of the second raster arrangement for guiding a partial bundle of an entire bundle of illumination light. The first raster arrangement for example has at least two types (I, II, III) of the first raster elements which have different bundle-influencing effects. The raster elements of the two raster arrangements are arranged relative to one another in such a way that to each raster element type (I to III) is allocated at least one individual distance (ΔI, ΔII, ΔIII) between the first raster element of this type (I to III) and the allocated second raster element of the second raster arrangement. As a result, an illumination system is obtained which allows particular illumination parameters to be influenced in such a way that undesirable influences on other illumination parameters are avoided to the greatest extent possible.
US08873015B2
Display device and timepiece comprising a wiring board layered on a back surface of a back substrate
A display device that has a display panel having a front substrate, an image forming unit, and a back substrate rendered together in layers, and a wiring board layered on the back surface of the back substrate. A plurality of input/output pins are formed on the front surface of the back substrate, and a plurality of connection pins that are electrically connected to the input/output pins by respective conductor members are formed on the back surface of the wiring board.
US08873005B2
A method for manufacturing an alignment layer is provided. An alignment material having an ultraviolet reactive functional group is formed on a substrate. A pre-baking process is performed on the alignment material located on the substrate. An ultraviolet polarizer is provided on the substrate. An aligning process is performed on the pre-baked alignment material, so as to irradiate an ultraviolet light to the substrate. The ultraviolet light passes through the ultraviolet polarizer and irradiates to the pre-baked alignment material. A post-baking process is performed on the alignment material after being aligned, so as to fully cure the alignment material.
US08873002B2
A liquid crystal display includes first and second insulating substrates facing each other, and a plurality of pixels comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and divided into a first pixel group comprising only the pixels on a first row and a second pixel group comprising each of the remaining pixels on second to last rows. The pixels of the first pixel group have a first opening ratio, and the pixels of the second pixel group have a second opening ratio different from the first opening ratio. The first opening ratio is smaller than the second opening ratio, and the first opening ratio is about 60% to about 80% of the second opening ratio; and the pixels of the first pixel group but not the pixels of the second pixel group have a light interception pattern in an opening portion.
US08872999B2
A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light guide plate configured to receive and diffuse light emitted from the light source, and a mold frame including a central opening part configured to receive the light guide plate, an attachment opening part adjacent to the central opening part, the attachment opening part being configured to receive the light source, and a protrusion in the attachment opening part, the protrusion contacting the light source in the attachment opening.
US08872994B2
The present invention discloses a backplane of liquid crystal display (LCD) device, back light module and LCD device. A backplane of LCD device comprises a mainboard; wherein, the side of the mainboard is provided with a shield on the rubber frame corresponding to the LCD device. The present invention extends the backplane of LCD device and covers exposed part of rubber frames. Because the backplane of LCD device has an intensity which is significantly higher than that of rubber frames and is not easily damaged during handling, the aim of protecting rubber frames and source pcbs is achieved. However, because the backplane of LCD device is adjacent to rubber frames, shields can be added directly in the backplane of LCD device. The process is simple and can minimize use of material for covering.
US08872992B2
An optical assembly includes a plurality of light sources emitting light in a first direction at a predetermined orientation angle, and a light guide panel having a light incident section and a light emitting section. The light incident section has a first surface to receive the light emitted from the light sources in the first direction and the light emitting section is to emit light received from the light incident section in a second direction. Also included is at least one cover having a first surface adjacent the light sources and a second surface adjacent at least one portion of the light emitting section.
US08872991B2
A display device comprises a display array substrate, a common substrate and a display layer. The display array substrate comprises a display region and a periphery region, and at least one chip-bonding area is formed in the periphery region. The display layer is sandwiched between the display array substrate and the common-electrode substrate. A conductive loop is disposed in the periphery region of the display array substrate, and passes through the chip-bonding area.
US08872971B2
According to one embodiment, a video display apparatus includes: a broadcast data input module; a data input module; a restricting module; and a video processor. The broadcast data input module inputs broadcast contents including first video data. The data input module inputs information including the second video data from an information processor connected via a network. The information complies with a standard different from that of the broadcast contents. The restricting module sets a value related to an item so as to restrict reproduction of the first video data. The video processor restricts, when a value of the item of the first video data input from the broadcast data input module deviates from the value set by the restricting module while the data input module is inactive, reproduction of the first video data, and disables, when the data input module is active, the restriction restricted by the restricting module.
US08872959B2
A Digital photographing apparatus having a replaceable lens mounted thereon, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method are provided. The digital photographing apparatus includes an imaging device generating an image signal by imaging light through the mounted lens, a user interface receiving a selection of a user of one of a plurality of replaceable lenses, a reading unit reading specification information regarding the selected lens, a changing unit changing the image signal based on the read specification information regarding the selected lens, and a display unit displaying the changed image signal as a preview image.
US08872940B2
Video analytics and a mass storage unit are contained in a camera housing of a video camera. The video analytics analyzes video data produced by the video camera and detects whether there is an occurrence of a defined event of interest. The video data representing the field of view of the scene observed by the video camera are stored in the mass storage unit. The stored video data include video data of first and second qualities. The first quality represents the occurrence in a field of view of the video camera of the defined event of interest detected by the video analytics. The second quality represents the nonoccurrence in the field of view of the defined event of interest detected by the video analytics. Storing video data of first and second qualities reduces system storage capacity demands.
US08872936B2
An image processing device of the present invention comprises: an image combining section for combining a plurality of combination image data and generating combined image data; a WB setting section for performing setting for white balance correction processing; an image WB gain calculation section for calculating image WB gain respectively for the plurality of combination image data in accordance with setting of the WB setting section; a combined image WB gain calculating section for calculating combined image WB gain for the combined image data in accordance with information relating to a combination ratio for the image combining section and image WB gain for the respective plurality of combination image data; and a WB correction section for carrying out white balance correction for image data according to the combined image WB gain.
US08872933B2
A video camera can be configured to highly compress video data in a visually lossless manner. The camera can be configured to transform blue and red image data in a manner that enhances the compressibility of the data. The data can then be compressed and stored in this form. This allows a user to reconstruct the red and blue data to obtain the original raw data for a modified version of the original raw data that is visually lossless when demosaiced. Additionally, the data can be processed in a manner in which the green image elements are demosaiced first and then the red and blue elements are reconstructed based on values of the demosaiced green image elements.
US08872923B2
The present disclosure relates to color calibration chart acquisition. In an example, a video acquired by an imaging device may be processed. The video may be analyzed to automatically detect a reproduction of a color calibration chart. Upon detection of a reproduction of the color calibration chart, it may be determined whether color calibration chart reproduction quality is within a selected quality threshold. Upon determining that color calibration chart reproduction quality is not within a selected threshold, user feedback may be provided, via the imaging device, to dynamically guide the user to make adjustments in the video acquisition in order to obtain a color calibration chart reproduction within the selected quality threshold.
US08872922B2
A system and method for the capture and storage of data relating to the movements of objects, in a specified area and enables this data to be displayed in a graphically meaningful and useful manner. Video data is collected and video metadata is generated relating to objects (persons) appearing in the video data and their movements over time. The movements of the objects are then analyzed to detect the movements within a region of interest. This detection of movement allows a user, such as a manager of a store, to make informed decisions as to the infrastructure and operation of the store. One detection method relates to the number of people that are present in a region of interest for a specified time period. A second detection method relates to the number of people that remain or dwell in a particular area for a particular time period. A third detection method determines the flow of people and the direction they take within a region of interest. A fourth detection method relates to the number of people that enter a certain area by crossing a virtual line, a tripwire.
US08872920B2
A captured image including a preferential calibration index arranged in an exclusive region in a first plane and a non-preferential calibration index arranged in a common region is obtained. First, the coordinate position of the preferential calibration index is detected, and then the coordinate position of the non-preferential calibration index is calculated based on the positional relationship with the detected preferential calibration index. A homography between a captured-image surface of the image surface and the first plane is calculated based on the actual coordinate positions and the calculated coordinate positions representing the coordinates of at least four points, and camera calibration is performed using the homography.
US08872910B1
An embodiment of an eye-view image recording apparatus includes an eyeglass frame, at least one first optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing an image corresponding to a field of view of a user, and at least one second optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for tracking movement of at least one eye of the user to determine a direction within the field of view to which the at least one eye is directed. The eye-view image recording apparatus further includes at least one processor for receiving the determination of the direction within the field of view to which the at least one eye is directed, and generating a subset of the captured image based on the determination.
US08872906B2
An endoscope includes an imaging device, a first polarizing filter disposed in front of the imaging device, a light source, and a second polarizing filter disposed in front of the light source. The planes of polarization of the first and second polarizing filters are at a substantially 90° angle.
US08872898B2
Methods and systems for capturing and displaying multiple-angle imagery of physical objects are presented. With respect to capturing, multiple images of an object are captured from varying angles in response to user input. The images are analyzed to determine whether at least one additional image is desirable to allow generation of a visual presentation of the object. The user is informed to initiate capturing of the at least one more image based on the analysis. The additional image is captured in response to second user input. The presentation is generated based on the multiple images and the additional image. For displaying, a visual presentation of an object is accessed, the presentation having multiple images of the object from varying angles. The presentation is presented to the user of a mobile device according to user movement of the device. The user input determines a presentation speed and order of the images.
US08872897B2
A system for computing one or more calibration parameters of a camera is disclosed. The system includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to provide a first object either marked with or displaying three or more fiducial points. The fiducial points have known 3D positions in a first object reference frame. The processor is further configured to provide a second object either marked with or displaying three or more fiducial points. The fiducial points had known 3D positions in a second object reference frame. The processor is further configured to place the first object and the second object in a fixed position such that the fiducial point positions of the first and second objects are non-planar. The processor is further configured to compute one or more calibration parameters of the second camera using computations based on images taken of the fiducials.
US08872895B2
A method for encoding video for streaming includes receiving a plurality of sequential image frames generated by a 3D graphics rendering engine. Graphics rendering contexts are obtained, including pixel depth map, rendering camera parameters, and camera motion from the 3D rendering engine. The method next entails selecting key frames among the plurality of sequential image frames, interpolating non-key frames via 3D image warping, and encoding all key frames and warping residues of non-key frames. The system is implementable on a server linked to a mobile user device for receiving the encoded frame data. The mobile user device is configured to decode the encoded frame data and display a corresponding image to a user of the mobile user device.
US08872890B2
A transmitter according to the present invention includes a decoder that decodes a video signal received from outside and acquires identification information including a format concerning 2D or 3D of video from a layer corresponding to each frame of the video signal and a backend processor that performs spatial or temporal scaling of video data by the video data based on the identification information and, when the format of the video is switched, switches parameters for the scaling adjusting to switching timing.
US08872888B2
Disclosed herein is a content transmission apparatus, including: a retaining section adapted to retain a multi viewpoint video content formed from a plurality of viewpoint videos imaged simultaneously by a plurality of different video cameras; a production section adapted to produce a VRT including acquisition destination information of the viewpoint videos which configure the multi viewpoint video content, VRT standing for View Relation Table; a supplying section adapted to supply the produced VRT to a content reproduction apparatus; a broadcasting section adapted to broadcast one or plural ones of the viewpoint videos which configure the retained multi viewpoint video content; and a delivery section adapted to deliver one or plural ones of the viewpoint videos which configure the retained multi viewpoint video content through a network.
US08872881B2
A combined video image is created from a plurality of video images. Each video image has a plurality of video image components, and each video image component has an image component header. The image header is removed from each video image to be included in the combined video image, and a new image header is generated for the combined video image. The image component header of each video image component to be included in the combined video image is altered to set an image position for the video image component within the combined video image. The combined video image is generated by concatenating the new image header with the plurality of video images having no image headers and the video image components having the altered image component headers.
US08872879B2
A videoconferencing system includes a touch screen display device and a videoconferencing unit. The display device displays video data for the videoconference and generates touch data based on user selections relative to the touch screen. The videoconferencing unit is operatively coupled to the touch screen device by a video connection and a data interface connection, for example. The unit establishes and conducts a videoconference with one or more endpoints via a network. The unit sends video data to the display device and receives touch data from the device. The received touch data is used to control operation of the videoconferencing system. The received touch data can be used to initiate a videoconference call, change an operating parameter, change orientation of a camera, initiate a picture-in-picture display, access a menu, access memory, change a source of video data, initiate a whiteboard display, and access a screen of a connected device.
US08872872B2
An optical scanning apparatus, including: light sources; a deflector configured to deflect beams emitted from the light sources; and imaging optical systems configured to focus the beams deflected by a deflecting surface of the deflector on surfaces to be scanned, respectively, wherein: the beams entering the deflecting surface are P-polarized beam; the optical scanning apparatus further includes at least one reflection optical element reflecting a beam in a sub-scanning cross section on each of optical paths from the deflecting surface to the surfaces to be scanned; the optical paths include first and second optical paths having different numbers of the reflection optical elements from each other; and the optical scanning apparatus further includes an adjustor configured to adjust an output of a light source corresponding to at least one of the first and the second optical paths from among the light sources so that predetermined conditions are satisfied.
US08872863B2
In a first subframe period, light sources of a first region and a third region emit lights at the same time; light sources of a second region and a fourth region emit no light at the same time, in which light emission of different colors is performed in the first region and the third region. In a second subframe period, light sources of the second region and the fourth region emit lights at the same time; light sources of the first region and the third region emit no light at the same time, in which light emission of different colors is performed in the second region and the fourth region. The first region and the third region are separated from each other with the second region interposed therebetween; and the second region and the fourth region are separated from each other with the third region interposed therebetween.
US08872849B2
Technology for rendering representations of multi-faceted data are disclosed. As one example, the technology includes organizing and rendering multiple subsets of a dataset according to temporal or other linear attributes, e.g., for visual comparison and/or other visualization. A collection of subsets may be determined in response to a selection of a facet having multiple facet attributes. Each subset may include the entries of the dataset that have the facet attribute corresponding to that subset. Optionally, the multiple subsets may be rendered in alignment with corresponding portions of a hierarchical depiction, e.g., to visually represent the parameters of the subsets.
US08872846B2
An interactive map may be provided. The map may include weather information such as temperature information, precipitation information, radar information, or the like, street information such as road information, traffic information, or the like, and/or advertising information for a particular area that may be chosen by the user. The map may also display information related to points of interest such as schools, golf courses, entertainment, or the like that may be chosen by the user. The map may be dynamic such that the weather information, street information, and/or advertising information may be dynamically updated on the map.
US08872842B2
A display device includes: a display unit having plural pixels each including red (R), green (G), and blue (B) sub-pixels, and a color (Z) sub-pixel whose luminance is higher than luminances of the above three sub-pixels; a conversion processing unit for generating output image signals corresponding to the colors R, G, B, and Z by performing predetermined processing using input image signals corresponding to the colors R, G, and B; and a drive unit with the conversion processing unit for performing display driving on the four sub-pixels, wherein the conversion processing unit generates the output image signals for performing display operation in the four sub-pixels if the luminance level of the Z sub-pixel is higher than a predetermined threshold; and generates the output image signals for performing the display operation in the R, G, and B sub-pixels, but not in the Z sub-pixel if not higher.
US08872834B2
An electronic payment terminal is disclosed including a display screen including first and second terminals for receiving display data, a first processor connected to the first terminal and adapted for supplying display data to the first terminal at a first rate, and a second processor connected to the second terminal and adapted for supplying display data to the second terminal at a second rate lower than the first rate and adapted for supplying to the display screen a signal for the selection of the display data received at one of the first and second terminals. The second processor is further connected to the first processor and is adapted to send to the first processor a signal for authorizing or forbidding the transmission of display data to the display screen.
US08872829B2
A system and method processes frequency spectrum of a signal in an image file of a computing device. The system loads the frequency spectrum from a storage system of the computing device, and displays the frequency spectrum on a user interface of the computing device. The method sets parameters of an object spectrum curve to be processed in the frequency spectrum and enables accessional functions for processing the object spectrum curve. According to the input parameters and the enabled accessional functions, an output range of the object spectrum curve may be displayed, and spectrum data of the object spectrum curve within the output range from the frequency spectrum may be output into a predetermined form, and stores the predetermined form according to a predetermined storage path.
US08872826B2
Provided are systems and methods to perform ray marching for production ray tracing in inhomogeneous participating media. The systems and methods allow a reduction of the quadratic complexity without giving up the benefits of accurate ray traced lighting. In one implementation, the task of ray marching is reformulated into a task of transforming an unknown, spatially varying volume into a collection of piecewise homogeneous segments. Being homogeneous, inexpensive analytical formulas may be employed for evaluating and sampling the transmission term at arbitrary points in the segments.
US08872824B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing shadowing utilizing shadow maps and ray tracing. In operation, one or more shadow maps are rendered for at least one light source. Additionally, low confidence pixels associated with the one or more shadow maps are determined. Furthermore, shadow rays associated with the low confidence pixels are traced.
US08872819B2
One or more embodiments of the presently preferred invention provides a method and a computer-program product for creating a parametric corner on a sheet metal design. The parametric corner is a machinery corner that can be constructed in the formed or unformed state and successfully handles a bend corner with different radii and bend angles. Further, the machinery corner allows placing features thereon, as well as producing unformed geometrical representations of said placement.
US08872818B2
In a computer-implemented method and system for capturing the condition of a structure, the structure is scanned with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner. The 3D scanner generates 3D data. A point cloud or 3D model is constructed from the 3D data. The point cloud or 3D model is then analyzed to determine the condition of the structure.
US08872816B2
A three-dimensional image display device includes: a display panel assembly including a display panel including pixels which alternately displays first and second images, and a data driver which transmits data voltages to the pixels; a backlight unit which provides light to the display panel assembly; and a shutter member including first and second shutters, where the backlight unit emits the light during light emitting periods, the light emitting periods includes first light emitting periods, during which the first image is displayed, and second light emitting periods, during which the second image is displayed, the first light emitting periods and the second light emitting periods alternate, and the first shutter is opened during at least two open periods, which are between neighboring second light emitting periods of the second light emitting periods and temporally spaced apart from each other.
US08872810B2
A method includes providing an input signal identifying a desired brightness for one or more LEDs to first and second parallel control paths. The method also includes generating a digital modulation control signal using the first control path, generating a current control signal using the second control path, and driving the one or more LEDs using the control signals. The method further includes performing compensation in at least one of the control paths to compensate for an increased efficiency of the one or more LEDs. Generating the control signals could include (i) adjusting the digital modulation control signal while maintaining the current control signal at a substantially constant value for a range of lower LED brightness values and (ii) adjusting the current control signal while maintaining the digital modulation control signal at a maximum value or within a range of maximum values for a range of higher LED brightness values.
US08872808B2
A first receiver receives a clock. A second receiver receives a differential type image signal. An image signal receiving unit performs sampling the differential type image signal by the clock, and generates an image signal driving an electro-optic device. A third receiver receives a time multiplexed control signal. A reception buffer performs sampling of the time multiplexed control signal by the clock and the stores the time multiplexed control signal. A driving control unit performs a driving control of the electro-optic device on the basis of the stored time multiplexed control signal.
US08872802B2
A method of adjusting a rotary angle of an optical touch module is disclosed in the present invention. The method includes measuring a length and a width of a panel; measuring a first moving distance and a second moving distance of a sensor of the optical touch module as moving from the first position to the second position; calculating a first projecting distance and a second projecting distance of the sensor at the first position according to the length and width of the panel; calculating a first angle and a second angle of the sensor at the second position according to the first moving distance, the second moving distance, the first projecting distance and the second projecting distance; and calculating the rotary angle of the sensor that moves from the first position to the second position according to the first angle and the second angle.
US08872799B2
A method of distributed/cooperative/collaborative gesture management may comprise queuing actions of gestures as the gestures move across a display, processing the actions of each of the gestures by a projector in which the projector's display is close to a gesture, sending an anticipatory action message that one of the gestures is predicted to enter a display region of a projector, processing the actions of one of the gestures by a projector in which the projector's display is close to the one of the gestures, and in response to the one of the gestures being in an overlapping display projected by overlapping projectors, the actions of the one of the gestures are processed by the overlapping projector with the smallest identifier.
US08872797B2
An organic light emitting display device with a touch screen function, the apparatus including a first substrate including a pixel region and a nonpixel region, a second substrate disposed above the first substrate so as to be spaced apart from the first substrate, a plurality of pixel units disposed in the pixel region, and a sensor unit disposed in the nonpixel region and detecting light, where each of the plurality of pixel units includes a red subpixel, a green subpixel and a blue subpixel, and the red subpixel is arranged so as not to be adjacent to the sensor unit.
US08872793B2
According to one embodiment, a sensor module includes a first sensor circuit, a second sensor circuit and a differential circuit. The first sensor circuit includes a first detection electrode, a first amplifier formed of a thin-film transistor and a first coupling capacitor. The second sensor circuit includes a second detection electrode, a second amplifier formed of a thin-film transistor and a second coupling capacitor. The differential circuit is connected to the drain electrode of the first amplifier and the drain electrode of the second amplifier.
US08872792B2
In one embodiment, a stylus includes one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly from the stylus to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The stylus has one or more sensors for kinetic, thermal, solar or electric energy harvesting from an environment of the stylus or from the stylus itself.
US08872791B2
There are provided a touch sensing device and a method thereof. The touch sensing device, including: a plurality of sensing circuit units measuring capacitance variations from a plurality of sensing electrodes; at least one TDC circuit connected with the plurality of sensing circuit units to convert the capacitance variations into digital signals; a calculating unit judging a touch from the digital signals; and a delay circuit sequentially receiving the capacitance variations from the plurality of sensing circuit units.
US08872787B2
A handheld apparatus is provided. The handheld apparatus includes a first touch pad, a second touch pad, an impedance unit, and a microprocessor. When an input tool touches the first touch pad and the second touch pad simultaneously, a touch voltage signal is generated on a common contact of the second touch pad and the impedance unit, wherein the resistance of the impedance unit is greater than that of the input tool. The microprocessor executes a specific function according to the touch voltage signal.
US08872786B2
A capacitive input device includes a light-transmitting substrate, a multilayer film formed on one of the surfaces of the light-transmitting substrate and including a plurality of light-transmitting thin films which have different refractive indexes and one of which is a niobium oxide film, a plurality of first light-transmitting electrodes formed on the multilayer film in an input region of the light-transmitting substrate to extend in a first direction, and a plurality of second light-transmitting electrodes formed on the multilayer film in the input region of the light-transmitting substrate to extend in a second direction crossing the first direction.
US08872784B2
A character input method and apparatus in an electronic terminal are provided. The character input method includes displaying a virtual keypad having at least one key area to which a plurality of characters are associated, displaying a plurality of areas when a touch is detected on the at least one key area, detecting whether the touch includes a drag and inputting, after the drag is detected, a character mapped to an area corresponding to a point where the drag is released.
US08872782B2
The display device according to the present invention has a display panel as well as a touch panel and a front window provided on the display panel on the front side, where the touch panel has a base made of a film and wires formed on the surface of the base, while the connection portion B for connecting the touch panel and the flexible printed circuit is provided in a protrusion of the base, the touch panel and the front window are pasted together with an adhesive layer in between, and at least the adhesive layer is not provided to the protrusion.
US08872781B1
A trackpad system to filter movement includes a surface, a sensor operably coupled to the surface, a controller operably coupled to the sensor, a bus operably coupled to the controller, a device driver configured to communicate with the bus, and a gesture module configured to communicate with the device driver. The gesture module includes instructions to determine if each contact detected on the surface for an input frame was previously present on the surface. If the contact was previously present on the surface, the system computes, for each axis, position changes for the contact based on a record associated with the contact. The system determines if the position changes are unexpected based on a set of rules. If the position changes are unexpected, the system suppresses a display of movement associated with the contact for the input frame for the axis.
US08872772B2
A pen tool for use with a machine vision interactive input system comprises an elongate body and a tip arrangement at one end of the body, an end surface of the body at least partially about the tip arrangement carrying light reflective material that is visible to at least one imaging assembly of the interactive input system when the pen tool is angled.
US08872767B2
The subject disclosure provides a device, computer readable storage medium, and method for converting gestures undergone by a device into digital graffiti. The disclosure includes ascertaining an orientation of the device and a path traversed by the device. Gestures undergone by the device are identified as a function of the orientation and the path. Digital graffiti corresponding to the gestures are then superimposed onto a digital canvas.
US08872758B2
An electro-wetting display substrate includes a base substrate including a gate line extending in a first direction and a data line extending in a second direction, where the first direction is different from the second direction, a switching element electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a notch electrode disposed adjacent to the switching element and overlapping the pixel electrode, and a water-repellent layer disposed over the pixel electrode.
US08872755B2
A luminance control device and method are disclosed. A surrounding brightness of a touch panel is measured to obtain a measured surrounding brightness. A luminance of the touch panel is controlled during a first time period starting from when the measured surrounding brightness changes from a first condition to a second condition, during which the measured surrounding brightness decreases by an amount equal to or greater than a threshold value. The luminance of the touch panel is maintained at a first luminance corresponding to the first condition when the measured surrounding brightness changes from the second condition to the first condition. The luminance of the touch panel is controlled to change to a second luminance corresponding to the second condition, when the measured surrounding brightness has not changed from the second condition to the first condition.
US08872753B2
To adjust brightness of at least a portion of a display image, a type of content to be included within the display image is determined and, based on the identified content type, the light source of the display is set to an adjusted intensity. Thereafter, that portion of the display image unrelated to the content requiring adjusted brightness is processed to account for the adjusted intensity of the light source. Because the processing in accordance with the present invention is performed entirely on one or more processors that provide the display images to the display, the present invention overcomes the added complexity and cost associated with prior art techniques, while simultaneously providing the flexibility to quickly adjust display brightness based on types of content being included in the displayed image.
US08872746B2
A display apparatus includes a first display panel with a plurality of first pixels, a second display panel facing the first display panel and having a plurality of second pixels, a light reflective polarizer, and a backlight unit. The light reflective polarizer is interposed between the first and second display panels to transmit light polarized in a first direction, and reflect light polarized in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The backlight unit is arranged proximate to the second display panel to supply light to the first and second display panels. The first display panel displays an image by using reflected ambient light, and the second display panel displays an image by using light from the backlight unit.
US08872745B2
To control the state of an input signal and output signal of a sequential circuit in order to prevent a malfunction of an electronic circuit. An electronic circuit includes a sequential circuit and a control circuit. A first signal, a second signal, and a third signal are input to the sequential circuit as a start signal, a clock signal, and a reset signal, respectively. The sequential circuit outputs, as an output signal, a fourth signal whose state is set in accordance with the state of the inputted first signal, second signal, and third signal. The control circuit controls the state of the third signal input to the sequential circuit.
US08872743B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a multiple primary color panel capable of improving the display quality in the vicinity of a monochromatic color, and a control method therefor. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that performs display by input thereto of image signals for three colors from outside. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight. A plurality of pixels each including picture elements of four colors or more are formed in a display region of the liquid crystal display panel. Each pixel includes picture elements of three colors, provided with color filters having colors corresponding to the respective colors of the image signals, and at least one picture element of other color(s), provided with a color filter having a color corresponding to a color other than the colors of the image signals. The light emission intensity of the backlight can be controlled in accordance with image signals input. The light emission intensity of the backlight when a monochromatic color or a color close to a monochromatic color is displayed in the display region is greater than the light emission intensity when white is displayed in the display region.
US08872737B2
An organic light emitting device including a display panel including a plurality of pixels respectively including a driving transistor and an organic light emitting element; a driving unit to supply a driving signal to the display panel; a signal controller to control the driving unit; a signal modification unit to modify an input image signal based on modification information to generate a modified image signal; and a modification controller to generate and provide the modification information to the signal modification unit. The signal modification unit includes a first modification unit to convert the input image signal into a first modified signal according to first modification information generated based on a characteristic deviation of the driving transistor, and a second modification unit to convert the first modified signal into a second modified signal according to second modification information generated based on a characteristic deviation of the organic light emitting element.
US08872736B2
An emission control circuit for controlling emission of R, G, B EL elements and method for driving an organic light emitting diode display using the same. An emission control signal generating circuit of a flat panel display includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of EL elements, and emission of the elements is controlled by emission control signals. The circuit includes a first signal generating device for generating one of the emission control signals, and a plurality of second signal generating devices for generating other ones of the emission control signals using an output signal of the first signal generating device and an external control signal. The first signal generating device may include a shift register. Each of the plurality of second signal generating devices may include a NAND gate using the external signal and the external control signal, or an inverted signal thereof, as two inputs.
US08872731B2
A dual-screen user device and methods for controlling data displayed thereby are disclosed. Specifically, the data displayed by the multiple screens of the dual-screen user device is conditioned upon the type of user gesture or combination of user gestures detected. The display controls described herein can correlate user inputs received in a gesture capture region to one or more display actions, which may include maximization, minimization, or reformatting instructions.
US08872728B2
A terminal device is provided that includes screens and solves a problem in that power is consumed more than necessary. When a prescribed operation is performed on operation section 104, controller 105 causes LCD controller 103 to illuminate at least one of LCDs 101 and 102 at a first brightness levels. Subsequently, a selection operation of selecting any one of LCDs 101 and 102 is performed on operation section 104. When the selected LCD is illuminated at the first brightness levels, controller 105 causes LCD controller 103 to illuminate the LCD selected by the selection operation at a second brightness levels higher than the first brightness levels.
US08872727B2
Embodiments provide for a handheld device with a unified desktop for integrating the functionality of the handheld device with a larger computer system. When connected to a peripheral display and/or a display of the larger computer system, the handheld device provides a unified desktop displayed across the screen(s) of the handheld device and the peripheral display. The unified desktop unifies the functionality provided by the larger computer system and the handheld functionality, e.g., communication applications (e.g., phone, SMS, MMS). A user can seamlessly interact with applications, e.g., open, move, close, receive notifications, on the unified desktop whether the applications are displayed on the screens of the handheld device, or the peripheral display of the larger computer system.
US08872724B2
Disclosed herein is a mobile communication terminal casing equipped with an internal antenna. The mobile communication terminal casing includes an antenna sheet having contact terminals, and an injection-molded casing product including an inner surface having an internal groove that is coupled to the antenna sheet and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. A second surface opposite to a first surface of the antenna sheet on which the contact terminals are located comes into contact with the internal groove of the injection-molded casing product, and the first surface is injection-molded to be exposed outside of the injection-molded casing product.
US08872723B2
An electromagnetic (RF) and light transparent enclosure having a perforated metallic wall. The enclosure is particularly adapted for an RF wireless tracking system, as a housing for the transmitter device or for a cargo container in or on which the transmitter device is positioned. The enclosure is optically transparent to ensure any photovoltaic device of the transmitter device receives sufficient photons or other energy to power the transmitter device. The RF transparent enclosure attenuates less transmitted and/or received signal at specific frequency bands.
US08872721B2
The invention relates to an RFID reader having a transmitting antenna (102) and a receiving antenna (104), wherein the transmitting antenna is located a first distance (114) from the receiving antenna, wherein the transmitting antenna has transmitting antenna coils (106) situated in a first plane (108), and wherein the receiving antenna has receiving antenna coils (110) situated in a second plane (112), and having means (130, 132) for positioning an RFID document at a position located a second distance (148) from the transmitting antenna, wherein the transmitting antenna is situated between the receiving antenna and the position.
US08872720B2
An apparatus for controlling impedance in an adaptive tuning antenna circuit is disclosed, wherein a matching unit is connected to an output terminal where a coupler outputs a coupled power of a transmission signal, a controller adjusts an impedance of the matching unit to cause the reflected power outputted by the coupler to be minimized, and the controller adjusts an impedance of a tuner to allow a combined impedance of the tuner and an antenna to be equal to the impedance of the matching unit but with opposite phases, thereby adjusting the impedance of the antenna in the optimal state.
US08872716B2
A wireless receiver including a dipole antenna and a circuit board, wherein high directivity characteristics can be acquired for wireless signals is provided. The wireless receiver includes a balanced feed antenna and a circuit board arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aforementioned balanced feed antenna. A conductive pattern formed on the aforementioned circuit board is composed of two or more partial patterns arranged with a gap interposed therebetween. The gap is formed at a position in between both ends of the aforementioned balanced feed antenna.
US08872713B1
The present invention is directed to a radiating element assembly including radiating element integrated with a radome. The radiating element assembly may be dual-polarized. Further, the radiating element assembly may operate over a frequency band of 10.9 GHz-14.5 GHz and may be configured for minimizing polarization cross-talk at Array Normal Scan of well below −30 decibels over the entire frequency band. Still further, the radiating element assembly may provide return loss at Array Normal Scan of less than or equal to −10 dB.
US08872701B2
Methods and systems are described for using location-based information to determine whether to perform a ranging procedure. A change in location of a device is identified. The identified change in location represents the distance the device has moved during an interval between ranging procedures. The identified change in location is analyzed to determine whether the change exceeds a threshold distance. If the change in location does not satisfy the threshold distance, a change in a signal quality metric of the device from the location associated with the previously performed ranging procedure to the current location is identified. The identified change in signal quality metric is analyzed to determine whether the change exceeds a threshold value. If the change in location of the device is less than the threshold distance and the change in the signal quality metric is less than the threshold value, the next scheduled ranging procedure is bypassed.
US08872700B2
The position of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) surveying receiver is determined based on a plurality of RTK engines. A first RTK engine is implementing using a first set of parameters. A second RTK engine is implemented using a second set of parameter different than the first set. A plurality of GNSS signals are received from multiple satellites. At least one correction signal is received from at least one base receiver. A first position is determined from the first RTK engine based on the GNSS signals and the at least one correction signal. A second position is determined from the first RTK engine based on the GNSS signals and the at least one correction signal. A final position of the GNSS surveying receiver is determined based on the first position or the second position or a combination of both positions.
US08872697B2
The present invention uses a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture to form real time 3D radar images recorded in cylindrical near field scenarios using a wavefront reconstruction approach. A novel interpolation approach is executed in parallel, significantly reducing the reconstruction time without compromising the spatial accuracy and signal to noise ratios of the resulting images. Since each point in the problem space can be processed independently, the proposed technique was implemented using an approach on a General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) to take advantage of the high performance computing capabilities of this platform.
US08872694B2
A method for measurement of a distance to a surface of a product kept in a tank method comprises transmitting a pulse train of distinct carrier wave pulses having a duration greater than 1 microsecond and shorter than 100 milliseconds, the pulse train has an average duty cycle of less than 50 percent, each pulse has a defined center frequency, selected according to a frequency scheme within a predetermined frequency range, greater than 5% of an average center frequency. The method further comprises correlating actual phase properties of received pulses with expected phase properties to provide an updated estimation of the distance.The present invention is based on transmitting a set of carrier wave pulses, each having a distinct frequency selected within a frequency range. The method is therefore referred to as a Frequency Modulated Pulsed Wave (FMPW).
US08872689B2
Circuit arrangement, including a first resistor, a second resistor, a current source and an analog-to-digital converter. The second resistor is thermally coupled to the first resistor. The current source is coupled to the second resistor. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to receive a first voltage measured via the first resistor as a voltage to be digitized, and is configured to receive a second voltage measured via the second resistor as a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter.
US08872685B2
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes, in part, a multitude of input stages that supply currents to a pair of current summing nodes in response to a digital signal, and an impedance attenuator coupled between the current summing nodes and the output of the DAC. The impedance attenuator is adapted, among other function, to increase the range of impedances of the output load, to account for changes in the output load impedance due to variations in the process, voltage and temperature, and to decouple the impedances seen by the summing nodes from the load impedance. The impedance attenuator further includes a differential-input, differential-output amplifier with programmable common-mode gain bandwidth to control the harmonic distortion of the amplifier. The impedance attenuator optionally includes a pair of cross-coupled capacitors to control the harmonic distortion of the amplifier.
US08872684B2
A delta-sigma A/D converter includes a loop filter including a resonant filter, a quantizer, and a feedback D/A converter. The resonant filter includes a resonator including a resistor and a capacitor, and a feedback path through which an output of the resonator is positively fed back to an input of the resonator. The resonant filter operates as an oscillator or a filter under the on/off control of a first switch. At least one of the resistor and the capacitor of the resonator is configured to allow a resistance value or a capacitance value thereof to be adjusted based on a third external signal.
US08872683B2
Operating capacitive sensors in force feedback mode has many benefits, such as improved bandwidth, and lower sensitivity to process and temperature variation. To overcome, the non-linearity of the voltage-to-force relation in capacitive feedback, a two-level feedback signal is often used. Therefore, a single-bit Σ-Δ modulator represents a practical way to implement capacitive sensors interface circuits. However, high-Q parasitic modes that exist in high-Q sensors (operating in vacuum) cause a stability problem for the Σ-Δ loop, and hence, limit the applicability of Σ-Δ technique to such sensors. A solution is provided that allows stabilizing the Σ-Δ loop, in the presence of high-Q parasitic modes. The solution is applicable to low or high order Σ-Δ based interfaces for capacitive sensors.
US08872669B2
Devices are provided which include a component assembly for detecting inward, outward and sideways door movement. A component of the assembly extending from a structure comprises a distal end for contacting a door face when the structure is arranged in proximity to the door face. Systems are provided which include a portable stand, a door movement sensor attached to the stand, a proximity sensor, and a user interface. The system is configured to transmit signals to the user interface when the proximity sensor has been placed a predetermined distance from a door face and when door movement occurs. Apparatuses are provided which include program instructions for receiving input regarding a number of entryways of a room and inhibiting commencement of a task for which an apparatus arranged in the room is configured to perform until a number of signals received from a door movement sensor equals the number of entryways.
US08872668B2
One illustrative embodiment includes an apparatus for detecting if a fastener moves from a first position to a different second position. The apparatus includes a first connector for connecting a first side of a contact bridge to the fastener for movement in response to movement of the fastener, and a second connector for connecting a second side of the contact bridge to an object to remain stationary relative to the object. One of the first and second sides of the contact bridge includes first and second spaced apart electrical conductors; the other side includes a third electrical conductor. The third electrical conductor is positionable to contact the first and second electrical conductors when the fastener is in the first position, and the third electrical conductor may be spaced apart from at least one of the first and second electrical conductors when the fastener is in the second position.
US08872662B2
A flat identification antenna for receiving signals from multiple tag-carrying items placed on the antenna and a system for identifying and tracking multiple tag-carrying items including the same. The antenna comprises a first planar array of partially overlapping first planar loops, a second planar array of partially overlapping second planar loops and an insulating board positioned between the first and second arrays. The loops in the first array are arranged to partially overlap each other in one direction and the loops in the second array are arranged to partially overlap each other in another direction.
US08872661B2
A closed loop location detection system for use in monitoring simultaneously the presence or absence of objects in at least two locations, comprises at least one detectable element per location and adapted to be associated with a respective object to be monitored, and at least one detecting device adapted to detect the detectable elements of the objects and so determine whether objects are present in, or absent from, all of the locations being monitored. Means are provided for causing an object to be fed to a location determined to be devoid of objects by the detecting device. Typically, the closed loop location detection system uses RFID technology, e.g. the detection device comprises at least one antenna and the detectable element comprising at least one RF tag. There may be provided one such antenna for each location to be monitored, whereby for a given location, a respective antenna detects the presence or absence of a respective tag thereby determining whether an object is present in this given location. Alternatively, the antenna can be adapted to monitor more than one location, wherein a position tag is associated with each location and means to deactivate the position tag are provided on each object, whereby when the object is fed to a given location, the means to deactivate that are provided on this given object, cause the position tag associated with the given location to stop being detected by the antenna thereby determining that a specific object has been fed to a specific location.
US08872656B2
An electronic device is presented including a fingerprint collecting module for collecting fingerprint information and a chemical analysis module for performing a chemical analysis of the fingerprint information to create a chemical profile for identifying at least a select number of molecules and/or organic compounds for deriving distinguishing characteristics from the fingerprint information. The electronic device may also include an evaluating module for evaluating the distinguishing characteristics of the fingerprint information to provide at least one response formulated from the distinguishing characteristics derived from the select number of molecules and/or organic compounds.
US08872644B2
A driving diagnosis information providing apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The driving diagnosis information providing apparatus acquires vehicle information indicative of a vehicle state, and makes a diagnosis of a driving state of the vehicle based on the vehicle information. The driving diagnosis information providing apparatus acquires, as useful information, one of announce information and helpful information. The announce information includes information to be reported to a driver of the vehicle. The helpful information includes information helpful for driving. The driving diagnosis information providing apparatus notifies the driver of diagnosis information indicative of a result of the diagnosis, and notifies the useful information in place of the diagnosis information under a predetermined condition.
US08872643B2
A safety system for an ore processing facility using a mobile mechanisms such as dozer-type wheeled vehicles operating in proximity with an excavator providing ore to a remote milling site. The excavator or earth moving mechanism has a positioning sensor (such as GPS) generating data indicative of the location of the earth moving mechanism and each of the mobile mechanisms also include positioning sensors. An analysis mechanism receives the positioning sensor data from the earth moving mechanism and the positioning sensor data from said mobile mechanisms and creates a distance calculation which is used alert the alarm in the earth moving mechanism and the alarm in the mobile mechanism if said distance calculation is less than a prescribed value.
US08872640B2
Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for monitoring a status of a driver when driving a vehicle. A system including a set of sensors configured to be disposed in the vehicle to collect driver status data. The system processing the driver status data to determine whether the driver is experiencing a health condition or crisis, and whether the driver's body position is ergonomic. In response to a health condition, generating a health alert indicative of the health condition. In response to the driver a health crisis generating a health alert indicative of the health crisis and inhibiting operation of the vehicle. In response to the driver's body position not being ergonomic, identifying and providing adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in a an ergonomically acceptable body position.
US08872637B2
The present invention relates to a method for selecting at least one of a plurality of controllable devices (121-123), wherein each of the controllable devices (121-123) is adapted to transmit a distinguishable signal. The method comprising the steps of receiving (301) the signals from the plurality of controllable devices by means of a plurality of receiver modules comprised in a control device (110), wherein each receiver module separately detects a contribution of the signals; determining (302), using a correlation between the different signal contributions, a width and an angle of incidence for each of the signals; comparing (303-304) the width and the angle of incidence for each of the signals with a set of predetermined criteria; and selecting (305) at least one of the plurality of controllable devices best matching the set of predetermined criteria.
US08872636B1
In RFID systems employed for loss prevention, an item supplier or an ingress reader writes an ownership code associated with an organization or facility into a tag, indicating that an item to which the tag is attached is associated with the facility and not foreign. At checkout or point-of-sale an authorization reader or mobile device writes a computed code and/or a ticket into the tag indicating that the tagged item is allowed to leave the facility. At point-of-exit an exit reader determines if the tagged item is allowed to leave the facility by verifying the ownership code and the code or ticket. The loss-prevention system may issue an alert or sound an alarm if a facility-associated item is leaving the facility without a proper code or ticket indicating that the item is approved to leave.
US08872628B2
Illustrated is a system and method to inductively receive electrical power. Additionally, the system and method includes a non-volatile memory that includes data relating to the system and method, the non-volatile memory supplied with the electrical power. Further, the system and method includes a document into which the coil and the non-volatile memory are embedded.
US08872627B2
RFID tags are affixed to vials used to store samples, such as biological samples stored in liquid nitrogen dewars or mechanical freezers. In one set of embodiments, an RFID tag is inserted into a recess at the bottom of a vial and held in place by an insert that engages with vial structure. In another set of embodiments, the RFID tag is retained in the recess by directly engaging with the vial structure and without using a separate insert. Mechanisms for keeping the insert and/or tag in place include tabs that gouge into the vial material, clips that allow the insert/tag to be inserted, but not removed, and holes in the side wall of the vial recess that receive tabs extending from the insert/tag. Tag-insertion techniques enable tags to be affixed to vials either before or after insertion of the sample, thereby enabling retrofitting of existing sample-storing vials with tags.
US08872625B2
A method and apparatus for controlling an appliance. The method includes the steps of a security system within a secured area, said security system having a wireless transmitter transmitting status messages including at least a first encrypted message that the security system in armed and a second encrypted message that the security system is disarmed, an appliance control device having a wireless receiver and a decryption unit, the wireless receiver receiving the first and second encrypted messages, the decryption unit decrypting the first encrypted message to recover the armed status message and decrypting the second encrypted message to recover the disarmed status message and an appliance associated with the secured area and controlled by the appliance control device, the appliance entering a relatively low energy consuming mode in response to the appliance control device receiving the armed message and the appliance entering a relatively high energy consuming mode in response to the appliance control device receiving the disarmed message.
US08872620B2
A wireless key system and location detection method determine whether a wireless key is located inside or outside a main body. A communication device in the main body transmits a wireless signal using an inner antenna and an outer antenna outside the main body having a different directivity. A wireless key measures direction of movement of the wireless key when the wireless signal is received by one of antennas having different directivities, detects one of the antennas receiving the highest signal level of the wireless signal as a first antenna, selects one of the antennas having the same directivity as the inner antenna as a second antenna according to the measured direction of movement and detected directivity of the antenna, and decides that the wireless key is inside the main body based on the signal levels of the wireless signals received by the first and second antennas.
US08872609B2
The invention relates to an inductor element and an integrated circuit device where the efficiency of use of wire materials is high and noise interference through capacitive/inductive coupling from peripheral wires is low.Coil elements 1, 2 are provided in at least two adjacent layer levels having main wires which run in different directions so that each coil element 1 (2) is connected to a coil element 2 (1) in a different layer level so as to form one coil, and shield wires 3, 4 are connected to a power 5 either above or below or to the left or right of said coil elements 1, 2.
US08872602B2
In a filter module having excellent phase balance characteristics, a length of a signal path between a first balanced mount electrode and a first balanced terminal electrode is different from a length of a signal path between a second balanced mount electrode and a second balanced terminal electrode. When viewing a mount board from a side on which a filter component is mounted, an area along which the first balanced mount electrode and a first internal ground electrode oppose each other is different from an area along which the second balanced mount electrode and the first internal ground electrode oppose each other.
US08872599B2
A power synthesis circuit for a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier comprises a first matching network and a second matching network, which are connected with two-band signal output ports of the RF power amplifier respectively, and signal coupling circuits which are connected with two-band signal receiving ports respectively. The first matching network and the second matching network are connected with an antenna circuit via a duplexer, and are grounded via an inductor and a switch element which is connected in parallel to the inductor respectively. The leakage of signal among different channels is prevented. The transmission quality of the RF signal is improved. The cost of the power amplifier is reduced and the structure of the power amplifier is simplified.
US08872598B2
An electrical signal combiner includes at least one first element and a second element respectively connected to a first input port and to a second input port, and a third element connected to an output port, the electrical signals being propagated between the input and output ports. The combiner includes a medium; and the first, second and third elements are acoustic wave transducers, the electrical signals being carried by acoustic waves propagated between the input and output ports within the medium. Advantageously, the first transducer and the third transducer are separated by an acoustic distance of (2k+1)λ/4 with k an integer greater than or equal to 0 with λ the acoustic propagation wavelength; the second transducer and the third transducer are separated by an acoustic distance of (2k′+1)λ/4 with k′ an integer greater than or equal to 0; and the first and second transducers are separated by an acoustic distance of (2k″+2)λ/4 with k″ an integer greater than or equal to 0—in such a manner as to, on the one hand, generate constructive interference at the output port and, on the other hand, to isolate the first and second input ports by destructive interference of acoustic waves at the ports.
US08872593B2
A technique for calibration of on-chip resistance (R) and capacitance (C) values using an on-board bypass capacitor may include configuring an on-chip switch to selectively couple an on-chip calibration circuit to an on-chip port. The on-chip calibration circuit may include an RC oscillator having an RC time constant (RCTC). The on-board bypass capacitor may be coupled to the on-chip calibration circuit, by using the on-chip port. The on-chip R and C values may be calibrated using the on-chip calibration circuit and the on-board bypass capacitor.
US08872584B2
An audio power amplifier includes a first and a second amplification unit, each including a switching voltage amplifier, an output filter, a current compensator, an inner current feedback loop feeding a measurement of current measured at the output inductor back to a summing input of the current compensator, a voltage compensator coupled to the summing input of the current compensator, and an outer voltage feedback loop. A controlled signal path provides the output of the voltage compensator of the first amplification unit to the current compensator of the second amplification unit. The first and second amplification units are operable with separate loads, in parallel driving a common load, or across a bridge-tied-load. A second pair of amplification units may be added and operated together with the first pair to drive a single speaker with a parallel pair of amplifiers on each side of a bridge-tied-load.
US08872578B1
A self adjusting reference for an input buffer including an adjustable voltage shifter, a comparator, and a comparator and adjust circuit. The voltage shifter provides adjustable reference voltages based on a primary reference voltage, including upper, midway, and lower reference voltages. The comparator compares the midway reference voltage with the input voltage to provide an input sense signal indicative of a voltage state of the input voltage. The comparator and adjust circuit increases voltage levels of the reference voltages when the input voltage is in a low voltage state and has a voltage level that is greater than the lower reference voltage, and decreases the voltage levels of the reference voltages when the input voltage is in a high voltage state and has a voltage level that is less than the upper reference voltage.
US08872545B2
An exclusive OR circuit includes, inter alia: a low pass unit configured to apply a second data to an output node when a first data is at a low level and to apply the first data to the output node when the second data is at a low level, and a discharge unit configured to discharge a voltage level of the output node when the first and second data are at a high level.
US08872541B2
An embodiment of the invention includes dynamically adjusting gain peaking of circuit logic such that error rates are acceptable across various process/voltage/temperature (PVT) ranges. An embodiment uses PVT dependant programming, such as but not limited to resistance compensation (RCOMP) codes, to control impedance compensation logic, such as but not limited to a Continuous Time Linear Equalization (CTLE) circuit. The PVT programming may be used to control gain peaking amplitude and gain peaking frequency across ranges of different PVTs. As a result, error performance is not impaired across different PVT corners and gain peaking is more consistent across different PVT corners. Other embodiments are included herein.
US08872540B2
A method of sharing in use an impedance matching circuit of a memory circuit to perform an initial calibration and a full time refresh mode calibration includes supplying power to the memory circuit, utilizing the impedance matching circuit to perform the initial calibration on the memory circuit, the memory circuit exiting the initial calibration, the memory circuit entering a driving mode, the memory circuit exiting the driving mode every a predetermined interval, utilizing the impedance matching circuit to perform the full time refresh mode calibration on the memory circuit according to a refresh command, an output voltage detection circuit determining a level of an output voltage of the memory circuit, and performing a corresponding operation according to a determination result generated by the output voltage detection circuit.
US08872539B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit capable of testing power control operation in the semiconductor integrated circuit includes a power controllable region. Power control switches have switch series each constituted by a plurality of switch cells. A power controllable region includes output nodes in the switch series. The output nodes output power control signals that have passed through final stages of the respective switch series of the power control switches to outside the power controllable region. A chip on which the semiconductor integrated circuit is mounted has output terminals that output outputs of the output nodes to outside of the chip. When inserting a scan path test, observation flip-flops that load the outputs of the output nodes to data terminals, and load scan data to scan-in terminals are disposed in correspondence with the respective output nodes. Those observation flip-flops are connected to constitute a scan path chain.
US08872538B2
Methods and systems for semiconductor testing are disclosed. In one embodiment, devices which are testing too slowly are prevented from completing testing, thereby allowing untested devices to begin testing sooner.
US08872529B2
Provided is a component detection device, which is installable on component processing means which performs a predetermined operation to a conductive component interposed between one conductive member and another conductive member, the component detection device comprising a detection circuit (41) for distinguishing between the conductive component and a conductive foreign matter interposed between the one conductive member and the another conductive member, the detection circuit (41) being electrically connected between the one conductive member and the another conductive member, wherein the detection circuit (41) comprises: a reference voltage generating circuit section (43) for generating a reference voltage based on an input voltage; a voltage comparing circuit section (44) for comparing between the reference voltage and a detection voltage input from a detection terminal; and a sensitivity adjusting circuit section (45) for adjusting the detection voltage so that, when the conductive component is interposed between the one conductive member and the another conductive member, the detection voltage is equal to or smaller than the reference voltage, and when the conductive foreign matter is interposed between the one conductive member and the another conductive member, the detection voltage is larger than the reference voltage.
US08872528B2
A capacitive physical quantity detector includes: a capacitor having an electrostatic capacitance changeable with physical quantity; a converter converting a capacitance change to a voltage; and a selector having a comparator and a switching element. The converter includes a C-V converting circuit having an operational amplifier for amplifying a first signal from the capacitor, a main switch between input and output terminals of the operational amplifier, feedback capacitors and feedback switches. Each feedback switch connects a feedback capacitor to the main switch when the feedback switch is closed. The selector closes the feedback switches based on a second signal of the converter. The comparator compares the second signal with a threshold voltage. The switching element switches the feedback switches according to a third signal from the comparator to set the second signal smaller than a saturated voltage and larger than the threshold voltage.
US08872525B2
A system and method of measuring a self bias DC voltage on a semiconductor wafer in a plasma chamber includes generating a plasma between a top electrode and a top surface of an electrostatic chuck in a plasma chamber including applying one or more RF signals to one or both of the top electrode and electrostatic chuck. The wafer is supported on the top surface of an electrostatic chuck. The self bias DC voltage is developed on the wafer. A vibrating electrode is oscillated to produce a variable capacitance, the vibrating electrode is located in the electrostatic chuck. An electrical current is developed in a sensor circuit. An output voltage is measured across a sampling resistor in the sensor circuit, a second DC potential is applied to the vibrating electrode to nullify the output voltage. The second DC potential is equal to the self bias DC voltage on the wafer.
US08872523B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to automatic test equipment for testing a circuit having an oscillating crystal and to a method for operating such automatic test equipment. A generator generates a first signal comprising an oscillating part having at least one predetermined frequency. A first terminal couples the first signal to the oscillating crystal. At least one predetermined frequency is located inside a predetermined window around one of the resonance frequencies of the oscillating crystal. An analyzer has a second terminal coupled to the oscillating crystal for detecting a second signal and a rectifier connected in series with a low-pass filter for rectifying and filtering the second signal. A detector for detects a DC-signal at the output of the low-pass filter and for signals a valid test result for the oscillating crystal if the DC-signal exceeds a certain threshold value.
US08872522B2
A electrical circuit includes an excitation voltage connected via a first circuit path to an output, a switching device having a control terminal and first and second controlled terminals connected to the first circuit path, and a controller that generates a control signal provided to the control terminal of the switching device to selectively supply the excitation voltage to the output. Faults in the electrical circuit are detected by monitoring the switching device voltage at one of the controlled terminals of the switching device.
US08872519B2
One exemplary embodiment includes a method including providing a battery, producing a first magnetic field so that a second magnetic field is induced in the battery, sensing a magnetic field resulting from the interaction of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, utilizing the sensed net magnetic field to determine the state of charge of the battery.
US08872518B2
A method for estimating the state-of-charge of a battery. The method includes collecting a plurality of voltage measurements during operation of the system containing the battery and determining a time-constant of relaxation and an open-circuit voltage corresponding to the battery based, at least in part, on the voltage measurements. The method further includes estimating the state-of-charge of the battery based, at least in part, on the open-circuit voltage.
US08872517B2
An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, includes connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the connections and configured to measure a parameter of the battery. An input is configured to receive a battery age input variable. Computation circuitry is configured to provide a test output related to a condition of the battery based upon the measured parameter and the battery age input variable.
US08872516B2
A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.
US08872503B2
Electromagnetic wave resonator and its fabrication process as well as electromagnetic wave generator
The main object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave resonator making use of surface waves: an electromagnetic wave resonator structure capable of being achieved with existing technologies yet without much difficulty and applying voltage to a positive dielectric area, thereby overcoming a variety of problems arising from the fact that only thermal excitation is available.The contact structure of negative dielectric/positive dielectric/negative dielectric necessary for this type of electromagnetic wave resonator is provided on the surface of the negative dielectric material 1 just as the coaxial structure of the positive dielectric thin film 3 extending in the Y-axis direction and the negative dielectric material 2 received therein is cut in the axial direction. This makes sure both negative dielectric materials 1 and 2 with the positive dielectric thin film 3 sandwiched between them are electrically insulated so that voltage can be applied to the positive dielectric thin film 3, and ensures that an area provided in the negative dielectric material 1 to receive the positive dielectric thin film 3 has an aspect ratio D/P1 of about 1.9, a figure well achievable in the state of the art.
US08872500B2
An example control circuit for use in a power converter includes an input voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a drive signal generator. The input voltage sensor generates a first signal representative of an input voltage (Vin) of the power converter. The current sensor generates a second signal representative of a switch current through a power switch of the power converter. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the first and second signals. The drive signal generator sets a switching frequency of the drive signal based on a product K×Vin×t to control a maximum output power of the power converter, where K is a fixed number and t is a time it takes the second signal to change between two values of the switch current when the power switch is in an on state.
US08872499B2
There is provided a power supply apparatus supplying driving power. The power supply apparatus includes: a first power converter bypassing input power when a voltage level of the input power having a predetermined voltage level is within a reference voltage level range, and converting the input power to DC power having a preset voltage level when the voltage level of the input power is outside of the reference voltage level range; and a second power converter converting the power inputted from the first power converter to driving power having a preset voltage level.
US08872498B2
A step-up converter converts a battery voltage to an intermediate voltage. The intermediate voltage is greater than or equal to the battery voltage. A step-down converter receives the intermediate voltage supplied by the step-up converter and controls an output voltage which is less than or equal to the intermediate voltage. The step-up converter controls the intermediate voltage in an open loop depending on the battery voltage, at least if the battery voltage is lower than a first predetermined value, and at least if at the same time the load on the output of the step-up converter exceeds a minimum load.
US08872492B2
Systems and method for a capacitor-less Low Dropout (LDO) voltage regulator. An error amplifier is configured to amplify a differential between a reference voltage and a regulated LDO voltage. Without including an external capacitor in the LDO voltage regulator, a Miller amplifier is coupled to an output of the error amplifier, wherein the Miller amplifier is configured to amplify a Miller capacitance formed at an input node of the Miller amplifier. A capacitor coupled to the output of the error amplifier creates a positive feedback loop for decreasing a quality factor (Q), such that system stability is improved.
US08872485B1
In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a circuit for increasing power supply hold-up time includes an inductor, two capacitors and a controller. A first capacitor has a first node coupled to a first node of the inductor and has a second node coupled to ground. A second capacitor has a first node coupled to a second node of the inductor and has a second node coupled to ground. The controller is preferably operative to direct current through the inductor such that the inductor can serve as a Boost inductor for the second capacitor and a Buck inductor for the first capacitor.
US08872480B2
An electric vehicle charging system is disclosed. More particularly, the system encompasses a load center having one or more electrical loads coupled thereto, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to charge an electric vehicle (EV), and a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) to monitor power or current usage of at least the one or more loads coupled to the load center, and adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE based upon the level of the usage. MLD apparatus and methods of charging a vehicle with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) are provided, as are other aspects.
US08872479B2
According to one embodiment, a system for actively managing energy banks during an energy transfer process comprises a plurality of energy banks configured for use as a group of energy banks and characterized by a desired state-of-charge (SOC), and a power management system coupled across each of the energy banks. The power management system is configured to selectively drive at least one of the energy banks to a modified SOC different from the desired SOC without interrupting the energy transfer process. In one embodiment, the power management system is further configured to return the energy bank or banks driven to the modified SOC to the desired SOC of the group of energy banks.
US08872477B2
A battery pack and a method of operating the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and is configured to open a terminal of the battery if an open circuit is detected in a line connecting battery cells.
US08872476B2
The present invention discloses a charging management system and a charger with such charging management system. The charging management system includes a first signal-output port, a second signal-output port, a third signal-output port and a controller electrically connected with the first, second and third signal-output ports. The first and second signal-output ports are adapted for outputting first and second control signals representing first and second charging currents, respectively, to a charging circuit. The third signal-output port is adapted for outputting a third control signal representing a variable third charging current to the charging circuit. The controller controls the charging management system to operate under at least one of two modes. In the first mode, the controller alternately controls the first and second signal-output ports to output the first and second control signals. In the second mode, the controller only controls the third signal-output port to output the third control signal.
US08872463B2
A sinusoidal command is added to a torque command of a controller to acquire a velocity and a current value of an electric motor. An estimated coupling torque value is calculated by calculating an input torque value from the current value and a torque constant of the electric motor and further calculating a coupling torque value from a velocity difference, motor inertia, and the input torque. An estimated torque error is then calculated from the estimated coupling torque value and the coupling torque value, and inertia, friction, and a spring constant are estimated from the estimated torque error, the velocity, and the coupling torque value.
US08872458B2
A motor control device has a drive circuit that drives an electric motor with a battery as a power supply, a switch element that is provided between the battery and the drive circuit, the switch element supplying a current from the battery to the drive circuit when being put into an on state, the switch element cutting off the current from the battery to the drive circuit when being put into an off state, a voltage detector that detects a voltage at the drive circuit, and a controller that operates the drive circuit to control the electric motor. The controller turns on the switch element when the voltage at the drive circuit, which is detected by the voltage detector, is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value during stopping of the control of the electric motor.
US08872456B2
A power supplied by an AC power supply is used as an input to a rectifying circuit, and an output of the rectifying circuit is used as an input to a smoothing capacitor having a capacitance of about 1/100 of the capacitance of conventionally used capacitance. The capacitor is provided between a positive electrode node and a negative electrode node located between bus lines of output of rectifying circuit. Diodes constituting a rectifying circuit are connected respectively with phase outputs of an inverter. The rectifying circuit is connected to the negative electrode node through a capacitor. The rectifying circuit is connected such that an electric current flows only in the direction from an output of the inverter to the capacitor. The load is connected in parallel with capacitor.
US08872449B2
A distributed-arrangement linear motor in which stators are arranged in a distributed manner and a method of controlling the distributed-arrangement linear motor are provided. The linear motor 1 is a linear motor in which a stator and a movable member are relatively movable, wherein the stator and the movable member respectively have periodic structures in which plural kinds of poles of the stator and the movable member (12a, 12b, 12c) (22a, 22b, 22c) which magnetically act each other and arranged periodically subsequently in an order according to the arrangement in a direction of the relative motion therebetween; a plurality of stators are arranged in a distributed manner in the direction of the relative motion; a distance D1, D2 between adjacent stators is not more than a length Lmv of the movable member; the pole of the stator is formed of a coil 11; and a current control unit that controls current to be supplied to the coil based on the distance between the stators is provided.
US08872446B2
A welding method of welding a cylindrical stiffening member to an outer circumference of a superconducting accelerator tube body uses a laser beam in a process of manufacturing a superconducting accelerator tube. The laser beam is configured such that a distribution profile of energy density on an irradiated face to which the laser beam is irradiated is a Gaussian distribution profile having a peak section, and the energy density of the peak section is 5.8×105 W/cm2 or more.
US08872415B2
A substrate includes: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally on a common wiring substrate, and each including a plurality of types of light emitting elements that differ from one another in emission color; a plurality of light-scattering sections each provided for a corresponding one of the pixels, and each provided above the corresponding one of the pixels; and a light-shielding section provided in a gap between adjacent ones of the pixels, or provided in an opposing region that opposes the gap when viewed in a normal direction of the wiring substrate.
US08872405B2
An insulated stator coil (16) is provided comprising a plurality of coil strands (18) having a top surface (24) and a bottom surface (26). A filler material (30) is disposed on the top surface (24) and the bottom surface (26) of the plurality of coil strands (18) to smooth discontinuities at the top and bottom surfaces (24, 26). A conductive cap (32, 34) disposed over each of the top and bottom surfaces (24, 26) of the plurality of coil strands (18). A conductive strip (46) is disposed between the filler material (30) and each respective conductive cap (32, 34). The conductive strip (46) is effective to lower a resistivity of the conductive caps (32, 34) such that partial discharges do not occur in the insulated stator coil (16).
US08872401B2
A securing structure for fan sensing element includes a substrate and a stator. The substrate has a first face and at least one electronic element plug-in connected to the first face. The stator is correspondingly disposed on the substrate. The stator has a silicon steel sheet assembly, a first insulation support and a second insulation support. Two sides of the silicon steel sheet assembly are respectively connected to the first and second insulation supports. The second insulation support is formed with a cavity in a position where the electronic element is positioned, whereby the electronic element is received in the cavity. Accordingly, when assembling the stator and the electronic element, the displacement of the stator and the electronic element can be avoided. In addition, the windings are prevented from being damaged.
US08872397B2
A rotary electric machine according to an embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical rotator that is freely rotatably supported, a stator, and a bracket that supports the rotator and the stator. The stator includes stator coils in which a plurality of air-cored coils are arranged in a ring shape and are integrated by resin, each of the air-cored coils being formed by winding a round copper wire and having an outer shape subjected to pressure molding, and stator cores divided for each of teeth.
US08872395B2
A single phase, rotary electromagnetic actuator comprising first and second stator assemblies, located in oppositely facing spaced apart positions along a common central axis, permits a magnetized disc magnet rotor to rotate about the common axis free of any magnetic attractive forces normally tending to move the disc magnet longitudinally along the axis, or alternatively to be located in a position to create a desired longitudinal attractive force. The entire assembly is maintained in operative positions by a circular belt which provides an inward facing lip on each side of which the stator assemblies are seated and which determines the magnetic airgap spacing for the disc. The invention may be implemented as a servo-actuator by the inclusion of an angular position sensor that uses the actuator rotor as the magnetic field emitter, and a receiver for the magnetic field and its contacts, located in the belt lip.
US08872394B2
A linear vibration generating apparatus employed in a portable terminal is provided. The linear vibration generating apparatus includes a bracket, a coil inserted into the bracket, a stator inserted into the bracket and including a central yoke concentrically fixed to an interior space of the coil, a vibrator including a permanent magnet disposed to surround an outer periphery of the coil, and a resilient body fixed to the stator to support the vibrator.
US08872383B2
Disclosed herein is a contactless power receiving apparatus, including a resonance element adapted to receive supply of AC power in a contactless fashion by resonance from a resonance element of a power supplying source; an excitation element adapted to receive supply of the AC power by electromagnetic induction from the resonance element; a rectification circuit adapted to generate DC power from the AC power from the excitation element and output the DC power; and a changeover circuit adapted to change over the AC power between a supplied state and a non-supplied state to the rectification circuit.
US08872375B2
A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes comprising an inflatable portion comprising one or more blades and a device for rotatably driving the inflatable portion at a predetermined rate for a predetermined time.
US08872371B2
There is described a method for controlling the output of a tidal hydroelectric turbine generator from a remote location, with the need for control circuitry to be housed local to the generator. The rotational speed of the turbine, and consequently the output power level of the generator, is controlled by varying the transmission line voltage of the submarine power cable connecting the off-shore turbine with an on-shore substation.
US08872369B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine control system including an electronic control unit. The control system can include a starter machine that is in communication with the electronic control unit. The starter machine can comprise a solenoid assembly that includes a plurality of biasing members and a first and a second coil winding. The starter machine can also include a motor that is coupled to a pinion. The starter machine can comprise an electromagnetic switch that is coupled to the first coil winding and is configured to regulate a priming current passing through the first coil winding. In some embodiments, the motor can be electrically coupled to the first winding and the control unit can be capable of closing the electromagnetic switch to circulate the priming current from a power source to the motor through the first coil winding.
US08872367B2
A system for generating electrical power includes a weight assembly coupled to a drive chain that is coupled to a drive mechanism, which is coupled to a rotational mechanism. When the weight assembly is lowered from an elevated position by the force of gravity, the drive chain rotates the drive mechanism, which rotates the rotational mechanism, which rotates the shafts of a power generator mechanism to produce electrical power. After the weight assembly is lowered, a lifting mechanism raises the weight assembly to the elevated position, resetting the system for generating electrical power.
US08872359B2
A method of manufacturing a MEMS device comprises forming a MEMS device element (12). A sidewall (20) is formed around the MEMS device element, and a sacrificial layer (14) is formed over the device element and within the sidewall. A package cover layer (16) is provided over the sacrificial layer, and the sacrificial layer is removed. This method provides additional sidewalls to the cap provided over the MEMS device. These additional sidewalls can then be deposited by a different process and be formed of a different material to the top part of the package cover layer. The sidewalls can prevent reflow of the sacrificial layer and improve the sealing properties of the sidewalls.
US08872358B2
Described herein is a sealant laminated composite for collectively sealing a semiconductor device's mounting surface of a substrate on which semiconductor devices are mounted or a semiconductor device's forming surface of a wafer on which semiconductor devices are formed. The composite can include a support wafer and an uncured resin layer constituted of an uncured thermosetting resin formed on one side of the support wafer. In certain aspects, the sealant laminated composite is very versatile, even when a large diameter or thin substrate or wafer is sealed. In certain aspects, this can prevent the substrate or wafer from warping and the semiconductor devices from peeling; can collectively seal a semiconductor device's mounting surface of a substrate on which semiconductor devices are mounted or a semiconductor device's forming surface of a wafer on which semiconductor devices are formed on a wafer level; and can provide a sealant laminated composite that is excellent in the heat resistance and humidity resistance after sealing.
US08872349B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations for a bridge interconnect assembly that can be embedded in a package assembly. In one embodiment, a package assembly includes a package substrate configured to route electrical signals between a first die and a second die and a bridge embedded in the package substrate and configured to route the electrical signals between the first die and the second die, the bridge including a bridge substrate, one or more through-hole vias (THVs) formed through the bridge substrate, and one or more traces disposed on a surface of the bridge substrate to route the electrical signals between the first die and the second die. Routing features including traces and a ground plane of the bridge interconnect assembly may be separated by an air gap. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08872335B2
It is proposed a method of manufacturing an electronic system wherein a first substrate comprising first connection elements on a first surface of the first substrate is provided; a second substrate comprising second connection elements on a first surface of the second substrate is provided; a polymer layer is applied to at least one of the two first surfaces; the first connection elements are attached to the second connection elements; and the polymer layer is caused to swell during or after the attachment.
US08872334B2
In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device incorporating a semiconductor element in a multilayered wiring structure including a plurality of wiring layers and insulating layers, a semiconductor element is mounted on a silicon support body whose thickness is reduced to a desired thickness and which are equipped with a plurality of through-vias running through in the thickness direction; an insulating layer is formed to embed the semiconductor element; then, a plurality of wiring layers is formed on the opposite surfaces of the silicon support body in connection with the semiconductor element. Thus, it is possible to reduce warping which occurs in proximity to the semiconductor element in manufacturing, thus improving a warping profile in the entirety of a semiconductor device. Additionally, it is possible to prevent semiconductor elements from becoming useless, improve a yield rate, and produce a thin-type semiconductor device with high-density packaging property.
US08872327B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, first and second semiconductors between the first and second electrical conductors, a first power terminal, a second power terminal, a signal terminal, and an insulator which covers the components. The insulator includes a flat bottom surface in which the first and second electrical conductors are exposed, a ceiling surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface. The power terminals and the signal terminal extend outwardly from the first and second end surfaces, and the ceiling surface, respectively. The first end surface, the ceiling surface, and the second end surface are formed with a parting line.
US08872311B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device, a method of manufacture therefor, and an integrated circuit including the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device, in one particularly advantageous embodiment, includes a multi layer etch stop located over a substrate, wherein the multi layer etch stop has a first insulative layer and a second silicon-rich nitride layer located over the first insulative layer. Located over the multi layer etch stop is a dielectric layer having an opening formed therein that extends through at least a portion of the multi layer etch stop. A conductive plug is typically located within the opening, wherein an insulative spacer is located between the conductive plug and the second silicon-rich nitride layer.
US08872306B2
Provided are electrical connection structures and methods of fabricating the same. The structures may include a substrate including a bonding pad region provided with a bonding pad and a fuse region provided with a fuse, an insulating layer provided on the substrate and including a bonding pad opening exposing the bonding pad and a fuse opening exposing the fuse region, a connection terminal provided in the bonding pad region and electrically connected to the bonding pad, and a protection layer provided on the insulating layer including a first protection layer provided within the bonding pad region and a second protection layer in the fuse opening.
US08872294B2
Photonic structures and methods of formation are disclosed in which a photo detector interface having crystalline misfit dislocations is displaced with respect to a waveguide core to reduce effects of dark current on a detected optical signal.
US08872291B2
A ferromagnetic tunnel junction structure comprising a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein the tunnel barrier layer includes a crystalline non-magnetic material having constituent elements that are similar to those of an crystalline oxide that has spinel structure as a stable phase structure; the non-magnetic material has a cubic structure having a symmetry of space group Fm-3m or F-43m in which atomic arrangement in the spinel structure is disordered; and an effective lattice constant of the cubic structure is substantially half of the lattice constant of the oxide of the spinel structure.
US08872283B2
A semiconductor device includes conductive features within a gate electrode level region that are each fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature having a centerline aligned parallel to a first direction. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices extend along a first gate electrode track. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices extend along a second gate electrode track. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device.
US08872280B2
The present invention provides a non-planar FET which includes a substrate, a fin structure, a sub spacer, a gate, a dielectric layer and a source/drain region. The fin structure is disposed on the substrate. The sub spacer is disposed only on a middle sidewall of the fin structure. The gate is disposed on the fin structure. The dielectric layer is disposed between the fin structure and the gate. The source/drain region is disposed in the fin structure. The present invention further provides a method of forming the same.
US08872279B2
An electrical contact structure distributes current along a length thereof. The electrical contact structure includes a plurality of n metal rectangles on n levels of metal. The rectangle on one metal level is at least as wide in width and vertically covers in width the rectangle on the metal level immediately below. The rectangle on one metal level is shorter in length than and substantially aligned at a first end with the rectangle on the metal level immediately below. Rectangle first ends are substantially aligned. Features of an exemplary FET transistor of this invention are a source and drain terminal electrical contact structure, a multi-level metal ring connecting gate rectangles on both ends, and a wider-than-minimum gate-to-gate spacing. The invention is useful, for example, in an electromigration-compliant, high performance transistor.
US08872277B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first signal line and a second signal line, and a sense amplifier that includes a plurality of PMOS transistors and a plurality of NMOS transistors. The sense amplifier is configured to sense amplify a potential difference between the first signal line and the second signal line. The junction regions of the NMOS and PMOS transistors having the same conductivity type, and to which the same signal is applied, are formed in one integrated active region.
US08872272B2
A method for fabricating a stress enhanced CMOS circuit includes forming a first plurality of MOS transistors at a first pitch and forming a second plurality of MOS transistors at a second pitch. The second pitch is larger than the first pitch. The method further includes depositing a single stress liner overlying the first and second plurality of MOS transistors. The single stress liner is the only stress liner deposited in the fabrication of the stress enhanced CMOS circuit. A stress enhanced CMOS circuit includes a first plurality of MOS transistors formed at a first pitch and a second plurality of MOS transistors formed at a second pitch. The second pitch is larger than the first pitch. The circuit further includes a single stress liner overlying the first and second plurality of MOS transistors. The single stress liner is the only stress liner formed on the stress enhanced CMOS circuit.
US08872266B1
A trench power MOSFET structure and fabrication method thereof is provided. The fabrication method comprises following process. First, form an isolating trench. Then, form at least two doped regions around the isolating trench. The doped regions are adjacent and the doping concentrations of two doped regions are different. Form an isolating structure in the isolating trench. Wherein, the junction profiles of the two doped regions are made by ion implantation method for moderate the electric field distribution and decreasing the conduction loss.
US08872259B2
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are provided to prevent a floating body effect and reduce coupling capacitance between buried bit lines. The semiconductor device comprises a first pillar disposed over a semiconductor substrate and including a vertical channel region, a bit line located in the lower portion of the vertical channel region inside the first pillar and a semiconductor layer extended from the semiconductor substrate to one sidewall of the first pillar.
US08872256B2
A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory device includes an electrode separation pattern, a stack structure, a data storage layer, and a channel structure. The electrode separation pattern is disposed on a substrate. A stack structure is disposed on a sidewall of the electrode separation pattern. The stack structure includes a corrugated sidewall opposite to the sidewall of the electrode separation pattern. The sidewall of the electrode separation pattern is vertical to the substrate. A data storage layer is disposed on the corrugated sidewall. A channel structure is disposed on the charge storage layer.
US08872249B2
The technology of the present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device and a fabrication method thereof. The non-volatile memory device includes channel layers protruding vertically from a substrate, a plurality of hole-supply layers and a plurality of gate electrodes, which are alternately stacked along the channel layers, and a memory film interposed between the channel layers and the gate electrodes and between the hole-supply layers and the gate electrodes. According to this technology, the hole-supply layers are formed between the memory cells such that sufficient holes are supplied to the memory cells during the erase operation of the memory cells, whereby the erase operation of the memory cells is smoothly performed without using the GIDL current, and the properties of the device are protected from being deteriorated due to program/erase cycling.
US08872248B2
An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, and an insulation region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. An Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) is overlying the insulation region. A capacitor includes a first capacitor plate including a first slot contact plug, and a second capacitor plate including a second slot contact plug. The first and the second contact plugs include portions in the ILD. A portion of the ILD between vertical surfaces of the first slot contact plug and the second slot contact plug acts as a capacitor insulator of the capacitor.
US08872243B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes providing a mask on a semiconductor member. The method further includes providing a dummy element to cover a portion of the mask that overlaps a first portion of the semiconductor member and to cover a second portion of the semiconductor member. The method further includes removing a third portion of the semiconductor member, which has not been covered by the mask or the dummy element. The method further includes providing a silicon compound that contacts the first portion of the semiconductor member. The method further includes removing the dummy element to expose and to remove the second portion of the semiconductor member. The method further includes forming a gate structure that overlaps the first portion of the semiconductor member. The first portion of the semiconductor member is used as a channel region and is supported by the silicon compound.
US08872241B1
A post-planarization recess etch process is employed in combination with a replacement gate scheme to enable formation of multi-directional wiring in gate electrode lines. After formation of disposable gate structures and a planarized dielectric layer, a trench extending between two disposable gate structures are formed by a combination of lithographic methods and an anisotropic etch. End portions of the trench overlap with the two disposable gate structures. After removal of the disposable gate structures, replacement gate structures are formed in gate cavities and the trench simultaneously. A contiguous gate level structure can be formed which include portions that extend along different horizontal directions.
US08872225B2
An embodiment uses a very thin layer nanostructure (e.g., a Si or SiGe fin) as a template to grow a crystalline, non-lattice matched, epitaxial (EPI) layer. In one embodiment the volume ratio between the nanostructure and EPI layer is such that the EPI layer is thicker than the nanostructure. In some embodiments a very thin bridge layer is included between the nanostructure and EPI. An embodiment includes a CMOS device where EPI layers covering fins (or that once covered fins) are oppositely polarized from one another. An embodiment includes a CMOS device where an EPI layer covering a fin (or that once covered a fin) is oppositely polarized from a bridge layer covering a fin (or that once covered a fin). Thus, various embodiments are disclosed from transferring defects from an EPI layer to a nanostructure (that is left present or removed). Other embodiments are described herein.
US08872223B2
A programmable semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit is disclosed. The SCR includes a first terminal (310) and a second terminal (308). A first lightly doped region (304) having a first conductivity type (N−) is formed on a second lightly doped region (314) having a second conductivity type (P−). A first heavily doped region having the second conductivity type (P+) is formed within the first lightly doped region at a face of the substrate and coupled to the first terminal. A second heavily doped region having the first conductivity type (N+) is formed within the second lightly doped region at the face of the substrate and coupled to the second terminal. A third heavily doped region (400) having the second conductivity type (P+) is formed at least partially within the first lightly doped region at the face of the substrate between the first and second heavily doped regions and electrically connected to the second lightly doped region.
US08872215B2
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a first electrode; a light emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer on the first electrode; a second electrode on the light emitting structure; and a control switch installed on the light emitting structure to control the light emitting structure.
US08872214B2
To facilitate electrode connections and achieve a high light emitting efficiency, a rod-like light-emitting device includes a semiconductor core of a first conductivity type having a rod shape, and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed to cover the semiconductor core. The outer peripheral surface of part of the semiconductor core is exposed.
US08872202B2
A light-emitting device including a substrate, a light emitting structure and a coarse structure is provided. The substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to each other, and an annular side surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface. The light emitting structure is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate. The coarse structure is formed on the annular side surface of the substrate. A ratio of a thickness of the substrate and a thickness of the coarse structure is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 20. Therefore, the overall light-emitting efficiency of the light-emitting device may be improved.
US08872195B2
A light emitting device package including a package body including a plurality of first ceramic layers, at least one electrode pattern placed on the package body, at least one light emitting device electrically connected to the electrode pattern, and a heat dissipation member disposed in the package body to thermally come into contact with the light emitting device, wherein the heat dissipation member is provided with an expanded portion at a region corresponding to a boundary of different first ceramic layers.
US08872184B2
An array structure, which includes a TFT, a passivation layer, a pixel electrode, a first connecting layer and a first spacer is provided. The TFT includes a gate, a source and a drain. The passivation layer overlays the TFT. The pixel electrode is located on the passivation layer. The first connecting layer is located on the pixel electrode and electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the drain. The first spacer is located on the first connecting layer.
US08872177B2
A charge flow circuit for a time measurement, including a plurality of elementary capacitive elements electrically in series, each elementary capacitive element leaking through its dielectric space.
US08872173B2
A thin film transistor structure is provided. The thin film transistor structure includes a first transistor having a first active layer, a second transistor having a second active layer, a first protection layer contacting the first active layer, and a second protection layer contacting the second active layer. The oxygen contents of the first and the second protection layers are controlled to affect the oxygen vacancy number of the first and the second active layers to satisfy the various electronic requirements of the first and the second transistors.
US08872170B2
An image display system employing an organic electroluminescent device is provided. The organic electroluminescent device includes a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a first emitting layer formed on the first electrode, wherein the first emitting layer emits a first color of light, and a second color of light; a second electrode formed on the first emitting layer, wherein the second color of light emitted by the first emitting layer generates a first standing wave within the organic electroluminescent device, and the first emitting layer is disposed at an antinode of the first standing wave, such that the intensity of the second color of light is enhanced, and the second color of light is mixed with the first color of light to produce a white emission.
US08872164B2
An organic light-emitting element includes an anode, a functional layer, and a hole injection layer between the anode and the functional layer. The functional layer contains an organic material. The hole injection layer injects holes to the functional layer. The hole injection layer comprises tungsten oxide and includes an occupied energy level that is approximately 1.8 electron volts to approximately 3.6 electron volts lower than a lowest energy level of a valence band of the hole injection layer in terms of binding energy.
US08872152B2
A nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element with improved device switching performance and lifetime, and methods of forming the same. A nonvolatile memory element includes a first electrode layer formed on a substrate, a resistive switching layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The resistive switching layer comprises a metal oxide and is disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The elemental metal selected for each of the first and second electrode layers is the same metal as selected to form the metal oxide resistive switching layer. The use of common metal materials within the memory element eliminates the growth of unwanted and incompatible native oxide interfacial layers that create undesirable circuit impedance.
US08872148B2
A phase-change memory device includes a diode, a plug, a doping layer pattern, a phase-change layer pattern and an upper electrode. The diode is disposed on a substrate. The plug is disposed on the diode and has a bottom surface whose area is equal to the area of a top surface of the diode. The plug is formed of metal or a conductive metallic compound. The doping layer pattern is disposed on the plug and has a bottom surface whose area is equal to the area of a top surface of the plug, and includes the same metal or conductive metallic compound as the plug. The phase-change layer pattern is disposed on the doping layer pattern. The upper electrode is disposed on the phase-change layer pattern.
US08872146B2
Provided are a Phase-change Random Access Memory (PRAM) device and a method of manufacturing the same. In particular, a PRAM device including a heating layer, wherein the heating layer comprises first and second heating layers having different physical properties from each other and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. Since the PRAM device according to the present invention includes a heating layer having optimal heating characteristics, a PRAM device having high reliability and excellent operating characteristics can be manufactured.
US08872141B2
A apparatus according to an embodiment includes a unit to generate first blocks in a writing region in which at least one of writing groups respectively using different base doses is to be written, a unit to generate second blocks for proximity effect correction, in the each of the regions of the groups, a unit to calculate an area density in each of the first blocks, a unit to perform a weighting calculation on the area density for each of the first blocks by using a base dose of a corresponding group, a unit to calculate a dose coefficient for proximity effect correction, for each of the second blocks, by using a corresponding weighted area density, and a unit to calculate a dose by using the base dose of the each of the groups and the dose coefficient of the each of the second blocks.
US08872133B2
A device for measuring the fluorescence of a medium having a radiation source, an emission-receiving element and an optical imaging element arranged on the sensor side of the optical imaging element, and a scattering-receiving element arranged on the sensor side of the optical imaging element and in which the radiation source, the imaging element and the emission-receiving element are aligned and configured relative to one another so that the medium present on the medium side of the imaging element can be illuminated by radiation from the radiation source, and the emission intensity of the medium radiation emitted by the medium based on fluorescence can be detected with the emission-receiving element. To provide a device for measuring the fluorescence of a medium which has an increased reliability in measuring the fluorescence, temperature compensation is performed relative to the temperature of the medium and/or at least one of the receiving elements.
US08872123B2
Described herein are embodiments of a method to control energy dose output from a laser-produced plasma extreme ultraviolet light system by adjusting timing of fired laser beam pulses. During stroboscopic firing, pulses are timed to lase droplets until a dose target of EUV has been achieved. Once accumulated EUV reaches the dose target, pulses are timed so as to not lase droplets during the remainder of the packet, and thereby prevent additional EUV light generation during those portions of the packet. In a continuous burst mode, pulses are timed to irradiate droplets until accumulated burst error meets or exceeds a threshold burst error. If accumulated burst error meets or exceeds the threshold burst error, a next pulse is timed to not irradiate a next droplet. Thus, the embodiments described herein manipulate pulse timing to obtain a constant desired dose target that can more precisely match downstream dosing requirements.
US08872117B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for FTIR absorption spectroscopy, having an ATR sensor (5) and at least one ultrasonic transmitter (10) for generating an ultrasonic field in the manner of a standing wave. The ATR sensor (5) and the ultrasonic transmitter (10) are connected to a mounting (4) which is provided for attachment in a wall (2) or cover of a reactor (3) and which is set up to hold the ATR sensor (5) and the ultrasonic transmitter (10) so that they freely project into the interior of the reactor (3) in the mounted state.
US08872113B2
A system to test operation of an optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes one or more photosensitive devices configured to convert light to electrical signals. A test light source and a reference target are included within the housing of the optical sensor. The test light source is mounted proximate to the photosensitive devices and the reference target is positioned opposite from the test light source. The test light source is periodically pulsed on to emit light at a known wavelength. The light is reflected from the reference target back to at least a portion of the photosensitive devices. A logic circuit uses the reflected light which is received at the portion of the photosensitive devices to determine the distance between the light source and the reference target. This calculated distance is compared against the known distance to verify correct operation of the optical sensor.
US08872110B2
Disclosed is an IR measuring instrument (1) comprising a least one sensor element (29) which is sensitive to infrared radiation and generates an output signal (12) that depends on the radiation incident on the at least one sensor element (29). The output signal (12) for a predefined incident radiation can be varied by means of an integration time. The actual temperature prevailing on the at least one sensor element (29) is detected and is used for varying the integration time in such a way that the integration time compensates the influence of the temperature variations on the output signal (12) of the at least one sensor element (29).
US08872107B2
A photoconductive antenna is adapted to generate terahertz waves when irradiated by pulsed light. The photoconductive antenna includes first and second conductive layers, a semiconductor layer, and first and second electrodes. The semiconductor layer is made of a semiconductor material having a carrier density that is lower than a carrier density of the semiconductor material of the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, respectively. The semiconductor layer includes an incidence surface through which the pulsed light enters the semiconductor layer, and an emission surface from which the terahertz waves are emitted. The incidence surface is positioned in a side surface of the semiconductor layer having a normal direction extending orthogonal to a lamination direction, and the emission surface is positioned in the side surface at a position different from the incidence surface.
US08872104B2
An ion detector system for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion detector comprising an array of detector elements. The ion detector system is arranged to correct for tilt and non-linear aberrations in an isochronous plane of ions. The ion detector system generates separate first mass spectral data sets for each detector element and then applies a calibration coefficient to each of the first mass spectral data sets to produce a plurality of second calibrated mass spectral data sets. The plurality of second calibrated mass spectral data sets are then combined to form a composite mass spectral data set.
US08872102B2
An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that sequentially applies electric fields to the drift tube segments with a activation duration of at least one of the electric field activation sources different than that of the others to allow only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities to travel through the drift tube. The drift tube segments may define a linear drift tube or a closed drift tube with a continuous ion travel path.
US08872095B2
One sensor pixel includes amplifying transistor, coupled between first bias line and data line; switch transistor, operated by control line and coupled between data line and gate of amplifying transistor; storage capacitor, coupled to second bias line; and sensor being coupled to gate of amplifying transistor. Another sensor pixel includes first amplifying transistor coupled between first bias line and data line; second amplifying transistor being coupled between second bias line and data line; switch transistor being operated by control line and being coupled between data line and gates of first and second amplifying transistors; storage capacitor coupled to gates of first and second amplifying transistors; and sensor coupled to gates of first and second amplifying transistors. Trap-assisted absorption, variable capacitor described for sensor pixels, and also biasing to reduce flicker and aging, and to compensate for aging, described for sensor pixels.
US08872091B2
The solid-state imaging device includes light collecting elements each of which includes a first light-transmissive film group and a second light transmissive film group adjacent to each other. The first light-transmissive film group and the second light transmissive film group have mutually different effective refractive index distributions for guiding at least two types of incident light rays to the light receiving element.
US08872088B2
Embodiments of an image sensor including a pixel array with a plurality of pixels arranged into rows and columns. Control circuitry coupled to the pixels in each row, and an analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the pixels in each column of the pixel array. Each analog-to-digital converter includes a ramp comparator, and a variable current source coupled to the ramp comparator to provide a variable bias current to the ramp comparator. The bias current can adjusted during reading of a row of pixels according to a dynamic bias current profile that maintains at least a specified margin between the random noise of the pixels and an acceptable noise level. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08872087B2
Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: a plurality of pixels disposed to form a matrix having pixel rows, the pixels including a pixel electrode formed on a silicon substrate for one of the pixels by being separated away from another pixel electrodes formed for one of the other pixels, a photoelectric conversion film formed on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film; and a driving section configured to apply an electric potential to the photoelectric conversion film on each of the pixel rows at least having read timings different from each other with a predetermined timing outside an exposure period of the pixels in a direction opposite to that of an electric potential applied to the photoelectric conversion film during the exposure period of the pixels.
US08872085B2
In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination device that comprises a light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel may include a turning layer to deliver uniform illumination from a light source to the array of display elements. For many portable display applications, the light guide panel comprises the substrate used in fabricating the display elements. The light guide panel may include additional films as well. The light guide panel, for example, may include a diffuser and/or an optical isolation layer to further enhance the optical imaging characteristics of the display.
US08872080B2
Example embodiments relate to a multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) analyzer for an accurate control of electromagnetic fields inside a multimode resonant chamber with two or more cavities coupled in an accurate way through a slotted piece with slots or waveguide. The MIMO analyzer may include broadband antennas, different types of lenses, and different stirrers, which may be both metallic and non-metallic. These elements, together with some processes such as precise location of under-test elements out of the lower cavity allow for controlling the electromagnetic fields on its interior. This control permits the emulation of the behavior of wireless communication terminals under different fading scenarios, both indoors and outdoors. Some of the features and procedures of the MIMO analyser may be used in industrial microwave heating processes for drying and curing of materials, also known as microwave ovens, allowing a greater efficiency and homogenization in the processes.
US08872071B2
A welding implement and a method of extracting heat from a welding implement are disclosed. The welding implement includes one or more heat pipes which transfer thermal energy away from the torch head. A fluid, such as a shielding gas, may then convectively transfer the thermal energy away from the welding implement. The present invention thus provides a handheld welding implement that is compact, such that it can be used in confined spaces, and operated for longer periods of time, since the improved heat dissipation helps to maintain the welding implement at a temperature that an operator may hold.
US08872069B2
A method of laser welding a layered product comprising two layers (44, 46) of a high absorption at the radiation wavelength, where one layer (44) is welded to a material (42) having a lower absorption and wherein a scattering layer (48) is provided between the laser welded layers (42, 44) and the other high absorption layer (48) in order to scatter any radiation penetrating the first high absorption layer (44) in order to prevent excessive heating of the other high absorption layer (46).
US08872067B2
A cylindrical lens (4) diverges a laser beam (L1) in the Y-axis direction (i.e., within the YZ plane) but neither diverges nor converges it in the X-axis direction (i.e., within the ZX plane). An objective lens (5) converges the laser beam (L1) emitted from the cylindrical lens (4) into a point P1 in the Y-axis direction and into a point P2 in the X-axis direction. A pair of knife edges (13) adjust the divergence angle (θ) of the laser beam (L1) incident on the objective lens (5) in the Y-axis direction. As a consequence, the cross section of the laser beam (L1) becomes an elongated form extending in the Y-axis direction at the point P2, while the maximum length in the Y-axis direction is regulated. Therefore, locating the point P2 on the front face of a work (S) can form an elongated working area extending in the Y-axis direction by a desirable length on the front face of the work (S).
US08872061B2
An apparatus for disconnecting solder joints between two welded surfaces includes a laser device for emitting laser beams to a solder joint, and a solder material removal device. And the solder material removal device includes a nozzle device having a first passage, a holder holding the nozzle device and having a second passage communicated with the first passage, and at least two pumping devices connected to the holder to pump the melted solder material out from the nozzle device and the holder. The laser device and the solder material removal device are separated, a glass cover with a hole formed thereon is covered on the top of the holder, and the laser device is located above the glass cover and separated from the holder. The present invention can shorten maintenance time and maintenance workload and improve work efficiency, furthermore reduce and stabilize the laser energy.
US08872055B2
A track rail heating assembly that is adapted to position a heater element in spaced relation proximate to a surface of a track rail of a railroad. The assembly includes at least one heating element, and a housing that is operable to at least partially surround the heating element while positioning the heating element near to track rail. The hood positions the heating element relative to the rail section such that a gap exists between the heating element and the rail section. As the heating element does not contact the rail, the heating element cannot form an electrical by-pass for signals passing through the rail section. The assembly further incorporates a flexible barrier that at least partially isolates a side surface of the track rail from ambient conditions to reduce heat loss.
US08872053B2
An electronic device may have a housing with an opening. A button may be formed within the electronic device. The button may have a button member that is actuated by a user. The button member may translate within an opening in the electronic device housing when actuated by a user. The button may have a shaft that is coupled to the button member by a coupling mechanism. When the button member is laterally translated within the opening, the coupling mechanism may rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis. The button may be provided with detents using a detent biasing mechanism. The detent biasing mechanism may be based on a spring having grooves that interact with a protrusion on the shaft or a spring-loaded pin that engages recesses in the shaft. A switch mechanism for the button may be formed using traces on the shaft, spring-type switch contacts, and other structures.
US08872052B2
This novel jumper features an integrated mechanical switch that allows resetting the CMOS memory of computer motherboards just by actuating a reset button on the jumper, instead of moving a prior-art jumper back and forth over the CMOS-reset block. The disclosed jumper can also be adapted for use as temporary button for powering on, restarting and resetting motherboards when tested alone; in this case the jumper just needs to be inserted over the corresponding pair of pins on the front-panel header of the motherboard. This jumper is also applicable to other electric or electronic devices where operating the jumper's integrated switch is more convenient or safer than moving prior-art jumpers or manually shorting up pins on printed circuit boards.
US08872047B2
An pry-proof encrypted keyboard. The encrypted keyboard comprises a keyboard panel (1), a lining board (2) assembled under the keyboard panel (1), a waterproof silicon rubber (4) and a main control panel (5). Convex rib circles (22) are provided on the circumference of the surface of the lining board (2) attached with the waterproof silicon rubber (4). The waterproof silicon rubber is extruded by the lining board (2) when the encrypted keyboard is assembled, and the thickness of corresponding waterproof silicon rubber (4) extruded by the convex rib circles (22) is less than 0.2 MM. The metallic lining board (2) can efficiently prevent fusion attack from the lateral face of the encrypted keyboard, meanwhile two convex rib circles (22) are added on the circumference of the surface of the lining board attached with the water silicon rubber (4), so that the thickness of the waterproof silicon rubber (4) at the grooves (41) is less than 0.2 MM, which is the diameter of the known thinnest needle, thus the attackers could not easily breakthrough the lining board (2) or the waterproof silicon rubber (4) to reach the inside of the encrypted keyboard, as a result illegally leading the wire out from the inside of the encrypted keyboard is efficiently prevented, thus the information of the keyboard is efficiently protected, and the security performance is improved.
US08872045B2
A filling device for containers, especially for beverage bottles, having a filling valve with a discharge opening, a holder for the container in a suspended arrangement, and a weighing device. In order to obtain a robust weighing device and a more precise measurement at least one portion of the weighing device is arranged vertically above the discharge opening.
US08872043B2
A device for electric connection to an energy supply conductor for intermediate and high voltage. The device includes an insulation part and an electrically conducting voltage-carrying part. The voltage-carrying part is surrounded by an outer shell formed by the insulation part. The insulation part is formed by a thermoplastic polymer. At least along a part of the length of the voltage-carrying part, the outer shell extends with a spacing between its inner periphery and the outer periphery of the voltage-carrying part.
US08872030B2
A cable management system for a patch panel component having a connectivity interface configured to connect with cables includes a cable support plate and two cable support brackets. Each cable support bracket includes a support bar, a first bracket and a second bracket. A fastener hingedly attaches the first bracket to the second bracket and is positioned to slideably mount the first and second brackets to the support bar. The first and second brackets include mounting plates that move toward and away from one another when sliding the cable support brackets. The brackets mount to opposed projecting pins on a patch panel. The fastener holds each cable support bracket in the desired position.
US08872027B2
A dispenser apparatus (2) for a curable liquid material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flexible bag (8) defining a first compartment (10) for accommodating a first component of a curable liquid material, and a second compartment (12) for accommodating a second component of the curable liquid material and adapted to communicate with the first chamber to enable mixing of the first and second components to initiate curing of the curable liquid material. A first clamp (14) temporarily prevents mixing of the first and second components, and an elongate nozzle (16) communicates with the second compartment to dispense the mixed curable liquid material therefrom. A second clamp (18) temporarily prevents passage of the curable liquid material from the second compartment to the nozzle.
US08872024B2
A mold for forming a housing having a lance includes a first mold and a second mold. The lance has a first projection for engaging a terminal and a second projection provided at a position nearer with an end of the lance than the first projection. The first mold includes a first member having a third projection. The second mold includes a second member and a third member. The second member has a first concave portion into which the third projection is inserted. The third member is configured to be moved with respect to the second member. The second member defines, with the first member, a first space where the housing is adapted to be formed. The third member defines, with the first member, a second space where the first projection and the second projection are adapted to be formed.
US08872017B2
Power generating apparatus and power generating system equipped with such power generating apparatus
A power generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a plurality of pn stacks, each formed by stacking a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer one on top of the other, and a mode switching unit which effects switching to a photovoltaic power generation mode or a thermal power generation mode by connecting the plurality of pn stacks with each other. The mode switching unit effects switching to the photovoltaic power generation mode by connecting the p-type semiconductor layers in parallel with each other and the n-type semiconductor layers in parallel with each other between the plurality of pn stacks. The mode switching unit effects switching to the thermal power generation mode by connecting the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer 11b in series between different ones of the pn stacks.
US08872016B2
A thermoelectric conversion material in a wire structure or quasi-one-dimensional structure is fabricated simply and with good reproducibility. In one mode of the present invention, a thermoelectric conversion structure 100 is provided, having a SrTiO3 substrate 10 having a (210) plane substrate surface and having a concave-convex structure including (100) plane terrace portions 12, 14 and step portions 16 extending along the in-plane [001] axis of the substrate surface, and a thermoelectric conversion material 22 formed on the surface of at least a portion of the concave-convex structure.
US08872014B2
A controller having proximity sensors associated with a trigger, such as beam sensors, configured to generate proximity data as a function of where each beam is broken along its span. A variety of control signals are be generated, whereby each beam can be configured to be spatially controlled and mapped to mimic other controllers, such as those of a DJ controller or other entertainment device. MIDI messages may be generated in response to positioning a member in a beam as detected by the proximity sensors. Each beam may be configured into a plurality of proximity zones, where a different MIDI message is generated when the member is positioned in the respective proximity zone.
US08872001B2
Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a Pentatomidae plant pest or a N. viridula, Acrosternum hilare, Piezodorus guildini, and/or Halymorpha halys plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. In specific embodiments, the decrease in expression of the target sequence controls the pest and thereby the methods and compositions are capable of limiting damage to a plant. The present invention provides various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-292 or 302-304 or active variants and fragments thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Further provided are silencing elements which when ingested by the pest decrease the level of the target polypeptide and thereby control the pest. In specific embodiment, the pest is Pentatomidae. Plants, plant part, bacteria and other host cells comprising the silencing elements or an active variant or fragment thereof of the invention are also provided.
US08871998B2
Disclosed are a method for controlling flavonoid synthesis in a chrysanthemum plant or non-chrysanthemum plant by genetic recombination technology using a transcriptional regulatory region useful for altering flower color, a method for modifying anthocyanins, a method for producing a chrysanthemum plant or non-chrysanthemum plant containing modified anthocyanins in the petals thereof, and a chrysanthemum plant or non-chrysanthemum plant, progeny thereof, or vegetatively propagated products, part or tissue thereof transformed with the regulatory region. In the method according to the present invention, an expression vector or expression cassette containing a transcriptional regulatory region of perilla anthocyanin 3-acyltransferase gene, such as a nucleic acid containing the nucleotide sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1, or a transcriptional regulatory region of pansy F3′5′H gene, such as the nucleotide sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 15, is used.
US08871997B2
Disclosed are a variety of methods for achieving enhanced expression from a target nucleotide sequence in a plant e.g. comprising the step of transiently introducing into a tissue of a plant (e.g. a leaf) a first nucleic acid comprising the target nucleotide sequence and a second nucleic acid encoding a Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) suppressor protein (preferably of viral or plant origin), wherein the first and second nucleic acids are comprised within a single binary vector, construct, or the first and second nucleic acid sequences are comprised within a first binary vector and a second binary vector construct respectively. The plant tissue may then be harvested for the protein. Such methods can give much higher levels of gene expression than are obtainable using stable transgenes, or certain replicating vectors. Also disclosed are specific PTGS suppressor proteins: potato virus X (pvx), p25 protein; african cassava mosaic virus (acmv) AC2 protein; rice yellow mottle virus (rymv) P1 protein; tomato bushy stunt virus (tbsv) 19K protein; plus variants of these. These suppressors may be used in any PTRS context, including the enhancement of transient expression systems.
US08871994B2
A wetness sensor for an absorbent article that is formed from an ink is provided. The ink includes a proton-accepting chromogen and a proton-donating agent (or color developer). Prior to use, the ink is generally dry and in a protonated form so that it has a visible color. However, upon contact with bodily fluids (e.g., urine, fecal matter, mucus, menses, vaginal fluid, etc.), water in the fluid can lead to deprotonation of the chromogen, thereby resulting in a shift of the absorption maxima of the chromogen towards either the red (“bathochromic shift”) or blue end of the spectrum (“hypsochromic shift”). To increase the rate of the color change during use, the proton-donating agent is an aliphatic carboxylic acid that is highly soluble in the bodily fluid (e.g., urine), and therefore results in a color change that is very rapid and may be detected within a relatively short period of time.
US08871985B2
The disclosure generally relates to a process for the production of a C6-C15 alcohol mixture including the steps of hydroformylating an olefin mixture including at least one branched C5-C14 olefin to form a hydroformylation product including aldehydes and formates; feeding the hydroformylation product into a hydrogenation step including contacting, in at least one first hydrogenation reactor, at least one catalyst, water, hydrogen, and the hydroformylation product to convert the hydroformylation product to a C6-C15 alcohol mixture; wherein the hydrogen is supplied from the decomposition of the formates and at least one source external to the at least one first hydrogenation reactor.
US08871983B2
The present invention provides compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or analogs thereof, which exhibit anti-tumor activity. The present invention also includes methods for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by contacting an effective amount of a compound of the present invention with the cancer cells in vitro or in vivo.
US08871978B2
A method for preparing a hop acid mixture having an enantiomeric excess of a (+)-tetrahydro-α-acid is disclosed. In the method, a racemate of a tetrahydro-α-acid is contacted with an amine to form a precipitate having an enantiomeric excess of the (+)-tetrahydro-α-acid. A method for preparing a hop acid is also disclosed. In the method, a racemate of a tetrahydro-α-acid is contacted with an amine to form a precipitate comprising a (+)-tetrahydro-α-acid, and the (+)-tetrahydro-α-acid is isomerized to a hop acid selected from the group consisting of (+)-trans-tetrahydro-iso-α-acids, (−)-cis-tetrahydro-iso-α-acids, and mixtures thereof, and reduced to (+)-trans-hexahydroiso-α-acids and (−)-cis-hexahydroiso-α-acids. An additive for flavoring a malt beverage is also disclosed. The additive includes a bittering agent selected from the group consisting of (+)-trans-tetrahydro-iso-α-acids, (−)-cis-tetrahydro-iso-α-acids, (+)-trans-hexahydroiso-α-acids, (−)-cis-hexahydroiso-α-acids, and mixtures thereof.
US08871967B2
The present invention relates to some perfuming ingredients which are esters of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 represent each a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group; and R3 represents a C5-C8 group of formula satured or unsatured linear, branched or cyclic group.
US08871965B2
The content of the invention is a process for preparing urethanes by reaction of aromatic amines with a dialkyl carbonate, wherein the alkyl radical of the organic dialkyl carbonate comprises 4-18 carbon atoms and is branched in the 2 position, and the reaction is performed in the presence of a substoichiometric amount of base, based on the amino groups.
US08871964B2
The invention relates to a method for carrying out a chemical reaction for producing a target compound by heating in a reactor a reaction medium containing at least one first reactant, such that a chemical bond inside the first reactant or between the first and a second reactant is formed or modified. The reaction medium is brought into contact with a solid heating medium that can be warmed by electromagnetic induction and that is inside the reactor and is surrounded by the reaction medium. Said heating medium is heated by electromagnetic induction with the aid of an inductor and the target bond is formed from the first reactant or from the first and a second reactant and said target bond is separated from the heating medium.
US08871958B2
The present disclosure relates to an acid catalyst composition for producing 5-chloromethyl-2-furfural from galactan derived from seaweed and a method for producing 5-chloromethyl-2-furfural from galactan derived from seaweed on a two component phase using the acid catalyst, the acid catalyst composition for producing 5-chloromethyl-2-furfural from galactan derived from seaweed including organic solvent and dilute hydrochloric acid, a concentration of the dilute hydrochloric acid being 4N to 8N (normal).According to the present disclosure, there is an advantage of converting 5-chloromethyl-2-furfural from galactan derived from seaweed by means of a single process by mixing dilute hydrochloric acid and organic solvent by an optimal ratio, unlike conventional methods for producing 5-chloromethyl-2-furfural that had to go through a multi-phase process of preconditioning and saccharification.
US08871946B2
The present invention relates to the benzimidazole-4-carboxamide derivatives, their preparation methods, pharmaceutical compositions and their uses; wherein X represents monosubstituted or bissubstituted or polysubstitued C1-C14 alkoxy, monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued C1-C14 alkyl, monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued C2-C14 alkenyl, monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued C6-C14 aryl, or monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued 5 to 6 membered heterocyclic group, or monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued fused ring group containing nitrogen heteroatom; Y represents hydrogen, monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued C1-C16 alkyl, monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued C6-C12 aryl, or monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued 5 to 6 membered heterocyclic group, or monosubstituted or bisubstituted or polysubstitued fused ring group containing nitrogen heteroatom. The derivatives of the present invention have the functions of antiviral medicine.
US08871945B2
The invention relates to a novel, industrially viable, cost effective process for the preparation of 1-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide commonly known as Rufinamide and intermediates thereof.
US08871943B2
Provided herein are processes for the preparation of 4-amino-5-fluoro-3-halo-6-(substituted)picolinates comprising a step of converting chloropicolinoyl chlorides to fluoropicolinoyl fluorides.
US08871942B2
An object is to provide a process for producing the compound of formula 1 in higher yield by the ring-opening addition reaction of epoxytriazole with amine under mild conditions without using a large excess of 4-methylenepiperidine. The process for producing (2R,3R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(4-methylenepiperidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol or an acid addition salt thereof comprises reacting (2R,3S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]oxirane with an acid addition salt of 4-methylenepiperidine in a reaction solvent in the presence of a hydroxide of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, calcium, and strontium, or a hydrate thereof.
US08871936B2
A method for preparing a compound of formula (I) by reacting the appropriate alkyl ester and an aniline derivative, in a refluxing mixture containing an aliphatic solvent or a mixture of aliphatic solvents having a boiling point in the range of 68-191° C.; condensing vapors of the refluxing mixture; treating the condensed vapors with an alcohol scavenging agent or a mixture of alcohol scavenging agents; and returning the condensed vapors back to the reaction mixture.
US08871932B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of tadalafil of Formula I, comprising reacting a D-tryptophan compound of Formula III with piperonal in sulfolane.
US08871923B2
The present invention generally relates to new plant elicitor compositions, and the use of these compositions in agricultural applications, more particularly to protect plants against (infection by) plant pathogens and the corresponding methods of, and uses in, the protection of plants and crops by application of these compositions.
US08871920B2
The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to a lipid.
US08871919B2
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or small hairpin RNA (shRNAs) and compositions comprising same are provided that target human cyclophilin A (CyPA) to inhibit Hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Such siRNA and shRNAs may have a length of from about 19 to about 29 contiguous nucleotides corresponding to a specific region of human cyclophilin A (CyPA) cDNA of from about nucleotide 155 to about nucleotide 183 having particular potency against CyPA and HCV. Such siRNA and shRNAs may be formulated as naked compositions or pharmaceutical compositions. DNA polynucleotides, plasmids, and viral or non-viral vectors are also provided that encode siRNA or shRNA molecules, which may be delivered directly to cells or in combination with delivery agents, such as lipids, polymers, encapsulated lipid particles, such as liposomes. Methods for treating, managing inhibiting, preventing, etc., HCV infection using such siRNA and shRNAs and compositions comprising same are also provided.
US08871914B2
Antigen binding proteins that interact with Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) are described. Methods of treating hypercholesterolemia and other disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antigen binding protein to PCSK9 are described. Methods of detecting the amount of PCSK9 in a sample using an antigen binding protein to PCSK9 are described.
US08871912B2
The present invention provides an engineered multidomain protein including at least two nonidentical engineered domains, each of which contains a protein-protein interaction interface containing amino acid sequence segments derived from two or more existing homologous parent domains, thereby conferring on the engineered domains assembly specificities distinct from assembly specificities of the parent domains. In particular, the engineered domains form heterodimers with one another preferentially over forming homodimers. Methods of designing and using the engineered proteins are also included.
US08871910B2
The present inventions relates to a process for the selection of anti c-Met antibodies capable to inhibit both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation of c-Met. More particularly, said process is based on the inhibition of the c-Met dimerization. In another aspect, the present invention concerns such antibodies and compositions comprising such antibodies for the preparation of a medicament to treat cancer. Diagnosis process and kits are also part of the invention.
US08871907B2
The present invention relates to a glycosylated immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, in which an immunoglobulin variant, comprising one or more amino acid modifications selected from the group consisting of M160N, A195N, T243N, E265N, Y299T, F331T and Q346N, is additionally glycosylated, and a gene encoding the same. Also, the present invention relates to a glycosylated fusion protein formed as a result of linkage of (a) a glycosylated immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, in which an immunoglobulin variant having a modified amino acid sequence forming one or more Asn-X-Ser/Thr sequences is additionally glycosylated, with (b) at least one biologically active protein or a portion thereof, a gene encoding the same, a recombination expression vector comprising the gene, a host cell transformed or transfected with the recombinant expression vector, and a method of preparing a glycosylated fusion protein comprising culturing the transformant or transfectant and isolating the glycosylated fusion protein from the culture, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the glycosylated fusion protein thus prepared.
US08871900B2
The invention relates to novel peptide comprising FGF-P and methods of use thereof.
US08871897B2
An amine-containing difluoro benzotriazolyl polymer, preparation method, and use thereof are provided; the polymer has a structure as represented by formula (I), both R1 and R2 are alkyls from C1 to C20, n is an integer from 10 to 50. In the polymer of the present disclosure, because the 1,2,3-benzotriazole solar cell material contains two fluorine atoms, the HOMO energy level is reduced by 0.11 eV, the fluorine-substituted 1,2,3-benzotriazole has two imido groups with strong electron-withdrawing property; the 1,2,3-benzotriazole is a heterocyclic compound with strong electron-withdrawing property, and an alkyl chain can be easily introduced to the N-position of the N—H bond of the benzotriazole; the functional group of the alkyl chain can improve solar energy conversion efficiency, thus solving the low efficiency problem of the solar cell made from the solar cell material.
US08871893B2
We disclose methods and compositions for preparation of stimuli-responsive plastics that are capable of responding to chemical and/or physical signals in their environment. In one embodiment the plastics consist of patterned mixtures of poly(phthalaldehyde) polymers in which each polymer contains a different end-capping group (also called a “trigger”), responsive to a different signal. Other embodiments use different polymers and different triggers. The plastics may be homogeneous in composition, but each polymer within the plastic is capable of responding to a different signal and depolymerizing once this signal reacts with the trigger. This process of depolymerization enables the plastic to alter its physical features non-linearly to external signals: i.e., the degree of change in physical form is much larger than the intensity of the initial signal.
US08871888B2
Disclosed are high solids, one-component, storage stable coating compositions that include an epoxy resin comprising more than one 1,2-epoxy groups per molecule; a hydrocarbon compound having a softening point of from 50° C. to 140° C.; an alkoxy-functional and/or silanol-functional silicone; and a ketimine curing agent comprising a reaction product of reactants comprising a polyalkyldiamine component and a ketone component. Also disclosed are substrates at least partially coated with a coating deposited from such composition and methods for coating substrates with such compositions.
US08871881B2
The invention at hand concerns hydrophobic polymer surfaces, in particular superhydrophobic polymer surfaces, comprising at least one homo- or copolymer, which comprises at least one side chain with at least one fluoro-substituted aryl group. Furthermore, the invention at hand concerns a method for the production of polymer surfaces of this type, their use and polymers of the general formula I: wherein n is an integer between 10 and 4,500, preferably between 20 and 2,200 and particularly preferably between 100 and 670.
US08871880B2
The invention relates to a superabsorbent copolymer comprising a reaction product of a reactive optical brightener comonomer. In another embodiment, the superabsorbent copolymer comprises a reaction product of a first monomer and a reactive optical brightener comonomer. The reactive optical brightener comonomer may be selected from various pyrene optical brighteners listed herein. The invention also relates to superabsorbent copolymer having from about 0.1 to 10,000 ppm of a reactive optical brightener comonomer based on the superabsorbent copolymer.
US08871877B2
The present invention relates to materials and particularly “organometallic-organic-inorganic hybrid materials” that can be used as heterogeneous catalysts for selective catalytic reactions. More precisely this invention relates to organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructured materials comprising a regularly distributed stabilized carbene that binds strongly to a metal so as to form a stable organometallic-organic-inorganic hybrid material having high catalytic performances.
US08871862B2
A molding compound, containing at least 30% by weight of a copolyamide, which is derived from the following monomers: a) 50 to 95 mole percent of the combination of a diamine, selected from the group consisting of 1,9-nonane diamine, 1,10-decane diamine, 1,11-undecane diamine and 1,12-dodecane diamine, and terephthalic acid, and b) 5 to 50 mole percent of the combination of a diamine, selected from the group consisting of 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diamine, 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diamine, and mixtures thereof, and terephthalic acid. The copolyamide is crystalline and has low water absorption.
US08871861B2
A silicone compound represented by the following Chemical Structure 1: wherein Y represents a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group having one to ten carbon atoms, X1, X2, and X3 independently represent methyl groups or any of Substituents A-1 to A-7, and l, m, and n are independently zero or an integer of from 1 to 6.
US08871860B2
Methods of modifying a patterned semiconductor substrate are presented including: providing a patterned semiconductor substrate surface including a dielectric region and a conductive region; and applying an amphiphilic surface modifier to the dielectric region to modify the dielectric region. In some embodiments, modifying the dielectric region includes modifying a wetting angle of the dielectric region. In some embodiments, modifying the wetting angle includes making a surface of the dielectric region hydrophilic. In some embodiments, methods further include applying an aqueous solution to the patterned semiconductor substrate surface. In some embodiments, the conductive region is selectively enhanced by the aqueous solution. In some embodiments, methods further include providing the dielectric region formed of a low-k dielectric material. In some embodiments, applying the amphiphilic surface modifier modifies an interaction of the low-k dielectric region with a subsequent process.
US08871854B2
The present invention relates to a recyclable composite having natural (4) and carbon fibers (6) as a reinforcement material and epoxy resin (8) as a matrix. Preferably, the natural fibers are hemp. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing such a recyclable composite comprising the steps of preparing the composite, vacuum bagging it and then heating it with a heating cable (12). Finally, the present invention relates to a kit having a frame (10), a heating cable (12) and an apparatus box with a thermostat and heat sensors and which can be used for performing the method according to the invention.
US08871841B2
A method for making high-pressure sheet gasketing material is provided that employs an elastomer, such as natural rubber and/or acylonitrile-butadiene rubber. Tert-butyl acetate is added to dissolve the elastomer. Other components may then be mixed with the dissolved elastomer and may include, for example, antioxidants, colorants, curing agents, curing accelerators, reinforcing fillers, and fibers such as organic and/or mineral fibers. The resulting dough may be formed into a high-pressure sheets, for use as gasketing material, using a two-roll sheeter machine, or the like.
US08871840B2
The present application provides a polymer composite comprising at least one polymer and a reclaimed pyrolyzed carbon black (pCB), wherein the pCB comprises less than about 10 μg/g of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Also provided are polymer composite and consumer-ready formulations of the low PAH pCB and methods of manufacturing such composites and formulations.
US08871839B2
A method for heating a composite material area to be repaired includes placing a primary heating pad on the area to be repaired, and placing one or more satellite heating pads on the periphery of the primary pad in a manner that the satellite heating pads are adjacent to the edges of the primary pad.
US08871838B1
The invention provides method for preparing an epoxy-carbon nanomaterial coating which includes a base of a two-pack epoxy coating material, a hardener of the two-pack epoxy coating material and about 0.0125 wt % to about 0.2 wt % of carbon nanomaterial. The invention also provides a method for preparing the epoxy-carbon nanomaterial coating. More specifically, the invention provides a method for preparing epoxy based coating materials as anti-corrosive coating composition.
US08871837B2
A method for preparation of a molecular recognition element comprising the steps of binding a template to a surface of a carrier material, providing a recognition material to the surface of the carrier material, initiating polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material, stopping the polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material, and releasing the template from the surface of the carrier material and the polymerized recognition material. The method is characterized as an aim size of individual imprints is predefined, and the polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material is stopped when a size of individual imprints of the polymerized recognition material essentially equals the predefined aim size. This method is readily applicable for preparation of a molecular recognition element useful as a drug, catalyst, competitive affinity ligand inhibitor, competitor, agonist, antagonist or diagnostic agent.
US08871828B2
Improved composition of a fixing cream, in particular for tooth prostheses, containing at least one oil and/or fat, preferably of a plant type, at least one water-soluble polymer selected from the group of cellulose derivatives, at least one alkyl vinyl ether/maleic acid anhydride copolymer, the fatty acid content of the plant oil or fat contained consisting of at least 20% by weight of unsaturated fatty acids.
US08871827B2
Described is a radiation-crosslinkable hotmelt adhesive comprising at least one radiation-crosslinkable poly(meth)acrylate formed to an extent of at least 60% by weight of C1 to C10 alkyl(meth)acrylates and at least one oligo(meth)acrylate which comprises nonacrylic C C double bonds and has a K value of less than or equal to 20. The hotmelt adhesive comprises a photoinitiator which may be present in the form of an additive not attached to the poly(meth)acrylate and/or not attached to the oligo(meth)acrylate, may be incorporated by copolymerization into the poly(meth)acrylate, and/or may be attached to the oligo(meth)acrylate. The hotmelt adhesive can be used for producing adhesive tapes.
US08871824B2
Extrusion blown film comprising a polypropylene composition, said polypropylene composition comprises a random propylene copolymer, a high melt strength polypropylene, and optionally a clarifier, wherein • the random propylene copolymer comprises units derived from propylene and at least another C2 to C20 α-olefin. • the high melt strength polypropylene has a branching index g′ of less than 1.0. • the clarifier comprises at least one α-nucleating agent, and wherein further • the branching index g′ of the random propylene copolymer is higher than the branching index g′ of the high melt strength polypropylene, • the extrusion melt blown film and/or the polypropylene composition, (i) fulfill(s) the equation (I) Tm−Tc≦30 wherein Tm is the melting temperature [° C.] making up more than 50% of the total melting enthalpy Hm of the extrusion melt blown film or of the polypropylene composition measured by DSC according to ISO 11357-3; Tc is the crystallization temperature [° C.] of the extrusion melt blown film or of the polypropylene composition measured by DSC according to ISO 11357-3; and/or (ii) has (have) a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 of 1.0 to 5.5 g/10 min.
US08871822B2
The cross-linked polyphosphonate-sulfone composition for removal of metal ions from wastewater relates to a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer for the removal of metal ions, such as lead (Pb2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions, from wastewater and the like. The cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer has the formula: The cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer is made by cyclopolymerization of diallylaminomethylphosphonic acid, 1,1,4,4-tetraallylpiperazinium dichloride (a cross-linker), and sulfur dioxide in the presence of AIBN (an initiator) in DMSO at 65° C. to form a cross-linked polyzwitterionic acid (CPZA). The CPZA is then treated with base (such as sodium hydroxide) to form the cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the formula shown above.
US08871809B2
The present invention provides a gel formulation comprising diclofenac sodium which has superior transdermal flux properties, which may be used for the topical treatment of pain, such as in osteoarthritis.
US08871797B2
The present invention relates to certain pyrazole derivatives of Formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of platelet aggreagation, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, angina, stroke, atrial fibrillation, reducing the risk of blood clot formation, asthma or symptoms thereof, agitation or a symptom, behavioral disorders, drug induced psychosis, excitative psychosis, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, manic disorder, organic or NOS psychosis, psychotic disorder, psychosis, acute schizophrenia, chronic schizophrenia, NOS schizophrenia and related disorders, and sleep disorders, sleep disorders, diabetic-related disorders and the like.The present invention also relates to the method of prophylaxis or treatment of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor mediated disorders in combination with a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist such as haloperidol, administered separately or together.
US08871791B2
Methods and compositions of treating a subject for cancer pain are provided. In the subject methods, a subject is treated for cancer pain by administering to the subject an effective amount of a narcotic emulsion, e.g., fentanyl elmulsion, formulation. In certain embodiments, the emulsion formulations include a narcotic active agent, oil, water and a surfactant. Also provided are methods of making the subject emulsion formulations as well as kits that include the emulsion formulations.
US08871789B2
Disclosed are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds that inhibit JMJD2 proteins, including those of the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as defined herein or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed is a method of preventing or treating a viral infection of a host, comprising administering to the host an effective amount of an inhibitor of the JMJD2 family of histone demethylases, for example, a compound of the formula (I). The viral infection may be a primary infection, reactivation of a virus after latency in a host, or may be in a mammal that has undergone, is undergoing, or will undergo immunosuppressive therapy.
US08871785B2
The invention is related to phosphorus substituted compounds with antiviral activity, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08871784B2
Selected 2-arylacetic acids, their derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions that contain these compounds are useful in inhibiting chemotactic activation of neutrophils (PMN leukocytes) induced by the interaction of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) with CXCR1 and CXCR2 membrane receptors. The compounds are used for the prevention and treatment of pathologies deriving from their activation. In particular, 2(ortho)-substituted arylacetic acids or their derivatives, such as amides and sulfonamides, lack cyclo-oxygenase inhibition activity and are particularly useful in the treatment of neutrophil-dependent pathologies such as psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, melanoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bullous pemphigoid, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis and in the prevention and treatment of damages caused by ischemia and reperfusion.
US08871775B2
Pyrimidone compounds of formula (I): are inhibitors of the enzyme Lp-PLA2 and are of use in treating atherosclerosis.
US08871773B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of retarding hair loss or facilitating hair growth and/or regrowth. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods of using the disclosed compositions to increase the rate of terminal hair growth and/or regrowth in a mammal.
US08871771B2
This invention provides for prodrug Compounds I, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their use in treating HIV infection. wherein: X is C or N with the proviso that when X is N, R1 does not exist; W is C or N with the proviso that when W is N, R2 does not exist; V is C; E is hydrogen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and Y is selected from the group consisting of Also, this invention provides for intermediate Compounds II useful in making prodrug Compounds I. wherein: L and M are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, trialkylsilyl, -2,2,2-trichloroethoxy and 2-trimethylsilylethoxy.
US08871755B2
The present invention relates to alkene azetidine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08871754B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer, or stereoisomer, thereof, wherein the variables are as defined herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds for treating, preventing, inhibiting, ameliorating, or eradicating the pathology and/or symptomology of a disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite, such as malaria.
US08871748B2
The present invention discloses certain polyene cyclodextrin acetals and hemiacetals that are effective in providing skin clarification, which is useful for the treatment of acne, and skin disfigurements and skin darkening resulting from acne; skin darkening from cancer, diabetes, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, and sun-burn; mitochondrial and DNA dysfunction; age spots; loss of cellular antioxidants; skin changes associated with aging including collagen loss, loss of skin pliability, loss of skin suppleness, skin wrinkles and fine lines, oxidation, damage from radiation, damage from free radicals, and damage from UV; dry skin; xerosis; ichthyosis; dandruff; brownish spots; keratoses; melasma; lentigines; liver spots; skin pigmentation including pigmented spots, dark circles under the eyes, darkened skin, and blemishes; oily skin; warts; eczema; pruritic skin; psoriasis; inflammatory dermatoses; topical inflammation; disturbed keratinization; scalp dryness, and combinations thereof.
US08871744B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing tumor-selective targeted inhibitor glycoconjugates. These bioconjugates are ALK5 inhibitors covalently bound to biocompatible carrier molecules which selectively target and specifically bind to Muc4 that is overexpressed on a variety of tumor cell types. The ALK5 inhibitors are conjugated to tumor targetable glycans through a covalent linker. Preferably the acid-labile linker is designed to be stable in plasma and releases pharmacologically active inhibitors through acid-catalyzed hydrolysis in the acidic environment of the target tumor where the inhibitor activity is restored. Because the glycoconjugates are stable at physiological pH and in plasma, they advantageously reduce undesirable systemic ALK5 inhibitor activity; however, the preferable glycoconjugates are acid-labile conjugates that can be hydrolyzed upon reaching the more acid environment of the tumor.
US08871733B2
This document provides methods and materials related to treating glaucoma, ocular hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and renal diseases. For example, this document provides isolated nucleic acid molecules and viral vectors (e.g., lentiviral vectors) containing isolated nucleic acid molecules. Methods for reducing intraocular pressure as well as symptoms and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases also are provided.
US08871720B2
Auristatin peptide analogs of MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF) having a carboxylic acid equivalent at the C-terminal phenylalanine were prepared and attached to ligands through various linkers, including maleimidocaproyl-val-cit-PAB. The resulting ligand drug conjugates were active in vitro and in vivo.
US08871716B2
Disclosed are novel antimicrobial peptides which can promote the regeneration of skin cells, thus healing wounds. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides as active ingredients are also provided for wound healing and skin rejuvenation. The antimicrobial peptides exhibit inhibitory activity against antibiotic-resistant strains, and their antimicrobial activity is maintained without loss of structural stability even under a high salt condition. Also, being proven to promote the migration and regeneration of skin cells in mice as well as in vitro, the antimicrobial peptides may be widely used as an agent for regenerating skin cells. Further, they can find applications in various fields including the medical industry and the cosmetic industry. Hence, the novel antimicrobial peptides are anticipated to have considerable repercussions in the market for antibiotics, wound healing agents and cosmetics.
US08871715B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for altering cell function. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising selenium (e.g., SEL-PLEX) and methods of using the same (e.g., as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment for neurodegenerative disease). Additionally, the present invention demonstrates that specific forms of selenium (e.g., SEL-PLEX) possess the ability to alter expression of genes associated with disease and/or aging while other forms of selenium (e.g., selenomethionine) do not.
US08871714B2
The invention relates to hyperglycosylated human coagulation factor IX polypeptides, to processes for preparing said polypeptides, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said polypeptides and to the use of the compounds for the treatment of diseases alleviated by human coagulation factor IX, in particular, but not exclusively hemophilia.
US08871712B2
Pre-formulations of a low viscosity mixture containing: a) at least one diacyl glycerol; b) at least one phosphatidyl choline; c) at least one oxygen containing organic solvent; d) at least one somatostatin analog are described. The pre-formulation forms, or is capable of forming, at least one liquid crystalline phase structure upon contact with an aqueous fluid. The pre-formulations are useful for generating depot composition far the controlled release of somatostatin analogs such as octreotide. Methods of treatment comprising the administration of such formulations are also provided, as are pre-filled administration devices and kits containing the formulations.
US08871710B2
This invention relates to the production and use of pharmaceutical growth factor compositions with novel characteristics, e.g. improved solubility and controlled release characteristics under physiological conditions. The compositions of one or more precursor proteins of growth factors of the GDF family provoke morphogenic effects such as growth, differentiation, protection and regeneration of a variety of tissues and organs, e.g. bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, nerves and skin. The compositions can be advantageously used for the healing of tissue-destructive injuries and for the prevention or therapy of degenerative disorders.
US08871709B2
Isolated protein complexes are provided comprising growth factors such as IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF, bFGF, KGF, VEGF or PDGF, or at least domains thereof that enable binding to and activation of both a growth factor receptor, and an integrin receptor-binding domain of vitronectin or fibronectin. These protein complexes may be in the form of oligo-protein complexes or single, synthetic proteins where the growth factor and vitronectin or fibronectin sequences are joined by a linker sequence. In particular forms, vitronectin or fibronectin sequences do not include a heparin binding domain and/or polyanionic domain. Also provided are uses of these protein complexes for stimulating or inducing cell migration and/or proliferation which may have use in wound healing, tissue engineering, cosmetic and therapeutic treatments such as skin replacement and skin replenishment and treatment of burns where epithelial cell migration is required. In other embodiments, the invention provides inhibition of cancer cell metastasis, particularly in relation to breast cancer.
US08871708B2
Novel peptides that inhibit the release of microparticles from cells are disclosed. The peptide contains at least one VGFPV motif at the N-terminal and has a length of 10-100 amino acids. Also disclosed is polynucleotide encoding the peptide, expression vectors carrying the polynucleotide, and methods for treating AIDS and tumors using the novel peptides.
US08871707B2
The present invention describes therapeutic compositions comprising fibroblasts that have been stimulated to increase expression of extracellular matrix components or elastin, or to produce enhanced elastogenesis or the appearance thereof at a site of administration. The therapeutic fibroblast formulations can be prepared using a variety of elastogenic agents, including digests of mammalian elastin, chemically digested plant extracts comprising elastin-like peptides, and synthetic elastogenic peptides. The invention further comprises cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatment methods using the therapeutic fibroblast compositions of the invention.
US08871706B2
The present invention provides a method of ameliorating inflammation, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine and/or chemokine expression and treating various diseases and/or conditions incidental to the onset of inflammation, in a subject in need of treatment for such conditions, by administering select analogous of native hGhrelin.
US08871695B2
Nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor III) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) may be formed in situ during hydrocarbon recovery operations after drilling with OBM or SBM using one or more fluid pills. The nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsions remove oil and solids from the well and wellbore surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, a single phase microemulsion (SPME) or other in situ-formed fluid may be created from a polar phase, a nonpolar phase, at least one viscosifier, and at least one surfactant.
US08871685B2
A method for making superconducting wire is provided. A drawn carbon nanotube film is pulled out from a carbon nanotube array. The drawn carbon nanotube film is placed spaced from and opposite to a number of superconducting preforms on a carrier. The superconducting preforms are moved from the carrier onto the drawn carbon nanotube film by applying an electric field between the drawn carbon nanotube film and the carrier. A composite wire is made by twisting the drawn carbon nanotube film with the superconducting preforms thereon. Finally, the composite wire is sintered.
US08871680B2
A synergistic herbicidal composition containing (a) a compound of formula (I): or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) dimethoxy-pyrimidine acids, including but not limited to bispyribac-sodium, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyriminobac-methyl and pyrimisulfan provide synergistic weed control of undesirable vegetation e.g., in direct-seeded, water-seeded, and transplanted rice, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn or maize, sugarcane, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola, sugar beet, soybean, cotton, pineapple, vegetables, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, aquatics, plantation crops, industrial vegetation management (IVM) or rights of way (ROW).
US08871674B2
By fibrillated cellulose fibrillated in fiber form and humidified as a water permeable polymeric substance of botanical origin and a radioactive-substance-absorbent obtained by mixing with zeolite as a granulated inorganic porous crystal, radioactive substances released and spilled in a accident etc. in a nuclear facility etc. may be efficiently and easily collected and removed at a low cost.
US08871663B2
The present invention provides the composition of an alkali-free glass composition containing no alkali metal oxide and the preparation thereof. The alkali-free glass comprising substantially no alkali metal oxide according to the present invention comprises 68 to 75 wt % of SiO2; 1 to 3 wt % of B2O3; 4 to 13 wt % of Al2O3; 1 to 6 wt % of MgO; 1 to 11 wt % of CaO; 4 to 9 wt % of SrO; and 3 to 7 wt % of BaO, based on the total weight of oxides present therein.
US08871660B2
There is provided a laminated body comprising a first resin layer consisting of a first fibrous base material and a resin and a second resin layer consisting of a second fibrous base material and a resin, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer are disposed such that the first resin layer and the second resin layer are at least partly positioned in separate regions separated by the center line in a thickness direction of the laminated body; wherein at least one of the first fibrous base material and the second fibrous base material has a bowing region where a bowing region is a region in which a smaller warp/weft crossing angle is less than 90° in the fibrous base material; and wherein in the bowing region, an angle formed by a warp of the first fibrous base material and a warp of the second fibrous base material and an angle formed by a weft of the first fibrous base material and a weft of the second fibrous base material, whichever is larger, is 2° or less.
US08871646B2
In some embodiments, methods for forming a masking pattern for an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, mandrels defining a first pattern are formed in a first masking layer over a target layer. A second masking layer is deposited to at least partially fill spaces of the first pattern. Sacrificial structures are formed between the mandrels and the second masking layer. After depositing the second masking layer and forming the sacrificial structures, the sacrificial structures are removed to define gaps between the mandrels and the second masking layer, thereby defining a second pattern. The second pattern includes at least parts of the mandrels and intervening mask features alternating with the mandrels. The second pattern may be transferred into the target layer. In some embodiments, the method allows the formation of features having a high density and a small pitch while also allowing the formation of features having various shapes and sizes.
US08871645B2
Semiconductor devices suitable for narrow pitch applications and methods of fabrication thereof are described herein. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a floating gate having a first width proximate a base of the floating gate that is greater than a second width proximate a top of the floating gate. In some embodiments, a method of shaping a material layer may include (a) oxidizing a surface of a material layer to form an oxide layer at an initial rate; (b) terminating formation of the oxide layer when the oxidation rate is about 90% or below of the initial rate; (c) removing at least some of the oxide layer by an etching process; and (d) repeating (a) through (c) until the material layer is formed to a desired shape. In some embodiments, the material layer may be a floating gate of a semiconductor device.
US08871640B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor chip including an integrated circuit and a through-electrode penetrating a semiconductor layer includes the steps of preparing a first substrate including a release layer and a semiconductor layer formed on the release layer; forming an integrated circuit in the semiconductor layer; forming, in the semiconductor layer, a hole or groove having a depth that does not reach the release layer; filling the hole or the groove with an electrical conductor; bonding a second substrate to the semiconductor layer to form a bonded structure; separating the bonded structure at the release layer to prepare the second substrate to which the semiconductor layer is transferred; and removing at least a portion of the reverse surface side of the semiconductor layer exposed by the separation to expose the bottom of the electrical conductor.
US08871638B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first interlayer dielectric layer having a conductive contact, forming a sacrifice layer having a conductive interconnection over the first interlayer dielectric layer such that the conductive interconnection is contacted with the conductive contact, removing the sacrifice layer, and forming a recess by removing a part of the conductive contact exposed by the conductive interconnection.
US08871636B2
A line trough and a via cavity are formed within a dielectric layer comprising a fluorosilicate glass (FSG) layer. A fluorine depleted adhesion layer is formed within the line trough and the via cavity either by a plasma treatment that removes fluorine from exposed surfaces of the FSG layer, or by deposition of a substantially fluorine-free dielectric layer. Metal is deposited within the line trough and the via cavity to form a metal line and a metal via. The fluorine depleted adhesion layer provides enhanced adhesion to the metal line compared with prior art structures in which a metal line directly contacts a FSG layer. The enhanced adhesion of metal with an underlying dielectric layer provides higher resistance to delamination for a semiconductor package employing lead-free C4 balls on a metal interconnect structure.
US08871631B2
Described is a method of forming a solder deposit on a substrate comprising the following steps i) provide a substrate that includes at least one inner contact area, ii) contact the entire substrate area including the at least one inner contact area with a solution suitable to provide a conductive layer on the substrate surface, iii) form a patterned resist layer, iv) electroplate a solder deposit layer containing a tin or tin alloy onto the inner contact area, v) remove the patterned resist layer, vi) form a solder resist layer having solder resist openings on the substrate surface.
US08871630B2
An electronic device and manufacturing thereof. One embodiment provides a carrier and multiple contact elements. The carrier defines a first plane. A power semiconductor chip is attached to the carrier. A body is formed of an electrically insulating material covering the power semiconductor chip. The body defines a second plane parallel to the first plane and side faces extends from the first plane to the second plane. At least one of the multiple contact elements has a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the first plane that is longer than 60% of the distance between the first plane and the second plane.
US08871629B2
In a method of improving ball strength of a semiconductor device, a ball pattern of a plurality of connection balls to be formed as electrical connections for the semiconductor device is received. The pattern includes a number of columns and rows crossing each other. The balls are arranged at intersections of the columns and rows. An arrangement of balls in a region of the ball pattern is modified so that the region includes no isolated balls.
US08871621B2
MIMCAP devices are provided that can be suitable for memory device applications, such as current selector devices for cross point memory array. The MIMCAP devices can have lower thermal budget as compared to Schottky diodes and controllable lower barrier height and lower series resistance as compared to MIMCAP tunneling diodes. The MIMCAP diode can include a low defect dielectric layer, a high defect dielectric layer, sandwiched between two electrodes having different work function values.
US08871614B2
A semiconductor die and a related method of processing a semiconductor wafer are disclosed in which a first interlayer insulator having a recess region of varying configuration and defining a scribe line is associated with at least one protective layer formed with a characterizing inclined side surface.
US08871609B2
A thin wafer handling structure includes a semiconductor wafer, a release layer that can be released by applying energy, an adhesive layer that can be removed by a solvent, and a carrier, where the release layer is applied on the carrier by coating or laminating, the adhesive layer is applied on the semiconductor wafer by coating or laminating, and the semiconductor wafer and the carrier is bonded together with the release layer and the adhesive layer in between. The method includes applying a release layer on a carrier, applying an adhesive layer on a semiconductor wafer, bonding the carrier and the semiconductor wafer, releasing the carrier by applying energy on the release layer, e.g. UV or laser, and cleaning the semiconductor's surface by a solvent to remove any residue of the adhesive layer.
US08871607B2
A method for producing a hybrid substrate, including a support substrate, a continuous buried insulator layer and, on this continuous layer, a hybrid layer including alternating zones of a first material and at least one second material, wherein these two materials are different by their nature and/or their crystallographic characteristics. The method forms a hybrid layer, including alternating zones of first and second materials, on a homogeneous substrate, assembles this hybrid layer, the continuous insulator layer and the support substrate, and eliminates a part at least of the homogeneous substrate, before or after the assembling.
US08871604B2
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a capacitor within a trench in a workpiece, the capacitor comprising a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer disposed over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed over the dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the capacitor. Forming the capacitor and forming the cap layer comprise optimizing at least one of: a width of the trench, a thickness of the bottom electrode, a thickness of the dielectric layer, a thickness of the top electrode, and a thickness of the cap layer, so that the cap layer completely covers the top electrode.
US08871593B1
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode buried in a semiconductor portion. The gate electrode includes a first gate portion on a first side of a longitudinal center axis of the gate electrode parallel to the main surface and a second gate portion on an opposite, second side of the longitudinal center axis. At least one first gate contact extends from a main side defined by a main surface into the first gate portion.
US08871590B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a substrate, a gate line and a data line arranged to cross each other and to define a pixel region on the substrate, a first common line disposed to be parallel to the gate line and to cross the data line, a switch element disposed at an intersection of the gate line and data line, a first pixel electrode formed to overlap the first common line, and a second pixel electrode branched from the first pixel electrode in a plurality of strips, a second common line opposite to the first common line in the center of the pixel region, a second common electrode branched from the second common line toward the pixel region into a plurality of strips, and a third common electrode branched to overlap the data line from the second common line, and a first storage electrode branched from the first common line into the pixel region, and a second storage electrode extended to overlap the first storage electrode from the first pixel electrode.
US08871571B2
A frame includes heat slug pads coupled together in a N×M matrix such that singulation of the heat slug pads consists of one or more passes across the frame, wherein the one or more passes are parallel. A method of attaching heat slug pads to packages includes gathering a plurality of packages, preparing a heat slug frame including a N×M matrix of heat slug pads, dispensing thermally conductive material onto surfaces of the heat slug pads, attaching the plurality of packages onto the heat slug pads, and singulating the heat slug pads, wherein the singulating step consists of one or more parallel passes across the N×M matrix. A method of attaching heat slug foil to packages includes preparing a plurality of packages, laminating the heat slug foil to one side of the plurality of packages using thermally conductive material, and singulating the plurality of packages.
US08871570B2
A method for fabricating an optical interconnect includes producing a semiconductor wafer that includes multiple first dies. Each first die includes circuitry disposed over a surface of the wafer and connected to conductive vias arranged in rows. The multiple first dies are diced by cutting the wafer across the rows of the vias, such that, in each first die, the cut vias form respective contact pads on a side face of the first die that is perpendicular to the surface. A second semiconductor die including one or more optoelectronic transducers is attached to the contact pads, so as to connect the transducers to the circuitry.
US08871563B2
A method of manufacturing an organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) flat-panel light-source apparatus. The method includes depositing a metal layer on a substrate and patterning the metal layer to form a plurality of subsidiary electrodes, forming an insulating layer on the substrate including the plurality of subsidiary electrodes and forming a first subsidiary electrode layer by etching the insulating layer until some of the plurality of subsidiary electrodes are exposed, and sequentially forming an anode, an organic emission layer (EML), and a cathode on the substrate on which the first subsidiary electrode layer is formed.
US08871561B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a variable resistance nonvolatile storage device, which prevents electrical conduction between lower electrodes and upper electrodes of variable resistance elements in the memory cell holes. The method includes: forming lower copper lines; forming a third interlayer insulating layer; forming memory cell holes in the third interlayer insulating layer, an opening diameter of upper portions of the memory cell holes being smaller than bottom portions; forming a metal electrode layer on the bottom of each memory cell holes by sputtering; embedding and forming a variable resistance layer in each memory cell hole; and forming upper copper lines connected to the variable resistance layer embedded and formed in each memory cell hole.
US08871559B2
Provided is a method for fabricating a phase change memory device. The method includes forming a plurality of bottom electrodes on a substrate, forming a first mold layer on the substrate to extend in a first direction where the bottom electrodes are exposed, forming a second mold layer on the substrate, the second mold layer extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to expose parts of the bottom electrodes, forming a phase change material layer on the first and second mold layers to be connected to parts of the bottom electrodes dividing the phase change material layer as a plurality of phase change layers respectively connected to the parts of the bottom electrodes and forming a plurality of top electrodes on the phase change layers.
US08871554B2
A method for fabricating butt-coupled electro-absorptive modulators is disclosed. A butt-coupled electro-absorptive modulator with minimal dislocations in the electro-absorptive material is produced by adding a dielectric spacer for lining the coupling region before epitaxially growing the SiGe or other electro-absorptive material. It has been determined that during the SiGe growth, the current process has exposed single crystal silicon at the bottom of the hole and exposed amorphous silicon on the sides. SiGe growth on the amorphous silicon is expected to have more dislocations than single crystal silicon. There should also be dislocations or fissures where the SiGe growth from the each nucleation source finally join. Thus, a dielectric sidewall can protect an exposed waveguide face from any etching from an aggressive surface preparation prior to epi growth.
US08871545B2
A method is provided for forming a multi-color OLED device that includes providing a substrate, coating the substrate with a fluorinated photoresist solution to form a first photo-patternable layer and exposing it to produce a first pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material and a second pattern of unexposed fluorinated photoresist material, developing the photo-patternable layer with a fluorinated solvent to remove the second pattern of unexposed fluorinated photoresist material without removing the first pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material, depositing a first organic light-emitting material over the substrate to form a first organic light-emitting layer for emitting a first color of light and applying the first pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material to control the removal of a portion of the first organic light-emitting layer. A second fluorinated photoresist solution is then coated over the first patterened organic light-emitting layer and exposed to form a third pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material having a pattern different from the first pattern and a fourth pattern of unexposed fluorinated photoresist material, and developing the photo-patternable layer in a fluorinated solvent to remove the fourth pattern of unexposed fluorinated photoresist material without removing the third pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material, depositing at least a second light-emitting material to form a second light-emitting layer for emitting a second color of light that is different than the first color of light and applying the third pattern of exposed fluorinated photoresist material to control the removal of a portion of the second organic light-emitting layer.
US08871542B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device and an organic light emitting display device manufactured using the method, which are suitable for manufacturing large-sized display devices on a mass scale and can be used for high-definition patterning. The method includes consecutively forming organic layers on a substrate on which a plurality of panels are arranged parallel to each other; forming a second electrode on the organic layers, for each of the panels; forming a passivation layer on the second electrode on each of the panels to cover the second electrode; and removing a part of the organic layers that exists between the passivation layer on the second electrode of one of the panels and the passivation layer on the second electrode of an adjacent one of the panels.
US08871539B2
A thin-film LED includes an insulating substrate, an electrode on the insulating substrate, and an epitaxial structure on the electrode.
US08871535B2
A method for manufacturing an LED package includes following steps: providing a base with an LED chip mounted on the base; providing a porous carrier with a plurality of holes, and disposing the base on the porous carrier; providing a film with a phosphor layer attached on the film; providing a mold, and putting the porous carrier, the base, the LED chip, and the film into the mold; extracting air from the mold to an external environment through the holes of the porous carrier, and/or, blowing air toward the film to urge the film to move toward the LED chip, resulting in that the film is conformably attached onto the LED chip and the base; and solidifying the phosphor layer on the LED chip by means of heating whereby the phosphor is conformably and securely attached on the LED chip.
US08871533B2
A solar cell making method includes steps of making a round P-N junction preform by (a) stacking a P-type silicon layer and a N-type silicon layer on top of each other, and (b) forming a P-N junction near an interface between the P-type silicon layer and the N-type silicon layer, wherein the round P-N junction preform defines a first surface and a second surface; forming a first electrode preform on the first surface and forming a second electrode preform on the second surface, thereby forming a round solar cell preform; and forming a photoreceptive surface with the P-N junction exposed on the photoreceptive surface by cutting the round solar cell preform into a plurality of arc shaped solar cells, the photoreceptive surface being on a curved surface of the arc shaped solar cell and being configured to receive incident light beams.
US08871530B1
A mechanism is provided for a spin torque transfer random access memory device. A tunnel barrier is disposed on a reference layer, and a free layer is disposed on the tunnel barrier. The free layer includes an iron layer as a top part of the free layer. A metal oxide layer is disposed on the iron layer, and a cap layer is disposed on the metal oxide layer.
US08871529B2
A method or manufacturing an integrated circuit structure with a magnetoresistance component is provided. A substrate is provided. A circuit structure layer including a metal pad is formed on the substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on the circuit structure. A metal damascene structure is formed in the dielectric layer. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer so as to form a step-drop. A magnetoresistance material layer is formed on the dielectric layer after forming the metal damascene structure and the opening. A photolithography process is applied to pattern the magnetoresistance material layer to form a magnetoresistance component electrically connected to the metal damascene structure.
US08871527B2
The present invention provides diagnostic in vitro methods as well as kits and devices to be used in the methods of the present invention for diagnosis or prognosis of a pathologic condition characterized by the presence/absence of an endogenous hormone and/or hormone analog(s) thereof involved in diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The methods comprise a quantitative separation of at least those analytes of interest whose common presence interferes with measuring the presence/absence or concentration of one of the analytes of interest by a subsequent analytical method.
US08871522B2
The presence of hydrogen peroxide vapor is detected with high sensitivity. Oxygen molecules in the air are ionized by electrons generated by a discharge plasma, thereby producing an oxygen molecule negative ion O2−. The oxygen molecule negative ion O2− produced is supplied to a space in which a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is to be detected. If a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is present, a cluster ion O2−(H2O2) of the oxygen molecule negative ion O2− and hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is produced. The hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2, therefore, can be detected by mass spectrometry. Other gas-phase negative ions such as chloride ion Cl− can be used besides the oxygen molecule negative ion O2−.
US08871520B2
The invention provides a method of detecting uracil. The method comprises reacting uracil with a compound represented by the formula (I) in the presence of an oxidant and a base to produce a fluorescent compound represented by the formula (II).
US08871515B2
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the construction of fully-deleted Adenovirus-based gene delivery vectors packaged without helper Adenovirus, and more particularly to their use in gene therapy for gene and protein expression, vaccine development, and immunosuppressive therapy for allogeneic transplantation. In an embodiment, a method for propagating an adenoviral vector includes (a) providing an Adenovirus packaging cell line; (b) transfecting a fully-deleted Adenoviral vector construct into the cell line; and optionally (c) transfecting a packaging construct into the cell line, wherein the fully-deleted Adenoviral vector construct and optionally the packaging construct can transfect the Adenovirus packaging cell line resulting in the encapsidation of a fully-deleted Adenoviral vector independent of helper Adenovirus. In an embodiment, a target cell is transduced with the encapsidated fully-deleted Adenoviral vector for treating a condition, disease or a disorder.
US08871513B2
The present invention relates to a medium for culturing mesenchymal stem cells, and more particularly to a medium composition for culturing mesenchymal stem cells, which contains basal medium, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, fetal bovine serum, basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), non-essential amino acids (NEAAs), insulin, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, calcium chloride, and hydrocortisone, and a method of culturing mesenchymal stem cells using the same. According to the present invention, a number of mesenchymal stem cells required for stem cell therapy can be obtained in a short time, and the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate is improved so that they are useful for stem cell therapy.
US08871510B2
This disclosure describes methods for differentiating T cells and NK cells in vitro from hematopoietic stem cells or precursor cells. The technology is directed to methods for the production of selected populations of lymphocytes, such as T cells and NK cells. The availability of such cell populations allows for the complete reconstitution of a depleted, defective or missing lymphocyte population in a patient.
US08871499B2
A multi-well plate can be loaded with a range of compliant substrates. Commerically-available assays can be used to test cellular responses across a plate with shear modulus from 50 to 51200 Pascals. Cells can be grown in the plates, and can be manipulated and analyzed. Hydrogels can be attached to the bottom of a well. The plates can support the attachment and growth of different cell types and can be compatible with standard 96-well and 384-well plate assays. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels can be reproducible and stable to increase the shelf life of the substrate. The hydrogel can be compatible with growth of a variety of cell types, various attachment ligands such as collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, or RGD peptides and can be coupled to the gel surface.
US08871494B2
The invention provides a general and facile method to obtain secondary metabolites from fungal sources. The invention is based on the discovery that the fungal gene veA and protein encoded thereby regulates the activity of multiple secondary metabolite gene clusters in fungi. Over expression of the gene veA provides increased production of secondary metabolites in engineered cells. In particular, such a method of increasing secondary metabolite production allows the production of improved yields of valuable secondary metabolite products.
US08871490B2
There are disclosed alpha4beta7 heterodimer-specific antigen binding proteins, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of making and using them.
US08871489B2
This invention relates to the metabolic evolution of a microbial organism previously optimized for producing an organic acid in commercially significant quantities under fermentative conditions using a hexose sugar as sole source of carbon in a minimal mineral medium. As a result of this metabolic evolution, the microbial organism acquires the ability to use pentose sugars derived from cellulosic materials for its growth while retaining the original growth kinetics, the rate of organic acid production and the ability to use hexose sugars as a source of carbon. This invention also discloses the genetic change in the microorganism that confers the ability to use both the hexose and pentose sugars simultaneously in the production of commercially significant quantities of organic acids.
US08871485B2
Disclosed herein are modified carbonic anhydrase enzymes, and a process of using same for the extraction, production and purification of carbon dioxide gas. More particularly, modified carbonic anhydrase enzymes are used for the production, purification of carbon dioxide and the products of the hydration reaction, hydrogen and bicarbonate ions Also, this technology is used to enhance the production of carbon dioxide in blood or in reverse osmosis desalination to remove carbon dioxide. Specifically, the invention relates to a modified carbonic anhydrase enzyme possessing improved activity and a process whereby immobilized modified carbonic anhydrase contained within a reactor device catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide.
US08871481B2
The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.
US08871478B2
A Corynebacterium glutamicum transformant having the capability of producing isobutanol and the following genes (1) to (5): (1) a gene which encodes an enzyme having acetohydroxy acid synthase activity; (2) a gene which encodes an enzyme having acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase activity; (3) a gene which encodes an enzyme having dihydroxy acid dehydratase activity; (4) a gene which encodes an enzyme having 2-keto acid decarboxylase activity; and (5) a gene which encodes an enzyme having alcohol dehydrogenase activity, at least one of the genes being endogenous, and at least one of the genes being exogenous, efficiently produces isobutanol.
US08871477B2
By a method for producing cadaverine by culturing a microorganism that extracellularly secretes lysine decarboxylase, by-production of lysine is suppressed, the yield of cadaverine relative to glucose consumption is improved compared to conventional production methods, and further, the load on the purification step in purification of cadaverine as a raw material for polyamide can be reduced.
US08871474B2
Reaction solutions are disclosed herein comprising water, sucrose and a glucosyltransferase enzyme that synthesizes poly alpha-1,3-glucan. The glucosyltransferase enzyme can synthesize insoluble glucan polymer having at least 50% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages and a number average degree of polymerization of at least 100. Further disclosed are methods of using such glucosyltransferase enzymes to produce insoluble poly alpha-1,3-glucan.
US08871470B2
Aspects of the present teachings describe a method and apparatus for automatically controlling a block temperature to reduce undershooting and overshooting of the temperatures of a sample contained in the block and participating in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The adaptive thermal block temperature control begins when a sample temperature enters a sample window region between a preliminary setpoint temperature and a target setpoint temperature for the sample. Based on thermodynamic behavior of the sample and the predetermined phase of PCR, predicting a time period measured subsequent to the preliminary setpoint temperature when the sample will reach the target setpoint suitable for the predetermined phase of PCR. During this time period, varying the block temperature ramp rate with a series of cooling and heating changes to ensure the block temperature reaches the target setpoint temperature at approximately the same time as the sample reaches the same. Synchronizing the block temperature and sample temperature to the target setpoint temperature reduces undershooting and overshooting of the sample temperature and increases the speed and efficiency of the overall PCR process as it relates to the thermal cycling operations.
US08871466B2
This invention is a method for improving production yield of HPV L1 protein including the phase of culturing cell expressing HPV L1 protein in a medium containing high concentration of carbon source. According to the culture method using a medium containing highly concentrated carbon source of this invention, the production yield of HPV L1 protein can be not only remarkably increased but also the immunogenicity of the produced HPV L1 protein is significantly increased.
US08871460B2
In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that compounds which modulate the γ-secretase enzyme to make more of the shorter, less toxic and less aggregation-prone Aβ peptides (such as Aβ37 and Aβ38), while making less of the longer and more toxic and aggregation-prone AB peptides (such as AB40 and AB42) are useful as gamma-secretase modulators. In addition, these GSM compounds have further been discovered to have the selective property of modulating the formation of various AB peptides, while not inhibiting the overall activity of the γ-secretase enzyme. Thus, such compounds do not impede other critical functions of the γ-secretase enzyme, such as generating fragments from Notch that appear to control gene expression and cell differentiation. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there are provided screening assays useful for determining whether test compounds have GSM activity; accordingly, invention assays facilitate the identification of new gamma-secretase modulators. Such screening assays can be performed in a variety of ways, e.g., by assessing whether test compounds: lower the level of Aβ42 peptide, increase the level of Aβ37 and/or Aβ38 peptides, have substantially no effect on the processing of other γ-secretase substrates, and/or interact with at least one component of the γ-secretase complex. Also provided in accordance with the present invention are compounds having gamma-secretase modulatory activity as identified by any of the methods described herein; methods for producing formulations useful for modulating gamma-secretase activity, as well as the resulting formulations; methods for modulating gamma-secretase activity employing compounds identified according to invention methods and/or invention formulations, and the like.
US08871456B2
The invention provides compositions and methods of use thereof for labeling peptide and proteins in vitro or in vivo. The methods described herein employ lipoic acid ligase or mutants thereof, and lipoic acid analogs recognized by lipoic acid ligase and lipoic acid ligase mutants.
US08871451B2
This document relates to methods and materials involved in identifying, assessing, and monitoring prostate cancer in male mammals. For example, this document provides arrays for detecting polypeptides or nucleic acids that can be used to identify prostate cancer in male mammals. In addition, methods and materials for assessing and monitoring prostate cancer in mammals are provided herein.
US08871443B2
The invention is related to a novel primate specific brain isoform of the potassium channel KCNH2 and genetic association with risk for schizophrenia and response to therapy.
US08871442B2
This disclosure relates to compositions that enhance the deposition of detectable moieties on tissue samples, methods utilizing these compositions and kits including these compositions. The compositions include a deposition enhancer having a formula where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from aliphatic, aryl, halogen, a heteroatom-containing moiety, and hydrogen; R1 and/or R3 can be bound to R2 to form a fused, aromatic ring system; R5 is selected from a heteroatom-containing moiety; A is selected from, a carbon atom, a heteroatom, other than sulfur, and any combination thereof; n is 1-5, an enzyme, a specific binding moiety and a detectable moiety.
US08871437B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an RNAi control system using an RNA-protein interaction motif. The present invention provides an shRNA comprising: a guide strand having a sequence complementary to a target sequence; a passenger strand which forms a duplex with the guide strand; and a linker strand which links the guide strand and the passenger strand, wherein the linker strand comprises an RNP-derived protein-binding motif sequence. The present invention also provides an RNAi control system comprising: the shRNA; and an RNP-derived protein which specifically binds to a protein-binding motif sequence in the shRNA.
US08871431B2
A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a digital platemaking process is provided. The photosensitive printing blank comprises a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer which is mountable on a printing sleeve. The method comprises the steps of (1) laser ablating the laser ablatable mask layer to create an in situ negative in the laser ablatable layer; (2) placing a barrier layer on top of the laser ablatable mask layer; (3) exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and the in situ negative; (4) removing the barrier layer; and (5) developing the imaged and exposed photosensitive printing blank to reveal the relief image therein, the relief image comprising the plurality of relief dots. The presence of the barrier layer produces printing dots having desired geometric characteristics.
US08871415B2
There is provided a toner for electrostatic-image development that can obtain heat-resistant storability, fixed image strength and long-term stability of charging while having excellent low-temperature fixing property. The toner is formed, with toner particles containing a binder resin and a crystalline ester compound, and the binder resin contains a styrene-acrylic resin including a structural unit derived from an acrylic ester monomer.
US08871412B2
To provide an electrophotographic photoconductor, which contains a layer containing a cured product obtained by crosslinking (i) a compound containing a charge-transporting group and three or more methylol groups, and (ii) a compound containing a charge-transporting group, which is other than the compound containing a charge-transporting group and three or more methylol groups.
US08871411B2
A method for manufacturing a waveguide lens is provided. A planar waveguide is provided, wherein the planar waveguide includes a top surface and a side surface perpendicularly connecting with the top surface, the side surface is coupled to a laser light source, and the laser light source emits a laser beam having a divergent angle and an optical axis substantially perpendicular to the side surface. A media film grating is formed on the top surface. The media film grating is made of a high refractive index material. The media film grating includes a plurality of parallel media film strips, each of which is substantially perpendicular to the side surface. A pair of strip-shaped electrodes is formed on the top surface and is arranged at opposite sides of the media film grating and the optical axis. The pair of strip-shaped electrodes is substantially parallel to the media film strips.
US08871409B2
A photo mask having a first set of patterns and a second set of patterns is provided in which the first set of patterns correspond to a circuit pattern to be fabricated on a wafer, and the second set of patterns have dimensions such that the second set of patterns do not contribute to the circuit pattern that is produced using a lithography process based on the first set of patterns under a first exposure condition. The critical dimension distribution of the photo mask is determined based on the second set of patterns that do not contribute to the circuit pattern produced using the lithography process based on the first set of patterns under the first exposure condition.
US08871407B2
A method of forming a mask for use in fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming first non-removable portions of a photoresist material through a mask having a plurality of apertures, shifting the mask, forming second non-removable second portions of the photoresist material overlapping the first portions, and removing removable portions of the photoresist material arranged between the first and second portions. The formed photoresist mask may be used to form vias in an integrated circuit. The pattern of vias produced have the capability to exceed the current imaging resolution of a single exposure treatment.
US08871402B2
In a fuel cell system, it is possible to suppress fixation of a fluid circulating device arranged in a fluid passage connected to a fuel cell main body. The fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack, a system main body having respective elements for supplying a fuel gas and respective elements for supplying an oxidizing gas, and a control device. The control device includes a fluid circulating device drive processing unit having a function to forcibly drive the fluid circulating device after determining, based on a judgment related to one or more of a non-use time, an operation state of the system main body, a membrane impedance state of a fuel cell, a temperature of the fuel cell stack, and a background noise, whether or not forced driving to suppress sticking of the fluid circulating device is preferable at that time.
US08871400B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell and includes a medium circulation passage, a heat medium tank, a first circulator, a recovered water tank, a water circulation passage, a second circulator, a water purifier, a temperature detector, and a controller. The heat medium circulation passage and the water circulation passage are configured so as to realize heat exchange between a heat medium and water. The controller executes a circulation operation in which when the temperature detector detects a temperature lower than a first temperature capable of sterilizing microorganisms, the second circulator is caused to operate such that the temperature detected by the temperature detector becomes the first temperature or higher. The controller forbids the operation of the second circulator when the temperature detector detects a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature that is lower than a temperature at which heat deterioration of the water purifier occurs.
US08871397B1
A self-contained fuel system for use with a high temperature fuel cell is described to address containment of carbon dioxide evolution. The system utilizes a slurry containing calcium carbide and calcium hydride that is pumped into a water reservoir. The resulting hydrolysis reaction generates acetylene, hydrogen and water-soluble calcium hydroxide. The acetylene and hydrogen are catalytically converted to synthesis gas, which is used by a fuel cell to generate electricity. Carbon dioxide exhaust from the fuel cell is reacted with calcium hydroxide to form a storable solid, calcium carbonate.
US08871387B2
Primer arrangements that facilitate electrical conduction and adhesive connection between an electroactive material and a current collector are presented. In some embodiments, primer arrangements described herein include first and second primer layers. The first primer layer may be designed to provide good adhesion to a conductive support. In one particular embodiment, the first primer layer comprises a substantially uncrosslinked polymer having hydroxyl functional groups, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol. The materials used to form the second primer layer may be chosen such that the second primer layer adheres well to both the first primer layer and an electroactive layer. In certain embodiments including combinations of first and second primer layers, one or both of the first and second primer layers comprises less than 30% by weight of a crosslinked polymeric material. A primer including only a single layer of polymeric material is also provided.
US08871378B2
A secondary battery includes a bare cell including a can, an electrode assembly, and a cap assembly, wherein the cap assembly includes a protection circuit assembly.
US08871371B2
A battery module that has improved cooling efficiency includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries and a cooling wall that is installed between the rechargeable batteries to cool the rechargeable batteries, wherein the cooling wall includes first wall bodies that are connected in a first direction and second wall bodies that are connected in a second direction intersecting the first direction, flow paths in which a coolant moves are formed within the first wall bodies and the second wall bodies, and the flow path of the first wall bodies is communicated via the flow path of the second wall bodies.
US08871370B2
The designs of prototype batteries are described based on some biological Fenton reactions and the photo-excitation of singlet oxygen. The biological battery consists of hydrogen peroxide (or an acid) and ferrous gluconate complexed with a second ligand. Salts such as sodium chloride or ammonium chloride are used as the electrolyte. The photochemical battery uses an aqueous paste of ferrous gluconate with an additional ligand and is irradiated by light. The power of the battery is higher by adding small amount of titanium oxide to ferrous gluconate. The power of these batteries can be increased by using higher concentration of the chemicals or connecting multiple batteries in sequence and/or in parallel. Replacing ferrous ion with cupric ions increases the current of the battery by about 20 times.
US08871366B2
A protecting coating for a copper substrate is disclosed. The coating comprises seed layer comprising titanium ions that forms an “alloy-like” structure with the copper substrate. The coating further comprises a first layer of carbon disposed on the seed layer comprising titanium ions. A second layer comprising titanium is disposed on the first layer of carbon, and a second layer of carbon is disposed on the second layer comprising titanium.
US08871364B2
An article including a perovskite manganese oxide thin film is composed of a substrate; and a perovskite manganese oxide thin film formed on the substrate and having an orientation that is an (m10) orientation where 19≧m≧2. When m is 2 the perovskite manganese oxide thin film has a (210) orientation. The invention provides a perovskite manganese oxide thin film having a transition temperature at room temperature or above, which is higher than that of the bulk oxide, by exploiting the substrate strain and the symmetry of the crystal lattice.
US08871363B2
Provided is a resistor film comprising vanadium oxide as a main component, wherein metal-to-insulator transition is indicated in the vicinity of room temperature in temperature variations of electric resistance, there is no hysteresis in a resistance change in response to temperature variations or the temperature width is small at less than 1.5K even if there is hysteresis, and highly accurate measurement can be provided when used in a bolometer.Upon producing the resistor film comprising vanadium oxide as a main component by treating a coating film of an organovanadium compound via laser irradiation or the like, a crystalline phase and a noncrystalline (amorphous) phase are caused to coexist in the resistor film.
US08871361B2
Novel phosphorescent tetradentate platinum (II) compounds comprising a twisted aryl group are provided. Also provided are novel phosphorescent tetradentate platinum (II) compounds comprising an imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridine moiety. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices to provide improved device efficiency, line shape and lifetime.
US08871358B2
Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a sulfate and a halide, such as sodium chloride. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.
US08871355B1
Composites that include a metal injection molded component bonded to a support substrate and methods for forming the composites are described. Methods include forming a metal injection molded green part that includes microstructures on a surface of the green part. The metal injection molded component is located adjacent to a support substrate with the microstructure ends contacting the support substrate at a contact surface. During sintering the metal injection molded component is bonded to the support substrate at the ends of the microstructures. The presence of the microstructures can allow for relative motion between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate during sintering. The large bonding surface area provided by the multiple points of contact between the ends of the microstructures and the support substrate can provide excellent bonding force between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate.
US08871351B2
An easy-open end which is excellent from the standpoint of sanitation and environmental friendliness yet satisfying both the close adhesion and the scratch resistance despite of using a bisphenol A-free primer. The easy-open end has a polyester film applied, via a primer, onto the inner surface of the end of an aluminum base sheet forming a surface-treating layer that contains a zirconium compound and/or a titanium compound and an organic compound, wherein the primer contains a polyester resin that contains not less than 30% by weight of a carboxyl group-introduced polyester resin, and a phenol resin at a weight ratio of 50:50 to 85:15.
US08871341B2
This invention relates to the modification of polyolefin structures, parts or components, used in assemblies to enhance the bonding of polar adhesives to surface of the polyolefin structures. Disclosed herein are novel articles comprising polyolefin structures having one or more surfaces modified according to the invention. The polyolefin structures have one or more surfaces with an epoxy resin layer disposed directly on the surface and then disposed on the epoxy resin layer is a layer of one or more compounds, oligomers or prepolymers having reactive isocyanate groups. The invention is also a method for modifying one or more surfaces of a polyolefin structure by successively depositing on the surfaces an epoxy resin layer disposed and a layer of one or more compounds, oligomers or prepolymers having reactive isocyanate groups. Also disclosed are kits of the modified polyolefin structures and one or more of adhesives or coatings having polar reactive groups. Further disclosed are methods of bonding the modified polyolefin structures to other substrates by contacting adhesives having polar reactive groups with the modified surfaces and the other substrates with the adhesive disposed therebetween. Also disclosed are coating methods which comprise contacting one or more coatings comprising polar reactive groups with the modified surfaces of the polyolefin structure.
US08871339B2
A modified clay is provided, which includes a layered clay material intercalated with a modifier having a conjugated double bond and capable of producing free radicals when heated. A clay-polymer composite is also provided, which includes a polymer material and the modified clay, wherein the modified clay is dispersed in the polymer material and at least partially exfoliated. The modifier is capable of producing free radicals when heated to scavenge free radicals generated from thermal cracking or burning of the polymer material to prevent further thermal cracking of the polymer material.
US08871335B2
Provided are solar control laminates comprising a solar control film and a polymeric sheet. The solar control film comprises a polymeric film coated with a coating comprising inorganic infrared absorbing nanoparticles. Preferably, inorganic infrared absorbing nanoparticles comprise nanoparticles of antimony tin oxide (ATO), indium tin oxide (ITO), lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) or mixtures thereof. Optionally, the solar control laminate also comprises a rigid sheet, such as a glass sheet.
US08871330B2
The present invention relates to a thermal and/or sound insulation system with resistance to elevated as well as low temperatures comprising at least one inner layer (A) obtained from temperature invariant and/or temperature resistant material as decoupling layer, at least one layer (B) as intermediate temperature gradient layer comprising temperature invariant and/or temperature resistant material, and at least one outer layer (C) as insulation layer comprising an expanded polymer blend, the process for manufacturing of such a system and the use of such system.
