US08918399B2
This document discusses, among other things, a method for discovering a new topic. The method includes identifying a first topic within a first document and comparing the first topic to a first set of topics. The method then determines whether an emergence time for the first topic can be identified. The first topic is recognized as a new topic based on the comparison between the first set of topics and the emergence time for the first topic. For example, when the first topic does not exist within the first set of topics and the emergence time for the first topic can be identified, the first topic is recognized as a new topic.
US08918378B1
An extent-based storage architecture is implemented by a storage server. The storage server generates a new extent identifier for cloning a source extent identified by a source extent identifier and stored at a source data structure that includes a length value providing a length of the source extent, an offset value and a reference count value that provides a number of data containers that reference the source extent identifier. The storage server updates a data structure for a cloned version of the data container for storing the new extent identifier that points to the source extent identifier and includes an extent length value and offset value different from length value and the offset value of the source data structure.
US08918373B2
A dynamic message controller is provided. The message provider includes a plurality of message descriptors and a message parser. Each message descriptor includes a unique pattern for a message that corresponds to a specific type of message received by the message controller. The message parser module is configured to match incoming messages with a select one of the message descriptors based on matched message patterns. The message parser module is further configured to load the matched message descriptor and parse an associated incoming message based on the matched message descriptor.
US08918363B2
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A computing system receives a first request to insert one or more first data values into a database table. The computing system identifies that first data stored by the database table is stored in a first logical partition of a logical collection of data. The logical collection of data is designated for replication among multiple data centers such that a copy of the logical collection of data is designated to be stored by each of the multiple data centers. The logical collection of data is logically partitioned into multiple logical partitions which together comprise the logical collection of data. The computing system sends, by the computing system and to the first data center, the first request to insert the one or more first data values into the database table.
US08918351B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to providing transposable access to a synapse array using column aggregation. One embodiment comprises a neural network including a plurality of electronic axons, a plurality of electronic neurons, and a crossbar for interconnecting the axons with the neurons. The crossbar comprises a plurality of electronic synapses. Each synapse interconnects an axon with a neuron. The neural network further comprises a column aggregation module for transposable access to one or more synapses of the crossbar using column aggregation.
US08918341B2
A system and method for generating a return label for merchandise being returned from a buyer or consumer in a first country to a merchant in a second country. A name and address of a consumer in the first country desiring to return merchandise and merchant or seller information including a merchant identifier is received. An address for receiving returns for the merchant or seller in the second country is accessed based on the merchant information. One or more machine readable identifiers for use by a first country carrier and for use by a second country carrier based at least on the consumer information, and information for routing the return merchandise are generated. A return label for merchandise being returned from the consumer to the merchant is generated. The return label can include the machine readable identifiers and a customs declaration for the merchandise.
US08918338B1
A method and system for the issuance of Instant Credit has an Instant Credit engine that performs instantaneous analysis. The method and system can operate along side existing “batch” processes. In addition, the method and system offer various channels of distribution for the Instant Credit products. With the present invention, Instant Credit and other Instant services (e.g., instant account balance transfers, etc.) can be obtained via, Internet, point-of-sale and other distribution channels. The present system also enables highly dynamic product offerings, which can be generated “instantaneously” based on a variety of factors, such as, for example, the channels of distribution (e.g., telephone or Internet), the product sought and/or even the particular individual and/or entity that is applying for a line of credit.
US08918334B2
Systems and methods of conducting a payment transaction using a mobile phone having a camera. The systems and methods receive an image of a merchant access device and optionally location data from a mobile device of a user engaged in the transaction. The systems and methods also receive transaction information associated with the transaction and account information associated with an account of the user. The systems and methods use the information to authorize or decline the transaction.
US08918331B2
A method for placing online advertisements includes the step of displaying a primary advertisement on a first web page. The method includes the steps of initiating a timer to measure a first time period for which the primary advertisement is displayed. At the end of the first time period, the primary advertisement is switched to display a secondary advertisement on the first web page. In another embodiment, a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium when executed by a processor, performs the method for placing online advertisements. In yet another embodiment, a system to place online advertisements includes a display output to display a primary advertisement on a first web page. The system includes a timer to be initialized to a first time period. The system further includes, an advertisement controller, coupled to the display output and the timer.
US08918329B2
A system for delivering targeted content to a device includes a database and a processor. The database stores anonymous identifications for a plurality of customers of a financial institution. Each anonymous identification is associated with financial information for a respective customer of the financial institution. The processor includes software that is configured to classify consumers, create a targeted list of content viewers, and deliver a targeted advertisement over a network to a device used by a content viewer on the targeted list. The classifications can be based on the financial information associated with each anonymous identification. The target list of content viewers can be based on at least one selected classification. The advertisement can be delivered to a device used by a content viewer on the targeted list after the device has been used to log onto an application offered by the at least one financial institution.
US08918324B2
A method for coding and decoding an audio signal or speech signal and an apparatus adopting the method are provided.
US08918322B1
A personalized text-to-speech (pTTS) system provides a method for converting text data to speech data utilizing a pTTS template representing the voice characteristics of an individual. A memory stores executable program code that converts text data to speech data. Text data represents a textual message directed to a system user and speech data represents a spoken form of text data having the characteristics of an individual's voice. A processor executes the program code, and a storage device stores a pTTS template and may store speech data. The pTTS system can be used to provide various services that provide immediate spoken presentation of the speech data converted from text data and/or combine stored speech data with generated speech data for spoken presentation.
US08918317B2
Non-verbalized tokens, such as punctuation, are automatically predicted and inserted into a transcription of speech in which the tokens were not explicitly verbalized. Token prediction may be integrated with speech decoding, rather than performed as a post-process to speech decoding.
US08918312B1
Assigning sentiment to themes is disclosed. Reputation data extracted from at least one data source is received. The reputation data includes user-authored reviews. The user-authored reviews include text and at least one rating. For a first review included in the reputation data, at least one keyword is determined using the first review's text. A sentiment is assigned for a theme associated with the keyword based at least in part on the first review's rating.
US08918308B2
Approaches for translating a transliterated search query are provided. An approach includes receiving a search query containing a transliterated word. The approach also includes determining a source language corresponding to the transliterated word. The approach further includes converting the transliterated word to a word in the source language. The approach additionally includes translating the word in the source language to a word in a target language. The approach also includes performing a search using the word in the target language.
US08918304B2
System and method for tuning geo-location in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) networks
Various methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for determining a location estimate of user equipment in a mobile network. For example, a method may include receiving measurement data that includes a time of arrival indication of data communicated between the user equipment and base stations of the mobile network. The method may further include processing only the received measurement data that is within a particular time window and excluding some of the received measurement data outside the particular time window. The method may further include determining a sync value based on the received measurement data within the time window. The sync value may synchronize timing between at least two base stations of the mobile network. The method may include determining a location of the user equipment based on the sync value and the measurement data. The method may include geometric or linear optimization of the determined location estimate.
US08918289B2
There is provided a combustible gas detection apparatus with a gas sensor and a control device. The gas sensor includes first and second heating resistors each having a resistance that changes depending on a combustible gas concentration of gas under measurement. The control device includes an energization control section that alternately energizes the first and second heating resistors, a first calculation section that calculates a first calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the first heating resistor during energization of the first heating resistor, a second calculation section that calculates a second calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the second heating resistor during energization of the second heating resistor, and an anomaly judgment section that judges the occurrence of an anomaly in the first heating resistor by comparison of the first and second calculation values.
US08918276B2
Provided is an apparatus and method associated with a location based service, and an apparatus for integrated positioning that may sense positioning-associated information that is in proximity to a user. The apparatus may hierarchically classify the sensed positioning-associated information into multiple categories of accuracy based on a predetermined criterion, and estimate the location of the user in order of low accuracy information to more precise accuracy information.
US08918270B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless traffic sensor system. The system includes a plurality of wireless traffic sensors collecting traffic information from one or more vehicles that pass by; and at least one wireless communication device that receives the traffic information from at least one of the wireless traffic sensors and relays the traffic information to a wireless communication tower in vicinity. At least one of the wireless traffic sensors is placed inside a container and has a mounting flange that lays over edge of the container and is affixed to the container by one or more spring clips. The spring clips are not physically accessible once the wireless traffic sensor is affixed to the container, and are released only upon receiving a coded wireless electromagnetic signal or by a special tool that matches to a key inside the wireless traffic sensor.
US08918268B2
A malfunction detecting device for an internal combustion engine is mounted on a vehicle and includes an engine and a control unit. The engine is a multi-cylinder engine and is a bi fuel-enabled engine which is capable of switching plural kinds of fuels including a gas fuel and which can use bifuel. The control unit detects, in case of detecting a malfunction with respect to an imbalance of an air fuel ratio among the cylinders at a time of an operation based on the gas fuel, the malfunction based on variation of pressure pulsations of the gas fuel due to a fuel injection.
US08918263B2
A disclosed power machine has a power source with a rotational output that drives a first axle assembly with first and second wheels with one of the first and second wheels being a sensed wheel. Wheel speed and rotational speed sensors monitor the rotation speed of the first sensed wheel and the rotational output, respectively. A controller communicates with the wheel speed sensor, the rotational output speed sensor, and a braking system that is operable to brake the first and second wheels. A controller calculates, as a function of the sensed wheel and rotational output speeds, a traction score indicative of whether one of the first wheel and second wheel is slipping and signals to the braking system to brake the first wheel when the traction score indicates that the first wheel is slipping and brake the second wheel when the traction score indicates that the second wheel is slipping.
US08918262B2
A pressure control device of a vehicle, including a pressure controller of a fluid pressure brake system for brake slip-dependent control, including a relay valve having a supply port supplied by a supply pressure, a venting port connected to a pressure sink, a control port and at least two working ports, in which a working port is assigned to at least one brake cylinder and the other working port is assigned to at least one brake cylinder of another wheel, in which each working port of the relay valve is connected to a 2/2-way valve controlled by a control unit and assigned to a respective vehicle side and establishes a connection between the relevant working port and the assigned brake cylinder or blocks the connection, depending on control unit actuation, and in which the control port of the relay valve is connectable to a brake control pressure formed in accordance with the braking input, to a supply pressure of a pressure reservoir or to a pressure sink by a valve system formed by one 3/2-way or two 2/2-way solenoid valves and controlled by the control unit.
US08918253B2
An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.
US08918252B2
A system for use in a vehicle, including a steering element situated opposite a driver seat in a vehicle, the steering element including a plurality of proximity sensors encased in the periphery of the steering element operable to detect hand gestures along the outer periphery of the steering element, an interactive deck housed in the vehicle, for providing at least one of radio broadcast, video broadcast, audio entertainment, video entertainment and navigational assistance in the vehicle, and a processor housed in the vehicle, coupled with the proximity sensors and the deck, operable to identify the hand gestures detected by the proximity sensors, and to control the deck in response to thus-identified hand gestures.
US08918239B2
Embodiments of the invention may transfer energy from a flywheel motor-generator to a capacitor bank in response to detecting an input to increase the speed of a vehicle, and transfer energy from a drive wheel motor-generator to a capacitor bank in response to detecting an input to decrease the speed of the vehicle. The flywheel motor-generator may function to transfer energy to and from a flywheel included in a gyroscope-stabilizer of the vehicle, while the capacitor bank, which includes a battery, may function to transfer energy to and from a drive wheel of the vehicle.
US08918236B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling attitude of a vehicle using a reaction wheel onboard the vehicle. One exemplary method involves receiving a torque command for adjusting the attitude of the vehicle using the reaction wheel, determining a phase error of the reaction wheel based at least in part on the torque command, and determining a motor torque command for the reaction wheel based on the phase error. The motor torque command is provided to an electric motor of the reaction wheel to apply a corresponding torque to the rotor of the reaction wheel. The relationship between the magnitude of the motor torque command and the magnitude of the phase error is nonlinear. In exemplary embodiments, the magnitude of the motor torque command exceeds the stiction torque, at least instantaneously, when the reaction wheel has fallen behind an expected position by more than a threshold amount.
US08918232B2
A method and system for establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a handheld communications device (HCD) and a vehicle telematics unit. In some instances, the communication may be established following a disconnection event between the telematics unit and a wireless carrier network. The SRWC may include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct as well as other suitable protocols or technologies. Once SRWC is established, the telematics unit may receive a vehicle command from the HCD and perform the command.
US08918217B2
A reverse osmosis separation process is disclosed, such as for desalination and waste water reuse process, wherein an effectiveness of membrane cleaning can be estimated. Exemplary embodiments operate the reverse osmosis membrane cleaning process for a controlled time for cleaning and with a controlled value of chemical concentration in a chemical liquor prepared for cleaning the membrane. A method can include estimating fouling status of the membrane and determining a controlled value of chemical concentration in the chemical liquor, and a controlled time for cleaning based on the fouling status of the membrane.
US08918211B2
A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulated instruments extending out of its distal end. A controller is configured to command manipulation of one of the articulated instruments towards a state commanded by operator manipulation of an input device while commanding sensory feedback to the operator indicating a difference between the commanded state and a preferred pose of the articulated instrument, so that the sensory feedback serves to encourage the operator to return the articulated instrument back to its preferred pose.
US08918204B2
A transport unit (1) is provided for workpieces (2), in particular sheet metal parts, between neighboring placement areas or machining devices (3, 4), in particular presses. The transport unit (1) includes a multi-axis robot (5) having a gripper tool (9). A controllable transfer unit (6) is also provided that is guided by the robot (5). The unit includes an advancement unit (7) and a pivot unit (8) for the gripper tool (9).
US08918197B2
As the possible variations of “Hearing Thresholds”, “Hearing Loudness bandwidths” and “Voice Intonation” characteristics of people are finite, it is proposed to set a Database of these characteristics, where the data elements fully describe the Hearing and Talking characteristics of anyone, while many have the same characteristics. Thus any voice communication between two parties may be optimized by correcting the intensities of the call in the spectral domain, differently for each party and each ear. The optimizations are automatic given the “codes” of the parties and have a minimal latency. The system may be implemented either centrally in the world-wide-web or at the edges, in cellular phones, landline phones, VoIP, VoIM and in the audio parts of entertainment devices.
US08918195B2
A system is described for enabling a user to listen to songs on a network-enabled device, including an embedded receiver for receiving at least one song list, and for receiving music streamed over a wireless network, list navigation software, for navigating the at least one song list and selecting a desired song therefrom, using a keypad communicatively coupled with the network-enabled device, an embedded transmitter for transmitting a song selection to a tracking server, and an embedded audio player, for playing the music streamed to the network-enabled device over the wireless network, a tracking server, including a data store including at least one song list, a receiver for receiving a song selection from said network-enabled device, the song selection comprising an ID for a selected song, and a transmitter for transmitting the at least one song list to the network-enabled device, and for transmitting the received song selection to a media server, and a media server, including a data store including audio files for the songs listed in the song list, an audio streamer, a receiver for receiving an instruction from said tracking server to transmit the selected song to the network-enabled device, and a transmitter for streaming the selected song to the network-enabled device. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described.
US08918193B2
An apparatus including a pledget; and an anchor disposed through the pledget in a manner to form a loop over a surface of the pledget, wherein the anchor comprises electrically conductive material. A kit including a pledget; an anchor of an electrically conductive material including at least one end having a structure capable of puncturing myocardial tissue; and a heart wire. A method including placing an electrically conductive portion of a heart wire between a pledget and an anchor coupling the pledget to a heart of a patient; and establishing conductive contact between the anchor and the heart wire. An advantage of the apparatus and method is that an anchor may be placed in healthy myocardial tissue and a heart wire electrically connected to the anchor may be removed with minimal risk of bleeding.
US08918187B2
Medical leads included coiled filars that have longitudinally straight ends. The coiled filars may be coiled at a constant pitch until reaching the point where the filars become longitudinally straight. The coiled filars may reside within a central lumen of the lead body, while the longitudinally straight portions may reside in a region where electrical connectors are present and where filar passageways provide a pathway for the filars to exit the central lumen and bond with the electrical connectors. The coiled filars may be created with longitudinally straight ends using a body that includes longitudinally straight holes that receive the filars and maintain the longitudinally straight configuration while the remaining portion of the filars is being coiled.
US08918174B2
An implantable medical device system, external programmer, and method of indicating the status of a power source in a medical device implanted within a patient. An actual status of the power source is maintained at the medical device. A status indicator of an external programmer indicates an estimated status of the power source, which can be reconciled with the actual status of the power source when the external programmer is placed in telecommunicative contact with the implantable medical device.
US08918164B2
A system and method for detection of colorimetric abnormalities within a body lumen includes an image receiver for receiving images from within the body lumen. Also included are a transmitter for transmitting the images to a receiver, and a processor for generating a probability indication of presence of colorimetric abnormalities on comparison of color content of the images and at least one reference value.
US08918151B2
A portable device and method thereof are disclosed. The method includes recognizing a mode of the portable terminal; monitoring a sensitivity corresponding to an antenna of the portable terminal; sensing a movement corresponding to the portable terminal; invoking an application when both of following conditions occur: a degradation of the sensitivity is determined; and the movement exceeding a predetermined displacement is determined.
US08918148B2
Systems and methods for controlling one or more sensor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of a mobile device for controlling one or more sensor devices comprises an application processor (AP), a low power personal area network (PAN) module configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device for establishing a connection with the external device, at least one sensor device, and a controller coupled to the AP, the low power PAN module and the at least one sensor device. The controller is configured to monitor a connection request signal communicated from the external device via the low power PAN module while the AP is in a sleep mode, and generate sensor data by processing each signal from the at least one sensor device during the sleep mode, where the controller is supplied with quiescent current from a battery of the mobile device during the sleep mode.
US08918134B2
A communications system and method for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with multiple antennas. A first communications device enables a first antenna configuration in accordance with a first pre-determined rule. A second communications device activates a second antenna configuration in accordance with a second predetermined rule. First and second messages are exchanged between the first and second communications devices. The first message includes the power management profile of the first communications device and the second message includes information pertinent to a power management profile of the second communications device, and signal integrity information determined by the second communications device from the received first message. The first communications device enables a third antenna configuration in accordance with the first pre-determined rule and the second communications device activates a fourth antenna in accordance with the second pre-determined rule configuration after the first and second messages have been exchanged.
US08918129B2
A method and system is provided for communicating four distinct data signals over a single frequency. Data signals carrying first and second data are polarized in two distinct circular polarities and are transmitted. Signals consisting of third data signal and a 180 degree out of phase equal amplitude inverse of third data signal are transmitted together in two orthogonal linear polarities. Signals consisting of fourth data signal and of 180 degree out of phase equal amplitude inverse of said fourth data signal are transmitted together in two orthogonal linear polarities and at a 45 degree rotation from said third data signals. The circular signals are received without interfering linear signals since the inverse linear signals cancel in the circularly polarized antenna at reception. A method for canceling the interfering circular signals from the linear signals is disclosed. The amount of distinct data transmitted over the single frequency is doubled.
US08918124B2
A communications platform for mobile devices for transmitting data (such as alert messages) to at least one mobile device user comprises a server and an alert client, which client may be responsible for receiving alert messages sent by the server and may further perform specific functions on a mobile communications device to insure that the alert message does not remain unnoticed or ignored. The platform may further comprise a cell broadcast service server to limit transmission of an alert message to mobile device users in a particular locality or localities.
US08918120B2
A handheld wireless device makes a request for service from a server of a business on a global network, the request originating from the wireless device is automatically routed to the closest server of the business that is geographically closest to the location of the wireless device as determined by a GPS function in the device, or by a router server in the wireless network based on the group of cell towers being connected to by the wireless device, or based on the location of the wireless device in a global telephone network database, for faster access to the service and a response there from.
US08918118B2
Method for allocating an operating address to a bus-enabled operating device for luminaires, including determining an absolute position or a relative position of the operating device by a position detection device, converting the position into an operating address, and storing the operating address for the operating device.
US08918114B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate dynamically adjusting a number of resources, such as channels, frequencies, tones, etc., occupied by a node (e.g., an access point, and access terminal, etc.) in accordance with various aspects. A level of service experienced at the node may be determined, and a resource utilization message (RUM) may be generated if the level of service is at or below a predetermined threshold level (e.g., an acceptable level of service). The RUM may indicate a number of resources selected by the node for subsequent use, and may be transmitted to one or more other nodes.
US08918104B2
A method used in a radio communication system including a first radio base station, a second radio base station that communicates with the first radio base station, a relay station which communicates with the second radio base station via the first radio base station, and a mobile station, the method transmits a request, by the second radio base station, for requesting the first radio base station to communicate with the relay station for the second radio base station and communicating, by the requested first radio base station, with the relay station for the second radio base station and transmits a communication result to the second radio base station.
US08918100B2
A system and a method are provided for managing network activation with a carrier and registration with a service provider. In one example, the method determines a network activation status. If the network is not activated, a utility is used to perform the activation. Further, the status of registration with a provider is determined. If not registered, a request is sent to a server of the service provider for a registration file configured to gather user registration information. The registration file is then received from the server. The registration file is executed on the personal computer. Data gathered by the registration file is then returned to the service provider's server to complete the registration procedures.
US08918098B2
A device and method for intercepting and analyzing traffic for terminals connected to a telecommunications network, according to wireless technology, using telecommunications standards. A terminal is connected to a telecommunication network such that the terminal can transmit and receive with the network. The terminal executes at least one service on the network in accordance with at least one communication protocol and a graphic user interface. The device also intercepts and stores data frames exchanged over the network by said terminal in the context of services being executed, and analyzes the stored frames to deduce parameters characterizing the connection of the terminal to the network. The device also identifies the various executed services and their associated instantaneous rate, and while allowing real time viewing of the parameters characterizing the connection via the graphic user interface.
US08918091B1
A method of provisioning a wireless device. The method comprises provisioning by a computer a first shared service credential of a first wireless device and a unique hardware identifier of the first wireless device in a wireless service provider network, wherein the first shared service credential is programmed into a plurality of different wireless devices including the first wireless device; sending by a computer a wireless access protocol message to the first wireless device directed to the first shared service credential; in response to an open mobile alliance device management rendezvous message sent by the first wireless device, transmitting by a computer a service credential to the first wireless device, where the service credential is different from the first shared service credential; and provisioning the service credential and the unique hardware identifier of the first wireless device in the wireless service provider network.
US08918081B2
A network service provider computer remotely overrides and controls user notification settings of a mobile communications device by establishing one or more authentication keys by a server computer for a specific mobile communication device; transmitting the one or more authentication keys to the specific mobile communication device to establish a trusted relationship; responsive to an event or signal requiring overriding of user notification settings, preparing a notification control message including at least one notification control parameter; and transmitting to the specific mobile communications device the notification control message to cause it to implement and override one or more user notification settings according to the at least one notification control parameter.
US08918065B2
The present invention discloses a method for transmitting a same pilot sequence from a transmitting end to a receiving end in a multi-antenna wireless communication system. In particular, the method comprises the steps of: setting an identical pilot pattern in a plurality of transmitting antennas, allocating respectively different pilot sequences to the set pilot patterns, and transmitting the allocated pilot sequences to the receiving end, wherein at least one of the transmitting antennas forms a valid communication link with one of the receiving antennas. Here, when there is a plurality of valid communication links, the plurality of communication links are mutually independent.
US08918061B2
A method and apparatus for reducing feedback transmission overhead in wireless communications. Averaging, compression, or both are used to reduce a number of bits needed for transmission of channel quality information.
US08918060B2
In a mobile communication device a loopback technique is used to enable the receive chain circuitry and digital baseband block to perform self tests on the transmit chain circuitry of the same mobile communication device for 2G and 2.5G operating Bands and channels. A transmit chain circuit is set to transmit a selected receive Band channel, which is attenuated via a loopback path within the mobile communication device's front end module and, in some embodiments, via a leakage signal path between adjacent or proximate LNA inputs of separate receive chain circuits.
US08918041B2
A fixing device includes a flexible fuser belt, a stationary, tubular belt holder, a heater, a stationary fuser pad, and a rotatable pressure member. The flexible fuser belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration for rotation in a circumferential, rotational direction thereof. The tubular belt holder is inside the loop of the fuser belt to retain the belt in shape during rotation. The heater is inside the belt holder to emit infrared radiation for heating the belt. The fuser pad is inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member is opposite the fuser pad with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The pressure member presses against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The belt holder has an infrared-transmissive portion at least where the belt holder faces the heater.
US08918036B2
A developing device includes a developing roller supplying toner to the photoreceptor and a toner layer regulatory member regulating the layer thickness of toner supported on the surface of the developing roller. The toner layer regulatory member has flexible sheets abutting the developing roller and a holder holding the flexible sheets. The multiple flexible sheets are formed along the axial direction of the developing roller and arranged side by side across the circumferential direction of the developing roller. Each flexible sheet has a projected end as a free end which spreads across the length of the developing roller and projects toward the developing roller while the other end side is held as a supported end by the holder. The sheet holder has depressions for holding the flexible sheets in a movable manner.
US08918021B2
A damper device having: an input member into which a rotary drive force is inputted; a passive member which receives the rotary drive force inputted into the input member and rotates; a viscoelastic material which is provided between the input member and the passive member; and a flexible member which prevents displacement of the viscoelastic material in a diametrical direction while not preventing a shake of the viscoelastic material in a rotating direction.
US08918018B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main apparatus body, a photoconductor, an exposure mechanism, a frame, and a regulating mechanism. The regulating mechanism includes a fixing member, a movable member, and a biasing member. The frame includes a first contacting surface. The exposure mechanism includes second and third contacting surfaces, and the fixing member includes a fourth contacting surface, first and second facing surfaces. The movable member includes third and fourth facing surfaces. When the exposure mechanism is disposed at the approach position, the biasing member allows the second and third facing surfaces to make a contact with the second and third contacting surfaces, respectively. When the exposure mechanism is disposed at the separation position, the biasing member allows the first and fourth facing surfaces to make a contact with the first and fourth contacting surfaces, respectively.
US08918011B2
A unit for use with an image forming apparatus. The unit includes a developer accommodating portion, constituted by a frame, for accommodating a developer. A sheet member, provided on the frame in contact with a rotatable member, prevents the developer from leaking out from a gap between the developer accommodating portion and the rotatable member. A resin member fixes the sheet member on the frame. The resin member is formed on the frame by injection molding of a resin material and is fixed to the sheet member by welding. The resin material has an elastic modulus that is less than that of the frame.
US08918005B2
A reflection sensor includes the following elements. A light emitting unit emits light to an area of an image forming apparatus where first detection images of plural colors used for detecting amounts of their misregistration are formed. A first light restricting member/configuration restricts light emitted from the light emitting unit. A light receiver is disposed in an optical path of regular reflection light, and receives reflected light and outputs a signal representing an amount of received light. A second light restricting member/configuration is disposed in the optical path of the regular reflection light and restricts light to be received by the light receiver. The value obtained by dividing a diameter of the first light restricting member/configuration by that of the second light restricting member/configuration ranges from substantially 0.5 to 1.9, and the diameters of the first and second light restricting members/configurations are each 1.5 mm or smaller.
US08918001B2
A fixing apparatus includes: two rotatable members, for forming a nip, including a region where an outer diameter is increased from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion; a heater; and a controller for controlling a heat generation distribution of the heater. The controller is capable of controlling the heater so that the heat generation distribution of the heater is such that a heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion is larger than that at the longitudinal central portion in a period from start of the heater until the recording material reaches the nip. A ratio of the heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion to that at the longitudinal central portion is larger when a cumulative amount of use of the fixing apparatus is larger than a predetermined amount than when the cumulative amount of use is smaller than the predetermined amount.
US08917996B2
Embodiments of the concepts, systems, and techniques disclosed herein are directed to an optically powered, direct-sampling, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that provides fully formatted, serialized data for transmission over optical fiber from a remote location. Such a system and method of use thereof requires less electrical power, fewer components, and less complexity than previous systems and methods and achieves an all-optical-fiber implementation that provides complete electrical and electromagnetic interference (EMI) isolation for the remote ADC. These concepts, systems, and techniques simplify the overall remote sensing architecture by locating the ADC near the sensor and transferring pure digitized signals back to the processor.
US08917988B2
A system to provide carrier frequency control in an optical network includes a first network element monitoring performance information and a second network element coupled to the first network element by the optical network. The second network element receives performance information from the first network element using an administration channel bandwidth, and modifies a carrier frequency associated with the second network element based on the performance information such that the carrier frequency is aligned to a center of a signal channel bandwidth. A method of providing carrier frequency control includes transmitting performance information by the first network element to the second network element using an administration channel bandwidth, and modifying the carrier frequency by the second network element based on the performance information such that the carrier frequency is aligned to the center of the signal channel bandwidth. The administrative channel bandwidth can be within or outside the signal channel bandwidth. A corresponding computer-readable device is disclosed.
US08917985B2
An imaging apparatus 10 comprises a lower housing 11, an upper housing 21, a lower LCD 12, an upper LCD 22, an inner camera 23, and a microphone. The upper housing 21 has a lower side which is connected to an upper side of the lower housing 11 such that the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are foldable. The lower LCD 12 has a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the lower housing 11 when folded. The upper LCD 22 has a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the upper housing 21 when folded. The imaging section is provided in the inner surface of the upper housing 22 and between the display screen of the lower LCD 12 and the display screen of the upper LCD 22. The microphone is provided in the inner housing of the upper housing 21 and between the display screen of the lower LCD 12 and the display screen of the upper LCD 22.
US08917983B2
An image-pickup apparatus to which a lens unit that includes an image-pickup optical system including a focus lens is attachable includes an image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert an object image formed via the lens unit that has been attached, and to generate an image signal, and a controller configured to generate information on driving of the focus lens in the lens unit based upon the image signal and to provide focus control, the controller communicating data with the lens unit, wherein the controller transmits information on a driving target position of the focus lens to the lens unit in a first control, and transmits information on a driving direction and driving speed of the focus lens to the lens unit in a second control different from the first control.
US08917975B2
A moving picture/still picture processing system includes a server and communication terminal communicating by network with the server. The communication terminal sends the server a request causing the server to decorate the picture according to a designated decoration method. When the server receives the request, the server generates request identification information (RII) identifying the request, stores the decoration method designated in the request and correlated with the RII, and transmits the RII to the communication terminal. When the communication terminal receives the RII, the communication terminal adds the RII to the picture and transmits it to the server. When the server receives the picture from the communication terminal, the server decorates the picture according to the decoration method corresponding to the RII that added to the picture, stores the decorated picture, and delivers the decorated picture that corresponds to a delivery request.
US08917974B2
A digital broadcasting receiver, programming a recording a broadcast program, and a method thereof are disclosed. The digital broadcasting receiver can register a programmed channel including one or more channels, stores broadcast data received from the programmed channel as a programmed-recording program in accordance with a predetermined criterion, and stores a next programmed-recording program to replace the stored programmed-recording program if the programmed-recording program is completely stored and broadcast data corresponding to the next programmed-recording program is received. With the present invention, it becomes possible to program a recording although no information on a broadcast program is available, to view a currently-broadcast program from the beginning regardless of when the TV is turned on, and program a recording to exclude commercial programs.
US08917970B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a communication unit which performs communication with a management server; and a data processing unit which performs copy processing for recording recorded data of a first medium in a second medium, wherein the data processing unit performs processing for displaying a content list having a data entry compatible with a copy unit included in recorded data of the first medium on a display unit on the basis of the received information from the management server, and the data processing unit displays a data entry in which the data form of each copy unit is identifiable in accordance with selection information included in the received information from the management server.
US08917968B2
Embodiments disclosed herein include furcation plugs having segregated channels to guide epoxy into passageways for optical fiber furcation, and related assemblies and methods. The furcation plugs secure furcated fiber optic cables to fiber optic equipment to prevent the furcated fiber optic cables from being damaged. The furcation plugs, as part of fiber optic furcation assemblies, are typically installed on fiber optic equipment that provides fiber optic components to which the optical fibers are connected. The fiber optic cables may be inserted into fiber passageways of the furcation plugs and secured to the furcation plugs with epoxy. The epoxy may be guided into the fiber passageways through segregated epoxy channels of the furcation plug. In this manner, epoxy may be more uniformly distributed within the fiber passageway to improve the epoxy bonds by reducing the occurrence of air pockets known as voids, which can weaken the epoxy bonds and cause attenuation.
US08917962B1
In embodiments of this invention, light emitting devices comprise film-based lightguides comprising at least one light input coupler and an array of coupling lightguides that are folded or bent and disposed substantially above one another. The edges of the coupling lightguides may form part of a light input surface. The light emitting device may comprise more than one light input coupler and the film may be less than 500 microns in thickness. In embodiments of this invention, methods of manufacturing lightguides and light input couplers comprise steps that translate linear fold regions of the coupling lightguides relative to each other such that the coupling lightguides are bent or folded above each other. In other embodiments of this invention, an electroluminescent sign, light fixture, frontlight for a reflective display, or a backlight for a transmissive display comprises a lightguide and light input coupler comprising coupling lightguides.
US08917955B2
A method and system for processing video data using multi-pixel scaling in a memory system are provided. The multi-pixel scaling may include reading pixel data for one or more data streams from the memory system into one or more scalers, wherein each of the plurality of data streams includes a plurality of pixels, scaling the pixel via the one or more scalers and outputting the scaled pixels from the one or more scalers. Pixel data may be sequential or parallel. The plurality of scalers may be in parallel, scaling sequential pixel data with independent phase control, or scaling parallel pixel data in substantially equal phase. Pixel data may be transposed, replicated, distributed and aligned prior to reading by scalers, and may be aligned merged and transposed after scaling. Scaling may include interpolation or sub sampling using pixel phase, position, step size and scaler quantities.
US08917945B2
A method and apparatus are provided for coding an image or a sequence of images, generating a data stream including data representative of pixel groups, referred to as blocks, in one of the images. The method includes: grouping blocks in a cluster of blocks according to the proximity of their respective values corresponding to at least one block parameter to be coded; determining a value of the parameter, the value being characteristic of said group of blocks; coding blocks of the cluster, where the values of the blocks for the parameter are coded implicitly by inheritance of the characteristic value or are coded as refinements relative to the characteristic value, and coding a data structure associated with the cluster of blocks, the data structure including data associated with the characteristic value.
US08917944B2
Visually encoded data is captured along with one or more visual elements, the encoded data is decoded and one composite view is displayed that incorporates information related to the decoding data, such as a decode confirmation or decoded data, and the visual elements. The recognition and decoding process may additionally provide for transforming the captured visual elements to accommodate the allocated display area of small sized display, such as the display associated with a handheld image capturing device. The invention is thus suited for capturing encoded data and branding elements, such as company or product logos, and displaying the branding elements in unison with data related to the decoded information.
US08917943B2
A method of making an image-based product includes providing an image collection having a plurality of digital images, each digital image having an image type; providing one or more image-type distributions, each image-type distribution corresponding to a theme and including a distribution of image types related to the theme; using a processor to automatically compare the image types of the digital images in the image collection to the image types in the image-type distribution; using the processor to automatically determine a match between the image types in the image collection and the image types in the image-type distribution; and selecting a group of digital images from the image collection having a distribution of image types specified by the determined matching image-type distribution. The method further includes assembling the digital images in the selected group of images into an image-based product and causing the construction of the image-based product.
US08917942B2
An information processing apparatus for matching a position and/or orientation of a measurement object with that of a model of the measurement object includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image of the measurement object, a calculation unit configured to calculate information indicating a surface shape of the measurement object based on the captured image, and a limitation unit configured to limit a position and/or orientation of the model based on the information indicating the surface shape.
US08917925B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for image reconstruction and enhancement, using a computer system. One method includes acquiring a plurality of images associated with a target anatomy; determining, using a processor, one or more associations between subdivisions of localized anatomy of the target anatomy identified from the plurality of images, and local image regions identified from the plurality of images; performing an initial image reconstruction based on image acquisition information of the target anatomy; and updating the initial image reconstruction or generating a new image reconstruction based on the image acquisition information and the one or more determined associations.
US08917917B2
A method for recognizing heart diseases in a cardiac echo video of a heart with an unknown disease using a spatio-temporal disease model derived from a training echo video, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of training models for heart diseases, wherein the cardiac echo videos are each derived from a known viewpoint and the disease of the heart is known; analyzing the video of the heart with the unknown disease by fitting a model of shape and motion for each frame and combining the results across the frames; and, reporting the disease using a classification method for choosing among the diseases of interest.
US08917911B2
Various methods for local binary pattern based facial feature localization. One example method includes determining an eye state classification of an input image. The example method may also include selecting a texture model for a global shape and an associated mean shape based on eye center positions and the eye state classification, and adjusting locations of feature points defined by the mean shape based on the texture model for the global shape and an associated global shape model. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US08917900B2
In a measurement apparatus, higher-quality measurement is realized in measurement of measurement object displacement or imaging of a two-dimensional image. In a controller, a light receiving signal of a photodiode is supplied to a displacement measuring unit of a sensor head in order to measure a height of a measurement object, and the height of a surface of the measurement object is measured based on the light receiving signal. Then, in the controller, image obtaining timing is determined based on the height of the measurement object. Specifically, a focus adjustment value corresponding to the computed height of the measurement object is obtained from the table, and an image obtaining signal is transmitted to an imaging device at the timing the focus adjustment value is realized. Therefore, a length between two points on the measurement object is computed from the thus obtained image based on the height of the measurement object.
US08917894B2
Earpieces and methods for acute sound detection and reproduction are provided. A method can include measuring an ambient sound level external to an ear canal at least partially occluded by the earpiece, monitoring a change in the ambient sound level for detecting an acute sound, estimating a proximity of the acute sound, and reproducing the acute sound within the ear canal responsive to detecting the acute sound and the proximity.
US08917875B2
A circuit for operating loudspeakers includes a first, second, third and fourth loudspeaker circuit, having one input each for injecting a signal and one output each for connecting a loudspeaker input. The loudspeaker circuits are designed to amplify the injected signal and to provide the amplified signal at the outputs thereof. The loudspeaker circuits can, for example, be used for a 2.1 sound system. The three channels for a 2.1 sound system can be implemented by an amplifier circuit with four loudspeaker circuits, one loudspeaker circuit each being required for the two stereo channels left and right. A subwoofer channel can be driven differentially by two loudspeaker circuits. The stereo channels are, by contrast, only still connected to one loudspeaker circuit each, and so the stereo channels require at least one further common ground cable.
US08917866B2
A telephone uses a locking mechanism for a handset where the handset includes a receiver part and a microphone part. The receiver part defines a receiving groove facing the microphone part. The telephone set includes a holding part to hold the handset. The holding part includes a first portion. The first portion defines a recess to receive the receiver part, and an accommodating space to receive the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is rotatably received in the accommodating space and is switchable between a first state and a second state. The locking mechanism has a locking block. In the second state, the locking block is locked in the receiving groove of the receiver part to prevent release of the handset from the telephone set.
US08917859B1
A system and method for automated communication to at least one end user. In one example, a system includes an interactive voice response (IVR) platform and a decision engine for creating a campaign that configures the IVR platform to perform outbound calls to the at least one end user to execute a task. The IVR based system calls the at least one end user based on the created campaign, records results of the call which indicate execution status of the task, and controls the future calls made by the campaign based on the results of the at least one call.
US08917858B2
A method and apparatus for providing a network based Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) service are disclosed. For example, the method receives a NB-FMC call request originating from a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) NB-FMC endpoint device or a non-SIP NB-FMC endpoint device, and processes the NB-FMC call request using a single hosted NB-FMC Application Server (AS).
US08917853B2
A method and system for enhancing problem resolution at a call center based on speech recognition of a caller includes, receiving an incoming call and generating call data based on speech recognition of the incoming call using a computer. The method generates and associates annotated metadata about the call data. A historical record is created which includes the call data and the annotated metadata. The historical record may be stored in a storage medium communicating with the computer. Context data is generated for the incoming call by analyzing the historical record to identify: a caller, a topic, a date and a stress level of the caller. The method compares the context data to historical records of previous calls. A topic probabilities analysis is conducted by comparing the context data to the historical records of previous calls, and a solution is determined for the topic based on the probabilities analysis.
US08917852B1
Outbound contact records for a contact center can be arranged as an ordered list reflecting a priority for reaching a party during defined time periods. For each time period, the corresponding prioritized list is used for originating outbound contacts. Originating outbound contacts involves first determining when an agent is available and determining an agent profile of the available agent. Then, records in the ordered list are searched to identify parties having a compatible called party profile matching the agent profile. When an agent is available, the selected contact records are used to generate outbound contacts and a responding party is matched to the agent. Other responding parties may be matched with other agents having the same agent profile or matched with second-best compatible agents. At certain conditions, the remaining records may be processed in a list-centric manner wherein a responding party is matched with any available agent.
US08917848B2
A method for controlling a call in a first controlled facility includes connecting an inmate in the first controlled facility to the call when each party of the call is verified, testing incoming audio on the call to detect a controlled facility tone from a second controlled facility, and transmitting a notification of a violation by the inmate when the controlled facility tone is detected in the incoming audio.
US08917847B2
In an example embodiment, a method for monitoring a conference call and notifying members of a breakout session to return to the conference call. The method comprises mixing input streams received from participants of a conference call and distributing mixed streams to the participants, a first stream is provided to participants attending the breakout session and a second stream is provided to remaining participants of the conference call. Speech from the second stream is converted to text and the text is searched for predefined keywords. An alert is sent to at least one participant in the breakout session responsive to detecting one of the predefined keywords.
US08917840B2
A first telephone number assigned to the first telephone is cryptographically hashed to generate a first message digest, and the first telephone sends a signal to a second telephone over a communication network, wherein the signal includes the first message digest. The second telephone receives the first signal and searches its contact records to determine whether a telephone number in one of the contact records generates a message digest that matches the message digest received. Then, in response to the second telephone determining that a telephone number in one of the contact records generates a message digest that matches the first message digest, the second telephone identifies the contact record that generates the matching message digest and provides audible or visual output of content from the identified contact record.
US08917839B2
Information, such as advertising, is presented to VoIP users via a combination of telephone and data streams during session initiation via an IP phone or a personal computer. A proxy server that receives the call request coordinates with a media server to transmit targeted advertising to the caller during the post dial delay interval. After the advertisement concludes, the call continues normally.
US08917829B2
Embodiments are provided for the automatic real-time recording and processing of media in a communications network based on the context of the media. In one embodiment, a media stream is received in an analysis module in a service platform in the communications network. The media stream may represent a communication session between a calling party and a call center in the network. The incoming media steam is analyzed to identify words comprising a context of the communication session. A determination is then made as to whether the context of the communication session is related to a set of business rules associated with the service platform which may automatically trigger the retention of a recording of the communication session. If the context of the communication session is related to the set of business rules, the retention of the communication session is automatically triggered in real-time at a recording module.
US08917827B2
An arrangement for allowing “hands-free” access to DTMF-controlled systems, such as one's voice mail messaging systems, utilizes a speech-to-DTMF tone application that monitors the communication between the user and the DTMF-controlled system. A speech recognition unit is utilized to retrieve certain voice commands (e.g., “next”, “skip”, “repeat”, “forward”, etc.) when uttered by the user. The application then translates the received commands into the proper DTMF tone sequence used by the DTMF-controlled system and transmits the DTMF tones to the system. The application is particularly useful in the cell phone environment and avoids the necessity of the user to constantly switch between using the keypad and listening to messages/commands from the system.
US08917825B2
A speech application implements a telephone-based commerce system and method which complements a core payment processing business and influences banks and other key partners to conduct such electronic business and commerce. The speech application includes a speech driven telephone interface for consumer shopping and order placement of commodity items; a consumer registration interface and secure process that ties in a credit card, debit card, or bank account; and a build-your-own-voice-store web application which includes a voice user interface with interactive voice response tailoring each voice store within the speech framework of the present invention and an inventory database. Multi-currency services, permitting pricing or payment in any chosen currency, as well as multiple spoken language processing of voice inputs are supported for performing voice commerce over telephones.
US08917823B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for transcribing information. A method includes: identifying a telephone number that once dialed has an associated message that is played or includes a response system; transcribing the message or information about the response system; storing the transcribed message or information in association with the telephone number in database; receiving a request from a user that includes the telephone number; and providing information about the transcribed information to the user.
US08917814B2
Disclosed is an X-ray generator (1) comprised of an electron emission element (10) which receives energy to emit electrons; a metal piece (20) which receives the electrons emitted from the electron emission element (10) to emit an X-ray; and energy supply portions (3, 5) which supply energy to the electron emission element (10), wherein the energy supply portions (3, 5) irradiate a pyroelectric element functioning as an electron emission element with, for example, ultraviolet pulsed light, and a high-energy local portion is formed in the pyroelectric element. Thus, the X-ray generator wherein the size thereof can be reduced, and an on/off control for the generation of X-ray can be easily performed, can be provided.
US08917808B2
The invention refers to a device and a method for handling a fuel assembly (3), which comprises a number of fuel rods extending between a lower part and an upper part of the fuel assembly, a debris filter located in the lower part of the fuel assembly and a casing surrounding the fuel rods. The device comprises a lifting device (15) for engaging, during a lifting operation, a fuel assembly located in a reactor vessel (1) and lifting the fuel assembly upwards and out from the reactor vessel. A conduit member is connected to the upper part of the fuel assembly. A pump (32) creates a flow of water through the conduit member and the fuel assembly during the lifting operation. The flow has such a size that possible debris particles contained in and/or immediately beneath the debris filter at least are retained in and/or immediately beneath the debris filter during the lifting operation.
US08917799B2
To compensate for roll-off while estimating a communication channel, an estimate of the channel is provided using a signal transmitted via the communication channel. The pilot tones positioned along the edges of the estimated channel are divided by the corresponding pilot tones of the received signal to generate a first number of ratios. An algorithm is thereafter applied to the first number of ratios to generate a second number of ratios associated with the non-pilot tones positioned along the edges of the estimated channel. Next, numbers that are inverse of the first and second number of ratios are applied to the pilot and non-pilot tones positioned along the edges of the estimated channel to compensate for the roll-offs in the estimated channel.
US08917794B2
A method for sending service information includes: judging whether a current ACM profile identifier (profile ID) is consistent with an ACM profile ID recorded in separately-stored coding and modulation information; when the current ACM profile ID is consistent with the ACM profile ID recorded in the separately-stored coding and modulation information, coding and modulating the service information according to the coding and modulation information; when the current ACM profile ID is inconsistent with the ACM profile ID recorded in the separately-stored coding and modulation information, coding and modulating the service information according to an ACM profile table; and sending the coded and modulated service information, where the coded and modulated service information carries the current ACM profile ID.
US08917793B2
The present invention provides a communication circuit, a communication network, and a connecting apparatus that can realize communication with very high reliability using a simple wiring system, that includes a communication line 2 comprising three or more signal lines 2a,2b,2c, a signal distributing section 4, that is connected to one end of the communication line 2, for distributing and transmitting a signal input into an input terminal 3i to respective signal lines 2a,2b,2c, and a majority selection receiving circuit 5, that is connected to the other end of the communication line 2, for comparing a plurality of reception signals received via the signal lines 2a,2b,2c and selecting reception signals which are most matched with one another as true so as to output them to an output terminal 30.
US08917781B2
A vehicular power line communication system includes a looped twisted pair wire, a master, and a slave. The master outputs a high-frequency signal to the twisted pair wire to transmit power and a signal. The slave includes a looped aperture antenna that receives high-frequency power of the twisted pair wire and a received power measurement portion that monitors received power received at the aperture antenna. The aperture antenna includes an aperture region facing an aperture region between twisted portions of the twisted pair wire.
US08917778B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit which receives image data of program contents and genre information regarding the program contents; a determining unit which determines a characteristic parameter indicating characteristics of a filter filtering a local image obtainable by decoding encoding data, which is generated by encoding the image data received by the receiving unit, in accordance with the genre information received by the receiving unit; a characteristic changing unit which changes the characteristics of the filter in accordance with the characteristic parameter determined by the determining unit; and an encoding unit which generates the encoding data by encoding the image data received by the receiving unit by executing a prediction process by use of a local decoded image filtered in accordance with the characteristics of the filter changed by the characteristic changing unit.
US08917767B2
The present invention provides an image display apparatus capable of reducing a judder and simultaneously weakening the degree of reducing the judder at the time of converting frame rate of a film signal using motion compensation. At the time of converting frame rate of a video signal by adding N (N: integer of 2 or larger) interpolation frames into between original frames neighboring each other along time base obtained from video images in original frames by using motion compensation so that interpolation positions of the video images in the N interpolation frames are set to a deviated position which is closer to the nearest video image in the original frames rather than positions obtained by equally dividing, into (N+1) portions, magnitude of video image motion between an earlier original frame and a following original frame along the time base.
US08917762B2
A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) slice for a receiver includes a plurality of non-speculative DFE taps; and 3 speculative DFE taps, wherein the 3 speculative DFE taps comprise first and second multiplexer stages, each of the first and second multiplexer stages including 4 comparator latches, each of the 4 comparator latches having a programmable offset; and a multiplexer that receives 4 comparator latch outputs from the 4 comparator latches and outputs a multiplexer stage output, wherein the multiplexer is controlled by previous symbol decisions dn-2 and dn-3; and wherein the 3 speculative taps further comprise a 2:1 decision multiplexer stage that receives the multiplexer stage outputs of the first and second multiplexer stages and is controlled by a previous symbol decision dn-1 to output a slice output signal dn.
US08917761B2
A method of facilitating wireless testing of multiple radio frequency (RF) signal transceiver devices under test (DUTs). Using multiple antennas within a shielded enclosure containing the DUTs, multiple wireless RF test signals radiated to the DUTs can have their respective signal phases controlled to maximize the direct-coupled signals to their respective intended DUTs while minimizing the cross-coupled signals. Additionally, the wireless RF test signals radiated to the DUTs can have their respective signal magnitudes controlled to normalize the direct-coupled signals to their respective intended DUTs while still sufficiently reducing the cross-coupled signals. As a result, compensation is provided for the multipath signal environment within the shielded enclosure, thereby simulating wired test signal paths during wireless testing of the DUTs.
US08917759B2
A transceiver is described. The transceiver includes a first injection-locked oscillator and a second injection-locked oscillator. The transceiver also includes a first phase-locked loop coupled with the first injection-locked oscillator. The first phase-locked loop is configured to generate a first frequency reference. Further, the transceiver includes a second phase-locked loop coupled the second injection-locked oscillator. The second phase-locked loop is configured to generate a second frequency reference. The transceiver includes a mixer configured to receive the first phase-locked loop output and configured to receive said second injection-locked oscillator output. The mixer is also configured to generate a carrier frequency signal based on the first injection-locked oscillator output and the second injection-locked oscillator output. And, the transceiver includes a modulator configured to receive said carrier frequency signal.
US08917758B2
A communication device includes: a reception element for receiving a signal treated with a setting of a modulation scheme based on a modulation scheme designation information and a controlling of a transmission power based on the transmission power designation information by an external transmitter, demodulating the received signal based on a modulation scheme control information, and outputting a received data; a reception level measurement element for measuring a signal level of the signal and outputting the reception level; a designation information output element for outputting the transmission power designation information correlated to the modulation scheme designation information and the modulation scheme based on the reception level; and a transmission element for transmitting the modulation scheme designation information and the transmission power designation information for the transmitter.
US08917757B2
A video processing device operates in an encoding mode when a mode selection signal has a first value and operates in a decoding mode when the mode selection signal has a second value. The encoding mode utilizes a plurality of function specific hardware engines that each perform a specific coding function and the decoding module utilizes at least one of the plurality of hardware engines.
US08917752B2
The invention relates to vertical cavity lasers (VCL) incorporating a reflectivity-modulated grating mirror (1) for modulating the laser output. A cavity is formed by a bottom mirror (4), an active region (3), and an outcoupling top grating mirror (1) formed by a periodic refractive index grating region in a layer structure comprising a p- and a n-doped semiconductor layer with an electrooptic material layer (12) arranged there between. The grating region comprises a grating structure formed by periodic perforations to change the refractive index periodically in directions normal to the oscillation axis. A modulated voltage (91) is applied in reverse bias between the n- and p-doped layers to modulate the refractive index of the electrooptic material layer (12) and thereby the reflectivity spectrum of the grating mirror (1). The reflectivity of the grating mirror (1) can be modulated between a reflectivity with little or no out coupling and a reflectivity with normal out coupling, wherein lasing in the VCL is supported at both the first and the second reflectivity. As the out coupling mirror modulates the output, the lasing does not need to be modulated, and the invention provides the advantage of lower power consumption at high modulation speeds.
US08917751B2
Provided is an optical device capable of bonding each optical part to a substrate with the same applied load by surface activated bonding even if the planar shape sizes of a plurality of optical parts to be mounted on the substrate are different from one another. The optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical parts different in planar shape size, bonded to the substrate by surface activated bonding adjacent to one another, and optically coupled with one another, and a plurality of bonding parts provided on the substrate in correspondence to the plurality of optical parts and including metallic micro bumps for bonding each optical part. The total area of the top surfaces of the micro bumps to be bonded to the corresponding optical part of each of the plurality of bonding parts is substantially the same.
US08917745B2
Different data communication architectures deliver a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, to consumers. The architectures employ channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures distribute data across multiple orbital angular momentum channels in the bonded channel group.
US08917743B2
Wireless medium reservation for simultaneous transmission of multiple downlink spatial streams to multiple receiver wireless stations during a multi-user transmit opportunity over a wireless medium, is provided. Such a reservation includes reserving a transmission period for simultaneously transmitting data from a transmitting station to multiple intended receiving stations on multiple downlink spatial streams over a wireless communication medium. Reserving the transmission period includes transmitting a multi-user request-to-send (MU-RTS) frame to the multiple receiving stations, the RTS frame including a receiver address (RA) field comprising compressed addresses for the multiple receiving stations. The MU-RTS frame includes an indication field that indicates the RTS frame as an MU-RTS without altering the RTS frame type/subtype.
US08917741B2
The present invention relates to a method of sorting data packets in a multi-path network having a plurality of ports; a plurality of network links; and a plurality of network elements, each network element having at least first and second separately addressable buffers in communication with a network link and the network links interconnecting the network elements and connecting the network elements to the ports, the method comprising: sorting data packets with respect to their egress port or ports such that at a network element a first set of data packets intended for the same egress port are queued in said first buffer and at least one other data packet intended for an egress port other than the egress port of the first set of data packets is queued separately in said second buffer whereby said at least one other data packet is separated from any congestion associated with the first set of data packets. The present invention further relates to a method of data delivery in a multi-path network comprising the sorting of data packets in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention. The present invention further relates to a multi-path network operable to sort data packets and operable to deliver data in a multi-path network.
US08917737B2
Techniques for automatically identifying an edge-facing router in a network are provided. In one technique, a DHCP message is obtained at a router of a subscriber network. An options field of the DHCP message is identified. The options field of the DHCP message is analyzed to determine whether data in the options field indicates that first router is SP-facing. If it is determined that the router is an SP-facing router, then identification data that identifies the router as an SP-facing router is stored.
US08917735B2
A soft AP module that is installed in the subscriber device is adapted to assign preselected ports numbers as part of its network address translation process. Those port numbers are registered to be used solely for this purpose, port numbers that are registered to applications that are seldomly used, or port numbers in the range 49152-65535. One or more modules in the service provider's facilities analyze the packets that pass through the service provider's facilities. Each module detects the aforementioned predetermined port numbers in the analyzed packets and thus identifies the network load that is attributed to devices the employ the W2LANs.
US08917731B2
Described are methods and communications network for carrying pseudowires over packet-switched network. A communication network includes a packet-switched network (PSN), a first provider edge (PE) device in communication with a second PE device through the PSN, and a pseudowire (PW) established between the PE devices for emulating a service across the PSN. The PW has a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel that carries an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) message. In some embodiments, various data plane encapsulation formats enable a PW to emulate an Ethernet or a non-Ethernet service over an Ethernet PSN. Each encapsulation format includes an Ethernet tunnel header and a PW header that encapsulates an Ethernet or non-Ethernet payload.
US08917725B2
A method for processing network traffic data includes receiving a packet, and determining whether the packet is a previously dropped packet that is being retransmitted. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of headers, the plurality of headers having respective first field values, and determining whether the first field values of the respective headers form a first prescribed pattern. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of packets, and determining an existence of a flooding attack without tracking each of the plurality of packets with a SYN bit.
US08917722B2
System and computer program product embodiments for fiber channel forwarder fabric login sequence in a fiber channel switch environment, where a Fiber Channel Forwarder (cFCF) is separated from a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, at a Fiber Channel Login (FLOGI) to a target device from an initiator device, a node address acceptance notification is held from reaching the initiator device until each of the zoning distributions have been considered to have been completed.
US08917714B2
A method, apparatus and programmed storage device for routing data through a communications network. More specifically, a programmable traffic manager is programmed with at least one application level directive and the data is routed through the network to one of the network nodes using the programmable traffic manager, which is programmed in accordance with the application level directive. In a particular example of this invention, a request from a client is routed by the programmable traffic manager to at least one a plurality of servers hosting an application, where the programmable traffic manager is routed in accordance with the application level directive.
US08917713B2
A method of operating a communication system comprises establishing a wireless device release time interval for a wireless device release timer at an access node upon establishing an initial network connection between a wireless device and the access node. An initial synchronization process is performed between the wireless device and the access node. The method continues with the access node sending an unsolicited synchronization message to the wireless device and starting the wireless device release timer. A second synchronization process is performed and upon successful completion of the second synchronization process, a success status synchronization response message is sent by the access node to the wireless device. The access node receives a synchronization confirmation message from the wireless device that comprises an identifier corresponding to the identity of the wireless device and upon receiving the confirmation message, the access node cancels the wireless device release timer.
US08917706B2
A broadcasting system for providing access information of a broadcast service, wherein a transmission apparatus generates the access information for at least one of a broadcast network and an interaction network, from which the broadcast service is transmitted, and transmits the access information to a terminal via a specific communication network. A reception apparatus receives the access information of the broadcast service via the communication network, analyzes the received access information to determine a network from which the broadcast service is provided, among the broadcast network and the interaction network, and sets an access address for reception of the broadcast service.
US08917704B2
A mobile device accumulates energy associated with each of successive PSS transmissions received from a base station. Accumulated energy values may be rescaled by a same number of bits whenever a buffer overflow condition occurs within the accumulation buffer. The mobile device may detect a correct PSS timing hypothesis utilizing the rescaled accumulated energy values within the accumulation buffer. A significant bit such as, for example, the most significant bit (MSB) or one of lesser significant bits, of each of the accumulated energy values may be monitored during the energy accumulation process to detect a buffer overflow condition. The mobile device may determine number of bits for rescaling or right shift each of the accumulated energy values in response to the detected buffer overflow condition. The resulting shifted accumulated energy values may be utilized for PSS detection. Either an integrating or filtering method is utilized during the energy accumulation process.
US08917703B2
A mobile terminal in a wireless communication network may be one of several modes of operation. When in an idle mode, the mobile terminal may avoid a lengthy random access procedure normally associated with responding to a page from a base station, if the base station includes in the page an indication of a resource that the mobile terminal may utilize when responding to the page. Additionally, the mobile terminal may transmit an efficient location update MAC header to a base station, whether prompted to by a page from the base station or not. Furthermore, without leaving the idle mode or a sleep mode, the mobile terminal may exchange short data burst messages with a base station.
US08917697B2
To provide a radio communication control method suitable for transmitting a downlink shared channel and a downlink control channel for the shared channel with different base frequency blocks in a communication system in which a plurality of base frequency blocks is combined and the system band is thereby broadened, in the radio communication control method, when different component carriers are assigned to a PDCCH and a PDCCH, to actualize a DCI configuration with a CFI value included in DCI notified on the PDCCH, the DCI is provided with an additional field on which CFI value bits are set. Further, to actualize another DCI configuration with a CFI value included in DCI notified on the PDCCH, part of the DCI field is masked with the CFI value.
US08917696B2
The present invention ensures that the UEs are able to make use of all the available reference signals that can be used in a cell for performing UE measurements, estimations or demodulations. That is achieved by indicating on a downlink common or shared channel, the MIMO mode settings associated with a specific network node. The indicated MIMO mode settings explicitly or implicitly indicate available common reference signals and/or dedicated reference signals to be used for said UE measurements, estimations or demodulations, which implies that measurements, estimations or demodulations can be performed based on said received indication.
US08917695B2
A method for parallel acquisition of system information from multiple base stations may be implemented by a mobile station. The method may include determining scheduled times for transmission of the system information from the multiple base stations based on parameters included in messages from the multiple base stations. The method may also include creating a schedule list that comprises the scheduled times. The method may further include tuning to the base stations at the scheduled times that are specified in the schedule list in order to receive the system information from the base stations.
US08917693B2
A method of transmitting and receiving radio resource information is disclosed, by which a mobile terminal is able to quickly access a mobile communication system. The present invention includes transmitting a paging message to locate a specific mobile terminal by including information for a radio resource allocated to the mobile terminal in the paging message receiving a response signal for the paging message transmitted according to the information for the radio resource, and performing a connection to the mobile terminal according to the response signal.
US08917691B2
A method for allocating a HARQ channel identifier (ACID) in a wireless access system includes receiving, from a base station, a first message which includes control information indicating an initial value of a HARQ channel identifier mapped onto a specific service flow, via a dynamic service procedure coupled to a base station; receiving a second message indicating persistent resource allocation from the base station, the second message including information regarding the initial value and number of the ACID used in the persistent resource allocation; comparing the initial value of the ACID with the control information; and allocating the value of the ACID used in the persistent resource allocation to the specific service flow when the control information included in the first message is the same as the initial value of the ACID included in the second message as a result of the comparison.
US08917684B2
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a small size data packet efficiently while reducing signaling overhead in a mobile communication system are provided. The method includes determining to apply a low security transfer procedure, transmitting, to a base station, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request message including a temporary Data Radio Bearer (DRB) request to which Access Stratum (AS) security is not applied, receiving an RRC connection setup message, including a temporary DRB configuration, from the base station, and transmitting an Internet Protocol (IP) packet over the temporary DRB.
US08917677B2
A base station for use in a wireless network operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile stations. The base station transmits a downlink frame to a first mobile station. The downlink frame comprises time-frequency resource elements allocated in a plurality of physical resource blocks. The base station transmits the plurality of physical resource blocks in bundles having a bundle size that is a function of the system bandwidth configuration and the base station uses the same precoder for all physical resource blocks in the same bundle. The bundle size is from one physical resource block to three physical resource blocks.
US08917676B2
A device and method transmits a frame of a wireless communication. The frame includes a preamble that includes a short training sequence and a long training sequence. The long training sequence includes non-zero energy on each of a plurality of subcarriers except a DC subcarrier. A frequency domain window is inserted into the long training sequence to stimulate the subcarriers for channel estimation.
US08917660B2
A wireless communication system includes an infrastructure device for transmitting and receiving communications to and from a plurality of user terminals. Each user terminal includes a receiver and a controller that receives a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal on a first carrier frequency that has assignment information indicating a second carrier frequency to transmit uplink data and beam forming information. In response to the assignment information, a transmitter of the user terminal transmits a second OFDM signal on the second carrier frequency using a beam indicated in the beam forming information.
US08917659B2
A method of transmitting a warning message in a multiple carrier system performed by a network is provided. The method includes transmitting configuration information on aggregated downlink carriers for a user equipment (UE), transmitting, to the UE, carrier information on a first downlink carrier which is used to transmit a warning message, transmitting, to the UE, a notification which informs the UE of the upcoming transmission of the warning message via a second downlink carrier, and transmitting, to the UE, the warning message via the first downlink carrier.
US08917642B2
An application to be booted is selected and operation of the application is controlled according to status of a link between an access point and a station. A station (STA) which can be connected to an access point (AP) includes a link information obtaining procedure which obtains link information including an identifier of the AP to which the STA is connected while the STA is connected to the AP and an application control procedure which selects an application to be booted according to the link information by referring to an action profile in which an identifier of the link information and an application to be booted are related and registered.
US08917620B1
Presently disclosed are systems and methods for wireless communication devices (WCDs) to share relevant performance-metric data with nearby devices having similar configurations. One embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a WCD. The method includes receiving into a first WCD from a second WCD, via a direct wireless link between the WCDs, data indicating a configuration of the second WCD. The method also includes making a determination as to whether the configuration of the second WCD is at least threshold similar to the configuration of the first WCD and, if so, sharing with the second WCD, via the direct wireless link, performance-metric data for the wireless communication network.
US08917616B2
A method for detection of a network address translation (NAT) device in a network is described herein. An edge network device detects a first packet at an edge port of the edge network device. A second packet is detected at the edge port of the edge network device. It is determined whether a time to live (TTL) value associated with the first packet is different from a TTL value associated with the second packet. Where the TTL value associated with the first packet is different from a TTL value associated with the second packet, it is determined that a NAT device is connected to the edge port. Where the TTL value associated with the first packet is the same as a TTL value associated with the second packet, it is determined that a NAT device is not connected to the edge port.
US08917599B2
The present application discloses systems and methods for adapting the rate at which the packets are transmitted. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) receiving a packet; (b) determining whether the packet is high priority packet or a low priority packet; and (c) determining whether a transmission rate value, which defines the maximum rate or maximum average rate at which the node should transmit the low priority packets, should be adjusted, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on whether at least some number of high priority packets and/or bits was received since a point in time; and (d) adjusting the transmission rate value if it is determined in step (c) that the transmission rate value should be adjusted.
US08917597B2
A quality of service for various classes of services for the transfer of electronic data packets is provided by establishing classes of packets for a customer and for assigning bandwidths to the classes for the customer. Accordingly, the amount of bandwidth for one type of service may vary from the bandwidth for another type of service over the same data connection. A device, such as an edge router of a network, may police the data packets being transferred by a customer to maintain the bandwidth being utilized by a given class of packets of the customer to within the assigned bandwidth for that class of the customer. The data packets may further be policed by core routers of the network may also to maintain the bandwidth being utilized by a given class of packets to within the assigned bandwidth for that class as specified by the service provider.
US08917589B2
A Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context handling method for a Mobile Station (MS) with a PDP context for an emergency bearer service is provided, wherein a radio access bearer (RAB) associated with the PDP context is released by a network. The method comprises the steps of: downgrading the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate associated with the PDP context from original non-zero positive values to a zero value; sending a request signal associated with a modification of the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate; and re-establishing the RAB for the PDP context with the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate reconfigured as the original non-zero values after the request signal has been sent.
US08917588B2
An FFT/IFFT operating core capable of minimizing a required memory depth during operation is disclosed. The FFT/IFFT operating core includes an inputting buffer, a first multiplexer, an operating module, and a controlling module. The inputting buffer stores and outputs a first FFT input sequence. The first multiplexer is utilized to multiplex the first FFT input sequence and a third input sequence. The controlling module generates a process indicating signal and a bypass indicating signal. The operating module has a plurality of operating stages in series. The operating module transforms the first and third FFT input sequences into a first and third FFT output sequences, respectively, and it transforms a second IFFT input sequence into a second IFFT output sequence.
US08917582B2
A method and system are described for canceling an echo signal with an echo canceller in the analog domain. In one embodiment, a system includes an echo canceller that includes an interpolation unit, operating in a digital domain, that receives a first digital echo estimate signal from an LMS unit and generates a second digital echo estimate signal without oversampling. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receives the second digital echo estimate signal and generates an analog echo estimate signal without oversampling. The echo canceller prevents the DAC from adding a high frequency component to the analog echo estimate signal. A subtractor adds the analog echo signal to an incoming signal having an echo signal. The subtractor generates an analog signal with reduced echo signal in the useful frequency band of the incoming signal.
US08917573B2
To estimate a far-field signature of a seismic source having plural source elements, seismic receivers are provided to receive signals from the seismic source elements of the seismic source. Seismic receivers are dynamically associated with different seismic source elements over time, and the far-field signature of the seismic source is computed according to the measurement data taken by the seismic receivers.
US08917572B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a write controller configured to transmit a first input data that is supplied through a first pad, to a first global I/O line and a second global I/O line when a write operation is executed in a test mode. The semiconductor memory device further includes a first write driver configured to store the first input data via the first global I/O line in a first cell block when the write operation is executed in the test mode. The semiconductor memory device further includes a first I/O line driver configured to supply signals to the first global I/O line and a first test I/O line in response to a first output data supplied from the first cell block when a read operation is executed in the test mode.
US08917571B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a chip package that facilitates configurable-width memory channels. In this chip package, a semiconductor die is electrically connected to two or more memory chips. More specifically, contacts on each individual memory chip are each directly connected to a distinct set of contacts on the semiconductor die such that the semiconductor die has separate, unique command and address buses to individually address and communicate with each individual memory chip. Individually addressable memory chips that are each accessed via separate command and address buses facilitate a configurable-width memory channel that efficiently supports different data-access granularities.
US08917570B2
A memory device includes a plurality of banks, a plurality of address buffers configured to receive addresses, and a buffer control unit configured to deactivate one or more of the plurality of address buffers when the number of activated banks among the plurality of banks is a prescribed number.
US08917568B2
The latency of a PSRAM is set according to its current state when receiving an external command. If the PSRAM is not executing a specific operation or has completed the specific operation while meeting corresponding timing parameters, the PSRAM is configured to execute the external command with a first latency. If the PSRAM is executing the specific operation or has completed the specific operation before meeting corresponding timing parameters, the PSRAM is configured to execute the external command with a second latency larger than the first latency.
US08917567B2
A semiconductor device includes a global bit line and a local bit line, and a switch coupled therebetween. Upon performing a precharge operation, a precharge voltage is supplied to the global bit line with turning the switch ON, so that the local bit line receives the precharge voltage through the global bit line and the switch, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, a precharge voltage is further supplied to the local bit line without an intervention of the global bit line and the switch.
US08917566B2
Aspects of the invention provide a bypass structure for a memory device for reducing unknown test values, and a related method. In one embodiment, a bypass structure for a memory device is disclosed. The bypass structure includes: a logic gate configured to receive a test signal and a clock signal; and an output latch configured to receive an output of the logic gate, an output of the memory device, and a bypass data signal, wherein the output latch is configured to hold the bypass data signal and bypass the output of the memory device in response to asserting the test signal, such that unknown data from the output of the memory device is bypassed.
US08917558B2
Nonvolatile memory device, operating methods thereof, and memory systems including the same. In the operating method, a ground select line of a first string connected to a bit line may be floated. An erase prohibition voltage may be applied to a ground select line of a second string connected to the bit line. An erase operation voltage may be applied to the first and second strings.
US08917550B2
Apparatus configured to perform a programming operation on a row of memory cells in response to original data, configured to perform a comparison of verified data of the row of memory cells to the original data following success of the programming of the row of memory cells, and further configured to perform a post-programming program operation on the row of memory cells if the verified data is different from the original data.
US08917548B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to embodiments has a memory cell array and a reading circuit, and, in a reading sequence, the reading circuit executes a prereading operation of supplying a first reading voltage to an adjacent word line and supplying a first reading pass voltage to a selected word line, and after executing the prereading operation, executes a main reading operation of supplying a fixed second reading voltage to the selected word line and supplying a fixed second reading pass voltage to the adjacent word line while sensing a plurality of electrical physical amounts of a target memory cell with different reading conditions.
US08917534B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques and configurations for word-line path isolation in a phase change memory (PCM) device. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory cell of a memory device, a bit-line coupled to the memory cell, a word-line coupled to the memory cell, a bit-line electrode coupled to the bit-line, a word-line electrode coupled to the word-line, current-limiting circuitry of a selection module coupled to one of the word-line electrode and the bit-line electrode having a lower potential, the current-limiting circuitry to facilitate a selection operation of the memory cell by the selection module, sensing circuitry coupled to the one of the word-line electrode and the bit-line electrode having the lower potential, the sensing circuitry to perform a read operation of the memory cell, and write circuitry coupled to the one of the word-line electrode and the bit-line electrode having the lower potential, the write circuitry to perform a write operation of the memory cell. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08917533B2
Circuits, systems and techniques for testing a One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory are disclosed. An extra OTP bit can be provided as a test sample to be programmed. The programmed extra OTP bit can be read with any virgin cells in the OTP memory alternatively to generate a stream of logic 0 and logic 1 data so that every row or column path can be tested and the outcome can be observed in a pseudo-checkerboard pattern or other predetermined pattern. By carefully setting control signals, checkerboard-like pattern can be generated without actual programming any OTP cells in the memory array.
US08917527B2
System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal processing component configured to receive at least a sensed signal and generate a first signal. The sensed signal is associated with a primary current flowing through a primary winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a second signal processing component configured to generate a second signal, an integrator component configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a third signal, and a comparator configured to process information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal.
US08917517B2
A battery pack includes first casing portions incorporating secondary batteries and a second casing portion incorporating a control board and a wiring sheet metal. The second casing portion is less thick than the first casing portions. By increasing areas of the first casing portions when thinning the battery pack, for example, secondary batteries having large areas can be incorporated while preventing the capacity from becoming smaller. By appropriately setting the arrangement position of the second casing portion having a small thickness, the battery pack can be mounted to an electronic apparatus without causing an interference with other members such as a pointing device.
US08917516B2
In a flexible display device including flexibility and toughness, and a method of manufacturing the flexible display device, the flexible display device includes a glass substrate, a flexible substrate and a display unit which are sequentially stacked, and the flexible display device has a structure wherein a surface area of the flexible substrate is larger than a surface area of the glass substrate. A volume of the device may be significantly reduced for convenience of portability since a flexible area where the glass substrate is not located may be folded or rolled. Also, a stable circuit connection may be guaranteed since the driving chip is installed on a hard area which does not go through a heating process in order to separate the glass substrate and the flexible substrate during the manufacturing process.
US08917505B2
A stand assembly for a computing device is provided. The stand assembly includes a stand and a coupling mechanism to couple the stand to a rear face of the computing device. The coupling mechanism is structured to enable the stand to be moved under bias into multiple positions, including a first position in which the stand extends outward from the rear face at a first angle and retains the computing device upright at a first orientation, and a second position in which the stand extends outward from the rear face at a second angle and retains the computing device upright at a second orientation. The coupling mechanism is structured to return the stand, from at least each of the first position and the second position, into a closed position that abuts the rear face of the computing device when the coupling mechanism is relaxed.
US08917501B2
An electronic device includes: a first housing that includes a first surface in which an operation portion, a hinge mechanism, and a removable cover are provided, and a second housing that is supported rotatally about an axis perpendicular to the first surface by the hinge mechanism and that is rotated between a position where the second housing faces the cover and a position where the second housing recedes from the cover.
US08917495B2
Provided is a circuit board manufacturing method capable of securing circuit patterns on a plate-like insulator while keeping the relative position between the circuit patterns, and also provided is a circuit board in which the relative position between a plurality of circuit patterns is kept. A first coil (30) having one turn is formed in a planar shape from a metal plate. Next, a second coil (40) having four turns is formed in a planar shape from a metal plate, wherein both of the ends (41, 42) of the coil are linked to other adjacent regions via linking portions (43, 44). A pair of the first coil (30) and the second coil (40) are then overlapped so as to face each other through a plastic plate (50) in which a plurality of prepregs are stacked, after which the links by the linking portions (43, 44) are disconnected.
US08917494B2
A shutter device for a drawout circuit breaker. The arrangement includes first and second moveable plungers for contacting the circuit breaker. The arrangement also includes a first slider element attached to a moveable first mask. A first link arm is rotatably attached to the first plunger and the first slider element. The arrangement also includes a second slider element attached to a moveable second mask. A second link arm is rotatably attached to the second plunger and the second slider element. Movement of the first and second plungers in a first direction causes movement of the first and second slider elements and the first and second masks in a second direction transverse to the first direction relative to a back plate to form mask passageways. The arrangement also includes a plurality of mounting elements that enable movement of the back plate in the first direction.
US08917493B2
A power distribution device and a server rack system are provided. The server rack system includes a rack and at least one apparatus disposed therein. The power distribution device distributes electrical power to the apparatus. The power supply device includes a first conducting plate, an insulation layer and a second conducting plate that are sequentially superimposed, and a first and a second power columns inserted in the first and the second plates. The insulation layer is disposed between the first and the second conducting plates. The first and the second power columns are connected to a power supply unit in the rack to obtain electric power therefrom. Each output pin pair includes a first and a second output pins inserted in the first and the second conducting plates. The output pin pairs are connected to the apparatus in the rack to transfer electric power to the apparatus.
US08917486B2
A vibration generating apparatus with high yield, low cost, and can exhibit vibration tactile haptic effects even with variation in the natural frequency of a mechanical vibrator, including a damping system having a damping ratio ζ<1 to support a mechanical vibrator to a fastening part, and a magnetizing unit generating a dynamic magnetic field to vibrate the mechanical vibrator by non-contact, the mechanical vibrator generating a beat vibration by making the frequency of a drive voltage applied to the magnetizing unit, from a drive start or middle of drive, to be a non-resonant frequency out of a damped natural frequency of the mechanical vibrator, wherein the apparatus comprises a forced vibration control unit controlling to stop application of the drive voltage, in a beat wave defining an amplitude of the beat vibration, at a second valley part after a first peak part from the side of the drive start.
US08917484B2
A magnetoresistive data writer and reader may be generally configured at least with a magnetoresistive (MR) element contacting a magnetic shield that is constructed of (Ni78Fe22)99.8O0.2 material. The magnetic shield may be formed with an electrodeposition process that uses β-diketones derivatives to form nano-crystalline grain structure after a subsequent annealing at temperatures above 400° C.
US08917482B2
Approaches for a hard-disk drive (HDD) and a head gimbal assembly comprising techniques for forming the gimbal legs in a head gimbal assembly (HGA) in a manner to shift the distribution of mass of the HGA that results in controlling the magnitude of resonance gain associated with the HGA during operation of a hard-disk drive.
US08917480B2
A magnetic transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer has a main pole, at least one coil for energizing the main pole and at least one additional pole. The main pole has a yoke and a pole tip having an ABS facing surface. The at least one additional pole is adjacent to the main pole in a down track direction. The additional pole is recessed from the ABS, has a front surface facing the ABS, has at least one side surface, and has at least one flare angle between the front surface and the at least one side surface. The at least one flare angle is measured from the ABS to the at least one side surface and is at least fifty degrees and less than ninety degrees.
US08917477B1
According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a disk recording medium, a drive motor configured to support and rotate a recording medium, a suspension assembly which supports a head, a housing containing the recording medium, the drive motor and the suspension assembly, a filter in the housing, opposite to part of an outer peripheral edge of the recording medium, and through which an airflow generated by rotation of the recording medium flows, an exhaust hole formed at the housing and located opposite to an upstream side of the filter with respect to the airflow, and an air-intake formed at the housing and located opposite to a region of the housing, whose pressure is lower than the pressure of the upstream side of the filter.
US08917476B2
Tape heads are described herein including (i) a first module including a read transducer array with at least one transducer element to read data from a tape, and (ii) a second module including a read transducer array with at least one transducer element to read data from the tape. In examples herein, a lifting member is provided to cause tape lifting the module at a leading position with respect to tape travel direction.
US08917475B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising servo data, and a head actuated over the disk. An offset r0 representing a difference between an axial rotation of the disk and an axial rotation of the servo data is estimated, and radial dependent timing compensation values are generated in response to the estimated r0. A phase error is generated in response to the servo data, and a control signal is generated in response to the phase error and the radial dependent timing compensation values. A frequency of an oscillator is adjusted in response to the control signal.
US08917466B1
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for governing a data processing system.
US08917463B2
A lens unit according to the present invention includes: a first lens group and a second lens group being disposed in series on the same optical axis to have a light-converging function, the first lens group and the second lens group each including at least one lens; a first lens barrel 1 retaining the first lens group; a second lens barrel 2 retaining the second lens group and encasing at least a portion of the first lens barrel; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting relative positioning along an optical axis direction, tilt between respective optical axes, and mutual radial deviation, of the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel.
US08917460B2
A fixed focus lens system includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group and the second lens group are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side, and the second lens group includes two lenses having an Abbe's number of 80 or greater.
US08917458B2
An image capturing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element has positive refractive power. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface, wherein the object-side surface and an image-side surface of the third lens element are aspheric. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power which is made of plastic material, wherein an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and the fifth lens element has inflection points formed on at least one surface thereof.
US08917456B2
A first lens group having positive refractive power and a second lens group are arranged in this order from an object side, and only the first lens group moves in the optical axis direction while focusing. The first lens group substantially consists of a positive 1-1 lens, a positive 1-2 lens, a positive 1-3 lens, a negative 1-4 lens, an aperture stop, a negative 1-5 lens, a positive 1-6 lens, and a positive 1-7 lens. The 1-3 lens and the 1-4 lens are cemented to each other, and the 1-5 lens and the 1-6 lens are cemented to each other. The second lens group substantially consists of a negative 2-1 lens and a positive 2-2 lens. Only the first lens group moves in the optical axis direction while focusing.
US08917454B2
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative power; and a second lens group having a positive power, in this order from an object side. The first lens group includes a first lens having a negative power and a second lens having a positive power. The zoom lens satisfies conditional formulae 1.6<|f1|/fw<2.5 (1); 1.6
US08917453B2
In embodiments of reflective array waveguide, a reflective array waveguide includes clear waveguide panels for see-through viewing of an environment viewed through the reflective array waveguide. The reflective array waveguide also includes reflecting waveguide panels to reflect a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment. Each of the reflecting waveguide panels have a partially reflective mirror coating deposited on opposing sides, and the reflecting waveguide panels are alternated in the reflective array waveguide with the clear waveguide panels. The alternating clear and reflecting waveguide panels are angled for augmented reality imaging of the reflected virtual image as part of the environment that is viewed through the reflective array waveguide.
US08917450B2
A light filter includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first bonding film provided in an entire region at the second substrate side of the first substrate, a second bonding film provided in an entire region at the first substrate side of the second substrate, a first optical film provided on the first bonding film of the first substrate, a second optical film provided on the second bonding film of the second substrate, a first electrode provided on the first bonding film of the first substrate, and a second electrode provided on the second bonding film of the second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed by bonding of the first bonding film and the second bonding film, and the first optical film, the second optical film, the first electrode, and the second electrode are formed of the same material.
US08917448B2
A reflective film includes microlayers arranged into optical repeat units to reflect light in an extended wavelength band, with thinner and thicker ones of the optical repeat units being disposed generally towards a thin side and thick side, respectively, of the film. The microlayers are tailored to provide the film with a reflectivity, for p-polarized light incident in a first plane, that decreases by at least half from an initial value at normal incidence to a value R1 at an incidence angle θoblique. The film has a reflectivity for p-polarized light incident in a second plane of R2 at the angle θoblique, where R2>R1. A polarizer is combined with the reflective film, the combination defining an oblique transmission lobe, and the thick and thin sides of the reflective film are oriented relative to the polarizer to reduce an azimuthal width Δφ of the transmission lobe.
US08917447B2
Microreplicated light redirecting films suitable for use in autostereoscopic displays and backlights are made to incorporate at least one nanovoided layer whose interface with another layer forms an embedded structured surface of the light redirecting film. The nanovoided layer includes a polymer binder and optional nanoparticles, and may have a refractive index less than 1.35 or 1.3. The light redirecting films may be adapted for attachment to one or more other components of an autostereoscopic display, such as a display panel and/or a light guide of a backlight.
US08917443B2
It is provided a wavelength converting device comprising a periodic domain inversion structure for converting a wavelength of a fundamental wave to generate a harmonic wave. The wavelength conversion device includes a ferroelectric substrate and the periodic domain inversion structure formed in the ferroelectric substrate. A vertical domain inversion boundary of the periodic domain inversion structure is inclined with respect to a normal line of an upper face of the ferroelectric substrate, provided that the ferroelectric substrate is viewed in a cross section parallel with a propagating direction of the fundamental wave and parallel with the normal line of the upper face.
US08917442B2
The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for focusing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) within a diffusion medium, such as a turbid medium. A diffusion medium is irradiated with EMR. The EMR may be modulated by an acoustical wave focused on a focus volume within the diffusion medium. The EMR may be modulated by a beat frequency or other function of multiple focused acoustical waves. The EMR may be modulated at a harmonic of a fundamental frequency of one or more acoustical waves. A filter may filter the emerging EMR to remove all but specifically modulated EMR scattered from the focus volume. The modulated EMR may be focused and/or used for various purposes, including imaging. In some embodiments, the modulated EMR may be reflected and/or amplified by a phase conjugating mirror. Furthermore, in some embodiments, acoustical phase conjugation may be used to focus an acoustical wave on a focus volume.
US08917440B2
An active optical device is provided. The active optical device includes an optically variable layer having a refractive index which changes according to temperature; and a temperature control unit that controls a temperature of one or more regions of the optically variable layer.
US08917438B2
A color display, and an electronic apparatus comprising the color display, are described herein. The display comprises an illumination unit overlaid with a color filter arranged with a plurality of color filter elements, wherein respective transmissions of the color filter elements are adjustable to allow either transmission for a selected wavelength in said range of wavelengths, or transmission for a number of wavelengths from said range of wavelengths. Such adjustable transmission may be implemented using actuatable fluids which may be controlled by means of electrowetting.
US08917430B2
In the image processing apparatus, a display control unit displays property control units that specify correction strength independently for chroma, brightness and hue angle in selectable ranges in accordance with the user operation. Allowed correction ranges for chroma, brightness and hue angle based on a color difference formula are set to the selectable ranges. If correction strength specified by one of the property control units is changed according to the user operation, then an allowed correction range determining unit determines and changes the allowed correction ranges of residual properties using the color difference formula to which the changed correction strength of one property among chroma, brightness and hue angle has been applied, and the display control unit changes the selectable ranges of the property control units of the residual properties to the changed allowed correction ranges, and changes indication of the property control units of the residual properties.
US08917428B2
Disclosed is an image reading controller including an output unit that outputs plural control signals for controlling turning on and off of a light emitting unit of an image reading unit including the light emitting unit and a light receiving unit on respective transmission paths, the plural control signals satisfying at least one of a first condition that respective transmission paths are separated from each other by a predetermined distance or more and a second condition that types of the respective transmission paths are different from each other; and a controller that controls turning on and off of the light emitting unit on the basis of the plural control signals output from the output unit and input through the respective transmission paths.
US08917425B2
An image processing apparatus includes processors which output first and second image data from input image data. The second image data is applied halftone processing of a higher resolution than halftone processing applied to the first image data. The image processing includes a unit configured to decide a mixing ratio of a pixel using a value based on a sum of an error of the pixel and a change amount of a pixel value at that pixel; and a mixing unit configured to mix pixel values of the first image data and the second image data according to the mixing ratios. When the value based on the sum is increased, the mixing ratio of the second image data decided by the decision unit remains the same or is increased.
US08917424B2
Data processing methods provide a work flow for producing custom screen printed products based on digital images. Disclosed techniques include a work flow for receiving user-supplied images and transforming the images into color separation data and related metadata that can drive screen printing, including previewing the appearance of the products as they will appear when screen printed, for user approval; finding key color components using a filtering and grouping approach; image resolution limiting; structured error diffusion halftoning with an improved random number generator for use in adding blue noise; error diffusion dot spread correction; and others.
US08917423B2
An image scanner includes: an image sensor that photo-electrically converts reflected light from a document irradiated with light by a light source; an A/D converter that converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor into a digital signal; a lighting control unit that adjusts, in a period other than a document scanning period, a lighting period of the light source so that the light source is turned on and off alternately in a repetitive manner in units of a line cycle; a black correction unit that generates reference black data used for black correction based on effective pixel data in a light source non-lighting period in the period other than the document scanning period; and a white correction unit that generates shading data used for shading correction based on effective pixel data in a light source lighting period in the period other than the document scanning period.
US08917422B2
An invisible ink management method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor data associated with an image to be duplicated and a duplication command enabling reproduction of the image. The computer processor receives a command for enabling a duplication prevention functionality and generates a first copy of the image. The computer processor enables an invisible ink spray nozzle. In response, the invisible ink spray nozzle sprays a plurality of invisible images on the first copy. The plurality of invisible images are invisible under first lighting conditions and are visible under second lighting conditions.
US08917421B2
A printing apparatus includes one or more print execution units each including a plurality of storage units configured to receive and storage pieces of image data transferred from a higher level apparatus via a first transfer path, respectively, a plurality of image forming units configured to form an image on a print medium in accordance with the pieces of image data stored in the storage units, and a selection unit configured to select a path for transferring a piece of image data stored in the storage units for each of the image forming units; and a print control unit configured to control the print execution units to print the image data in accordance with control information transferred from the higher level apparatus via a second transfer path. The selection unit selects the path in accordance with configuration information indicating configuration of all of the one or more print execution units.
US08917419B2
An image processing apparatus that converts input image data into printable image data is provided. The apparatus performs screen processing on the input image data, and determines whether moiré occurs in screen image data generated by the screen processing unit for a target pixel in the input image data. Depending on the determination result made by the determination unit, the apparatus outputs one of a screen pixel value in the screen image data for the target pixel and a value obtained by converting an input pixel value into a printable pixel value based on intermediate data, as a value of the target pixel in the printable image data, the intermediate data being generated by replacing a screen pixel in the screen image data that is determined to have moiré by the determination unit with the input pixel value in the input image data.
US08917410B2
An image forming apparatus has: pluralities of sheet storage units; a printing unit; a sheet driving unit that feeds a sheet of paper from the sheet storage units to the printing unit; a group setting maintaining unit that forms a group of the sheet storage units; a residual sheet amount detecting unit that detects sheet empty on any of the sheet storage units in the group; a sheet storage switching control unit that controls the sheet driving unit to select another one of the sheet storage units in the same group for feeding a sheet, if the residual sheet amount detecting unit detects the sheet empty; and a sheet empty warning unit that warns a user of the sheet empty detected by the residual sheet amount detecting unit.
US08917403B2
A communication establishment assisting system includes: an electronic apparatus arranged on a first network; and a server device arranged on a second network different from the first network and configured to provide a control driver to be installed in the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal includes: an input unit that communication setting information is inputted to; a transmitting unit configured to transmit the communication setting information to the server device; and a receiving unit configured to receive the control driver from the server device to control the electronic apparatus. The server device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the communication setting information from the information processing terminal; a setting information applying unit configured to apply the communication setting information to the control driver to be transmitted to the information processing terminal; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the control driver to the information processing terminal.
US08917396B2
An embodiment relates to a Fourier transform spectrometer comprising: a coherent light source; an interferometer adapted to separate the coherent light source into two or more parts in order to generate through frequency or phase-induced effects, interferences between the two or more parts; detection means adapted to detect the interferences, wherein the coherent light source comprises a frequency comb generator having a frequency repetition rate, and the detection means are adapted to detect the beating of pairs of frequencies of the frequency comb separated by the frequency repetition rate or a multiple of the frequency repetition rate.
US08917392B2
The invention encompasses analyzers and analyzer systems that include a single molecule analyzer, methods of using the analyzer and analyzer systems to analyze samples, either for single molecules or for molecular complexes. The single molecule uses electromagnetic radiation that is translated through the sample to detect the presence or absence of a single molecule. The single molecule analyzer provided herein is useful for diagnostics because the analyzer detects single molecules with zero carryover between samples.
US08917390B2
A spectrograph including light beam reformatting element(s), beam expander(s), dispersive element(s) and light receiving element(s). The light beam reformatting element(s) reformat a received light beam into a reformatted light beam having a first dimension along a first axis that is larger than a dimension of the received light beam along the first axis and a second dimension along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis that is smaller than a dimension of the received light beam along the second axis. The beam expander(s) anamorphically expand the reformatted light beam along the second axis into an expanded light beam. The dispersive element(s) disperse the expanded light beam along the second axis, resulting in a dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) receive the dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) may include one or more detectors to measure spectral intensity of the dispersed light beam.
US08917387B1
Methods and Apparatuses are provided for a thin high contrast optical acquisition system for fingerprint recognition. In one embodiment, an apparatus for determining validity of a fingerprint includes a light refracting device (light refractor), a light source, a light collecting device, and a controller.The light refracting device can, for example, be a TFT light panel structure or an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) panel structure with reverse current measurement and amplification circuitry, and includes an imaging surface and a viewing plane. Incident light from the light source is projected directly or indirectly onto the imaging surface to create an image of the patterned object from the projected light onto the viewing plane. The apparatus is configured to have a thin form factor, which may be flexible or conformable, compared to conventional optical fingerprint acquisition apparatuses.
US08917384B2
A portable optical sensor for measuring surface strain in an object, such as pre-stressed concrete articles, is provided. The sensor is a modular device comprising at least first and second modules, each of which includes a laser and image sensor. When placed adjacent to the object, the laser of each module illuminates respective, spaced-apart areas of the object's surface and each module's image sensor captures at least a portion of the light reflected from the illuminated area and generates a speckle image of the area. Speckle images of the areas taken at various times and/or under various object stress conditions are compared to arrive at a surface strain measurement for the object.
US08917380B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system that includes a plurality of reflective optics. One of the reflective optics is provided with an opening which passes through the reflective optic. The opening is closed by a covering layer that is substantially transparent to EUV radiation. The covering layer prevents contamination from entering the projection system, while allowing patterned EUV radiation to pass from the projection system onto a substrate.
US08917379B2
Projection exposure methods, systems, sub-systems and components are disclosed. Methods can include performing a first exposure to image a first sub-pattern of the pattern, where the first sub-pattern includes a plurality of first features extending in a first direction and spaced apart essentially periodically at a predominant periodicity length P in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first exposure can be performed using a multipolar illumination mode that includes at least one substantially dipolar intensity distribution having two illumination poles positioned on a pole orientation axis substantially parallel to the second direction and spaced apart from each other. The poles of the dipolar intensity distribution can each have an azimuthal width defined by a pole angle θ, and a pole area APOLE according to: 0.6
US08917368B2
A light diffusing film contains a thermoplastic resin as the main component and containing, in the thermoplastic resin, (A) a light-transmitting particle having an average primary particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm, wherein there is substantially no refractive index difference between the thermoplastic resin and the light-transmitting particle, wherein one surface has concavoconvex shape, the total haze value is from 5 to 40%, and the average film thickness is from 20 to 200 μm.
US08917367B2
A backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a source, a first back plate and a second back plate. The first back plate includes a first main body and a first bending portion. The second back plate includes a second main body and a second bending portion. The first main body is slidably connected to the second main body. The light guide plate is fixedly connected to the first main body. A light-emitting surface of the light source is against a light incidence surface of the light guide plate, and another surface of the light guide plate is close to an inner side of the second bending portion. When the light guide plate expands with heat, the expanded light guide plate pushes the second bending portion to make the second back plate slide relative to the first back plate.
US08917359B2
A power supply for a television and a television including the same, the power supply including: a rectifier which rectifies input AC power; a converter which converts the rectified power into DC power through a switching control; a circuit board on which at least one of the rectifier and the converter is mounted; and an input connector which receives the AC power and is mounted on the circuit board such that a projecting height of the input connector projecting from the circuit board is substantially equal to or smaller than a projecting height of at least one of the rectifier and the converter.
US08917355B1
A method and computing system for receiving a first video file containing a first plurality of video frames. A second video file containing a second plurality of video frames is received. The video files are processed to identify at least one non-graphical temporal alignment object included in each of the video files. The video files are temporally aligned using the at least one non-graphical temporal alignment object to produce temporally-aligned video files.
US08917349B2
A method and a system for forming an image of a scene are provided. The method includes capturing an image of the scene by exposing an image sensor to radiation from one part of the EM spectrum using one aperture and to radiation from another part of the EM spectrum using another aperture having a different size than the first aperture. Simultaneously with capturing the image, the scene is illuminated with radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum. The image is then formed on the basis of image data generated by the radiation from the first part of the EM spectrum and image data generated by radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum.
US08917347B2
The focus control culture observation apparatus enable simple and reliable detection of a focusing position of an objective lens on a subject and with certainty. When a focusing position is detected, an area, which includes an edge portion of the culture medium drop is selected as an AF area which is to be a target of detecting the focusing position of the objective lens on the culture medium drop. The apparatus detects the focusing position on the culture medium drop based on an observation image of the AF area. By detecting the focusing position as a targeting area that is different from an area which is near the edge of the culture container and where illumination unevenness is generated, the detection accuracy can be improved.
US08917345B2
An apparatus that supports multi-display to reproduce images on an external display apparatus connectable to the apparatus, a method of operating the apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium recorded thereon a program for executing the method. The apparatus includes: a digital signal processor which, when a signal of a first display command is input to the apparatus, displays a screen obtained by performing the first display command on the apparatus in a continuous reproduction mode at a predetermined speed, and when a signal of a second display command corresponding to the signal of the first display command is input to the apparatus, displays a screen obtained by performing the second display command on the external display apparatus images on the external display apparatus at a speed different from the predetermined speed of the continuous reproduction mode.
US08917343B2
Disclosed are a digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof. According to the digital photographing apparatus and the control method thereof, a user is allowed to manage data, captured in the same event, within a single display screen regardless of the kinds of contents and to easily perform switching between contents.
US08917340B2
A circuit board assembly includes a flexible circuit board, a conductive adhesive, and a number of reinforcing plates. The flexible circuit board includes a first surface and a second surface. A number of board pads are mounted on the first surface. The conductive adhesive is coated on the first surface and entirely covers all of the board pads. The reinforcing plates are positioned on the second surface. Each of the reinforcing plates spatially corresponds to a respective one of the board pads. The reinforcing plates provide both physical grounding and stiffening of the circuit board assembly.
US08917334B2
An image detection device includes: a subject detector that acquires image information in an image field of an imaging optics with an image sensor, and detects a position of a subject in the image field based upon reference information related to an image of the subject and the image information; and a magnification detector that detects a magnification of the imaging optics. And the subject detector starts operation to detect the position of the subject, when the magnification has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
US08917329B1
A camera system captures an image in a source aspect ratio and applies a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio. The output image has the same field of view as the input image, maintains image resolution, and limits distortion to levels that do not substantially affect the viewing experience. In one embodiment, the output image is non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image.
US08917320B2
A digital optical comparator has a holder for a part under study. A light source illuminates the part and casts an image of the part onto a camera, which is provided with a lens. The image captured by the camera is displayed on a screen, and a drawing of the part is overlaid on the image of the part. Thus, defects in manufacturing can be easily and readily identified. In addition, a determination of whether the part is manufactured within tolerances can also be visually determined.
US08917318B2
A shooting apparatus has an image pickup section, a display section which displays an image picked up by the image pickup section, an operation section for performing operations including a shooting command, a communication section which performs communication with a further shooting apparatus, a determination section which determines a left-right placement relationship between the shooting apparatus and the further shooting apparatus from a predetermined position held by the user with a right hand or a left hand or from a predetermined operation, and a control section which, by transmitting a signal to the further shooting apparatus through the communication section, performs control for causing at least a portion of an image picked up by the further shooting apparatus to be transmitted from the further shooting apparatus.
US08917317B1
A method for calibrating a plurality of cameras. The method includes: for each camera, detecting a projection of a proxy object included in an image captured by the camera; for each camera, detecting surface features associated with the proxy object included in the image captured by the camera; for each combination of two different cameras, determining a correspondence set that maps the detected surface features associated with the proxy object included in the image captured by one camera to the detected surface features associated with the proxy object included in the image captured by the other camera; and generating correspondences between features based on relationships between the different correspondence sets, wherein the correspondences between features can be processed by a camera calibration toolbox to generate camera calibration parameters for each camera in the plurality of cameras.
US08917312B1
An optical defect detection system is provided for recording an image of a transparency for detecting optical defects therein. The transparency may be formed with a contour. The defect detection system may comprise a light source, a diffuser and an image recording device for recording images of the transparency. The light source is configured to emit light and may be positioned adjacent one of the sides of the transparency. The image recording device may be positioned on a side of the transparency opposite the diffuser. The diffuser may be contoured complementary to the contour of the transparency and may be positioned between the light source and the transparency.
US08917303B2
The optical writing device includes: a light source including a plurality of light-emitting element assemblies; a line information storage for storing pixel information constituting an image; a light source driver for driving the light-emitting elements; an error information acquire for acquiring inclination error information and arrangement error information; a correction value generator for generating correction value information for correcting the inclination of the main scanning line; a correction value holder for holding the generated correction value information; and a driven pixel adjuster for adjusting positions in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the correction value generator generates the correction value information such that a position of the image to be shifted to correct the error of the arrangement of the light-emitting element assemblies is different from that to correct the inclination of the main scanning line.
US08917295B2
A display device, such as a OLED device, and a method of driving the OLED device. The display device includes a gamma voltage generator that generates sequentially decreasing gamma voltages based on sequentially decreasing reference voltages. A data driver selects a gamma voltage from the gamma voltages for driving a pixel based on digital data indicative of a gray scale level for the pixel. In one embodiment the gamma voltage generator includes a resistor string and an input tab that is electrically isolated from the resistor string.
US08917294B2
A system for color space matching a plurality of signals is provided. The system can include a first and second sources operably connected to a first and second inputs, respectively. The first and second inputs can be operably connected to a switch (140). An external device identification (EDID) module (155) can be operably connected to the switch. A controller (150), having a plurality of display modes, can also be operably connected to the switch. Each of the plurality of display modes can have a corresponding unique EDID data structure stored in the EDID module, thereby providing a plurality of unique EDID data structures within the EDID module. The EDID module can select a single unique EDID data structure based upon the color space format of the second signal (125), and in response to the selection, the first source (190) can convert the first color space of the first signal (110) to the second color space format.
US08917290B2
Methods and devices for digital image templating are presented. According to example embodiments, a computing device may match a template image (e.g., an implant) to a target image (e.g., a bone structure). The both the target image and the template image may be displayed on an output of the computing device. The displayed template image may be oriented with respect to the displayed target image according to at least a scale (e.g., a magnification level of the template image). Based on received input, at least the scale of the displayed template image may be adjusted so that the adjusted displayed template image substantially fits the part of the displayed target image. Then, based on this fit, a physical template size may be selected from a discrete range of physical template sizes.
US08917284B2
This patent relates to thin plate spline (TPS)-based interpolation techniques for representing free-flowing vector graphics (VG) images based on user-specified features, such as points and curves. One or more features can be identified in a pixel grid. A higher-order least squares interpolating function with a TPS smoothness objective can then be utilized to interpolate individual color values to individual pixels of the pixel grid. Smoothness terms of the function that impose smoothness penalties can be interrupted in certain regions of the pixel grid based on attributes of the user-specified features. For example, a curve attribute can specify a particular color value(s), add or remove a smoothness penalty, or anisotropically impose a first derivative constraint in a particular direction.
US08917277B2
An animation control device includes a priority identifying unit that identifies priorities of a plurality of animation parts with reference to part priority information; an animation executing unit; a determining unit that determines whether the amount of operation needed for the animation is greater than a first appropriate value; and a part control unit that changes the content of control of the animation of the change target part, which is an animation part having a low priority, from a first content of control to a second content of control when it is determined that the amount of operation needed for the animation is greater than the first appropriate value. The animation executing unit performs the animation of the change target part according to the second content of control, and performs the animation of a non-change-target part according to the first content of control.
US08917274B2
An event matrix may comprise labels and indicators corresponding to objects and links of an ontology. The objects and links may be determined from a plurality of data sources by a data integration system. Some of the labels may correspond to event objects, and may be arranged in a first spatial dimension at least in part on the basis of dates associated with said event objects. Other labels may correspond to non-event objects, and may be arranged in a second spatial dimension. Indicators may correspond to links between the event and non-event objects. An indicator for a particular link may be positioned with respect to the first and second spatial dimensions in accordance with the locations of the labels that correspond to the objects connected by the link.
US08917273B2
In a method for controlling a display device on a muscle trainer equipped with at least one force sensor for sensing a person's periodic or sustained muscular force, in which display device a currently applied muscular force is depicted in relation to a target muscular force or to a maximum muscular force, and the display device is controlled such that a force queried by the patient is always depicted in a predefined target area of a panel in the display device, a multifunctional performance profile of a trainee is achieved in a clear and rapidly recognized manner in that the target muscular force is depicted by a first panel of predefined area and the currently applied muscular force is depicted by a second, variable panel positioned within the first panel, and the area of said second panel is caused to change according to a specific relationship to the currently applied muscular force.
US08917271B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for redistributing geometric primitives generated by tessellation and geometry shaders for per-vertex by multiple graphics pipelines. Geometric primitives that are generated in a first processing stage are collected and redistributed more evenly and in smaller batches to the multiple graphics pipelines for vertex processing in a second processing stage. The smaller batches do not exceed the resource limits of a graphics pipeline and the per-vertex processing workloads of the graphics pipelines in the second stage are balanced. Therefore, the performance of the tessellation and geometry shaders is improved.
US08917265B2
When writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, noise occurs in some cases in a wiring through which a current flows, which may cause a potential of the wiring to be outside the normal range. As the potential does not turn back within the normal range easily at this time, writing to the current source circuit is delayed. According to the invention, when the potential becomes outside the normal range due to noise occurring in a wiring through which a current flows when writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, a current is supplied from other than the current source, thereby the potential of the wiring can turn back within the normal range rapidly.
US08917257B2
A coordinate detecting device includes a detecting unit configured to detect the capacitance of each of a plurality of electrodes arranged in a predetermined direction and an arithmetic processing unit configured to calculate the coordinates of a detection target using different calculation methods according to the state of a variation in the capacitance of the plurality of electrodes. The arithmetic processing unit calculates the coordinates of the detection target, using one of a centroid calculation method of calculating the coordinates of the centroid and a curve approximation method of calculating a peak of a curve according to a comparison value between a capacitance variation of a peak electrode and a capacitance variation of an electrode which is not adjacent to the peak electrode.
US08917251B2
A mobile electronic device and method for operating a mobile electronic device are disclosed. A first detected input is detected on the first display module. A second detected input is detected on the second display module. The first detected input is set to an invalid input, when the second detected input is detected during a device configuration of the mobile electronic device, the device configuration comprising at least a portion of a first display module being exposed, and at least a portion of a second display module being exposed. The second detected input is set to an invalid input, when the first detected input is detected in the device configuration.
US08917245B2
An information processing apparatus that has a touch panel that is able to detect a plurality of touch input positions concurrently extracts a combination consisting of a predetermined number of touch input positions from a plurality of touch input positions that concurrently exist on the touch panel, and based on a positional relationship of the touch input positions constituting the combination that is extracted, determines whether or not the combination is an area designation operation of a single user. When it is determined that the combination is an area designation operation, the information processing apparatus specifies a designated area based on touch input positions of the combination, and acquires a selected object based on a relationship between the specified area and a display position of the object.
US08917231B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided for regulation of gamma characteristic of a display having solid-state-based backlight illumination. Regulation of the gamma characteristic can be accomplished at least in part through synchronization of data writing to a set of pixels in a display within a video frame with backlight illumination of a region of the display during a predetermined period, wherein the region is spanned by the set of pixels. Collection of data indicative of illumination intensity of light to be emitted in a region of a backlight source of the display during the predetermined period enables determination of at least one gamma value and at least one gamma reference voltage related to the at least one gamma value. Application of the at least one gamma reference voltage to the set of pixels adjusts the gamma characteristic thereof within the video frame.
US08917229B2
A display device and a method of driving the same are provided according to one or more embodiments. According to an embodiment, the display device includes a display panel including a plurality of display blocks arranged in the form of a matrix; a plurality of lighting blocks emitting light to the display panel, each of the lighting blocks arranged so as to correspond to at least one row of the matrix and having adjustable light luminance; and a signal control unit adapted to receive an image signal, determine display block luminance of the respective display blocks when an image is displayed on the respective display blocks in accordance with the image signal, determine the light luminance of the respective lighting blocks by using the display block luminance of some display blocks corresponding to the respective lighting blocks, correct the image signal by using the light luminance and the display block luminance, and provide the corrected image signal to the display panel.
US08917220B2
A multi-band, broadband, high angle, sandwich radome structure including a structural layer; a first inside matching layer adjacent to one side of the structural layer; an outside matching layer adjacent to the other side of the structural layer; and a second inside matching layer for increasing broadband microwave and millimeter wave frequency transparency.
US08917211B2
An antenna and a wireless IC device that includes the antenna are provided for which the manufacturing process is simple and for which there is a low probability of a poor connection occurring between a feeder portion and a radiation electrode. An antenna includes a radiation electrode that is provided on a main surface of an insulator board, a ground electrode and/or a counter electrode that is arranged so as to oppose the radiation electrode, and a magnetic field electrode that is connected to the radiation electrode through a connection portion. The magnetic field electrode is defined by line-shaped electrodes and feeds a signal to the radiation electrode from a feeder portion defined by ends of the line-shaped electrodes through the magnetic field electrode.
US08917201B2
Systems and methods for receiving ADS-B messages in environments where multipath propagation corrupts the messages or blocks the reception of the messages. An exemplary system combines RF signal processing and digital signal processing techniques to make it possible to receive ADS-B messages in the presence of multipath reflections from nearby structures and/or farther out structures. The system uses an array of horizontally spaced antennas. The RF signals from the antennas are combined by the receiver so as to form a set of beams with different azimuth antenna patterns to increase the probability that the multipath does not combine destructively with the line-of-sight path in at least one of the beams. This effectively removes multipath reflections where the delay of the multipath relative to the line-of-sight path is less than 100-200 nanoseconds. The system is also configured to remove multipath reflections with greater delays relative to the line-of-sight path.
US08917192B2
A portable terminal has a keypad. The portable terminal includes the keypad including a plurality of key buttons in a predetermined pattern and forming an antenna pattern by using devices connected to both ends of predetermined key buttons among the plurality of key buttons, a Radio Frequency (RF) communicator connected to signal lines of the predetermined key buttons of the keypad, a digital circuit for recognizing a signal input to the keypad, and a controller for controlling the keypad to be selectively switched to one of the digital circuit and the RF communicator according to a signal generated in a resonance frequency region of a particular service band.
US08917176B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for event management, allowing authorized users or authorities to distribute and display emergency communications on digital displays. In one aspect, an emergency management communications system receives event data sent by an emergency detections system comprised of a network of sensors. The emergency management communications system processes the event data to determine an event perimeter, and then selects one or more digital displays based upon the event data or the determined event perimeter. Next, the emergency management communications system authors one or more emergency communications corresponding to the one or more digital displays and sends said one or more emergency communications to said one or more digital display, thereby allowing the one or more digital displays to display the corresponding one or more emergency communications to the affected populations.
US08917170B2
Apparatus for measuring the articulation angle between a tractor and trailer connected by a kingpin and fifth wheel include a transfer assembly associated with the kingpin and interacting with the fifth wheel such that the transfer assembly is rotationally moved relative to the kingpin by relative rotational movement between the kingpin and the fifth wheel. This rotational movement is read by an articulation sensing mechanism having one of a reader element and output element mounted to the transfer assembly and the other of the reader element and the output element operatively mounted to the trailer such that the reader element and the output element interact to provide a signal corresponding to the articulation angle between the tractor and trailer. This signal can be analyzed by a processor for any beneficial use, for example, outputting to a counter steering mechanism.
US08917169B2
A vehicular vision system includes a camera having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array having a plurality of photosensor elements. The camera is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera one of (i) views exterior of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle and forward of the equipped vehicle and (ii) views from the windshield of the equipped vehicle into the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by the camera. The photosensor array is operable at a plurality of exposure periods and at least one exposure period of the plurality of exposure periods is dynamically variable.
US08917163B2
An active electronic tag for a memory card is disclosed herein. The active electronic tag includes an antenna, a first amplifier, an automatic gain control circuit, a phase synchronization locking circuit, a decoding and TX/RX control unit and a second amplifier. The antenna receives a detecting signal transmitted from a card reader, in which the detecting signal is carried on a first carrier. The phase synchronization locking circuit generates a positive carrier and a negative carrier with a phase difference of 180 degree. The decoding and TX/RX control unit generates a response signal, which is carried on the negative carrier. By utilizing the phase difference of the first carrier and the negative carrier, the response signal cancels the first carrier on the card reader, so as to transmit the information saved inside the active electronic tag.
US08917158B2
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying an operation screen on a display module; receiving a fingerprint-touch input through a user input unit capable of identifying a fingerprint; and if fingerprint information of the received fingerprint-touch input matches any one of a plurality of pieces of previously-stored fingerprint information, displaying a character corresponding to the combination of a location of the detection of the received fingerprint-touch input and the previously-stored fingerprint information that matches the fingerprint information of the received fingerprint-touch input on the operation screen. Therefore, it is possible to enter different characters or symbols by generating different fingerprint-touch inputs using different fingers.
US08917151B2
A system for injecting and guiding millimeter-waves through a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including at least two laminas belonging to a PCB, an electrically conductive plating applied on the insulating walls of a cavity formed perpendicularly through the laminas, and optionally a probe located above the cavity printed on a lamina belonging to the PCB. Optionally, the cavity guides millimeter-waves injected by the probe at one side of the cavity to the other side of the cavity.
US08917147B2
A calibrated crystal warm-up method that can include determining the number of clock cycles of a crystal clock reference signal from a crystal oscillator occur during a single clock cycle of a low-power oscillator. Further, the determination can occur when the crystal oscillator is warmed up. The method can also include comparing a number of clock cycles of the crystal clock reference signal with a previously determined number of clock cycles of the crystal clock reference signal to indicate whether the crystal oscillator is warmed up. Further, the method can include counting the number of clock cycles of a low-power clock reference signal have occurred up until the time it has been determined that the crystal oscillator has been warmed up.
US08917138B2
There are provided a noise filter circuit and an operating method thereof. A noise filter circuit includes a first delay circuit, and a second delay circuit connected to the first delay circuit in series, wherein the first delay circuit and the second delay circuit each include at least one inverter and at least one delay element for generating a predetermined delay, and the first delay circuit and the second delay circuit have different filtering characteristics.
US08917131B2
Apparatus and methods may operate so that arrival times of a data signal at gates of transistors are controlled to switch the transistors at different times to modulate the slew rate of a signal on a node. Additional embodiments are also described.
US08917128B1
A phase determination circuit includes a first phase comparison unit, a flag generation unit and a locking detector. The first phase comparison unit compares phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal and generates a first phase comparison signal. The flag generation unit generates a flag signal based on phases of the reference clock signal and a clock signal, and the first phase comparison signal. The locking detector prevents generation of a locking signal based on the first phase comparison signal.
US08917119B2
An output driving circuit includes a first pull-up transistor, a first pull-down transistor and a second pull-down transistor. The first pull-up transistor is configured to generate a first output signal at the output node in response to a first control signal. The first pull-down transistor is configured to generate a second output signal at the output node in response to a second control signal. The second pull-down transistor is configured to connect the output node to the first ground voltage in response to a third control signal. The memory device including the output driving circuit may be insensitive to noise and may have little data transmission error.
US08917114B2
A voltage detection circuit including a comparator circuit, a tunable gain circuit and a switch circuit is disclosed. The comparator circuit has a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The tunable gain circuit is coupled between the first input terminal and a reference signal. The tunable gain circuit has a plurality of gain configurations. The tunable gain circuit adjusts the reference signal and transmits the adjusted reference signal to the first input terminal. The switch circuit selectively transmits a signal under test or the reference signal to the second input terminal. When the voltage detection circuit is in an auto-trimming mode, the switch circuit transmits the reference signal to the second input terminal and the tunable gain circuit sequentially adopts the gain configurations until the comparator circuit detects that voltage levels of the first input terminal and the second input terminal are substantially equal.
US08917104B2
A testing structure, system and method for monitoring electro-migration (EM) performance. A system is described that includes an array of testing structures, wherein each testing structure includes: an EM resistor having four point resistive measurement, wherein a first and second terminals provide current input and a third and fourth terminals provide a voltage measurement; a first transistor coupled to a first terminal of the EM resistor for supplying a test current; the voltage measurement obtained from a pair of switching transistors whose gates are controlled by a selection switch and whose drains are utilized to provide a voltage measurement across the third and fourth terminals. Also included is a decoder for selectively activating the selection switch for one of the array of testing structures; and a pair of outputs for outputting the voltage measurement of a selected testing structure.
US08917100B2
A detecting/counting device for pharmaceutical/parapharmaceutical articles has a sliding support groove (15) having a first lateral wall (15A) and a second lateral wall (15B) and a bottom. A first capacitive sensor (C1) has a first armature (C1A) parallel to the first lateral wall (15A) and a second armature (C1B) parallel to the second lateral wall and connected to a first reference potential Vref1 by a first circuit (O1). A second capacitive sensor (C2) has a first armature (C2A) parallel to the first lateral wall and a second armature (C2B) parallel to the second lateral wall and connected to a second reference potential Vref2 by a second circuit (O2). A data processing unit (E) receives signals from the first circuit and the second circuit during transit of an article, indicating the shape of the articles, and compares them with reference ranges to determine whether the article is whole.
US08917099B2
A MEMS device has a movable beam, a differential capacitor with a movable electrode that moves in response to the displacement of the movable beam and that is disposed between two stationary electrodes, and a voltage circuit for applying a first voltage to the first stationary electrode, second voltage to the second stationary electrode, and a third voltage to the moveable electrode. The MEMS device also has a monitor operably coupled with the movable beam to monitor the displacement of the movable beam. In some embodiments, the monitor may monitor the distance between the movable electrode and at least one of the stationary electrodes. The MEMS device further has a voltage reducing circuit operatively coupled with the monitor, the movable electrode, and the stationary electrodes. The voltage reducing circuit reduces the differential between the third voltage and the voltages on the stationary electrodes when the monitor detects that the displacement of the movable beam is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
US08917088B2
Disclosed is a method and device for diagnosis of functioning faults caused by the angular position measurement sensors of the rotor of a polyphase rotary electrical machine comprising a stator, in particular of the alternator-starter type. The diagnosis is obtained by carrying out direct measurements of pairs of sine and cosine signals determined on the basis of linear combinations of the polyphase signals provided by these sensors. This measurement therefore does not make it necessary to know the exact value of the speed of the machine. The diagnosis of functioning faults caused by the angular position measurement sensors requires only the execution of elementary logic operations, i.e. the determination of the “true” or “false” logic states of two inequality equations.
US08917073B2
A SMPS having a switch; an output port coupled to a load, configured to provide a voltage feedback signal and a current feedback signal; an on-time generator, having an input end coupled to the current feedback signal, and having an output end providing a time signal indicating a time period; and a PWM generator, having a first input end coupled to the voltage feedback signal, a second input end coupled to the time signal, and an output end providing a PWM signal that is coupled to the control end of the switch, and wherein the PWM signal is configured to turn ON the switch when the voltage feedback signal is lower than a threshold voltage, and the PWM signal is configured to turn OFF the switch after the time period.
US08917072B2
A control circuit and method for a PWM voltage regulator combine a high frequency feedback technique with a constant on-time or constant off-time topology to improve the transient performance of the PWM voltage regulator. The PWM voltage regulator generates a constant on-time or constant off-time depending on a current for generating a PWM signal, and dynamically adjusts the current according to the droop-voltage at its output during a transient period. Therefore, the PWM voltage regulator boosts its transient response without any threshold for load step detection.
US08917071B2
There is provided a regulator circuit capable of increasing the capacity of the output transistor for supplying current, stably generating an internal power supply voltage and adapting to the reduction of a power supply voltage. The regulator circuit includes an output transistor which is supplied with an external power supply voltage and supplies dropped voltage to an internal circuit, a differential amplifier for outputting a gate potential applied to the gate of the output transistor, a reference voltage generating circuit for supplying a reference voltage to the differential amplifier, and a cut-off transistor for turning off the output transistor to stop supplying power to the internal circuit. The output transistor is comprised of a depression NMOS transistor whose threshold voltage is a negative voltage. The regulator circuit further includes substrate potential control means for controlling the substrate potential of the depression NMOS transistor.
US08917070B2
A method to maintain stability of a low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR). The method includes determining, during a power-up phase and by a capacitance sensing circuit, an estimated output capacitance value at an output node of the LDO/load switch LVR, and adjusting, based on the estimated output capacitance value, an adaptive RC network in the LDO/load switch LVR, wherein the adaptive RC network produces an adaptive zero in a feedback network transfer function of the LDO/load switch LVR, wherein the adaptive zero reduces an effect of a non-dominant pole in the open loop transfer function of the LDO/load switch LVR, and wherein a frequency of the adaptive zero is inversely proportional to the estimated output capacitance value.
US08917068B2
The present invention relates to a quasi-resonant controlling and driving circuit and method for a flyback converter. In one embodiment, a controlling and driving circuit for a flyback converter, can include: a differentiation circuit configured to receive a third controlling signal and a drain-source voltage of a main power switch of the flyback converter; where the drain-source voltage is configured to be differentiated by the differentiation circuit to generate a differential voltage when the third controlling signal is active within an interval that the main power switch is shut-off; a valley voltage detection circuit coupled to the differentiation circuit, and configured to receive the differential voltage; and where a valley controlling signal is configured to be generated by the valley voltage detection circuit to achieve quasi-resonant driving for the main power switch of the flyback converter when the differential voltage crosses zero with a positive slope.
US08917055B2
The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently charging a battery. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes a constant current circuit configured to provide a direct current through the battery. The circuit also includes a pulsing current circuit that works with the constant current circuit and configured to simultaneously provide a series of pulsed current to the battery. In some embodiments, the series of current pulses includes constructive resonant ringing that is constructive with respect to the charging of the battery.
US08917049B2
When a failure of a feedback control operation of an electric motor is sensed, a control unit changes the feedback control operation to an open loop control operation. At the time of executing the open loop control operation, the control unit sequentially changes the exciting phase of the motor without executing feedback of information of the count value of the encoder counter and rotates a rotor of the motor until a count value of an exciting phase change counter reaches an open loop target count value, which corresponds to a target rotational position of the rotor. When the control unit changes the feedback control operation to the open loop control operation, the control unit sets the open loop target count value by correcting a feedback target count value based on an exciting phase deviation correction value for the count value of the encoder counter.
US08917044B2
A motor control circuit and associated techniques detect a zero crossing of a current in a motor winding by detecting a reverse current in a half bridge circuit used to drive the motor winding.
US08917031B2
Backlight panel circuit, backlight panel and light emitting diode driver are disclosed. The backlight panel circuit comprises: a LED driver including a plurality of voltage followers and a PWM signal transmitter; LED chains; and a plurality of switch circuit units corresponding to the plurality of voltage follows in a one-to-one relationship. Each of the switch circuit units comprises a first switch circuit with a current input terminal being connected to an output terminal of a corresponding voltage follow, a current output terminal being connected to a first LED chain, and a signal input terminal being connected to a signal output terminal of the PWM signal transmitter; and a second switch circuit with a current input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the voltage follow, a current output terminal being connected to a second LED chain, and a signal input terminal being connected to the signal output terminal of the PWM signal transmitter. The PWM signal transmitter is adapted to transmit an on-off signal so as to control an alternate turn-on of the first and second switch circuits. The disclosed technical solutions decrease the cost of the liquid crystal display by reducing the number of voltage followers.
US08917025B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus including: at least one energy storages connected in series with each other; a plurality of LEDs each connected in parallel with each of the energy storages; and a switching control unit selectively connecting the at least one energy storages according to a level of applied voltage to charge/discharge voltage in/from the selected energy storages and control driving of the LEDs by the charging/discharging operation. Therefore, it is possible to easily drive the LEDs without a converter.
US08917022B2
A flange, which forms a portion of a vacuum container, has a rectangular opening surrounded by an insulating frame. A plate-shaped radio-frequency antenna conductor 13 is provided so as to cover the opening, with the insulating frame clamped thereby. In this structure, a radio-frequency power source is connected via a matching box to one end along the length of the radio-frequency antenna conductor, the other end is connected to ground, and electric power is supplied so that a radio-frequency current flows from one end of the radio-frequency antenna conductor to the other. By this method, the impedance of the radio-frequency antenna conductor can be lowered, and high-density plasma with a low electron temperature can be efficiently generated.
US08917021B2
A power supply apparatus of an embodiment includes a first filter, a second filter, and a switching power supply. The first filter and the second filter attenuate a common mode current to a level lower than a normal mode current. The switching power supply is connected between the first filter and the second filter, and supplies electric power to an illumination load via the second filter.
US08917019B2
A method for manufacturing an OLED display according to an exemplary embodiment comprises: forming a thermosetting adhesive layer having a getter receiving portion on a metal sheet; forming a display unit including a plurality of pixels on a substrate; forming a getter layer at an external side of the display unit on the substrate; adhering the thermosetting adhesive layer and the metal sheet to the substrate so as to locate the getter layer in the getter receiving unit; and hardening the thermosetting adhesive layer. The forming of the thermosetting adhesive layer includes layering a solid thermosetting adhesive sheet which has been patterned so as to have the getter receiving portion on the metal sheet.
US08917017B2
Organic el panel, panel-combined light emitting device, and method of manufacturing organic el panel
For organic EL panels with a hollow-sealed structure to meet the demand of flat or large displays, the inconvenience of contact of drying anent etc touching the organic EL elements in the sealed space is avoided. An organic EL panel includes a panel substrate, a light-emitting part with a plurality of organic EL elements having an anode, an organic layer and a cathode laminated on the panel substrate, and a sealing substrate configured to be bonded onto the panel substrate through an adhesive layer to seal the light-emitting part. The sealing substrate includes a supporting projection projecting toward the panel substrate. A supporting margin facing to the bottom face of the supporting projection is provided where the organic EL elements is not formed within a region of the light-emitting part on the panel substrate.
US08917006B2
The present invention relates to a stator for a motor including: a stator core having an annular back yoke and a plurality of teeth; an upper insulator having an annular body portion formed correspondingly to the back yoke of the stator core and a plurality of teeth insulation portions formed correspondingly to the teeth of the stator core so as to cover the upper sides of the teeth of the stator core; a lower insulator having an annular body portion formed correspondingly to the back yoke of the stator core and a plurality of teeth insulation portions formed correspondingly to the teeth of the stator core so as to cover the upper sides of the teeth of the stator core; a plurality of insulation films each adapted to be inserted into the slot to cover the side of the stator core exposed to the inside of the slot between the upper insulator and the lower insulator; and coils adapted to be wound on the teeth of the stator core enclosed by the upper insulator, the lower insulator and the insulation films.
US08917001B2
A gear motor assembly includes a gearbox, a motor mounted to the gearbox, a first damper and a second damper. The gearbox includes a gearing casing and a worm gear installed in the gear casing. The motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a housing. The rotor includes a motor shaft and a worm integrally rotating with the shaft. The shaft extends into the gear housing and the worm is meshed with the worm gear. The first damper is sandwiched between the gear casing and a first end of the shaft, eliminating end play between the shaft and the gear casing. The second damper is sandwiched between the motor housing and a second end of the shaft, eliminating end play between the shaft and the motor housing.
US08916997B2
An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
US08916985B2
A method for the start of a power plant installation which includes a gas turbine, a generator coupled to the gas turbine, and a frequency converter to feed current into an electrical grid. In accordance with the method, during the start of the gas turbine, the generator is connected to the electrical grid via the frequency converter before the operating rotational speed of the gas turbine is reached, wherein the frequency converter is controlled such that it generates an output current with the grid frequency. A power plant installation can execute the above method.
US08916983B2
A downhole tool for generating power is provided that includes a conductive fluid disposed downhole within a tubular member, an energy harvesting apparatus, and a pressure changing apparatus. The energy harvesting apparatus includes a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field and an electrical conductor configured to move with respect to the magnet. The pressure changing apparatus is configured to supply a differential pressure across the energy harvesting apparatus, such that the electrical conductor moves with respect to the magnet.
US08916979B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate, a metal ring penetrating through the substrate, a dielectric region encircled by the metal ring, and a through-via penetrating through the dielectric region. The dielectric region is in contact with the through-via and the metal ring.
US08916978B2
An interconnect structure is provided which comprises a semiconductor substrate; a patterned and cured photoresist wherein the photoresist contains a low k dielectric substitutent and contains a fortification layer on its top and sidewall surfaces forming vias or trenches; and a conductive fill material in the vias or trenches. Also provided is a method for fabricating an interconnect structure which comprises depositing a photoresist onto a semiconductor substrate, wherein the photoresist contains a low k dielectric constituent; imagewise exposing the photoresist to actinic radiation; then forming a pattern of vias or trenches in the photoresist; surface fortifying the pattern of vias or trenches proving a fortification layer on the top and sidewalls of the vias or trenches; curing the pattern of vias or trenches thereby converting the photoresist into a dielectric; and filling the vias and trenches with a conductive fill material.
US08916973B1
A semiconductor device includes a data storage layer formed over a semiconductor substrate in which a lower structure is formed, and an electrode structure formed on at least one side of the data storage layer over the semiconductor substrate. The electrode structure includes a metal pattern, and a graphene pattern formed over the metal pattern.
US08916968B2
An electronic device includes a first chip carrier and a second chip carrier isolated from the first chip carrier. A first power semiconductor chip is mounted on and electrically connected to the first chip carrier. A second power semiconductor chip is mounted on and electrically connected to the second chip carrier. An electrically insulating material is configured to at least partially surround the first power semiconductor chip and the second power semiconductor chip. An electrical interconnect is configured to electrically connect the first power semiconductor chip to the second power semiconductor chip, wherein the electrical interconnect has at least one of a contact clip and a galvanically deposited conductor.
US08916962B2
Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing them. An example device may include a III-nitride stack having a front side surface and a back side surface. The III-nitride stack may be formed of at least a first layer and a second layer, between which a heterojunction may be formed, such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed in the second layer. A source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode positioned between the source and drain electrodes may be formed on the front side surface, and an insulation layer may be formed over the electrodes on the front side surface. A carrier substrate may be attached to the insulation layer. An electrically conductive back plate may be formed on the back side surface. The back plate may directly face the source electrode and the gate electrode, but not the drain electrode.
US08916959B2
A packaging structure is provided. The packaging structure includes first and second chips, at least one surface of each of the first and second chips being an active surface and a common chip to which at least one of the first and second chips is electrically interconnected. The respective active surfaces of the first and second chips are directly electrically interconnected to one another in a face-to-face arrangement and are oriented transversely with respect to the common chip.
US08916945B2
Prepared is an n− type semiconductor substrate 1 having a first principal surface 1a and a second principal surface 1b opposed to each other, and having a p+ type semiconductor region 3 formed on the first principal surface 1a side. At least a region opposed to the p+ type semiconductor region 3 in the second principal surface 1b of the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam to form an irregular asperity 10. After formation of the irregular asperity 10, an accumulation layer 11 with an impurity concentration higher than that of the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is formed on the second principal surface 1b side of the n type semiconductor substrate 1. After formation of the accumulation layer 11, the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is subjected to a thermal treatment.
US08916944B2
The micro-electromechanical device has a substrate. Integrated into the substrate is a micromechanical component that has a bending element which can be bent reversibly and which has a first end connected to the substrate and extends from the first end over a free space. The bending element has at least one web having two side edges, the course of which is defined by depressions introduced into the bending element and adjacent to the side edges. In order to form a homogenization region located within the web, in which mechanical stresses occurring during bending of the bending element are substantially equal, the mutual spacing of the side edges of the web decreases, as viewed from the first end of the bending element. The device further comprises at least one microelectronic component that is sensitive to mechanical stresses and embedded in the web in the homogenization region of the latter.
US08916938B2
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional writable printed memory (3D-wP). It comprises at least a printed memory array and a writable memory array. The printed memory array stores contents data, which are recorded with a printing means; the writable memory array stores custom data, which are recorded with a writing means. The writing means is preferably direct-write lithography. To maintain manufacturing throughput, the total amount of custom data should be less than 1% of the total amount of content data.
US08916937B1
Multiple transistor types are formed in a common epitaxial layer by differential out-diffusion from a doped underlayer. Differential out-diffusion affects the thickness of a FET channel, the doping concentration in the FET channel, and distance between the gate dielectric layer and the doped underlayer. Differential out-diffusion may be achieved by differentially applying a dopant migration suppressor such as carbon; differentially doping the underlayer with two or more dopants having the same conductivity type but different diffusivities; and/or differentially applying thermal energy.
US08916936B2
A semiconductor device including: a first gate pattern disposed in a peripheral region of a substrate; a second gate pattern disposed in a cell region of the substrate; a first insulator formed on sidewalls of the first gate pattern; and a second insulator formed on sidewalls of the second gate pattern, wherein a dielectric constant of the first insulator is different from a dielectric constant of the second insulator, and wherein a height of the second insulator is greater than a height of the second gate pattern.
US08916934B2
A structure is designed with an external terminal (100) and a reference terminal (102). A first transistor (106) is formed on a substrate. The first transistor has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the reference terminal. A second transistor (118) has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the substrate. A third transistor (120) has a current path coupled between the substrate and the reference terminal.
US08916926B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, a structure including a stack of alternately disposed layers of conductive and insulation materials disposed on the substrate, a plurality of pillars extending through the structure in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and into contact with the substrate, and information storage films interposed between the layers of conductive material and the pillars. In one embodiment, upper portions of the pillars located at the same level as an upper layer of the conductive material have structures that are different from lower portions of the pillars. In another embodiment, or in addition, upper string selection transistors constituted by portions of the pillars at the level of an upper layer of the conductive material are programmed differently from lower string selection transistors.
US08916923B2
According to one embodiment, in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which a charge store layer is formed on a tunnel insulating film formed on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate, a first nanoparticle layer containing first conductive nanoparticles is formed on the channel side, and a second nanoparticle layer containing a plurality of second conductive nanoparticles having an average particle size larger than the first conductive nanoparticles is formed on the charge store layer side. An average energy value ΔE1 required for charging one electron in the first conductive nanoparticle is smaller than an average energy value ΔE required for charging one electron in the second conductive nanoparticle, and a difference between ΔE1 and ΔE is larger than a heat fluctuation energy (kBT).
US08916920B2
A memory structure having a memory cell region and a non-memory cell region is provided. The memory structure includes a plurality of memory cells and a conductive material. The plurality of memory cells are disposed in the memory cell region, wherein a plurality of first concave portions are present in the plurality of memory cells. The conductive material extends across the memory cell region and the non-memory cell region, covers the plurality of memory cells, and extends into the plurality of first concave portions.
US08916919B2
A metal capacitor structure includes a plurality of line level structures vertically interconnected with via level structures. Each first line level structure and each second line level structure includes a set of parallel metal lines that is physically joined at an end to a rectangular tab structure having a rectangular horizontal cross-sectional area. A first set of parallel metal lines within a first line level structure and a second set of parallel metal lines within a second line level structure are interdigitated and parallel to each other, and can collectively form an interdigitated uniform pitch structure. Because the rectangular tab structures do not protrude toward each other within a region between two facing sidewalls of the rectangular tab structures, sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs) can be employed to provide a uniform width and a uniform pitch throughout the entirety of the interdigitated uniform pitch structure.
US08916917B2
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a first element formation region surrounded by an element isolation region in a semiconductor substrate having a first and a second surface, an upper element isolation layer on the first surface in the element formation region, a lower element isolation layer between the second surface and the upper element isolation layer, a first photodiode in the element formation region, a floating diffusion in the element formation region, and a first transistor disposed between the first photodiode and the floating diffusion. A side surface of the lower element isolation layer protrudes closer to the transistor than a side surface of the upper element isolation layer.
US08916916B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate which is formed of a semiconductor and includes a first surface and a second surface which face opposite sides; a gate insulation film which is formed on a trench formed in the substrate to penetrate the first surface and the second surface; and a gate electrode which is embedded in the trench through the gate insulation film to be exposed to a second surface side of the substrate. A step difference is formed from the second surface of the substrate to a tip end surface of the gate electrode on the second surface side.
US08916912B2
A method used in fabrication of a recessed access device transistor gate has increased tolerance for mask misalignment. One embodiment of the invention comprises forming a vertical spacing layer over a semiconductor wafer, then etching the vertical spacing layer and the semiconductor wafer to form a recess in the wafer. A conductive transistor gate layer is then formed within the trench and over the vertical spacing layer. The transistor gate layer is etched, which exposes the vertical spacing layer. A spacer layer is formed over the etched conductive gate layer and over the vertical spacing layer, then the spacer layer and the vertical spacing layer are anisotropically etched. Subsequent to anisotropically etching the vertical spacing layer, a portion of the vertical spacing layer is interposed between the semiconductor wafer and the etched conductive transistor gate layer in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a major surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US08916908B2
A III-nitride heterojunction semiconductor device having a III-nitride heterojunction that includes a discontinuous two-dimensional electron gas under a gate thereof.
US08916906B2
A silicon wafer used in manufacturing GaN for LEDs includes a silicon substrate, a buffer layer of boron aluminum nitride (BxAl1-xN) and an upper layer of GaN, for which 0.35≦x≦0.45. The BAlN forms a wurtzite-type crystal with a cell unit length about two-thirds of a silicon cell unit length on a Si(111) surface. The C-plane of the BAlN crystal has approximately one atom of boron for each two atoms of aluminum. Across the entire wafer substantially only nitrogen atoms of BAlN form bonds to the Si(111) surface, and substantially no aluminum or boron atoms of the BAlN are present in a bottom-most plane of atoms of the BAlN. A method of making the BAlN buffer layer includes preflowing a first amount of ammonia equaling less than 0.01% by volume of hydrogen flowing through a chamber before flowing trimethylaluminum and triethylboron and then a subsequent amount of ammonia through the chamber.
US08916905B2
It is an object to provide a photoelectric conversion device with high photoelectric conversion efficiency that improves reliability by increasing contact force between a light absorbing layer and an electrode layer. The photoelectric conversion device includes an electrode layer, and a light absorbing layer located on the electrode layer. The light absorbing layer contains a compound semiconductor. The light absorbing layer comprises a first layer close to the electrode layer and a second layer located on the first layer. The first layer has a void ratio lower than that of the second layer.
US08916903B2
A light emitting device that includes a substrate, a light emitting element and a sealing resin member. The substrate includes a flexible base, a plurality of wiring portions and a groove portion between the plurality of wiring portions. The flexible base extends in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the substrate and the plurality of wiring portions are arranged on the base. The light emitting element is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of wiring portions. The sealing resin member seals the light emitting element and a part of the substrate. The sealing resin member is spaced apart from a first groove portion of the groove portion, the first groove portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
US08916902B2
An improved LED module packaging structure with an IC chip includes a power input end in a packaging groove of a carrier stand connected to a zener diode and a power input port of the IC chip acquiring an operating power from the zener diode, so that the LED module applied to a full-color or self-color illuminant of central control utilizes the zener diode connected to the power input end within the packaging groove of the carrier stand to lower or modulate the voltage of an external power. While the IC chip receives a data signal from the data signal input end, the IC chip receives a matched operating voltage via the zener diode to drive the LED chip to shine, thereby attaining a long transmission of the central control easily.
US08916882B2
A switching circuit includes: a first switching element (Q1); a resistor (11) inserted between a control electrode (G) of the first switching element (Q1) and a control circuit (13) switching the first switching element (Q1); and a first capacitor (15) and a second switching element (14) connected in series between the control electrode (G) of the first switching element (Q1) and a low potential-side electrode (S) of the first switching element (Q1). A high potential-side electrode of the second switching element (14) is connected to the control electrode (G) of the first switching element (Q1). An electrode of the first capacitor (15) is connected to the low potential-side electrode (S) of the first switching element (Q1). A control electrode of the second switching element (14) is connected to an electrode of the resistor (11) connected to the control circuit (13).
US08916873B2
A photodetector includes a semiconductor substrate having an irradiation zone configured to generate charge carriers having opposite charge carrier types in response to an irradiation of the semiconductor substrate. The photodetector further includes an inversion zone generator configured to operate in at least two operating states to generate different inversion zones within the substrate, wherein a first inversion zone generated in a first operating state differs from a second inversion zone generated in a second operating state, and wherein the first inversion zone and the second inversion zone have different extensions in the semiconductor substrate. A corresponding method for manufacturing a photodetector and a method for determining a spectral characteristic of an irradiation are also described.
US08916872B1
A method of forming a stacked low temperature diode and related devices. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming a metal interconnect disposed within an inter-layer dielectric. The metal interconnect is electrically coupled to at least one underlying integrated circuit device. A barrier layer is deposited on the metal interconnect and the inter-layer dielectric. A semiconductor layer is deposited on the barrier layer. A metal layer is deposited on the semiconductor layer. The barrier layer, the semiconductor layer, and the metal layer are patterned. A low-temperature anneal is performed to induce a reaction between the patterned metal layer and the patterned semiconductor layer. The reaction forms a silicided layer within the patterned semiconductor layer. Moreover, the reaction forms a P-N junction diode.
US08916863B2
A transistor manufacturing method includes: forming a gate electrode above a substrate; forming a gate insulator above the gate electrode; forming source and drain electrodes above the gate insulator; forming a sacrificial layer above the source and drain electrodes; forming a partition wall layer above the sacrificial layer; forming an opening by patterning the partition wall layer to partly expose the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer to expose the source and drain electrodes; and forming an organic semiconductor layer to cover the source and drain electrodes and the gate insulator, wherein the source and drain electrodes occupy 50% or more of a surface area of the opening, and the source and drain electrodes are spaced apart at an interval smaller than an average granular diameter of crystals each of which is at least partly positioned above the source or drain electrode.
US08916862B2
To increase light-extraction efficiency and simplify manufacturing process. An organic EL panel includes: first electrode reflecting incident light; second electrode transmitting incident light therethrough; organic light-emitting layer emitting light of corresponding color among RGB colors; first functional layer including charge injection/transport layer and at least one other layer, and disposed between the first electrode and the light-emitting layer; and second functional layer disposed between the second electrode and the light-emitting layer. The first functional layers of the RGB colors are equal in film thickness, the organic light-emitting layers of the RGB colors are equal in optical distance from the first electrode, the second functional layers of the RGB colors are equal in film thickness, the organic light-emitting layers of the RGB colors are equal in optical distance from the second electrode, and the organic light-emitting layers of the RGB colors differ in film thickness.
US08916853B2
Use of transition metal complexes of the formula (I) in organic light-emitting diodes where: M1 is a metal atom; carbene is a carbene ligand; L is a monoanionic or dianionic ligand; K is an uncharged monodentate or bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of phosphines; CO; pyridines; nitriles and conjugated dienes which form a π complex with M1; n is the number of carbene ligands and is at least 1; m is the number of ligands L, where m can be 0 or ≧1; o is the number of ligands K, where o can be 0 or ≧1; where the sum n+m+o is dependent on the oxidation state and coordination number of the metal atom and on the denticity of the ligands carbene, L and K and also on the charge on the ligands carbene and L, with the proviso that n is at least 1, and also an OLED comprising these transition metal complexes, a light-emitting layer comprising these transition metal complexes, OLEDs comprising this light-emitting layer, devices comprising an OLED according to the present invention, and specific transition metal complexes comprising at least two carbene ligands.
US08916848B2
According to one embodiment, a resistance change device includes a first electrode including a metal, a second electrode, and an amorphous oxide layer including Si and O between the first and second electrode, the layer having a concentration gradient of O and a first peak thereof in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.
US08916841B2
A particle therapy system is capable of reducing an increase in treatment time caused by the initialization operation of magnets in the execution of the scanning irradiation method successively changing the energy level of a beam extracted from an accelerator. An irradiation control apparatus has a scheme that calculates setting vales of excitation current for bending magnets for a transport system on every irradiation condition (energy condition), and sets appropriate excitation current values according to the irradiation sequence. The irradiation control apparatus 35 prestores in a current supply control table 1 reference current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam, prestores in current supply compenzation value tables 1, 2 compenzation current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam and numbers of times of changing the energy level, and calculates the excitation current value of the magnets by using the values prestored in the tables.
US08916840B2
A lithography apparatus includes a deflector configured to deflect the charged particle beam to scan the charged particle beam on the substrate in a scan direction; a detector including a shield for shielding the charged particle beam, and configured to detect an intensity of a charged particle beam not shielded by the shield; and a processor configured to process a signal obtained with the detector scanned with the charged particle beam in the scan direction by the deflector, wherein an effective region of the shield has a shape such that a position of an edge thereof in the scan direction continuously changes along the edge, and wherein the processor is configured to process the signal with respect to a plurality of positions of the edge to determine a relationship between a command value to the deflector and a scan position of the charged particle beam.
US08916839B2
A sample preparation method is carried out using a focused ion beam and an electron beam. While displaying a SEM image of a first cross-section of a sample on a display screen, the first cross-section is subjected to etching processing by scanning and irradiation of the focused ion beam, thereby exposing a second cross-section, and while displaying a SEM image of the second cross-section on the display screen, the scanning direction of the focused ion beam is changed while performing scanning and irradiation of the focused ion beam and subjecting the second cross-section to etching processing, thereby exposing a desired cross-section of the sample.
US08916812B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical module, including an MT-Ferrule and a photoelectric conversion unit. The MT-Ferrule is configured to connect multiple channels of optical channels outside the optical module with multiple channels of optical channels of the photoelectric conversion unit, and implement coupling and transmission of multiple channels of single-mode optical signals between the two. The photoelectric conversion unit is configured to convert multiple channels of single-mode optical signals input from the MT-Ferrule into multiple channels of electrical signals and output the multiple channels of electrical signals, and generate, driven by multiple channels of input electrical signals, multiple channels of single-mode optical signals and output the multiple channels of single-mode optical signals to the MT-Ferrule.
US08916801B2
A household appliance includes a warming drawer housing having an interior chamber, and a warming drawer module being movable between a first position in which the warming drawer module is in the interior chamber of the warming drawer housing and a second position in which a part of the warming drawer module is outside the warming drawer housing. The warming drawer module includes a heating element forming a floor surface of the warming drawer module and a support plate that supports the heating element in the warming drawer module. The support plate includes a plurality of supports supporting an underside of the heating element.
US08916799B2
Flat electric heater element having a self-adhesive surface for the purpose of adhesive-bonding to a glass pane of a motor vehicle, and having a passage opening to allow the passage of signals from/to a signaling device which is installed in the motor vehicle.
US08916792B2
A submerged arc welding system includes a robot having a first arm connected to a second arm, and at least one wire supply. A welding torch is connected to a first end of the second arm of the robot. A wire motor is mounted to a second end of the second arm of the robot. The wire motor moves wire from the wire supply along a wire path to the welding torch. The system further includes a flux supply and a flux delivery system configured to move flux from the flux supply along a flux path to the welding torch.
US08916791B2
A welding system having a traveling base carriage, a carriage positioning mechanism engaging the base carriage; and a ring gear assembly mounted on the base carriage. The ring gear assembly will include: (i) two half ring sections, each having at least one gear track; (ii) a ring gear mount attaching each of the half ring sections to the base carriage, where the ring gear mounts allow the half ring sections to separate and guide the half ring sections into mating engagement. The system further includes at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly. The weld head assembly includes: i) a welding torch; ii) a torch positioner, and iii) a position sensor. A system controller is programmed to control at least the carriage positioning mechanism and the weld head assembly in order to perform the steps of: (i) setting a velocity of the base carriage to approximate the pipe joint's lateral movement in order to maintain the position of the weld head assembly approximately at the pipe joint; and (ii) adjusting a path of the welding torch to accommodate a geometry of the pipe joint as detected by the position sensor.
US08916787B2
A switching mechanism includes a housing, an actuator retained within the housing, and an electrical switching apparatus. The actuator includes an actuation element retained by the housing, where at least a portion of the actuation element is positioned for receiving an actuation load, and a plunger substantially in contact with the actuation element and operable to translate when an actuation load is applied to the actuation element. A sealing element placed around a second cylindrical portion of the plunger contacts inner surfaces of the housing to provide a seal between a first end and second end of the housing. The actuator also includes a spring operable to apply a force to resist translation of the plunger. An electrical switching apparatus is retained by the second end of the housing.
US08916786B2
A retrofit assembly and method of retrofitting a circuit breaker in a switchgear are described. The retrofit assembly can includes one or more adjustable elements for fitting a circuit breaker into a switchgear panel of the switchgear. The adjustable elements can include a plurality of adjustable modular female tulip contacts to receive a corresponding plurality of male contacts in a panel of the switchgear, each female tulip contact being flexible for a plurality of diameters, a plurality of modular phase adjustment contact arms to provide phase alignment between the poles of the circuit breaker, and/or an adjustable truck for placing the circuit breaker in contact with a rack for the circuit breaker in the switchgear.
US08916784B2
A push button switch having a base, a plurality of contact plates, a switching assembly, and a push button assembly. The base has a first cavity with a plurality of first, second, and third conductive terminals assembled therein. A length of the first conductive terminal is greater than that of the second and third conductive terminals. The contact plate is of a planar structure or has an extending structure. The switching assembly has a switching body with a displacement-restricting guiding trench and a plurality of second cavities and a plurality of switching units. The switching units are respectively arranged in the second cavities and push against the contact plates. The push button assembly is connected to the base and has a pushing element and a first elastic unit. The pushing element pushes against the displacement-restricting guiding trench and the first elastic unit is assembled to the pushing element.
US08916777B2
A gasket system is described for use with a conduit and junction box dust-tight seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a two-piece split clamp, each clamp having a shaft portion, a flange portion, a locknut cavity portion and lip portion. The gasket system includes one or more of a shaft gasket, a flange gasket, and a lip gasket that are mounted on and are used in conjunction with the overall seal assembly.
US08916776B2
An electric power cable contains a core and a jacket forming the exterior of the cable. The jacket is formed by extruding a first layer and a second layer over a plurality of concentric neutral elements, substantially encapsulating these elements. At least the first layer is an expanded polymeric material, by having its density reduced through the use of a foaming agent during extrusion. The second layer, which may also be expanded, is extruded around the first layer. The expanded polymeric material makes stripping the jacket easier, minimizes indentations in the cable's insulation layers, lightens the cable, and increases the cable's flexibility.
US08916774B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide cables configured for communicating electrical signals. In some embodiments, an electrical cable is provided comprising: a first connector portion; a second connector portion; and a cable portion coupling the first connector portion to the second connector portion, where the cable portion includes: a conduit portion comprising an electrical conductor configured to carry an electrical signal between the first connector portion and the second connector portion, a first wire portion coupling the first connector portion to the conduit portion and comprising the electrical conductor, and a second wire portion coupling the second connector portion to the conduit portion and comprising the electrical conductor, wherein the conduit portion is flexible, and at least one of the first wire portion and the second wire portions is flexible and posable such that a user can selectively bend the one wire portion to form and retain a first shape.
US08916773B2
A high conductivity wire and a method of manufacturing the same are described wherein the high conductivity wire includes three or more conducting wires. In the method, conducting wires cross each other and are coiled regularly and three dimensionally. The conducting wires are coated with an insulating material.
US08916771B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device. The method includes: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a first unit cell converting light into electricity on the first electrode; forming an intermediate reflector on the first unit cell, the intermediate reflector including metallic nanoparticles arranged therein; and forming a second unit cell converting light into electricity on the intermediate reflector.
US08916755B1
A novel maize variety designated X18C104 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X18C104 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18C104 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18C104, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18C104. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18C104.
US08916753B1
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 20883NNR2Y, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-120603. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 20883NNR2Y variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US08916752B2
The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D, but also to pyridyloxyacetate herbicides. Heretofore, there was no expectation or suggestion that a plant with both of these advantageous properties could be produced by the introduction of a single gene. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention “stacked” together with one or more other herbicide resistance genes. The subject invention enables novel combinations of herbicides to be used in new ways. Furthermore, the subject invention provides novel methods of preventing the development of, and controlling, strains of weeds that are resistant to one or more herbicides such as glyphosate. The preferred enzyme and gene for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD-12 (AryloxyAlkanoate Dioxygenase). This highly novel discovery is the basis of significant herbicide tolerant crop trait and selectable marker opportunities.
US08916744B1
A novel maize variety designated PH24DV and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24DV with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24DV through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH24DV or a locus conversion of PH24DV with another maize variety.
US08916741B2
A wound closure system having first, second and third adhesive pads with a pair of strap members fixedly secured to the first and third adhesive pads. The pair of strap members are slidably received within the second adhesive pad. When the third adhesive pad is displaced, the first and second adhesive pads are displaced toward each other to close the wound.
US08916717B2
The invention relates to dioxaspiroketal derivatives of formula (I): wherein R, is selected from the group consisting of H, straight or branched chain C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C2-C6 alkenyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, phenyl, optionally para-, meta- or ortho-substituted with 0 to 3 substituent selected from halogen, —CN, —NH2, —OH, —NO2, COOR2, wherein R2 is selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl, n is 1 or 2, X is O or S, R1 is selected from H, OH, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, COOR3, wherein R3 is selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl, or physiologically acceptable salts thereof, process for preparation thereof, their uses in medical field, in particular as anti-tumor medicaments.
US08916716B2
The present invention relates to stable crystalline Form II of L-malic acid salt of sunitinib and its preparation.
US08916715B2
A process for the preparation of 4-methyl-oxazole-5-carboxamide, an intermediate in the synthesis of pyridoxine, by reacting lower alkyl 4-methyl-oxazole-5-carboxy-late with a molar excess of anhydrous, liquid ammonia.
US08916711B2
The present invention provides a compounds 7a-f to 18a-f and 19a-f to 30a-f of general formula A, useful as potential anticancer agents against human cancer cell lines. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of imidazothiazole-chalcone hybrids 7a-f to 18a-f and 19a-f to 30a-f of general formula A wherein
US08916701B2
Disclosed is a process for making diastereomeric compound of the formula (I): wherein m, n and R1 to R4 are as defined herein. The process of the invention provides the compound of formula (I) in high yield and substantially free of the corresponding diastereomers. The compounds of formula (I) prepared by the process of the invention are useful for making pharmaceutically active compounds such as 11-β-hydroxysteroid hydrogenase type 1 (11-β-HSD1) inhibitors.
US08916697B2
The invention relates to nucleic acid complexes, methods of preparation thereof, and uses thereof for delivering a nucleic acid into a cell.
US08916687B2
The invention relates to an insecticidal protein, its gene encoding and the uses thereof. The protein comprises: (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:2; or (b) a protein derived from (a) consisting of an amino acid sequence by substitution, deletion, or addition of one or more amino acid residues of the amino acid sequences in (a), and having insecticidal activity; or (c) a protein generated by the expression of nucleic acid molecules containing a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; or (d) a protein generated by the expression of nucleic acid molecules containing a complementary sequence that hybridized with SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions; or (e) a protein generated by the expression of nucleic acid molecules that contain nucleotide sequences isocoding with the nucleotide sequences in (d). The insecticidal protein of the invention has high expression level and strong toxicity against pests.
US08916686B2
The present invention relates generally to tissue differentiation factor (TDF) analogs. More specifically, the invention relates to structure-based methods and compositions useful in designing, identifying, and producing molecules which act as functional modulators of TDF-like receptors. The invention further relates to methods of detecting, preventing, and treating TDF-associated disorders.
US08916681B2
The present invention relates to the use of an antagonist of kisspeptin in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition induced and/or worsened by kisspeptin activity in an individual. The invention also provides certain defined peptide molecules, which may act as an antagonist of kisspeptin, which are of use in treating a condition induced and/or worsened by kisspeptin activity in an individual. In addition, the invention provides methods of identifying and/or using antagonists of kisspeptin and/or the defined peptides, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US08916676B2
A method for making a phosphorated polymer is also provided. An organic polymer and phosphorus are mixed to obtain a mixture. A weight ratio of the organic polymer to the phosphorus ranges from about 1:10 to about 4:1. The mixture is dried in an inert atmosphere or vacuum. The mixture is heated in an inert atmosphere or vacuum so that the phosphorus sublimes and reacts with the organic polymer to form a preform. The preform is cooled down to room temperature and immersed in an alkaline solution. The pH of the preform is adjusted to be neutral. The preform is dried.
US08916672B2
The present disclosure relates to a transparent polyarylene ether polymer with high heat resistance and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a polyarylene ether polymer and a method for preparing the same, wherein the polyarylene ether polymer has a repeating structure in which cardo-type aromatic diols having a large molecular volume, polyether sulfones which are amorphous polymers having a high glass transition temperature and superior film formability, and polyether ketones which are crystalline polymers having superior heat resistance and mechanical properties are sequentially arranged. The polyarylene ether polymer is both transparent and heat resistant and, thus, can be used, for example, for a flexible plastic substrate.
US08916663B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a high-molecular-weight copolymer of polar group-containing allyl monomers including monomer units represented by formulae (3) and (4) (in the formulae, R1 represents a hydrogen atom (H) or hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents —OH, —OCOR3 (R3 represents hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms), —N(R4)2 (R4 represents a hydrogen atom or hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms); and n and m are a value representing the molar ratio of each of the monomer units), which has few branches and unsaturated group at the molecular end, by copolymerizing olefin and a polar group-containing allyl compound using a metal complex of group 10 elements in the periodic system represented by formula (I) as a catalyst.
US08916661B2
Processes for forming low molecular weight (C2-4) olefins from renewable resources, and polyolefins formed from the olefins, are disclosed. The C2-4 olefins are produced by first converting a renewable resource, capable of being converted to syngas, to syngas. The syngas is converted, using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using a catalyst with low chain growth probabilities, to a composition comprising C2-4 olefins, which are then isolated to form a C2-4 olefin-rich stream. Propylene can be isolated from this stream, and the ethylene and butylene can be subjected to olefin metathesis to produce additional propylene. The propylene, or other olefins, can be subjected to a variety of polymerization conditions and used in a variety of products, to replace the propylene, and polypropylene, produced from crude oil. Thus, the olefins, and polymers, copolymer and terpolymers thereof, can help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign crude oil.
US08916657B2
The present invention relates to a process of preparing a polyolefin in a loop reactor by introducing anti-fouling agent in by-pass pipes. Also, the invention relates to the use of anti-fouling agent to prevent blockage by feeding the anti-fouling agent into the by-pass pipes of the loop reactor.
US08916656B2
A glass printing ink and a glass printing lacquer comprising at least one pigment, at least one photoinitiator, at least two resins and radicial photoinitiators. One resin is an epoxy resin having an average molecular weight based on bisphenol A, diluted in a UV hardening monomer. The other resin is a resin which contains free functional amino, hydroxy, epoxy, acid, acid anhydride and/or acrylate groups. Also, the use of the glass printing ink and glass printing lacquer when printing a glass substrate and to a method for printing a glass substrate.
US08916651B2
Nanocomposite materials and methods of making composite materials reinforced with carbon nanotubes are disclosed. The composite material includes an array of functionalized and aligned carbon nanotubes having a degree of functionalization of about 1% to about 10%; and a polymeric matrix material bonded to the array of functionalized and aligned carbon nanotubes.
US08916650B2
The present invention relates to an inner-plasticized vinyl chloride-based copolymer resin not requiring plasticizers and a preparation method thereof. Specifically, the vinyl chloride-based copolymer resin is prepared by a suspension polymerization method of initiating the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer, feeding a certain amount of butyl acrylate continuously or discontinuously thereinto and carrying out the additional polymerization at the temperature higher than the polymerization initiation temperature so as to prepare a core-shell type vinyl chloride-based random copolymer resin. The vinyl chloride-based copolymer resin of core-shell structure prepared by the present invention includes vinyl chloride-butyl acrylate copolymer, and it can provide a vinyl chloride-butyl acrylate copolymer product which can be processed without plasticizers positively necessary to produce a soft product.
US08916648B2
A polymer filament comprising a polyolefin composition which comprises (percentages by weight): A) 5%-95% of a propylene homopolymer; and B) 5-95% of a butene-1 homopolymer or copolymer having a flexural modulus of 80 MPa or higher.
US08916637B2
A process for producing a circuit carrier comprising at least a molded part and a circuit carried by the molded part, wherein the molded part includes a polycarbonate composition having the following components: a) 30-97 mass % of aromatic polycarbonate, b) 0.5-20 mass % of a metal compound capable of being activated by electromagnetic radiation and thereby forming elemental metal nuclei, and c) 2.5-50 mass % of at least one rubber-like polymer, wherein the sum of a)-c) is 100%.
US08916635B2
The present invention relates to an innovative method for the reversible crosslinking of, for example, adhesives or coating materials. The reversible crosslinking method allows very rapid crosslinking even at room temperature and undoing of the crosslinks at higher temperatures, thereby regaining the capacity for thermoplastic processing and allowing the originally bonded substrates to be separated from one another again with ease. A particular aspect in this context is that a plurality of cycles of crosslinking and undoing of the crosslinks are possible with the present system.
US08916634B2
A master batch for use in forming ultrafine metal particles serving as an adsorptive material, a method of producing the same, and a method of molding an article containing ultrafine metal particles by using the master batch. The master batch comprises a thermoplastic resin and a metal organoate contained therein, the metal of the metal organoate being selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, In, Pd, Pt, Fe, Ni, Co, Zn, Nb, Sn, Ru and Rh. Adsorption performance is not expressed by the master batch but is expressed by an article molded by blending the resin with the master batch.
US08916631B2
Provided is a film or sheet composed of a resin composition that includes a poly lactic acid (A), an acidic functional group-modified olefinic polymer (B) including an acidic functional group and having an acid value of 10 to 70 mg KOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 80,000, a tetrafluoroethylene polymer (C), and an aromatic-condensed phosphoric acid ester-containing flame retardant (D) including a compound of General Formula (I) and in which the aromatic-condensed phosphoric acid ester-containing flame retardant (D) is included in an amount of 10 to 80 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the poly lactic acid (A), and a method for manufacturing the film or sheet by melt film formation. Each sign in Formula is as described in the specification.
US08916630B2
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic molding composition composed of polycarbonate and inorganic fillers which comprises from 0.01 to 0.5 part by weight of at least one anhydride-modified alpha-olefin terpolymer and which has a high degree of rigidity and nevertheless exhibits good strength, as well as stress-strain characteristics corresponding to those of an unreinforced polycarbonate. Surprisingly, the molding composition additionally exhibits an improvement in flame retardancy. The invention relates in particular to flame-retardant, thermoplastic molding compositions filled with glass fibers, and to the production and use thereof. The property profile is, surprisingly, independent of the degree of interaction of the filler with the polycarbonate matrix.
US08916627B2
The present invention is directed to the use of continuous extrusion devices to form high quality polymer dispersions of polyvinyl butyral), a surfactant, and a plasticizer. Screw extruder devices of the present invention inject water into a zone of high pressure, temperature, and shear to cause the rapid inversion of a weld in less than, for example, one minute, which compares very favorably with conventional batch methods, which can take, for example, two or more hours to complete an inversion. This rapid inversion—a surprising result given the extended time inversion requires in batch processes—allows for the continuous production of poly(vinyl butyral) dispersions.
US08916624B2
Improvedly storage stable dental compositions useful for the preparation of dental prostheses and for dental restoration containing a uniquely pretreated dental filler material.
US08916621B2
The present invention relates to a radically polymerizable composition comprising a hydroxylamine ester used to manufacture color filters. The invention further relates to novel hydroxylamine esters. The invention further relates to the use of hydroxylamine esters in all liquid crystal display components requiring post-baking.The present invention relates to a radically polymerizable composition comprising: (a) at least one alkaline developable resin; (b) at least one acrylate monomer; (c) at least a photoinitiator; (d) at least one hydroxylamine ester compound of formula I
US08916614B2
The present invention is directed to methods of treatment for scabies using different concentrations of lindane lotions for varying contact times. Compositions of low concentration lindane lotions are also included.
US08916607B2
The present invention relates to the use of piperphentonamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof to prevent/treat encephalopathy in mammals, and the use of a combination of piperphentonamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and other medicines in manufacture a medicine to prevent/treat encephalopathy in mammals. The mammals include human beings, and the encephalopathy includes cerebral injury related diseases or cerebrovascular diseases. The cerebrovascular diseases refer to cerebral ischemia, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury or cerebral hemorrhage. The cerebral hemorrhage includes hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage secondary to infarction, tumor cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral hemorrhage caused by arteritis. The cerebral ischemia means carotid system cerebral ischemia or vertebrobasilar cerebral ischemia.
US08916602B2
The present invention relates to novel fusarisetin compounds separated from Fusarium sp. FN080326 and having an anticancer activity, and to the use thereof. In detail, novel fusarisetin compounds separated and purified from Fusarium sp. FN080326, which is in turn separated from a soil sample, have an inhibitory activity on the proliferation and transfer of cancer cells such as breast cancer cells, liver cancer cells or myeloid leukemic cells. Therefore, the compounds can be effectively used for anticancer compositions containing the compounds as active ingredients.
US08916573B2
The invention relates to antibacterial compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 is H, halogen, (C1-C3)alkyl or (C1-C3)alkoxy; R2 is H, halogen, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C1-C3)alkoxy or pyrrolidin-1-yl; R3 is H, halogen, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C1-C3)alkoxy, vinyl or 2-methoxycarbonyvinyl or R2 and R3 together with the two carbon atoms which bear them form a phenyl ring; R4 is H, halogen, (C1-C3)alkyl or (C1-C3)alkoxy; and R5 is H, (C1-C3)alkyl or cyclopropyl, or R4 and R5form together a —CH2CH2CH2— group; A is the divalent group —CH2—, —CH2CH2—, #—CH(OH)CH2—*, #—CH2N(R6)—* and —CH2NHCH2—, wherein # indicates the point of attachment to the optionally substituted (quinazoline-2,4-dione-3-yl)methyl residue and * represents the point of attachment to the substituted (oxazolidinon-4-yl)methyl residue; R6 is H or acetyl; Y is CH or N; and Q is O or S; and salts of such compounds.
US08916570B2
Disclosed are (N)-methanocarba adenine nucleosides of formulas (I)-(V), for example, of formula (V): as highly potent A3 adenosine receptor agonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such nucleosides, and a method of use of these nucleosides, wherein R1-R6 are as defined in the specification. These nucleosides exhibit similar selectivities as agonists of the A3 versus the A1 receptor for both human and mouse adenosine receptors, and are contemplated for use in the treatment a number of diseases, for example, inflammation, cardiac ischemia, stroke, asthma, diabetes, and cardiac arrhythmias.
US08916562B2
Improved methods and compositions for safe and effective treatment of telangiectasia or a symptom associated with telangiectasia in a subject are described. The methods involve topically applying to an affected skin area a topical composition comprising about 0.3% to about 10% by weight of brimonidine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08916559B2
A crystalline compound of 7-[(3R)-3-amino-1-oxo-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine (INN: Sitagliptin) of formula 1 with fumaric acid or a hydrate thereof, where the molar ratio of the compound of formula 1 to fumaric acid is 1:0.6 to 1:1.3 is described.
US08916543B1
Aspects of the present invention include methods for inhibiting damage to a mammalian cornea, comprising administering an effective α-toxin inhibiting about of a composition that comprises a β-cyclodextrin and cholesterol.
US08916540B2
Moenomycin inhibits bacterial growth by clocking the transglycosylase activity of class A penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are key enzymes in bacterial cell wall synthesis. The binding affinities of moenomycin A with various truncated PBPs were compared showing that the transmembrane domain is important for moenomycin binding. Full-length class-A PBPs from 16 bacterial species were produced, and their binding activities showed a correlation with the antimicrobial activity of moenomycin against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, a fluorescence anisotropy-based high-throughput assay was developed and used successfully for identification of transglycosylase inhibitors.
US08916536B2
The present invention relates to novel bisphosphonate duplex drugs, methods for preparing said compound; pharmaceutical compositions containing the same; as well as the use of said compounds in human and veterinary medicine, and, in particular, for treating tumors, viral infections; or dental disorders.
US08916523B2
The invention relates to composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) fragments, and the use of those compositions in the treatment of fibrosis, hypertension and other disorder.
US08916520B2
Various microencapsulated insecticide formulations for the control of pests such as aphids and beet army worm. These formulations exhibit excellent knockdown activity towards both chewing and non-chewing pests as LD50 values for toxicity in female rats in the range of about 2,500 mgKg−1. Some of these formulations include a wall comprised of a polymer formed, for example, by an interfacial polycondensation of a water soluble monomer and a water insoluble monomer, which at least partially surround an organophosphate insecticide. In some aspects the organophosphate in the microcapsule is chlorpyrifos. The microcapsule have a diameter in the range of about 2 to about 25 micron and the wall has a thickness in the range of about 5 to about 25 nanometers.
US08916513B2
A dioxirane-containing compound has a first substituent that is an alkyl, polyalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl group, and a second substituent that is an electron withdrawing group, and where the first and second substituents can optionally join to form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl group. The dioxirane-containing compound can be used as an oxidant, surfactant, and/or an ionic liquid.
US08916511B2
The invention relates to a novel branched polysiloxanes having quaternary ammonium groups of the general formula (I) as a softening agent for textile sheet materials and fibers, and to a method for the production and use thereof Ma MQb MRc Dd DQe DRf Tg Qh Formula (I).
US08916510B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of treating food products by applying an antimicrobial composition and processing the food product using selected processing methods.
US08916505B2
A cordierite material having an increased α-cordierite phase and a reduced β-cordierite phase is described. Methods of making the cordierite material are further described, and a proppant containing the cordierite is further described, as well as use of the proppant.
US08916504B2
The present invention features improved methods of in vitro RNA display to allow reliable expression and selection of scFv antibody molecules from expression libraries. The improved methods, in part, involve the use of mildly reducing conditions, which favor of scFv intra-chain disulphide bond and thus correct folding of the scFv antibody molecules. Although particularly suited to expression and selection of scFv antibody molecules, the methods of the invention are also expedient for in vitro RNA display of all classes of protein.
US08916492B2
Process for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons comprising contacting a feed gas with a catalyst consisting of an active compound in the form of an alloy of nickel and one of iridium, rhodium and ruthenium, on a support comprising alumina, zirconia, magnesia, titania, or combinations thereof.
US08916485B2
In general, the invention features a pressure sensitive adhesive that comprises the reaction product of: (a) from about 25 to about 95 parts by weight of at least one acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0° C., (b) from 0 to about 75 parts by weight of at least one non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a solubility parameter of no greater than 10.50 and a Tg greater than 15° C.; and (c) from about 5 to about 35 parts by weight of at least one polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a solubility parameter of greater than 10.50 and a Tg greater than 15° C. The pressure sensitive adhesives adhere to substrates having a low surface energy and/or high surface energy.
US08916483B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures include the formation of molybdenum nitride at one or more surfaces of a substrate comprising molybdenum, and providing a layer of III-V semiconductor material, such as GaN, over the substrate. Semiconductor structures formed by methods described herein may include a substrate comprising molybdenum, molybdenum nitride at one or more surfaces of the substrate, and a layer of GaN bonded to the molybdenum nitride.
US08916476B2
Provided are a method for forming a microfine structure and a microfine structure forming body prepared by the method. The method allows a remaining film part to be formed thinner and more uniform on a substrate than the conventional techniques. The method comprises the steps of: forming an oxide layer on a metallic thin film; a photocurable resin layer via first and second adhesive layers over the oxide layer; and transferring a microfine structure formed on a mold by pressing the mold onto the photocurable resin layer. The first adhesive layer includes a compound having at least two hydrolysable functional groups, and the second adhesive layer includes a compound having at least a hydrolysable functional group and a reactive functional group.
US08916474B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor module includes a first semiconductor package having a first semiconductor die, which is disposed in a first encapsulant. An opening is disposed in the first encapsulant. A second semiconductor package including a second semiconductor die is disposed in a second encapsulant. The second semiconductor package is disposed at least partially within the opening in the first encapsulant.
US08916463B2
A splash containment structure for semiconductor structures and associated methods of manufacture are provided. A method includes: forming wire bond pads in an integrated circuit chip and forming at least one passivation layer on the chip. The at least one passivation layer includes first areas having a first thickness and second areas having a second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The first areas having the first thickness extend over a majority of the chip. The second areas having the second thickness are adjacent the wire bond pads.
US08916462B2
A method for manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of: preparing a substrate made of silicon carbide; forming a drain electrode making ohmic contact with the substrate; and forming a backside pad electrode on and in contact with the drain electrode. The drain electrode formed in the step of forming the drain electrode is made of an alloy containing Ti and Si. Further, the backside pad electrode formed is maintained at a temperature of 300° C. or smaller until completion of the MOSFET. Accordingly, the manufacturing process can be efficient while achieving excellent adhesion between the electrodes.
US08916455B2
Inexpensive semiconductors are produced by depositing a single crystal or large grained silicon on an inexpensive substrate. These semiconductors are produced at low enough temperatures such as temperatures below the melting point of glass. Semiconductors produced are suitable for semiconductor devices such as photovoltaics or displays.
US08916453B2
A semiconductor wafer includes a first main face and a second main face opposite to the first main face and a number of semiconductor chip regions. The wafer is diced along dicing streets to separate the semiconductor chip regions from each other. At least one metal layer is formed on the first main face of each one of the semiconductor chip regions.
US08916448B2
The present invention provides a stabilized fine textured metal microstructure that constitutes a durable activated surface usable for bonding a 3D stacked chip. A fine-grain layer that resists self anneal enables metal to metal bonding at moderate time and temperature and wider process flexibility.
US08916441B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel method and structure for forming finFET structures that comprise standard cells. An H-shaped cut mask is used to reduce the number of fins that need to be removed, hence increasing the fin efficiency.
US08916426B2
Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A device region is formed in a trench and is coupled with a handle wafer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region extends through a buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate toward a top surface of a device layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region is comprised of lightly-doped semiconductor material. The device structure further includes a doped region formed in the device region and that defines a junction. A portion of the device region is laterally positioned between the doped region and the buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. Another region of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
US08916417B2
After stacking m wafers in each of which a plurality of semiconductor chips are formed, the m wafers are diced to semiconductor chips to form a first chip stack having m of the semiconductor chips stacked, and, after stacking n wafers, the n wafers are diced to semiconductor chips to form a second chip stack having n of the semiconductor chips stacked. Next, the first chip stack is sorted according to the number of defective semiconductor chips included in the first chip stack, and the second chip stack is sorted according to the number of defective semiconductor chips included in the second chip stack. Furthermore, the first chip stack or the second chip stack after sorting are combined to form a third chip stack.
US08916415B2
A method for producing a metallic contact structure for making electrical contact with a photovoltaic solar cell, wherein, in order to create the contact structure, a paste, which contains metal particles, is applied to a surface of a carrier substrate via at least one dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing opening and the carrier substrate are moved in relation to one another during the dispensing of the paste. The paste is circulated in a circulating region, and in each case a part of the paste is branched off out of the circulating region at a plurality of branching points and each branching point is assigned at least one dispensing opening, via which the paste branched off at the branching point is applied to the surface of the carrier substrate, wherein the paste flows through a flow path having a length of less than 1 cm in each case between being branched off out of the circulating region and being dispensed from the dispensing opening assigned to the branching point. A device for producing a metallic contact structure for making electrical contact with a photovoltaic solar cell is also provided.
US08916414B2
To form a memory cell with a phase change element, a hole is formed through an insulator to a bottom electrode, and a phase change material is deposited on the insulator surface covering the hole. A confining structure is formed over the phase change material so the phase change material expands into the hole when heated to melting to become electrically connected to the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed over and electrically connects to the phase change material. The bottom electrode can include a main portion and an extension having a reduced lateral dimension. The confining structure can include capping material having a higher melting temperature than the phase change material, and sufficient tensile strength to ensure the phase change material moves into the hole when the phase change material melts and expands. The hole can be a J shaped hole.
US08916412B2
A method of forming an ohmic contact and electron reflector on a surface of a CdTe containing compound film as may be found, for example in a photovoltaic cell. The method comprises forming a Cd-deficient, Te-rich surface region at a surface of the CdTe containing compound film; exposing the Cd-deficient surface region to an electron reflector forming material; forming the electron reflector; and laying down a contact layer over the electron reflector layer. The solar cell so produced has a Cd-deficient region which is converted to an electron reflector layer on the surface of a CdTe absorber layer, and an ohmic contact. A Cd/Te molar ratio within the Cd-deficient region decreases from 1 at an interface with the CdTe absorber layer to a value less than 1 towards the ohmic contact.
US08916381B1
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer in a human. The invention includes relates to administering a genetically modified T cell to express a CAR wherein the CAR comprises an antigen binding domain, a transmembrane domain, a costimulatory signaling region, and a CD3 zeta signaling domain.
US08916370B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one isoprene synthase enzyme with improved catalytic activity and/or solubility. In particular, the present invention provides variant plant isoprene synthases for increased isoprene production in microbial host cells. Biosynthetically produced isoprene of the present invention finds use in the manufacture of rubber and elastomers.
US08916345B2
A composition comprising an oligonucleotide having the structure 5′-Y1-L1-X-L2-Y2-3′. Y1 comprises a sequence of one or more DNA or RNA nucleotides, including a first nucleotide N1 having a 3′ phosphate covalently linked to L1. Y2 comprises a sequence of one or more DNA or RNA nucleotides, including a second nucleotide N2 having a 5′ phosphate covalently linked to L2. L1 and L2 each independently are a direct bond or a C1-C7 alkyl, alkynyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, or alkoxyl group. X is R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C8 alkyl. M is a label or ligand comprising a fused polycyclic aromatic moiety.
US08916343B2
The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting nucleic acid sequences. One aspect of the invention concerns a silicon-based “biochip” comprising nucleic acid immobilized thereon. In one embodiment, the silicon comprises microcavities. The nucleic acid to be assayed for the presence of one or more target nucleic acid sequences is immobilized on the silicon. A nucleic acid, such as an oligonucleotide probe, having a sequence substantially complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence can be used to detect the immobilized nucleic acid on the silicon. If the nucleic acid used for detection hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence, the hybridized sequences can be detected directly or indirectly. In an exemplified embodiment, the oligonucleotide probe can be labeled with a detectable label, for example, a fluorescent molecule. The subject invention also concerns methods for detecting a target nucleic acid using a silicon-based biochip of the invention.
US08916342B2
A method and a kit for determining a disease stage of a papilloma virus infection in a human subject is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining a sample from said human subject, said sample consisting of a tissue sample comprising proteins or a cell sample comprising proteins; contacting said sample with one or more antibodies that specifically bind to one or more recombinant HPV proteins; determining a presence, absence, or amount of at least one protein in said sample that specifically binds to said antibodies and determining said disease stage of papilloma virus infection in said human subject based on said determined presence, absence, or amount of said one or more proteins.
US08916339B1
A composition of neural tissue is made of spinal cord tissue harvested from a spinal cord of a mammal. The spinal cord tissue is harvested from vertebral column of the mammal. The spinal cord tissue is harvested post mortem. The mammal is one of a primate, an equine, a bovine, a porcine or other mammalian animal. The spinal cord tissue is dried or has the water content in the tissue reduced or eliminated by freeze drying or hypothermic dehydration.
US08916337B2
A first metallic hard mask layer over an interconnect-level dielectric layer is patterned with a line pattern. At least one dielectric material layer, a second metallic hard mask layer, a first organic planarization layer (OPL), and a first photoresist are applied above the first metallic hard mask layer. A first via pattern is transferred from the first photoresist layer into the second metallic hard mask layer. A second OPL and a second photoresist are applied and patterned with a second via pattern, which is transferred into the second metallic hard mask layer. A first composite pattern of the first and second via patterns is transferred into the at least one dielectric material layer. A second composite pattern that limits the first composite pattern with the areas of the openings in the first metallic hard mask layer is transferred into the interconnect-level dielectric layer.
US08916334B2
The present disclosure provides a micro-composite material used in the fabrication of three-dimensional objects, and associated methods and systems. In one example, a micro-composite material used in the fabrication of a three-dimensional object can comprise micronized polymeric particles; a photocurable curing agent; and a dye present in the micro-composite material in an amount at from 0.0001 wt % to 0.1 wt %, the dye having a λmax between 350 nm and 800 nm.
US08916332B2
A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) containing a resin component (A1) including a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit derived from an acrylate ester which may have the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom on the α-position substituted with a substituent and contains an acid decomposable group which exhibits increased polarity by the action of acid (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms).
US08916323B2
The toner can obtain low-temperature fixing property, heat-resistant storability 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, the crystalline ester compound has a linear-chain structure, and the binder resin contains a styrene-acrylic resin including a structural unit derived from an acrylic ester monomer represented by general formula (1) below. In the general formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. m represents 2 or 3, and n represents an integer of 1 to 25.
US08916312B2
Exemplary embodiments include a product and a method of a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell stack. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first plate with a first border, and a second plate with a second border. A thermoplastic sealant is melted between the first and second borders.
US08916305B2
Methods for generating hydrogen gas and power and related systems, including a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. Each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element through the casing to corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets. Hydrogen gas can be provided to a fuel cell battery to generate power.
US08916300B2
Systems and methods are provided in which ammonia is used as a fuel source for solid oxide fuel cell systems. In the various aspects a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled through one or more separation or conversion devices to create a purified recycled fuel exhaust stream that is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In various aspects a nitrogen separator may remove nitrogen from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, a water separator may remove water from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, and/or an ammonia reactor and hydrogen separator may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In a further aspect a molten carbonate fuel cell and/or Sabatier reactor may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack.
US08916296B2
The present application is directed to mesoporous carbon materials comprising bi-functional catalysts. The mesoporous carbon materials find utility in any number of electrical devices, for example, in lithium-air batteries. Methods for making the disclosed carbon materials, and devices comprising the same, are also disclosed.
US08916294B2
Lithium rich metal oxyfluorides are described with high specific capacity and, good cycling properties. The materials have particularly good high rate capabilities. The fluorine dopant can be introduced in a low temperature process to yield the materials with desirable cycling properties. In some embodiments, the positive electrode active materials have a composition represented approximately by the formula Li1+xNiαMnβCoγAδO2−zFz where: x is from about 0.02 to about 0.19, α is from about 0.1 to about 0.4, β is from about 0.35 to about 0.869, γ is from about 0.01 to about 0.2, δ is from 0.0 to about 0.1 and z is from about 0.01 to about 0.2, where A is Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb or combinations thereof.
US08916293B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a lithium secondary battery which has improved capacity, durability, and rate characteristic as compared with conventional lithium secondary batteries. A plate-like particle or a film for a lithium secondary battery cathode active material has a layered rock salt structure. The (003) plane is oriented in a direction intersecting the direction of the plate surface of the particle or film.
US08916286B2
A battery pack including a bare cell having a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal provided on a first surface of the bare cell; a main case having an opening and accommodating the bare cell; a top case that covers the opening of the main case; and a bus-bar connected to each of the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal, wherein the bus-bar is provided between the first surface of the bare cell and the top case, and at least one portion of the bus-bar is on a side portion of the main case.
US08916285B2
A cell module and modular cell tray apparatus for a modular electrochemical device that are more easily manufactured and serviced. A cell module is provided having a plurality of electrochemical cells. The cell module includes an electrically conductive carrier element having a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is configured to accept a top portion of an electrode body of an electrochemical cell. A modular cell tray apparatus is provided having a plurality of the cell modules. The cell tray apparatus includes an electrically insulating tray having rows of cell receptacles to accept the cell modules. A modular electrochemical device is provided having a plurality of the cell tray apparatuses. The modular electrochemical device includes a plurality of electrical connectors configured to electrically connect the cell modules within a cell tray apparatus, and to electrically connect the cell tray apparatuses to each other.
US08916284B2
Disclosed herein is a battery cell including an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a receiving part of a battery case (cell case). The cell case is provided, at a predetermined region of the cell case corresponding to the upper end interface of the electrode assembly while the electrode assembly is mounted in the receiving part, with a small groove for pressing against the upper end of the electrode assembly to prevent the upward movement of the electrode assembly. The small groove is continuously formed in parallel with the upper end of the electrode assembly.
US08916283B2
An object of the invention is to provide a binder for a separator which can be comprised by a non-aqueous electrolyte battery with improved heat resistance, a separator comprising the binder, and a non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising the separator. More specifically, provided are a binder for a separator of a non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising at least a 2-cyanoethyl group-containing polymer having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn), which is a ratio of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to a number-average molecular weight (Mn), of 6 or less, the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 50,000 to 1,000,000, and 30% by weight or less of a low molecular weight portion having a molecular weight of 30,000 or less.
US08916281B2
Embodiments of redox flow battery rebalancing systems include a system for reacting an unbalanced flow battery electrolyte with a rebalance electrolyte in a first reaction cell. In some embodiments, the rebalance electrolyte may contain ferrous iron (Fe2+) which may be oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) in the first reaction cell. The reducing ability of the rebalance reactant may be restored in a second rebalance cell that is configured to reduce the ferric iron in the rebalance electrolyte back into ferrous iron through a reaction with metallic iron.
US08916280B2
A battery pack that can reduce manufacturing costs and simplify an assembly structure. The battery pack includes a first case having an inner space, at least one battery cell arranged in the inner space of the first case, a second case coupled to the first case to accommodate the battery cell, and a coupling part arranged inside the coupled first and second cases. The coupling part includes a handle part and a protrusion part that is integrally formed with the handle part and protrudes outward according to a movement of the handle part.
US08916272B2
Disclosed is a surface protective film, a method for fabricating the same, and pouch, and a method for fabricating the same. The surface protective film includes a stack of films including a middle layer, and a first skin layer and a second skin layer on opposite sides of the middle layer, wherein at least one of the first skin layer and the second skin layer is formed of a resin having a hardness lower than a hardness of a surface to be protected by the surface protective film, and the middle layer is formed of a resin including high density polyethylene, thereby permitting protection of a display surface without formation of scratch at a very low cost compared to the related art without aging and with slip.
US08916270B2
Disclosed are compositions, glass filled compositions, articles made therefrom, and processes for making articles therefrom. In an embodiment, a composition can comprise: one or more polycarbonates wherein at least one of the polycarbonates is a polyester-polycarbonate having at least one unit derived from sebacic acid and has a biocontent of at least 5 weight % based upon a total weight of the polyester-polycarbonate, determined according ASTM-D6866; a glass content of 10 weight % or greater based upon a total weight of the composition; and an epoxy resin. The composition has a melt volume rate of greater than 10.5 cm3/10 minutes at 300° C./1.2 kg according to ASTM-D1238-10. A part molded having a 0.8 mm thickness molded from the composition has a gloss value of 89 or higher at 60°, according to ASTM-D523.
US08916269B2
A method for preparing resin-impregnated graphite articles, including providing a sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite having two major surfaces; impregnating the sheet with a first resin system to form a resin-impregnated sheet; surface treating the resin-impregnated sheet to form at least one structure on at least one of the major surfaces of the sheet to form a surface treated sheet; and treating the sheet with a second resin system.
US08916265B1
A selectively reflective construct, and a method for making the construct, are described. In one embodiment reflectance, transmission and absorption properties may be controlled in multiple electromagnetic bands. A construct is described comprising a) a thermally transparent, visually opaque substrate comprising a polymeric material and a colorant, and b) a thermally reflective layer comprising a low emissivity component.
US08916264B2
The invention provides a polyester film suitable for a back sheet for solar cells, which requires a high reflectance not only in the visible light region but also in the near-infrared region, and also requires a low reflection directivity. The polyester film is a cavity-containing polyester film having an average reflectance of 70-95% in a wavelength range of 400-1200 nm and an average transmittance of 5-30% in a wavelength range of 700-1200 nm.
US08916256B2
One aspect of the present invention provides a fastening strap for used in a foam article. The sideway-bendable fastening strap for a foam article includes a substantially flat hollow helical body made from a single hook strap and having a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and a plurality of hooks integrally formed on each of the first and second outer surfaces; wherein the hook strap is formed by plastic injection process and has a substrate and a plurality of hooks integrally formed on one face of the substrate, and wherein the hollow helical body is formed by sequentially and continually folding the hook strap from one end of the hook strap toward the other end of the hook strap along a number folding lines which are parallel with each other and at an angle θ with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hook strap with the face having the hooks formed thereon facing outward such that the hook strap is plastically and permanently deformed at the folding lines to form a hollow helical body having a width w.
US08916255B2
A fastener tape includes a tape main body portion and an element attachment portion in which a core thread is knitted. The tape main body portion includes a first tape main body portion region at the element attachment portion and a second tape main body portion region. A wale interval between a wale of the element attachment portion adjacent to the first tape main body portion region and a wale constituting the first tape main body portion region is narrower than that of the second tape main body portion region. Therefore, while the flexibility of the second tape main body portion region is ensured, a tape strength and an abrasion resistance are improved, and further, when a fastener element is formed, this prevents resin leakage through knitted loops of the element attachment portion.
US08916254B2
A method for manufacturing a laminated core is provided that makes positions of boundary parts of laminated blocks and improves an efficiency of a welding operation of the blocks. The above-described object is achieved by the method of manufacturing the laminated core 10 including a process that forms a plurality of blocks 12 having a plurality of welding parts 13 to 15 of different forms or colors at intervals of prescribed angles in the circumferential direction, a process that laminates the plurality of blocks 12 under a state that the blocks are rotated at intervals of the prescribed angles and a process that welds the welding parts 13 to 15 having the different forms or colors of the laminated blocks 12 to form integrally the plurality of blocks 12.
US08916253B2
A beaded composite panel is fabricated using composite plies. An opening is formed in each of plies, and each ply is laid up on a bead feature and drawn down over the bead feature in the area of the opening so as to widen the opening into a gap allowing the ply to conform to the contour of the bead feature. Patches are fabricated and placed on the plies overlying over the openings. The laid-up plies are compacted and cured.
US08916246B2
A structure of the present invention is the structure which is formed of a base made of a metal and an inorganic material surface layer made of crystalline and amorphous inorganic materials, wherein thermal conductivity of the inorganic material surface layer is lower than the thermal conductivity of the base, infrared emissivity of the inorganic material surface layer is higher than the infrared emissivity of the base, and the base is an annular body.
US08916244B2
An inkjet media includes a base substrate, an upper fluid barrier layer disposed on a side of the base substrate, a lower fluid barrier layer disposed on an other side of the base substrate, an image receiving layer disposed on the upper fluid barrier layer, a back adhesive layer disposed on the lower fluid barrier layer, an activation layer disposed on the back adhesive layer, an adhesive protection layer disposed on the activation layer.
US08916243B2
A graphic medium and a method of making same employs a paper core having a normalized opacity within a range of about 0.15 to about 0.4 percent/grams per square meter. The graphic medium includes a first material layer on a first side of the paper core and a second material layer on one or both of the first side between the paper core and the first material layer and a second, opposite side of the paper core. The graphic medium has a translucent opacity between about 40% and about 90%. The method includes mechanically refining a mixture of wood fibers until a paper substrate is formed having the normalized opacity. The paper substrate is calendered using a paper making machine and the first and second material layers are applied to form the graphic medium.
US08916242B2
A connector system facilitates the connection of a first tree trunk to a second tree trunk of an artificial tree system, and further protects one or more ends of a trunk when, for example, the artificial tree system is being shipped or stored. The connector system comprises a sleeve. The sleeve comprises a cylindrical shaped body. The outer of the body has a uniform cylindrical shape. The interior of the sleeve has different diameters at its top and bottom. The interior includes a notch or shoulder. The shoulder is in proximity to the top end of the sleeve. The sleeve further comprises a cutout for assisting with connecting and securing the trunks together.
US08916241B2
A can coating machine control system includes a coating control signal that functions as a go/no-go signal based on a plurality of monitored conditions such as can in position, vacuum pressure, gun in position, guard in position and speed condition. Local pressure regulation of the coating material in the spray gun is provided along with optional control of the material temperature. Local pressure regulation allows for optional spray weight control based on a wrap number derived from speed and gun spray durations. A CAN to CAN network buffer is provided as well for primary network isolation. A gun control circuit may be used to select specific gun drive signals and to adjust gun drive signals based on real-time feedback of the actual spray duration.
US08916239B2
The present disclosure provides a flexible graphite sheet and a method for fabricating the same and a composite structure for the same. The method for fabricating a flexible graphite sheet comprises steps of coating an augmenting solution on a first film to form a composite structure, and heating the composite structure such that the first film and the augmenting solution form a flexible graphite sheet, wherein the thermal conducting cross-section of the flexible graphite sheet is larger than the thermal conducting cross-section of the first film, and the thermal conductivity of the flexible graphite sheet ranges from 1200 to 6000 W/m° C.
US08916237B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film on a substrate including: disposing the substrate to be separated from a thin film deposition apparatus by a preset distance; passing vaporized deposition material through first slits of a first nozzle, the first slits arranged in a first direction; passing the vaporized deposition material received from the first slits through second slits of a second nozzle of the thin film deposition apparatus; using an adjusting member including an actuator set to adjust an orientation of the second nozzle relative to a deposition target area on the substrate on which the deposition material from the second nozzle is to be deposited; and depositing the deposition material from the second nozzle onto the deposition target area while the thin film deposition apparatus or the substrate is moved relative to the other, the second nozzle defining a pattern of deposition material on the substrate, is disclosed.
US08916235B2
Certain example embodiments relate to Ni-inclusive ternary alloy being provided as a barrier layer for protecting an IR reflecting layer comprising silver or the like. The provision of a barrier layer comprising nickel, chromium, and/or molybdenum and/or oxides thereof may improve corrosion resistance, as well as chemical and mechanical durability. In certain examples, more than one barrier layer may be used on at least one side of the layer comprising silver. In still further examples, a NixCryMoz-based layer may be used as the functional layer, rather than or in addition to as a barrier layer, in a coating.
US08916234B2
This invention is directed to a method of modifying the refractive index of multilayer thin films structure comprising high refractive and low refractive index layers, where the high refractive and low refractive index layers are of the same material, the method comprises a) depositing a first layer of film of a refractive index on a substrate; b) depositing a second layer of film having a different refractive index onto the first layer of film; and c) depositing a third layer of film having a different refractive index from the second layer of film onto the second layer of film, and compositions thereof. In certain embodiments, this multilayer thin film structure of this invention is directed to decorative applications.
US08916232B2
The embodiments fill the need of improving electromigration and reducing stress-induced voids of copper interconnect by enabling deposition of a thin and conformal barrier layer, and a copper layer in the copper interconnect. The adhesion between the barrier layer and the copper layer can be improved by making the barrier layer metal-rich prior copper deposition and by limiting the amount of oxygen the barrier layer is exposed prior to copper deposition. Alternatively, a functionalization layer can be deposited over the barrier layer to enable the copper layer being deposit in the copper interconnect with good adhesion between the barrier layer and the copper layer. An exemplary method of preparing a substrate surface of a substrate to deposit a functionalization layer over a metallic barrier layer of a copper interconnect to assist deposition of a copper layer in the copper interconnect in an integrated system in order to improve electromigration performance of the copper interconnect is provided. The method includes depositing the metallic barrier layer to line the copper interconnect structure in the integrated system, wherein after depositing the metallic barrier layer, the substrate is transferred and processed in controlled environment to prevent the formation of metallic barrier oxide. The method also includes depositing the functionalization layer over the metallic layer in the integrated system. The method further includes depositing the copper layer in the copper interconnect structure in the integrated system after the functionalization layer is deposited over the metallic barrier layer.
US08916219B2
A method and an apparatus (1) serve for the automatic batch-wise production of a slurry containing a sugar component, i.e. sugar or a sugar substitute, for producing confectioneries. A liquid is fed into a weighing and mixing container (2) in a batch-wise and weight-accurate way. A sugar component as a dry material is fed into the container (2) in a batch-wise and weight-accurate way to produce a mixture. The liquid and the dry material are fed into container (2) and the mixture is mixed such that a slurry having a share of dry substance of at least 85% is produced. The liquid, the dry material, the mixture and/or the slurry is/are heated such that the slurry has a temperature of at least 70° C.
US08916211B2
A method and composition for preventing and treating avian influenza utilizes an effective quantity of polyphenolic(s) and its derivatives in combination with a carrier. The anti-avian influenza ingredient having a composition selected from the group consisting of theaflavin, theaflavin-3,3′-digallate, theaflavin-3-monogallate, theaflavin-3 gallate, theaflavin-3′-gallate, thearubigin, gallic acid, tannic acid, (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)epigallocatechin (EGC), (+)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and catechin.
US08916210B2
Disclosed are an extractor having a “pottery with dark brown glaze” called “Onggi” in Korean, and a method of extracting using the same. The extractor includes a body, a body cover, a heating part, a pottery and a gas valve. The pottery is located within the body. The extractor extracts by injecting nitrogen gas, etc. into the body through a gas valve, thereby rendering the inside of the body to be high pressure state during extraction. Thus, the inside of the body is maintained under high pressure during extraction. Accordingly, an extract is located only within the pottery, and thus changes that can be caused while an extract contacts with the body can be prevented.
US08916194B2
A controlled release pharmaceutical compositions comprising Milnacipran or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof is provided. The pharmaceutical composition comprises an immediate release core comprising Milnacipran or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and a coating on the immediate release core comprising rate controlling agents.
US08916187B2
The current invention relates to poly(amide) and poly(ester-amide) polymers, coatings including the polymers, and narrow polydispersity drug delivery particles including the polymers.
US08916175B2
Viruses having weakened ability to establish and/or maintain latency and their use as live vaccines are described. The vaccines have one or more alterations in genes that provide continued virus replication but that inhibit latency. The vaccine materials and methods for their construction are exemplified with the varicella zoster virus. Deletion of a significant portion from both copies of the varicella zoster gene ORF63 was shown to inhibit establishment of a latent infection from a live vaccine form of the virus. Insertion of an additional ORF62 gene which is partially truncated with the ORF63 deletion inhibited establishment of latency and allowed normal growth of the virus. Other desirable viral antigen encoding sequence(s) and/or cytokine genes advantageously may replace deleted genetic material to enhance a desired immunological response. Aspects of the discovery pertain to live vaccines of other viruses, and can provide a variety of vaccines having greater safety.
US08916173B2
Described are acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine compositions comprising Bordetella pertussis antigens pertussis toxoid (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and fimbriae types 2 and 3 (FIM), and optionally pertactin (PRN), wherein FIM is present in an amount of 12-100 μg per human dose.
US08916171B2
A medication or combination of medications for the treatment of a disease involving the sinuses is incorporated into a sterile medical gel. The viscosity of the gel or the adhesion of the gel to the patient's sinus cavity allows the gel to be maintained in the cavity for a sufficient length of time for treatment of the affected area. This reduces the amount of wasted medication that would otherwise result from other topical methods.
US08916169B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. The present invention describes prophylactic or therapeutic cancer vaccines based on purified TAA proteins or TAA-derived synthetic peptides altered by chemical, enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic methods to introduce αGal epitopes or αGal glycomimetic epitopes, in order to allow for enhanced opsonization of the antigen by natural anti-αGal antibodies to stimulate TAA capture and presentation, thereby inducing a humoral and cellular immune response to the TAA expressed by a tumor. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.
US08916167B2
The invention relates to a method of treating or monitoring/diagnosing a disease state mediated by activated macrophages. The method comprises the step of administering to a patient suffering from a macrophage mediated disease state an effective amount of a composition comprising a conjugate or complex of the general formula Ab-X where the group Ab comprises a ligand capable of binding to activated macrophages, and when the conjugate is being used for treatment of the disease state, the group X comprises an immunogen, a cytotoxin, or a compound capable of altering macrophage function, and when the conjugate is being used for monitoring/diagnosing the disease state, X comprises an imaging agent. The method is useful for treating a patient suffering from a disease selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammation, infections, osteomyelitis, atherosclerosis, organ transplant rejection, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and systemic sclerosis.
US08916160B2
The present invention provides compositions, vaccines, and methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing influenza infection using a combination of antibodies raised against the influenza hemagglutinin and the matrix 2 ectodomain polypeptides.
US08916159B2
The invention provides methods and compositions employing hybrid molecules of a synthetic molecule and antibody or antibody fragment comprising a selenocysteine residue, wherein the synthetic molecule is covalently linked to the antibody or antibody fragment at the selenocysteine residue. The invention also provides a composition comprising a hybrid molecule as described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further provides for methods of making the hybrid molecules, and methods of using the hybrid molecule described above to inhibit cell surface receptor binding.
US08916155B2
The present invention relates generally to binding agents useful in the selective depletion of T cells in vivo. More specifically, the invention relates to ICOS-binding agents which once bound to ICOS expressed on the surface of cells, in particular ICOS-bearing activated T cells, result in the in vivo depletion of cells to which they are bound. Methods of treating T cell related diseases using said ICOS-binding agents, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said ICOS-binding agents, a method of identifying an ICOS-binding agent, and monoclonal anti-ICOS antibodies capable of eliminating cells in vivo which express ICOS on their surface are also provided.
US08916147B2
The present invention provides a method of treating a disease in a subject in need thereof via non-syngeneic graft administration without or with reduced concomitant graft rejection. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective graft being non-syngeneic with the subject, and a dose of tolerogenic cells being non-syngeneic with both the subject and the graft for preventing or reducing graft rejection in the subject, thereby treating the disease in the subject.
US08916146B2
Provided herein are methods of treatment of individuals having an immune-related disease, disorder or condition, for example, inflammatory bowel disease, graft-versus-host disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, diabetes, mycosis fungoides (Alibert-Bazin syndrome), or scleroderma using placental stem cells or umbilical cord stem cells.
US08916145B2
The invention relates to the use, in the manufacture of a medicament or a therapeutic nutritional composition for preventing or reducing inflammation in a mammal, of bifidobacterium longum ATCC BAA-999.
US08916144B2
The invention relates to novel proangiogenic compositions, to the method for preparing same, and to the uses thereof, particularly for preventing or treating any disease causing ischemic-type complications.
US08916138B2
The invention provides methods of purifying Rebaudioside D from the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant extract along with Rebaudioside A. The methods are useful for producing high purity Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside A. The invention further provides a low-calorie tooth paste composition containing the purified Rebaudioside D and a process for making the low-calorie tooth paste composition containing the purified Rebaudioside D.
US08916134B2
The disclosure provides metal nanocomposites including one or more metal nanoparticles having a hydrophobic surface and at least partially enclosed by cationic and hydrophilic polymers. The metal nanocomposites are useful as among others, a contrast agent, a diagnostic composition or a pharmaceutical composition.
US08916132B2
Use of benzimidazole-derived compounds of formula (I) according to the following structure, wherein x is a heteroatom selected from N, S, O, P, SO, SO2 and SO3, preferably from N, S and SO3 and most preferably from N and SO3; n may be 0 or 1, R1 is a group selected from formula (II) and formula (III) and R2 is a group selected from H and formula (IV) since the aforesaid serves for the production of a formulation used as a specific marker in the case of neurodegenerative diseases and tau pathologies.
US08916127B1
A method for making sulfuric acid comprises: providing solid sulfur, melting the solid sulfur into liquid sulfur in a sulfur melting tank, burning the sulfur to generate a sulfur product, recycling high order heat energy generated from burning the sulfur and providing the high order heat energy to a distillation tower, recycling low order heat energy generated from burning the sulfur and providing the low order heat energy to the sulfur melting tank, providing hydrogen peroxide or sulfuric acid containing hydrogen peroxide into an absorption-reaction tower for reacting to produce a sulfuric acid product, and concentrating or purifying the sulfuric acid product to improve its concentration or purity.
US08916125B2
A method for producing a semiconductor diamond containing boron by the high pressure synthesis method, wherein a graphite material to be converted to the semiconductor diamond is mixed with boron or a boron compound, formed and fired, in such a way that the resultant graphite material contains a boron component uniformly dispersed therein and has an enhanced bulk density, a high purity and a reduced content of hydrogen.
US08916124B2
When a group III nitride crystal is grown in a pressurized atmosphere of a nitrogen-containing gas from a melt 50 including at least a group III element, nitrogen and an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, a melt-holding vessel 160 that holds the above-described melt 50 is swung about two axes different in direction from each other such as an X-axis and a Y-axis.
US08916122B2
A method of producing alkoxysilanes and precipitated silicas from biogenic silicas is provided. In a first step, biogenically concentrated silica is mixed with a liquid polyol to obtain a mixture, and then the mixture is heated. In a second step, a base is added to obtain a reaction mixture. In a third step, the reaction mixture is filtered to remove the carbon enriched RHA or other undissolved biogenic silica and recover the solution of alkoxysilane and alcoholate. In a fourth step, alkoxysilane is purified by filtering, distilling, precipitating or extracting from the original reaction solution to precipitate various forms of silica. In a final step, residual base present in alkoxysilane is neutralized to eliminate the residual alkali metal base.
US08916101B2
A reducing agent aqueous solution mixing device includes an exhaust pipe, an injector, a mixing pipe and an inner pipe. The exhaust pipe includes an elbow part having a curved portion, and a linear part disposed downstream of the elbow part. The injector is disposed outside the curved portion and injects the reducing agent aqueous solution towards the linear part. The mixing pipe is disposed inside the elbow part to surround the reducing agent aqueous solution injected from the injector. The mixing pipe includes a plurality of openings on its outer peripheral surface. The inner pipe is disposed downstream of the mixing pipe and spaced apart from an outlet portion of the mixing pipe and from an inner wall of the linear part to allow the exhaust gas to flow through the inside of the inner pipe and along the outer periphery of the inner pipe.
US08916090B2
The invention provides an endoscope having a lens holder, wherein the lens holder comprises a body containing a sintered feedstock and machined surfaces. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing the endoscope which comprises the steps of molding a metal blank by a MIM process, wherein the metal blank is “near net shape” and has a sprue, a post, and optionally an outer shell, machining the inner surfaces and then the outer surfaces of the metal blank to form a lens holder, installing a lens in the lens holder, and assembling the lens holder having the lens into the endoscope.
US08916082B2
A composite structure includes a resin and a plurality of titanium dioxide fibers provided in the resin.
US08916080B2
A biaxially oriented laminate film including a core layer including a blend of crystalline polylactic acid polymer and an inorganic antiblock particle which is biaxially oriented at low transverse direction orientation temperatures to impart a degree of cavitation around the particles such that a matte or opaque appearance is obtained. The laminate film may further have additional layers such as a heat sealable layer disposed on one side of the core layer including an amorphous polylactic acid resin and/or a polylactic acid resin-containing layer disposed on the side of the core layer opposite the heat sealable layer, a metal layer, or combinations thereof.
US08916079B2
A method for producing an electronic component includes: providing at least one carrier element having a microcomponent receptacle configured for contacting at least one microcomponent, injection molding a housing around the carrier element, the microcomponent receptacle being situated in a cavity of the housing that is open on at least one side, introducing the microcomponent into the microcomponent receptacle in the cavity to contact the microcomponent to the carrier element, and injecting the cavity using a filler material to fix the microcomponent in the housing and in the microcomponent receptacle.
US08916078B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel closure for vessels comprising an opening that is to be closed by the vessel closure, an inner diameter of more than two cm and surrounds a polymer-based sealing element that is arranged in the vessel closure in such a manner that it sealingly rests on the opening of the vessel in the closed state. A polymer material becomes sufficiently free-flowing by warming and is applied to the vessel closure in the region of the sealing element that is to be produced, and optionally, is mechanically formed into the desired shape which it maintains after cooling. The invention also relates to a metal or plastic vessel closures for vessels for receiving drinks or food, and comprises a sealing insert, the material thereof being selected so that the migration of material components into the drink or food, that are a health risk, is prevented. The invention also relates to corresponding materials for said type of sealing inserts and to the use of specific polymers for producing the above-mentioned sealing inserts.
US08916070B2
A tin oxide particle having a structure characterized by peaks in Raman spectroscopy at at least 37±9 cm−1, 57±9 cm−1, 97±9 cm−1, 142±9 cm−1, 205±9 cm−1, 255±9 cm−1. The tin oxide particle preferably has an infrared transmittance of 80% or less at a wavelength of 1500 nm. The tin oxide particle preferably exhibits electroconductivity. The tin oxide particle is preferably substantially free from a dopant element that develops electroconductivity.
US08916051B2
The present invention provides a method of forming via holes. First, a substrate is provided. A plurality of first areas is defined on the substrate. A dielectric layer and a blocking layer are formed on the substrate. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the blocking layer. The patterned photoresist layer includes a plurality of holes arranged in a regular array wherein the area of the hole array is greater than those of the first areas. The blocking layer in the first areas is removed by using the patterned photoresist layer as a mask. Lastly, the dielectric layer is patterned to form at least a via hole in the dielectric layer in the first area.
US08916050B2
The present invention relates to compositions and their use for the treatment of water. In one embodiment, the invention provides for a compositions and their use for the treatment of microorganisms. This invention also provides compositions and their use to provide clean water in an environmentally-friendly manner. In another embodiment, the invention provides for compositions and their use in combination with common equipment for controlling the growth of micro-organisms, such as with an ozonator or UV-C lamp, in a water system such as in hot tub or pool. Additionally, the specification describes methods and compositions for controlling the growth of microorganisms in an aqueous system. Using the methods and compositions, one treats an aqueous system with an amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism. Accordingly, several advantages of the invention are providing improved water treatment, providing environmentally-friendly treatment, providing a more user-friendly treatment, and providing water that is better for human health.
US08916048B2
A water treatment method and a method for producing ultrapure water are provided in which urea in raw water is sufficiently decomposed, and an organism (bacterial cells) in biological treatment is prevented from flowing downstream. In a water treatment method for performing biological treatment of raw water containing urea, a carbon source is added to the raw water, and the raw water is then supplied to biological treatment means 1 and 2 having a fixed bed formed of an organism-supporting carrier to perform the biological treatment. The biological treatment after the addition of the carbon source to the raw water improves the efficiency of decomposition and removal of urea. The biological treatment means using a fixed bed formed of an organism-supporting carrier decreases the number of bacterial cells flowing downstream.
US08916024B2
Methods and systems are provided for producing market pulp which include treatment of pulp with diverse ionic compounds before pulp drying. Cationically and anionically charged compounds can be used to treat pulp before pulp drying to improve pulp dewatering performance and efficiency in the production of market pulp. Market pulp products containing the treatment compounds are also described.
US08916013B2
The present invention relates to a method for transferring graphene using a hot press, comprising: a step of contacting graphene, having a thermal-releasable sheet attached thereto, with a target substrate; and a step of pressing and heating the graphene having the thermal-releasable sheet attached thereto and the target substrate using the upper press and lower press of a hot press so as to separate the thermal-releasable sheet and the graphene and transfer the separated graphene to the target substrate. The present invention also relates to a graphene-transfer hot press apparatus for said transfer process.
US08916006B2
A metal surface treatment method for a metal base material in order to improve the uniformity of a cathodic electrodeposition coating film, the method including: a surface treatment step for forming a chemical conversion film on a metal base material by contacting the metal base material with a metal surface treatment composition including zirconium and/or titanium ions and an adhesive imparting agent characterized in being at least one selected from the group consisting of (A) silicon-containing compound, (B) adhesive imparting metal ion, and (C) adhesive imparting resin; and a heating/drying step to heat and dry the metal base material, on which the chemical conversion film is formed, at 60° C. to 190° C. for at least 30 seconds.
US08916004B2
A component of an implantable medical device comprises a body comprising at least one external surface, the body comprising at least one of titanium, titanium-based alloys, and composites thereof, and a corrosion-resistant surface region at the at least one external surface, the corrosion-resistant surface region comprising at least one of titanium nitride, dititanium nitride, and a solid solution of nitrogen dissolved in the body, wherein the corrosion-resistant surface region is formed by thermal nitridation of the body.
US08915986B2
An apparatus and method for filtering air in residential and commercial applications is described herein. The air filter may have a support frame which secures to the intake grille of an HVAC system. A filter media may be placed in the support frame to filter air as it passes through the air filter. The filter media may be replaced when the filter media becomes too dirty to effectively filter air. The dirty filter media may be removed from the frame and a new clean media may be replaced in the frame.
US08915982B2
An extraction apparatus includes at least one filter and a grease collection channel, wherein the grease collection channel has a number of removable troughs, which support the at least one filter. The troughs can be arranged flush with one another in a holder Each of the troughs has a handle, which has at least one air through-flow opening.
US08915967B2
The present invention is concerned with a system and method for preventing or substantially reducing the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in a human or animal, in particular by the fixation of a valve based device (10) within the stomach of such a human or animal, about the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle, which device supersedes the operation of said lower oesophageal sphincter muscle, in particular in situations when the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle is damaged.
US08915966B2
An embodiment of a bone stabilization and distraction system of the present disclosure includes a light-sensitive liquid; a light source for providing light energy; a light-conducting fiber for delivering the light energy from the light source to cure the light-sensitive liquid; a delivery catheter having a proximal end in communication with the light-conducting fiber and the light-sensitive liquid, an inner lumen for passage of the light-conducting fiber, and an inner void for passage of the light-sensitive liquid; and an expandable body removably engaging a distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the expandable body has a closed end, a sealable open end, an inner cavity for passage of the light-sensitive liquid, an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein the expandable body has an insertion depth with a fixed dimension, a width with a fixed dimension, and a thickness with a changeable dimension.
US08915963B2
A multi-piece disc replacement implant for replacing a disc removed by a discectomy including an upper plate member, a lower plate member, and an intermediate resilient member providing movement between the two plate members replicating the natural movement of the spine. The plate members are rigid and have orthogonal sidewalls forming an enclosure. The resilient member is an elastic solid or a multi-chamber balloon structure of fluid-filled sacks that collectively define a non-uniform shape such as an oblate spheroid, or a helically coiled string of beads. Such an implant is capable of supporting the compressive and cyclic loads required of a natural disc. The upper and lower plate members are cooperatively formed to selectively limit the allowable range of motion in any given direction and a provided with protrusions to be received in one or more channels cooperatively formed in the vertebrae and secured in place by a bone screw.
US08915949B2
An ultrasound therapy system and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound to localized regions of tissue within body joints, such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs, or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints. Various modes of operation provide for selective, controlled heating at different temperature ranges to provide different intended results in the target tissue, which ranges are significantly affected by pre-stressed tissues such as in-vivo intervertebral discs. In particular, treatments above 70 degrees C., and in particular 75 degrees C., are used for structural remodeling, whereas lower temperatures achieve other responses without appreciable remodeling.
US08915941B2
Described are methods and systems for treating fistulae and other passageways and openings in the body. In certain aspects, an anchored suture is provided that extends from at or near a first fistula opening and through a fistula tract toward a second fistula opening. Various modes of anchoring may be used in this regard including, in some modes, having the suture extend from a deployed anchoring member positioned in and/or around the first opening. The anchored suture, which has a more slender cross sectional dimension relative to the fistula tract through which it extends, is capable of receiving an optional fill substance therealong in the tract. A fill substance can be or include a variety of biodegradable and/or non-biodegradable objects and materials including flowable and non-flowable materials.
US08915937B2
A puncture needle cartridge including a puncture needle, a lancet body adapted to cover part or all of a tip of the puncture needle, a cylindrical puncture needle holder disposed on an outer surface of the lancet body to permit the lancet body to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle; and a protective cap that is separable from the puncture needle holder. The protective cap includes a base adapted to cover an opening in the puncture needle holder, a shaft protruding from the base, and arms mounted on the shaft and configured to abut an inner circumferential surface of the opening in the puncture needle holder by spreading in the opening. A space between tips of the arms is larger than an inside diameter of the opening in the puncture needle holder, and is reduced by elastic deformation when the arms are housed in the opening.
US08915935B2
A distal assembly of an endoscopic surgical device, and a related method, having a first arm and a second arm pivotal relative to the first arm. Each arm is configured to hold a part of a two-part fastener at a distal end of the arm. A closing mechanism is positioned proximate a proximal end of each of the first and second arms opposite the distal end of each of the first and second arms. The dosing mechanism is configured to move in relation to the first and second arms so as to close over at least one of the first and second arms to cause the distal ends of the arms to come together. An actuation member is also attached to the closing mechanism actuable to cause the closing mechanism to move in relation to the first and second arms.
US08915934B2
A system for connecting the end of a graft vessel to the side of a target vessel may include an anvil configured to enter the target vessel through an anvil entry hole in the wall of the target vessel; a holder movable relative to the anvil, where that holder may deploy at least one connector through the graft vessel and into the target vessel at a location spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; and at least one sealer that may be detachably connected to the anvil and/or said holder; where at least one sealer may be configured to substantially close the anvil entry hole in the target vessel. A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel may include inserting an anvil through the wall of the target vessel into the lumen of the target vessel from outside of the target vessel through an anvil entry hole; connecting an end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel with a plurality of connectors at a location spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; creating an opening in the side of the target vessel, where the opening is located within a perimeter defined by the connectors and spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; withdrawing the anvil through the anvil entry hole; and substantially sealing the anvil entry hole.
US08915928B2
A suture fixation system includes a suture assembly having an anchor, an introducer, and a delivery device. The introducer is attachable to a finger of a person and includes a platform attached to an exterior of the introducer and a zip line attached to the platform. The delivery device is movable along the zip line and configured to removably retain the anchor. The introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark.
US08915925B2
A compression and distraction shaft assembly applies compression and distraction to bones including vertebrae. Shaft A assembly and shaft B assembly are attached together via a polyaxial fulcrum. The polyaxial fulcrum allows all rotational degrees of freedom between shaft A assembly and shaft B assembly. Such fulcrum, during compression and distraction, does not impart ancillary stresses or motion to vertebrae. An hourglass-shaped bore for engaging pliers is formed in approximately middle of both the shaft A assembly and the shaft B assembly. Distraction pliers having cylindrical tips are used to apply distraction to vertebrae. Once handles are pressed to impart an appropriate amount of distraction to the vertebrae, they are locked in this position. Compression pliers having cylindrical tips are used to apply compression to vertebrae. Once handles are pressed to impart an appropriate amount of compression to the vertebrae, they are locked in this position.
US08915919B2
A bone rifling system for use in prosthesis, which allows improved prosthetic bone fixation. The system comprises orthopedic undercut reamer, which can cut controlled internal groove circles or spiral grooves on the internal surface of host bone. The system converts the commonly reamed smooth bone to grooved or rifled bony tube. Used together with bone cements, the bone rifling system ensures prosthetic bone fixation by significantly increasing the pull out strength, and decreasing the rate of clinical loosening and failure of replacement joints. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a bone for a prosthesis using such a bone rifling system to cut grooves in a host bone for increased prosthetic bone fixation.
US08915916B2
A fracture fixation system particularly useful for bones of the hand and foot is disclosed. The system uses curved shape-memory alloy (e.g., Nitinol) wires that have a predetermined radius of curvature to accommodate different sized bones. These shape-memory alloy wire forms can be inserted into phalanx, metacarpal or metatarsal bones via a percutaneous technique. The technique uses small skin incisions; a specialized drill guide that has holding K-wires to maintain fixation of the drill guide to the bone so that it does not lose the insertion point; a specialized drill as well as a specialized wire cutter and advancement tool to make sure that the level of the wire is below the level of the outer cortical bone. Shape-memory alloy (e.g., Nitinol) based wires with a pre-bent curve have an advantage over the typical standard K-wire in that they can spring back to their predetermined memory shape when inserted into the intramedullary canal of the bone and heated, i.e., a more aggressive curve. By increasing their bending or flexion to increase the arc of curvature, this allows fixation points for the wire, essentially locking it to bone.
US08915906B2
A system and method for providing treatments of electromagnetic radiation to areas of post-partum abdominal skin. The treatments provide for raising the temperature in a portion of post-partum abdominal skin to a treatment temperature, which is sufficient to reduce the laxity or redundancy of the post-partum skin. In one embodiment the treatment can provide treatment exposures to sub-areas, of an area of post-partum abdominal skin which has been identified for treatment, and bring a temperature of the tissue being treated to at 50° C.
US08915898B2
An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a distribution layer positioned between the absorbent body and the back sheet. The absorbent body defines a first opening having an opening length that is at least 50% the absorbent body length. The first opening has a median anterior portion width that is greater than a median central portion width that is greater than a median posterior portion width. The first opening includes a well, a channel, and a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.
US08915893B2
An implantable infusion pump system is disclosed. The pump system preferably includes an implantable pump and a programmable module. The module may provide for varying flow rates of fluid being dispensed from the pump or may provide for a constant flow rate of such fluid. In the case of varying flow rate capabilities, the module preferably includes one or more sensors to determine information relating to the flow rate, electronics for analyzing the flow rate information, and a mechanism for physically altering the flow rate. In certain embodiments, the module includes a hermetically sealed housing. Methods of dispensing a medicament to a patient utilizing such a system are also disclosed, as are variations of the pump system.
US08915887B2
An injection device is disclosed which comprises a housing (10) with a display for showing the size of a set dose. The display is formed from a number of individual ciphers (11, 40) which each comprises a plurality of segments (13, 14) extending horizontally and vertically. At the end of the injection device a dose setting element (20) is provided for allowing the user to set the size of the dose to be injected. Further, the display mechanism comprises a first pattern (35) for showing the vertical segments (14), and a second pattern (25) for showing the horizontal segments (13). The patterns (25, 35) are associated with the dose setting button (20) and arranged to be moved when the dose setting button (20) is operated. The injection device disclosed can have any number of ciphers (11, 40) which is coupled to each other in order to show to the user the size of any dose set.
US08915885B2
An intravenous catheter anchoring assembly is disclosed and includes a patient-contacting membrane, a platform, and a retaining strap for securing a catheter or tubing of an administration set to a patient. The strap is attached to the platform with adjustable pull-tabs that permit a variety of catheter shapes and sizes to be secured. The strap is also elastomeric so that the strap is stretchable and thereby grabs the secured catheter. The strap and platform further define a plurality of passageways that permit the catheter to be secured in a plurality of non-aligned directions.
US08915879B2
Ambulatory infusion pumps, pump assemblies, cartridges, baseplates, cannulas, insertion tools, and related components as well as combinations thereof and related methods. One method of dispensing medicament from a cartridge includes pushing a plunger so as to controllably dispense out of a medicament reservoir within the cartridge in accordance with a stored delivery profile an amount of medicament of 0.1% or less of the total filled volume of the reservoir and with a single-dose precision of better than plus or minus 20%. The single-dose precision is obtained after a time-to-precision period of less than eight hours, which begins at the onset of the first plunger pushing for the cartridge, during which the plunger is being pushed in accordance with the stored delivery profile.
US08915876B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing blood from an extracorporeal blood circuit and/or a functional device, each connectable or connected with a blood treatment apparatus for the purpose of blood treatment of a patient. The blood treatment apparatus of the method comprises or is connected with at least one extracorporeal blood circuit with a line having interior portions, the extracorporeal blood circuit comprising at least one arterial line section and at least one venous line section, wherein a first section of the arterial line section is configured to be connected with a second section of the venous line section, and further comprises at least one blood pump for conveying blood within the line interior portions. The method includes the step of operating the blood pump in a second conveying direction which is opposite to a first customary conveying direction. It further relates to corresponding apparatuses.
US08915870B2
Methods and systems for treating stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.
US08915866B2
Implantable sensors and methods for detecting changes in a characteristic of a soft tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, an implantable sensor for detecting indicators of cartilage wear in a joint is provided. The implantable sensor includes a sensing element for detecting a signal indicative of a characteristic of the cartilage of the joint and a telemetry circuit in communication with the sensing element for transmitting a data set representative of the detected signal. In another embodiment, a system for detecting changes in joint cartilage includes an implantable acoustic sensing element and an external receiver in communication with the implantable acoustic sensing element. In other embodiments, methods of detecting cartilage degradation in a joint and methods of using the disclosed sensors are provided.
US08915857B2
An optical device comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface being opposite the first surface; a light-emitting element having a first center, installed on the second surface; and a light-receiving element having a second center, installed on the first surface. At least a part of the light-emitting element is arranged at a position, overlapping the light-receiving element with respect to a plan view; the light-receiving element, installed after the light-emitting element, has a bonding pad, provided at a position displaced relative to the second center towards a first direction with respect to the plan view; and the first center is provided at a position displaced relative to the second center towards a second direction, being opposite the first direction DR1, with respect to the plan view.
US08915856B2
The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasound signal to a diagnosis target and receives the reflected ultrasound signal from the diagnosis target to generate an ultrasound image. The ultrasound image to be displayed on a screen is divided into plural division regions, and filtering is performed for the respective division regions based on blood-flow information at plural division positions on the diagnosis target corresponding to the respective division regions to provide the filtered result as the ultrasound image.
US08915855B2
Embodiments for forming multiple plane images for a target object in an ultrasound system are disclosed. A processor forms volume data indicative of the target object by using ultrasound data. The processor is configured to: set a reference plane in the volume data; detect a falx contour and a contour of a cerebrum in the reference plane and an entire contour of the brain in the volume data; normalize the volume data by using the falx contour, the cerebrum contour and the entire contour of the fetal brain; and set multiple planes with respect to the reference plane in the volume data. The processor forms plane images corresponding to the respective multiple planes by using the volume data.
US08915851B2
An ultrasound imaging apparatus and ultrasound image display method simultaneously obtain photo-acoustic information and elasticity information of a subject, and generate and display a single image having the photo-acoustic information and the elasticity information, thereby enhancing accuracy and efficiency of a diagnosis. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes a probe to radiate light when stress is applied and when stress is not applied to the subject, and to receive a corresponding first acoustic wave signal and a second acoustic wave signal, a data acquisition unit to acquire first acoustic wave data and second acoustic wave data that each represent optical absorption rate information about the subject, an elasticity information generating unit to calculate elasticity information about the subject, an image generating unit to generate a single image having both of the optical absorption rate information and the calculated elasticity information, and a display unit to display the generated image.
US08915846B2
A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08915837B2
An apparatus for deployment of a hemostatic clip comprises a handle assembly, a shaft connected to a distal portion thereof and a clip assembly releasably coupled to a distal portion of the shaft. The clip assembly includes clip arms and a capsule cooperating with the clip arms to provide a first user feedback indicating a decision configuration of the clip assembly. In addition, the apparatus includes a control wire including a ball connector, the control wire extending from the handle assembly and coupled to the clip assembly by the ball connector to maintain the clip assembly coupled to the shaft, wherein the ball connector is detachable from the clip assembly to provide a second user feedback indicating separation of the clip assembly from the shaft.
US08915831B2
A system and method of automatically assembling a package may include maintaining a data structure comprising a dynamic rule set for package production. A desired package may be selected for assembly. An assembly sequence may automatically be developed to create a three dimensional package from the dynamic rule set based on the desired package. The desired package may be assembled using the assembly sequence.
US08915816B2
A propulsion device (2) for a vehicle includes an output shaft (14) of a combustion engine (4), an input shaft (27) of a gearbox (8), an electrical machine (6) having a stator (24) and a rotor (26), and a planetary gear (10) movable components (18, 20, 22). A locking mechanism (38) is movable between a first position wherein the engine output shaft (14) and the gearbox input shaft (27) are allowed to rotate at different speeds via the planetary gear (10), and a second position wherein the locking mechanism (38) firmly connects the engine output shaft (14) to the gearbox input shaft (27) via the planetary gear (10). Also a method for controlling the propulsion device (2) as disclosed.
US08915814B2
A gear-change device includes a primary shaft, a secondary shaft, and a third shaft, which bears both a gear of the reverse and an output pinion meshing with a gear of a differential. The third shaft is connected via a gear reducer to the shaft of an electrical machine, the casing of which is rigidly connected to the easing of the gear-change device.
US08915807B1
A slide hammer impact enhancement system adapted for incorporation into a hollow arrow shaft comprises a weight member movably positioned within the hollow arrow shaft with a magnet member rigidly secured to an end thereof. A nock member is rigidly mounted at one end of the hollow arrow shaft, and contains an attachment member accessible from within the hollow arrow shaft. The magnet member and attached weight member are maintained adjacent the nock member by the attachment member upon launching the arrow. Upon the arrow striking a target, the magnet member and connected weight member disengage from the attachment member, move down the hollow arrow shaft, and strike an arrow head at the opposite end thereof, thereby further driving the arrow into the target.
US08915798B2
A putter-type golf club head having a face insert comprising a metal sheet and a urethane backing is disclosed herein. The metal sheet, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes extending through the entire thickness of the sheet and having a specific size and spacing, and the urethane backing has a hardness that optimizes performance of the face insert, and thus the putter.
US08915796B2
A golf club shaft has a tip end to which a golf club head is attached and a butt end to which a grip is attached, wherein the shaft is composed of a fiber reinforced resin having a fiber layer, the fiber layer contains a bias layer having bias fibers oriented at an angle with respect to an axial direction of the shaft, the bias layer includes a tip-side bias layer extending from the tip end toward the butt end and having a butt-side end terminating without reaching the butt end and a butt-side bias layer extending from the butt end toward the tip end and having a tip-side end terminating without reaching the tip end, and bias fibers in the tip-side bias layer has a tensile elastic modulus smaller than that of bias fibers of the butt-side bias layer.
US08915795B2
The present invention relates to a golf club in which a shaft arranged beneath a grip portion of the golf club is processed to be used as means for grip swing performed by rotating the golf grip locally between both hands of a golfer. The aim of the present invention is to enable forces of both hands and both arms of the golfer and the weight of the golf club to be dynamically balanced at one or more center of gravity portions (S) designed at a specific position on the shaft beneath the grip during a typical gripping and swinging action of the golfer, that is, said center of gravity portions (S) may serve as a hinge or weight of minimum swing performed between both hands of the golfer, thereby enabling fine swing control.
US08915789B2
A shaft shielding assembly (26) comprising first and second telescopic sleeve members (31, 32) is provided. The sleeve members are each disposed around, and shield a portion of a rotatable shaft (22). Mutually cooperating guide means, such as an array of grooves and ridges (33, 34), are provided on the sleeve members and which forcibly reduce longitudinal overlap therebetween when rotated with respect to one another so as to extend the shielded region of the shaft.
US08915779B1
An apparatus for retrieval of vapors or gases produced during the hair styling process comprises: a vacuum nozzle housing, an attachment bracket, a styling iron, a vacuum and at least one filter.
US08915774B1
A portable portable game carcass hanger including two mounting strap with fastening devices to secure to a vertical support beam such as a tree trunk. A mounting bracket with a first leg, a second leg perpendicular to the first leg and support member are provided. A first hook is disposed on the second leg. There is a triangular hanger with an apex and a bottom end opposite the apex. The apex removably engages the second leg first hook. The bottom end of the triangular hanger has at least one second hook provided to hang at least one game carcass thereon.
US08915770B2
A wafer polishing apparatus is provided. The wafer polishing apparatus includes a first polishing roller disposed on a wafer, the first polishing roller extending in a direction in which the wafer extends and a second polishing roller disposed under the wafer, the second polishing roller extending in the direction in which the wafer extends. The wafer polishing apparatus uses the roller to polish the wafer. Thus, the wafer polishing apparatus may easily polish a wafer having a large area.
US08915768B2
Provided is a method of phasing a threaded grinding stone, as well as a device therefor, the aforementioned method and device being such that contact or non-contact of a threaded grinding stone with a disk dresser can be detected with high accuracy, with the result that the phasing of the threaded grinding stone can be accurately performed. For the purpose of achieving the above, a threaded grinding stone (14) is phased with respect to a disk dresser (32) prior to the engagement of the threaded grinding stone (14) with the disk dresser (32) during dressing. In performing this phasing, it is determined whether or not the threaded grinding stone (14) contacted the disk dresser (32), on the basis of a voltage (V) which is commensurate with the amplitude of the elastic wave generated in the threaded grinding stone (14) at the time when the threaded grinding stone (14) contacted the disk dresser (32). In a case where the voltage (V) does not exceed a threshold value (Vo) even if the threaded grinding stone (14) contacts the disk dresser (32), then the rotational speed of the disk dresser (32) is increased, with the result that there is forcibly created a situation where it is determined that contact occurred. Subsequently, the threaded grinding stone (14) is positioned, on the basis of the resulting phase thereof, in an intermediate phase where the aforementioned engagement is feasible.
US08915760B2
A surface mount clip includes a base part having a rear surface electrically connected to a conductor part of a printed wiring board; and an extension part extending from the base part. The extension part contacts with a conductive member attached to the printed wiring board with elastic deformation of the extension part to hold the conductive member and make electrical connection thereto. The base part includes a solder-bonding part having a bonding plane to be bonded with the printed wiring board and a floating part forming a gap from the printed wiring board in a state that the solder-bonding part is solder-bonded to the printed wiring board. The extension part includes a root part extending from the floating part toward the rear surface of the base part and a folded-back part extending from an end of the root part toward a front surface of the base part.
US08915756B2
Communications connectors include a housing and a printed circuit board that is at least partially mounted in the housing that has a plurality of conductive paths that are arranged in pairs to form a plurality of differential transmission lines. These connectors further include a plurality of contacts, each of which is electrically connected to a respective one of the conductive paths of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board further includes at least a first floating image plane that is located between a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, the floating image plane being electrically isolated from the plurality of conductive paths.
US08915754B2
A connector having a coupler-body continuity member is provided, wherein the coupler-body continuity member electrically couples a coupler and a body, thereby establishing electrical continuity between the coupler and the body. Furthermore, the coupler-body continuity member facilitates grounding through the connector, and renders an electromagnetic shield preventing ingress of unwanted environmental noise.
US08915753B2
A male coaxial cable connector includes spring with tines and a fastener wherein the spring is housed by the fastener and distal ends of the spring tines are arranged to provide a spring mouth.
