US07916426B2
A head has an air bearing surface with left and right leading pressurizing steps. The left and right leading pressurizing steps are each partially surrounded by left and right leading pads, respectively. The left leading pressurizing step includes a left short region that extends for a first distance (measured parallel to the slider longitudinal axis) from the leading face of the slider to the left leading pad. The left leading pressurizing step also includes a left long region that extends for a second distance (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis) from the leading face to the left leading pad. The second distance is at least 25% greater than the first distance. The left short region is disposed closer to the left lateral face than is the left long region. The left long region is disposed closer to the longitudinal axis than is the left short region.
US07916425B2
A magnetic head includes: a pole layer; a nonmagnetic layer disposed on part of the top surface of the pole layer; a gap layer disposed on the pole layer and the nonmagnetic layer; and a shield disposed on the gap layer. The top surface of the pole layer includes: a first portion having a first edge located in a medium facing surface and a second edge opposite thereto; and a second portion located farther from the medium facing surface than the first portion and connected to the first portion at the second edge. The first portion is inclined with respect to a direction orthogonal to the medium facing surface so that the distance from a substrate increases with increasing distance from the medium facing surface. The nonmagnetic layer has a bottom surface touching the second portion, and this bottom surface has an edge located at the second edge.
US07916423B2
A storage system is provided having at least one storage unit, the storage unit including an electrical power source, a communication source and a cover that defines, at least in part an interior space. The storage system operates with a media blade that comprises a plurality of data storage elements, said media blade moveable in a drawer like motion though a cooperating opening in said cover. The storage system further includes a motion accommodating conductor apparatus connecting said plurality of data storage elements to said electrical power source and said communication source such that power from said electrical power source and communication from said communication source may be provided to said media blade without interruption when said media blade is moved in said drawer like motion outward from at least partially within said interior space.
US07916418B2
Method and apparatus for controlling the rotation velocity of an optical disc in a wide range of velocities, including low velocities. In a first range of velocities, a first sensor, for example an EMF sensor, is used to control the commutation moments of a turntable motor. For velocities outside the first range, a periodic control signal based on a periodic second signal generated by a second sensor and a mapping between the first and second periodic signal are used. The method and the apparatus are suitable for LightScribe™ applications.
US07916417B2
A magnetic disk apparatus includes a computing unit that obtains data to be recorded on a magnetic disk and computes an intermediate bit length based on a longest bit length and a shortest bit length of bit lengths of the obtained data; an adjusting unit that adjusts a strength of a recording current for recording the obtained data based on a difference between the intermediate bit length and a bit length of the obtained data; and a recording unit that repeatedly detects an error rate for recording data by using the adjusted recording current while narrowing down a track width on the magnetic disk and records the obtained data with a track width corresponding to an error rate detected immediately before an error rate that is detected to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US07916416B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having servo data defining a plurality of servo tracks. The servo data comprises a preamble comprising a varying length across a radius of the disk, and a plurality of slanted line servo bursts recorded at a tilt angle with respect to the preamble. The tilt angle varies across the radius of the disk commensurate with the varying length of the preamble. A position error signal (PES) is generated in response to a phase difference when reading the preamble and the slanted line servo bursts.
US07916407B2
A holding device (1) holds a lens (6) at its lens edge (5) with the aid of an adhesive connection (16, 17). The adhesive connection (16, 17) is applied only at one adhesive point or only at two spaced apart adhesive points (16, 17). A transport arrangement handles lenses (6) during hard coating in a dip trough. The transport arrangement includes a dip frame with receptacles for holding devices for lenses (6). Each holding device (1) provided with a lens (6) is positioned on the dip frame in such a manner that the lens (6) is positioned above its holding device (1). A method is provided for finishing lenses (6) wherein the lenses (6) are subjected to various sequential finishing steps of a finishing process and the lenses (6) are cemented to the same holding device during finishing. The application of adhesive is only at one adhesive point or at two spaced apart adhesive points (16, 17). A turning arrangement for turning a holding device (1) holding a lens (6) at its lens edge (5) includes a turning tooth system associated with the holding device (1) and a translatorily movable turning element that coacts with the turning tooth system.
US07916404B2
An exemplary Fresnel lens includes a flat emitting surface and a plurality of annular Fresnel lens elements at an opposite side thereof to the emitting surface. Each of the Fresnel lens elements has a non-lens surface perpendicular to the emitting surface and a Fresnel lens surface adjoining the non-lens surface with an acute angle. Each of the Fresnel lens elements has a plurality of spaced cavities defined in the non-lens surface.
US07916399B2
A first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having the negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group having the positive refractive power are included in order from an object side, and variation of magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end is performed by monotonically moving the second lens group toward an image side and compensation of a fluctuation of an image surface resulting from the variation of magnification is performed by moving the third lens group. At least one positive lens having an optical material satisfying a conditional expressions is included in at least one of the first lens group G1 and the fourth lens group.
US07916392B2
A phase compensation element is disposed between a reflective type display element and a polarizing beam splitter. Composed of a crystal structure retardation layer functioning as a quarter-wave plate and an inclined-axis retardation layer functioning as an O-plate, the phase compensation element is aligned substantially parallel to a reflective surface of the reflective type display element. The inclined-axis retardation layer is made of inorganic material obliquely deposited on the crystal structure retardation layer. The inclined-axis retardation layer has a principal refractive index axis inclined at between 0° and 45° to a surface normal of the crystal structure retardation layer, and has a thickness not to increase haze of the phase compensation element.
US07916391B2
A polarization pattern assembly for use in an illuminator and an apparatus for providing at least one polarization pattern in a pupil of an illuminator for a lithography system are provided. A polarization pattern assembly for use in an illuminator having a pupil includes a frame (110) and at least one polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) coupled to the frame (110), the polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) changing a direction of polarization of light passing therethrough, whereby at least one polarization pattern is obtained across the pupil of the illuminator, and wherein the polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) includes an optically active material.
US07916390B2
A monolithic polarization controlled angle diffuser includes a system having a first surface and a second surface, a controlled angle diffuser pattern for providing an angular distribution at an illumination plane, the controlled angle diffuser pattern being on one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, and a polarizing pattern on one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate. The controlled angle diffuser pattern includes at least two controlled angle diffuser elements. Each controlled angle diffuser element outputs different angular distributions. The polarizing pattern includes at least two polarizing elements. Each polarizing element corresponds to a respective controlled angle diffuser element. The at least two polarizing elements output polarizations are rotated with respect to one another.
US07916389B2
A polarizer includes including a translucent substrate a diffraction grating which is formed on the translucent substrate and which has a plurality of convex portions that are aligned so as to have a frequency which is equal to or less than a wavelength of light to be used, and in which each of the plurality of convex portions includes an alternating layer formed of high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers, and an intermediate-refractive-index region which is formed at a position between the convex portions that are adjacent to each other in the diffraction grating, so as to have a portion buried in the translucent substrate and which has a refractive index which is higher than a refractive index of the low-refractive-index layer and which is lower than a refractive index of the high-refractive-index layer.
US07916385B2
An optical circuit is disclosed, which may include a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); an optical filter operable to filter light emerging from the SOA; and a PIN for converting the light output from the optical filter into an electrical signal, wherein the gain profile of the optical filter is configured to maximize throughout of signal energy within a predetermined wavelength range (in-band), and to impose an insertion loss (Loob) of less than 20 dB on signal energy outside the predetermined wavelength range.
US07916382B2
A PDLC modulator is fabricated using at least one of a selection of specially-formulated UV curable organic hard coatings as a protective layer on the exposed side of polyester (Mylar) film. The hard coatings of various related types show good adhesion on a polyester film substrate, superior hardness and toughness, and have a slippery top surface, which minimizes unnecessary wear. The coating as applied on the modulator surface significantly reduces scratch damage on modulators caused by unexpected particles on the panels under test. In addition, the slip surface will reduce stickiness to particles and therefore also reduce the possibility of panel damage.
US07916379B2
The invention relates to the use of antioxidants of different kinds and concentrations in electrochromic elements having an ion conducting component to suppress self-discharging. In comparison to electrochromic elements known from prior art, electrochromic elements according to the invention show a significantly smaller increase in transmissivity for a period of time after the electric current necessary to decrease transmissivity is switched off. The use of sterically hindered amines and/or 1,3,5-trisubstituted phenols has proven particularly effective for this purpose.
US07916378B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is provided. In one embodiment, the MEMS includes a transparent substrate, and a plurality of interferometric modulators. The plurality of interferometric modulators includes an optical stack coupled to the transparent substrate, in which the optical stack includes a first light absorbing area. The plurality of interferometric modulators further includes a reflective layer over the optical stack, and one or more posts to support the reflective layer. Each of the one or more posts includes a second light absorbing area integrated in the post.
US07916376B2
An optical actuator includes a base, a carrier, a reflecting optical element, a connecting structure and an actuating component. The reflecting optical element is disposed at a first side of the carrier. The connecting structure has a first connecting portion located at the central region thereof and two second connecting portions located at two opposite sides thereof. The connecting portions connect the base to the second side of the carrier. The actuating component is disposed on the base and drives the carrier rotating along an axial line. The axial line is substantially perpendicular to the connecting structure. A projection system including the optical actuator is also disclosed.
US07916371B2
An actuator to drive a mirror of a holographic information storing apparatus, the actuator including: piezoelectric cells; support members mounted on the piezoelectric cells; a hinge member mounted on the support member; and a post mounted on the hinge member, to support the mirror. The hinge member includes a bar disposed parallel to a rotation axis of the mirror, and a curved portion that extends from the bar.
US07916370B2
A laser scanning microscope scans a plurality of scanning areas based on a drive table to indicate time series data for driving a scanner used for performing scanning with laser light. The laser scanning microscope includes a drive table creation unit and a drive control unit. The drive table creation unit is applied for creating an interpolating drive table for specifying a scanning path between an end point of a first scanning area and a start point of a second scanning area which is scanned next to the first scanning area. The drive control unit is applied for controlling driving of the scanner based on the interpolating drive table between the first scanning area and the second scanning area.
US07916359B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a reciprocal movement unit that reciprocally moves a carriage; a position sensor that detects a location of the carriage; a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a sub-scan direction; an edge detection sensor that detects an edge of the recording medium; a both edge detection unit that detects positions of both edges of the recording medium from positions of the carriage when the edge detection sensor detects each edge of the recording medium; a detection start position determination unit that determines a detection start position; a print control unit that controls the recording head to record data on the recording medium; and a re-detection unit that moves the carriage to the detection start position during printing and that re-detects the edge of the recording medium from the detection start position using the edge detection sensor.
US07916358B2
A device for obtaining graphical information from a single- or multi-page document printed on a hard media where reading out of the position of the document elements is performed by using a method of volumetric scanning of a document (even closed) is described. Processing of scanning results, comprises joining up the separate scanning layers scanning results, removing noise, correction of document image orientation, dividing information into portions relating to separate pages, is performed after reading the information. Then text information recognition contained in the graphical file is performed. Information may be read out by using methods of magnetic resonance scanning, supersonic scanning, X-ray scanning etc. The results of scanning in electronic form may be stored for further transmission thereof on a medium or via communication channels to a distant location for recognition.
US07916355B2
The invention encompasses the combination of two printing technologies into a single web fed printing press 10, particularly the combination of flexographic and intaglio printing. The present web fed printing press 10 comprises at least one flexographic printing module 14 equipped to apply variable amounts of motion and tension to a web of sheet material 11; at least one intaglio printing module 17 equipped to apply variable amounts of motion and tension to the web of sheet material 11; and means for controlling the amounts of motion and tension applied by the flexographic printing module or modules 14 and by the intaglio printing module or modules 17 to the web of sheet material 11. Preferably, the means for controlling the amounts of motion and tension applied to the web of sheet material 11 comprises a host processor 40 and first and second motion control processors 44, 45.
US07916331B2
A reading unit reads image data from an image. An information processing terminal is connected to the reading unit. The information processing terminal includes a read control unit that controls the reading unit. The reading unit transmits the image data to the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal combines a user name set in advance by a user with the image on the read control unit, and transfers the image combined with the user name to a display unit to display the image.
US07916327B2
An apparatus generates a processing route defining a processing order of plural processing processes to process print data. In the apparatus, a selection unit selects devices that can process the print data according to output setting information, and a generation unit generates at least one processing route for processing the print data by combining the selected devices for executing the plural processing processes. The apparatus determines a security level of each generated processing route based on a defined condition, and determines a processing route for processing the print data based on the determined security level.
US07916324B2
Scheduling work is easily achieved without the necessity of an operator paying special attention to the throughput and the type of each printer and the idle time when each printer is available. An arrow is obtained when the operator performs a drag operation such as to increase the length in the vertical axis direction of an initial arrow. The length in the horizontal axis direction of the arrow becomes shorter in response to the above-mentioned drag operation. In this scheduling, all of the three available devices are used. Accordingly, the printing of the job is completed in a short printing time. Further, an arrow is obtained by a drag operation for increasing the length in the horizontal axis direction of the initial arrow. This scheduling represents that the job is executed by one device, for example, having a throughput A among the three available devices.
US07916323B2
A printer is provided that can be used easily and preferably without introducing an additional structure into a terminal device and a server. The printer includes a printing process portion for printing based on print data, a print data detection portion for detecting print data stored in a file server, a data reception portion for obtaining print data and the corresponding printing conditions information from the file server when the print data are detected, a print approval/disapproval judge portion for judging approval/disapproval of printing based on the obtained printing conditions information and a print control portion for controlling the printing process portion so that printing is performed based on print data corresponding to the printing conditions information when it is determined to be printable, and for controlling the same so that printing is not performed when it is determined to be unprintable.
US07916320B2
An image processing apparatus for preventing unauthorized uses of image data by allowing the addition of a specific image in a black-and-white mode even when it is set that a specific image is added in a color mode. When a document is copied, a control section determines whether the apparatus is in a color mode or a black-and-white mode. When in a black-and-white mode, an adding condition determining section reads a set security level and a differential value and determines a security level lower than the one in a color mode. Based on the security level in a black-and-white mode, an adding condition of a specific image is determined. The specific image adding section adds a specific image different from the one in a color mode based on the adding condition. A black-and-white image added with the specific image is printed.
US07916319B2
A remote proofing system (10) on an information network (400) includes a networked controller (20) configured to be a master proofing controller and at least one remote proof printer (30, 90, 300, 310, 320, 330). The master proofing controller monitors at least one monitored information folder (13) maintained on the information network, associating a set of associated printer instructions (15) with the at least one monitored information folder, and instructing the at least one remote proof printer to print according to the set of associated printer instructions the contents of a proof printing file set when the proof printing file set is deposited in the at least one monitored information folder. Further embodiments of the remote proofing system allow for performing print proofing through an information firewall (800) via layered authorization from the operator of the remote proof printer; and multiple and partially overlapping remote proofing systems on the same information network.
US07916307B2
A pulse detection laser is provided. The pulse detection laser includes a single frequency oscillator, a continuous pre-amplifier, and a pulsed amplifier. The single frequency oscillator generates a seed laser beam and is optically coupled to the continuous preamplifier. The continuous pre-amplifier amplifies the seed laser to produce an intermediate power laser beam. A pulsed amplifier optically coupled to the continuous pre-amplifier receives the intermediate power laser beam and amplifies the intermediate power laser beam to produce a pulse detection laser beam. One task of this pulse detection laser is to illuminate ultrasonic displacements. Light from the laser is scattered, collected, and analyzed with an interferometer to demodulate the ultrasonic displacements caused by the return echoes of the ultrasound at the surface of the part.
US07916305B2
A surface reflection encoder scale is used with a surface reflection encoder for detecting a relative movement amount of a member for making a relative move. The surface reflection encoder scale includes a substrate of the member or a substrate provided on the member and a reflection phase grating provided on the substrate and having asperities for changing a phase of reflected diffracted light on its surface. The asperities of the phase grating are formed of a deposition film of metal silicide and chromium.
US07916299B2
The device and the method are used for optical detection of at least one phase transition between at least two media, which are taken into a line and/or dispensed from the line by an intake and/or dispensing device. A light-emitting transmitter emits light across and onto the line at a measurement point provided for this purpose. A receiver receives the emitted light, which is influenced by media in the line, to form reception signals. At least one waveguide, which is arranged up to the measurement point on the probe, is provided between the transmitter and/or the receiver and the measurement point (M). Due to the fact that the waveguide is arranged in parallel to the line at least in the area near the probe and at least one deflection lens is provided in the area of the measurement point to deflect the light emitted and/or the light to be detected, a phase boundary or state can be detected, and the dead volume is reduced.
US07916297B2
A method of testing a test object, comprising the steps of arranging the test object at a deformable contact element of a holding device, wherein the contact element is at least partially deformed so that at least a partial area of the test object is in gap-free contact with at least a partial area of the contact element, and wherein for at least two contact points of the contact element, which are in contact with the partial area of the test object, upon through-radiation by means of electromagnetic radiation that is parallel to a predefined through-radiation direction, an optical path length of the electromagnetic radiation through the holding device and the test object is substantially identical; having the electromagnetic radiation radiate through the holding device and the test object in parallel to the predefined through-radiation direction detecting the electromagnetic radiation after through-radiation; and evaluating the detected electromagnetic radiation.
US07916292B2
A concave diffraction grating device, a reflective dispersion device, and a spectral device of the invention include a diffraction grating plane having an aspherical configuration, wherein the diffraction grating plane is symmetrical in a predetermined direction, and asymmetrical in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in such a manner that the curvature of one end portion of the diffraction grating plane in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is gradually decreased, and the curvature of the other end portion thereof is gradually increased. The concave diffraction grating device, the reflective dispersion device, and the spectral device with the above arrangement have desirable slit image forming performance with respect to all the wavelengths in a visible region, and are suitable for mass-production.
US07916281B2
An apparatus for producing scattering signatures from a coin comprises a platform configured to hold the coin and an electromagnetic radiation source configured to produce a beam directed toward a portion of at least one surface of the coin. The electromagnetic radiation source is arranged to produce a far-field scattering signature upon interaction the at least one surface of the coin. A plurality of collection elements is configured to produce an electrical signal based upon collecting at least a portion of the far-field scattering signature.
US07916277B2
An exposing apparatus maintains uniformly a gap between a substrate and a mask stage. The substrate is disposed on a substrate chuck and the substrate chuck is supported by gap motors and air cylinders. The gap motors control the gap between the substrate and the mask stage and the air cylinders support the deflect portion of the substrate chuck to maintain the flatness of the whole area of the substrate.
US07916267B2
A lithographic device includes a cooling device for removing heat from a motor. The cooling device has a cooling element provided in thermal contact with at least part of the motor. The cooling device further has a cooling duct assembly with a supply duct to supply a cooling fluid to the cooling element, and a discharge duct to discharge the cooling fluid from the cooling element. A pump causes the cooling fluid to flow through at least part of the cooling duct assembly. A flow control device controls a flow rate of the cooling fluid through at least part of the cooling duct assembly, to maintain a predetermined average temperature of the cooling fluid in the cooling element.
US07916265B2
Within a reflective display section R, a part of a light that reaches a reflective electrode through a color filter exits to the outside through slits and a part of a light that reaches the reflective electrode through the slits exits to the outside through the color filter. In addition, a light reaching the reflective electrode through the color filter and exiting to the outside through the color filter, and a light having no opportunity to pass through the slits also can be observed. Therefore, a mean film thickness of color filter through which all lights pass during the time in which they travel the associated distance after they are inputted to the inside until they are outputted to the outside becomes nearly equal to that could be observed in the transmissive section T.
US07916264B2
An exemplary liquid crystal display device (2) includes a liquid crystal panel (21) and a heating system. The heating system heats the liquid crystal panel when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is below a predetermined threshold temperature. The liquid crystal display device can work normally without being adversely influenced by the surrounding temperature.
US07916251B2
A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Rth1 of the first optical anisotropic layer, and Rth2 of the second optical anisotropic layer satisfy one of Relationships (1) and (2), and ΔRth1≧0 nm and ΔRth2≦0 nm (1) ΔRth1<0 nm and ΔRth2>0 nm (2) wherein a retardation value Rth of the laminated optical film as a whole in its thickness direction satisfies 50 nm≦Rth≦500 nm, where ΔRth1 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Rth1 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ΔRth2 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Rth2 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.
US07916249B2
A color filter layer includes a first region and a second region, wherein the number of times that light used for display is transmitted through the color filter layer is different between the first region and the second region.
US07916248B2
A liquid crystal structure (200) comprising first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) arranged to reflect respective first and second colours. The first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) are disposed transversely to the direction of reflection (R). Each region includes a reflective back area and a selector (210) controllable to control light reflected from the region. Furthermore, a controllable reflector (212) is superposed over the reflective region in the direction of reflection (R) and controllable to transmit or scatter incident light.
US07916245B2
The present invention provides a transflective display device capable of extending a color reproduction range and reducing a difference in white balance between transmissive display and reflective display. The display device of the present invention is a transflective display device including four or more filters having different colors in a pixel, each of the four or more filters having different colors including: a transmissive region for displaying an image by transmitting light from a backlight; and a reflective region for displaying an image by reflecting surrounding light, wherein at least two of the four or more filters having different colors are different in a proportion of an area of the reflective region, and the proportion of the area is represented by the following formula (1): Proportion of area of reflective region=Area of reflective region/Effective area of filter (1).
US07916238B2
A liquid crystal display design that reduces manufacturing costs and improves optical efficiency. The LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel, a light guide plate arranged on a rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel, a reflective plate that includes a bottom plate and a plurality of sidewalls attached to the bottom plate, the bottom plate of the reflective plate being arranged on a rear surface of the light guide plate to accommodate the light guide plate and the plurality of side walls of the light guide plate extending from the bottom plate to surround sides of the light guide plate and a bottom chassis arranged on a rear side of the reflective plate to accommodate the liquid crystal display panel, the light guide plate, and the reflective plate.
US07916236B2
A display device has a pixel including a transmitting region to transmit light and a reflecting region to reflect external light. The display device includes: a transparent conductive film containing a first transparent conductive film forming a pixel electrode in the transmitting region, a second transparent conductive film provided as an upper layer of a reflecting electrode forming the reflecting region, and a connecting portion integrally formed with and connecting the first transparent conductive film and the second transparent conductive film; and a opaque conductive film provided as a lower layer of the transparent conductive film, and located below an area of the transparent conductive film including the connection portion.
US07916229B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate; a data line crossing the gate line with a gate insulating film interposed between the gate line and the data line to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor at the crossing of the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a common electrode forming a horizontal electric field with the pixel electrode in the pixel region; a gate pad connected to the gate line; and a data pad connected to the data line, wherein the gate pad and the data pad includes a lower pad in the same layer as the gate line and made of the same material as the gate line, a lower contact hole through the gate insulating film to expose the lower pad, an upper pad in the same layer as the data line, made of the same material as the data line, and connected to the lower pad through the lower contact hole, and an upper contact hole through a passivation film protecting the thin film transistor to expose the upper pad, and a semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor overlaps with the gate electrode of the thin film transistor, and has a width smaller than that of a gate electrode of the thin film transistor.
US07916227B2
In a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display, an insulating layer for storage capacitors is reduced in thickness to increase the storage capacity while maintaining the aperture ratio in a stable manner. A thin film transistor array panel for the liquid crystal display includes an insulating substrate, and a gate line assembly and a storage capacitor line assembly formed on the insulating substrate. The gate line assembly has gate lines and gate electrodes. A gate insulating layer covers the gate line assembly and the storage capacitor line assembly. A semiconductor pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer. A data line assembly and storage capacitor conductive patterns are formed on the gate insulating layer overlaid with the semiconductor pattern. The data line assembly has data lines, source electrodes and drain electrodes. The storage capacitor conductive patterns are partially overlapped with the storage capacitor line assembly to thereby form first storage capacitors. A passivation layer covers the data line assembly, the storage capacitor conductive patterns and the semiconductor pattern. First and second contact holes are formed at the passivation layer while exposing the drain electrodes and the storage capacitor conductive patterns. Pixel electrodes are formed on the passivation layer while being connected to the drain electrodes and the storage capacitor conductive patterns through the first and the second contact holes. The pixel electrodes form second storage capacitors in association with parts of the storage capacitor line assembly.
US07916223B2
A LCD device includes first and second LCD panels stacked one on another. Each of the first and second LCD panels includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and a pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the pair of transparent substrates. A light diffusion layer having light diffusion function is interposed between the first LCD panel and the second LCD panel. The light diffusion layer reduces the intensity of the light passed by the first LCD panel, thereby alleviating the periodicity of the arrangement of dark areas and bright areas to alleviate the moire caused by light interference.
US07916220B2
A fixing structure disposed in an electronic apparatus includes at least a display panel and a front casing. The fixing structure includes a joining component and an engaging component. The joining component is disposed on the front casing, and the engaging component is for movably engaging with the joining component. When the engaging component engages with the joining component, the engaging component presses the display panel such that the display panel is tightly attached to the front casing.
US07916219B2
A technique for improving image quality using dynamic gray scale correction, in one example embodiment, includes dynamically computing non-linear gamma curves using histogram data extracted from a current video frame. A gray scale correction is then dynamically applied to each pixel in the current or next video frame as a function of the computed non-linear gamma curves.
US07916217B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus for temporarily stopping reproduction of an accumulation image automatically when a display mode for displaying a broadcast image (image obtained from a broadcast wave) and the accumulation image (image obtained from a storage medium) is switched to a display mode for displaying only the broadcast image, and automatically resuming the reproduction of the accumulation image when the display mode for displaying only the broadcast image is switched to the display mode for displaying the broadcast image and the accumulation image.
US07916214B2
A picture display technique carries out an adjustment of image quality of an inputted picture signal in response to a type of the inputted picture signal, e.g., a type of a first picture signal into which a second picture signal, having fewer scanning lines than that of the first picture signal, is converted, and an original type of the first picture signal, and then displays a picture of an adjusted picture signal on a display device. Further, the adjustment of the picture quality may include at least one of hue correction of the inputted picture signal in a certain hue range and chroma correction of the inputted picture signal in a certain chroma range. The adjustment of the picture quality may also include a contour correction of the inputted picture signal.
US07916211B2
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The image apparatus has: a camera body; a viewfinder unit including a frame; a revolving mechanism for revolving the frame; a frictional mechanism including a detachable plate and giving frictional resistance to the frame and maintaining rotation of the frame; and a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking rotation of the frame. The lock mechanism includes a cylindrical member and a manipulating member for locking. When the manipulating member is rotated in one direction, the manipulating member moves the cylindrical member toward the detachable plate. The part of the frame around a pivot-receiving hole is held between the front end of a barrel and the detachable plate. When rotated in the other direction, the manipulating member permits the cylindrical member to move away from the detachable plate.
US07916209B2
An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing processing unit capable of selectively performing a normal image capturing process in a normal image capturing mode and a combined image capturing process in a combined image capturing mode, the normal image capturing process being a process of obtaining a single exposure image signal in a unit period and generating captured image data by performing signal processing upon the obtained signal, and the combined image capturing process being a process of obtaining a long-exposure image signal and a short-exposure image signal and generating captured image data by performing signal processing including signal combination upon these obtained signals; a detection unit for performing light metering upon the captured image data; and a control unit for controlling switching between light metering methods used in the detection unit in accordance with an image capturing mode used.
US07916206B2
A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which enables accurate AF operations without a focusing judgment performed in an out-of-focus state even when taking an image including a high-luminance object. The focus detection apparatus generates luminance information of each pixel by using an output from a plurality of pixels of a photoelectric converting element which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an optical system, and enumerates the number of at least one of pixels whose luminance information is higher than a predetermined luminance and pixels whose luminance information is lower than a predetermined luminance. And, information according to the enumerated result is outputted as the focusing information. The predetermined luminance is set based on the luminance information.
US07916205B2
A pickup device driving apparatus includes: a movable part which moves a pickup device in a first direction while a direction of a pickup surface is held; a linear actuator which moves an axis in a second direction different from the first direction; a direction changing part which has a bearing part provided in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, rotates on the bearing part, and changes a bias force applied in the second direction by the axis of the linear actuator to a bias force applied in the first direction, and applies the bias force to the movable part; and a weight part which is provided in the direction changing part to cancel a rotation moment of the bearing part generated in the direction changing part by the inclination of the movable part.
US07916197B2
An imaging device including an imaging element having a plurality of pixels for switching a linear conversion mode for linearly converting incident light to an electric signal and a logarithm conversion mode for logarithmically converting incident light to an electric signal on the basis of incident light intensity, a conversion unit for converting and outputting a reference electric signal converted logarithmically and outputted from the imaging element to an electric signal obtained by linearly converting an electric signal before logarithm conversion, a correction unit, when an electric signal converted logarithmically and outputted from the imaging element is varied from the reference electric signal, for correcting it so as to coincide with the reference electric signal, and a circuit for giving the corrected electric signal to the conversion unit.
US07916196B2
An analog/digital converter device associated with a detector of an image sensor, including: a comparator capable of receiving the analog signal and delivering a two-states output signal, able to adopt, depending on the analog signal, a first stable state or a second state, a charge injector capable of changing the analog signal by injection of at least one quantity of charges into the capacitor, and a mechanism for commanding the charge injector, capable of receiving the two-state signals and capable of triggering, depending on the two-state signals, plural injections of charges between at least two successive changes in state of the signal, from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.
US07916193B2
An imager has first and second photosensitive sites and an interpolator located in a semiconductor substrate. The first photosensitive site is configured to receive light having a spectral component, and the second photosensitive site is configured to measure the level of the spectral component in light received by the second photosensitive site. The interpolator is configured to estimate the level of the spectral component in the light received by the first photosensitive site based on the measurement by the second photosensitive site.
US07916192B2
A method for compensating pixel values of defective pixels in an image processing system is provided. First, a normal image is captured to obtain the pixel values of a plurality of pixels, and the pixel values of the defective pixels are then marked as a specific pixel value. When the pixel values are to be compensated, the locations of the defective pixels are determined by locating the specific pixel value, and the average values of the neighboring pixels of these defective pixels are calculated and used as the pixel values of these defective pixels, so as to complete a compensation procedure. Besides, the present invention further includes closing the shutter to capture a dark image with similar exposure condition as the normal image does. The compensation procedure is performed after subtracting the dark image from the normal image so that the noise caused by dark current can be eliminated.
US07916187B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that obtains a high-quality image signal by determining an amount of noise in an optimum fashion and reducing the amount of noise. The image processing apparatus reduces a noise component contained in the image signal picked up by an image pickup element and digitized. The image processing apparatus includes a determining unit which determines whether or not a target pixel in the image signal is within a predetermined noise range for each pixel, and a noise reducing unit which reduces the noise of the target pixel based on the determination result.
US07916183B2
A driving method for a solid-state image pick up device that includes the steps of capturing an image with the pixel array, sharing at least two color pixel cells with a floating diffusion unit, adding an output signal of a first color pixel cell to an output signal of a second color pixel cell having the same color as the first color pixel cell with the floating diffusion unit in order to create a virtual pixel center, and controlling a ratio of integration time of the color pixel cells to the same colors based on pitches between virtual pixel centers with a control unit.
US07916181B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for creating pictures and more particularly a method for creating an enhanced picture by means of several consecutive exposures. The exposures are combined to create pictures with enhanced properties, especially better color and light content. Sufficient light is obtained by performing a series of first exposures together with one second exposure in rapid succession. The first exposures are combined to provide sufficient luminance and sharpness. The second exposure is made to collect color information. The first exposures are combined with the second exposure to provide an enhanced picture.
US07916175B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an image capture device which captures an image of an article, an electronic tag reader which reads electronic tag information from an electronic tag, and a writing device. When the image of the article is captured by the image capture device, the electronic tag reader reads electronic tag information from the electronic tag, and the writing device writes the image of the article captured by the image capture device into the electronic tag.
US07916170B2
The Invention provides specific and proprietary means to digitally record CCTV inspection Header Information, Defect Observation Data, GPS information, and Distance Information; combine this data into a single digital file; and store it within single video files preferable over digital video format like MPEG, DiviX, Microsoft Windows Media, DVD, or related formats—from which it may be retrieved by compatible application software and serve as a basis for inspection viewing, reviewing, evaluation, mapping, report generation, and other uses provided or supported by compatible application software features. Formatted media can be played with media player like Microsoft media player, real player, Dix Player, Quick time player like computer based player and/or with any external media player like DVD player which can be connected to system like television for viewing.
US07916164B2
A method of measuring a relative darkness of an image recorded on a recording medium, comprising: applying first electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength to the recording medium to record an image thereon, applying second electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength to the recorded image on the recording medium, and measuring a reflection of the second electromagnetic energy from the recorded image to determine the relative darkness of the recorded image.
US07916159B2
A display panel is the one in which a pixel composed of sub-pixels of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and at least one other color has two sub-pixels at least in a vertical scanning direction, and color filters are provided respectively corresponding to the sub-pixels. There are provided: an incoming signal interpolating section which interpolate each of pixels based on incoming color signal components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) at least in a vertical scanning direction to generate interpolated RGB signals; a luminance signal converting section which converts color signals of interpolated sub-pixels, which are obtained from the incoming signal interpolating section, into luminance signals; an another color luminance component adding section which adds a luminance signal component of at least one other color on a basis of luminance signal components of colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), which components are outputted from the luminance signal converting section; and a luminance reallocating section which reallocates luminance signals of peripheral interpolated sub-pixels, for a color of each of the color filters corresponding to the sub-pixels, in accordance with output from the another color luminance component adding section.
US07916158B2
Disclosed is an image display technique for displaying a high-quality image by an image signal of appropriate color saturation. To this end, in the invention, color histogram information is detected from a color difference signal and average brightness information or brightness histogram information from a brightness signal. Based on the detected color histogram information and average brightness information or brightness histogram information, the demodulation axis of a color difference signal is adjusted, thereby controlling the color saturation (chroma) of an image. This enables display of an image having color intensity suited to the brightness and chroma of an image signal.
US07916157B1
A system and method for defining the zoom response, or behavior, of a display object independently of other display objects performs a selective zoom response to a zoom level. Selective zoom response provides each display object individual zoom response logic to determine the manner of display at given zoom levels. Accordingly, display object behavior is definable on a per object basis. The zoom function triggers particular operations at a given zoom level for modifying attributes of a display object that affect the visual appearance, thus modifying the zoom behavior of the display object. Since each display object has a different zoom response logic, different display objects respond independently to a particular zoom level as appropriate for the display object. Therefore, the zoom response is object specific since each display object has its own set of attributes and zoom logic affecting those attributes.
US07916151B1
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for partial texture load instructions. Instead of one instruction that may take several shader passes to complete, several instructions are issued, where each instruction is an instruction to retrieve a part or portion of a texture. While each instruction is performed, the other shader circuits can perform other instructions, thus increasing the utilization of the shader circuits when large textures are read from memory. Since several shader passes may be required to read a texture, if a particular instruction needs the texture, one exemplary embodiment reorders instructions such that other instructions are performed before the particular instruction that needs the texture.
US07916150B2
Methods, systems and data structures produce a rasterizer. A graphical state is detected on a machine architecture. The graphical state is used for assembling a shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selecting replacement logic that replaces portions of shell logic in the shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selectively inserting memory management logic into portions of the shell logic to produce.
US07916147B2
A centralised game server in a bank (50) of game servers runs a game program for use by a user at a remote terminal (52, 56, 58). In the game server, the game program sends a first set of graphics instructions to a first graphics processing unit (76) which is intercepted by an instruction interception module (74). The first set of instructions, including vertex data, transformation data and texture data are passed to the first graphics processing unit (76) whilst a specially manipulated version of the instructions is generated and passed to a second graphics processing unit (78). The first graphics processing unit (76) renders the image data as the game intended whilst the second graphics processing unit (78) is used to render specially adapted graphics data from which to extract compression assistance data used for compression, e.g. motion vectors. In alternative embodiments, a first set of instructions include a program for a programmable pipeline module, such as a vertex shader or a pixel shader, and the second set of instructions include a modified program for the programmable pipeline module.
US07916133B2
A buffer circuit is driven with a low voltage and operates at a high speed has first and second comparators constituted by P channel and N channel MOS transistors provided between an input terminal and an output terminal of a buffer amplifier. A predetermined offset voltage is set for the comparing operation, and a switch circuit turns ON/OFF in response to an output signal from the first comparator and the output signal of the second comparator. A leading up of an output voltage from the buffer amplifier is accelerated by the current flowing from a power source line to the output terminal. The buffer circuit also includes an operation restricting circuit for restricting the comparing operation of the second comparator in a range of a dead band of the transistors.
US07916125B2
A touch screen device and method of displaying images using display windows and selecting execution menus displayed on the display windows in a touch screen device are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen, a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch on the screen, and a controller configured to control operation of the touch screen device in accordance with the screen touch detected by the detector. The controller causes two or more display windows to be displayed in an overlapped manner. Further, if the touch is detected on an underlying display window covered by an overlying display window, the controller causes a display form to be changed in response to the touch. That is, if a touch is detected on the display window covered by the overlying display window, the touched display window is displayed as an overlying display window.
US07916124B1
A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
US07916120B2
An input device having a housing; a pointing device coupled with the housing having a plurality of buttons; a scrolling element coupled with the housing; and a module for detecting user input for operating the input device in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode, the input device operates as a tabletop computer pointing device, and where in the second mode, the input device operates as a hand-held presentation device used to control a computer-based presentation.
US07916108B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with color washout improvement. In one embodiment, the LCD panel a plurality of pixels, {Pn,m}, spatially arranged in the form of a matrix, n=1, 2, . . . , N, and m=1, 2, . . . , M, and N, M being an integer greater than zero, each pixel Pn,m comprising at least a first sub-pixel, Pn,m(1), having a sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel, Pn,m(2), having a sub-pixel electrode. The plurality of pixels, {Pn,m}, is configured such that when a gray level voltage associated with a gray level, g, of an image to be displayed on a pixel is applied to the pixel Pn,m, a potential difference, ΔV12(g), is generated in the sub-pixel electrodes of the first and second sub-pixels of the pixel Pn,m. The potential difference, ΔV12(g) varies with the gray level g of the image to be displayed on the pixel, where g=0, 1, 2, . . . , R corresponding to one of the shades of grey of the image expressed in h bits, h being an integer greater than zero and R=(2h−1).
US07916107B2
An exemplary gamma voltage output circuit (3) has an internal resistor string (31), which has a plurality of resistors and a plurality of nodes; at least one external resistor string (32, 33, 34), which has a plurality of resistors and a plurality of nodes; a plurality of switching circuit (35), each switching circuit having at least one input end (353, 354, 355) and at least one output end (356). The internal and the at least one external resistor strings connect in series between the power source AVDD and ground, respectively. Each node outputs a gamma voltage. The nodes of internal and the at least one external resistor strings respectively are connected to the output end and the input end, the resistors of the internal resistor string parallel connecting to corresponding resistors of the at least one external resistor string through the corresponding switching circuit.
US07916104B2
A method for increasing intensity resolution (bit-depth) using LED illumination. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a display time for a bit to be displayed on a display system, with the display time being based upon a weighting of the bit. If the display time is less than a minimum display time of the display system, then a light modulator and light source modulation are to be used to display the bit. If the display time is equal to or greater than the minimum display time, then a light modulator is to be used to display the bit. The use of a light source that can switch at a faster rate than the light modulator can change states and/or a light source that can produce light at multiple intensities can permit the display of less light and thereby increase the bit-depth of the display system.
US07916099B2
An active matrix electroluminescent display has means for interrupting the drive of current through the display element. Row driver circuitry for the display has a shift register and logic arrangement (50, 54) for generating the drive voltage for the interrupting means, and which includes a pulse having a duration which can be varied up to substantially the full field period less the address period. The signal or signals propagated through the shift register arrangement (50) control the pulse duration. This arrangement provides reduced driver complexity to allow control for the row by row addressing of the pixels with control of the overall light emission period of each row. The control enables a scrolling addressing scheme to be implemented.
US07916091B2
The antenna module fabrication for a wireless electronic device includes setting up the antenna and the assembly base that is to connect the antenna to the designated circuit board. The antenna and the assembly base are two independent pieces, and the positioning parts are for positioning so that the antenna and assembly base are one body. The antenna module of the invention can achieve the advantages such as simple production, cost effectiveness, prevention of the antenna module from deforming and quality improvement.
US07916089B2
Portable electronic devices are provided with wireless circuitry that includes antennas and antenna isolation elements. The antennas may include antennas that have multiple arms and that are configured to handle communications in multiple frequency bands. The antennas may also include one or more antennas that are configured to handle communications in a single frequency band. The antennas may be coupled to different radio-frequency transceivers. For example, there may be first, second, and third antennas and first and second transceivers. The first and third antennas may be coupled to the first transceiver and the second antenna may be coupled to the second transceiver. The antenna isolation elements may be interposed between the antennas and may serve to reduce radio-frequency interference between the antennas. There may be a first antenna isolation element between the first and second antennas and a second antenna isolation element between the second and third antennas.
US07916083B2
A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.
US07916081B2
A beamforming method comprises transmitting a training sequence from a transmitter array employing a set of beamforming vectors from a beamforming codebook. A receive array employs a combining codebook to acquire channel state information from the received transmissions, and estimates a preferred beamforming vector and a preferred combining vector. At least the preferred beamforming vector (and, optionally, the preferred combining vector) is transmitted back to the transmitter array.
US07916079B2
A GPS receiver (10) is disclosed comprising a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for sampling received GPS signals and a processor for outputting a stream of the GPS signal samples and inserting repeated instances of timing data indicating the timing of the sampling of the GPS signals in the stream in place of some of the GPS signal samples. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of providing a position fix and a computer program, computer-readable storage medium and apparatus for the same.
US07916051B1
With high speed, high resolution time-interleaved (TI) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), bandwidth mismatches between the various ADC branches can pose a significant problem. Previously, though, no adequate solution has been found. Here, a method and apparatus are provided that can calculate and compensate for bandwidth mismatches in a TI ADC, enabling a high speed, high resolution TI ADC to be produced.
US07916042B2
A method and device for predicting the stopping position of an aircraft while landing. The stopping position is predicted from the variation of total energy of the aircraft before the beginning of its flare out.
US07916041B2
A method of sensing and transmitting hole depth information comprises monitoring, at the surface, the extension of the hole as drilling progresses, determining when the hole depth has extended by a predetermined distance, and sending an increment signal to a telemetry device.
US07916039B2
A system is provided for conveying information to an occupant of a motor vehicle. In one example of an implementation, driving-relevant information is obtained for example using sensors or a navigation system. An audio message is determined based on the obtained driving-relevant information. Spatial characteristics for the audio message are also determined. The audio message is output in the motor vehicle with the determined spatial characteristic via loudspeakers.
US07916034B1
The present invention generally relates to a tamper-resistant microchip assembly which may be used to, for example, confirm the authenticity of the source of a product. The tamper-resistant microchip assembly may further contain information related to the origin of the product, vintage, bottle size, geographic origin, age and/or other characteristics of the product. The tamper-resistant microchip assembly is particularly suitable for use with, for example, the production and distribution of wine.
US07916032B2
An RFID tag includes a dielectric member, an antenna pattern formed on and around a surface of the dielectric member, and an IC chip that is electrically connected to the antenna pattern by means of two chip pads.
US07916015B1
A monitoring system and method for detecting environmental conditions is provided, the monitoring system including a sensing unit including a plurality of sensors for obtaining data related to environmental conditions, a controller interfaced with the sensing unit for receiving and encoding the data related to environmental conditions into a predetermined format using a base64 encoding scheme, and a communication device for receiving the data in the predetermined format from the controller, forming an e-mail message (which can be further encoded) including instructions on how to decode the email message and transmitting the e-mail message including the data in the predetermined format to at least one predetermined recipient.
US07916013B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for use with active implantable medical devices (AIMD) implanted in a patient comprises an interrogator and an RFID tag comprising a substrate, an RFID chip, and an antenna. The RFID is typically enclosed in a biocompatible and hermetically sealed container comprising a ceramic housing, an end cap and an encapsulant. The RFID tag or sealed container may be affixed to an AIMD or surgically implanted in a patient adjacent to an AIMD. Alternatively, the sealed container may be injected into body tissue by a large needle syringe. The RFID tag may store information about an AIMD including manufacturer, model number and serial number. The RFID tag may also store information about a treating physician and/or patient including the treating physician's name and contact information, the patient's name, contact information, medical condition, treatment and other relevant information.
US07916009B2
An accessory mounting system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle includes a first attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, and a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The first attachment element accommodates a forward facing camera and an antenna and/or rain sensor. The forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The forward facing camera may capture images for at least one of a collision avoidance system of the vehicle and an automatic headlamp control system of the vehicle. An interior rearview mirror assembly is detachably mounted to the second attachment element by a mounting configuration of the interior rearview mirror assembly.
US07916002B2
A haptic/tactile input in which the behavior and/or appearance of the mechanical user interface input is configured to be adapted to the function and context of an electronic device to give feedback and cues to the user. The mechanical input for example, buttons, sliders, levers, and other input devices are made appear on the surface of the user interface when needed.
US07915999B2
Aspects of a method and system for simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals utilizing a DDFS clocked by an RFID PLL are provided. In this regard, a plurality of signals utilized to transmit or receive FM communication may be generated by clocking a plurality of DDFSs via a signal generated to enable RFID communication. The DDFSs may be controlled via one or more control words, which may be generated by a processor. In this regard, the control words may determine a frequency and/or phase of the signals output by the DDFSs. The control words may be adjusted to maintain a constant phase and/or frequency at the DDFS outputs in spite of changes to the signal clocking the DDFS. Accordingly, signals of two or more frequencies may be generated by the DDFSs to allow simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals.
US07915996B2
An electronic component and a method for producing the electronic component achieve efficient production of resistive elements with various resistances. The electronic component includes a pair of terminals opposite each other and a resistive element disposed between the pair of terminals. The resistive element includes a plurality of dots arranged so as to overlap each other in a reference arrangement pattern excluding a portion of the arrangement pattern. To produce the electronic component, an electronic component is prototyped in advance and includes a resistive element in which the dots are arranged in the entire reference arrangement pattern between the pair of terminals. The prototyped resistive element is then partially removed so as to attain a desired resistance. An electronic component is then produced in which the dots are arranged in the reference arrangement pattern with a portion of the arrangement pattern excluded on the basis of the shape of the partially removed resistive element.
US07915994B2
A sensor and method of manufacturing a variable resistance sensor with a protective sheath that is cost effective and highly reliable, with stable resistance with an operating range of up to 1700° C. in hostile environments. The sheath is formed of highly stable dispersion hardened materials capable of withstanding mechanical loads and chemical attacks at elevated temperatures while maintaining internal chemical integrity.
US07915986B2
A hinge assembly (20) including a first magnetic member (21) and a second magnetic member (22) is described. The polarities of opposing end surfaces of the first magnetic member and the second member are different. The second magnetic member is configured for rotating relative to the first magnetic member to generate a magnetic moment. In addition, an exemplary portable electronic device (100) equipped with the hinge assembly is also described.
US07915976B2
A surface acoustic wave resonator is constructed such that cross widths of an IDT electrode are weighted so that the cross widths are reduced as they move outward in the surface acoustic wave propagation direction, an inner edge of a first bus bar includes inclined portions that are inclined so that the inner edge is spaced a predetermined distance away from an envelope portion adjacent to the first bus bar, an inner edge of a second bus bar includes inclined portions that are inclined so that the inner edge is spaced a predetermined distance away from an envelope portion adjacent to the second bus bar, and the sum N of the numbers of electrode fingers and dummy electrodes that are crossed by a straight line extending from the tip of at least one of the electrode fingers in the surface acoustic wave propagation direction is at least N.
US07915975B2
For improving the matching of a DMS track that is connected in series with a reactance element, it is proposed to connect a shunt branch to ground between the DMS track and reactance element parallel to the signal-carrying conductor section, where a capacitive element is arranged in this shunt branch.
US07915967B2
A frequency-tunable arrangement comprises a resonance circuit having a capacitive part that is tunable throughout a capacitance range. A plurality of amplifiers is coupled to the resonance circuit so as to form an oscillation loop. At least one of the amplifiers is a switchable amplifier that is switchable between an active state and an idle state. The switchable amplifier causes a capacitance variation in parallel to the capacitive part of the resonance circuit when switched between the active and the idle state. The switchable amplifier is arranged so that the capacitance variation substantially corresponds to the capacitance range throughout which the capacitive part can be tuned.
US07915964B2
A variable frequency oscillating circuit has an oscillating circuit that undergoes an oscillation operation. The oscillating circuit has at least one inverter and at least one capacitor forming a circuit in a ring oscillator configuration. A current circuit outputs a current based on a frequency control signal controlling a frequency of a clock signal output from the oscillating circuit. A pulse generating circuit generates a pulse when the frequency control signal is switched from low to high and from high to low. The oscillating circuit stops an oscillation operation by stopping a charge/discharge operation of the at least one capacitor when the pulse is generated by the pulse generating circuit.
US07915961B1
A power amplifier is provided that includes a plurality of stages. Each of the stages is capable of being controlled by a first supply voltage or a second supply voltage. The first supply voltage is provided by a linear amplifier, and the second supply voltage is provided by a switching converter. A first stage is capable of being controlled by the first supply voltage, and a second stage is capable of being controlled by the second supply voltage.
US07915951B1
A microchip that can calibrate a plurality of circuits on the microchip with a current reference includes: at least a first circuit disposed on the microchip; at least a first local bias generation circuit, for generating a bias current that is input to the first circuit; an external current reference, coupled to the first local bias generation circuit, for updating the bias current; and a calibration logic, coupled to the first local bias generation circuit, for enabling the external current reference to update the bias current according to a valid calibration signal.
US07915945B2
An inrush limiting circuit is connected between an external power source and a plurality of capacitors, and includes a delay trigger signal generator, a plurality of reversing circuits and a plurality of transmission gates. The delay trigger signal generator is connected to the external power source, to receive external power signals and generate a plurality of delay trigger signals. The reversing circuits are connected to the delay trigger signal generator, to reverse the delay trigger signals and output a plurality of the reversed delay trigger signals. The transmission gates are correspondingly connected to the delay trigger signal generator, the reversing circuits and the capacitors, to turn on respectively at different times based on the delay trigger signals and the reversed delay trigger signals, to cause the external power source to charge the capacitors at the different times so as to avoid an inrush current.
US07915936B2
A method of dealing with anomalies in an output signal is provided. The method includes monitoring transitions in the output signal. When transitions do not occur at expected times, detecting an anomalous signal. Determining the type of anomalous signal based at least in part on the time period of the anomalous signal and conditioning the output signal based on the type of anomalous signal detected.
US07915933B2
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump.
US07915932B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises: a first signal delay circuit including a first precharge element configured to precharge a first node with a leakage current and a first signal output circuit configured to output a first signal; a second signal delay circuit including a second precharge element configured to precharge a second node with a leakage current and a second signal output circuit configured to output a second signal. The first signal delay circuit is configured to discharge the first node via a first discharge element, while the second signal delay circuit precharges the second node via the second precharge element and outputs the second signal. The second signal delay circuit is configured to discharge the second node via a second discharge element, while the first signal delay circuit precharges the first node via the first precharge element and outputs the first signal.
US07915931B2
A power sequencing circuit includes a PNP transistor, a first, second and third resistor, and a logic enabled regulator. A voltage is coupled at a first node to the emitter of the transistor, the first resistor is coupled between the first node and the base of the transistor, the second resistor is coupled between the base and a grounded node, the third resistor is coupled between the grounded node and the collector of the transistor, and the logic enabled regulator has an enable pin coupled to and driven by the collector.
US07915918B2
An integrated circuit including a programmable logic array with a plurality of logic cells and programmable interconnections to receive input signals and to perform logical functions to transmit output signals. The integrated circuit may also include megacells comprising a plurality of functional blocks receiving inputs and transmitting outputs. The integrated circuit may also include a programmable interconnections subsystem to cascade the megacells. The megacells are coupled to the programmable logic array.
US07915911B2
An input circuit for receiving an input signal supplied to an input terminal includes a capacitor having one end connected to the input terminal and a capacitor driving circuit for converting the input signal into a signal having positive logic that is the same as logic of the input signal and supplying the converted signal to the other end of the capacitor so as to drive the capacitor.
US07915909B2
Over the air or radiated testing of an RF microelectronic or integrated circuit device under test (DUT) that has an integrated millimeter wave (mmw) antenna structure, is described. The antenna structure may have multiple elements in an array design that may be driven and/or sensed by integrated RF transmitter and/or receiver circuitry. An interface printed wiring board (e.g., a tester load board or a wafer probe card assembly) has formed in it a mmw radiation passage that is positioned to pass mmw radiation to and/or from the integrated antenna of the DUT. Test equipment may be conductively coupled to contact points of the interface board, to transmit and/or receive signals for testing of the DUT and/or provide dc power to the DUT. A test antenna is designed and positioned to receive and/or transmit mmw radiation through the passage, from and/or to the integrated DUT antenna. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US07915896B2
Control of delivery of current through one or more discharge lamps. Methods include alternately switching on and off switching elements that control a fluorescent lamp, in response to receiving input, until the brightness of the lamp decreases to a threshold. Further, methods include providing control signals at complementary duty cycles to further decrease the brightness and alternating the duty cycles of the signals applied to the filaments of the fluorescent lamp.
US07915893B2
All critical circuit components, including the sample coils, are located along with the spinner assembly in a region that may be evacuated to high vacuum for thermal insulation and high-voltage operation. A hermetically sealed spinner assembly simultaneously satisfies the requirements of hermeticity, low total emissivity, rf compatibility, spinning performance, magnetic compatibility, and high filling factor by utilizing metal construction except for the central region near the rf sample coils. Hence, it is possible to maintain high vacuum in the region external to the MAS spinner assembly even over a broad range of bearing and drive gas temperatures. A bundle of optical fibers is provided for tachometry for spin rates up to 60 kHz. The use of alumina disc capacitors allows the noise contributions from the most critical capacitors to be reduced to a minor fraction of the total and simplifies high voltage operation.
US07915891B2
A microelectromechanical modulating magnetic sensor comprising a base; a magnetic transducer associated with the base that provides an output in response to a magnetic field; a pair of movable flux concentrators positioned to move relative to the magnetic transducer; the pair of movable flux concentrators having a region of high flux concentration between the pair of movable flux concentrators; the pair of flux concentrators moving together in tandem with the distance between the pair remaining substantially constant during movement; support structure for supporting the pair of movable flux concentrators; a power source for causing the movable flux concentrators to move at a frequency within a predetermined frequency range; whereby when the pair of movable flux concentrators is in a first position the region of high flux concentration is in a first location, and when the pair of movable flux concentrators is in a second position, the region of high flux concentration is in a second position; such that as the flux concentrators move from the first position to the second position the intensity of the flux sensed by the transducer is modulated as the region of high flux concentration approaches and recedes from the location of the transducer.
US07915890B2
A sensor device comprising a base substrate and first and second flux concentrator fixedly attached to the base substrate. The first flux concentrator and the second flux concentrator are positioned with their proximal end regions facing and spaced apart, defining a gap therebetween. A magnetic sensor element is positioned in the gap, the sensor element moveable towards and away from the base substrate. The sensor device has a first system to offset stray magnetic fields, a second system to modulate the sensor element to detect KHz frequency, and a third system to dither noise from the first and second flux concentrators.
US07915886B2
A first magnetic sensor produces a first output signal in response to movement of a target such as a multi-pole ring magnet, and a second magnetic sensor produces a second output signal in response to movement of the target. The first and second magnetic sensors may be corresponding magnetoresistor sensors, the first and second magnetic sensors may be intertwined, the first and second magnetic sensors may be oriented at an angle with respect to one another so as to produce a difference in phase between the first and second output signals, the first and second magnetic sensors may be arranged so as to produce a 90° phase difference between the first and second output signals, and/or the first and second magnetic sensors may be formed on a semiconductor substrate.
US07915875B2
A current-mode controlled DC-DC converter includes a comparator comparing a first or second current detection signal with a first or second reference current that is based on an error voltage of a voltage detection signal, a pulse generator generating a first pulse signal whose ON time is longer than an interval between when the second current detection signal reaches a minimum value and when the second current detection signal reaches the second reference current, a pulse generator generating a second pulse signal whose ON time is longer than an interval between when the first current detection signal reaches a minimum value and when the first current detection signal reaches the first reference current, the second pulse signal being behind the first pulse signal by a half period, and a PWM circuit generating a first or second PWM signal according to the pulse signal and an output signal from the comparator, thereby turning on/off a switch.
US07915873B2
A mode control method and apparatus for a switching regulator is disclosed. The method receives an input signal and amplifying the input signal to get an amplified signal. The amplified signal is sent to a sample circuit to get a sample signal. The sample signal is delivered to an averaging circuit to get an averaged sensed output signal. The averaged sensed output signal is compared with a first pre-determined threshold or an second pre-determined threshold to get a PWM enable signal. The appropriate mode is determined based on the PWM enable signal.
US07915872B2
A switching power converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an output terminal for supplying an output voltage, a coupled choke having a main winding and an auxiliary winding, an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal, a main diode coupled between the auxiliary winding and the output terminal, and a switch having first and second positions. The main and auxiliary windings are connected to be charged by an input voltage when the input voltage is coupled to the input terminal and the switch is in the first position. The auxiliary winding is connected to reverse bias the main diode when the switch is switched from the first position to the second position to thereby suppress reverse recovery current in the main diode. The power converter may further include an auxiliary diode coupled between a common node of the main and auxiliary windings and the output terminal, as well as an inductor in series with the auxiliary diode.
US07915869B2
When driven by a variable speed prime mover, a generator system provides relatively constant frequency AC power by independently controlling the main rotor flux rotational speed. The generator system includes an exciter stator that induces current in the exciter rotor windings at a desired frequency and phasing. The exciter rotor windings are electrically connected to and located in a common core as the main rotor windings to provide two-phase excitation current to the main rotor windings. The exciter stator winding is also located in a common core as the main generator stator windings. Excitation is supplied to the exciter stator from an exciter controller, which controls the frequency and phasing of the exciter excitation, based on the rotational speed and rotor position of the generator, to maintain a constant output frequency. The exciter frequency control function of the exciter controller may be eliminated when the generator system is driven by a constant speed prime mover or when a narrow band variable frequency output is required.
US07915856B2
A battery testing/charging system includes an execution unit, such as a battery tester/charger, a receptacle configured to receive an external booster pack, and an outlet configured to power the booster pack when the booster pack is connected to the outlet. The receptacle removably receives the booster pack, such that the booster pack can be removed and separately carried when the execution unit is not required. The receptacle may be integrated with the execution unit. Alternatively, the execution unit may be mounted on a cart, and the receptacle integrated with the cart. The cart may also include an accessory storage tray and an output device bracket. The execution unit may receive partial or total power from the booster pack.
US07915852B2
The invention includes a motor controller and method for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a permanent magnet motor is controlled by, among other things, receiving a torque command, determining a normalized torque command by normalizing the torque command to a characteristic current of the motor, determining a normalized maximum available voltage, determining an inductance ratio of the motor, and determining a direct-axis current based upon the normalized torque command, the normalized maximum available voltage, and the inductance ratio of the motor.
US07915843B2
In the motor drive apparatus, a Hall element outputs a first sinusoidal signal and a second sinusoidal signal, of mutually opposite phases, in accordance with rotor position. A hysteresis comparator compares the first sinusoidal signal and the second sinusoidal signal outputted from the Hall element, and outputs a rectangular wave signal. A pulse width modulation signal generation circuit detects timing at which phase switches, based on the first sinusoidal signal and the second sinusoidal signal outputted from the Hall element, and outputs a pulse width modulation signal in which duty ratio gradually changes, in a predetermined time-period in which the phase switches. A drive circuit combines the rectangular wave signal and the pulse width modulation signal by a logical operation, and drives the fan motor.
US07915839B2
The invention relates to a method for compensating the ageing-related loss of luminosity of an electroluminescence element, according to which the cumulative electrical energy supply, i.e. the integral of the supplied electrical power over the period of operation, is used as a criteria for the compensating regulation of the operating voltage. The processing unit continuously integrates the supplied electrical power over time. The relation between the operating voltage and the emission luminosity of the electroluminescence element is stored in the memory for different cumulative electrical energy supplies. The stored data can be defined by means of a model or estimated on the basis of empirical values. The relation can be stored in the form of values stored in a tabular manner or as an analytical function in the memory. The processing unit determines the associated effective operating voltage Ui for the luminosity nominal value B and the cumulative energy supply /Pi dt, and adjusts the voltage supply to the value by means of a control signal emitted from the signal output.
US07915825B2
An arc discharge lamp (10) having an arc tube (12) containing an arc generating and sustaining medium (13) and first and second spaced apart electrodes (14, 16), respectively. An envelope (18) surrounds the arc tube (12) and contains an atmosphere (19) within it. The atmosphere is of a composition and pressure that will provide a burst of UV radiation in response to a spark generated within the envelope (18) and, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is selected from argon or nitrogen (with nitrogen being preferred) at a pressure of from 150 to 400 torr. First and second electrical lead-ins (20, 22) are sealed within the envelope (18), with the first lead-in (20) being electrically connected to the first electrode (14) and the second lead-in (22) being connected to the second electrode (16), for example, by connector wire (22a). Means (30) is contained within the envelope (18) and exposed to the atmosphere (19) for generating a UV-producing spark within the atmosphere (19). As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the means (30) comprises an isolated pin (24) mounted in the seal area (26) of the arc tube (12) adjacent the first electrode (14), a resistor (28) electrically connected between the second lead-in (22) and the isolated pin (24). A spark gap G is formed between the first electrode (14) and the isolated pin (24).
US07915812B2
Provided are an organic light-emitting device that has wide viewing angle characteristics and enables excellent color reproduction, and a display apparatus including the organic light-emitting device. In the device, an optical path between a first reflective surface formed on the first electrode side with respect to an emission layer and a second reflective surface formed on a second electrode side with respect to the emission layer are set so as to resonate light emitted in the emission layer, and a first region with a relatively short optical path L1 and a second region with a relatively long optical path L2 are provided, wherein L1 and L2 are set to satisfy Expression 1 with resonant wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3, a sum φt of phase shifts when light is reflected by the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, and a viewing angle α: λ1=2L1/(p−φt/2π) λ2=2L2/(q+1−φt/2π) λ3=2L2 cos α/(q−φt/2π) λ1=λ2=λ3 (Expression 1) wherein p and q each independently represent a positive integer and α is not 0°.
US07915788B2
The piezoelectric vibrator includes the piezoelectric bar having a plurality of piezoelectric plates alternately stacked and a plurality of vibration sectors divided vertically and horizontally with respect to the direction in which the piezoelectric plates are stacked. Electrode terminals are formed on each of surface regions of the piezoelectric plate, divided in a longitudinal direction thereof, and jump terminals corresponding to electrode terminals are formed on a surface of an adjacent one of the piezoelectric plates. On side surfaces of the piezoelectric plates, a plurality of side electrodes are formed, connecting the electrode terminals and the corresponding jump terminals to power the vibration sectors, by which a pair of the vibration sectors diagonally disposed from each other are simultaneously powered. The piezoelectric vibrator is small and easily manufactured and mass-produced with a simple structure.
US07915786B2
An elastic boundary wave device of the present invention includes a plurality of elastic boundary wave elements. The elastic boundary wave elements each include a piezoelectric material layer, an electrode disposed over the piezoelectric material layer, a first dielectric layer formed over the piezoelectric material layer so as to cover the electrode, and a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer. An acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layers is faster than an acoustic velocity of the first dielectric layers, and the acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layer of at least one elastic boundary wave element from among the plurality of elastic boundary wave elements is different from the acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layer of another of the elastic boundary wave elements. This enables improving the degree of suppression in use as a filter in the elastic boundary wave device.
US07915783B2
It is designed for accumulator batteries charging and for electrical energy generating with rectified voltage for movable and unmovable vehicles and/or objects.It possesses two identical mirror-image disposed rotor 2 and 2a and excitation 3 and 3a sets and common stator 4 with three-phase stator winding 11 realized in two groups windings, dephasing on 60/q electrical degrees. Each winding 11 is switched on with own terminals and diodes to rectified block 26, build of group isolated 30 and group connected with chassis ground 31 diodes upset in two metal, ribbed, concentric situated inner 32 and outside 33 radiators pressed with their plane surfaces to rear end bell 7 of housing 5. Inner radiator 33 has ventilation holes 35. Advantage of alternator is increased output current at reduced input power and constant alternator volume and speed of rotation as well as increased applied time of alternator and its bearings.
US07915781B2
In a stator winding method for winding conductive wires 8 around teeth 4a to 4f of a stator core 4 having 3n teeth 4a to 4f and 3n slots 5a to 5f by use of a bobbin machine 12 having three nozzles 13, the slots 5a to 5f on both sides of the teeth 4a, 4d, 4f in the nth winding process are formed, in respective slot portions on the side of the teeth 4a, 4d, 4f in the nth winding process, so that respective depths “A” are all smaller than respective depths “B” of the remaining portions. At the final stage of the nth winding process, the nozzles 13 are moved from the interior side of the slots 5a to 5f toward the inner circumferential side of the stator core 3 and furthermore, the conductive wires 8 are wound around the teeth 4b, 4d, 4f so that each gap 14 between the conductive wires 8 wound around the teeth 4b, 4d, 4f and the conductive wires 8 wound around the teeth 4a, 4c, 4e is smaller than an outer diameter of the nozzle 13.
US07915779B2
A stator winding for a slotless motor is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the motor except at the end turns of the coil windings. The coils have concentrated windings with a pair of coils wired in series to form one phase of the stator windings. Each of the pair of coils are wound such that the magnetic flux produced by a dc current through the coils produces magnetic flux of opposite directions with respect to the rotor of the motor.
US07915777B2
The invention relates to a ring coil motor (1, 20) with a primary part (3, 21) and a secondary part (2, 22), wherein the primary part (3, 21) has a ring coil (6, 25) and permanent magnets (9, 27).
US07915763B1
A system is disclosed for generating a rectangular pulse with a transmission line, the pulse having a duration of twice the electrical length of the line and a voltage of up to twice the charge voltage. The system includes a voltage source, a switching means, and an output circuit. The voltage source is for providing a voltage potential to a first conductor of a transmission line. The switching means is for controllable coupling the first conductor of the transmission line to a second conductor of the transmission line at a first end of the transmission line, with the second conductor of the transmission line being coupled to a fixed voltage potential at a second end of the transmission line. The output circuit is coupled to the first conductor of the transmission line for providing an output pulse to a load.
US07915762B2
A method for controlling a cluster of wind turbines connected to a utility grid includes the steps of determining the frequency of the utility grid, detecting a frequency deviation in the utility grid, and disconnecting the wind turbines at different predefined frequency values above the nominal frequency value. The invention also relates to a method for planning the strategy of a utility grid including a wind turbine cluster connected to the grid and a wind turbine cluster.
US07915754B2
The invention relates to an isolating switch system. The isolating switch system includes an isolating switch for interrupting a main line running between an electric power source and an electric consumer. The isolation switch is controlled in dependence on an ignition switch. The isolating switch system includes a signal generating unit, a signal detector unit and a signal processing unit. The signal generating device generates an electric signal that can be fed to the electric consumer and conducted to the ignition switch. The electric signal, in dependence on a switching state of the ignition switch can be conducted to the signal detector unit via a conduction path. The signal processing unit, upon detection of the electric signal, causes the isolation switching system to open or close the main circuit line. The electric signal generated by the signal generating unit is a pulsed signal.
US07915745B2
A multi-port memory device includes a first package ball out region in which a plurality of balls for a serial I/O interface part are arranged; and a second package ball out region in which a plurality of balls for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) part are arranged.
US07915739B2
The method comprises the following steps: the substrate in the form of a one-piece basic substrate (4) is prepatterned into regions corresponding to future modules, pads of the semiconductor chip (1) are then contact-connected in predetermined regions of a first area of the basic substrate (4) and on the top side (12) of the prepatterned basic substrate (4) and on one area side of the semiconductor chip (1) a first adhesive layer (16) is applied, a second adhesive layer (17) is subsequently applied to the other area side of the semiconductor chip (1), and a curing of the adhesive layers (16, 17) and a final patterning of the metallic basic substrate (4) are then effected.
US07915738B2
A stackable multi-chip package system is provided including forming an external interconnect, having a base and a tip, and a paddle; mounting a first integrated circuit die over the paddle; stacking a second integrated circuit die over the first integrated circuit die in a active side to active side configuration; connecting the first integrated circuit die and the base; connecting the second integrated circuit die and the base; and molding the first integrated circuit die, the second integrated circuit die, the paddle, and the external interconnect with the external interconnect partially exposed.
US07915729B2
A load driving semiconductor apparatus includes: a driving transistor, which operates based on an input voltage from an external circuit; a power semiconductor device controlling power supply to a load in such a manner that the power semiconductor device supplies electric power to the load when the transistor operates, and the power semiconductor device stops supplying electric power to the load when the transistor stops operating; and a mounting board, on which the driving transistor and the power semiconductor device are mounted. The mounting board includes a heat radiation pattern for emitting heat generated in the power semiconductor device. The heat radiation pattern includes a heat receiving pattern, on which the driving transistor is mounted.
US07915727B2
Disclosed is a chip-on-film (COF) type semiconductor package and a device using the same. The COF type semiconductor package may include an insulation substrate including a top surface and bottom surface, a semiconductor device on the top surface of the insulation substrate, a heat dissipating component on the bottom surface of the insulation substrate, and at least one space between the bottom surface of the insulation substrate and a top surface of the heat dissipating component.
US07915726B2
Substrates for mounting microelectronic dies, methods for forming vias in such substrates, and methods for packaging microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. A method of manufacturing a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes forming a conductive trace on a first side of a sheet of non-conductive material, and forming a via through the non-conductive material from a second side of the sheet to the conductive trace. The method further includes removing a section of the non-conductive material to form an edge of the non-conductive material extending across at least a portion of the via. In one embodiment, forming the edge across the via exposes at least a portion of the second conductive trace for subsequent attachment to a terminal on a microelectronic die.
US07915720B2
The present invention provides a high-quality semiconductor integrated circuit device, where the semiconductor integrated circuit device, a SiP or especially PoP semiconductor integrated circuit device, enables a simultaneous testing of the reliability of multiple upper and lower semiconductor integrated circuit elements; it also enables a testing of only the non-defective element in case the other is determined defective; moreover, only the defective unit is exchangeable with a non-defective unit. The semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention contains multiple semiconductor integrated circuit elements, e.g. semiconductor integrated circuit devices 14 and 16, and a circuit board 12 which relays the respective semiconductor integrated circuit elements 14 and 16, and at least a part of the circuit board 12, e.g. test pads 13, can be electrically connected to an external test apparatus when the semiconductor integrated circuit devices 14 and 16 are electrically connected to the circuit board 12.
US07915719B2
A semiconductor device comprises: a first and second die pads arranged side by side; a plurality of inner leads arranged around the first and second die pads; first and second chips mounted on the first and second die pads; a bar provided between the first and second chips and the plurality of inner leads, extending in an array direction of the first chip and the second chip; a plurality of wires that connect the first and second chips and the plurality of inner leads and connect the first chip and the second chip; and resin that seals the first and second die pads, the plurality of inner leads, the first and second chips, the plurality of wires and the bar, wherein the bar comprises a mark provided at a position corresponding to an area between the first chip and the second chip in an array direction of the first chip and the second chip.
US07915716B2
An integrated circuit package system includes providing an integrated circuit die; attaching the integrated circuit die over a lead grid having lead blocks; and connecting a die interconnect to the integrated circuit die and the lead blocks.
US07915714B2
There are provided a semiconductor light emitting element which allows an improvement in light extraction efficiency without increasing the number of fabrication steps, and a wafer. In a semiconductor light emitting element 1 formed by laminating a compound semiconductor layer 3 on a single crystal substrate, and dividing the single crystal substrate into pieces, the side faces 21 to 24 of each of substrate pieces 2 as the divided single crystal substrate are formed such that the side face 21 used as the reference of the substrate piece 2 forms an angle of 15° with respect to the (1-100) plane, and that the side faces 21 to 24 are formed of planes different from cleaved planes of a crystalline structure in the single crystal substrate.
US07915704B2
Improved Schottky diodes (20) with reduced leakage current and improved breakdown voltage are provided by building a JFET (56) into the diode, serially located in the anode-cathode current path (32). The gates of the JFET (56) formed by doped regions (38, 40) placed above and below the diode's current path (32) are coupled to the anode (312) of the diode (20), and the current path (32) passes through the channel region (46) of the JFET (56). Operation is automatic so that as the reverse voltage increases, the JFET (56) channel region (46) pinches off, thereby limiting the leakage current and clamping the voltage across the Schottky junction (50) at a level below the Schottky junction (50) breakdown. Increased reverse voltage can be safely applied until the device eventually breaks down elsewhere. The impact on device area and area efficiency is minimal and the device can be built using a standard fabrication process so that it can be easily integrated into complex ICs.
US07915698B2
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor substrate such as gallium nitride substrate and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention forms a plurality of trenches on a lower surface of a base substrate that are configured to absorb or reduce stresses on the base substrate that become larger from a central portion of the base substrate towards a peripheral portion when growing a nitride semiconductor film. That is, the present invention forms the trenches on the lower surface of the base substrate such that pitches get smaller or widths or depths get larger from the central portion of the base substrate towards the peripheral portion.
US07915692B2
The invention includes a semiconductor structure having a gateline lattice surrounding vertical source/drain regions. In some aspects, the source/drain regions can be provided in pairs, with one of the sourcedrain regions of each pair extending to a digit line and the other extending to a memory storage device, such as a capacitor. The source/drain regions extending to the digit line can have the same composition as the source/drain regions extending to the memory storage devices, or can have different compositions from the sourcedrain regions extending to the memory storage devices. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor structures. In exemplary methods, a lattice comprising a first material is provided to surround repeating regions of a second material. At least some of the first material is then replaced with a gateline structure, and at least some of the second material is replaced with vertical source/drain regions.
US07915689B2
A thin film transistor, a display device, and a manufacturing method thereof. The thin film transistor includes a control electrode, a semiconductor overlapping the control electrode, and an input electrode and an output electrode disposed on or under the semiconductor and opposite to each other. The semiconductor includes a first portion disposed between the input electrode and the output electrode and having a first crystallinity, and a second portion connected with the first portion, which overlaps the input electrode or the output electrode, and having a second crystallinity. The first crystallinity is higher than the second crystallinity.
US07915686B2
An object of the present invention is to improve the performance of a semiconductor device having a CMISFET. Each of an n channel MISFET and a p channel MISFET which form the CMISFET includes a gate insulating film composed of a silicon oxynitride film and a gate electrode including a silicon film positioned on the gate insulating film. Metal elements such as Hf are introduced near the interface between the gate electrode and the gate insulating film with a surface density of 1×1013 to 5×1014 atoms/cm2. The impurity concentration of channel regions of the n channel MISFET and the p channel MISFET is controlled to be equal to or lower than 1.2×1018/cm3.
US07915681B2
A device includes a first transistor including a fin and a second transistor including a fin, the fin of the first transistor having a lower charge carrier mobility than the fin of the second transistor. In a method, the fin of the first transistor is treated to have a lower charge carrier mobility than the fin of the second transistor.
US07915679B2
Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the light-emitting devices include a multi-layer stack of materials. The stack of materials includes a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region. The surface of the first layer is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer. The surface has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a nonperiodic pattern.
US07915675B2
An IGBT includes a first region, a second region located within the first region, a first contact coupled to the first region, a first layer arranged below the first region, a gate overlying at least a portion of the first region between the second region and the first layer and a second layer formed under the first layer. One or more stacked zones are formed within the second layer. Each one or more stacked zones includes a first zone and a second zone that overlies the first zone. Each first zone is inversely doped with respect to the second layer and each second zone is inversely doped with respect to the first zone. The IGBT further includes a third layer formed under the second layer and a second contact coupled to the third layer.
US07915671B2
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate having a (110)-oriented surface, a PN column layer disposed on the (110)-oriented surface, a channel-forming layer disposed on the PN column layer, a plurality of source regions disposed at a surface portion of the channel-forming layer, and gate electrodes penetrate through the channel-forming layer. The PN column layer includes first columns having a first conductivity type and second columns having a second conductivity type which are alternately arranged in such a manner that the first columns contact the second columns on (111)-oriented surfaces, respectively. The gate electrodes are adjacent to the source regions, respectively, and each of the gate electrodes has side surfaces that cross the contact surfaces of the first columns and the second columns in a plane of the silicon substrate.
US07915670B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an asymmetric field effect transistor structure and a method of forming the structure in which both series resistance in the source region (Rs) and gate to drain capacitance (Cgd) are reduced in order to provide optimal performance (i.e., to provide improved drive current with minimal circuit delay). Specifically, different heights of the source and drain regions and/or different distances between the source and drain regions and the gate are tailored to minimize series resistance in the source region (i.e., in order to ensure that series resistance is less than a predetermined resistance value) and in order to simultaneously to minimize gate to drain capacitance (i.e., in order to simultaneously ensure that gate to drain capacitance is less than a predetermined capacitance value).
US07915667B2
In an embodiment, an integrated circuit having a memory cell arrangement is provided. The memory cell arrangement may include a substrate, a fin structure disposed above the substrate, and a memory cell contacting region. The fin structure may include a memory cell region having a plurality of memory cell structures being disposed above one another, each memory cell structure having an active region of a respective memory cell. Furthermore, the memory cell contacting region may be configured to electrically contact each of the memory cell structures, wherein the memory cell contacting region may include a plurality of contact regions, which are at least partially displaced with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the main processing surface of the substrate.
US07915658B2
A silicon on insulator (SOI) device is provided. The device includes an MOS capacitor coupled between voltage busses and formed in a monocrystalline semiconductor layer overlying an insulator layer and a semiconductor substrate. The device includes at least one electrical discharge path for discharging potentially harmful charge build up on the MOS capacitor. The MOS capacitor has a conductive electrode material forming a first plate of the MOS capacitor and an impurity doped region in the monocrystalline silicon layer beneath the conductive electrode material forming a second plate. A first voltage bus is coupled to the first plate of the capacitor and to an electrical discharge path through a diode formed in the semiconductor substrate and a second voltage bus is coupled to the second plate of the capacitor.
US07915654B2
An image sensor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor substrate can include a light blocking region and a light receiving region. A photodiode can be formed in the light blocking region and in the light receiving region. A gate can be disposed at a side of the photodiode in the light receiving region, and a light blocking gate can be disposed on the photodiode in the light blocking region. A salicide layer can be formed on the light blocking gate.
US07915653B2
The invention addresses the problem of creating a high-speed, high-efficiency photodetector that is compatible with Si CMOS technology. The structure consists of a Ge absorbing layer on a thin SOI substrate, and utilizes isolation regions, alternating n- and p-type contacts, and low-resistance surface electrodes. The device achieves high bandwidth by utilizing a buried insulating layer to isolate carriers generated in the underlying substrate, high quantum efficiency over a broad spectrum by utilizing a Ge absorbing layer, low voltage operation by utilizing thin a absorbing layer and narrow electrode spacings, and compatibility with CMOS devices by virtue of its planar structure and use of a group IV absorbing material. The method for fabricating the photodetector uses direct growth of Ge on thin SOI or an epitaxial oxide, and subsequent thermal annealing to achieve a high-quality absorbing layer. This method limits the amount of Si available for interdiffusion, thereby allowing the Ge layer to be annealed without causing substantial dilution of the Ge layer by the underlying Si.
US07915644B2
A HEMT comprising an active region comprising a plurality of active semiconductor layers formed on a substrate. Source electrode, drain electrode, and gate are formed in electrical contact with the active region. A spacer layer is formed on at least a portion of a surface of said active region and covering the gate. A field plate is formed on the spacer layer and electrically connected to the source electrode, wherein the field plate reduces the peak operating electric field in the HEMT.
US07915637B2
An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
US07915636B2
The present disclosure relates to a III-nitride semiconductor light emitting device which improves external quantum efficiency by using a p-type nitride semiconductor layer with a rough surface, the p-type nitride semiconductor layer including: a first nitride semiconductor layer with a first doping concentration, a second nitride semiconductor layer with a second doping concentration lower than the first doping concentration and with the rough surface, and a third nitride semiconductor layer with a higher doping concentration than a second doping concentration.
US07915629B2
A high efficiency light emitting diode with a composite high reflectivity layer integral to said LED to improve emission efficiency. One embodiment of a light emitting diode (LED) chip comprises an LED and a composite high reflectivity layer integral to the LED to reflect light emitted from the active region. The composite layer comprises a first layer, and alternating plurality of second and third layers on the first layer, and a reflective layer on the topmost of said plurality of second and third layers. The second and third layers have a different index of refraction, and the first layer is at least three times thicker than the thickest of the second and third layers. For composite layers internal to the LED chip, conductive vias can be included through the composite layer to allow an electrical signal to pass through the composite layer to the LED.
US07915628B2
A light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a refractive layer on the active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the refractive layer.
US07915623B2
A light emitting diode array in which, when viewed from the above, the shape of an almost square light emitting diode is square-chamfered or round-chamfered at the corners thereof in order to minimize light leakage at a reverse mesa surface to allow an electrode layer to surround the three directions of a light emitting unit, and part in the vicinity of the corner of the reverse mesa surface is extended up to a substrate unit to cover it. Accordingly, the light emitting diode array minimized in light leakage at the reverse mesa surface can be provided.
US07915618B2
A pair of bonding electrodes of each of light-emitting semiconductor devices of RGB is disposed in a point symmetrical relationship, the devices are mounted on a common electrode of a package, and a bonding wire is suspended from a commonized bonding electrode of the respective devices to the common electrode. Bonding wires are suspended from the other bonding electrodes of the respective devices to first to third electrodes on the package which are independent from one another.
US07915611B2
In order to form a metal thin film, a silicide film, or the like between an upper-layer unit cell and a lower-layer unit cell in stacked-layer photoelectric conversion devices, a step of forming the thin film is additionally needed. Therefore, a problem such as decline in productivity of the photoelectric conversion devices occurs. A first unit cell including a single crystal semiconductor layer with a thickness of 10 μm or less as a photoelectric conversion layer and a second unit cell including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer, which is provided over the first unit cell, are at least included, and conductive clusters are dispersed between the unit cells. The conductive clusters are located between the lower-layer unit cell and the upper-layer unit cell to form an ohmic contact; thus, current flows between the both unit cells.
US07915610B2
A ZnO-based thin film transistor (TFT) is provided herein, as is a method of manufacturing the TFT. The ZnO-based TFT has a channel layer that comprises ZnO and ZnCl, wherein the ZnCl has a higher bonding energy than ZnO with respect to plasma. The ZnCl is formed through the entire channel layer, and specifically is formed in a region near the surface of the channel layer. Since the ZnCl is strong enough not to be decomposed when exposed to plasma etching gas, an increase in the carrier concentration can be prevented. The distribution of ZnCl in the channel layer, may result from the inclusion of chlorine (Cl) in the plasma gas during the patterning of the channel layer.
US07915609B2
According to the present invention, a liquid crystal semiconductor capable of exhibiting a highly ordered smectic phase at approximately room temperature, being used for formation of a smectic liquid crystal thin film that is stable at room temperature by a solution process, and showing excellent ambipolar charge-transporting properties, a thin film transistor comprising the same, and the like are provided.Also, the following are provided: a smectic liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1) wherein R1 represents a straight-chain alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and “n” is an integer of 0 to 3; an ambipolar charge-transporting material comprising the smectic liquid crystal compound; an organic semiconductor thin film having a thin film layer comprising the smectic liquid crystal compound; and a thin film transistor comprising the organic semiconductor thin film.
US07915606B2
A semiconductor light emitting device including a substrate including a plurality of discrete and separated protruding reflective patterns protruding from the substrate and including a valley; a first semiconductor layer on the substrate and covering the reflective patterns; a gap formed in the valley of a corresponding reflective pattern between the substrate and the first semiconductor layer; an active layer on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer on the active layer.
US07915600B2
An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus has a relatively high output for exposure and suppresses the production of debris as much as possible instead of disposing of debris that has been produced. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target supply unit for supplying solid tin or lithium as a target to a predetermined position within the chamber; a CO2 laser for applying a laser beam based on pulse operation to the target supplied by the target supply unit so as to generate plasma; and a collector mirror having a multilayer film on a reflecting surface thereof, for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light.
US07915599B2
A radiation transducer has a luminophore layer applied on a substrate, and at least one anti-discoloration substance is applied on the luminophore layer. In a method to produce a radiation transducer a luminophore layer is applied on a substrate, and at least one anti-discoloration substance is applied on the luminophore layer after the application of the luminophore layer on the substrate.
US07915595B2
Disclosed is an X-ray detector and a method of manufacturing the X-ray detector. A cushion layer is interposed between a scintillator panel for converting X-rays into visual light and a lower substrate formed with a thin film transistor, a photoelectric conversion device. Thus, the lower substrate and the scintillator panel can be bonded to each other such that no air layer can be introduced between the lower substrate and the scintillator panel. Therefore, no air layer is introduced, and thus, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of light incident to the photoelectric conversion device from being lowered. Further, the cushion layer is employed such that the lower substrate and the scintillator panel can be separated and reused.
US07915591B2
A detector for identification and localization of radioisotopes, comprising a position sensitive detector configured to observe the location of emitted high energy radiation, wherein the position sensitive detector comprises a surface comprised of a first radiation sensitive material; and an active mask disposed in front of the position sensitive detector positioned such that the emitted high energy radiation is detected by the position sensitive detector after passage through the mask, wherein the mask comprises a second radiation sensitive material.
US07915582B2
A method for estimation of a probe shape, in a scanning electron microscope provided with an aberration corrector, and the method is designed so as to obtain a probe image, by inputting to a computer an image taken in a just-focused state and an image taken in a de-focused state, as an image data; preparing a correlation window by automatically determining a size of a correlation window image, based on an input data size and an output data size; executing cross-correlation calculation between the correlation window and a reference area; and repeating this calculation while shifting the reference area, so as to obtain a cross-correlation matrix, in order to stably obtain the probe image, without receiving effects of use conditions or noises.
US07915574B2
An imaging device including: an electronic shutter and a pixel array part. The pixel array part has a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal. The pixel array part has a plurality of color pixels and at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics in red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak in blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak in green. At least a portion of the plurality of color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system and at least one clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in the oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. A first read channel is exclusively coupled to the at least one clear pixel and a second read channel is exclusively coupled to the plurality of color filter pixels; and the electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
US07915572B2
An imaging optical system includes a spherical or nearly spherical viewing port, an objective lens that includes an aspheric surface and is formed as a single lens element, and a solid-state image sensor that receives an image formed by the imaging optical system. Specified conditions are satisfied by the imaging optical system and the objective lens so that an in-focus image having low distortion, sufficient contrast, and formed by light rays of restricted angles of incidence is formed even for an object in contact with the viewing port. The specified conditions relate to features of the imaging optical system such as focal length and f-number of the imaging optical system, astigmatism and distortion of the imaging optical system, and pixel pitch of the solid-state image sensor. An endoscope that includes the imaging optical system is also disclosed.
US07915569B2
A method for calibrating a focus level on a light scribe disc includes driving a pick-up head with a predetermined speed in a predetermined direction to calibrate a focus level for a moving stage, detecting light summed signals along the light path of the moving stage, and finding and recording the maximum light summed signal and corresponding position of the pick-up head as the focus level for the moving stage. When a number of the moving stages is greater than a predetermined value, the focus level of the moving stage serves as the optimum focus level of the light scribe disc. When the number of moving stages is fewer, lowering the speed with a stage reduction and change the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and proceeding to a next moving stage to calibrate the focus level.
US07915566B2
The invention relates to a weld filler and to a use of a weld filler which significantly improves the weldability of some nickel-based superalloys and includes the following constituents (in wt %): 17.5%-20.0% chromium (Cr) 10.0%-12.0% cobalt (Co) 9.0%-10.5% molybdenum (Mo) 0.1%-3.3% titanium, in particular 3.0%-3.3% titanium (Ti), 1.4%-1.8% aluminum (Al), 0.04%-0.12% carbon, 0.003%-0.01% boron (B), remainder nickel.
US07915562B2
The present invention relates to a high energy density beam welding system using molten metal droplet jetting. The present invention includes a beam emitting unit for emitting a high energy density beam onto a welded portion on a target object; and a molten metal droplet jetting unit for generating molten metal droplets to transfer or spray the molten metal droplets onto the welded portion on the target object, which follows a path of the beam emitting unit. Thus, it has advantages of widening a range of applications and enhancing the productivity and the quality in that a welding can be performed at a high junction efficiency even where a gap is wide, a loss in the high density energy beam is small, and heat distortions of the welded portion can be minimized.
US07915553B2
A touch switch for an electrical appliance having a capacitive flat electrode, a light source, a transparent cover and a printed circuit board connected to the electrode is disclosed. The light source is mounted on a face of the printed circuit board opposite the transparent cover and the printed circuit board presents a cut-out for allowing light transmission from the light source towards the transparent cover.
US07915550B2
An electrical circuit operating system for controlling operating of an aluminum processing bath includes an electrical contact device. The electrical contact device includes a tubular body of an electrically insulating material, the body including at least one circumferential slot receiving a seal member. A fastener is disposed in the tubular body. A conductive biasing element has a compressed connecting end engaged with the fastener, and an extending portion axially protracting from the compressed connecting end. A piston forms a portion of an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is closed when the conductive biasing element is contacted by the piston. A piston rod is connected to the piston and is displaceable with the piston, the piston rod operable to break a crust of the aluminum processing bath.
US07915548B2
An arrangement for synchronizing and the actuation of a set of three interrupters, tow of which are disconnectors and one is a switch, in a combined circuit breaker and disconnector for an alternator is described. This allows for fitting of an accessory shaft for actuation purposes, which is specifically dedicated to the actuation of one of the two disconnection interrupters and to set it in rotation only after a final angle of rotation of a main shaft, which is itself dedicated to the actuation of the other disconnecting interrupter and actuation of the switching interrupter.
US07915546B2
A multi-function light switch unit mountable to an interior panel of an automotive vehicle has a rotatable outer ring controlling a main headlamp, two pushbutton panels within the outer ring controlling additional lights, and an extendable module within the outer ring having at two rotary controllers for controlling other lights. The extendable module is movable with between an extended position wherein it projects from the front surface of the light switch unit such that the rotary controllers are exposed in a manually operative position in front of the push button panels, and a retracted position wherein the rotary controllers are behind the front surface of the light switch unit.
US07915543B2
An isolator assembly includes an electrical receptacle housing. The housing defines an aperture extending inwardly from a first exterior wall of the housing and a longitudinal centerline of the aperture. The housing further has an internal cavity extending from the aperture and a slot spaced from the internal cavity and extending from a second exterior wall of the housing. The slot is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the aperture. The isolator assembly also includes a plurality of terminals positioned in the housing, a nut sized for placement in the slot of the housing, a conduit fitting including a stem having a portion thereof sized for placement in the aperture of the housing, and a flexible conduit. The conduit is connected to the conduit fitting and contains a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the plurality of terminals within the electrical receptacle housing.
US07915539B2
An electric part including a matrix-shaped nonconductive base member, and a carbon nanotube group that is sealed within the nonconductive base member and includes at least one of a carbon nanotube and a plurality carbon nanotubes that are electrically connected to each other. Substantially only an end portion of the carbon nanotube or at least carbon nanotube contained in the plurality of carbon nanotubes may be exposed from one surface of the nonconductive base member, and an electrode may be connected to a side surface of at least one carbon nanotube included in the carbon nanotube group.
US07915538B2
A multilayer wiring board having a plurality of wiring boards in which wiring layers and resin layers in each wiring board are alternately arranged in a laminated formation. In the multilayer wiring board, all the resin layers and the wiring layers, except a resin layer in the plurality of wiring boards, are separated in a same position between the plurality of wiring boards and the resin layer is continuous in the same position.
US07915533B2
In the silicon nitride substrate concerning an embodiment of the invention, degree of in-plane orientation fa of β type silicon nitride is 0.4-0.8. Here, degree of in-plane orientation fa can be determined by the rate of the diffracted X-ray intensity in each lattice plane orientation in β type silicon nitride. As a result of research by the inventors, it turned out that both high fracture toughness and high thermal conductivity are acquired, when degree of in-plane orientation fa was 0.4-0.8. Along the thickness direction, both the fracture toughness of 6.0 MPa·m1/2 or higher and the thermal conductivity of 90 W/m·K or higher can be attained.
US07915530B2
An insulated plug for use in a high voltage device includes a torque limiting bolt, including a first hex element, a second hex element, and a shearable shaft element. Alternatively, an insulated plug assembly for use in a high voltage device includes an insulated plug having a torque limiting bolt, where the torque limiting bolt includes a first hex element attached to the insulated plug and a second hex element attached to the first bolt head via a shearable connector, the assembly further including a separate BIP cap.
US07915527B1
The present invention is directed to low-cost, low-processing temperature, and simple reinforcement, repair, and corrosion protection for hermetically sealed modules and hermetic connectors. A thin layer of glass is applied over the module's seal or the connector' glass frit. The layer of glass comprises an alkali silicate glass. The layer of glass is produced from a material which is a low viscosity liquid at room temperature prior to curing and is cured at low temperatures (typically no more than about 160 degrees Celsius). Subsequent to curing, the layer of glass is intimately bonded to the seal, watertight, and is stable from about negative two-hundred forty-three degrees Celsius to at least about seven-hundred twenty-seven degrees Celsius. The glass layer provides corrosion protection, seals any existing leaks, and possesses good flexibility and adhesion. The resulting bond is hermetic with good aqueous durability and strength similar to that of monolithic structures.
US07915525B2
A lightning direction device is provided. The lightning direction device includes a drag member, a pendant mass and a conductor. The drag member is configured to have a select amount of wind resistance. The pendant mass has a select weight and shape. Moreover, the conductor is coupled between the pendant mass and the drag member.
US07915520B2
A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a pin-type photoelectric conversion layer constituted of a p-type semiconductor layer, an i-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, wherein the p-type semiconductor layer contains silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms, which is possible to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency.
US07915518B2
A process of producing a solar battery module having plural solar battery cells sealed by a resin between a transparent panel of the light reception surface side and a back face panel, including arranging plural solar battery cells at a prescribed interval and mutually connecting them to each other by a conductor; arranging a first sealing resin sheet between the transparent panel and the solar battery cells; arranging a second sealing resin sheet between the back face panel and the solar battery cells; arranging sealing resin sheet pieces between the solar battery cells to sandwich them in-between the first and second sealing resin sheets; discharging air between the transparent panel and the back face panel; heating the resin for melting; and cooling the resin for sealing.
US07915511B2
A method of aligning a song with lyrics of the song which comprises the steps of aligning each lyrics fragment of a group of similar lyrics fragments (C) in the lyrics of the song with an audio fragment of a group of similar audio fragments (A4) of the song and aligning each lyrics fragment of a further group of similar lyrics fragments (V2) in the lyrics of the song with an audio fragment of a further group of similar audio fragments (A2) of the song. The method can be performed by an electronic device, possibly enabled by a computer program product. A mapping determined with the method can be transmitted and received by means of a signal and/or stored in a database.
US07915499B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH447868. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH447868, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH447868 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH447868.
US07915489B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pumpkin line designated HWN 130-1039T. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T, and to methods for producing a pumpkin plant produced by crossing a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T with itself or with another pumpkin plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US07915484B2
A transgenic plant transformed by a Protein Kinase Stress-Related Protein (PKSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PKSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding PKSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07915478B2
Nucleotide sequences of a Msca1 gene, critical to male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in impacting male fertility in plants.
US07915475B2
A novel method for remediating metals includes treating the metals with a mesoporous nanocomposite such as HMS, MCM-41 or MCM-48. The metal is preferably lead but can be at least one metal selected from Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn, Sn, As, Sb, In, Se, Ga, Te, Bi, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ni, Cu, Sr, Ba or Co. The treating is preferably performed at a pH of about 4 to about 12. In the invention, the treating can also include desorbing the metal from the mesoporous nanocomposite at a pH of about 2 or less.
US07915469B2
This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using crystalline zeolitic compositions designated the UZM-26 and UZM-26X. UZM-26 is a microporous three-dimensional zeolitic composition that is derived from UZM-26P (an as synthesized layered composition) by calcination. UZM-26X is a microporous three-dimensional zeolitic composition that is derived from UZM-26PX by calcination, where UZM-26PX is an ion-exchanged form of UZM-26P.
US07915463B2
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915453B2
Disclosed is a process for producing a tertiary amine from a primary or secondary amine and alcohol as corresponding starting materials, which includes step (i) of dehydrogenating an alcohol to obtain an aldehyde, step (ii) of reacting the aldehyde with a primary or secondary amine to obtain a primary or secondary amine adduct, and step (iii) of hydrogenating the primary or secondary amine adduct to obtain a tertiary amine, wherein step (ii) is carried out independently of the other steps.
US07915450B2
Disclosed are cationic lipid compounds and compositions of lipid aggregates for delivery of macromolecules and other compounds into cells. The compounds can be used alone or in combination with other compounds lo prepare liposomes and other lipid aggregates suitable for iransfcclion or delivery of compounds to target cells, cither in vitro or in vivo. The compounds are preferably polycationic and preferably form highly stable complexes with various anionic macromolecules. particularly polyanions such as nucleic acids. These compounds have the properly, when dispersed in water, of forming lipid aggregates which associate strongly, via their cationic portion, with polyanions. Also disclosed are intermediates for preparing the compound and compositions of the invention and methods of using the compounds to introduce other compounds into cells.
US07915448B2
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein A and B are independently CR12 or N; D and E are each independently CR9 or N; R1 represents (C1-C6)alkyl; R2 represents hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, (C1-C6) alkyl, halo(C1-C6) alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6) alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy or (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl; R3, R4, R5, R6, R10 and R11 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl or (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl; or R3 and R4 are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or heterocyclic ring in which one or two non-adjacent carbon atoms are optionally replaced by an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or NH; R7 and R9 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkylthio, (C1-C6)alkylsulfinyl, (C1-C6)alkylsulfonyl, NH2, [(C1-C6)alkyl]NH—, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N—, H2N—(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkyl-NH—(C1-C6)alkoxy, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N(C1-C6)alkoxy; H2N—(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkyl-NH—(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl or 5- or 6- membered heterocyclic ring containing at least one nitrogen atom; R8 represents halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C1-C6)alkylsulfonyl, halo(C1-C6)alkylsulfinyl, halo(C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C1-C6)alkylthio, [(C1-C6)alkyl]NH— or [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N—; or R7 and R8, when E is CR9, are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5-8 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, in which one or two non-adjacent carbon atoms are optionally replaced by oxygen, sulfur, N or NH groups, wherein the carbocyclic ring or the heterocyclic ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, (C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy and hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl; and R12 represents hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl or hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
US07915446B2
A catalyst and process for the production of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof. The catalyst system comprises an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, optionally at least one of ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, zinc, gallium, tungsten, cadmium, mercury and indium and at least one non-hydrohalogenoic acid promoter. The non-hydrohalogenoic acid may be an oxoacid, a superacid and/or a heteropolyacid.
US07915445B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement in which a percarboxylic acid product is prepared and used. Conventional methods include refrigerated transport and double storage of the percarboxylic acid product before the consumption thereof at its site of use. These expensive stages have now been eliminated carrying out the preparation in connection with the use.
US07915443B2
The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.
US07915441B2
The oligophosphazene compound capable of forming a polymer which can be used as an optical material is a cyclic or linear compound including constituent units represented by the general formula (I) below in a range from 3 to 14. In the general formula (I), k is an integer of 1 to 4 and X1 is one selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an NH group and an NCH3 group. A polymer made of this oligophosphazene compound exhibits high transparency and a high refractive index and is also less likely to cause optical dispersion, and thus it can be used as an optical lens, a retardation film, a light transmission body and other optical moldings.
US07915439B2
A method for making a silylalkoxymethyl halide at good yield represented by the formula: R1R2R3Si—R4—O—CH2X wherein R1, R2, and R3 are an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl group, or a halogen atom, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and X is a halogen atom, by reacting: (a) a silyl alcohol compound with the formula R1R2R3Si—R4—OH wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined as above, with (b) formaldehyde or a polymer thereof, and (c) a halosilane.
US07915434B2
A method for producing propylene oxide comprising a step of reacting hydrogen peroxide with propylene in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst in a liquid phase to produce propylene oxide and a step of recovering a recyclable constituent in a vent gas generated in the above step by absorbing the recyclable constituent in a solvent containing a nitrile.
US07915433B2
Novel 3,6-disubstituted pyrans, optionally with a further substituent at the 4-position, are monoamine reuptake inhibitors with activity profiles of anti-depressants.
US07915426B2
New 1,2,3- or 1,2,3,4- or 1,2,3,4,5- substituted imidazolium salts and their uses as solvent in catalyzed organic reactions, as well as compositions containing them and a transition metal compound. They can be used in the following reactions: the telomerisation of conjugated dienes, dimerisation of olefins, the oligomerisation of olefins, polymerization of olefins, alkylation of olefins, hydrogenation of olefins, olefin metathesis, hydroformylation of olefins, ring-closing metathesis of olefins, ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of olefins, symetric or asymetric epoxidation of olefins (including heteroatom substituted olefins) and the cyclopropanation of olefins, condensation reaction, hydrogenation reaction, isomerization reaction, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, amination reaction, partial oxidation of alkancs, kinetic resolution of racemic mixtures, hydrogenation of imines, hydrogenation of ketones, transfer hydrogenation and hydroxylation of aromatic organic compounds.
US07915424B2
The present invention is directed toward pyridyl derivatives of formula (I) as antagonists of the mGlu5 receptor. As such the compounds may be useful for treatment or prevention of disorders remedied by antagonism of the mGlu5 receptor, wherein Ar is phenyl or napthyl each of which may be substituted by one or more C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C5 acyl, halo, amino, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C5 acylamino, C1-C4 alkylsulfonylamino, mono-, di- or trifluorinated C1-C3 alkyl, substituents which may be the same or different and may bear a CONH2, CONHCH3, CON(CH3)2, CO2H, CO2CH3, OCF3, CH2NHCOCH3, CH2NH2, CH2N(CH3)2, CH2CN, CH2OH, CH2NHSO2CH3, CH2N(CH3)(CH2)2 CN, CH2N(CH3)CH(CH3)2, CH2NHCH(CH3)2, CH2NH(CH2)2CH3, CH2NHCO2R4, CH2NHCH2CH3, CH2NHCH3 NHCOC(CH3)2, or N(S(O)2CH3)2 substituent; R1 is hydrogen, halo, R4, CN, C(NOH)R3, C(NO—R4)R3, (CH)2CO2R4, (CH2)n OR3, COR3, CF3, SR4, S(O)R4, S(O)2R4, COCH2CO2R3, NHSO2R4, NHCOR3, C(NOR3)NH2, CH2OCOR3, (CH2)nNH2, CON(CH3)2 (CH2)nNHCO2R4, CO2R3, CONH2, CSNH2, C(NH)NHOR3, (CH2)nN(CH3)2, or CONHNHCOR3; R2 is 1,2-ethenediyl or 1,2-ethynediyl; R3 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl; R4 is C1-C4 alkyl; and n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or an N-oxide thereof.
US07915409B2
An organometallic complex according to the present invention comprises a structure represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, R1 to R5 are any one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen element, an acyl group, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group, a cyano group, and a heterocyclic group, Ar is an aryl group having an electron-withdrawing group or a heterocyclic group having electron-drawing group, and M is an element of Group 9 or an element of Group 10.
US07915404B2
The present invention is directed to novel processes for the preparation of fused pyrazole compounds, useful for the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by serotonin receptor activity.
US07915401B2
The invention relates to oligomer compounds (oligomers), which target beta-catenin mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of beta-catenin. Reduction of beta-catenin expression is beneficial for a range of medical disorders, such as hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer. The invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising oligomers and methods for modulating the expression of beta-catenin using said oligomers, including methods of treatment.
US07915399B2
The present invention provides chemically modified siRNA molecules and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence target gene expression. Advantageously, the modified siRNA of the present invention is less immunostimulatory than its corresponding unmodified siRNA sequence and retains full RNAi activity against the target sequence. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising a modified siRNA, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. Methods for identifying and/or modifying an siRNA having immunostimulatory properties are also provided.
US07915395B2
The present invention provides an expression vector encoding monospecific or bispecific fusion protein. In one embodiment the expression vector encodes a monospecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant monospecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen. In another embodiment the expression vector encodes a bispecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant bispecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen and a DNA sequence encoding a second binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen, each domain capable of binding a different antigen. The present invention also provides a method for producing a biologically active monospecific or bispecific fusion protein in a mammalian cell.
US07915390B2
The present invention relates to agonist antibodies that specifically bind to Notch 3 and activate signaling. The present invention includes antibodies binding to an epitope comprising the first Lin12 domain. The present invention also includes uses of these antibodies to treat or prevent Notch 3 related diseases or disorders.
US07915385B2
The present invention is directed to a splice variant of a human sodium channel alpha subunit and methods and compositions for making and using the same.
US07915384B2
Chimeric peptides or fusion proteins are disclosed that include a RhoGAP activity domain and at least one specificity domain that targets a specific Rho protein. The fusion proteins can be used to inhibit any GTPase activity within a cell. The fusion proteins are particularly advantageous for the treatment of cancer. The present invention generally relates to chimeric peptides capable of regulating GTPases, and more particularly, to methods of targeting individual GTPases by using GTPase-activating proteins. Such proteins may be used for the treatment of cancers and other GTPase-related diseases. This invention relates to nucleic acid molecules and the encoded GTPase activating proteins, and variants thereof, and to the use of these molecules in the characterization, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cell signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly cancer. Disclosed herein are compounds and methods for regulating transcription of a selected gene.
US07915377B2
What is disclosed relates to polymers that resist dissolution in organic solvents, are vasodilators, and are tunable explosives. These polymers also form solvent resistant coatings and solvent resistant fibers as well as bonding materials.
US07915376B2
Described are bottle(s) comprising polyesters comprising (a) a dicarboxylicacid component comprising terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues.
US07915370B2
Branched polydiorganosiloxane polyamide, block copolymers and methods of making the copolymers are provided. The method of making the copolymers involves reacting one or more amine compounds including at least one polyamine with a precursor having at least one polydiorganosiloxane segment and at least two ester groups.
US07915338B2
An adhesive composition includes 5 to 40% wt polyvinylpyrrolidone; 3 to 20% wt alkanoate blend including a first Cn carboxylic acid salt and a second Cm carboxylic acid salt, where n and m are integers in a range from 12 to 22; 20 to 60% wt of a water-soluble or water-dispersable solid material; 0.5 to 30 wt % of a liquid polyhydric alcohol; and 15 to 60% wt water. The adhesive composition can be clear and in glue stick form.
US07915337B2
A surface-treating agent comprises a fluoropolymer comprising (A) repeating units derived from a fluorine-containing monomer of the formula: (B) repeating units derived from a monomer free from a fluorine atom, and (C) optionally, repeating units derived from a crosslinkable monomer. The surface treating agent is excellent in water repellency, oil repellency and unsusceptibility to fouling even when the side chains are C4 or lower fluoroalkyl groups.
US07915329B2
Disclosed is a flame-retardant composition comprising (i) 40-66 wt. % alkenyl aromatic resin, (ii) 9-33 wt. % ammonium polyphosphate and (iii) 14-40 wt. % starch, wherein all weights are based on the total weight of the composition and wherein ammonium polyphosphate and starch are present in a weight % ratio effective to provide molded articles exhibiting at least V-1 flame rating as determined according to the UL-94 protocol. Processes to prepare the composition and articles comprising a composition of the invention are also disclosed.
US07915326B2
A printing ink composition that not only exerts an excellent anti-blocking effect but also is free from any hickey phenomenon, resolving the problems of form plate stain, blanket stain, etc. There are provided a printing ink composition wherein there are dispersed composite particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 2 to 8 μm in which the volume content of solid polymer particles having a particle diameter of larger than 10 μm is not larger than 5 vol. % or less. Each of the composite particles (A) comprises a solid polymer particle (B), such as wax, insoluble in the printing ink, and inorganic microparticles (C) mainly adhered to the periphery of the solid polymer particle (B) and having an average particle diameter of 5 to 1000 nm.
US07915324B2
The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) carbosilane containing component (A) comprising at least 1 Si-Aryl bond, at least 1 silicon atom, at least 1 unsaturated moiety, no Si-Oxygen bond, b) initiator (B), c) optionally filler (C) and d) optionally component (D) selected from modifiers, dyes, pigments, thixotropic agents, flow improvers, polymeric thickeners, surfactants, odorous substances, diluting agent(s) and flavouring.
US07915323B2
The present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain monoethylenically unsaturated polycarbosiloxane monomers capable of polymerization to form polymeric compositions having desirable physical characteristics useful in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices.
US07915320B2
The present invention provides a thermosetting and photocurable coating composition obtained by incorporating a copolymer of a maleimide group-containing monomer with other monomer(s) or a specific maleimide compound into a composition comprising a hydroxyl-containing resin and a curing agent and optionally containing an unsaturated compound; and a method of forming a coating film using the coating composition.
US07915316B2
The present invention provides R, R1, R2, R3, X, c, d, e, f, g, x, y, a, b, z and n are defined in the specification. These compounds are useful in lowering IOP and/or treating glaucoma or providing neuroprotection to the eye of a human patient.
US07915314B2
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. The delivery agents have the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl(arylene), or substituted or unsubstituted aryl(C1-C12 alkylene). The hydrates and solvates of present invention also have surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents, such as heparin and calcitonin, than their corresponding monosodium salts and free acids. The present invention provides an alcohol solvate, such as ethanol solvate, of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. The invention also provides a hydrate of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate.
US07915313B2
The invention broadly relates to the use of α,β-unsaturated fatty acids to inhibit the filamentous growth of fungi and yeasts and to a method for producing same. In particular the invention relates to the use of optionally substituted C8 to C15 α,β-unsaturated fatty acids or salts, esters or amides thereof for inhibiting or retarding the yeast-to-mycelium transition of organisms having a dimorphic life cycle.
US07915312B2
The present invention is directed to a physiological method for improving vision in a human patient. This method involves topical application to the eye, an amount of acetylcholine esterase inhibitor containing composition so that it is sufficient to provide a therapeutic benefit to improve the visual acuity in the human patient. The composition is administered topically and at bedtime after an eye straining work for about 20 minutes. The method disclosed herein is used for treatment and prevention of congenital and acquired color vision blindness, treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma, prevention of the progression of myopia, treatment of strabismus or squint, potentiation of best visual acuity, neuro-protection, treatment of aberrations secondary to pupil dilation.
US07915306B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising compounds having formula (I): and additionally provides methods for the use thereof in the treatment of various disorders including inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, and disorders involving malignancy or increased angiogenesis, wherein R1-R11, X, Y, Z, and n are as defined herein. In certain embodiments, the compositions are for systemic (e.g., oral) administration. In certain embodiments, methods for the treatment of various disorders including inflammatory or autoimmune disorders comprise systemically (e.g., orally) administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I).
US07915305B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase represented by formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US07915304B2
The invention discloses the use of a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represents: hydrogen; halo; hydroxy; (C1-C6) alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxy or (C1-C4) alkoxy; (C1-C6) haloalkyl; (C1-C6) alkoxy; and (C1-C6) haloalkoxy; for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases resulting from opening of the MPTP which are characterized by degenerative tissue damages, in particular, diabetes and diabetic complications, neurological diseases and stroke, heart infarction, inherited dystrophies and hepatitis, more particularly, diabetic vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. Further objects are a group of selected individual compounds of formula (I) for use as medicaments and a further group of selected individual compounds of formula (I) as novel compounds.
US07915299B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds that act as chemical uncouplers. Compounds of the invention are useful, inter alia, in the treatment, including prevention, of obesity, diabetes and a number of diseases or conditions associated therewith.
US07915293B2
This invention describes compounds useful as ubiquitin ligase inhibitors. The compounds of the invention are useful as inhibitors of the biochemical pathways of organisms in which ubiquitination is involved. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds described in the invention for the treatment of conditions that require inhibition of ubiquitin ligases. Furthermore, the invention provides for methods of inhibiting ubiquitination in a cell comprising contacting a cell in which inhibition of ubiquitination is desired with a compound according to the invention.
US07915281B2
Imidazo ring compounds, (e.g. imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine, imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline, and imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridine compounds) having an isoxazole, dihydroisoxazole, or oxadiazole substituent at the 1-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of making and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for modulating cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
US07915270B2
Certain oxazole ketone compounds are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity. Thus, the compounds may be administered to treat anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or movement disorders (such as MS).
US07915269B2
Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine together with one or more second active agents, e.g., ketoconazole and ritonavir, are disclosed. Such methods reduce the dangers commonly associated with such concomitant administration and provide additional benefits. Methods of notifying health care practitioners and patients regarding appropriate dosing for concomitant administration of colchicine together with second active agents are also provided.
US07915266B2
This invention relates to methods for treating or inhibiting cancers in a mammal in need thereof, which comprises administering an effective amount of a 6-Aryl-7-halo-imidazo[1,2 -a]pyrimidine compound of the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US07915264B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as defined in the description, and the preparation thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as pharmaceuticals.
US07915260B2
The invention is directed to Urotensin II antagonists. More specifically, the present invention relates to certain novel compounds, methods for preparing compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof and methods for treating Urotensin-II mediated disorders. Pharmaceutical and veterinary compositions and methods of treating cardiovascular disorders and various other disease states or conditions using compounds of the invention are also described.
US07915255B2
The present invention is directed to methods and agents for modulating adipogenesis. More particularly, the present invention relates to molecules that modulate the level or functional activity of inosine-5′ monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) and to their use in modulating the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes and/or the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes for treating or preventing adiposity-related conditions including, but not limited to, obesity, lipoma, lipomatosis, cachexia or lipodystrophy or the loss of adipose tissue in trauma or atrophic conditions.
US07915253B2
Compounds as modulators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treating disease using the same are disclosed.
US07915252B2
Sulfonyl derivatives of structural formula I are selective inhibitors of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diabetes, such as noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X, and other symptoms associated with NIDDM.
US07915248B2
The present invention relates to metal-phthalocyanines bearing at least a group containing boron isotopes 11B or 10B, covalently bound to the axial positions of metal-phthalocyanine nucleus; moreover it refers to the process for their preparation, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use for the treatment of neoplastic and dysplastic pathologies in PDT and/or BNCT.
US07915240B2
Method of using immunomodulatory compounds for treating diseases related to an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, including diseases selected from asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, prostatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and rhumatoid arthritis, the compounds being of general formula (I): wherein: m and n, independently from each other, are an integer ranging from 1 to 4, X and Y represent —COOH, —O—P(O)(OH)2, —O—SO2(OH), —NH2, —OH, —CONH(CH2)n1—NH2, —CO—NH—CH(COOH)—(CH2)n1—COOH, —CO—NH—CH(COOH)—(CH2)n1—NH2, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—NH2, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—CHOH—CH2OH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—OH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—COOH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—CHO, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—NH—CO—(CH2)n2—COOH, R1 and R2 each designate an acyl group derived from a saturated or unsaturated, straight- or branched-chain carboxylic acid having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or bears one to three substituents selected among hydroxyl, dihydroxyphosphoryloxy, alkyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 2 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl moiety, amino, acylamino.
US07915237B2
The invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations containing exo/exo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]-dec-9-yl-xanthogenate, drugs containing exo/exo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]-dec-9-yl-xanthogenate as active ingredient for the treatment of genital herpes, labial herpes, AIDS, tumors or autoimmune diseases, and methods for the production of pure stereoisomers of tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]-decan-9-ol and tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]-dec-9-yl-xanthogenate.
US07915236B2
The present invention provides boronic acid compounds, boronic esters, and compositions thereof that can modulate apoptosis such as by inhibition of proteasome activity. The compounds and compositions can be used in methods of inducing apoptosis and treating diseases such as cancer and other disorders associated directly of indirectly with proteasome activity.
US07915235B2
Glycans are identified which have high affinity for C. difficile toxin A. They share one of two saccharide backbones and may have additional side chains. The backbones are galactose-β1-3 N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-β-1-3-galactose-β-1-4-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and galactose-α-1-3-galactose-β-1-4-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The ligands may be used therapeutically, prophylactically, and diagnostically.
US07915227B2
Pharmaceutical formulations containing (i) an amphiphilic drug and (ii) a short-chain sphingolipid are described and provided herein along with methods of making and using same.
US07915215B2
An aqueous composition is provided having a pH of from about 2.0 to about 5.7 to about 12.8 and comprising boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules. A method of delivering a fragrance to a substrate is further provided comprising applying to the substrate an aqueous composition comprised of fragrance-containing, boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked, polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules, as well as a method of cleaning a substrate comprising applying to the substrate an aqueous composition comprised of fragrance-containing, boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked, polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules together with at least one cleaning component.
US07915211B2
A solid cleaner for heated surfaces is disclosed. The solid cleaner includes a solidifying agent including wax, and a cleaning agent. The solid cleaner is solid at room temperature and liquid at an elevated temperature. Methods of cleaning a heated surface and cleaning articles are also disclosed.
US07915210B2
Aqueous hard surface treatment compositions necessarily comprise an alcohol constituent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, benzyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof which alcohol constituent comprises from about 40 and 70 weight percent (“% wt”) of the total weight of the composition of which it forms a part. Preferably however the alcohol constituent is present in an amount of from about 50% wt to about 70% wt, more preferably is present in amounts of from about 60% wt to about 70% wt.
US07915209B1
An application for an individual liquid-filled soap includes a thin, breakable, solid soap outer shell and a liquid contained within the thin, solid soap outer shell. The liquid is either liquid soap or a soap-compatible liquid such as lanolin, hand cream, antibacterial soap, and antibacterial cream or a combination of these ingredients.
US07915205B2
An acidizing formulation for use in the stimulation of hydrocarbon production is stable when packaged and stored as a single fluid for periods exceeding one year. The formulation contains a miscibility solvent which substantially prevents any phase separation between the constituents and lack of dispersion of the additives in the fluid.
US07915200B2
2-(2-Fluoro-substituted phenyl)-6-amino-5-chloro-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid and its derivatives are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US07915198B2
The present invention includes an aqueous solution, comprising boric acid and non-colloidal silicic acid. This solution can also comprise a water absorbing additive. The solution contains bioavailable non-colloidal silicic acid, and the solution is stable for more than one year. The invention also describes a method for the preparation of a solution in which one or more silicon and boron compounds are hydrolysed in an acidic solution containing one or more dissolved water absorbing additives.
US07915197B2
A pathogen-resistant coating comprising one or more photocatalysts capable of generating singlet oxygen from ambient air. The pathogen-resistant coating may optionally include one or more singlet oxygen traps.
US07915194B2
Metal complexes, catalyst compositions containing the metal complexes, and processes for making the metal complexes and the catalyst compositions are described for the manufacture of polymers from ethylenically unsaturated addition polymerizable monomers. The metal complexes have chemical structures corresponding to one of the following formulae: wherein MI and MII are metals; T is nitrogen or phosphorus; P is a carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus atom; groups R1, R2 and R3 may be linked to each other; Y is a divalent bridging group; X, X1, and X2 are anionic ligand groups with certain exceptions; D is a neutral Lewis base ligand; and s, o, k, i, ii, p, m, a, b, c, d, e, t, and y are numbers as further described in the claims.
US07915192B2
A composition for use in forming a multi-block copolymer from a single polymerizable monomer, said copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in branching index, a polymerization process using the same, and the resulting polymers, wherein the composition comprises the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining: (A) a first olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by catalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, at least one of catalyst (A) or catalyst (B) being capable of forming a branched polymer by means of chain walking or reincorporation of in situ formed olefinic polymer chains, and (C) a chain shuttling agent.
US07915190B2
The present invention relates to a metal catalyst containing fine metal particles, characterized in that the fine metal particles have a particle diameter of 3 nm or less and also have a proportion of metallic bond state of 40% or more, which is ascribed by subjecting to waveform separation of a binding energy peak peculiar to the metal as measured by using an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The fine metal particles are preferably fine platinum particles. The fine metal particles are preferably supported on the surface of carrier particles by reducing ions of metal to be deposited through the action of a reducing agent in a reaction system of a liquid phase containing the carrier particles dispersed therein, thereby to deposit the metal on the surface of carrier particles in the form of fine particles. The proportion of metallic bond state of the fine metal particles is adjusted within the above range by reducing after deposition thereby to decrease the oxidation state.
US07915178B2
The present invention provides methods of protecting a surface of an aluminum nitride substrate. The substrate with the protected surface can be stored for a period of time and easily activated to be in a condition ready for thin film growth or other processing. In certain embodiments, the method of protecting the substrate surface comprises forming a passivating layer on at least a portion of the substrate surface by performing a wet etch, which can comprise the use of one or more organic compounds and one or more acids. The invention also provides aluminum nitride substrates having passivated surfaces.
US07915176B2
A method for manufacturing a device including a field of micrometric tips, including forming a polycrystalline layer on a support; performing an anisotropic plasma etching of all or part of the polycrystalline layer by using a gas mixture including chlorine and helium, whereby tips are formed at the surface of the polycrystalline layer.
US07915174B2
Dielectric layers containing a dielectric layer including lanthanum and hafnium and methods of fabricating such dielectric layers provide an insulating layer in a variety of structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices.
US07915168B2
Some embodiments include methods in which insulative material is simultaneously deposited across both a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and across a back side of the substrate. Subsequently, openings may be etched through the insulative material across the front side, and the substrate may then be dipped within a plating bath to grow conductive contact regions within the openings. The insulative material across the back side may protect the back side from being plated during the growth of the conductive contact regions over the front side. In some embodiments, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition may be utilized to for the deposition, and may be conducted at a temperature suitable to anneal passivation materials so that such annealing occurs simultaneously with the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition.
US07915161B2
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.
US07915159B2
A treating agent composition for increasing the hydrophobicity of an organosilicate glass dielectric film when applied to said film. It includes a component capable of alkylating or arylating silanol moieties of the organosilicate glass dielectric film via silylation, and an activating agent which may be an acid, a base, an onium compound, a dehydrating agent, and combinations thereof, and a solvent or mixture of a main solvent and a co-solvent.
US07915158B2
A method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, a wafer with a multi-metal level wiring is provided. The wafer includes a first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein and more than one via connecting the more than one electrode in the first dielectric layer to a respective more than one electrode in the second dielectric layer. The more than one via is misaligned a predetermined amount with the more than one electrodes in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The at least one of the misaligned vias forms a narrow gap with another misaligned via. A cavity trench is formed through the second dielectric layer between the narrow gap that separates the misaligned vias.
US07915154B2
A method of semiconductor junction formation in Laser diffusion process for fabrication of solar cells provides for delivery of inert gases in the vicinity of the Si wafer while dopant species are being diffused form a dopant source into the surface of the wafer irradiated by a laser beam. The laser beam is emitted by CW- or pulsed operated lasers including fiber lasers. Optionally, the passivation of the surface and formation of the antireflection coating are performed simultaneously with the diffusion of the dopant species.
US07915145B2
A silicon substrate is manufactured from single-crystal silicon which is grown to have a carbon concentration equal to or higher than 1.0×1016 atoms/cm3 and equal to or lower than 1.6×1017 atoms/cm3 and an initial oxygen concentration equal to or higher than 1.4×1018 atoms/cm3 and equal to or lower than 1.6×1018 atoms/cm3 by a CZ method. A device is formed on a front, the thickness of the silicon substrate is equal to or more than 5 μm and equal to or less than 40 μm, and extrinsic gettering which produces residual stress equal to or more than 5 Mpa and equal to or less than 200 Mpa is applied to a back face of the substrate.
US07915144B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of forming solid state thermal engines that provides a closely-spaced thermal tunneling gap between a hot and cold electrode. The effective gap may be on the order of one nanometer. In one embodiment, a via is etched through a first side of first and second substrates, and metal electrodes are attached to a second side of the first and second substrates. The second sides are opposite the first sides. The metal electrodes are mated by bonding the second side of the first substrate to the second side second substrate. The gap may be formed by applying a voltage greater than a threshold voltage across the mated electrodes.
US07915141B2
The generation of an identification number of a chip supporting at least one integrated circuit, including the step of causing a cutting of at least one conductive section by cutting of the chip among several first conductive sections parallel to one another and perpendicular to at least one edge of the chip, the first sections being individually connected, by at least one of their ends, to the chip, and exhibiting different lengths, the position of the cutting line with respect to the chip edge conditioning the identification number.
US07915130B2
This disclosure concerns a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a Fin-type body on an insulation layer, the Fin-type body being made of a semiconductor material and having an upper surface covered with a protective film; forming a gate insulation film on side surfaces of the Fin-type body; depositing a gate electrode material so as to cover the Fin-type body; planarizing the gate electrode material; forming a gate electrode by processing the gate electrode material; depositing an interlayer insulation film so as to cover the gate electrode; exposing the upper surface of the gate electrode; depositing a metal layer on the upper surface of the gate electrode; siliciding the gate electrode by reacting the gate electrode with the metal layer; forming a trench on the upper surface of the protective film by removing an unreacted metal in the metal layer; and filling the trench with a conductor.
US07915129B2
A process of fabricating a transistor employs a relatively thicker sacrificial nitride layer that reduces the time and cost associated with chemical-mechanical polish (CMP) processes by reducing the topography associated with the transistor. The process includes forming the gate oxide region and a field oxide region on a substrate. A polysilicon layer is formed on the gate oxide region and the field oxide region. A sacrificial nitride layer is formed on the polysilicon layer, wherein the sacrificial nitride layer has a thickness approximately equal to or greater than a thickness of the gate oxide region. A polysilicon gate is formed by selectively removing portions of the polysilicon layer and the sacrificial layer to expose a portion of the gate oxide region adjacent to the polysilicon gate. Source/drain regions are formed adjacent to the polysilicon gate using lightly-doped drain (LDD) implantation. A spacer layer is formed over the polysilicon gate and source/drain regions. Portions of the spacer layer are selectively removed, along with the sacrificial nitride layer and the gate oxide region to form sidewall spacers at each end of the polysilicon gate. A pre-metal dielectric layer is formed on the high-voltage MOS transistor, and the pre-metal dielectric layer is planarized.
US07915128B2
A transistor suitable for high-voltage applications and a method of manufacture is provided. A first device is formed by depositing a dielectric layer and a conductive layer over a substrate. A hard mask is deposited over the conductive layer and patterned using photolithography techniques. The photoresist material is removed prior to etching the underlying conductive layer and dielectric layer. The hard mask is also used as an implant mask. Another mask may be deposited and formed over the conductive layer to form other devices in other regions of the substrate. The other mask is preferably removed from over the hard mask prior to etching the conductive layer and the dielectric layer.
US07915125B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided which comprises: forming a first gate insulating film and a second gate insulating film in an active region of a semiconductor substrate; introducing an impurity of a first conductivity type into a first site where a first body region is to be formed, the first site being disposed under the first gate insulating film in the active region; forming a gate electrode on each of the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film; and introducing an impurity of the first conductivity type into the first site and a second site where a second body region is to be formed, the second site being disposed under the second gate insulating film in the active region, to form the first body region and the second body region, respectively.
US07915114B2
Method of fabricating a thin-film transistor (TFT) in which a gate metal is deposited onto a substrate in order to form the gate of the thin-film transistor. The substrate may be an insulative substrate or a color filter. In a first method, the gate metal is subjected to an H2 plasma. After subjecting the gate metal to an H2 plasma, the gate insulating film is deposited onto the gate. In a second method, first and second layers of gate insulating film are respectively deposited on the gate at a first and second deposition rates. One layer is deposited under H2 or argon dilution conditions and has improved insulating conditions while the other layer serves to lower the overall compressive stress of the dual layer gate insulator. In a third method, an n+ silicon film is formed on a substrate by maintaining a flow of silane, phosphine and hydrogen gas into a processing chamber at substrate temperatures of about 300° C. or less.
US07915111B2
An apparatus, and method of manufacture thereof, comprising a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a first gate electrode having a first metal layer forming a first trench and a second metal layer filling the first trench, wherein the first and second metal layers have substantially different metallic compositions. The second semiconductor device includes a second gate electrode having a third metal layer forming a second trench and a fourth metal layer filling the second trench, wherein the third and fourth metal layers have substantially different metallic compositions, and wherein the first and third metal layers have substantially different metallic compositions.
US07915107B2
This invention describes a method of building complementary logic circuits using junction field effect transistors in silicon. This invention is ideally suited for deep submicron dimensions, preferably below 65 nm. The basis of this invention is a complementary Junction Field Effect Transistor which is operated in the enhancement mode. The speed-power performance of the JFETs becomes comparable with the CMOS devices at sub-70 nanometer dimensions. However, the maximum power supply voltage for the JFETs is still limited to below the built-in potential (a diode drop). To satisfy certain applications which require interface to an external circuit driven to higher voltage levels, this invention includes the structures and methods to build CMOS devices on the same substrate as the JFET devices.
US07915106B2
A method of fabricating a T-gate is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a photoresist layer on a substrate; patterning the photoresist layer formed on the substrate and forming a first opening; forming a first insulating layer on the photoresist layer and the substrate; removing the first insulating layer and forming a second opening to expose the substrate; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; removing the second insulating layer and forming a third opening to expose the substrate; forming a metal layer on the second insulating layer on which the photoresist layer and the third opening are formed; and removing the metal layer formed on the photoresist layer. Accordingly, a uniform and elaborate opening defining the length of a gate may be formed by deposition of the insulating layer and a blanket dry etching process, and thus a more elaborate micro T-gate electrode may be fabricated.
US07915105B2
The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming first, second, third, and fourth gate structures on a semiconductor substrate, each gate structure having a dummy gate, removing the dummy gate from the first, second, third, and fourth gate structures, thereby forming first, second, third, and fourth trenches, respectively, forming a metal layer to partially fill in the first, second, third, and fourth trenches, forming a first photoresist layer over the first, second, and third trenches, etching a portion of the metal layer in the fourth trench, removing the first photoresist layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second and third trenches, etching the metal layer in the first trench and the remaining portion of the metal layer in the fourth trench, and removing the second photoresist layer.
US07915102B2
Methods of fabricating thin film transistor and organic light emitting display device using the same
Methods of fabricating a TFT and an OLED using the same are provided. The method of fabricating a CMOS TFT includes: preparing a substrate having first and second TFT regions; forming a gate electrode on the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the entire surface of the substrate including the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer on a predetermined region of the gate insulating layer using a mask; exposing the back of the mask using the gate electrode; injecting n-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layers of the first and second TFT regions using the back-exposed mask and forming a channel region and source and drain regions; ashing both sides of the back-exposed mask; injecting low concentration impurity ions into the semiconductor layers of the first and second TFT regions using the ashed mask and forming an LDD region; and injecting p-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layer of the second TFT region and forming source and drain regions.
US07915098B2
A method of fabricating a display device having a TFT substrate and an array of plural light-emitting devices arranged on the substrate, each of the light-emitting devices having a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and organic layers sandwiched between the lower and upper electrodes, includes the steps of: arraying the light-emitting devices on a display region of the TFT substrate; bringing out external connector terminals from the light-emitting devices; placing the external connector terminals outside the display region on the TFT substrate while exposing surfaces of the external connector terminals; and selectively forming a protective film on the display region of the TFT substrate by a method of application such that at least the light-emitting devices are covered.
US07915087B2
In a method and system for fabricating a full wafer (600) having dies, an orientation marker (606), and a reference die (608), includes configuring a reticle pattern (602) that is configured by arranging the dies in an array having m rows and n columns, where the m rows start in a row adjacent to the orientation marker (606), and m and n are integers. The reticle pattern (602) is transferred to the full wafer (600) to sequentially form a portion of the dies. The transferring includes placing an inkless marker (620) in the form of one or more non-circuit dies between the n columns of adjacent reticle patterns. The reticle pattern (602) is repeatedly transferred to form a remaining portion of the dies to complete the full wafer (600). A wafer map for the full wafer (600) is stored, with the wafer map including a non-circuit bin containing data describing the inkless marker (620).
US07915084B2
A stacked die chip scale package, in which a stacked die assembly is mounted within a cavity in a module substrate. In some embodiments certain of the die are stacked on a front side of a stacked die assembly substrate, and the stacked die assembly substrate is inverted in the cavity and the substrate is electrically interconnected to a front side of the module substrate; others of the die are stacked on the back side of the stacked die assembly substrate, and are interconnected by wire bonds to the front side of the module substrate. In some embodiments, the cavity is covered by a heat sink, and the stacked die assembly is mounted onto the heat sink. Also, methods for making the module are provided.
US07915083B1
A layered chip package includes a main body, and wiring disposed on at least one side surface of the main body. The main body has: a main part having a top surface and a bottom surface and including a plurality of layer portions stacked; and a plurality of terminals arranged on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the main part and electrically connected to the wiring. A manufacturing method for the layered chip package includes: fabricating a plurality of first layered substructures each including a plurality of pre-separation main bodies arrayed; fabricating a second layered substructure by stacking the first layered substructures; cutting the second layered substructure into a block in which a plurality of pre-separation main bodies are arrayed in two directions; forming the wiring simultaneously for the plurality of pre-separation main bodies included in the block; and separating the pre-separation main bodies from each other.
US07915074B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel includes forming a first conductive layer, gate insulating layer, and first insulating layer on a substrate, patterning the first insulating layer to form a first insulating pattern including an opening, etching the gate insulating layer and first conductive layer to form a gate insulating member and a gate line, forming an organic semiconductor in the opening, forming a passivation layer and a second insulating pattern thereon, patterning the second insulating layer to form a second insulating pattern, etching the passivation layer, depositing a second conductive layer thereon, forming a pixel electrode by removing the second insulating pattern and the second conductive layer deposited on the second insulating pattern, and forming a drain electrode and a data line by depositing and patterning a third conductive layer on the resultant structure.
US07915068B2
There is disclosed a method for making solar cells with sensitized quantum dots in the form of nanometer metal crystals. Firstly, a first substrate is provided. Then, a silicon-based film is grown on a side of the first substrate. A pattern mask process is executed to etch areas of the silicon-based film. Nanometer metal particles are provided on areas of the first substrate exposed from the silicon-based film. A metal electrode is attached to an opposite side of the first substrate. A second substrate is provided. A transparent conductive film is grown on the second substrate. A metal catalytic film is grown on the transparent conductive film. The second substrate, the transparent conductive film and the metal catalytic film together form a laminate. The laminate is inverted and provided on the first substrate. Finally, electrolyte is provided between the first substrate and the metal catalytic film.
US07915060B2
A method and device for input/output connections is provided. Devices and methods for connection structure are shown with improved mechanical properties such as hardness and abrasion resistance. Land grid array structures are provided that are less expensive to manufacture due to reductions in material cost such as gold. Ball grid array structures are provided with improved resistance to corrosion during fabrication. Ball grid array structures are also provided with improved mechanical properties resulting in improved shock testing results.
US07915052B2
The present invention is related to immunoglobulin peptides that recognize a thermostable antigen from bovine blood. The invention also provides methods for determining the presence of bovine blood in a food sample or an animal feed sample.
US07915049B2
A method for investigating the thrombocyte function of the blood, and particularly of platelet aggregation, wherein the following steps are carried out: a) cross-flowing an aperture with blood or blood components; b) determining the active radius of the aperture depending on time and c) evaluating the time-dependent modification of the radius as a measure for blood cell and/or thrombocyte function.
US07915046B2
A system and method for determining the operating state of a curable composition utilizes an acoustic wave or signal transmitted into a container holding the composition. In one embodiment, characteristics of a reflected component of the acoustic signal are measured and correlated to pre-determined values indicative of one or more operating states, or degrees of curing, of the composition. In another embodiment, characteristics of a transmitted component of the acoustic signal are measured and correlated. The characteristics include, for example, the speed of sound through the curable composition or the attenuation of the acoustic signal reflected by or transmitted through the composition.
US07915041B2
A hybridoma capable of producing a monoclonal antibody against dectin-1, and a monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with dectin-1.
US07915040B2
The present invention relates to a vaccine for increasing the immunogenicity of a tumor antigen thus allowing treatment of cancer, as well as a vaccine that increases the immunogenicity of a viral antigen, thus allowing treatment of viral infection, including immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a defensin fused to either a tumor antigen or viral antigen which is administered as either a protein or nucleic acid vaccine to elicit an immune response effective in treating cancer or effective in treating or preventing viral infection.
US07915039B2
The invention relates to the field of cell biology. In detail it relates to the obtainment of mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue. This invention might be applicable in healing within the frame of the treatment of several diseases.Due to the invention it will be possible to obtain mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue with high homogeneity of the cell suspension, since the used method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue comprises the crushing and enzymatical treatment of the tissue with collagenase solution in Eagle medium in the Dulbecco modification, removal of erythrocytes by the aid of the lysis solution and subsequent filtration of the prepared suspension; as human tissue fat tissue or decidual or amniotic placenta membrane or chorion placenta stroma is used, whereas the filtration is performed sequentially by the use of filters comprising a pore size of 100 μm and 10 μm. In the enzymatical treatment of the fat tissue, of the decidual or amniotic placenta membrane collagenase of the type I is used, and in the enzymatical treatment of the chorion placenta stroma collagenase of the type IV is used.
US07915036B2
Nucleic acids encoding antitumor TCRs recognizing MART-1, NY-ESO-1, and melanoma gp100 peptides; vectors and cells comprising the same; and methods of using the foregoing.
US07915016B2
The present invention provides a new procedure for the synthesis of cDNA from single cells after microdissection. It has the advantage that it is cost-efficient and can be carried out quickly with only few steps, even by less skilled laboratory employees. For the first time, the time-consuming and risky step of RNA isolation is omitted during cDNA synthesis from single cells by performing lysis and cDNA synthesis in the same reaction tube and in one buffer solution, which provides reliable and contamination-free results. The buffer is composed of NP40, carrier-RNA and Super RNAsin, as well as dNTPs and cDNA synthesis primers.
US07915014B2
Described herein are labeled probes and unlabeled oligonucleotides that are useful for use in nucleic acid amplification reactions. These probes and oligonucleotides are modified to alter their sensitivity to primer-independent 5′ exonuclease activity of a thermostable DNA polymerase relative to its corresponding unmodified counterpart. Non-symmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and detection methods employing these labeled probes and unlabeled oligonucleotides are also described. Kits for nucleic acid amplification reactions including labeled probes and unlabeled oligonucleotides are also described.
US07915013B2
An apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids. The apparatus includes a substrate, a reaction vessel formed inside of the substrate, at least one first inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to an end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification into the reaction vessel, a second inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to the end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction into the reaction vessel, and a heating unit installed on the substrate in such a way to thermally contact with the substrate and heating the substrate.
US07915012B2
The present invention relates to a method for activation of TRPV2 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 2) using probenecid, more precisely a method for selecting a candidate for TRPV2 blocker using probenecid. Probenecid of the present invention works on TRPV2 specifically so that it facilitates the isolation of sensory neurons expressing TRPV2. Therefore, probenecid of the invention can be effectively used for the studies on TRPV2 mechanisms and the development of a TRPV2 based anodyne.
US07915008B2
Changes in sialylation of cell surface or plasma proteins are often associated with various cancers and other disease conditions. Provided are methods of detecting biomarkers of conditions associated with a change of sialylation status. Sialylated peptides are first isolated from biological and other samples by loading onto titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) stationary phase under acidic conditions in a solution comprising at least 20% organic phase and at least about 6.5 mM of substituted aromatic carboxylic acid, or, alternatively, at least about 11 mM short chain, non-aromatic, hydroxylated carboxylic acid. Sialic acid containing proteins can then be eluted from loaded stationary phase material by exposure to an alkaline solution having pH of 9.0 or greater, preferably at least 10.5. Sialylated peptides isolated by the methods provided can then be analysed by mass spectrometry to identify patterns of sialylation across a sialiome (the entire complement of sialic acid containing peptides in a biological sample) and/or to identify proteins in a sample that are sialylated or that show changes in sialylation status between two or more different samples. In preferred embodiments, sialylated peptides from control and patient samples can be differentially isotopically labelled and compared in a single mass sprectrometry experiment. Also provided are specific biomarkers of bladder cancer. The methods for isolating and analysing sialylated proteins can also by applied to phosphorylated proteins.
US07915007B2
A fixative for fixing biological materials contains a depot agent, preferably a polyamine and especially hexamethylenetetramine, which reacts chemically with positively charged ions, especially H+ from an acid, while forming a fixative, where the fixative is an aldehyde and especially formaldehyde, which in turn reacts chemically with the biological material to be fixed in order to fix it and is consumed in doing so. By adjusting the pH of a solution containing the depot agent, a chemical equilibrium reaction occurs between the depot agent, fixative and biological material, so that just as much fixative is continuously formed as can be immediately consumed by the biological material. With that, the fixative, and especially the hazardous formaldehyde, cannot escape. Thus, an externally formaldehyde-free fixative that at the same time has the excellent fixative properties of formaldehyde is created.
US07915000B2
Small animal models for assessing immunomodulatory effects of compounds are provided.
US07914989B2
A unimolecular probe for hybridization to a molecule comprising a target nucleic acid sequence, the probe includes: a first nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target sequence (target-binding sequence); and a second nucleic acid sequence complementary to a portion of the first nucleic acid sequence and capable of hybridization therewith to form a first intramolecular duplex. In use, the target and target-bind sequence hybridize to form a duplex. A probe can be used to detect a molecule containing the target sequence, act as a primer for synthesis or amplification, etc.
US07914986B2
A method to perform PCR reactions with one set of primers comprising sequence elements that are complementary to the target sequence and comprising sequence elements that server as tagging sequences. By conducting amplification reactions at different temperatures, the presence of contaminations arising from amplification products of previous reactions can be determined, improving reliability of the reaction and reducing the need for control reactions and reproduction of reactions.
US07914985B2
Novel alanine transaminase (ALT) polypeptides and the use thereof as a diagnostic marker to predict and monitor tissue damage and/or tissue malfunction. The ALT polypeptides are murine and/or rattus ALT polypeptides and said ALT polypeptides are used to detect, predict and/or determine hepatic processes of an animal, particularly mice and/or rats.
US07914974B2
Novel methods of double patterning a photosensitive resin composition are provided. The methods involve applying the photosensitive composition to a substrate and thermally crosslinking the composition. The crosslinked layer can be used to provide reflection control. Upon exposure to light, the crosslinked polymer (or oligomer or monomer) in the compositions will decrosslink, rendering the light-exposed portions soluble in typical photoresist developing solutions (e.g., alkaline developers). Advantageously, the crosslinked portions of the composition remain insoluble in the solvent used to form the photosensitive composition. As a result, the coating, lithographic, and or developing steps can be repeated multiple times in varying order, depending upon the particular process, without destroying earlier-formed patterns.
US07914973B2
A method of forming a pattern in a semiconductor device is described. A substrate divided into cell and peripheral regions is provided, and an object layer is formed on a substrate. A buffer pattern is formed on the object layer in the cell region along a first direction. A spacer is formed along a sidewall of the buffer pattern in the cell region, and a hard mask layer remains on the object layer in the peripheral region. The buffer layer is removed, and the spacer is separated along a second direction different from the first direction, thereby forming a cell hard mask pattern. A peripheral hard mask pattern is formed in the peripheral region. A minute pattern is formed using the cell and peripheral hard mask patterns in the substrate. Therefore, a line width variation or an edge line roughness due to the photolithography process is minimized.
US07914972B2
An exposure method is provided in which a substrate is favorably exposed in a state with a liquid being retained in a desired condition. An upper surface (1A) of a base material (1) that is used as the substrate (P) to be exposed via the liquid has an effective region (4) coated with a photosensitive material (2), and at least part of the surface of the base material (1) is coated with a first material (3) such that the surface of the base material (1) does not come into contact with the liquid on an outside of the effective region (4).
US07914966B2
Radiation-sensitive negative working element comprising (a) a substrate with a hydrophilic surface and (b) a layer on the hydrophilic surface of the substrate, wherein said layer comprises a modified polymer obtainable by reacting (i) a polymer with —COOH, —SO3H, —P03H2 and/or —PO4H2 in the side chains, wherein the polymer is soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions and the solubility is not changed by IR radiation, and (ii) a salt with an inorganic or organic cation, wherein the modified polymer is soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions and the solubility is not changed by IR radiation, said layer being soluble in aqueous alkaline developer, but is rendered insoluble in aqueous alkaline developer by IR radiation.
US07914959B2
An image bearing member including a substrate, a photosensitive layer, provided overlying the substrate and a cross linking charge transport layer provided overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein the area of the photosensitive layer which is most distant from the substrate contains a charge transport material, a binder resin and a filler.
US07914955B2
One problem of projection optics concerns pupil apodization which leads to imaging defects. As here proposed, the illumination system is configured to illuminate the mask inhomogeneously. As a result, inhomogeneities in reflectivity caused by the mask itself are at least partly counteracted. This compensation not only makes the apodization over the pupil become more symmetric but also makes the intensity variation smaller overall.
US07914949B2
A method, a recording medium and an apparatus for testing a photomask are provided. In the disclosed method, a particular region of a photomask is selected, either from a physical instance of the photomask, or from the photomask as represented by a digital representation thereof. The particular region is then characterized by identifying a pattern type present in the particular region. A lithographic process stress condition is determined for the particular region, considering the pattern type, and thereafter, a result of lithographically patterning a feature is determined by simulating a photolithographic exposure, using the particular region of the photomask under the lithographic process stress condition. Then, it is decided whether the particular region of the photomask is acceptable based on the result of the simulated exposure only under the lithographic process stress condition.
US07914944B2
There is provided a fuel cell including a fuel cell unit having a membrane electrode assembly having catalyst layers provided on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between an oxidizer electrode and a fuel electrode; the fuel cell unit further including a gas diffusion layer laminated on the catalyst layer on a oxidizer electrode side; a flow path forming member provided on the gas diffusion layer; and a support member surrounding a portion where the gas diffusion layer comes into contact with the membrane electrode assembly; the support member being disposed in a position between the flow path forming member and the polymer electrolyte membrane, the position being opposed, with respect to the polymer electrolyte membrane, to a sealing material disposed on a side of the fuel electrode, for sealing the fuel electrode.
US07914942B2
The fuel cell vehicle, includes a fuel cell generating electricity by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; an accessory for the fuel cell; and a fuel cell system box mounted on a vehicle body and housing the fuel cell and the accessory, wherein the fuel cell system box is formed in a vessel shape which has a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the first side wall supporting at least one pipe through which a fluid supplied to the fuel cell flows, and the first side wall is constituted of a material having a specific gravity that is greater than that of the bottom wall and the second wall.
US07914940B2
A fuel cell stack having an improved sealing structure of a cooling plate in which the cooling plates therein each have a coolant flow channel through which a coolant flows to remove heat from the fuel cell stack and a groove that surrounds the coolant flow channel, and a sealing member disposed in the groove to prevent coolant leakage. The sealing member has a compression rate of 18 to 30%, as the compression rate being ((a thickness of the sealing member−a height of the groove)/the thickness of the sealing member)×100. Such a fuel cell stack may maintain operation for a long time without the need of supplementing the coolant.
US07914917B2
A hybrid power supply unit, comprises a high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group and a high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group different in discharge characteristics connected to each other in parallel. The high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell greater than that of the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group, and the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a rate of 5 C discharge capacity per cell to 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell (5 C discharge capacity/0.2 C discharge capacity) greater than that of the high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group.
US07914916B2
High magnetic moment films FeCo(X, Y), where X is a transition metal element and Y is a rare earth element are formed using off-axis static deposition techniques. The films have tunable magnetic anisotropy from 0 Oe to greater than 500 Oe that are thermally stable beyond nominal photoresist curing temperatures. By using off-axis static deposited FeCo(X, Y) films as seed layers to normally deposited FeCo films, inplane anisotropy and the magnetic moment can be controlled for specific design needs. Epitaxial-like growth (column-to-column matching) from the off-axis static FeCo(X,Y) seed layers to normally deposited FeCo films is attributed to sustained anisotropy in the entire film.
US07914913B2
The present invention relates to ceramic cutting tools, such as, a aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tool with diffusion bonding enhanced layer and CVD coatings, particularly useful for machining modern metal materials. The method comprises a chemical reaction with a mixture including nitrogen and aluminum chloride introduced to form a diffusion bonding enhanced layer between the ceramic substrate and the CVD coatings. Thus formed diffusion bonding is highly adherent to the aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic substrate and significantly enhances the CVD coating properties, and thus improving the machining performance in terms of the tool life of zirconium-based aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tools.
US07914904B2
Disclosed herein is a component in a combustion system comprising a composite, the composite comprising silicon carbide; and a refractory metal silicide comprising a phase selected from Rm5Si3, Rm5Si3C, RmSi2, and a combination thereof; wherein Rm is a refractory metal selected from molybdenum, tungsten, and a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a process for preventing slag, ash, and char buildup on a surface, comprising disposing a first surface of the composite on the surface; replacing a component comprising the surface with a component consisting of the composite; or a combination thereof.
US07914901B2
Structures and methods for hindering molded part deformation during densification are discussed. Such devices and techniques can help alleviate stresses that tend to result in part deformation during firing, sintering, or other densification processes, and thus reduce the need for secondary straightening operations post-densification. In some instances, a support structure is utilized to orient a molded greenbody in a preferred direction to reduce deformation during firing (e.g., orienting a thin tail section is a plane parallel to the direction of gravity). The support structure can also be part of, or the entirety of, a thermal mass to help alleviate stresses that lead to part deformation. Though such structures and methods can be used for any molded piece, it can be particularly used to create a portion, or an entirety of, a medical device such as a jaw of an surgical instrument.
US07914891B2
Microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprising an active agent are disclosed. In one embodiment, the microencapsulated delivery vehicles are heat delivery vehicles capable of generating heat upon activation. The microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles may be introduced into wet wipes such that, upon activation, the wet wipe solution is warmed resulting in a warm sensation on a user's skin. Any number of other active ingredients, such as cooling agents and biocides, can also be incorporated into a microencapsulated delivery vehicle.
US07914887B2
A thermoplastic resin film (i) which has a degree of dimensional change through heating and cooling (α) in the range of from −2% to 2% as measured by thermomechanical analysis in the range of from room temperature to 135° C., or which has a degree of thermal shrinkage of 1.8% or lower upon heating at 130° C. for 30 minutes or longer; and a label paper employing the same. The label paper has suitability for heated-roll fixing type electrophotographic printers and is satisfactory in curling after printing.
US07914886B2
A novel composite structural component including novel boron nitride agglomerated powders and a matrix is provided having controlled density and fracture strength features. In addition methods for producing the novel boron nitride agglomerated powders are provided. One method calls for providing a feedstock powder including boron nitride agglomerates, and heat treating the feedstock powder to form a heat treated boron nitride agglomerated powder. In one embodiment the feedstock powder has a controlled crystal size. In another, the feedstock powder is derived from a bulk source.
US07914885B2
Conductive paste allowing narrowing of an electrode prepared from the conductive paste and suppressing increase of resistance resulting from a small sectional area of the electrode is obtained. This conductive paste comprises binder resin, a conductive material dispersed in the binder resin and an additive, dispersed in the binder resin, containing at least either layered sulfide particles or spheroidal particles.
US07914883B2
A transparent conductive laminated body comprising: a transparent film substrate having a thickness of 2 to 200 μm, and a first transparent dielectric thin film, a second transparent dielectric thin film and a transparent conductive thin film that are formed on one side of the substrate in this order from the side of the substrate, wherein the first transparent dielectric thin film is formed by vacuum deposition, sputtering or ion plating and comprises a complex oxide containing 0 to 20 parts by weight of tin oxide and 10 to 40 parts by weight of cerium oxide relative to 100 parts by weight of indium oxide, and the relationship: n2
US07914869B2
An adhesive label is configured to be wrapped around an apparatus and to outline a predetermined image having first and second components. A first facestock has opposite first and second edges that come into proximity with one another when the label is wrapped around the apparatus. The first edge includes first contours that outline the first component of the predetermined image, and the second edge includes second contours that outline the second component. A multilayer sheet assembly comprises the adhesive label, wherein the first facestock inner surface includes a lined portion that is covered by a release liner, and an unlined portion that is not covered by the release liner. The sheet assembly further comprises a second facestock that covers at least some of the unlined portion of the first facestock inner surface, and is adhered thereto using an adhesive.
US07914866B2
A product including two or more plies with each ply including one absorbent layer and a second opposing fluid impervious layer. The two plies are arranged such that the fluid impervious layers face each other and are positioned at the inside of the two-ply product. The two plies are bonded on two or three sides to form a sleeve or a pocket, such that a hand can be inserted between the two plies and positioned in contact with one or both fluid impervious layers. In this manner, the product is absorbent on both sides, and can be utilized on both sides while preventing hand contact with the material absorbed or picked up by the product.
US07914860B2
A liquid crystal composition is provided that has a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, has a suitable optical anisotropy, has a large negative dielectric anisotropy and has a large specific resistance, and a liquid crystal composition is provided that can increase an optical anisotropy and has a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, preferably −20° C. or less, while satisfying the aforementioned characteristics. A liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition is also provided. The liquid crystal composition of the invention has a negative dielectric anisotropy and contains a liquid crystal compound having terphenyl having one or two fluorines replacing hydrogen as a first component and a liquid crystal compound having phenylene having two halogens replacing hydrogens as a second component. The liquid crystal display device of the invention contains the liquid crystal composition.
US07914844B2
A method of making a dispersion of reduced graphite oxide nanoplatelets involves providing a dispersion of graphite oxide nanoplatelets and reducing the graphite oxide nanoplatelets in the dispersion in the presence of a reducing agent and a polymer. The reduced graphite oxide nanoplatelets are reduced to an extent to provide a higher C/O ratio than graphite oxide. A stable dispersion having polymer-treated reduced graphite oxide nanoplatelets dispersed in a dispersing medium, such as water or organic liquid is provided. The polymer-treated, reduced graphite oxide nanoplatelets can be distributed in a polymer matrix to provide a composite material.
US07914842B1
Polymer materials form electrode array bodies for neural stimulation, especially for retinal stimulation to create vision. The method lays down a polymer layer. Apply a metal layer to the polymer and pattern to create electrodes and leads. Apply a second polymer layer over the metal layer and pattern to leave openings for electrodes. The array and its supply cable are a single body. A method for manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode array, is: deposit a metal trace layer on an insulator polymer base layer; apply a layer of photoresist on the metal trace layer and pattern the metal trace layer and form metal traces on the insulator polymer base layer; activate the insulator polymer base layer and deposit a top insulator polymer layer and form a single insulating polymer layer with the base insulator polymer layer; wherein the insulator polymer layers are heated at 80-150° C. and then at 230-350° C.
US07914838B2
An edible emulsion with insoluble fiber is described. The edible emulsion is suitable for use as a base for making reduced oil food products. The reduced oil food products made with the edible emulsion having insoluble fiber and diary ingredients have consumer acceptable viscosities and texture and sensorial properties consistent with full fat food products.
US07914837B2
Addition of a large amount of a food additive such as an emulsifier to a food is undesirable, since it is feared that not only the flavor of the food is damaged but also the secure sense for the qualities of the product and consumers' buying intention are worsened thereby. It is intended to provide a process for conveniently producing a hydrated oily base food such as a chocolate drink powder while reducing the content of an emulsifier. Namely, an oily base food having a high hydration nature can be produced even by using a small amount of an emulsifier by densely mixing a small amount of a hydrophilic material, which contains a hydrophilic emulsifier as the essential component, with an oil-containing material, or shaping an oil-containing material into flakes or a powder as the final product by roll refining.
US07914836B2
A pizza includes a dough member and at least one topping disposed on the dough member. The dough member defines a substantially flattened shape and includes a central portion and a border portion. The central portion defines a perimeter. The border portion extends about the perimeter of the central portion. The border portion of the dough member is divided into a plurality of dough segments, each dough segment being turned relative to the perimeter of the central portion.
US07914823B2
A method and composition for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy is disclosed. The composition comprises a cold compounded mixture of a compound that promotes synthesis of nerve growth factor, an aldose reductase inhibitor and an antioxidant formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. It has been found that this combination of active agents provides significant, effective relief of the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, as well as at least partial recovery of lost neurological function in some cases. In view of the consensus in the art that effective combinations of various active agents have not been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, the present invention provides a surprising and unexpected effect. In addition, the topical compositions of the present invention, when used in effective amounts to treat diabetic neuropathy, do not exhibit the severe side effects of many prior art compositions proposed for treatment of this ailment.In a second aspect, a method for the topical administration of a composition in accordance with the present invention for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy is disclosed. In the method, an effective amount of the composition of the invention is topically administered to the areas of the body that have been adversely affected by the diabetic neuropathy on a regular basis over a period of time sufficient to provide the beneficial effects of relief from the symptoms and at least some recovery of the damaged nerve tissues.
US07914811B2
The present invention provides an oral dosage form for delivering active agents having a soft core with an active agent particles, which have an average size of greater than about 50 μm, and a brittle shell encasing the soft core, wherein the weight ratio of drug particles to shell being from about 1.0:0.5 to about 1.0:15.
US07914810B2
The present invention relates to methods for in situ treatment of malignant cells from a cancer associated with bone. In one method, the treatment is for a primary cancer and entails positioning an implant containing and/or coated with at least one active agent for treating malignant cells directly in/on or indirectly among/near (e.g., by placing the implant in an area immediately proximal to) a site containing the malignant cells. In another method, the treatment includes positioning an implant containing and/or coated with at least one active agent for treating malignant cells directly in/on or indirectly among/near (e.g., by placing the implant in an area immediately proximal to) a surgical site from which malignant cells were previously removed/excised.
US07914804B2
A pharmaceutical preparation adopted for sustained release of an active agent(s) over an extended period of time at a therapeutic rate without an initial burst release of the agent(s) upon administration, wherein the preparation comprises: (i) an outer portion prepared from one or more layers of a biodegradable polymer, which is selected to release an active agent over an extended period of time when positioned in situ in a patient, and (ii) an inner portion comprising a plurality of micro-capsules formed from at least a biodegradable polymer, said micro capsules containing at least an active agent, wherein the micro-capsules are compressed into the form of a tablet under suitable pressure to suppress the rate of release of the active agent from the micro-capsules. The present specification also relates to a method for inserting one or more implants(s) into a tissue of a mammal comprising the following steps: a) making a small incision into the tissue with a needle and a first sheath; b) withdrawing the needle from the first sheath but leaving the first sheath in the tissue; c) dilating the opening of the incision by inserting a dilator and second sheath of larger diameter through the body of the first sheath; d) withdrawing the dilator from the second sheath, but leaving the second sheath in the tissue; e) disturbing the implant(s) from a sheath filled with implant(s) by inserting said sheath into the final sheath inserted into the tissue and pushing a dilator into the sheath thereby releasing said implant(s) into the tissue.
US07914793B2
This invention provides antigen substance inductors which produce highly selective and/or specific vaccine precursor, vaccine, antibody (including idiotype antibody), neutralizing antibody, antitoxin.This invention is to produce and/or manufacture highly selective and/or specific vaccine precursor, vaccine, antibody (including idiotype antibody), neutralizing antibody, antitoxin by quantum thermodynamic and chemical control of molecular functions and morphogenesis, inducing non-functional complex macromolecules which form organism and/or non-organism and which become to be substance with fundamental structure more closed to an induction of the functions, utilizing the fundamental structure of molecule which is indicated in Formula 3-a as a representative molecule. Moreover, by those produced substances, this invention is to produce and/or manufacture antimicrobial agent, antiviral agent, neutralizing antibody, antitoxin, antitumor agent, anti-protozoa agent (malaria, spirochaeta et. al), molecular discriminating agent, antibody as labeled compounds, histocompatible accelerator on tissues or organs, immuno-response accelerator or immuno-response controller, complement chain reaction accelerator.
US07914787B2
The present invention relates to a bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment having at least one arm that specifically binds a targeted tissue and at least one other arm that specifically binds a targetable construct. The targetable construct comprises a carrier portion which comprises or bears at least one epitope recognizable by at least one arm of said bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment. The targetable construct further comprises one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents or enzymes. The invention provides constructs and methods for producing the bi-specific antibodies or antibody fragments, as well as methods for using them.
US07914780B1
The present invention concerns compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to identification of aminopeptidase A (APA) as a functional target in neo-vasculature, e.g., tumor vasculature; the present invention also relates to targeting peptides and antibodies specific for APA which may be used for cancer therapies.
US07914770B2
An improved suspension formulation for use in a metered-dose inhaler having a hydro-fluoro-alkane propellant is described, the improvement being the controlled addition of a small quantity of water.
US07914768B2
A stabilized radiopharmaceutical composition, a kit including same, and a method for making same, where the radiopharmaceutical is (i) susceptible to either reductive degradation or radiolysis and which includes a metal complex of a radionuclide with a ligand, (ii) a first stabilizer for the radiopharmaceutical which is an amino-substituted aromatic carboxylic acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof, and (iii) a second stabilizer for the radiopharmaceutical which is a diphosphonic acid or salt thereof. The first and second stabilizers are present in an amount effective to stabilize the radiopharmaceutical, and the radiopharmaceutical is not a metal complex of the diphosphonic acid.
US07914766B1
Applicant's invention is a radionuclide generator resin material for radiochemical separation of daughter radionuclides, particularly 213Bi, from a solution of parental radionuclides, the resin material capable of providing clinical quantities of 213Bi of at least 20-mCi, wherein the resin material comprises a silica-based structure having at least one bifunctional ligand covalently attached to the surface of the silica-based structure. The bifunctional ligand comprises a chemical group having desirable surface functionality to enable the covalent attachment of the bifunctional ligand thereon the surface of the structure and the bifunctional ligand further comprises a second chemical group capable of binding and holding the parental radionuclides on the resin material while allowing the daughter radionuclides to elute off the resin material. The bifunctional ligand has a carbon chain with a limited number of carbons to maintain radiation stability of the resin material.
US07914751B2
To improve a sterile container, in particular, for receiving and storing surgical instruments or surgical material under sterile conditions, comprising a receiving space formed by a container bottom and container walls, a lid for closing the receiving space, a sterile barrier permanently defining a sterile flow path for establishing a fluid connection between the receiving space and an environment outside of the sterile container, and an overpressure flow path defining a fluid connection between the receiving space and the environment outside of the sterile container, wherein the overpressure flow path is closed when the sterile container is in a sterile position in which an exchange of gas between the receiving space and the environment outside of the sterile container is only possible through the sterile flow path, and wherein the overpressure flow path is at least partially open when the sterile container is in an overpressure position in which a pressure difference between pressures prevailing in the receiving space and in the environment outside of the sterile container exceeds a minimum pressure difference, so that design and maintenance of the sterile container are particularly simple, it is proposed that a gas flow cross section of the sterile flow path be alterable for formation of the overpressure flow path.
US07914749B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to clathrate hydrate modular storage, applications and utilization processes. In one implementation, the present invention provides a method of creating scalable, easily deployable storage of natural gas and thermal energy by assembling an array of interconnecting, modular gas clathrate hydrate storage units.
US07914740B2
Systems and methods for detecting the presence of biomolecules in a sample using biosensors that incorporate resonators which have functionalized surfaces for reacting with target biomolecules. In one embodiment, a device includes a piezoelectric resonator having a functionalized surface configured to react with target molecules, thereby changing the mass and/or charge of the resonator which consequently changes the frequency response of the resonator. The resonator's frequency response after exposure to a sample is compared to a reference, such as the frequency response before exposure to the sample, a stored baseline frequency response or a control resonator's frequency response.
US07914739B2
Described is a system and method for synthesizing polymeric molecules such as oligonucleotides and polypeptides. The system is capable of continuously synthesizing molecules by providing an array of reaction sites and an array of stations for carrying out synthetic manipulations. The reaction sites in the former array can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. Similarly, the stations can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. The two arrays can be moved relative to each other such that the stations carry out desired steps of a reaction scheme at each reaction site. The relative locations of the stations and the schedule for the relative movement can correlate with the order and duration of reaction steps in the reaction scheme such that once a reaction site has completed a cycle of interacting with the full array of stations then the reaction scheme is complete.
US07914732B2
The present invention provides: a ferritic stainless steel cast iron including: Fe as a main component; C: 0.20 to 0.40 mass %; Si: 1.00 to 3.00 mass %; Mn: 0.30 to 3.00 mass %; Cr: 12.0 to 30.0 mass %; and one of Nb and V, or both of Nb and V in total: 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, the ferritic stainless steel cast iron satisfying the following formula (1): 1400≦1562.3−{133WC+14WSi+5WMn+10(WNb+WV)}≦1480 (1) wherein, WC (mass %), WSi (mass %), WMn (mass %), WCr (mass %), WNb (mass %), WV (mass %) and WCu (mass %) are contents of C, Si, Mn, Cr, Nb, V and Cu, respectively; a process for producing a cast part from the ferritic cast steel; and the cast part.
US07914731B2
A process for sintering metal-containing materials, such as iron ores or manganese ores, on a sintering machine including a sintering belt for transporting the sinter mix during sintering thereof. The sintering belt has first, second and third portions. Sintering waste gas from the third portion is transported to and unified with sintering waste gas from the first portion in a mixing region to form a mixed gas, wherein the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the third portion to the mixing region is greater than the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the first portion to the mixing region. An apparatus for carrying out the process is disclosed, including the sintering belt, suction boxes operative at the portions of the belt, and lines for conveying the gas produced and the gases used in the process.
US07914729B2
A fixture includes an enlarged plate having slots in an upper surface, and support members are secured to the plate at the slots. The fixture is utilized to machine parts that are initially flame-cut from a large plate/sheet of hot-roll steel. A plurality of notches are flame-cut into the perimeter of the part. The support members engage the flame-cut slots to secure the part to the plate for machining a first side of the part. Precision notches are machined into the part, and precisely-shaped protrusions on the support members are closely received in the precision notches to precisely locate the part for further machining on a second side thereof.
US07914728B2
A method for manufacturing a porous honeycomb structure, which comprises a mixing and kneading step, a forming and then drying step, and a firing and then cooling step of firing a dried honeycomb article to form a fired honeycomb article and then cooling the fired honeycomb article to prepare a porous honeycomb structure, wherein the fired honeycomb article is cooled from the firing temperature under a cooling condition of a temperature falling speed of 100° C./hr or less at least in a temperature region of 800° C. or lower.
US07914725B2
A plastic end disk for a hollow-cylindrical filter element has an end face plastic layer and a neighboring plastic layer. The end face plastic layer is transparent for infrared radiation. The neighboring plastic layer is absorbent for infrared radiation. The plastic end disk is connected to a folded filter medium in that the end face plastic layer is trans-irradiated with an infrared radiation source, wherein the infrared radiation is absorbed in the neighboring plastic layer so that a portion of the neighboring plastic layer and a portion of the end face plastic layer are completely melted. The infrared radiation source is removed and the filter medium is pressed into a melted area of the end face plastic layer. The filter medium is secured in the pressed-in position in the end face plastic layer until a fixed connection of filter medium and end face plastic layer has been formed.
US07914708B2
The present invention is to provide a conductive masterbatch using a polyamide resin, the conductive masterbatch that has an excellent kneadability/manufacturability and formability and an excellent dispersibility of conductive fillers such as a carbon black, and shows stable conductivity even when a large amount of such conductive fillers are contained therein, and a resin composition containing the conductive masterbatch. That is, the present invention is to provide the conductive masterbatch, which includes at least a conductive filler selected from carbon blacks and carbon nanotubes, a polyamide resin, and a copolymer which contains at least a vinyl monomer having a functional group reactive with the polyamide resin and a styrene as monomer units, and in which the content of the conductive filler is in the range of 10% by mass to 40% by mass, and the resin composition containing the conductive masterbatch.
US07914702B2
The present invention provides a dye loaded zeolite material comprising: a) at least one zeolite crystal having straight through uniform channels each having a channel axis parallel to, and a channel width transverse to, a c-axis of crystal unit cells; b) closure molecules having an elongated shape and consisting of a head moiety and a tail moiety, the tail moiety having a longitudinal extension of more than a dimension of the crystal unit cells along the c-axis and the head moiety having a lateral extension that is larger than said channel width and will prevent said head moiety from penetrating into a channel; c) a channel being terminated, in generally plug-like manner, at least at one end thereof located at a surface of the zeolite crystal by a closure molecule hose tail moiety penetrates into said channel and whose head moiety substantially occludes said channel end while projecting over said surface; and d) an essentially linear arrangement of luminescent dye molecules enclosed within a terminated channel adjacent to at least one closure molecule and exhibiting properties related to supramolecular organization.
US07914696B2
Heat transfer compositions are usable in their own right or are suitable as a replacement for existing refrigeration usages. The compositions possess a reduced Greenhouse Warming Potential, yet have a capacity and energy efficiency (which may be conveniently expressed as the “Coefficient of Performance”) ideally within 20% of the values of those attained using R-134a, and preferably within 10% or less (e.g. about 5%) of these values.
US07914691B2
A printing plate and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. A metal layer is first formed on a glass substrate. The metal layer is then patterned in a predetermined shape. The glass substrate is next etched to a predetermined depth using the patterned metal layer as a mask and the metal layer removed. If necessary, additional metal layers have the same or different patterns may be formed on the glass substrate and the glass substrate etched after each metal layer is formed thereon until a desired etching depth in the glass is achieved.
US07914689B2
An apparatus is disclosed that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.
US07914688B2
A method for breaking an emulsion of an ionic liquid which is a salt that is in the liquid state at a temperature below 1500 C, and an oil, comprising the steps of (a) irradiating the emulsion with microwave radiation; (b) separating the emulsion into an ionic liquid phase and an oil phase; and (c) recovering at least one of the phases.
US07914686B2
A process using an electrical signal for electrokinetic floatation of solids and semi-solids in paint sludge water includes collecting the paint sludge water into a tank. The process further includes generating the electrical signal from a bottom of the tank to separate the solids and semi-solids from the water in the paint sludge water to induce electrokinetic floatation of the solids and semi-solids to a top surface in the tank. After separating the solids and semi-solids from the water, the process includes removing the solids and semi-solids from the tank.
US07914681B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a hemodiafiltration apparatus capable of easily and efficiently removing medium to large molecule solutes at a low cost. Provided is a hemodialysis apparatus which uses a hemodialyzer accommodating a hollow yarn membrane in hemodiafiltration to cause a dialysis fluid to flow from a dialysis fluid circuit side to a blood circuit side by forceful back-filtration via the hemodialyzer, and to cause a fluid in the blood circuit to reflux to a dialysis fluid circuit side by filtration via the hemodialyzer, the hemodialysis apparatus being characterized in that a flux operation of the fluid from the dialysis fluid side to the blood circuit side by the back-filtration, and a reflux operation of the fluid from the blood circuit side to the dialysis fluid circuit side by the filtration are repeated intermittently and for at least a plurality of times.
US07914679B2
A method for extracting at least one chemical or biological compound from a liquid phase including at least one functionalized ionic liquid, via a liquid extracting fluid that is miscible with the ionic liquid, and a microfluidic system implementing the method. The extraction method includes moving, on one surface of a microfluidic system, at least one microdrop of the liquid phase into an extraction solution that includes the extracting fluid and that is localized on the surface to obtain in output of the solution, under effect of an electric field, an extract moving away from the surface that is rich in extracting fluid and enriched in the at least one compound, and a raffinate moving on the surface that is rich in ionic liquid and deleted in the at least one compound.
US07914675B2
The invention is directed to a process for the anaerobic purification of waste water in an anaerobic reactor, said process comprising burning the biogas produced in the purification, in a gas-burner, using the hot gases obtained thereby for indirect heating of water in a hot water boiler, which boiler is connected with the reactor by means of a line between the gas head of the boiler and a compartment through which the waste water flows, such as a conditioning tank or the anaerobic reactor, which line ends underneath the water level in the said compartment at such a level that a pressure of between 0.25 and 3 m of water column is maintained in the gas head of the boiler, in which boiler steam is generated which enters the said compartment through the said line and heats the waste water, and wherein the said boiler is further provided with a valve to let off steam in case the amount of biogas is in excess of the amount needed to heat the waste water.
US07914673B2
Disclosed is a mixer-distributor-collector apparatus for use between beds of solid particles in a fluid-solid contacting vessel. The apparatus includes a solids retaining screen, fluid deflector, passageway, fluid distributor, and flow manipulator. The flow manipulator is a device such as a honeycomb, porous solid, perforated plate, screen, or grid having an open area greater than the open area of the fluid distributor and is located below and spaced apart from the fluid distributor. The apparatus improves the fluid flow characteristics by minimizing or eliminating fluid velocity jets and/or other turbulence which can disturb the downstream particle bed. In an exemplary application, the invention finds use in simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorptive separation processes.
US07914671B2
An exemplary apparatus (10), for removing buoyant pollutants having oil and debris atop a body of coolant, includes a pollutant collecting device (11), a pump (12) and a controlling module (13). The pollutant collecting device includes a hollow tub (12) and a collecting module (113). The collecting module is partially received in the hollow tub and is slidable relative to the hollow tub. The pump communicates with the hollow tub. The controlling module is configured for controlling the pump to draw coolant, oil or a mixture of coolant and buoyant pollutants into the hollow tub or out of the hollow tub.
US07914668B2
The invention relates to a thermal conversion process for continuously producing hydrocarbon vapor and continuously removing a free-flowing coke. The coke, such as a shot coke, can be withdrawn continuously via, e.g., a staged lock hopper system.
US07914667B2
In one aspect, the inventive process comprises a process for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nonvolatiles in a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system. The inventive process comprises: (a) heating the nonvolatile-containing hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system to a temperature sufficient to form a vapor phase that is essentially free of nonvolatiles and a liquid phase containing the nonvolatiles; (b) separating said vapor phase from said liquid phase; (c) feeding the separated vapor phase to the pyrolysis reactor system; and (d) converting the separated vapor phase in said pyrolysis reactor system to form a pyrolysis product.
US07914664B2
Electrodes comprising ruthenium oxide nanoparticles are disclosed. The ruthenium oxide nanoparticles are located within the electrode or as a coating thereon. The electrode is especially suited for measuring the presence and/or concentration of nitric oxide in a sample.
US07914654B2
This application discloses a method and apparatus for manufacturing a magnetoresistive multilayer film having a structure where an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned-magnetization layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a free-magnetization layer are laminated on a substrate in this order. A film for the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by sputtering as oxygen gas is added to a gas for the sputtering. A film for an extra layer interposed between the substrate and the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by sputtering as oxygen gas is added to a gas for the sputtering. The film for the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by sputtering as a gas mixture of argon and another gas of larger atomic number than argon is used.
US07914652B2
The present invention provides an oxygen gas diffusion cathode for sodium chloride electrolysis comprising: a porous conductive substrate comprising silver, a hydrophobic material and a carbon material; a catalyst comprising silver and palladium, coated on the porous conductive substrate.
US07914646B2
Oxidative compositions and processes that preserve and enhance the brightness and improve color of pulp or paper when applied during different stages of the papermaking process are identified. The oxidative composition and method maintains and/or enhances brightness, prevents yellowing, and enhances the performance of paper products. Used in combination with optical brighteners and/or chelants the oxidative agents produce a synergistic effect not previously identified in the paper process.
US07914641B2
A sealing material for a flat panel display contains 100 parts by weight of a compound (A) containing at least one epoxy group in the molecule, and 0.01 to 40 parts by weight of a compound (B) that generates a base upon irradiation. The compound (B) that generates a base upon irradiation is preferably a compound that generates a tertiary amine upon irradiation. The sealing material has favorable curability at low temperature, and a long pot life at room temperature, and does not cause deterioration of display members with ionic components and acids.
US07914628B2
A magnetic material comprising a NaZn13 type crystal structure with uniform and fine microstructure exhibiting excellent characteristics as a magnetic refrigeration material, and a method of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material are provided. An alloy composition for forming magnetic material of the NaZn13 type crystal structure was melted comprising 0.5 atomic percent to 1.5 atomic percent of B to molten metal. The molten metal is rapidly cooled and solidified by a forced cooling process. Then, a rapidly cooled alloy having the NaZn13 type crystal structure was obtained. In this manner, magnetic materials comprising the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase, or the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase accompanied with other phases such as α-Fe phase having very small phase regions was manufactured without requiring heat treatment for a long time. As the result, productivity of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material is remarkably enhanced.
US07914623B2
A combination of a dry oxidizing, wet etching, and wet cleaning processes are used to remove particle defects from a wafer after ion implantation, as part of a wafer bonding process to fabricate a SOI wafer. The particle defects on the topside and the backside of the wafer are oxidized, in a dry strip chamber, with an energized gas. In a wet clean chamber, the backside of the wafer is treated with an etchant solution to remove completely or partially a thermal silicon oxide layer, followed by exposure of the topside and the backside to a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution contains ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, DI water, and optionally a chelating agent, and a surfactant. The wet clean chamber is integrated with the dry strip chamber and contained in a single wafer processing system.
US07914621B2
A vapor deposition source has a reduced size by disposing a crucible, a heating portion, and a nozzle portion in one defined space. A vapor deposition apparatus deposits deposition materials on a substrate using the vapor deposition source. The vapor deposition source includes a housing, and the crucible is mounted in the housing for vaporizing the deposition materials. The heating portion is installed adjacent to the crucible in the housing for heating the crucible. The nozzle portion injects the vaporized deposition materials into a substrate disposed at an exterior of the housing through an injection nozzle. The vapor deposition source is manufactured in a smaller and lightweight form in comparison with conventional vapor deposition sources in which a crucible and a nozzle portion are arranged in different spaces. The diameter and number of injection nozzles of the invention are restricted to block radiant heat discharged from the vapor deposition source, so that deposition materials are uniformly deposited. Furthermore, the output power of a conveyer for conveying the vapor deposition source is reduced. In addition, a plurality of vapor deposition sources is arranged in a line to perform concentrated deposition of deposition materials so that quality of the resultant product is improved.
US07914612B2
A compliant column sheath assembly for use in a gas chromatograph is provided which includes an open tubular column in the form of a helical coil having a coiled length of between about 5 and 15 cm. The sheath assembly further includes an insulating sheath which surrounds the open tubular column and a frame. When incorporated in a gas chromatograph, the compliant column sheath assembly allows samples to be analyzed in about 2 to 10 seconds.
US07914609B2
An apparatus and method is a fan to direct air through a screen to cool the engine. A cyclonic air cleaner assembly receives air from the blower fan and directs the air towards a carburetor.
US07914598B2
An air treatment system includes features for maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. In one embodiment, a sensor air passage utilizes a low pressure region created by the blower to draw air through the passage. In another embodiment, a filter frame includes a plurality of connectors formed integrally with the filter frame. In another embodiment, a screen is positioned adjacent to the blower intake. The screen includes a plurality of angled strands oriented in a particular direction. In another embodiment, a remote control holder is formed integrally with the housing. In another embodiment, a gasket is positioned between the blower and the housing, forming a seal between the blower and the housing.
US07914586B2
An artificial limb using a vacuum attachment principle is provided with an electrically activated pump that may be readily incorporated into the artificial limb or into a separate portable device. Because the electrically activated pump does not require manual manipulation to create vacuum, it is substantially easier to use than a manual pump. Due to the small size and small battery required by the electrically activated pump disclosed here, it may be readily incorporated into a prosthesis.
US07914583B2
An implant system and apparatus configured to permit motion of the wrist in at least one physiological direction, as well as in a dart thrower's motion, and constrain motion of the wrist in at least one non-physiological direction are provided. The implant according to one embodiment includes a distal component and proximal component. Each of the distal and proximal components includes a primary articulating portion and a secondary articulating portion. Primary and secondary articulating portions include at least one component having either a substantially convex or a substantially concave shape. The secondary articulating portion is configured to be radially and volarly disposed in relation to the primary articulating portion.
US07914580B2
A prosthetic joint includes: (a) a first member comprising rigid material including a wear-resistant, concave cup surface; and (b) a second member comprising rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex contact surface; (c) one of the surfaces includes: (i) an annular first flange defining a protruding wear-resistant first contact rim at or near an apex of the member; and (ii) an annular second flange defining a protruding wear-resistant second contact rim, at or near an outer periphery of the member; (d) the first and second contact rims bear directly against the contact surface, so as to transfer loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (e) the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the surface of the opposite member, when the joint is placed under a predetermined load.
US07914570B2
A stent may comprise a helically wound ribbon of material. The stent may comprise a plurality of ribbon turns about a longitudinal axis of the stent. Upon expansion of the stent, the diameter of the stent may increase and the number of ribbon turns may decrease. Upon expansion of the stent, the width of the ribbon may increase. The length of the stent may be the same in unexpanded and expanded states.
US07914566B2
A multifunction warming device includes a clinical garment with at least one convective apparatus supported on the inside of the garment. Slits are provided in the clinical garment which enables a patient to insert his or her hands inside the clinical garment to be warmed therein by operation of the convective apparatus.
US07914559B2
A locking device and method are provided for a bone stabilization system which includes a bone anchor, a coupling mechanism and a stabilization member, wherein the coupling mechanism couples the stabilization member to the bone anchor. The locking device includes a seating member and a posted member. The seating member is operatively associated with the coupling mechanism for securing the stabilization member within the coupling mechanism, and is configured with an opening therein. The posted member, which includes an interface member and a post extending therefrom, is configured for disposition between the seating member and the stabilization member with the post extending therefrom being received into the opening in the seating member when the seating member is employed to secure the stabilization member within the coupling mechanism. The post is sized to engage and facilitate control of the stabilization member as the seating member operatively engages the coupling mechanism.
US07914558B2
A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and/or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Detachable members may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The detachable members may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars.
US07914556B2
The invention provides a method of revising an implanted spinal device, such as an implanted arthroplasty device having a cephalad component fixed to a first vertebra and a caudal component fixed to a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra. The method includes the following steps: removing a portion of a previously implanted spinal arthroplasty device; and attaching a revision component to a remaining portion of the previously implanted spinal arthroplasty device to alter a biomechanical characteristic of the implanted arthroplasty device. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of limiting motion between adjacent vertebrae including the steps of accessing an implanted spinal arthroplasty device comprising a cephalad component fixed to a first vertebra and a caudal component fixed to a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra, the cephalad and caudal components having a range of motion between them, and attaching a revision component to the cephalad and caudal components to reduce the range of motion. The invention also includes revision devices for revising the biomechanics of implanted spinal arthroplasty devices.
US07914552B2
A method and instruments used to performing an end-to-end anastomosis between two portions of intestinal tissue is disclosed. The method involves drawing a first portion of intestinal tissue over a portion of a bioabsorbable stent. The end of the first portion of intestinal tissue is everted on the stent to create a collar of exposed inner intestinal tissue. A second portion of intestinal tissue is drawn over the stent and over the exposed intestinal tissue. A bandage containing one adhesive compound selected from the group of an adhesive and an adhesive initiator is wrapped about the juncture. The other adhesive compound is applied to saturate the bandage and the combination of an adhesive and an adhesive initiator sets the adhesive to adhere the first portion and the second portion of adhesive to the bandage.
US07914537B2
A system and method is provided for maintaining a proper intervertebral disc height during the replacement or augmentation of the spinal disc. In one embodiment, a cannulated distractor is used to distract the adjacent vertebrae and maintain a proper disc space height. The cannulated distractor is fluidly connected to a source of fluent material for injection into the disc space. The distraction includes a distraction tip resident within the disc space that includes a central lumen and a number of openings communicating with the lumen to dispense the fluent material within the disc space.
US07914536B2
A device for repairing a bone disorder using a polyaxial screw. The device has a pivoted lever mounted rotatably to an extension of a bone screw and which extends essentially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the extension to which it is mounted and is in contact with a stop on the other extension associated with the vertebral body to be repositioned. The extension that acts on the polyaxial bone screw comprises a longitudinal sleeve, a rod, preferably threaded, extending from within the sleeve and moveable within the sleeve, and a contact surface disposed on the end of the threaded rod which is configured to transmit a force against the bone screw to prevent polyaxial movement of the polyaxial bone screw for as long as the force is transmitted.
US07914532B2
System, including methods and apparatus, for treating orthopedic conditions using a rod member structured for placement in a medullary canal of a bone and including at least one locking aperture with an internal thread structure. In some embodiments, the internal thread structure may include two or more thread leads disposed adjacent the same end of the locking aperture, two or more interspersed internal threads, and/or a thread depth substantially less than that of a corresponding threaded fastener for the locking aperture.
US07914526B2
A cryogenic catheter includes an outer flexible member having at least one cryogenic fluid path through the flexible member. The at least one fluid path is defined by a plurality of flexible members disposed within the outer flexible member.
US07914519B2
There is provided a connector for coupling to a guiding catheter including a housing defining a conduit communicating with the interior of the guiding catheter, the housing including first and second housing portions which are manually positionable in various relative mutual axial orientations, a selectably openable normally closed valve associated with the conduit for selectable sealing thereof, the selectably openable valve having an open state, a closed state and at least one partially open state realized by suitable relative mutual axial orientation of the first and second housing portions and permitting at least one elongate element to extend therethrough, even when the valve is, in the closed state, the selectably openable valve including a spring which urges the valve towards the closed state and an automatically engageable and manually disengageable valve state governing mechanism operative for automatically retaining the valve in, a state other than the closed state against the urging of the spring.
US07914518B2
A clamp (110) for releasably clamping a catheter, including a body having a first portion (112), a second portion (122), and a hinge (132) connecting the first portion and the second portion, such that the first portion is disposed to face the second portion. The first portion (112) includes a tab (134) extending distal from the hinge (132) and wherein the second portion (122) includes a locking means (146) for releasably locking the tab (134) to the second portion (122). A method of releasably clamping a plurality of catheter lumens (100,102) during catheter insertion and a method of locating a catheter insertion distance based on the location of the clamp are also disclosed.
US07914508B2
Apparatus for reducing the fat content of blood and in particular to an apparatus for reducing the fat content of pericardial suction blood has a conduit for blood, an absorbing filter located in the conduit and an associated temperature control device for adjusting the temperature of blood before it flows through the filter.
US07914507B1
The invention, a reusable adjustable diaper, includes: a multi-ply member having a first curvilinear portion connecting by a medial portion to a second curvilinear portion; a first elastomeric member connected to a first curved segment of multi-ply member and having a first plurality of fastening areas; a second elastomeric member connected to a second curved segment of multi-ply member and having a second plurality of fastening areas; a first plurality of fasteners connected to first curvilinear portion; a second plurality of fasteners connected to second curvilinear portion and disengagably fastenable with first plurality of fasteners; a third fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with first elastomeric member at each of first plurality of fastening areas; and a fourth fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with second elastomeric member at each of second plurality of fastening areas.
US07914502B2
A gland member within a medical valve is configured to have a substantially consistent or enlarging internal volume as the valve transitions from a closed mode to an open mode. To that end, the valve has a housing forming an interior containing a flow path, and a stationary post member within the interior. The post member has a lumen that is a part of the flow path. The lumen has an opening to the interior of the housing. The valve further includes a gland member circumscribing the post member to produce a variable volume region formed at least in part between the gland member itself and the post member. In addition, the variable volume region is a part of the flow path, while the gland member occludes the post lumen opening when in the closed mode. The variable volume region has an open volume (i.e., when the valve is in the open mode) that is no less than its closed volume (i.e., when the valve is in the closed mode).
US07914492B2
A catheter introducer system is provided with a catheter sheath having a valve providing for a friction fit around a catheter. The friction fit is selectively adjustable to vary between a first configuration for longitudinal movement of the catheter through the valve and a second configuration for holding the catheter longitudinally in place. The valve may includes a chuck to grip the catheter radially. The chuck may include an annular base and an opposed annular clamp, and a washer disposed between the base and the clamp. At least one of the base and the clamp may include a beveled surface that forces the washer radially inwardly as the base and the clamp are drawn together. The system also includes one or more dilators layered within the sheath. The layered dilators and sheaths are typically softer and more hydrophilic proceeding from the innermost dilator out to the sheath. The dilator may be reinforced by a wire embedded in the body of the dilator. The distal tip of the sheath may be stiffened by a ring affixed adjacent the distal end. The sheath may include in the innermost dilator a trocar formed of a flexible, hollow outer wire and an inner stiff needle, which can extend beyond the wire for piercing and be withdrawn to relax the wire for advancement of the dilator.
US07914483B2
An infusion pump includes: a housing, a pump actuator supported by the housing, electronics configured to control the pump actuator, a pain controlled analgesic (“PCA”) input device, a cord having a remote end connected to the PCA input device and a local end connected to the housing, a remote integrated circuit; and a local integrated circuit in communication with the electronics and the remote integrated circuit so as to provide operational information concerning the PCA input device to the electronics.
US07914480B2
A dermal, transdermal, mucosal or transmucosal delivery device includes a backing layer overlying an ingredient containing reservoir, and having a microprotrusion array attached thereto, a cover for the reservoir having at least one opening therethrough, an adhesive layer and a liner layer. Upon removal of the liner layer, the device may be placed over the desired area of the skin or mucosa and adhesively applied thereto allowing the ingredients to flow from the reservoir through the at least one opening to the skin or mucosa.
US07914479B2
The present invention is directed to a photolytic artificial lung. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, the removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power is disclosed. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung. Also disclosed herein is a gas sorption device for removing carbon dioxide from the system by chemical sorption.
US07914478B2
An intra pelvic cancer therapeutic agent perfusion apparatus and method for administering a cancer therapeutic agent to and recovering same from a cancer tissue site within the pelvis. The tip of a first sheath is percutaneously inserted into the femoral artery and the tip of a second sheath is inserted into the femoral vein. A first balloon catheter is inserted into the aorta through the femoral artery and a second balloon catheter is inserted into the vena cava through the femoral vein. The first balloon catheter is used to block the blood flow and the second balloon is inflated to form an intravenous closed region between the site of insertion in the vena cava and a lower limb side venous site. A body fluid containing a cancer therapeutic agent is administered to the intra arterial closed region through the first sheath and is removed therefrom through the second sheath.
US07914473B2
The invention resides in a posture training device comprising a signalling unit able to be worn longitudinally over a user's spine, the signalling unit having two ends that can be used to activate the signalling unit by tension being applied to either of the two ends; a waist strap able to be fitted around a waist of a user, the waist strap connected to one of the ends of the signalling unit; and a central strap able to extend adjacent the spine of a user, the central strap being connected to an opposing end of the signalling unit and to the waist strap.
US07914472B2
A neck support/brace for protecting a neck has a flexible collar with a top wall, bottom wall, sidewalls and sectional walls disposed therebetween that form compartments therein. A plurality of cells are disposed within the compartment. Each of the fluid cells have a valve element disposed therein. When the pressure acting upon the cells is below a threshold pressure, fluid or air flows through the valve element to allow movement of the neck. Alternatively when the pressure on the cells is above the threshold pressure the valve element closes preventing fluid or air flow out of the fluid cell thus causing the cell to stay inflated and provide resistance to a neck movement.
US07914471B2
A multiple mode massage chair is provided for being interchangeably used as a seating support and a massaging platform. Above the conventional components of an advanced chair construction such as a horizontal base with a number of casters for slidably supporting the base over the floor, an upholstered seat bottom and seatback assembled to the base through a telescopic upright stand for a height adjustment from the base, the invention provides pairs of elongated cushion flaps pivotally attached to the seat bottom and seatback for selectively providing an extra cushion to the seated user on the respective seating surfaces. Each flap is shaped to flap on a bi-level pivot action to cover or expose an underlying massage surface of the chair with the assistance of a toggle action in order to facilitate the change of the mode of operation of the chair.
US07914470B2
An apparatus and method are provided for applying a medicament to tissue, and delivering ultrasonic energy from a non-contact distance from the tissue to the medicament and to the tissue, wherein the ultrasonic energy has intensity capable of penetrating the wound tissue to a beneficial depth to provide a therapeutic effect to the tissue, and of sonicating the medicament for causing the medicament to penetrate the tissue to a beneficial depth to provide a therapeutic effect to the tissue.
US07914466B2
A medical device for guiding through anatomy, such as a catheter or guidewire, with a tubular body that has been slotted to enhance bending flexibility, and a polymer liner with an anti-collapsing structure, and a method of making a medical device with a kink-resistant corrugated tubular member and an anti-collapsing structure. Anti collapsing structures may be helical or annular, and may be wire, such as ribbon wire, grooves in the liner, corrugations, or a braid. Liners may be bonded to the anti-collapsing structure, or may have two layers, with the anti-collapsing structure between the layers. Corrugations may be formed between sections of the anti-collapsing ‘structure with heat, pressure, stretching, compression, a mold, or a combination thereof, and may extend inward or outward. Shape or wall thickness may vary along the length to provide a varying bending stiffness. Slots may be formed in groups of two, three, or more, and adjacent groups may be rotated about the axis forming a helical pattern.
US07914459B2
A method and apparatus that provides an expert system for determining respiratory phase during ventilatory support of a subject. Discrete phase states are partitioned and prior probability functions and observed probability functions for each state are defined. The probability functions are based upon relative duration of each state as well as the flow characteristics of each state. These functions are combined to determine phase probabilities for each state using Bayes' theorem. The calculated probabilities for the states may then be compared to determine which state the subject is experiencing. A ventilator may then conform respiratory support in accordance with the most probable phase. To provide a learning feature, the probability functions may be adjusted during use to provide a more subject specific response that accounts for changing respiratory characteristics.
US07914454B2
A method and apparatus for electronic volume data acquisition using ultrasound generates image data in a scanning and imaging process known as coherent aperture combining beamforming (CAC-BF). The CAC-BF technique can be applied in an azimuth dimension and/or an elevation dimension, to form an ultrasound image line, image plane, or image data cube. Several innovations relating to the design and ordering of shots and efficient weighting algorithms that address various performance issues associated with B-mode and other modes such as Doppler, and harmonic imaging are disclosed. The invention has significant advantages over other synthetic aperture imaging techniques and conventional imaging techniques by supporting higher resolution, larger volumes and/or shorter acquisition times than comparative techniques, using similar system hardware complexity.
US07914451B2
Systems and methods are described for determining tissue attributes using ultrasound energy. Various characteristics of a medium, such as an animal tissue, can be estimated using techniques such as signal trace analysis and angular-dependency analysis of reflectivity. Such techniques can be performed in conjunction with a spectral decomposition analysis. Attributes can be cross-plotted so as to facilitate user analysis and better understanding of the medium. Attributes obtained in the foregoing manner do not necessarily need to conform to standard values, especially when attempting to detect and characterize an anomaly within the medium. Relative differences of attribute values within the medium can provide information about the anomaly. Additional information about the anomaly can be provided by an observation of the anomaly by an expert.
US07914446B2
A video inspection system provides capability to view objects not satisfactorily accessible by direct line of sight. The video inspection system includes a fluid ejection nozzle to clear the workpiece area to be inspected, an adjustable focus camera and connections to remote image data processing equipment. The video inspection system includes a sapphire lens cover to protect the optical lens and a tip protection boot to protect the viewing head from damage by contact with the work being inspected.
US07914445B2
A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A vacuum-activated device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. A corrugated tube transmits torque from the proximal end toward the distal end. A method for transmitting torque and variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument includes providing a hollow body, transmitting torque along the hollow body with a corrugated tube, applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body for placing the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition, and relieving the vacuum for placing the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition.
US07914444B2
An endoscope system includes a first endoscope that includes a first distal end portion, a first observation window provided at the first distal end portion, a first objective optical system optically coupled to the first observation window and having a first viewing angle, and a first treatment instrument channel opening positioned at a first distance away from the first observation window; and a second endoscope that includes a second distal end portion, a second observation window provided at the second distal end portion, a second objective optical system optically coupled to the second observation window and having a second viewing angle wider than the first viewing angle, and a second treatment instrument channel opening positioned at a second distance longer than the first distance.
US07914443B2
An endoscope is provided that can reduce examination costs by realizing commonality of an operating unit by making an inserting unit and the operating unit attachable/detachable with respect to each other to enable the exchange of inserting units. The endoscope of this invention includes an operating unit, an inserting unit that can be detachably connected to the operating unit, and transmission and reception coils provided in the operating unit and the inserting unit, respectively, for sending and receiving signals in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the inserting unit when the inserting unit is connected to the operating unit.
US07914437B2
Described are methods of treating urinary incontinence using a urinary sling and a tissue path that passes through the obturator foramen, along with related surgical implants, devices, systems, and kits.
US07914435B2
An everting applicator for brachytherapy of body cavities such as the vagina has a flexible sleeve secured to a distal mandrel, both the sleeve and the mandrel having internal lumens. The flexible sleeve has a diverging opening at its distal end, preferably bell-shaped or cone-shaped, such that when the open end is pushed against the mouth of a vagina, the sleeve will evert back upon itself, progressively unrolling to an inside out configuration wherein, fully inserted, the sleeve is fully everted back over the exterior surface of the mandrel. A radiation source, isotopic or electronic, is then inserted into the mandrel lumen to commence a therapeutic irradiation procedure of tissues of the vagina.
US07914427B2
An exercise assisting apparatus has a seat with a contact surface of which position is varied within an adjustable range defined by a user's physique in order to successfully adjust the user's knee at a desired bent angle irrespective of the user's height. The seat 21 bears the buttock of the user M with the user's feet resting on a foot supporting surface on top of a foot stand 40. The seat 21 is displaced by a seat driver 50 with a motor in a direction of varying the user's weight acting on the legs of the user M. The seat 21 is driven by an elevator mechanism 60 to move up and down together with the seat driver 50. The elevator mechanism 60 moves the seat 21 in a direction which is restricted to a line inclined rearwardly and upwardly with respect to a vertical direction and deducted by a user of maximum physique and a user of minimum physique.
US07914424B1
Various exercise systems include first and second selectorized dumbbell assemblies; and a frame having first and second weight supports to support respective dumbbell assemblies. Generally speaking, the systems assume multiple configurations to facilitate both use and storage of the dumbbell assemblies. Many of the systems include at least one body supporting platform that is movable between a first position that is suitable for exercise, and a second position that is suitable for transportation and/or storage.
US07914415B2
An automatic transmission is provided with three planetary gear units and five friction elements. The first planetary gear unit includes a first sun gear that is always fixed, a first carrier supporting a first pinion in meshed engagement with the first sun gear and a first ring gear in meshed engagement with the first pinion. The first to fifth friction elements are operatively arranged with respect to the first, second and third planetary gear units to selectively establish at least seven forward speeds and one reverse speed by combining simultaneous engagement of two out of five friction elements for transmitting torque from the input shaft to the output shaft.
US07914409B2
In an oil-free roller chain, the inner faces of the outer link plates have recesses that receive the ends of bushings, and the inner faces of the inner link plates have recesses that receive the ends of rollers surrounding the bushings. Each such recess is formed by punching, so that the outer surface of each plate has a bulged portion opposite each recess. The diameters of the bulged portions are greater than the diameters of the corresponding recesses. The bushing can have an oil passage located midway between its ends and serving as an oil reservoir supplying oil to the gap between the bushing and the roller and between the bushing and a connecting pin.
US07914407B2
A manually operated bicycle front derailleur assembly includes a linkage assembly, a lever member and a connecting link. The linkage assembly is supported to a fixing member and includes an inner link pivotally coupled to the fixing member at a first pivot point, an extension arm extending from proximate the first pivot point, an outer link pivotally coupled to the fixing member at a second pivot point, and a chain guide pivotally coupled to the inner and outer links to move between an inner shift position and an outer shift position. The lever member is pivotally supported relative to the fixing member and the bicycle frame spaced apart from the first and second pivot points. The connecting link operatively connects the lever member to the extension arm such that the linkage assembly moves in response to movement of the lever member.
US07914404B2
A ball bat includes a barrel having a radially inner surface. Graphics, or an indicator layer including graphics, that provide a visual indication of whether tampering, such as shaving, has occurred to the radially inner surface of the barrel are affixed to, applied to, or integral with the radially inner surface of the barrel. A transparent or translucent cap, or a cap including a window, is optionally attached to an end of the barrel to provide visual inspection of the internal graphics. The cap itself may additionally or alternatively include internal observable features, or external engraved or etched features, that make the cap difficult to replicate or counterfeit.
US07914399B2
The present invention provides a golf ball having excellent rebound characteristics and excellent flight performance, while maintaining good durability and good appearance. The present invention relates to a golf ball comprising a core composed of a center and at least one intermediate layer formed on the center, and a cover covering the core, and having many dimples on the surface thereof, wherein the outermost layer of the intermediate layer is formed from thermoplastic resin, has a thickness of 0.5 to 3.0 mm, and has depressions on the surface thereof at the position and shape corresponding to the dimples through the cover, and the cover is formed from thermoplastic resin and has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.8 mm in land portion having no dimple.
US07914391B2
A golf swing training device includes a base, an extension bar, and a grid assembly. The grid assembly includes a grid and a putting flange. The grid assembly further includes a grid adjuster connecting the grid and putting flange to the extension bar. An alignment rod is removably coupled to the base.
US07914387B1
A fun and entertaining backyard lawn game related to the traditional game of golf. Players take turns striking their ball with a golf club from a plurality of designated tees towards a singular cup. Each player's ball is of a non-traditional design and changes the strategy and dynamics of play. The cup is also a non-traditional design with mechanical obstructions to the ball and on occasion may be adjusted by each player to impede the chances of a subsequent opponent from holing his ball in the cup. A winner is determined by a unique method of scoring.
US07914385B2
Dasher board assemblies and methods for making the same. An example dasher board assembly may include a dasher board frame. A facing panel may be coupled to the frame. An adhesive member may be disposed between the frame and the facing panel. The adhesive member may attach the facing panel to the frame.
US07914381B2
A system and method for facilitating multiplayer online gaming is disclosed. The system 100 includes a client gaming program 108 and a gaming layered service provider (“LSP”) 114, which are stored and operate on a client computer terminal 120. The client gaming program 108 detects when certain individuals identified by a user are playing online games and notifies the user of the individuals currently playing games online and the games that the individuals are playing. The client gaming program 108 allows the user to easily join the games in progress. The gaming program 108 and LSP 114 also monitor and detect games that are running on the terminal 120 and the connection status of the games. The gaming program 108 communicates data regarding the user, games and connection status over the computer network for receipt by selected individuals.
US07914380B2
A multi-player game system (100) includes a lobby server (3) and a plurality of game devices (A1, A2, . . . and B1, B2, . . . ). When there is a preceding entry game device in a competition waiting state, since the server device has already received an entry request from the preceding entry game device, the lobby server (3) indicates the preceding entry game device as an opponent to a new entry game upon receiving an entry list request from the new entry game device. This indication is issued irrespective of the round of the knockout competition in which each of the new entry game device and the preceding entry game device is. The game device manages the round of the knockout competition in which the game device is, progresses the game device to the next round on the basis of determination as to whether or not the game device has won, and causes a display of the game device to show an image corresponding to the round.
US07914372B2
A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.
US07914370B2
A system and methods of playing wagering games of chance in which a player receives points based on game play, the points being usable toward either a cumulative jackpot or entry into another game which may be a game of skill or chance. In one example, a system and method for a “double chance” game links progress in a second game to the results of a first game. A player receives a chance at playing the second game based on winning or losing the first game, thereby providing the player with two chances to win for one entry into a game session. A player participating in the first game receives points, based on a result of the first game, that may be used to play a second game or may be redeemed for one or more prizes, as discussed below. The points may embody the player's chance for winning the second game. In one example game format, the points may be awarded for “losing” the first game, thereby providing a dual incentive to a player to play the game—the player may achieve the game's payout by winning the game or may accrue points by losing the game. In such a manner, a player's interest in playing the first game may be increased because of additional chances to win offered by the second game (or selection of prizes) associated with the points the player receives during play of the first game.
US07914368B2
A method and system for playing jackpot and live baccarat games on a baccarat machine with an option for insurance betting. After first two cards are dealt to a player's hand and a banker's hand, according to a set of baccarat rules, and one or more of the players are allowed to place a bet on live baccarat on either the banker's hand to win or the player's hand to win, an insurance bet becomes available for the player to be placed on the player's hand or the banker's hand and various rules are set forth for winning the insurance bet.
US07914362B2
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a evaluating the quality of a lapping plate. In one embodiment, information that indicates the quality of a lapping plate is received while the lapping plate is being used to lap a slider, and the information is used to evaluate the quality of the lapping plate while the lapping plate is being used to lap the slider.
US07914356B2
A method of manufacturing a plasma display panel including a sealing step of arranging a front plate formed with a display electrode, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer on a transparent substrate and a rear plate formed with an address electrode, a barrier rib, and a phosphor layer so as to face each other and sealing a periphery of the front plate and the rear plate with a sealing material, where the sealing step includes a sealing material application step of applying the sealing material to the rear plate, a tentative firing step of tentatively firing applied sealing material, and a sealing step of arranging the front plate and the rear plate so as to face each other and sealing the plates by softening and melting the sealing material, and the sealing material is configured by a glass frit having bismuth oxide.
US07914351B2
Electrical connectors are generally discussed herein having a housing having a bore and a groove having a canted coil spring positioned therein. A pin is inserted through the bore and is electrically connected with the canted coil spring. The canted coil spring may be coated with a noble metal and the housing and the pin may be made from non-noble metals.
US07914334B2
The invention relates to a device or connecting multi-conducting plugs that can be inserted into said device in respectively opposite directions. The device of the invention includes two sockets (1, 2) for receiving the plugs, an internal multi-conducting link (3) connecting the sockets, and a housing (4a, 4b) for maintaining the sockets in opposite directions, the internal link being in the form of a ply folded into a bayonet and having on both sides of an intermediate portion (33) two end portions (31, 32) physically connected to the respective inner faces (12, 22) of the sockets (1, 2).
US07914325B2
The invention has an object of providing a connector for connecting between a printed circuit board and a test device, capable of easily attaching and detaching the connector at low cost. The connector includes at least one conducting pin 28 that is protruded from a connector body, and at least one fixing pin 30 that is extended substantially in parallel with the conducting pin. The fixing pin 30 is longer than the conducting pin 28.
US07914308B2
An electrical disconnect for detachably connecting segments of a drip loop of an electrical service line of a structure, the drip loop having a structure side segment and a service line segment, the electrical disconnect having a first portion connected to the structure side segment of the drip loop, the first portion comprising at least one male electrical conductor extending therefrom and a second portion connected to the service line segment of the drip loop.
US07914306B1
Environmental protection methods standard USB electrical connectors normally suited only for indoor use that allows said connectors to be used in the harsh outdoor environment of powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other special purpose vehicles. The resulting environmentally protected USB electrical connectors provide a small, lightweight, easy to mount, low-cost power source for a wide variety of low power accessories as well as data transfer where available.
US07914303B2
An electrical connector having a plurality of connector units each having a pair of columns of edge coupled differential signal pairs separated by a ground shield terminal. The ground shield terminals each face a different signal pair of terminals in an adjacent column. Notwithstanding the different size and configurations of the ground and signal terminals, the terminals have mounting tail portions that are disposed in a uniform array different from the arrangement of the body portions of the terminals of the connector unit. The mounting tail portions are of a reduced length which benefit the electrical performance of the connector where it meets its supporting circuit board.
US07914296B1
The invention provides an interconnecting assembly including a main structure having first and second portions, an inner terminal on the main structure, a support film having first and second portions, an inner contact and outer terminal formed on opposing sides of the support film, a conductive lever portion on the support film and connecting the inner contact and outer terminal, wherein the inner contact contacts the inner terminal and the first portions are moved relatively towards one another so that the second portion of the film is pivoted together with the conductive lever portion and the outer terminal away from the second portion of the main structure, the outer terminal being depressible towards the main structure from a first position to a second position and returning to the first position when a force depressing the outer terminal is removed.
US07914281B2
The present invention relates to a gas combustion apparatus, composed by a storage tank, a combustion gas setting device, an ignition device, a housing, a combustion device and an outer tube. When the pushing rod of the adjusting unit is forwardly pushed from the bottom end of the vertical slot of the adjusting slot and is rotated into the horizontal slot, the first resilient member is compressed and the gas discharging nozzle is stretched by the adjusting unit, and the gas discharging valve gate is rotated in the gas adjusting valve seat, so a combustion gas supplying status is obtained and the output amount of combustion gas can be adjusted; when the pushing rod of the adjusting unit is forwardly pushed to the top end from the bottom end of the vertical slot of the adjusting slot, the first resilient member is compressed and the gas discharging nozzle is stretched by the adjusting unit, so the adjusting unit is released from the gas discharging valve gate, then the setting unit is rotated and the gas discharging valve gate is rotated in the gas adjusting valve seat, therefore the output amount of combustion gas of the gas discharging valve is able to be reset.
US07914279B2
Apparatus and methods for improved combustion of oxygen and a mixture of a non-gaseous fuel, which includes providing: 1) a source of a mixture of non-gaseous fuel and conveying gas; 2) a source of oxygen; 3) a burner operatively associated with a combustion chamber; 4) a fuel duct in fluid communication with the source of mixed non-gaseous fuel and conveying gas; 5) a tubular oxygen lance fluidly communicating with the source of oxygen; and 6) at least two injection elements in fluid communication with the source of oxygen. The fuel duct includes a portion that extends along an axis towards the burner. The lance is disposed along the axis and has a diameter D. The injection elements are configured to inject oxygen into, and mix therewith, a flow of the mixture upstream of, or at, the burner. At least one of the injection elements receives oxygen from the lance. The injection elements are spaced apart by a distance X, which is greater than the length of diameter D.
US07914278B2
A nozzle adapter for an injection molding machine includes a body and one or more retainers mountable to an outer surface of the body. When the body and a retainer are assembled together they cooperate to define a cavity adapted to contain a cartridge heater between the body and the retainer. Access to allow replacement of the cartridge heater can be gained by removing the retainer from the body without removing the entire nozzle adapter from the injection molding machine.
US07914276B2
An assembly including units for molding polymer materials, the units being arranged successively in a mobile line, each of the molding units including a mold, the mold including two parts mutually mobile about a pivot pin, the movement of the two parts relative to each other being produced upon opening and closing of the mold. The assembly includes rollers co-operating with a track, each of the rollers being connected by link rods to the two pivot pins of adjacent molding units, the path described by the rollers against the track and the path described by the pivot pins being urged to be brought closer together on a predetermined travel of the molding units, such that the distance between the pivot pins of the adjacent molding units is increased during the travel.
US07914273B2
A purpose is to provide an optical component molding apparatus for producing a small-size and high-precision optical component and achieving good transferability and stability of a molded product. A multi-cavity molding machine 100 has a gate 51, a runner 52, and a sprue 53 each having the shape determined to meet conditions (1) to (5): (1) “Miminum gate thickness”/“Maximum runner thickness” is in a range of more than 0.2 to less than 1.0; (2) “Gate length”/“Maximum runner thickness” is in a range of more than 0.4 to less than 4.0; (3) “Outlet diameter of sprue” is in a range of more than 1.0 mm to less than 5.5 mm; (4) “Sprue length” is in a range of more than 10 mm to less than 40 mm; and (5) “Outlet diameter of sprue”/“Inlet diameter of sprue” is in a range of more than 1 to less than 8.
US07914272B2
The system for stretch-forming composite material bands (3) includes, in addition to an unrolling head (20), an original assembly composed of a light source (4) for heating the band (3) and hardening the composite and a pair of rollers (6a and 6b) applying the desired pressure to assemble the band to a laminated composite (2) already deposited or applying it to the support (1). As the application of heat is concentrated at a distance from the rollers (6a and 6b) and with a perpendicular incidence, the rollers can be conveniently made of an elastic material, which enables them to adapt to the transverse curvature of the support equipment (1) and to apply a uniform pressure.
US07914271B2
Disclosed, amongst other things, is a gate insert of an injection mold that includes a base member. The base member defines a nozzle interface for receiving, in use, a nozzle of a melt distribution system that is heated, in use, by a heater, and a gate, the gate configured to fluidly link, in use, a melt channel of the nozzle with a molding cavity. The gate insert further includes a thermal regulator associated with the base member, the thermal regulator includes a direct energy conversion device that is capable of heating and cooling, wherein the thermal regulator is controllably operable, in use, to control the temperature of the gate.
US07914267B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multistage compressor employing a gas injection system for a CO2 cycle which is able to improve the compression efficiency and the compression performance thereof. In a multistage compressor (2) for a CO2 cycle (1) that carries out two-stage compression by discharging CO2 refrigerant gas compressed in a low-stage side rotary compressing mechanism (4) into a closed housing (3) and taking intermediate pressure refrigerant gas in the closed housing (3) by a high-stage side scroll compressing mechanism (5), a gas injection circuit (15) for injecting intermediate pressure CO2 refrigerant gas extracted from a refrigerant circuit into the closed housing (3) is connected to the closed housing (3), and the pressure ratios of the low-stage side rotary compressing mechanism (4) and the high-stage side scroll compressing mechanism (5) are substantially equivalent, and the ratios of displacement volume are substantially equivalent.
US07914258B2
The present teachings relate to a fluid mechanical converter having at least one energy-accumulator mass system that can be powered by a power drive. To provide a fluid mechanical converter, which improves overall efficiency using the simplest components, it is proposed according to the present teachings that the displacement of the driven energy accumulator-mass system is overlaid with a displacement that is caused by at least one inertial force.
US07914253B2
A system for regulating a cooling fluid within a turbomachine. The system may include a plurality of bypass chambers, wherein each of the plurality of bypass chambers allows for the cooling fluid to pass from the compressor section to the at least one wheelspace area. The system may also include a plurality of bypass plugs, wherein each of the plurality of bypass plugs is insertable into a bypass chamber opening on each of the plurality of bypass chambers.
US07914252B2
A fan array fan section in an air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array and positioned within an air-handling compartment. One preferred embodiment may include an array controller programed to operate the plurality of fan units at peak efficiency. The plurality of fan units may be arranged in a true array configuration, a spaced pattern array configuration, a checker board array configuration, rows slightly offset array configuration, columns slightly offset array configuration, or a staggered array configuration.
US07914247B2
A wheel trap assembly for receiving and retaining a wheel of a wheeled support structure is advantageously provided. The wheel trap assembly generally includes a frame and a wheel receiving structure that is pivotably supported within the frame, a wheel received upon the wheel receiving structure being shifted, with pivoting of the wheel receiving structure with respect to the frame, to a wheel landing surface supported by the frame.
US07914229B2
A drain cover portion (100a, 100b) for a linear drainage system which comprises at least two attachment means. The attachment means are provided by at least one a connector attachment means (500) and at least one drain attachment means (700). The connector attachment means (500) is arranged to attach one or more anchor connectors (1002) for connecting an anchor (114) to the drain cover portion (100a, 100b) and/or one or more cover portion connector for connecting said drain cover portion (100a, 100b) to another drain cover portion (100a, 100b). The drain attachment means (700) is arranged to attach a drain portion (200) to the drain cover portion (100a, 100b). Each attachment means is arranged so as to allow the tool-less attachment of a connector/drain section.
US07914228B2
This application relates to a light-weight, multi-purpose construction module. The module may be used, for example, as a mold for settable materials such as concrete. A plurality of modules may be aligned together in different configurations for use as a temporary road or support for use on unstable terrain, such as arctic tundra or wetlands. In yet another application the module may be deployed as a storage or shelving unit. The module comprises a deck and a plurality of wall elements projecting from the deck and defining a plurality of honeycomb-like compartments. The module may be used in conjunction with a mating cover for enclosing the module compartments. In one embodiment the cover may be coupled to the module in two different orientations. In one of the orientations connectors may be coupled to an outer surface of the cover. The connectors are useful for joining separate modules together and for providing the assembly with enhanced structural integrity, for example to support heavy loads. In one embodiment heated water or other fluid may be circulated through the modules to regulate the temperature of construction panels formed from the modules, such as flooring or roofing panels.
US07914225B2
A release pin for selective engagement with at least one work piece, the pin extending in a longitudinal direction with an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion including a shank having an exterior portion extending in the longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and the inner portion further including a locking arrangement near the second end. The shank exterior being sized to pass through an associated bore extending into an associated surface of an associated work piece. The outer portion being joined to the inner portion near the first end and including an abutment extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and being shaped to engage the associated surface when the shank is positioned in the associated bore such that the outer portion is defined by the abutment and has an outer longitudinal height extending in the longitudinal direction outwardly from the abutment and the associated surface when the pin is secured to the associated work piece. The outer longitudinal height being less than 1 inch.
US07914221B2
In an embodiment, an applicator includes an external sheath and an internal rod extending through and beyond a first end of the external sheath. A first end of the internal rod may be coupled to a plurality of axial members that extend between the first end of the internal rod and the first end of the external sheath. By actuating a knob coupled to the internal rod, the distance between the first end of the internal rod and the first end of the external sheath may be adjusted. By adjusting the distance, the configuration of the axial members may be adjusted and this adjustment may modify the amount of product that may be stored between the axial members.
US07914213B2
A printing device (11) for printing receipts (12), each bearing constant data (41a) that render the receipt (12) identifiable, and variable data (41b), indicating the operations to be documented on the receipt in question, comprising: a roll (16) of thermal paper suitable for feeding a continuous ribbon (16a) of thermal paper a first ink jet printhead (22), and a second thermal printhead (23), in which the first ink jet printhead (22) is provided for printing on the thermal paper ribbon (16a) the constant data (41a) due to figure on a new receipt (12), independently from and prior to the relative variable data (41b) becoming available, and in which the second thermal printhead (23) is provided for subsequently printing the variable data (41b), once available, so as to complete printing of the new receipt (12). The printing device is particularly useful, making the printing and issue of a receipt faster, after the relative variable data have been input, thereby reducing waiting time for the user that the receipt is to be issued for.
US07914212B2
A protecting assembly (20) for a camera used in a portable electronic device (10) is provided. The protecting assembly (20) includes a positioning member (14) fixed to a body section (11) of the electronic device (10) and a protecting member (16). The protecting member (16) is mounted on the positioning member (14) and arranged over the camera (12). A process for protecting a camera using the protecting assembly (20) is also provided.
US07914211B2
Provided are optical assemblies which allow for optical and mechanical connection between an optical bench and an optical fiber connector. The invention finds particular applicability in the optoelectronics industry in forming micro-optical components.
US07914210B2
A coupling device for coupling at least one optical waveguide to an optical component having a holding element for holding the at least one optical waveguide, a mounting element for fixing the optical component, and a spacing element. The holding element is fitted to the mounting element. The spacing element is arranged between the holding element and the mounting element, as a result of which the holding element and the mounting element are arranged at a distance from one another.
US07914206B2
The invention relates to an x-ray apparatus with an x-ray source and an x-ray detector, with the x-ray source able to be moved in a first plane and the x-ray detector in a second plane parallel to the first plane and not coinciding with the first plane, with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector always able to be aligned to one another, and a object under examination being able to be arranged between the first plane and the second plane, with, by means of a movement of the x-ray source and a movement of the x-ray detector adapted to the movement of the x-ray source, as well as by means of x-rays leaving the x-ray source, penetrating the object under examination and detected by the x-ray detector, a plurality of two-dimensional projections of the object under examination being able to be recorded in different projection directions relative to the object under examination, from which a spatial presentation of the object under examination is able to be determined.
US07914199B2
An apparatus for a frozen food product, such as an ice cream or frozen-yoghurt product, produces an aerated and flavored base mix. The base mix is provided in a liquid form to the apparatus and is mixed with a gas in the apparatus to aerate the base mix. Flavor is added to the aerated base mix in a turbulence tube of the apparatus, and the aerated and flavored base mix is then deposited out of the turbulence tube onto a cold plate of the apparatus as a thin layer material. The cold plate may be disposed such that it is in open view of a customer. One or more solid-food mix-in additives can be added to the aerated and flavored base mix on the cold plate. The aerated and flavored base mix is allowed to at least partially freeze on the cold plate with the additive(s) dispersed therein to produce a frozen food product, which is then manually scraped from the cold plate and served to a customer. The apparatus for fabricating the frozen food product (with the assistance of a human operator) can define a small footprint and can be designed as a portable cart or a mobile or stationary counter. A method of making a frozen food product with the apparatus is provided.
US07914195B2
A display device has a light guide plate formed with a display pattern by a plurality of diffusion dots having translucency in a display pattern formed region, a light shielding layer, and a light source. A plurality of the light guide plates are arranged facing each other, and the light shielding layer is sandwiched between the light guide plates. Light from the light source is selectively introduced to one of the light guide plates to display the display pattern of the light guide plate. The light shielding layer has a surface facing an observer's side formed by a low reflectivity material and a surface facing a side opposite to the observer's side formed by a high reflectivity material. A region facing the display pattern of the light guide plate positioned on the side opposite to the observer's side than the light shielding layer is cut out.
US07914189B2
An exterior component for a vehicle includes a first member having a decorative surface provided at an external portion thereof for transmitting light, the first member further including a first engaging portion, a second member having a second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion of the first member, the second member attached to the vehicle, the first member and the second member forming a double layered structure under the first engaging portion of the first member engaging with the second engaging portion of the second member, and a light-emitting member provided in the double layered structure of the first member and the second member for lighting up and shutting off the light in response to a supply of electricity supplied from the vehicle.
US07914186B2
A lighting device for a vehicle includes a lamp unit serving to irradiate a light forward, and an actuator having a single output shaft for tilting the lamp unit vertically and transversely. The lamp unit is disposed in a lamp housing formed by a lamp body and a transparent cover for covering a front surface of the lamp body. The lamp unit includes a body coupling portion to be coupled to the lamp body and an actuator coupling portion to be coupled to the actuator. The lamp body includes a lamp unit coupling portion coupled to the body coupling portion and serving to support the lamp unit tiltably in vertical and transverse directions. The actuator is supported on the lamp body and includes an output shaft for tilting the lamp unit vertically and transversely in engagement with the actuator coupling portion of the lamp unit.
US07914182B2
A decorative light fixture includes a light engine and a shroud. The light engine includes a heat sink and a light source in thermal communication with the heat sink. The shroud covers the light engine to define an air path between an air inlet and an exhaust. The air inlet is disposed vertically below the exhaust. The air path is shaped to direct air over the heat sink and to exit the shroud above the light engine.
US07914180B2
A lamp reflector includes a reflector cup having an enlarged end and a narrow end being opposite to the enlarged end. The narrow end gradually is expanded toward the enlarged end. The reflecting cup has multiple tiers longitudinally formed thereon along the axis. Each tier has a convex surface annularly formed on an inner periphery thereof for scattering light beams emitted from different angles. Each convex surface has multiple concave faces respectively radially formed thereon for condensing light beams emitted from different angles.
US07914173B2
The invention relates to a lamp assembly for illuminating a surface comprising a cavity (5) having a substantially diffuse reflective surface (6), said cavity having an open aperture (7) facing said surface to be illuminated, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (9 A, 9B, 9C) capable of emitting visible light (LA, LB, LC). The light emitting diodes are arranged on or near said diffuse reflective surface of said cavity such that light emitted from said light emitting diodes is capable of reflecting from said diffuse reflective surface towards said surface to be illuminated.
US07914158B2
An optical element is provided with a fog reducing polymer layer. A reflection reducing nanostructure is formed on the surface of the fog reducing polymer layer.
US07914144B2
Eyewear is equipped with at least one lens and at least one pinhole aperture. Lenses and apertures may be used in place of or in combination with one another, and may be disposed in or on full frame, half frame, wire frame or rimless eyeglasses. The lens may be a corrective lens. Pinhole apertures may have a diameter no greater than about 3 mm, and a diameter/thickness ratio is no less than about 66.7%.
US07914143B2
Glasses for receiving interchangeable charms are disclosed. The glasses are adaptable for releasably and interchangeably attaching and securing a variety of charms such that the plane of the backside of the charm is flush against a convex or smooth outwardly facing surface on a pair of glasses. In a preferred embodiment, the glasses in the present invention comprise a depressed region further comprising a planar magnetic base surrounded on all sides by walls substantially perpendicular thereto. Each charm in the present invention has a second magnet adapted for tight fitment into said depressed region, so as to be held in place by magnetic attraction when brought into close proximity with said depressed region.
US07914139B2
A cloth holding frame is removably set on a frame driving mechanism in a printer including a print head. The cloth holding frame holding the cloth to be printed is detachably provided with the ink tray to receive a jet of ink from the print head by a flushing, and is moved to a flushing position based on a moving distance and, in association therewith, a type of the cloth holding frame set in the printer. Accordingly, the maintenance time for the flushing becomes shorter. The speed of the printing process is enhanced. The controlling operation of the frame driving mechanism to perform the flushing becomes simplified, and the printer can be downsized.
US07914137B2
An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, includes an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.
US07914130B2
A droplet ejection device includes: a substrate having first, second, third & fourth pressure chambers extending in a first direction; a nozzle plate below the substrate & having first, second, third & fourth nozzle apertures continuous with first, second, third & forth pressure chambers, respectively; a vibration plate above the substrate; first, second, third & fourth piezoelectric elements above the vibration plate & above first, second, third & fourth pressure chambers. wherein, viewed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first nozzle aperture positioned to overlap the third nozzle aperture & doesn't overlap the second & fourth nozzle apertures; the second nozzle aperture overlaps the fourth nozzle aperture & doesn't overlap the first & third nozzle apertures, viewed in the second direction; the first piezoelectric element positioned to overlap the third piezoelectric element & doesn't overlap the second & fourth piezoelectric elements, viewed in the second direction; & the second piezoelectric element overlaps the fourth piezoelectric element & doesn't overlap the first & third piezoelectric elements.
US07914122B2
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement comprises a substrate incorporating drive circuitry and defining an ink inlet channel; side walls extending from the substrate; a roof fast with the side walls and defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with an ink chamber defined by the roof, the side walls, and the substrate, the ink chamber being in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel; an ink ejection member interposed between the ink inlet channel and the ink ejection port such that reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member causes ejection of ink from the ink ejection port; an actuator connected to the drive circuitry at a fixed end and having a free end reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry; and a motion transmitting structure interposed between the free end of the actuator and the ink ejection member. The motion transmitting structure has an effort formation, a lever arm formation, and a load formation interconnecting the effort formation and the lever arm formation. The effort formation is adapted to engage with the free end of the actuator arm, and the lever arm formation is adapted to engage with the ink ejection member.
US07914120B2
A modular printhead includes an elongate spine defining longitudinal internal passages for carrying ink. The spine further defines sets of holes along its length with each set having holes in fluid communication with respective passages. A plurality of printhead modules serially engage along the spine with respective sets of holes. Each printhead module defines inlets aligned in fluid communication with respective holes and internal chambers in fluid communication with respective inlets. Each printhead module includes an ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) which is fed the ink from the internal chamber. A capping device is mounted relative to the spine and is configured to cover the IC's when not in use.
US07914114B2
A print assembly is provided having an elongate carrier that is mountable on a support structure of a printer, printhead integrated circuits mounted on the carrier, and control circuitry positioned on the carrier and operatively connected to the printhead integrated circuits to control operation thereof. The printhead integrated circuits are provided in a number and configuration such that the printhead integrated circuits define an elongate printing zone of at least 914 mm. Each printhead integrated circuit incorporates nozzle arrangements each having a nozzle, an ink chamber, an ink inlet, an actuator, and a drive circuit to achieve the ejection of ink from the nozzle arrangement. the nozzle arrangements and control circuitry are configured so that the printhead integrated circuits are controlled by the control circuitry to print more than one billion drops of ink per second.
US07914107B2
A printer includes a printhead having first and second elongate printhead modules; and first and second printer controllers receiving print data and processing the print data to output dot data to the printhead, the first printer controller outputting dot data to the first printhead module and the second printer controller outputting dot data to the second printhead module. The first elongate printhead module is informationally isolated from the second elongate printhead module, whereby no dot data passes therebetween. The first printer controller and the second printer controller communicate therebetween a synchronization signal to effect synchronization therebetween.
US07914103B2
In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.
US07914098B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for patterning workpieces (2), which preferably consist at least partially of wood, wood materials or the like, having an ink-jet printing means (10) having a plurality of nozzles (12) from which drops of ink can be expelled, a workpiece carrier means (20) for carrying the workpiece (2) to be patterned, a conveyor device for bringing about a relative movement between the workpiece (2) to be patterned and the printing means (10). The device according to the invention is characterised in that it further has at least one image detection sensor (46).
US07914097B2
A multipass printing method is characterized in that, on any given pass, the number of selected print locations onto which printing ink is deposited by each of N nozzles varies from nozzle to nozzle. The variation is governed in accordance with a weighted smoothing spline function, particularly a polynomial B-spline function of the order “j”, where j is a value equal to one less than the number of passes.
US07914086B2
An idler for use with an endless track of a track-type vehicle comprises a wheel and a rim. The rim comprises fasteners and replaceable wear pads releasably mounted to and positioned about the periphery of the wheel using the fasteners.
US07914082B2
An apparatus generally includes a dump frame pivotably coupled to a vehicle's chassis, and a slide frame slidably coupled to the dump frame. The apparatus further includes at least one slide frame actuator for causing sliding movement of the slide frame, and at least one dump frame actuator for causing pivotal movement of the dump frame.
US07914078B2
A seat for use with a vehicle providing multiple positions for a member including a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. The adjustor is designed to adjust and/or support the member in multiple positions. The member is configured to maximize seat area within seating limitations. The seat is also designed to provide support for the operator when the operator uses the control lever on the rear of the seat.
US07914069B2
A device to protect the floor pan of a land vehicle against mines, which device incorporates at least one layer of deformable reinforcements positioned between a plane front plate and a plane rear plate, the surface density of the front plate being greater than that of the reinforcements.
US07914068B2
In a vehicle body side structure, a tailor welded blank is used for forming an outer panel assembly consisting of a frame structure, and a center pillar assembly is connected vertically between a roof side rail and a side sill outer of the outer panel assembly. The center pillar assembly is made of a material having a higher mechanical strength than most of the outer panel assembly. Thereby, the stamp forming process can be simplified, and a required mechanical strength can be ensured in a favorable manner. In particular, the center pillar assembly may include a center pillar outer made of material having a higher mechanical strength than at least a part of the outer panel assembly, the center pillar outer being attached to an outboard side of the side sill outer at a lower end thereof and to an inboard side of the roof side rail at an upper end thereof.
US07914063B2
A fuel tank cover module for installation in a motor vehicle is described. The fuel tank cover module comprises a trough body and a hinge arm, which is fastened to the trough body and configured to receive a fuel tank cover and which is mounted pivotably about a pivot pin on the trough body and on its end remote from the pivot pin has a locking portion. The fuel tank cover module further comprises a locking element, which for locking and unlocking the fuel tank cover can be changed over by means of a control unit between a locking position, in which the locking element engages into the locking portion, and a release position, in which the locking element does not engage into the locking portion. The control unit is disposed on the outside of the trough body in the region of the pivot pin. Furthermore, the locking element engages around the trough body.
US07914060B2
The vehicle cargo extender allows a user to effectively extend the bed of a vehicle to accommodate and support cargo having dimensions extending beyond an unmodified bed. The extender has a deck assembly and an arm assembly. The deck, which may be folded for easier storage, forms a floor on which cargo may rest. The arm assembly comprises an extension tube, a storage receiver tube, a crosspiece receiver tube, and a crosspiece assembly. The extension tube, when in use, is inserted into and secured within a receiver hitch. The deck is coupled with the arm assembly. The user may also attach a shelf assembly to the arm assembly to carry additional cargo. When in the stowed position, the crosspiece is coupled to the crosspiece receiver tube and may have reflectors or auxiliary taillights. The storage receiver tube and crosspiece may be nested and secured together within a receiver hitch. When in the stowed position, the arm assembly forms a step to allow the user easy access to the pickup truck bed.
US07914058B2
Picking apparatus for handling an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna includes: a support body having an open slot defined by guide fingers; and an antenna positioning mechanism such as a magnet positioned to move the antenna into the slot and holding the antenna within the slot in an elongate condition. The magnet may be switched to an off condition to release the antenna from the slot or mechanically overcome. An apparatus push rod actuator may be deployed to move the antenna from the slot and deposit the antenna on a receiving component surface external of the slot.
US07914055B2
A display apparatus composed of a main body and a display panel hinged to the main body is conveniently mounted on a ceiling of an automobile. The display panel is opened to a desired position to display information to a rear seat passenger, while it is closed and stays at a rest position when it is not used. Before the display panel is driven to the desired position, it is unlocked by bringing a holding device to a releasing state, and it is locked at the desired position by bringing the holding device to a holding state. At the holding state, a rotatable member connected to the display panel is gripped by the holding device, and the gripping force imposed on the rotatable member is removed at the releasing state. In this manner, the display panel is surely locked at an arbitrary position and is freely driven with a small driving force.
US07914039B2
An integrated air bag chute structure that provides means for providing automatic interlocking attachment of the chute to the substrate of an instrument panel. By inserting the air bag chute into a substrate aperture and utilizing slots, depressions and notches formed in the chute structure beneath a surrounding flange, the aperture edges are captured and retained to thereby lock the chute in place.
US07914036B2
The present invention discloses a retention apparatus for a fin subassembly used in connection with a vent assembly of a vehicle including a headliner assembly mounted to an interior vehicle body structure. A curtain side airbag is disposed between the headliner assembly and the vehicle body structure. The headliner is configured to be displaced by the curtain side airbag upon airbag deployment so as to provide a safety feature for passengers of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a trim cover, a retainer ring and a fin subassembly. The trim cover is mounted to a vehicle headliner and the trim cover having a predetermined inside diameter. The fin subassembly having a plurality of fins configured to direct airflow from an air duct and also having an extended actuator operatively connected to the fins to permit simultaneous and identical movement of the fins. The fin subassembly is mounted in the retainer ring and the retainer ring is rotatably mounted in the trim cover to allow the retainer ring and fin subassembly to freely rotate. The extended actuator having a length greater than that of the predetermined inside diameter of the trim cover to prevent the fin subassembly from detaching from the vent assembly as a whole upon curtain side airbag deployment.
US07914023B2
A steering mechanism includes a relay rod and an idler arm operatively attached to a first end thereof. A pitman arm includes a stud and is operatively attached to a second end of the relay rod. A bushing is configured to allow displacement of the pitman arm relative to the relay rod. The bushing includes an outer can, an inner metal member, and a bushing disposed therebetween. The inner metal member has a tapered receptacle configured to mate with a tapered portion of the stud. The resilient member may include voids, which may be oriented generally perpendicular to a turning direction and may be tapered from the base to the opening. The inner metal member may have a generally-cylindrical portion and substantially-opposing outer flats interrupting the same. The outer flats are spaced by a distance smaller than the cylinder diameter and may be substantially parallel to the turning direction.
US07914020B2
A suspension system for a vehicle provides a camber adjusting system that during a turn, lowers and draws inward the upper A-arm, or draws inward a strut head, which supports the outer front wheel, thereby providing more negative camber to that wheel in dynamic optimal proportion to the degree of the turn. The suspension system can be configured to remain at zero camber on the inner front wheel during the turn or can be configured to raise and move outward the upper A-arm, or move outward a strut head, which supports the inner front wheel, thereby providing more positive camber to that wheel in dynamic optimal proportion to the degree of turn.
