US08270675B2

Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for resolving an occlusion in a video image. Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention provides an environment in which portions of a video image in which occlusions have occurred may be determined and analyzed to determine the type of occlusion. Furthermore, regions of the video image may be analyzed to determine which object in the occlusion the region belongs to. The determinations and analysis may use such factors as pre-determined attributes of an object, such as color or texture of the object and/or a temporal association of the object, among others.
US08270671B1

Disclosed is a method and system for generic object detection using block-based feature computation and, more specifically, a method and system for massively parallel computation of object features sets according to an optimized clock-cycle matrix. The method uses an array of correlators to calculate block sums for each section of the image to be analyzed. A greedy heuristic scheduling algorithm is executed to produce an optimized clock cycle matrix such that overlapping features which use the same block sum do not attempt to access the block at the same time, thereby avoiding race memory conditions. The processing system can employ any of a variety of hardwired Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chips such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).
US08270670B2

A method for recognizing and tracing a gesture fetches a gesture image by an image sensor. The gesture image is processed for recognizing and tracing, and a corresponding action is performed according to the processed result. The gesture image is pre-processed and then a moved image is detected. The moved image is analyzed to obtain a gesture feature. When the gesture feature is corresponding to a moved gesture, a center coordinate of the moved gesture is detected and outputted to control a cursor. When the gesture feature is corresponding to a command gesture, a relevant action command is outputted. Therefore, the method provides cursor movement and command input by user gesture.
US08270664B2

A device such as a set-top-box, digital TV, DVD player, multi-media player, cellular telephone or digital cinema player that may handle data such as multimedia data and/or audio/video signals, may determine its location. The device may determine its location based on GPS information and may send its location to an external entity, for example, a service provider. The device may generate a watermark comprising its determined location and may embed or insert the watermark within the data. In addition, the generated watermark may comprise one or more of a unique identifier for the device, a source of the data, for example, a service provider, a date and a time. The watermark may be secured via processing, for example, the watermark may be encrypted prior to being embedded. The data may be compressed when embedding the watermark. The watermark embedding process may be handled via a secure embedded processor and/or secure code.
US08270657B2

An inserting type earphone device is broken down into a signal-to-sound converter, an ear pad to be inserted into an acoustic meatus of user, a sound tube provided between the signal-to-sound converter and the ear pad and a switching mechanism provided in association with the sound tube and ear pad, and a sound hole, which is formed in the sound tube for connecting a sound propagation hole to the outside, is open to and closed with the switching mechanism; the switching mechanism makes the sound hole open and closed through rotation thereof around the sound tube so that the ear pad is not inclined in the acoustic meatus during the rotation, whereby the ear pad is not dropped off from the acoustic meatus.
US08270653B2

A microphone-unit supporting structure comprises a microphone unit and a holder. The microphone unit includes a substantially-cylindrical microphone element, a printed circuit board fixed to a back of the microphone element, and at least two projections extending radially outward from the printed circuit board and being circumferentially spaced at such an angular interval that when one of the projections is assumed to be on a reference line for line symmetry, the other projection or projections are off the reference line. The holder includes a microphone-unit supporting portion for supporting the microphone unit. The holder has a first groove for receiving first one of the projections, and a second groove for receiving second one of the projections. The first groove is open in a backward direction. The second groove is open in a frontward direction.
US08270651B2

A system and method for mounting modular audio-visual components on a surface such as a wall. In particular, a modular mounting bar may comprise at least one audio-visual module which may be affixed to a rail configured to be attached to a wall at a plurality of locations along the rail and configured to receive a module at a plurality of locations along the rail. A cover or grille may be configured to be attached in front of the modules.
US08270648B2

An earpiece including a tubular core portion attached to an end of an electro-acoustic transducer and extending in an acoustic wave output direction, and an external auditory canal fitting portion disposed outside the core portion to cover an end surface of the core portion and having lower hardness than the core portion is provided. This maintains appropriate flexibility of the external auditory canal fitting portion covering the end surface of the core portion and forms the core portion with appropriate hardness. This eliminates sound quality degradation due to the core portion deformation, earpiece detachment and contact of the core portion with the external auditory canal. Consequently, this improves fitting properties with the external auditory canal and attachment properties with the electro-acoustic transducer. The earpiece which improves fitting properties with the external auditory canal and attachment properties with the electro-acoustic transducer, and the electro-acoustic transducer including the same are thereby provided.
US08270646B2

The invention relates to a hearing aid device and a hearing aid switch. The switch is operable to open and close an electric circuit of the hearing aid device. A lock for the switch is operable to selectively enable and disenable a hearing aid device function. The hearing aid device comprises a device for selectively inhibiting the operation of the switch to enable or to disenable the hearing aid device function.
US08270642B2

The invention relates to a method and device for reproducing sound from a first input audio signal (1) using a plurality of first loudspeakers (4) and producing a target binaural impression to a listener (6) within a listening area (55). In order to decrease the sensibility of the reproduction of sound to the environment acoustics and to simplify the adaptation of the reproduced sound to the listener's head orientation and position, it is proposed to first define a plurality of second virtual loudspeakers (49) positioned outside of the listening area (55), then to estimate a transfer function (17) between each second virtual loudspeaker (49) and the listener's ears (7a and 7b), to compute from the estimated transfer functions (17) transaural filters (2) that modify the said first input audio signal (1) to synthesize second audio input signals (30) and to synthesize input signals (3) from second audio input signals (30) for creating a synthesized wave field (34) by the said first loudspeakers (4) that appears, within the listening area (55), to be emitted by the plurality of second virtual loudspeakers (49) as a plurality of wave fronts (50) in order to reproduce the target binaural impression at the ears of the listener (7a and 7b).
US08270632B2

A sound source localization system includes a plurality of microphones for receiving a signal as an input from a sound source; a time-difference extraction unit for decomposing the signal inputted through the plurality of microphones into time, frequency and amplitude using a sparse coding and then extracting a sparse interaural time difference (SITD) inputted through the plurality of microphones for each frequency; and a sound source localization unit for localizing the sound source using the SITDs. A sound source localization method includes receiving a signal as an input from a sound source; decomposing the signal into time, frequency and amplitude using a sparse coding; extracting an SITD for each frequency; and localizing the sound source using the SITDs.
US08270629B2

A system and method allow for safe use of headphones that include a microphone when using the headphones with a cellular phone, a music device, or the like. A desired audio signal, e.g., a voice of a caller or music, is discontinued when a microphone associated with the headphones picks up either a change in ambient noise or a particular type of ambient noise, e.g., an ambulance, a police car, a fire truck, someone yelling, brakes squealing, or the like. During this state, the headphones output either an audible alert signal, the ambient noise, or a pre-stored signal that states “fire,” “police,”, “yelling,” etc. In this way, a person can safely talk on the phone or listen to music when walking or driving, while still being cognizant of what is going on around them.
US08270625B2

Methods for modeling the secondary path of an ANC system to improve convergence and tracking during noise control operation, and their associated uses are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for modeling a secondary path for an active noise control system is provided. Such a method may include receiving a reference signal, filtering the reference signal with an initial secondary path model to obtain a filtered reference signal, calculating an autocorrelation matrix from the filtered reference signal, and calculating a plurality of eigenvalues from the autocorrelation matrix. The method may further include calculating a maximum difference between the plurality of eigenvalues and iterating a test model to determine an optimized secondary path model having a plurality of optimized eigenvalues that have a minimized difference that is less than the maximum difference of the plurality of eigenvalues, such that the optimized secondary path model may be utilized in the active noise control system.
US08270623B2

A device for testing the operability of an audio speaker includes a housing, a unidirectional microphone and a display. The underside of the housing comprises a recessed area. The unidirectional microphone is positioned and oriented in the recessed area such that the unidirectional microphone is recessed from the underside of the housing. The display is positioned on the housing such that the display is visible when the testing device is placed proximate an audio speaker with the underside of the housing facing the audio speaker. The display may include at least one visual indicator operatively coupled to the unidirectional microphone such that, when the unidirectional microphone is receiving an acoustic signal, the at least one visual indicator is illuminated.
US08270621B2

In one embodiment, ambient sound in audible range of a telephone is electronically sampled, and an audible alert is automatically generated in response to an incoming call signal as a function of the sampled ambient sound. The ambient sound sample may be analyzed in terms of selected parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and tempo. The audible alert may then be generated as a function of the selected parameters in such a way that the audible alert is more noticeable in the presence of the ambient sound. For example, an alert frequency that is dissonant with an identified frequency of the ambient sound may be generated.
US08270612B2

Systems and techniques for mapping compound keys. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first compound key, mapping the first compound key to a first surrogate key, mapping the first surrogate key to a second surrogate key, mapping the second surrogate key to a second compound key, and making the second compound key available for data processing activities.
US08270608B2

An apparatus, system and method provides an out-of-synchronization detection by using a network layer checksum. A process operating at an upper layer verifies that a checksum embedded in a network layer header is correct before encrypting and transmitting a data packet containing the header and a payload. The data packet is received through a wireless communication channel at a receiver and decrypted. A calculated checksum is calculated on the received payload at the receiver and compared to the received checksum embedded in the header. A key stream used at the receiver for decrypting the received encrypted data packets is determined to be out of synchronization with a key stream used at the transmitter to encrypt the data packets if the calculated checksum is not equal to the network layer checksum.
US08270600B2

A disclosed base station randomizes downlink physical channels in OFDM radio access by scrambling codes suitable for the respective physical channels. The base station includes a base-station-specific scrambling code generating unit configured to generate a base-station-specific scrambling code for randomizing downlink physical channels; a sector-specific orthogonal sequence generating unit configured to generate a sector-specific orthogonal sequence; and a multiplication control unit configured to determine, for each of the physical channels, whether to multiply the base-station-specific scrambling code by the sector-specific orthogonal sequence based on whether each of the physical channels requires soft combining.
US08270595B2

An enhanced telephone emulation computer system including a minidialer program for controlling a computer to add telephony functions which can be invoked from whatever active program is currently controlling the computer. The minidialer program controls the computer to alter its processing depending upon the context existing at the time when a mouse click or hot key combination event is detected indicating the user wishes to invoke a telephony function. The minidialer program determines whether the user has highlighted any text or numbers in the active window of the application currently controlling the computer and whether the highlighted material is a name or a phone number, and if a name, whether the name is stored with a phone number in a phone book or file maintained on the computer. Processing and telephony menu options displayed as available also depend upon whether the user is or is not on the phone at the time the mouse click or hot key event occurs. In some embodiments, if the user has highlighted a URL, a browser will be launched and the web page corresponding to the URL will be opened.
US08270585B2

A system and method is disclosed for implementing a multipoint control unit in an endpoint that is participating in and managing a multipoint audio conference in a packet network. The multipoint control unit establishes audio communications between a plurality of endpoints of the packet network, mixes audio communications from the plurality of endpoints, and provides echo cancellation for the endpoint that is managing the multipoint audio conference.
US08270573B2

Systems and methods for legal interception of the transmission of personalized ring back tones as they are sent from a network such as a mobile telephone network associated with a subscriber to a caller in response to a call placed by the caller to the subscriber to allow monitoring of personalized ring back tones and/or their associated call content data. The personalized ring back tone is intercepted at an intercept access point on the network, where the systems and methods of the invention then transmit the intercepted personalized ring back tone to an authorized person or entity, such as a law enforcement agency.
US08270572B2

The present invention provides a wiring degradation detector for use with telephone wire-pairs providing electric power. In one embodiment, the wiring degradation detector includes a transmission section configured to transmit load power over the telephone wire-pairs. Additionally, the wiring degradation detector also includes a test section coupled to the transmission section and configured to provide a load power test signal that determines a condition of the telephone wire-pairs. In an alternative embodiment, the wiring degradation detector further includes a degradation monitoring section coupled to the test section and configured to track values of the condition of the wiring over time.
US08270570B2

An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus which can accept operations from a plurality of operation panels can ensure convenience for operators while avoiding the risk of excessively exposing an object to X-rays. This invention is a control method in an X-ray image diagnosis apparatus which irradiates an object with X-rays and processes a captured image obtained by imaging the object. This method includes the steps of receiving information associated with an imaging condition at the time of X-ray irradiation which is input via an operation panel, discriminating, when the information associated with the imaging condition is received, an operation panel from which the information associated with the imaging condition has been input, and restricting, when the information associated with the imaging condition is received, the reception of a specific instruction input via an operation panel other than the discriminated operation panel.
US08270564B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for reducing motion artifacts in x-ray imaging systems. The detector system output is sampled at a rate higher than the x-ray exposure rate to reduce blurring associated with motion of the detector and/or object being scanned.
US08270560B2

There are provided an X-ray CT scan simulator and an X-ray CT apparatus in which a lesion postulated by an operator can be displayed on a simulation image and a high-precision simulation containing a postulation of occurrence of a new lesion can be performed. They comprise an image storing device for storing a reference image, a target noise value setting device for setting a target noise value of a desired image, a simulated lesion setting device for setting a condition for a simulated lesion postulated by the operator, a simulation image generating device for generating a simulation image containing a simulated lesion by using the reference image on the basis of the set target noise value and the condition for the simulated lesion, and an image display device for displaying the simulation image containing the simulated lesion.
US08270556B2

An apparatus for forming stress corrosion cracks comprises a heating unit which includes a conductive member and a heating coil disposed adjacent to the conductive member to generate steam pressure in the tube specimen, an end holding unit, and a control unit for controlling the heating unit and the end holding unit. The stress corrosion cracks occurring in the equipment of nuclear power plants or apparatus industries during operation can be directly formed in a tube specimen using steam pressure under conditions similar to those of the actual environment of nuclear power plants, thus increasing accuracy for analysis of properties of stress corrosion cracks which are in actuality generated, thereby improving reliability of nuclear power plants or apparatus industries and effectively assuring nondestructive testing capability, resulting in very useful industrial applicability.
US08270553B2

A controlling unit disposed in a PLL circuit controls a phase interpolator to gradually change a phase shift amount applied to a phase shift signal C_PS by a unit of basic delay amount Δ at a timing predetermined in accordance with a modulation profile of an SSC. Further, the controlling unit controls a total phase shift amount applied to the phase shift signal C_PS output from the phase interpolator in one period of a feedback clock signal C_FB obtained by dividing frequency of the phase shift signal C_PS in a way that a difference between the total phase shift amount and a total phase shift amount in a previous one period of C_FB is always equal to or less than the basic delay amount Δ.
US08270545B2

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for tracking of a carrier frequency offset. A soft combined frequency tracking discriminator is proposed as a part of the closed loop structure that can provide fast tracking of the frequency offset in an initial pull-in mode, and can also track small residual frequency variance in a fine-tracking mode.
US08270542B2

A most probable path is selected from a number n (where n≧2) of paths of state transitions occurring from a first state Sk−j (where k≧3 and j≧2) at a time k−j into a second state Sk at a time k. The method includes the steps of detecting predetermined combinations of the first and second states Sk−j and Sk defining the n probable paths in a predetermined period j between the times k−j and k, and evaluating the reliability of a read signal, decoded in the period j, by |Pa−Pb|. Pa and Pb indicate the probabilities of state transition of first and second state transition paths in the period j. The first and second state transition paths are estimated to be the most probable and the second most probable, respectively, among the n probable paths defined by the combinations detected.
US08270541B2

The invention relates to a method for recovering a bit stream from a radio signal (2, 3, 4) received in a first receiving station (S1) and at least one further receiving station (S2, S3), the method comprising the steps of: in each of the receiving stations (S1 to S3), demodulating the received radio signal (2, 3, 4) to form a demodulated data stream (B, B′, B″), transferring the at least one demodulated data stream (B′, B″) from the at least one further receiving station (S2, S3) to the first receiving station (S1), in the first receiving station (S1), generating a combined data stream from the demodulated data streams (B, B′, B″) of each of the receiving stations (S1 to S3), and performing a hard decision on the combined data stream for recovering the bit stream.
US08270539B2

A method for decoding bi-phase encoded data begins by interpreting a first bit boundary of a bit of the bi-phase encoded data to produce a first boundary value. The method continues by interpreting a second bit boundary of the bit of the bi-phase encoded data to produce a second boundary value. The method continues by comparing the first boundary value to the second boundary value to produce a decoded bit.
US08270526B2

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a communication system includes a transmission apparatus with a coding section that generates multi-level-coded signals and transmits the multi-level-coded signals; and a deskew signal generation section that generates and transmits a deskew signal related to the multi-level-coded signals. The communication system also includes a receiving apparatus with a decoding section that decodes the multi-level-coded signals to generate decoded signals, and a deskew processing section that performs deskew processing for compensating skew among the decoded signals of the multiple channels. The deskew signal generation section generates the deskew signal that has been framed by extracting a part of the data from each of the channels of the input signals, adding framing data for enabling a receiving apparatus to recognize which channel the extracted data has been extracted from, and performing rate conversion.
US08270523B2

In a communication system, a precoder is coupled between first and second portions of each of a plurality of transmitters. The precoder is configured to receive an adaptive index representation of a scaled signal associated with the first portion of a first one of the transmitters, and to process the adaptive index representation using an adjusted precoder coefficient to generate a precompensation signal. The precompensation signal is supplied from the precoder to the second portion of a second one of the transmitters for use in precompensation of at least one signal to be transmitted by the second transmitter.
US08270520B2

In this application, an algorithm for decoding multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) transmission for communication systems is provided; the algorithm combines sphere decoding (SD) and zero forcing (ZF) techniques to provide near optimal low complexity and high performance constant time modified sphere decoding algorithm; the algorithm was designed especially for large number of transmit antennas, that allows efficient implementation in hardware—this is done by limiting the number of overall SD iterations; moreover, matrices with high condition number are more likely to undergo SD.
US08270510B2

An apparatus for time synchronization of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system oversamples a received signal using a master clock having a frequency at least four times higher than a minimum sampling frequency in a transmission apparatus, sets one of a plurality of oversampled signals to an on-time signal, and shifts each of the remaining oversampled signals by a predetermined time on the basis of the on-time signal. The apparatus for time synchronization calculates a correlation value by correlating each of the shifted signals and the on-time signal with a previously known signal, detects a maximum energy value among the calculated correlation values, and detects a start point of a frame by comparing the maximum energy value with a predetermined threshold value.
US08270508B2

A transmitter according to the present invention includes a mapping unit configured to convert transmitted data into data pieces associated with individual subcarriers, an inverse Fourier transform unit configured to convert the data pieces into a time-series signal, and a symbol generation unit configured to generate symbols for radio transmission from the time-series signal. The mapping unit associates the transmitted data with subcarriers different from predefined multiple subcarriers arranged at even intervals on a frequency axis. A demapping unit of a receiver according to the present invention supplies data comprising the data pieces associated with the subcarriers different from the predefined multiple subcarriers arranged at even intervals on a frequency axis as the data for restoration.
US08270507B2

The present invention relates to the fields of adaptive multi-carrier data transmission schemes. The present invention especially relates to a method of adapting transmission parameters of a group of subcarriers, a software program product and a communication device. The method of adapting transmission parameters of a group of subcarriers comprises steps of: determining a channel quality value for each subcarrier; establishing an order of assignment groups, each assignment group comprising one or more subcarriers, based on the channel quality values; assigning, in the order of the assignment groups, a transmission parameter to every assignment group, whereby assigning a transmission parameter to an assignment group comprises assigning the transmission parameter to all subcarriers of the assignment group; and calculating a link performance value based on previously assigned one or more transmission parameters; whereby the step of assigning a transmission parameter to every assignment group is based on the calculated link performance value.
US08270503B2

A method and apparatus for estimating a carrier frequency offset (CFO) in a Digital Radio Mondiale receiver is provided. Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulation is performed on a received DRM signal to produce OFDM symbols. A cell characteristic in corresponding cells in the OFDM symbols is compared and a carrier index of a frequency pilot cell in the cells is identified based upon the compared cell characteristic. The CFO is estimated based on the identified carrier index of the frequency pilot cell. The ratio of values of the cell characteristic in corresponding cells may be calculated and the frequency pilot cell identified by identifying cells for which the cell characteristic is most nearly equal. The CFO may be estimated by comparing the identified carrier index with an expected carrier index of a frequency pilot cell.
US08270489B2

A method processes and transmits of data in which image data of an image in the transmitter are provided at a first resolution level and at a second resolution level, higher than the first resolution level. At least one interpolation parameter is fixed, for the determination of image data of the second resolution level form image data of the first resolution level. At least some of the image data of the first and the second resolution levels are transmitted, whereby the transmission of the image data the second resolution level depends on at least one fixed interpolation parameter. Furthermore, a definition of the at least one fixed interpolation parameter is transmitted.
US08270483B1

A method to control weighted prediction for video compression. The method comprises (A) generating statistics based upon analysis of a plurality of video frames, (B) detecting a fade condition based upon the statistics, (C) generating one or more estimated weighted prediction parameters based upon the statistics when the fade condition is detected and (D) encoding the plurality of video frames. The encoding takes into account the estimated weighted prediction parameters when generated.
US08270481B2

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image coding apparatus configured to encode moving image data including: a coding unit configured to encode each picture in the moving image data in a unit of a first block; a luminance change detection unit configured to divide the moving image data into a plurality of second blocks and to detect a luminance change block in which a luminance change occurred from the plurality of the second blocks in one picture; and a code amount adjustment unit configured to increase an amount of code allocated to the first block if the first block corresponds to the luminance change block detected by the luminance change detection unit.
US08270479B2

An apparatus is disclosed for performing real time video/audio encoding on a single chip. Within the single chip, a video encoder generates encoded video data from uncompressed video data and an audio encoder generates encoded audio data from uncompressed audio data. A mux processor within the single chip generates an output stream of encoded data from the encoded video data and the encoded audio data.
US08270470B2

An encoded, digital video input signal having a base signal and at least one differential extension signal is transcoded by determining a first piece of page data and a first piece of transform coefficient data from the base signal; determining one respective second piece of page data and one respective piece of transform coefficient data from the base signal; and determining one respective second piece of page data and one respective piece of transform coefficient data from at least one differential extension signal. A third piece of page data is generated from the first and at least one second piece of page data, and a third piece of transform coefficient data is generated from the first and at least one second piece of transform coefficient data using a weighted addition. An encoded, digital video output signal is generated from the third pieces of page data and transform coefficient data.
US08270467B1

Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with encoding image data are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises classification logic to determine, using an image characteristic from a macro-block of image data, whether the macro-block is a smooth image or a complex image based at least in part on the image characteristic. The apparatus may then generate an encoded macro-block by selectively encoding the macro-block using a first prediction mode if the macro-block is the smooth image and encoding the macro-block using a different second prediction mode if the macro-block is the complex image.
US08270466B2

An initial decimation filter is applied to an original frame to generate a decimated frame. An optimized prediction filter is extracted from both the decimated frame and the original frame, while the initial decimation filter is held fixed. A predicted from is generated from the optimized prediction filter and the decimated frame, and an optimize decimation filter is extracted from the decimated frame and the predicted frame, while the optimized prediction filter remains fixed.
US08270456B2

Apparatus comprising a pre-filter rake architecture with various features designed to, in at least some circumstances, to lessen the data processing burden associated with the architecture. In one embodiment, the pre-filter aspect can be disabled.
US08270441B2

A high power integrated fiber laser system includes cascaded amplifiers that utilize low numerical aperture fiber amplifiers. The system is rugged and lightweight.
US08270438B2

An apparatus and method are described for compensating for frequency and phase variations of electronic components by processing packet delay values. In one embodiment, a packet delay determination module determines packet delay values based on time values associated with a first and a second electronic component. A packet delay selection module selects a subset of the packet delay values based on the maximum frequency drift of the first electronic component. A statistical parameter determination module evaluates a first and a second parameter based on portions of the subset of packet delay values. A validation module validates the parameters when each portion the subset of packet delay values includes a minimum of at least two packet delay values. An adjustment module compensates for at least one of a frequency variation and a phase variation of the first electronic component based on the parameters if the parameters are both validated.
US08270434B2

Aspects of a method and system for reducing transceiver power via a variable number of channels are provided. In this regard, utilization and/or availability of network and/or device resources may be determined and a configuration of channels utilized for transmitting data may be determined based on the determined utilization and/or availability of resources. Accordingly, the number of channels over which data is communicated may be altered based on determined thresholds for the utilization and/or availability of resources. Moreover, the configuration of channels utilized for communicating data may be dynamically altered by monitoring changes to the utilization and/or availability of resources. For example, the number of channels may be altered based on available bandwidth on one or more channels, based on capacity and/or available space of one or more buffers, and/or based on available power or desired power consumption of a transmitter.
US08270427B2

In order to improve reception performance, while reducing the arithmetic amount of a receiver apparatus in a multi-carrier CDMA system, different weightings are performed for the respective spread codes (chips) included in subcarriers in addition to performing weightings for the respective subcarriers.
US08270421B2

The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.
US08270420B2

Transparent communication between iSCSI and FCoE end nodes is provided by a gateway device having iSCSI and FCoE network interfaces. The gateway allows end nodes of one protocol to communicate with end nodes of another protocol as if they were communicating with end nodes of the same protocol. The gateway accomplishes this by creating “ghost” end nodes for each protocol. For example, the gateway creates ghost iSCSI nodes corresponding to physical FCoE nodes, and ghost FCoE nodes corresponding to physical iSCSI nodes. A ghost end node of a particular protocol is able to communicate with native end nodes of that protocol as if it were a native end node, because the gateway translates packets sent from end nodes in their native protocol into the other protocol for receipt by corresponding ghost nodes, and vice versa.
US08270419B2

A fiber node may include a cable modem termination system (CMTS) that includes a first receiver to receive first signals from a plurality of cable modems over a plurality of upstream channels, and extract data from the first signals; a second receiver to receive second signals, the second signals being in a different format than the first signals; and a processor, connected to the first receiver and the second receiver, to receive the extracted data from the first receiver, receive the second signals from the second receiver, compress the extracted data and the second signals, merge the extracted data and the second signals, and transmit, to an upstream facility, the merged extracted data and the second signals over a common network path.
US08270416B2

A communication method for a mobile communication system having a node for sending data to a gateway via neighboring nodes and gateways for sending the data from the nodes to an Internet network, and for setting a path for data transmissions between a gateway and a node, including: transmitting via the gateway a message including path information and a prefix; and setting a path for sending data to the node that sent the message, when a node that received the message, directly or via another node, has the data to be sent to the gateway; and sending the data via the set path.
US08270412B2

A network relay device constituting a network includes a transmit/receive unit having plural ports; an FDB for storing as its registered contents at least a port identifier for identifying each of the plural ports, or an LAG port into which are grouped a specified number of the plural ports, a terminal identifier for identifying a terminal, and an FDB_ID for being associated with both the port identifier and the terminal identifier; and an FDB_ID table for storing the FDB_ID associated with the port identifier. When the registered contents of a specified port or LAG port stored in the FDB are erased, the stored FDB_ID associated with the port identifier identifying that port or LAG port is rewritten as another value.
US08270411B1

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods that allocate bandwidth to a mobile device based on the quantity of dormancy transitions performed by the mobile device. In a particular embodiment, an access node exchanges communications with a mobile device over a wireless link during an initial period of time. A control system determines the quantity of dormancy transitions by the mobile device during the initial period of time. After the initial period of time, the control system receives an access request from the mobile device to access the wireless link. The control system determines a bandwidth allocation on the wireless link for the mobile device based on the quantity of transitions that occurred during the initial period of time. The access node can then exchange data communications with the mobile device over the wireless link based on the bandwidth allocation.
US08270404B2

A method for improved distribution of data in a computing environment includes receiving data for distribution in the computing environment, receiving configuration data of the computing environment, parsing the data for distribution using the configuration data, and outputting header information of a packet, the packet including the data for distribution.
US08270395B2

Network devices in a multicast network exchange multicast optimization data to improve efficiency of multicasting in the network. A protocol, e.g., a routing protocol or a multicast protocol, may be extended to allow the network devices to exchange the multicast optimization data. Alternatively, a separate protocol may be established for exchanging MOD. A network device may receive a message from an upstream device located between the device and a source for a multicast group, wherein the message includes multicast optimization data that specifies at least one criterion for selecting an upstream device. The device may use the data to intelligently select an optimal upstream device for receiving multicast using any of a variety of criteria to rank the upstream routers, such as minimization of multicast traffic duplication, load balancing current bandwidth levels, and avoiding paths experiencing communication delays.
US08270393B2

A remote access device and a method for shaping the spectrum of output signal are disclosed, and the method includes: obtaining a power spectrum density of a signal transmitted by a Central Office (CO) access device at a remote access device; dividing a spectrum of an output signal of the remote access device into a spectrum overlapping portion and a spectrum non-overlapping portion according to the power spectrum density of the signal transmitted by the CO access device; and shaping the power spectrum density of the output signal in the spectrum overlapping portion according to the power spectrum density of the signal transmitted by the CO access device. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically or manually set the spectrum of downlink signal of CO access device at the remote access device, which maximizes the spectrum utilization ratio of remote access device, and it is possible to get the better transmission performance in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
US08270388B2

Method for transmitting system information from a base station BS, eNB to a user equipment UE, the method includes transmitting a system information SI within a period p, which system information comprises a first part of information MIB, wherein the first part of information comprises an identifier ID, which identifier identifies a modification status of the first part of information MIB, and adapting a boundary b upon which the period p terminates, and upon which a modified system information SI is valid, wherein adapting a boundary b is carried out based on the modification status of the first part of information MIB.
US08270385B2

Various embodiments of symmetric transmit opportunity (TXOP) truncation (STT) systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises receiving a frame that truncates a TXOP around a first station, and responsive to receiving the frame, sending a second frame that truncates the TXOP around a second station. Others system and method embodiments are disclosed.
US08270384B2

A method for negotiations between various entities of a wireless local area network (WLAN) including negotiations between controlling nodes (CNs) and wireless access points (WAPs) and negotiations between WAPs is disclosed. These negotiations are used for the purpose of establishing the capabilities of the various entities, determining how such capabilities may be optimally divided among the negotiating entities and then dividing the capabilities among the entities based on this determination. The capabilities include those required for the operation, control and management of the WLAN entities and the encompassing WLAN. The disclosed method introduces means for flexibly accommodating the varying degrees of differences in capabilities among the WLAN entities between the WLAN entities including dynamic changes in WLAN topologies.
US08270383B2

A system for communicating with wireless devices. The systems includes radio groups whose MIMO physical sectors overlap. The MIMO physical sectors communicate using different channels. The MIMO physical sectors overlap to form an area of overlap. Each radio group includes a phased array and radios. Radios are selectively coupled to the phased array. The physical sector of the phase array provides the MIMO physical sector. The phase array operates as a MIMO antenna.
US08270373B2

Provided is a mobile wireless terminal connected to a base station via wireless, including: a storage section which stores and holds a plurality of handover execution threshold values used for execution of handover processing of changing connection in a wireless communication network; a service suspension period identifying section which identifies a service suspension period occurring at a time of the handover processing; a handover execution threshold value selecting section which selects, based on a value of the service suspension period identified by the service suspension period identifying section, one handover execution threshold value among the plurality of handover execution threshold values stored in the storage section; and a control section which executes the handover processing based on the one handover execution threshold value selected by the handover execution threshold value selecting section and a received radio signal.
US08270370B2

In a base station controller for controlling the operation of a base station for executing call control which permits a connection in response to a connecting request from a radio terminal, when a stop instruction of the call control of the base station is received, the number of radio terminals which can be connected to the base station is decreased and thereafter the call control is stopped, and when the call control of the base station is restarted, the number of radio terminals which can be connected to the base station is increased.
US08270363B2

A method for efficiently transmitting and receiving control information through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is provided. When a User Equipment (UE) receives control information through a PDCCH, the received control information is set to be decoded in units of search spaces, each having a specific start position in the specific subframe. Here, a modulo operation according to a predetermined first constant value (D) is performed on an input value to calculate a first result value, and a modulo operation according to a predetermined first variable value (C) corresponding to the number of candidate start positions that can be used as the specific start position is performed on the calculated first result value to calculate a second result value and an index position corresponding to the second result value is used as the specific start position. Transmitting control information in this manner enables a plurality of UEs to efficiently receive PDCCHs without collisions.
US08270360B2

The present invention discloses a method for indicating a modulation mode in HSDPA, comprising the following steps: a NodeB receiving capability information reported by a terminal, if determining that the terminal supports 64QAM modulation mode, determining a transmission block size, a modulation mode and code channel resource to be indicated based on an capability constraint condition and the capability information, and if the determined modulation mode is the same as a basic modulation mode satisfying requirement of the transmission block size, setting modulation mode information of a HS-SCCH as 0, otherwise setting the modulation mode information of the HS-SCCH as 1, and then sending the HS-SCCH to the terminal. Application of the present invention is compatible with a UE device which supports or does not support 64QAM high order modulation, without changing the current frame structure of the HS-SCCH, thereby achieving functional support of the 64QAM modulation mode.
US08270356B2

A wireless communication system and a terminal providing a wireless communication service and to a method by which a base station and a terminal transmit and receive data in an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (E-UMTS) evolved from universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) or a long term evolution (LTE) system, are disclosed. In transmitting RACH MSG 3 by a terminal to a base station, the terminal transmits the RACH MSG 3 by applying different cyclic redundancy checks (CRCs) according to types of data included in the RACH MSG 3, to thereby reduce overhead of a medium access control protocol data unit (MAC PDU) included in the RACH MSG 3.
US08270355B2

The present invention provides a radio communication control device, a radio communication control system, a radio communication control method, a radio communication control program and a recording medium, which control radio resource appropriately when an interference notification signal is received. The radio communication control device according to the present invention, which controls allocation of radio resource for use by a mobile communication terminal in a radio communication system, comprises: radio means for monitoring a communication status with the mobile communication terminal and detecting interference relating to first frequency information; transceiving means for transmitting a first interference notification signal containing the first frequency information and receiving a second interference notification signal containing second frequency information; and a control means for restricting the radio resource in a case when the second interference notification signal is being received, wherein the control means does not restrict the radio resource in a case when the first frequency information and the second frequency information have a predetermined relation.
US08270354B2

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information in a mobile communication system; and, more particularly, to a method for effectively forming uplink control information transmitted through a downlink from a base station to a terminal in a mobile communication system for providing a packet service and transmitting the uplink control information with minimum radio resources occupied. The method includes the steps of generating uplink control information; allocating the uplink control information to a downlink-shared radio resource for packet data transmission based on downlink scheduling information; and transmitting the radio resource to a terminal. The present invention is applied to a mobile communication system.
US08270353B2

An apparatus and method are provided for load balancing in a broadband communication system. In an initial network entry/network reentry/handover, whether to allow a user terminal and whether to allow each service flow are checked. The channel state and load state of candidate frequency assignments and subcells are detected. The ranging status of a corresponding frequency assignment or a corresponding subcell is set according to whether to allow the user terminal. The allowable candidate frequency assignment and subcells are selected and transmitted.
US08270350B2

A receiving apparatus is provided which includes a receiving unit to receive a radio signal, a transfer function estimation unit to estimate a transfer function of a communication path of the radio signal, and a cross-correlation calculation unit to calculate cross-correlation between a synchronous signal contained in a radio signal received by the receiving unit and a known synchronous signal multiplied by the transfer function estimated by the transfer function estimation unit.
US08270339B2

In mobile communication between a base station and a mobile station, reception quality is prevented from being degraded even when transmission power supplied from a base station is remarkably changed. A code generated in accordance with an amount of change in transmission power is transmitted from the base station to the mobile station. In the mobile station, the code generated by the base station is detected by a detector (25), a receiving gain which amplifies or attenuates the signal transmitted from the base station is changed and set by an amplifier controlling section (26) in accordance with the code detected by the detector (25), and the signal transmitted from the base station is amplified or attenuated by an amplifier (21) with the set receiving gain.
US08270337B2

A method and apparatus for allocating a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) resource in a relay-based wireless communication system are provided. The method includes receiving relay link resource information, determining whether a current link is a multi-hop link by using the relay link resource information, and if the current link is the multi-hop link, allocating a corresponding relay link resource as the P2P resource by determining a serving station. Accordingly, P2P communication can be achieved without having to use additional P2P-dedicated resources.
US08270335B1

Method and device for arbitration for time division multiple access using delta-sigma modulation for an integrated circuit are described. A method for arbitrating access to a shared resource among multiple devices includes obtaining a first arbitration factor. The first arbitration factor is first delta-sigma modulated to produce a first slot signal. The first slot signal is for Time Division Multiple Access-arbitrated access to the shared resource.
US08270334B2

A parameter setting change method for a system that performs multicast distribution from an information distribution apparatus to a plurality of mobile stations via a relay node is provided. In the method, a parameter adjustment setting apparatus analyzes a data reception state output from the plurality of mobile stations and calculates an information-distribution-apparatus setting-change parameter and a relay-node setting-change parameter for making the data reception state within a predetermined range. Then, when the information distribution apparatus can be set to the information-distribution-apparatus setting-change parameter, the relay node performs setting change to the relay-node setting-change parameter.
US08270330B1

A system and methods are provided for communicating media data associated with a media host device to a mobile device and presenting the media data via the mobile device. The media data includes information associated with media content available to a media host device. The mobile device receives a request to present media data. The mobile device receives the media data from a media data source via at least one protected network. Targeted advertising may be inserted into the media data prior to delivery. The media data is presented via the mobile device.
US08270329B2

A system and method allows devices to send and receive packets while using power to do so to the extent needed, thereby conserving power.
US08270328B2

A network device may be provided with a PHY layer process unit, a determination unit configured to determine that a link state is a link up state or a link down state, and a first control unit configured to control an electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit. The first control unit may be configured to stop a continuous electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit if the determination unit determines that the link state is the link down state during a first period in which the continuous electrical power supply is being performed, perform a temporary electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit during a second period, and commence the continuous electrical power supply if the temporary electrical power supply is performed during the second period and the determination unit determines that the link state is the link up state.
US08270324B2

A method for bearer control, bearer deletion, data distribution, and multicast broadcast service MBS modification are described, which enables MBS data to be received successfully and MBS sessions to be managed effectively. According to the invention involved in a communication field, service distribution information for one MBS service is maintained within MBS upstream and downstream nodes, and the MBS service distribution information is composed of a list of downstream nodes corresponding to the respective nodes. A corresponding service bearer and data distribution relation of the MBS are established and maintained based on the service distribution information, and service data of the MBS is distributed based on the service bearer and the data distribution relation. The MBS distribution information is pre-configured and/or dynamically maintained, the establishment of the service bearer is pre-configured and/or dynamically maintained, and the data distribution relation is pre-configured, distributed by default, and/or dynamically maintained.
US08270323B2

A communication line having a plurality of twisted wire pairs connects a plurality of transmitters, one transmitter at each end of each twisted wire pair, with a plurality of receivers, one receiver at each end of each twisted wire pair. Each receiver receives a combination signal including a direct signal from the transmitter at the opposite end of the twisted wire pair with which the receiver is associated and a plurality of far-end crosstalk (FEXT) impairment signals, one from each of the remaining transmitters at the opposite end of the communications line. A plurality of FEXT cancellation systems, one associated with each receiver, provides a replica FEXT impairment signal. A device associated with each receiver is responsive to the combination signal received by the receiver and the replica FEXT impairment signal provided by the FEXT cancellation system associated with the receiver for substantially removing the FEXT impairment signals from the combination signal. If necessary, a skew adjuster delays the arrival of the combination signal at the device so that the combination signal and the FEXT impairment signal arrive at the device at substantially the same time. A sequential decoder operates on signals from each of the plurality of wire pairs simultaneously to produce receiver outputs. A plurality of near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellation systems and echo cancellers remove NEXT and echo impairment signals from the combination signal.
US08270322B1

A system for arbitrating a transmission of data includes a number K of transmitters, a request signal transmission device, a device valid signal transmission device, and a data valid logic device, wherein a transmitter asserts a request signal to request permission to begin a data transmission and transmits transmission-identifying information to a receiver. The data valid logic device deasserts a data valid signal based on the state of a wait signal, thereby preventing a transmission of data from each of the K transmitters at one clock cycle after a clock cycle at which the data signal is deasserted. An arbitration logic device of the receiver selects one of the number K of transmitters to grant permission to transmit data to the receiver and outputs an arbitration signal to a wait logic device instructing the wait logic device to deassert the wait signal of the selected trnasmitter.
US08270321B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a data transmission method which includes: sending, by an REC, a first part of downlink data of a downlink period to an RE before the downlink period arrives; sending, by the REC, a second part of the downlink data of the downlink period to the RE in the downlink period, where the second part and the first part constitute all downlink data of the downlink period; receiving, by the RE, the first part and the second part of the downlink data of the downlink period; and sending, by the RE, the first part and the second part as the downlink data through an air interface in the downlink period. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure also disclose a base station which can effectively improve utilization of transmission bandwidth of a CPRI interface and utilization of spectrum resources of the air interface.
US08270318B1

Techniques are described for discovering switch-to-switch links in a computer network. In general, the techniques recognize that a link exists between a first switch and a second switch when a MAC address is reachable by a first port of the first switch and by a first port of the second switch, two MAC addresses are reachable by a second port of the first switch, one of the two MAC addresses reachable by the second port of the first switch is also reachable by a second port of the second switch, and the other of the two MAC addresses is also reachable by a third port of the second switch. These techniques search for this occurrence by iteratively searching ports of two switches. That is, the techniques iterate over the ports, rather than MAC addresses thereof. In this manner, the techniques efficiently discover switch-to-switch links in a computer network.
US08270311B2

A method of automatically determining a far-end crosstalk (FEXT) and near-end crosstalk (NEXT) transfer function in communication lines such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). In a first phase, an input test signal with a known power density spectrum (PSD) covering a frequency range of interest is transmitted at the near end of line A while a received signal or noise-related quantity or PSD is measured at both the near end and far end of line B. In a second phase, transmission of the test signal is stopped, and a received signal or noise-related quantity or PSD is again measured at both ends of line B. In a third phase, the FEXT/NEXT transfer function is determined based on the measurements of the first and second phases.
US08270309B1

In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a first reference node and a second reference node communicatively coupled to the first reference node by at least one network path, the reference nodes being configured to support transmission of a packet flow between one another over the network path. Each of the reference nodes is configured to count data packets received, the data packets being associated with the packet flow, and to latch a count of a number of the data packets received. The system includes a monitoring protocol configured to request the reference nodes to latch the respective counts. The monitoring protocol is further configured to retrieve the respective counts from the reference nodes and use the counts to determine a packet delivery measurement associated with the transmission of the packet flow between the reference nodes.
US08270307B2

A network-adaptive error recovery method for real-time video transmission based on sending repair frames preemptively with a frequency that is based on observed run-length of good frames and round trip time.
US08270306B2

The communication availability information between a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of destinations before the communication state between a transmitter and a destinations in a communication network changes from available to unavailable is compared, layer by layer from an upper layer toward a lower layer, with the communication availability information after change, and destinations in paths where the communication state has changed from available to unavailable are grouped. Thus, the communication network is divided into a plurality of affected ranges and an interface of a device located at the border between the affected ranges is deduced as a fault occurrence point.
US08270297B2

A communication device includes a communication unit having plural function operation units performing communication with an external device at plural prescribed communication speeds, and a control unit allowing the communication unit to receive a given kind of content data from the external device, estimating an optimum prescribed communication speed in which the power consumption amount becomes smallest from the plural prescribed communication speeds based on a bit rate of the content data, selecting a given function operation unit from the plural function operation units based on the estimated optimum communication speed, allowing the selected function operation unit to receive the given kind of content data at the estimated prescribed communication speed and controlling power consumption to the function operation units other than the function operation unit selected from the plural function operation units to be less than a fixed value.
US08270287B2

Example embodiments are directed to a system for simulating far end crosstalk (FEXT). The system includes digital subscriber lines coupled to a FEET matrix which simulates the FEXT environment. The FEXT matrix simulates the FEXT environment using filters disposed in disturber lines. Signals output from the filters are added to a path in the victim line to create an output signal.
US08270283B2

There is herein described a Transmedian Storage and Transfer Device (TSTD) that will provide a more useful system for information storage, retrieval, and computation. This is achieved by increasing the speed and storage capacity beyond that provided by existing computers and related systems. To obtain these benefits, the TSTD utilizes a spherical surface for information storage along with a system detector that can be point-like, line-like, or spherical. Further more, multiple spheres can be incorporated into the TSTD thus resulting in a sphere matrix.
US08270282B2

An optical pickup lens for focusing a light beam from a laser light source on an optical information recording medium is a single lens. The optical pickup lens has two surfaces, and a surface R2 opposite to a surface R1 closer to the laser light source has a continuous shape. When the surface R2 has radii h1, h2 and h3 (h1Δsag1>Δsag2 and Δsag2<Δsag3 are satisfied.
US08270272B2

In an optimal recording power calibration method for improving seeking stability on a recording power calibration area, a specific area serves as a data recording area during an optimal recording power calibration, wherein a length of the specific area is such that a plurality of times of optimal recording power calibrations can be performed. The method includes: an optimal recording power calibration step of recording, with different recording power, a first length of calibration data in the specific area, and calibrating optimal recording power, wherein a data sector recorded in this step is defined as a calibration recording sector; and a data recording step of recording, with data recording power, a second length of information having a logical address beside the calibration recording sector of the specific area, wherein a data sector recorded in the step is defined as an information recording sector.
US08270267B2

In step S1, the address generator generates address information composed of a sync signal which is recorded on an optical disc, address data and an error correction code for the address data, pre-encodes and supplies it to a modulator. At the same time, a carrier signal generator generates a carrier signal which is to carry the address information, and supplies it to the modulator. In step S2, the modulator makes MSK modulation of the carrier signal supplied from the carrier signal generator on the basis of the pre-encoded address information supplied from the address generator, and supplies a resultant MSK modulation signal to a wobbling unit. In step S3, the wobbling unit forms, on the optical disc, a spiral groove wobbled adaptively to the MSK modulation signal supplied from the modulator. In this optical disc, a given address can be accessed quickly and accurately.
US08270263B2

A player device uses playlists having names of contents. Users can update the playlists via network. The player device includes a storage device for storing digital data of the contents, a reception/reception circuit for downloading playlists, a display for displaying the titles of contents included in the playlists, a pointing device for specifying displayed titles, a circuit for retrieving digital data from the storage device in the event that digital data of a content specified by the pointing device is stored within the storage device, and an output circuit for outputting the retrieved digital data.
US08270262B2

In a thermally assisted magnetic recording head (10A), a sub-mount (8A) on which a laser diode is mounted is arranged between an HGA (41) and a magnetic head slider (9). The sub-mount has a wiring line (81) which electrically connects a terminal (91) arranged on the magnetic head slider (9) and a terminal (411) arranged on the HGA (41).
US08270242B2

Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a sense amplifier unit, a supply node to receive a supply voltage, and a line coupled to a memory cell of a device. The sense amplifier unit includes a circuit path coupled between the supply node and the line to carry a current having a value based on a value of information stored in the memory cell. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08270230B2

The semiconductor device makes a comparison between a word-line timing signal for determining a word-line activation time and a reference signal, applies a back-gate bias for enlarging a read margin when the result of the comparison represents a low condition of the read margin, and applies a back-gate bias for enlarging a write margin when the comparison result represents a low condition of the write margin. The reference signal is selected depending on whether to compensate an operating margin fluctuating according to the word-line activation time (or word-line pulse width), or to compensate an operating margin fluctuating according to the process fluctuation (or variation in threshold voltage). By controlling the back-gate biases according to the word-line pulse width, an operating margin fluctuating according to the word-line pulse width, and an operating margin fluctuating owing to the variation in threshold voltage during its fabrication are improved.
US08270224B2

Memory devices, memory systems, discharge circuits, and methods for discharging a capacitance are disclosed. In one such memory device, a discharge circuit is coupled to memory support circuitry. When a supply voltage decreases to be less than or equal to a trip voltage, the discharge circuit discharges a voltage from a capacitance of the memory support circuitry.
US08270218B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, a bit line, a source line, and a sense amplifier. The memory cell has a stacked gate including a charge accumulation layer and a control gate. The bit line is electrically connected to a drain of the memory cell. The source line is electrically connected to a source of the memory cell. The sense amplifier, during erase verification to determine whether or not a threshold voltage of the memory cell in an erased state is at a threshold level, reads the data from the memory cell and senses the data with a first voltage applied to the control gate of the memory cell, with a positive second voltage higher than the first voltage applied to the semiconductor substrate and the source line, and with a third voltage higher than the second voltage applied to the bit line.
US08270213B2

A memory system includes memory cells arranged in sectors. A decoder corresponding to a sector disables memory cells having a defective top gate. The decoder may include a low voltage or high voltage latch for the disabling. A top gate handling algorithm is included. The memory system may include dynamic top gate coupling. A programming algorithm and waveforms with top gate handling is included.
US08270207B2

A method of operating magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cells includes providing an MRAM cell, which includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device and a word line selector having a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device. A negative substrate bias voltage is connected to a body of the word line selector to increase the drive current of the word line selector. The threshold voltage of the word line selector is also reduced.
US08270204B2

Magnetic shift tracks or magnetic strips, to which application of a rotating magnetic field or by rotation of the strip itself allows accurate determination of domain wall movement. One particular embodiment is a method of determining a position of a domain wall in a magnetic strip. The method includes applying a rotating magnetic field to the magnetic strip, the magnetic field rotating around a longitudinal axis of the magnetic strip, and after applying the magnetic field, determining a displacement of the domain wall to a second position.
US08270201B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array and a control circuit. The control circuit applies a certain potential difference to a selected one of the memory cells. The control circuit comprises a current mirror circuit, a reference current generating circuit, and a detecting circuit. The current mirror circuit produces a mirror current having a current value identical to that of a cell current flowing in the selected one of the memory cells. The reference current generating circuit produces a reference current, the reference current having a current value that differs from the current value of the mirror current by a certain current value. The detecting circuit detects transition of a resistance state of the selected one of the memory cells based on a magnitude relation of the mirror current and the reference current.
US08270190B2

A control device for a power factor correction device in forced switching power supplies is disclosed; the device for correcting the power factor comprises a converter and said control device is coupled with the converter to obtain from an input alternating line voltage a regulated output voltage. The converter comprises a power transistor and the control device comprises a driving circuit of said power transistor; the driving circuit comprises a timer suitable for setting the switch-off period of said power transistor. The timer is coupled with the alternating line voltage in input to the converter and is suitable for determining the switch-off period of the power transistor in function of the value of the alternating line voltage in input to the converter.
US08270188B1

Systems and methods for efficient three-phase auxiliary power supply for low power applications are disclosed herein. The system includes a capacitor divider circuit that can leverage electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter capacitors utilized in a main power converter. Further, three low voltage capacitors, connected in a star configuration (for a three-phase four-wire input) or a delta connection (for a three-phase three-wire input), can be utilized in the capacitor divider circuit. Additionally or alternatively, multiple high voltage capacitors can be paralleled. The capacitor divider circuit generates a low voltage alternate current (AC) signal that can be converted to a corresponding low voltage direct current (DC) signal by employing a rectifier circuit. Due to the three-phase input, the output DC signal has a very low output ripple voltage.
US08270186B2

A switch device is brought into conduction in a case where a carrier takes a value zero to drt, a switch device is brought into conduction in a case where the carrier takes a value the drt to one, and one cycle of the carrier is divided into a period in which the carrier has a command value or more and a period in which the carrier has the command value or less. The periods are calculated by dst·T and drt·T, respectively. The same one as the carrier of a converter is employed in a carrier of an inverter, and based on the value drt set as a reference value, a command value of the inverter is provided in each of a side with a value larger than the reference value and a side with a value smaller than the reference value. The period in which the carrier takes the value or more is divided at a ratio among d0, d4 and d6, and the period in which the carrier takes the value drt or less is divided at the ratio among d0, d4 and d6.
US08270181B2

A mechanism for locking boards with various components mounted on them onto the chassis of an electronic device is composed of brackets, which are attached to these boards and which are to be mounted onto the chassis at a series of fixation points provided at certain intervals on it, and a locking element having a number of tongue-shaped pieces. Locking is accomplished by inserting each of these tongue-shaped pieces between a pair of adjacent brackets so that it engages with them. This mechanism requires fewer components than conventional mechanisms and is also easier to operate.
US08270179B2

In a case where the first component and the third component are mountable on the first circuit board pattern of the first individual board and the second component is mountable on the second circuit board pattern of the first individual board, or in a case where the first component is mountable on the first circuit board pattern of the second individual board, and the second component and the third component are mountable on the second circuit board pattern of the second individual board, in the first and second individual boards, traces for the third component are provided so that electrical connections between the third component and the other components are identical between the case where the third component is mounted on the first circuit board pattern, and the case where the third component is mounted on the second circuit board pattern.
US08270173B2

An electronic device includes a chassis, a cover on the chassis, a fixing member fixed on the cover and a handling member. A pair of latches are arranged on the chassis and each define a latching hole. The fixing member includes a substrate and a pair of side plates each defining a locking groove. A pair of catches extend upwards from the substrate and each define a locking groove. Cooperatively the locking groove and the latching groove forms a closed groove. The handling member includes a pivot received in the closed groove, and a pair of shafts in the guiding grooves. Firstly, the handling member rotates around the shafts to cause the pivot to engage with the latch, and then rotates into the aperture around the pivot to cause the shafts to move upwards to make the cover moving relative to the chassis to lock with the chassis.
US08270152B2

There is provided a method and apparatus for storage of cable, comprising: a cable reel, said cable reel being rotatable about an axis and having a surface spaced from said axis, said surface being arranged to store wound cable thereon, the cable reel further comprising: a first receiving portion for receiving a first part of the cable; a second receiving portion for receiving a second part of the cable; and a guide for guiding the cable between the first and second receiving portions, wherein the guide is arranged to guide the cable along a path extending in three dimensions.
US08270148B2

A suspension system for mounting a touch surface of a pressure sensitive touch display or panel. The suspension system comprises a frame and a flexible suspension membrane connected to the touch surface and the frame, the membrane allowing frictionless movement of the touch surface along the z-axis and resisting movement of the touch surface within the x-y plane. At least one force sensor is connected beneath the touch surface, whereby the touch surface is pre-loaded against the at least one force sensor.
US08270144B2

The present invention relates to borosilicate glass compositions for a sintering agent, dielectric compositions containing the borosilicate glass compositions and a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the dielectric compositions. Borosilicate glass compositions for a sintering agent according to an aspect of the invention include an alkali oxide, an alkaline earth oxide and a rare earth oxide, can sinter ceramic dielectrics at low temperatures and improve the hot insulation resistance of a multilayer ceramic capacitor. Correspondingly, dielectric compositions including these borosilicate glass compositions and a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the dielectric compositions can be sintered at a low temperature of 1100° C. or less and have high hot insulation resistance, thereby ensuring high levels of reliability.
US08270141B2

Embodiments of electrostatic chucks are provided herein. In some embodiments, an electrostatic chuck may include a body having a notched upper peripheral edge, defined by a first surface perpendicular to a body sidewall and a stepped second surface disposed between the first surface and a body upper surface, and a plurality of holes disposed through the body along the first surface; a plurality of fasteners disposed through the plurality of holes to couple the body to a base disposed beneath the body; a dielectric member disposed above the body upper surface to electrostatically retain a substrate; an insulator ring disposed about the body within the notched upper peripheral edge and having a stepped inner sidewall that mates with the stepped second surface to define a non-linear interface therebetween; and an edge ring disposed over the insulator ring, the non-linear interface limiting arcing between the edge ring and the fastener.
US08270139B2

A circuit protection device for use with a circuit that includes at least one conductor includes at least one phase electrode assembly that is electrically coupled to the at least one conductor, wherein the at least one phase electrode assembly comprising an adjustable electrode assembly. The circuit protection device also includes a conductor base comprising at least one isolation area sized to secure the adjustable electrode assembly therein, and a conductor cover coupled to the conductor base and including at least one isolation channel, wherein the adjustable electrode assembly extends at least partially through the at least one isolation channel.
US08270138B2

An inrush current higher than a second anomaly threshold current ILfc passes through a power MOSFET 14, when a control signal S1 of low level is applied to a gate driver 28 so that the power MOSFET 14 and the like turn to a conductive state. A first forcing shutoff operation for the power MOSFET 14 is then prevented, because a first anomaly threshold current ILoc is set to an initial level higher than the inrush current. A fuse time counter 73 starts a count-up operation in response to the occurrence of the inrush current, and continues to increment its count value until a load current IL falls below the second anomaly threshold current ILfc. According to the count value, the first anomaly threshold current ILoc is decreased stepwise with time.
US08270137B2

An interposer electrical interface for placing a DC-DC converter in close proximity with an IC powered by the converter, the DC-DC converter including at least one switching node power supply stage, the at least one switching node power supply stage providing regulated power to the IC, the close proximity of the DC-DC converter and IC allowing for high efficiency in provision of the regulated power from the DC-DC converter to the IC, the interposer electrical interface comprising at least one electrical energy storage element.
US08270136B2

A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event a first or second fault condition is detected. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the response of the second circuit breaker depending on whether the first or second fault condition has been detected.
US08270131B2

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element is described, the ESD protection element including a collector area, a first barrier area, a semiconductor area, a second barrier area and an emitter area. The collector area has a first conductivity type. The first barrier area borders on the collector area and has a second conductivity type. The semiconductor area borders on the first barrier area and is an intrinsic semiconductor area, or has the first or second conductivity type and a dopant concentration which is lower than a dopant concentration of the first barrier area. The second barrier area borders on the semiconductor area and has the second conductivity type and a higher dopant concentration than the semiconductor area. The emitter area borders on the second barrier area and has the first conductivity type.
US08270123B2

In one embodiment, a vertical-current-type reproducing magnetic head includes a sensor film, an upper shield paired with a lower shield that together flow a current into the sensor film in a thickness direction of the sensor film, and magnetic-domain control magnetic films provided above both sides of the sensor film in a track width direction of the sensor film. The shield is formed via a nonmagnetic adhesion layer including a discontinuous region near the sensor film, and the sensor film contacts the upper shield. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a resist layer, etching a sensor film while using the resist layer as a mask, forming first insulating films, domain-control magnetic films, and nonmagnetic adhesion layers in a stacked manner, lifting-off the resist layer, and forming an upper shield that together with a lower shield flow current into the sensor film in a thickness direction of the sensor film.
US08270120B2

A flex cable assembly for a head stack assembly of a hard disk drive comprises a flex cable for conducting data signals from the head stack assembly to a connector. The flex cable comprises a dynamic loop section between a termination for the head stack assembly and the connector. A constrained layer damper is attached adjacently to an area of the flex cable that is configured to receive the coupler. The constrained layer damper extends into the dynamic loop section of the flex cable.
US08270115B2

A method and apparatus for a head slider air bearing surface (ABS) in hard disk drives that mitigate fly height deviations. The invention mitigates these problems by providing an ABS of the head slider with elongated asymmetrical features that extend substantially parallel to the direction of the airflow caused by the rotating magnetic disk, in one or both of the inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) positions of the head slider with respect to the magnetic disk. The head slider may be produced with a two step etch process, as opposed to a three step etch process. By reducing the number of etching steps, the head slider of the invention can be produced at lower costs and in less time as fewer masks and chamber pump-down steps are required.
US08270111B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording head that causes the difference between a physical track width and an effective track width to be small. Sides of a main pole are made concave with the concave vertex on each side located close to a trailing edge of the main pole.
US08270104B2

A turret knob comprises an adjustable member, an engagement member and a plurality of stop members. The adjustable member is capable of being adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The engagement member is coupled to the adjustment member, and a relative position of the engagement member with respect to the axis of rotation corresponds to a position of the adjustable member as the adjustable member is adjustably positioned about the axis of rotation. The plurality of stop members are each selectably positioned about the axis of rotation. Each stop member is capable of interfering with the engagement member and blocking movement of the adjustable member as the adjustable member is adjustably positioned about the axis of rotation. The adjustable member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation between adjacent stop member positions.
US08270103B2

An imaging lens unit configured for processing by a solder reflow process, and includes a lens group of one or more lenses; and a lens tube supporting the lens group. The imaging lens unit comprises one or more cationically-cured epoxy resin lenses formed from an cationically-curable epoxy resin material, the lens tube is formed from a thermoplastic resin material having a deflection temperature under load of at least 200° C. The imaging lens unit has a clearance between the lens tube and at least one of the cationically-cured epoxy resin lenses and has lens supporting portions provided at least three locations inside the lens tube that support the at least one cationically-cured epoxy resin lens. The lens unit can be miniaturized. The imaging lens unit also provides excellent optical characteristics without deteriorating the optical characteristics in alignment of the centers of the lens and the diaphragm.
US08270100B2

An optical component is provided. The optical component includes an optical-path portion including an arm-connecting portion and a lower portion, a first arm extending from a first end of the arm-connecting portion, and a second arm extending from a second end of the arm-connecting portion. The first arm has at least one resting feature and the second arm has at least one resting feature. The optical-path portion has an input surface. When the resting features of the first arm and the second arm are positioned on a top surface at short edges of a trench in a trench system, the optical-path portion is vertically aligned in the trench.
US08270092B2

A zoom lens for projection includes a first negative lens group, a second positive lens group, a third positive lens group, a fourth lens group, and a fifth positive lens group, which are sequentially arranged from the magnification side of the zoom lens. The first lens group and the fifth lens group are fixed, and the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourth lens group move along the optical axis of the zoom lens when magnification of the zoom lens is changed. Each of the first lens group and the second lens group is composed of two lenses. Each of the third lens group and the fifth lens group is composed of a positive lens, and the fourth lens group is composed of five lenses. Further, the reduction side of the zoom lens is telecentric.
US08270089B2

A method of forming thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) into an optical lens. Suitable TPUs contain urethane (—NHCOO—) repeating units that are present in at least 23% by weight. This range of urethane weights is an indicator of a flexural modulus above 1,400 MPa. The TPUs have refractive indices above 1.54 and Abbe numbers above 27. They have glass transition temperatures above about 100 degrees C. The selected TPU can be injection molded to form ophthalmic lenses, that are well suited for use in rimless spectacles. The lenses are highly solvent resistant, while at the same time being readily tintable. The lenses made according the invention meet FDA 21 CFR 801.41 Impact Requirement, and ANSI Z87.1 high velocity impact (HVI) standard.
US08270084B2

A beam forming device produces a linear intensity distribution on a work plane. The device contains a laser light source that can emit laser radiation, an optical device that can transfer the laser radiation in a linear intensity distribution on the work plane, and lens that are used to influence the linear intensity distribution on the work plane and that can be displaced in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation. The intensity profile can be modified perpendicular to the extension of the linear intensity distribution by modifying the position of the lens in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation.
US08270083B2

To increase the depth of field of an optical system, an inversion of the chromatism is produced. This accommodates the fact that, in natural light, users prefer, for their photographs, taking long distance shots outdoors, where the illuminant is mostly composed of blue, and short-distance shots indoors, where the illuminant is mostly composed of red. While optical devices naturally focus the blue components at a shorter distance than the red components, which is unfavorable, with an inversion of the chromatism, a focus more in keeping with what is required is restored.
US08270079B1

A first article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions and a reflective coating that provides reflective diffraction within the article but is sufficiently thick to prevent diffraction outside the article. Alternatively, the reflective coating can be arranged to also provide reflective diffraction outside the article. A second article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions. Either (i) at least a portion of each ridge, or (ii) at least portion of each trench, comprises a material differing with respect to its refractive index or with respect to its optical transmissivity.
US08270066B2

A display device is provided for reflecting a black color, as enabled by an optical splitting photonic liquid crystal waveguide. Sets of top and bottom electrodes are formed in a periodic pattern. A first dielectric layer overlies the set of bottom electrodes, made from a liquid crystal (LC) material with molecules having dipoles responsive to an electric field. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the sets of top and bottom electrodes, and is in contact with the first dielectric layer. A voltage potential is applied between the top and bottom electrodes, generating an electric field. Dipole local orientation and non-orientation regions are created in the liquid crystal molecules in response to the electric field, and a wavelength of light outside the visible spectrum is reflected in response to optical spectrum splitting of the incident light.
US08270063B2

The invention relates to an electrophoretic display, comprising electrodes and cells containing at least one kind of ionic, monochrome particles, a non-polar liquid and a dispersant, wherein the ionic, monochrome particles of at least one kind are essentially aggregates consisting of a carbon containing pigment and a cationic pigment orcationic pigment derivative, and the dispersantis selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyesters, polyurethanes and copolymers, with the proviso that the cationic pigment or cationic pigment derivative is not a reaction product of carbonblack with diazotated procaine hydrochloride. In general, the whole quantity of the pigment and the main part, preferably at least 80%, most preferred from 95% to 100%, of the whole cationic pigment or cationic pigment derivative present within the cells is comprised in the aggregates, with essentially no pigment and only a minor part of the cationic pigment or cationic pigment derivative physically distinct from the aggregates.
US08270057B2

An oscillator device including an oscillation system with oscillators and torsion springs, a driving member for driving the oscillation system, and a drive control member for supplying a driving signal to the driving member, the oscillation system having at least a first oscillation mode and a second oscillation mode, the second oscillation mode having an angular frequency approximately n-fold the angular frequency of the first oscillation mode where n is an integer, the driving member driving the oscillation system so that it simultaneously oscillates in the first and second oscillation modes, wherein a natural angular frequency calculating member calculates the natural angular frequency of the second oscillation mode based on an output signal from a photodetector, being outputted at a timing whereat the reflection light passes over the photodetector.
US08270055B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus for resetting a micro-mirror devices. In one aspect, a micro-mirror device includes a mirror plate tiltable about a hinge, two electrodes located on different sides of the hinge, a memory storing state data for the electrodes, and a state modifier operable to receive the state data for the electrodes from the memory and, during a reset of the mirror plate, change the state for at least one of the electrodes from the state specified by the state data stored in memory to a different state.
US08270052B2

An optical scanner scans target surfaces with laser beams emitted from first and second light sources and deflected by a light deflector. The optical scanner includes a first frame on which the first and second light sources, and the light deflector are mounted. The first frame has first and second exposure openings each extending in a main scanning direction and configured to allow a laser beam to pass therethrough from an interior of the optical scanner toward a corresponding target surface outside the optical scanner. The light deflector is attached to the first frame in a surrounding area defined by the first and second exposure openings. A second frame is provided opposite to the first frame on a side of the first frame where the light deflector is positioned, and at least one connecting member for connecting the first and second frames is provided in the surrounding area.
US08270051B2

A method of recording holographic information includes recording a hologram mark and a homogeneous mark in a holographic data storage medium with a volume to alternatively locate the hologram mark and the homogeneous mark. The hologram mark has a varied refractive index distribution due to constructive/destructive interferences between two light beams and indicates information, while the homogeneous mark has a more uniform refractive index distribution than the hologram mark.
US08270049B2

A method is provided for characterizing color separation misregistration of a printer device using color separations of a color space for marking substrate. The method includes providing an input image including a pattern of patches including at least one measurement patch, each measurement patch having at least a first and second color separation of the color space, and marking a substrate in accordance with the input image for generating an output image having a marked pattern of patches which corresponds to the pattern of patches. Spectral reflectance of at least one respective patch of the marked patch pattern of the output image is measured and respective spectral reflectance values corresponding to the measuring are generated. Misregistration is characterized between the at least first and second color separations of each measurement patch of the at least one measurement patch based on the spectral reflectance values.
US08270048B2

The present invention extends an entire reproducible gamut by generating color separation data effectively utilizing the particularly high saturation and lightness of a particular color ink. Color separation data uses three types of inks including a particular color ink red and basic color inks yellow and magenta at the maximum saturation point of a hue R. On a low-lightness side with respect to the maximum saturation point, a reproducible color space can be extended by adding a cyan ink or the like to the above inks. In a high-lightness are, the reproducible color space can be extended by using the particular color ink red. Further, the entire gamut of a low-lightness side of this hue can be extended.
US08270047B2

First, second, and third image planes are obtained from at least one image sensor. The first image plane is formed from light of a first spectral distribution. The second image plane is formed from light of a second spectral distribution. The third image plane is formed from light of a spectral distribution which substantially covers the visible spectrum. First spatial frequency components are generated from the first, second and third image planes. A second spatial frequency component is generated from the third image plane. A color transform is applied to the first spatial frequency components from the first, second, and third image planes to obtain at least first, second and third transformed first spatial frequency image planes. The at least first, second and third transformed first spatial frequency image planes are combined with the second spatial frequency component from the third image plane to form an image.
US08270044B2

A scanning apparatus includes a scanning head that scans an image of a document positioned on a stage glass, but varying in its distance therefrom. A boundary line is detected to determine an amount of skew therein. A skew line is compared with an established reference line, and a correction factor is calculated based on the result of the comparison. The original image processed to map the boundary line to the reference line and image data inside of the boundary line is similarly mapped based on the calculated correction factor. Beneficially, skews of an image produced when a thick book is scanned can be corrected simply.
US08270037B2

A plurality of background texture patterns each of which includes a region not having a dot and having a feature different from those of the other background texture patterns, are combined, and information is embedded in a background region of a document image. Then, a mathematical-morphology-based conversion is performed on the document image, and thereby a feature of a region not having a dot in each of the background texture patterns is extracted in order to identify the embedded information.
US08270036B2

A variable data addition method and system are disclosed herein. The method includes generating an original image, and defining at least one sub-section of the original image to transform individually. A reversible transformation is applied to the defined at least one sub-section, thereby altering the original image to form an altered image that is non-readable until an inverse of the reversible transformation is applied to the altered image.
US08270030B2

Example embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method of image processing. Moving speed control processing performed by a control unit causes an image reading portion to move the position of a reading line in a sub-scanning direction of a document, to read an image on the document in the main scanning direction, and to output the image data on the read line. A read image correction portion converts the image data characteristics to data characteristics that are predetermined at the time of accumulation of the image data, and accumulates the converted image data. Then, an image processing portion converts the accumulated image data characteristics into device characteristics of a device to which the image data is output, and outputs the converted image data to an image writing portion or to the device to which the image data is output, via an external I/F control unit.
US08270014B2

A printing method includes converting an image data which is created by an application program into an EMF (Enhanced Meta File), storing the EMF converted from the image data, displaying information with respect to the stored EMF, selecting at least one stored EMF of a plurality of stored EMFs, and converting the selected EMF into a printing data.
US08270007B2

A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. Each print job specifies job ticket parameters representing printing requirements. Each received job is processed by comparing the printing requirements of the job with capabilities of the printers. If a printer cannot satisfy all printing requirements of the job, it is eliminated as a candidate printer. Then, from all printers that can satisfy all printing requirements of the job, one printer is selected based on a pre-defined priority preference and the job is submitted to the selected printer. The printer priority preference is created by the operator based on cost and other factors. The operator can also select an alternative execution mode where, among all printers that can satisfy all requirements of the job, the one with minimum wait time is selected.
US08270004B2

In an image processing system an information processor is connected to an image processor. When the image processor detects that a job is completed, the image processor transmits to an image processor that indicates the job information notifying in accordance with a first or second communications protocol that the job is completed. The information processor converts in a predetermined format the information transmitted in accordance with the first communications protocol to notify that a job is completed. Furthermore, the information processor also converts in the predetermined format the information transmitted in accordance with the second communications protocol to notify that a job is completed. The information processor then displays the converted information collectively.
US08269997B2

A document processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit and an output unit. The acquiring unit acquires first document data containing page image data corresponding to pages of a document. Each page of the document has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The output unit outputs second document data in which an order or a direction of the page image data is changed, when the first document data contains first page image data indicating that an image is drawn in a first area corresponding to the first end of at least one of the pages of the document and second page image data indicating that an image is drawn in a second area corresponding to the second end of at least one of the pages of the document and when page numbers of the first and second page image data have a predetermined relationship.
US08269996B2

An image forming apparatus switches a line of image data, to be read out from a storage unit, to another, depending on a position in the line in a scanning direction such that the curving of a scanning line is offset, and reducing trouble in reading out image data in units of rectangular image data blocks A data processing section performs image processing based on a plurality of rectangular image areas generated by dividing image data stored in a memory section. An image reading unit reads out the image data as the rectangular image areas, and transfers the rectangular image areas to the data processing section. A printer section forms an image by scanning a photosensitive member with irradiation light based on the rectangular image data areas. A DMA controller stores positional information indicative of line-switching positions. The rectangular image data areas are read out according to the positional information.
US08269991B2

A printer monitoring apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a display mode of a warning or an error related to a peripheral device, a determination unit configured to determine whether the warning or the error has previously occurred, a display unit configured to display the warning or the error in a case where the warning or the error has previously occurred, and a processing unit configured to continue a process or cancel a process according to the warning or the error based on whether the warning or the error has previously occurred.
US08269990B2

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage part which, to save read image data, saves image data not subjected to image processing together with processing data for image processing to be performed by an image processing part at later image formation. Then, the image forming apparatus, at the time of printing out the image data, subjects the image data to image processing only once by using the processing data in accordance with setting.
US08269985B2

Methods of optimizing the diameters of nanowire photodiode light sensors. The method includes comparing the response of nanowire photodiode pixels having predetermined diameters with standard spectral response curves and determining the difference between the spectral response of the photodiode pixels and the standard spectral response curves. Also included are nanowire photodiode light sensors with optimized nanowire diameters and methods of scene reconstruction.
US08269983B2

An apparatus for observing the appearance of a surface of a sample of semitransparent material, the apparatus comprising a light source for illuminating at least a region of interest of the surface of the sample from a predetermined direction and means for observing a response to the illumination of the region of interest, wherein the illuminated region comprises the region of interest and a region surrounding the region of interest. In this way the influence of emitted scattered light on the accuracy of the observation of the appearance of the sample is minimized.
US08269972B2

A cavity ring down gas sensor may include a radiation source emits an input beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption line of a gas to be detected. The input beam of light is coupled into an optical cavity to amplify an internal beam of light that is reflected about the optical cavity. An optical element is disposed in the optical cavity at an angle close to, but not at, the Brewster's angle to reflect a relatively small portion of the internal beam of light to a detector. When a specified light intensity is reached in the optical cavity, the input beam of light may be prevented from entering the optical cavity, and a cavity ring down time decay may be measured. The cavity ring down time decay may be related to the gas concentration of a gas to be detected in the optical cavity.
US08269970B2

An optical comparator arranged for rear projection onto a viewing screen combines an optical projector that projects an optical image of a test part under inspection onto the viewing screen with a video projector that projects an optical image of a pixilated template pattern containing illustrated specifications of the test part onto the same viewing screen. The images of the test part and the pixilated template pattern are projected concurrently onto the viewing screen for visually comparing the form of the test part against its specified form.
US08269949B2

A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a mirror block provided with a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, wherein the mirror block is constructed and arranged to reduce slip between the mirror block and the substrate table. Slip can occur if the acceleration of the mirror block is high and the substrate table slips locally with respect to the mirror block. Slip may lead to exposure errors since the position of the substrate is no longer determined with the desired accuracy.
US08269943B2

In a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer is formed by dropping liquid crystal by a dropping method, a surface of a sealant which is formed over a first substrate is cured by a first cure treatment before dropping the liquid crystal, and then the liquid crystal is dropped. A second substrate has a plurality of projections in a sealant adhesive region. The first substrate and the second substrate are attached to each other with the liquid crystal interposed therebetween so that the plurality of projections is in contact with an uncured region in the sealant formed over the first substrate.
US08269934B2

A liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal device are disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes a red subpixel, a green subpixel, a blue subpixel, and a viewing angle controlling subpixel. The red, green, and blue subpixels are driven in a TN method, and the viewing angle controlling subpixel is driven in an ECB method. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device provides flexibility in a security range to a user, and not only can be used for one person but also can be used for two or more persons to view an image of high quality without inconvenience while securing security.
US08269933B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes first and second substrates with a liquid crystal material therebetween; a first alignment film formed on the first substrate and a second alignment film formed on the second substrate; a first align mark on the first substrate, the first align mark formed of the same material as the first alignment film and formed in a shape of any one of a circle, square and cross; and a second align mark to be aligned with the first align mark on the second substrate.
US08269930B2

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle, in which compensation films are disposed between a liquid crystal display panel and polarizers to change a polarized state of light, which is incident on the liquid crystal display panel and output therefrom through the polarizers, thereby preventing light from being leaked in a diagonal direction of the liquid crystal display device in a normally black mode.
US08269921B2

A liquid crystal display device which includes a backlight device provided with an LED, and a color filter having colored layers of plural colors including a green layer, wherein the green layer of the color filter contains brominated zinc phthalocyanine green pigment and a dielectric loss tangent of the green layer at a driving frequency of a liquid crystal display device is confined to not more than 0.02.
US08269916B2

A light emitting device assembly includes: a light emitting device; and a light output member provided on the light emitting element and having an upper surface on which a curved part that outputs light from the light emitting device is provided, wherein a value of a x coordinate of a curved part center axis is a positive value, a locus of an edge of a curved part forms a circle or oval around the curved part center axis, light on a Z-axis output from an origin is output from the curved part at an angle θ0 (θ0>0) formed with the Z-axis within a XZ-plane, and function F(φ,Δφ) expressed by F(φ,Δφ)=(Δθ+−Δθ−)/Δφ  (1) monotonously increases, takes the maximum value at φ=φ0 (<0), and then, monotonously decreases as a value of φ increases from the minimum value.
US08269912B2

A display device includes a display panel, a back light module, a printed circuit board and a ground slice. The back light module includes a first frame, a second frame and a light source disposed between the first frame and the second frame. The first frame has a first side plate having an opening, and the second frame has a second side plate opposite to the first side plate. The printed circuit board includes a control circuit electrically connected to the display panel. The printed circuit board is disposed at a side of the back light module, and the control circuit is disposed at the outer side of the first side plate and the second side plate, such that the control circuit is opposite to the second side plate through the opening. The ground slice is connected between the control circuit and the second side plate through the opening.
US08269909B2

Disclosed is a method for fabrication of a liquid crystal display with improved optical transmission, which includes sequentially forming a first oxide film, a silicon film, and a second oxide film on a semiconductor substrate, selectively etching the silicon film and the second oxide film to expose the first oxide film, forming a oxynitride film on at least the silicon film, forming a polysilicon layer over the oxynitride film, selectively etching the polysilicon layer to form a top electrode, forming an insulating film on and/or over the substrate, including the top electrode, and forming metal wirings on outer regions of the top electrode.
US08269907B2

A method for fabricating is provided for a liquid crystal display device capable of decreasing the number of masks used to fabricate a thin film transistor (TFT) by forming an active pattern and a storage electrode by a single mask process, by simultaneously patterning a pixel electrode at the time of a gate line patterning, and by using only an organic insulation layer having a low dielectric constant.
US08269895B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for recursive noise reduction. An exemplary method comprises receiving a first film frame having a first frame rate and a second film frame having the first frame rate and converting the first film frame into a first plurality of video frames having a second frame rate. The exemplary method further comprises converting the second film frame into a second plurality of video frames having the second frame rate, wherein the first plurality of video frames is positioned adjacent the second plurality of video frames at a border between the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames and updating a noise reduction correction signal only on the border between the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames when operating in a first mode.
US08269893B2

A compact optical payload for an unmanned aircraft includes two infrared cameras for wide and narrow field viewing, a daylight color camera, a laser pointer and a laser range finder.
US08269892B2

A receiving device includes a plurality of digital input terminals, a signal receiving unit for receiving a video signal, and a switch unit for selectively connecting the plurality of digital input terminals to the signal receiving unit. The signal receiving unit is a receiving device that performs a mutual authentication with an external apparatus connected via a transmission channel to a digital input terminal selected by the switch unit, and receives a video signal from the external apparatus. The signal receiving unit includes a priority determining unit for cyclically determining a priority of the plurality of digital input terminals and a controller for controlling the switch unit so that a digital input terminal, which is determined by the priority determining unit as having a highest priority, is connected to the signal receiving unit.
US08269888B2

An IP conversion unit 20 converts an interlaced image which is an input image into a progressive (non-interlaced) image, and outputs the image. A scene detection unit 30 detects from motion vectors (Mx, My) whether the entire image is being slowly vertically scrolled (outputs a vertical scrolling coefficient tcoef). In a 3D filter 41 of an interlace interference removal unit 40, when vertical scrolling is detected, parallel motion of a plurality of past output images according to an average motion amount is caused according to motion vectors (Mx, My), cumulative pixel values are calculated, and the pixel values are taken to be the output image during vertical scrolling (interpolated image).
US08269880B2

An imaging device includes an image sensor equipped with imaging pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels disposed along a specific direction over part of the array of the imaging pixels. The imaging device categorizes an image pattern indicating a pixel output change along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the focus detection pixels are disposed based upon the outputs from the imaging pixels present around each focus detection pixel. Then, it determines an image output at the focus detection pixel based upon the output from the focus detection pixel and the outputs from the imaging pixels present around the focus detection pixel through an arithmetic operation method corresponding to the categorized image pattern.
US08269879B2

An aspect of the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup optical system which forms an image of a subject; an imaging device which obtains an image by picking up the image of the subject via the image pickup optical system; a target detection device which detects a size of a target in the image; a first control device which controls a focus position of the image pickup optical system according to the size of the target detected by the target detection device; and a second control device which performs continuous AF that detects a focusing position where a contrast in the image reaches a local maximum by moving the focus position of the image pickup optical system, moves the focus position of the image pickup optical system to the focusing position and keeps an in-focus state.
US08269875B2

A portable information terminal and an image management program are provided. A portable information terminal includes: a display part which has a screen capable of displaying at least an image; an in-focus value computing part which computes an in-focus value from an original image; an image cutting part which cuts a thumbnail image from the original image based on the in-focus value computed at the in-focus value computing part; a data storage part which stores data of the thumbnail image cut at the image cutting part; and a control part which reads the data of the thumbnail image stored in the data storage part as necessary and displays it on a screen of the display part.
US08269872B2

An analog-to-digital converter that converts an analog input signal into a digital signal includes a comparator configured to compare a reference signal with an input signal and, if the input signal matches the reference signal, inverts an output; a counter configured to count a comparison time of the comparator; a control circuit configured to monitor the output of the comparator; a voltage generating circuit configured to generate, if a monitoring result obtained by the control circuit indicates that the output of the comparator is at a predetermined level, a direct current voltage in accordance with the monitoring result; and an analog adder configured to add the voltage generated by the voltage generating circuit to the input signal and supply a sum signal to an input terminal of the comparator.
US08269860B2

An apparatus, method, and software stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for correctly reduce noise included in image data regardless of the characteristics of the image data. The noise reduction apparatus and method employ a determinator for determining whether a target pixel of image data corresponds to a flat portion, an edge portion, or a gradation portion based on a pixel value of the target pixel and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit for reducing noise included in the image data based on a result of the determining by the determinator.
US08269859B2

A photographing apparatus is provided that is capable of minimizing an access bandwidth of memory included in the photographing apparatus and is capable of reducing power consumption, and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus includes a distortion correction unit for performing distortion correction on a captured image by performing image processing; a digital zoom unit for performing digital zoom on the captured image by performing image processing; and a host central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the photographing apparatus to perform one of the distortion correction by the distortion correction unit and the digital zoom by the digital zoom unit. A method of controlling the photographing apparatus is also provided. In addition, a recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program to implement the method is also provided.
US08269851B2

To provide a camera determining a subject for which an image capturing condition is set at the time determined based on whether or not the subject is detected before an image capturing instruction is issued. The subject is detected, it is determined whether the subject detection result satisfies a predetermined condition, the subject for which the image capturing condition should be set is determined before the image capturing instruction is accepted when the subject detection result satisfies the predetermined condition, the image capturing instruction is accepted, the image capturing condition is set based on the determined subject when the subject detection result satisfies the predetermined condition and the image capturing condition is set based on the subject detection result obtained after the image capturing instruction is accepted when the subject detection result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and actual image capturing is performed under the set image capturing condition.
US08269842B2

A system and method for using images captured from a digital camera to control navigation through a three-dimensional user interface. The sequence of images may be examined to identify feature points to be tracked through successive frames of the images captured by the camera. A plurality of classifiers may be used to discern shift from rotation gestures, based on expected behavior of feature points in the image when the camera is shifted or rotated in position. The various classifiers may generate voting values for shift and rotation gestures, and the system can use historical gesture information to assist in categorizing a current gesture.
US08269835B2

A method of modifying sporting event participant decorations displayed on a fiber optic “Turf TV” playing surface based on multiple real-time factors. A decoration utility calculates a direction of movement of a player or object in proximity to the playing surface, which is configured to display images, during a live sporting event. The utility adds a graphical aura to a real-time graphical image displayed in proximity to the player on the playing surface. The utility animates the aura in response to wind and/or noise in proximity to the playing surface. The utility modifies the aura based on pre-defined custom attributes, penalties, errors, and/or player status. If the player moves, the utility adds a graphical player trail to the image. The utility also adds a graphical object trail that includes previous locations of an object. The object trail may also include spin and a visual appearance corresponding to an object height.
US08269828B2

An imager head assembly for a remote inspection device includes an imager housing. A circuit board is positioned within the imager housing. The circuit board has a light emitting diode connected thereto. A thermally conductive material in contact with the circuit board and the imager housing creates a conductive heat transfer path to dissipate heat generated by the light emitting diode through the imager housing. A light transmissive light pipe unit can be positioned proximate the circuit board to permit light emitted by the light emitting diode to pass through the light pipe unit.
US08269826B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring human movement of a test subject during a standard coordination and balance test. The test subject is placed in a selected test position, e.g. standing on one leg for a selected test period. A sensor device is attached to at least one body member of the test subject. The sensor generates and transmits a signal representative of movement of the body member during the test (hereinafter “the test”). The test subject is viewed through a viewfinder of a visual recorder. The recorder and sensor device are activated and generate image and sensor signals which are transmitted to an analyzer for determining the movement of the body members during the test. A coordination and balance score is calculated from the test based on the body movement, body member location and test time. The score is compared a standard associated with the test, and provides an indicator of the test subject's coordination and balance skill.
US08269823B2

An object of the present invention is to continuously display a series of images of the inside of the subject until the intra-body indwelling capsule is placed at the desired site in the subject, and to easily place the intra-body indwelling capsule endoscope at the desired site. The intra-subject indwelling system 1 according to the present invention includes an endoscope device 14 for imaging a first image of the inside of the subject; an intra-body indwelling capsule 2, for imaging a second image of the inside of the subject; a monitor device 12 for receiving the second image; a receiving device 13, a monitor 11 for displaying the first image or the second image; and an image switching device 10. The intra-body indwelling capsule 2 is arranged at the distal end of the inserting unit 5, and the separation from the inserting unit 5 is detected and the separation detection result is transmitted. The receiving device 13 receives the separation detection result. The image switching device 10 receives the first image from the endoscope device 14 and the second image from the monitor device 12, and switches the display image of the monitor 11 from the second image to the first image when receiving the separation detection result from the receiving device 13.
US08269809B2

In a printing apparatus, a dot head moves along a movement path which is orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a passbook, one end side of the head movement path is a speed-up area, a halfway part is a constant speed printing area, and the other end side is a slow-down area. A thermal head is disposed in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a thermal sheet, and a width size in the orthogonal direction is not smaller than the printing area of the dot head.
US08269808B2

In the case where printing density is set to 180 dpi and temperature of a thermal head is under t5, low-density dot-expanding printing is carried out wherein a dot occupying two printing lines for 360 dpi is formed and thermally transferred onto a surface tape by conveying the surface tape and an ink ribbon by two printing lines for 360 dpi in a single printing cycle with heater elements to be used for printing based one line of line printing data being heated.
US08269806B2

A method of manufacturing an image forming element which can reduce a manufacturing time and a manufacturing cost with a simplified manufacturing process, an image forming element manufactured by the method, and an image forming apparatus having the same. The method includes preparing a cylindrical image drum having at least one slot formed along a lengthwise direction, arranging a control board having a plurality of terminals inside the image drum such that the plurality of terminals are located in the slot, forming a photosensitive resin layer on an outer circumference of the image drum, processing the photosensitive resin layer to form a plurality of installation recesses along a circumference of the image drum in correspondence to the plurality of terminals and a plurality of connection holes to expose the terminals through an area of each of the installation recesses, and forming a plurality of ring electrodes in the installation recesses to connect to the plurality of terminals through the connection holes.
US08269804B2

An image display apparatus displaying an image on a panel having pixels each including a plurality of subpixels of different colors includes an interpolation operator interpolating consecutive sampling values of input color data supplied to drive the panel to correct phases of the input color data on the basis of positions of the subpixels in each pixel and output pieces of color data; a correction unit correcting signal levels of the output color data on the basis of associated predetermined gains; an angle information calculator calculating, for each pixel or subpixel, a direction of a viewer of the panel on the basis of a position of the viewer relative to the panel; and a gain setting unit setting, for the pieces of input color data, the gains so as to correct luminance levels of the subpixels, which change depending on the viewing direction, on the basis of the calculation result.
US08269798B2

A method of controlling a passive matrix display having rows and columns of pixels including receiving an input image signal; determining drive signals for at least a first image field and a second image field; calculating a value that is correlated to a change in the total capacitive charge of the pixels that will occur between the display of the first image field and the second image field for at least one column of the passive-matrix, electro-luminescent display; adjusting at least one of the drive signals within first or second image fields to compensate for the change in total capacitive charge; and providing adjusted drive signals for each pixel.
US08269788B2

A processor unit that can be used in a handheld device and configured for anti-aliasing of a vector graphics image, and including a counter value calculator configured to calculate, for one edge at a time and pixel-by-pixel, counter values for each pixel in a rasterization direction, a counter value recorder configured to store the calculated counter values in an edge buffer, and a pixel coverage value calculator configured to calculate pixel coverage values based on the stored counter values. The calculated pixel coverage values can be utilized for anti-aliasing the vector graphics image, while rasterizing the vector graphics image.
US08269780B2

A method and an apparatus for updating graphics resource usage according to a stream of graphics commands atomically submitted to a graphics processing unit (GPU) are described. The stream of graphics commands may be received from a plurality of graphics APIs (application programming interfaces) by a graphics driver. Availability of graphics resources of the GPU may be monitored by the graphics driver for submitting the stream of graphics commands. A single notification from the GPU may indicate that all graphics commands submitted to the GPU have been executed for updating a usage of graphics resources associated with the executed graphics commands.
US08269777B2

In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a time period indication selected by a user for a group of objects including a plurality of data points. The plurality of data points are mapped to features selected by the user. Key frames are generated for the group of objects for each interval of time of the time period. Relations can be inserted between any pair of objects. The group of objects and relations are rendered using the key frames over the time period to generate an animation. An object position is offset during animation according to an elasticity variable associated with the relations that is selected by the user. Positions in between key frames are interpolated to provide smooth rendering between variable time frames. In an alternate embodiment, the object position is offset during animation according to features of the group of objects selected by the user, with or without the elasticity variable.
US08269771B2

A three-dimensional (3D) remeshing apparatus includes a curved surface geometry module for calculating one or more geometric elements, including a normal and a curvature, based on data of an input mesh, a vertex grouping module for grouping vertices of the mesh into a general group, an edge group, and an apex group using information of the curvature calculated by the curved surface geometry module, and a projection module for searching for one or more tangent planes corresponding to one or more of the vertices grouped by the vertex grouping module, projecting one or more corresponding vertices on each of the tangent planes, and restoring one or more edges of the input mesh.
US08269767B2

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing a multiscale three-dimensional reference grid that is displayed in design software application programs. The reference grid appears infinite in space and scale. Depth cues are provided that are independent of the viewing projection to allow an end user to sense the orientation of the workspace and how objects in workspace relate to each other in terms of position and scale. Divisions of the grid represent real-world units that are determined dynamically, enabling smooth transitions as divisions are added and removed. The reference grid provides an end user with reference imagery for camera-operation visualization and scene content understanding.
US08269754B2

A mobile terminal controls a display unit to display a first image in a first display area at a first luminance and to display a second image in a second display area at the first luminance, under a first condition in which brightness measured by a optical sensor is lower than a first threshold, and controls the display unit to display a third image in the first display area at a second luminance that is higher than the first luminance and to set a luminance in the second display area to a third luminance that is lower than the first luminance, under a second condition in which the measured brightness is equal to or higher than the first threshold, a content of the third image being determined so as to include a content of the first image and a content of the second image.
US08269751B2

A photo element includes a photo thin film transistor (TFT), a switch thin film transistor, and a compensation thin film transistor. A bias line provides a bias voltage to the photo TFT. The photo TFT generates a photo-induced current under an illuminated environment. A first switch line provides a voltage to open the switch TFT, and thus the photo-induced current is read out through a readout line. A second switch line provides compensation current to open the compensation TFT. The compensation current applies a reverse-biased stress to the photo TFT; therefore the threshold voltage and sensitivity of the photo TFT can be maintained.
US08269749B2

At a first time, a first image sensor and a second image sensor capture a first image and a second image including images of an object respectively. At a second time, the first image sensor and the second image sensor capture a third image and a fourth image including images of the object respectively. A coordinate calculation device calculates a first coordinate of the object at the first time according to the first image and the second image, and a second coordinate of the object at the second time according to the third image and the fourth image. A coordinate correction device calculates a displacement between the first time and the second time according to the first coordinate and the second coordinate, and corrects an output coordinate of the object at the second time according to the displacement.
US08269747B2

A field-sequential display apparatus and a display system which is capable of sensing pixel address are provided. The field-sequential display apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels, each of which is adapted to present a plurality of display states. The display states includes at least one colored light and an invisible light, wherein the at last one colored light and invisible light are alternately displayed, and the invisible light is adapted to transmit the address information of the pixel.
US08269746B2

A touch panel is arranged to enable communication using infrared signals with nearby devices. The touch panel includes an array of infrared sensors, arranged parallel to the touchable surface of the panel and at least one of the sensors is capable of detecting an infrared signal received from a nearby device.
US08269736B2

Embodiments of drop target gestures are described. In various embodiments, a first input on a touch-screen is detected and determined as a selection of an object displayed on the touch-screen. A second input on the touch-screen is detected and determined as a selection of a target position to move the object, the second input being detected while the first input remains in contact with the touch-screen. The first input is then detected as no longer being in contact with the touch-screen, and a display of the object is initiated at the target position on the touch-screen giving the appearance that the object moves from a location of the first input to the second input.
US08269733B2

An improved input precision touch panel having a sensor for detecting external pressure exerted on a display. The display displays an object icon, first auxiliary icon that corresponds to a detection area on which the sensor detects the pressure. On the display, the size of the first auxiliary icon is greater than the object icon and a second auxiliary icon corresponds to a second detection area, with the size of the second auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon. Upon detection of external pressure an operation signal output unit outputs different operation signals according to positional relationships of a pressure-detected position on which the sensor detected the external pressure, in correspondence to a display position of the first auxiliary icon and a display position of the second auxiliary icon displayed by the display unit.
US08269732B2

A portable terminal having a display, and a touch panel disposed on the display and configured to detect a touch input is provided. The touch panel includes a first transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first transparent electrode layer at the upper surface of the first transparent film, a second transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface, a second transparent electrode layer at the lower surface of the second transparent film, the second transparent film being configured to overlap the first transparent film with a gap therebetween such that the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer face each other, and a deformable optical layer filling the gap between the first transparent film and the second transparent film.
US08269730B2

A panel capable of detecting an input signal applied on or over the panel comprises an array of sensor elements divided into first M1 groups arranged in rows and columns and second M1 groups arranged in rows and columns, each group in one of the first and second M1 groups including a number of M rows by N columns sensor elements, M1, M and N being integers, wherein each of the sensor elements includes a first port and a second port, M1 gate lines, wherein each of the M1 gate lines is coupled to one group of the first M1 groups and one group of the second M1 groups, and wherein the each of the M1 gate lines is coupled to the first port of each of the sensor elements in the one group of the first M1 groups and the one group of the second M1 groups, a first set of N fan-out lines, wherein each of the N fan-out lines is coupled to one column of the N columns of sensor elements in each of the groups at each of the columns of the first M1 groups, and a second set of N fan-out lines, wherein each of the N fan-out lines is coupled to one column of the N columns of sensor elements in each of the groups at each of the columns of the second M1 groups.
US08269726B2

An input device, especially for a motor vehicle, has a display, a touch screen arranged above the display and an operating surface, an actuator for moving the touch screen in at least one direction, and a control unit for visually representing changeable operating information and operating elements on the display for detecting a position of a touching of the operating surface and for the haptic feedback by controlling the actuator, wherein a file or a data set is stored in the control unit or in a memory assigned to the control unit, the file or data set comprising graphical information for representing at least operating information or at least one operating element and also control information for a haptic feedback assigned to the operating information or to the operating element.
US08269722B2

A gesture recognition system includes an image pick-up device, a processor, an operation engine, an optimal template selection means, and a display terminal. The image pick-up device is for capturing an image containing a natural gesture. The processor is for finding out a skin edge of a skin part from the image, and then classifying the skin edge into multiple edge parts at different angles. The operation engine has multiple parallel operation units and multiple gesture template libraries of different angle classes. These parallel operation units respectively find out gesture templates most resembling the edge parts in the gesture template libraries of different angle classes. The optimal template selection means selects an optimal gesture template from the resembling gesture templates found out by the parallel operation units. The display terminal is for displaying an image of the optimal gesture template. Thereby, marker-less and real-time gesture recognition is achieved.
US08269714B2

In one embodiment of the present invention, a unit circuit of a shift register includes a bootstrap circuit configured with a transistor T1, a transistor T2 and a capacitor, a transistor T3, a transistor T4, and a reset signal generation circuit. By use of two-phase clock signals whose high level periods do not overlap with each other, the reset signal generation circuit generates a reset signal which is at a high level in a normal state and changes to a low level when an input signal turns into the high level. During a period that the reset signal is at the high level, transistors perform discharge of a node and pull-down of an output signal. Thus, it is possible to obtain a shift register which performs discharge of a node and pull-down of an output signal and achieves a small area and low power consumption without using an output signal from a subsequent circuit.
US08269708B2

In a driver unit for driving a display panel and a nonvolatile memory, a level shifter circuit receives a driver control signal to generate a level-shifted driver control signal. A display panel driver circuit drives the display panel in accordance with the level-shifted driver control signal. A nonvolatile memory driver circuit drives the nonvolatile memory in accordance with the level-shifted driver control circuit. A selection circuit selects one of the display panel driver circuit and the nonvolatile memory driver circuit.
US08269700B2

Pixel interleaving configurations for use in high definition electronic sign displays where each and every scan line includes full red, green, and blue color representation to provide for high resolution electronic video sign displays.
US08269684B2

Antenna embodiments are illustrated that are particularly suited for use in aircraft navigation, identification and collision avoidance systems. An exemplary antenna embodiment operates about a center wavelength and in association with a ground plane and comprises first and second grounded, shortened, and top loaded monopoles. These monopoles are spaced apart above a ground plane and each of them includes a feed post, a shorted post, and a top load wherein the shorted post is spaced from the feed post, is coupled to the ground plane, and has a length less than one fourth of the center wavelength. In addition, the top load is coupled to the feed post and the shorted post and is configured along orthogonal minor and major axes of the top load to have a width along the minor axis and a length along the major axis that exceeds the width.
US08269682B2

A multi-loop antenna module with wide beamwidth includes a grounding unit and a plurality of first loop units and second loop units. The first loop units are vertically disposed on outer peripheral sides of the grounding unit. Each first loop unit has a first shorting pin disposed on the grounding unit, a first feeding pin separated from the first shorting pin and suspended above the grounding unit, and a first loop radiating body connected between the first shorting pin and the first feeding pin. The second loop units are vertically disposed on outer peripheral sides of the grounding unit. Each second loop unit has a second shorting pin disposed on the grounding unit, a second feeding pin separated from the second shorting pin and suspended above the grounding unit, and a second loop radiating body connected between the second shorting pin and the second feeding pin.
US08269677B2

An electronic device may have a housing with conductive housing walls. A dielectric antenna window may be formed in an opening in one of the conductive housing walls. A dielectric logo may form the dielectric antenna window. A dielectric support structure may have an outline that matches the dielectric logo. An antenna resonating element for an antenna may be formed on the dielectric support structure. An antenna cavity for the antenna may be formed by a conductive cavity structure. A pattern of voids in the dielectric support structure may reduce dielectric loading for the antenna. The conductive cavity structure may be formed from solderable plated metal. The conductive cavity structure may have a planar lip that is attached to the conductive housing walls using conductive adhesive. Rear wall portions of the conductive cavity structure may be oriented at a non-perpendicular non-zero angle with respect to the planar lip.
US08269675B2

An electronic device may be provided with a conductive housing. The conductive housing may be formed from a metal. Slots may be formed in the housing. The slots may serve as an antenna and may be fed using an antenna feed structure within the electronic device housing. The electronic device may have a frame to which housing structures are attached and may have a stand or other support structure. The frame may be used to mount a display, to support housing walls, to support clutch barrel structures, etc. The slots may be formed in the frame or in a space between the frame and the housing walls. The slots or other antenna structures may also be formed in the stand. Multiple slots may be used together to support operations in two or more communications bands. There may be multiple dual slot antennas in the electronic device.
US08269672B2

An omni-directional, multi-polarity, low profile planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals includes a dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side on which are respectively formed first and second conductive patterns. Each conductive pattern includes segments functioning as antenna elements which are arranged to form a first modified H-shaped pattern on the first side of the dielectric substrate, and a second modified H-shaped pattern on the second side of the dielectric substrate which is disposed substantially ninety degrees with respect to the first modified H-shaped pattern. Each of the H-shaped patterns includes an extended S-shaped segment.
US08269669B2

The invention involves one or more radio markers (1) being located on or buried in the seabed with a suitable tool at a location where a geographical point requires to be retrieved. Radio markers may be deployed, for example, by means of a subsea vehicle (2). The subsea vehicle (2) is equipped with a positioning system and gyro (6) when the radio markers (1) are deployed, thereby enabling the approximate position of each individual radio marker (1) to be recorded with global map position. A subsea vehicle equipped with a radio antenna detects radio markers after returning to the approximate position by means of the coordinates.
US08269668B2

A diversity antenna system with electrical tilt has two dual polarized, tilt adjustable antenna stacks (44A) and (44B) with physical separation providing space diversity. Each antenna stack (44A) or (44B) has two polarizations associated with independently adjustable electrical tilt angles. The electrical tilt angles of each antenna stack (44A) or (44B) are controlled to be equal to those of the other antenna stack to provide co-polarization or anti-polarization tilt coupling. The antenna system (40) may operate with multiple carrier frequencies each associated with a respective pair of polarizations of different antenna stacks (44A) and (44B) with co-polarization or anti-polarization tilt coupling. Antenna tilt angles are controllable so that different carrier frequencies are associated with independently adjustable angles of electrical tilt. The system may be used with groups of both contiguous and non-contiguous carrier frequencies.
US08269662B2

An information processing device that transmits and receives data to and from a device to which external devices are connected and that processes a signal transmitted from a remote control including buttons to which codes are allocated, the codes being different for each of the external devices, includes a storing unit configured to store, for each of the external devices, a table representing a relationship between the codes and the buttons; a generating unit configured to generate data of a graphical user interface in which a picture of the remote control and button names corresponding to the codes are located; and a control unit configured to perform, if a button included in the remote control to be used for issuing a command to change the button names has been operated, control such that the codes are changed while the table is referred to and that the button names are changed.
US08269661B2

In conventional pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), it is common to employ digital-to-analog converters (DACs) in the ADC stages that use two-state switches or segments. A problem with this arrangement is that for each DAC state there is a noise contribution from each DAC switch, resulting from its current source. Here, however, a DAC is employed that uses three-state DAC switches, which reduces the noise contributions from the DAC switches' current sources and reduces the amount of area used.
US08269654B2

A flashing beacon may include a signal unit, a control unit associated with the signal unit, a solar panel or collector, and an activation device that may all be mounted or otherwise positioned on a post of a roadway sign. Light units associated with the signal unit may be programmed to flash on and off in a unique wig-wag pattern. Further, a light bar may also be used with the beacon to generate an intense flash of light soon after activation of the beacon as an additional means of grabbing the attention of the operator of a vehicle.
US08269653B2

A method and system for providing sponsorship information to a user of a traffic message receiver is disclosed. Sponsorship messages are sent to the traffic message receiver and include data to be stored in the memory of the receiver. The transmission of the sponsorship messages is performed as a background routine to the regular transmission of traffic messages. The sponsorship data stored in the traffic message receiver is provided to the user of the traffic message receiver based on a triggering event, such as the end-user entering a point of interest string into the user interface of his navigation system or receipt of a message that includes an activated trigger flag.
US08269651B2

A one-way direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications wide-area network is the data collection channel (uplink) of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and a paging network, or other suitable communication channel is the optional forward (downlink) channel. The communications network may include one-way meter modules (transmitters) each communicatively coupled to a corresponding electric, gas or water utility meter, and may include two-way meter modules (transceivers) each coupled to such a corresponding utility meter. The meter modules monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages) in an appropriate RF channel. Metering data air messages are collected by a network of receiver Base Stations (BS) and forwarded to a Data Operations Center (DOC), which acts as a metering data gateway. The reception range of each base station is typically over 5 miles in urban areas, allowing sparse infrastructure deployment for a wide variety of metering data collection applications.
US08269650B2

The present subject matter relates to apparatus and methodologies for determining an appropriate size for a consumption measurement meter to be installed for a particular application, and/or for validating the appropriateness of a previously installed meter. A remotely controllable endpoint is associated with a consumption measure meter, which may be a water meter. Upon remote command to begin a measurement period, the endpoint will store data representing different levels of consumption during different time intervals over a period of time. The time intervals, length of time for recording data, and start time for recording data, may be remotely selected. Analysis of collected data with reference to known characteristics of available consumption measuring meters permits selection and/or validation of an appropriately sized meter for a particular application.
US08269641B2

A vehicle power management system (VPMS) controls a charging voltage of a battery in a vehicle, wherein a VPMS controller evaluates state-of-charge (SOC), battery temperature, and battery charging current to determine a charge mode. A rapid charge mode is used when the SOC is less than a first threshold, wherein the VPMS controller selects a target rapid charge voltage, compensates the target rapid charge voltage for the battery temperature, and transmits the compensated rapid charge voltage to the charging source. A normal charge mode is used when the SOC is greater than the first threshold and less than a second threshold, wherein a target normal charge voltage is selected and compensated which is less than the target rapid charge voltage. A trickle charge mode is used when the SOC is greater than the second threshold, wherein a target trickle charge voltage is less than the target normal charge voltage. The VPMS controller also enters the trickle charge mode in the event of a failure to receive the SOC, battery temperature, or battery charging current from a battery monitor.
US08269635B2

An implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), is configured to automatically detect ingestion of medications to verify that prescribed medications are taken in a timely manner and at the correct dosage. Briefly, individual pills are provided with miniature radio frequency identification (RFID) devices capable of transmitting RFID tag signals, which identify the medication contained within the pill and its dosage. The implanted device is equipped with an RFID transceiver for receiving tag signals from a pill as it is being ingested. The implanted system decodes the tag to identify the medication and its dosage, then accesses an onboard database to verify that the medication being ingested was in fact prescribed to the patient and to verify that the correct dosage was taken. Warning signals are generated if the wrong medication or the wrong dosage was taken. Therapy may also be automatically adjusted. Non-RF-based ID devices are also described, which instead transmit ID data via biphasic current pulses.
US08269630B2

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag that contains multiple Radio Frequency (RF) network nodes that may include memory storage for the RFID tag, the memory storage may include one time programmable (OTP) memory and many time programmable (MTP) memory and the storage of the information may be within the OTP and MTP memory.
US08269619B2

A wireless light indication and control device connected with a helmet is provided. The wireless light indication and control device includes a direction detector, a wireless transmitter, and at least one light element, wherein the direction detector senses a movement of the helmet to generate a turning signal, the wireless transmitter receives the turning signal and cooperates with a frequency hopping unit and a matching unit to generate a wireless signal, and the light element includes a wireless receiver for receiving the wireless signal. As the user wears the helmet of the present invention, the light can generate warning effect based on the movement of the helmet, so as to provide the user a more comprehensive traffic safety.
US08269618B2

A telemetry system coupled to a vehicle can communicate with a remote site using a wireless network, such as a cellular mobile radiotelephone network. The telemetry system can monitor aspects of the vehicle's operations based on remote user input. The telemetry system can monitor a vehicle's location or a crossing of a geographical boundary by the vehicle.
US08269592B1

A transformer includes a magnetic core through which an insulated electrical first conductor extends to define a turn of winding. The first conductor is tubular, in that it defines a generally axial aperture. A plurality of electrically insulated conductive windings are twisted together to form a bundle, or a pair if only two. The bundle extends through the axial aperture, to define at least an additional turn of winding. The individual conductors of the bundle are stripped of insulation at locations without the aperture of the first conductor.
US08269582B2

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a tuning element assembly and method for tuning an a radio frequency (RF) component, where the component has one or more walls defining a cavity, with at least one wall having at least one bore hole. A bushing is mounted in the bore hole in the wall, and a tuning element is slidably mounted and received in the bushing so that the tuning element projects inwardly through the bushing and into the cavity and is axially adjustable. A method of tuning an RF component also includes providing a bushing mounted in a bore in a wall of the RF component, sliding a tuning element that is slidably mounted and received in the bushing so that the tuning element projects inwardly through the bushing and into the cavity by a distance varying according to the sliding of the tuning element, monitoring a performance characteristic of the RF component, and releasing the tuning element so that a desired performance characteristic is achieved.
US08269576B2

A coaxial connector that includes: a first inner conductor and a second inner conductor; a capacitor that is electrically coupled to the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor; an outer conductor that surrounds the first and second inner conductors, and the capacitor; a first support member that fixes the first inner conductor to the outer conductor; a second support member that fixes the second inner conductor to the outer conductor; a first dielectric material that is provided between the outer conductor and the first inner conductor and between the outer conductor and the second inner conductor, and a second dielectric material that is provided between the outer conductor and the capacitor.
US08269568B2

The invention provides a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator, a piezoelectric vibrator, and an oscillator, whereby mounting of the piezoelectric vibrating piece by flip-chip bonding is ensured. A manufacturing method of a piezoelectric vibrator is a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator that includes: a base substrate; a lid substrate bonded to the base substrate; a piezoelectric vibrating piece including a crystal plate having on its outer surface excitation electrodes, and mount electrodes electrically connected to the excitation electrodes; inner electrodes to be electrically connected to the piezoelectric vibrating piece; and metal bumps to provide electrical interconnections between the inner electrodes and the mount electrodes. The method includes a inner electrodes forming step of forming the inner electrodes, a metal bump forming step of forming the metal bumps, and a mount step of bonding the mount electrodes of the piezoelectric vibrating piece to the metal bumps, wherein, in the mount step, the piezoelectric vibrating piece is mounted and fixed in such a manner that tips of the metal bumps are not in contact with the crystal plate.
US08269567B2

An oscillator is disclosed. The oscillator includes a first capacitor. The oscillator also includes a second capacitor. The oscillator further includes a first current source. The oscillator also includes a second current source. The oscillator further includes a comparator that has a first input and a second input. The oscillator also includes a reference node. The oscillator further includes a controller that is configured to selectively couple the first current source to the first capacitor and the second current source to the reference node during a first time period.
US08269564B2

A frequency setting circuit and method for an integrated circuit detect the voltage at a pin of the integrated circuit during a frequency setting period, and determine a frequency setting signal according to the detected voltage to set the frequency of a clock provided by an oscillator in the integrated circuit. After setting the frequency, the frequency setting circuit and method store the frequency setting signal and stop detecting the voltage at the pin. Thus the pin can be used for other functions.
US08269562B1

A microcontroller integrated circuit includes an open-loop transimpedance amplifier (OLTA). An input lead of the OLTA is a terminal of the microcontroller. The cathode of a photodiode is connected to VDD and the anode is connected to the terminal. The OLTA maintains the photodiode in a strongly reverse-biased condition, thereby keeping diode capacitance low and facilitating rapid circuit response. The input of the OLTA involves a diode-connected field effect transistor that provides a low impedance. This low impedance decreases as the diode current increases, thus providing effective clamping of the voltage on the terminal. By this clamping, the amount of photodiode capacitance discharging necessary when transitioning from a high input current condition to a low input current condition is reduced, thereby further improving amplifier response time. The OLTA is small and consumes less than thirty microamperes and functions to mirror photodiode current and compare to a predetermined level.
US08269558B1

A power supply controller controls the power supply voltage provided to a multi-gain step RF power amplifier to increase the efficiency of the RF power amplifier when the different gains of the RF power amplifier are selected and, thereby, reduce the power consumed by the multi-gain step RF power amplifier.
US08269552B2

An apparatus comprises at least one input connection, at least one output connection, and at least one control connection, and at least one switch circuit coupled to the input, the output, and the control connections. The switch circuit passes a signal received at the input to the output when the switch circuit is activated by a control signal received at the control connection. Power to the switch circuit is provided via the control connection.
US08269551B2

A complex filter for processing an in-phase signal and a quadrature-phase signal includes a first low-pass filter, a second low-pass filter, a connection unit between the first low-pass filter and the second low-pass filter, a first compensation resistor and a second compensation resistor. The first compensation resistor and the second compensation resistor are interlacedly coupled to input resistors of the first low-pass filter and the second low-pass filter.
US08269549B2

A power supply circuit for a PCI-E slot includes a control chip, a first electronic switch, and a second electronic switch. The control chip determines a status of a motherboard, outputting a control signal. A first terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to the control chip to receive the control signal, and connected to a +3.3V dual power supply of the motherboard through a first resistor. A second terminal of the first electronic switch is grounded. A third terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to a first terminal of the second electronic switch, and connected to the +3.3V dual power supply through a second resistor. A second terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to the +3.3V dual power supply. A third terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to a PCI-E slot.
US08269546B2

A modulator drive circuit provides a modulator drive signal, representative of a data waveform, to modulate an optical signal for transport across a network infrastructure. The modulator drive circuit includes a broadband Bias-T circuit insensitive to the frequency range of the data waveform. The Bias-T circuit provides for an adjustable bias level to maintain proper operation of a modulator used to modulate the optical signal. One or more modulator drive circuits may be provided on a single substrate.
US08269537B2

A data I/O interface for an integrated circuit device includes a noise detector receiving a power supply voltage, detecting a power supply voltage noise component, and providing a clock delay control signal in response to detected power supply voltage noise component. The data I/O interface also includes a clock delay circuit providing a delayed clock signal in response to the clock delay control signal, and a data transfer circuit powered by the power supply voltage and providing output data synchronously with the delayed clock signal.
US08269530B2

A frequency doubler comprises: a non-overlapping signal generation circuit configured to receive a first signal and a first control signal and generate a first and second non-overlapping signals, each of the first and second non-overlapping signals has a frequency of the first signal, an average of a duty cycle of the first non-overlapping signal and a duty cycle of the second non-overlapping signal is determined by the first control signal; a combination circuit configured to receive and combine the two non-overlapping signals to generate a frequency-doubled signal.
US08269522B2

A current boost circuit acts as an “eye opener” for a digital bus line. A controlled current injects a fraction of the normal signaling current magnitude from a source driver onto the bus line, after a transition between the two logical states on the bus line is detected. The duration of the additional current injection is a fraction of the unit interval. In one embodiment, a linear system uses the summation of a proportional boost current and a delayed and negated proportional boost current. In another embodiment, a positive or negative edge detection circuit triggers a monostable pulse generator that controls the injection of short bursts of additional current into the bus lines. In some embodiments the boost current is suppressed when the bus line is driven from a driver other than the source driver.
US08269517B2

The invention provides a handler and a method for testing the same. The handler comprises a sorter and a testing module. The testing module further comprises a signal generator, a sensor, and a signal comparator. The signal generator generates and sends out a first handling signal. The sorter receives the first handling signal and correspondingly places a first electronic component on a first region according to the first handling signal. The sensor senses the first electronic component on the first region, and then correspondingly generates and sends out a second handling signal. The signal comparator is electrically connected to the sensor and the signal generator, and receives the first handling signal and the second handling signal. The signal comparator determines whether the first handling signal is equivalent to the second handling signal, and correspondingly sends out a comparing signal.
US08269498B2

A system for MR signal excitation and reception and method which uses a non-resonant device or transmission line to perform MR imaging and spectroscopy. The system with non-resonant device is advantageous to parallel imaging due to the improved decoupling performance. Because the non-resonant RF coil is not generally sensitive to frequency, a MR system with the non-resonant RF coil is capable of multinuclear MR operation at varied magnetic field strength. The system comprises a non-resonant RF coil for connecting to an MR system, the conductor being configured to have a characteristic impedance matched to the MR system. The RF coil is configured to produce electromagnetic fields of differing strengths based on the constant characteristic impedance maintained in the system for exciting and receiving MR signals.
US08269493B2

An arrangement for transmission of digital signals in a magnetic resonance apparatus has a local coil that has reception antenna connected via an amplifier with an A/D converter so that a magnetic resonance signal received via the individual antenna is amplified as an analog signal and is converted into a digital signal. The A/D converter is connected at the output with a transmission device that is designed for capacitive coupling transmission of the digital signal.
US08269491B2

Presented is a sensor that includes a magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device to sense a magnetic field and to produce an AC signal voltage proportional to the sensed magnetic field. The sensor also includes circuitry, coupled to the MR sensing device, to remove DC offset from the AC signal voltage. The DC offset may be related to the hysteresis characteristics of the MR sensing device. To remove DC offset, the circuitry may obtain an averaged DC offset and subtract the averaged DC offset from the AC signal voltage to produce a sensor output signal.
US08269486B2

A sensor system includes a first magnetoresistive sensor resistor including a pinned magnetic layer having a fixed orientation in a reference magnetization direction. The first sensor resistor is configured such that its resistance changes in response to an angle defined between the reference magnetization direction and a magnetic field. A plurality of second magnetoresistive sensor resistors are configured to provide a differential signal. Each of the second sensor resistors includes a pinned magnetic layer having a fixed orientation in the reference magnetization direction. Another sensor system includes a first magnetoresistive sensor resistor having a length axis oriented by 90°+an angle Φ, where Φ<90° relative to a reference magnetization axis. A second magnetoresistive sensor resistor has a length axis oriented by 90°−Φ relative to the reference magnetization axis.
US08269484B2

An inductance-type rotation angle sensor includes: a stator formed by printing an annularly formed magnetic conductor and a receiving conductor placed adjacent to the magnetic conductor on a glass-epoxy-resin substrate; and a rotor having an excitation conductor attached thereto in a manner opposing the magnetic conductor. In the sensor, a thermosetting-resin covering layer, which is connected together through a periphery of the substrate and a through-hole included in this substrate, is formed on both front and back surfaces of the substrate by molding; a portion of the covering layer covering the magnetic conductor and the receiving conductor is formed as a thin thickness part which is thinner in thickness than a remaining portion of the covering layer; and the stator is buried in a thermoplastic-resin control housing with the thin thickness part being exposed to an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an inductance-type rotation angle sensor which is capable of restraining the change that occurs in the plate thickness of the substrate due to temperature change, and which is capable of stabilizing the detection precision of the angle change of the rotor.
US08269481B2

A digital multimeter includes an auto-save component configured to automatically capture and save a sequence of measurements. The auto-save component detects when a measurement becomes stable and upon determining that the measurement has become stable, captures and saves the measurement in a memory of the digital multimeter. The multimeter may additionally include an auto-naming component for automatically assigning a name to each measurement in the sequence, and an auto-hold component for temporarily freezing the display of the stable measurements in the multimeter.
US08269479B2

A mechanical support device (10) for a sensor plate (18) of a device for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic high-frequency signals, is designed as a winding core (24, 26) of at least one coil (32, 32′, 32″; 34, 34′, 34″; 36, 36′, 36″) in an inductive sensor.
US08269469B2

An equalizing method for ultracapacitor cell packs and/or series connected ultracapacitors.
US08269467B2

A dual-mode charger circuit includes a first charge circuit and a second charge circuit connected in parallel between a power source and a battery, to charge the battery under a slow charge mode and a quick charge mode. A central processing unit detects a capacity of the battery and determines whether the detected capacity exceeds a predetermined capacity, and outputs a mode control signal according to the determination. A mode switch circuit switches the second charger circuit on/off according to the mode control signal. When the second charge circuit is off, the battery is charged under the slow charge mode, and when the second charge circuit is on, the battery is charged under the quick charge mode.
US08269465B2

A circuit charges and maintains a battery. The circuit includes a microprocessor for receiving a current sense signal and a voltage sense signal. The microprocessor generates control signals for selectively operating the circuit in a charging mode and in a maintenance mode. The circuit includes a current sense circuit for measuring the battery's current consumption and generating the current sense signal responsive to the measured current consumption. The circuit includes a voltage sense circuit for measuring the battery's voltage and generating the voltage sense signal responsive to the measured battery voltage. The circuit includes a waveform generator circuit for receiving the control signals, and operating in response thereto to apply a charging signal to the battery when in the charging mode and to deactivate the charging signal when in the maintenance mode. The charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal.
US08269459B2

A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.
US08269455B2

A method, circuit, and topology are provided for utilization of this circuit in Li-Ion or any other battery that benefits from balancing between individual cells. The whole system is characterized as having high efficiency (and thus low heat losses) compared to previous art implementations. The actions of the circuit are continuous and bi-directional in respect to each cell.
US08269454B2

A power charging device with charge saturation disconnection through electromagnetic force release is formed by a charging power supply, charging control device, a magnetic actuator conductive device, power excitation windings, a rechargeable discharge device, and various detection devices provided for detection of the charge situation of the rechargeable discharge device.
US08269450B2

A winding switching apparatus includes a winding switching device and a drive circuit. The winding switching device is configured to switch a plurality of windings of an AC motor. The drive circuit is configured to control the winding switching device. The winding switching device includes a winding switch, a diode bridge, and a capacitor. The diode bridge includes a positive-side DC output terminal, a negative-side DC output terminal, and AC input terminals. The AC input terminals corresponds to respective phases of the AC motor. The positive-side and negative-side DC output terminals are respectively connected to positive-side and negative-side DC buses provided in an inverter. The AC input terminals are respectively connected to winding-switching terminals corresponding to the respective phases of the AC motor. The AC input terminals are respectively connected to phase terminals provided in the winding switch.
US08269440B2

A motor control system includes a power control module and a detection module. The power control module controls power applied to first and second stator coils of a motor to rotate a rotor. The rotor induces voltages in the first and second stator coils when the rotor is rotating. The detection module determines a first time when a first voltage is induced in the first stator coil and determines a second time when a second voltage is induced in the second stator coil after the first voltage is induced. The detection module determines a speed of the rotor based on a difference between the first and second time. The power control module applies current through the second stator coil a predetermined period after the second time. The power control module determines the predetermined period based on the speed of the rotor.
US08269439B2

Control mode switching determination is made as a part of a main loop (control period for overall control of an AC electric motor. When switching from the rectangular wave voltage control mode to PWM control mode is determined, the change in voltage phase of the rectangular wave voltage is inhibited from the timing of control mode switching determination until the next execution of the main loop until the timing at which the control mode is actually switched, to maintain voltage phase of the rectangular wave voltage at the time of control mode switching determination. Consequently, in a drive controller for an AC electric motor allowing switching between control modes, control mode can appropriately be switched without destabilizing the operation of the AC electric motor.
US08269430B2

Light-emitting diode controller 10 contains voltage source circuit 33 for feeding voltage to the anode of light-emitting diode 13, current source circuit 34 that selectively feeds current to the cathode of light-emitting diode 13, first voltage detector 36 that compares the cathode voltage of light-emitting diode 13, connected to current source circuit 34, to a first reference voltage, second voltage detector 37 that compares the cathode voltage to a second reference voltage lower than said first reference voltage, and voltage controllers 32, 35 that control the voltage value of the voltage fed from current source circuit 34. Here, voltage controllers 32, 35 control voltage source circuit 33 so that the voltage fed by current source circuit 34 is in the range between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage.
US08269427B2

An illuminating device includes: a calibrating output unit for reading an output current command value corresponding to a specific brightness command value and for outputting the output current command value to a light source; a ratio calculating unit for calculating a ratio between an illuminance of illuminating light emitted from the light source and a prescribed illuminance value prescribed for the specific brightness command value; an illuminance calculating unit for calculating each illuminance when each output current command value matched with each brightness command value is outputted; and a calibrating unit for calibrating a relationship between each brightness command value and each output current command value in a conversion table such that each illuminance at the time when each output current command value matched with each brightness command value is outputted is set to each prescribed illuminance value prescribed for each of the brightness command values.
US08269425B2

A driving device comprises a first transistor (B13), a second transistor (B14), and a resistance element. The first transistor (B13) has one terminal receiving a pulsed current and a control terminal connected to the one terminal. The second transistor (B14) has one terminal connected to at least one load, the other terminal connected to a reference potential together with the other terminal of the first transistor (B13), and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the first transistor (B13). The resistance element is connected between the control terminal of the first transistor (B13) and the other terminal of the first transistor (B13).
US08269419B2

A plasma display panel equipped with a front substrate and a back substrate facing each other to form a discharge space. On the discharge space side of the front substrate there are disposed a metal oxide layer and magnesium oxide crystal particles. An area ratio of the magnesium oxide crystal particles to the metal oxide layer is 0.1% to 85%.
US08269410B2

To achieve a light-emitting device emitting light with high brightness, closer to natural light, and less color shift due to a small change in intensity of emitted light, in a light-emitting device including a light source emitting light by driving current and at least one wavelength-converting material absorbing at least part of the light from the light source and emitting light having a different wavelength, the color coordinate x1(17.5) and the color coordinate y1(17.5) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 17.5 A/cm2 and the color coordinate x1(70) and the color coordinate y1(70) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 70 A/cm2 satisfy the following Expressions (D) and (E): −0.006≦x1(17.5)−x1(70)≦0.006  (D), −0.006≦y1(17.5)−y1(70)≦0.006  (E).
US08269409B2

The present invention comprises a process of mixing a luminous substance in powder form to a transferable grade molding compound in a pelletized or powder form, such as a clear epoxy, to derive a homogeneous mixture that can be pressed and sintered into solid pellets. The solid pellets are further processed so as to permit their deposition on and around a light emitting semiconductor driver so as to obtain a white light emitting semiconductor device. This white light emitting device can be used in a variety of lighting applications.
US08269408B2

An LED base structure with an embedded capacitor includes a body, at least one pair of metal layers, at least one dielectric layer, and at least two conductive channels. The body is an insulating base. The metal layers are disposed in the body, and the dielectric layer is disposed between the metal layers, so as to form an embedded capacitor. The conductive channels are electrically connected to the metal layers, respectively. The LED base structure is further electrically connected to a resistor for forming a resistor-capacitor delay circuit whereby a phase delay is effectuated whenever AC power is supplied to the LED base structure, so as to control the time for switching on one of two parallel-connected LEDs and, as a result, prevent the LEDs from flashing which might otherwise arise when the LEDs are supplied with AC power.
US08269403B2

A cooling system of an LED light employs a dehumidifying agent absorbing moisture in the air while the LED light is turned off, and dissipates heat from the LED light using heat of vaporization by vaporization of the moisture by heat from the LED light when the LED light is turned on. The system includes an LED module, a thermal sheet, a heat pipe, a heat sink, and a dehumidifying sheet. The LED module includes a PCB and multiple LEDs, and the thermal sheet is disposed on the LED module. The heat pipe of a cornered U-shape has a circular cross section and is coupled to a connector on the thermal sheet. The heat pipe has a horizontal section contacting an upper side of the thermal sheet and a vertical section protruding to the connector. The dehumidifying agent is disposed on the heat sink inserted into the heat pipe.
US08269400B2

A technique that provides: an ultrasonic transducer in which the accurate arrangement of piezoelectric elements and the electric conductive state between electrode layers are reserved; and an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and an ultrasonic flaw inspection apparatus which use the ultrasonic transducer is provided. According to the technique, a plurality of piezoelectric elements 1, each being a stacked body in which predetermined numbers of piezoelectric layers 2 and electrode layers 3 are alternately stacked and although this has both sides that are substantially flat along a stacking direction, side electrodes 6 to connect the predetermined electrode layers 3 are placed outside both of the sides, are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction, wherein an interval holding member 10 having a predetermined thickness is put between the sides on which the side electrodes 6 of the piezoelectric elements 1 adjacent to each other are formed.
US08269392B2

A permanent magnet rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments embedded in the rotor core and a stator having a plurality of coils and disposed to define a gap with the rotor, or a permanent magnet rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments mounted on the surface of the rotor core and a stator having a plurality of coils and disposed to define a gap with the rotor. In the rotor, each permanent magnet segment is an assembly of divided permanent magnet pieces, the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece, and the assembly allows for electrical conduction between the magnet pieces.
US08269391B2

A micro rotor is disclosed and includes a plurality of circular or annular plate-shaped thick film magnets which each include an isotropic magnet with a thickness t1 having an in-plane remanence Mr of 0.95 T or more and a coercivity HcJ of 400 kA/m or more and a non-magnetic material with a thickness t2 adapted to isolate two adjacent isotropic magnets where the ratio of t1/t2 is eight or more and which are stacked on one another in multiple layers in the rotation axis direction, wherein at least two pole pairs are provided and a mean magnetic path of in-plane direction having a permeance (B/μoH) of five or more achieved by the magnet alone is provided, whereby eddy current is reduced. Also disclosed are a radial gap type brushless DC motor, a PM stepping motor and an electric generator which incorporate the above described micro rotor.
US08269387B2

A rotating electric machine includes an annular stator including a coil formed by winding a part of a coil wire around a stator core, and the coil wire includes the coil wound around stator teeth, a terminal portion drawn out from one end portion of the coil over a yoke portion, and a wiring drawn out from the other end portion of the coil over the yoke portion and connected to a terminal portion of another coil wire including another coil provided at a distance from the coil in a circumferential direction of the stator.
US08269381B2

The mounting of a coolant line system in a magnet device of an electric machine is to be simplified. Therefore, a magnet device is provided, with a ferromagnetic base member (4) comprising a first (3) and an opposite second side (5) and comprising penetration holes for coolant lines from the first side (3) to the second side (5), and a plurality of first coolant line segments (1) inserted through the holes. The first coolant line segments (1) are U-shaped and each of the free leg ends (2) thereof is inserted through two of the holes of the first side (3) such that the leg ends (2) protrude from the second side (5) of the base member (4). Two of the leg ends of the first coolant line segments (1) are connected by way of a second coolant line segment. Thus, only two types of coolant line segments are needed to construct the coolant line system, and also the coolant line segments can be connected at a single side (5) of the base member (4).
US08269380B2

A brushless motor, to be used in a washing machine, includes a stator, a rotor, a magnetic sensor, and a drive circuit. The magnetic sensor and the drive circuit are accommodated in a case, and sealed with moisture-proof sealing resin, thereby forming a drive circuit unit, which is built in the brushless motor.
US08269376B1

A method and apparatus for switching AC appliances and lights of residences and other automation systems through SPDT or DPDT relays connected in electrical circuit with SPDT or DPDT switch including a current sensor and/or a status sensor. The operating key of the relay and the key lever of the electric switch can each be used for operating a dedicated appliance or light, a group of appliance and lights and all appliance and/or lights including scenarios setup via the many well known two way, three way or four way light switches, by operating the switch lever or key in multi steps. The SPDT or DPDT relays are operated via RF, IR and fiber optic communicating two way signal for operating the lights and reporting statuses.
US08269374B2

A controlled switching arrangement from a first mode of power transfer, in which an ecological power source (EPS) directly charges a battery during times of a utility power outage to a second mode of power transfer in which the EPS output is fully delivered through a grid-interactive inverter so as to provide A.C. power to the grid power connection. A single switching operation switches between power transfer modes as a function of an availability of the utility power output over the grid power connection such that a percentage of utility power output is supplied directly to the battery in the second mode so as to maintain the battery in a charged condition for use during the times of the utility power outage, and an off-grid inverter converts charge stored in the battery into A.C. power when the controller is switched to the first mode of power transfer.
US08269371B2

A power system is designed for providing reliable electrical power to a facility and/or associated devices. The system includes one or more fuel cells and a circuit adapted to receive power from the one or more fuel cells. The circuit is electrically connected to a device receiving the electrical power from the system. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors included in the circuit, and being adapted for maintaining power in the circuit when the one or more fuel cells are temporarily unavailable.
US08269361B2

It is described a method of determining a quality of an initial value for a blade pitch angle. An initial power captured by a wind turbine is measured, while the blade pitch angle has the initial value. The blade pitch angle is changed from the initial value to a first value in a first direction. A first power captured by the wind turbine is measured and the blade pitch angle is changed to a second value in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. Further, a second power captured by the wind turbine is measured, a power difference between the first power and the second power is calculated, and the quality of the initial value based on the calculated power difference is determined. Further, a control system, a wind turbine and a computer program are described.
US08269358B2

A bis(aminophenol) derivative having substituents at positions adjacent to two amino groups is provided. The bis(aminophenol) derivative is used as a raw material of a polyamide resin for a positive-tone photosensitive resin composition. A polyamide resin comprising bis(aminophenol) and a structure derived from a carboxylic acid is also provided, the bis(aminophenol) having substituents at positions adjacent to the two amino groups. A positive-tone photosensitive resin composition comprising a polybenzooxazole precursor resin, exhibiting high sensitivity and a high cyclization rate even when cured at a low temperature is provided. Also provided is a positive-tone photosensitive resin composition comprising a polyamide resin having an imide structure, an imide precursor structure, or an amide acid ester structure. The composition exhibits high sensitivity and produces a cured product having low water absorption even when cured at a low temperature.
US08269355B2

A semiconductor device such as a field-effect transistor, improved to reduce device resistance, comprises a leadframe which includes a die paddle integral with a first set of leads and a second set of leads that is electrically isolated from the first set, a semiconductor die having its lower surface positioned on, and electrically connected to, the die paddle, and a conductive layer on the upper surface of the die. At least one electrically conductive wire, preferably plural wires, extend laterally across the second surface of the semiconductor die, are in electrical contact with the conductive layer, and interconnect corresponding second leads on opposite sides of the die. The plural wires may be welded to leads in succession by alternate ball and wedge bonds on each lead. The conductive layer may be an aluminized layer on which is formed a thin layer a solderable material, such as tin. A solder is deposited on the tin layer, enmeshing the wires. The wires, which preferably are made of copper, then may be bonded to the electrically conductive layer by melting the solder paste, preferably by heating the leadframe, allowing the solder to reflow and wet the wires, and then cool to produce a low resistance mass between the leads.
US08269351B2

A multi-chip stack package structure comprises a substrate, which has a chip placement area defined on its upper surface and a plurality of contacts disposed outside the chip placement area; a first chip is disposed in the chip placement area with the rear surface, a plurality of first pads being disposed on the active surface and a plurality of first bumps each being formed on one of the first pads; a plurality of metal wires connect the first bumps to the contacts; a second chip with a plurality of second pads being disposed on the active surface and a plurality of second bumps each being formed on one of the second pads, the second chip being mounted to the first chip with its active surface facing the active surface of the first chip, wherein the second bumps correspondingly connect the metal wires and the first bumps respectively.
US08269335B2

A multilayer semiconductor device includes an interconnect substrate provided with first electrode lands and connection terminals on a top surface; a semiconductor chip mounted on the top surface of the interconnect substrate; first connecting members connecting the first electrode lands to a circuit formation surface of the semiconductor chip; first metal posts provided on the connection terminals; encapsulating resin filling a space between the interconnect substrate and the semiconductor chip; a package provided with second electrode lands on a main surface; and second connecting members electrically connecting the first metal posts to the second electrode lands.
US08269325B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes an organic board provided with external connection terminals on one surface and formed as an individual piece into a plane shape substantially identical to that of an area where the external connection terminals are provided, a lead frame having a mounting area positioned relative to the organic board, and a semiconductor memory chip bonded to the mounting area.
US08269319B2

Various structures chip packages are disclosed including a magnetoresistive random access memory (“MRAM”) device and a magnetic shield structure. The magnetic shield structure may be made from material having either ferromagnetic or diamagnetic material and may be shaped and incorporated into the chip package to divert stray magnetic fields away from the MRAM device.
US08269313B2

A bipolar transistor at least includes a semiconductor substrate including an N− epitaxial growth layer and a P− silicon substrate, an N+ polysilicon layer, a tungsten layer, two silicide layers, a base electrode, an emitter electrode, and a collector electrode. The N+ polysilicon layer formed on the semiconductor substrate is covered with one of the silicide layers. The tungsten layer that is formed on the silicide layer is covered with the other silicide layer.
US08269309B2

In order to improve the reliability of a semiconductor device having a fuse formed by a Damascene technique, a barrier insulating film and an inter-layer insulating film are deposited over a fourth-layer wiring and a fuse. The barrier insulating film is an insulating film for preventing the diffusion of Cu and composed of a SiCN film deposited by plasma CVD like the underlying barrier insulating film. The thickness of the barrier insulating film covering the fuse is larger than the thickness of the underlying barrier insulating film so as to improve the moisture resistance of the fuse.
US08269304B2

A MOS-gate power semiconductor device includes: a main device area including an active area and an edge termination area; and an auxiliary device area horizontally formed outside the main device area so as to include one or more diodes. Accordingly, it is possible to protect a circuit from an overcurrent and thus to prevent deterioration and/or destruction of a device due to the overcurrent.
US08269303B2

The lattice mismatching between a Ge layer and a Si layer is as large as about 4%. Thus, when the Ge layer is grown on the Si layer, penetration dislocation is introduced to cause leakage current at the p-i-n junction. Thereby, the photo-detection sensitivity is reduced, and the reliability of the element is also lowered. Further, in the connection with a Si waveguide, there are also problems of the reflection loss due to the difference in refractive index between Si and Ge, and of the absorption loss caused by a metal electrode. In order to solve said problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a vertical type pin-SiGe photodiode having a structure which is embedded in a groove formed in a part of a Si layer, in which a p-type or n-type doped layer is formed in a lower section of the groove, and in which a i-SiGe layer having a rectangular shape or a reverse tapered shape is formed on a layered structure formed by laminating a i-Si layer and a SiGe buffer layer on the lower section and the side wall of the groove. Further, in an optical connection section with a Si waveguide, impedance matching is effected by the layered structure composed of the i-Si layer and the SiGe buffer layer, and an upper metal layer is separated therefrom so that a poly-Si bridge structure is employed to electrically connect the upper metal layer therewith.
US08269297B2

Consistent with the present disclosure, a current blocking layer is provided between output waveguides carrying light to be sensed by the photodiodes in a balanced photodetector, and the photodiodes themselves. Preferably, the photodiodes are provided above the waveguides and sense light through evanescently coupling with the waveguides. In addition, the current blocking layer may include alternating p and n-type conductivity layers, such that, between adjacent ones of such layers, a reverse biased pn-junction is formed. The pn-junctions, therefore, limit the amount of current flowing from one photodiode of the balanced detector to the other, thereby improving performance.
US08269294B2

A spin transport device is provided, which includes a channel comprised of a semiconductor material, a magnetization fixed layer arranged on the channel via a first insulating layer, a magnetization free layer arranged on the channel via a second insulating layer, and first and second electrodes arranged on the channel, wherein carrier densities of a first region of the channel including a contact surface with the first insulating layer, a second region of the channel including a contact surface with the second insulating layer, a third region of the channel including an opposite surface to the first electrode, and a fourth region of the channel including an opposite surface to the second electrode are higher than an average carrier density of the whole channel. Accordingly, a spin transport device that can realize good spin transportation and electric resistance characteristics while suppressing the scattering of spin can be provided.
US08269288B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a fin-type transistor that is excellent in characteristics by forming a fin-shaped semiconductor portion and a gate electrode with high precision or by making improvement regarding variations in characteristics among elements. The present invention is a semiconductor device including a fin-shaped semiconductor portion having a source region formed on one side thereof and a drain region formed on the other side thereof, and a gate electrode formed between the source region and the drain region to surround the fin-shaped semiconductor portion with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. One solution for solving the problem according to the invention is that the gate electrode uses a metal material or a silicide material that is wet etchable.
US08269285B2

According to one embodiment, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device provided with an MIS transistor which has an effective work function being, as much as possible, suitable for low threshold operation. A CMIS device provided with an electrode having an optimal effective work function and enabling low threshold operation to achieve by producing an in-gap level by the addition of a high valence metal in an Hf (or Zr) oxide and changing a position of the in-gap level by nitrogen or fluorine or the like has been realized.
US08269284B2

There are provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which achieves a reduction in implantation masks, and such a semiconductor device. By implanting boron into NMOS regions using a resist mask and another resist mask as the implantation masks, p-type impurity regions serving as the halo regions of access transistors and drive transistors are formed. By further implanting phosphorus or arsenic into a PMOS region using another resist mask as the implantation mask, n-type impurity regions serving as the halo regions of load transistors are formed.
US08269283B2

The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
US08269277B2

A semiconductor device can include a source region near a working top surface of a semiconductor region. The device can also include a gate located above the working top surface and located laterally between the source and a drain region. The source region and the gate can at least partially laterally overlap a body region near the working top surface. The source region can include a first portion having the first conductivity type, a second portion having a second conductivity type, and a third portion having the second conductivity type. The second portion can be located laterally between the first and third portions and can penetrate into the semiconductor region to a greater depth than the third portion but no more than the first portion. The lateral location of the third portion can be determined at least in part using the lateral location of the gate.
US08269272B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer, a fourth semiconductor layer, first trenches, a second trench, an insulating film, a gate electrode, a first main electrode, a second main electrode, a channel stopper layer and a channel stopper electrode. The second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type is provided on the first semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type is provided on the second semiconductor layer. The fourth semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type is provided on the third semiconductor layer. The gate electrode is provided in the first trenches via the insulating film. The first main electrode is provided on the first semiconductor layer. The second main electrode is provided to contact the element part. The channel stopper electrode is provided on the termination part.
US08269269B2

A gate electrode of a select gate transistor includes a gate insulating film that is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a lower gate electrode that is formed on the gate insulating film and that has a tapered portion in which a side surface on a side of a gate electrode of a memory cell transistor is in a tapered shape, a first oxide film, a silicon nitride film, a second oxide film, and a conductive film that are sequentially formed on the tapered portion, and an upper gate electrode that is connected to the conductive film and the lower gate electrode.
US08269266B2

Provided is a semiconductor device having, over a semiconductor substrate, a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode which are adjacent to each other and constitute a nonvolatile memory. The height of the memory gate electrode is lower than the height of the control gate electrode. A metal silicide film is formed over the upper surface of the control gate electrode, but not formed over the upper surface of the memory gate electrode. The memory gate electrode has, over the upper surface thereof, a sidewall insulating film made of silicon oxide. This sidewall insulating film is formed in the same step as that for the formation of respective sidewall insulating films over the sidewalls of the memory gate electrode and the control gate electrode. The present invention makes it possible to improve the production yield and performance of the semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory.
US08269264B2

An image sensor having an array of pixels disposed in a substrate. Each pixel includes a photosensitive element, a color filter, and waveguide walls. The waveguide walls are disposed in the color filter and surround portions of the color filter to form waveguides through the color filter. The refractive index of the waveguide walls is less than the refractive index of the color filter. The image sensor may be back side illuminated (BSI) or front side illuminated (FSI). In some embodiments, metal walls may be coupled to the waveguide walls.
US08269262B2

A vertical junction field effect transistor (VJFET) having a mesa termination and a method of making the device are described. The device includes: an n-type mesa on an n-type substrate; a plurality of raised n-type regions on the mesa comprising an upper n-type layer on a lower n-type layer; p-type regions between and adjacent the raised n-type regions and along a lower sidewall portion of the raised regions; dielectric material on the sidewalls of the raised regions, on the p-type regions and on the sidewalls of the mesa; and electrical contacts to the substrate (drain), p-type regions (gate) and the upper n-type layer (source). The device can be made in a wide-bandgap semiconductor material such as SiC. The method includes selectively etching through an n-type layer using a mask to form the raised regions and implanting p-type dopants into exposed surfaces of an underlying n-type layer using the mask.
US08269257B2

A noble metal nanoparticle can be grown on a semiconductor substrate by contacting a predetermined region of the substrate with a solution including noble metal ions. The predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate can be exposed by applying a polymeric layer over the substrate selectively removing a portion of the polymeric layer. The nanoparticles can be prepared in a predetermined pattern. Nanowires having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined position can be grown from the nanoparticles.
US08269255B2

A semiconductor device includes an epitaxial pattern that fills a depression region formed at a semiconductor substrate of one side of a gate pattern. The gate pattern is disposed on a body located at one side of the depression region. The sidewall of the depression region adjacent to the body includes inner surfaces of tapered recesses that taper toward the body, or has an inner surface of a taper recess and a vertical lower sidewall.
US08269252B2

A structure including at least two neighboring components, capable of operating at high frequencies, formed in a thin silicon substrate extending on a silicon support and separated therefrom by an insulating layer, the components being laterally separated by insulating regions. The silicon support has, at least in the vicinity of its portion in contact with the insulating layer, a resistivity greater than or equal to 1,000 ohms.cm.
US08269244B2

Packages for containing one or more light emitting devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), are disclosed with an efficient, isolated thermal path. In one embodiment, LED package can include a thermal element and at least one electrical element embedded within a body. The thermal element and electrical element can have the same and/or substantially the same thickness and can extend directly from a bottom surface of the LED package such that they are substantially flush with or extend beyond the bottom surface of the LED package. The thermal and electrical element have exposed portions which can be substantially flush with lateral sides of the body such that the thermal and electrical element do not have a significant portion extending beyond an outermost edge of the lateral sides of the body.
US08269237B2

A light-emitting device including a light-emitting element emitting excitation light for exciting a fluorescent body, a dispersion body having the fluorescent body dispersed therein, which fluorescent body emits fluorescent light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light, and a lead frame holding the light-emitting element and the dispersion body, wherein at least a portion of the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent body in the dispersion body is output to the outside from a side of the dispersion body receiving the excitation light. With this, a light-emitting device having high light output efficiency and an illumination apparatus and a display apparatus using the light-emitting device are provided.
US08269221B2

Provided is a thin film device and an associated method of making a thin film device. For example, a thin film transistor with nano-gaps in the gate electrode. The method involves providing a substrate. Upon the substrate are then provided a plurality of parallel spaced electrically conductive strips. A plurality of thin film device layers are then deposited upon the conductive strips. A 3D structure is provided upon the plurality of thin film device layers, the structure having a plurality of different heights. The 3D structure and the plurality of thin film device layers are then etched to define a thin film device, such as for example a thin film transistor that is disposed above at least a portion of the conductive strips.
US08269214B2

An organic light emitting device comprises an outcoupling layer having relatively high aspect ratio nanowires imbedded within an optically thick transparent high optical index film. The incorporation of nanowires increases the optical index of a light emitting assembly and provides a means for extracting light from a light emitting assembly of the organic light emitting device.
US08269203B2

A resistive random access memory device formed on a semiconductor substrate comprises an interlayer dielectric having a via formed therethrough. A chemical-mechanical-polishing stop layer is formed over the interlayer dielectric. A barrier metal liner lines walls of the via. A conductive plug is formed in the via. A first barrier metal layer is formed over the chemical-mechanical-polishing stop layer and in electrical contact with the conductive plug. A dielectric layer is formed over the first barrier metal layer. An ion source layer is formed over the dielectric layer. A dielectric barrier layer is formed over the ion source layer, and includes a via formed therethrough communicating with the ion source layer. A second barrier metal layer is formed over the dielectric barrier layer and in electrical contact with the ion source layer. A metal interconnect layer is formed over the barrier metal layer.
US08269186B2

A method for detecting radiation. The radiation detector includes a plurality of Faraday cups. Each Faraday cup being provided with a cover. Each cover comprising a window arrangement through which the radiation may pass into the Faraday cup. The window arrangement of each cover being different for each Faraday cup. Each Faraday cup housing a target configured to emit photoelectrons if the radiation is incident upon the target.
US08269184B2

A radiation detector device is disclosed and includes a scintillation device having a scintillator crystal. The radiation detector device also includes a photosensor. Further, the radiation detector device includes an optical interface coupled between the scintillation device and the photosensor. The optical interface is electrically conductive.
US08269171B2

A system and method for detecting, tracking and identifying a gas plume. The system comprises a processor and a detector in communication with the processor. The detector is effective to detect spectral radiance from a region of interest to detect first and second detected spectral radiance data with a known time difference. A database is in communication with the processor, the database includes a library. The processor is effective to create at least a first image and a second image from the first and second detected spectral radiance data and co-register the first and second images to produce a first co-registered image and a second co-registered image. The processor is further effective to subtract the first co-registered image from the second co-registered image to produce a difference image and generate a cluster region around a difference region in the difference image. The processor is further effective to analyze the spectral radiance from the cluster region to produce a spectral characteristic curve; and correlate the spectral characteristic curve against the library to identify the gas plume.
US08269169B1

A polarimetric sensor includes a substrate and a plurality of aligned nanotube film patches arranged on the substrate. Each of the plurality of aligned nanotube film patches is oriented on the substrate to sense a different orientational component of electromagnetic radiation. For each of the plurality of aligned nanotube film patches, at least two contacts are arranged in electrical communication with the respective aligned nanotube film patch. The at least two electrodes are configured to conduct to an external circuit an electric signal generated in the respective aligned nanotube film patch when exposed to a respective orientational component of electromagnetic radiation.
US08269167B2

A method to determine a distribution profile of an element in a film. The method comprises exciting an electron energy of an element deposited in a first film, obtaining a first spectrum associating with the electron energy, and removing a background spectrum from the first spectrum. Removing the background value generates a processed spectrum. The method further includes matching the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum with a known simulated distribution profile for the element in a film comparable to the first film. A distribution profile is obtained for the element in the first film based on the matching of the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum selected from the set of simulated spectra.
US08269163B2

The present invention provides novel radiation associated markers. The radiation associated markers may be one or more of albumin, LTGF-β, or any protein or peptide listed in any one of Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 provided herein. The present invention also provides methods of assessing exposure to ionizing radiation by determining the presence of one or more radiation associated markers. The methods may optionally include quantifying one or more of the radiation associated markers. The methods may further include comparing the amount of one or more radiation associated markers in the sample determined to be present in the sample with either (i) the amount determined for temporally matched, normal samples or (ii) the amount determined for samples obtained from individuals or subjects that have not been exposed to an elevated level of ionizing radiation. The present invention further provides a method of predicting outcome in a subject after exposure to elevated levels of ionizing radiation. Further, the present invention provides a method of determining the amount of radiation therapy that has been delivered to a particular tissue. Also, the present invention provides kits for assessing the likelihood of significant damage, death, illness or medical complications post exposure to elevated levels of ionizing radiation by determining the presence or absence or by quantifying the amount of one or more radiation associated markers.
US08269161B2

An apparatus for evaluating downhole fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an optical block having an adjustable opening that receives electromagnetic energy emitted by an electromagnetic energy source; a controller operatively associated with the optical block for adjusting the opening size, wherein the opening size is adjusted at least in part based on one or more estimated downhole parameters; and a sensor that receives the electromagnetic energy emitted by the electromagnetic energy source after the emitted electromagnetic energy interacts with a downhole fluid. A method for evaluating downhole fluids is also disclosed.
US08269160B2

Provided is an image capturing system comprising an irradiating section that sequentially irradiates an observed position with a plurality of types of irradiation light having different polarizations; a polarization filter section that includes a plurality of polarization filter units, which each include a plurality of returned polarized light filters that each pass light having a different polarization, the polarization filter section passing returned light from the observed position having each of the plurality of polarizations; and a light receiving section that receives the returned light passed by the polarization filter section having each of the plurality of polarizations.
US08269159B2

A night vision goggle system is shown, including optical modules, a heads-up display (HUD) module, and a camera module. Each module may be added to and removed from the system without structural, electrical, or optical damage to itself or the remaining modules. Each optical module takes input light at one end and provides an intensified image at the other. A heads-up display module (HUD) can provide an informational display in any of at least two of the optical modules or both. A camera module is capable of recording both the intensified image produced by a particular optical module, as well as the HUD information shown through that module with substantially no offset from the original display. Both the camera module and the HUD module are installable onto the same optical module at the same time, and can be installed on either (or in some embodiments, any) optical module.
US08269152B2

A consumer unit (7) for converting inductively transmitted electric power. The device comprises at least one secondary coil (5) for accepting power from a alternating electromagnetic field. The secondary coil (5) is electrically connected to at least one consumer in which the electric power is converted. The consumer unit (7) is designed as a replaceable module for an induction furnace (25).
US08269144B2

A shielded metal arc welding electrode for depositing a high strength weld metal bead on a workpiece which satisfies the strength requirements under America Welding Society A5.5 standard's E11018M classification with no chromium added to the composition of the electrode.
US08269134B2

A DC steam plasma torch includes front, middle and rear sections. The front section includes a first amount and a first electrode attached to the first amount, thus defining co-axial first internal and external coolant channels. The middle section includes a second mount and a second electrode co-axially connected to the second mount, thus defining co-axial second internal and external coolant channels. The rear section includes an insulating transient element connected to the second electrode, a window frame connected to the insulating transient element and a window provided in the window frame. A first swirl generator is provided between the first and second sections to receive primary working gas and generating a swirl in the same. A second swirl generator is provided between the middle and rear sections to receive auxiliary working gas and generating a swirl in the same.
US08269133B2

An electric soldering iron comprises a power unit connecting the electric soldering iron to an external power source, an electric soldering iron body comprising an iron head and a motion sensor for detecting motion of the electric soldering iron body, and a control system connected to the power unit and the electric soldering iron body, which comprises a switch, a control unit and a timer. The control unit directs the switch to maintain or terminate connection between the power unit and the iron head based on motion detected by the motion sensor and duration measured by the timer. When the duration exceeds a predetermined value, the control system enables the switch to terminate connection of the iron head and the power unit to achieve automatic cutoff of power.
US08269130B2

A vacuum interrupter includes a number of insulative tubes having a first open end and a second open end; a first end member secured to the first open end; a second end member secured to the second open end; a fixed contact mounted on a fixed electrode extending through the second end member; a retainer; and a movable contact. The retainer includes a rigid retainer having a plurality of legs and an opening, and an insulative bushing having a smaller opening. The insulative bushing is molded over a portion of the rigid retainer. The smaller opening is within the opening of the rigid retainer and is structured to receive a movable electrode. The movable contact is mounted on the movable electrode extending through the first end member and through the smaller opening. The movable contact is capable of axially reciprocating into and out of contact with the fixed contact.
US08269128B2

A vacuum switch tube is provided, which includes a first conductive rod disposed with a first contact and a second conductive rod disposed with a second contact. The first contact and the second contact are disposed facing each other and sealed in a vacuum tube body. Contact bodies of the first contact and the second contact are spheres with spherical caps at two ends being cut off. The first contact and the second contact respectively include conductive members and magnetic members extending in the same direction and joining with each other to form the contact bodies. The cross section shape of the magnetic members is divided by a neutrality line into two unequal regions. The magnetic member of the first contact and the conductive member of the second contact are correspondingly disposed. The conductive member of the first contact and the magnetic member of the second contact are correspondingly disposed. The vacuum switch tube of the present invention can generate a rotating magnetic field in a vacuum gap formed between contact surfaces of two vacuum switch contacts in a vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber, so as to increase high-voltage resistant capability of the vacuum switch tube, which can be applied in a vacuum switch device of a higher voltage circuitry.
US08269121B2

A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis of a medical device includes an electrically conductive switching piston to form a first electrical contact of the switch, a hollow body, an end stop, a bias device, and an electrically conductive second contact of the switch electrically insulated from the piston. The piston is movably disposed in the body hollow along the axis to define different switch-making and -breaking positions. The piston is also movably disposed in a cavity of the stop and the stop is disposed in the body. The stop can be a smooth or threaded puck. The bias device surrounds the piston and imparts bias against it to retain it in one of the two positions until an external axis force overcomes the bias, at which time the switch indicates a state changeover. The switch can be normally open or closed.
US08269119B2

An apparatus is disclosed for mutually locking two switches, in particular circuit breakers, with two plungers which move in opposition to one another via a forced mechanical coupling. When one switch opens, one plunger is shifted into its opening position and the other plunger is shifted into its locking position. In order to achieve a maintenance-free apparatus, at least one embodiment of the invention proposes that each plunger has a toothed rack, which meshes with a gearwheel, on which in each case one radial lever is arranged. The levers are connected in articulated fashion to one another via a connecting rod and a stop lever is mounted in rotary fashion on each gearwheel and, when the plungers are located in the zero position, bears in each case against a fixing stop. Furthermore, a driver is located on each gearwheel and bears in each case against a stop face formed on the stop lever, wherein, when a plunger is shifted, in particular when a switch opens, one driver pivots the stop lever towards a spring, while the other driver is removed from the stop face of the stop lever.
US08269110B2

An earpiece/wire organizer houses and maintains wires in an untangled manner. The earpiece/wire organizer has a sleeve constructed with mating spine pieces that house wires therein. Simply scrunching or compressing the sleeve with a single hand motion engages the mating spine pieces in an attached configuration and compresses the sleeve and wire housed therein. When the user desires to lengthen or elongate the wire, the user simply pulls or elongates the sleeve with a single hand motion that disengages the mating spine pieces and lengthens the sleeve and wire housed therein. Where more than one sleeve is provided, the sleeves are further constructed to releaseably connect to one another.
US08269103B2

An electrical junction box is fixed via at least one mounting foot to a component-fixation section in a crushable zone of a vehicle. The mounting foot includes a breakage-inducing portion. The breakage-inducing portion is provided between an insertion hole into which a fastening bolt is inserted for fixation of the electrical junction box, and an outer edge of the mounting foot. The breakage-inducing portion is provided such that a body of the box is displaced in a displacement direction in a vehicle collision, and the breakage-inducing portion resides on a displacement trajectory that the fastening bolt may describe. The breakage-inducing portion provided on the displacement trajectory of the fastening bolt includes a throughhole and a notch.
US08269101B2

A device housing for signal devices that are to be placed on a premise of a user, the device housing encouraging access to certain connections and discouraging access to certain connections once the device housing is mounted to a mounting surface. The device housing includes a first housing portion defining a first cavity enclosing electrical components and a second housing portion defining a second cavity. The second housing portion adjoins the first housing portion. An adjoining wall separates the first cavity from the second cavity. An open side of the second cavity is positioned to extend along the mounting surface. At least one user connection is mounted to an external sidewall of the first housing portion, and at least one restricted connection is mounted to the adjoining wall. The restricted connection extends into the second cavity.
US08269098B2

A thermoelectric module device with thin film elements is disclosed. A pillar structure with a hollow region is formed by stacking a plurality of thin-film type thermoelectric module elements, each including a plurality thin-film thermoelectric pairs arranged in a ring. An insulating and thermal conducting layer covers the inner sidewalls of the hollow region of the pillar structure and the outer sidewalls of the pillar structure. A cool source and a heat source are disposed in the hollow region or outer side of the pillar structure, respectively.
US08269093B2

Methods for beat synchronization between media assets are described. In one embodiment, beat synchronized media mixes can be automatically created. By way of example, a beat synchronized event mix can be created by selecting a plurality of media assets, arranging the media assets into an unsynchronized media mix, determining the a profile of each of the media assets in the media mix, automatically beatmatching the beats of adjacent media assets in the media mix, and automatically beatmixing the beats of adjacent beatmatched media assets to create the beat-synchronized media mix. The media assets that can be used include both audio and video media. Media assets are selected based on a specific set of media asset selection criteria, which can include music speed or tempo, music genre, music intensity, media asset duration, user rating, and music mood. A beat synchronized event mix can be subdivided into one or more event mix segments. Each event mix segment can have its own selection criteria.
US08269089B2

A drum pedal includes a base having a pair of posts, a shaft, a beater, a footboard, and a chain belt. A shaft is rotatably supported by the upper ends of the posts with bearings. One of the bearings is fixed to a first end portion of the shaft by fastening a screw to the shaft along the axial direction. The bearing fixed to the shaft is sandwiched by the cover and the post along the axial direction of the shaft.
US08269082B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding therefor, which influence seed dormancy in cereals such as wheat and barley. In particular, the present invention relates to polypeptides with ABA 8′-hydroxylase activity, and polynucleotides encoding these proteins. Also provided are cereal plants which produce seeds that have altered rates of germination, and/or levels of dormancy, when compared to seeds from wild-type plants, as well as methods of producing such plants.
US08269074B2

A soybean cultivar designated 90282601 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 90282601, to the plants of soybean 90282601, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 90282601, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 90282601 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 90282601, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 90282601, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 90282601 with another soybean cultivar.
US08269070B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015492. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015492. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015492 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015492 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08269069B1

The present invention includes domain I modifications that improve various attributes of various Coleopteran-active Cry proteins. These attributes can include improved target pest spectrum, potency, and insect resistance management. The subject modifications can affect protoxin activation and the efficiency of pore formation, which can lead to enhanced insect intoxication.
US08269068B2

Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.
US08269064B2

The present invention relates to plant cells and plants, which are genetically modified, wherein the genetic modification leads to the expression in plastids of such plant cells and plants of an enzyme having the activity of a mutansucrase. Furthermore, the present invention relates to means and methods for the manufacture of such plant cells and plants. Plant cells and plants of this type synthesise a modified starch. The present invention therefore also relates to the starch synthesised by the plant cells and plants according to the invention as well as to methods for the manufacture of the starch and to the manufacture of starch derivatives of this modified starch.
US08269052B2

The invention relates to a method for producing pentafluoroethane, and especially to a method comprising (i) a step during which perchloroethylene and optionally 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane and/or 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane react(s) with hydrofluoric acid in a gaseous phase in the presence of a catalyst in an adiabatic multi-stage reactor, and optionally (ii) a step of separating the flow produced in step (i) in order to obtain a fraction of light products and a fraction of heavy products.
US08269051B2

The present invention includes wickerol and a method for producing the wickerol. In the method for producing the wickerol, Trichoderma atroviride strain FKI-3737 (FERM ABP-11099 corresponding to FERM BP-11099) belonging to filamentous fungi is cultured in a medium, and the wickerol is accumulated in a culture, and then the produced wickerol is isolated and purified from the culture. A substance having inhibitory activity against influenza virus replication and containing the wickerol as an active ingredient, and an anti-influenza drug containing the wickerol as an active ingredient are obtained.
US08269050B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing ETBE from technical mixtures which comprise at least 1-butene, isobutene, n-butane and 2-butenes, by reacting the isobutene present, distillatively removing a fraction comprising 1-butene and isobutene and again reacting the isobutene present therein to give ETBE.
US08269047B2

A method for preparing an α-halo enal or enone from an unprotected propargyl alcohol and an electrophilic halogen source catalyzed by the combination of a gold catalyst complex and a metal co-catalyst complex is disclosed. The method can be further enhanced by addition of an additive that facilitates suppression of a des-halo derivative.
US08269045B2

Substituted pyrazinecarboxylic acid anilide derivatives represented by the general formula (I) or salts thereof; intermediates of them; pesticides (such as insecticides and acaricides) for agricultural and horticultural use, containing the compounds as the active ingredient; and usage thereof: wherein R1 is H, C1-6 alkyl, halo C1-6 alkyl, or the like; R2 is halogeno, C1-6 alkyl, or the like; G is C2-10 alkyl or the like; Z is oxygen or sulfur; X's are each independently H, halogeno, or the like; Y's are each independently H, halogeno, cyano, or the like; and m and n are each an integer of 1 to 3.
US08269041B2

The present invention relates to salts having thiouronium or uronium cations, to processes for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof as ionic liquids.
US08269020B2

The present invention relates to novel processes for the production of compounds of formula (I) wherein Hal and Hal′ are independently selected from Cl and F, and R1 is selected from Cl, F and H.
US08269019B2

Novel heterocyclic derivatives as inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5). QC catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamine residues into pyroglutamic acid (5-oxo-prolyl, pGlu*) under liberation of ammonia and the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamate residues into pyroglutamic acid under liberation of water.
US08269014B2

Compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1, X, Y, and Z are as defined herein, are useful for treating flaviviridae viral infections.
US08269013B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, which is useful in the inhibition of c-Met protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising compounds of formula I and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative disorders.
US08269007B2

This invention relates to a process for preparing a crystalline form of (4S)-11(dimethoxymethyl)-4-ethyl-4-hydroxy-1H-pyrano[3′4′:6,7]indolizino[1,2-b]quinoline-3,14(4H,12H)-dione, also named 7-(dimethoxy-methyl)camptothecin). With the provision of a particular crystallization step, in appropriate way, a new crystalline form of the above compound is obtained. The process for the preparation of the polymorph Form II comprises transforming camptothecin to the corresponding 7-(dimethoxy-methyl)-camptothecin, and crystallizing from methanol.
US08269000B2

Substituted pyrimidine and triazine compounds corresponding to formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a, R5b, R7, R8, R9a, R9b, R10, R11, A, a, b, s, t, V, W1, W2 and W3 have defined meanings, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, a process for preparing such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions to treat or inhibit pain and/or other disorders or disease states.
US08268991B1

The present invention describes a novel heavy-metal-free sequence leading to a superior, more economical, and scalable process for the high efficiency conversion of hexaallylhexaazaisowurtzitane (HAllylIW) to hexa(1-propenyl)hexaazaisowurtzitane (HPIW) and hence via reaction with singlet oxygen and subsequent nitrolysis to hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20).
US08268989B2

This invention is directed to a process for making a thermally inhibited polysaccharide by dehydrating a polysaccharide to substantially anhydrous or anhydrous conditions and thermally inhibiting the substantially anhydrous or anhydrous polysaccharide at a temperature of 100° C. or greater for a time sufficient to inhibit the polysaccharide in an oxygen enriched concentration of at least 6.5 moles/m3.
US08268988B2

Disclosed is a synthesis suitable for large scale manufacture of an A2A-adenosine receptor agonist, and also relates to polymorphs of that compound, and to methods of isolating a specific polymorph.
US08268983B2

Present invention relates to a method for predicting an individual's bronchodilatory response to a β agonist. Present invention particularly relates to the detection of specific allelic variants of the β2AR gene and their use as pharmacogenetic markers towards response to β agonist.
US08268982B2

Provided herein are primer/probe sets useful for detecting HIV (HIV-1) in a test sample. The primer/probe sets can be employed according to nucleic acid amplification procedures including PCR, real-time quantitative PCR, or RT-PCR. The primer/probe sets can also be provided in the form of a kit with other reagents for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction.
US08268978B2

Disclosed, among other things, are primers containing certain modified nucleobases in the 3′ terminal region of the primers that provide reduced formation of primer-dimers during amplification reactions, and various methods of use thereof.
US08268972B2

The present invention is directed to humanized antibodies which bind the human C5a receptor and their use as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The present invention is further directed toward nucleic acid sequences which encode said humanized antibodies, and their expression in recombinant host cells. In particular, the present invention is directed towards humanized antibodies derived from murine antibody 7F3 which specifically binds to the human C5a receptor.
US08268967B2

The present invention provides IFN-α conjugates including IFN-α peptides and modifying groups such as PEG moieties. The IFN-α peptide and modifying group are linked via an intact glycosyl linking group interposed between and covalently attached to the IFN-α peptide and the modifying group. The IFN-α conjugates are formed from glycosylated peptides by the action of a glycosyltransferase. The glycosyltransferase ligates a modified sugar onto an amino acid or a glycosyl residue on the IFN-α peptide. Also provided are methods for preparing the IFN-α conjugates, methods for treating various disease conditions with the IFN-α conjugates, and pharmaceutical formulations including the IFN-α conjugates.
US08268966B2

Provided is a human C-type lectin, binding molecules that specifically bind to the human C-type lectin, nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules or the human C-type lectin, compositions comprising the binding molecules or the human C-type lectin and methods of identifying or producing the binding molecules. The human C-type lectin is specifically expressed on myeloid cells and binding molecules capable of specifically binding to the human C-type lectin can be used in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of neoplastic disorders and diseases.
US08268961B2

Antibacterial peptides and their multimeric analogues, with a wide range of action and low haemolytic activity are described. In particular, the peptide molecules exhibit a high antimicrobial activity against numerous bacterial species, with reduced cytotoxicity and a low haemolysis rate. The molecules of the invention are advantageously usable as therapeutic agents and coadjutants against infections caused by strains that are resistant to common antibiotics.
US08268958B2

The present disclosure provides copolymers including a first monomer including at least one phospholipid possessing at least one hydroxyl group and a second monomer including a cyclic monomer. Compositions, medical devices, and coatings including such copolymers are also provided.
US08268954B2

Polyester-carbonate copolymers are prepared by copolymerizing lactide with a 1:4-3:6 dianhydrohexitol in the presence of a carbonate precursor and a polymerization catalyst. The copolymers have an elevated glass transition temperature, relative to polylactide resins.
US08268942B2

Water-absorbing polymeric particles are produced by spray polymerization of a monomer solution in a process wherein the monomer solution is spray dispensed and at least one crosslinker accumulates in the region of the droplet surface, and are useful in hygiene articles.
US08268931B2

The present invention relates to a green technology to produce chlorinated rubber without using carbon tetrachloride and water by using 1,1,2-trichloroethane as the solvent and iodine as the catalyst. The natural rubber reacts with an excessive amount of gaseous chlorine at 60-100° C. for 3-8 hours and the product is then dried. The method of the present invention complies with the environmental requirements of “The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” by abandoning the usage of CCl4. It also complies with the relevant regulations regarding ship-shell paints. Moreover, it is easy to carry out and is suitable for industrialization.
US08268929B2

A resin composition comprises (a) 100 parts by weight of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phenol resins and brominated phenol resins, (b) 20 to 500 parts by weight of a crystalline olefin resin, provides that copolymers of ethylene with unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or vinyl acetate are precluded, and (c) 0 to 300 parts by weight of a non-aromatic softening agent for rubber. The resin composition is easy to handle in dynamic cross-linking of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer to give uniform cross-linking. A cross-linked rubber composition or thermoplastic elastomer composition has improved compression set and moldability.
US08268928B2

[Object] Provided are a sheet-like molded article having excellent surface smoothness, moldability, flexibility, and a high transmittance of short-wavelength light, and a thermoplastic polymer composition used to produce the sheet-like molded article.[Solution] A thermoplastic polymer composition containing an acrylic block copolymer (A) and an acrylic resin (B), in which the acrylic block copolymer (A) has, in its molecule, at least one structure where polymer blocks (a2) mainly composed of a methacrylic ester unit are bonded to both ends of a polymer block (a1) mainly composed of an acrylic ester unit, the acrylic block copolymer (A) having a specific weight-average molecular weight range, the acrylic block copolymer (A) contains an acrylic block copolymer (A1) having a polymer block (a2) content of 40% by mass or more and not less than 80% by mass and contains an acrylic block copolymer (A2) having a polymer block (a2) content of 10% by mass or more and less than 40% by mass, the acrylic resin (B) is mainly composed of a methacrylic ester unit, and the mass ratio [(A)/(B)] is in the range of 97/3 to 10/90.
US08268924B2

The present invention is directed to particular titanium dioxide containing compositions which allow the retention of a high crosslinking performance of a polyolefin composition comprising a crosslinkable polyolefin with hydrolysable silane groups, a Brönstedt acid silanol condensation catalyst and said titanium dioxide containing composition. The retention of the high crosslinking performance is shown by a difference in torque measured at 120° C. of 40 Nm or higher.
US08268922B2

Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on a mixture of chemically crosslinked polyurethane and at least one hydrocarbon resin, the chemically crosslinked polyurethane being a reaction product of at least one aliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate and a combination of at least one polypropylene glycol diol and one polypropylene glycol triol, reacted with one another catalytically in the presence of the at least one hydrocarbon resin, the at least one hydrocarbon resin being a monomer resin of the styrene/α-methylstyrene type.
US08268917B2

A resin composition, containing at least (A) a polylactic acid, (B) a phosphazene compound and (C) a crystal nucleator.
US08268916B2

A halogen-free flame-retardant compound and method of forming a continuous material therefrom includes compounding poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with fire-retardant ingredients melamine cyanurate (MC) and melamine polyphosphate (MPP). The compound is then formed into pellets and/or extruded as a thin film or sheet, and also as a filament or yarn, including monofilaments and multifilaments.
US08268907B2

An abrasion resistant photocurable acrylic coating composition that can provide good adhesion to subsequent coatings deposited thereon, and a hard coated article, especially an optical article such as an ophthalmic lens, comprising a substrate coated with a coating obtained from the above abrasion resistant acrylic coating composition providing good subsequent adhesion.
US08268903B2

Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.
US08268901B2

The present invention relates to a particulate expandable polylactic acid which functions as a starting material for producing foamed moulded products. The present particulate expandable polylactic acid is provided with a coating so as to improve the fusion properties. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a particulate expandable polylactic acid as well as to a method for producing a foamed moulded product and to the moulded product obtained thereby.
US08268899B2

The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the catalytic hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
US08268898B2

In a so-called GTL process of producing synthesis gas from natural gas, producing Fischer-Tropsch oil by way of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of the obtained synthesis gas and producing liquid hydrocarbons containing fuel oil by upgrading, the synthesis gas produced from the synthesis gas production step is partly branched off prior to getting to the Fischer-Tropsch oil production step and the synthesis gas entering the branch line is subjected to a water gas shift reaction to raise the hydrogen concentration thereof. Subsequently, high-purity hydrogen is isolated from the synthesis gas and the residual gas left after the isolation is circulated to the synthesis gas production step and used as raw material for synthesis gas production. As a result, a significant improvement can be achieved in terms of raw material consumption per product of the entire process.
US08268894B2

Methods and compositions for treating disease caused by infectious agents, particularly tuberculosis. In particular, methods and compositions comprising substituted ethylene diamines for the treatment of infectious diseases are provided. In one embodiment, these methods and compositions are used for the treatment of mycobacterial infections, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis.
US08268892B2

Compositions of modafinil and methods of treating neurologically related conditions with the administration of modafinil. Also compositions that include modafinil and one or more excipients such as diluents, disintegrants, binders and lubricants.
US08268889B2

Disclosed are methods of treating ovarian cancer by administering an effective amount of FTS (farnesylthiosalicylic acid), or various analogs thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, optionally with, a platinum-based chemotherapy drug to a human diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
US08268885B2

The present invention relates to small molecules as entry inhibitors of the HIV virus, processes for their preparation as well as pharmaceutical compositions, their use as medicines, and diagnostic kits comprising them. The present invention also concerns combinations of the present entry inhibitors with other anti-retroviral agents. It further relates to their use in assays as reference compounds or as reagents. The compounds of the present invention are useful for preventing or treating infection by HIV and for treating AIDS.
US08268882B2

Disclosed are compounds based on C- and D-ring modifications of triptolide and hydroxylated triptolide, for use in therapy, such as antiproliferative, anticancer, and immunosuppressive therapy.
US08268877B2

Compounds of formula (I) in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US08268875B2

Methods for treating carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome in a subject involve providing an effective amount of an anti-cytokine agent at or near inflammation in the carpal or tarsal tunnel. Anti-cytokine agents, such as, TNF-a inhibitors, NF-κB inhibitors, IL-1 inhibitors, IL-6 inhibitors, IL-8 inhibitors, IL-12 inhibitors, IL-15 inhibitors, IL-10, Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) act to prevent further inflammation initiated by cytokine factors. One embodiment includes, adding with the anti-cytokine agent one or more of an antibiotic or analgesic. Delivery of the anti-cytokine agent may be provided to the inflamed tissue of the carpal or tarsal tunnel by injection, implantation, or a transdermal patch. These agents, individually or in combination, directly address the underlying inflammation that causes the discomfort, pain, and restricted movement associated with carpal and tarsal tunnel syndrome.
US08268872B2

This invention provides compounds of formulas I, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Ie, If or Ig or salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formulas I, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Ie, If or Ig and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, methods of modulating the androgen receptor, methods of treating diseases beneficially treated by an androgen receptor modulator (e.g., sarcopenia, prostate cancer, contraception, type 2 diabetes related disorders or diseases, anemia, depression, and renal disease) and processes for making compounds of formulas I, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Ie, If or Ig and intermediates useful in the preparation of same.
US08268863B2

The invention provides novel 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane compounds of formula (I): where the variables are defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, that are antagonists at the mu opioid receptor. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat conditions associated with mu opioid receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08268862B2

Provided herein are novel sirtuin-modulating compounds and methods of use thereof. The sirtuin-modulating compounds may be used for increasing the lifespan of a cell, and treating and/or preventing a wide variety of diseases and disorders including, for example, diseases or disorders related to aging or stress, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, blood clotting disorders, inflammation, cancer, and/or flushing as well as diseases or disorders that would benefit from increased mitochondrial activity. Also provided are compositions comprising a sirtuin-modulating compound in combination with another therapeutic agent.
US08268861B2

The present application is directed to novel P2X7R antagonists that are N-indol-3-yl-acetamide and N-azaindol-3-yl-acetamide compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and their use for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases mediated by P2X7R activity.
US08268860B2

Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of preparation and use thereof are disclosed. The compounds are amide compounds which can be prepared from certain heteroaryl carboxylic acids and certain diazabicycloalkanes. The compounds exhibit selectivity for, and bind with high affinity to, neuronal nicotinic receptors of the α4β2 subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). The compounds and compositions can be used to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of conditions or disorders, particularly CNS disorders. The compounds can: (i) alter the number of nicotinic cholinergic receptors of the brain of the patient, (ii) exhibit neuroprotective effects, and (iii) when employed in effective amounts, not result in appreciable adverse side effects (e.g. side effects such as significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, significant negative effects upon the gastrointestinal tract, and significant effects upon skeletal muscle).
US08268855B2

The present invention provides for tricyclic compounds having the formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are as described herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, as well as the use of such compounds for treating inflammatory and immune diseases.
US08268849B2

Compositions comprising multifunctional agents and methods of use thereof are provided. Particularly, a series of analogs of 1-N, N′-dimethylsulfamoyl-4-(2-pyrimidyl)piperazine are provided which are useful for treating and/or preventing cataract, macular degeneration, neurodegenerative disorders, and/or injury or symptoms associated with radiation exposure.
US08268848B2

A cyclopropane compound represented by the following formula (A) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has orexin receptor antagonism, and therefore has a potencial of usefulness for the treatment of sleep disorder for which orexin receptor antagonism is effective, for example, insomnia: wherein Q represents —CH— or a nitrogen atom, R1a and R1b each independently represent a C1-6 alkyl group and the like, R1c represents a hydrogen atom and the like, R2a, R2b, R2c and R2d each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like, R3a, R3b and R3c each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like, and R3d represents a hydrogen atom and the like.
US08268833B2

This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, L, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US08268831B2

The present invention describes a series of derivatives of 2-(3-methylenedioxy)-benzoyl indol, their mixtures, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their enantiomers, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, processes for preparing them, use in the prophylactic and/or curative treatment of sexual dysfunction. More specifically, the invention describes derivatives (R)-3-((2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-carbonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-1-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione, and S)-3-((2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-carbonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-1-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione.
US08268824B2

A therapeutic agent for a corneal disease comprising irsogladine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. The purpose is to find a substance capable of effectively treating/ameliorating a corneal disease which has been increased in the number of cases thereof in recent years and to provide a therapeutic agent for a corneal disease comprising the substance as an active ingredient.
US08268815B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and the use of these compounds.
US08268812B2

The present invention relates to the use of compounds, in which the pharmacophores of quinolone and oxazolidinone are chemically linked together through a linker that is stable under physiological conditions, for the treatment of anthrax and other infections.
US08268806B2

Novel methods for treating or reducing the likelihood of acquiring symptoms or diseases due to the menopause, in postmenopausal women, particularly osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy and dryness, hypogonadism, diminished libido, skin atrophy, connective tissue disease, urinary incontinence, breast, endometrial, ovarian and uterine cancers, hot flashes, loss of muscle mass, insulin resistance, fatigue, loss of energy, aging, physical symptoms of menopause, in susceptible warm-blooded animals including humans involving administration of a sex steroid precursor are disclosed. Said method comprising novel ways of administering and dosing dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in order to take advantage of positive androgenic effects in the vaginal layers lamina propia and/or the layer muscularis, without undesirably causing systemic estrogenic effects in order to avoid the risk of breast and uterine cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of active ingredient(s) useful to the invention are also disclosed.
US08268792B2

The invention relates to the use of a combination of active ingredients, consisting essentially of rhaponticin and deoxyrhaponticin, their functional derivatives or the stereoisomeric forms thereof, in the form of salts or phenol respectively, for producing an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases, whose occurrence and/or progress is associated with an increased IL-6 serum level and/or whose occurrence and/or progress can be treated by a dose of a selective oestrogen receptor β (ER-β) agonist.
US08268790B2

Aqueous preparations of substantially equimolor amounts of a zinc salt and clindamycin phosphate form a polymer useful in the topical treatment of acne and rosacea, with very low systemic levels of clindamycin.
US08268788B2

Provided are methods of reducing the size of a tumor or inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in an individual or inhibiting the development of metastatic cancer by administering an effective amount of a soluble form of a co-stimulatory molecule from an antigen presenting cell and by reducing the activity of immunoregulatory T cells in the individual. Methods of reduction in the activity of immunoregulatory T cells involve removing them ex vivo or depleting or inactivating them in vivo. Also provided are cancer therapeutic compositions comprising a soluble form of a co-stimulatory molecule from an antigen presenting cell and an antibody specific for an intracellular antigen.
US08268784B2

Provided herein are neuropeptide-2 receptor agonists of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives and fragments thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. X is 4-oxo-6-(1-piperazinyl)-3(4H)-quinazoline-acetic acid (Pqa). These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, obesity and diabetes.
US08268783B2

The present invention relates antidotes to anticoagulants targeting factor Xa. The antidotes are factor X and factor Xa protein derivatives that bind to the factor Xa inhibitors thereby substantially neutralizing them but do not assemble into the prothrombinase complex. The derivatives describe herein lack or have reduced intrinsic coagulant activity. Disclosed herein are methods of reversing anticoagulation, stopping or preventing bleeding in a patient that is currently undergoing anticoagulant therapy with a factor Xa inhibitor.
US08268781B2

In the current invention peptides, which are derived from GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and exendin-3 and/or exendin-4, are provided which bond to the GLP-receptor and can be used, labeled or unlabeled, for the production of an agent for diagnostic and therapy of benign and malignant diseases, in which GLP-1 receptor expression plays a role.
US08268777B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention.
US08268776B2

The present invention discloses compounds of formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08268771B2

The present invention is a laundry article used for both cleaning and conditioning fabrics, which comprises a water-insoluble nonwoven substrate, coated with at least one zone each of a detergent composition and a fabric conditioning composition. The fabric conditioning composition comprises a quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant, an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, and a fatty acid.
US08268768B2

The invention relates to a phosphate- and bleach-free automatic dishwashing agent containing: a) 5 to 60 wt % citrate, b) (hydrogen) carbonate, c) 2 to 40 wt % ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, wherein the weight ratio of the components b) and c) is between 1:5 and 10:1, and wherein said automatic dishwashing agent is characterized by good cleaning performance, particularly improved cleaning of tea.
US08268761B2

Disclosed are aminomethyl-substituted imidazole compounds and their use as friction modifiers in lubricating oils. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the aminomethyl-substituted imidazole compounds. A further aspect is directed to a lubricating oil composition and a lubricating oil additive concentrate having the aminomethyl-substituted imidazole compounds of the present invention.
US08268752B2

The invention relates to herbicidal compositions, their preparation, and their use for controlling unwanted vegetation. The compositions include an effective amount of an active compound combination that includes:(a) a substituted thien-3-yl-sulphonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone of formula (I-2) or salts thereof; and (b) at least one of the known herbicides listed in the disclosure and, (c) optionally a safener.
US08268744B2

A method of preparing a mercury sorbent material comprising making a copper/clay mixture by admixing a dry clay and a dry copper source; making a sulfur/clay mixture by admixing a dry clay and a dry sulfur source; admixing the copper/clay mixture and the sulfur/clay mixture, to form a mercury sorbent pre-mixture; and shearing the mercury sorbent pre-mixture to form the mercury sorbent material. The mercury sorbent material has an interlayer d(001)-spacing of less than 12 Å when the mercury sorbent material contains less than 4 wt % water, and a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the mercury sorbent material is substantially free of a diffraction peak at 2.73±0.01 Å, and the ζ-potential of the mercury sorbent material is greater than the ζ-potential of the dry clay.
US08268741B2

An insulating unit having a neutral grey color and a solar heat gain coefficient less than 0.40 includes a clear glass sheet spaced from a coated glass sheet. The coated glass sheet includes a colored glass substrate having a solar infrared reflective coating. The composition of the coated substrate includes a base glass portion and a glass colorant portion, the glass colorant portion including total iron in the range of 0.04 to less than 0.28 weight percent; CoO in the range of 32 to 90 parts per million, and Se in the range of greater than 0 to less than 5.5 parts per million. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention the glass substrate at a thickness of 0.223 inches has a* chromaticity coordinates of −3.5 to +2.5 and b* chromaticity coordinates of −1 to −15, and a visible light transmittance of 40 to 80%.
US08268739B2

Zirconium-containing BaO- and PbO-free X-ray opaque glasses having a refractive index nd of about 1.57 to about 1.61 and a high X-ray opacity with an aluminum equivalent thickness of at least about 400% are provided. Such glasses are based on a SiO2—Al2O3—La2O3—ZrO2—Cs2O system with additions of Li2O, Na2O, ZnO and/or Ta2O5. Such glasses may be used, in particular, as dental glasses or as optical glasses.
US08268738B2

A biodegradable fiber that is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid, a plasticizer, and a compatibilizer is provided. The compatibilizer includes a polymer that is modified with a polar compound that is compatible with the plasticizer and a non-polar component provided by the polymer backbone that is compatible with polylactic acid. Such functionalized polymers may thus stabilize each of the polymer phases and reduce plasticizer migration. By reducing the plasticizer migration, the composition may remain ductile and soft. Further, addition of the functionalized polymer may also promote improved bonding and initiate crystallization faster than conventional polylactic acid fibers. The polar compound includes an organic acid, an anhydride of an organic acid, an amide of an organic acid, or a combination thereof. Such compounds are believed to be more compatible with the generally acidic nature of the polylactic acid fibers.
US08268733B2

A method of forming a device is presented. The method includes providing a wafer having an active surface and dividing the wafer into a plurality of portions. The wafer is selectively processed by localized heating of a first of the plurality of portions. The wafer is then repeatedly selectively processed by localized heating of a next of the plurality of portions until all plurality of portions have been selectively processed.
US08268732B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns utilizing copolymer. A copolymer composition is formed across a substrate. The composition includes subunits A and B, and will be self-assembled to form core structures spaced center-to-center by a distance of L0. The core structures are contained within a repeating pattern of polygonal unit cells. Distances from the core structures to various locations of the unit cells are calculated to determine desired distributions of subunit lengths.
US08268730B2

A method for fabricating semiconductor device structures includes forming a non-conformal mask over a surface of a substrate. Non-conformal mask material with a planar or substantially planar upper surface is formed on the surface of the substrate. The planarity or substantial planarity of the non-conformal material eliminates or substantially eliminates distortion in a “mask” formed thereover and, thus, eliminates or substantially eliminates distortion in any mask that is subsequently formed using the pattern of the mask. In some embodiments, mask material of the non-conformal mask does not extend into recesses in the upper surface of the substrate; instead it “bridges” the recesses. Semiconductor device structures that include non-conformal masks and semiconductor device structures that have been fabricated with non-conformal masks are also disclosed.
US08268727B2

Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device on and in a semiconductor substrate are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one method comprises forming a sacrificial mandrel overlying the substrate, wherein the sacrificial mandrel has sidewalls. Sidewall spacers are formed adjacent the sidewalls of the sacrificial mandrel, the sidewall spacers having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the sidewall spacers is removed. The sacrificial mandrel is removed and the semiconductor substrate is etched using the lower portion of the sidewall spacers as an etch mask.
US08268726B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of plugs over a die region and an edge bead removal (EBR) region of a wafer, forming metal lines coupled to the plugs, removing the metal lines in the EBR region, forming an inter-layer dielectric layer over the wafer, and forming a plurality of contact holes that expose the metal lines by selectively etching the inter-layer dielectric layer through a dry etch process using a plasma etch device.
US08268725B2

A modified coffee-stain method for producing self-organized line structures and other very fine features that involves disposing a solution puddle on a target substrate, and then controlling the peripheral boundary shape of the puddle using a control structure that contacts the puddle's upper surface. The solution is made up of a fine particle solute dispersed in a liquid solvent wets and becomes pinned to both the target substrate and the control structure. The solvent is then caused to evaporate at a predetermined rate such that a portion of the solute forms a self-organized “coffee-stain” line structure on the target substrate surface that is contacted by the peripheral puddle boundary. The target structure is optionally periodically raised to generate parallel lines that are subsequently processed to form, e.g., TFTs for large-area electronic devices.
US08268710B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a memory cell region and peripheral circuit regions. Gate electrodes including gate conductive patterns and capping patterns are formed on the memory cell region and the peripheral circuit regions. An interlayer dielectric covering the gate electrodes is formed. The interlayer dielectric is patterned to form first contact holes exposing the semiconductor substrate along side of the gate electrode in the memory cell region and second contact holes exposing a portion of the capping pattern in the peripheral circuit region such that a bottom surface of the second contact hole is spaced apart from a top surface of the gate conductive pattern. A first plug conductive layer is filled in the first contact holes and a second plug conductive layer is filled in the second contact holes. A planarizing process is performed to expose the capping patterns such that first contact plugs are formed in the memory cell region and second contact plugs are formed in the peripheral circuit region.
US08268706B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of: growing a p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor layer by performing a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition process in a heated atmosphere so that the crystal-growing plane of the semiconductor layer is an m plane (Step S13); and cooling the p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor layer (Step S14) after the step of growing has been carried out. The step of growing includes supplying hydrogen gas to a reaction chamber in which the p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor layer is grown. The step of cooling includes cooling the p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor layer with the supply of the hydrogen gas to the reaction chamber cut off.
US08268703B2

A process of forming a rough interface in a semiconductor substrate. The process includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate, forming a zone of irregularities in the material, and forming a rough interface in the semiconductor substrate by a thermal oxidation of the material and a part of the substrate. Additionally, the surface of the oxidized material may be prepared and the surface may be assembled with a second substrate.
US08268700B2

There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer comprising at least: implanting a hydrogen ion, a rare gas ion, or both the ions into a donor wafer formed of a silicon wafer or a silicon wafer having an oxide film formed on a surface thereof from a surface of the donor wafer, thereby forming an ion implanted layer; performing a plasma activation treatment with respect to at least one of an ion implanted surface of the donor wafer and a surface of a handle wafer, the surface of the handle wafer is to be bonded to the ion implanted surface; closely bonding these surfaces to each other; mechanically delaminating the donor wafer at the ion implanted layer as a boundary and thereby reducing a film thickness thereof to provide an SOI layer, and performing a heat treatment at 600 to 1000° C.; and polishing a surface of the SOI layer for 10 to 50 nm based on chemical mechanical polishing.A method for manufacturing with excellent productivity an SOI wafer having an SOI layer with a mirror-finished surface and high film thickness uniformity can be provided.
US08268697B2

A silicon-on-insulator device with a with buried depletion shield layer.
US08268692B2

A method of fabricating a memory cell including forming nanodots over a first dielectric layer and forming an intergate dielectric layer over the nanodots, where the intergate dielectric layer encases the nanodots. To form sidewalls of the memory cell, a portion of the intergate dielectric layer is removed with a dry etch, where the sidewalls include a location where a nanodot has been deposited. A spacing layer is formed over the sidewalls to cover the location where a nanodot has been deposited and the remaining portion of the intergate dielectric layer and the nanodots can be removed with an etch selective to the intergate dielectric layer.
US08268689B2

A method for fabricating a field effect transistor device includes forming a first conducting channel and a second conducting channel, forming a first gate stack on the first conducting channel to partially define a first device, forming second gate stack on the second conducting channel to partially define a second device, implanting ions to form a source region and a drain region connected to the first conducting channel and the second conducting channel, forming a masking layer over second device, a portion of the source region and a portion of the drain region, performing a first annealing process operative to change a threshold voltage of the first device, removing a portion of the masking layer to expose the second device, and performing a second annealing process operative to change the threshold voltage of the first device and a threshold voltage of the second device.
US08268677B1

A semiconductor device has a plurality of conductive vias formed partially through a substrate. A conductive layer is formed over the substrate and electrically connected to the conductive vias. A semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and substrate. A trench is formed through the encapsulant around the semiconductor die. A shielding layer is formed over the encapsulant. The trench is formed partially through the substrate and the shielding layer is formed in the trench partially through the substrate. An insulating layer can be formed in the trench prior to forming the shielding layer. A portion of the substrate is removed to expose the conductive vias. An interconnect structure is formed over the substrate opposite the semiconductor die. The interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive vias. The shielding layer is electrically connected to the interconnect structure.
US08268676B2

An electronic device can include a packaging material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and leads including die connection surfaces and external connection surfaces. The electronic device can further include a trench extending from an upper surface of the packaging substrate towards a lower surface of the packaging substrate, wherein a set of leads lie immediately adjacent to the trench, and the packaging material is exposed at the bottom of the trench. In an embodiment, an encapsulant is formed over the upper surface of the packaging substrate and within the trench. In a particular embodiment, the trenches may be formed before or after placing a die over the packaging substrate, or before or after forming electrical connections between the die and leads of the packaging substrate.
US08268667B2

Memory cell formation using ion implant isolated conductive metal oxide is disclosed, including forming a bottom electrode below unetched conductive metal oxide layer(s), forming the unetched conductive metal oxide layer(s) including depositing at least one layer of a conductive metal oxide (CMO) material (e.g., PrCaMnOx, LaSrCoOx, LaNiOx, etc.) over the bottom electrode. At least one portion of the layer of CMO is configured to act as a memory element without etching, and performing ion implantation on portions of the layer(s) of CMO to create insulating metal oxide (IMO) regions in the layer(s) of CMO. The IMO regions are positioned adjacent to electrically conductive CMO regions in the unetched layer(s) of CMO and the electrically conductive CMO regions are disposed above and in contact with the bottom electrode and form memory elements operative to store non-volatile data as a plurality of conductivity profiles (e.g., resistive states indicative of stored data).
US08268664B2

Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing a memory cell, a semiconductor device, a semiconductor processing device, and a memory cell, are provided. In one embodiment a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided including forming a metal doped chalcogenide layer using light irradiation at least partially during provision of the metal.
US08268659B2

A method for manufacturing an edge emitting semiconductor laser chip, which has a carrier substrate, an interlayer arranged between the carrier substrate and a component structure of the edge emitting semiconductor laser chip. The interlayer is adapted to provide adhesion between the carrier substrate and the component structure. The component structure has an active zone provided for generating radiation.
US08268655B2

A method for fabricating flexible display device includes the following steps. Firstly, a rigid substrate is provided. Secondly, a sacrificing layer is formed on the rigid substrate. Thirdly, an element layer is formed on the sacrificing layer. Fourthly, the sacrificing layer is etched by a gas and then gasified, so that the element layer is separated from the rigid substrate. Then, the element layer is adhered to a flexible substrate. Because products generated by the sacrificing layer reacting with the gas are gases, the products can be removed by air exhaust for simplifying process. Thus, the cost of the process of fabricating flexible display device can be decreased.
US08268652B2

A method for distributing fluorescence onto a light emitting diode chip includes steps: providing a base; mounting the LED chip having a light-emergent face on the base; disposing a baffle sleeve on the base whereby the baffle sleeve surrounds the LED chip; disposing a solid fusible block with the fluorescence mixed therein on the LED chip; heating the solid fusible block to be in a liquid state, and the fusible block flowing over the light-emergent face of the LED chip; and cooling the fusible block to be in a solid state again.
US08268643B2

The present invention provides a substrate formed at a low cost and having a controlled plate shape, an epitaxial layer provided substrate obtained by forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate, and methods for producing them. The method for producing the substrate according to the present invention includes an ingot growing step serving as a step of preparing an ingot formed of gallium nitride (GaN); and a slicing step serving as a step of obtaining a substrate formed of gallium nitride, by slicing the ingot. In the slicing step, the substrate thus obtained by the slicing has a main surface with an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of not less than 0.05 μm and not more than 1 μm on a line of 10 mm.
US08268638B2

Methods and devices for detecting an analyte are provided. An analyte binding molecule is fixed to a nanoparticle to form a nanoparticle complex. The analyte binding molecule is capable of binding an analyte. The nanoparticle complex is introduced into one of a circulatory system of an animal or biological fluid of the animal. The analyte is allowed to bind to the nanoparticle complex. The analyte bound nanoparticle complex can be extracted and the presence of the analyte can be detected.
US08268637B2

A biosensor based upon a vertically emitting, distributed feedback (DFB) laser is disclosed. In one configuration, the DFB laser comprises a replica-molded, one- or two-dimensional dielectric grating coated with a laser dye-doped-polymer as the gain medium. A sensor is also described in which the grating layer and the active layer are combined into a single layer. DFB lasers using an inorganic or organic thin film with alternating regions of high and low index of refraction as the active layer are also disclosed. The sensor actively generates its own narrowband high intensity light output without stringent requirements for coupling alignment, thereby resulting in a simple, robust illumination and detection configuration.
US08268625B2

When the concentration of glycated hemoglobin is measured, a plurality of wavelengths are selected as measurement wavelengths from the wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm. Preferably, by use of a liquid chromatography, at least the light of different peak wavelengths in the wavelength range of 415 to 430 nm are continuously or intermittently received to obtain a three dimensional chromatogram having as variables the wavelength, the elution time and the amount of detection. The concentration of glycated hemoglobin is calculated based on this three dimensional chromatogram.
US08268624B2

A system and method of characterizing an at least partially hydrophobic sample. The method includes providing an ethanolic solution of ethanol and sodium hydrogen cyanamide, adding a first portion of the ethanolic solution to a sample to produce a reagent-sample mixture, performing infrared spectroscopic testing of the reagent-sample mixture to generate mixture absorption data representing at least one absorption characteristic of the reagent-sample mixture, and generating acidity data for the sample based on the mixture data. The system includes a cell for holding and evaluating a sample which is mixed with an ethanolic solution to create a reagent-sample mixture, an infrared spectrometer for measuring light absorption characteristics of the reagent-sample mixture, and a computer equipped with software for analyzing data outputted by the infrared spectrometer and utilizing an empirical model to derive at least one universal calibration equation relating data representing the light absorption characteristics of the reagent-sample mixture to acidity of the sample.
US08268622B2

The present invention relates to the production of a non-transgenic plant resistant or tolerant to a herbicide of the phosphonomethylglycine family, e.g., glyphosate. The present invention also relates to the use of a recombinagenic oligonucleobase to make a desired mutation in the chromosomal or episomal sequences of a plant in the gene encoding for 5-enol pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). The mutated protein, which substantially maintains the catalytic activity of the wild-type protein, allows for increased resistance or tolerance of the plant to a herbicide of the phosphonomethylglycine family, and allows for the substantially normal growth or development of the plant, its organs, tissues or cells as compared to the wild-type plant irrespective of the presence or absence of the herbicide. Additionally the present invention relates to mutant E. coli cells that contain mutated EPSPS genes.
US08268615B2

In this application is described the expression and purification of a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) LSA-NRC polypeptide. The method of the present invention produces a highly purified polypeptide which is useful as a vaccine and as a diagnostic reagent.
US08268614B2

The present invention relates to the field of assays of cell movement. In particular, the present invention provides methods for assaying cell movement where inserts are used to confine cells to a defined area in a well of a multiwell plate and movement from the defined area is assayed.
US08268612B2

An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank having a low pressure head to avoid organ overpressurization. Preventing overpressurization prevents or reduces damage to vascular endothelial lining and to organ tissue in general. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.
US08268608B2

The present invention provides a method of treating biomass that reduces water-polluting substances, suppresses the production of malodorous gases and greenhouse gases, decreases the nitrogen content in the compost or livestock bedding thus prepared, and furthermore, easily treats nitrogen-containing biomass in a short time at high temperature. The present invention also provides compost and livestock bedding produced by the method and a biomass treating agent. The method of treating biomass includes blending, with nitrogen-containing biomass, a Geobacillus microorganism having denitrification capability and a fermentation promoter that promotes the fermentation of the nitrogen-containing biomass by the Geobacillus microorganism.
US08268607B2

A non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme or protein expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. A method for producing 1,3-BDO that includes culturing the this non-naturally occurring microbial organism under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.
US08268602B2

The invention provides compositions of inactivated viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and tumor cells that can be used as vaccines. Methods for making such inactivated viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and tumor cells are also provided.
US08268600B2

The present invention relates to a novel thermophilic ethanol producing yeast strain, a microorganism, Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453 MTCC 5314, classified as yeast, which exhibits growth and sugar fermentation at higher temperature range between 37° C. to 55° C. The novel yeast strain is capable of utilizing wide range of mono and di-saccharide sugars belongs to hexose and pentose carbohydrate family individually or in a mixture that obtained from hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, such as sugarcane bagasse or starch based biomass such as cassava, potato, corn etc. for its growth and produce ethanol by fermentation process at temperature range 40° C. to 55° C. It also relates to a novel process for the preparation of ethanol by Kluyveromyces species IIPE453. Thus application of thermophilic yeast strain Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453 MTCC 5314 has wide scope for industrial production of bioethanol from low cost renewable biomass as alternate feedstock to molasses.
US08268597B2

The present invention provides methods of producing L-lysine at a high yield using an Escherichia bacterium, especially E. coli, comprising a wild type or variant dapA gene of B. subtilis. The invention also provides related recombinant Escherichia bacteria, especially E. coli, for use to produce L-lysine.
US08268596B2

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal β1→4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc β1→3 to Gal; and adding Gal αl→4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→3Galβ1→4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAcβ1→3Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→3Galβ1→4Glcβ1→4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Galα1→4Galβ1→4Glcβ1→4Hep→R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).
US08268594B2

The present invention relates to a method of producing a recombinant protein comprising using a selection method other than antibiotics. In particular, it relates to a stable host/vector system based on the pyrC gene complementation designed to produce high level of heterologous recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. The expression system of the present invention allows rapid selection of plasmid containing cells during the cloning phases and lead to high protein expression during fermentation. This system has a strong selective efficiency, especially during the induction phase, leading to the selection of an almost homogeneous and stable plasmid bearing cell population. Moreover the productivity of the culture is to a large extent better than the one based on antibiotic resistance. This elevated vector stability combined with its high productivity fulfils the requirements for heterologous protein production in Escherichia coli to an industrial level.
US08268591B2

The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.
US08268574B2

Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of roundworm in a mammalian sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm. Confirmation of the presence or absence of roundworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.
US08268558B2

The present teachings relate, among other things, to polynucleotide sequencing, fragment analysis and sample/lane tracking, and to polynucleotide sequencers and analyzers that employ optical detection techniques. Embodiments of the present teachings are described which include, for example, the addition of a calibration standard to a sequencing reaction. Information such as peak spacing and peak shape can be extracted from the standard.
US08268539B2

A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes: exposing a negative organic resin layer to be a flow path forming member except for regions in which an ejection orifice and a fluid resistance portion are to be formed, respectively, and heating the negative organic resin layer and a flow path pattern to move a portion of the negative organic resin layer which corresponds to the fluid resistance portion toward a substrate; and exposing and developing the region of the negative organic resin layer in which the fluid resistance portion is to be formed.
US08268533B2

A method of making a flexographic printing form precursor for laser engraving including the steps of (i) providing at least one layer of a curable composition on a substrate; (ii) curing the at least one layer; wherein the curable composition defining an outermost layer includes at least 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of an organo-silicon compound including at least one polymerizable group; and a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having three or less polymerizable groups.
US08268531B2

The invention provides various ionic and non-ionic photoacid generator compounds. Photoresist compositions that include the novel ionic and non-ionic photoacid generator compounds are also provided. The invention further provides methods of making and using the photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions disclosed herein. The compounds and compositions are useful as photoactive components in chemically amplified resist compositions for various microfabrication applications.
US08268530B2

A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, wherein the base component (A) includes a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) containing an acid-dissociable, dissolution-inhibiting group, and the acid-dissociable, dissolution-inhibiting group has a 1,3-dioxole skeleton.
US08268523B2

A black color material includes a squarylium compound represented by the following formula (1); and a blue color material:
US08268522B2

A toner set for electrostatic image development, includes: at least one kind of a colored toner that contains a coloring agent; and a transparent toner that does not substantially contain a coloring agent, wherein a proportion of particles having a shape factor of 0.94 or less in mother particles of the transparent toner is about 5% by number or less based on particles having a particle diameter of 7.5 to 15 μm, and a reflectance of the mother particles of the transparent toner is about 90% or more for light at a wavelength of 700 nm.
US08268513B2

A method of manufacturing a mask blank includes a thin film forming step of forming a thin film, which becomes a mask pattern, on a mask blank substrate and a resist film forming step of forming a resist film on the thin film. The method further includes a step of storing resist film forming information including information about a date of formation of the resist film on the thin film, a step of correlating the resist film forming information with the mask blank, a step of identifying, based on the resist film forming information, the mask blank having the resist film whose sensitivity change exceeds an allowable range, a step of stripping the resist film formed in the identified mask blank, and a step of forming again a resist film on the thin film stripped of the resist film.
US08268511B2

Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
US08268510B2

A fuel cell component is provided, including a substrate disposed adjacent at least one radiation-cured flow field layer. The flow field layer is one of disposed between the substrate and a diffusion medium layer, and disposed on the diffusion medium layer opposite the substrate. The flow field layer has at least one of a plurality of reactant flow channels and a plurality of coolant channels for the fuel cell. The fuel cell component may be assembled as part of a repeating unit for a fuel cell stack. A method for fabricating the fuel cell component and the associated repeating unit for the fuel cell is also provided.
US08268497B2

A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected in series; a fuel supply portion supplying a fuel to each fuel cell; a current regulation portion regulating an electric current flowing from the fuel cell stack in such a way that an output voltage of the fuel cell stack is a predetermined set voltage; a voltage detection portion detecting an output voltage of each fuel cell; a fuel-supply control portion regulating a fuel supply to each fuel cell by the fuel supply portion in such a way that the difference decreases between an output voltage of each fuel cell detected by the voltage detection portion; a fuel-stoichiometric ratio detection portion detecting a fuel stoichiometric ratio of the fuel cell stack; and a fuel-stoichiometric ratio control portion regulating the set voltage in such a way that a fuel stoichiometric ratio detected by the fuel-stoichiometric ratio detection portion is a target fuel stoichiometric ratio set in advance.
US08268493B2

The present disclosure relates to in-situ, line-of-sight measurements of partial pressure and temperature associated with at least one flow channel of a fuel cell. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is employed for measurements for which water transition states sensitive to temperature and partial pressure are utilized. Measurements are achievable for a fuel cell operating under both steady-state and time-varying load conditions. For steady-state operation, the water partial pressure increases with increasing current density on a cathode side of the fuel cell due to production of water by electrochemical reaction. Temperature in a gas phase remains relatively constant since the fuel cell housing temperature is controlled externally. For non-steady-state operation of the fuel cell through a time-varying current profile, the water partial pressure responds to the load changes rapidly and follows a current profile. The gas temperature varies in response to the dynamic loading and departures from steady-state conditions become more apparent at higher fuel cell operating temperatures.
US08268492B2

An electric insulator for a fuel cell stack with a plurality of fuel cell plates is provided. The electric insulator includes an insulation layer having a water management feature adapted to militate against liquid water contacting the fuel cell plates. Fuel cell stacks having the water management feature are also described.
US08268489B2

Disclosed are a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery comprises a silicon-based compound represented by a specific chemical formula and having both a hydroxyl group and a hydrocarbon group having a carbon-carbon double bond. When it is applied to a lithium secondary battery, the non-aqueous electrolyte solution improves deterioration of cycle life characteristics occurring after repeated charge/discharge cycles and prevents swelling phenomena by suppressing a decomposition reaction of an electrolyte solution even when a battery in a fully charged state is stored at high temperature or is charged/discharged, thereby enhancing the life characteristics at high temperature.
US08268485B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has a positive electrode containing lithium cobalt oxide as a positive active material, a negative electrode containing a graphite material and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing ethylene carbonate as a solvent and which is charged with an end-of-charge voltage of at least 4.3 V. Characteristically, the battery uses, as the positive active material, lithium cobalt oxide obtained by firing a mixture of a lithium salt, tricobalt tetraoxide (Co3O4) and a zirconium compound and having particle surfaces onto which the zirconium compound adheres.
US08268481B2

A method includes combining fumed silicon oxide with a metal to form silicon having an average particle size of less than approximately 100 nm. The silicon can be incorporated into an anode of a lithium ion cell.
US08268478B2

A rechargeable battery that improves a vibration-proof property is provided. The rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator that is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly including terminals that are coupled to the case and that are electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the terminal has a lead tab that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly and a vibration-proof member is installed between the lead tab and the case.
US08268464B2

CCM formed of a membrane having on one of the two surfaces a first electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst and on the other one a second electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst, said electrocatalytic layers and said membrane containing (per)fluorinated ionomers, said CCM having the following characteristics: size variations, for both the orthogonal directions of the plane xy, lower than 15%, by dipping the CCM, after drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes; the CCM remains substantially unchanged after having been subjected to treatments of 60 cycles by dipping in water at 80° C. for 8 hours and then in water at the temperature of 25° C. for 16 hours.
US08268463B2

The present invention relates to a secondary battery and a method of fabricating the same. In a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the invention, holding members for holding a molded resin member are formed on a cap plate of a bare cell, which prevents the molded resin member from being distorted or detached from the cap plate of the bare cell when battery parts, such as a protection circuit board and a secondary protection element, are coupled to the bare cell by the molded resin member.
US08268461B1

A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a Co-alloy recording layer patterned into discrete data islands arranged in concentric tracks and exhibits a narrow switching field distribution (SFD). The disk includes a substrate, a NiTa alloy planarizing layer on the substrate, a nonmagnetic Ru-containing underlayer on the planarizing layer, an oxide-free Co alloy magnetic recording layer, and an ultrathin oxide film between the Ru-containing layer and the Co-alloy magnetic recording layer. The oxide film may be an oxide selected from a Ta-oxide, a Co-oxide and a Ti-oxide, and is ultrathin so that it may be considered a discontinuous film. The planarizing layer and ultrathin oxide film improve the growth homogeneity of the Co-alloy recording layer, so that the patterned disk with data islands shows significantly reduced SFD.
US08268455B2

A light-emitting device is provided which uses an organic compound to emit light with high luminance and extremely high efficiency. The organic compound is composed of a metal complex having monovalent bidentate ligands. The light-emitting device includes a pair of electrodes which are an anode and a cathode, and plural organic compound layers interposed between the electrodes, in which at least one layer of the organic compound layers contains a metal complex represented by the following structural formula. The light-emitting device is an organic electroluminescent device using the light-emitting device in which the layer including the organic compound is a light-emitting layer.
US08268452B2

Methods for forming earth-boring tools include providing a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between a first element and a second element and sintering the first element, the second element, and the boding agent to form a bond between the first element and the second element at the interface. The methods may be used, for example, to bond together portions of a body of an earth-boring tool (which may facilitate, for example, the formation of cutting element pockets) or to bond cutting elements to a body of an earth-boring tool (e.g., a bit body of a fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bit or a cone of a roller cone earth-boring drill bit). At least partially formed earth-boring tools include a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between two or more elements, at least one of which may comprise a green or brown structure.
US08268451B2

A material intended for personal protective equipment, such as a suit for escaping chemicals or a flash fire is disclosed, wherein the material includes at least four different layers, the layers being: an outer first layer of a material comprising at least one polymer, which material is self-extinguishing; a second layer of a fiber material, which fiber material is self-extinguishing; a third layer being adhesive; and an inner fourth layer being a barrier laminate. All of the at least four different layers individually are attached to layers located next to them.
US08268448B2

A method of joining two silicon members, the adhesive used for the method, and the joined product, especially a silicon tower for supporting multiple silicon wafers. A flowable adhesive is prepared comprising silicon particles of size less than 100 μm and preferably less than 100 nm and a silica bridging agent, such as a spin-on glass. Nano-silicon crystallites of about 20 nm size maybe formed by CVD. Larger particles maybe milled from virgin polysilicon. If necessary, a retardant such as a heavy, preferably water-insoluble alcohol such as terpineol is added to slow setting of the adhesive at room temperature. The mixture is applied to the joining areas. The silicon parts are assembled and annealed at a temperature sufficient to link the silica, preferably at 900° C. to 1100° C. for nano-silicon but higher for milled silicon.
US08268447B2

To provide a transparent laminate having a pair of transparent substrates integrated via an adhesive layer, in which the adhesive layer has good tear resistance and good adhesion to the transparent substrates and has excellent transparency.In a first atmosphere, a sealed space having a curable resin composition 14 accommodated between a pair of transparent substrates 10a and 10b, is formed, and then the curable resin composition 14 is cured in a state where the outside of the sealed space is made to be a second atmosphere having a pressure higher than the first atmosphere. As the above curable resin composition, a curable resin composition comprising a urethane oligomer (a) having from 1.8 to 4 curable functional groups on average which are either or both of an acryloyloxy group and a methacryloyloxy group, per molecule, and a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate (b) having a C3-8 hydroxyalkyl group having 1 or 2 hydroxy groups, is used.
US08268437B2

Provided are a process for producing a highly reliable ceramic sheet with stable quality by reducing voids, and a ceramic substrate using the sheet.A highly reliable ceramic sheet with stable quality is obtained by using hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose as an organic binder, kneading a powder material, preferably, with a twin screw extruder, and then forming a sheet by means of a single screw extruder equipped with a sheet die, and the sheet is suitably used for a ceramic substrate and a ceramic circuit board.
US08268422B2

A resin-coated seamless can of the present invention is a resin-coated seamless can formed of a resin-coated metal sheet 1 which is produced by coating a polyester resin layer 3 containing polyethylene terephthalate onto a surface of a metal substrate 2, wherein the density of a polyester resin layer of a can inner surface side is set to equal to or more than 1.36 at a can barrel upper portion. Further, an infrared dichroic ratio (R1) of the polyester resin layer at the inner surface side of the can barrel portion which is expressed by a following formula (1) is set to equal to or more than 1.1. R1=Iw(⊥)/Iw(∥)  (1). In the formula (1), Iw(⊥) indicates an infrared absorption intensity of 973 cm−1 with respect to polarized infrared rays perpendicular to the can height direction at the can barrel portion, and Iw(∥) indicates an infrared absorption intensity of 973 cm−1 with respect to polarized infrared rays parallel to the can height direction at the can barrel portion.
US08268396B2

A method for film formation is provided that can significantly suppress the amount of a source gas consumed in the formation of a copper film on a substrate by supplying a gas of a metallic source material complex, for example, copper acetate, produced by the sublimation of a solid source material, as a source gas to the substrate to cause a chemical reaction of the source gas. A source gas produced by the sublimation of a solid source material is supplied into a processing chamber, and the source material is adsorbed as a solid onto an adsorption/desorption member within the processing chamber. Next, the source gas supply and exhaust are stopped, and the processing chamber is brought to the state of a closed space. Thereafter, the substrate is heated, and the source material is chemically reacted on the substrate to form a thin film on the substrate.
US08268385B2

A method is provided for the determination a thickness error in a previously deposited layer using the reflection monitor signal of the currently-depositing layer. This thickness error is then used to compute corrections to the thickness of the currently-depositing layer and the next layer which corrects for the thickness error in the previous layer. The method is stable with respect to noise in the optical monitor signal. The technique is applicable for optical coating designs which are not necessarily quarter wave. The approach avoids the buildup of thickness errors from layer to layer and thus is applicable for very thick designs with many layers. Near the end of a currently depositing layer the monitor signal is used to fit the admittance of the base stack under the current layer. This establishes the parameters in an exact reflectance model used for the thickness monitoring of the current layer.
US08268367B2

The present invention provides novel herbal nano emulsion based formulations comprising a combination of lemon juice and/or rose water as therapeutically active aqueous phase entrapped in oil phase selected from one or more essential oils and process for the preparation of the same in pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms for topical treatment of acne and other skin disorder like eczema, psoriasis, aging scaring and the like with increased efficacy, improved percutaneous penetration, excellent thermodynamic stability ensuring long shelf life, low skin irritation and reservoir effect that promotes drug localization in the skin enabling controlled delivery of the said therapeutic agents.
US08268366B2

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing a fermented extract of natural material. More specifically, the present invention discloses a cosmetic composition that contains either a salt-fermented extract of at least one of red bean, mung bean and black bean or a salt-fermented extract of a mixture obtained by adding deep-sea water to at least one of red bean, mung bean and black bean, and thus has antioxidant and anti-aging effects.
US08268365B2

Compositions with synergistic anti-inflammatory effects in inflammatory diseases resulting from activation and consequent degranulation of mast cells and followed by secretion of inflammatory biochemicals from the activated mast cells, the compositions containing one or more of a flavone or flavonoid glycoside a heavily sulfated, non-bovine proteoglycan, an unrefined olive kernel extract that increases absorption of these compositions in various routes of administration, a hexosamine sulfate such as D-glucosamine sulfate, S-adenosylmethionine, a histamine-1 receptor antagonist, a histamine-3 receptor agonist, an antagonist of the actions of CRR, a long-chain unsaturated fatty acid, a phospholipid, Krill oil, a polyamine, glutiramer acetate and interferon. Certain of the present compositions are useful in protecting against the neuropathological components of multiple sclerosis and similar inflammatory neurological diseases.
US08268364B1

Disclosed is a water based topical pain relieving composition that is substantially odorless and does not leave a greasy or oily residue behind. The water based topical pain relieving composition may be particularly useful in treating areas near the eyes or mucous membranes. In some embodiments the topical pain relieving composition may comprise a water based emulsion comprising an effective amount of an analgesic composition comprising trolamine salicylate and an inflammation reducing composition comprising effective amounts of Anthemis Nobilis (roman chamomile) extract, Arnica Montana flower extract, Calendula Officinalis (marygold) extract, Centaurea Cyanus (blue bottle) extract, inflammation reducing oil, Hypericum Perforatum (St. John's Wort) extract, Matricaria Chamomilla (Wild Chamomile) extract, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Salix Alba (willow) bark extract, sorbitol, Tilia Sylvestris (limetree) extract, and aloe vera concentrate.
US08268358B2

Particles having a tap density of less than 0.4 g/cm3 include a hydrophobic amino acid or salt thereof and a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent or any combination thereof. Preferred particles include a phospholipid, have a median geometric diameter between about 5 and about 30 microns and an aerodynamic diameter between about 1 and about 5 microns. The particles can be formed by spray-drying and are useful for delivery to the pulmonary system.
US08268355B2

The present invention relates to a silica particle comprising at least one complex of at least one lanthanide and of at least one ligand of formula (A) in which Z1, Z2 and Z3, which may be identical or different, each represent a group bearing an atom bearing a lone pair and/or a negative charge; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12, which may be identical or different, each represent a hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl radical, an optionally substituted aryl radical, a halogen, a group —OR13 or a group —SR13, with R13 representing H, an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group.
US08268343B2

The present invention relates to a non-hormonal, biocompatible, and biodegradable intravaginal device for the delivery of spermiostatic, spermicidal and anti-infectious agents. The present invention also relates to methods of contraception using such a device, as well as the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and vaginal infections through the application of the device.
US08268342B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a biodegradable polymer scaffold using biodegradable polymer, surfactant and alcohol. The biodegradable polymer scaffold obtained from the process disclosed is useful for tissue engineering, therapeutic compound delivery and/or wound dressing.
US08268335B2

A basic facial and body treatment cosmetic formulation is a combination of a cationic emulsifying agent, an oil soluble liquid polymer and a naturally occurring lactate buffer system. The basic formulation is a starter system that can be specialized to skin moisturizers, skin lighteners, skin pigmenting agents, sunscreens, antioxidants, line reducing products, wrinkle reducing products, anti-cellulite products, pharmaceuticals and the like.
US08268325B2

The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus, wherein the MVA-BN virus, or a derivative thereof, induces at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/vaccina virus boost regimes when compared to DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost regimes. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus.
US08268321B2

Disclosed are an antigen-drug vehicle (AD vehicle) exerting a function of inducing the preferential and selective production of an antigen-specific secretory IgA antibody, local immunity or mucosal immunity; a method of inducing mucosal immunity, a mucosal vaccine and a preventive or a remedy for allergy using the above AD vehicle; and a transmucosal or transdermal DDS using the above vehicle.
US08268318B2

The present invention provides polymeric delivery systems including hindered ester moieties. Methods of making the polymeric delivery systems and methods of treating mammals using the same are also disclosed.
US08268315B2

The present invention provides a family of binding proteins that bind and neutralize the activity of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), in particular human HGF. The binding proteins can be used as diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents. With regard to their therapeutic activity, the binding proteins can be used to treat certain HGF responsive disorders, for example, certain HGF responsive tumors.
US08268313B2

The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.
US08268311B2

Antigen binding proteins that bind to human GM-CSF protein are provided. Nucleic acids encoding the antigen binding protein, vectors, and cells encoding the same are also provided. The antigen binding proteins can inhibit binding of GM-CSF to GM-CSFR, inhibit GM-CSF-induced proliferation and signaling of myeloid lineage cell lines and inhibit GM-CSF-induced activation of human monocytes.
US08268308B2

The invention relates to a novel molecule, termed SC5 by the inventors, to a novel allelic form of p140, and to the biological applications of SC5 and p140 molecules, notably in the diagnosis and therapy of CTCL.
US08268299B2

The present invention is directed to the provision of multi-dose, self-preserved ophthalmic compositions. The compositions possess sufficient antimicrobial activity to satisfy USP preservative efficacy requirements, as well as similar preservative standards (e.g., EP and JP), without requiring the presence of conventional anti-microbial preservative agents, such as benzalkonium chloride. The compositions are effectively preserved by a balanced ionic buffer system containing zinc ions at a concentration of 0.04 to 0.9 mM, preferably 0.04 to 0.4 mM. One aspect of the balanced buffer system is limitation of the amount of buffering anions present to a concentration of 15 mM or less, preferably 5 mM or less. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions also contain borat or, most preferably, one or more borate/polyol complexes. The use of propylene glycol as the polyol in such complexes is strongly preferred. Limiting the amount of divalent metals other than zinc and the amount of ionized salts present has also been determined to be important to maximize the antimicrobial activity of the balanced buffer systems.
US08268298B2

The invention relates to a cosmetic or personal care composition comprising a polymer which polymer comprises oxazolidon groups. Examples of cosmetic and personal care compositions include hair spray compositions, mousses, gels, lotions, tonics, shampoos, conditioners, rinses, hand and body lotions, facial moisturizers, sunscreens, anti-acne preparations, topical analgesics, mascara's, eyeliners, blush, liquid lip color, nail polish foundations.
US08268297B2

A hair cosmetic composition, containing the following Components (A) to (D): (A) benzyl alcohol, from 0.1 to 2% by mass; (B) dipropylene glycol, from 0.5 to 20% by mass; (C) malic acid or a salt thereof, from 0.2 to 10% by mass, in terms of the malic acid; and (D) lactic acid or a salt thereof, from 0.2 to 10% by mass, in terms of the lactic acid; and optionally containing a surfactant (E) at a concentration of 2% by mass or less and at a Component (E)/Component (A) mass ratio falling within a range of from 0 to 5.
US08268296B2

A cosmetic agent, in particular a styling agent, containing, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, a) at least one copolymer A made of at least one monomer A1 selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid alkyl esters, and methacrylic acid alkyl esters, and at least one amphoteric monomer A2 selected from (meth)acryloylalkylbetaines of formula (A2-I) and (meth)acryloylalkylamine oxides of formula (A2-II), such that in formula (A2-I) and in formula (A2-II), R1 denotes H or CH3, R2 and R3, mutually independently in each case, denote optionally branched C1-10 alkyl, and n denotes an integer from 1 to 20, and b) at least one film-forming and/or setting amphoteric polymer B different from copolymer A; and use of the agents for the temporary deformation of hairs.
US08268293B2

The present invention relates to the use of compounds which do not themselves exhibit significant UV absorption in the UV-A or UV-B region, but are reactive under use conditions, for the development of UV-A or UV-B protection during use, to corresponding novel compounds and compositions, and to corresponding processes for the preparation of compounds and compositions.
US08268285B2

A process and method for recovering elemental tellurium from minerals and acidic solutions using a reducing sugar as the reducing agent in order to reduce and precipitate tellurium as tellurium dioxide (TeO2) from which elemental tellurium may be recovered.
US08268283B2

A crystalline carbon material with controlled interlayer spacing and a method of manufacturing the crystalline carbon material are disclosed. The crystalline carbon material has peaks of a (002) plane at 2θ=23°±5.0° and 2θ=26.5°±1.0° when X-ray diffraction is measured using a CuKα ray. The peak height at 2θ=23°±5.0° is higher than the one at 2θ=26.5°±1.0°.
US08268280B2

The present invention relates to a method for production of calcium compounds having very low content of phosphorus and boron from an impure calcium chloride, solution containing phosphorus and boron, which method comprises the following steps: a) addition of a FeCl3-solution to the calcium chloride solution, b) adjusting the pH of the solution by addition of a base to between 3 and 9.5 for precipitation of iron hydroxide, iron phosphate and boron compounds, c) removal of the solid precipitate from the solution in step b) obtaining a purified calcium chloride solution, d) precipitation of a calcium compound from the solution from step c), and e) separation of the calcium compound from the solution in step d).
US08268279B2

Processes are presented for the production of ammonium sulfate nitrate. The processes provide for producing a highly uniform product and having a substantially uniform size. The processes include reacting ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate to form an FASN slurry melt. The slurry melt is continuously stirred and heated to keep the slurry melt under a shear thinned condition and at a uniform temperature until the slurry melt is extruded, cooled and solidified.
US08268266B2

The present embodiments are directed towards heat integration in gas processing units. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a gas processing section. The gas processing section has a gas path, a first shift reactor disposed along the gas path, wherein the first shift reactor is configured to perform a first shift reaction to produce a first shifted gas. A second shift reactor is also disposed along the gas path downstream from the first shift reactor, wherein the second shift reactor is configured to perform a second shift reaction to produce a second shifted gas. A first steam generator is disposed along the gas path between the first and second shift reactors, wherein the first steam generator is configured to transfer heat away from the gas path to generate a first steam.
US08268263B2

A self dispensing reagent cartridge includes a vessel with a movable piston at one end and a puncturable self sealing septum at an opposite end. A hollow needle is located in alignment with the septum. The vessel is moved toward the needle to enable the needle to puncture the septum. The piston is then moved toward the septum to enable a predetermined amount of liquid in the vessel to be transferred outwardly of the vessel through the needle in an amount corresponding to the piston stroke.