US08879977B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a glossiness imparting unit that imparts glossiness to the image formed on the recording medium, and a glossiness reducing unit that reduces the glossiness of at least a part of the image to which the glossiness has been imparted by the glossiness imparting unit.
US08879962B2
A developing unit comprises a developing portion, a first developer storage portion and a partitioning wall. The developing portion includes a rotatable developer carrier, a rotatable supply member configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a regulating member contacting with the developer carrier to regulate the thickness of the developer on the developer carrier, and a developer feeding member arranged below the regulating member and configured to feed the developer. The partitioning wall is configured to partition between the developing portion and the first developer storage portion. The partitioning wall has a supply port for supplying the developer from the first developer storage portion to the developing portion. The regulating member is contacting with the developer carrier at a contact position located above an upper level of the developer in the developing portion.
US08879961B2
An image processing method for generating a halftone pattern for forming an image according to input image data includes a step of forming first and second shade patterns to be developed by first and second toners, respectively. The second toner is identical in color to the first toner and different in shade from the first toner, and the second shade pattern is shifted from the first shade pattern.
US08879956B2
An intermediate transfer device includes an intermediate transfer member, intermediate transfer member support members, and two frame members each including first and second positioning members each having a positioning portion. At least one of the frame members satisfies a condition L1:L2=2.85:x 0≦x≦1, where L1 is the length of a line segment connecting an intersection point to the positioning portion of one of the positioning members on a side opposite to a side toward which a line of action of a force applied by a second-transfer unit is inclined and L2 is the length of a line segment connecting the intersection point to the positioning portion of the other of the positioning members on the side toward which the line of action is inclined, the intersection point being an intersection of the line of action and a line segment connecting the positioning portions.
US08879944B2
A cartridge is provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact. The cartridge electrode includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of a frame of the cartridge, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly. The cartridge electrode further includes a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a process means of the cartridge, and an injection receiving portion into which resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame. The electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and the process means is formed.
US08879942B2
In a main controller of an image forming apparatus, the status renewing-and-notifying unit (a) obtains statuses from a queue, and store status values at addresses corresponding to status IDs in a first status storage unit; (b) notifies a component of both of a objective status and a dependent status either at a same time or in a reversed time order if the statuses includes the objective status and the dependent status, and the status value of the dependent status in the first status storage unit and the status value of the dependent status in the second status storage unit are different from each other; and (c) stores a status value of each status that the component is notified of at an address corresponding to a status ID of the status in the second status storage unit at a notification timing of the status.
US08879939B2
In a method to operate a digital printer having multiple developer stations operated with liquid developer, and wherein a number of the developer stations participating in printing is dependent on a respective print operating mode, liquid developer is supplied from a mixing container to at least one of the developer stations. With a regulatory device a fill level of liquid developer in the mixing container is kept substantially constant depending on the print operating mode. A desired different operating value is provided for the fill level for the regulatory device depending on the operating mode.
US08879935B2
The apparatus includes a heating roller that generates heat for melting toner attached to a printing medium; a first induction coil that is disposed outside the heating roller and heats the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the first induction coil; two second induction coils that are disposed at upper portions of both ends of the first induction coil and heat the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the two second induction coils; a power supply unit that supplies current to the first induction coil and the two second induction coils; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit to supply current flowing in the same direction or different directions to the first induction coil and the second induction coils according to the size of paper fed into the heating roller.
US08879934B2
An image forming apparatus, including: a fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet by heating the sheet having the toner image formed thereon; a wire-shaped guide configured to guide the sheet having the toner image fixed thereto; and a holder, configured to hold the wire-shaped guide, to which the wire-shaped guide is fixed by using elasticity of the wire-shaped guide.
US08879932B2
An image forming apparatus includes image forming units forming toner images with first toners having different colors and a second toner having a different softening point from the first toners, an image transfer unit superposing the toner images one on top of another and transferring the superposed toner images onto a recording medium at least such that the toner image formed of the second toner is at the top of the superposed toner images, an image fixing unit fixing the transferred toner images, and an image controller that causes the image forming unit that uses the second toner to form the toner image over at least part of an image area and also causes the image transfer unit to perform the transfer such that the toner image formed of the second toner is at the top of the superposed toner images in the at least part of the image area.
US08879930B2
When a cleaning operation is performed, a controller of an image forming apparatus controls to emit a light beam from a light emitting window so as to form a stripe image in a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer member so as to form a image defect part in the stripe image, which occurs when a cleaning member moving in a reciprocating manner in a main scanning direction along the light emitting window blocks the light beam. In addition, the controller detects the image defect part by a density detecting member. When a predetermined number of image defect parts are not formed in the predetermined position in the period from start to end of the cleaning operation, the controller determines that the cleaning member is within the scanning range of the light beam.
US08879928B2
An image forming apparatus includes a control device configured to control an information signal that notifies a user of a coming shortage of the developer in a developer storage portion or a usage limit of the developing device. The control device can transmit the information signal in such a way that the amount of the developer remaining in the developer storage portion at the transmission timing of the information signal is variable according to a developer consumption amount per unit number of recording material sheets.
US08879922B2
An apparatus receives data encoded in a format where information bits for transmission are mapped into symbols each carrying a plurality of bits, some of which are encoded through a frequency-shift keyed (FSK) format and the rest of which are encoded through an additional modulation format on at least one FSK carrier. The receiver detects the signal through a dual-polarization coherent receiver front-end, and recovers polarization components of the signal by decoding a first non-zero portion of a plurality of bits carried by a symbol based on frequency slot position of at least one FSK carrier in the polarization components and a second non-zero portion of the plurality of bits carried by the symbol based on the additional modulation carried by at least one FSK carrier in the polarization components. Pilot-assisted orthogonal frequency-division de-multiplexing (PA-OFDM) may be used for spectrally-efficient signal reception, even in the presence of severe FSK errors.
US08879921B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for modulation of an optical signal with a data signal, said apparatus (6) comprising a configurable digital encoding unit (8) encoding data of said data signal to provide an encoded modulation control signal (EMCS), and a signal modulation unit (9) modulating said optical signal with respect to its signal phase and/or signal amplitude in orthogonal polarization directions in response to said encoded modulation control signal (EMCS) to generate a multi-dimensional optical signal vector.
US08879915B2
An optical switching device includes plural wavelength selective switches that respectively have a first port and a plurality of second ports; and an optical coupler that has a plurality of third ports on an input-side or an output-side, respectively optically coupled to the first ports of the wavelength selective switches.
US08879909B2
A circuit, optical transceiver and/or methods for using the same may be useful for determining average power, extinction ratio, and/or modulation amplitude when monitoring an optical transceiver and/or optical network. The circuit generally comprises a photodiode configured to generate a first current responsive to an optical signal, a current mirror coupled to a first terminal of the photodiode, and a detector coupled to a second terminal of the photodiode. The current mirror is configured to produce a second current equal to or proportional to the first current, and the detector is configured to determine a power or amplitude of the optical signal. Further, the present scheme may communicate information using a low speed signal superimposed on or combined with the relatively high speed optical signal.
US08879899B1
A stereoscopic beam splitter having cameras with submersible lenses, such that the entire apparatus is filled with water when submerged. Submersible lenses designed to capture high-quality images underwater are utilized, allowing an underwater three-dimensional stereoscopic camera apparatuses to forgo a sealed housing with window port traditionally found in underwater stereoscopic beam splitter systems. The lack of a sealed housing and window port allows for drastically improved underwater image capturing performance and greater pressure caused by deeper water, in addition to making said apparatuses lighter and more compact.
US08879898B2
A modular volatile material dispensing system includes a supporting plate having a front side and a rear side. The rear side of the supporting plate is configured to removably attach to an electrical plate and a non-electrical plate. The modular volatile material dispensing system includes a cover plate attached to the front side of the supporting plate to form a compartment therebetween, which is adapted to hold a volatile material therein.
US08879897B1
An apparatus and method to deliver hot water for mixing masonry materials is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a platform, bottom receptacles to provide for transport by a forklift, at least one holder for a fuel tank, at least two holders for tanks for water storage, at least one support for a heater, at least one water heater with a cover and a vent, and a grated floor area under the water heater support to allow for drainage of the water heater.
US08879891B2
A method for use in advertising includes initiating playing of interactive content, suspending playing of the interactive content, displaying an advertisement, and resuming playing of the interactive content. A computer program product includes a medium embodying a computer program for causing a computer to perform these operations, and a system for use in advertising includes a display and a processing system configured to perform these operations.
US08879888B2
A video segment selection method and system that determines a set of segment boundaries in the video, determines a segment boundary tree from the set of segment boundaries, presents a video timeline that shows a plurality of segment boundaries from a first level of the segment boundary tree, receives a first selection point and a first request to change a zoom factor for an interval of the video timeline around the first selection point, and, in response to the first request to change the zoom factor for the interval of the video timeline around the first selection point, updates the video timeline in the interval around the first selection point to show a plurality of segment boundaries from a second level of the segment boundary tree corresponding to the changed zoom factor.
US08879887B2
One or more embodiments disclosed herein provide methods and systems for indexing video recordings of scenes using artifacts. More specifically one or more embodiments provide methods which identify artifacts in video recordings and index the video recordings according to the artifacts. These methods and systems also output portions of the video recordings according to the artifact-based indexing.
US08879880B2
A surface plasmon optical waveguide includes a lower cladding, a metal thin layer on the lower cladding, low-k dielectric layers spaced apart from each other on one surface of the metal thin layer, and an upper cladding covering the low-k dielectric layers and the metal thin layer uncovered between the low-k dielectric layers. A refractive index of the low-k dielectric layers is less than a refractive index of the lower and upper claddings.
US08879869B2
A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present.
US08879865B2
The present invention provides a panchromatic sharpening method of spectral image based on fusion of overall structural information and spatial detail information, comprising: performing brightness linear stretching on a panchromatic image, so as to set the variance of the panchromatic image to be equal to the variance of said spectral image; respectively interpolating N components of the spectral image so as to generate an interpolation image series having the same resolution as that of the panchromatic image; subtracting the interpolation image series from the panchromatic image after said linear stretching to obtain difference images; performing Gauss filtering on the difference images, thereby obtaining difference tendency images; and, respectively subtracting the difference tendency image series from the panchromatic image after said linear stretching, thus obtaining fused images. The method can maintain both spectral fidelity and texture detail fidelity of the fused images, support high computation speed, and has wide applicability.
US08879860B2
An image decoding method obtains pieces of coded data which are included in a bitstream and generated by coding tiles obtained by dividing a picture. The pieces of coded data are decoded to generate image data of the tiles. When obtaining the pieces of coded data, tile boundary independence information is further obtained from the bitstream. The tile boundary independence information indicates whether each boundary between the tiles is a first or second boundary. Image data of a first tile is generated by decoding a first code string included in first coded data with reference to decoding information of an already-decoded tile when the tile boundary independence information indicates the first boundary. The first code string is decoded without referring to the decoding information of the already-decoded tile when the tile boundary independence information indicates the second boundary.
US08879859B2
An apparatus for generating/decoding an animated image code, and a method thereof. The animated image code frame includes an image code frame which is divided into code cells expressing minimum unit data, and in which the minimum unit data is expressed in an area located inside the code cells and is formed by combining one or more color, gradation, and patterns; and a design layer which is formed by combining color or gradation used in the image code frame and color or gradation distinguishable on the basis of a threshold value, and which is displayed by overlapping the frame image. By utilizing changes in respective animated frames, an animated image code can be generated and decoded in which motion can be expressed by using a display medium.
US08879851B2
A computer implemented method for determining shape from differential motion with unknown reflectance includes deriving a general relation that relates spatial and temporal image derivatives to bidirectional reflectance distribution function BRDF derivatives, responsive to 3D points and relative camera poses from images and feature tracks of an object in motion under colocated and unknown directional light conditions, employing a rank deficiency in image sequences from the deriving for shape determinations, under predetermined multiple camera and lighting conditions, to eliminate BDRF terms; and recovering a surface depth for determining a shape of the object.
US08879841B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an anisotropic denoising method is provided that removes sensor noise from a digital image while retaining edges, lines, and details in the image. In one embodiment, the method removes noise from a pixel of interest based on the detected type of image environment in which the pixel is situated. If the pixel is situated in an edge/line image environment, then denoising of the pixel is increased such that relatively stronger denoising of the pixel occurs along the edge or line feature. If the pixel is situated in a detail image environment, then denoising of the pixel is decreased such that relatively less denoising of the pixel occurs so as to preserve the details in the image. In one embodiment, detection of the type of image environment is accomplished by performing simple arithmetic operations using only pixels in a 9 pixel by 9 pixel matrix of pixels in which the pixel of interest is situated. As a result, improved image environment sensitive noise reduction is achieved that requires a relatively low gate count in hardware implementations.
US08879836B2
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, determining log chromaticity representations for the image, clustering the log chromaticity representations as a function of an index, to provide clusters of similar log chromaticity representations and identifying regions of uniform reflectance in the image as a function of the clusters of similar log chromaticity representations.
US08879835B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for fast adaptive edge-aware matting in which a matting technique adaptively feathers selections, provides smooth color correspondence matting, and performs well in textured regions. The matting technique may require fewer strokes and less parameter tuning than conventional matting techniques. The matting technique may have two components implemented in a matting pipeline. A color similarity component implements a color similarity constraint technique based on a radial basis function (RBF) technique to generate a color-constrained mask, and a locality constraint component implements a locality constraint technique based on a fast flood fill technique to generate a locality-constrained mask. The final mask (or matte) output may be an element multiply of the masks generated by the two components.
US08879831B2
Using high-level attributes to guide image processing is described. In an embodiment high-level attributes of images of people such as height, torso orientation, body shape, gender are used to guide processing of the images for various tasks including but not limited to joint position detection, body part classification, medical image analysis and others. In various embodiments one or more random decision forests are trained using images where global variable values such as player height are known in addition to ground-truth data appropriate for the image processing task concerned. In some examples sequences of images are used where global variables are static or vary smoothly over the sequence. In some examples one or more trained random decision forests are used to find global variable values as well as output values for the task concerned such as joint positions or body part classes.
US08879825B2
A method, computer program product, and apparatus for displaying a calculated geometric entity within at least one 3D range data set obtained using a 3D rangefinder device. At least a first 3D range data set is provided. Each 3D range data set is displayed as at least one displayed image. A calculated geometric entity that represents a non-physical entity is specified. The calculated geometric entity is displayed merged within at least one displayed image, where the calculated geometric entity represents something other than the physical objects represented by the first 3D range data set.
US08879824B2
A three-dimensional sense adjusting unit displays three-dimensional images to a user. If a displayed reaches a limit of parallax, the user responds to the three-dimensional sense adjusting unit. According to acquired appropriate parallax information, a parallax control unit generates parallax images to realize the appropriate parallax in the subsequent stereo display. The control of parallaxes is realized by optimally setting camera parameters by going back to three-dimensional data. Functions to realize the appropriate parallax are made into and presented by a library.
US08879823B2
A method of combined exchange of image data and further data being related to the image data, the image data being represented by a first two-dimensional matrix of image data elements and the further data being represented by a second two-dimensional matrix of further data elements is disclosed. The method comprises combining the first two-dimensional matrix and the second two-dimensional matrix into a combined two-dimensional matrix of data elements.
US08879822B2
A robot control system includes a processing unit which performs visual servoing based on a reference image and a picked-up image, a robot control unit which controls a robot based on a control signal, and a storage unit which stores the reference image and a marker. The storage unit stores, as the reference image, a reference image with marker in which the marker is set in an area of a workpiece or a hand of the robot. The processing unit generates, based on the picked-up image, a picked-up image with marker in which the marker is set in an area of the workpiece or the hand of the robot, performs visual servoing based on the reference image with marker and the picked-up image with marker, generates the control signal, and outputs the control signal to the robot control unit.
US08879821B2
The present invention provides a defect inspection system which enables an improvement in the efficiency of spatial filter settings, and at the same time enables automation of the spatial filter settings. An adjustable field-of-view diaphragm is narrowed to obtain an image of a spatial filter surface by use of an observation camera, and pixels of the image are classified into a plurality of groups according to the brightness level of bright spots of diffracted light. A spatial filter is set in such a manner that a group, the brightness level of which is highest, is light-shielded, and an observation image is then captured. Whether or not a repetitive pattern remains in the captured image is determined, and when it is determined that a repetitive pattern remains, the settings of the spatial filter are changed. The spatial filter is set in such a manner that in addition to the group which has been light-shielded earlier, a group, the brightness level of which is the highest next to the light-shielded group, can also be light-shielded. The same step is repeated until it is determined that no repetitive pattern remains. The settings of the spatial filter then end.
US08879819B2
An improved histopathological score is obtained by generating image objects from images of tissue containing stained epithelial cells. First objects are generated that correspond to basal cells stained with a first stain, such as p63. Second objects are generated that correspond to luminal cells stained with a second stain, such as CK18. If the same tissue is not stained with both stains, then the images of differently stained tissue are co-registered. Third objects are defined to include only those second objects that have more than a minimum separation from any first object. A scoring region includes the third objects, and the histopathological score is determined based on tissue that falls within the scoring region. For example, a Gleason score of prostate tissue is determined by classifying tissue patterns in the scoring region. Alternatively, a Gleason pattern is assigned by counting the number of third objects that possess a predetermined form.
US08879817B2
A method includes using a pre-scan image to define a scan field of view for a region of interest of a patient to be scanned for at least one image acquisition of a series of image acquisitions of a scan plan, performing an image acquisition of the series based on a corresponding scan field of view for the image acquisition, and determining, via a processor (120), a next field of view for a next image acquisition of the series based on available image related data.
US08879816B2
Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of clearly depicting areas of noteworthy hardness. In order to clearly depict 3-dimensional elasticity images of the area of noteworthy hardness, frequency is counted for each magnitude of the elasticity value for the elasticity data configuring the volume data, and elasticity values in a prescribed range which is determined on the basis of frequency, are converted to be large and elasticity values outside the prescribed range are converted to be small. By rendering the post-conversion volume data, the large elasticity values of areas of noteworthy hardness are integrated and 3-dimensional elasticity images are generated.
US08879811B2
A method for reconstructing parallel magnetic resonance images includes providing a set of acquired k-space MR image data y, and finding a target MR image x that minimizes ½∥Fv−y∥22+λ∥z∥1 where v=Sx and z=Wx where S is a diagonal matrix containing sensitivity maps of coil elements in an MR receiver array, F is an FFT matrix, W is a redundant Haar wavelet matrix, and λ≧0 is a regularization parameter, by updating x k + 1 = ( μ 1 I + μ 3 S H S ) - 1 [ μ 1 W H ( z k - b z k ) + μ 3 S H ( v k - b v k ) ] , z k + 1 = soft ( Wx k + 1 + b z k , 1 μ 1 ) where soft ( x , T ) = { x + T if x ≤ - T , 0 if x ≤ T , x - T if x ≥ T , and v k + 1 = ( F H F + μ 3 I ) - 1 [ F H y + μ 3 ( Sx k + 1 + b v k ) ] , where k is an iteration counter, μ1 and μ3 are parameters of an augmented Lagrangian function, and bz and bv are dual variables of the augmented Lagrangian.
US08879806B2
A method and apparatus for capturing rolled fingerprint images are provided. The method for capturing rolled fingerprint image acquires elemental image frames from a fingerprint that touches and rolls on a fingerprint input window, acquires improved image frames through preprocessing by removing an image that does not overlap between adjacent elemental image frames, extracts main data of adjacent improved image frames to acquire main data image frames, and merges images of the main data image frames to acquire a rolled fingerprint image.
US08879805B2
The present invention discloses a method to construct template images for recognition, including the steps of: obtaining a plurality of digitized images belonging to n categories; for all categories, extracting common features for images belonging to a category; comparing common features of said category with common features of other categories other than category, to obtain discriminating features for the category; and including such features into representative features to obtain template images. A method to recognize an input image using the template images so obtained is also disclosed.
US08879799B2
The present invention discloses a human identification system by fusion of face recognition and speaker recognition, a method and a service robot thereof. The system fuses results of the face recognition and the speaker recognition, and further uses confidence index to estimate the confidence level of the two recognition results. If only one of the confidence indices of the two recognition results reaches the threshold, then only this result is used as the output. If both confidence indices of the two recognition results reach the threshold, then the two recognition results are fused to output as a final result.
US08879794B2
An image obtained by imaging a subject is displayed and a tracking frame is displayed at the central portion of a display screen. A target area is set surrounding the tracking frame and a high-frequency-component image is generated. A distance image indicating the distance to the subject image within an imaging zone is generated. An area, which represents a subject at a distance identical with that of the subject portion specified by the tracking frame displayed at the reference position, is decided upon as a search area. While a moving frame is moved within the search area of the high-frequency-component image, amounts of high-frequency component are calculated. The position of the moving frame at which the calculated amount of high-frequency component is maximized is adopted as the initial position of the tracking frame.
US08879790B2
An object of the present invention is to reduce false detection of an eyelid from a face image. According to the present invention, it is determined whether the amount of the change in the position of an eyelid outline candidate line during blinking matches the normal movement of an eyelid. When it is determined that the amount of the change in the position of the eyelid outline candidate line does not match the normal movement of the eyelid during blinking, the eyelid outline candidate line is not set as an eyelid outline. Therefore, it is possible to reduce false detection of the eyelid from the face image.
US08879789B1
A method for object analysis using motion history is provided. The method includes receiving video data comprising a plurality of frames of a scene comprising one or more elements, and processing the video data to produce a motion history image comprising motion history values of at least one of the elements. The method also includes identifying the one of the elements for further processing if a characteristic of the motion history image satisfies a criteria.
US08879780B2
The present invention relates to a method for providing a content stream (5) comprising processing information, comprising the steps of providing (S1) content data (3) comprising image and/or audio data, acquiring (S3) auxiliary data (4) from the content data (3) representing information for processing the content data (3) and embedding (S8) the auxiliary data (4) into the content data (3) thereby providing said content stream (5).The present invention further relates to such a content stream (5) and to a device for providing such a content stream (5).Additionally, the present invention relates to a method and a device for processing a content stream (5) comprising processing information.
US08879779B2
Disclosed is a micro-speaker. A micro-speaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit unit accommodating in the frame, a vibrating unit, an assistant coil attached to the frame and disposed below the diaphragm. The vibrating unit includes a diaphragm and a voice coil driving the diaphragm. The assistant coil includes an upper surface facing the diaphragm and an inclined surface connecting the upper surface and disposed closer to the voice coil than the upper surface.
US08879777B2
There is provided a dynamic electroacoustic transducer comprising a diaphragm and an oscillator coil which is fixed to the diaphragm in an oscillator coil portion. The diaphragm has a first portion within the oscillator coil portion and a second portion between the oscillator coil portion and an edge of the diaphragm. The diaphragm has at least one stiffening portion in the region of the second portion, which is of a different stiffness from the second portion of the diaphragm. The stiffening portion is of a such a configuration that a wobble movement of the diaphragm is substantially compensated.
US08879772B2
A speaker includes a diaphragm, a housing, and a sound blocking member. The housing fixes an edge of the diaphragm. The sound blocking member is disposed on a surface of the housing different from an audio output surface thereof and in the vicinity of the diaphragm.
US08879768B2
An earpiece is disclosed. The earpiece includes a housing forming a volume therein, a number of sound holes arranged in the front end and rear end of the housing, a sound generator accommodated in the volume, an ear gel attached to a front end of the housing, a wire electrically connected to the sound generator, wherein a adjusting module is assembled to the housing, a plurality of front vents are disposed on the front end of the housing, and the amount of the front vents communicating with the volume is mechanically altered by the adjusting module.
US08879767B2
A microphone assembly comprising includes a base, at least one side wall, and a cover. The side wall is disposed on the base. The cover is coupled to the at least one side wall. The base, the side wall, and the cover form a cavity and the cavity has a MEMS device disposed therein. A top port extends through the cover and a first channel extends through the side wall. The first channel is arranged so as to communicate with the top port. A bottom port extends through the base. The MEMS device is disposed over the bottom port. A second channel is formed and extends along a bottom surface of the base. The second channel extends between and communicates with the first channel and the bottom port. Sound received by the top port is received at the MEMS device.
US08879760B2
Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.
US08879752B2
A microphone capable of canceling vibration noise caused by mechanical vibration is provided with, in capsules, a pair of diaphragms and a pair of back plates opposite to the respective diaphragms. A printed circuit board is disposed at the middle of capsules. A pair of diaphragms is disposed close and opposite to the surfaces of the printed circuit board with the printed circuit board disposed therebetween. The difference in distance from a vibration source to the two diaphragms is made small. The microphone has a high canceling effect for canceling vibration noise caused by mechanical vibration.
US08879746B2
A method and a device for reducing snore annoyances include determining a snore sound pattern of a snoring person to predict an upcoming snore sound level. A faked snore sound is played to flatten the resulting snore sound level.
US08879740B1
An audio receiver may include a mono/stereo detector that causes the audio receiver to output either a monophonic or a stereophonic signal based on a difference between a pilot energy signal and a filtered pilot energy signal. The audio receiver includes a filter that filters the pilot energy signal to generate a filtered pilot energy signal, wherein a variable leakage factor associated with the filter is used to minimize a noise level of the filtered pilot energy signal and to reduce a response time of the audio receiver.
US08879719B2
A system for enabling collaboration between two or more customer contact campaigns running within a call center environment includes at least one outbound contact server (OCS) resident on a digital medium, the OCS including an automated dialer application resident on a digital medium thereon or accessible thereto for dialing contact numbers from contact records assembled for the running campaigns, a call monitoring and recording system executing from software on a digital medium, for monitoring call dialing progress and business results of completed calls, a central data repository for storing dialing progress and business results data collected by the running outbound campaigns, and a data sharing mechanism executing from software resident on a digital medium, accessible to each campaign running on the OCS for sharing collected data among the running campaigns. Shared data received by individual campaign instances is processed by the receiving campaign against one or more pre-configured business rules to determine whether to modify campaign contact records, campaign dialing patterns and or campaign dialing methods.
US08879715B2
Method, system and program product, comprising obtaining agent performance data; ranking, agents based the agent performance data; dividing agents into agent performance ranges; partitioning callers based on criteria into a set of partitions; determining for each partition an outcome value for a first agent performance range and a second agent performance range; calculating for the partitions a respective outcome value difference indicator based on the outcome value for the first agent performance range and the outcome value for the second agent performance range for the partition; matching a respective agent to a respective caller in one of the partitions, based on the outcome value difference indicators for the partitions.
US08879714B2
A method is disclosed that includes retrieving first data associated with a call from an action-object table. The method further includes retrieving second data from a resolution table based on the first data. The second data indicates a treatment type to be provided to the call. The method further includes, in response to determining that the treatment type indicates a particular treatment type, servicing the call with the particular treatment type. The particular treatment type includes routing the call to a destination associated with a call center.
US08879709B2
A method includes receiving Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG) telephone number (TN) data; comparing the LERG TN data with telephone service provider (TSP) TN data; determining whether one or more differences exist between the LERG TN data and the TSP TN data based on the comparing; generating one or more executable statements for updating the one or more differences that exist based on the comparing; and executing the one or more executable statements to match the TSP TN data with the LERG TN data.
US08879705B2
The present invention discloses a method, a device, and a terminal for implementing incoming call protection. The method includes: determining, according to a frequency for operating a terminal by a user, whether a status of an incoming call protection mode is on or off; if the incoming call protection mode is on, when an incoming call signal arrives, delaying the incoming call signal; and if the incoming call protection mode is off, when an incoming call signal has been delayed and the incoming call signal still continues, releasing the incoming call signal, and when an incoming call signal has been delayed, but the incoming call signal becomes weak or has disappeared, prompting the user that there is a missed call. According to the present invention, a problem of unwittingly connecting or hanging up an incoming call by a user is effectively solved.
US08879701B2
Embodiments provide caller information in multiple languages to multiple receiving communication devices. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a call request from a sending endpoint communication device connected to a network. Caller identification information associated with the call request is obtained, where the caller identification information includes one or more identifications associated with the sending endpoint communication device. Each identification specifies the same content in a different language. The call request and at least one of the identifications are transmitted over the network to be received by receiving endpoint communication devices connected to the network. Each receiving endpoint communication device can output at least one of the received identifications specified in a language designated for use by that receiving endpoint communication device.
US08879700B2
A communication apparatus repeatedly outputs a first multi-carrier signal SS during predetermined periods T1, T2, T3, . . . , and outputs a second multi-carrier signal RS whose phase vector is different from that of the first multi-carrier signal SS, at a predetermined timing based on the first multi-carrier signal SS. The communication apparatus further detects the second multi-carrier signal RS output from another communication apparatus, which uses a different communication method from the communication apparatus. Accordingly, both communication apparatuses can differentiate the first multi-carrier signal SS from the second multi-carrier signal RS without performing relatively cumbersome modulation and other processes.
US08879683B2
A jet pump beam is made of improved heat-treated precipitation-hardened nickel base alloy excellent in anti-stress corrosion cracking properties and high-temperature strength, and having high ductility and a high elastic modulus. A jet pump beam 27 made of improved heat-treated nickel base alloy is produced by preparing a precipitation-strengthened nickel base alloy material having a component composition containing by mass %, Ni: 50.0% to 55.0%, Cr: 17.0% to 21.0%, Nb+Ta: 4.75% to 5.50%, Mo: 2.8% to 3.3%, Ti: 0.65% to 1.15%, Al: 0.2% to 0.8%, C: 0.08% or less, Mn: 0.35% or less, Si: 0.35% or less, S: 0.015% or less, P: 0.03% or less, Cu: 0.30% or less, B: 0.006% or less, and Co: 1.0% or less, and Fe and inevitable impurities constituting a remaining part, subjecting the nickel base alloy material to solution heat treatment at a temperature of 1010° C. to 1090° C., and subjecting the nickel base alloy material to age-hardening heat treatment at a temperature of 694° C. to 714° C. for 5 to 7 hours after the solution heat treatment.
US08879672B2
Disclosed are a signal compression apparatus and method for dynamic compressive sensing, including: a signal input unit configured to simultaneously output an input signal, and generate and output a linear measurement reference signal based on the input signal; a linear transform unit configured to receive the linear measurement reference signal and variably generate a linear measurement matrix value according to the linear measurement reference signal; a signal compressor configured to output a compressed signal for the input signal based on the generated linear measurement matrix value; and a signal processor configured to reconstruct the compressed signal and perform spectrum sensing of the input signal. Accordingly, it is possible to increase signal compression efficiency of compressive sensing and improve signal reconstruction performance by using sparsity information of the input signal, and also by performing signal compression by using a compression matrix suitable for the sparsity information of the input signal.
US08879670B2
A configurable Turbo-LDPC decoder having A set of P>1 Soft-Input-Soft-Output decoding units (DP0-DPP-1; DPi) for iteratively decoding both Turbo- and LDPC-encoded input data, each of the decoding units having first (I1i) and second (I2i) input ports and first (O1i) and second (O2i) output ports for intermediate data; First and second memories (M1, M2) for storing the intermediate data, each of the first and second memories comprising P independently readable and writable memory blocks having respective input and output ports; and A configurable switching network (SN) for connecting the first input and output ports of the decoding units to the output and input ports of the first memory, and the second input and output ports of the decoding units to the output and input ports of the second memory.
US08879656B2
A cooperative multiple-input multiple-output system based on partial Zadoff-Chu sequences and a synchronization method thereof are disclosed, and the system comprises a plurality of transmitters and a receiver. Each transmitter's training signal is disposed in a subband having a length of V, and the training signal is converted into a time domain signal. The receiver receives the time domain signals of the cooperating transmitters. Each transmitter extracts V successive samples from any region of a Zadoff-Chu sequence having a length equal to a multiple of V and the samples are disposed in an exclusive subband as the training signal. When the training signals of cooperating transmitters are converted into time and frequency domain signals, the training signals of all the transmitters are separated from each other to suppress mutual interference in both time and frequency domains and to improve the performance of synchronization.
US08879648B2
A transmission apparatus and method for transmitting signals in a multi carrier transmission system comprises a modulator, a band information generator that generates band information defining the frequency bands corresponding to all of the data streams carried within that frequency channel, said band information including a tuning frequency indicator indicating a tuning frequency and a tuning frequency type indicator indicating the type of tuning frequency indicated by said tuning frequency indicator, wherein said type is selected from a group comprising at least a first type indicating a tuning frequency of a frequency band and a second type indicating a center frequency of a frequency channel, and a transmitter.
US08879640B2
A computer processor implementable method of decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) code, comprising: receiving a log-likelihood-ratio (LLR) input bitstream; performing a combined bit-deinterleaving and reordering process on the LLR input bitstream and storing in a physical memory space, comprising: determining a logical memory address for each LLR bit in the LLR input bitstream, determining a physical memory address for each LLR bit in the LLR input bitstream from logical memory address of the LLR bit; decoding the LLR input bitstream stored in the physical memory space; and performing a combined de-reordering and de-mapping process on the decoded LLR input bitstream.
US08879639B2
Devices, methods, and software are disclosed for an adaptive video capture decode system that efficiently manages a stream of image frames between a device display screen and a processor performing decode attempts on decodable features in the image frames. In an illustrative embodiment, a device assigns frames of image data from a stream of frames of image data to either a display subsystem or a decode subsystem. The display subsystem is operative for rendering the frames of image data on a display screen. The decode subsystem is operative for receiving frames of image data and performing an attempted decode of a decodable indicia represented in at least one of the frames of image data. None of the frames of data are assigned to both the display subsystem and the decode subsystem.
US08879636B2
Methods and apparatus for adaptive encoding of data such as for example video data. In one exemplary embodiment, a real-time video encoder is disclosed that changes video encoding processes to produce the best quality encoded video while maintaining a target encoding frame rate, according to one or more operating constraints.
US08879634B2
In general, techniques are described for coding data defining a sequence using one-to-one codes. An apparatus comprising a processing unit and a storage unit may implement the techniques. The processing unit decodes the index using a combinatorial enumeration process to generate a sequence. The index identifies the sequence in an array of all possible sequences ordered according to probabilities of the possible sequences assuming the possible sequences are produced by a memoryless source. The combinatorial enumeration process reorders sequences from the memoryless source according to the corresponding probabilities. The storage unit stores the sequence.
US08879615B1
An equalization adaptation circuit comprises an equalizer, a transition determination circuit, a phase error circuit, a sequence recovery circuit, a phase error accumulator circuit, a transition accumulator circuit, and a controller circuit. The equalizer has adjustable parameters. The transition determination circuit determines observed transitions in an equalized signal output from the equalizer. A phase error circuit determines phase errors of the observed transitions. A sequence recovery circuit generates recovered digital data sequences. A phase error accumulator circuit accumulates the phase errors in respective association with pre-defined patterns matching the recovered digital data sequences containing observed transitions corresponding to the phase errors. A transition accumulator circuit accumulates a number of the observed transitions. A controller circuit controls the adjustable parameters of the equalizer based upon the accumulated phase errors and number of observed transitions.
US08879614B2
The present invention relates to an overpower detection device 51 capable of detecting, with a simple configuration, overpower of a circuit that processes a signal associated with instantaneous variation. The overpower detection device 51 of the present invention includes: a power information acquisition section 61 for acquiring an index value of power, at each timing, of a signal transmitted or received in a target device; a comparison section 62 for comparing the index value acquired by the power information acquisition section 61 with an evaluation threshold; a comparison result accumulation section 63 for accumulating a value indicating a comparison result of the comparison section 62 at the each timing; and an overpower determination section 64 for determining overpower of a circuit in the target device, based on an accumulation result of the comparison result accumulation section 63.
US08879613B1
In a multiple interface, low power and lossy network comprising a plurality of nodes, a sender node dynamically selects a data packet for setting a transmission parameter request in response to determining that an age value for a set of transmission parameters associated with a recipient device has expired or is expiring. The sender node selects an desired data packet for sending a transmission parameter request and transmits the selected data packet to the recipient device. The sender node receives a transmission parameter response from the recipient node comprising updated transmission parameters for that recipient node and then updates the current transmission parameters associated with the recipient node accordingly.
US08879612B2
A transmission characteristic adjustment device includes: a setting process portion that sets a setting value concerning each transmission characteristic of a plurality of electric signals to at least one of a sending device that sends the plurality of electric signals and a receiving device that receives the plurality of electric signals; a generation process portion that acquires each error rate calculated based on identification information included in each of the plurality of electric signals whenever the setting value is changed, and generates a table on which a plurality of sets of the setting value and the error rate are recorded; and an adjustment process portion that adjusts the setting value based on the table.
US08879609B2
A communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device that performs power line communication with the first communication device via an electric power line, wherein the first communication device transmits a plurality of times an initial packet signal added with an error detection code in each of reference timing at regular intervals in the vicinity of zero crossing timing. The second communication device determines whether a reception state is good or poor based on a result of the error detection on each of the received initial packet signals, and when the reception state is poor, the second communication device transmits an ACK signal in timing shifted by micro time from the reference timing after receiving the initial packet signal. Then, the first communication device transmits a data packet signal in timing at the regular interval after the timing of receiving the ACK signal.
US08879605B1
A mobile station receives system time information from a source base transceiver station (BTS) in a spread spectrum communication system. The mobile station estimates a distance between the mobile station and the source BTS. The mobile station calculates a propagation delay based on the estimated distance. The mobile station develops a propagation-delay-adjusted time reference based on the system time information and the calculated propagation delay. The mobile station uses the propagation-delay-adjusted time reference to search for a target pseudonoise (PN) offset corresponding to a target BTS in the spread spectrum communication system. The mobile station may be closer to the target BTS than the source BTS.
US08879604B2
In one embodiment, a rendezvous request message is generated (e.g., by a sender) that specifies a channel C and a rendezvous time T for which a distributed message is to be transmitted in a frequency-hopping computer network. The rendezvous request message is then transmitted on one or more channels used in the computer network based on reaching a plurality of intended recipients of the distributed message with the rendezvous request message prior to rendezvous time T. Accordingly, the distributed message is then transmitted on channel C at rendezvous time T. In another embodiment, a device receives a rendezvous request message, and in response to determining to honor the rendezvous request message, listens for the distributed message on channel C at rendezvous time T.
US08879600B2
A surface emitting laser array element is disclosed that includes a lower distributed bragg reflector (DBR) that is formed on a substrate, an active layer that is formed on the lower DBR, and an upper DBR that is formed on the active layer. A mesa and a dummy mesa that is arranged at a periphery of the mesa are created by removing a portion of the upper DBR. The mesa forms a surface emitting laser, and a wiring is connected to an electrode that is formed on an upper face of the mesa. The wiring includes a portion that is arranged over an upper face of the dummy mesa, a side face of the dummy mesa, and a bottom face at a peripheral region of the dummy mesa extending along a longitudinal direction of the wiring.
US08879598B2
A device including one or more layers with lateral regions configured to facilitate the transmission of radiation through the layer and lateral regions configured to facilitate current flow through the layer is provided. The layer can comprise a short period superlattice, which includes barriers alternating with wells. In this case, the barriers can include both transparent regions, which are configured to reduce an amount of radiation that is absorbed in the layer, and higher conductive regions, which are configured to keep the voltage drop across the layer within a desired range.
US08879593B2
A laser apparatus configured for epitaxial-side-down mounting on a heat sink. The laser apparatus includes a semiconductor laser structure and at least one post on a substrate where the laser structure and post are separated from each other by a channel. The laser structure and the posts optionally are coated with a heat-spreading material layer and are configured so that the maximum height of the posts is about the same as the maximum height of the laser structure. When the laser apparatus is mounted to a heat sink in an epi-down configuration using solder applied to the top of the laser structure and the at least one post, the channels between the at least one post and the laser structure provide a relief flow path for the solder and ensure that the laser structure does not come directly into contact with the solder.
US08879584B2
A generic quality of service (QoS) model that is not dependent on network technology is used to support QoS for communication networks utilizing different network technologies. The generic QoS model may include a superset of all QoS parameters for all network technologies being supported, e.g., 3GPP and 3GPP2. An application at a device may specify QoS for a traffic flow based on the generic QoS parameters in the superset. The generic QoS parameters may be converted to QoS parameters that are specific to a serving network. The converted QoS parameters are exchanged with the serving network and are used while exchanging traffic with the serving network.
US08879581B2
A data transmitting device transmits section information, a data broadcasting content, and a broadcasting content in a multiplexed manner. The data transmitting device includes a specified-information embedding unit that embeds information related to a specified image into the section information; a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the section information embedded with the specified information by the specified-information embedding unit, the data broadcasting content, and the broadcasting content; and a transmitting unit that transmits data multiplexed by the multiplexing unit to a data receiving device.
US08879577B2
Provided is a monitoring system which can perform priority control in accordance with the wideband limitation. A priority/filter type selection processing unit (37) of a network interconnection device (11), which connects a local network (14) and a wide area network (10), selects a transmission data selection processing unit (38) on the basis of the priority level definitions of a transmission data in accordance with an event status, and a data compression method in association with the event status and the wide area network communication status, and selects and controls a filtering processing unit (33). As a consequence, the communication bandwidth in a wide area network is reduced.
US08879563B2
A method includes reading content of network traffic that arrives at a network port of a network switch of a mesh of network switches. A hash algorithm is applied to the read content to indicate a path to a destination network switch of the mesh, the hash algorithm being common to all network switches of the mesh. The network traffic is forwarded via a network port that is associated with the indicated path.
US08879540B1
A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for emergency call centers. According to one such method, a location database is populated from a plurality of endpoint devices. The location database determines locations for nodes in a data transmission route from information received from the endpoint devices. Emergency calls using these nodes are located using the populated database.
US08879538B2
The invention concerns a method for connection to IP communication entities (Ex,pu,, Ey,pu) via a residential gateway (PZ). It consists in registering (A) the public identity (pu) of each connected terminal associated with the network address (z) of the residential gateway, so that any message should be addressed to said residential gateway (Pz) and in transferring (B) said message to all the IP communication entities connected to the residential gateway (Pz), thus permitting each of the latter to filter (C) the message and to determine whether the message is addressed to a public identity which is assigned thereto. The invention is applicable to IP terminals managed in accordance with SIP or H323 protocol.
US08879529B2
The present invention is aimed to provide a mechanism whereby a roaming user can select a visited network allowed for roaming by the home network operator among a plurality of visited networks accessible through an access network. Therefore, the present invention provides a new method, a new roaming device likely embedded in another network entity and enhanced user equipment whereby the home network, upon a user equipment indication, may submit towards the user equipment a list of allowed or preferred visited networks as well as selection criteria for selecting one visited network from the list.
US08879521B2
A technique for handling mobile terminating calls in a distributed switch is described. The switch includes at least one cluster wherein the at least one cluster comprises a plurality of cluster members. Each cluster member is associated with a set of roaming numbers and adapted to route a mobile terminating call to either a recipient subscriber served by the cluster member or to another cluster member which serves the recipient subscriber. The at least one cluster further comprises a first data structure having a content that is common to and accessible by all the cluster members of the cluster. The first data structure specifies the plurality of cluster members and the roaming number set associated with each cluster member.
US08879519B2
A first mobile node supports peer to peer communications but not cellular communications. Other mobile modes in the communication system support a cellular mode and may support a peer to peer communications mode. The communications system is such that spectrum may be dynamically reallocated between being designated to be used for peer to peer operations and being used primarily for cellular network based operations. Beacon signals are used to communicate a current mode of frequency spectrum usage designation. The first mobile node, being in an ongoing peer to peer communications session detects that the spectrum is being reallocated for cellular based operations. The first mobile node reduces its transmission power level in response to the detected spectrum reallocation. In some embodiments, the first mobile is allowed to continue its ongoing peer to peer session while the spectrum is primarily allocated for cellular communications, albeit at a lower transmission power level.
US08879516B2
A method includes generating a first data unit to be transmitted during a first time period to one or several stations assumed to be beamformed, including determining a time interval that separates the first time period from a second time period, such that a second data unit is transmitted during the second time period to one or several stations assumed to be beamformed, and generating a parameter indicative of the time interval, such that the first data unit includes the parameter.
US08879508B2
An apparatus and method for facilitating inter-technology handoff from a home wireless network comprising comparing a parameter of a home signal to a threshold, wherein the home signal is from the home wireless network where the data session of a persistent always ON application is established; throttling the persistent always ON application; and attempting to acquire a first alternative signal acceptable to the persistent always ON application from a first alternative wireless network using a single RF chain.
US08879504B2
Disclosed is a technique to eliminate wasted tunneling encapsulation processing during redirection of a packet. According to the technique, when a packet of a first connection passing through a local mobility anchor (“LMA”) 111 and a mobile access gateway (“MAG”) 121 using a first prefix of an interface 131 of a mobile node (“MN”) 130 is redirected to a second connection passing through a LMA 112 and a MAG 122 using a second prefix of an interface 132 of the MN 130, a redirection tunnel T1 is established between the LMA 111 and the LMA 112. When the MAG 122 knows the first prefix, the LMA 112 encapsulates a packet addressed to the first prefix that is redirected via the tunnel T to be addressed to the MAG 122 for transferring.
US08879502B2
A system and method for handing off from a first network to a second network. A determination may be made as to whether an accessible base station of the second network is located in the vicinity of a user equipment based on information on a current location of the user equipment in the first network. An activation call may be generated with a first telephone number as a caller number when an accessible base station of the second network is located in the vicinity of the user equipment based on the determination result. The activation call indicates an initiation of a search for an accessible base station of the second network, and an accessible base station of the second network may be searched for when the activation call with the first telephone number is received. A handoff from the first network to the second network may then be executed when the accessible base station of the second network is located.
US08879500B2
A wireless communications system having a radio access network (RAN). A wireless terminal is connected to a serving node in the RAN. The wireless terminal exchange messages with a serving node to support a handover to a target node in the RAN. The target node receives the hand over and provides to the wireless terminal the identity of one or more messages sent from the serving node to the target node that were not acknowledged by the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal provides information to the target node to prevent the retransmission of one or more stale messages following handover.
US08879496B2
A first base station receives a message from a second base station. The first base station and the second base station communicate to wireless devices employing a downlink carrier comprising downlink resource blocks. The message comprises downlink beamforming information indicating a beamforming codeword of a codebook employed for downlink resource block(s). The first base station selects, for a subset of the downlink resource blocks, beamforming codewords from a codebook based, at least in part, on the downlink beamforming information. The first base station transmits signals on a subset of the downlink resource blocks employing beamforming codewords.
US08879493B2
A method of reducing transmission power is provided. In the method, a signal is transmitted by performing maximum power reduction (MPR) on maximum output power for the signal to be transmitted, when multi-cluster transmission is performed in a single component carrier. Here, the MPR is performed differently depending on a resource allocation ratio A. The resource allocation ratio A is defined as a ratio between NRB—agg and NRB—alloc. The NRB—agg represents the number of resource blocks (RBs) in a channel band, and the NRB—alloc represents the total number of RBs transmitted at the same time.
US08879487B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for providing HARQ feedback in a mobile communication system using carrier aggregation. To suggest a scheme for transmitting feedback on the successful/unsuccessful decoding of transmissions that is operable in FDD mode, the invention proposes to utilize only a single one of plural radio resources available for feedback transmission for signaling feedback for multiple transmissions. A feedback sequence of ACK/NACKs for the transmissions is mapped to one feedback resource combination that is one of the radio resources available for feedback transmission and a modulation symbol of the given modulation scheme that is transmitted on said one radio resource. This scheme can also be used in cases where the number of possible feedback sequences of ACK/NACKs for the transmissions is larger than the number of feedback resource combinations available for feedback transmission.
US08879485B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and discloses a method and an apparatus for performing random access in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method in which user equipment carries out a process for random access to a base station in a multi-carrier wireless communication system comprises: a step of measuring the channel qualities of one or more uplink component carriers, and determining the uplink component carrier having the highest channel quality; a step of selecting a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource on the uplink component carrier having the highest channel quality; and a step of transmitting a random access preamble to the base station using the selected PRACH resource.
US08879481B2
In a communication system, a method and an apparatus provide for efficient communications of data rate control information. A mobile station communicates a request on a data channel for reception of a data file on a traffic channel. The mobile station communicates data rate control information on a data rate control channel. The communication of data rate control information on the data rate control channel is ceased if the delivery of the data file on the traffic channel from a base station to the mobile station or a reverse traffic channel from the mobile station to the base station is concluded.
US08879475B2
Providing adaptive channel state feedback (CSF) reports in discontinuous reception (DRX) scenarios in a power-efficient manner. The described algorithm may be able to make adaptive decisions to carry over the CSF from previous DRX cycles based on channel conditions, DRX cycle length, and/or the requirements of CSF reporting for current DRX cycle. The proposed approach can allow for more efficient power consumption related to CSF reports in DRX scenarios where new CSF reports have little or no impact to throughput.
US08879474B2
The present invention relates to a method in which a receiver receives an MAC (medium access control) PDU (protocol data unit) in a wireless communication system. The method in which the receiver receives an MAC PDU comprises the following steps: receiving an MAC PDU containing a header and a payload from a transmitter, wherein the header includes a first extended header containing a first length field which indicates the length of a service data unit (hereinafter, referred to as “SDU”) or lengths of fragmented SDUs in the MAC PDU; decoding the header; and determining whether the size of the first length field in the extended header is an extended size or a basic size in accordance with the results of decoding.
US08879467B2
A system for transferring data includes an interface configured to receive data that is sent via a first link, and a processor coupled to the interface. The processor is configured to: receive data that is sent via a first link; determine whether there is discontinuity in the received data, the determination being based at least in part on information included in the received data; in the event that the received data includes a discontinuity, generate replacement data that repairs the discontinuity; and transmit at least a portion of replacement data to a second link such that a synchronization requirement associated with the second link is fulfilled.
US08879450B2
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques for a network controller to obtain a group-addressed packet destined for multiple subscriber stations (SSs) belonging to a group. The network controller to determine that a particular SS in the group is currently unable to receive group-addressed packets due to being in a sleep mode, transmit the group-addressed packet and retain the group-addressed packet in a buffer. After receiving a poll from the particular SS, the network controller is to retransmit the group-addressed packet.
US08879446B2
The present invention relates to a femto base station. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting a common control channel and to a femto base station for the same. The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a common control channel, comprising a step in which the femto base station acquires segment information from a macro base station which overlays the femto base station; a step of identifying, using the segment information, a time segment used by the macro base station in transmitting the common control channel; and a step of transmitting a common control channel of the femto base station on a time segment other than the time-segment identified in the previous step. The present invention also relates to a femto base station for the method.
US08879445B2
A method for mitigating the impact of a power imbalance on a remote data rate in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes transmitting a wireless local area network (WLAN) acknowledgement (ACK) packet at a first transmit power level to a remote device. The method further includes transmitting, to the remote device, a WLAN data packet at a second transmit power level that is lower than the first transmit power level of the WLAN ACK packet. Another method for mitigating the impact of a power imbalance on a remote data rate in a wireless local area network (WLAN) may include selecting a wireless local area network (WLAN) acknowledgement (ACK) packet transmit rate independent from a rate at which a WLAN data packet is received. This method further includes transmitting, to a remote device, a WLAN ACK packet at the selected WLAN ACK packet transmit rate.
US08879442B2
Methods and apparatus to enable call completion in Internet protocol communication networks are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to process a voice over Internet protocol call include sending a first query to a telephone number mapping server to obtain a session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier associated with a destination device with which the voice over Internet protocol call is to be established. Some such example methods further include, in response to the voice over Internet protocol call failing to be established using the session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier obtained from the first query, sending a second query to the telephone number mapping server to obtain a numeric Internet protocol address associated with the destination device, and using the numeric Internet protocol address obtained from the second query to establish the voice over Internet protocol call with the destination device.
US08879438B2
System and methods provide acoustic echo monitoring and cancellation for real time media processing in an internet protocol (IP) media server in an IP network. An echo monitor is configured to selectively compare audio streams into and out of the IP media server through a selected port. The comparison determines an occurrence of an echo. An echo canceller in communication with the echo monitor is configured to respond to the determination by the echo monitor so as to remove the echo from at least one of the audio streams. A talk burst detector may be used to detect speech in at least one of the audio streams through the selected port. The echo monitor selectively compares the audio streams in response to a signal from the talk burst detector that indicates detection of speech.
US08879435B1
Various embodiments of systems and methods for memory access are provided. In one embodiment, a data segment is stored in a plurality of memory segments of at least one memory bank. The data segment stored in the memory segments is selected, where the data segment has a bit boundary that is arbitrarily misaligned with at least one memory segment boundary of the memory segments.
US08879434B2
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a calculator and a controller. The calculator multiplies a first weighting factor by a first data signal to be transmitted on a first channel, the first weighting factor is based on a second weighting factor multiplied by a second data signal received on the first channel. The controller controls a transmission to transmit to a destination device a control signal if the first data signal transmitted to the partner device exists, and no second data signal to be transmitted on the first channel exists in the device.
US08879429B2
Various techniques for exchanging control messages in order to gracefully reroute multicast traffic are disclosed. For example, one method involves sending a join message for a multicast group towards a root of a new multicast tree and forwarding multicast traffic, addressed to the multicast group, on a current multicast tree until an acknowledgment corresponding to the join message is received. The new multicast tree can be identified in response to detection of a topology change within the network. Until the acknowledgment is received, multicast traffic that is received via the new multicast tree can be dropped.
US08879425B2
A method for interference control includes receiving at a base station an interference report from a neighbor base station. The interference report indicates interference observed at the neighbor base station. The method also includes regulating, by the base station, data transmissions for terminals based on the interference report received from the neighbor base station. Regulating the data transmissions includes identifying disadvantaged terminals and assigning the disadvantaged terminals with lower data rates.
US08879402B2
A wireless communication device includes a data transmission and reception section that wirelessly transmits a plurality of test packets; a signal sensing section that senses a power of a spatial radio wave signal on a frequency channel that is the same as the plurality of test packets and outputs sample data of the sensed spatial radio wave signal; a calculation processing section that converts the sample data into time series sample data; a collision detection section that calculates a packet collision rate based on the number of packet collisions and the number of the plurality of test packets if there is a packet collision due to interference of the plurality of test packets with another communication; and a control section that adjusts a parameter that the data transmission and reception section uses based on a calculation result of the collision detection section.
US08879400B2
There is provided a mobile communication system, a base station, and a method of controlling cell coverage that is capable of operating a mobile communication system such that the cell coverage is maintained approximately and timely at a target level without requiring much labor. In this mobile communication system, a mobile station reports to the base station the position information of the mobile station and the value of reception power of reference signal from the base station. The base station obtains the measured cell coverage as a result of measurement of cell coverage based on the position information and the value of reception power from the mobile stations, and controls at least one of plural parameters including transmission power to the mobile stations, tilt angle of antenna, etc., so as to minimize deviation of the measured cell coverage from the target cell coverage.
US08879397B2
Load balancing is performed in a network using flow-based routing. For example, upon detection of a big flow, one or more alternative paths from a source host to a destination host in the network may be discovered by probing the network and generating, for each of the one or more alternative paths, an association of the packet header information of the big flow to an alternative path discovered using results of probing the network. Upon congestion in a path currently being used by the big flow, an alternative path that is not congested is selected from the one or more discovered alternative paths. The packet header information of the big flow is altered using the generated association of the packet header information to the selected alternative path such that the big flow will be transmitted using the selected alternative path.
US08879393B2
A network device implements automatic configuration of Quality of Service (QoS) parameters in response to operator specification of a relatively few and easily understandable “high level” parameters such as, for example, latency requirements or an acceptable rate of packet drops. In one implementation, a network device may receive user preference information that relates to a Quality of Service (QoS) for network traffic passing through the network device and may measure traffic patterns through the network device. The device further generates a configuration template based on the measured traffic patterns and on the user preference information transmit the data in an order of transmission that is prioritized according to a bandwidth allocation policy defined by the configuration template.
US08879383B1
A network configuration having multiple network elements and routers using point-to-point network redundancy to improve network reliability and performance is disclosed. A process using point-to-point network redundancy is able to detect a first checking message (“CM”) formatted in a connectivity verification protocol (“CVP”) such as IEEE 802.1ag indicating a primary link failure. The primary link is a connection between a first network element (“NE”) situated in a first network such as Ethernet based LAN network and a second NE situated in a second network such as an IP based MPLS network. Upon sending a second CM indicating the primary link failure to the second NE, a coordinated failover from the primary link to the backup link at both first and second NEs is performed.
US08879382B2
A system is configured to: receive a message from a gateway device; identify one or more sessions corresponding to an identifier included in the message; and clear the one or more corresponding sessions. The identifier may correspond to a part of the gateway device where a session is stored or maintained for a mobile device to connect to a server device.
US08879374B2
Provided are an objective lens driving unit that maintains the electrical connection between suspension wires and winding bosses. The objective lens driving unit includes a plurality of winding bosses disposed at a side of the frame, each having a projection formed at its end and extending in a direction in which a suspension wire extends.
US08879369B2
To provide a timepiece faceplate having appropriate light permeability with excellent aesthetic appearance having glittering property, and an electrical timepiece equipped with a solar battery, a timepiece faceplate of the invention includes a faceplate main body that has light permeability, and a glittering layer that is provided on either one of a front surface side and a back surface side of the faceplate main body and is configured by dispersing a glittering powder into a light permeable resin. The glittering powder is configured by laminating a metallic oxide film above one surface side of a plate shaped base material, which has light permeability, and the glittering powder is a lamination powder that an average grain diameter is more than 10 μm and less than 90 μm.
US08879368B2
The present invention discloses a horologe, such as a watch or clock, in which a removable and interchangeable face can be inserted and removed from the horologe and replaced with another face without disconnecting components of the horologe or interfering with the horologe measuring time. In one embodiment, the horologe comprises a horological movement; a housing having a rim and a mount plate, a removable face for insertion into a faceplate compartment, and an inner transparent cover. A portion of the rim may be extendable away from the housing to reveal an opening to receive a removable face. In one embodiment, the horologe may comprise an extendable drawer, which is adapted for insertion into and selectably extendable from the faceplate compartment. In one embodiment, the horologe may comprise an outer bezel, which has open and closed positions for revealing and covering the opening of the faceplate compartment.
US08879363B2
An electronic timepiece includes a display unit, a communication unit, a tilt detector, an acceleration detector, and a power-off unit. The display unit displays information including information of time. The communication unit performs near field communication with an external device via an antenna. The tilt detector detects a tilting movement of a main body of the electronic timepiece. The acceleration detector detects an accelerated movement of the main body. The power-off unit turns off a power of the communication unit when the tilt detector does not detect the tilting movement and when the acceleration detector does not detect the accelerated movement.
US08879357B2
The systems and methods described herein relate to systems and methods for synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) or radar including the use of orthogonal signals with SAS.
US08879352B2
Devices are disclosed for obtaining data of a sample, particularly data capable of being processed to produce an image of a region of the sample. An exemplary device includes a light-beam source, an acoustic-wave source, an optical element, and an acoustic detector. The optical element is transmissive to a light beam produced by the light-beam source and reflective to acoustic waves produced by the acoustic-wave source. The optical element is situated to direct the transmitted light beam and reflected acoustic wave simultaneously along an optical axis to be incident at a situs in or on a sample to cause the sample to produce acoustic echoes from the incident acoustic waves while also producing photoacoustic waves from the incident light beam photoacoustically interacting with the situs. The acoustic detector is placed to receive and detect the acoustic echoes and the photoacoustic waves from the situs. The acoustic detector can comprise one or more hydrophones exploiting the acousto-electric effect.
US08879350B2
A processor and a system are provided for tuning a supply voltage for data retention. The contents of data storage circuitry are read and a data verification indication corresponding to the contents is computed. Then, the supply voltage provided to the data storage circuitry is reduced to a low voltage level that is intended to retain the contents of the data storage circuitry.
US08879348B2
A method for operating a memory module device. The method can include transferring a chip select, command, and address information from a host memory controller. The host memory controller can be coupled to a memory interface device, which can be coupled to a memory module. The memory module can comprise a plurality of memory devices. The chip select, command and address information can be received at the memory interface using a command-and-address-latency (CAL) mode. Control logic can be used to initiate a power state transition from a first power state to a second power state of an input termination circuit in the memory interface device.
US08879346B2
Power management of an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) by receiving an eDRAM power state transition event and determining both the current power state of the eDRAM and the next power state of the eDRAM from the power states of: a power-on state, a power-off state, and a self-refresh state. Using the current power state and the next power state to determine whether a power state transition is required, and, in the case that a power state transition is required, transition the eDRAM to the next power state. Power management is achieved because transitioning to a power-off state or self-refresh state reduces the amount of power consumed by the eDRAM as compared to the power-on state.
US08879344B1
Methods and systems for time-based cell decoding for PCM memory. Generally, the higher the PCM element resistance, the longer it takes for a read output to change state. PCM memory output is determined using differentiated timings of read outputs changing state, rather than differentiated values of read outputs. In some single-bit single-ended sensing embodiments, a reference, with resistance between the resistances corresponding to a pair of adjacent logical states, is stored in multiple reference cells; a “vote” unit emits a clock signal when a majority of the reference cell read outputs transition at the vote unit. Timing units produce different binary outputs depending on whether a data read output or the clock signal changes state first at the timing unit. Time-based decoding provides advantages including improved temperature and drift resilience, improved state discrimination, improved reliability of multibit PCM, and fast and reliable sensing.
US08879339B2
A write control device includes a switching unit configured to selectively supply a write current in response to a driving control signal, a driving unit configured to supply a driving current to a memory cell corresponding to the write current applied through the switching unit, and an over-driving control unit coupled to an output node of the driving unit and configured to over-drive the output node in response to the driving control signal.
US08879326B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a plurality of electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory cells connected in series together includes a select gate transistor connected in series to the serial combination of memory cells. A certain one of the memory cells which is located adjacent to the select gets transistor is for use as a dummy cell. This dummy cell is not used for data storage. During data erasing, the dummy cell is applied with the same bias voltage as that for the other memory cells.
US08879325B1
A flash memory controller, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a method for reading flash memory cells of a flash memory module. The method may include calculating a group of read thresholds to be applied during a reading operation of a set of flash memory cells that belong to a certain row of the flash memory module based upon a compressed representation of reference read thresholds associated with multiple reference rows of the flash memory module; and reading the set of flash memory cells by applying the group of reference read thresholds to provide read results.
US08879319B1
A multi-level cell flash memory storage device has cells wherein different charge levels represent different information. The storage device can read stored charge from one or more cells, store a rewrite generation value for a group of a plurality of cells in a block of cells, and write to cells, wherein writing to one or more cells without an erase includes an increment of the rewrite generation value, and includes circuitry for reading from cells, including circuitry for reading the rewrite generation value. The storage device can include circuitry for reading from cells includes within the multi-level cell flash memory storage device logic for calculating a stored value of the cells using the rewrite generation value and relative levels of charge on a plurality of cells. The storage device can track hot addresses and cold addresses and perform static or dynamic wear leveling based on accumulated rewrite generation values.
US08879318B2
In a method of storing data in a nonvolatile memory device, a program operation is performed on target memory cells among a plurality of memory cells based on a program voltage. A verification operation is performed on the target memory cells based on a verification voltage to determine whether all of the target memory cells are completely programmed. The verification voltage is changed depending on the program operation.
US08879309B2
A spin-transfer torque memory random access memory (STTMRAM) cell is disclosed comprising a selected magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) identified to be programmed; a first transistor having a first port, a second port and a gate, the first port of the first transistor coupled to the selected MTJ; a first neighboring MTJ coupled to the selected MTJ through the second port of the first transistor; a second transistor having a first port, a second port, and a gate, the first port of the second transistor coupled to the selected MTJ; a second neighboring MTJ coupled to the selected MTJ through the second port of the second transistor; a first bit/source line coupled to the second end of the selected MTJ; and a second bit/source line coupled to the second end of the first neighboring MTJ and the second end of the second neighboring MTJ.
US08879308B2
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 selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device. The method further includes applying an overdrive voltage to a gate of the selector to turn on the selector.
US08879304B2
A word line control circuit includes a first PMOS transistor having a gate coupled to a first selection signal; a first NMOS transistor, coupled between a second node and a second voltage terminal, having a gate coupled to an inverted first selection signal, wherein the inverted first selection signal is obtained by inverting the first selection signal; and a plurality of word line drivers, at least one of the word line drivers comprising a first inverter and a second inverter, wherein a positive power terminal of the first inverter is coupled to the first voltage terminal, a negative power terminal of the first inverter is coupled to the second node, a positive power terminal of the second inverter is coupled to the first node, and a negative power terminal of the second inverter is coupled to the second voltage terminal.
US08879299B2
A non-volatile memory cell includes a first electrode, a steering element, a metal oxide storage element located in series with the steering element, a dielectric resistor located in series with the steering element and the metal oxide storage element, and a second electrode.
US08879297B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes a multi-level wiring structure including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer formed over the first wiring layer; a memory cell array area including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of sense amplifiers and a plurality of sub amplifiers; a main amplifier area including a plurality of main amplifiers, the memory cell array area and the main amplifier area being arranged in line in a first direction; and a plurality of first I/O lines each connecting an associated one of the sub amplifiers to an associated one of the main amplifiers, each of the first I/O lines including first and second wiring portions that are elongated in the first direction, the first wiring portion being formed as the first wiring layer and the second wiring portion being formed as the second wiring layer.
US08879296B2
A method and apparatus for organizing memory for a computer system including a plurality of memory devices 2, 3, connected to a logic device 1, particularly a memory system having a plurality of stacked memory dice connected to a logic die, with the logic device 1 having capability to analyze and compensate for differing delays to the stacked devices 2,3,4,5 stacking multiple dice divided into partitions serviced by multiple buses 21,22 connected to a logic die 1, to increase throughput between the devices 2,3 and logic 1 device allowing large scale integration of memory with self-healing capability.
US08879291B2
A multilevel voltage source converter for high voltage DC power transmission and reactive power compensation. The voltage source converter includes at least one phase element including a plurality of semiconductor switches to interconnect a DC voltage and an AC voltage. The voltage source converter also includes at least one auxiliary converter to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify the DC voltage presented to the DC side of the phase element.
US08879282B2
An embodiment provides a control method capable of controlling a switching-mode power supply to provide an output power source. The switching-mode power supply has a winding coupled to an input power source and controlled by a switch to be energized or de-energized. The maximum current peak through the winding is set to be a predetermined value. A discharge time of the winding in a switching cycle period is detected. The switching cycle period of the switch is controlled to keep the ratio of the discharge time to the switching cycle period as a constant.
US08879277B2
A modular industrial drive system includes a base that receives one or more control modules as a face template. The control modules provide a set of functionalities to the drive system, and the face template serves as a user interface to the drive system. The drive system can include a power module and a control module which define desired functionalities for the system.
US08879276B2
An embedded device 105 is assembled within a flexible circuit assembly 30 with the embedded device mid-plane intentionally located in proximity to the flexible circuit assembly central plane 115 to minimize stress effects on the embedded device. The opening 18, for the embedded device, is enlarged in an intermediate layer 10 to enhance flexibility of the flexible circuit assembly.
US08879262B2
Provides a cooling device (100) for cooling at least one pluggable module (200) each having a pluggable component (20) and a frame (32) for accommodating the pluggable component, the frame having an opening (33) on a top wall thereof. The cooling device comprises at least one thermal conductive block (40), a heat radiator (70) and a resilient thermal conductive pad (60). The resilient thermal conductive pad being adapted to be in a substantially released position when the pluggable component is decoupled from the frame and substantially biased when the pluggable component is inserted into the frame thus exerting a biasing force on the thermal conductive block and the heat radiator whereby the thermal conductive block is pressed through the opening of the frame into direct thermal contact with the pluggable element of the pluggable module for conducting the heat generated by the pluggable component to the heat radiator through the thermal conductive block and the resilient thermal conductive pad. The main advantage of the cooling device is that the pluggable module has a reinforced and compact cooling structure that improves the heat dissipation efficiency.
US08879257B2
A method is provided for facilitating powering and cooling of one or more electronics racks. The method includes: providing a frame; associating at least one bulk power assembly with the frame, the at least one bulk power assembly being configured to provide power to the electronics rack(s), wherein the frame with the associated one or more bulk power assemblies is distinct from the electronics rack(s); and associating one or more heat exchange assemblies with the frame, the heat exchange assembly(ies) being configured to cool system coolant provided to the electronics rack(s). In operation, heat is transferred by the heat exchange assembly(ies) from the system coolant to a facility coolant, and the frame with the associated bulk power assembly(ies) and associated heat exchange assembly(ies) provides both power and cooling to the electronics rack(s).
US08879252B2
A method and apparatus of cooling electronic components when replacing a cooling device in an information technology system are disclosed. The apparatus may include first and second cooling device trays that may be slidably mounted within an information technology system. The cooling device trays may include one or more cooling devices that are movably mounted to the cooling device trays. The apparatus may pivot one or more of the cooling devices when a pivot member contacts a fixed member with the chassis.
US08879249B1
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a device may include a base member formed as a receptacle with a recess defining an interior region configured for receiving internal circuitry. The base member may include first and second sides intersecting orthogonally to define a corner. The device may include a rail member having a first portion coupled to the first side of the base member and a second portion coupled to the second side of the base member. The rail member may be positioned to contact the corner of the base member. The device may include an enclosing member coupled to the first and second portions of the rail member with a plurality of fasteners to thereby enclose the internal circuitry disposed in the recess of the base member between the enclosing member and the base member.
US08879248B2
A storage apparatus S comprises a disk controller for controlling data I/O processing between a host H and a disk unit. The disk controller includes a plurality of circuit board modules each having a circuit board and a module case storing the same, and a chassis shaped like a hollow cylinder having a front side opening and a rear side opening and configured to store the circuit board modules from the front and rear side openings. A CM module is configured to introduce cooling air from a cooling fan through an opening provided on at least one side surface toward a circuit component mounted on the circuit board. A MP module is configured to introduce cooling air by a cooling fan through an opening provide on a front surface of the module case.
US08879240B2
Techniques are generally disclosed for controlling a release event from an electrical component. In some examples described herein, a device may include an inner packing material that is coupled to the electrical component and adapted to surround the electrical component. The inner packing material may be configured to trap gases produced by the electrical component during a release event. Additional examples described herein may include outer packing material configured to contain the inner packing material and substantially maintain a rigid shape during the release event. Further examples may include connection rods between the inner packing material and the outer packing material, wherein the connection rods are configured to resist expansion of the inner packing material. In some examples described herein, the inner packing material may be sealed to prevent a release of gas created by the release event.
US08879235B2
There is provided a multilayered ceramic capacitor, including a ceramic body, an active layer including a plurality of first and second internal electrodes alternately exposed through both end surfaces of the ceramic body while having the dielectric layer therebetween, to form capacitance; upper and lower cover layers formed above and below the active layer; first and second external electrodes covering both end surfaces of the ceramic body; a plurality of first and second dummy electrodes extended from the first and second external electrodes; and a plurality of piezoelectric members connecting the first internal electrode and the first dummy electrode or the second internal electrode and the second dummy electrode, inside the active layer, the piezoelectric members having a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric layer.
US08879223B2
An integrated electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter circuit with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and incorporating capacitors is provided. At least one passive element, i.e. resistor or inductor is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal. A first capacitor is connected between ground and the input terminal, and a second capacitor is connected between ground and the output terminal. A first diode and a second diode are connected in parallel to the first capacitor and the second capacitor. One or multiple parallel capacitors are connected in parallel to the passive element and between the input terminal and the output terminal for frequency compensation by employing the novel EMI LPF circuit, it is extraordinarily advantageous of enhancing its rejection band attenuation and meanwhile maintaining high cut-off frequency while implementation.
US08879216B2
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (10) for a control device, and a method for operating said circuit arrangement (10). The circuit arrangement (10) comprises a first field-effect transistor (12) actuating the control device, and a comparator, which compares the voltage provided for actuating the control device with a threshold voltage, and which actuates a timed operation of the first field-effect transistor (12) via a control unit (20) if the threshold voltage is exceeded.
US08879208B1
An umbrella shield (UmS) is included as the uppermost magnetic layer in a trailing shield design in a read/write head to reduce stray field effects, lower bit error rate, and improve protrusion profile for better touch down detection. The UmS may be exposed or recessed from an air bearing surface (ABS), and has a cross-track width, down-track thickness, and length toward a back side that is greater than the corresponding width, thickness, and length dimensions of an underlying PP3 trailing shield. UmS may substantially conform to an arched PP3 shield shape or may be a flat layer. An insulation layer with a thickness of at least 0.3 microns is formed between the UmS and PP3 trailing shield to prevent undesirable coupling. The UmS preferably has a width greater than any other shield in the read/write head.
US08879207B1
A method fabricates a side shield for a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic layer and an ABS location corresponding to an ABS. The nonmagnetic layer has a pole trench therein. The pole trench has a shape and location corresponding to the pole. A wet etchable layer is deposited. Part of the wet etchable layer resides in the pole trench. A pole is formed. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in the pole tip region. Part of the pole in the pole tip region is in the pole trench on at least part of the wet etchable layer. At least parts of the wet etchable layer and the nonmagnetic layer are removed, forming an air bridge. The air bridge is between part of the pole at the ABS location and an underlying layer. Side shield layer(s) that substantially fill the air bridge are deposited.
US08879197B2
Apparatus and associated method for loading a first tape cartridge into a tape drive, the first tape cartridge formatted to include a user data partition and also to include an index partition, different than and sized smaller than the user data partition, to store an index that self-describes user data designated to the user data partition and to also store non-index data, then reading the non-index data in the index partition of the first tape cartridge to self-describe a second tape cartridge different than the first tape cartridge.
US08879192B1
An information recording device includes a recording medium that includes a data area, and a controller that controls recording of data on the recording medium, wherein in response to a request for execution of formatting of the data area of the recording medium, the controller does not record data for the formatting in the data area and records format information about the formatting in a nonvolatile recording area that is different from the data area.
US08879188B1
Disk drive employing fly height calibration tracks to account for magnetic entropy and thermal decay
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks including a first fly height calibration track and a second fly height calibration track. The disk drive further comprises a fly height actuator operable to control a fly height of the head in response to a fly height control signal. When a refresh event is detected, calibration data is written to the second fly height calibration track. After writing calibration data to the second fly height calibration track, the first fly height calibration track is read in order to calibrate the fly height control signal applied to the fly height actuator. After calibrating the fly height control signal, the second fly height calibration track is read in order to recalibrate the fly height control signal applied to the fly height actuator.
US08879186B1
A method for performing parallel flaw scans of a plurality of tracks of a storage device. The storage device includes at least one disk, at least two read sensors, at least two analog front ends, and at least two independent timing loops. Each disk includes at least one surface, wherein each surface includes a plurality of tracks. The method includes writing flaw patterns to tracks of one or more surfaces of one or more disks. The method also includes positioning a first read sensor to read a first track. The method further includes positioning a second read sensor to read a second track. The method additionally includes simultaneously reading signals from the first track and the second track. The method also includes simultaneously performing flaw scans on read back signals from the first track and the second track. The method further includes outputting flaw scan results.
US08879182B2
Described embodiments provide a method of cancelling inter-track interference (ITI) from one or more sectors read from a desired track of a storage medium. A road channel reads sectors in a desired track of the storage medium. A decoder of the read channel decodes the read sectors, and if the read sectors are incorrectly recovered from the storage medium, selected sectors of a first adjacent track and a second adjacent track are read. An ITI canceller of the read channel estimates ITI in the read sectors of the desired track corresponding to the selected sectors of each adjacent track and subtracts the estimated ITI of each adjacent track from the data for the sectors of the desired track, providing updated sector data. The ITI cancelled data is replayed to the decoder, which decodes the ITI cancelled data and provides the decoded ITI cancelled data as output of the read channel.
US08879176B2
A lens device according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter includes a first frame body where a first screw is formed, a second frame body where a second screw that can be screwed to the first screw is formed, the second frame body having a predetermined area of an outer perimeter where asperities are formed, an extender lens including a front optical system supported by the first frame body and a rear optical system supported by the second frame body, and a cylinder accommodating the first and second frame bodies and having formed thereon an opening for engaging a stick-shaped member inserted from the opening with the asperities from a diagonal direction when the first frame body is inserted in an optical axis.
US08879170B2
Provided is a condensing lens condensing a light from a light source, and a lighting device equipped with the condensing lens. The condensing lens may enable a light to be selectively incident upon a plurality of first incident portions based on an emission angle, may totally-reflect, using a second incident portion, the light refracted by the plurality of first incident portions, and may refract the totally-reflected light using a third incident portion.
US08879169B2
This invention provides an image capturing lens system comprising three non-cemented lens elements with refractive power: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, and both the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric; a plastic second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and both the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric; and a plastic third lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, and both the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric. By such arrangement, the space of the image capturing lens system can be allocated much more properly and thereby an image capturing lens system with shorter total track length can be obtained while retaining superior image quality.
US08879168B1
An image capturing lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element with positive refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fourth lens element are aspheric, and the image-side surface thereof has at least one convex shape in an off-axis region thereof. The image capturing lens system has a total of four lens elements with refractive power.
US08879167B2
An imaging lens includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; a third lens having positive refractive power; and a fourth and a fifth lens having negative refractive power. The first lens is formed so that a curvature radius of an object-side surface is positive and the second lens is formed so that a curvature radius of an object-side surface and a curvature radius of an image plane-side surface are positive. The third lens is formed so that a curvature radius of an object-side surface is positive, and the fifth lens is formed so that a curvature radius of an object-side surface and a curvature radius of an image plane-side surface are both positive. An Abbe's number from the first and the third to the fifth lens is greater than 45, and an Abbe's number of the second lens is less than 35.
US08879159B2
The disclosure provides a microlithography projection objective which includes a plurality of optical elements along the optical axis of the projection objective. The plurality of optical elements includes a last optical element and a penultimate optical element. A distance between the last optical element and the penultimate optical element is variable. The disclosure also provides a microlithography projection exposure machine including such a projection objective, and a method of making semiconductor components using such a projection exposure machine.
US08879145B2
Raman amplifier includes: a pump-light generator configured to supply pump light to a transmission fiber; a measurement circuit configured to measure a relationship between power of the pump light and power of noise output from the transmission fiber with respect to a range from first pump-light power to second pump-light power; a signal detector configured to monitor a supervisory signal in output light of the transmission optical; and a decision unit configured to decide a state of the transmission fiber according to the monitoring result. When the supervisory signal is detected without the pump light, the measurement circuit measures the relationship while increasing the power of the pump light from the first pump-light power. When the supervisory signal is not detected without the pump light, the measurement circuit measures the relationship while decreasing the power of the pump light from the second pump-light power.
US08879143B2
A screen includes a light diffusion layer in which microcapsules, each having therein a light diffusion liquid that scatters light for displaying a video image, are planarly arranged. The light diffusion layer is fixed to a supporting sheet by a binder material. On a surface of the supporting sheet, a Fresnel lens is formed. A light diffusion plate is made up of the light diffusion layer and the supporting sheet. The screen is made up of the light diffusion plate and a light diffusion plate. Scattering distribution of a scattered wave of light that passes through the light diffusion layer temporally changes.
US08879136B2
An optical deflector includes a movable portion having a mirror plane, a fixed portion, a pair of combined torsion bars connecting the movable portion and the fixed portion to each other so that the movable portion can be rotationally displaced about a rotation axis with respect to the fixed portion, and a driver to drive the movable portion. Each combined torsion bar includes a plurality of torsion bars extending to be parallel to the rotation axis and a plurality of connecting bars, each of the connecting bars connecting one ends of each adjacent two of the torsion bars to each other. A torsion bar farther from the rotation axis has higher torsional rigidity than a torsion bar closer to the rotation axis.
US08879126B2
An image reading device includes a first reading unit, second reading unit, and determining unit. The first and second reading units are configured to read one surface and another surface of an original, respectively. The second reading unit is disposed downstream of the first reading unit with respect to a conveying path. The determining unit determines, based on read data obtained by reading the one surface with the first reading unit before the original is arrived at the second reading unit, whether or not an image is formed on the one surface. The first reading unit continues reading the one surface and the second reading unit fails to read another surface when an image is formed on the one surface. The second reading unit reads another surface and the first reading unit fails to read the one surface when an image is not formed on the one surface.
US08879123B2
An image processing apparatus that performs a color conversion of a image expressed by coordinates of a multidimensional color space, including, a storage unit for storing lattice point data in the multidimensional color space, an address generating unit for generating addresses for reading from the storage unit the lattice point data in a first region and a second region in accordance with input values of a color signal, the first region being a region where values of all color components are equal to or larger than a first threshold, the second region being different from the first region, and an interpolating unit for generating a converted color signal by an interpolating process based on the read lattice point data. A lattice-point interval in the first region is narrower than a lattice-point interval in the second region.
US08879113B2
A processor determines a combination of the result of a comparison between a statistical value indicating the graininess of small dots and a predetermined reference value SDa and the result of a comparison between a statistical value indicating the graininess of large dots and a predicted value SDp. This combination shows which factors degrade image quality and which image forming conditions should be corrected and to what extent. Thus, the processor selects the image forming conditions to be corrected based on a combination of these comparison results, determines their correction values, and corrects the selected image forming conditions using the correction values. This makes it possible to properly correct the image forming conditions that correspond to the factors affecting image quality.
US08879111B2
In an imposition information generating apparatus (2), folding template information (31) indicating an instruction to fold a print sheet is prepared in a memory (24) in advance. When generating imposition information (32), input of selection information including a page size of a book product, a selection whether bag-like portions in a section are to be located on the top or bottom of the section, and a selection which side of the section is to be stitched, is received. Then, the imposition information (32) for printing the print sheet which is to be folded into the section is generated on the basis of the folding template information (31) and the selection information in an imposition information generator (22). As above, by preparing the folding template information (31) in advance, it is possible to generate the imposition information (32) easily.
US08879106B1
When at least one of the pages of a print job has a printing orientation setting and at least one of the pages of the print job lacks a printing orientation setting, methods and devices automatically apply user preferences to the pages of the print job that lack an orientation setting to produce a modified print job. When applying the user preferences, such methods and devices can set the printing orientation of the pages of the print job that lack an orientation setting to a most common printing orientation setting of other pages within the print job, if a “unified stack preference” is selected by the user. Alternatively, methods and devices can set the printing orientation of the pages of the print job that lack the orientation setting to an orientation associated with a highest processing speed if a “maximum throughput preference” is selected by the user.
US08879096B2
An information processing device includes: a data generating section for generating compatible format data of data that is generated on the basis of an application program; a searching section for searching, when the data generating section is instructed to generate the compatible format data, for at least one image output device connected to a network and capable of printing out the compatible format data; a disclosing section for disclosing to the user the at least one image output device, which has been searched; a receiving section for receiving (i) a selection of an image output device to which the compatible format data is transmitted, (ii) input of a condition for printing, and (iii) an instruction for execution; and a command generating section for generating a command for causing the printing to be executed in accordance with a received condition for the printing.
US08879089B2
An image output apparatus includes a display unit configured to display on an operation unit a screen including an object indicating that printing is to be performed from a portable terminal apparatus, a generation unit configured to, when the object included in the screen is selected, generate an information code indicating address information and function information of the image output apparatus or an information code indicating the address information and status information of the image output apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive a print job from the portable terminal apparatus having read the information code, and an output unit configured to output the print job received by the reception unit, wherein the display unit displays the information code on the screen.
US08879087B2
An information processing apparatus that executes a job in accordance with an instruction from a web application of a web server and a method of controlling the information processing apparatus are provided. Error screen information and the web application and/or the job that is received from the web application are associated and stored in a memory. Information in the memory is updated for association of error screen information that indicates an error during job execution with another application other than the web application, and the error screen information that indicates the error is displayed in front of a screen for the other associated application based on the information.
US08879084B1
A printing system includes a first module, a second module, a third module, a system configuration controller, and a display controller. The first module receives job data and controls a printing processing process. The second module converts the job data into image data. The third module converts the image data into data in an appropriate format. The printer receives the data from the third module and performs printing. The system configuration controller is used to share system configuration information among the first, second, and third modules. The display controller displays a state of the printing system and receives an instruction for adding or an instruction for removing at least one of the second and third modules from a user. The system configuration controller executes addition or removal of a certain module in accordance with the addition or removal instruction received by the display controller.
US08879082B2
An image reading apparatus includes an original document platform, a reflection carriage, a wire, a pulley, a slide member, a projecting section and a guide section. The reflection carriage includes a mirror for reflecting light, and is moved in a first direction along a sub-scanning direction with respect to the original document. The wire is wound around a pulley. The slide member is installed on the reflection carriage, rotatably supports the pulley, and slidably moves in the first direction with respect to the reflection carriage. The projecting section is provided to project in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, on one of the reflection carriage and the slide member. The guide section is provided to extend in the first direction on the other of the reflection carriage and the slide member. The projecting section abuts against the guide section.
US08879074B2
Systems and methods allow remote computerized devices to control the scanner of an apparatus through the communications port of the apparatus. Additionally, systems and methods provide a user-selectable remote start option on the graphic user interface of the apparatus and require input of user credentials through the graphic user interface when a user selects the remote start option. The scanner is placed into private mode when a user selects the remote start option, which restricts scanner control to only those of the remote computerized devices that provide the proper user credentials. Further, a user-selectable private mode release option is provided on the graphic user interface, which requires input of the user credentials through the graphic user interface. When scanning, the scanner produces scanned images, which are released through the communications port to only those of the remote computerized devices that provide the proper user credentials. Additionally, in said private mode the user's original documents can, optionally, be protected via a lockable cover controllable by the remote start option.
US08879073B2
Methods and systems for enhancing metrology sensitivity to particular parameters of interest are presented. Field enhancement elements (FEEs) are constructed as part of a specimen to enhance the measurement sensitivity of structures of interest present on the specimen. The design of the FEEs takes into account measurement goals and manufacturing design rules to make target fabrication compatible with the overall device fabrication process. Measurement of opaque materials, high-aspect ratio structures, structures with low-sensitivity, or mutually correlated parameters is enhanced by the addition of FEEs. Exemplary measurements include critical dimension, film thickness, film composition, and optical scatterometry overlay. In some examples, a target element includes different FEEs to improve the measurement of different structures of interest. In other examples, different target elements include different FEEs. In some other examples, field enhancement elements are shaped to concentrate an electric field in a thin film deposited over the FEE.
US08879065B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing. A system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an optical fiber having a metallic dot array on a tip of the optical fiber, a light source coupled to the optical fiber via a light coupler, and a spectrometer coupled to the optical fiber via the coupler. The light source is configured to transmit light within a range of wavelengths along the optical fiber. When the light reaches the dot array, the light excites surface plasmons of the dot array and causes the surface plasmons of the dots to resonate. The dots are chemically functionalized to have a specific affinity for a particular substance, and the resonance frequency of the dots changes when the substance is present thereby changing an absorption peak of the light. The light is reflected back through the optical fiber to the spectrometer, and the spectrometer detects a parameter indicative of a change in the absorption peak. Presence of the particular substance is determined based upon the change in the absorption peak.
US08879057B2
A spectral characteristic acquiring apparatus is provided which includes: an area dividing part; a spectrum separating part; a light receiving part; and a calculating part, wherein the calculating part includes a transformation matrix storing part that stores a transformation matrix used for calculating the spectral characteristic corresponding to electrical signals of a first diffraction pattern group including two or more adjacent diffraction patterns, and a spectral characteristic calculating part that calculates, based on the electrical signals of the first diffraction pattern group and the corresponding transformation matrix, the spectral characteristic at the locations of the image carrying medium corresponding to the apertures of the first diffraction pattern group.
US08879047B2
An immersion exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with a light beam. The apparatus includes an optical member through which the light beam is irradiated onto the substrate, a substrate table which holds the substrate and is movable relative to the optical member, and a pad member which is movable relative to the substrate table. The substrate table and the pad member are moved together during a transition from a first state to a second state, the first state being a state in which an immersion liquid is maintained in a space between the optical member and the substrate table, the second state being a state in which the immersion liquid is maintained in a space between the optical member and the pad member. The optical member is kept in contact with the immersion liquid during the transition.
US08879046B2
A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography includes an optical element actuatable by a first and a second actuator. The actuators are controlled via control intervals in such a way that a minimum deflectability predefined in accordance with a preselectable parameter is guaranteed at every point in time of the control.
US08879041B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including an insulative substrate, a first electrically conductive layer, a second electrically conductive layer, a third electrically conductive layer, a fourth electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive layer includes a gate line located on the insulative substrate, a common potential line and a first pad portion. The second electrically conductive layer includes a common electrode which is located on the insulative substrate and is put in contact with the common potential line, and a second pad portion stacked on the first pad portion. The fourth electrically conductive layer includes a pixel electrode in which a slit facing the common electrode is formed, and a third pad portion which is put in contact with the second pad portion.
US08879033B2
A liquid crystal display, including a first substrate and a second substrate, each having a plurality of unit pixel areas and facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which the plurality of unit pixel areas each have a plurality of domains. In a first domain of the plurality of domains, a first alignment layer of the first substrate and a second alignment layer of the second substrate are photo-aligned, and in a second domain of the plurality of domains, the second alignment layer of the second substrate is photo-aligned twice and the first alignment layer of the first substrate is not photo-aligned.
US08879022B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of stable support of components. The LCD device comprises an LCD panel; a main support for supporting edges of the LCD panel; a light guide plate disposed at a rear side of the LCD panel; and at least one first pad for preventing the movement of the light guide plate through contact with the light guide plate between the main support and the light guide plate, wherein at least one first pad supporting portion is formed at one surface of the main support being faced with the light guide plate. Accordingly, defects of the LCD device resulting from an external force such as impact or heat are minimized, and the LCD device has a firm and stable structure.
US08879015B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a first thin film transistor formed on the first substrate, a pixel electrode and a common electrode formed above the first thin film transistor of the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed above the pixel electrode and the common electrode, a second substrate provided above the pixel electrode and the common electrode via the liquid crystal layer, a shield electrode formed on a substantially entire surface of the liquid crystal layer side of the second substrate, a switch device being electrically connected to the shield electrode and the interconnection, wherein the switch device is turned on when a potential of the shield electrode is larger than the specific potential of the interconnection and a difference between the potential of the shield electrode and the specific potential of the interconnection is larger than predetermined potential.
US08879010B2
A display panel for displaying an image is provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel includes one or more units each including a plurality of subunits. Each subunit includes a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer which is provided so as to overlap a gate electrode with a gate insulating layer interposed therebetween, a pixel electrode which drives liquid crystal connected to a source or a drain of the transistor, a counter electrode which is provided so as to face the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. In the display panel, a transistor whose off current is lower than 10 zA/μm at room temperature per micrometer of the channel width and off current of the transistor at 85° C. can be lower than 100 zA/μm per micrometer in the channel width.
US08879006B2
There is provided with a color mixing section for mixing yellow to red or green, when red or green is displayed by a liquid crystal television including a liquid crystal panel that has a color filter for four primary colors for red, green, blue and yellow, a backlight that emits light to the liquid crystal panel, and a television signal processing section that converts an inputted color video image signal into signals representing red, green, blue and yellow regarding a color video image.
US08879000B2
A method and system are provided in which a processor, such as a video processor, may determine a flatness value for a current video picture and may adjust a mosquito noise filtering of a subsequent video picture based on the determined flatness value. The flatness value may be determined within a predetermined region of the current video picture, which may be dynamically modified by the processor. The flatness value may be associated with the presence of analog noise in the current video picture, and may be determined based on horizontal and vertical variance values determined for one or more portions of the current video picture. The processor may adjust a mosquito noise strength value of the current video picture based on the determined flatness value and may adjust the mosquito noise filtering of the subsequent video picture based on the adjusted mosquito noise strength value of the current video picture.
US08878995B2
An operation method of a display driver includes generating a count value by counting a period of a synchronization signal related to a synchronization packet received from a host, receiving a mode change command from the host, the mode change command indicating a change from a video mode transmitting first image data to a display by bypassing a frame memory to a command mode transmitting second image data to the display through the frame memory, and generating an internal synchronization signal having a period substantially equal to the period of the synchronization signal by using the count value based on the mode change command after a last pulse of the synchronization signal is generated. A time interval between the last pulse and a first pulse of the internal synchronization signal is equal to the period of the synchronization signal.
US08878988B1
A glare blocking viewfinder device includes a shadow box with a lens at a first end and an attachment mechanism at a second end adapted to detachably mount the device on a monitor screen of a camera. This enables a user to observe an image-bearing surface of the screen by looking at the image-bearing surface through the lens. The lens has a predetermined focal length and the depth dimension of the shadow box is substantially equal to this focal length. The attachment mechanism upon mounting the device to the monitor screen provides a substantially rigid structure. The user presses his or her eye against the lens to view the monitor screen through the lens and shadow box and points the camera at a subject, keeping the camera on the subject by using the device as a viewfinder. The user holds the camera with one hand and the attached device with the other hand. The device is collapsible and conveniently fits into a pocket of the user when not being used.
US08878986B2
The water-proof casing provides a waterproof casing for protecting an electronic device. It comprises a housing that has an internal space, at least an opening that is positioned on a surface of the housing, and a cover portion that covers the opening. As the material for making the housing is stretchable, the house may has only a single opening that is stretched to allow an electronic device to pass through. The housing may enclose an electronic device, which enters the housing through the single opening. A flexible material is used to make the opening that is stretched when the electronic device enters the housing. The opening includes a skirt that is pressed against a surface of the cover portion so that the water-proof function of the present disclosure may be achieved. The casing may include a tube unit to accommodate lens of the device.
US08878984B2
Provided is an image-acquisition device including an image acquisition element; a prism that is secured to the image-acquisition element and that has an entrance surface through which light enters from a direction that intersects an optical axis of the image-acquisition element, an exit surface that is substantially parallel to an image-acquisition surface of the image-acquisition element, and a reflection surface that deflects the light that has entered through the entrance surface toward a direction that is parallel to the optical axis of the image-acquisition element; and a cover member that is secured at a position that covers the reflection surface of the prism and that has an outer surface that is substantially parallel to the image-acquisition surface, wherein an end surface of the cover member closer to the entrance surface is disposed at a position protruding beyond the entrance surface.
US08878970B2
A color imaging apparatus comprising: a color imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels and color filters of a color filter array arranged on the plurality of pixels, the color filter array including first filters corresponding to a first color that most contributes to obtaining luminance signals and second filters corresponding to two or more second colors, and the first filters including two or more sections adjacent each other in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions; a direction determination unit acquiring pixel values of pixels of the two or more sections of the first filters near a target pixel of demosaicking processing and determining a correlation direction of luminance; a demosaicking processing unit that calculates a pixel value of another color at a pixel position of the target pixel and that uses one or more pixels of another color in the correlation direction to calculate the pixel value.
US08878969B2
An image sensor may be provided in which a pixel array includes imaging pixels and application-specific pixels. The application-specific pixels may include depth-sensing pixels, infrared imaging pixels, or other types of application-specific pixels. A color filter array may be formed over the pixel array. The color filter array may include Bayer color filter array formed over the imaging pixels. The color filter array may also include a plurality of green color filter elements formed over the application-specific pixels. Barrier structures may be interposed between imaging pixels and application-specific pixels. The barrier structures may be configured to reduce or eliminate optical crosstalk between imaging pixels and adjacent application-specific pixels. The barrier structures may include an opaque photodefinable material such as black or blue photodefinable material that may be configured to filter out wavelength bands of interest. The barrier structures may be formed during the color filter array fabrication process.
US08878963B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for eliminating noise in a digital image. An ambient image and at least one flash image are captured in succession of a given location. At least one image alignment technique is applied for the ambient image and the at least one flash image. Joint mean shift filtering is applied to the at least one flash image to obtain filter weights. The filter weights are applied to the ambient image to eliminate noise in the ambient image.
US08878947B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises: at least one vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration applied to the image capturing apparatus and outputting a vibration signal; a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the vibration signal output from the vibration detection unit, respective vibration correction signals for a plurality of correction units for performing a plurality of different correction processes, respectively; the correction units configured to correct the vibration based on the respective vibration correction signals calculated by the calculation unit; and a control unit configured to, when stopping the plurality of correction processes based on the vibration correction signals, shift the correction units to initial states serving as states of the correction units obtained when the vibration is not detected, wherein the control unit controls to simultaneously start moving the correction units to the initial states, and simultaneously stop moving the correction units.
US08878943B2
A theoretical motion blur amount is calculated. A static state image is acquired. For each of the plurality of shutter speed values, a bokeh amount at the boundary between different color areas in each of a plurality of the static state images that have been acquired is measured as a bokeh offset amount. A vibrated state image while the camera is being vibrated with its image stabilization function being ON is acquired. A bokeh amount at the boundary between different color areas in each of the plurality of vibrated state images that have been acquired is measured as a measured comprehensive bokeh amount. And an evaluation value indicating the performance of the image stabilization function of the camera is calculated based on the theoretical motion blur amount, the bokeh offset amount, and the measured comprehensive bokeh amount.
US08878942B1
A calibration device applied to an image capture system includes a support unit and a plurality of display pattern generation units. The plurality of display pattern generation units are pivoted to the support unit. Each display pattern generation unit of the plurality of display pattern generation units includes a plurality of marks, the plurality of marks are used for generating a display pattern corresponding to the display pattern generation unit, the plurality of marks are not overlapped each other in the display pattern, and a plurality of display patterns of the plurality of display pattern generation units are also not overlapped each other. The plurality of display patterns are used for forming a calibration pattern applied to geometric calibration of the image capture system.
US08878935B2
In the present invention, images at a front side or a rear side of a vehicle are obtained from a plurality of image capturing devices and a disparity and a distance to the captured object are calculated from the images, if the disparity is not sufficiently obtained, pattern light is irradiated onto a capturing object and an image of the object onto which the pattern light is irradiated is obtained again from the plurality of image capturing devices and the disparity and the distance to the captured object are calculated. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle camera and system that recognizes an obstacle even in a situation where it is difficult to obtain the disparity of the obstacle around the vehicle.
US08878930B2
An image-capturing device mounting mechanism, which includes: an anchoring unit fixed to a building; a body unit with a capturing lens, the body unit mounted to and demounted from the anchoring unit; a first engaging portion provided in the body unit for an engagement between the body unit and the anchoring unit when the body unit is mounted to the anchoring unit; and a second engaging portion provided in the body unit for an engagement between the body unit and the anchoring unit when the first engaging portion engages the anchoring unit.
US08878925B2
With respect to a charged particle beam device, the step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is optimized to a value that is optimal with respect to the spread of an approximation curve for a focal point measure distribution. The step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is corrected using an image feature obtained based on a layout image derived from an image obtained at a first magnification or from design data. Autofocusing is executed based on the obtained step size to carry out observation, measurement, or to image the sample under inspection.
US08878924B2
Various embodiments for providing removable, pluggable and disposable opto-electronic modules for illumination and microscopic imaging are provided, for use with portable display devices. Generally, various medical or industrial miniature microscopes can include one or more solid state or other compact electro-optic illuminating elements, electronic vision systems and means of scanning located thereon. Additionally, such opto-electronic modules may include illuminating optics, imaging optics, and/or image manipulation and processing elements. The illuminating elements may have different wavelengths and can be time-synchronized with an image sensor to illuminate an object for imaging or detecting purpose or other conditioning purpose. All control and power functions of such disposable microscope units can be made in the control unit that the disposable microscopes are plugged into.
US08878923B2
In an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged, a method for autofocusing is presented. The method includes determining a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments. Further, the method includes imaging the first logical image segment using the measured focus value. The method also includes determining a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter. In addition, the method includes imaging the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value.
US08878912B2
In general, techniques are described for encapsulating three dimensional video data in accordance with a transport protocol. As one example, an apparatus comprising a multimedia processing module, a transport protocol module and a wireless module implement the techniques. The multimedia processing module generates a video data segment, an audio data segment and a depth data segment of 3D video content. The transport protocol module encapsulates each of the video data, audio data and depth data segments in different ones of a plurality of packets according to a transport protocol and adds metadata to at least one of the plurality of packets for enhancing playback of the 3D video content. The wireless module transmits the packets to a 3D display device external from the apparatus.
US08878909B1
The present invention is an analog of a set of human eyes, capturing 3D images on a conjugate pair of foveae, with the additions that (i) there can be multiple, independent, conjugate pairs of foveae, and (ii) under computer control, certain conjugate pairs of foveae can be made to move across the detecting surfaces simultaneously to follow moving objects while the lenses remain fixed. Since foveal fields of view are very narrow—of the order of one degree—and little information is transmitted to the computer (or brain) outside this range—there is almost no cross-talk between foveae. By using multiple foveae within each detector, images may be stitched together by algorithms to produce virtually ghost-free full-field 3D images for display.
US08878903B2
The disclosure relates to a method for reconstruction of a three-dimensional image of an object. A first image is acquired of the object lit by a luminous flux having, in a region including the object, a luminous intensity dependant on the distance, with a light source emitting the luminous flux. A second image is acquired of the object lit by a luminous flux having, in a region including the object, a constant luminous intensity. For each pixel of a three-dimensional image, a relative distance of a point of the object is determined as a function of the intensity of a pixel corresponding to the point of the object in each of the acquired images.
US08878902B2
It is so arranged that margins will not be produced in an image compositing area. Specifically, a user sets an amount of parallax. A stereoscopic image is displayed in an image compositing area and the stereoscopic image is adjusted to as to take on the set amount of parallax. It is determined whether margins will be produced within the image compositing area owing to the adjustment of amount of parallax. If margins will be produced, the stereoscopic image is enlarged in size to such an extent that margins will not be produced.
US08878895B2
Provided are a video communication apparatus having an eye-to-eye communication function that enables video communication users to communicate with each other in an eye-to-eye state, and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a video of a video communication partner, the display unit including a plurality of cameras activated according to a selection control signal; a video processor configured to encode a captured video from the activated camera, and to decode a video from the video communication partner and identify a position of the video communication partner's eyes from the video; a camera selector configured to activate a camera installed in a position corresponding to the position among the plurality of cameras; and a transceiver configured to transmit the encoded video from the video processor to the video communication partner and provide the video from the video communication partner to the video processor.
US08878881B2
A liquid crystal display having common voltage compensation mechanism includes a liquid-crystal capacitor common electrode for receiving a liquid-crystal capacitor common voltage, a storage capacitor common electrode for receiving a storage capacitor common voltage, a common voltage generator for providing the liquid-crystal capacitor common voltage according to a preliminary common voltage, a common voltage compensation circuit electrically connected to the liquid-crystal capacitor common electrode and the storage capacitor common electrode, and a timing controller electrically connected to the common voltage compensation circuit. The common voltage compensation circuit is utilized for generating the storage capacitor common voltage through performing a ripple inverting operation according to the liquid-crystal capacitor common voltage, the preliminary common voltage and a compensation control signal. The timing controller is employed to analyze an image input signal for generating the compensation control signal.
US08878878B2
Provided are a display apparatus and a control method thereof which supports image data at differing frame rates, such as 60 Hz and 120 Hz, input from an image supply source. The display apparatus includes a first scaler which processes input image data; a second scaler which processes input image data; a display unit which displays thereon the image data processed by the first and second scalers; and a controller which selectively controls based on a frame rate of the image data to process the image data by the first scaler only, or to divide and process the image data by both the first and second scalers.
US08878869B2
Compressed image data of different resolutions stored in a hard disk drive is divided into blocks of substantially regular sizes. A determination is made as to whether a required block is stored in the main memory at predefined time intervals. If the block is not stored, the block is loaded into the main memory. Subsequently, the loaded compressed image data is referred to so that data for an image of an area required for display or for an image of an area predicted to be required is decoded and stored in a buffer memory. Of the images stored in a buffer area, i.e. a display buffer, the image of a display area is rendered in a frame memory. The display buffer and the decoding buffer are switched depending on the timing of completion of decoding or the amount of change in the display area.
US08878868B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus having: a display controlling unit for starting any one of a plurality of application programs and displaying contents on a display screen; a determining unit for determining the application program started by the display controlling unit; and a changing unit for changing a plurality of image quality parameters for setting image quality of the display screen in accordance with the application program determined by the determining unit.
US08878862B2
A system and method may be provided to access images through a camera service, where the images are generated by a non-sensor image source, such as a composition manager. The system may include the camera service and the non-sensor image source. The non-sensor image source may generate a processed image from a source other than a sensor. The camera service may provide the processed image generated by the non-sensor image source to an image consuming application.
US08878854B2
A user interface for use with an HVAC system, a method of providing service reminders on a single screen of a user interface of an HVAC system and an HVAC system incorporating the user interface or the method. The user interface includes a display configured to provide information to a user, a touchpad configured to accept input from the user, and a processor and memory coupled to the display and the touchpad and configured to drive the display, wherein the display further configured to provide a button that allows a user to adjust an attribute of text displayed on the display.
US08878848B2
A method for generating a three dimensional (3D) surface includes receiving an input corresponding to a plurality of curves joined to define a single edge loop, analyzing each of the plurality of curves to define a plurality of edge segments based on an identified curve feature, calculating snap normal vectors for the endpoints of each of the plurality of edge segments, dividing the segmented edge loop into sub-loops based on the plurality of edge segments, determining the surface normal vectors for the sub-loops and combining these values with the snap surface normals at each end point to produce a final surface normal for each end point, and generating the continuous 3D surface based on triangles associated with the segmented edge loop and the surface normals associated with the end points.
US08878842B2
A stereoscopic image display device and method for driving the same are disclosed. The stereoscopic image display device comprises: a display panel including data lines and gate lines; an image converter that calculates disparity values based on depth values of the depth map extracting from 2D image data, calculates gain disparities by multiplying each of the disparity values by a predetermined gain value, generates left-eye image data and right-eye image data by shifting the 2D image data according to each of the gain disparities, and converts the left-eye image data and the right-eye image data into the 3D image data according to a 3D format; a data driver that converts the 3D image data to data voltage and supplies data voltage to the data lines; and a gate driver that sequentially supplies gate pulses to the gate lines.
US08878832B2
Provided is a pixel circuit which includes a plurality of subpixel circuits and which makes it possible to suppress overshooting of electric potentials of the subpixel circuits to a small level. A pixel circuit (PIX1) includes a first subpixel circuit (PIXA) and a second subpixel circuit (PIXB). The first subpixel circuit (PIXA) includes a first display element (ClcA), a first node (nA), a first external connection terminal (P1), and a first switching element (T1). The second subpixel circuit (PIXB) includes a second display element (ClcB), a second node (nB), a second external connection terminal (P2), a third external connection terminal (P3), a second switching element (T2), and a third switching element (T3). The first node (nA) and the second node (nB) are connected to each other via a first capacitor (C2).
US08878831B2
A pixel driving circuit of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, a capacitor, and an OLED. The operation of the pixel driving circuit includes three stages including discharging, data writing, and emitting. The pixel driving circuit compensates the threshold voltage of the transistor in the stage of data writing, so the driving current of the OLED can be irrelevant to the variations of threshold voltages.
US08878814B2
A liquid crystal display device is disclosed, which comprises first and second substrates; gate and data lines arranged to cross each other on the first substrate to define a pixel region; a pixel electrode formed in the pixel region; a common electrode forming an electric field together with the pixel electrode and sensing a touch of a user; a light shielding layer formed on the second substrate to shield light leakage to a region other than the pixel region; column spacers formed on the light shielding layer to maintain a cell gap; and a sensing line formed on the column spacers and electrically connected with the common electrode.
US08878812B2
There is offered a signal processing circuit for an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor capable of detecting a larger number of locations with a smaller number of touch pads as well as improving noise immunity. A selection circuit selects either a signal from a combination of the first and second kinds of touch pads outputted through the first and second output terminals CO1 and CO2 in a touch panel or a signal from a combination of the third and fourth kinds of touch pads outputted through the third and fourth output terminals CO3 and CO4. An electric charge amplifier outputs first and second output voltages V1 and V2 corresponding to a difference between capacitances of the touch pads on the touch panel based on the signals from the selected combination. A delta sigma type A/D converter converts the first and second output voltages V1 and V2 into digital signals.
US08878808B2
Sensing module which can perform proximity detection and display structure having sensing electrodes
A display includes a display module and a sensing module including a proximity sensing electrode, a set of sensing electrodes, a touch circuit, a proximity circuit and a processor. The sensing electrodes are configured to sense a touch input during a first period and sense a proximity input during a second period. The touch circuit is coupled to the sensing electrodes for controlling the sensing electrodes to sense the touch input in the first period, and converting a two-dimensional analog touch signal transmitted from the set of the sensing electrodes to a two-dimensional digital touch signal. The proximity circuit is coupled to the sensing electrodes and the proximity sensing electrode for controlling the sensing electrodes and the proximity sensing electrode to sense the proximity input, and converting a three-dimensional analog proximity signal transmitted from the set of sensing electrodes and proximity unit to a three-dimensional digital proximity signal.
US08878802B2
A display unit includes: a display section; a memory temporarily holding less than one frame of image information; a drive section driving the display section based on the image information which is stored in the memory; and a processing section performing a predetermined process in conjunction with the drive section.
US08878801B2
A display device include a display unit that displays a display image on a display surface based on image data, a location detection unit that detects a pointed location with respect to the display image on the display surface, a coordinate calculation unit that calculates first coordinates as coordinates of the pointed location in a displayable area within the display surface, a coordinate conversion unit that converts the first coordinates calculated by the coordinate calculation unit into second coordinates as coordinates in the image data, and an output unit that outputs the second coordinates obtained by the coordinate conversion unit.
US08878797B2
An analog front end circuit utilizes coherent detection within a capacitance measurement application. The analog front end circuit uses coherent detection to measure capacitance of a touch screen display. An analog excitation signal is modulated by a capacitor to be measured. The modulated signal is synchronously demodulated using a correlator, which includes a discrete mixer and a discrete integrator. The excitation signal is also input to the mixer such that the modulated signal is multiplied by the excitation signal. The excitation signal is an analog signal having a sine wave function or other waveform.
US08878792B2
A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit of a source driver includes a clock recovery unit and a delay locked loop unit. The clock recovery unit receives data bits and a clock code periodically inserted into the data bits through a clock embedded data channel in a display data mode, and is configured to generate a clock signal by detecting an edge of the clock code. The delay locked loop unit is configured to generate a multi-phase clock signal based on the clock signal in the display data mode.
US08878787B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving first input from a first quick-point controller in a keypad that comprises a plurality of keys; receiving second input from a second quick-point controller in the keypad; and rendering a multi-touch gesture on a display associated with the keypad based on the first and second input.
US08878782B1
A device and computer-readable media are provided for controlling a mobile device by eye movement. Namely, embodiments of the present invention rely on electrooculographical and blink-sensing techniques to detect eye movement, where the eye movement can indicate that a user wishes to perform an action on a mobile device. The mobile device may be a cell phone, a portable digital assistant, or some other communications device. This invention is primarily directed for use by people who have physical impairments preventing them from operating mobile devices in a traditional way.
US08878780B2
A display apparatus including an image generator, a projection lens set, a depth detecting module detecting the position of user, and a control unit is provided, wherein the control unit is electrically connected to the image generator, the projection lens set and the depth detecting module. An image displayed by the image generator is projected through the projection lens set and generates a floating real image between the projection lens set and the user. Each beam forming the floating real image has a light-cone angle θ. The image generator and the projection lens adjust the position of the floating real image according to the position of user. The size of the floating real image is L, the distance between two eyes of the user is W, the distance between the user and the floating real image is D, and the light-cone angle θ satisfies the formula of θ ≥ tan - 1 ( L + W D ) .
US08878779B2
Disclosed are methods, circuits, apparatus, systems and computer executable code for providing a multimode touchless human machine interface (TLHMI). The TLHMI may include one or more touchless sensors to sense a position or a movement of a subject portion within a sensing zone of the one or more sensors. Tracking logic may receive an output of the one or more sensors and may track a position or movement of a portion of a computing platform user within the sensing zone. A user input generator may convert an output of the tracking logic into signals indicative of a user input and may provide the user input signals to a functionally associated computing platform.
US08878774B2
An electronic apparatus controls to sense a particular direction motion in directions detectable by a proximity sensor, which senses proximity and motion directions of a subject. Thus, a user can utilize the proximity sensor with decreased recognition error and a high recognition rate as a user interface of the electronic apparatus.
US08878773B1
Input can be provided to a computing device based upon relative movement of a user or other object with respect to the device. In some embodiments, infrared radiation is used to determine measurable aspects of the eyes or other of a user. Since the human retina is a retro-reflector for certain wavelengths, using two different wavelengths or two measurement angles can allow user pupils to be quickly located and measured without requiring resource-intensive analysis of full color images captured using ambient light, which can be important for portable, low power, or relatively inexpensive computing devices. Various embodiments provide differing levels of precision and design that can be used with different devices.
US08878772B2
A display system includes a display device having multiple possible poses, including a neutral pose. A physical constraint maintains the display device in the neutral pose absent an application of an external force. A sensor measures a magnitude and direction of a displacement of the display device to a displaced pose due to the application of the external force. Then, the rendering engine renders an image on the display device according to the magnitude and direction of the displacement even while the display device remains constant in the displaced pose.
US08878770B2
A control method of an electro-optical device includes: performing a first supply process for supplying an electric potential corresponding to the changed gray level to a pixel electrode of a first pixel; performing a second supply process for supplying the same electric potential as an electric potential of a counter electrode to a pixel electrode of a second pixel; extracting a contour image from a difference between an image before the image rewriting and an image after the image rewriting; determining whether or not the first supply process is being performed, in units of a pixel, for contour display pixels that display the contour image; and performing a contour elimination process for supplying an electric potential for eliminating the contour image to the pixel electrode of a pixel, for which it is determined that the first supply process is not being performed, among the contour display pixels.
US08878769B2
An electrophoretic display apparatus includes a display unit, a signal voltage application circuit, and a common voltage application circuit. The display unit includes a first substrate having a first electrode formed thereon, a second substrate facing the first substrate and having a second electrode formed thereon, and a partition wall. A pixel space surrounded by the partition wall, the first substrate, and the second substrate contains dispersant suspending positively-charged particles and negatively-charged particles. The signal voltage application circuit applies a signal voltage to the first electrode. The signal voltage includes a write signal voltage to display an image on the display unit, and a post-write signal voltage which gradually changes from the write signal voltage to a hold signal voltage, the hold signal voltage maintaining a display state of the display unit. The common voltage application circuit applies a common voltage to the second electrode.
US08878758B2
A bidirectional switch includes a pair of transistors, with each transistor including a source connected via a degeneration resistance to a common source control node, a gate connected to a common gate control node, a drain connected to a respective channel or gate line and to a charge storage node, respectively, and a clamp diode connected between the source and the gate. This forms a single charge transfer path between gate lines sequentially activated by a scan driver of an LCD panel, and implements a charge sharing technique for reducing power dissipation.
US08878756B2
A pixel circuit of at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: a display element whose light emitting luminance is controlled by a supplied current; at least one first switching element section whose output current characteristic shows a saturation characteristic in response to an input variable serving as a grayscale signal; and at least one second switching element section whose output current characteristic shows a linear characteristic in response to an input variable serving as a grayscale signal. A first current supply line which outputs a current determined by the first switching element section and a second current supply line which outputs a current determined by the second switching element section are combined, and then succeeded by a current supply line of the display element. This makes it possible to provide a pixel circuit and a display device which can generate higher peak luminance while sufficiently securing a voltage range which causes an appropriate normal grayscale display within a predetermined driver voltage output range.
US08878754B2
The inventors found out that in the case of performing a low gray scale display in which a very small amount of current is supplied to a light emitting element, variations in threshold voltages of driving transistors become notable since the gate-source voltage is low. In view of this, the invention provides a display device in which variations in the threshold voltages of the driving transistors are reduced even in the low gray scale display, and a driving method thereof. According to the invention, a gate-source voltage of the driving transistor is set higher in the low gray scale display than that in the high gray scale display. As one mode to achieve this, different power source lines are provided for the low gray scale display and the high gray scale display and their potentials are set to be different.
US08878749B1
Systems and methods are described for improving gaze estimation based on glints. An example method may be executable to receive glint-location data indicating a location for each of one or more glints that are reflected from an eye. The glint-location data may be captured by an imaging device that is attached to a head-mountable display (HMD). The method may be further executable to determine a plurality of normalized pupil locations comprising at least a first and a second normalized pupil location. Each normalized pupil location may be determined based on the glint-location data for a different combinatoric subset of the one or more glints. The method may be further executable to determine a regression model to fit the plurality of normalized pupil locations to an expected gaze location, and perform a gaze-tracking process based on the regression model.
US08878747B2
A display controlling apparatus that is capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus that sends image data to the display controlling apparatus in response to a notification from the display controlling apparatus, includes the following elements: a sending unit configured to send the notification to the image processing apparatus; a first receiving unit configured to receive the image data sent from the image processing apparatus in response to the notification; and a first computing unit configured to compute a first time required to display the image data received by the first receiving unit. The sending unit sends a new notification to the image processing apparatus at a timing based on the first time computed by the first computing unit.
US08878745B2
A mobile-beam antenna mounting comprises a supporting base, at least one reflector and a transmission and/or reception feed. The feed is mounted in the mounting so as to be immobile relative to the supporting base and the mounting also comprises a mobile support bearing the reflector, the mobile support being mounted on the supporting base with link means suitable for displacing it about at least one fixed displacement axis passing through the phase center of the feed.
US08878743B1
Stepped radio frequency (RF) reflector antennas are disclosed in which an inner RF reflector is disposed in a central opening of at one or more annular RF reflectors. The RF reflecting surface of the inner RF reflector and the RF reflecting surface(s) of the one or more annular RF reflectors can be shaped and positioned relative to each other to have different focal lengths but nevertheless reflect an RF signal to the same focal plane. The depth of the inventive reflector antenna system can be less than the depth of prior art reflector antennas with a comparable RF aperture.
US08878734B2
An antenna support structure for a remote vehicle comprises a tubular mast configured to demonstrate a non-linear response to radial force. The mast is rigid and configured to hold an antenna approximately perpendicular to a base of the mast at equilibrium during operation of the remote vehicle and elastically buckle in response to a predetermined radial force on the antenna. The support structure is also configured to return to equilibrium once the predetermined radial force is removed.
US08878731B2
A multiple-band antenna having first and second operating frequency bands is provided. The antenna includes a first patch structure associated primarily with the first operating frequency band, a second patch structure electrically coupled to the first patch structure and associated primarily with the second operating frequency band, a first slot structure disposed between a first portion of the first patch structure and the second patch structure and associated primarily with the first operating frequency band, and a second slot structure disposed between a second portion of the first patch structure and the second patch structure and associated primarily with the second operating frequency band. A mounting structure for the multiple-band antenna is also provided. The mounting structure includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to and overlapping the first surface.
US08878722B2
Method for determining navigation parameters of an aircraft, characterized in that it consists at least in determining the geographic speed {right arrow over (V)}, expressed in a given local fixed coordinate system {{right arrow over (i)}, {right arrow over (j)}, {right arrow over (k)}}, based on the measurements m, of carrier phase increments Δφi of the radio navigation signals originating from a plurality of radio navigation satellites in sight of said aircraft, each of said measurements mi constituting an estimate of the relative speed of said aircraft relative to said satellite projected onto the sight axis linking the aircraft to the satellite, each of said measurements m, being compensated by the apparent radial speed of the satellite.
US08878721B2
Methods and apparatuses for a mobile station to obtain a position fix using synchronous hybrid positioning and asynchronous hybrid positioning techniques are described. In one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus may transmit a request to a mobile station for timing reference information. The apparatus may be configured to receive the timing reference information, first timing measurements from a first positioning technology, and second timing measurements from a second positioning technology. The apparatus may identify whether the mobile station is capable of supporting synchronous hybrid positioning based on the timing reference information. If it is synchronous hybrid capable, then the apparatus may then establish a position fix for the mobile station using a synchronous hybrid positioning technique that involves relating the first and second timing measurements to a common time scale based on the timing reference information. If it is not synchronous hybrid capable, then the apparatus may establish a position fix for the mobile station using an asynchronous hybrid positioning technique wherein the time scales of the first and second timing measurements are not interrelated.
US08878720B2
To detect an abnormal value in a satellite positioning system with high precision even when the observation environment changes or there is the time series correlation between data. An abnormal value index calculation unit 11 calculates an abnormal value index at each time of time-series data such as a pseudo distance between each artificial satellite and a receiver in the satellite positioning system or the like. A dynamic model forming unit 12 dynamically forms a model from the abnormal value index in a predetermined period and calculates a change point index from the time-series abnormal value index based on the dynamic model. The change point index is an index for determining whether the time-series is a one-shot outlier from a dynamic model or the dynamic model itself of input data changes when the time-series value which suddenly increases and decreases exists. The abnormal value detection unit 13 compares the change point index with a threshold value set in advance and detects the abnormal value index corresponding to the change point index at that time as an abnormal value when the value of the change point index is greater than the threshold value.
US08878718B2
A normalization processing circuit normalizes a position of a complex demodulation signal on a complex plane from an A/D converter, and outputs a normalized complex demodulation signal after the normalization to a multiple-dimensional feature extractor. The multiple-dimensional feature extractor calculates a feature quantity that changes when a person intrudes, a feature quantity that changes in wind and rain, and a feature quantity that changes when a spatially isolated intense electric field exists. A discriminator discriminates that a person has intruded based on the feature quantities of three dimensions.
US08878717B2
A projection detecting apparatus according to the present invention is that for detecting a projection on a surface of a running metal object, and includes a transmission antenna for radiating electromagnetic waves; a reception antenna for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves; and a transmission and reception signal processing section for processing a transmission signal and a reception signal. The transmission antenna and the reception antenna have unidirectionality and the transmission antenna and the reception antenna are installed in such a way that the reception antenna does not catch electromagnetic waves which have been radiated by the transmission antenna and reflected on the surface of the metal object and the reception antenna catches electromagnetic waves alone which have been radiated by the transmission antenna and reflected on the projection.
US08878715B2
A time-to-digital converting circuit includes a first flip-flop and a second flip-flop. The time-to-digital converting circuit a first delay controlling circuit that outputs a first data signal obtained by controlling a delay time of the reference data signal input thereto via the first signal input terminal based on the first output signal and a first clock signal obtained by controlling a delay time of the reference clock signal input thereto via the second signal input terminal based on the first output signal.
US08878707B1
A system includes a first storage element to store an input signal for a first sampling lane for a SHA-less stage. A first switch is connected with the first storage element, the first switch to control when the first storage element stores the input signal for sampling on the first sampling lane. A second switch is connected in series with the first switch, the second switch to control an instance for sampling the input signal stored on the first storage element for the first sampling lane.
US08878702B2
A system and method for providing notification about approaching transportation. A transportation notification application on a mobile communication device associated with a transportation vehicle is activated. An operator of the transportation vehicle selects a predefined route, having multiple transportation stops to be traversed by the transportation vehicle, from the transportation notification application on the mobile communication device. A current transportation stop of the selected route is then selected, again using the transportation notification application on the mobile communication device. The transportation notification application on the mobile communication device then automatically sends a transportation notification message, in response to the selecting of the current transportation stop, to a plurality of user communication devices of known users of the transportation vehicle who are associated with at least one subsequent transportation stop of the transportation vehicle.
US08878686B2
A system and method for responding to an event is disclosed. A skill level requirement for a worker to respond to the event is determined using a processor. The processor selects a worker to respond to the event based on a skill level and a location of the worker with respect to the event. The processor sends a notification to the selected worker to respond to the event.
US08878683B2
A light receiver device, which is particularly suited for a smoke detector, has a flat substrate, a light receiver mounted on a front side of the substrate, and a shielding device present on at least a back side of the substrate opposite the front side. The shielding device is configured to at least partially shield against electromagnetic interference radiation impinging on the light receiver through the substrate. False alarms are thereby reduced, while the sensitivity of the light receiver is simultaneously increased. The shielding device is formed with a metal strip inserted through the substrate from the front side to the back side, and bent over a recess on the back side provided therefor, so that the light receiver is protected against interference radiation even on the back side. There is also provided an assembly method for producing a light receiver device.
US08878682B2
A system and method for detecting phase separation in storage tanks is provided. At least one float has a density calibrated to detect a density differential among surrounding fluids. The float is buoyant on a relatively more dense lower layer of fluid such as phase separated fuel or pure water, while remaining submerged in a relatively less dense upper layer of fluid such as a gasoline/ethanol blend. A detection device sends a signal when the float rises or falls above or below a preset acceptable level.
US08878678B2
In one embodiment, a method includes capturing samples of sound associated with an environment, and processing the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include voice activity. The samples of sound are captured while a microphone is muted. When it is determined that the samples of sound likely include the voice activity, the method also includes providing a first notification arranged to indicate that voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.
US08878677B2
Medical vital signs (110) are captured, recorded, processed, and a signal quality assessment (160) is computed based on signal waveform components such as slope, amplitude, time to rise, time at peak, and degree to which signal peaks (420) and valleys (430). The signal assessment (160) may be used as a basis for rating the quality (130) of the underlying vital signal, to increase the quality of the signal by removing noisy segments and physiologically impossible peaks (42) and valleys (434), to detect a parameter value (120), to label a waveform (140), or to prompt an alarm (550) to indicate the signal has reached a critical level and issue a warning to the user of the vital data. The signal and the assessment are stored in an indexed, searchable data storage memory (590) from which the signals may be retrieved and displayed (300).
US08878671B2
A locator device and system including (a) a beacon, configured to be located via a wireless means; and (b) an adhesive means, adapted to adhere the beacon to a substantially flat surface, wherein the beacon is configured to be tracked by a mobile device running a mobile application adapted to locate the beacon via the wireless means.
US08878664B1
A tire status receiving system includes a first signal converter module including a first microcontroller unit, a wireless receiver unit for receiving a wireless signal from a tire status sensor and providing the wireless signal to the first microcontroller unit for enabling the first microcontroller unit to convert the wireless signal into a code for information interchange for output through an output unit being electrically coupled to the first microcontroller unit, and a second signal converter module including a second microcontroller unit, a memory unit for storing tire status sensor ID codes and predetermined alarm threshold values, an interface unit for communication with the output unit to receive data, a power supply unit to provide the necessary working electricity, and a communication port electrically coupled to the second microcontroller unit and having installed therein signal transmission circuit and a charging circuit.
US08878660B2
A vehicle meter cluster basically includes a meter cluster housing, an instrument display, a lens and a light source. The lens is disposed in front of the instrument display and includes a reflective area. The light source is mounted on the meter cluster housing or proximate to the meter cluster housing. The light source is configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective area.
US08878658B2
A bicycle shift notification apparatus is provided with a transmission state determining component, a bicycle shift notification device and a controller. The transmission state determining component determines a current operating state of a bicycle transmission having a plurality of speed stages. The bicycle shift notification device produces a notification based on a determination of the current operating state by the transmission state determining component. The controller is operatively coupled to the bicycle shift notification device. The controller activates the bicycle shift notification device to produce the notification in accordance with a preselected notification pattern based on determining that a predetermined condition exists. The controller does not activate the bicycle shift notification device to produce the notification while determining that the predetermined condition does not exist.
US08878656B2
Technology is presented for generating directional force feedback in free space to a user using a mass rotatable about a movable axis. The mass and movable axis are responsive to a control signal to generate a force vector having a direction and a magnitude in three-dimensional space to provide feedback to the user. The force vector is created in response to an event in application executing in a processing device. The force vector represents feedback regarding an event in the application.
US08878650B2
In a radio frequency identification (RFID) security reader, by integrating an encryption module that encrypts transmission data and a decryption module that decrypts reception data from an RFID security tag to restore the reception data to original data to a modem, an input/output time period of a processor module that processes a communication protocol in an RFID security system is minimized.
US08878646B2
A communication system and method in which the communication system comprises a first communication module (11) and a second communication module (12). The first communication module (11) is located inside a vehicle (1), and the second communication module (12) is located in a garage door opener (3) and/or a home (2). A first information (11) relating to status information of the vehicle (1) is transmitted wirelessly between the first and second communication modules (11, 12). Additionally or alternatively, a second information is transmitted between the first and second communication modules (11, 12). The second information relates to status information of the garage door opener (3) and/or the home (2).
US08878645B2
A method and system for airport or other building security where passengers or persons entering a building approach a check-in point or check-in counter and must undergo a positive identification (ID) by fingerprint scan, retinal or iris scan, face feature scan, or an other means of positive identification. A digital photograph can then be taken of the person. This data plus the positive ID data and optional data about the person including a scan of a government supplied ID like a drivers license or passport is entered in a database and checked against various law enforcement databases such as FBI or others for law enforcement interest in the person.
US08878636B2
Techniques to develop negative impedance circuits that may operate to their power supply rails. The techniques may include generating currents in response to voltage signals presented at respective input terminals of a negative impedance circuit. The voltage signals may be differential signals. The generated currents may be driven through a common impedance within the negative impedance circuit. The currents flowing through the common impedance may be mirrored back to the input terminals of the negative impedance circuit. The negative impedance circuit may be controlled to operate about a common-mode voltage for the circuit.
US08878633B1
A micromechanical device includes a substrate, a micromechanical structure supported by the substrate and configured for overtone resonant vibration relative to the substrate, and a plurality of electrodes supported by the substrate and spaced from the micromechanical structure by respective gaps. The plurality of electrodes include multiple drive electrodes configured relative to the micromechanical structure to excite the overtone resonant vibration with a differential excitation signal, or multiple sense electrodes configured relative to the micromechanical structure to generate a differential output from the overtone resonant vibration.
US08878631B2
The invention relates to a selective active low-pass filter and to a method for improving the selectivity of such a filter. The method includes centering, in the center of a network, the resonant element whose frequency is closest to the cutoff frequency of the filter and in inserting in series with this element a negative resistance of higher value than the parasitic resistance of the filter.
US08878624B2
A microstrip to airstrip transition is provided. The microstrip to airstrip transition includes a ground plane, a printed circuit board, a microstrip, a solder mask, and an airstrip. The ground plane has first and second sides. The printed circuit board has first and second sides and is disposed on the first side of the ground plane. The microstrip is disposed on a portion of the first side of the printed circuit board, and the solder mask is disposed over at least a portion of the microstrip. The airstrip is disposed over the at least portion of the solder mask, and the solder mask prevents direct contact between the microstrip and the airstrip.
US08878620B2
An improved arbitrary waveform generator has a waveform memory for storing digitized waveforms, a waveform playout for playing out desired ones of the digitized waveforms as analog waveforms and a sequencer for controlling the waveform playout, the sequencer providing indications of the desired waveform for playout and a desired starting sample position for the desired waveform. The sequencer includes a tracking mechanism for the desired waveform so that the desired waveform is phase coherent when playout is interrupted and restarted later according to programming of the sequencer.
US08878615B2
The present application discloses a voltage-controlled oscillator device and a method of correcting the voltage-controlled oscillator. The voltage-controlled oscillator device comprises predistortion module, configured to predistort an input voltage to obtain a predistorted voltage; and a voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to generate an output signal with a corresponding oscillation frequency according to the predistorted voltage, wherein the predistortion module corrects a non-linear characteristic of the voltage-controlled oscillator, so that there is a linear relationship between the input voltage and the oscillation frequency of the output signal. The voltage-controlled oscillator device may be applied to a phase-locked circuit in a communication system.
US08878612B2
A current mirror includes a bias branch, which includes first and second transistors in series between a voltage source and ground, a voltage divider coupled between the voltage source and ground, an op-amp configured to receive a divided voltage of the voltage divider and a voltage of a node between the first and second transistors, and drive a gate of the second transistor to pull the node to the divided voltage. The current mirror further includes a power amplifier core coupled to the bias branch. The power amplifier core includes first and second drive transistors configured in series between the voltage source and ground. Gates of the first transistor and the first drive transistor are coupled, and gates of the second transistor and the second drive transistor are coupled.
US08878610B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a configuration of a cross-coupled common-source differential amplifier stage which enables performing a gain step down (attenuation) while maintaining good step flatness over a large relative bandwidth.
US08878600B1
An internal voltage generation circuit includes a flag signal generator suitable for generating a first flag signal which is enabled after a first predetermined time from a moment that a deep power-down mode terminates and suitable for generating a second flag signal which is enabled after a second predetermined time from a moment that the first flag signal is enabled, a drive signal generator suitable for receiving the first and second flag signals to generate a first drive signal and a second drive signal and suitable for receiving a pre-oscillation signal in response to the first and second flag signals to generate a third drive signal and a fourth drive signal, and an internal voltage generator suitable for driving a first internal voltage signal in response to the first and second drive signals and suitable for pumping a second internal voltage signal in response to the third and fourth drive signals.
US08878593B2
The present invention relates to a switch control circuit that controls a switching operation of a power switch circuit that includes cascode-coupled first and second transistors. A switch control circuit includes a first zener diode coupled between a gate of the first transistor and a first end of a capacitor supplying a power voltage and a second zener diode coupled to a gate and a source of the first transistor, and a first resistor coupled between the first zener diode and the second zener diode.
US08878574B2
To provide a driving method of a semiconductor device for reducing power consumption. In a method for driving a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, in a first period, a switch configured to control an electrical connection between a first wiring and a second wiring together with an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor is in an off state during a period in which the states of the n-channel transistor and the p-channel transistor gates of which are electrically connected to each other are switched between an on state and an off state. In a second period, the switch is set to be in an off state. The switch has a channel formation region in a semiconductor, band gap of which is higher than silicon and intrinsic carrier density of which is lower than silicon.
US08878566B2
A reconfigurable circuit of the present invention is characterized in being provided with: a first programmable wiring group, which is disposed in the first direction; a second programmable wiring group, which is disposed in the second direction that intersects the first direction; a first switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the first programmable wiring group and the branch line group of a functional block input wiring group or at the intersecting points of the branch line group of the first programmable wiring group and the functional block input wiring group; a second switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the first programmable wiring group and functional block output wiring; and a third switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the first programmable wiring group. The reconfigurable circuit is also characterized in being provided with a fourth switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the functional block input wiring group, and/or a fifth switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the branch lines of the functional block output wiring.
US08878564B2
A device includes an output circuit including a plurality of unit buffers, each of the unit buffers having an adjustable impedance; a controller circuit operable to selectively activate at least one of the unit buffers; and an impedance adjustment part operable to adjust the impedance of each of the unit buffers in response to a change of the number of the unit buffers that are selectively activated by the controller circuit.
US08878560B2
The present disclosure provide a probe card for wafer level testing. The probe card includes a space transformer having a power line, a ground line, and signal lines embedded therein, wherein the space transformer includes various conductive lines having a first pitch on a first surface and a second pitch on a second surface, the second pitch being substantially less than the first pitch; a printed circuit board configured approximate the first surface of the space transformer; and a power plane disposed on the first surface of the space transformer and patterned to couple the power line and the ground line of the space transformer to the printed circuit board.
US08878559B2
An IC current measuring apparatus is provided between an IC and a substrate. The IC current measuring apparatus electrically connects each of a plurality of IC-facing terminals and a different one of a plurality of substrate-facing terminals. Especially, resistances are each inserted into a path between an IC terminal targeted for measurement and a substrate terminal corresponding thereto. Furthermore, the IC current measuring apparatus is provided with terminals each used to measure a voltage between both ends of an inserted resistance corresponding thereto. Accordingly, a measurer who measures current flowing through an IC-facing terminal can measure the current flowing through the IC-facing terminal by providing the IC current measuring apparatus between the IC targeted for measurement and the substrate and measuring a voltage between both ends of an inserted resistance corresponding to the IC terminal through which current he/she wishes to measure flows.
US08878551B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises: a circuit block formed on a semiconductor substrate; an electrically conductive pattern formed over a portion to be protected of the block; a resetting unit configured to reset a potential of a portion of the pattern to a reference potential; a connecting unit configured to connect the portion to a current supply line; and a detection circuit configured to determine whether a preset range includes a voltage of the portion when a predetermined time has elapsed since the portion is connected to the current supply line after the potential of the portion is reset to the reference potential is provided. A change in voltage of the portion depends on a circuit constant of the pattern.
US08878550B2
A sensor device is provided. The sensor device includes a sensor pad for detecting an object in a detection area by measuring the impedance variation of the sensor pad, the sensor device further including a back focus plate disposed behind the sensor pad relative to the detection area and a first surrounding focus plate arranged around the sensor pad. The sensor device includes a signal generator that drives the sensor pad and the focus plates with a first set of signals having a predetermined constant phase, frequency and voltage amplitude. The sensor device further comprises at least a second surrounding focus plate arranged around the first surrounding focus plate, the second surrounding focus plate being driven with a second set of signals that are different from the first set of signals feeding the sensor pad.
US08878545B2
A test apparatus with physical separation feature is disclosed. The test apparatus includes probes (210), a peripheral circuit (220), a circuit of special function (230), wherein the peripheral circuit and the circuit of special function are separately arranged on different circuit boards (240, 250). The peripheral circuit and the circuit of special function are both electrically connected to the probes. In the test apparatus with physical separation feature, the peripheral circuit and the circuit of special function are separated in physical spaces, so that interference between the components is prevented and the testing cost is reduced.
US08878541B2
A battery voltage monitoring circuit includes a first power supply terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of a battery pack having rechargeable cells connected in series; a first supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a first resistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the first supply voltage sensing terminal; a second supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the negative terminal of a first rechargeable cell of the rechargeable cells, the first rechargeable cell being on the positive terminal side of the battery pack and connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a second resistor connected between the second supply voltage sensing terminal and the first power supply terminal; and a first comparator configured to compare a voltage at the first power supply terminal and a voltage at the first supply voltage sensing terminal.
US08878537B1
A buried utility locator uses the “gradient method” to determine the depth of a buried, current-carrying utility. The method and corresponding apparatus used in said locator, to minimize field gradient measurement errors, includes first and second antennas. Both the first and second antennas are mounted along a common vertical axis inside the locator's housing. The first antenna is a gradiometer formed by two vertically spaced-apart magnetic field sensors connected in a differential configuration. The second antenna provides a secondary field measurement along the direction of the gradient sensor axes.
US08878536B2
The present embodiments relate to a magnetic resonance coil device for receiving magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance coil device includes a receiving antenna unit, a signal processing unit, a high-frequency unit, and a transmitting antenna unit for cable-free transmission of the received magnetic resonance signals and/or data to a data receiving unit. The magnetic resonance coil device includes at least one substantially uncovered region, and the transmitting antenna unit is arranged in the at least one substantially uncovered region.
US08878533B2
In a magnetic resonance system and method the imaging area is readout by: (a) switching at least two phase coding gradients in respective spatial directions, (b) at the full strength of the phase coding gradients, radiating a non-slice-selective RF excitation pulse, (c) after a time t1 after the last radiated excitation pulse, acquiring echo signals entered as raw data points along the radial k-space trajectory predetermined by the strength of the phase coding gradients, (d) repeating (a) through (c) with different phase coding gradients until k-space corresponding to the imaging area is read out in a first region along radial k-space trajectories, depending on the time t1, and (e) reading out a remainder of k-space that corresponds to the imaging area, that is not covered by the first region of k-space and includes the k-space center, in a different manner than by (a) through (d).
US08878528B2
A magnetic sensor utilizes a MEMS device that has at least one vibrating member and at least one conductive path integral with the vibrating member so that a current flows along the vibrating member and in the presence of a magnetic field interaction of the magnetic field and the point charges in the current on the conductive path due to the Lorentz force causes a change in vibration of the vibrating member. That change can be used to provide a measure of the magnetic field.
US08878524B2
An integrated magnetic field measuring device is provided that includes a semiconductor body arranged on a metal substrate and having a first surface, and a plurality of metal surfaces formed on the surface, a first magnetic field sensor, formed in the semiconductor body and having a first sensor signal, and second magnetic field sensor having a second sensor signal, and a current-carrying first conductor. A third magnetic field sensor with a third sensor signal is formed in the semiconductor body. The first magnetic field sensor, the second magnetic field sensor, and the third magnetic field sensor have a substantially identical orientation to Earth's magnetic field and a different distance to the first conductor and the magnetic field of the first conductor simultaneously penetrates the first magnetic field sensor, the second magnetic field sensor, and the third magnetic field sensor.
US08878521B2
A current sensor for measuring current through a conductor with the current sensor including a cable looped around the conductor to be monitored, and a transformer winding disposed in the cable for measuring current flow based on the Rogowski principle. The cable has opposite end portions coupled in an abutting relationship to form an endless loop with the winding flush with opposite end faces of the opposite and portions of the cable. The current sensor also has a coupling in the form of a sleeve including an assembly for attaching and detaching the opposite end positions of the cable having a stop ring which grips one of the end portions and a push button which is selectively movable against the stop ring for releasing the grip to open the opposite end portions. The cable may have a temperature sensor and a memory in which the measurement characteristics of the sensor are held. The sensor is reliable and accurate, and it can be left permanently in an electrical apparatus, or replaced, with no difficulty.
US08878520B2
A current sensor includes a first conductor and a second conductor arranged so as to form current paths parallel to each other; a circuit board arranged such that a surface thereof is perpendicular to the current paths; and a first magnetoelectric transducer and a second magnetoelectric transducer arranged on the surface of the circuit board such that the first conductor is interposed therebetween. The first conductor, the second conductor, the first magnetoelectric transducer, and the second magnetoelectric transducer are located on a same plane.
US08878514B2
Circuits and related methods for energy efficient battery supplied switching DC-to-DC regulators are disclosed. When entering a power-down state the energy in an output capacitor is harvested and charged back to the battery. This is achieved by ramping-down a reference voltage after a power-down sequence is initiated. The output voltage of the regulator is ramped-down accordingly. At the end of the power down sequence the output voltage of the regulator is down to 0V. The disclosure is especially important for regulators, which frequently are started up and switched down.
US08878512B2
A reference current output device and reference current output method that may adjust a reference current while maintaining a temperature gradient. In the reference current output device and reference current output method of the present invention, a reference current is outputted by a reference voltage and current output circuit, a reference voltage outputted from the reference voltage and current output circuit is converted to an adjustment current and outputted by a conversion and output circuit, the adjustment current is superimposed with the reference current and a superimposed current is outputted by a superimposition and output section.
US08878511B2
A circuit includes a first current path comprising a first floating-gate transistor having a programmable threshold voltage, a second current path, and a differential amplifier. The second current path includes a second floating-gate transistor having a programmable threshold voltage and a resistor. The differential amplifier includes a first input coupled to the first current path, a second input coupled to the second current path, and an output configured to control a reference current path.
US08878509B2
A current-mode regulator relies on indirect current measurement to facilitate slope compensation used to stabilize the operation of a buck converter. The current-mode regulator comprises an inductor, a switching network, and a controller. The inductor delivers an output current to a load. The switching network selectively connects the inductor input to an input voltage or a second voltage. The regulator controls the switching network. An inner loop control circuit of the regulator comprises the switching network, a current measuring circuit, a slope circuit, a comparator, and a switching controller. The current measuring circuit comprises a passive network connected to the inductor input and operative to indicate an inductor current as a measurement voltage. The slope circuit applies a time-varying voltage having a positive slope to the measurement voltage. The comparator compares a slope compensated measurement voltage to the control voltage. The switching regulator controls the switching network in response to the output of the comparator.
US08878507B2
In a digital control power supply, a mode control unit measures a first frequency and a second frequency for a difference between a second digital value and a target value. Based on the measured first frequency and second frequency and a predetermined threshold set to the first and second frequencies, the mode control unit determines whether an amplification factor for use in amplification processing by an amplifier is maintained at a current amplification factor or is changed to an amplification factor which is larger or smaller by 1 than the current amplification factor. This contributes to an improvement in noise resistance of the digital control power supply and prevents an output voltage from being unstable.
US08878492B2
The power source apparatus is provided with a plurality of modules (10), and a main controller (2) connected with communication interface units (16) in each module via a communication line CB. Each module is provided with a battery block (12) having a plurality of battery cells (11) stacked together and connected in series and/or parallel, a battery state detection section (14) to detect the state of the battery cells, communication interface units for data communication with other modules and the main controller, and a memory section (18) that can store data received through the communication interface units. The plurality of modules are connected in series and/or parallel with an output line OL.
US08878478B2
A projector includes: a drive motor adapted to drive a lens unit; a control section adapted to control the drive motor; a storage section adapted to store a target position of the lens unit; and a position detector adapted to detect a present position of the lens unit, wherein if a deviation between the target position stored in the storage section and the present position detected by the position detector is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control section performs drive of the drive motor with feedforward control until the present position and the target position are coincident with each other, and performs drive control of the drive motor with a predetermined unit based on a deviation between a stop position by the feedforward control and the target position.
US08878475B2
Techniques and apparatus for limiting the current through a motor, such as a motor for rotating a rotatable element of a hard drive. The current can be limited based on a threshold. A first threshold value can be set for a first time period. A second threshold value can be set for a second time period in which the current through the motor rises. The second threshold value is lower than the first threshold value. A spike in the supply current upon accelerating the rotatable element of the motor can thereby be reduced or eliminated.
US08878473B2
The time required to reverse current flow in an electric motor is reduced by exploiting inductive current that persists in the motor when power is temporarily removed. Energy associated with this inductive current is used to initiate reverse current flow in the motor.
US08878469B2
A process for electrical assistance to the braking of a vehicle with a motor system (M), whereby the motor system (M) includes at least one electric motor (10) whose output shaft (14) is coupled to a primary shaft (20) that drives at least one wheel (22) of the vehicle, at least one wheel (22) of the vehicle being equipped with a mechanical braking device that is activated by a hydraulic circuit, whereby the process is characterized in that it includes: collecting information in the hydraulic circuit of the primary braking circuit, and using the information as a set-point for a braking torque generated by the electric motor (10) and exerted on the primary drive shaft (20) of the wheels.
US08878465B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
US08878455B2
Systems and methods of controlling the output of an LED light fixture. The LED light fixture includes a plurality of light sources and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first set of input data and determine a difference between the first set of input data and a second set of data stored in memory. The controller is also configured to set a slew time based on the determined difference and control the output of the light fixture based on the slew time. The slew time is inversely related to the determined difference between the first set of input data and the second set of data, and the slew time corresponds to the amount of time that the output of the light fixture is to take to transition from a present output of the light fixture to a new output of the light fixture.
US08878448B2
A system for driving an LED (light-emitting diode) lamp includes a dimmer circuit coupled to a line input voltage for varying a magnitude of an input voltage and a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and one or more auxiliary windings, the primary winding coupled to the dimmer circuit. The system also includes an output rectifying circuit coupled to the secondary winding for providing an output current to the LED lamp and a power switch coupled to the primary winding for controlling a current flow in the primary winding. The system further includes a controller having a comparator and a capacitor for providing a control signal to control the power switch for regulating the output current. The controller coupled to the dimmer circuit for receiving an average input voltage signal from the dimmer circuit, wherein the control signal is characterized by a duty cycle that is determined by a ratio of a charging current to a discharging current of the capacitor, and the ratio is related to the average input voltage signal from the dimmer circuit.
US08878439B2
According to one embodiment, a lighting control system includes a plurality of luminaire, a sensor device, a luminance sensor, and a lighting control unit. The luminaires are set in a lighting space. The sensor device detects presence of a person in the lighting space. The luminance sensor detects indirect luminance in a predetermined position in the lighting space by the luminaire. The lighting control unit subjects the luminaire to lighting control such that the indirect luminance detected by the luminance sensor does not fall below a predetermined value in a position where the sensor device detects presence of the person.
US08878434B2
A plasma device configured to receive ionizable media is disclosed. The plasma device includes a first pair of dielectric substrates each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first pair of dielectric substrates is disposed in spaced, parallel relation relative to one another with the inner surfaces thereof facing one another. The device also includes a first pair of spiral coils each disposed on the inner surface of the dielectric substrates. The first pair of spiral coils is configured to couple to a power source and configured to inductively couple to an ionizable media passed therebetween to ignite the ionizable media to form a plasma effluent.
US08878432B2
A RF accelerator system includes an accelerator, a RF source coupled to the accelerator for providing RF power to the accelerator, a control for adjusting a frequency of the RF power provided by the RF source through a frequency range, and a sensor for sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range. A method of diagnosing a RF spectrum in an accelerator system includes providing RF power to an accelerator, adjusting a frequency of the RF power through a frequency range, and sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator, the response being based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range.
US08878431B2
A light emitting device is provided which has a structure for lowering energy barriers at interfaces between layers of a laminate organic compound layer. A mixed layer (105) composed of a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (1) (102) and a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (2) (103) is formed at the interface between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103). The energy barrier formed between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103) thus can be lowered.
US08878430B2
This invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light generation unit (102), which comprises a light emitting diode element (105) having at least one light emitting diode (103), and a light conversion unit (104). The light conversion unit comprises an integral enclosure (110), which encloses a cavity (130), and an organic phosphor element (112) arranged within the cavity. The light generation unit further comprises a base part (114), which includes a thermally conductive material (114) thermally connected with the light emitting diode element. Light generated by the light emitting diode element of the light generation unit is output through the light conversion unit and thereby converted by the organic phosphor element.
US08878426B2
An ignition plug having enhanced seal performance, while suppressing deformation of a metallic shell thereof. The ignition plug includes a metallic shell having a crimp portion, a male screw portion, a seat portion, and a bent portion. The bent portion has a largest outer diameter (OD) portion, and first and second smallest OD portions, wherein 0.01≦(L2+L3−L1)/(L2+L3)≦0.3 is satisfied. L1 is distance between a point in the first smallest OD portion farthest from center axis and a point in the second smallest OD portion farthest from center axis, L2 is distance between the point in the first smallest OD portion farthest from center axis and a point in the largest OD portion farthest from center axis, and L3 is distance between the point in the second smallest OD portion farthest from center axis and the point in the largest OD portion farthest from center axis.
US08878425B2
Disclosed is an improved spark plug having an electrode extending from an insulator tip into a piston chamber in use. The improvement comprises a shell defining: a cavity; a cavity opening which couples the cavity with said piston chamber in use; a conduit extending from the cavity and into which the electrode extends in spaced relation to the shell; and, with the tip, a chamber surrounding the tip in spaced relation and coupled to the cavity by the conduit. The cavity includes: a concave portion presenting towards the opening such that the cavity narrows as it extends towards the conduit; and a cylindrical portion extending from the concave portion towards the opening. The chamber includes a cylindrical portion surrounding the tip in spaced relation and a frustoconical portion coupling the cylindrical portion to the conduit such that the chamber narrows as it extends from its cylindrical portion to the conduit.
US08878419B2
A piezoelectric device includes first and second piezoelectric resonators each including a piezoelectric thin film, an upper electrode provided on one main surface of the piezoelectric thin film, and a lower electrode provided on another main surface of the piezoelectric thin film. In the piezoelectric resonators, portions in which the upper and lower electrodes are superposed on each other with the piezoelectric thin film therebetween define piezoelectric vibrating portions that are acoustically isolated from a substrate. The first and second piezoelectric resonators are connected in series or parallel between an input terminal and an output terminal such that polarization directions of corresponding portions of the piezoelectric thin film are opposite to each other when seen from the input terminal. The first piezoelectric resonator and the second piezoelectric resonator are arranged to have different resonant frequencies of a transverse vibration mode.
US08878410B2
A rotor includes a hollow cylindrical rotor core and permanent magnets embedded in the rotor core to form a plurality of magnetic poles on the radially outer periphery of the rotor core. The rotor core has a plurality of openings each of which extends in the axial direction of the rotor core so as to penetrate it. When viewed along the axial direction, each of the openings is symmetrically positioned with respect to the centerline of a corresponding one of the magnetic poles. For each of the openings, there are provided n reinforcing portions, where n is an integer not less than 2. The n reinforcing portions extend to connect a pair of radially-inner and radially-outer peripheral portions of the rotor core, thereby partitioning the opening into (n+1) parts. The n reinforcing portions are symmetrically arranged with respect to the centerline of the corresponding magnetic pole.
US08878408B2
A bearing, which has a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring and a claw pole generator-type power generation unit. The bearing has a substantially space-neutral power generation unit, which has a high filling factor for the induction coil. Every claw ring is connected to a section of the body of the first bearing ring in a magnetically conducting fashion and the magnetic circuit is substantially closed via the section of the body of the first bearing ring.
US08878403B2
An air-cooled motor-generator (10) includes a rotor (34) with a rotor shaft (11), which is arranged rotatably about a machine axis (15) and on which a rotor winding (16) is arranged, and a stator (35) with a stator laminate stack (18) and a stator winding (17) arranged therein, which concentrically surrounds the rotor winding (16) A closed cooling circuit operating with cooling air (24) is provided, with the cooling air in the cooling circuit flowing through the rotor winding (16) and the stator winding (17) radially from the inside outwards, the cooling air being cooled in coolers (19) arranged outside the stator (35) and being fed back to the rotor (34). Cooling which can be changed before or during operation is achieved in a simple manner by virtue of the fact that adjustable throttle devices are provided for adjusting the volume flow of the cooling air in the cooling circuit at the coolers (19).
US08878401B2
Disclosed is a linear vibrator, the linear vibrator including: a bottom case including a floor plate and first and second elastic units integrally formed with the floor plate, and mutually and oppositely bent from both distal ends facing the floor plate; a stator including a circuit substrate arranged on the floor plate and a coil block electrically connected to the circuit substrate; a trembler including a magnet discretely facing the coil block and a weight securing the magnet; and an upper case coupled to the bottom case to accommodate the stator and the trembler, wherein both lateral surfaces of the trembler facing the first and second elastic units are elastically supported by the first and second elastic units.
US08878384B2
A wind power conversion apparatus for efficiently generating electric power is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one blade, the at least one blade being configured to rotate when exposed to wind, a fluid pump mechanically coupled to the at least one blade and configured to pressurize fluid from a low pressure fluid to a high pressure fluid, a fluid motor fluidly coupled to the fluid pump and configured to rotate an output shaft in response to the high pressure fluid and thereby providing the low pressure fluid, and an electric generator mechanically coupled to the fluid motor and configured to generate electric power in response to the rotation of the output shaft of the fluid motor.
US08878383B2
The faucet device (1) of the present invention includes a device body (2); a solenoid valve (12); a spout port forming portion (44); a generator (14) for generating electrical power by rotating an impeller; a solenoid valve-side water-passage forming member (52) for guiding water to the generator; a spout port-side water-passage forming member (42) for guiding water to a spout port; a first elastic member (52a) for sealing between the solenoid valve-side water-passage forming member and the generator and allowing relative displacement therebetween; a second elastic member (42b) for sealing between the spout port-side water-passage forming member and the generator and allowing relative displacement therebetween; a third elastic member (60) for coupling the solenoid valve-side water-passage forming member and the device body and allowing relative displacement therebetween; and a fourth elastic member (58) for coupling the spout port-side water-passage forming member and the device body and allowing relative displacement therebetween.
US08878378B2
The invention is directed to a method for operating a pitch-controlled wind turbine having a rotor blade adjustable about its longitudinal axis and having a generator wherein a set-point for a generator torque (M) is specified in dependence upon a rotational speed (n) of the generator or of the rotor. A transition point (n3, M3) is provided whereat a switchover occurs from a part-load operation to a full-load operation. In the method, a value for air density (ρ) is determined and a pre-pitch angle (φpre) is set starting at a pre-pitch rotational speed (n4) less than the rotational speed (n3) at the transition point (n3, M3). The value of the pre-pitch angle (φpre) is dependent on the value determined for the air density (ρ) so that a larger pre-pitch angle is set when the air density is lower than when the air density is higher.
US08878368B2
A rigid wave pattern formed on a first side of a substrate in a semiconductor die package. The rigid wave pattern aligns with and overlies the contact fingers formed on the second side of the substrate. The rigid wave pattern includes a first pattern with an etched portion and an unetched portion around the etched portion. When the substrate and dice are encased during the molding process, the rigid wave pattern effectively reduces deformation of and stresses on the dice, therefore substantially alleviating die cracking.
US08878360B2
A stacked semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a stacked semiconductor device are described. The semiconductor device may include a reconstituted base layer having a plurality of embedded semiconductor chips. A first redistribution layer may contact the electrically conductive contacts of the embedded chips and extend beyond the boundary of one or more of the embedded chips, forming a fan-out area. Another chip may be stacked above the chips embedded in the base layer and be electrically connected to the embedded chips by a second redistribution layer. Additional layers of chips may be included in the semiconductor device.
US08878359B2
A plurality of semiconductor die is mounted to a temporary carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and carrier. A portion of the encapsulant is designated as a saw street between the die, and a portion of the encapsulant is designated as a substrate edge around a perimeter of the encapsulant. The carrier is removed. A first insulating layer is formed over the die, saw street, and substrate edge. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer and first insulating layer. The encapsulant is singulated through the first insulating layer and saw street to separate the semiconductor die. A channel or net pattern can be formed in the first insulating layer on opposing sides of the saw street, or the first insulating layer covers the entire saw street and molding area around the semiconductor die.
US08878358B2
Between a logic LSI (4) arranged on one side of a DRAM (1) and jointed to the DRAM and a radiating member (6) arranged on the other side of the DRAM (1) for irradiating the heats of the DRAM (1) and the logic LSI (4), there is disposed a heat bypass passage (5), which extends inbetween while bypassing the DRAM (1). Thus, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device, which can irradiate the heat generated from the logic LSI such as CPU or GPU thereby to reduce the temperature rise and the temperature distribution.
US08878345B2
A structural body includes a sapphire underlying substrate; and a semiconductor layer of a group III nitride semiconductor disposed on the underlying substrate. An upper surface of the underlying substrate is a crystal surface tilted at an angle of 0.5° or larger and 4° or smaller with respect to a normal line of an a-plane which is orthogonal to an m-plane and belongs to a {11-20} plane group, from the m-plane which belongs to a {1-100} plane group.
US08878335B2
A method and a system for providing fusing after packaging of semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided comprising a substrate comprising a fuse area, at least one fuse disposed in the fuse area, and at least one layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the at least one layer comprises at least one opening exposing the at least one fuse.
US08878329B2
A high voltage device having a Schottky diode integrated with a MOS transistor includes a semiconductor substrate a Schottky diode formed on the semiconductor substrate, at least a first doped region having a first conductive type formed in the semiconductor substrate and under the Schottky diode, and a control gate covering a portion of the Schottky diode and the first doped region positioned on the semiconductor substrate.
US08878318B2
MTJ stack structures for an MRAM device include an MTJ stack having a pinned ferromagnetic layer over a pinning layer, a tunneling barrier layer over the pinned ferromagnetic layer, a free ferromagnetic layer over the tunneling barrier layer, a conductive oxide layer over the free ferromagnetic layer, and an oxygen-based cap layer over the conductive oxide layer.
US08878316B2
A pressure sensor includes a pressure sensing element having a diaphragm, a cavity, and bridge circuitry connected to the diaphragm. A top surface is formed as part of the pressure sensing element such that at least a portion of the top surface is part of the diaphragm, and the plurality of piezoresistors are located on the top surface. A cap is bonded to the top surface through the use of a plurality of layers. One of the layers is a silicon dioxide layer, another layer is a silicon nitride layer, another layer is an oxide layer, and another of the layers is a polysilicon layer. The plurality of layers provides proper bonding between the cap and the top surface of the pressure sensing element.
US08878311B2
A structure has at least one field effect transistor having a gate stack disposed between raised source drain structures that are adjacent to the gate stack. The gate stack and raised source drain structures are disposed on a surface of a semiconductor material. The structure further includes a layer of field dielectric overlying the gate stack and raised source drain structures and first contact metal and second contact metal extending through the layer of field dielectric. The first contact metal terminates in a first trench formed through a top surface of a first raised source drain structure, and the second contact metal terminates in a second trench formed through a top surface of a second raised source drain structure. Each trench has silicide formed on sidewalls and a bottom surface of at least a portion of the trench. Methods to fabricate the structure are also disclosed.
US08878304B2
The present invention discloses a fuse circuit for final test trimming of an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The fuse circuit includes at least one electrical fuse, at least one control switch corresponding to the electrical fuse, and a resistant device. The electrical fuse is connected with the control switch in series between a predetermined pin and a grounding pin. The control switch receives a control signal to determine whether a predetermined current flows through the corresponding electrical fuse and breaks the electrical fuse. The resistant device is coupled between a bulk terminal and a source terminal to increase a resistance of a parasitic channel, such that an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is enhanced, and errors of final test trimming of an IC chip are avoided.
US08878301B2
A semiconductor device includes core transistors for forming a logic circuit, and I/O transistors for forming an input/output circuit. A distance from the main surface to a lowermost part of an n-type impurity region NR of the I/O n-type transistor is longer than that from the main surface to a lowermost part of an n-type impurity region NR of the core n-type transistor. A distance from the main surface to a lowermost part of a p-type impurity region PR of the I/O p-type transistor is longer than that from the main surface to a lowermost part of a p-type impurity region of the core p-type transistor. A distance from the main surface to the lowermost part of the n-type impurity region of the I/O n-type transistor is longer than that from the main surface to the lowermost part of the p-type impurity region of the I/O p-type transistor.
US08878291B2
A semiconductor device includes a first buried gate structure in a peripheral circuit area of a semiconductor substrate, and a second gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate. A gate insulating layer of a program transistor is thinly formed to be easily ruptured, and a gate insulating layer of a select transistor is thickly formed to improve reliability of the select transistor.
US08878289B2
In the semiconductor device, a line-type buried gate is formed by burying a non-operating gate (isolation gate) with a polysilicon material to reduce a work function and a Gate Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL) caused by the non-operating gate, resulting in improvement of refresh characteristics of the semiconductor device. Operating gates including a metal conductive material may be formed in a separate step.
US08878278B2
A NAND device has at least a 3×3 array of vertical NAND strings in which the control gate electrodes are continuous in the array and do not have an air gap or a dielectric filled trench in the array. The NAND device is formed by first forming a lower select gate level having separated lower select gates, then forming plural memory device levels containing a plurality of NAND string portions, and then forming an upper select gate level over the memory device levels having separated upper select gates.
US08878275B2
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a channel region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric disposed on the channel region and a drift region disposed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the channel region. The apparatus can further include a field plate having an end portion disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric The end portion can include a surface in contact with the gate dielectric, the surface having a first portion aligned along a first plane non-parallel to a second plane along which a second portion of the surface is aligned, the first plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08878273B2
A semiconductor memory device includes an active region protruding from a substrate. The active region includes first and second doped regions therein and a trench therein separating the first and second doped regions. A buried gate structure extends in a first direction along the trench between first and second opposing sidewalls thereof. A conductive interconnection plug is provided on the first doped region adjacent the first sidewall of the trench, and a conductive landing pad is provided on the second doped region adjacent the second sidewall of the trench. The landing pad has a width greater than that of the second doped region of the active region along the first direction. A conductive storage node contact plug is provided on the landing pad opposite the second doped region. The storage node contact plug has a narrower width than the landing pad along the first direction.
US08878272B2
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming a first mold layer on a in a cell region and a peripheral region, forming first storage nodes penetrating the first mold layer in the cell region and a first contact penetrating the first mold layer in the peripheral region, forming a second mold layer on the first mold layer, forming second storage nodes that penetrate the second mold layer to be connected to respective ones of the first storage nodes, removing the second mold layer in the cell and peripheral regions and the first mold layer in the cell region to leave the first mold layer in the peripheral region, and forming a second contact that penetrates a first interlayer insulation layer to be connected to the first contact. Related devices are also provided.
US08878264B2
A global shutter pixel cell includes a serially connected anti-blooming (AB) transistor, storage gate (SG) transistor and transfer (TX) transistor. The serially connected transistors are coupled between a voltage supply and a floating diffusion (FD) region. A terminal of a photodiode (PD) is connected between respective terminals of the AB and the SG transistors; and a terminal of a storage node (SN) diode is connected between respective terminals of the SG and the TX transistors. A portion of the PD region is extended under the SN region, so that the PD region shields the SN region from stray photons. Furthermore, a metallic layer, disposed above the SN region, is extended downwardly toward the SN region, so that the metallic layer shields the SN region from stray photons. Moreover, a top surface of the metallic layer is coated with an anti-reflective layer.
US08878263B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on surfaces of the semiconductor substrate including an internal surface of a hole formed in the semiconductor substrate and formed by radical oxidation or plasma oxidation; and a gate electrode formed as buried in the hole. The gate insulating film and the gate electrode form a vertical MOS.
US08878260B2
A method includes forming a plurality of trenches in a pad film to form raised portions, and depositing a hard mask in the trenches and over the upper pad film. The method includes forming a plurality of fins including the raised portions and a second plurality of fins including the hard mask deposited in the trenches, each of which are separated by a deep trench. The method includes removing the hard mask on the plurality of fins including the raised portions and the second plurality of fins resulting in a dual height fin array. The method includes forming gate electrodes within each deep trench between each fin of the dual height fin array, burying the second plurality of fins and abutting sides of the plurality of fins including the raised portions. The plurality of fins including the raised portions electrically and physically isolate adjacent gate electrode of the gate electrodes.
US08878254B2
A semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a dielectric film configured to store information depending on presence or absence of a conductive path therein, and a plurality of electrodes provided to contact a first surface of the dielectric film. The conductive path can be formed between two electrodes arbitrarily selected form the plurality of electrodes. The conductive path has a rectifying property of allowing a current to flow more easily in a first direction connecting arbitrary two electrodes than in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The largest possible number of the conductive paths that may be formed is larger than the number of the plurality of electrodes.
US08878252B2
A structure comprises a substrate, a mask, a buffer/nucleation layer, and a group III-V compound semiconductor material. The substrate has a top surface and has a recess from the top surface. The recess includes a sidewall. The first mask is the top surface of the substrate. The buffer/nucleation layer is along the sidewall, and has a different material composition than a material composition of the sidewall. The III-V compound semiconductor material continuously extends from inside the recess on the buffer/nucleation layer to over the first mask.
US08878245B2
A transistor device having non-alloyed ohmic contacts formed by a process that improves the contact morphology and reduces metal spiking into the semiconductor layers. During fabrication, a regrowth mask is deposited on the semiconductor device. A portion of the regrowth mask and the epitaxial semiconductor layers is removed, defining areas for selective regrowth of a highly-doped semiconductor material. The remaining portion of the regrowth mask forms a regrowth mask residual layer. After regrowth, ohmic contacts are formed on the regrowth structures without the use of a high-temperature annealing process. The regrowth mask residual layer does not need to be removed, but rather remains on the device throughout fabrication and can function as a passivation layer and/or a spacer layer.
US08878229B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a substrate including a recess, a light emitting chip on the substrate and a first conductive layer electrically connected to the light emitting chip. And the first conductive layer includes at least one metal layer electrically connected to the light emitting chip on an outer circumference of the substrate.
US08878223B2
A conductive layer serving as an auxiliary wiring is formed under a first electrode with a first insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the conductive layer and a second electrode are electrically connected to each other through an opening in the first insulating layer and the first electrode. A second insulating layer is formed over a sidewall of the opening so that the first electrode is not directly in contact with the second electrode in the opening. An EL layer is formed by evaporation in a state where a deposition target substrate is inclined to an evaporation source, so that the second insulating layer serves as an obstacle and a region where the EL layer is not formed by the evaporation and the conductive layer is exposed is formed in part of the opening in a self-aligned manner.
US08878222B2
A light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a temperature detecting pattern, and a semiconductor structure. The temperature detecting pattern is formed on the substrate. Then the semiconductor structure is formed on the temperature detecting pattern and the substrate. The semiconductor structure includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer. Per above-mentioned structural design, the temperature detecting pattern directly integrated into the LED can measure the actual temperature of PN junction with high precision.
US08878221B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting module. The light emitting module according to an exemplary embodiment includes a circuit board having a cavity and including a circuit pattern at a region which does not have the cavity, an insulation substrate disposed in the cavity while being formed, at an upper portion thereof, with at least one pad, and at least one light emitting device disposed on the pad, wherein a joining structure is disposed between a bottom surface of the cavity and a bottom surface of the insulation substrate.
US08878218B2
The invention provides semiconductor light-emitting devices which have a semiconductor layer on a principal surface of a translucent substrate and a reflective layer on a second principal surface opposite to the principal surface having the semiconductor layer, which enables that the peeling of the reflective layer from the translucent substrate is suppressed. A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first metal layer disposed in contact with a second principal surface of a translucent substrate, a second metal layer disposed in contact with at least the second principal surface or a side surface of the translucent substrate around the first metal layer, and a third metal layer disposed on the second metal layer. The first metal layer has a reflectance with respect to a peak wavelength of light emitted from an emitting layer higher than the reflectance of the second metal layer. The second metal layer has an adhesion with respect to the translucent substrate higher than the adhesion between the first metal layer and the translucent substrate.
US08878215B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device module. The light emitting device module includes a first lead frame and a second lead frame electrically separated from each other, a light emitting device electrically connected to the first lead frame and the second lead frame, the light emitting device includes a light emitting structure having a first conduction type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conduction type semiconductor layer, a dam disposed at the peripheral area of the light emitting device, a resin layer surrounding the light emitting device and disposed at the inner area of the dam, and a reflective member disposed at the peripheral area of the dam and including an inclined plane formed on at least one side surface thereof.
US08878207B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a display layer, a seal unit, a protrusion and a spacing adjustment layer. The display layer is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The seal unit surrounds the display layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The protrusion is provided along an outer edge of the seal unit at an outside of the seal unit on a first major surface of the first substrate facing the display layer. The spacing adjustment layer is provided along the outer edge at the outside of the seal unit, includes a portion overlaying the protrusion as viewed along a direction from the first substrate toward the second substrate, and is in contact with the protrusion.
US08878204B2
Submount based light emitter components and methods are provided herein. In one aspect, a submount based light emitter component can include a primary submount, a secondary submount, and at least one light emitter chip. The at least one light emitter chip can be disposed over the primary submount and electrically connected to the secondary submount.
US08878187B2
A voltage equal to the threshold value of a TFT (106) is held in capacitor unit (109). When a video signal is inputted from a source signal line, the voltage held in the capacitor unit is added thereto and a resultant signal is applied to a gate electrode of the TFT (106). Even when a threshold value is varied for each pixel, each threshold value is held in the capacitor unit (109) for each pixel. Thus, the influence of a variation in threshold value can be eliminated. Further, holding of the threshold value is conducted by only the capacitor unit (109) and a charge does not move at writing of a video signal so that a voltage between both electrodes is not changed. Thus, it is not influenced by a variation in capacitance value.
US08878186B2
A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer including a channel region and a contact region; a pattern of a first conducting layer disposed at a position which overlaps with the channel region; a gate line formed in one of a second conducting layer or a third conducting layer, and connected to the pattern of the first conducting layer; and a source line formed in the other of the second conducting layer and the third conducting layer, and connected to the contact region.
US08878184B2
A display device having the high aperture ratio and a storage capacitor with high capacitance is to be obtained. The present invention relates to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The display device includes a thin film transistor which includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a first semiconductor layer, a channel protective film, a second semiconductor having conductivity which is divided into a source region and a drain region, and a source electrode and a drain electrode; a third insulating layer formed over the second conductive film; a pixel electrode formed over the third insulating layer, which is connected to one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a storage capacitor formed in a region where a capacitor wiring over the first insulating layer and the pixel electrode are overlapped with the third insulating layer over the capacitor wiring interposed therebetween.
US08878182B2
An interposer includes a first surface on a first side of the interposer and a second surface on a second side of the interposer, wherein the first and the second sides are opposite sides. A first probe pad is disposed at the first surface. An electrical connector is disposed at the first surface, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be used for bonding. A through-via is disposed in the interposer. Front-side connections are disposed on the first side of the interposer, wherein the front-side connections electrically couple the through-via to the probe pad.
US08878172B2
An object is to control composition and a defect of an oxide semiconductor, another object is to increase a field effect mobility of a thin film transistor and to obtain a sufficient on-off ratio with a reduced off current. A solution is to employ an oxide semiconductor whose composition is represented by InMO3(ZnO)m, where M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is preferably a non-integer number of greater than 0 and less than 1. The concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and M. The oxide semiconductor has an amorphous structure. Oxide and nitride layers can be provided to prevent pollution and degradation of the oxide semiconductor.
US08878171B2
An organic light emitting display device includes first and second electrodes facing each other on a substrate, a first stack including a first hole transport layer, a second hole transport layer, a first emitting layer, and a first electron transport layer, the layers being sequentially stacked on the first electrode, a second stack including a third hole transport layer, a fourth hole transport layer, a second emitting layer including at least two hosts and a single dopant and having at least three emitting areas, and a second electron transport layer, the layers being sequentially stacked between the first stack and the second electrode, wherein the second emitting layer includes a first emitting area including a material of the fourth hole transport layer, a second emitting area including a material of the second electron transport layer, and a third emitting area including the at least two hosts.
US08878170B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor device has a carrier foil that includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. At least one electrically conductive contact layer is arranged on the first surface and covers the first surface in places and contains at least one metal. At least one radiation-emitting optoelectronic semiconductor component is arranged on an outer face, remote from the carrier foil, of the electrically conductive contact layer. The radiation-emitting, optoelectronic semiconductor component is electrically conductively connected to the at least one electrically conductive contact layer. The carrier foil is formed with at least one polymer or contains at least one polymer. At least one monomer of the polymer is formed with at least one C—F bond, with C denoting carbon and F fluorine.
US08878161B2
A strain-balanced quantum well tunnel junction (SB-QWTJ) device. QW structures are formed from alternating quantum well and barrier layers situated between n++ and p++ layers in a tunnel junction formed on a substrate. The quantum well layers exhibit a compressive strain with respect to the substrate, while the barrier layers exhibit a tensile strain. The composition and layer thicknesses of the quantum well and barrier layers are configured so that the compressive and tensile strains in the structure are balanced.
US08878156B2
A memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of parallel trenches therein, a memory region formed in the substrate including an array of memory cells having a plurality of vertical selection transistors with respective channels formed in trench sidewalls, a plurality of buried source electrodes in trench bottoms, a plurality of paired gate electrodes formed on paired trench sidewalls, a first and second stitch region disposed adjacent the memory region along a trench direction including a first and second row of gate contacts, respectively, and a row of source contacts disposed in the first or second stitch region with each of the source contacts coupled to a respective one of the source electrodes. One of each pair of the gate electrodes is coupled to a respective one of the first row of gate contacts and the other one of each pair of gate electrodes is coupled to a respective one of the second row of gate contacts.
US08878139B2
A neutron measurement apparatus includes: an analog signal processor; a digitizing processor; an FFT calculation processor; and a signal processor. The analog signal processor amplifies alternating current components of detector output signals output from a neutron detector, and filters to remove high frequency components from the output signals, which the digitizing processor digitizes at a constant sampling period in a time series; the FFT calculation processor converts certain of the signals in a time domain from the digitizing processor into signals in a frequency domain, and filters the signals in the frequency domain; and the signal processor selects and extracts signals having required frequency components through the calculation processing on the FFT calculation processor, to calculate power spectral densities of the extracted signals, and to convert the calculated power spectral densities into a neutron measurement value.
US08878132B2
A photosensor device includes a plurality of first well structures, a light shielding layer, and a plurality of second well structures. The first well structures are disposed in a substrate. The light shielding layer disposed is on the substrate; it covers a portion of the first well structures and exposes the rest portion of the first well structures. The covered first well structures are adjacent to the exposed first well structures exposed. The exposed first well structures generate a first photocurrent according to incident light. The second well structures generate a second photocurrent according to incident light. A total surface area of the second well structures is substantially equal to a total surface area of the exposed first well structures. A method for determining the incident light is also provided.
US08878131B2
An infrared light detector including at least one sensor chip that has a layer element that is produced from a pyroelectrically sensitive material and further has a base electrode and a head electrode, to which the layer element is connected for tapping electric signals generated in the layer element by irradiation of the at least one sensor chip with light. The detector further includes a transimpedance amplifier for amplifying the signals with an operational amplifier, which is asymmetrically operated by a supply voltage source having a positive supply voltage and to the inverting input of which the base electrode is connected. At the voltage supply source, a voltage divider connected to ground is provided with a partial node, to which a partial voltage that is smaller than the supply voltage is applied and which is electrically coupled to the non-inverting input and to the head electrode.
US08878126B2
Substances on or adjacent a tubular disposed in a subterranean wellbore can be detected and/or their presence identified by monitoring gamma rays scattered from the substances. The substances include deposits on a sidewall of the tubular and liquid contained in the tubular. Examples of the deposits include asphaltenes, paraffins, scale, sand, and the like. Gamma rays are strategically directed from a tool disposed within the tubular and to adjacent a sidewall of the tubular. Some of the gamma rays scatter from the substances adjacent the tubular and are detected with detectors set a designated axial distance from the gamma ray source.
US08878119B2
In the conventional contaminant particle/defect inspection method, if the illuminance of the illumination beam is held at not more than a predetermined upper limit value not to give thermal damage to the sample, the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed being in the tradeoff relation with each other, it is very difficult to improve one of the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed without sacrificing the other or improve both at the same time. The invention provides an improved optical inspection method and an improved optical inspection apparatus, in which a pulse laser is used as a light source, and a laser beam flux is split into a plurality of laser beam fluxes which are given different time delay to form a plurality of illumination spots. The scattered light signal from each illumination spot is isolated and detected by using a light emission start timing signal for each illumination spot.
US08878110B2
Projectiles that include a propulsion system and a launch motor which are located on opposing sides of a payload and a method of directing a projectile toward a target are generally described herein. Placing the propulsion system and the launch motor on opposing sides of the payload may provide many potential advantages when designing the projectile. These design advantages may make it easier to create a projectile that includes more propellant and/or payload while still permitting the projectile to be stored within existing containers having a fixed size.
US08878107B2
The present invention relates to a multi-level and vertical assembling type PTFE heater and the methods of manufacture thereof. Said heater includes a vertical frame assembled by multi-poles and upper and lower retaining plates. Several levels of PTFE sleeves and electrical heating belts are alternatively disposed on the multi-poles. The number of the poles is determined in accordance with the size and capacity of a heater desired and the power and levels of PTFE electrical heating belts with heating needs. Multiple levels of PTFE electrical heating belts are formed in an assembling way, by which heaters with varied powers are easily produced and with the elements replaceable, will not be wholly wasted in event of an element damaged, thus the heater service life prolonged. Said heater has a better heating result than the one with only a single level of heating structure.
US08878102B2
Base structures for use with a scent warmer comprise a support structure configured to receive thereon an at least substantially hollow member defining a cavity. An electrical connector extends from the support structure. A power cord connector extending from the support structure is electrically connected to the electrical connector using a rigid electrical connection and configured to physically secure and electrically communicate with a power cord. Methods of making a base structure for use with a scent warmer comprise configuring a support structure to receive thereon an at least substantially hollow member defining a cavity. An electrical connector that extends from the support structure is formed. A power cord connector configured to physically secure and electrically communicate with a power cord is electrically connected with the electrical connector using a rigid electrical connection.
US08878099B2
The present invention provides flux cored wire for welding duplex stainless steel which refines the solidified crystal grains for obtaining weld metal superior in toughness and ductility, characterized by containing, as the chemical ingredients included in the steel sheath and flux, by mass % with respect to the mass of the wire as a whole, C: 0.001 to 0.1%, Si: 0.01 to 1.0%, Mn: 2.0 to 6.0%, Cr: 17.0 to 27.0%, Ni: 1.0 to 10.0%, Mo: 0.1 to 3.0%, Al: 0.002 to 0.05%, Mg: 0.0005 to 0.01%, Ti: 0.001 to 0.5%, and N: 0.10 to 0.30%, further limiting P to 0.03% or less and S to 0.01% or less, satisfying 0.73×Cr equivalents−Ni equivalents≧4.0 and Ti (mass %)×N (mass %)≧0.0004, and having a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities.
US08878095B2
Systems and methods reduce or prevent back-reflections in a laser processing system. A system includes a laser source to generate an incident laser beam, a laser beam output to direct the incident laser beam toward a work surface along a beam path, and a spatial filter. The system further includes a beam expander to expand a diameter of the incident laser beam received through the spatial filter, and a scan lens to focus the expanded incident laser beam at a target location on a work surface. A reflected laser beam from the work surface returns through the scan lens to the beam expander, which reduces a diameter of the reflected beam and increases a divergence angle of the reflected laser beam. The spatial filter blocks a portion of the diverging reflected laser beam from passing through the aperture and returning to the laser beam output.
US08878086B2
A luminous keyboard includes a light-emitting element, a membrane circuit member, a key base plate, and plural keys. The membrane circuit member includes an upper wiring board and a lower wiring board. A first circuit pattern is formed on the lower wiring board. A second circuit pattern is formed on the upper wiring board. The first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern collectively define plural membrane switches. The lower wiring board further includes plural film layers for increasing the light-guiding efficacy of the lower wiring board. Moreover, the plural keys are connected to the key base plate. The key base plate is arranged between the plural keys and the membrane circuit member.
US08878081B2
A touch panel including a transparent substrate having an active area and an inactive area on a circumference of the active area; a plurality of X-axis and Y-axis electrodes; a first controller attached to a first side of the transparent substrate including the inactive area, and including a driving IC configured to control the X-axis and Y-axis electrode sensors; a second controller attached to a second side of the transparent substrate including the inactive area, in which the second side is opposite to the first side; a plurality of lead lines provided to the inactive area and connecting each of the X-axis and Y-axis electrode sensors with one of the first and second controllers; and a signal channel connecting the second controller to the driving IC of the first controller and being spaced away from the transparent substrate including the X-axis and Y-axis electrode sensors and the lead lines.
US08878076B2
A wiring substrate includes: a plate-like base material containing carbon fibers; a wiring layer formed on a surface of the base material; a first via including a first through hole penetrating through the base material, a first resin layer formed on an inner wall of the first through hole and including a second through hole, and a first conductive layer formed on an inner wall of the second through hole; and a second via including a third through hole penetrating through the base material and a second conductive layer formed on an inner wall of the third through hole, wherein an inside diameter of the third through hole is greater than an inside diameter of the second through hole.
US08878075B2
Providing a connecting structure for connecting first electrodes formed on the upper surface of a first substrate to second electrodes formed on the upper surface of a second substrate glued on the upper surface of the first substrate by an electrically conductive member, wherein the second substrate is smaller in its outer size than the first substrate, the first electrodes are arranged on the first substrate around the periphery of the second substrate, a gap is formed between the first and second substrates at the peripheral edge of the second substrate, an insulating resin is arranged near the first electrodes so as to cover portions of the side surfaces of the second substrate and to fill the gap between the first and second substrates, and the electrically conductive member is arranged over regions leading from the first electrodes through the insulating resin to the second electrodes.
US08878072B2
A method for forming a frame attachment interconnect between a substrate and a frame is disclosed. The method can include applying a composite material (e.g., epoxy-glass prepreg) to a surface of a substrate. The composite material can have one or more holes disposed to substantially align with a corresponding pad on the surface of the substrate. A metal disc is placed in each hole of the composite material on top of the corresponding pad. A frame member can be placed on top of the composite material and the metal discs. The frame member can have one or more pads disposed to substantially align with the metal discs. The substrate, composite material, metal discs and frame combination can be cured in a controlled atmosphere that can include a vacuum and a predetermined temperature to create discrete electrical connections between adjacent pads but with each encapsulated and electrically isolated.
US08878063B2
The layers of electric conducting material 18 formed into a charging folded closed loop 20 and a discharging folded closed loop 20 with the apex of the fold 22 of each folded closed loops in opposition to each other, being the ends of the cable, are separated from each other by a dielectric material 19, thereby making capacitive contact and creating opposing electric fields for each cycle of the alternating current, thereby transmitting an alternating current at constant voltage from a power supply to a point of transmission.
US08878056B2
A device and method for producing electricity by harnessing sunlight to produce an amplified voltage signal, the device including: (a) a sealed chamber, defined by a transparent housing; (b) an excitable medium, disposed within the chamber, in which, when the medium is exposed to solar light having wavelengths in a range of 0.2 to 3 micrometers, bound electrons in the excitable medium are elevated to at least one higher energy state; (c) electrodes, disposed in a spaced apart fashion, whereby the medium is between, and fluidly communicates with, the electrodes; (d) an electric circuit, the medium and the electrodes completing the circuit; (e) an initiating mechanism, adapted to initiate an initial voltage signal through the chamber, between the electrodes, and (f) a power source, associated with the circuit, and adapted to maintain the first voltage signal through the chamber, between the electrodes, whereby the bound electrons in the higher energy state transfer energy to free electrons traversing the first voltage signal to produce the amplified voltage signal, and wherein the excitable medium is selected, and adapted within the chamber, to absorb at least 5% of an energy flux within a wavelength range of 0.2 to 3 micrometers, emitted by a black body operating at 5500K, by elevating the bound electrons to the higher energy state.
US08878053B2
A bipolar solar cell includes a backside junction formed by an N-type silicon substrate and a P-type polysilicon emitter formed on the backside of the solar cell. An antireflection layer may be formed on a textured front surface of the silicon substrate. A negative polarity metal contact on the front side of the solar cell makes an electrical connection to the substrate, while a positive polarity metal contact on the backside of the solar cell makes an electrical connection to the polysilicon emitter. An external electrical circuit may be connected to the negative and positive metal contacts to be powered by the solar cell. The positive polarity metal contact may form an infrared reflecting layer with an underlying dielectric layer for increased solar radiation collection.
US08878051B2
For the production of vacuum elements, which optionally contain fittings in the form of at least one solar module (photovoltaic element) and/or a solar collector or a display element, negative pressure is produced in a space between two flat components, in particular translucent or transparent plates, such as glass panes that are bound together via a bead made of sealing material, such that an arrangement that consists of a first component provided with a bead and at a distance therefrom but parallel to the second component arranged therein, is introduced into a vacuum chamber and pressed under vacuum. In this case, an elevated temperature also optionally can be applied to laminate films provided between the components with the components and optionally present fittings.
US08878045B2
An acoustic effect impartment apparatus detects striking of any one of strings by a corresponding hammer in an acoustic piano like a grand piano, and vibrates a vibration section with a driving waveform signal obtained by synthesizing sine wave signals of the fundamental frequency and harmonic frequency of the hammer-struck string. Such vibration of the vibration section is transmitted to the keys via a soundboard and bridge of the piano. Thus, vibration is excited in the hammer-struck string by the striking with the hammer but also by the driving waveform signal, so that an acoustic effect corresponding to the driving waveform signal is imparted. Because the driving waveform signal is a simple signal using the sine wave signals corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the string, a natural feeling of the acoustic piano will not be lost even when the acoustic effect is imparted.
US08878025B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH462271. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH462271, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH462271 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH462271.
US08878022B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB74F13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB74F13, cells from soybean variety XB74F13, plants of soybean XB74F13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB74F13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB74F13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB74F13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB74F13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB74F13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB74F13 are further provided.
US08878014B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026413. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026413. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026413 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026413 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08877997B2
A process and apparatus is presented for the removal of solid particles from a gas stream. The process and apparatus includes adding a second stream of liquid that is sprayed over the openings in trays in a quench tower. The second spray stream provides for a veil of liquid to wash out solid particles from the vapor stream.
US08877992B2
Conversion of waste and other organic feedstock into sustainable energy, feed, fertilizer, and other useful products of reliable purities is accomplished using water, heat, and pressure. More specifically, the invention provides methods and apparatus that handle mixed streams of various feedstocks, e.g. agricultural waste, biological waste, municipal solid waste, municipal sewage sludge, and shredder residue, to yield gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids that can be used as is or are further processed. Useful products can be diverted at various points of the process or internalized to enhance the efficiency of the system.
US08877990B2
A process of making a chlorinated hydrocarbon through a thermal dehydrochlorination step in which an unsaturated compound represented by the following general formula (2) is obtained by thermally decomposing a saturated compound represented by the following general formula (1). CCl3—CCl2-mHm—CCl3-nHn (1) CCl2═CCl2-mHm-1—CCl3-nHn (2) (in the above formulas, m is 1 or 2, and n is an integer of 0 to 3.)
US08877988B2
In accordance with the present invention, processes for producing bromofluoropropenes in commercial quantities by reacting 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne with hydrogen bromide at elevated temperatures are provided.
US08877987B2
The present invention relates to the recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of an anhydrous ethanol composition. The process involves separating the crude ethanol product using one or more extractive distillation columns that employ one or more extractive agents. The anhydrous ethanol composition comprises less than 1 wt. % water, based on the total weight of the anhydrous ethanol composition.
US08877982B2
The invention relates to a process for transformation of lignoceliulosic biomass or cellulose that uses tungsten-oxide-based heterogeneous catalysts that are dispersed on an oxide-based substrate, preferably with a base of oxide(s) of aluminum and/or zirconium and/or titanium and/or niobium and containing an element in the particular metallic state. The use of these catalysts makes it possible to obtain directly upgradable products containing three carbon atoms, in particular hydroxyacetone and propylene glycol with high selectivity.
US08877981B2
A process to produce 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde is provided. The process comprises: A) oxidizing a mixture of propylene and inert diluent gases with air over a heterogeneous catalyst to obtain a gaseous oxidation reaction mixture comprising acrolein and by-products; B) quenching the gaseous oxidation reaction mixture to obtain a gas stream comprising acrolein and a quench liquid comprising residual acrolein and the by-products; C) stripping the acrolein from the by-products of the quench liquid and returning the stripped acrolein to the quench; D) absorbing a first portion of the gas stream comprising acrolein from the quench B) in water to obtain an aqueous acrolein solution and an uncondensable gaseous stream comprising inert gases; D1) recycling at least a portion of the uncondensable gaseous stream to the oxidation A) to supply the inert diluent gases; E) distilling the acrolein from the aqueous acrolein solution to obtain an acrolein-free aqueous bottom product; E1) condensing the distilled acrolein; F) reacting the distilled acrolein E1) and the gas stream comprising acrolein B) with methyl mercaptan in a mixture comprising at least one of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde and a hemithioacetal of methyl mercaptan and 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde to obtain the 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde.
US08877972B2
A process is described for preparing alkylene oxide-adducted hydrocarbyl amides having less than 2 wt % of amine by-products by a) reacting a C4-C30 fatty acid or fatty acid lower alkyl ester with a mono- or di-hydroxy hydrocarbyl amine to form a hydrocarbyl amide; b) reacting the hydrocarbyl amide with alkylene oxide; and c) extracting the product of b) with water, acidic water, or water-containing inorganic salts or a combination thereof at a temperature from about 5° C. to 95° C. to yield an alkylene oxide-adducted hydrocarbyl amide having less than 2 wt % of amine by-products.
US08877962B2
The present invention provides a method for efficiently producing a sulfonic acid group-containing ether compound having a high purity and a good polymerizability while preventing production of a byproduct, and provides a sulfonic acid group-containing ether compound containing fewer impurities and having a good radical (co)polymerizability.The present invention provides a method of producing a sulfonic acid group-containing ether compound by reacting a sulfurous acid compound with a compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 represents a single bond, a CH2 group, or a CH2CH2 group, and R2 represents H, or a CH3 group, the method comprising the steps of: adjusting pH of a reaction system to 5.5 or greater with use of an alkaline substance; and adding the compound represented by the formula (1) to a reaction vessel containing the sulfurous acid compound.
US08877961B2
C1-C6Alkyloxy- or benzyloxy-carbonyl esters of -{3-[(E)-(1-phenyl or naphthyl C1-C4alkyl)-imino]-propyl}-amino)-acetic acid, which are intermediates for producing known bridged monobactam compounds useful in the treatment of bacterial infections.
US08877960B2
When sulfinating a carboxylic acid bromofluoroalkyl ester by using a sulfinating agent, an organic base is used, thereby obtaining a fluoroalkanesulfinic acid ammonium salt. This is oxidized to obtain a fluoroalkanesulfonic acid ammonium salt. This is used as the raw material and is converted to an onium salt or is converted to an onium salt by going through saponification and esterification, thereby obtaining a fluoroalkanesulfonic acid onium salt. This fluoroalkanesulfonic acid onium salt is useful as a photoacid generator used for chemically amplified resist materials, etc.
US08877954B2
The present invention discloses functionalized nanoparticles comprising on the surface a covalently bound radical of the formula (I) wherein the nanoparticles are SiO2, Al2O3 or mixed SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles, and wherein the general symbols are as defined in claim 1. These functionalized nanoparticles are for example useful as stabilizers and/or compatibilizers in organic materials, or as photoinitiators in pre-polymeric or pre-crosslinking formulations, or as reinforcer of coatings and improver of scratch resistance in coating compositions for surfaces.
US08877950B2
Method for the manufacture of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural derivatives by reacting a fructose and/or glucose-containing starting material with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic or sub-stoichiometric amount of solid (“heterogeneous”) acid catalyst. The catalysts may be employed in a continuous flow fixed bed or catalytic distillation reactor. The ethers can be applied as a fuel or fuel additive.
US08877940B2
The present disclosure relates to benzimidazole-benzamide derivatives, and the use thereof, e.g., to treat infections.
US08877939B2
A copper catalyzed click chemistry ligation process is employed to bind azides and terminal acetylenes to provide 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole triazoles. The process comprises contacting an organic azide and a terminal alkyne with a source of reactive Cu(I) ion in human blood plasma to form by cycloaddition a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole. The source of reactive Cu(I) ion can be, for example, a Cu(I) salt, Cu(II) ion in the presence of a reducing agent, or copper metal.
US08877935B2
A process for the preparation of Dalfampridine (1), 4-aminopyridine, starting from 4-pyridinecarbonitrile using a one-pot procedure. Said process is carried out with no need for isolating intermediates and is particularly advantageous as far as environment, yields, productivity and purity of the resulting product are concerned, both in the reaction mixture and in the isolated crystal.
US08877929B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a process for synthesizing optionally substituted 1-chloro-4-methoxyisoquinolines. The present disclosure also relates to intermediates useful in this process.
US08877927B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, complex or pro-drug thereof (I), wherein: one of R1 and R2 is H, and the other is selected from F and Cl, or R1 and R2 are both F; R3 is selected from cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; R4 is an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered monocyclic or an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic aryl or heteroaryl ring which includes up to four heteroatoms. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I), and the use of such compounds in the treatment of a disease selected from osteoporosis, Paget's disease, Chagas's disease, malaria, gingival diseases, hypercalaemia, metabolic bone disease, diseases involving matrix or cartilage degradation, and bone cancer disorders such as bone metastases and associated pain.
US08877924B2
The invention provides triazine compounds and methods of their use to modulate protein kinases and to treat diseases mediated by said protein kinases.
US08877922B2
The present invention includes compounds having structural formula (I): or salts or solvates thereof. These compounds are useful as sweet flavor modifiers. The present invention also includes compositions comprising the present compounds and methods of modulating the sweet taste of compositions.
US08877919B2
The present disclosure concerns a method for producing a cellulose-containing mass, including an organic material, the method comprising the steps a) preparation of an input comprising organic material and a liquid content; and b) exposing said input to an active zone of an electromagnetic field. Moreover a method for producing a composite material that is based on said cellulose-containing mass is disclosed as well as a product produced of said composite material.
US08877914B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising a vector including a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide having the sequence X1LYQYMDDV, wherein X1 is any hydrophobic amino acid. The compositions are used to induce an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
US08877911B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for analyzing plant acetohydroxy acid synthase large subunit (AHASL) genes. In particular, the invention relates to methods for the detection of wild-type AHASL alleles and mutant AHASL alleles that encode imidazolinone-tolerant AHASL proteins. The methods involve the use of PCR amplification and novel compositions comprising allele-specific and gene-specific primers to detect the presence of mutant and/or wild-type alleles present at the individual AHASL genes of a plant. Specifically, the methods and compositions are useful for analyzing the three AHASL genes of Triticum aestivum and the two AHASL genes of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum.
US08877908B2
Disclosed are apta-chelamers comprising aptamer domains tethered to rationally designed synthetic protein-binding modules, and methods of designing and making the same. Also disclosed are stimulus-responsive apta-chelamers capable of simultaneously or sequentially binding (and, thus, inhibiting) two protein targets.
US08877907B2
Disclosed is a cross-linked molecularly imprinted polymer including cross-linked chitosan having selective binding sites for phosphate ions, phosphate containing molecules, or a combination of both.
US08877893B2
The methods and compositions described herein are based, in part, on the discovery that the introduction of a disulfide bond into an integrin polypeptide by the substitution of at least one cysteine residue in the polypeptide permits stabilization of the integrin in a “closed/inactive” state. This stabilizing disulfide bond permits integrins to be screened for a candidate molecule that can bind to the closed state. In particular, this approach can be used to screen for agents that bind to the closed state of an integrin polypeptide, and are useful as therapeutic treatments to prevent integrin activation.
US08877890B2
Melanocortin receptor-specific cyclic peptides of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are as defined in the specification, compositions and formulations including the peptides of the foregoing formula or salts thereof, and methods of preventing, ameliorating or treating melanocortin-1 receptor-mediated or responsive diseases, indications, conditions and syndromes.
US08877885B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for methods of producing a composition comprising a crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer having at least one crosslinkable silyl group in each molecule. The method comprises providing a polymer having at least one unsaturated group and at least one alcoholic hydroxyl group in each molecule, adding to the polymer a compound having a hydrogen-silicon bond and a crosslinkable silyl group in each molecule and a hydrosilylation catalyst to thereby carry out a hydrosilylation reaction to form a composition comprising hydrosilylated polyoxyalkylene polymers, reacting the hydrosilylated polyoxyalkylene polymers with at least one isocyanate in the presence of a first tin-free catalyst to form an isocyanate reacted hydrosilylated polymer, and optionally reacting the isocyanate reacted hydrosilylated polymer with a polyol having a nominal functionality of at least 2 to form a polyol reacted crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer.
US08877884B2
An adhesive composition is disclosed which includes a polymer prepared by copolymerizing a monomer containing a polymerizable group, the polymer including a low-molecular-weight component having a molecular weight equivalent to 1% or less of the weight-average molecular weight of the polymer, the low-molecular-weight component is contained in a range of not less than 0 weight % to less than 0.3 weight % of the total weight of the polymer. This allows provision of an adhesive composition having great adhesive strength in a high-temperature environment, especially at temperatures from 140° C. to 200° C., as well as high heat resistance and favorable crack resistance.
US08877881B2
This invention relates to Group 4 catalyst compounds containing anionic bidentate nitrogen/oxygen based ligands catalyst compounds useful for polymerization and or oligomerization of unsaturated monomers. The catalyst compounds are particularly useful, with or without activators, to polymerize olefins, particularly α-olefins, or other unsaturated monomers.
US08877870B2
A fluorinated elastic copolymer which has iodine atoms, bromine atoms, or both iodine and bromine atoms, at its molecular terminals and which includes repeating units (a) based on tetrafluoroethylene, repeating units (b) based on a fluorinated monomer having one polymerizable unsaturated bond (provided that tetrafluoroethylene is excluded), and repeating units (c) based on a fluorinated monomer having at least two polymerizable unsaturated bonds, wherein the ratio (molar ratio) of the repeating units (a) to the repeating units (b) is (a)/(b)=40/60 to 90/10, and the proportion of the repeating units (c) based on the total amount of the repeating units (a) and the repeating units (b) is from 0.01 to 1 mol %.
US08877860B2
A two-part curable liquid silicone rubber composition comprises a first liquid composition and a second liquid composition. The first and second liquid compositions are stored separately and yield, upon mixing, a silicone rubber forming composition. The silicone rubber composition comprises: (A) an alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane comprising (A-1) an organopolysiloxane having only a silicon-bonded alkenyl group at each molecular terminal and (A-2) an organopolysiloxane having from 1 to 4 silicon-bonded alkenyl groups in side molecular chains and containing not greater than 2.0 wt. % of alkenyl groups; (B) a calcium carbonate powder; (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst; and (D) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms.
US08877859B2
Aspartate-containing silicone copolymers are prepared in high yield and with low reaction time by preparing a monoester of hydroxyl functional polyether by reaction of the latter with maleic anhydride, and then reacting with a silicone containing at least one primary or secondary amino group.
US08877849B2
A thermosetting silicone resin composition for an LED reflector has: a thermosetting resin; at least one kind of white pigment selected from titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, barium carbonate, magnesium silicate, zinc sulfate, and barium sulfate; and an inorganic filler other than the pigment, which contains at least one kind of inorganic filler that has an average particle diameter of 30 μm to 100 μm and a refraction index that is different from a refraction index of a cured material of the thermosetting resin by 0.05 or more, and at least one kind of inorganic filler that has an average particle diameter of less than 30 μm. The thermosetting resin composition provides a cured material that has excellent heat and light resisting properties and hardly leaks light, a reflector for an LED obtained by molding using the composition, and an optical semiconductor apparatus using the reflector.
US08877844B2
Blocking resistance of highly pigmented aqueous coating compositions is improved by addition of an anti-blocking organosilicon composition containing. A) 100 parts by weight of at least one aminoalkyl-functional organopolysiloxane; B) from 1 to 20 parts by weight of at least one aminoalkyl-functional alkoxysilane or partial hydrolysis product thereof, and C) from 10 to 500 parts by weight of at least one silanol-functional organopolysiloxane free of aminoalkyl groups, wherein the weight percentages of A), B), and C) are relative to the total weight of components A), B), and C). The organosilicon composition is advantageously supplied in the form of an aqueous emulsion.
US08877829B2
The present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain cationic monomers capable of polymerization to form polymeric compositions having desirable physical characteristics useful in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices. Such properties include the ability to extract the polymerized medical devices with water. This avoids the use of organic solvents as is typical in the art. The polymeric compositions comprise polymerized cationic hydrophilic siloxanyl monomers prepared by the process disclosed herein.
US08877824B2
The present disclosure provides a series of new and improved porous polyamide aerogels derived from multifunctional aromatics that combine the high mechanical strength of aramids with the pore structure of aerogels. The polyamide aerogels have a hyperbranched structure, relatively low density, high porosity and are derived from functionalized monomers having more aromatic groups than functional groups. The present disclosure also provides a new method for producing the porous polyamide aerogels by polymerizing an aromatic multifunctional carboxylic acid with an isocyanate at moderate reaction condition followed by drying with liquid CO2.
US08877818B2
Compositions (3) and methods of using such compositions (3) to condition, clean, or disinfect the flow path of a conduit (8) of a microfluidic devices (16), such as flow cytometers or liquid chromatographs.
US08877814B2
The present invention relates to a titration scheme for the administration of a 1-amino-alkylcyclohexane derivative which allows for quick attainment of an effective dose of a 1-amino-alkylcyclohexane derivative while minimizing side effects. The present invention further relates to a titration package for providing a 1-amino-alkylcyclohexane derivative (e.g., neramexane or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof) in at least two different dosages. The present titration scheme/titration package may be useful in the treatment of various diseases, including tinnitus.
US08877813B2
It is intended to provide an antiinflammatory and analgesic preparation for external use whereby side effects of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory and analgesic drug on the skin can be regulated, the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory and analgesic drug can be prevented from degeneration with time due to a dibenzoylmethane derivative contained as an UV absorbent therein, the dibenzoylmethane derivative can be prevented from crystallization and sedimentation due to an oily phase component contained therein, and the inherent effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug can be fully exerted without showing skin irritation caused by the oily phase component, an emulsifier and a thickener. The above problem can be solved by providing an antiinflammatory and analgesic preparation for external use which comprises a base for external use containing an oily phase component, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory and analgesic drug and a dibenzoylmethane derivative and in which the total amount of fatty acid esters in the oily phase component is at least thrice as much as the content of the dibenzoylmethane derivative.
US08877812B2
Disclosed are nutritional formulations including predigested fats that can be administered to preterm infants, infants, toddlers, and children for improving tolerance, digestion, and absorption of nutrients and for reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, colic, and short bowel syndrome. The predigested fats include fatty acid-containing monoglycerides and/or a fatty acid component.
US08877805B2
Compounds represented by formula (I):wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful as hyperglycemic inhibitors having a serine protease inhibitory action and as prophylactic or therapeutic drugs for diabetes.
US08877801B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: in which n, m, X, Y1, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined in the Summary of the Invention; capable of being both potent antagonists and degraders of estrogen receptors. The invention further provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the invention, pharmaceutical preparations comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds and compositions in the management of diseases or disorders associated with aberrant estrogen receptor activity.
US08877797B2
This technology relates generally to compounds and methods for stimulating neurogenesis (e.g., post-natal neurogenesis, including post-natal hippocampal and hypothalamic neurogenesis) and/or protecting neuronal cell from cell death. Various compounds are disclosed herein. In vivo activity tests suggest that these compounds may have therapeutic benefits in neuropsychiatric and/or neurodegenerative diseases such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, normal aging, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, stroke, radiation therapy, chronic stress, abuse of a neuro-active drug, retinal degeneration, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, physiological weight loss associated with various conditions, as well as cognitive decline associated with normal aging, chemotherapy, and the like.
US08877795B2
Disclosed herein are compounds and compositions thereof which find use in increasing stability of TTR tetramers reducing its tendency to misfold and form aggregates. Also provided herein are methods for using these compounds and compositions for increasing stability of TTR and thereby decreasing aggregate formation by TTR. Also disclosed herein are methods to screen for candidate compounds that increase stability of TTR. Also disclosed herein are heterobifunctional compounds that include a TTR binding compound connected to a targeting moiety via a linker, for use in disrupting PPIs of a target protein.
US08877786B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula I; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, A1, A2, X1, s and m are defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US08877779B2
Provided is an ORL-1 receptor agonist having improved bioavailability based on superior metabolic stability and strong and high selectivity, as compared to conventional compounds. A compound represented by the formula (I) wherein each symbol is as defined in the claims.
US08877773B2
Methods and compositions that down regulate the activity of orexins to treat panic disorder and panic-like responses associated with hypercapnic conditions are disclosed.
US08877770B2
The present invention relates to a new polymorph of Rifaximin, designated κ, and to a process for the preparation thereof. Under certain aspects, the invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of the polymorphic form κ of Rifaximin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and its uses in the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions.
US08877768B2
There is described a method for increasing the maximal tolerated close and thus the efficacy of an acetyl choline esterase inhibitor (AChEI) in a patient suffering from an Alzheimer type dementia by decreasing concomitant adverse effects by administration of said AChEI in combination with a non-anticholinergic antiemetic agent, whereby an enhanced acetyl choline esterase inhibition in the CNS of said patient is achieved and alleviation of the symptoms of Alzheimer type dementia in said patient is thereby improved to a greater extent. The use of a non-anticholinergic antiemetic agent for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of Alzheimer type dementia in combination with an acetyl choline esterase inhibitor (AChEI) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising (a) a 5HT3 receptor antagonist, a dopamine antagonist, a H1-receptor antagonist, a cannabinoid agonist, aprepitant or casopitant as an antiemetic agent and (b) an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor are also described.
US08877763B2
Compounds of Formula (I) and methods for inhibiting kinases, including spleen tyrosine kinases, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for treating a kinase-mediated disease or condition by administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I).
US08877762B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions containing certain pyrimidine compounds such as minoxidil and/or certain pyrimidine sulfate (inner salt) compounds such as minoxidil sulfate and especially compositions containing pyrimidine compounds in combination with an admixtures comprising at least one antioxidant, at least one organic acid and a select fatty acid mixture. The present disclosure also relates to use of the compositions to grow and/or regrow hair and/or prevent hair loss in mammals and particularly in humans.
US08877760B2
Provided are substituted pyrazine-2-carboxamide compounds of Formula I: useful for inhibiting of Syk kinase, intermediates used in making such compounds, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for inhibition Syk kinase activity, and methods for treating conditions mediated at least in part by Syk kinase activity.
US08877757B2
The present invention is related to pyrazine derivatives of Formula (I) in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, transplantation, graft rejection or lung injuries.
US08877752B2
Provided are 4(1H)-quinolone derivatives effective in inhibiting or eliminating the viability of at least one of the stages in the life-cycle of the malarial parasite, and to show a reduced propensity to induce resistance to the compound by the target parasite. In particular, the compounds can be derivatives of phenoxyethoxy-quinolones, and including, but not only, 7-(2-phenoxyethoxy)quinolin derivatives. These compounds may be administered by themselves, with at least one other derivative compound, or with other antimalarial compounds, to an animal or human subject. The therapeutic compositions can be and formulated to reduce the extent of a Plasmodium infection in the recipient subject, or to reduce the likelihood of the onset or establishment of a Plasmodium infection if administered prior to the parasite contacting the subject. The therapeutic compositions can be formulated to provide an effective single dose amount of an antimalarial compound or multiple doses for administering over a period of time.
US08877736B2
The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating hypertrophic scar or keloid, comprising as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following general formula I: S-(MS)p-(MS)q (I) wherein S represents sialic acid, and (MS)p and (MS)q independently represent a monosaccharide residue. The composition of the present invention inhibits proliferation of keloid fibroblasts and induces apoptosis of keloid fibroblasts, thereby effectively preventing or treating keloid. The active ingredient used in this invention is a natural compound or its derivative or isomer and therefore very safe to human.
US08877728B2
The present invention relates to the discovery that, in human cancer, an 11q deletion of ATM together with an increase in ATR and CHEK1 expression correlates with resistance to ionizing radiation which could be overcome by inhibition of the ATR/CHEK1 pathway. It provides for methods of identifying patients unlikely to exhibit an adequate response to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy who may benefit from ATR/CHEK1 pathway inhibition, as well as methods of treating said patients.
US08877723B2
The invention provides methods for determining the susceptibility of cancer patients to developing adverse reactions if treated with a telomerase inhibitor drug by measurement of telomere length in appropriate cells of the patient prior to initiation of the telomerase inhibitor treatment.
US08877722B2
The inventors have examined the means for providing more efficacious miRNA blocking compounds. The inventors have discovered new structural features that surprisingly improve the efficacy of miRNA blocking molecules. These features include the presence of multiple 3′ ends and a linker at the 5′ ends. Surprisingly, these features improve the efficacy of the gene expression blocking compounds in a manner that decreases the compound's biologic instability. Even more surprisingly, this effect has been found to be applicable to both DNA and RNA oligonucleotide-based compounds and to have application in traditional antisense and RNAi technology.
US08877720B2
Disclosed are compounds represented by formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, solvates thereof, and solvates of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, W and are as defined in the present application.
US08877707B2
Provided herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and combination therapies for inhibition of hepatitis C.
US08877698B2
Aqueous hard surface treatment compositions necessarily comprise an alcohol constituent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, benzyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof which alcohol constituent comprises from about 40 and 70 weight percent (“% wt”) of the total weight of the composition of which it forms a part. Preferably however the alcohol constituent is present in an amount of from about 50% wt to about 70% wt, more preferably is present in amounts of from about 60% wt to about 70% wt.
US08877696B2
A cleaning composition may comprise a pH-switchable sudsing system and a cleansing system. The pH-switchable sudsing system may comprise a primary sudsing agent in combination with a pH-switchable co-surfactant. The pH-switchable co-surfactant is selected from diamine molecules having a general formula R1R2—N—R3—N+(CH3)3X−, where R1 is a linear or branched C8 to C16 hydrocarbyl, R2 is a linear or branched C1 to C3 hydrocarbyl, R3 is a linear or branched C3 to C6 hydrocarbylene, and X is a counteranion. The tertiary amine nitrogen of the pH-switchable co-surfactant has a pKa value. When the tertiary amine nitrogen is unprotonated, the pH-switchable co-surfactant may provide a suds-boosting effect in washing solutions at a washing pH above the pKa. When the tertiary amine nitrogen is protonated, the pH-switchable co-surfactant may provide a suds-reducing benefit in rinse waters at a rinse pH below the pKa.
US08877694B2
The present invention relates to a lubricating composition, particularly marine diesel engine lubricating compositions, comprising: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity; (b) an asphaltene dispersant comprising an amide group, which may also contain a succinimide group, and which may optionally be used in combination with additional asphaltene dispersants that contain a cyclic headgroup that contains a nitrogen atoms where the additional asphaltene dispersants may also include a succinimide group; and (c) a detergent derived from an alkyl phenol. The invention further provides methods of using such compositions in the operation of engine, particularly marine diesel engines.
US08877681B2
The present invention relates to the use of specific amphiphilic alkoxyates as synergistic adjuvant for agrotechnical applications. Suitable agrotechnical compositions are also described. Thus, the addition of such alkoxylates makes possible an accelerated uptake of active ingredients by the plant.The alkoxylates to be used are alkoxylates based on branched alcohols such as 2-propylheptanol, C13-oxo alcohols and C10-oxo alcohols.
US08877680B2
A reversible thermosensitive recording medium including a support, a reversible thermosensitive recording layer provided on the support and an antistatic layer, wherein the antistatic layer is provided on at least one of the reversible thermosensitive recording layer and a surface of the support opposite to the surface thereof on which the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is provided, wherein the antistatic layer contains spherical fillers and a curable conductive polymer, and wherein the spherical fillers satisfy the following Expression (1): 4≦average particle diameter of the spherical fillers/thickness of the antistatic layer≦6 Expression (1).
US08877679B2
Provided is a direct thermal media containing a regular repeating pattern of color-forming thermally-imageable stripes printed parallel to the print head element line and a system for using such direct thermal media in color direct thermal printers including an optical registration system optimized for use with this media and an image processing unit that monitors the position of the stripe pattern relative to the print head and synchronizes the start of the printing process. This direct thermal media together with the optical registration system and image processing unit comprise an operative system in that the design of the thermal media, the optical registration system and image processing unit used to control printing are optimized for use with each other. This system may be utilized, for example, in color thermal printers for documents, receipts, tags, tickets or labels.
US08877678B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a water dispersion paper having quick water dispersion property and high strength (printability) and whose paper surface pH is 6 to 8 (neutral range), and also to provide a water dispersion coated paper designed to ensure quick water dispersion property and prevent discoloration over time.A water dispersion paper made of wood pulp and/or non-wood pulp, wherein said water dispersion paper is characterized in that purified pulp containing α-cellulose by 88 percent by weight or more accounts for 15 to 95 percent by weight of all pulp, as well as a water dispersion coated paper having a water-soluble coating layer on said water dispersion paper.
US08877676B2
This invention relates to a heterogeneous copper nanocatalyst composed of copper nanoparticles immobilized on a boehmite support, a method of preparing the same, and the use thereof. The copper nanocatalyst composed of the copper nanoparticles supported on boehmite exhibits excellent performance in a Huisgen cycloaddition reaction and an A3 coupling reaction of aldehyde, amine and alkyne. The copper nanocatalyst is able to be prepared in a large scale and shows superior reactivity even when used in a small amount under mild conditions without an additive in an organic reaction. This heterogeneous catalyst is easy to separate and reuse after the reaction.
US08877675B2
An exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes: a catalyst particle unit having at least noble metal with a catalytic function, first oxides on which the catalyst noble metal is supported, and second oxides covering the first oxides on which the noble metal is supported. In catalyst powder formed of an aggregate of plural pieces of the catalyst particle units, at least one type of compounds selected from the group consisting of a transition element, an alkali earth metal element, an alkali metal element, and a rare earth element, which is a promoter component, are contained.
US08877673B2
A method of making a supported catalyst for reforming of steam and hydrocarbons and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process using the supported catalyst. The supported catalyst is made from a mixture comprising 20 to 99.5 mass % of lanthanum-stabilized γ-alumina and/or lanthanum-stabilized θ-alumina, 0 to 60 mass % oalumina, 0 to 25 mass % of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate, and 0.5 to 5 mass % of graphite, a cellulose ether, and/or magnesium stearate. The supported catalyst has a porosity between 55% and 75% and a pore volume between 0.3 cc/g and 0.65 cc/g.
US08877672B2
A catalyst composition comprising (i) a metal salt complex prepared from an imine phenol compound characterized by Structure 1: wherein O and N represent oxygen and nitrogen respectively; R comprises a halogen, a hydrocarbyl group, or a substituted hydrocarbyl group; R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, a halogen, a hydrocarbyl group, or a substituted hydrocarbyl group; and Q is a donor group; and (ii) a metallocene complex.
US08877663B2
This invention relates to a crystal glass having a refractive index higher than 1.53 and a high mechanical strength, free of any content of compounds of lead, barium and arsenic and guaranteeing maximum safety for health, which consists in that it comprises by weight: 55-70% SiO2, 0.05-3.5% Li2O, 2-15% Na2O, more than 3% and less than 5% or more than 15% and less than 19% K2O, 5 to 10% CaO, more than 1% and less than 4% or more than 7% and less than 8% ZnO, 0.1-3.5% B2O3, 0.1-3.5% Al2O3, 0.1-3.5% TiO2, less than 3.5% ZrO2, 0.05-1.5% Gd2O,3 0.05-1% P2O5, 0.1-1% Sb2O3.
US08877655B2
The present invention relates to a process and system for depositing a thin film onto a substrate. One aspect of the invention is depositing a thin film metal oxide layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD).
US08877647B2
A method of forming memory device is provided. A substrate having at least two cell areas and at least one peripheral area between the cell areas is provided. A target layer, a sacrificed layer and a first mask layer having first mask patterns in the cell areas and second mask patterns in the peripheral area are sequentially formed on the substrate. Sacrificed layer is partially removed to form sacrificed patterns by using the first mask layer as a mask. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the sacrificed patterns. The sacrificed patterns and at least the spacers in the peripheral area are removed. A second mask layer is formed in the cell areas. Target layer is partially removed, using the second mask layer and remaining spacers as a mask, to form word lines in the cell areas and select gates in a portion of cell areas adjacent to the peripheral area.
US08877643B2
This invention is to provide a method of polishing a silicon wafer wherein a high flatness can be attained likewise the conventional polishing method and further the occurrence of defects due to the remaining of substances included in the polishing solution on the surface of the wafer can be suppressed as well as a polished silicon wafer. The method of polishing a silicon wafer by supplying a polishing solution containing abrasive grains onto a surface of a polishing pad and then relatively sliding the polishing pad to a silicon wafer to polish the surface of the silicon wafer, is characterized in that the number of abrasive grains included in the polishing solution is controlled to not more than 5×1013 grains/cm3.
US08877640B2
A cleaning solution is provided. The cleaning solution includes an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid, a chain sulfonic acid substantially less than 4 wt % and an amine containing buffer agent.
US08877636B1
Systems and methods that incorporate nanostructures into microdevices are discussed herein. These systems and methods can allow for standard microfabrication techniques to be extended to the field of nanotechnology. Sensors incorporating nanostructures can be fabricated as described herein, and can be used to reliably detect a range of gases with high response.
US08877633B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a trench/via in a layer of insulating material, forming a barrier system comprised of at least one barrier material and at least two metallic elements, and performing a heating process to form a metal alloy comprised of the at least two metallic elements in the barrier system. Also disclosed is a device that comprises a trench/via in a layer of insulating material, a barrier system positioned in the trench/via, wherein the barrier system comprises at least one barrier material and a metal alloy comprised of at least two metallic elements that are comprised of materials other than the at least one barrier material, and a conductive structure positioned in the trench/via above the barrier system.
US08877625B1
One method includes forming first and second devices by forming a first layer of gate insulation material having a first thickness for the first device, forming a layer of high-k insulation material having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness for the second device and forming first and second metal-containing gate electrode structures that contact the first layer of gate insulation material and the high-k insulation material. A device disclosed herein includes first and second semiconductor devices wherein the first gate structure comprises a layer of insulating material having a first portion of a first metal layer positioned on and in contact with the layer of insulating material and a second gate structure comprised of a layer of high-k insulation material and a second portion of the first metal layer positioned on and in contact with the layer of high-k insulation material.
US08877609B2
A method for manufacturing a bonded substrate that has an insulator layer in part of the bonded substrate includes: partially forming a porous layer or forming a porous layer whose thickness partially varies on a bonding surface of the base substrate; performing a heat treatment to the base substrate having the porous layer formed thereon to change the porous layer into the insulator layer, and thereby forming the insulator layer whose thickness partially varies on the bonding surface of the base substrate; removing the insulator layer whose thickness varies by an amount corresponding to a thickness of a small-thickness portion by etching; bonding the bonding surface of the base substrate on which an unetched remaining insulator layer is exposed to a bond substrate; and reducing a thickness of the bonded bond substrate and thereby forming a thin film layer.
US08877601B2
An active device region is formed in and on a semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer is formed over the active device region, wherein the interconnect layer comprises a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, a first metal interconnect in the first dielectric material, and a second metal interconnect in the first dielectric material and laterally spaced apart from the first metal interconnect. A portion of the first dielectric material is removed such that a remaining portion of the first dielectric material remains within the interconnect layer, wherein the removed portion is removed from a location between the first and second metal interconnects. The location between the first and second metal interconnects from which the portion of the first dielectric material was removed is filled with a second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant being higher than the first dielectric constant.
US08877595B2
A transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate with a gate over a channel region, source/drain extension regions in the substrate adjacent the channel region, and source/drain regions in the substrate adjacent the source/drain extension regions. Silicide is formed on the source/drain extension regions and the source/drain regions so that the silicide has a first thickness over the source/drain extension regions and a second thickness over source/drain regions, with the second thickness being greater than the first thickness. Silicide on the source/drain extension regions lowers transistor series resistance which boosts transistor performance and also protects the source/drain extension regions from silicon loss and silicon damage during contact etch.
US08877582B2
One method herein includes forming a gate structure above an active area of a semiconductor substrate, forming sidewall spacer structures adjacent the gate structure, forming a masking layer that allows implantation of ions into the gate electrode but not into areas of the active region where source/drain regions for the transistor will be formed, performing a gate ion implantation process to form a gate ion implant region in the gate electrode and performing an anneal process. An N-type transistor including sidewall spacer structures positioned adjacent a gate structure, a plurality of source/drain regions for the transistor and a gate implant region positioned in a gate electrode, wherein the gate implant region is comprised of ions of phosphorous, arsenic or an implant material with an atomic size that is equal to or greater than the atomic size of phosphorous at a concentration level that falls within the range of 5e18-5e21 ions/cm3.
US08877572B2
Graphene device manufacturing apparatus and graphene device manufacturing method using the apparatus
A graphene device manufacturing apparatus includes an electrode, a graphene structure including a metal catalyst layer formed on a substrate, a protection layer, and a graphene layer between the protection layer and the metal catalyst layer, a power unit configured to apply a voltage between the electrode and the metal catalyst layer, and an electrolyte in which the graphene structure is at least partially submerged.
US08877569B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device provided with a thin film transistor having excellent electric characteristics using an oxide semiconductor layer. An In—Sn—O-based oxide semiconductor layer including SiOX is used for a channel formation region. In order to reduce contact resistance between the In—Sn—O-based oxide semiconductor layer including SiOX and a wiring layer formed from a metal material having low electric resistance, a source region or drain region is formed between a source electrode layer or drain electrode layer and the In—Sn—O-based oxide semiconductor layer including SiOX. The source region or drain region and a pixel region are formed using an In—Sn—O-based oxide semiconductor layer which does not include SiOX.
US08877568B2
Methods of making a logic transistor in a logic region and an NVM cell in an NVM region of a substrate include forming a conductive layer on a gate dielectric, patterning the conductive layer over the NVM region, removing the conductive layer over the logic region, forming a dielectric layer over the NVM region, forming a protective layer over the dielectric layer, removing the dielectric layer and the protective layer from the logic region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the logic region and a remaining portion of the protective layer, and forming a first metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer. The first metal layer, the high-k dielectric, and the remaining portion of the protective layer are removed over the NVM region. A conductive layer is deposited over the remaining portions of the dielectric layer and over the first metal layer, and the conductive layer is patterned.
US08877564B2
One embodiment is directed towards a method of manufacturing a packaged circuit. The method includes partially etching an internal surface of a lead frame at dividing lines between future sections of the lead frame as first partial etch. One or more dies are attached to the internal surface of the lead frame and encapsulated. The method also includes partially etching an external surface of the lead frame at the dividing lines to disconnect different sections of lead frame as a second partial etch, wherein the second partial etch removes a laterally wider portion of the lead frame than the first partial etch of the internal surface; and partially etching the external surface of the lead frame as a third partial etch, wherein the third partial etch overlaps a portion of the second partial etch and extends deeper into the lead frame than the second partial etch.
US08877562B2
An LED includes a compound semiconductor structure having first and second compound layers and an active layer, first and second electrode layers atop the second compound semiconductor layer and connected to respective compound layers. An insulating layer is coated in regions other than where the first and second electrode layers are located. A conducting adhesive layer is formed atop the non-conductive substrate, connecting the same to the first electrode layer and insulating layer. Formed on one side surface of the non-conductive substrate and adhesive layer is a first electrode connection layer connected to the conducting adhesive layer. A second electrode connection layer formed on another side surface is connected to the second electrode layer. By forming connection layers on respective side surfaces of the light-emitting device, manufacturing costs can be reduced.
US08877561B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, semiconductor dies are at least partially coated with a conductive adhesive prior to singulation and subsequently bonded to a substrate having electrical traces thereon.
US08877558B2
A method of making an electronic device includes forming an electrically conductive pattern on a substrate, forming a coverlay layer on the substrate and the electrically conductive pattern, forming a partially cured, tacky adhesive layer on the coverlay layer, and forming openings in the coverlay layer and the partially cured, tacky adhesive layer aligned with the electrically conductive pattern. The method includes positioning an IC on the partially cured, tacky adhesive layer and thereafter curing the partially cured tacky adhesive layer to thereby simultaneously mechanically secure and electrically interconnect the IC to the substrate, the IC having bond pads on a surface thereof.
US08877557B2
An organic light emitting display device is manufactured by: preparing a target substrate that includes sub-pixel areas (each having a thin film transistor) and pixel defining areas (each having a conductive layer) between the sub-pixel areas; preparing an ionized deposition material by vaporizing and ionizing a deposition material; applying a ground voltage to one of the sub-pixel areas while applying a voltage having a same polarity as the ionized deposition material to the neighboring ones of the sub-pixel areas and to the pixel defining areas; and depositing the ionized deposition material on the one of the sub-pixel areas to form an organic thin layer while the one of the sub-pixel areas is polarized by an electric field generated by the voltage being applied to the conductive layer of the pixel defining areas.
US08877553B2
The present invention generally comprises a floating slit valve for interfacing with a chamber. A floating slit valve moves or “floats” relative to another object such as a chamber. The slit valve may be coupled between two chambers. When a chamber coupled with the slit valve is heated, the slit valve may also be heated by conduction. As the slit valve is heated, it may thermally expand. When a vacuum is drawn in a chamber, the slit valve may deform due to vacuum deflection. By disposing a low friction material spacer between the chamber and the slit valve, the slit valve may not rub against the chamber during thermal expansion/contraction and/or vacuum deflection and thus, may not generate undesirable particle contaminants. Additionally, slots drilled through the chamber for coupling the slit valve to the chamber may be sized to accommodate thermal expansion/contraction and vacuum deflection of the slit valve.
US08877549B2
A system and method for forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, in which the substrate is contacted with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, at temperature below 350° C., with the contacting being carried out via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. Various tellurium, germanium and germanium-tellurium precursors are described, which are useful for forming GST phase change memory films on substrates.
US08877543B2
A method for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell is provided. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a photo electrode including (a) mixing a TiO2 powder, a Zn-containing compound and an alkaline aqueous solution to form a mixture and performing a thermal process on the mixture to form a Zn-doped TiO2 powder; (b) mixing a binder solution with the Zn-doped TiO2 powder to form a paste; (c) coating the paste on a first electrode, and the paste is sintered to form a Zn-doped TiO2 porous layer, wherein the Zn-doped TiO2 porous layer and the first electrode construct a photo electrode; (d) disposing a second electrode opposite to the photo electrode after a dye is absorbed by the Zn-doped TiO2 porous layer; and (e) disposing an electrolyte between the photo electrode and the second electrode.
US08877536B1
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including a MEMS device includes forming a structural layer above a substrate including at least one semiconductor device. The method includes forming an attachment to a first portion of the structural layer, the attachment having a thickness substantially greater than a thickness of the structural layer. In at least one embodiment of the method, the attachment is conjoined with the first portion of the structural layer and the first portion of the structural layer and the attachment are operative to mechanically move in unison. In at least one embodiment of the method, forming the attachment includes forming a patterned filler layer of a first material above the structural layer and forming a patterned conformal layer of a second material on the patterned filler layer. The filler layer has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the structural layer.
US08877532B2
A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence display device includes an organic compound layer which is placed between a pair of electrodes and includes at least an emission layer, the organic compound layer being two-dimensionally arranged, includes forming the organic compound layer which is insoluble in water in an entire emission region on a substrate, providing a mask layer containing a water-soluble material in at least a part of a region on the organic compound layer, removing a part of the organic compound layer which is provided in a region which is other than the region in which the mask layer is provided, removing the mask layer, and forming, after the removing of the mask layer, a layer containing at least an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal in a region including at least the emission region.
US08877530B2
A method may be provided for preparing a semiconductor light-emitting device. The method may include: preparing a first wafer in which a semiconductor multi-layered light-emitting structure is disposed on an upper part of an initial substrate; preparing a second wafer which is a supporting substrate; bonding the second wafer on an upper part of the first wafer; separating the initial substrate of the first wafer from a result of the bonding; and fabricating a single-chip by severing a result of the passivation. Other embodiments may be provided.
US08877528B2
A method for producing a light emitting transfer sheet includes the steps of preparing a light emitting element sheet including a light semiconductor layer connected to an electrode portion on one side surface and a phosphor layer laminated on the other side surface; dividing the light emitting element sheet into plural pieces to form a plurality of light emitting elements; disposing a plurality of the light emitting elements on a substrate to be spaced apart from each other; forming a reflecting resin layer containing a light reflecting component on the substrate so as to cover the light emitting elements; and removing the reflecting resin layer partially so that one side surface of the electrode portion is exposed from the reflecting resin layer.
US08877526B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and a light emitting part. The first semiconductor layer includes an n-type semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a p-type semiconductor layer. The light emitting part is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and includes a plurality of barrier layers and a well layer provided between the plurality of barrier layers. The first semiconductor layer has a first irregularity and a second irregularity. The first irregularity is provided on a first major surface of the first semiconductor layer on an opposite side to the light emitting part. The second irregularity is provided on a bottom face and a top face of the first irregularity, and has a level difference smaller than a level difference between the bottom face and the top face.
US08877519B2
A chemical sensor element contains a resonator having a first reflector in which particles of a fine metal structure are arranged two-dimensionally and periodically is counterposed with interposition of a dielectric layer to a second reflector, wherein the resonance wavelength of a resonator in which the entire of the first reflector is replaced by a metal thin film having the same thickness as the metal fine structure is different from the surface plasmon resonance wavelength induced in the metal fine structure; and the mode of the surface plasmon resonance excited in the metal fine structure is coupled with the mode of the resonator in which the entire of the first reflector is replaced by the metal thin film.
US08877510B2
A cartridge device having a receiving portion for receiving a blood sample and a jack portion for receiving a plug; a stirring device for circulating the blood sample within the receiving portion; and an electrode holder having at least one incorporated electrode wire pair; wherein the electrode holder is attachable to the cell such that one end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a sensor unit for measuring the electrical impedance between the two electrode wires of the at least one electrode wire pair within the blood sample and that the opposite end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a plug portion being connectable directly to the plug for an electrical connection of the sensor unit to an analyzer.
US08877508B2
The present disclosure relates to dressings, such as patches and bandages, and other devices and systems that deliver nitric oxide.
US08877507B2
An automated method for assuring sample adequacy. The method includes providing a sample in a testing container, activating an illumination source to pass an illumination beam through the testing container and into the sample, and detecting an intensity of an emitted beam. The emitted beam includes at least a portion of the illumination beam that has been scattered by the sample. The method also includes generating a sample turbidity measurement based on the intensity of the emitted beam, and determining, based on the sample turbidity measurement, an adequacy of the sample to provide accurate results in a primary test.
US08877504B2
The present invention is related to a method for the selection of recombinant clones having integrated a gene of interest and a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional antidote protein to a toxic molecule, wherein said recombinant clones are the ones which survive following their integration into a host cell comprising in its genome a nucleotide sequence encoding said toxic molecule. The present invention is also related to a nucleic acid construct, a vector comprising said nucleic acid construct, a host cell and a cloning and/or sequencing kit for performing said method.
US08877502B2
The present invention relates to plasmid curing, and particularly to efficient and stress-free methods for displacing resident or endogenous plasmids from a host cell, such as a bacterium. The invention extends to method of displacing a plasmid comprising a post-segregational killing system from a host cell, the method comprising introducing a recombinant nucleic acid molecule into a host cell harboring a plasmid comprising a post-segregational killing (PSK) system, characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid molecule is adapted to neutralize the toxic effects of the plasmid's post-segregational killing system, and wherein the nucleic acid molecule is also adapted to outcompete or inhibit replication of the plasmid. The invention further extends to recombinant nucleic acid molecules that can be used in this method, as well as further uses of the methods and nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
US08877495B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of expanding myeloid progenitor cells by culturing an initial population of cells in a medium comprising a mixture of cytokines and growth factors that promote growth and expansion of the myeloid progenitor cells. The expanded cell population provides a source of cells as therapeutic treatments for neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia arising in patients subjected to myeloablative therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
US08877494B2
The present invention relates to topical ophthalmic compositions for treating or preventing epithelial lesions or ophthalmic disorders, including dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
US08877492B2
The present invention relates to virus growth media that improve the yield of alpha-herpesviruses (e.g., HSV-2) grown in cell cultures. The growth media of the invention include two additives, a disaccharide and a lipid mixture, that can be added to serum-free or serum-enriched growth media to improve the efficiency of virus production. The invention further provides methods of producing alpha-herpesviruses (e.g., HSV-2) in such growth media.
US08877491B2
Method for the humanization of the VH and VL variable regions of an animal antibody of known sequence, humanized animal antibody obtainable according to the method, in particular anti-NGF and anti-TrkA humanized animal antibodies.
US08877487B2
A photobioreactor apparatus in which a reaction chamber contains a slurry of water, nutrients and photosynthetic organisms. The sidewall of the reaction chamber is constructed of translucent material, thereby permitting light to be conveyed into the slurry to promote photosynthesis. The interior of the reaction chamber is in fluid communication with a gas dispenser. A lift member is disposed in the reaction chamber and gas is introduced in the slurry beneath the lift member, thereby providing buoyancy to lift the lift member, thereby providing agitation and movement of the slurry within the photobioreactor and enhancing growth of photosynthetic organisms.
US08877486B2
An airlift circulation micro-algae photoautotrophic-heterotrophic coupling photobioreactor for wastewater treatment carbon emission mitigation includes feeding pipe, micro-algae heterotrophic zone, gas-liquid separation chamber, micro-algae phototrophic zone, bottom backflow zone, discharge pipe, and the liquid drained zone.
US08877485B2
A method and an automated apparatus for processing at least one biological sample arranged on a slide. At least one capillary staining module has a slide rack holder configured to detachably hold a slide rack configured to hold slides, and a capillary lid rack holder configured to detachably hold a capillary lid rack configured to hold capillary lids, wherein the slide rack can be removed independently of removing the capillary lid rack. A first fluid container has a first fluid. The apparatus being configured to automatically rotate the one or more slides, and to move the lids towards the slides to automatically form a capillary gap between each slide and each capillary lid, said capillary gap functioning as a capillary chamber; and to supply an amount of the first fluid to the slide.
