po Protein hydrolysate compositions having improved sensory characteristics and physical properties By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides protein hydrolysate compositions, processes for making protein hydrolysate compositions, and food products comprising protein hydrolysate compositions. The protein hydrolysate compositions generally comprise polypeptide fragments having primarily either an arginine residue or a lysine residue at each carboxyl terminus. Full Article
po Cross-linked biopolymers, related compositions and methods of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides stabilized oil-in-water emulsions with an extended range of chemical, thermal and/or mechanical stabilities, and method(s) for their preparation. Such preparations provide an environmentally-protective biopolymer component exhibiting improved adherence to the dispersed phase, reducing or eliminating dissociation therefrom under such conditions, for use in the context of a range of food, pharmaceutical, personal care, health care, cosmetic and other end-use applications. Full Article
po Shortening particle compositions and dough products made therefrom By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids. Full Article
po Saccharification enzyme composition and method of saccharification thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase (AmyE) or its variants thereof. AmyE or its variants thereof may be used to more efficiently produce fermentable sugars from starch. Also disclosed are a composition comprising a glucoamylase and AmyE or variant thereof and a method of processing starch utilizing the described enzyme composition. Full Article
po Camera protection module for portable device case By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mobile device case defining an aperture and a camera protection module within the aperture. The camera protection module may be a separate element from the case shell or may be formed as an integral part of shell. Full Article
po Portable support having extendable rod By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable support for supporting equipment above a surface having an opening to a subsurface space. The support includes a head, an elevator on the head, and legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface. Each of the legs has a foot for engaging the surface when supporting the head above the surface. The support also includes an elongate rod vertically mounted on the elevator for movement between a raised position, in which an upper end of the rod extends above the head, and a lowered position, in which a lower end of the rod extends below the feet of the legs to extend into the subsurface space. The support includes an instrument platform positionable on the lower end of the rod when in the lowered position to support the equipment in the subsurface space when the rod is in the lowered position. Full Article
po Moving member control apparatus and imaging apparatus incorporating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a moving member control apparatus that makes sure unerring control of a moving member having an ill-balanced structure and an imaging apparatus that incorporates that control apparatus. Full Article
po Frame and insert for mounting a mobile device to a tripod By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for mounting a mobile device on a tripod includes a frame with a rigid peripheral member defining an opening therethrough. The peripheral member includes a mount configured to releasably couple the frame to the tripod. An insert is sized and shaped to be placed into the opening of the frame and releasably engage at least a portion of the peripheral member in an assembled configuration. The insert has a membrane in the form of a cavity configured to releasably receive and support the mobile device. The membrane extends over at least a portion of the opening of the frame in the assembled configuration and includes at least one camera hole extending therethrough that is aligned with a camera lens of the mobile device when the mobile device is mounted in the cavity. Full Article
po Component cover having variable light transmissivity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a broad aspect, embodiments described herein are generally directed to an electronic device comprising: a housing; a component mounted within the housing; a component cover in fixed relation to the housing; wherein the component cover is configurable between at least a first state and a second state; and wherein light transmissivity through the component cover is greater when in the second state than when in the first state. In some implementations, in the first state the component cover is substantially opaque, or in the second state the component cover is substantially transparent. Full Article
po Method and apparatus for determining linear position using multiple magnetic field sensors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The linear position of an object is estimated using multiple magnetic field sensors and a magnet. The multiple magnetic field sensors are held in fixed relation to one another and in moving relation with respect to the magnet. Readings of the first and second magnetic field sensors and the fixed distance between the first and second magnetic field sensors may be used to estimate the linear position. In some embodiments, an estimated frequency of an approximately sinusoidal field versus position characteristic is also used as part of the estimation. Full Article
po Robotic marionettes on magnetically-supported and highly mobile puppeteer platforms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for suspending and positioning marionettes. The apparatus includes a thin, planar support membrane such as a plastic sheet. A tender vehicle is positioned on the upper side of the support membrane. A motor or other drive mechanism selectively positions the tender vehicle relative to the support membrane. The apparatus includes a puppeteer vehicle from which a marionette is suspended. The puppeteer vehicle is positioned proximate to the lower side of the support membrane opposite the tender vehicle. To support the puppeteer vehicle, one or both of the vehicles includes one or more rotatable magnetic elements such that the attractive forces support the weight of the puppeteer vehicle and the marionette. Typically, the puppeteer vehicle is a passive follower, and the drive mechanism of the tender vehicle includes motors to move the magnetic elements and position the tender and following puppeteer vehicle with its marionette to provide a show. Full Article
po Vibration powered toy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load. Full Article
po Toy sports-player figure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a mini-figure that may be used with existing and standard toy block systems and also have the appearance of a sports figure. Improvements over traditional mini-figures include additional separate components in the arms and feet, an optional variation in torso shape, accessories which create visual impression of sports figures in natural use, unique markings identifiable by specific player or production, and a unique method of marketing and distribution. Full Article
po Moldable sand compositions and methods for making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to moldable sand compositions, methods for making the moldable sand compositions, and methods for using the moldable sand compositions. In a particular embodiment, the moldable sand composition comprises between about 70% to about 95% sand, between about 5% to about 30% water, a polar polymeric resin, a crosslinking agent, and a humectant. In an exemplary embodiment, the composition contains no oils, waxes, glycols, or rubbers. The composition is capable of becoming hardened over time in order to maintain the achieved shape, and can be re-wetted and molded again after becoming hardened. Full Article
po Methods of modulating microlasers at ultralow power levels, and systems thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A microlaser system includes an optical source, a microlaser, an actuator switch, and a photovoltaic power source. The microlaser, which includes a control element, is optically pumped by at least a portion of light emitted by the optical source. The actuator switch is configured to be activated by a triggering event. Furthermore, the photovoltaic power source is coupled in a series connection with the actuator switch and the control element, the series connection configured to connect the photovoltaic power source to the control element of the microlaser when the actuator switch is activated by the triggering event. Full Article
po Conduction cooled high power semiconductor laser and method for fabricating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A conduction cooled high power semiconductor laser and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The conduction cooled high power semiconductor laser comprises a heat sink (2) and one or more semiconductor laser units (1). The semiconductor laser unit consists of a laser chip (3), a substrate (4) bonded to the laser chip for heat dissipation and electrical connection, and an insulation plate (5) soldered to the substrate for insulation and heat dissipation. The semiconductor laser unit is soldered on the heat sink with the insulation plate therebetween. The semiconductor laser unit may be tested, aged, and screened in advance, and thereby the yield of the lasers can be improved and the manufacturing costs can be reduced. The laser has desirable heat dissipation performance, high reliability, and is applicable to high temperature and other complex and volatile environments. Full Article
po Hyperbolic metamaterials as distributed bragg mirrors for high power VCSEL devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Implementing a layered hyperbolic metamaterial in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to improve thermal conductivity and thermal dissipation thereby stabilizing optical performance. Improvement in the thermal management and power is expected by replacing the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors in the VCSEL. The layered metamaterial structure performs the dual function of the DBR and the heat spreader at the same time. Full Article
po Interposer configuration with thermally isolated regions for temperature-sensitive opto-electronic components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An interposer (support substrate) for an opto-electronic assembly is formed to include a thermally-isolated region where temperature-sensitive devices (such as, for example, laser diodes) may be positioned and operate independent of temperature fluctuations in other areas of the assembly. The thermal isolation is achieved by forming a boundary of dielectric material through the thickness of the interposer, the periphery of the dielectric defining the boundary between the thermally isolated region and the remainder of the assembly. A thermo-electric cooler can be used in conjunction with the temperature-sensitive device(s) to stabilize the operation of these devices. Full Article
po High power single mode ytterbium fiber laser system with single mode neodymium fiber pump source By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A high power fiber laser system emitting a substantially diffraction limited beam with a Gaussian intensity profile includes a single mode (“SM”) neodymium fiber pump source outputting a SM pump light; a seed laser operative to emit a SM signal light at a wavelength greater than that of the pump light; a SM DWM receiving and multiplexing the SM pump and signal lights. The disclosed system further includes a booster fiber amplifier which is configured with a frustoconically-shaped ytterbium (“Yb”) doped core receiving the pump and signal lights and configured with a small diameter input end which supports only a SM and a large diameter output end which is capable of supporting the SM and high order modes (:HOM”). The booster further has a cladding surrounding and coextending with the core, the core being configured for having intensity profiles of respective SMs of pump and signal lights overlap one another so that an overlap integral substantially equals to one (1) along an entire length of the core. The SM of the light signal extracts substantially the entire energy from the pump mode leaving the HOMs without amplification necessary to affect a quality of the diffraction limited beam of the system in a MW peak power range and hundreds of watt average power range. Full Article
po Communication module and portable electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A communication module according to the present invention includes a substrate, a laser element and a light receiving element provided on a front surface of the substrate and separating from each other, a transparent resin package collectively sealing the laser element and the light receiving element, and a diffusion unit provided to be opposed to a light emitting surface of the laser element at a prescribed distance for diffusing a laser beam emitted by the laser element, while the distance T between the laser element and the light receiving element satisfies the following formula (1): T≧t1·tan θ+(t1+t2)·tan θ' . . . (1) (in the formula (1), t1 represents the distance between the light emitting surface of the laser element and the diffusion unit, θ represents the maximum angle of emission of the laser element, t2 represents the difference between the height from the front surface of the substrate up to the light emitting surface and the height up to alight receiving surface of the light receiving element, and θ' represents the maximum diffusion angle of the diffusion unit.) Full Article
po High-power low-loss GRINSCH laser By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A GRINSCH laser having an asymmetric configuration wherein the optical confinement is weighted more to the n-doped multilayer section than to the p-doped multilayer section. The GRINSCH laser can emit laser light at a wavelength λ=976 nm over a broad area with a beam power of 11.4 W at a 12 A bias current at a temperature of 20° C. Fabry-Perot and distributed Bragg reflector GRINSCH laser configurations are disclosed. Full Article
po Female screw component and fastening component utilizing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A female thread member capable of preventing seizing caused by inclined insertion, and being smoothly fastened from any directions in which a bolt is inserted, and a fastening member using the female thread member. A non-thread portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a female thread member body having a female thread for a length corresponding to at least one pitch from an end surface on a bolt-inserting side, and a projection which comes into contact with a flank surface of a male thread of an inserted bolt is formed on a line extending from a helical line of the female thread. The female thread member is used in combination with the bolt having no incomplete thread portion, and there is no adverse possibility of seizing regardless of any directions in which the bolt is inserted. Full Article
po Fastening element for connecting a support part to an add-on part By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fastening element includes a holding part with a support plate and expanding cheeks, and a locking part guidingly received in the holding part. The expanding cheeks include cantilevered walls formed adjacent the support plate, which are offset radially outwardly with respect to a guide wall of the support plate which guides the locking part. The locking part can be pushed through the support plate substantially without force until it reaches inwardly protruding ramp projections formed on the expanding cheeks, which provide a better lever ratio for spreading the expanding cheeks. Full Article
po Guiding device which is intended to be interposed between a device for fixing components of an assembly, and a device for protecting the fixing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly comprising at least two non-metal components which are fixed to each other using at least one fixing system. The fixing system includes a fixing device with a fixing element which is provided with a head and a rod, and a crimping ring which is in contact with one of the components. A protection device is a part of the fixing system which delimits a cavity for confining gas around a portion of the device comprising the crimping ring. In order to improve the repeatability of the operation for positioning the protection device, a guiding device is provided which includes an assembly element on the portion of the fixing device, and an element for guiding the protection device. Full Article
po Insulated support for electric conductors, finger grip, and method of making same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A manufacturing method and device for supporting conductors. Using a non-metallic insulating material extending beyond one or both parallel legs of a staple the thumb and forefinger may grip this extension while the staple is being driven into a supporting structure. This finger grip allows for a small, insulated staple to be held with increased safety to thumb and forefinger during penetration of staple into support. Full Article
po High temperature thread locking compound By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly includes a threaded hole, a threaded fastener, and a locking compound. The threaded fastener is positioned in the threaded hole with a portion of fastener threads mated with a corresponding portion of hole threads. The locking compound is between the mated fastener threads and hole threads. The locking compound includes an aluminum pigmented compound suspended in a water-based inorganic binder. Full Article
po Threaded connector for pole, machinery and structural elements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A threaded connector for securing a panel member to a structure and for adjusting the position of the panel member relative to the structure. The connector comprises an elongate one-piece stud, a first spacer, a threaded nut, a second spacer and a turning formation. The connector permits the panel member to be mounted on the stud and the stud to be rotated to adjust the position of the panel member relative to the structure. Full Article
po Connecting arrangement between a plastic component and another structural element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A connecting arrangement is provided between a plastic component with at least two mutually adjacent and at least approximately parallel walls and another structural element, having at least one force-transmission element which is adhesively bonded to the plastic component via an adhesive bond on the plastic component in frusto-conical or spherical-segment-shaped depressions in the mutually adjacent walls of the plastic component. The force-transmission element has a carrying structure for the other structural element. With the exception of a possibly provided coating, the force-transmission element is composed only of metallic material and has a plate which is adapted to the depression in the outer wall of the plastic component, which outer wall is adjacent to the other structural element. The edge of the plate rests with interposition on the outer wall in the surrounding region of the depression, wherein the plate is connected via a web to an end section of the force-transmission element, which end section is adapted to the depression in the other inner wall of the plastic component. The depression is configured in the outer wall without a bottom to such an extent that the end section of the force-transmission element can be inserted through the outer wall into the recess of the inner wall. Full Article
po Configurable multi-lane scrambler for flexible protocol support By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Various structures and methods are disclosed related to configurable scrambling circuitry. Embodiments can be configured to support one of a plurality of protocols. Some embodiments relate to a configurable multilane scrambler that can be adapted either to combine scrambling circuits across a plurality of lanes or to provide independent lane-based scramblers. Some embodiments are configurable to select a scrambler type. Some embodiments are configurable to adapt to one of a plurality of protocol-specific scrambling polynomials. Some embodiments relate to selecting between least significant bit (“LSB”) and most significant bit (“MSB”) ordering of data. In some embodiments, scrambler circuits in each lane are adapted to handle data that is more than one bit wide. Full Article
po Transport vehicle for rotor blades and/or tower segments of wind power plants and transport rack for a transport vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST There is provided a transport vehicle for transporting wind power installation rotor blades and/or pylon segments. The transport vehicle has a transport support structure having a main frame, a receiving frame fixedly connected to the main frame at a first angle, and a rotary displacement unit which is fixed with one end to the receiving frame and which at its second end has a blade adaptor for receiving a rotor blade or a pylon segment. The main frame spans a main plane. The rotary displacement unit has at least one first rotary mounting, wherein there is provided a second angle between the second rotary plane of the second rotary mounting. Full Article
po Transportation and storage system for wind turbine blades By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground. Full Article
po Transport system for large items By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transport system for transporting large items wherein the large items comprise at least three through going holes and said system comprises a frame to support the items. Said frame has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises two parallel longitudinal beams connected by two parallel transverse beams and further comprises at least two transverse support bars to support the items, which transverse support bars are located between the two parallel transverse beams. The transport system further comprises a first and a second rod to be mounted in two through going holes in the items where each end of the first and second rod can be connected to the longitudinal beams to secure the items to the frame in such a way that no part of the large items extends over the rectangle defined by the two parallel longitudinal beams and the two parallel transverse beams. Full Article
po Load carrier for transport of wood By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A load carrier includes a load changing frame that has first and second end portions. The load changing frame has two longitudinal frame beams, two transverse frame beams arranged at the end portions of the load changing frame, and a first, upwardly tapering lifting stand. The second end portion of the load changing frame includes a second lifting stand, which is shaped and arranged in accordance with the first lifting stand. The transverse frame beams are elongated to extend outward from the longitudinal frame beams for mounting of supports facing the support surface. A plurality of such load carriers are adapted to be stacked on top of each other, wherein each overlying load carrier with its lifting stands is adapted to straddle the lifting stands of the underlying load carrier vertically from above, wherein the length of the stack corresponds to the length of the load carrier. Full Article
po Cargo bed stake pocket adapted for securing J-hook strap thereto By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Stake pocket formations are secured to a cargo bed frame of a land vehicle such as trailers and flatbed trucks for removably supporting sidewall supporting members. The formations include sidewalls secured to and projecting from the frame and an end wall extending between the sidewalls. An opening extends through the end wall and is adapted to receive the terminal end of a J-hook therethrough. The J-hook is secured to the formation by inserting the terminal end thereof into the pocket placing an upper edge of the end wall into the J-hook gap and rolling/rotating the J-hook thereby inserting the terminal end into the opening. The J-hook cannot be removed from the pocket unless it is rolled/rotated in the opposite direction. While within the stake pocket and without strap tension, the J-hook abuts the trailer frame and formation end wall and is, thereby, maintained within the pocket. Full Article
po Manual wheel chocks with enhanced bracing upon depolyment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An example wheel restraint includes a track to be positioned adjacent a vehicle approach path of a loading dock. A shuttle is pivotally coupled to the track via a track follower and pivots between a home position and a deployed position about a shuttle axis substantially parallel to and offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the track. A barrier is pivotally coupled to the shuttle and pivots between a non-blocking position and a blocking position about a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the track such that the shuttle rotates in a first direction about the shuttle axis when the shuttle moves from the home position to the deployed position and bather rotates in a second direction about the pivot axis when the barrier moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position, where the first direction being different than the second direction. Full Article
po Transport system for a wind turbine blade By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transport system for a wind turbine blade is provided. The transport system is configured for increasing a curvature of the wind turbine blade in response to an obstacle during transport of the wind turbine blade. Further, a method for transporting a wind turbine blade in order to avoid obstacles is provided. Full Article
po Portable and removable anchor for truck bed slots By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for providing a removable anchor for use in tying down a load, or for securing a winch cable for use in recovering a disabled vehicle or other load. The anchor may be removably attached to the deck/bed of a trailer or vehicle (e.g., a car carrier or wrecker/tow truck), using one or more slots or stake pockets located on a cargo surface of the deck. The removable anchor may include: a projection member shaped and sized to fit into a slot on the cargo surface, or to protrude through a stake pocket; a crown attached to, or integrally forming a part of, the projection member, and configured to receive and anchor one or more tie down connectors; and a key attached to, or integrally forming a part of, the projection member. The key can be passed into the slot and manipulated between removable and locked positions. Alternatively, the key may be used to removably secure the anchor to the stake pocket. Full Article
po Apparatus for securing the position of a boat on a trailer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for selectively securing a boat to a trailer may include a hull contact structure for abutting against the boat hull, and a releasable gripping structure positioned adjacent the hull contact structure to engage the boat's securing loop and selectively lock onto the loop to hold the boat to the trailer. Full Article
po Cargo support system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The combination of: a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle, the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space and including spaced and facing first and second wall surfaces and a floor surface; and b) a cargo support system. The cargo support system has first and second vertically extending tracks operatively mounted on each to the first and second wall surface and at least a first elongate beam having spaced first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second tracks in an operative position spaced above the floor surface. At least one of the tracks is maintained operatively mounted to the first wall surface through the use of an adhesive. Full Article
po Circuit and layout techniques for flop tray area and power otimization By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques for reducing scan overhead in a scannable flop tray are described herein. In one embodiment, a scan circuit for a flop tray comprises a tri-state circuit configured to invert an input data signal and output the inverted data signal to an input of a flip-flop of the flop tray in a normal mode, and to block the data signal from the input of the flip-flop in a scan mode. The scan circuit also comprises a pass gate configured to pass a scan signal to the input of the flip-flop in the scan mode, and to block the scan signal from the input of the flip-flop in the normal mode. Full Article
po Multi power supply type level shifter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a multi power supply type level shifter. The provided multi power supply type level shifter includes a first level shifter and a second level shifter in a two-stage architecture so as to selectively receive first to third power supplies and change a signal level, even when the first to third power supplies are applied in a different sequence from a normal power-on sequence. Output voltages are output without a change in level, and short-circuit currents are not generated in the first and second level shifters. Full Article
po Semiconductor device and power supply control method of the semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit, a power supply control circuit which controls supply of a power supply to the internal circuit upon receipt of a first control signal, and a control signal generation circuit which outputs the first control signal upon receipt of a second control signal. The control signal generation circuit does not deactivate the first control signal when an inactive period of the second control signal is equal to or less than a first period and deactivates the first control signal when the inactive period of the second control signal is more than the first period. Full Article
po High-speed low power stacked transceiver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transceiver includes a transmitter and receiver that form a series current path between two power-supply nodes. Powering both the transmitter and receiver with the same supply current saves power. The transmitter functions as a resistive load for the receiver, and thus performs useful work with power that would otherwise be dissipated as waste heat. Full Article
po Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a digital circuit by controlling the clock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus that controls the clock of a digital circuit, and therefore power consumption, without substantially comprising performance is provided. The apparatus may include monitoring the utilization of a First in First Out (FIFO) buffer. For example in a systems and methods according to the invention, clock speed may be reduced when the FIFO is relatively empty and increased when the FIFO is relatively full. The clock speed may be controlled by a phase locked loop, a clock divider, a clock masking device or a combination of more than one of these methods. Power reduction may also be obtained by controlling the clocking of different stages of a pipelined device. One or more aspects of the inventions may be implemented in combination with other aspects of the invention to further reduce power use. Full Article
po Method for downloading a configuration file in a programmable circuit, and apparatus comprising said component By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a method for downloading a binary configuration file in a programmable circuit implemented in a device. The device comprises at least one central processing unit, a plurality of connectors, and a programmable circuit enabling all or a part of the signals received by said connectors to be processed and transmitted to at least one other circuit of the device. The device analyzes the signals present on the connectors in order to define what other devices are connected and whether the connections are operational. Then, a configuration file is selected from among a set of configuration files according to the operational connections and is downloaded from a memory of the device into the programmable circuit. The invention also relates to a device having a component programmed according to the method previously described. Full Article
po Integrated epitaxial structure for compound semiconductor devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An integrated structure of compound semiconductor devices is disclosed. The integrated structure comprises from bottom to top a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, an etching-stop layer, a second epitaxial layer, a sub-collector layer, a collector layer, a base layer, and an emitter layer, in which the first epitaxial layer is a p-type doped layer, the second epitaxial layer is an n-type graded doping layer with a gradually increased or decreased doping concentration, and the sub-collector layer is an n-type doped layer. The integrated structure can be used to form an HBT, a varactor, or an MESFET. Full Article
po Low-power oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An integrated oscillator circuit comprises an oscillator configured to be switched between a first frequency and a second frequency. A switching circuit receives an input representing a target frequency and switches the oscillator between the first and second frequencies at intervals determined by the input, so as to cause the average output frequency of the oscillator to approximate the target frequency. Full Article
po Power-efficient actuator assemblies and methods of manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Power-efficient actuator apparatus and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator assembly utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) filament driven by an electronic power source to induce movement in the underlying assembly to actuate a load (e.g., water valve). In addition, a circuit board is included which allows the actuator assembly to be readily incorporated or retrofit into a wide range of systems such that the signal characteristics of the supply line can, among other applications, be conditioned in order to protect the SMA filament. Furthermore, the circuit board can also readily be adapted for use with “green” power sources such as photovoltaic systems and the like. Methods for manufacturing and utilizing the aforementioned actuator assembly are also disclosed. Full Article
po Water valve with supported opening function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Water valves and methods of regulating fluid flow for low ambient pressure water sources that reduce the amount of filtration needed for valve mechanisms operating in the water source. Full Article
po Post-processing device and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The post-processing device includes: a binding unit that forms a cut in a sheet stack and cuts a part of the sheet stack into a predetermined shape to form a tongue portion in the sheet stack, the tongue portion having a part where one end part of the tongue portion is not separated from the sheet stack, and binds the sheet stack by bending the tongue portion and inserting the other end part of the tongue portion into the cut; and a sheet stack transport unit that transports the sheet stack in an orientation such that the one end part of the tongue portion in the sheet stack bound by the binding unit is on a downstream side of the other end part of the tongue portion in the sheet stack transport direction. Full Article