| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080197518 | Shaped article with polymer domains and process - A process for making a multiphase birefringent film and resulting shaped article comprise (a) a first polymeric material forming a continuous phase in all directions and (b) a second polymeric material that is continuous in only one direction disposed within the first phase, the second polymeric material being predominately curvilinear in shape and substantially extending the length of the film, at least one of the phases being birefringent and the two phases being substantially matched in refractive index in at least one direction | 08-21-2008 |
| 20090040771 | Thin light guiding plate and methods of manufacturing - The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm. Further, the plate is formed from polymeric materials comprising polyesters, amorphous polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyether-amides, polyamide-imides, polyimides, polyetherimides, cyclic olefin polymers, impact-modified polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrenes, polyethers, cellulosics, sulfur-containing polymers and blends or alloys of two or more polymers or copolymers thereof. Additionally, the plate comprises a light extraction layer comprising an input surface having a plurality of protruding light extraction features that have tips that are bonded to the light-guiding output surface of the light guiding layer and provide optical contact between the light guiding and light extraction layers and an illumination output surface for providing light output from the composite illumination plate. Further, the thickness of the light extraction layer is less than 1 mm and wherein one or more channels of air or other gas are sandwiched between the light guiding layer and the light extraction layer. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090050855 | POLYMERIC CONDUCTOR DONOR AND TRANSFER METHOD - The present invention relates to a donor laminate for transfer of a conductive layer comprising at least one electronically conductive polymer on to a receiver, wherein the receiver is a component of a device. The present invention also relates to methods pertinent to such transfers. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090316417 | Light-redirecting article - A method for forming a light-redirecting article is provided wherein a surface of a substrate is conditioned by applying a layer of an embedment material. A close-packed layer of microspheres is assembled using drying-assisted self-assembly and applied to the conditioned surface. Microspheres are then embedded halfway into the surface of the layer of the embedment material. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090323184 | Dissfusely-reflecting polarizer having nearly isotropic continuous phase - The present invention provides a diffusely-reflecting polarizer comprising:
| 12-31-2009 |
| 20100220074 | TOUCHSCREEN WITH CARBON NANOTUBE CONDUCTIVE LAYERS - The present invention is directed to a touchscreen comprising touch side electrode and device side electrode wherein each electrode comprises an insulating substrate and an exposed electrically conductive layer, wherein said exposed electrically conductive layers are adjacent and separated by dielectric spacers, and wherein only one of the exposed electrically conductive layers comprises carbon nanotubes. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20110095442 | THIN LIGHT GUIDING PLATE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING - The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm. Further, the plate is formed from polymeric materials comprising polyesters, amorphous polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyether-amides, polyamide-imides, polyimides, polyetherimides, cyclic olefin polymers, impact-modified polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrenes, polyethers, cellulosics, sulfur-containing polymers and blends or alloys of two or more polymers or copolymers thereof. Additionally, the plate comprises a light extraction layer comprising an input surface having a plurality of protruding light extraction features that have tips that are bonded to the light-guiding output surface of the light guiding layer and provide optical contact between the light guiding and light extraction layers and an illumination output surface for providing light output from the composite illumination plate. Further, the thickness of the light extraction layer is less than 1 mm and wherein one or more channels of air or other gas are sandwiched between the light guiding layer and the light extraction layer. | 04-28-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080292408 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIVING A MONOPILE FOR SUPPORTING AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE - A method for installing an offshore wind turbine system includes driving a cylindrical annular monopile or a substructure into the soil. The monopile includes a flanged portion configured to support a wind turbine tower or a superstructure. The flanged portion extends radially from a peripheral surface of the monopile. The method further includes mounting a wind turbine tower directly on to the monopile, wherein the wind turbine is supported by the flanged portion of the monopile. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080310576 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING COOLANT LEVEL AND FLOW VELOCITY IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR - A boiling water reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel having a feedwater inlet for the introduction of recycled steam condensate and/or makeup coolant into the vessel, and a steam outlet for the discharge of produced steam for appropriate work. A fuel core is located within a lower area of the pressure vessel. The fuel core is surrounded by a core shroud spaced inward from the wall of the pressure vessel to provide an annular downcomer forming a coolant flow path between the vessel wall and the core shroud. A probe system that includes a combination of conductivity/resistivity probes and/or one or more time-domain reflectometer (TDR) probes is at least partially located within the downcomer. The probe system measures the coolant level and flow velocity within the downcomer. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090098003 | MULTIPHASE SCREW PUMP - A twin screw pump includes a pair of rotors disposed inside a casing having an inlet and an outlet. Each rotor includes a set of threads disposed on a portion of an outer surface of a shaft. A first bearing is coupled at a first end of the shaft and a second bearing is coupled at a second end of the shaft. The first and second bearings are not separated by one or more seals. The first and second bearings are configured for being lubricated by the liquid medium of the process fluid when the twin screw pump is in an operational mode. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20100040499 | SCREW PUMP ROTORS AND RING SEALS FOR SCREW PUMP ROTORS - A pump rotor for a screw pump, comprising a shaft, a thread on the shaft, the thread comprising a groove disposed on an outer surface thereof, and a seal disposed in the groove. The seal and the groove are configured to retain the seal in the groove while allowing radial displacement of the seal with respect to the thread as the pump rotor is deflected. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100278672 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING A SCREW PUMP SYSTEM - A pump system includes inlet chambers, an outlet chamber, and rotors disposed inside the inlet chambers and the outlet chamber to pump a process fluid from the inlet chambers to the outlet chamber and to direct the process fluid to a separator. A gear chamber is configured to receive a portion of the process fluid from the separator. First and second sets of pump bearings are coupled to the rotors and lubricated by the portion of the process fluid flowing from the gear chamber. A conduit is configured to direct the portion of the process fluid from the pump bearings back to the gear chamber. Some of the portion of the process fluid lubricating the pump bearings is permitted to leak to the inlet chambers. Additional process fluid is continually added to the portion of the process fluid to compensate for fluid leaking to the inlet chambers. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100278673 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING FLUID FLOW WITHIN A SCREW PUMP SYSTEM - In a pump system, a process fluid is directed into inlet chambers of a pump casing at an inlet pressure, and a plurality of rotors disposed inside the pump casing are rotated to pump the process fluid from the inlet chambers to an outlet chamber located between the inlet chambers, wherein the process fluid in the outlet chambers is at an outlet pressure. The process fluid is directed from the outlet chamber to a separator configured to separate particulate matter from the process fluid, and a portion of separated process fluid is directed from the separator to a gear chamber of the pump. Pump bearings are lubricated with the portion of separated process fluid from the gear chamber. Some of the portion of the separated process fluid from the pump bearing is leaked to the inlet chambers via rotor shrouds to reduce accumulation of particulate matter in the inlet chambers. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110103987 | PUMP SYSTEM - The present invention provides a pump system comprising a bearing housing coupled to a pump liner, the pump liner defining a fluid conduit, the pump liner comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and at least one rotor having a first rotor portion and a second rotor portion, the first rotor portion being disposed within the fluid conduit and the second rotor portion being disposed within the bearing housing; the first rotor portion comprising a first conveying stage adjacent to the bearing housing, and a second conveying stage adjacent to the first conveying stage, the first and second conveying stages being configured to convey a fluid, the first conveying stage being configured to convey the fluid from the bearing housing into the fluid conduit. The new pump systems rely on a dynamic restriction to reduce the need for mechanical seals between bearing housings and raw process fluid. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110123378 | Screw Pump Rotor and Method of Reducing Slip Flow - A pump rotor for a screw pump includes a shaft, a first set of threads disposed on a portion of an outer surface of the shaft, at least one thread of the first set of threads including a groove disposed on an end portion thereof, and a ring seal disposed on the groove such that the ring seal is configured to protrude outwardly from the groove and to rest against an inner surface of a liner of the screw pump, and the groove is sized so as to allow the ring seal to move radially with respect to the plurality of threads as the rotor is deflected. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110293441 | MULTIPHASE PUMP FLOW RECIRCULATION SYSTEM - In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, a pump system is provided. The pump system includes a pump casing having a process fluid inlet chamber connected to a process fluid inlet through the pump casing, and a process fluid outlet chamber connected to a process fluid outlet through the pump casing. The pump system also includes rotors disposed inside the process fluid inlet chamber and the process fluid outlet chamber. The rotors are configured to pump a process fluid from the process fluid inlet chamber to the process fluid outlet chamber. In addition, the pump casing comprises one or more fluid injection inlets axially located between the process fluid inlet and the process fluid outlet. | 12-01-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100045460 | Security system and method with automatic language selection - A security system and method of operation thereof are provided in which users of the security system are each assigned a preferred language. A user interface of the security system communicates information to particular users in their assigned preferred languages. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100045461 | Security system with activity pattern recognition - A security system and method of operation thereof stores information related to a plurality of detected events and determines an activity pattern based on the stored information. The system and method then determines a type of alarm, if any, to issue in response to a detected trigger event based at least in part on the determined activity pattern. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100174439 | VARIABLE FUNCTION COMMUNICATION GATEWAY FOR VEHICLES - A vehicle communication gateway configured to be located within an overland vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle communication gateway includes a controller; a memory connected to the controller; a short-range wireless communication interface connected to the controller; a long-range wireless communication interface connected to the controller; and an input-output module configured to connect to a CAN bus, an in-vehicle entertainment system, and a user interface. The controller is configured to receive information from the CAN bus, the in-vehicle entertainment system, and the user interface. The controller generates diagnostic messages regarding vehicle systems based on information received through the CAN bus. The controller also synchronizes files between the in-vehicle entertainment system and extra-vehicular devices, and communicates with in-building systems through the short-range wireless communication interface. Messages are sent to one or more destinations such as a vehicle manufacturer, a vehicle repair shop, and a mobile phone of a vehicle occupant through the long-range wireless communication interface. | 07-08-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100174596 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE OFFER FULFILLMENT - Rewards systems, methods, means and computer program code are provided which include a transaction processing system, receiving a transaction authorization request message generated from a point of interaction, the transaction authorization request message including a purchase amount, and a customer account identifier, the transaction processing system generating an authorization response message for transmission to the point of interaction. The rewards systems further include a messaging system, in communication with the transaction processing system, generating a rewards message for transmission to a mobile device associated with the customer account identifier, the rewards message including details of a status associated with a reward transaction. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100187298 | DRINKING VESSEL THAT HAS A SLOT IN WHICH A CONTACTLESS SMART CARD IS INSERTED - A food container is in combination with a contactless smart card. The food container has a slot formed therein. The slot is shaped and sized to hold the smart card. The smart card was inserted into the slot. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100248779 | CARDHOLDER VERIFICATION RULE APPLIED IN PAYMENT-ENABLED MOBILE TELEPHONE - A method includes equipping a mobile telephone with a payment capability, and storing a cardholder verification rule in the mobile telephone. The method further includes the mobile telephone applying the stored rule to determine whether to require a user of the mobile telephone to perform a cardholder verification process. | 09-30-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080262430 | ACCESS DEVICE - An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes a needle body and hub. The device further includes a dilator coaxially disposed and slideable over the needle body and a medical article. A viewing space is disposed between the dilator and the medical article with at least one passageway or conduit connecting the viewing space with the interior bore of the needle body. The passageway is defined at least in part by openings through the sides of the needle and dilator. At least a portion of the conduit or passageway can be defined by one or more grooves between the needle and dilator. The device can further include a guidewire and an interlock between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator. The device can further include one or more stops disposed between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator to limit the extent to which the guidewire can be moved (e.g., advanced) relative to the needle or inhibit such relative movement (e.g., backwards movement). | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080262431 | ACCESS DEVICE - An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080294111 | ACCESS DEVICE - An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle section that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator portion that has a dilator and a dilator hub. The dilator is coaxially disposed and slideable over the elongated body of the needle section. The device further includes a sheath section that has a sheath and a sheath hub. The sheath is coaxially disposed and slideable over the dilator. The device further includes a first locking mechanism operably disposed between the needle hub and the dilator hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the needle section and the dilator portion and a second locking mechanism operably disposed between the dilator hub and the sheath hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the dilator portion and the sheath section. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090221961 | VASCULAR ACCESS - A device may include a hollow needle, a dilator mounted coaxially on the needle, and a sheath mounted coaxially on the dilator. The dilator may be slideably displaceable relative to the sheath. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20110251559 | ACCESS DEVICE - An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle section that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator portion that has a dilator and a dilator hub. The dilator is coaxially disposed and slideable over the elongated body of the needle section. The device further includes a sheath section that has a sheath and a sheath hub. The sheath is coaxially disposed and slideable over the dilator. The device further includes a first locking mechanism operably disposed between the needle hub and the dilator hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the needle section and the dilator portion and a second locking mechanism operably disposed between the dilator hub and the sheath hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the dilator portion and the sheath section. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110270192 | ACCESS DEVICE - An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. | 11-03-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080270329 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARTINGALE BOOSTING IN MACHINE LEARNING - Boosting algorithms are provided for accelerated machine learning in the presence of misclassification noise. In an exemplary embodiment, a machine learning method having multiple learning stages is provided. Each learning stage may include partitioning examples into bins, choosing a base classifier for each bin, and assigning an example to a bin by counting the number of positive predictions previously made by the base classifier associated with the bin. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080294387 | MARTINGALE CONTROL OF PRODUCTION FOR OPTIMAL PROFITABILITY OF OIL AND GAS FIELDS - A computer-aided lean management (CALM) controller system recommends actions and manages production in an oil and gas reservoir/field as its properties and conditions change with time. The reservoir/field is characterized and represented as an electronic-field (“e-field”). A plurality of system applications describe dynamic and static e-field properties and conditions. The application workflows are integrated and combined in a feedback loop between actions taken in the field and metrics that score the success or failure of those actions. A controller/optimizer operates on the combination of the application workflows to compute production strategies and actions. The controller/optimizer is configured to generate a best action sequence for production, which is economically “always-in-the-money.” | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090157573 | System And Method For Grading Electricity Distribution Network Feeders Susceptible To Impending Failure - A machine learning system creates failure-susceptibility rankings for feeder cables in a utility's electrical distribution system. The machine learning system employs martingale boosting algorithms and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms to generate a feeder failure prediction model, which is trained on static and dynamic feeder attribute data. Feeders are dynamically ranked by failure susceptibility and the rankings displayed to utility operators and engineers so that they can proactively service the distribution system to prevent local power outages. The feeder rankings may be used to redirect power flows and to prioritize repairs. A feedback loop is established to evaluate the responses of the electrical distribution system to field actions taken to optimize preventive maintenance programs. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20110231213 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - The present application provides methods and systems for quantitatively predicting an effectiveness of a proposed capital improvement project based on one or more previous capital improvement projects representative of one or more physical assets and including one or more attributes that includes defining a first sample pool from the previous capital improvement project data in which said previous capital improvement project has been performed, defining a second sample in which the previous capital improvement project has not been performed, the second sample pool including one or more attribute values that are the same as, or similar to, the attribute values for the first sample pool, generating a performance metric for each of the first and second sample pools, comparing the performance metric from the first sample pool with the performance metric from the second sample pool to determine a net performance metric, and, generating a prediction of effectiveness of the proposed capital improvement project concerning based on said net performance metric. | 09-22-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080296441 | System and method for broken rail and train detection - A rail break or rail vehicle detection system which includes a voltage source, capable of voltage source compensation, is coupled to each of a plurality of zones within a block of rail track devoid of insulated joints. A plurality of current sensors are provided, each coupled to a respective voltage source and configured to measure current flowing through the sensor in response to changing voltage patterns. Each current sensor is further configured in one embodiment to determine and compare signatures based on current measurements to a predetermined decision surface to detect the presence of a rail vehicle or rail break on a predetermined block of track. The voltage source or current sensor can be adapted to control voltage levels and polarity of each voltage source. A method of communicating the presence or absence of a rail break or rail vehicle employs an in-rail TDMA communication scheme to synchronize, test and communicate directly between the sensors without use of external controllers. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20100004804 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING OF INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITION - A system and method for vehicle-centric infrastructure monitoring system includes an inspection system mountable on a vehicle configured to travel over an expanse of rail track having a plurality of track blocks. The inspection system acquires track data for at least some track blocks along the expanse of rail track. The monitoring system also includes a positioning system to determine a location of the vehicle and generate location data indicative of an associated track block location, a communications device to transmit the track/location data to a remote location, and a centralized computing system positioned at the remote location to receive the transmitted track/location data. The centralized computing system is programmed to determine a current probability of a track condition for a track block and combine the current track condition probability with a previously determined cumulative track condition probability to provide an updated track condition probability for the track block. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100281866 | EXHAUST GAS BYPASS VALVE CONTROL FOR THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR - A method of controlling engine exhaust flow through at least one of an exhaust bypass and a thermoelectric device via a bypass valve is provided. The method includes: determining a mass flow of exhaust exiting an engine; determining a desired exhaust pressure based on the mass flow of exhaust; comparing the desired exhaust pressure to a determined exhaust pressure; and determining a bypass valve control value based on the comparing, wherein the bypass valve control value is used to control the bypass valve. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110233128 | SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY - A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least two permeate exhaust conduits and not comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit. Each permeate exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the permeate exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said permeate exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least two permeate carrier layers, and at least two membrane layers. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110240546 | CENTRAL CORE ELEMENT FOR A SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY - The present invention provides a central core element for a separator assembly comprising at least two porous exhaust conduits; each porous exhaust conduit defining an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the porous exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said porous exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said porous exhaust conduits, said cavity being configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly. In another aspect, the present invention provides a central core element for a separator assembly comprising at least two identical core element components, each of said core element components comprising at least one porous exhaust conduit and at least one friction coupling, said friction couplings being configured to join said core element components to form a central core element defining a cavity configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly. | 10-06-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090021588 | DETERMINING AND CORRECTING FOR IMAGING DEVICE MOTION DURING AN EXPOSURE - A system and method for determining and correcting for imaging device motion during an exposure is provided. According to various embodiments of the present invention, multiple sets of image pixels are defined on an image sensor, where each set of pixels is at least partially contained in the output image area of the image sensor. Signals from each set of image pixels are read out once or more during an exposure, motion estimates are computed using signal readouts from one or more sets of image pixels, and signal readouts from one or more sets of the image pixels are processed to form the final output image. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090230287 | STACKED IMAGE SENSOR WITH SHARED DIFFUSION REGIONS IN RESPECTIVE DROPPED PIXEL POSITIONS OF A PIXEL ARRAY - A CMOS image sensor or other type of image sensor comprises a sensor wafer and an underlying circuit wafer. The sensor wafer comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged in respective positions of a two-dimensional array of positions in which a subset of the array positions do not include photosensitive elements but instead include diffusion regions each of which is shared by two or more of the photosensitive elements. The sensor wafer is interconnected with the circuit wafer utilizing a plurality of inter-wafer interconnects coupled to respective ones of the shared diffusion regions in respective ones of the array positions that do not include photosensitive elements. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of image capture device. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090242950 | ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR HAVING TWO WAFERS - A vertically-integrated image sensor includes a sensor wafer connected to a support circuit wafer. Each pixel region on the sensor wafer includes a photodetector, a charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism, a transfer mechanism for transferring charge from the photodetector to the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism, and a reset mechanism for discharging the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism. The support circuit wafer includes an amplifier and other support circuitry for each pixel region on the sensor wafer. An inter-wafer connector directly connects each charge-to-voltage mechanism on the sensor wafer to a respective gate to an amplifier on the support circuit wafer. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100060764 | HIGH GAIN READ CIRCUIT FOR 3D INTEGRATED PIXEL - An image sensor includes (a) a first wafer having (i) a photosensitive area; (ii) a charge-to-voltage conversion region; (b) a second wafer having (i) a first amplifier that receives a signal from the charge-to-voltage conversion region; (c) an electrical interconnect connecting the charge-to-voltage conversion region to an input of the amplifier; (d) an electrically biased shield at least partially enclosing at least a portion of the electrical interconnect. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100110209 | FAST MOTION MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR GAMING - The invention provides a motion measurement system that is capable of rapid motion measurement of motion that can measure all types of motion including rotational motion, linear motion and motion occurs in the directions of x, y and z. In the motion measurement system of the invention, motion is measured with a high speed image capture and analysis system that captures images of the scene and identifies motion in the scene with a reduced bit rate approach to enable fast data processing. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100116971 | BACK-ILLUMINATED CMOS IMAGE SENSORS - A back-illuminated image sensor includes a sensor layer disposed between an insulating layer and a circuit layer electrically connected to the sensor layer. An imaging area includes a plurality of photodetectors is formed in the sensor layer and a well that spans the imaging area. The well can be disposed between the backside of the sensor layer and the photodetectors, or the well can be a buried well formed adjacent to the backside of the sensor layer with a region including formed between the photodetectors and the buried well. One or more side wells can be formed laterally adjacent to each photodetector. The dopant in the well has a segregation coefficient that causes the dopant to accumulate on the sensor layer side of an interface between the sensor layer and the insulating layer. | 05-13-2010 |