US07729029B2
An optical scan engine includes a rotatable component, for example a disk or drum. The rotatable component includes a plurality of scan sectors that are arranged around the rotation axis and that lie substantially in a plane of rotation. Each scan sector includes a pair of reflective surfaces that typically are radially-facing. The incident optical beam typically propagates along a radial direction (e.g., towards the rotation axis) and each pair of reflective surfaces deflects the incident optical beam by approximately 180 degrees as that pair rotates through the incident optical beam. The deflected optical beam has a virtual image located on the rotation axis. As a result, the real image of the deflected optical beam rotates around the rotation axis at the same angular velocity as the scan sectors. Different scan sectors can be designed to yield diffeent deflections in the axial direction. The addition of a third reflective surface to each scan sector can be used to generate image points that are fixed in space as the scan sector rotates.
US07729018B2
An image processing system includes a pattern detecting unit that detects a plurality of patterns included in a read image, a magnification determining unit that determines a magnification of the reading the read image on the basis of positional relation between adjacent patterns out of the plurality of patterns detected by the pattern detecting unit, and an information detecting unit that detects information from the read image on the basis of the magnification determined by the magnification determining unit.
US07729014B2
Color processing methods and apparatus are provided that blend the gray component replacement (“GCR”) level of arbitrarily-specified input color data with an estimate of the GCR level of an output profile, and then converts processed device-independent data to output CMYK data that has a GCR level that substantially matches the GCR level of the input CMYK data. Methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention may be used to receive CMYK data that approximates a spot color, and provide tints of spot colors using an output profile that has a GCR level that differs from the GCR level of the input color data.
US07729008B2
The system provides for controlling color reproduction of input color image data in a network having nodes (or sites). The system distributes the input color image data from one of the nodes to other nodes, and provides data structures in the network. The system has means for providing color calibration data at each node characterizing output colors (colorants) of the rendering device of the node, and means for producing at each node, responsive to the color calibration data of the rendering device of the node, information for transforming the input color image data into output color image data at the rendering device of the node. The rendering device of each node renders a color reproduction responsive to the output color image data, wherein colors displayed in the reproduction at the rendering device of each node appear substantially the same within the output colors attainable by the rendering devices.
US07728995B2
A system and method are described for providing an indication of the proximity of a moveable device. The system comprises at least a first moveable device having a transmitting means for transmitting data comprising an identification of the first device and a second device having a receiving means for receiving data from the first device and a transmitting means for transmitting data including the identification of the first device together with an indication of the proximity of the identified device. A further device with a receiving means for receiving the data transmitted by the second device can be used in order to obtain an indication of the proximity of the first device. The indication of the proximity of the first device is a scale value which degrades as the first device moves away from the second device.
US07728987B2
A method of manufacturing an optical element includes testing the optical element by using an interferometer optics generating a beam of measuring light illuminating only a sub-aperture of the tested optical element. The interferometer optics comprises a hologram. Results of the sub-aperture measurement are stitched together to obtain a measuring result with respect to the full surface of the optical element. Further, a method of calibrating the interferometer optics includes performing an interferometric measurement using a calibrating optics having a hologram covering only a sub-aperture of the full cross section of the beam of measuring light generated by the interferometer optics and stitching together the sub-aperture measurements to obtain a result indicative for the full cross section of the interferometer optics.
US07728982B2
Apparatus and method for detecting the presence or amount or rate of binding of an analyte in a sample solution is disclosed. The apparatus includes an optical assembly having first and second reflecting surfaces separated by a distance “d” greater than 50 nm, where the first surface is formed by a layer of analyte-binding molecules, and a light source for directing a beam of light onto said first and second reflecting surface. A detector in the apparatus operates to detect a change in the thickness of the first reflecting layer resulting from binding of analyte to the analyte-binding molecules, when the assembly is placed in the solution of analyte, by detecting a shift in phase of light waves reflected from the first and second surfaces.
US07728980B2
An optical unit includes a light source unit emitting parallel light; a light-receiving element array; and a prism rendering emitted light from the light source unit incident on a specimen placement section and introducing totally reflected light from the specimen placement section into the light-receiving element array. The prism has an entrance surface rendering the parallel light emitted from the light source unit incident on the prism, a curved reflecting surface which reflects light passing through the entrance surface and incident on the prism toward a focal position thereof, the specimen placement section of a planar shape provided at a position including the focal position of the curved reflecting surface, and an exit surface making light totally reflected at the focal position of the curved reflecting surface in the specimen placement section emerge into the outside of the prism.
US07728979B2
A method and a device for detecting object properties using electro-optically modulated surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based on phase detection is disclosed. In the case of a surface plasmon resonance sensing device according to the present invention, the voltage is applied on the sensing device made of an electro-optic material to modulate the surface plasmon resonance condition by varying the wavevector of the incident lightwave. The relation between the phase of output optical wave and the applied voltage is measured, and the solution concentration or the material property is obtained by using the slope of a regression straight line of this relations. The invention can be used in the experimental arrangements of the attenuated-total-reflection (ATR) structure and the optical waveguide structure, and has advantages of high sensitivity, high stability, small bulk, low equipment cost, etc.
US07728975B1
In a method for describing, evaluating and improving optical polarization properties of a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, the Jones or Stokes vectors are firstly determined at one or more points in the exit pupil of the projection objective. These are then described at least approximately as a linear superposition of predetermined vector modes with scalar superposition coefficients. The optical polarization properties can subsequently be evaluated on the basis of the superposition coefficients.
US07728973B2
An apparatus for the detection of spectral information along a geometrical line with a dispersive element, which is suspended from an axis of rotation, for the spectral dispersion of electromagnetic radiation from a range on the geometrical line into spectral constituents, a line detector for the detection of the spectral constituents of the radiation emanating from the range on the geometrical line and a dispersive-element deflector, the deflector being designed to deflect the dispersive element on the axis of rotation, so that depending on an angle of deflection a radiation from another range of the geometrical line is incident on the line detector.
US07728970B2
A method for determining a mixture composition of a plurality of fluorescent materials includes steps of calculating a first function, calculating a second function and determining a secondary mixture composition of the plurality of fluorescent materials. The first function is calculated by comparing an objective spectrum of an objective light with a reference spectrum of a reference light. The second function is calculated by comparing a primary spectrum of the plurality of fluorescent materials mixed at a primary mixture with the reference spectrum composition. The secondary mixture composition is determined on the basis of the result of comparison between the first function and the second function.
US07728967B2
A laser maintenance apparatus including a laser system which includes an optical system for emitting, in a first irradiation condition, a generation laser beam for generating an ultrasonic wave in a portion of an object on which maintenance is to be performed, and including a laser source configured to generate and detect a detection laser beam which interacts with the ultrasonic wave generated by the laser light beam in the first condition. The laser maintenance apparatus also includes a light transmitting device for transmitting laser light emitted from the laser system, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light transmitted by the light transmitting device to the object portion, and a transporting/scanning mechanism for transporting the light transmitting device and the laser irradiation device to a portion near the object portion, and scanning over an arbitrary range at the object portion.
US07728961B2
A surface height and focus sensing system is provided. In one embodiment, an illumination focus sensor is used in combination with a collimation adjustment element which drives the system such that an illumination focus height matches the workpiece surface height, which produces a null output from the illumination focus sensor. Under the null condition, the amount of collimation adjustment is directly related to the workpiece surface height, and the resulting height determination is relatively insensitive to the workpiece surface optical properties. In one embodiment, the amount of collimation adjustment is determined according to the control signal for the collimation adjustment element. In another embodiment, a collimation adjustment sensor is utilized to measure the amount of collimation adjustment.
US07728958B2
An improved condition testing system and method includes a structure including a semiconductor material with a target portion and a second portion. The target portion has a first feature when at least one of the following occurs: an external force is received by the second portion of the structure and an internal condition occurs in the target portion. The system and method further has a grating shaped and located to produce a first optical interference pattern when the target portion and the grating are exposed to non-invasive illumination and when the target portion has the first feature. Further implementations use a second grating spaced apart from the first grating.
US07728957B2
The invention relates to a device for optical distance measurement, in particular a device functioning in accordance with the phase measurement principle, having at least one transmission unit (12) equipped with at least one light source (22, 24) for transmitting modulated optical measurement radiation (16) toward a target object (20), and having a reception unit (18) for receiving the optical measurement radiation (17) returning from the target object (20).According to the present invention, the device has means (51, 55, 68) that enable a measurement of distances from a target object (20′) by means of a triangulation method.The invention also relates to a method for optical distance measurement in which it is possible to switch back and forth between a phase measurement method for determining a distance of a distance measuring device from a target object (20, 20′) and a triangulation method for determining this distance.
US07728956B2
A lithographic system and method are provided that allow for variations of a basic device design to be generated without substantially increasing the cost of the data path hardware. The lithographic apparatus includes an array of individually controllable elements, a control system, a first data buffer, and a second data buffer. The control system provides control signals to the array of individually controllable elements. The first data buffer stores pattern data that corresponds to a pattern to be exposed on a plurality of areas on the substrate. The second data buffer stores pattern variation data, corresponding to at least one change to a part of the pattern. The control system is configured, such that at least one variation of the pattern is exposed on one of the areas on the substrate with the pattern variation data.
US07728954B2
A system and method are used to form incoherent beams from a coherent beam. A system comprises a source of radiation and a reflective loop system. The source of radiation produces a coherent or partially coherent beam. The reflective loop system received the partially coherent beam and reflects the partially coherent beam through a loop, or alternatively through non-overlapping loops, to form an incoherent beam.
US07728950B2
A method for presenting video content including displaying the video content at an enhanced frame rate selectively modified to interfere with a recording of the video content by a camcorder. For example, the video content can be displayed at a frame rate of 54 pictures per second or a frame rate of 66 pictures per second. For implementation of the enhanced frame rate, a first picture can be displayed within the video content a first number of times and at least a second picture can be displayed a different number of times.
US07728943B2
The present invention is a substrate for a display device comprising an active matrix substrate and an opposed substrate which are opposed to each other with a display medium layer interposed therebetween, said active matrix substrate including a pixel electrode arranged in a matrix shape on the side of the display medium layer and said opposed substrate including a common electrode opposing to the pixel electrode on the side of the display medium layer, wherein said substrate for a display device includes an electrode slit formed in one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode; and at least one of the electrical connecting portions of said electrode slit is provided outside of a light-blocking region.
US07728941B2
A liquid crystal display device employs a white sub-pixel among RGBW-4 sub-pixels as a view control component to realize a narrow viewing angle or a wide viewing angle in a fringe field switching mode. The LCD device comprises gate lines and data lines crossing each other to define RGBW sub-pixels on a first substrate, a thin film transistor formed at each crossing of the gate and data lines; a first common electrode in each region of the RGBW sub-pixels, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and insulated from the first common electrode, the pixel electrode having at least one slit, a second substrate attached to the first substrate, wherein the first and second substrate face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and a second common electrode on the second substrate and corresponding to each W sub-pixel.
US07728938B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display mainly including a liquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between two substrates treated by vertical alignment process, and first and second domain regulators for regulating orientation of the liquid crystal layer such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned obliquely when a voltage is applied, so that the orientation will include a plurality of first and second directions. The first directions are different from the second directions. Each pixel is provided with one of the first and second domain regulators in a manner that every two adjacent pixels or every two adjacent R pixels, two adjacent G pixels or two adjacent B pixels are provided with different domain regulators.
US07728935B2
There is provided a liquid crystal device including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal being held between the first substrate and the second substrate, a base layer having alternating linear grooves and linear protrusions on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and an alignment layer of an oxide film covering the base layer and having wedge-shaped tops over the linear protrusions of the base layer.
US07728929B2
A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a first and a second substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of reflective electrodes and transparent electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and the second substrates and functions in an OCB mode. The reflective electrode and the transparent electrode in one picture element are spaced apart from each other to produce a transverse electric field when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer.
US07728927B2
A mirror device may be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display with a polarizing mirror placed in front of it. The polarizing mirror has the characteristics that it does not disturb the transmission of the light from the display to the viewer, but does reflect the incident light.
US07728922B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which increase in manufacturing costs is minimized and the utilization rate of illumination light emitted by a backlight source is also improved.A pixel electrode is formed at the intersection of each signal line and each gate line on the liquid-crystal-layer side of a first transparent substrate. A color filter is provided for each pixel electrode on the liquid-crystal-layer side of a second transparent substrate. A dichroic half mirror is provided for each of the color filters.
US07728921B2
An exemplary brightness enhancement film (15) includes a main body (154), a plurality of first prism structures (152), a plurality of second prism structures (156), and first and second protective layers (150, 158). The main body includes a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side. The first prism structures are formed at the first side. The second prism structures are formed at the second surface. The first protective layer covers the plurality of first prism structures, and the second protective layer covers the plurality of second prism structures.
US07728919B2
A liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel, a light source, a frame, a first flexible printed wiring board and a second flexible printed wiring board. The frame houses the liquid crystal panel and the light source. The frame has a side face with a main access component and first and second sub-access components. The first flexible printed wiring board extends through the main access component. The first flexible printed wiring board is electrically coupled to one of the liquid crystal panel and the light source. The second flexible printed wiring board extends through one of the first and second sub-access components. The second flexible printed wiring board is electrically coupled to the other of the liquid crystal panel and the light source.
US07728918B2
An electro-optical device includes a bent wiring board that is connected to an electro-optical panel; a frame that supports the electro-optical panel; when a direction where sides of the electro-optical panel connected to the wiring board extends is set to a first direction and a direction perpendicular to the first direction is set to a second direction, first direction holding pieces which prevent positional deviation of the electro-optical panel in the first direction, the first direction holding pieces being provided at both corner portions of the frame corresponding to a bent portion of the wiring board; and second direction holding pieces which prevent positional deviation of the electro-optical panel in the second direction, the second direction holding pieces being provided at both the corner portions of the frame corresponding to the bent portion of the wiring board. Further, in at least one of both the corner portions, at least one of the first direction holding pieces and the second direction holding pieces is provided so as to be spaced apart from a vertex of the corresponding corner portion.
US07728911B2
A method detects whether a signal is present on each of a plurality of video inputs. The method positively indicates to a user whether a signal has been detected on each of the plurality of video inputs.
US07728905B2
This invention relates to an image capturing apparatus for illuminating and capturing an image of an object using reflected light therefrom, and is objective to a miniaturized construction and simplified assembly. A plurality of light-emitting devices is mounted around an image sensor, and a light guide member guides the light of the light-emitting devices to an image capturing region for illumination. The image capturing apparatus having the closely disposed image capturing system and illumination system, the miniaturized image capturing apparatus is assembled by pressing a projection of the light guide member to the lower end of the hood for cutting outside lights from the image capturing range and by pressing the upper end of the hood to the filter. Thus, it becomes possible to assemble with less adhesion points and improve working ability of assemble of the image capturing apparatus to make defect ratios of productions low and improve production efficiency.
US07728904B2
The disclosure is directed to techniques for automatic focus control. The automatic focus control techniques prioritize focus of a camera based on skin tone using a skin color detection approach which is intrinsically image sensor-dependent. Sensor-dependent skin color detection to support automatic skin tone prioritized focus control in a camera can enhance the focus of people in the scene. The techniques may be especially useful in digital video camera design, digital still photo camera design, and sensor applications involving people tracking. Sensor-dependent skin color detection is performed once a specific sensor is characterized by taking several raw images of a standard color test target in controlled illumination conditions. Sensor-dependent skin color detection can provide high detection precision and reliability. With sensor-dependent skin color detection, the focus of a camera can be automatically adjusted to prioritize regions of an image containing skin tones.
US07728901B2
The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device which compensates a field curvature which occurs due to an aberration of the optical imaging system and surely receive light incident with a wide angle. Each pixel (pixel size of 2.2 μm square) in a solid-state imaging device includes a light-transmitting film with the first effective refractive index distribution and a light-transmitting film with the second effective refractive index distribution, a light-receiving element, a wiring, a wavelength selection filter, and a Si substrate. A pixel (1) is a pixel placed an approximate center of the solid-state imaging device. A pixel (n) is a pixel placed in the periphery of the solid-state imaging device, and a pixel (n-x) is a pixel that are placed between the pixel (1) and the pixel (n). The light-transmitting film of each pixel has approximately same effective refractive index distribution. Θ0 which is a main light angle on the light-receiving element side, is approximately same. A main light angle in the optical imaging system is represented as Θ1, Θn-x, and Θn. The light-transmitting film varies for each pixel so that a condition Θ0/Θ1>Θ0/Θn-x<Θ0/Θn.
US07728899B2
A CCD type solid-state image sensor (CCD) and an image pickup apparatus of this invention have an image pickup unit and a charge multiplier mounted, as separated from each other, on a packaging board, thereby reducing an influence of one of the image pickup unit and the charge multiplier on the other. Consequently, an improvement in yield is realized. With the image pickup unit and the charge multiplier mounted, as separated from each other, on the packaging board, the CCD type solid-state image sensor (CCD) and the image pickup apparatus are highly versatile also when a design change is made in one of the image pickup unit and the charge multiplier.
US07728890B2
A photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a semiconductor substrate in which a first signal read circuit for a first color among the three primary colors, a second signal read circuit for a second color and a third signal read circuit for a third color are formed by MOS transistor circuits, and in which first and second photodiodes for respectively receiving incident light of the first and second colors are formed; a photoelectric conversion film provided above the semiconductor substrate, for receiving incident light of the third color to generate an optical charge; a longitudinal wiring for connecting a pixel electrode film attached to the photoelectric conversion film separately for each pixel to a contact part formed in the semiconductor substrate; and a potential barrier part between the contact part and the third signal read circuit, being formed on the semiconductor substrate.
US07728876B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a camera head that is provided with an image pickup device that outputs an image signal; a camera control unit that is connected to the camera head with a camera cable and outputs a video signal based on the image signal; a CDS circuit that performs co-related double sampling on the image signal; a pulse generator that outputs sample pulses to the CDS circuit; a phase adjusting unit that performs phase adjustment on a clock signal and outputs the adjusted clock signal to the pulse generator; a peak search unit that searches for a peak range in the image signal being performed with the co-related double sampling by the CDS circuit; and a phase control unit that controls the phase adjustment by the phase adjusting unit based on a result of the search by the peak search unit.
US07728869B2
The present invention relates to matching a camera-photographed image with map data in a portable terminal. Location information of objects of images photographed by a camera and location information of display objects, such as a building included in the map data are calculated based on location information of the camera, and the calculated location information is used to match the objects with the display objects. The image photographed by the camera is displayed on a screen, and text information of display objects matched to the objects is read out from the map data and is displayed on the locations of the objects displayed on the screen. If a user moves, a travel route is guided using the matching information between the objects and display objects, so the user can be guided with the travel route while personally checking objects such as a building.
US07728865B2
A beam imprinting disk which is provided with a supporting layer, a photosensitive printing layer is formed on the supporting layer, and a paint printing layer is formed on the photosensitive printing layer. One surface of the disk is a data-rewriting surface for writing data, and the other surface of the disk is a label predetermined surface for setting patterns and words. The photosensitive printing layer is disposed on the label predetermined surface of the disk, the paint printing layer is partially disposed on the photosensitive printing layer, so that the user can simultaneously see the photosensitive printing layer and the paint printing layer from the label predetermined surface. By such arrangements, the disk is applicable to the ink jet printer or the beam imprinting optical disk drive, so that the beam imprinting disk has a wide range of application and can meet different user's requirements.
US07728853B2
A method and system of rendering buildings in three-dimensional space first renders a respective floor, then adds objects and finally walls to bound each of the floors. The result, a three-dimensional rendering of a building illustrates the position of objects within the building in addition to presenting the overall shape of the building. The rendering can be discontinuously rotated, about an axis, in response to user inputs.
US07728852B2
A virtual object and stylus model as images to be composited to a real space image are rendered by changing background transparencies according to a mutual positional relationship. When the virtual object image is composited to the real space image, the image of the stylus included in the real space image is observed while reflecting the positional relationship with the virtual object. In this way, in an MR image, the depth ordering between real and virtual objects can be correctly and easily expressed.
US07728851B2
A reproducing apparatus includes a graphics processing unit that outputs graphics data of an RGB color space, a video decoder that outputs video data of a YUV color space, a conversion unit that converts a color space of the graphics data from the RGB color space to the YUV color space, a blending process unit that executes a blending process in which the graphics data that is converted to the YUV color space and the video data of the YUV color space are blended on the YUV color space, and a picture data output unit that outputs picture data, which is obtained by the blending process, to a display apparatus.
US07728850B2
An image processing apparatus has a classification unit and a layer image data generation unit. The classification unit classifies respective drawn elements into a plurality of element types. The layer image data generation unit generates layer image data which include the drawn elements of the respective element types and in which respective drawing order is regulated. The layer image data generation unit generates the layer image data based on the drawing order.
US07728839B2
A system and method recognizes and tracks human motion from different motion classes. In a learning stage, a discriminative model is learned to project motion data from a high dimensional space to a low dimensional space while enforcing discriminance between motions of different motion classes in the low dimensional space. Additionally, low dimensional data may be clustered into motion segments and motion dynamics learned for each motion segment. In a tracking stage, a representation of human motion is received comprising at least one class of motion. The tracker recognizes and tracks the motion based on the learned discriminative model and the learned dynamics.
US07728835B2
A computer aided design system accurately determines the location, shape, and dimensions of a transparency that provides a field of view meeting a clear view area specified by a two dimensional polar vision plot. The computer aided design system projects points on the two dimensional polar vision plot onto a three dimensional surface of the transparency taking into account the observer's head position and the refraction of light caused by the transparency.
US07728829B2
One embodiment of a display system includes a control module that controls an adjustable aperture based on a calculated aperture setting and that applies a calculated gain setting to a set of frame data to define a modified set of frame data, an image analysis module that calculates a gain setting and an aperture setting for said set of frame data and forwards said calculated gain setting and said aperture setting to said control module, and a frame data buffer that stores said set of frame data during calculation by said image analysis module.
US07728808B2
A field sequential liquid crystal display (FS-LCD) capable of obtaining desired chromaticity and luminance by setting driving conditions of light emitting diodes (LEDs) having a large driving current distribution per LED product, and driving a backlight including R, G, and B LEDs according to a corresponding driving condition. An LCD driving circuit prestores driving conditions for a liquid crystal and driving conditions for each of a plurality of LEDs. A liquid crystal panel in the FS-LCD is driven based on a corresponding prestored driving condition for the liquid crystal, and the R, G, and B LEDs forming the backlight are driven based on a corresponding driving condition for each LED. The liquid crystal panel also includes a temperature sensor and a luminance and chromaticity sensor. The driving conditions may vary based on sensed temperature, chromaticity, and luminance.
US07728807B2
Techniques are provided for producing two output voltages that are substantially symmetric about a middle voltage (VCOM), based on a digital data value stored in a register. A first output voltage is produced based on the digital data value stored in the register. Additionally, the digital data value stored in the register is converted (e.g., by determining its 2's compliment) to a second digital data value, which is used to produce a second output voltage that is substantially symmetric about VCOM with the first output voltage. Alternatively, the digital data value stored in the register is provided to two different DACs that have their pair of reference voltages swapped (where the reference voltages are symmetric about VCOM), which will result in the outputs of the DACs being substantially symmetric about VCOM.
US07728801B2
An LCD includes a backlight module, two polarizers, an LCD panel and a viewing-angle-adjustable device. The polarizers are disposed over the backlight module. The LCD panel and the first viewing-angle-adjusting device are disposed between the polarizers. The viewing-angle-adjusting device comprises a first substrate, a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a second electrode and a second substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed on the first electrode. The second electrode and the second substrate are disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The first liquid crystal layer is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second electrode is disposed on the bottom surface of the second substrate.
US07728798B2
The present invention relates to an LED driver for driving a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), comprising a current controller to control power supply of a predetermined power source unit to make a current flowing in the plurality of LEDs reach a predetermined target current value which sequentially changes corresponding to the respective LEDs; a plurality of divergence switches to flow or interrupt the current with respect to each of the plurality of LEDs; a bypass switch being connected in parallel with respect to the plurality of divergence switches and the plurality of LEDs and to flow or bypass the current supplied to the plurality of LEDs by being open or short-circuited; and a switch controller to sequentially open and close the plurality of divergence switches corresponding to change of the target current value and control the bypass switch to be short-circuited in a range where the current supplied to the LEDs increases, corresponding to the rise of the target current value. Thus, the present invention provides an LED driver which drives an LED in a low voltage to improve light efficiency.
US07728779B2
Electronic devices and wireless communication terminals include a unitary circuit board on which a radio-frequency (RF) antenna and a microphone are attached. The RF antenna includes a radiating plane and a ground plane. A feed line on the circuit board is connected to the radiating plane, and a ground line on the circuit board is connected to the ground plane. The microphone and the RF antenna are spaced apart on the circuit board by a distance of less than a half wavelength of a resonant frequency of the radiating plane. The microphone generates a microphone signal through a pair of microphone lines on the circuit board.
US07728778B2
A portable electronic device (22) includes a receiver (21), an antenna (25) attached to the receiver, an antenna circuit board (24) electrically connected with the antenna, and a container (26). The receiver has a resonance cavity (2113) defined therein. The antenna circuit board is fixed to the receiver and is used for obturating the resonance cavity. The container is used for receiving the antenna circuit board and the receiver therein.
US07728777B2
An antenna device for radio telephone based on a printed circuit board antenna or a strip conductor antenna and simple to produce and has a high efficiency, but nevertheless ensures that the user of the radio telephone is less exposed to the effects of electromagnetic radiation and the parasitic interference of the telephone caused by the user is reduced. To this end, the strip conductor carrier is cut around strip conductors used as the antenna up to a section used for the connection of the strip conductor used as the antenna to the other strip conductors of the strip conductor carrier. Furthermore, at least when the strip conductor carrier is mounted in the radio telephone, the cut-out regions of the strip conductor carrier, carrying the strip conductor used as the antenna is deflected out of the plane of the other regions of the strip conductor carrier.
US07728772B2
Disclosed herein is a front-end device for a phased array system. The front-end device includes an array of horn antennas, a first set of transmission lines coupled to the horn antenna array for a first polarization, a second set of transmission lines coupled to the horn antenna array for a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization, and a plurality of L-shaped excitation elements. Each L-shaped excitation element of the plurality of L-shaped excitation elements couples a transmission line from each of the first and second sets of transmission lines to a respective horn antenna of the horn antenna array.
US07728766B2
A method for determining beamforming weights used onboard a satellite and ground-based beamforming weights used in a ground-based station as part of a satellite communication system. This beamforming method is a two-stage beamforming process that requires a reduced downlink bandwidth between the satellite and the ground-based station yet achieves optimal signal-to-noise ratio for bandwidth allocated for the downlink. values for the fixed onboard beamforming weights are computed to yield a maximum, max A ( min U S N | W = W ⋓ ) , where the maximum is computed over all possible fixed weights A represented by an L×M matrix, the minimum is computed over all possible positions of remote communication devices U, and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is computed for the optimal set of ground-based beamforming weights W={hacek over (W)}.
US07728765B1
A method for clutter filtering staggered pulse repetition time data signals is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of staggered pulse repetition time data signals. The data signals may comprise one or more desired signals and one or more clutter signals. The method further comprises separating the staggered pulse repetition time data signals into a first separated data sequence and a second separated data sequence. The first and second separated data sequences comprise equally spaced data samples. The method also comprises the step of filtering the one or more clutter signals from the first and second separated data sequences.
US07728763B2
Provided is a high resolution distance ranging apparatus using an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication. The apparatus includes: a first spectrum analyzer for extracting a frequency component corresponding to multipath time delay from a reception signal; a second spectrum analyzer for acquiring a noise subspace of the extracted frequency component and extracting a frequency component where maximum power is located from a frequency spectrum based on the noise subspace; a time of arrival (TOA) extractor for extracting TOA based on the frequency component where maximum power is located.
US07728757B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for focusing an image. In one advantageous embodiment, a method is used to focus an image. Optimization is performed to identify an array of coefficients for a polynomial representing a phase correction in a manner that minimizes an entropy value generated by an entropy calculation for the image. The array of coefficients is applied to the polynomial to obtain a desired phase correction. A phase error in the image is corrected using the desired phase correction to focus the image.
US07728753B2
A system, apparatus and method for continuous synchronization of multiple ADC circuits is described. The ADC circuits can be arranged in a master-slave configuration within the system so that the converter clock is subdivided into slower speeds for the data output clock or for the control of de-multiplexing the outputs onto a wider bus, while maintaining ADC-to-ADC synchronization resilient to perturbations from noise and other upset sources. The configuration of the ADCs in the master-slave configuration can be varied according to overall system requirements in any one of a sequential configuration, a parallel configuration or a tree type of configuration, as well as others. Digital and/or analog timing adjustments can be made to each of the ADC circuits. The master clocking signals can be generated by a master clock generator circuit, which is either internally implemented in an ADC circuit, or externally implemented as a separate master clock generator circuit.
US07728752B2
Pipelined converter systems include a plurality of converter stages in which some stages generate and pass a residue signal to a succeeding stage for further conversion. The generation of the residue signal can inject spurious charges into a reference source that is used in the generation. The spurious charges reduce the accuracy of the residue signal and the accuracy of the system. Residue generator embodiments are thereby formed to provide reduction charges to the reference source that are arranged to oppose and reduce the spurious charges. This reduction of spurious charges significantly enhances system accuracy and linearity.
US07728750B2
A display panel driver including a binary-weighted current-type D/A converter and a source follower with current mirror is provided. The binary-weighted current-type D/A converter receives n input signals and sends a D/A output voltage signal based on 2n−1 times a reference current. The source follower with current mirror receives the D/A output voltage signal and sends 2n−1 times the reference current to the output of the source follower with current mirror, so as to output a output voltage and drive the display panel.
US07728749B2
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a multi-mode DAC with selectable output range, granularity and offset and controlled slew rate are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for supplying a reference signal, including a digital-to-analog converter, a counter and a clock. The digital-to-analog converter has a digital input and an analog output that supplies a reference signal based on the digital input. The counter has a digital control word input, a clock input, a clock enable output and a count output connected to the digital input of the digital-to-analog converter. The counter is adapted to assert the clock enable output when the digital control word input requests an output count that is different from an actual count at the count output of the counter. The clock has an enable input connected to the clock enable output of the counter and a clock output connected to the clock input of the counter. The clock is adapted to produce clock pulses on the clock output while the enable input is asserted.
US07728748B1
A superconducting bandpass sigma-delta Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is disclosed. The ADC is characterized as being an Nth-order, having N resonators, with N being at least 2. The ADC also may have N−1 amplifiers, where the amplifiers directionally couple sequential pairs of the resonators. The ADC further includes a Josephson Junction (JJ) comparator. All N resonators connect in parallel to the JJ comparator, and the JJ comparator is providing an implicit feedback for all N resonators. A method for implementing the sigma-delta ADC without any explicit feedback loops is also disclosed.
US07728746B2
Signal transition feature based coding for serial link is described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a data stream transmitted onto a serial communication link, one or more bits of the data stream are encoded according to bit order determined based on a frequency of signal transitions of the data stream. As a result, a sequence of encoded data stream having a lower number of bit transitions with respect to the frequency of signal transitions of the data stream prior to the encoding is generated. Thereafter, the encoded data sequence is transmitted onto the serial communication link. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US07728739B2
Data values are encoded for transmission to a recipient on a communication channel. Performance information associated with the encoding or the communication channel is obtained and used at least in part to determine quantization factors used in the encoding. The data values can be scaled based on the quantization factors and ordered based on a probability factor. A portion of the data values can be selected based on content. A code table can be selected based on a variation of the data values, where the code table specifies codewords including at least one of bits representative of a divisor, bits representative of a remainder, and a bit representative of a sign. Codewords can be generated for the data values using the code table. The encoded data values can be transmitted to a recipient where the data values are decoded using a decoder.
US07728737B2
A method and system is provided for the output of an information message in a vehicle, whereby an information message is stored, the current location of the vehicle is determined, a driver of the vehicle triggers an assignment of a stored information message to a location, and the information message assigned to a location is automatically emitted when the vehicle is situated at this location.
US07728734B2
In commercial products to which a non-contact type or contact type ID label or ID tag is attached and ID cards, there is fear that, due to a difference between coefficients of thermal expansion between an antenna for communication and a resin provided around the antenna, stress is applied to the resin with the larger coefficient of thermal expansion to break the resin. This contributes to a decrease in manufacturing yield, lifetime, and reliability of an ID label or the like. In an article such as an ID label, an ID tag, and an ID card according to the present invention, a filler is included in a filling layer provided around an antenna forming an ID label, an ID tag, and an ID card so that the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the antenna and the filling layer can be reduced. This makes it possible to ease generation of stress due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion and prevent peeling and cracks of the filling layer.
US07728732B2
The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
US07728728B2
A method and systems for collecting data from a huge number of pre-filled forms are disclosed. According to the method and systems of the invention, the pre-filled forms comprise RFID tags, check boxes, and electrical connection between the RFID tags and the check boxes so that responses are modified according to checked boxes. In a preferred embodiment, each check box comprises at least two electrical terminals electrically connected to the RFID tag through a register. Using a pencil with conductive ink for checking the check boxes establishes an electrical contact between the terminals that modify the value of the register that in turn, modifies the response of the RFID tag. When the check boxes identifiers of a form have been collected, the identifier of the form is stored within the RFID reader to avoid further reading of the RFID tag, or the identifier of the RFID tag is erased.
US07728726B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.
US07728711B2
A remotely or locally actuable refrigerator door lock has a body portion that is attached to the cabinet and a door portion that is attached to an edge of the door. A latch in the body portion engages a strike plate in the door portion and can be lifted out of engagement to open the refrigerator. The door lock assembly may be connected to a touch-screen device or via a USB or ethernet connection to a remote host computer. The host computer keeps an audit trail of the times and personnel accessing each refrigerator, and a temperature audit trail. The system may be used in hospital for controlling access to pharmaceuticals or may be used in a weight loss program. Temperature and humidity sensors are positioned within the refrigerator cabinet. The door lock may have battery power for portable or mobile applications.
US07728709B2
An electric component includes a first base body that connects to a first contact, and an ally conducting element positioned along a current path between the first contact and a second contact. The electrically conducting element melts when an operating voltage of the electric component is exceeded. The electric component also includes an electrically insulating material that substantially surrounds the electrically conducting element and that is arranged so as to prevent an electric flashover between regions of the current path that are bridged by the electrically conducting element.
US07728707B2
A magnet arrangement with a magnet coil system (M) with two coil systems (C, D) that are each arranged in a container (B1, B2) positioned around the z axis and that are axially mechanically separated by a split (G), wherein each coil system (C, D) comprises a first (C1, D1) and a second coil section system (C2, D2), wherein the first coil section systems (C1, D1) are exposed to attractive magnetic forces showing toward the split (G) (KC1, KD1) and the second coil section systems (C2, D2), to repulsive magnetic forces showing away from the split (G) (KC2, KD2), and containing in the split (G) at least one mechanical structure that withstands compressive loads (E1, E2) and that supports a part of the attractive magnetic forces (KC1, KD1), is characterized in that, in the split (G) within the dimensions of the containers (B1, B2), a mechanical structure (H1) is provided that mechanically withstands tensile loads in the z direction, supports a part of the repulsive magnetic forces in the axial direction (KC2, KD2), is connected to the containers (B1, B2) and holds them together. With the inventive magnet arrangement, the magnetic forces can be better controlled. At the same time, a low-cost, space and weight saving assembly can be implemented.
US07728697B2
According to some embodiments, a pre-poled, single-domain body of a ferroelectric crystalline material such as lithium tantalate or lithium niobate is electrically reduced by applying a voltage across the body in a non-oxidizing environment while the body is heated to a process temperature below its Curie temperature. The voltage generates an electric field along the polar axis of the body. Electrodes may be formed on the body surface by applying an acetate-based silver paint. Exemplary methods allow achieving electrical conductivity values of 10−11 to 10−9 Siemens/cm.
US07728689B2
The invention relates to pulse width modulator system (PWMS) comprising a modulator system input (MI),a modulator output (MO), an amplitude distribution filter (ADF) ,and a pulse width modulator (PMOD), wherein said amplitude distribution filter (ADF) establishes an intermediate output signal (OS) by modifying the level of the amplitude distribution of an input signal (IS) within at least one predetermined amplitude range of said input signal (IS), said input signal (IS) being received from said modulator system input (MI), and wherein said pulse width modulator (PMOD) provides a modulator output signal (MOS) on said modulator output(MO) on the basis of said intermediate output signal (OS).
US07728686B2
A digital-controlled oscillator (DCO) is utilized in an all-digital phase-locked loop for eliminating frequency discontinuities. The DCO includes a tank module and a negative gm cell. The tank module comprises a plurality of cells, at least a portion of the cells comprising a first tracking set and a second tracking set for respectively handling an odd bit or an even bit. The odd bit and the even bit are related to an integer signal, a fractional signal or a combination thereof, the fractional signal is indicated by a primary voltage inputted to the DCO. With the DCO, frequency discontinuities and undesired spurs are eliminated.
US07728684B2
Device and method for temperature compensation in a clock oscillator using quartz crystals, which integrates dual crystal oscillators. The minimal power consumption is achieved through an efficient use of a processor in charge of the synchronization of the two oscillators. The invention is particularly adapted for the provision of a precise reference clock in portable radiolocalization devices.
US07728683B2
A phase recovery circuit for avoiding noise interfering with the clock signal generated from an oscillator is disclosed. The phase recovery circuit includes a noise detector, a phase detector, and a phase locker. The noise detector detects noise and accordingly generates a noise detecting signal. The phase detector is triggered by the noise detecting signal for detecting the phase of the clock signal and accordingly generating a phase detecting signal. The phase locker locks the phase of the clock signal to a predetermined phase within a predetermined period after the occurrence of the noise detecting signal, and after the predetermined period, the phase locker releases the clock signal. In this way, the phase of the clock signal is not affected by noise.
US07728674B1
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a clock signal with relatively high bandwidth and relatively low phase noise. A circuit of the invention can include a pair of transistors serially coupled between a signal of relatively high voltage and a source of relatively low voltage, where a voltage of the signal of relatively high voltage can vary according to a voltage of a variable control signal. A gate of one of the pair of transistors can be coupled to an input clock signal, and an output node between the pair of transistors can be coupled to an output clock signal. The circuit can also include a third transistor, whose drain and source are coupled to the output clock signal, and whose gate can be coupled to a gear input signal. This circuit can advantageously operate under at least two different gears, each with different bandwidth and phase noise characteristics.
US07728667B2
A differential amplifier is constituted of first emitter-follower transistors, second emitter-follower transistors, and amplification transistors whose bases are alternately connected to the emitters of the second emitter-follower transistors and whose collectors are connected to the emitters of the first emitter-follower transistors, as well as emitter resistors and constant current sources, whereby it is possible to reduce distortions of output signals in response to large-amplitude input signals, thus ensuring high-speed operation. It is possible to further incorporate base-grounded transistors and diodes, by which substantially the same collector-emitter voltage is applied to the emitter-follower transistors and amplification transistors, thus achieving the same power consumption and the same temperature variations with respect to these transistors. This reduces the nonlinear amplification error due to temperature differences of transistors, thus achieving flat gain characteristics in broad ranges of frequencies.
US07728666B2
The present invention discloses a Class-D power amplifier and control method thereof. In one embodiment, the amplifier feeds back the signal at the output node to the inverting input of the comparator, and provides a high frequency triangular wave signal to the non-inverting input of the comparator. In addition, the non-inverting input of the comparator may be coupled to an offset voltage, while the inverting input of the comparator may be coupled to a fixed-frequency rectangular wave signal, a feedback signal which is derived from the output stage and an input signal. In use, the switching frequency may be at least substantially fixed, so as to reduce the influence on the system caused by electromagnetic interruption (EMI). Further, the control circuit is simple, and some devices can be integrated.
US07728663B2
A collector boost circuit is disclosed for providing a first voltage in a first mode of operation to a power amplifier, and another voltage in a second mode of operation to the power amplifier. The collector boost circuit uses an indicator signal derived by an RF detector to switch between the first and the second mode of operation. The another voltage is a boosted voltage greater than the first voltage and is provided when required during peak excursions to prevent amplifier clipping through a boost capacitor. The another voltage is continuous and varies in accordance with the detected peak signal amplitude.
US07728657B2
A Phased Locked Loop (PLL) circuit includes: a clock signal generating unit for generating a first clock signal and a second clock signal of which the phase differs from the first clock signal by Π/2; a computing unit for computing first phase comparison results showing the results of comparing the phases of a signal wherein the first clock signal is subjected to phase shifting with the PSK modulation signal and second phase comparison results showing the results of comparing the phases of a signal wherein the second clock signal is subjected to phase shifting with the PSK modulation signal based on first and second parameters, the first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the PSK modulation signal; a control direction setting unit for virtually controlling the control angle; a parameter control unit; and a reading control unit for controlling the timing of reading data from the PSK modulation.
US07728656B2
A circuit for breaking a signal path has not only a switching means but also a low-pass or bandpass filter whose frequency characteristic is switchable or bypassable. The insulation between the input and the output when the switching means is open, which decreases with frequency in the case of ordinary switching means, is compensated for by the filter which is then connected. In one embodiment of the circuit, an out-of-band signal is applied to the circuit in addition to the useful signal. The out-of-band signal is intended to be supplied permanently to an evaluation circuit, regardless of the switching position of the switching means. To this end, the out-of-band signal is tapped off downstream of the filter, and the filter is designed such that the out-of-band signal can pass through the filter. In the case of a circuit for selecting one of two inputs, at least one of the inputs is provided with a switchable or bypassable filter, and the switching means is a selection means. Even when the input is not selected, an out-of-band signal is forwarded to an evaluation circuit. To this end, the out-of-band signal, as described above, is tapped off downstream of the filter and upstream of the selection means.
US07728644B2
The present invention describes a skew compensation circuit that can compensate for changes in signal skew in response to changes in external environments and processes. The skew compensation circuit includes a controller for outputting a control signal according to whether an external power supply is supplied and its operation mode. The skew compensation circuit also includes a signal output unit which selects either a normal path or a skew reduction path according to the control signal and outputs an input signal through the selected path.
US07728637B2
A phase-lock loop generates an output clock signal from an input clock signal. The output clock signal is coupled through a clock tree and is fed back to a phase detector, which compares the phase of the output clock signal to the phase of the input clock signal. The output clock signal is generated by a voltage controlled oscillator having a control input coupled to receive an output from the phase detector, and a frequency multiplier coupled to the output of the voltage controlled oscillator. As a result, the CLKOUT signal generated by the frequency multiplier has a relatively high frequency while the voltage controlled oscillator, by operating at a relatively low frequency, uses relatively little power.
US07728633B2
A window comparator of an A.C. input voltage, including, between two terminals of application of a voltage representative of the voltage to be measured, two first transistors of a first type, each first transistor being assembled as a current mirror on the second transistor having a first conduction terminal connected to one of the application terminals, the two second transistors having a second common conduction terminal; and two third transistors of a second type assembled as a current mirror between the common conduction terminal of the second transistors and a current source, a D.C. voltage being applied on a first terminal of the current source and an output signal being provided by a second terminal of the current source.
US07728627B2
A power sequencing method may use a state machine in a programmable sequencer to program relative timing of signals to activate different power rails attached to an integrated circuit. Input lines may specify the sequencing program. Alternatively, the programmable sequencer may use an EEPROM or other computer-readable medium to program itself with a particular image of the sequencing program. The programmable sequencer may be implemented by a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).
US07728620B2
A system including a preemphasis driver circuit and a method. One embodiment includes an output terminal, a main driver coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and an auxiliary driver coupled to the output terminal, wherein at least one unclocked delay element is coupled between the input terminal and the auxiliary driver.
US07728616B2
Disclosed is a picture quality testing apparatus and method of a liquid crystal display which can measure at least any one of gray inversion and color shift. An apparatus for testing the picture quality of a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display for displaying a test pattern, an image pickup device for photographing the test pattern of the liquid crystal display, a measurer for measuring the transmittance of the test pattern photographed by the image pickup device, and a rotating means for rotating at least one of the liquid crystal display and the image pickup device while the image pickup device photographs the test pattern.
US07728615B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, including a test head that generates a test signal for testing the device under test; a socket board onto which is mounted the device under test, that transmits signals between the test head and the device under test; a plurality of actuators that are disposed on a lower surface of the socket board to correspond one-to-one with support positions thereof, and that each have a state thereof changed according to a control signal supplied thereto to independently move the corresponding support position in a direction vertical to the lower surface of the socket board; and a connection control section that supplies a first control signal to each actuator to set each actuator to be in the same state, and thereafter supplies commonly to each actuator a second control signal that gradually decreases an apparatus separation distance between the socket board and the test head.
US07728611B1
An interconnect assembly electrically connecting two circuit members, which include respective arrays of electrical contacts for engagement with the interconnect assembly. The interconnect assembly comprises a plurality of electrical conductors, the plurality of conductors arranged in a spaced arrangement, the spaced arrangement of the conductors substantially corresponding to a spaced arrangement for the respective arrays of electrical contacts to provide contact between the conductors and the contact arrays and a carrier, including a socket and a retainer. The socket includes a plurality of apertures each receiving an upper portion of one of the plurality of conductors and the retainer includes a plurality of apertures each receiving a lower portion of one of the plurality of conductors; and the respective apertures are aligned axially with each other.
US07728596B2
A sea electrical survey method for hydrocarbon deposits, situated under seabed not exceeding 10 meters of depth, is disclosed, comprising: providing a plurality of multi-channel bottom systems with receiving lines having at least three electrodes and capable to register electromagnetic signals, excitation devices generating a series of computer-controlled alternating-sign pulses, a horizontally positioned dipole, synchronizing the excitation devices and bottom systems, submerging the systems upon the seabed along a predetermined direction, aligning the receiving lines, moving the dipole within the survey zone, excitation of the pulses, registering signals, measuring the potentials difference and the spatial derivatives of the signals during the pulses and the pauses, recording data, analyzing the data with accounting the fields behavior in time and in space simultaneously, determining the environment resistivity and environment polarizability based on a predetermined mathematical model, and compiling the deposit prognosis. Preferable distance, time, and angular parameters are specified.
US07728585B2
A system for use when measuring a magnetostriction value of a magnetoresistive element according to one embodiment includes a mechanism for applying a first magnetic field about parallel to a substrate having one or more magnetoresistive elements, and for applying a second magnetic field about perpendicular to the substrate and about parallel to magnetoresistive layers of the elements; and a mechanism for applying a mechanical stress to the substrate during application of the magnetic fields.
US07728577B2
Techniques pertaining to device and method for controlling an analog signal are disclosed. Using a single connection (e.g., a connector or a pin) without an external resistive element (e.g., a resistor), an analog output is digitally controlled and produced. In one embodiment, a precisely controlled current is generated from coded data. A control unit is designed to control a working mode based on an input signal from the connection. The working mode includes a default mode, a programmable mode, a testing mode and a shutdown mode. Under the programmable mode, a user determines a signal coupled in from the connection as desired, and a code unit codes the signal in accordance with a predefined protocol. The code unit then sends the coded data to a decode unit. The decode unit is designed to generate or control the current by the decoded data.
US07728570B2
A power factor correction circuit including a boost converter, a first capacitor, a first resistor, and a boost control unit is provided. The boost control unit includes a signal generator and a frequency controller. The boost converter transforms a rectified voltage to a correction voltage according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The first capacitor and the first resistor are coupled between an input terminal and a ground terminal of the boost converter. The boost control unit is adapted to generate the PWM signal, and adjust a duty cycle and a frequency of the PWM signal according to a current flowing through the first resistance, the rectified voltage and the correction voltage. Wherein, the signal generator is adapted to generate a ramp signal and adjust a slope of the ramp signal according to a charging current. The frequency controller adjusts the charging current according to the rectified voltage.
US07728569B1
Voltage regulator circuitry is provided. The voltage regulator circuitry may contain a drive transistor that is controlled by the output of an operational amplifier. The drive transistor may supply a regulated voltage to a load. The operational amplifier may compare a reference voltage and a feedback signal at its inputs. The operational amplifier may include first and second stages. An adjustable resistor may be provided between the first and second stages. Control circuitry may control the resistance of the adjustable resistor based on the amount of current flowing through the load to ensure stable operation of the voltage regulator circuitry. Overshoot and undershoot detection and compensation circuitry may compensate for overshoot and undershoot in the regulated voltage. Voltage ramp control circuitry may be used to control the ramp rate of the regulated voltage.
US07728566B2
A voltage regulator having a MOS transistor driver includes a p-channel MOS transistor at a voltage input terminal Vin and a p-channel MOS transistor at a voltage output terminal Vout. A drain of the input side p-channel MOS transistor is connected to the voltage input terminal Vin. A threshold voltage or a voltage lower than the threshold voltage is applied to a gate of the input side p-channel MOS transistor. A drain of the output side p-channel MOS transistor is connected to the voltage output terminal Vout. A current flowing through the input side p-channel MOS transistor drives a voltage regulator circuit and the output side p-channel MOS transistor.
US07728554B2
An impulse generator including first and second differentiators coupled in parallel to each other, for generating impulses by differentiating a clock signal, and first and second switches for transiting on and off the first and second differentiators respectively to selectively output the impulses generated by the first and second differentiators, and varying polarity of the impulses by changing a direction of a current flowing through load. Accordingly, the negative and positive impulses are selectively output according to the circuit state, reliability of the impulses is improved, and power consumption is reduced.
US07728548B2
A method for operating an external medical device such as a defibrillator includes obtaining a data set from a battery pack and examining the data set to determine whether the battery pack is authenticated for use in the external medical device. If the examination does not confirm the authentication, the method includes causing the device to follow a non-authenticated battery pack protocol. The non-authenticated battery pack protocol may include drawing power from the non-authenticated battery pack only if it is the only available source of power for the external medical device. It may include limiting functionality of the external medical device. It may include modifying the battery status information display for the non-authenticated battery pack. A power system for an external medical device may include a power source external to the medical device and including a memory which stores data indicative of an authorized status of the power source and a processor in the medical device configured to analyze the data and to control a function of the medical device based at least in part on the authorization status.
US07728539B2
Devices and methods for performing dynamic sampling of a back electromotive force (BEMF) measurement are provided. A device has hardware, including a voice coil motor (VCM) for receiving a VCM command signal and a correction circuit, for obtaining the VCM command signal and a coil voltage measurement from the hardware, where the correction circuit removes a transient voltage measurement due to a change in the VCM command signal from the coil voltage measurement and outputs an estimated BEMF measurement.
US07728537B2
A current detecting unit detects three phase current of a three-phase inverter from current flowing between the inverter and a DC power supply. The current detecting unit includes a specified voltage vector generating portion that generates a specified voltage vector indicating a voltage vector that three-phase voltage of the inverter should follow, and a specified voltage vector correcting portion that corrects the generated specified voltage vector. The inverter is controlled in accordance with the specified voltage vector after the correction.
US07728534B2
A hybrid electric lawnmower is described which includes a first and a second electric motor operating blades and the ability to drive the motors from either 120 VAC line voltage or from a battery pack. There is a user selectable power selection switch for switching between DC or AC power and also a boost and conserve feature which allows for increased speed of the blade as necessary. Running the mower at the conserve setting prolongs battery pack duration per charge. Power supply and control systems allow the user to select operation of the motors in either series or parallel configuration depending on the power source.
US07728533B2
An exemplary backlight control circuit (20) includes: at least two load circuits (210), a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) (250) having a current sampling pin (251), a switching circuit (270), and an input circuit (230). Each load circuit includes a backlight and a backlight inspecting circuit having an output end. The switching circuit includes a first transistor which includes a source electrode connected to ground, a drain electrode connected to the current sampling pin, a gate electrode connected to a power supply. The input circuit includes at least two first diodes, at least two input resistor, a second transistor, and a pink-to-pink detector circuit. The pink-to-pink detector circuit includes a second diode, a second bias resistor, and a second filter capacitor. Each output end of the load circuits is connected to the gate electrode of the second transistor via the input resistor, the first and second diode.
US07728531B2
A lamp driving circuit, an inverter board and a display apparatus having the inverter board, the lamp driving circuit receiving a direct current voltage and provides the direct current voltage to a square wave generator, and the square wave generator outputting a first square wave voltage having a duty ratio corresponding to a voltage level of the direct current voltage. An inverter controller compares the first square wave voltage with a reference voltage and outputs a second square wave voltage. An inverter provides an output of a lamp driving voltage according to the duty ratio of the second square wave voltage.
US07728530B2
The invention discloses an LED driving circuit and a controlling method thereof, comprising a power switch and a current sampling unit, as well as a voltage comparison unit for comparing the voltage obtained by the current sampling unit with a first reference voltage; an input voltage sampling unit for converting the sampled input voltage into a current signal; a timing unit for controlling the off-time of the power switch or presetting a fixed off-time; a logical unit for controlling the power switch by means of a power switch driving unit and for controlling the timing switch in the timing unit. The method for controlling the LED driving circuit comprises the step of modulating the off-time of the power switch with the input voltage or the step of presetting a fixed off-time. The invention can be used in LED light cluster driving with the power factor greater than 0.95.
US07728529B2
In a LED driver using a depletion mode transistor to serve as a current source, the depletion mode transistor is self-biased for providing a driving current to drive at least one LED, thereby requesting no additional control circuit to control the depletion mode transistor. The driving current is independent on the supply voltage coupled to the at least one LED, thereby requesting no additional voltage regulator, reducing the circuit size, and lowering the cost.
US07728526B2
An organic light emitting display device is provided. The device includes a photo sensor adapted to: sense a brightness of ambient light; output a pulse width of an emission control signal corresponding to a sensed brightness of the ambient light; and output a gamma compensation coefficient corresponding to the sensed brightness of the ambient light and a user selected brightness. The device also includes a gamma compensation circuit adapted to adjust a magnitude of a voltage between a plurality of gradation voltages according to the output gamma compensation coefficient. The device also includes a scan driver and a data driver. The device also includes a pixel portion including a pixel adapted to: emit light according to the data signal, the scan signal, and the emission control signal; and display an image corresponding to the user selected brightness.
US07728516B2
An organic EL display is constituted by providing a stress-relieving layer made of a material having a higher elastisity and a lower refractive index than an adhesive layer at edges of color-converting filters that are constituted from color filter layers alone, or color filter layers and color-converting layers, and are formed on a transparent supporting substrate. As a result, stress arising when bonding the color-converting filters and the organic light-emitting device together, or when there are changes in the environment in which the display is placed is absorbed by the stress-relieving layer, and hence the light-emitting device is not damaged, and moreover reflection at walls of the stress-relieving layer is promoted, and hence there is a reduction in the component of the light emitted by the light-emitting device that escapes sideways. An organic EL display having high reliability and high efficiency is thus provided.
US07728515B2
The present invention provides a light-emitting circuit board and a light-emitting display device, which can reduce a frame region (a space between a side of the board and a pixel region) on a board. The light-emitting circuit board of the present invention is a light-emitting circuit board comprising: on a board, a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, stacked in this order; a driver circuit; and an external terminal, wherein the driver circuit is connected to the external terminal; the second electrode of the pixel and the external terminal are connected to each other by a wiring through an off-pixel contact; and the wiring is disposed to overlap with at least part of the driver circuit.
US07728513B2
It is a problem to provide an electric apparatus less in consumption power and long in life by the manufacture using the display device. An insulating bank is provided in a form surrounding the pixel portions on first electrodes over a substrate. The entire surface is applied, by a wet scheme (method), with an organic conductive film which has a thickness form of T2>T1>T3> under the influence of the insulating bank. Accordingly, the portion T3 has an increased resistance in a lateral direction, making possible to prevent against crosstalk. Due to a conductive polymer as a buffer layer, a display device can be provided which is low in drive voltage. Furthermore, because the portion T2 is increased in thickness, the electric-field concentration is relaxed at and around the pixel portion. This makes it possible to prevent the organic light-emitting element from deteriorating at around the pixel.
US07728511B2
An organic thin film transistor (TFT), a method of manufacturing the organic TFT, and a flat display apparatus having the organic TFT are provided. The organic TFT has a gate insulating layer with openings filled with a conductive material, thereby preventing short circuits from occurring between channels connecting the source and drain lines to the organic semiconductor layer. The organic TFT includes a substrate including a source line, a drain line, and a gate electrode. The organic TFT further includes a gate insulating layer formed on the source and drain lines and on the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer has openings exposing the source and drain lines, which openings are filled with a conductive material. The organic TFT also includes an organic semiconductor layer electrically connected to the conductive material.
US07728502B2
A method for fabricating a cathode plate of a field emission display is disclosed. A patterned electrode layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, and emitters for absorbing a light source are formed on the patterned electrode layer. Next, a dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, and a patterned gate layer is formed on the dielectric layer. Thereafter, a backside exposure process is carried out using the emitters as a mask, and portions of the dielectric layer not masked by the emitters react with a light used in the backside exposure process. Next, portions of the dielectric layer not exposed to the light and portions of the gate layer are removed to form via holes and gate holes.
US07728501B2
An image display apparatus includes an envelope, first to third electroconductive members disposed in the envelope, a plate-like spacer disposed between the first and third members and between the second and third members, and a circuit for supplying a potential to the first member and supplying a potential lower than that of the first member to the second and third members. When a sheet resistance between a first region of the spacer to which the potential is supplied from the first member and a second region of the spacer to which the potential is supplied from the second member is defined as ρf [Ω/□] and a sheet resistance between a third region of the spacer to which the potential is supplied from the third member and a region located between the first and second regions is defined as ρr [Ω/□], a condition 1/100<ρr/ρf≦40 is satisfied.
US07728498B2
In accordance with one embodiment, the hollow cathode is comprised of a first tantalum tube, tantalum foil, and a second tantalum tube. The foil is in the form of a spiral winding around the outside of the first tube and is held in place by the second tube, which surrounds the foil. One end of the second tube is approximately flush with one end of the first tube. The other end of the second tube extends to a cathode support through which the working gas flows. To start the cathode, a flow of ionizable inert gas, usually argon, is initiated through the hollow cathode and out the open end of the first tube. An electrical discharge is then started between an external electrode and the first tube. When the first tube is heated to operating temperature, electrons are emitted from the open end of the first tube.
US07728495B2
A method of making an HID lamp and an HID lamp that includes a ceramic envelope with a ceramic capillary, wherein the capillary has an electrode feed-through therein that is sealed inside the capillary by a frit seal that extends inside the capillary a first distance from a distal end of the capillary, and a ceramic heat sink around at least half an external diameter of the capillary, wherein the heat sink is separated from the envelope and from the distal end of the capillary and the heat sink is in thermally conductive contact with the capillary and has an external diameter at least 1.5 times the external diameter of the capillary. In one preferred embodiment, the heat sink does not overlap the frit seal.
US07728481B2
A laminated body of a motor includes: a yoke spirally laminated to form a hollow cylindrical shape; a plurality of teeth protruding from one side edge of the yoke disposed along a longitudinal direction of the yoke and being separated apart at a predetermined distance; a plurality of notch portions on an opposite side edge of the yoke, each of the plurality of notch portions being aligned with each of the plurality of teeth; a stopping protrusion extendingly formed at a protruding end of the teeth in the longitudinal direction of the yoke; and an inclined portion having an inclined surface formed by decreasing a width of the stopping protrusion toward an end of the stopping protrusion so as to reduce cogging torque.
US07728476B2
An inner rotor brushless motor is miniaturized, flattened and made lighter without reducing motor performance. A rotor and a stator are enclosed inside a sealed case (i.e., a sealed space) assembled by covering an attachment base with a cup-shaped bracket. A motor substrate on which a motor driving circuit is formed is provided in a gap formed in an axial direction between (i) the rotor and the stator and (ii) a base portion inside a bracket opening of the bracket.
US07728474B2
In a rotor of a magneto generator in which permanent magnets are attached to the inner circumference of a peripheral wall of a cup-shaped formed flywheel, and a plurality of trigger poles are arranged on the outer circumference of the flywheel; the plurality of trigger poles are simultaneously punched out by press working to form a protrusion ring which is formed of a separate member from the flywheel, and the protrusion ring is integrally incorporated to the flywheel to configure the rotor.
US07728473B2
A electric rotating machine includes a rotor winding constituting a part of a rotor, a conductor provided in a center portion in a radial direction of a rotor body for supplying electricity to the rotor winding from the outside, a leader drawn from the conductor to an outside diameter side, and a connecting line constructed by stacking a plurality of conductor plates to electrically connect the rotor winding and the leader. The connecting line consists of a radial direction linear portion which is straight in the radial direction on the leader side, and a bending portion which branches into two routes toward opposite directions to each other in a rotor shaft direction from the radial direction linear portion and has a linear portion formed at a part of the bending portion. The linear portion of the bending portion is joined to a bottom surface of the rotor winding.
US07728456B2
A vehicle auxiliary electric-power-supplying system can normally stop an electric power inverter by the frequency in use for an electric power supplier being suppressed as low as possible, and electric power being immediately started to be supplied from the power supplier to a controller in a case in which normal electric power has become unable to be obtained from power-outputting of the electric power inverter. The system includes: the electric power inverter for converting a first type of dc power received through an overhead wire to a second type of dc power, and supplying the second type of dc power to a dc load; the power supplier for converting the first type of dc power received through the overhead wire to a third type of dc power; a power-outputting unit, connected to both the electric power inverter and the electric power supplier, for outputting either the second type of dc power or the third type of dc power; and the controller for receiving power from the power-outputting unit, and controlling the electric power inverter.
US07728453B2
A device consisting of a container which is partially submerged in the sea which may be buoyant and connected to the seabed with cables or mounted on a platform and whose interior is connected to its exterior via pipes where in response to the passing of waves is filled and emptied through these pipes. The force of the water flowing through the pipes causes turbines to rotate thus generating electricity which may be transmitted to land. These turbines may be turbines which rotate in different directions depending on the direction of water flow or turbines which maintain the same direction of rotation irrespective of the direction of water flow.
US07728443B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor component with a through wire interconnect includes the step of providing a substrate having a circuit side, a back side, and a through via. The method also includes the steps of: threading a wire through the via, forming a contact on the wire on the back side, forming a bonded contact on the wire on the circuit side, and then severing the wire from the bonded contact. The through wire interconnect includes the wire in the via, the contact on the back side and the bonded contact on the circuit side. The contact on the back side, and the bonded contact on the circuit side, permit multiple components to be stacked with electrical connections between adjacent components. A system for performing the method includes the substrate with the via, and a wire bonder having a bonding capillary configured to thread the wire through the via, and form the contact and the bonded contact. The semiconductor component can be used to form chip scale components, wafer scale components, stacked components, or interconnect components for electrically engaging or testing other semiconductor components.
US07728434B2
Aimed at improving adhesiveness between upper and lower interconnects in semiconductor devices, a semiconductor device of the present invention includes a second dielectric multi-layered film formed on a substrate, and containing a lower interconnect; a first dielectric multi-layered film formed on the second dielectric multi-layered film, and having a recess; an MOx film formed on the inner wall of the recess, and containing a metal M and oxygen as major components; an M film formed on the MOx film, and containing the M as a major component; and an electric conductor formed on the M film so as to fill the recess, and containing Cu as a major component, wherein the surficial portion of the interconnect fallen straight under the bottom of the recess has an oxygen concentration of 1% or smaller.
US07728427B2
A system is described that can assemble substrates over one another to form a stacked substrate. The various layers of the stacked substrate can be separated from each other by using Coulomb forces. In addition, a beam substrate can be used to increase the separation. The instructions for assembly and a FSM (Finite State Machine) can be included in the stacked substrate to pave the way for a self-constructing 3-D automaton. The beam substrate can be used to carry heat, fluids, electrical power or signals between the various layers of the stacked cells besides providing a mechanical support. A stacked substrate can be assembled into a cylindrical coil, a transformer or a coupled transformer depending on the construction of the beam structure. The magnetic coupling of the transformer can be altered by changing the distance between the separated substrates.
US07728420B2
A semiconductor package that includes a lead frame riveted to pillars electrically connect to an electrode of a semiconductor die.
US07728413B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element; a metallic plate having a heat radiation surface; a terminal connecting to the element; and a resin mold covering the element, the plate and the terminal. The metallic plate provides an electrode of the semiconductor element. The heat radiation surface is capable of radiating heat generated in the element. The heat radiation surface and a part of the terminal are exposed from the resin mold. The resin mold includes a concavity/convexity portion between the heat radiation surface and the part of the terminal in order to lengthen a creepage distance therebetween. The concavity/convexity portion is disposed on a surface of the resin mold.
US07728409B2
A semiconductor device formed by decreasing thickness of a substrate by grinding, and performing ion implantation. In a diode in which a P anode layer and an anode electrode are formed at a side of a right face of an N− drift layer, and an N+ cathode layer and a cathode electrode are formed at a side of a back face of the N− drift layer, an N cathode buffer layer is formed thick compared with the N+-type cathode layer between the N−-type drift layer and the N+ cathode layer, the buffer layer being high in concentration compared with the N− drift layer, and low compared with the N+ cathode layer. When a reverse bias voltage is applied, a depletion layer is stopped in the middle of the N cathode buffer layer, and thus prevented from reaching the N+ cathode layer, so that the leakage current is suppressed.
US07728403B2
A semiconductor device of unipolar type has Schottky-contacts (6) laterally separated by regions in the form of additional layers (7, 7″) of semiconductor material on top of a drift layer (3). Said additional layers being doped according to a conductivity type being opposite to the one of the drift layer. At least one (7″) of the additional layers has a substantially larger lateral extension and thereby larger area of the interface to the drift layer than adjacent such layers (7) for facilitating the building-up of a sufficient voltage between that layer and the drift layer for injecting minority charge carriers into the drift layer upon surge for surge protection.
US07728402B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a metal contact on the semiconductor layer and forming a Schottky junction with the semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor region in the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor region and the semiconductor layer form a first p-n junction in parallel with the Schottky junction. The first p-n junction is configured to generate a depletion region in the semiconductor layer adjacent the Schottky junction when the Schottky junction is reversed biased to thereby limit reverse leakage current through the Schottky junction. The first p-n junction is further configured such that punch-through of the first p-n junction occurs at a lower voltage than a breakdown voltage of the Schottky junction when the Schottky junction is reverse biased.
US07728396B2
A method and a structure are provided for preventing lift-off of a semiconductor monitor pattern from a substrate. A semiconductor structure and a semiconductor monitor structure are formed on a substrate. A material layer is formed covering the semiconductor monitor structure. A part of the semiconductor structure is removed without removing the semiconductor monitor structure, by using the material layer as an etch protection layer. A mask for the method is also provided. The mask includes a clear area and a dark area. The dark area prevents a semiconductor monitor structure from being subjected to exposure so as to form a material layer covering the semiconductor monitor structure and prevent removal of the semiconductor monitor structure from the substrate while a part of a semiconductor structure is removed.
US07728383B2
To provide a thin film integrated circuit at low cost and with thin thickness, which is applicable to mass production unlike the conventional glass substrate or the single crystalline silicon substrate, and a structure and a process of a thin film integrated circuit device or an IC chip having the thin film integrated circuit. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first insulating film over one surface of a silicon substrate, forming a layer having at least two thin film integrated circuits over the first insulating film, forming a resin layer so as to cover the layer having the thin film integrated circuit, forming a film so as to cover the resin layer, grinding a backside of one surface of the silicon substrate which is formed with the layer having the thin film integrated circuit, and polishing the ground surface of the silicon substrate.
US07728382B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first conductive type layer; a plurality of IGBT regions, each of which provides an IGBT element; and a plurality of diode regions, each of which provides a diode element. The plurality of IGBT regions and the plurality of diode regions are alternately arranged in the substrate. Each diode region includes a Schottky contact region having a second conductive type. The Schottky contact region is configured to retrieve a minority carrier from the first conductive type layer. The Schottky contact region is disposed in a first surface portion of the first conductive type layer, and adjacent to the IGBT region.
US07728380B2
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device. In embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having isolation layers and a well region, a gate electrode formed within a trench having a predetermined depth in the well region, source/drain regions formed at both sides of the trench, respectively, an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate to have predetermined contact holes, and metal interconnections formed within the contact holes, respectively.
US07728379B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; an insulating film provided on the semiconductor layer; and a charge storage layer provided on the insulating film. The semiconductor layer has a channel formation region in its surface portion. The insulating film contains silicon, germanium, and oxygen. The charge storage layer is capable of storing charge supplied from the semiconductor layer through the insulating film. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a silicon oxide film on a surface of a semiconductor layer; introducing germanium into the silicon oxide film; forming an insulating film containing silicon, germanium, and oxygen by heat treatment under oxidizing atmosphere; and forming a charge storage layer on the insulating film, the charge storage layer being capable of storing charge supplied from the semiconductor layer through the insulating layer.
US07728376B2
HfO2 films and ZrO2 films are currently being developed for use as capacitor dielectric films in 85 nm technology node DRAM. However, these films will be difficult to use in 65 nm technology node or later DRAM, since they have a relative dielectric constant of only 20-25. The dielectric constant of such films may be increased by stabilizing their cubic phase. However, this results in an increase in the leakage current along the crystal grain boundaries, which makes it difficult to use these films as capacitor dielectric films. To overcome this problem, the present invention dopes a base material of HfO2 or ZrO2 with an oxide of an element having a large ion radius, such as Y or La, to increase the oxygen coordination number of the base material and thereby increase its relative dielectric constant to 30 or higher even when the base material is in its amorphous state. Thus, the present invention provides dielectric films that can be used to form DRAM capacitors that meet the 65 nm technology node or later.
US07728375B2
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device and a method of forming the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may include a first interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. A bit line may be arranged in a first direction on the first interlayer insulating layer. A bit line contact pad may be disposed in the first interlayer insulating layer and electrically connected to the bit line. A storage contact pad may be disposed in the first interlayer insulating layer. A top surface of the bit line contact pad may be lower than a top surface of the storage contact pad.
US07728374B2
An embedded memory device solves the problem of the low reliability of the circuit due to the unstable power source. The embedded memory includes a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor to increase the stability of the power source ring to stabilize the voltage of the embedded memory and stabilize the voltage for the peripheral circuit of the embedded memory.
US07728368B2
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, a lower electrode film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a dielectric film formed on the lower electrode film, and an upper electrode film formed on the dielectric film, wherein the lower electrode film, the dielectric film and the upper electrode film construct a capacitor in a predetermined region on the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric film is separated from the upper electrode film outside the predetermined region, and the dielectric film is formed continuously with respect to an adjacent cell.
US07728359B2
In a nitride semiconductor based bipolar transistor, a contact layer formed so as to contact an emitter layer is composed of n-type InAlGaN quaternary mixed crystals, the emitter layer and the contact layer are selectively removed so that the barrier height with the emitter formed thereon is small, and the ohmic electrode contact resistance can be lowered on the InAlGaN quaternary mixed crystals, for example, so that a WSi emitter electrode becomes an eave. A base electrode is formed by a self-aligned process using the emitter electrode as a mask. By such a configuration, the distance between the emitter and the edge of the base electrode is sufficiently shortened, and the base resistance can be lowered. As a result, a bipolar transistor having favorable high-frequency characteristics can be realized.
US07728355B2
An N-polar III-nitride heterojunction JFET which includes a P-type III-nitride body under the gate electrode thereof.
US07728354B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer of p-type AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1); a second semiconductor layer of n-type AlyGa1-yN (0
US07728352B2
A damascene approach may be utilized to form an electrode to a lower conductive line in a phase change memory. The phase change memory may be formed of a plurality of isolated memory cells, each including a phase change memory threshold switch and a phase change memory storage element.
US07728351B2
An image sensor provides enhanced integration of transistor circuitry and photo diodes. The image sensor simultaneously improves resolution and sensitivity. An image sensor an a method for manufacturing prevents defects in a photo diode by adopting a vertical photo diode structure. An image sensor includes a substrate which may include at least one circuit element. A bottom electrode and a first conductive layer may be sequentially formed over the substrate. A strained intrinsic layer may be formed over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer may be formed over the strained intrinsic layer. An upper electrode may be formed over the second conductive layer.
US07728349B2
A silicon rectifier semiconductor device with selectable trigger and holding voltages includes a trigger element. A first well region of a first conductivity type formed within a semiconductor body. A first region of the first conductivity type is formed within the first well region. A second region of a second conductivity type is formed with the first well region. A second well region having the second conductivity type is formed within the semiconductor body adjacent the first well region. A third region of the first conductivity type is formed within the second well region. A fourth region of the second conductivity type is formed within the second well region. The trigger element is connected to the first region and alters a base trigger voltage and a base holding voltage into an altered trigger voltage and an altered holding voltage. A first terminal or pad is connected to the second region. A second terminal is connected to the third region, the fourth region, and the trigger element. In operation, the first terminal conducts current to the second terminal during a low impedance state in response to the altered trigger voltage being applied to the first terminal.
US07728348B2
There is provided a method of producing a thin GaN film-joined substrate, including the steps of: joining on a GaN bulk crystalline body a substrate different in type or chemical composition from GaN; and dividing the GaN bulk crystalline body at a plane having a distance of at least 0.1 μm and at most 100 μm from an interface thereof with the substrate different in type, to provide a thin film of GaN on the substrate different in type, wherein the GaN bulk crystalline body had a surface joined to the substrate different in type, that has a maximum surface roughness Rmax of at most 20 μm. Thus a GaN-based semiconductor device including a thin GaN film-joined substrate including a substrate different in type and a thin film of GaN joined firmly on the substrate different in type, and at least one GaN-based semiconductor layer deposited on the thin film of GaN, can be fabricated at low cost.
US07728345B2
A semiconductor light source for illuminating physical spaces can include a lead frame with multiple facets. Each facet can have one or more semiconductor light emitting devices located on it.
US07728342B2
A light emitting apparatus including a substrate, at least one light emitting diode chip mounted on the substrate, a light-transmitting member disposed on the substrate to form a space between the light-transmitting member and the substrate, and a resin disposed in the space to seal the light emitting diode chip, the light-transmitting member including at least one resin-injection inlet and at least one air vent, the space being filled with the resin injected into the space through the resin-injection inlet.
US07728337B2
An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) assembly includes a cover, a substrate, a LED unit, a first electrode terminal, and a second electrode terminal. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the substrate thereto. The substrate and the cover cooperatively define a cavity. The LED unit is received in the cavity. The first and the second electrode terminals extend from the second surface. The first electrode terminal is electrically connected to one of a positive lead and a negative lead of the LED unit and the second electrode terminal is electrically connected to the other. The second electrode terminal includes a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the first electrode terminal. The first and the second electrode portions are at least partially symmetrical with respect to the first electrode terminal.
US07728327B2
Provided is a 2-terminal semiconductor device that uses an abrupt MIT semiconductor material layer. The 2-terminal semiconductor device includes a first electrode layer, an abrupt MIT semiconductor organic or inorganic material layer having an energy gap less than 2eV and holes in a hole level disposed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer disposed on the abrupt MIT semiconductor organic or inorganic material layer. An abrupt MIT is generated in the abrupt MIT semiconductor material layer by a field applied between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.
US07728326B2
A light emitting device which is capable of suppressing deterioration by diffusion of impurities such as moisture, oxygen, alkaline metal and alkaline earth metal, and concretely, a flexible light emitting device which has light emitting element formed on a plastic substrate. On the plastic substrate, disposed are two layers and more of barrier films comprising a layer represented by AlNxOy which is capable of blocking intrusion of moisture and oxygen in a light emitting layer and blocking intrusion of impurities such as an alkaline metal and an alkaline earth metal in an active layer of TFT, and further, a stress relaxation film containing resin is disposed between two layers of barrier films.
US07728319B2
The present invention discloses a vertical phase-change-memory (PCM) cell, comprising a stack of a bottom electrode (5) contacting a first layer of phase change material (14), a dielectric layer (12) having an opening (13), a second layer of phase change material (6) in contact with the first layer of phase change material through the opening in the dielectric layer and a top electrode (7) contacting this second layer of phase change material.
US07728315B2
A radiation attenuation corridor couples a radiation therapy room and a control room. The radiation attenuation corridor is made of a material that substantially absorbs ionizing radiation and substantially blocks the transmission of the ionizing radiation. Specific wall portions at the entrance of the corridor are covered with borated polyethylene (BPE). Specific wall portions diverge from an axis defined by the corridor by from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees. The corridor thus leads out of the room and angles laterally across the wall of the therapy room, before angling again and opening to a safe room. The added angles in the radiation corridor increase the distance of radiation travel, and make the path more indirect, thereby increasing the contact of the radiation emissions with the radiation shielding and further attenuating the radiation.
US07728307B2
The invention relates to a method of measurement, comprising treatment of a signal consisting of a succession of temporally spaced main pulses, having a duration D and energy E, which can each consist of a stack of elementary pulses having a duration Di and whose energy is evaluated by a variable Ei having an additivity property, wherein said elementary pulses have instants of appearance Ti following a homogeneous Poisson process of an intensity λ, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: digitization of the signal; measurement of the duration D and energy E for each main pulse in order to create duration-energy pairs (D,E); determination of the energy pairs (Di,Ei) of the elementary pulses from the constructed pairs (D, E); deduction of energy Ei of each elementary pulse from the determined pairs (Di,Ei). The invention also relates to a signal analysis device comprising means which can implement the method according to the invention.
US07728306B2
An accelerator-based neutron tool is provided. The tool includes a deuterium-tritium gas mixture such that the tool outputs a desired ratio of 2.45 MeV and 14 MeV neutrons.
US07728303B2
Wiring substrates 11 and 12 are positioned on a fixed base 10 in a manner such that there is a step between the wiring substrates, and radiation imaging elements 2 and 3, respectively having scintillators 25 and 35 deposited on photosensitive portions 21 and 31, are respectively mounted on the wiring substrates 11 and 12. The radiation imaging element 2 is positioned so that its setting surface protrudes beyond a radiation incident surface of the radiation imaging element 3, and the photosensitive portion 21 of the radiation imaging element 2 and the photosensitive portion 31 of the radiation imaging element 3 are juxtaposed to a degree to which the portions do not overlap. The photosensitive portion 21 of the radiation imaging element 2 extends close to an edge at the radiation imaging element 3 side and the scintillator 25 of substantially uniform thickness is formed up to this position.
US07728299B2
Edge portions of detection electrodes, such as a first linear electrode and a second linear electrode, that include the side surfaces of the detection electrodes and parts of surfaces of the detection electrodes, the surfaces continuing from the side surfaces and facing a photoconductive layer for recording, are covered with dielectrics. Further, surfaces of the detection electrodes and the dielectrics are coated with an anti-crystallization layer to prevent crystallization of a photoconductive layer for readout. At this time, the surfaces of the electrodes are smoothly covered with the dielectrics at angles θ of contact of 5 to 60 degrees so that no bump is present, thereby preventing generation of a crack in the anti-crystallization layer on the dielectrics and the electrodes. Accordingly, crystallization of the photoconductive layer for readout, which is induced by injection of charges from the edge portions of the detection electrodes or the like, is prevented.
US07728298B2
A detector bar, a detector formed from a number of detector bars, and a computed-tomography unit including such a detector is disclosed, each detector bar being formed from a number of individual modules. A detector bar has a module carrier for mechanically retaining the individual modules, and a printed circuit board, structurally separate from the module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules. The individual modules can thus be exchanged without disturbance, and simple aligning of the individual modules can thus be carried out while electric contact is simultaneously made.
US07728296B2
Apparatus and method for detecting an explosive material, involving irradiating an object with a continuous wave (CW) or pulsed beam of Terahertz radiation, preferably in the frequency range of 100 GHz to 100 THz and detecting radiation transmitted and/or reflected from the object. A spectrum is constructed from the detected radiation, which is indicative of a fundamental property of the explosive material. This constructed spectrum is compared with one or more known spectra of explosive materials to determine whether a likeness exists.
US07728289B2
A mass spectroscopy device constituted by a first reflector which is partially transparent and partially reflective, a transparent body, and a second reflector which is reflective. The first reflector and the second reflector are arranged on opposite sides of the transparent body so as to form an optical resonator in such a manner that when a specimen containing an analyte subject to mass spectroscopy is arranged in contact with a surface of the first reflector, and the surface is irradiated with measurement light, optical resonance occurs in the optical resonator, and intensifies an electric field on the surface, and the intensified electric field desorbs the analyte from the surface.
US07728288B2
This invention relates to a mass spectrometer including a reaction cell and to a method of using such a mass spectrometer. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a tandem mass spectrometer and to tandem mass spectrometry. The invention provides a method of mass spectrometry using a mass spectrometer having a longitudinal axis, comprising guiding ions to travel along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer in a forwards direction to pass through an intermediate ion store and then to enter a reaction cell, to process the ions within the reaction cell, to eject the processed ions to travel back along the longitudinal axis to enter the intermediate ion store once more, and to eject one or more pulses of the processed ions in an off-axis direction to a mass analyser.
US07728284B2
Light resonant with an electronic excitation level of nanosize objects is projected onto a plurality of closely located nanosize objects, such as quantum dots, quantum dot pairs, and a carbon nanotube, in a collection of nanosize objects is disclosed. In so doing, to control the mechanical interaction induced between the nanosize objects, the projected resonant light is changed in polarization. This enables the collective manipulation of the nanosize objects.
US07728274B2
A viewing system configured to combine multiple spectral images of a scene, the system includes a spectral beam separator configured to split an incoming beam of radiation into a first and a second beam of radiation, the first beam of radiation including radiations substantially in a first spectral band and the second beam of radiation including radiations substantially in a second spectral band; an image intensifier configured to intensify the second beam of radiation, the image intensifier including a photocathode configured to produce a flux of photoelectrons with substantially increased efficiency when exposed to the second beam of radiation, the photocathode constructed and arranged to substantially absorb all the radiations in the second beam of radiation; a current amplifier configured to amplify the flux of photoelectrons; and a display system configured to display an image of the scene in the second spectral band based on the amplified flux of electrons simultaneously with an image of the scene in the first spectral band.
US07728267B2
Methods and apparatus for systems having deployable elements according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a system including a deployable surface and an adaptive actuator including a polymer foam. In one embodiment, the system comprises a vehicle including a deployable wing comprising an exterior surface. The exterior surface may be adjusted by adjusting the shape, size, position, and/or orientation of the adaptive actuator.
US07728264B2
The disclosed system, device and method for targeting and measurement of stationary target locations in addition to prediction of moving target positions for given weapon intercept times generally includes: a target location system (TLS) configured with a computing device, a GPS receiver, mapping software, calibration software and digital filtering software. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve target acquisition and engagement. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for improved accuracy of range finders, magnetometers and inclinometers as well as for improved prediction of moving target positions.
US07728261B2
The invention relates to a cooking appliance (10) comprising a cooking chamber (11) with heating elements (12) and a water supply (30) that has a water outlet (33) and is fed by an outer water supply line (40). The water supply (30) is provided with at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) with a pre-determined inner volume (46) that can be filled with water and is fed by the outer water supply line. The filling and emptying of the inner volume (46) of the at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) can be temporarily blocked by means of a three-way valve or two-way valves. The water from the inner volume (33) of the at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) can be emptied via the water outlets (33) in order to generate steam in the cooking chamber (11). The emptying of said at least one intermediate water storage tank is especially periodical or clocked. The intermediate water storage tank can be embodied as a lifting cylinder that is filled and emptied by the lifting movement of a piston (48).
US07728259B2
A brake lining comprises a lining support plate, an underlayer material and a friction lining. The brake lining is clamped between a pressure plate and a holding fixture, which forms a hole matrix and inside of which electrodes are accommodated. A power supply is connected to the electrodes. The adjacent electrodes have different polarities. A current flow is produced between adjacent electrodes as a result of the different polarities. The field lines extend in the shape of an arch. An arrangement of this type permits the friction lining to be scorched. For hardening, a potential gradient can also be applied between the electrodes and the support plate. The current then flows and the entire friction lining is permeated. This results in a homogenous heating of the friction lining. The invention enables an efficient hardening of the friction lining. It is also possible to conduct a hardening and scorching simultaneously. The invention also enables the friction lining to be pressed during the heat treatment.
US07728249B2
An arrangement of a stress transducer (8) mountable on one arm (31) of welding pliers, wherein an insert (10) is positioned between the arm (31) of the pliers and the stress transducer (8). A method for mounting said stress transducer is also provided.
US07728234B2
A coreless thin substrate with embedded circuits in dielectric layers is provided. The substrate includes a plurality of first patterned dielectric layers with embedded circuits, and at least a second patterned dielectric layer with embedded conducting elements. The second patterned dielectric layer is disposed between the first patterned dielectric layers, such that the embedded conducting elements electrically conduct the circuits of the first patterned dielectric layers through thermal lamination. Thus, a conventional through-hole formation process after the thermal lamination is skipped, and the substrate has a thinner and flatter profile. In one embodiment, the first patterned dielectric layers are inkjet printed layers with negative images. Moreover, the embedded circuits are flush with and exposed from an upper surface and a lower surface of the corresponding first dielectric layers.
US07728230B2
This invention involves a compound and hollow insulator and its manufacturing method thereof. The insulator includes a connector, an insulating tube and petticoat. The insulating tube is made by winding epoxy glass fiber. The petticoat is arranged outside the insulating tube. The connector is arranged at the two ends of the insulating tube. The petticoat becomes an integrated body through injecting silicon sulfide rubber at the high-temperature so that the electrical and mechanical property is better. Meanwhile, the ratio of the qualified products is improved.
US07728222B2
A photoelectric conversion device comprising an organic dye-sensitizing semiconductor fine particle thin film is prepared by using a dye having a barbituric acid structure as a partial structure and by adsorbing the dye on a semiconductor thin film electrode, and thereby a low-cost photoelectric conversion device having high conversion efficiency, and a solar cell using the device are provided.
US07728221B2
A solar power generating device includes a first conductive body, a second conductive body and an insulating body sequentially disposed on the first conductive body, and a solar energy converting unit. The first conductive body has a conducting post upward projected from a hollow sleeve portion of the insulating body and a through opening of the second conductive body, so that a conducting section at a top of the conducting post is exposed at the insulating sleeve portion. The solar energy converting unit is mounted on the conducting section of the first conductive body and in electric contact with the second conductive body. With these arrangements, the solar power generating device may be mounted on a circuit board without the need of distinguishing the polarities of electrodes, and can therefore be easily mounted to and dismounted from the circuit board and be conveniently replaced when necessary.
US07728220B2
A solar power generating device includes a solid cylindrical conductive body partially surround by a hollow cylindrical conducting layer with an insulating layer located between them, and a solar energy converter located at an end of the conductive body with two electrodes separately electrically connected to the conducting layer and the conductive body, so that the solar power generating device is configured as a plug-in module that could be very easily mounted to and dismounted from a circuit board.
US07728213B2
An embodiment of the invention creates a method and system for assigning notes to be played by a musical synthesizer to a predetermined number of instrument voices available to be sounded by said musical synthesizer, so that the musical synthesizer may emulate the sound of a live orchestra or other ensemble. The method includes the steps of building an array based on the number of notes to be played and the number of instrument voices available to play such notes, and allocating notes to the voices pursuant to algorithmic determination. As notes are released or newly played, all notes are dynamically reassigned to instrument voices so that, to the extent practicable, all channels play almost all the time. Additional methodology provides for correct assignment of notes across multiple different sections (or types) of instruments for purposes of real time orchestration.
US07728209B1
A stringed instrument wireless communication device includes a wireless communication device housing including a front; graphical elements on the front corresponding to data to be input into the wireless communication device; and a stringed instrument keypad including a plurality of frets extending along the front of the wireless communication device housing and a plurality of strings extending substantially perpendicular to and above the plurality of frets. The graphical elements are respectively disposed on the front between frets and adjacent to the strings, and the stringed instrument keypad is configured to input data corresponding to a pressed string and a graphical element adjacent to the pressed string.
US07728208B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH456030. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH456030, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH456030 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 CH456030.
US07728207B1
A novel maize variety designated X6P908 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X6P908 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X6P908 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X6P908, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X6P908. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X6P908 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US07728206B2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 05T103. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 05T103. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 05T103 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 05T103 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07728204B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7401262 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7401262, to the plants of soybean 7401262, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7401262 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7401262 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7401262, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7401262 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7401262 with another soybean cultivar.
US07728201B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7614385 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7614385, to the plants of soybean 7614385, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7614385 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7614385 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7614385, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7614385 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7614385 with another soybean cultivar.
US07728195B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola cultivar, designated DN040856. Also included are seeds of canola cultivar DN040856, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola DN040856 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola DN040856 with itself or another canola cultivar, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola DN040856.
US07728194B2
The present invention relates to a DNA fragment specific to a cytoplasmic male sterile pepper comprising a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1, a candidate polynucleotide (named orf456) associated with cytoplasmic male sterile pepper consisting of a 223rd to 678th nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1, and a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 2. The DNA fragment specific to cytoplasmic male sterile pepper comprising a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 2 can be used for identifying cytoplasmic type between male sterile and male fertile pepper by the PCR method. In addition, hybrid pepper breeders/seed companies could detect impurities of the maintainer line within the CMS line, and by ensuring purity of the CMS line, a major source of contamination of the hybrid seeds is removed leading to obvious benefits for the seed industry and farmers.
US07728192B2
The present invention is related to a process based on a source-sink principle, for producing products of interest from crushed or uncrushed germinating dicotyledonous seeds comprising an expression system, which is induced or can be induced during germination. The product is either a seed derived composition comprising one or more gene products. Alternatively, it is a product of interest obtained by placing the composition in contact with a substrate, containing a substance capable of being transformed by the seed derived composition as such, dried or in down-stream processed form.
US07728190B1
The present invention relates to an antifungal protein, AlfAFP1, which is a modified form of an antifungal protein isolated from Medicago plants, the modified form exhibiting enhanced anti-fungal activity for controlling fungal pathogenesis in plants. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of plants is described which includes preparation of nucleotide sequences encoding the modified antifungal protein, preparation of vectors containing the nucleotide coding sequence, and methods for transforming plants with the nucleotide sequences. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling plant pathogenic fungi.
US07728189B2
Transgenic animals containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding TCL1 operably linked to transcriptional control sequences directing expression to B cells are described. Such transgenic animals provide a useful animal model system for human B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
US07728186B2
In a process for converting methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions including a first maximum temperature effective to convert the methane to aromatic hydrocarbons and generate coke on the catalyst. A portion of the coked catalyst is transferred from the reaction zone to a separate regeneration zone, where the catalyst portion is contacted with a regeneration gas under conditions including a second maximum temperature less than or equal to the first maximum temperature and effective to at least partially remove coke from the catalyst portion. Before being returned to the reaction zone, the regenerated catalyst portion is contacted with a carburizing gas in a catalyst treatment zone separate from the reaction zone at a third maximum temperature less than the first maximum temperature.
US07728178B2
This invention relates to a process for the production of aldehydes/alcohols and alkyl benzene. According to the invention, a hydrocarbon feed stream containing olefins and paraffins having an average number of carbon atoms from 10 to 18 per molecule, typically derived from the condensation product of a Fischer-Tropsch reaction is subjected to a hydroformylation reaction to provide a hydroformylation product containing aldehydes/alcohols and paraffins. An aldehyde/alcohol product is separated from the paraffins in the hydroformylation product to provide an aldehyde/alcohol product stream and a paraffin stream. The paraffin stream separated from the hydroformylation product is then subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction to form a dehydrogenation product containing olefins and paraffins, and the dehydrogenation product is subjected to an alkylation reaction to convert olefins to alkyl benzene.
US07728174B2
Processes for preparing a xylylenediamine by continuous hydrogenation, wherein the processes comprise: introducing a liquid circulation stream comprising a phthalonitrile and ammonia into a reactor to continuously hydrogenate the phthalonitrile in the presence of a heterogenous catalyst and the ammonia such that a reactor effluent comprising the xylylenediamine is formed; drawing off a portion of the reactor effluent to provide a first recycle stream; mixing at least a portion of the first recycle stream in a mixing unit with liquid ammonia and fresh phthalonitrile in solid or molten form to provide a second recycle stream; and recycling the second recycle stream to the liquid circulation stream, or wherein the second recycle stream and any remaining unmixed portion of the first recycle stream are both recycled to the liquid circulation stream.
US07728170B2
A method for preparing a polycarboxylic composition, includes a stage in which a monosaccharide composition undergoes an electrochemical oxidation treatment carried out in the absence of sodium hypochlorite and in the presence of a) an amine oxide and b) a carbon-based anode. Preferably, the anode is selected from the group comprising carbon felt and granular active carbon. The electrochemical oxidation treatment can be carried out advantageously at a pH, preferably of between 11.5 and 14. The method makes it possible to obtain novel products, especially 2-carboxy-2, 3, 4-trihydroxypentane-dioicious acid, the salts and derivatives thereof.
US07728161B2
Methods for making α-diimine metal complexes are described. The methods comprise forming an α-diimine metal complex imine bond in the presence of a metal salt or an α-acylimine metal complex. The method is particularly using for the production of α-diimine metal complexes having two different α-diimine nitrogen groups. The α-diimine metal complexes are useful for polymerizing or oligomerizing olefins.
US07728157B2
An efficient method for the synthesis of aminosterol compounds such as squalamine and compound 1436 is described. A method of the invention provides for regioselective sulfonation of a fused ring system. The fused ring system base can be, for example, a steroid ring base. The aminosterol compounds are effective as, among others, antibiotics, antiangiogenic agents and NHE3 inhibitors.
US07728148B2
The present invention discloses compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US07728145B2
There is described a process for the purification of an impure preparation containing fentanyl by means of a reverse phase preparative chromatography process. A chromatographic column is loaded with a stationary phase, typically a silica particle having an organic ligand bound thereto. With a loading ratio of from about 50 to about 150 the impure preparation is acidified and passed through the column. The column is eluted with typically an aqueous solution of acetonitrile and the purified fentanyl is obtained in a specified cut.
US07728144B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, m, s, t, W, Z, Ar, R1, R2, R3, R6, and R7 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US07728136B2
A novel method for preparing a compound of formula I which comprises of coupling the piperazine derivative of formula II with alkyl halide containing compound of the formula III by heating in solvent free conditions or, optionally, in a minimum quantity of non-aqueous suspending liquid, in presence of a catalyst and a neutralizing agent to neutralize the hydrohalic acid.
US07728132B2
The invention includes a composition for stabilizing chlorinated water to sunlight decomposition, and methods of preparing compositions. The composition is a slurry composition of a monoalkali metal cyanurate, of low viscosity. Two methods of preparing the slurry are described, in which cyanuric acid or cyanuric acid wetcake is mixed with a monoalkali metal base. One method dry blends cyanuric acid or cyanuric acid wetcake with a monoalkali metal base. The invention also describes a method of preparing a dry, solid monoalkali metal cyanurate.
US07728131B2
The present invention is directed to an amide derivative having excellent BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity, or a salt thereof.The present invention provides an amide derivative represented by the following general formula (1):[Chemical 23] (wherein R1 represents —CH2—R11, etc.; R2 represents alkyl, halogen, haloalkyl, etc.; R3 represents hydrogen, etc.; Het1 represents a group of the formula [6] as above, etc.; and Het2 represents pyrimidinyl, etc.), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as an active ingredient. The compound of the present invention is useful as a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
US07728127B2
This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07728122B2
The present invention relates to isolation and characterization of novel nucleotide sequences from rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) showing promoter activity in plants. The present invention further relates to the analysis of the functional domains of RTBV promoters by fusing full-length and deleted versions of the RTBV promoter sequences with the bacterial reporter gene GUS. The invention also relates to the study of the expression of the reporter gene in various tissues of transgenic rice and tobacco plants during different stages of development. The present invention also describes an RTBV promoter and its deletions which function in a constitutive or tissue-specific manner to drive the expression of the heterologous nucleic acid sequences in both monocot and dicot plants, cells and tissues.
US07728120B2
The present inventors found that a fusion gene present in some cancer patients is an oncogene. The present invention relates to a polypeptide as a novel fusion protein, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, a vector comprising the polynucleotide, a transformed cell comprising the vector, a method for detecting the fusion protein or polynucleotide, a method for screening a therapeutic agent for cancer, and a method for treating cancer that is shown to be positive for the fusion gene. Further, the present invention relates kit, primer set, and probe useful in the detection of cancer that is shown to be positive for the fusion gene.
US07728119B2
There is provided is a nucleotide primer set for LAMP amplification used for detecting genotypes of single-nucleotide polymorphisms C677T and A1298C of an MTHFR gene. There is also provided a nucleotide probe for detecting an amplification product amplified by the primer set according to the present invention. There is also provided a method of detecting the genotypes of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms C677T and A1298C in the MTHFR gene, by using the primer set according to the present invention.
US07728115B2
The invention includes compositions, kits and methods comprising a monoclonal antibody which shares key functional properties with the polyclonal antibodies which participate in the pathogenesis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia/thrombosis (HIT/HITT) in a mammal. The monoclonal antibody of the invention preferentially binds with a PF4/heparin complex relative to the binding of the antibody with PF4 or heparin alone. The monoclonal antibody of the invention also binds specifically with PF4 in a complex with other glycosaminoglycans besides heparin, and also activates platelets. The monoclonal antibody of the invention is useful in methods for diagnosing and treating HIT/HITT in a mammal. A humanized version of the monoclonal antibody of the invention is also included, along with a process for humanizing the monoclonal antibody of the invention.
US07728102B2
The present invention provides a non-halogen polyamide-imide resin soluble in an amide solvent at a concentration of 10%, the resulting varnish, when stored at 5° C. for 1 month, exhibiting a solution viscosity change ((solution viscosity after 1 month−initial solution viscosity)/initial solution viscosity), expressed as an absolute value, of not greater than 3.0, and the resin having a moisture absorption (25° C., 90% RH, 24 hours) of not greater than 2.0%; a flexible metal-clad laminates using such a resin; and a flexible printed wiring board prepared from such a flexible metal-clad laminate by circuit formation. The flexible metal-clad laminate of the invention does not curl under any conditions, including humid conditions, and exhibits excellent dimensional stability since the heat resistant resin used as an insulation material has low moisture absorption and low thermal expansion coefficient and there is less internal stress in the flexible metal-clad laminate. Moreover, since the solder heat resistance and the insulation properties are not impaired even after humidification and since the heat resistant resin is soluble in organic solvents with high solution stability, the flexible metal-clad laminate of the invention can be inexpensively produced.
US07728101B2
The invention relates to an overcoat lacquer containing a) at least one binding agent containing alkyd resins made from tris-(2-hydroxylethyl)-isocyanurate, 2,6-naphthaline dicarboxylic acid, drying fatty acids, and, optionally, other components known from alkyd resin chemistry, b) at least one solvent or at least one technical solvent or mixture thereof based on hydrocarbon and c) at least one siccative or at least one mixture of siccatives or several anti-skin agents.
US07728098B2
Fluorochemical oligomeric silanes, compositions comprising such silanes and/or the condensation products of such silanes, and coatings produced with such compositions.
US07728096B2
The present invention is an adhesive suitable for use in the production of engineered wood products, said adhesive comprised of an aromatic diisocyanate (99.0-10.0 parts by mass) and an aromatic petroleum distillate (1.0-90.0 parts by mass) with low volatility. The adhesive composition may result in improved coverage or distribution on the outer surface of raw materials, such as strands, particles, flakes, fibers, or veneer.
US07728095B2
There is provided a process for producing an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, including the sequential steps of (a) concentrating a starting sol of an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, thereby yielding a precursor material having meltability; (b) melting the precursor material; (c) subjecting a product of the step (b) to a heating treatment under reduced pressure; and (d) subjecting a product of the step (c) to a high-temperature heat treatment at 300° C. or higher.
US07728089B2
A first aspect of the present invention is a topcoat composition, comprising: a copolymer represented by the formula (2): wherein n and m represent respective molar fractions such that n+m=1.
US07728085B2
The present invention provides a process for producing an ethylene-α-olefin-unconjugated polyene random copolymer in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent under conditions of high-temperature and high-activity. The process comprises polymerizing at least the following components (a)-(c) in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalyst comprising (A) a transition metal complex having at least one cyclopentadienyl skeleton and (B) an organoaluminum compound and (C) a boron compound as co-catalysts wherein at least a part of the polyene (c) and at least a part of the boron compound (C) are previously contacted with each other before they are introduced into a polymerization reactor: (a): ethylene (b): an α-olefin of 3-20 carbon atoms (c): a polyene.
US07728084B2
This invention is directed to processes of making polymer in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon or perfluorocarbon and recovering the polymer. The processes provided enable polymerization processes to be practiced with minimal fouling in the reaction system, and to the recovery of the hydrofluorocarbon and other hydrocarbons such as hydrocarbons for reuse in the process or hydrocarbon by-products from the polymerization process. The invention is particularly beneficial in the production of ethylene based polymers using Ziegler Natta catalyst systems.
US07728083B1
Disclosed herein is a method for inhibiting and retarding the premature polymerization and the polymer growth of vinyl aromatic monomers wherein the method comprises adding to said monomers an effective amount of an inhibitor and retarder blend comprising: (A) at least one aromatic sulfonic acid; (B) at least one amine; (C) at least one nitrophenol; and (D) at least one member of the group consisting of nitroxy radical-containing compounds and nitrosoanilines.
US07728082B2
A process for producing a stable polymer such as poly(hydroxystyrene) which comprises the decarboxylation of a corresponding phenolic in the presence of a non-amine basic catalyst and a polar organic solvent, followed by the polymerization thereof.
US07728075B2
The invention relates to a high gloss car wash-resistant coating composition comprising a hydroxyl-functional binder and a cross-linker reactive with the hydroxyl groups of the binder and a method to prepare such a car wash-resistant coating. The invention further relates to the use of said coating composition, as a pigment-free top coat or a clear coat, in the finishing and refinishing of articles, for example motorcycles, cars, trains, buses, trucks, and aeroplanes. The coating composition after curing forms a coating having an initial gloss of at least 81 GU and a loss of gloss (LoG) of less than 0.18, the loss of gloss being determined by the formula (I): LoG=A+B·E′·(X)−1·10(C·ΔTg)+D·(E′)−0.5; wherein A=0.0132, B=1.0197, C=0.0113, and D=0.0566, E′ reflects the tensile storage modulus at 40° C. in GPa, ΔTg the width of the glass transition temperature in ° C., and X the cross-link density parameter in kPA/K all three parameters determined in a DMTA test at 11 Hz and a heating rate of 5° C./min.
US07728073B2
The present invention relates to thermoplastic molding compositions comprising a mixture of (A) from 30 to 69% by weight, based on the sum of components (A), (B) and (C), of a methyl methacrylate polymer, (B) from 30 to 69% by weight, based on the sum of components (A), (B) and (C), of a copolymer obtainable by polymerizing a styrenic monomer and a vinyl cyanide, and (C) from 1 to 40% by weight, based on the sum of components (A), (B) and (C), of a graft copolymer obtainable from (C1) from 60 to 90% by weight, based on (C), of a core obtainable by polymerizing a 1,3-diene and a styrenic monomer, (C2) from 5 to 20% by weight, based on (C), of a first graft shell, and (C3) from 5 to 20% by weight, based on (C), of a second graft shell composed of an alkyl (meth)acrylate polymer, with the proviso that the ratio of (C2) to (C3) is in the range from 2:1 to 1:2.
US07728070B2
A method of producing cross-linked polymerisation hardened droplets in a continuous aqueous medium in a microchannel device is provided. At least two aqueous streams are brought together before entering a hydrophobic phase and thus forming droplets. One aqueous phase comprises an acid source and another comprises a metal ion salt. The slow release of metal ions slows down the rate of polymerisation so that it does not interfere with the droplet formation process.
US07728065B2
To provide a material for forming an exposure light-blocking film which includes at least one of a silicon compound expressed by the following structural formula (1) and a silicon compound expressed by the following structural formula (2), wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is replaced by a substituent capable of absorbing exposure light. (where R1 and R2 may be the same or different, and each represents any one of a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, alkenyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group which are optionally substituted, and n is an integer of 2 or greater) (where R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different, at least one of R1, R2 and R3 represents a hydrogen atom and the others represent any one of an alkyl group, alkenyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group which are optionally substituted, and n is an integer of 2 or greater)
US07728061B2
To provide an adhesive composition which is easily transported and stored, is remarkably excellent in redispersibility in water at a site where it is used and exhibits high performance as an adhesive agent or a coating agent. The above problem is solved by an adhesive composition composed of a synthetic resin powder (A) obtained by drying an aqueous emulsion (EM) containing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer (PVA-1) as a dispersant and a polymer having at least one monomer unit selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and diene monomers as a dispersoid, an inorganic powder (B) and a polyvalent isocyanate compound, wherein (A)/(B) is to 100/250.
US07728060B2
A rubber component containing at least one of diene rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber is dynamically crosslinked. Thereby the rubber component is dispersed in a mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic resin. An ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether and an anion-containing salt having fluoro groups and sulfonyl groups are added to the elastomer composition to obtain a conductive dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer composition. A mixture of the obtained conductive dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer composition and a micro-capsule composed of a polymer, having acrylic groups, which forms an outer shell thereof is molded to obtain a conductive roller having Shore A hardness specified in JIS K6253 not more than 40 measured at 23° C.
US07728058B2
Dispersion additive system can be applied to fibers or particles, exhibiting improved dispersion, by including in the additive system a sulfonic-acid derived compound such as 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or a salt thereof.
US07728028B2
Substituted imidazoline derivatives corresponding to Formula I: a method for producing them from substituted aldehyde compounds of Formula B: and the use of such imidazoline derivatives and aldehyde compounds to treat pain, depression, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, pruritus, alcohol and drug misuse, drug dependency, lethargy and/or anxiety.
US07728027B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a process for synthesizing methyl ((1S)-1-(((2S)-2-(5-(4′-(2-((2S)-1-((2S)-2-((methoxycarbonyl)amino)-3-methylbutanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-4-biphenylyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1-pyrrolidinyl)carbonyl)-2-methylpropyl)carbamate dihydrochloride salt. The present disclosure also generally relates to intermediates useful in this process.
US07728025B2
A glucokinase activator is provided; and a remedy and/or a preventive for diabetes, or a remedy and/or a preventive for diabetes such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neurosis, ischemic cardiopathy, arteriosclerosis, and further a remedy and/or a preventive for obesity are provided.A glucokinase activator characterized by containing a 2-heteroaryl-substituted benzimidazole derivative of a general formula (I-0) or its pharmaceutically-acceptable salt: [in the formula, X represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; X1, X2, X3 and X4 each independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; the ring A represents a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing aromatic hetero ring of a formula (II): (in the formula, X represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom); R1 represents an aryl, etc.; R2 represents a hydroxy, etc.; R3 represents a —C1-6 alkyl, etc.; R4 represents a —C1-6 alkyl, etc.; X5 represents —O—, etc.; a indicates an integer of 1, 2 or 3; q indicates an integer of from 0 to 2; m indicates an integer of from 0 to 2].
US07728023B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I), wherein all symbols are as defined in the description, a salt thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof, which has a leukotriene receptor antagonistic activity which is expected to be more effective than those of the leukotriene receptor antagonists currently used in clinical trials. Therefore, it is useful as an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of a leukotriene-mediated disease such as a respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia (e.g. interstitial pneumonia etc.), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), allergic rhinitis, sinusitis (e.g. acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, etc.), or the like, or as an expectorant or an antiitussive.
US07728014B2
A novel compound having agonist activity at the S1P3 receptor which is represented by the formula I wherein X is selected from the group consisting of CR3, N and NO; Y is selected from the group consisting of CR3, N and NO; Z is selected from the group consisting of CR3, N and NO; and at least one of X, Y and Z is N or NO; V is O or NOR4 R1 is an aryl group; R2 is an aryl group; R3 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; and 2 of said R3 groups may together form a cyclic alkyl ring having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; R4 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; a is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 6; b is 0 or 1; c is 0 or 1; f is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; x is 0 or 1; y is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3; and z is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3.
US07728010B2
New substituted benz-azole compounds, compositions and methods of inhibition of Raf kinase activity in a human or animal subject are provided. The new compounds compositions may be used either alone or in combination with at least one additional agent for the treatment of a Raf kinase mediated disorder, such as cancer.
US07728004B2
The invention provides a crystalline hydrochloride salt of 1-isopropyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {(1S,3R,5R)-8-[(R)-2-hydroxy-3-(methanesulfonyl-methyl-amino)propyl]-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl}amide or a solvate thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such crystalline salt forms, methods of using such crystalline salt forms to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes useful for preparing such crystalline salt forms.
US07727996B2
Disclosed are compounds which bind VLA-4. Certain of these compounds also inhibit leukocyte adhesion and, in particular, leukocyte adhesion mediated by VLA-4. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in a mammalian patient, e.g., human, such as asthma, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, AIDS dementia, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, tissue transplantation, tumor metastasis and myocardial ischemia. The compounds can also be administered for the treatment of inflammatory brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
US07727994B2
The present invention is directed to methods of treating movement disorders by administering an effective amount of one or more adenosine A2A receptor antagonists to a patient in need thereof. The present invention also provides methods of decreasing the adverse effects of L-DOPA in patients receiving L-DOPA therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The present invention further provides methods and compositions for treating Parkinson's disease patients with sub-clinically effective doses of L-DOPA by combining L-DOPA treatment with an effective amount of one or more adenosine A2A receptor antagonists (i.e., L-DOPA sparing effect). The present invention further provides methods of effective treatment of Parkinson's disease by co-administering at least one adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, L-DOPA and a dopamine agonist and/or a COMT inhibitor and/or a MAO inhibitor. The present invention further provides methods of prolonging effective treatment of Parkinson's disease by administering an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist singly or together with a dopamine agonist, and/or a COMT inhibitor, and/or a MAO inhibitor without prior or subsequent administration of L-DOPA, delaying or removing on-set of L-DOPA motor complication.
US07727987B2
Crystal forms of (6R)-L-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride, hydrates and solvates and processes for their preparation are provided. These crystal forms are either intermediates for the preparation of stable polymorphic form B or are suitable for solid formulations.
US07727985B2
This invention provides beta-carboline compounds of formula I: wherein Ring A is a substituted pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl or thiomorpholinyl ring and R1, R2 and R3 are as described in the specification. The compounds are IKK-2 inhibitors that are useful for treating IKK-2-mediated diseases such as inflammatory diseases and cancer.
US07727980B2
This invention relates to non-steroidal tricyclic compounds that are modulators of androgen receptors and to methods for making and using such compounds.
US07727978B2
Novel compounds are provided which are 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors. 11-Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitor therapy. These novel compounds have the structure: enantiomers, diastereomers, solvates, or salts thereof, wherein A, W, X and Z are defined herein.
US07727971B2
The present invention relates to prevention and treatment of strokes and ischemic diseases and to post-ischemic therapeutic treatment. The invention furthermore relates to the use of a growth factor or nucleic acids ensuring increased expression of a growth factor for treating, more particularly restoring the function of ischemic tissue, in particular muscles such as myocardium and skeletal muscles.
US07727969B2
The present invention relates to a conjugate that includes a nucleic acid ligand bound to a controlled release polymer system, a pharmaceutical composition that contains the conjugate, and methods of treatment using the conjugate. The controlled release polymer system includes an agent such as a therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic, or prophylactic agent. The nucleic acid ligand that is bound to the controlled release polymer system, binds selectively to a target, such as a cell surface antigen, and thereby delivers the controlled release polymer system to the target.
US07727966B2
The present invention describes natamycin comprising needle shaped crystals.
US07727964B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of post-proline cleaving enzymes, such as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such inhibitors. In particular, the inhibitors of the present invention are improved over those in the prior art by selection of particular classes of sidechains in the P1 and/or P2 position of the inhibitor. The compounds of the present invention can have a better therapeutic index, owing in part to reduced toxicity and/or improved specificity for the targeted protease.
US07727963B2
The invention relates to synthetic tetrapeptide amide ligands of the kappa opioid receptor and particularly to agonists of the kappa opioid receptor that exhibit low P450 CYP inhibition and low penetration into the brain. An exemplary synthetic tetrapeptide amide of the invention is D-Phe-D-Phe-D-Leu-(ε-Me) D-Lys-[4-Amidinohomopiperazine amide]: Pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of pain and inflammation associated with a variety of diseases and conditions. Such treatable pain includes visceral pain, neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia. Inflammation associated with conditions such as IBD and IBS, ocular and otic inflammation, other disorders and conditions such as pruritis, edema, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, ileus, tussis and glaucoma are treatable or preventable with the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
US07727957B2
The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with synucleinopathic diseases, including Lewy bodies of alpha-synuclein in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the Lewy body. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Parkinson's disease.
US07727952B2
It is intended to provide a model animal faithfully reproducing the pathogenic conditions of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, a method of screening a remedy for polyglutamine disease using the same, and a remedy for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Namely, a nonhuman animal having the following characteristics (1) to (5) in its conditions or pathological findings: (1) showing progressive myoatrophy; (2) showing lowering in muscular power; (3) in immunostaining with the use of an anti-polyglutamine antibody, showing nuclear diffuse staining and nuclear inclusions; (4) in immunostaining with the use of an anti-androgen receptor antibody, showing nuclear diffuse staining and nuclear inclusions; and (5) showing a neurogenic change. A remedy for polyglutamine disease is screened by administering a test substance to this nonhuman animal and examining changes in its conditions or pathological findings. A remedy for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is prepared by using as the active ingredient a compound having an effect of inhibiting the secretion of testosterone.
US07727938B2
A method of treating an earth formation that includes injecting at least one lipophilic monomer into the earthen formation; wherein the at least one lipophilic monomer is selected from epoxide-functionalized derivative of soybean oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cashew nut shell oil; perilla oil, tung oil, oiticia oil, safflower oil, poppy oil, hemp oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic triglycerides, triglycerides of euphorbia plants, peanut oil, olive oil, olive kernel oil, almond oil, kapok oil, hazelnut oil, apricot kernel oil, beechnut oil, lupine oil, maize oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, lallemantia oil, castor oil, herring oil, sardine oil, menhaden oil, whale oil, and tall oil, injecting at least one crosslinking agent into the earthen formation; wherein the at least one crosslinking agent comprises at least one primary amine; and allowing the lipophilic monomer and the crosslinking agent to react in the earth formation is disclosed.
US07727936B2
Acidic treatment fluids used in industrial and/or subterranean operations, and more particularly, acidic treatment fluids comprising clarified xanthan gelling agents, and methods of use in industrial and/or subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing an acidic treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a gelling agent that comprises clarified xanthan; and introducing the acidic treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation.
US07727931B2
Use of physical vapor deposition methodologies to deposit nanoscale gold on activating support media makes the use of catalytically active gold dramatically easier and opens the door to significant improvements associated with developing, making, and using gold-based, catalytic systems. The present invention, therefore, relates to novel features, ingredients, and formulations of gold-based, heterogeneous catalyst systems generally comprising nanoscale gold deposited onto a nanoporous support.
US07727928B2
A catalyst composition and its use for the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and acetic acid which comprises (i) a support, and (ii) in combination with oxygen, the elements molybdenum, vanadium and niobium, optionally tungsten and a component Z, which is one or more metals of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; a, b, c, d and e represent the gram atom ratios of the elements Mo, W, Z, V and Nb respectively, such that 0
US07727925B2
A process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst which has been deactivated by conjunct polymers comprising combining the used catalyst, a metal and a Broensted acid which acts a source of hydrogen in a reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions for a time sufficient to hydrogenate at least a portion of the conjunct polymer is disclosed.
US07727909B2
A method for producing complex metal oxide having nano-sized grains that includes the steps of forming a mixture containing at least one metal cation dissolved in a solution and particulate material containing at least one further metal in the form of metal(s) or metal compound(s) and treating the mixture to form the complex metal oxide having nano-sized grains. The at least one further metal from the particulate material becomes incorporated into the complex metal oxide.
US07727907B2
A semiconductor device (having an interlayer insulating film) which is sufficiently low in the dielectric constant and high in the mechanical strength is provided.A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes: a step of forming a dielectric thin film in which a plurality of pores are arranged around a skeleton mainly made of a Si—O bond, on a surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a desired element region is formed; a step of applying patterning on a surface of the dielectric thin film through a mask; and a step of bringing a gas containing at least one kind of tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) molecules into contact with the patterned surface of the dielectric thin film.
US07727894B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a metallization level having a dual damascene trench structure formed in a layer of dielectric material. The dielectric material has an upper surface with a first degree of planarity. The metallization level includes a conductive layer formed in the trench structure with an upper surface characterized by the same level of planarity as the dielectric material upper surface. In certain embodiments, the upper surface of the conductive layer is substantially coplanar with the dielectric material upper surface.
US07727893B2
In a method of forming a dielectric layer pattern, lower patterns are formed on a substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls and upper surfaces of the lower patterns and a surface of the substrate. A mask pattern is formed on the first dielectric layer to partially expose the first dielectric layer. The exposed first dielectric layer on upper surfaces and upper sidewalls of the lower patterns is partially removed and the removed first dielectric layer is deposited on surfaces of the first dielectric layer between the lower patterns, to form a second dielectric layer having a thickness greater than that of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer on the sidewalls of the lower patterns and the substrate is etched to form a dielectric layer pattern. Accordingly, damage to the underlying layer may be reduced, and an unnecessary dielectric layer may be completely removed.
US07727890B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an improved high aspect ratio electroplated metal structure (e.g., a copper or copper alloy interconnect, such as a back end of the line (BEOL) or middle of the line (MOL) contact) in which the electroplated metal fill material is free from seams and/or voids. Also, disclosed are embodiments of a method of forming such an electroplated metal structure by lining a high aspect ratio opening (e.g., a high aspect ratio via or trench) with a metal-plating seed layer and, then, forming a protective layer over the portion of the metal-plating seed layer adjacent to the opening sidewalls so that subsequent electroplating occurs only from the bottom surface of the opening up.
US07727883B2
A method of forming an interconnect structure is provided. The method includes depositing a cobalt metal layer in an interconnect opening formed within a dielectric material containing a dielectric reactant element. The method further includes, in any order, thermally reacting at least a portion of the cobalt metal layer with at least a portion of the dielectric material to form a diffusion barrier containing a compound of the reactive metal from the cobalt metal layer and the dielectric reactant element from the dielectric material, and forming a cobalt nitride adhesion layer in the interconnect opening. The method further includes filling the interconnect opening with Cu metal, where the diffusion barrier and the cobalt nitride adhesion layer surround the Cu metal in the interconnect opening.
US07727875B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a bumped wafer. A plurality of grooves is formed in an active surface of the bumped wafer. A pre-underfill layer is disposed over the active surface, filling the plurality of grooves. A first adhesive layer is mounted to the pre-underfill layer, and a back surface of the bumped wafer is ground. A second adhesive layer is mounted to the back surface of the bumped wafer. The first adhesive layer is peeled from the active surface of the bumped wafer, or the second adhesive layer is mounted to the first adhesive layer. The bumped wafer is singulated into a plurality of segments by cutting the bumped wafer along the plurality of grooves.
US07727872B2
A system for fabricating semiconductor components includes a semiconductor substrate, a thinning system for thinning the semiconductor substrate, an etching system for forming the substrate opening, and a bonding system for bonding the conductive interconnect to the substrate contact. The semiconductor component can be used to form module components, underfilled components, stacked components, and image sensor semiconductor components.
US07727871B2
This disclosure concerns a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprising an etching process using an etching solution having ozone dissolved by 10 ppm or more into a liquid containing H2SO4 by 86 wt % to 97.9 wt %, HF by 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %, and H2O by 2 wt % to 4 wt %.
US07727860B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, which includes at least the steps of bonding a bond wafer and a base wafer, grinding an outer peripheral portion of the bonded bond wafer, etching off an unbonded portion of the ground bond wafer, and then reducing a thickness of the bond wafer, wherein, in the step of grinding the outer peripheral portion, the bonded bond wafer is ground so as to form a groove along the outer peripheral portion of the bond wafer to form an outer edge portion outside the groove; and in the subsequent step of etching, the outer edge portion is removed together with the groove portion of the bond wafer to form a terrace portion where the base wafer is exposed at the outer peripheral portion of the bonded wafer. Thus, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, which can reduce the number of dimples formed in a terrace portion of a base wafer upon removing an outer peripheral portion of a bonded bond wafer.
US07727857B2
To provide a thin semiconductor device having flexibility. A groove is formed in one surface of a substrate; an element layer including an element is formed, the element being disposed within the groove; the substrate is thinned from the other surface of the substrate until one surface of the element layer is exposed, to form a layer which is to be transposed, having the element; and the layer to be transposed is transposed onto the film.
US07727855B2
Methodologies associated with fabricating aligned nanowire lattices are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes providing a twist wafer bonded thin single crystal semiconductor film and a bulk single crystal substrate of the same material. Periodic non-uniform elastic strains present on the surface of the film control the positions where nanocrystals will form on the film. The strains may be removed via annealing and alloying after the formation of nanocrystal arrays.
US07727854B2
An IC card is more expensive than a magnetic card, and an electronic tag is also more expensive as a substitute for bar codes. Therefore, the present invention provides an extremely thin integrated circuit that can be mass-produced at low cost unlike a chip of a conventional silicon wafer, and a manufacturing method thereof. One feature of the present invention is that a thin integrated circuit is formed by a formation method that can form a pattern selectively, on a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a stainless substrate, a substrate made of synthetic resin having flexibility, such as acryl, or the like except for a bulk substrate. Further, another feature of the present invention is that an ID chip in which a thin film integrated circuit and an antenna according to the present invention are mounted is formed.
US07727845B2
An ultra shallow junction (USJ) FET device and method for forming the same with improved control over SDE or LDD doped region interfaces to improve device performance and reliability is provided, the method including providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate structure comprising a gate dielectric, an overlying gate electrode, and first offset spacers adjacent either side of the gate electrode; forming at least one doped semiconductor layer comprising dopants over a respective source and drain region adjacent the respective first offset spacers; forming second offset spacers adjacent the respective first offset spacers; and, thermally treating the at least one semiconductor layer to cause out-diffusion of the dopants to form doped regions in the semiconductor substrate.
US07727843B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor element used for a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device or the like, a semiconductor storage device using the same, a data writing method thereof, a data reading method thereof and a manufacturing method of those, and has an object to provide a semiconductor element in which scaling and integration of cells are possible, storage characteristics of data are excellent, and reduction in power consumption is possible, a semiconductor storage device using the same, a data writing method thereof, a data reading method thereof, and a manufacturing method of those. A pn junction diode GD with a ferroelectric gate as the semiconductor element includes a gate electrode formed on a ferroelectric film, an inversion layer formation region in which an inversion layer is formed in a semiconductor substrate below the ferroelectric film according to a polarization direction of the ferroelectric film, a cathode region formed on one of both sides of the inversion layer formation region, and an anode region formed on the other of both the sides.
US07727842B2
A method of simultaneously siliciding a polysilicon gate and source/drain of a semiconductor device, and related device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate (the gate stack comprising a first polysilicon layer, a first nitride layer, and a second polysilicon layer), forming a second nitride layer over an active region in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate stack, performing a chemical mechanical polishing that stops on the first nitride layer and on the second nitride layer, removing the first nitride layer and the second nitride layer, and performing a simultaneous silicidation of the first polysilicon layer and the active region.
US07727836B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device with high reliability which has TFT of adequate structure arranged according to the circuit performance required. The semiconductor has the driving circuit and the pixel portion on the same substrate. It is characterized in that the storage capacitance is formed between the first electrode formed on the same layer as the light blocking film and the second electrode formed from a semiconductor film of the same composition as the drain region, and the first base insulating film is removed at the part of the storage capacitance so that the second base insulating film is used as the dielectric of the storage capacitance. This structure provides a large storage capacitance in a small area.
US07727826B2
Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes forming a gate pattern on a substrate having a stacked structure including a lower silicon layer, an insulating layer, and an upper silicon layer. The method further includes forming spacers on sidewalls of the gate pattern. Still further, the method includes etching the upper silicon layer using the gate pattern as a mask to form a floating body and expose a portion of the insulating layer. The method further includes depositing a conductive layer over the gate pattern and exposed insulating layer, and performing a thermal process on the conductive layer to form a source/drain region in the floating body.
US07727820B2
This disclosure relates to misalignment-tolerant processes for fabricating multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures. One process enables fabricating a multiplexing/demultiplexing architecture at a tolerance greater than a pitch of conductive structures with which the architecture is capable of communicating. Another process can enable creation of address elements and conductive structures having substantially identical widths.
US07727817B2
In a method of packaging a semiconductor IC, a tape is attached to a back surface of a lead frame array, and the lead frame array is held between an upper mold chase and a lower mold chase of a mold, with the back surface of the lead frame array upward. The upper and lower mold chases form an upper cavity and a lower cavity with respect to the lead frame array respectively. A mold compound is injected into the upper and lower cavities respectively. With respect to clearances between leads, between die pads and/or between the leads and the die pads, the mold compound injected into the upper cavity covers the portion of the tape over the clearances before the mold compound injected into the lower cavity fills the clearances, so that the tape is depressed. After curing the mold compound, removing the mold and de-taping, the mold compound filled in the clearances is recessed inward from the back surface, which increases the solderability in the subsequent surface mount process and decreases the possibility of the occurrence of lead short-circuits.
US07727814B2
A method of interconnecting and an interconnect is provided to connect a first component and a second component of an integrated circuit. The interconnect includes a plurality of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), which provide a conducting path between the first component and the second component. The interconnect further includes a passivation layer to fill the gaps between adjacent CNTs. A method of producing Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) and an ACF is provided. The ACF includes a plurality of CNTs, which provide a conducting path between a first side of the ACF and a second side of the ACF. The sides of the ACF can also include a conductive curable adhesive layer. In an embodiment, the conductive curable adhesive layer can incorporate a B-stage cross-linkable polymer and silver particles.
US07727813B2
A method for making a device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a substrate having a first element protruding from the substrate. A semiconductor chip has a first electrode on a first surface and a second electrode on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The semiconductor chip is placed over the first element of the substrate with the first surface of the semiconductor chip facing the substrate. The second electrode of the semiconductor chip is electrically coupled to the substrate, and the substrate is at least partially removed.
US07727807B2
A semiconductor device according to embodiments may include an interposer, a plurality of devices stacked on the interposer, a cooling device provided in at least one of the devices and including a passage for a cooling material, and a connection electrode provided between the devices, in which the connection electrode connects a signal electrode in an upper device to a signal electrode in a lower device.
US07727803B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of insulating layers laminated on a substrate to cover passive elements such as a capacitor, an inductor, and the like, and to fix an IC chip in a face up state in one of the insulating layers. The insulating layers have similar structures in each of which the passive element or the semiconductor chip is disposed in at the bottom, a plug is formed in the insulating layer to pass therethrough in the thickness direction for extending an electrode of one of these elements to the top surface, and a conductive layer is provided as wiring on the top surface of the insulating layer to be connected to the plugs for electrically connecting respective elements or rearranging the electrode position. Also, an insulating layer is provided on the top for protecting the semiconductor device and for providing an external connecting electrode.
US07727801B2
A semiconductor package comprising a die adjacent a substrate, a supporting plate adjacent the die, and a conducting plate abutting the supporting plate and electrically coupled to a metal apparatus adjacent the substrate and the die using a plurality of bond wires. The metal apparatus supplies power to the conducting plate.
US07727799B2
Two integrated circuits 1, 3, 101, 103 having circuitry on one of their major surfaces 11, 31, 111, 131 are ground on their opposite major surfaces 13, 33 to reduce their thickness. The ground integrated circuits are then adhered together to form a composite body 7 and placed in a chamber 97, 197 formed within a substrate 9, 109 such as a printed circuit board. Electrical connections are formed between contacts 15, 35, 115, 135 of the integrated circuits 1, 3, 101, 103 and contacts 92, 192 of the substrate 9, 109. Components 22 may be mounted on the outer surfaces 24 of the substrate 9, 109.
US07727787B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting device and the nitride semiconductor light emitting device manufactured by the method, the method including: forming a light emitting structure by sequentially growing a first conductivity nitride layer, an active layer and a second conductivity type nitride layer on a preliminary substrate for nitride single crystal growth; separating the light emitting structure in accordance with a size of final light emitting device; forming a conductive substrate on the light emitting structure; polishing a bottom surface of the preliminary substrate to reduce a thickness of the preliminary substrate; forming uneven surface structures by machining the preliminary substrate; selectively removing the preliminary substrate to expose portions of the first conductivity type nitride layer; and forming electrodes on the portions of the first conductivity type nitride layer exposed by selectively removing the preliminary substrate.
US07727784B2
The present invention provides a display device which forms thin film transistor circuits differing in characteristics from each other on a substrate in mixture and a fabrication method of the display device. On a glass substrate having a background layer which is formed by stacking an SiN film and an SiO2 film, a precursor film which is constituted of an a-Si layer or a fine particle crystalline p-Si layer is formed and the implantation is applied to the precursor film. Here, an acceleration voltage and a dose quantity are adjusted such that a proper quantity of dopant is dosed in the inside of the precursor film. When the precursor film is melted by laser radiation, the dopant dosed in the precursor film is activated and taken into the precursor.
US07727783B2
A method of measuring a diffusion length of a minority carrier in a silicon wafer by a surface photovoltage method including irradiating the surface-treated silicon wafer with ultraviolet radiation in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, and measuring a diffusion length of a minority carrier in a silicon wafer by a surface photovoltage method.
US07727780B2
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and substrate processing method includes a step of acquiring a measurement value based on a first detecting and a second detecting section and determining a first difference of measurement values between the first detecting section and the second detecting section, comparing between a previously stored second difference between measurement values concerning the first detecting section and the second detecting section, calculating a correction value for a pressure in a cooling-gas passage provided between a process chamber and a heating device depending upon the first difference when the first difference is different from the second difference, and correcting the pressure value based on the pressure correction value, and a step of processing the substrate by flowing a cooling gas through the cooling-gas passage while heating the process chamber, and placing the heating device and the cooling device under a control section depending upon a pressure value corrected.
US07727775B2
Labels and methods of producing labels for use in clinical, analytical and pharmaceutical development assays are provided. Labels may comprise shape-encoded particles which may be coupled to ligands such as DNA, RNA and antibodies, where different shapes are used to identify which ligand(s) are present. Labels may also comprise reflectors, including retroreflectors and retroreflectors susceptible to analyte-dependent assembly for efficient homogeneous assays.
US07727770B2
A system and method for spectrophotometrically measuring the total alkalinity of a liquid sample. In a particular aspect, the method involves equilibration of a CO2 gas with a sample solution across the permeable walls of a Teflon AF 2400 liquid core waveguide. The waveguide acts as both an equilibration membrane and an optical cell in which spectrophotometric pH measurements are obtained via measurements of absorbance ratios.
US07727763B2
Fetal blood multi-lineage progenitor cells that are capable of a wide spectrum of transdifferentiation are described, as well as methods of differentiating the progenitor cells into type II alveolar cells.
US07727761B2
Provided are purified and isolated VEGF-C polypeptides capable of binding to at least one of KDR receptor tyrosine kinase (VEGFR-2) and Flt4 receptor tyrosine kinase (VEGFR-3); analogs of such peptides that have VEGF-C-like or VEGF-like biological activities or that are VEGF or VEGF-C inhibitors; polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides; vectors and host cells that embody the polynucleotides; pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic reagents comprising the polypeptides; and methods of making and using the polypeptides.
US07727760B2
A cell colonies dissecting and transplanting apparatus comprises: a base, a platform, a feeding mechanism having at least three axis feeding means, a movable holder, a cutting means, a transplanting means, and a CCD image capturing means. The platform having the CCD image capturing means therebottom is disposed onto the base, and on the platform is defined with the holder for receiving a plurality of loading trays, so as to the original cell colonies and a plurality of media boards of subculture can be placed on the loading trays of holder, the holder can displace from a first axis feeding means and a second axis feeding means of feeding mechanism to moveably align with a first axis and a second axis. In addition, the cutting means and the transplanting means respectively capable of vertically move along a third axis feeding means of feeding mechanism are arranged onto the base, wherein the cutting means is provided with an array of invertable blades, and the transplanting means is defined with a bent capture needle for capturing the cell masses, whereby enabling to use operational analysis of controller to precisely cut, capture and pickedly place the original cell colonies.
US07727756B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing variants of a parent JP170 subtilase and of a parent BPN′ subtilase and to JP170 and BPN′ variants having altered properties as compared to the parent JP170/BPN′ subtilase.
US07727750B2
The present invention relates to biocatalytic asymmetric reduction for the preparation of 2-amino-[5-(1-hydroxy-2-hydroxy or halogen-ethyl)]-pyrazine derivatives of the formula wherein R is lower alkylcarbonyl or an amino protecting group and R1 is hydroxy or halogen. The compounds are key intermediates in the manufacture of a glucokinase activator.
US07727742B2
The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, and methods for producing FGF-like polypeptides.
US07727739B2
The invention relates to fluorescence methods for measuring enzyme activity, in particular enzyme cleaving and joining activities. The invention also relates to fluorogenic substrates which are useful for measuring enzyme activity and as in vitro and in vivo imaging probes.
US07727735B2
An antigen is shown to be associated with prostate cancer, and is useful for new methods and compositions for diagnosing or treating prostate cancer. This is particularly useful for individuals with prostate cancer who test negative for Prostate Specific Antigen. Additionally, this is useful for distinguishing between benign prostate disease and prostate cancer in a patient diagnosed or presenting with prostate dysfunction.
US07727732B2
The present invention is directed to methods for detecting or measuring Notch activation by observing or measuring the appearance of Notch on the cell surface or by observing or measuring Notch cleavage products that are indicative of Notch activation. The present invention is also directed to methods for detecting a molecule that modulates Notch activation by observing or measuring a change in the amount of Notch expressed on the cell surface or a change in the amount or pattern of Notch cleavage products. The present invention is also directed to a substantially purified activated heterodimeric form of Notch and components thereof and pharmaceutical compositions and kits thereof. The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that Notch in its active form, i.e., the form that mediates signal transduction and that binds Notch ligands such as Delta, is a heterodimer of an about 180 kDa subunit (NEC) and an about 110 kDa subunit (NTM), which are tethered together through a reducing agent-sensitive linkage, in particular, a non-covalent, metal ion-dependent linkage.
US07727725B2
The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with liver fibrosis and related pathologies. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, including groups of nucleic acid molecules that may be used as a signature marker set, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.
US07727723B2
The present invention relates to a droplet microactuator and to systems, apparatuses and methods employing the droplet microactuator for executing various protocols using droplets. The invention includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system having one or more input reservoirs loaded with reagents for conducting sequencing protocols, such as the reagents for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol. The invention also includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system, having one or more input reservoirs loaded with a sample for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol.
US07727714B2
The present invention provides a method for inhibiting growth of a cancer cell, particularly a renal cell carcinoma, by contacting the cell with a composition composed of an HIG2 siRNA or HIG2 antibody. Methods of diagnosing renal cell cancer are also provided within the present invention.
US07727711B2
Disclosed are antibodies that bind to the antigenic proteins GroES, RpIL, GroEL, SodB, UbiG, the ABC transporter, and an expressed antigenic protein of unknown function (the “BepA” protein) of Bartonella henselae, and use of these antigenic proteins in immunoassays in order to determine whether a sample from a subject contains one or more of these antibodies. Presence of such an antibody in the subject indicates that the subject is or was infected with Bartonella henselae, or indicates that the subject has an increased likelihood of being infected presently or in the past with Bartonella henselae. Also disclosed are kits for performing immunoassays, wherein each kit contains one or more of these antigenic proteins and also contains the reagents necessary for conducting an immunoassay.
US07727710B2
The present invention provides materials, methods, and kits for reducing nonspecific binding of molecules to a surface, particularly in a solid phase material, and more specifically a solid phase material that includes a hydrophobic portion, by contacting the solid phase material with a fluorinated nonionic surfactant comprising two or more fluorinated hydrophobic segments and one or more hydrophilic segments.
US07727707B2
A resist film is first formed on a substrate. Subsequently, a barrier film including a basic compound of, for example, dicyclohexylamine is formed on the resist film. Thereafter, with an immersion liquid including cesium sulfate provided on the barrier film, pattern exposure is carried out by selectively irradiating the resist film with exposing light through the barrier film. Then, after removing the barrier film, the resist film having been subjected to the pattern exposure is developed, so as to form a resist pattern in a good shape.
US07727703B2
A method of fabricating an electronic device is disclosed. The method of fabricating an electronic device comprises providing a substrate. A first conductive layer is formed on the substrate. A silylation polyphenol (PVP) dielectric layer is formed on the first conductive layer. A patterned second conductive layer is formed on the silylation PVP dielectric layer.
US07727690B2
Disclosed are a monomer of iridium complex having a fluoro group as a functional group, a monomer of carbazole derivative having a hydroxy group as the functional group, and a copolymer containing the monomers in its main chain. The iridium complex used as a phosphorescent material and the carbazole derivative having an excellent hole transporting capability are synthesized as the monomer to form the copolymer. The content of iridium complex is easily controlled, and the carbazole derivative and iridium complex are contained in the main chain during the copolymer formation, thereby capable of manufacturing a light emitting device with higher heat resistance and chemical stability.
US07727689B2
A photoconductor containing an optional supporting substrate, a perylene photogenerating layer, and at least one silanol containing charge transport layer.
US07727684B2
A blank mask is provided. The blank mask includes a mask layer disposed on a transparent quartz substrate, and a nano inorganic material-polymer complex layer. The nano inorganic material-polymer complex layer has nano-scale components and is formed on a surface of the mask layer to adsorb a residual contamination source remaining on the surface of the mask layer and to protect the surface of the mask layer from external contamination sources. The nano inorganic material-polymer complex layer can include a nano clay-polymer composite where PVDF is interposed between the nano clay plate-shaped layers. The contamination sources can be removed from the mask layer surface by removing the composite layer.
US07727679B2
The present invention provides an optical refractive index-modifying polymer composition which can efficiently modulate (change) refractive index upon light irradiation, and exhibits such high storage stability that the once modulated refractive index does not substantially change anymore upon time elapse, and the optical refractive index-modifying polymer composition comprises as a main component a polymer (A) which is a polymer of monomers including an acrylic vinyl monomer represented by the following formula (1): CH2═C(R1)—C(═O)O—R2═CH2 (1) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and the molecule may contain a hetero atom or a halogen atom, as an essential component and contains a remaining radical-polymerizable side-chain vinyl group in the molecule, wherein the composition comprises a thermally curable polymer (B) in an amount of 5 to 60 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polymer (A).
US07727675B2
A polymer electrolyte includes a heat-treated polymerization product of a polyurethane-based compound and a polyethylene(meth)acrylic acid, wherein the polyurethane-based compound is produced by polymerizing a diisocyanate-based compound, a phosphoric acid-based polyol, and a chain extender. The polymer electrolyte has a high ionic conductivity at high temperatures without causing deformation of an electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be inexpensively and simply manufactured, and the thickness of the membrane can be easily controlled. In addition, a large amount of phosphoric acid can be impregnated into the polymer electrolyte. A fuel cell that is operative at a temperature of 100° C. or higher under non-humidified conditions and has improved energy generating efficiency can be prepared by employing the polymer electrolyte membrane.
US07727666B2
A portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a body, a cover, a button, a movable pin and a battery. The button is movably disposed on the body to move between a first position and a second position. The movable pin is disposed in the body. The battery is disposed on the body. When the button is in the first position, the cover is separated from the button. When the button moves from the first position to the second position, the movable pin pushes the battery, allowing the battery to be separated from the body.
US07727665B2
In a fuel cell assembly (100, 200), a diffusion layer (113, 114, 201) comprises an electroconductive film (133, 133a, 133b) formed integrally with a separator (115, 116, 115a) so as to form a unitary separator-diffusion layer assembly (130, 131, 130a, 203). The electroconductive film of the diffusion layer can be formed on the separator by a process comprising physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, spin coating, sputtering or screen printing.
US07727660B2
Modified fuel cells with improved distribution of humidity and/or temperature are provided.
US07727658B2
A method for joining a resin member and a porous member can prevent peeling in a specified direction. When a thermoplastic laser transmitting resin member and a porous member are joined, the laser transmitting resin layer and the porous member are laminated, and a laser beam is emitted at a side of the laser transmitting resin member. The porous member is heated so that the laser transmitting resin member is melted, and the melted resin is impregnated with holes of the porous member. The resin is cooled so as to solidify.
US07727651B2
The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polymers containing phosphonic acid groups which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, and/or mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diamino carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof, B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas at temperatures of up to 350° C. to form polyazole polymers, C) application of a layer using the mixture from step A) and/or B) to a support, D) polymerization of the vinyl-containing phosphonic acid present in the sheet-like structure obtainable according to step C).
US07727630B2
Nickel powder batches and methods for producing nickel powder batches. The powder batches include particles having a small particle size, narrow size distribution and a spherical morphology. The present invention is also directed to devices incorporating the nickel metal powders.
US07727627B2
Fibers having improved resistance to moisture at elevated temperatures comprise at least two elastic polymers, one polymer heat-settable and the other polymer heat-resistant, the heat-resistant polymer comprising at least a portion of the exterior surface of the fiber. The fibers typically have a bicomponent and/or a biconstituent core/sheath morphology. Typically, the core comprises an elastic thermoplastic urethane, and the sheath comprises a homogeneously branched polyolefin, preferably a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene polymer.
US07727626B2
A light diffusion plate has a substrate and a light diffusion layer formed on the substrate. The light diffusion layer is composed of at least two layers: a first light diffusion layer containing a first matrix and a first light diffusion agent having a refractive index difference Δn1 of 0.04≦Δn1≦0.2 with the first matrix, and a second light diffusion layer containing a second matrix and a second light diffusion agent having a refractive index difference Δn2 of 0.005≦Δn2≦0.01 with the second matrix. The volume fraction of the first light diffusion agent in the first light diffusion layer is less than 40%, the volume fraction of the second light diffusion agent in the second light diffusion layer is at least 40% and the total thickness of the light diffusion layers is from 5 to 200 μm after curing.
US07727612B2
An automotive vehicle floor mat M to be laid on a foot space of a driver's seat, characterized in that retainer holes to be retained at retainer pins implanted on a vehicle floor side, are provided at two positions at a predetermined interval near a rear edge portion of the mat, a first retainer hole of the two position retainer holes is provided on a right rear side of the mat and in the vicinity of a rear extension portion of an accelerator pedal, a second retainer hole is provided on a rear extension portion of a brake pedal and rather on a center side of the mat than the first retainer hole, a retainer member having a rigidity is provided on an inner edge of each retainer hole, and a thickness of the retainer member is smaller than a height of the retainer pins.
US07727602B2
A recording sheet with an ink-receptive layer which can be used not only for dye type inks but also for pigment type inks is provided. Also provided is a coating liquid for forming an ink-receptive layer. The recording sheet with an ink-receptive layer includes a substrate sheet and an ink-receptive layer formed thereon, wherein the ink-receptive layer includes (i) fibrous crystalline particles on surfaces of which a cationic hydrated metal compound is supported and (ii) a binder. The fibrous crystalline particles have an average fiber diameter (D) of 0.1 to 2 μm, an average fiber length (L) of 1 to 200 μm and a ratio (aspect ratio) of an average fiber length (L) to an average fiber diameter (D) of 5 to 500.
US07727597B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for preparing a silicon-containing solid film, which can form a thin film uniformly over a wide area. Raw-material fluid comprising a silane derivative and a hydrocarbon derivative is mixed with carrier fluid comprising carbon dioxide to form a supercritical condition. Further, an active-state is produced in the raw-material fluid of the supercritical fluid by a catalytic reaction with at least one metal catalyst selected from a group consisting of platinum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, iron or an alloy of each of them. The fluid is blown to the substrate, thereby forming a silicon-containing solid film or a hydrocarbon-containing solid film on the substrate.
US07727594B2
According to the drying method and apparatus of the present invention, at first, the coated film on one end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on the other end side, because drying air is supplied from one end side of the support. Subsequently, the coated film on the other end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on one end side, because drying air is supplied from the other end side of the support. Accordingly, the method and the apparatus can diminish a difference between drying rates in on one end side and in the other end side of the long support, in the whole drying zone. Thus, the method and the apparatus can uniformly dry the support and inhibit the production of a dry spot.
US07727589B2
Carbon components contained in large quantities in bone components are isolated. The isolated carbon components are gasified and plasma-processed by means of microwave or high-frequency heating and the etching curing of hydrogen atoms is utilized to form diamond-like film on the surface of the base material to produce an esthetically pleasing ornament.
US07727583B2
Provided is a process for producing a structured surface possessing a high level of hydrophilicity, wherein the process involves: coating a surface with a mixture to produce the structured surface, wherein the mixture includes: particles (a) having a number average particle diameter of from 0.1 μm to 10 μm; and particles (b) having a number average particle diameter of from 5 nm to 0.5 μm and a 20° C. surface energy of greater than or equal to 80 mN/in, and wherein the mixture exhibits a bimodal particle diameter distribution of particles (a) and particles (b). The mixture may optionally include an aqueous liquor, an emulsifier, a binder, an adhesion promoter, a thickener, and/or a pigment. Also provided is a structured surface produced by the process. A non-limiting example of the structured surface produced by the process is a structured textile surface.
US07727572B2
A method of producing hexose oxidase by recombinant DNA technology, recombinant hexose oxidase and the use of such enzyme, in particular in the manufacturing of food products such as doughs and dairy products, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, dental care products and in the manufacturing of lactones. Suitable sources of DNA coding for the enzyme are marine algal species including Chondrus crispus, Iridophycus flaccidum and Euthora cristata. In useful embodiments, the recombinant hexose oxidase is produced by Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or E. coli.
US07727570B2
A process for the preparation of a bake stable nut butter emulsion which comprises the following steps (a) selecting a sugar syrup solution and diluting it with water until it contains an amount of sugar solids which is in the range 55-80 wt. %, (b) heating the solution to a temperature in the range 40-100° C., (c) dispersing a starch into the heated solution until it contains 1-5 wt. % of dissolved starch, (d) dispersing an emulsifier into the heated solution until it contains 0.5-3 wt. % of dissolved emulsifier, (e) dispersing a gelling agent into the heated solution until it contains 0.2-1 wt. % of dissolved gelling agent, (f) cooling the heated solution into which the starch, emulsifier and gelling agent have been dispersed to a temperature which is in the range of 20-50° C., (g) dispersing under vigorous stirring conditions a nut butter into the cooled solution, while controlling the rate of addition such that the resulting emulsion remains water continuous, (h) allowing the emulsion to cool and to obtain a plastic consistency. The process delivers an edible nut butter containing emulsion which comprises 10-25 wt. % of a dispersed fat phase and 75-90 wt. % of a continuous aqueous phase which comprises sugar solids, starch, gelling agent and emulsifier, which emulsion has a plastic consistency and which emulsion possesses bake stability. The invention also relates to a bake stable nut butter emulsion.
US07727555B2
Particles and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of making particles can include forming a stream of a mixture including first and second materials, exposing the stream to a vibration, and treating the stream to form particles. The vibration can have, for example, a sinusoidal, triangular, and/or sawtooth waveform.
US07727553B2
The present invention provides oral preparations with good disintegration containing a slightly water-soluble active ingredient, which comprise a mixture of a solid formed product (e.g. a granule) and a second disintegrant wherein said solid formed product comprises a slightly water-soluble active ingredient, a first disintegrant and a water-soluble excipient which is formed by using a water-soluble polymer binder; or comprises a solid formed product prepared from a slightly water-soluble active ingredient, a disintegrant and a sugar alcohol by using a water-soluble polymer binder. When orally administered, these oral preparations exhibit excellent dissolution characteristics of the active ingredient in the digestive tract, and further, these preparations can show equivalent dissolution profile even at different amounts of the active ingredient, and thus enable the selection of the most suitable medicament for each patient, which makes these preparations highly useful in the clinical field.
US07727552B1
A composition of an oral medicine or an oral medicine which can prevent an unpleasant taste of the medicine is herein disclosed. It is granules, powders, syrups and the like which is prevented from an unpleasant taste, comprising a basic medicine having an unpleasant taste and an anionic polymer such as carrageenan.
US07727545B2
A polymeric material having improved gas permeability comprises units of fluorinated dioxole. The polymeric material may further comprise units of a hydrophobic monomer, a hydrophilic monomer, or combinations thereof. Such a polymeric material is desirably used to produce medical devices, such as ophthalmic devices that provide increased comfort to a user.
US07727542B2
A bioactive material is made using fibroin solutions and suspensions that can be used alone or as a composite with particles such as core/shell particles. The material is designed to support the constructions, repair, regeneration or augmentation of bone and other tissues of the body. The solutions and suspensions can be loaded with core/shell-type particles comprising inorganic core materials that are coated with biodegradable polymers with an outer coating of a calcium phosphate precursor. The fibroin solutions, suspensions, and composites can be injected to fill cavities or to replace missing tissue. After injection, the materials can produce a scaffold capable of promoting tissue regeneration while degrading. The degradation of the particles, when present, can generate additional porosity within the scaffold and release other compounds in a controlled manner to enhance growth and activation of the cells necessary for tissue repair. The ability to inject the fibroin solutions, suspensions and composites can reduce the need for many types of surgical procedures that are used to replace or repair bone and other tissues.
US07727535B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing vascular-associated disorders.
US07727534B2
Reovirus can be used to selectively remove ras-mediated neoplastic cells from a cellular composition. It is of particular interest to purge autographs which may contain neoplastic cells with reovirus before transplanting the autographs back into the recipient, thereby reducing the risk of introducing or reintroducing neoplastic cells into the recipient.
US07727533B2
Described is a family of cell surface serpentine transmembrane antigens. Two of the proteins in this family are expressed in the prostate, as well as in prostate cancer, and thus members of this family have been termed “STEAP” (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate). Four particular human STEAPs are described and characterized herein. The human STEAPs exhibit a high degree of structural conservation among them but show no significant structural homology to any known human proteins. The prototype member of the STEAP family is STEAP-1, which appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein. STEAP-1 is a 339 amino acid protein. STEAP-1 protein expression is maintained at high levels across various stages of prostate cancer. Moreover, STEAP-1 is highly over-expressed in certain other human cancers.
US07727523B2
Methods are provided for suppressing the immune system response in recipients of transplanted organs, tissues or cells. An extracorporeal quantity of blood from the intended transplant recipient is treated to induce monocytes contained in the blood to differentiate and form dendritic cells. The maturation of the dendritic cells is truncated at a stage where the dendritic cells can inactivate T cell clones which would otherwise generate an undesired immune system response. The immature dendritic cells can be directly administered to the transplant recipient, or the dendritic cells can be co-incubated with the bone marrow or stem cell preparation, prior to transplantation, in order to suppress or eliminate anti-recipient donor T cells contaminating the bone marrow or stem cell preparation. The methods can be used to suppress graft versus host disease in recipients of transplanted bone marrow or stem cells, or to suppress rejection of transplanted organs or tissue.
US07727519B2
Methods for the treatment of interferon-response disorders by administration of an interferon alone or in combination with adjunctive therapy are described. The invention encompasses providing to a patient both a formulation of an interferon that is suitable for short-term administration and a formulation of an interferon associated with a sustained release delivery system that is suitable for long-term administration. A principal advantage of the method is that responsiveness to treatment can be ascertained with short-term dosimetric techniques using one formulation of an interferon, which permits the appropriate selection of a dose that is both effective and safe for long-term administration using the second formulation.
US07727518B2
Homogeneous preparations of IL-28A, IL-28B, and IL-29 have been produced by mutating one or more of the cysteine residues in the polynucleotide sequences encoding the mature proteins. The cysteine mutant proteins can be shown to either bind to their cognate receptor or exhibit biological activity. One type of biological activity that is shown is an antiviral activity.
US07727517B2
This invention relates to a stabilized honey bee pheromone and methods of stabilizing the honey bee brood pheromone, thereby enabling the production and sustained use of commercial products based on that pheromone. The stabilized pheromone can be used to manipulate the behavior and improve the performance of worker honey bees, resulting in overall increased vigor of the hive. The pheromone composition comprises two or more of ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl stearate, methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, methyl oleate, methyl palmitate and methyl stearate and an antioxidant.
US07727511B2
Provided herein are agents that bind to soluble beta-amyloid. Also provided are in vivo and in vitro methods for detecting soluble beta-amyloid in a sample that may include brain tissue.
US07727509B2
A method for reducing the interaction between carbon monoxide present in a heat exchange medium and metals on the shell side of heat exchange reformer apparatus used for reforming of hydrocarbons by treatment of the shell-side of said apparatus with an effective amount of at least one passivation compound containing at least one element selected from phosphorus, tin, antimony, arsenic, lead, bismuth, copper, germanium, silver or gold is described. Where volatile compounds are formed by the passivation compound, the method further comprises compound recovery to prevent contamination and deactivation of subsequent process steps. The method reduces side reactions, provides improved reformer tube lifetime and allows tubes to be treated in-situ without the need for process shutdown.
US07727508B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing powders of niobium suboxides or niobium, wherein the process comprising: mixing the niobium oxides as raw material with reducing agent, conducting a reaction at a temperature in the range of 600˜1300° C. in an atmosphere of vacuum or inert gas or hydrogen gas, leaching the reaction product to remove the residual reducing agent and the oxides of the reducing agent and other impurities, heat treating at a temperature of the range of 1000˜1600° C. in an atmosphere of vacuum or inert gas, and screening to obtain the powders of niobium suboxide or niobium of capacitor grade. According to the present invention, the niobium oxides were directly reduced into capacitor grade niobium suboxides or niobium with reducing agents which can be easily removed by mineral acids, wherein the speed of the reaction can be controlled and the reaction can directly reduce the niobium oxides into capacitor grade niobium suboxides or niobium powder. According to the present invention, the process is simple with high yield and high productivity. The products obtained have good flowability, low impurities, uniform distribution of oxygen, and have good electrical properties.
US07727507B2
A process for treating a gas stream comprising H2S that includes the step of selectively oxidizing the H2S of the gas stream within a catalytic zone containing an oxidation catalyst and in the presence of an inert liquid medium and molecular oxygen to form elemental sulfur and a gas stream depleted of H2S. A liquid stream yielded from the catalytic zone and containing the inert liquid medium and liquid elemental sulfur undergoes a separation into a first liquid phase rich in the inert liquid medium and a second liquid phase rich in elemental sulfur. Either at least a part of the liquid stream or at least a part of the second liquid phase, or both, undergoes a combustion to form a fluid stream that comprises sulfur dioxide.
US07727500B2
Disclosed are adhesive coating compositions containing a metal peroxide for producing clear colorless adhesive coatings on substrates, particularly micro particulate substrates. In one preferred embodiment the nanoparticle coatings are chemically active and function at a high level of efficiency due to the high total surface area of the micro particulate substrate. Also disclosed are coated substrates and compositions having nanoparticles bound to a substrate by the coating compositions.
US07727499B2
The present invention is directed to a method for removal by oxidation of the excess ammonia (NH3) gas (“ammonia slip”) resulting from flue gases that have been subjected to selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with ammonia. More specifically, the inventive method uses an ammonia oxidation catalyst consisting of a zeolite, one or more precious metals, and a base metal compound, to catalyze the oxidation of both ammonia and carbon monoxide (CO), while minimizing the formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The present invention is useful in treating flue and exhaust gases.
US07727494B2
A child care storage having a steam sterilizing apparatus, wherein the steam sterilizing apparatus includes an outer tub defined by walls of a steam sterilizing compartment; a hollow upstanding coupling member installed on the center bottom of the outer tub and having an interlocking hole formed at its top; an inner tub inserted inside the outer tub for accommodating infant accessories therein, the inner tub having a reception hole formed at its bottom center and a latch part formed along the circumference of its bottom center; an evaporation vessel having a flange along its circumference, the flange being coupled to the latch part of the inner tub; a flat-type heater installed under a rear bottom surface of the evaporation vessel; and a supporting plate for placing the flat-type heater thereon.
US07727489B2
A plasma reactor is provided with two or more plasma generating electrodes which are installed in series inside a gas passage in a casing, with each plasma generating electrode being electrically controlled independently. The surface area of the conductor on each unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the upstream side of the gas passage is smaller than the surface area of the conductor on the unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the downstream side of the gas passage. Plasma can be generated between each of the unit electrodes by supplying each of the plasma generating electrodes with independently controlled electric power. The plasma reactor can efficiently react specific components contained in the gas passing through the gas passage.
US07727487B2
In the plasma reaction vessel (1) of the invention, two or more laminate-structures (6) having ceramic formed bodies (3, 4) in which a plasma generating electrode (2) capable of generating plasma is formed in two-tape-form, and an electrically continuous film-like electrically conductive electrode (5) held between the two ceramic formed bodies (3, 4) are formed in such a manner as to form a plasma generating space (7) containing mutual laminate planes therein. Of the electrically conductive electrodes (5), adjacent ones are capable of having electric discharge produced therebetween so as to generate the plasma in the plasma generating space (7) and of generating uniform stabilized plasma at low electric power, it being possible to reduce a passage resistance to a gas passing therein.
US07727486B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for combusting dry gas to heat the air fed to an FCC regenerator to increase its temperature and minimize production of undesirable combustion products. Preferably, the dry gas is a selected FCC product gas. Alternatively or additionally, dry gas from an FCC product stream is separated and delivered to an expander to recover power before combustion.
US07727484B2
A fluid bed apparatus module (1) comprises an outer wall enclosing a processing chamber (9) and has a lower flange connection (4) and an upper flange connection (5), the lower flange connection being adapted to connection with a flange connection (14) of a supply of fluidising gas, and the upper flange connection being adapted to connection with a flange connection (17) of a filter chamber (18) for gas discharge. At least one partition element (6) is arranged in the processing chamber, so that at least one elongated channel is formed in the processing chamber, thereby defining a plug-flow area, and at least one substantially continuous product inlet (10) and at least one substantially continuous product outlet (11) are arranged in the module. Furthermore, a method comprises changing a first module for a second module in a fluid bed apparatus.
US07727472B2
A chemical analysis apparatus comprises a motor, a holding disk that can be rotated by the motor, a plurality of examination cartridges arranged on the holding disk, a perforator that perforates the examination cartridges, a heating device, and a detection device. The examination cartridge comprises a substrate including a vessel and a flow channel, which are defined by recesses, and a cover that covers the vessel and the flow channel. A centrifugal force generated by rotation of the holding disk is made use of to move a solution from a vessel on an inner peripheral side relative to an axis of rotation to a vessel on an outer peripheral side relative to the axis of rotation through the flow channel.
US07727470B2
Analyzers are described that includes a first conveyance device for transporting a container accommodating analyte; a first analyzer body for analyzing analyte accommodated in a container transported by the first conveyance device; a first transmission device for transmitting a first information through a first path from the first conveyance device to a predetermined computer; a second transmission device for transmitting a second information through a second path from the first analyzer body to the predetermined computer without passing through the first conveyance device; and setting device for setting whether or not to transmit the first information to the predetermined computer.Analyzing systems are also described.
US07727466B2
The invention provides disintegratable film compositions for diagnostic test devices. The films are prepared with a combination of components that yield films of sufficient film strength and desired disintegration profiles. A disintegratable film according to the present invention contains a water soluble high molecular weight component, a water soluble low molecular weight component, and one or more reagents for use in a diagnostic device. Optionally, the films further contain a starch component, a glucose component, a plasticizer and/or a humectant, and/or a filler. The invention further provides a diagnostic testing device, which includes a film according to an embodiment of the invention, and methods of using such devices.
US07727458B2
In a method of forming a chalcogenide compound target, a first powder including germanium carbide or germanium is prepared, and a second powder including antimony carbide or antimony is prepared. A third powder including tellurium carbide or tellurium is prepared. A powder mixture is formed by mixing the first to the third powders. After a shaped is formed body by molding the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target is obtained by sintering the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target may include a chalcogenide compound that contains carbon and metal, or carbon, metal and nitrogen considering contents of carbon, metal and nitrogen, so that a phase-change material layer formed using the chalcogenide compound target may stable phase transition, enhanced crystallized temperature and increased resistance. A phase-change memory device including the phase-change material layer may have reduced set resistance and driving current while improving durability and sensing margin.
US07727456B2
A method of manufacturing a composite molded member, which includes the steps of: setting the main body inside an injection mold; closing the injection mold to fix the main body inside the injection mold; and forming the cushion members on the edges of the main body through heat and pressure of the injected elastic polymer material. The elastic polymer material is injected from an injection gate into one of the first and second edges at the back surface side of the main body of the molding cavities to flow the elastic polymer material into one of the molding cavities. The elastic polymer material flows into the other of the molding cavities through the connecting flow path, and fills the molding cavities with the elastic polymer material.
US07727455B2
A method and apparatus for facilitating the creation of holes in a blow molded container is disclosed generally comprising first and second mold portions mounted adjacent each other along a seam and a mechanism for creating holes at the seam. In some embodiments, first and second punches are used to create one hole underneath the container's handle. In some embodiments, a third mold portion is used to create a rose surface and create a plurality of holes therein.
US07727452B2
A process for continuous consolidation of at least one fold (22, 24), whereby the process includes unwinding a unit that consists of the at least one fold (22, 24) that is placed between two strips (26, 28) continuously along at least one curved path, the at least one fold (22, 24) being placed between guiding elements and a strip (26) to the right of the curved path to heat the at least one fold (22, 24) at least at the curved path and to exert tension on the strip (26) so that the latter compresses the at least one fold (22, 24) at least at the curved path, characterized in that it includes using strips (26, 28) whose width is greater than that of the at least one fold (22, 24) so as to be in contact on both sides of the at least one fold (22, 24).
US07727451B2
A molded body treating apparatus includes a support, at least one flat plate and a first movement mechanism. The support is configured to support a honeycomb molded body which has a first end portion and a second end portion in a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb molded body and which includes a plurality of cells each extending along the longitudinal direction from a first end at the first end portion to a second end at the second end portion. Either the first end or the second end of each of the plurality of cells is sealed with a plug material paste. The first movement mechanism is configured to move the at least one flat plate along the longitudinal direction to press the either one of the first and second end portions.
US07727446B1
A manufactured building system has a pair of pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors. The pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors are adapted to contact each other on one parallel side edge to form peripheral edges and a central joining edge. A part of a building is coupled to a pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floor. Also described is a Method of Transporting the pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors with the partial building coupled there to, to a site. Also described is a Method of Manufacturing a pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floor.
US07727436B2
A coating composition is based on a polyester mixed with an alkyl-etherified melamine formaldehyde. The coating composition is partially cured in a first stage to provide a thermoformable partially cured, tack-free, non-blocking, coating layer, followed by application to generally a contoured substrate and thermoforming to conform thereto. The contoured partially cured coating layer is then heat cured to form a cured coating. A hydroxyl-terminated polyoxetane containing repeat units derived from oxetane monomers having one or two pendent —CH2—O—(CH2)n—Rf groups, wherein Rf is partially or fully fluorinated, can be esterified with polyester-forming reactants to form a fluorinated polyoxetane-modified polyester.
US07727434B2
Membranes as well as a methods of treating membranes are disclosed. The method of treating a membrane includes contacting the membrane with a first solvent, contacting the membrane with an inert solvent, and contacting the membrane with an amine reactive compound. The first solvent includes a solvent having a Hansen solubility parameter in a range from about 10.0 to about 18. The membrane includes a polymer having an amine group.
US07727432B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for quality control of a process to produce concrete goods products. The quality control is effected on the basis of measurements that are carried out on the concrete goods products in an intermediate step of the process after shaping and compacting in the fresh concrete phase. Measurement values are determined on a test fresh concrete product from the intermediate step of the process, which measurement values comprise a measure of the bulk density and the gas permeability of the test fresh concrete product. Subsequently, an estimated value for a quality measure of the hardened concrete product is determined on the basis of a predetermined predictive model. The predictive model relates the measurement values of fresh concrete products from the intermediate step of the process to the quality measure of the corresponding hardened concrete products.
US07727431B2
The invention describes a method for production of a three-dimensional structured surface with haptically and/or optically detectable microstructures, in which the microstructures are fixed as a dataset, with the steps: a) preparation of at least a virtual or real elastic film; b) determination of the elongations and compressions produced in the elastic film in the shaping process of the structured surface; c) modification of the datasets so that the elongations and compressions are at least partially compensated; d) checking of an elastic film structured with the modified dataset for distortions in the microstructures; e) if necessary, repetition of steps b) to d), until a final dataset is obtained; and f) structuring of the elastic film, so that at least a structure-supporting surface is produced on the film.
US07727427B2
A method of fabricating a light duct includes making the light duct as a single piece by injection molding a thermoplastic material in a mold (1) presenting a cavity of shape identical to that of the duct, the injection taking place through a feed orifice disposed on one side of said cavity over a face that is substantially parallel to the plane defined by axes (A-A′, B-B′), the feed orifice presenting a height h lying in the range 0.2 Hmax and Hmax, and a length l lying in the range 0.2 Lmoy and 0.8 Lmoy, the thermoplastic material being injected at a rate lying in the range 400 mm3/s to 1500 mm3/s.
US07727422B2
The present invention provides an electrically-conductive resin composition for a porous fuel cell bipolar plate capable of forming a porous fuel cell bipolar plate having superior absorption of water produced (resulting in the reduction in a gas permeability) as well as limited elution of impurities (a high rate of electricity generating efficiency). An electrically-conductive resin composition for a porous fuel cell bipolar plate comprising an electrically-conductive material and a resin is provided, and the resin is a resin such as, a powdered resol-type phenolic resin having flow properties of from 5 to 100 mm at 125° C.
US07727411B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a substrate for an ink jet head including forming an ink supply opening to a silicon substrate, including (a) forming, at the back surface of the silicon substrate, an etching mask layer, which has an opening that is asymmetric with a center line, extending in the longitudinal direction, of an area on the surface of the silicon substrate where the ink supply opening is to be formed; (b) forming a non-through hole on the silicon substrate via the opening on the etching mask layer; and (c) forming the ink supply opening by performing a crystal anisotropic etching to the silicon substrate from the opening.
US07727409B2
A method of production of a magnetoresistance effect device is able to prevent or minimize a drop in the MR ratio and maintain the high performance of the magnetoresistance effect device even if forming an oxide layer as a surface-most layer constituting a protective layer by the oxidation process inevitably included in the process of production of microprocessing by dry etching performed in a vacuum. Two mask layers used for microprocessing are doubly piled up. This method of production of a magnetoresistivity effect device including a magnetic multilayer film including at least two magnetic layers includes a step of providing under a first mask material that is a nonorganic material a second mask material able to react with other atoms to form a conductive substance, and a device made according to the method.
US07727401B2
A process for purifying monoterpenes, including the steps of: providing a monoterpene comprising alpha terpinene of about 90% or greater purity and comprising an oxygen-containing impurity compound selected from the group consisting of 1,8-cineole, 1,4,-cineole, and mixtures thereof; providing an activated silica gel preparative chromatographic column; contacting the monoterpene with the column, wherein the oxygen-containing impurity compounds are retained on the column; recovering monterpenes depleted of oxygen-containing impurity compounds from the column by applying a pressure above atmospheric from a gas source without the use of a solvent; and removing the oxygen-containing impurity compounds by contacting the column with an alcohol.
US07727395B2
A method for processing brewery waste that includes receiving spent grain, low strength wastewater and high strength wastewater. The spent grain, low strength wastewater and high strength wastewater is processed with a plug flow anaerobic digester to produce a first output. A portion of the first output is processed with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket digester to produce a second output. A portion of the second output is processed with a fixed-film anaerobic digester to produce a third output.
US07727386B2
A voraxial separation system having an auxiliary filter is disclosed for separating flowable composite media into components. The voraxial separation system receives a flowing stream of composite media and utilizes centrifugal force to separate the stream into component radial layers according to specific gravity whereafter one or more radial layers may be extracted from the stream. An auxiliary filtration apparatus includes a conduit having a flowable media input, a generally cylindrical filter disposed within the conduit, and filtered and unfiltered media outlets. An elongate spray tube is disposed within the tubular filter substantially adjacent to the radially inner surface of the filter. The spray tube is fluidly connected to a pressurized fluid source and defines a plurality of spray outlets disposed in a direction radially outward so as to direct pressurized fluid onto the cylindrical filter from the filter interior thereof to clean the filter of accumulated substances. A rotational drive system provides powered rotation of the spray tube, and a spectrophotometer assembly monitors the accumulation of component medium on the filter and adjusts rotation speed of the spray tube in response to filter loading.
US07727385B2
A method and apparatus for recovering bitumen as froth from a feed stream having solids, water and bitumen is provided using a separating vessel having mounted thereon a downpipe assembly, the downpipe assembly having at least one downpipe and a nozzle in fluid communication with each downpipe, for aerating a stream of middlings withdrawn from the separating vessel and reintroducing the aerated middlings back to the separating vessel.
US07727377B2
A system 100 is described for the treatment of multiphase residues having unlimited content of water, oil and solids to obtain hydrocarbons and other products, said system comprising multiphase residue feed system 10, inert gas system 20 and reduced pressure system 30, tubular reactor 40 provided with three heating zones Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3 with a temperature gradient and transportation helicoid 42 to displace the residue mass throughout the reaction zones, the hydrocarbon products and water being collected in a system 60 of condensers 61, 62 and 63 linked to a system 70 of bubbling vessels 71, 72 and 73, reactor 40 being operated in the sealed mode and being provided with a multiphase residue inlet 43 and exit 44 of solid product. The solid product is collected in a system 50 comprising upper valve 51 and lower valve 52, and intermediate silo 53 and then directed to post-treatment system 90 for activation aiming at industrial utilization. The process using the system 100 of the invention is also described. Multiphase organic residues, petroleum residues, pure or in admixture in any amount, from chemical and pharmaceutical industries, paper and pulp industry, and mining industries can be processed in the inventive system. Besides, it is possible to recover phenols from foundry sands in the system and process described.
US07727376B2
A process to prepare base oils from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product by (a) separating the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product into a fraction (i) boiling in the middle distillate range and below, a heavy ends fraction (iii) and an intermediate base oil precursor fraction (ii) boiling between fraction (i) and fraction (iii), (b) subjecting the base oil precursor fraction (ii) to a catalytic hydroisomerisation and catalytic dewaxing process to yield one or more base oil grades, (c) subjecting the heavy ends fraction (iii) to a conversion step to yield a fraction (iv) boiling below the heavy ends fraction (iii) and (d) subjecting the high boiling fraction (v) of fraction (iv) to a catalytic hydroisomerisation and catalytic dewaxing process to yield one or more base oil grades.
US07727363B2
A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either electric current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to electrokinetically inducing fluid flow to confine a selected material in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field. Other structures for inducing fluid flow in accordance with this invention include nanochannel bridging membranes and alternating current fluid pumping devices. Applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.
US07727362B2
The invention pertains to a sacrificial anode for cathodic corrosion protection that comprises an anode body (1), a mounting component (8) for mounting the sacrificial anode on the device to be protected, an insulating component (4) that in certain areas surrounds the anode body (1) and electrically insulates the anode body (1) from the mounting component (8), and a resistive element (9) that is inserted between the anode body (1) and the mounting component (8), where the insulating component (4) is fixed on the mounting component (8). According to the disclosure, a securing component (6) is fixed on the anode body (1) and prevents the anode body (1) from moving out of the insulating component (4). This results in a sacrificial anode of this type that can be reliably operated over its entire service life.
US07727359B2
A thermosetting resin comprising a reacted A) first partially crosslinked glyoxalated polymer comprising a reacted (i) first polyacrylamide backbone and (ii) a first glyoxal component; and B) a second crosslinked glyoxalated polymer comprising a reacted (i) second polyacrylamide backbone and (ii) a second glyoxyal component; such that the first polyacrylamide backbone has a molecular weight that is less than the molecular weight of the second polyacrylamide backbone; and the first polyacrylamide backbone and the second polyacrylamide backbone have a weight ratio ranging from 75:25 to 95:5. Methods for making and using the resin. Fibrous substrates made with the resin.
US07727357B2
The present invention relates to thermoset and polyareneazole pulp for use as reinforcement material in products including for example fluid seals and friction materials, as a processing aid including its use as a thioxotrope, and as a filter material. The pulp comprises (a) irregularly shaped, thermoset fiber fibrous structures, (b) irregularly shaped, polyareneazole fibrous structures and (c) water whereby thermoset fiber fibrils and/or stalks are substantially entangled with polyareneazole fibrils and/or stalks. The invention further relates to processes for making such thermoset and polyareneazole pulp.
US07727349B2
A doubler assembly repairs at least one damaged aperture of a composite flange. The doubler assembly includes an insert, an adhesive, and a support. The insert is positioned in the damaged aperture to provide compressive load transfer through the composite flange. The adhesive is positioned directly on at least a portion of the composite flange proximate the damaged aperture. The support is positioned over the adhesive.
US07727332B2
In a process for forming a mask material on a III-N layer, wherein III denotes an element of the group III of the Periodic Table of Elements, selected from Al, Ga and In, a III-N layer having a surface is provided which comprises more than one facet. Mask material is selectively deposited only on one or multiple, but not on all facets. The deposition of mask material may be particularly carried out during epitaxial growth of a III-N layer under growth conditions, by which (i) growth of at least a further III-N layer selectively on a first type or a first group of facet(s) and (ii) a deposition of mask material selectively on a second type or a second group of facet(s) proceed simultaneously. By the process according to the invention, it is possible to produce free-standing thick III-N layers. Further, semiconductor devices or components having special structures and layers can be produced.
US07727315B2
A condensed water discharging apparatus for a fuel cell system is disclosed. The condensed water discharging apparatus includes: a drain tank installed around a hydrogen discharging line comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion formed on both distal ends of the drain tank, and a intermediate portion having at least a drain hole installed wherein the intermediate portion is disposed inside the drain tank so that condensed water is separated from hydrogen flowing in through the intermediate portion by gravity and is drained downwardly; and a drain pump connected to the drain tank to discharge condensed water drained through the drain holes of the intermediate portion.
US07727309B2
A carbon dioxide absorbent suitable for use in anesthesiology during low flow or closed circuit made of from 70 to 90% hydrated lime, from 0.1 to 17% of lithium hydroxide or its precursor, or a combination thereof, and from 5 to 25% water, wherein the absorbent provides low Compound A by-product, and high absorbency.
US07727305B2
A system for recycling vented atmosphere gas discharged from a heat treatment chamber utilizing a protective atmosphere gas therein. The system includes an atmosphere recycling apparatus configured to receive the vented atmosphere gas. The atmosphere recycling apparatus includes a gas separator configured to separate the vented atmosphere gas into a purified atmosphere gas stream and an impure stream. The atmosphere recycling apparatus is configured to feed the purified atmosphere gas stream to the heat treatment chamber. A storage vessel can be provided to receive the purified atmosphere gas stream from the atmosphere recycling apparatus, and configured to supplement an atmosphere gas supply to the heat treatment chamber with the purified atmosphere gas stream.
US07727299B2
A high efficiency air filter for use in a standard return air grille is provided. Standard return air grilles possess filter receptacles for accepting air filters, a closeable cover with a cover flange for engaging air filters and a duct interface that leads away from the air grille to the remainder of the return air ducts. The air filter has a filter flange with a gasket that is sized to fit within the filter receptacle of the air grille, such that when the cover is closed, the cover flange seals against the cover and the filter receptacle. The gasket is affixed to a housing that is sized to extend beyond the filter receptacle into the duct extending beyond the return air grille. An extended pleat air filter is contained within and sealed to the walls of the housing such that air passing through the return air grille substantially passes through the air filter prior to entering the remainder of the return air duct.
US07727298B2
A dust filter has adjustable sub-blades between blades. By adjusting the blades distanced and the sub-blades' positions and angles, stagnation area of filtration material on the blades are removed. Furthermore, space in the dust filter is fully used. Thus, a filtering efficiency is improved.
US07727295B2
An oil mist collection system for a plurality of machine tools each having a coolant system directing coolant at the cutting tools and collecting coolant and returning the same to a filtration system includes an oil mist collector at each station collecting oil from mist present at each station and draining the oil back to the associated machine tool coolant return, and return air ducts from each of the oil mist collectors extending to a central air filtration apparatus. Each oil mist collector preferably includes a vertical spiral coil wall defining a spiral flow path into which the mist is directed, the oil droplets collecting onto the spiral coil wall and draining into a collection chamber below the spiral coil wall for return to the associated machine tool via a drain line. Each mist collector is comprised of an inlet housing, a spiral coil housing and a collection housing forming a unitary housing assembly. A drain valve prevents drawing air back through the drain line by only opening periodically just sufficiently to partially discharge accumulated oil and any solid debris with only minimal return air entering through the drain. A cyclonic air flow is induced in the collection chamber to prevent setting and accumulation of solids and drains out through a tangentially facing drain fitting in the bottom outer region of the collection chamber.
US07727291B2
The invention includes a method of improving the combustion efficiency of a fuel-burning device. The method includes the steps of adding a low molecular weight polymer to the fuel of the fuel-burning device and burning the fuel with the polymer in the fuel-burning device. The invention also includes fuel compositions containing such polymers.
US07727289B2
Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a décor product that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the décor product may be substantially removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. If a user desires to remove the décor product, the décor product is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the décor product to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the décor product may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical. The décor product may also be utilized in the form of a kit or in conjunction with a design device, such as a stencil, to control the application of the décor product to create, for example, a pattern on the surface.
US07727278B2
The present invention has multiple aspects relating to assembled self fixing bone-tendon-bone (BTB) grafts and BTB implants. A preferred application in which self fixing assembled bone-tendon-bone (BTB) grafts and implants of the present technology can be used is for ACL repairs in a human patient. In one embodiment, a self fixing BTB graft is characterized by the presence of threads along at least a portion of the exterior surface of one or both bone blocks. In another embodiment, a self fixing assembled bone-tendon-bone implant comprises a removable tendon tensioner which imparts a predetermined tension on the tendon of the BTB graft.
US07727275B2
An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of a monocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound having an alkyl group substituent at carbon position 40 in the compound. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-di-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.
US07727268B2
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for deploying a fistula device. The apparatus comprises an elongate cover member having a proximal end and a distal end, and an elongate support member within the cover member for supporting the fistula device and configured for relative movement with respect to the cover member so as to release the fistula device at a desired location.
US07727267B2
A refrigerant-containing bladder or container is positioned underneath the body. Heat absorbed from the body vaporizes the refrigerant, which expands to cooler remote regions of the bladder. Heat is then withdrawn from the edges of the container by thermally conductive pathways that distribute heat from this container to a cooler area that is not underneath the body. The cooled refrigerant condenses, and is returned to the regions of the device that are under or adjacent to the central and warmest parts of the body. The heavier and warmer portions of the body force the bladder to the lowest point. Alternatively, heat is transferred from the body via a specific highly thermally conductive layer or layers of material(s) that is (are) soft, pliable, and comfortable to sit or lie on. This layer joins conductive materials that are configured to transport heat and diffuse it to the cooler environment.
US07727259B2
The present invention relates to a spinal fixation apparatus having a segment flexible rod for connecting pedicle screws and a transverse link for spacing out the rods, which are made from a shape memory alloy, thereby easily and simply connecting the rods and the pedicle screws. According to the present invention, it can easily and simply fit the rods to the misaligned pedicle screw, even if it may be a failure of alignment of the pedicle screws in surgery. Also, it can easily set up the transverse link on a pair of the longitudinal rods, even if the longitudinal rods are declined or are not in parallel.
US07727250B2
A vascular incision apparatus is composed in part of a needle for puncturing a blood vessel and a cutter for making an incision in the blood vessel. The apparatus easily, rapidly and reliably creates a vascular incision of the desired length by employing an incision length controlling means to control the length of penetration by the needle into the blood vessel, or by controlling the distance between the respective needle points on first and second needles which face each other across a given distance, one of which needles is movable relative to the other.
US07727249B2
Described are methods and systems for treating a patient to modify a body passage of the patient. The methods may involve removing tissue from a luminal surface of a body passage such as the esophagus or stomach, for the purpose of inducing a healing response that will result in a reshaping of the body passage.
US07727246B2
Methods of the invention include delivering a grasper, a clip applier, and an endoscope transorally to the site of fundoplication; grasping the fundus with the grasper (or similar device, e.g. corkscrew) and pulling it into the jaws of the clip applier; closing the jaws of the clip applier over the fundus and applying a clip to the fundus.
US07727243B2
Devices and methods for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel are described. The devices are deployed in a collapsed condition and are then expanded within the body. The devices are then manipulated to engage and remove the obstruction.
US07727232B1
A bipolar electrosurgical scraper device is provided comprising a handle, a blade having a thickness and a beveled distal end with the beveled distal end terminating distally in a scraping edge. The beveled distal end includes a first electrode and a second electrode with the first electrode and the second electrode provided along a width of the blade and spaced apart with respect to the thickness of the blade. The device also comprises a fluid passage at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage.
US07727226B2
Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies and endoscopic studies. Access and occluding devices may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices such asendoscopes, wires, probes, needles, catheters, balloon catheters, dilation catheters, dilators, balloons, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, suction or irrigation devices, imaging devices, sizing devices, biopsy devices, image-guided devices containing sensors or transmitters, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting or delivering devices and implants, etc.
US07727224B2
An objective and reproducible system for, and method of, monitoring and/or controlling the pressure during nerve blockage injection, especially by less experienced personnel, is provided in order to decrease the possibility of intraneuronal injection. More specifically, the present invention employs a pressure sensing and/or limiting device located between an injection device (typically a syringe) and a nerve block needle whereby injection pressure during a nerve block injection can be easily and objectively monitored, thereby allowing the operator to monitor the injection pressure and/or injection speed during a nerve blockage injection procedure and to take appropriate corrective actions if abnormal pressure conditions are observed.
US07727219B2
The present invention provides a method for expanding a pre-assembled closed, sterile container system used for the collection, transportation, storage and cryopreservation of biological fluids, such as, blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. The closed sterile bag system comprises a plurality of parts including inlet and or outlet elements and regions for mixing and storing body fluids and cryopreservation liquids, wherein connecting lines provide sterile connection of each component, and wherein the parts are hermetically sealable and separable to maintain sterility system. The methods herein further provide a means for introducing fluids into and/or extracting fluids from a pre-assembled, closed, sterile container system, while maintaining a closed, sterile system without the need to operate under ultra-clean room conditions.
US07727203B2
This combined container-syringe comprising a glass cylinder which can be pre-filled with a drug, an cylindrical tip provided at an exterior portion of an anterior end of the syringe, and a finger grip provided at an exterior portion of an posterior end of the syringe, and a drug is pre-filled therein and sealed by a stopper. Furthermore, an impact absorption part is provided around the exterior portion of the cylindrical tip and a diameter of the impact absorption part is greater than an outer diameter of a fitting part to the cylinder of the cylindrical tip.
US07727195B2
A syringe device includes a syringe tube having a distal end with a passageway in fluid communication with a cavity thereof. A plunger rod slidingly and sealingly engages within the cavity of the syringe tube. The plunger rod includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with a hollow interior of the plunger rod. A plunger tip is engaged with a distal end of the plunger rod and interacts with an inner surface of the side wall of the syringe tube to separate the cavity into first and second areas. The at least one aperture fluidly connects the hollow interior of the plunger rod and the first area of the syringe tube cavity, such that the generally hollow plunger rod interior allows air to move between an outside of the syringe device and the first area of the cavity during sliding movement of the plunger rod within the syringe tube.
US07727194B2
Disclosed is a drug-delivery cassette for use with a drug delivery device. The cassette includes a main board and a luer site base portion connected to the main board for positioning a luer on the main board. A drip chamber is included on the main board to collect any drug that exits the luer when the luer is attached to the luer site portion. A deflectable sensor beam is positioned to detect the presence or absence of a luer in the luer site base portion. The drug-delivery cassette further includes a drug vial spike attachable to and detachable from the cassette main board that is connected to the luer by way of a drug delivery tube.
US07727185B2
A robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one command, a first drive mechanism configured for receiving the outer medical implement, a second drive mechanism configured for receiving the inner medical implement, a linear drive arrangement (e.g., one of a drive screw drive arrangement, a rack and pinion drive arrangement, and a belt/pulley drive arrangement) mechanically coupled to the first and second drive mechanisms, and a motor array. The robotic medical system further comprises an electric controller configured for directing the motor array to cause the first drive mechanism to axially rotate the outer medical implement, to cause the second drive mechanism to axially rotate the inner medical implement, and to cause the linear drive mechanism to linearly translate the first and second drive mechanisms relative to each other in response to the at least one command.
US07727172B2
A back brace includes a first brace member having a first connector, and a second brace member having a second connector and a coupler at two opposite sides thereof. The coupler is detachably connectable to the first connector. A first adjustment holder is affixed to one end of the first brace member and holds therein a first rod member. A second adjustment holder is affixed to one end of the second brace member and holds therein a second rod member. Two pull cords are inserted through the first adjustment holder and the second adjustment holder and run alternately back and forth over the first rod member and the second rod member to adjustably and abuttably hold the first and second brace members side by side. Two fastening members are fastened to distal ends of the pull cords and detachably connectable to the first and second connectors.
US07727167B2
A blood glucose measuring system includes a lancet assembly and a meter for use with the lancet assembly. The lancet assembly has a lancet member with a lance, a lancet body having a drive wing extending outwardly from a side, and a sinuous portion, and an elongated carrier having a lancet member recess to contain the lancet member. The elongated carrier has an open end, a closed end, a side elongated opening for receiving the drive wing therethrough, and an anchoring member operatively connected to the end of the sinuous portion. The meter includes a measuring circuit, a lancet trigger, and a lancet driver where the lancet driver includes a driver piston engageable with the lancet trigger and a charging member that operatively engages with the driver piston to move the driver piston into an armed position and to stop the driver piston when released from the armed position.
US07727159B2
An apparatus and method to detect a blood flow signal free from a motion artifact, and a stress test apparatus using the same, enhance data reliability of the blood flow signal by removing the motion artifact from the blood flow signal detected by photo-plethysmography. The apparatus to detect the blood flow signal includes a base pattern correlation coefficient calculating unit to determine peak points in the blood flow signal sensed from a body of an examinee using a blood flow sensing unit, and to calculate correlation coefficients of each peak point using a predetermined base pattern, and a motion artifact processing unit to determine the motion artifact using the calculated correlation coefficients and to remove the motion artifact from the blood flow signal. Thus, reliability of the blood flow signal is enhanced by effectively removing the motion artifact from the blood flow signal detected by the photo-plethysmography.
US07727157B2
An apparatus for assessing cardiovascular status of a mammal comprises a system for locally applying a pressure to an artery capable of restricting blood flow through said artery, a wideband external pulse transducer having an output and situated to measure suprasystolic signals proximate to said artery, and a computing device receiving said output for calculating vascular compliance values. The method described is particularly useful for determining cardiac output, assessing whether a pregnant female has preeclampsia or a patient has cardiac insufficiency, or assessing cardiac arrhythmia.
US07727155B2
The present invention relates to a particularly convenient medium for providing contrast enhancement and/or distension of the subject body or organ cavity during imaging, radiographic, visualization, or other similar medical examinations, including ultrasound, endoscopic examinations, MRI, x-ray, hystero-salpingograms, CT scans, and similar procedures. The present invention provides the contrast enhancement and/or distends the body or organ cavity without constant leakage of the medium or the resulting need to constantly or repeatedly infuse additional medium. The medium is designed to have sufficient viscosity or consistence initially to remain in the body or organ cavity for a time generally sufficient to complete the procedure, and then to facilitate easy removal or expulsion from the cavity, preferably by liquefying or losing viscosity. The phase or viscosity change may be triggered by a variety of factors that liquefy or otherwise facilitate easy removal or expulsion of the composition from the cavity.
US07727148B2
A system is provided for sensing blood glucose data of a patient. The system includes a sensor, user interface, and an optional auxiliary device. If the connection between the sensor and user interface is by a wire, the sensor remains powered when the wire is disconnected. The communication between the sensor and the user interface may be wireless. The auxiliary device can be a patient monitor or other display or signal device, which displays information about the blood glucose data collected by the sensor. The sensor is connected to sensor electronics, which include a sensor power supply, a voltage regulator, and optionally a memory and processor.
US07727144B2
An endoscopic surgical instrument has an insertion portion to be inserted in a channel of an endoscope, a treatment portion provided at a tip of the insertion portion for treating an objective part and a manipulation portion provided close to a proximal end of the insertion portion. The operator can move the insertion portion forward and backward at least relative to the channel by operating the manipulation portion in a state the endoscopic surgical instrument is inserted in the channel of the endoscope. In this manner, by the manipulation portion, the endoscopic surgical instrument can be operated to move forward and backward relative to the channel. Therefore in case the manipulation portion is located close to a channel entrance (forceps port) of the endoscope, the operator of the endoscope is able to manipulate the endoscopic surgical instrument without assistance from others.
US07727137B2
Methods and applicator apparatus are disclosed for brachytherapy treatment of tissue surrounding a cavity in a patient, particularly a resection cavity. In treatment regimes requiring recovery time between successive radiation treatments, applicators of the invention are retained under the skin, with the skin allowed to at least partially heal, and are re-accessed later for one or more subsequent treatments. To reduce patient discomfort an anesthetic agent can be infused through the applicator to patient tissue, for insertion, balloon inflation or removal of the applicator.
US07727136B2
An apparatus and method for centrifugally separating particles by both weight and size include a rotating drum rotating about a second rotating axis disposed perpendicularly to a first rotating axis, and includes an inlet, at least one rotating plate and an outlet. The inlet injects a test material. The rotating plate extends radially outward toward an inner surface of the rotating drum from the second rotating axis and has one or more configurations of protruded and recessed portions formed on a surface thereof. The rotating plate receives the test material on a surface thereof. The outlet discharges separated test material.
US07727135B2
A conductive rubber roller comprising a conductive core material and provided thereon a rubber layer; the rubber layer being formed by using a rubber composition containing as rubber components at least a polar rubber and an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer; the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer having a melt peak temperature of from 20 to 30° C. and a melt enthalpy change ΔH of from 40 to 70 mJ/mg as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter; and the allyl glycidyl ether in the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer being in a copolymerization ratio of from more than 10 mol % to 20 mol % or less.
US07727133B2
Apparatus for creating a seal between an axle journal and a bearing housing is disclosed, particularly for use in apparatus for dewatering or washing material suspensions. The apparatus includes a stator ring, a pair of diagonally disposed guide pins supporting the stator ring with respect to the bearing housing so that the stator ring can be angled in a plane with respect to the pair of guide pins, a sealing ring for creating a seal between the stator ring and the axle journal, a bellows for creating a seal between the bearing housing and the stator ring, and at least one resilient member for urging the stator ring in abutment against the sealing ring.
US07727121B1
A stepping and waist-twisting exerciser includes a base frame with a central post near the middle part thereof. A lateral bevel gear coupled to a handlebar transmission shaft is positioned on the central post for imparting a left-and-right swing motion to a handlebar. Two longitudinal bevel gears facing to each other are rotatably disposed at the top of the central post by use of a mounting shaft 20 and engaged with the lateral bevel gear. Moreover, two rear parallel connecting rods movably attached to two coupling footboards, respectively, are connected with the longitudinal bevel gears to ensure a coordinated movement. In stepping on any one of the coupling footboards, the corresponding longitudinal bevel gear below will be rotated such that the lateral bevel gear is brought in rotation in opposite direction. In this way, an expected rotation is imparted to the handlebar. Besides, the movement of the longitudinal bevel gears enables an in-place rotation of the two corresponding coupling footboards. As result, the coupling footboards and the handlebar are brought in opposite rotation.
US07727111B2
A vehicle driveline control system includes monitoring when the transmission is in gear and the clutch is left open. If that condition exists for a selected amount of time, the controller provides an indication to the driver regarding the open clutch status. In one example, the controller alters the RPM rate of the engine to provide audible feedback to the driver. For example, the controller raises the engine RPM rate from an idle rate to a higher rate to simulate what the driver hears upon vehicle launch. A variety of indicators and control strategies may be used with a system designed according to this invention.
US07727105B2
A transmission including a ring gear engageable with clutch teeth. A shift fork connected to a cam roller is engageable with the ring gear. The cam roller includes at least one V-shaped groove, and an element is disposed between the V-shaped groove of the cam roller and a base of the shift fork such that rotation of the cam roller translates into displacement of the shift fork and the ring gear.
US07727094B2
An institutional badminton racket including a head and a flexible plastic handle. The head has a metal rim around a shuttlecock striking face, and a neck rigidly secured to the rim, where the neck includes a hollow throat extending from the rim away from the striking face with lateral openings through the throat. The handle connecting end includes a first portion extending into the hollow throat, a second portion surrounding the throat, pin portions extending through the throat lateral openings and integral with the first and second portions, and a pair of wings extending generally in the plane in a lateral direction toward the head and including openings therethrough. A Y-clamp is secured around the handle connecting end and the head rim adjacent the head neck and including pins extending through the wing openings.
US07727090B2
A training baseball bat has an internal movable magnet that accelerates to the end of the bat when swung at a fast enough speed. As the magnet moves it passes through a coil that is connected to one or more LEDs so that the LEDs momentarily flash as the magnet moves through the coil. A stationary magnet can be used to hold the movable magnet until sufficient centrifugal force is imparted by the swing to overcome the magnetic holding force. Spacers can be provided to establish a distance between the magnets as needed to establish a desired swing speed at which centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attraction.
US07727082B2
Disclosed are embodiments of golf swing guide apparatus and related methods and systems. Various embodiments disclosed herein may be used as a training tool to teach a desired swing motion to a golfer. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a guide bar positioned at some height above the ground. The guide bar may be configured to guide a golfer's backswing such that the swing begins in a desired swing plane. In some embodiments, the device may be configured to automatically retract the guide bar during, or after, the golfer's backswing such that it does not interfere with the forward movement of the golf swing.
US07727081B1
An apparatus for indicating the proper pendulum putting stroke to a golfer with An elongated display device that is positioned on a floor parallel to the stroke path of the practicing golfer, A display device containing multiple microcontroller module sections, each containing visual indicators spaced uniformly along the length of the sections, Each section being responsive to commands from a peripheral computing device to turn on a specific visual indicator, a peripheral computing device such as a personal computer running a computer program which calculates the putting stroke based on desired distance, green speed, and the golfer's personal rhythm rate in beats per minute, A peripheral computing device that after calculating the putting stroke time-position data, commands the display device to turn on and off consecutive visual indicators at a predefined time in such a way as to display a putting stroke path, and show the golfer the proper time-space dynamics to strike a golf ball a desired distance.
US07727074B2
The yoke member of Cardan joint is made in one unitary part of one piece and includes a pivot fork including two pivot arm portions each comprising a crossing hole, the axis of which is the pivot axis of a cross-piece, and a connecting element for the motion transmission shaft and having two tightening portions connected via a junction portion. Each of the two tightening portions comprises a tightening hole. Four reinforcing appendices are arranged on the tightening portions and opposite one another in pairs to form together with the portions a housing for the motion transmission shaft. The yoke member is stamped in order to give it the desired thickness in highly stressed and lowly stressed regions.
US07727070B2
A method to transmit commands across a gaming network is implemented with digitally signed messages. The command messages are generated upon a triggering event, such as the winning of a bonus. The messages are digitally signed by the transmitting node and transmitted to the subservient device. When the subservient device receives the message, it verifies the signature and executes the command. If the signature does not verify, the subservient device may raise an alarm.
US07727063B2
According to one embodiment, a player may accumulate occurrences of a bonus symbol over at least two outcomes. The player may be allowed a bonus if a running count of the occurrences is at least equal to a predetermined number. According to another embodiment, a player may accumulate occurrences of matched lottery numbers over a plurality of lottery outcomes (e.g., lottery number drawings) and/or a plurality of lottery entries. The player may be allowed a bonus if a running count of occurrences of matched numbers is at least equal to a predetermined number.
US07727061B2
A method for playing video gambling games whereby pay tables vary from play to play, or, alternatively, whereby a plurality of pay tables are possible within a game. For example, in a video poker game a player wagers against a first pay table. If a winner occurs, the next game offers a new pay table with a greater expected value. This process continues until the player loses, whereupon the player is returned to play against the first pay table. Pay tables increment and decrement in expected value based on achieving predetermined events within the current game, within a previous game or games or randomly.
US07727060B2
An on-line poker game system includes a poker table staffed with a live dealer with a plurality of designated seats assigned to at least one a remote player and one or more live players or to a plurality of remote players. Remote players connect to the system via a wide area network. Located at each designated seat is a private card camera that produces and transmits images of face down cards dealt thereto. A public card camera produces and transmits images of all face up cards dealt on the poker table. A table camera constantly provides an image of the entire table and dealer. A deck of cards with an identifying RFID tag is used with images to verify the identity of the private and public cards. A game logic server connects to a network server and host and client-side software programs enable the remote players to connect to the server.
US07727056B2
The invention concerns a sanding element with a succession of overlapping lamellas (3, 4) containing sanding grains (9), characterized in that these lamellas (3, 4) are alternately formed of sanding lamellas (3) and compressible lamellas (4), whereby each sanding lamella (3) rests on a compressible lamella (4).
US07727050B2
The object of the present invention is to enable efficient vibration processing by applying a sufficient displacement amount and response speed to an object to be vibrated. In grinding of an outer surface of a workpiece W, first and second supporting members are provided for supporting two opposed points of the workpiece, and first and second vibrators comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in blind holes formed in the center of the first and second supporting members. The first and second vibrators are activated with sine wave signals which differ in phase by 180 degrees so as to cause the first and second supporting members to expand and shrink in the back-and-forth direction. The displacement amount is amplified and the processing is performed. Also, the second supporting member can move back and forth toward the first supporting member.
US07727037B2
An outboard motor includes a transmission device disposed on a middle portion of a drive shaft driven by an engine. The transmission device includes a forward-reverse switching device housed in a transmission case. Lubricating oil for lubricating the forward-reverse switching device is stored in the transmission case. The transmission case has a drain hole arranged to discharge lubricating oil in the transmission case that is provided in a lower portion of a side wall and in a position in front of the drive shaft, and a drain bolt for opening or closing the drain hole. An exposed opening for exposing the drain hole is provided in an upper case that covers the transmission case. As a result, work efficiency in discharging or draining of lubricating oil is greatly improved without requiring dismantling of a main body of the outboard motor.
US07727035B2
A modular electronic device where (predominantly) sealed modules are aligned and attached/connected in pre-determined sequences, forming a robust block-like structure with extendable function: Control and/or inter-module communication are implemented without direct electrical interconnect, by non-contact means such as (magnetic, inductive, light, infrared, radio frequency, sound, ultrasound, or other non-contact means). This device's inter-module power transfer may be with or without direct electrical contact, or devices may be internally powered. Power transfer through inductive/transformer action where one or more alignment pins are used as transformer core is one potential implementation. Modules may be liquid filled to facilitate cooling and/or crush resistance to high-pressure environments.
US07727031B2
A keyed power source connector (32) and keyed device connector (14) that are backwards compatible, ensuring that the power rated device connectors can only mate with power source connectors power rated at or above the device connector power rating. One connector is formed as a plug, and the other connector is formed as a socket. The connectors have peripheral contoured body portions (16, 34) having a profile being a function of the respective connector power rating. A keyed portion (41, 62, 72, 82) of the power source connector plug will physically interfere with and not be receivable within a device connector socket when the device connector power rating exceeds the power source connector power rating. This connector system (10) ensures target portable electronic devices coupled to the device connector can not draw power exceeding the rating of the power source connector.
US07727027B2
A dual-purpose socket has a body, pin base and a pin set. The body has a front side, a chamber defined in the body and at least one opening. The at least one opening is formed through the front side, communicates with the chamber and allows an HDMI or Displayport plug to be inserted into the chamber. The pin base is mounted in the chamber and corresponds to HDMI and Displayport plugs. The pin set is mounted on the pin base and comprises a detecting pin. When the HDMI or Displayport plug is inserted into the chamber of the body, the detecting pin will respectively not touch or touch a pin of the HDMI or Displayport plug. Since HDMI and Displayport plugs can be used, the dual-purpose socket improves convenience and cost for electronic device consumers and manufacturers.
US07727018B2
An electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connector assembly includes a cage member configured for mounting in an opening in a panel. The cage member has a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage member includes a latch for cooperating with a latch element of the pluggable electrical component. An EMI gasket is mounted on the cage member such that the EMI gasket is electrically connected to the cage member. The EMI gasket is configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel. The EMI gasket includes a latch interface that engages the latch such that the latch interface is electrically connected to the latch.
US07727015B2
A cable termination assembly for coaxial cables is made up of one of a plurality of different forms of connector bodies each having a thin-walled outer sleeve with a generally convex surface portion at a selected location along the length of the sleeve and which enables its use with a number of different compression member configurations to effect positive sealed engagement with one end of a cable, a plurality of axially spaced sealing rings at different selected locations along the inner surface of the outer sleeve, and different selected forms of compression members each including an inner connector sleeve-engaging wall surface which is of uniform diameter throughout its substantial length, one with a slight concavity at its leading end to facilitate pre-assembly onto the connector sleeve, and one with a combination of concave and convex surface portions.
US07727010B2
An electrical connector (100) for connecting a sheet-like connection member includes an insulating housing (1) provided with a plurality of conductive terminals (2, 3) and a pair of retaining members. The housing defines a pair of slots (15) each with an upper groove (153) and a lower groove (154) at a front portion thereof. The retaining members (4) are embedded in the slots (15), and each comprises an upper arm (441) retained in the upper groove (153), a lower arm (442) received in the lower groove (154) and a soldering portion (42) extending from a bottom edge thereof. The lower groove (154) runs though the housing in an insertion direction of the retaining members (4).
US07727000B2
Disclosed is an electrical connector assembly adapted to isolate shock forces during mating. Such an electrical connector assembly may include a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a first guide module. The second electrical connector may be adapted to mate with the first electrical connector. The first guide module may be located adjacent to the first electrical connector and may include an opening for receiving a first guide post. There may be no direct mechanical attachment between the first electrical connector and the first guide module. Such an arrangement, may isolate the first electrical connector from any forces created by the mating of the guide post with the opening of the guide module.
US07726992B2
A RF connector comprising: an insulative housing defining a space section; an upper fixed contact and a lower movable contact are disposed on two opposite sides of the housing in a first direction, each of said upper fixed contact and said lower movable contact including a contact section in the space section and a solder tail exposed outside of the housing, the lower movable contact having on two opposite sides a pair of bending ends disposed which is a lying U-shape; and an upper case mounted upon the housing and defining a plug insertion passageway; and a metallic shell enclosing said upper case and the housing.
US07726984B2
Apparatus to electrically connect a first electrical contact to a second electrical contact includes opposed upper and lower elastomer layers formed on either side of an electrically insulating intermediate layer together forming a laminate interposer structure having a thickness. An electrically conducting elastic column to provide a localized conductive path is formed through the thickness of the laminate interposer structure. The upper and lower elastomer layers provide compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column, and the intermediate layer provides reduced compliance between the intermediate layer and the elastic column relative to the compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column.
US07726961B2
Press for producing dimensionally stable pressed parts from powdered material, with a press frame, a die holding plate, at least one upper punch holding plate, at least one lower punch holding plate, adjusting drives for the upper punch and lower punch holding plate and/or die holding plate, a vertical guide in the press frame for at least the upper and lower punch holding plate and a measuring device for measuring the position of the upper punch holding plate, the lower punch holding plate and/or the die holding plate. A single measuring rule is attached in its thermal fixed reference point to a support vertically uncoupled from the press frame, on which measurement slides cooperating with the holding plates are guided.
US07726958B2
A hydraulic machine has a gear wheel (2) with outwardly extending teeth and a gear ring (4) with inwardly extending teeth formed by rollers each of which is supported in a pocket (8) in the gear ring, and pressurized spaces are formed between the gear wheel and the inwardly extending teeth.To keep the wear of the machine small each pocket (8) has at least two different radii (R1, R2, Rn) whereby a radius (R2, Rn) at a smaller displacement from the edge (12) of the pocket is larger than a radius (R1) at a larger displacement from the same edge (12) of the pocket (8).
US07726950B2
A fluid supply unit includes a hydraulic supply unit and a pressure generator for the fluid and a pressure outlet. A pressure booster is installed between the pressure generator and the pressure outlet and is rigidly mechanically connected with the pressure generator, wherein the pressure booster (6) is driven by a portion of the fluid generated by the pump.
US07726941B2
The invention relates to methods of handling wind turbine blades and mounting said blades on a wind turbine, said method comprising the steps of lifting a wind turbine hub to the nacelle of wind turbine with a lifting system and mounting the hub on the nacelle. Further, the method comprises the steps of gripping at least one wind turbine blade with a lifting system including at least one gripping unit for handling wind turbine blades, lifting said at least one wind turbine blade into close proximity to said hub, and mounting said at least one wind turbine blade on said hub.The invention also relates to a gripping unit for handling a wind turbine blade during transport.
US07726939B2
A heat-dissipating fan with an upward air-guiding member is provided. The heat-dissipating fan includes a housing, an impeller having a hub and a plurality of blades disposed around the hub, a base disposed inside the housing for supporting the impeller thereon, and an air-guiding member disposed between the base and the housing, wherein the air-guiding member has at least one inclined edge on the windward side or its opposite side relative to the horizontal line perpendicular to the axis of the heat-dissipating fan.
US07726938B2
An axial flow turbine blade and diaphragm construction comprises an annulus of static turbine blades 20 and inner and outer spacer rings 40, 42 having apertures 41, 43 shaped to accommodate inner and outer platform portions 22, 23 of the blades, whereby the platform portions and the spacer rings together form inner and outer port walls of the turbine diaphragm. A particular feature of the blades is that the inner and outer platform portions 22 and 23 have straight side edges 22B, 22C and 23B, 23C, which are joined to each other by curved leading edges 22D and 23D that in plan view have a shape that follows the edge of the corner fillet 24 in the region of the leading edge 26 of the aerofoil 21.
US07726937B2
A gas turbine engine rotor stack includes one or more longitudinally outwardly concave spacers. Outboard surfaces of the spacers may be in close facing proximity to inboard tips of vane airfoils. The airfoils have dihedral and sweep.
US07726931B2
A rotary lift table. The rotary lift table as claimed in the invention is equipped with a rotary lift table board for bearing flat objects, said rotary lift table board having a bearing surface which is pulvinated towards the top with a transverse ridge region whose longitudinal extension runs at least approximately at a right angle to a discharge direction. The flat objects lying on top of one another in a stack arrangement are adapted to the arched bearing surface and give the stack improved stability thanks to its profiling.
US07726907B2
An automatic trip gate for installation in a gate support structure at a bank of an impounded body of water. The automatic trip gate controls a release of an overflow of water through the gate support structure upon the occurrence of an overflow event. The automatic trip gate includes a plate supported by a hinge assembly that attaches to the support structure. A trough attached to the plate catches and retains overflow water. When the level of overflow water in the trough reaches a tipping level, the plate pivots from a substantially vertical orientation wherein the impounded body of water is maintained behind the plate, to a tipped position wherein the impounded body of water is released o through the gate support. A plunge pool is located below the automatic trip gate that absorbs the energy imparted by the plate when tripped.
US07726902B1
A locking cover apparatus for an opening in the ground is disclosed. The apparatus can be retro-fitted to an existing ground opening, or can be newly constructed ground opening fitted with the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus features a keyed lock that has a projecting portion that fits under an existing or newly constructed shroud that is installed at ground level and around the ground opening.
US07726898B2
An adjustable-length tube (10) for sticks, having an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (11) that can be inserted telescope-like into the outer tube (12) for adjusting the length of the tube, and having a spreading device (15) that is supported at the insertion end of the inner tube (11), the spreading device being able to clamp the inner tube (11) axially in the outer tube (12) and having a spreading element (16) that can be radially pressed apart and that is furnished with an inner cone (27), an interior element (17) that is provided with a reverse-oriented outer cone (22) and that is accommodated in the spreading element (16) so as to be axially movable, and an adjusting screw (18) that is axially oriented and is supported in a rotationally fixed manner on the inner tube (11), the adjusting screw having an operational connection to an internally threaded bore (21) in the interior element (17). So that an adjustable-length tube of this type responds to impact-like axial stresses by continuing to clamp rather than sliding or giving way, provision is made that the inner cone (27) of the spreading element (16) is situated such that it opens in the direction of the inner tube (11), and the spreading element (16) is supported between an inner limit stop (28) on the inner tube (11) and an exterior limit stop (26) on the free end of the adjusting screw (18) so as to be axially movable within narrow limits.
US07726897B2
A ring mechanism having a housing and at least one ring configurable between a closed position for retaining loose-leaf pages and an open position. A pair of hinge plates, operatively connected to the ring, are pivotable within the housing between first and second position corresponding respectively to the closed and open positions of the ring. Each hinge plate has a free end and a line of weakness formed therein proximate the free end to facilitate bending of the hinge plate. A hinge plate actuator has a bearing surface engageable with the hinge plates proximate the free ends thereof upon movement of the actuator from a first position toward a second position thereof such that the hinge plates bend proximate their free ends to delay pivoting movement of the hinge plates upon initial movement of the actuator from its first position toward its second position.
US07726883B2
A bearing apparatus for reducing vibrations in a compressor shaft (17) carrying a rotating compressor (10) is provided. The bearing apparatus comprises a first bearing (14) for supporting the shaft (17) and a second bearing (13) spaced outboard from the first bearing (14) for producing a moment on the shaft and additional damping counter to the direction of vibrations.
US07726874B2
A method and arrangement for determining the capacity of a heat exchanger is provided. The effective heat transfer coefficient for the heat exchanger is calculated from the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the product and the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the auxiliary medium. By means of the value, the outlet temperature of the product set for maximum flow of the auxiliary medium is determined as that at which the change in the heat content of the product is at least approximately the same as the change in the heat content of the auxiliary medium and the amount of heat transmitted by the heat exchanger for the product flow. The value is displayed to the user and permits a decision as to how much longer the heat exchanger can reliably be operated.
US07726872B2
The application discloses a method of making a balance spring (100) from continuous fibers or ceramic by winding them around a cylindrical former (90), interspaced with a releasing agent (110). Also disclosed is a method of making a balance spring, preferably of a ceramic material (60), by applying it to a rotating former (70) mandrel or plate and subsequently heat treating. Balance wheels (30) having a moment of inertia which decreases with a rise in temperature due to a special arrangement of components (8, 9, 10) having different coefficients of thermal expansion are also disclosed. A mechanical oscillator system comprising a non-magnetic ceramic or continuous fiber balance spring (50) and a non-magnetic balance wheel (30) formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 6×10−6K−1 and having a plurality of non-magnetic poising or timing appendages (5) is also disclosed.
US07726869B2
An LED track light device includes a plurality of LED-units that fit within a track means. At least one LED element(s) is fitted within the LED-unit's geometric construction, and leads of the LED are connected by conductive means, resilient conductive means, contact means, and/or bus means to deliver electric signal from an AC or DC power source, circuit means, switch means, sensor means, timer means, and/or control means to the element(s) to provide a desired area-illumination light function. The LED-units have a geometric construction and space to allow the element(s) to be fixed in position or incorporated with reflector means that may be arranged to rotate, swivel, or tilt. Hanging means or other electric devices also can added to the said LED track light device or the LED-units to add more practical extra functions.
US07726868B2
A spread illuminating apparatus of side light type includes a transparent resin plate integrally composed of a light conductor plate portion and a housing frame portion, a light reflecting sheet, and a light source, wherein an opening for housing the light source is provided at a side portion of the transparent resin plate, slits are provided along a boundary between the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion, and wherein a gate for injecting resin into a molding die cavity for the transparent resin plate is positioned outside the boundary of the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion and is positioned also between the opening and one of slits which are provided toward the side portion of the transparent resin plate having the opening and which are located clear of the opening.
US07726858B2
A vehicle light can include a plurality of light projection units each having a replaceable LED lamp, a reflector unit, a projection lens, and a shielding member. A housing can be provided that includes a lens and a rear side part, with the housing configured to accommodate the light projection units. The rear side part can include a mounting opening therethrough with a base plate configured to be hermetically attached to the housing through the mounting opening of the rear side part. The replaceable LED lamp can be attached to the base plate, and an elastic connecting member can be configured to hermetically connect the housing and the base plate so that the LED lamps can be individually replaced. Since the LED lamps can be individually replaced, untrained persons can carry out the replacement operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the replacement cost and time as well as improve the rate of operation of a vehicle.
US07726851B2
An LED lamp includes a heat sink, a plurality of vapor chambers mounted on the heat sink and an LED module mounted on the vapor chambers. The heat sink includes a base, a plurality of fins extending from a first surface of the base and a triangular ridge formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the base. The vapor chambers are mounted on the ridge of the base. The LEDs over two slopes of the ridge are oriented slantwise outwardly, thereby increasing an irradiation angle and area of the LED lamp.
US07726847B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for positioning a lighting device in a reflector. The exemplary apparatus includes a reflector member comprising a side wall with a reflector surface extending from the side wall. A lighting device support member is coupled to and extends from the side wall and defines at least one channel for engaging a support arm and a fastener channel for engaging a fastener member. The apparatus further includes a lighting device secured to a bracket for coupling the lighting device to the lighting device support member. The bracket defines a support arm for engaging the at least one support arm channel, The lighting device support member positions the lighting device adjacent to the reflector surface. The apparatus also includes a fastener for securing the bracket to the lighting device support member by engaging the fastener channel.
US07726846B2
An LED lamp includes a fixing rod, a first heat sink mounted to the fixing rod, a second heat sink mounted on the first heat sink, a plurality of LED modules attached on the second heat sink and a lamp cover engaging the first heat sink to enclose the second heat sink and the LED modules. The second heat sink includes a plurality of heat-conducting faces formed on a bottom end thereof and arranged at different levels. The LED modules are respectively attached on the heat-conducting faces of the second heat sink. The lamp cover includes a panel and a plurality of annular steps extending outwardly from the panel in sequence. Each annular step has a concave lens attached thereon. The annular steps are located corresponding to the LED modules of the second heat sink, respectively.
US07726834B2
A corner mounted lighting fixture having alignment features on its fixture base and on its diffuser for maintaining alignment with the corner during assembly and installation. The diffuser is positioned at an incline within the corner for improved light distribution. Attachment is along the axis of the corner for ease of installation.
US07726823B2
A cable management system for managing at least one cable extending through a support arm and through a hub, comprised of a spool disposed in a hub. The spool has an opening extending through a wall of the spool. A cable carrier is disposed within the support arm. The cable carrier is dimensioned to contain at least one cable extending through the support arm, a first end fixed relative to the support arm and a second end extending towards the hub. The cable carrier is disposed in the support arm such that the cable carrier replicates upon itself to define a first run and a second run. The second end of the cable carrier is movable relative to the hub when the support arm rotates about the hub, wherein the first run shortens and the second run lengthens when the support arm rotates in a direction about the hub.
US07726821B2
The invention comprises of a means and a method to keep clean a plurality of transparent surfaces, through which a plurality of images are captured by an optical element, which may be an optical sensor or a camera, where there is flying debris or liquids or liquids that can potentially stick to a plurality of said transparent surfaces and clog the view of said optical element. A plurality of channels transfer and direct fluid such as compressed air from an outside source to blow over and keep a plurality of said transparent surfaces free of debris or liquids.
US07726810B2
A system for treatment of cyclo deviation of one or both eyes of a patient and related methods are disclosed. The system for treatment of cyclo deviation may include eyeglasses with lenses and a frame wherein at least one of the lenses is a prism. The prism may be disposed such that a primary plane of the prism does not lie perpendicular to the primary gaze of the patient. The prism may be rotated such that it is not co-planar with the other lens of the eyeglasses. For example, the prism may be oriented in a base-out configuration and also be tilted in a pantoscopic (e.g., top out) or retroscopic (e.g., bottom out) manner.
US07726800B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink passage into which a water-based ink or a preservation solution is filled. The ink passage employs a rubber member formed from a rubber in which a butyl rubber polymer serving as a base polymer, zinc oxide serving as a vulcanization agent, and a thiourea-based compound serving as a vulcanization accelerator are employed. Each of the water-based ink and the preservation solution comprises water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The ink and the preservation solution contain water in an amount of 70 wt. % to about 85 wt. % with respect to the total weight of the water-based ink and the preservation solution, respectively.
US07726798B2
A solid ink delivery system for use with a ink stick for use in printers is provided. The stick has an external periphery including opposed surfaces of the stick. The solid ink delivery system delivers the stick to a melting unit for melting the stick so that the ink may be transferred to media to form an image on the media. The delivery system includes a guide for guiding the stick in a prescribed path. The guide defines a loading position to permit the stick to be placed in the guide and a delivery position adjacent the melting unit. The guide at the loading position defines constraints for positioning the stick. A portion of the constraints, including a shaped insertion opening, is adapted for cooperation with the opposed surfaces of the external periphery of the stick. At least one of the constraints defining a grasping recess in the constraint for providing access to a portion of at least one of the opposed surfaces of the external periphery of the stick.
US07726797B2
An ink stick cooperates with structure in a feed channel of a phase change ink printer to reduce steering effects from pushing the ink sticks along the longitudinal axis of the feed channel. The ink stick includes an ink stick body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral dimension between two partial sides of the ink stick, and a lateral center of gravity within the lateral dimension, a support in a bottom surface of the ink stick body, the support being located at a position that is laterally offset from the lateral center of gravity within the lateral dimension, and a skew limiter in a side of the ink stick body that is opposite the lateral offset position of the support, the skew limiter being in the side of the ink stick body intermediate the bottom surface and the top surface of the ink stick body.
US07726792B2
An ink tank capable of optically detecting ink remaining in an ink accommodation chamber with high precision is provided. A printing apparatus, a method of manufacturing the ink tank, and a method of detecting ink remaining in the ink tank are also provided. Radiated light (11) projected into an ink accommodation chamber (5A) excites an illuminant material (10) contained in ink in the ink accommodation chamber (5A) to illuminate. Based on light (12) produced by the illuminant material (10), the amount of ink remaining in the ink accommodation chamber (5A) is detected.
US07726785B2
An ink delivery assembly feeds ink from an ink supply unit to an inkjet printhead. The assembly includes an elongate channel member that defines a plurality of longitudinally arranged parallel channels through which ink from the ink supply unit can be transported. A plurality of spaced apart sets of outlets is serially arranged along the channel member. Ink can be provided through the sets of outlets to the printhead. Each outlet of each set is in fluid communication with a respective one of the channels.
US07726779B2
The invention relates to a printhead assembly. The assembly includes a printhead module having a plurality of modular printhead tiles each tile having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle assemblies for operatively printing on a printing medium. Also included are printhead controller integrated circuits for controlling operation of the printhead tiles. The printhead assembly further includes a number of electrical connector assemblies for operatively connecting the printhead tiles. Each tile is mounted to a modular support defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof, the tile having electrical connecting strips which overlie the respective recessed portions. Each connector assembly includes a connecting member having a series of parallel spaced conducting strips, said member shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two tiles via said conducting strips.
US07726772B2
A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head, a liquid receiver, a liquid receiver movement mechanism, and a lid body is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle surface. The nozzle surface includes a nozzle opening. The liquid ejection head ejects a liquid from the nozzle surface. The liquid receiver has an opening provided in correspondence with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head. The liquid receiver is capable of receiving the liquid ejected as a waste liquid from the nozzle opening of the liquid ejection head through the opening of the liquid receiver. The liquid receiver movement mechanism moves the liquid receiver between a receiving position at which the opening of the liquid receiver opposes the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. The lid body is arranged at the non-receiving position. The lid body contacts the liquid receiver in such a manner as to close the opening of the liquid receiver after the liquid receiver is moved to the non-receiving position by the liquid receiver movement mechanism.
US07726769B2
A plurality of same ink nozzle arrays are provided, and multiple color patches are printed with mutually different dot recording rates respectively using one of the same ink nozzle arrays. Color specification value of the plurality of color patches is measured for each same ink nozzle array. The ink ejection amount error of each same ink nozzle array is determined based on the color specification values of the plurality of color patches for each same ink nozzle array. It is also possible to select among the plurality of color patches a preferable color patch that is closest to a specified reference color patch, and to determine the ink ejection amount error from the dot recording rate of the preferable color patch.
US07726768B2
A dark color (for example, cyan) ink dot formed by preliminary ejection can be made less noticeable, and the influence on the printing quality can be reduced, even in a case where the dark color ink is preliminarily ejected onto a light color (for example, yellow) image area. For this purpose, in a case where the dark color ink is preliminarily ejected onto the image area of high lightness, the amount of the ink applied for printing the area is reduced. For example, in a case where a cyan ink is preliminarily ejected onto an area to be formed of yellow dots, a piece of data for forming the yellow dot in the preliminary ejection position is deleted. This reduces an overlapping area of the yellow area and the ink dot formed by the preliminary ejection, and thus makes the ink dot formed by the preliminary ejection less noticeable.
US07726767B2
There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus capable of printing an image having few joining stripes. Dot count is performed regarding an image printed in the vicinity of the joining stripe, and print duty is judged. Next, a dot count value is determined from the print duty. Then, a print data correction rank is determined beforehand in accordance with properties of the printing apparatus, and image data to be printed in the vicinity of the joining stripe is added or thinned out. Thus, an image can be printed which has few black and white stripes.
US07726763B2
An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method can enable high quality printing, without causing uneven thickness in a conveying direction, using a printing head having a plurality of ejection port arrays. To this end, the printing is performed by making distribution ratios of printing in each ejection port array in the printing head different from one another according to gradation.
US07726762B2
A printing method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying a medium and ejecting ink from a print head to print, on the medium, a mark that can be filled in by a user; detecting, with a sensor, whether or not the mark has been filled in; and performing a process in accordance with a result of the detection by the sensor. With this printing method, operations with respect to a printing apparatus can be performed with ease.
US07726759B2
The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head which has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure generating elements corresponding to the nozzles, and applies a drive signal to the pressure generating elements so as to eject recording liquid from the nozzles; a plurality of drive waveform generating circuits which generate the drive signal having waveform for driving the pressure generating elements; a plurality of dummy capacitive loads which are connected to the drive waveform generating circuits; and a circuit selection device which selects at least one of the drive waveform generating circuits for applying the drive signal to at least one of the pressure generating elements and the dummy capacitive loads.
US07726755B2
An exemplary slide rail assembly includes a first rail having a pair of stop members, a second rail, a first release member and a second release member slidably attached to the second rail, a fixing board attached to the second rail, a pair of actuating members slidably attached to the fixing board, and a clip. The clip includes a pair of arms respectively abutting against the actuating members. The actuating members engage with the stop members to latch the second rail in the first rail in two opposite directions. One actuating member is driven by the first release member to disengage from one stop member so that the second rail is released along one direction. The other actuating member is driven by the second release member to disengage from the other stop member so that the second rail is released along the other direction.
US07726751B2
A multi-latch compatible system is disclosed for electrical enclosures. The system accommodates latches of different types and configurations. A rail structure may be formed to interface with pin-type latches and with plate-type latches. The rail structure may be configured as a pre-assembled insert that can be placed within an electrical enclosure. The system permits the same general structure to be used regardless of the type of latching mechanism selected and installed in the enclosure.
US07726737B2
An infant seat for motorcars includes anchor being operable to engage a receiving element being provided in the motorcar. The infant seat has a framework fixedly attached to the lower face of the base of the seat and is fitted with the anchor, the anchor being actuated by a pneumatic device being fitted to the framework and actuated by a control being made up by an articulated lever, the control being accessible through the front edge of the base of the seat, the manual controls being operable for deactivating the anchor being found at the front edge.
US07726725B2
The present invention relates to a mechanism for reinforcing a fascia including at least one reinforcement structure and at least one strengthening feature. The reinforcement structure is attached to the fascia so that at least a portion of the fascia is covered by the reinforcement structure. The strengthening feature is on at least one side of the reinforcement structure.
US07726723B2
A slide door structure of an automobile which enables occupants to get in and out with ease even in a narrow parking space because the door of the automobile can be largely opened and capable of reducing the constraints on the design of the body of the automobile. Forward lower rail boards (11, 13) are positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the front of a rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the front side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside rear side of the body (1) by the rotation of a front link mechanism, and a rear lower rail board (12) is positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the rear of the rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the rear side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside front side of the body (1) by the rotation of a rear link mechanism.
US07726717B2
A garnish for a vehicle body including a plastic exterior skin and a metal reinforcement member. The garnish is installed on the vehicle for coating or painting and then the garnish and the vehicle body are sent through a bake oven to cure the coating or paint. After exposure to the bake oven, the garnish is removed from the vehicle body for installation of a headlight assembly. The garnish is then reinstalled on the vehicle body after the headlight assembly is installed.
US07726714B2
This invention provides a post hole digger having a first, traverse pivot point, located on the medial portions of two handle members, and a second, blade assembly pivot point located at the medial point of the blade assemblies. Because the first pivot point is a traverse pivot point, the handle members are only required to travel through a limited range of motion. Additionally, the second, blade assembly pivot point is preferably an offset pivot point. Thus, because the second, blade assembly pivot point is disposed at a medial point of the blade assemblies, the motion of the handle members, which are coupled to the upper ends of the blade assemblies, is reversed relative to the lower ends of the blade members.
US07726712B2
A pair of devices for lifting boxes is disclosed. Each device comprises a handle, lifting surface, lifting plate and a plurality of lifting members in the form of angled teeth. During use, the teeth of each device are inserted into opposite sides of a corrugated box. A user is then able to lift the box using the temporary handles. The teeth are angled relative to a bottom edge of the lifting plates allowing a user's wrist to maintain a proper position to lift boxes over the user's head. During non-use the pair of devices they are connected with magnets such that the teeth of each lifting plate are received by corresponding openings in the other lifting plate. Each tooth may also include an extension portion for accommodating portions of a box thereby increasing the surface area of contact between the teeth and the box.
US07726711B1
The invention as presently conceived discloses a hand tool that assists in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. The tool has a specially designed tweezer frame to aid in holding and placement of the small batteries. One side of the tweezer tip has a magnet that provides additional capabilities with holding the battery. The opposite side of the tweezer tip consists of a sharp point that aids in positioning or removing batteries from the battery compartment. Although the tool can benefit anyone who wears a hearing aid, it is particularly useful for the elderly.
US07726709B2
A vehicle bumper structure includes a pipe member that extends along the vehicle-width direction. A bumper shock absorbing member extends along the vehicle-width direction, and has a loading space in which the pipe member is placed. A fixing member has a first end portion which is fixed to a vehicle body and a second end portion to which the bumper shock absorbing member is fixed. A bumper cover may be provided on the outer side of the bumper shock absorbing member, and cover the bumper shock absorbing member, the pipe member, and the fixing member.
US07726706B2
A latch mechanism for gates and the like for readily latching a slide bar to a locking unit. The locking unit has a block with a front and back plate that are fixedly attached to each other about portions of peripheries of the front and back plates that define an opening with a side slot and at least one adjacent top or bottom slot. Positioned within at least one top or bottom slot is at least one pivoting release lever having a first leg and a second leg movable about a pivot. One of the legs has a portion configured to engage a portion of a slide bar when restraining movement of the slide bar relative to the block. The other leg abuts and aids in dislodging the slide from the block when a force is applied to the pivoting lever. The latch mechanism further includes a slide bar guide.
US07726704B1
A cover and method for covering openings an particularly openings initially intended to cover door knob openings and lock set openings of a modified door which are required to be covered for aesthetic and security reasons. In one embodiment, the cover for a door knob hole is an integral stack of disks wherein the largest outermost disk covers the opening when centered by the second disk that fits snugly inside the opening. A bridge fits inside the lock-set cavity to which a cover over the lock cavity is bolted.
US07726699B2
Apparatus for dental treatment includes a base, a treatment unit, and a connecting piece. The treatment unit has one or more treatment instruments and one or more lines for the supply of water, air and electricity. The connecting piece is placed in between the base and the treatment unit. The treatment unit can be disconnected from and connected to the base by using the connecting piece.
US07726697B2
A connection structure is provided for connecting heat exchangers (11, 12) to each other for exchanging heat between a first fluid flowing in body parts (13, 14) and a second fluid flowing in heat transfer pipes (15, 16) disposed in the body parts (13, 14). The connection structure includes connection holes (17, 18) provided in the body parts (13, 14) of the heat exchangers (11, 12) and a press-formable connection member (19), connected to the outer surfaces of the body parts (13, 14) for fluidly coupling the connecting holes (17, 18) so that the body parts (13, 14) are allowed to communicate with each other.
US07726695B2
The present invention provides a cover for a book having a wire concealment feature incorporated therein. The cover of the present invention generally comprises a front panel, a rear panel attached to and extending from the front panel, and a middle panel that extends from the opposite side of the rear panel. The inwardly facing surface of the front panel includes an elongated tab attached to or integral with its inner edge, with the tab including a longitudinally extending series of holes formed therethrough. A coiled wire passes through the holes formed through the tab, and a book is also attached to the coiled wire thereby interconnecting the book to the cover.
US07726680B2
An extendable trailer comprising wheels carrying a fixed frame, and a fixed support tube carrying a plurality of bearings that support an extendable support tube passing through said fixed support tube. A portion of a trailer hitch supported on the extendable support tube and a fixed pipe carried inside the extendable support tube protecting wires for trailer lights and accessories. The trailer has a first extended position where the tongue is extended and the length of the trailer is the greatest and a second position where the tongue is collapsed back into the trailer.
US07726678B1
A sliding fifth wheel assembly for slidably connecting a trailer hitch to a vehicle, comprising at least one rail connectable to the vehicle and a platform connectable to the trailer hitch. The platform is slidably mounted to the rail for movement between a forward position and a rearward position. At least one stop bar is connected to the platform, and at least one locking bar is pivotally mounted to the rail for selective engagement with the stop bar to retain the platform in either the forward position or the rearward position. The locking bar may be selectively engaged by at least one actuator.
US07726676B2
A device for hand-driven operation of a guided wheel arranged on a steering gear is pivotable about a steering axis perpendicular to the wheel's axis of rotation. The device includes first and second handles, first and second coupling devices respectively arranged thereon, and a power transmission train coupled to transmit traction power to the second coupling device via coupling points for transmitting handle movement to a drive device cooperating with the guided wheel's hub. The power transmission train extends from the first coupling device via deflecting elements, thereby modifying the extension direction of the train, in a second power transmission section to the second coupling device such that the coupling devices move the coupling points of the train on substantially linear drive paths approaching and absenting of a symmetrical plane of guidance which is oriented in a perpendicular manner in relation to the axis of rotation of the guided wheel.
US07726674B2
A vehicle suspension system includes a pair of suspension assemblies mounted on a pair of spaced vehicle frame members for supporting a vehicle body on the vehicle wheels. A torsion axle extends between the pair of suspension assemblies and terminates in a pair of stub shafts. The axle is mounted on a pair of spaced frame brackets attached to the vehicle frame. An air spring extends between the vehicle frame and an outer end of a support arm pivotally mounted on each end of the torsion axle. The stub shafts are supported within an outer tube of the torsion axle by a plurality of elastomeric members. One end of each stub shaft is connected to a spindle arm which has a spindle extending from an opposite end of the arm. The length of the air spring support arm and the distances between the pivot axis of the support arm and the axis of the spindle and torsion axle are chosen so that the surface of the air spring is always out of contact with the mounting bracket and has a portion inboard between the axis of the spindle and axis of the torsion axle.
US07726661B2
A pressure balanced shaft seal assembly that allows a seal to dynamically respond to angular or radial misalignment of a shaft is disclosed. The pressure balanced shaft seal assembly includes a fixed stator, a floating stator, and a labyrinth seal. In one embodiment, the floating stator and labyrinth seal are mounted within an annular groove formed in the fixed stator such that the floating stator and labyrinth seal may move a predetermined amount in the radial direction with respect to the fixed stator. A spherical interface between the labyrinth seal and floating stator may allow the labyrinth seal to pivot with respect to the floating stator during angular misalignment of a shaft around which the pressure balanced shaft seal assembly is mounted. A pressure balancing annular channel formed in the floating stator allows pressurized seal fluid to balance the axial pressure exerted on the floating stator by the process fluid.
US07726660B2
A non-contacting seal for sealing in high temperature applications includes at least one segment having an inner pad with a hydrodynamic/hydrostatic lift-off geometry enabling the seal to run in a non-contact mode, and at least one finger spring supported on the pad that aids in making the seal radially compliant while also being axially stiff, compared to the radial direction. In one embodiment, multiple segments are supported on a support member spaced from the pad to form a gap (g) therebetween. The pad preferably includes a wear resistant layer on its inner diameter (ID) which prevents excessive wear of the pad. In one embodiment, the hydrodynamic/hydrostatic lift-off geometry is in the form of a groove formed on the inner pad. A cover may also be provided between inner pads at the ID and the support ring at the outer diameter OD in order to prevent leakage through the gap.
US07726656B1
A multi-section board is sandwiched by a fabric base and a fabric pillow-top, with the two fabric layers being stitched together along the edges and along the seams between the board sections. Pockets in the pillow-top receive fill which can be manmade or natural to form a cushion for the pitched elastomeric pitching shoes which are used with the pitching station. The stake is attached to a plate that is received in a pocket in the two fabrics. The stake and plate may be steel or plastic. The pitching station can be formed into a convenient triangular shape for storage and transport.
US07726655B2
A game to be modified in accordance with the invention involves a first random outcome and a second random outcome that are combined according to game rules to produce a game outcome. The game is administered by receiving a player request for a specific entry, the specific entry replacing one of the random outcomes and being selected from a finite set of possibilities not determined by chance. The requested specific entry affects the probable outcome of the game. The specific entry is combined with the remaining one of the random outcomes according to the game rules to determine the game outcome. According to one embodiment, the specific entry may be a score such as 18 which replaces the player's hand in the game of blackjack.
US07726649B2
In a sheet transport system for a reproduction machine, the transport system defining a transport channel through which the sheet travels in a transport direction, an improvement comprises one or more plenums associated with the transport channel, each plenum connectable to an air flow supply, and one or more openings between each plenum and the transport channel. At least one of the one or more openings is arranged to direct air flowing through the plenum into the transport channel in the transport direction.
US07726640B2
A sheet cutting apparatus, including: a cutting knife for cutting a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets; a sub-waste box capable of temporally receiving cutting wastage of a sheet bundle which has been cut; and a main waste box capable of receiving the cutting wastage received in the sub-waste box, in which the main waste box is constructed so that a wastage disposal operation of the cutting wastage received in the main waste box can be made while the sub-waste box temporally receives the cutting wastage.
US07726638B2
Provided is a sheet processing apparatus for performing a bookbinding process by folding a sheet stack, including: a folding roller pair including a first roller and a second roller brought into press contact with the first roller to be contacted/separated with/from the first roller, for conveying the sheet stack while folding the sheet stack; a plurality of urging members capable of urging the second roller in a direction of the first roller; and an urging mechanism for changing a number of the urging members for urging the second roller according to a thickness of the sheet stack to be folded.
US07726633B2
A molded plastic fence having a unitary front fence section and a unitary rear fence section is provided. The unitary front fence section and the unitary rear fence section are coupled together to form a fence without visible molding artifacts. To emulate a traditional wooden fence, the fence sections preferably include various fence elements such as posts, slats and rails. The fence elements on each fence section typically have a planar member with an inner side and a raised edge extending from the inner side. The molding artifacts are disposed on the inner sides of the fence elements. The unitary front fence section and a unitary rear fence section are coupled with the raised edges engaging each other. In this configuration the molding artifacts are hidden from view and the fence elements appear as solid.
US07726631B2
A tool is used to elevate and hold a garbage disposer against a sink fixture during removal and/or installation of a garbage disposer. The tool includes a flat base including a notch opening through a corner of a rectilinear base to allow an electric cord to pass around the tool. A flat load supporting platform includes a similar notch. A screw jack force applying mechanism allows the platform to be raised relative to the base. The tool works equally well with the base down or with the platform down so the user doesn't have to turn the tool over for it to work.
US07726626B2
A damper device may include a frame, a baffle turnably supported on the frame, a drive unit for turnably driving the baffle, a first and a second turnable support parts for supporting the baffle on the frame, and a mechanical connecting part between the drive unit and the baffle which is structured at a position apart from a turning center axial line of the baffle. The first and second turnable support parts are structured by using a shaft part made of resin which is formed in one of the baffle and the frame, and a shaft hole which is formed in the other of the baffle and the frame. A passage through which cold air is passed is opened and closed by the baffle.
US07726617B2
A television mounting system is disclosed. It includes a wall plate adapted to be secured to a wall and a monitor plate mountable on the wall plate. Expansion plates may be secured at selected locations on the monitor plate to accommodate mounting of various sizes of display screens, such as flat panel televisions.
US07726615B2
Disclosed is an improved shelf system which is characterized by the following features: an anchoring pot is provided which can be inserted in a fixed and captive manner into a corresponding bore of a shelf bottom, said bore facing the shelf bottom support; a slot opening and a screw path for a locking screw, which is offset relative thereto and runs diagonally, are provided in the anchoring pot; a portion of an anchoring section that is part of the shelf bottom support can be inserted into the slot; and the locking screw can be twisted in such a way that the shelf bottom support is directly or indirectly fixed at least in a non-positive and preferably a positive fashion.
US07726611B2
A rudder pedal mechanism is configured with foreign object strike tolerance and/or with an articulating brake. The foreign object strike tolerance is implemented via a force transfer mechanism that is responsive to an input force supplied to the rudder pedal. The force transfer mechanism is configured to supply a transfer force to a rudder position command unit when the input force is supplied in a first direction, and to not supply the transfer force to the rudder position command unit when the input force is supplied in the second direction and exceeds at least a predetermined force magnitude. The articulating brake is implemented via a brake rod assembly that is rotationally coupled to the rudder pedal, and includes a first rod that is rotationally coupled to the rudder pedal, and a second rod that surrounds at least a portion of the first rod.
US07726609B2
Aircraft exhaust systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated propulsion assembly includes a wing assembly having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a propulsion unit at least partially disposed within the wing assembly. An exhaust system is configured to conduct an exhaust flow emanating from the propulsion unit to an exhaust aperture. The exhaust aperture is positioned proximate a trailing edge of the wing assembly, and has an aspect ratio of at least five. In further embodiments, the wing assembly includes a flap member moveably coupled along a trailing edge portion of the wing assembly, and the exhaust aperture is configured to direct the exhaust flow over at least a portion of the flap member.
US07726606B2
The invention relates to a lowerable luggage compartment (10), in particular for a passenger aircraft, having a pneumatic pressure spring (16) connected to the luggage compartment. In order to be able to latch the luggage compartment (10) in an elegant manner in its closed position, the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is a rigidly blockable pneumatic pressure spring with an externally controllable valve for selectively opening or shutting off the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring, and the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is shut off by means of the valve in the closed position of the luggage compartment (10).
US07726597B2
An improved vertical shaft impactor rock crusher is provided. The improvement comprises an anvil having a front impact surface, a planar rear surface and a side surface extending between the front and rear surfaces. A shaft extends from the rear surface and can have a polygonal shaped cam lobe at the end of the shaft. When seated in the slot of a hanger bracket, the cam lobe keeps the anvil secured to the bracket while a side of the cam lobe rests on a seating block attached to the bracket to hold the anvil in an indexed position. When the impact surface becomes worn from use in the rock crusher, the anvil can be rotated within the bracket so that the cam lobe rests on an adjacent side thereby presenting an unworn surface to fracture feed rock in the rock crusher.
US07726580B2
A printed interface for user interaction with a computer system via a sensing device is provided. The interface comprises visible graphical information and coded data readable by the sensing device. The coded data comprises a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a predetermined pattern, with an orientation target structure for allowing relative rotation of the predetermined pattern to be determined. The visible graphical information indicates an operation that the user can select and transmit to the computer system by reading the coded data with the sensing device.
US07726572B2
A two dimensional symbol is decoded by forming a binary image that includes the symbol. The binary is used to generate symbol margins for use in digitization. By using the binary image to determine the symbol margins, margins can be located efficiently and in the presence of symbol contrast variation caused by irregularities in the marked surface or light source angles. Digitization proceeds based on the determined margins.
