US07830400B2

A display unit has an image presentation section 10 for receiving a plurality of monomedia data and presentation style data describing a presentation style of a frame of each of the individual monomedia data, for generating scaling/combining control information 111 for combining the individual monomedia data, and for generating a composite video frame 103 by combining the individual monomedia data; an image enhancing section 20 for obtaining a correction target region of designated monomedia data in the composite video frame 103 in response to the scaling/combining control information 111, for generating correction data by obtaining interframe difference in the correction target region, and for generating a display video frame 104 by carrying out image enhancing processing of the correction target region in response to the correction data generated; and an image display section 30 for displaying the display video frame 104.
US07830397B2

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code and means are provided to set a first depth value associated with a plurality of pixels of a video image comprising a plurality of planes, create a first clear rectangle with respect to the first depth value, color render the pixels that are not associated with the first clear rectangle, and render the plurality of planes.
US07830392B1

The number of crossbars in a graphics processing unit is reduced by assigning each of a plurality of pixels to one of a plurality of pixel shaders based at least in part on a location of each of the plurality of pixels within an image area, generating an attribute value for each of the plurality of pixels using the plurality of pixel shaders, mapping the attribute value of each of the plurality of pixels to one of a plurality of memory partitions, and storing the attribute values in the memory partitions according to the mapping. The attribute value generated by a particular one of the pixel shaders is mapped to the same one of the plurality of memory partitions.
US07830389B2

Dual processor accelerated graphics rendering is a method which allows for optimizing graphics performance using two processors and 3D hardware accelerators. This method allows for real time embedded systems to have multiple partitions to render to multiple windows with non-blocking graphics calls. One processor queues up graphics calls within a discrete time because they do not interface with the graphics accelerator hardware. The second processor supports the hardware accelerator with drivers operating in a single partition. This design abstracts the graphics calls from the native interface of the graphics hardware accelerator.
US07830388B1

The present invention presents systems and methods for running interactive applications such as video games remotely over broadband network by an interactive application host system. In accordance with the present invention, interactive applications such as video games can be hosted and executed remotely by one or multiple interactive application hosts in native mode or using emulation or other similar binary execution technique. An interactive application host system can use dedicated graphics rendering apparatus inter-connected with the interactive application host(s) for rendering or compressing frames of multiple interactive applications. A graphics rendering apparatus can cache the graphics data received from the interactive application host(s) and share graphics data among multiple instances of interactive application from the same interactive application host or from different interactive application hosts.
US07830383B1

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium provide a financial Web site to display, based on a user-selected stock, a plurality of user-selectable elements associated with a respective plurality of stocks that are determined to be related to the user-selected stock. Each stock of the plurality of stocks is determined to be related to the user-selected stock based on a respective correlation between postings of messages for the stock and the user-selected stock. Each respective correlation is between a respective time series of an aggregate level of messaging for its respective stock and a time series of an aggregate level of messaging for the user-selected stock. Each of the plurality of user-selectable elements is user-selectable to retrieve information from a message board associated with its respective one of the plurality of stocks.
US07830360B2

An inertial sensing input apparatus is disclosed, which includes: an accelerometer module, capable of detecting accelerations with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system of X-, Y-, and Z-axes; and a gyroscope, used for detecting a rotation measured with respect to the Z-axis. By the aforesaid input apparatus, an input method can be provided which comprises steps of: (a) defining base signals with respect to each of such sensing elements; (b) detecting and determining whether Z-axis accelerations are varying; (c) enabling the input apparatus to enter a surface (2D) operating mode while no acceleration varying is detected along the Z axis; (d) enabling the input apparatus to enter a space (3D) operating mode while acceleration varying is detected along the Z axis.
US07830355B2

In a liquid crystal display device having a backlight, the backlight has a first state which outputs a first amount of light and a second state which generates a second amount of light and the time for the first state and the time for the second state are controlled. Due to such a constitution, the liquid crystal display device can display clear motion picture images in spite of a simple constitution thereof. Further, the liquid crystal display device can display clear and bright motion picture images.
US07830354B2

A driving apparatus for a display device that is capable of lowering the manufacturing cost for different types of gate driving integrated circuits is presented. The apparatus has pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel having a first and a second subpixels. A gate driver has a plurality of gate driving circuits, and each of the plurality of gate driving circuits generates first and second gate signals that are applied to the first and second subpixels, respectively. A controller outputs control signals for controlling the output of a carry signal for each of the gate driving circuits. Where an OR gate serves as the controller, two types of gate signals for different pixel rows can be generated: a first type where gate signals are applied to the different pixel rows at the same time and a second type where gate signals are not applied at the same time.
US07830352B2

A driving circuit. The driving circuit includes a plurality of scan shift register cells, a pair of complementary clock signal lines, and a horizontal start signal generator. Each scan shift register cell comprises a bidirectional circuit, a shift register coupled to the bidirectional circuit, a transmission gate coupled to the shift register, and a data line coupled to the transmission gate. The complementary clock signal lines are coupled to the shift registers. The horizontal start signal generator provides a horizontal start signal to the bidirectional circuits in the first and a subsequent scan shift register cells. The shift register in each scan shift register cell provides an output signal to the bidirectional circuit in the next scan shift register cell. The bidirectional circuit in each scan shift register cell also receives the output signal from the shift register in the next scan shift register cell.
US07830348B2

A liquid crystal display device that comprises a panel, a timing controller for providing control signals to the panel, a video chip for receiving video signals and providing decoded video signals to the panel, a phase lock loop for providing a reference clock frequency, and a source driver for receiving the control signals and video signals to drive the panel, wherein the timing controller, the video chip and the phase lock loop are incorporated into the source driver in an integrated circuit.
US07830345B2

One picture element is divided into first and second sub-picture element regions. A sub-picture element electrode connected directly (not via capacitive coupling) to a source electrode of a TFT is placed in the first sub-picture element region and a sub-picture element electrode capacitively coupled to a control electrode connected to a source electrode is placed in the second sub-picture element region. A transparent resin film is formed in the first sub-picture element region and this makes a liquid crystal layer thickness in the second sub-picture element region thicker than that of the first sub-picture element region.
US07830338B2

A driving circuit and method for driving a plasma display cell array using the circuit is disclosed. The driving circuit comprises a first transistor configured to drive the cells, a first driving sub-circuit configured to turn the first transistor on, and a second driving sub-circuit configured to turn the first transistor off when the voltage driven to the cells reaches a selected value.
US07830331B2

An electronic device includes: a circuit board that has a wireless communication module that is mounted thereon and a feed line that is formed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the wireless communication module; a planar member that is formed with an opening and has a flexible planar piece that is formed to protrude toward the circuit board from an edge of the opening; and an antenna pattern that includes an antenna part that is formed on the planar member and a feeder part that is formed on the flexible planar piece, wherein circuit board and the planar member are arranged to be in positions to flexibly bend the flexible planar piece by the circuit board to electrically connect the feeder part of the antenna pattern and the feed line formed on the circuit board.
US07830329B2

Provided is a composite antenna adapted for reduction in size while ensuring sufficient electrical isolation between antenna elements. The composite antenna comprises ground plane, first feeding point connected to ground plane, first conductor connected to first feeding point and disposed linearly symmetrically with respect to axis, second conductor connected to first conductor and disposed linearly symmetrically with respect to axis, second feeding point disposed in a position along axis, third conductor connecting second feeding point and second conductor, and fourth conductor connecting second feeding point and second conductor and disposed in a linearly symmetrical manner to third conductor with respect to axis.
US07830328B2

An antenna feeding network, including at least one antenna feeding line, each antenna feeding line comprising a coaxial line having a central inner conductor and a surrounding outer conductor.Present invention is characterized in that the outer conductor (4) is made of an elongated tubular compartment (5) having an elongated opening (6) along one side of the compartment (5), and that the inner conductor (3) is suspended within the tubular compartment (5) by means of dielectric support means (7).
US07830325B2

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the PCB, and an antenna connected to the transceiver and carried by the PCB. The mobile wireless communications device may further include at least one director element for directing a beam pattern of the antenna. More particularly, the at least one director element may include an electrically conductive main branch carried by the portable housing, and an electrically conductive connector portion extending between the main branch and the PCB.
US07830311B2

A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip for processing a transmission/reception signal, a printed wiring circuit board on which the wireless IC chip is mounted, a ground electrode disposed on the circuit board, and a substantially loop-shaped electrode that is electrically conducted to the wireless IC chip and disposed on the circuit board so as to be coupled to the ground electrode by an electromagnetic field. The ground electrode is coupled to the wireless IC chip via the substantially loop-shaped electrode to transmit/receive a radio frequency signal. A feeder circuit board including a resonant circuit and/or a matching circuit may be interposed between the wireless IC chip and the substantially loop-shaped electrode.
US07830291B2

An analog-to-digital converter (1). The analog to digital converter (1) comprises a first range-control unit (100) adapted to generate a first range-control value for controlling a size of an input range of the analog-to-digital converter (1). The analog to digital converter further comprises a second range-control unit (200) adapted to generate a second range-control value for controlling a midpoint of the input range. Further, the analog-to-digital converter (1) comprises a reference-level unit (300) operatively connected to the first range-control unit (100) and the second range-control unit (200). The reference-level unit (300) is arranged to generate a plurality of reference levels at least based on the first and the second range-control value. The analog-to-digital converter further comprises a comparison unit (400) operatively connected to the second range-control unit (200) and the reference-level unit (300). The comparison unit (400) is arranged to perform at least one comparison between a difference between an analog input value of the analog-to-digital converter (1) and the second range-control value and individual reference levels of the plurality of reference levels. The comparison unit (400) is further arranged to generate a digital output value of the analog-to-digital converter (1) based on the at least one comparison.
US07830286B2

An AD converter includes an input circuit, an operation circuit and a bus interface. The input circuit is provided with a pull-down circuit, which is capable of pulling down an analog signal input side of a sample-hold circuit whether an analog signal is inputted or not. The operation circuit is provided with a reference voltage conversion result storing register, which is capable of storing a conversion result of an analog reference voltage inputted periodically separately from a conversion result of the analog signal inputted through the sample-hold circuit. The operation circuit is further provided with a check register, which is capable of writing in and reading out data for checking operation of a signal transfer system including a bus interface through the bus interface. Thus, it is made possible to confirm normality of an external part and an internal part of the AD converter.
US07830282B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of synchronization blocks configured to sequentially synchronize a plurality of input signals swinging in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) region with multi-phase clock signals to output a plurality of output signals swinging in a current mode logic (CML) region, a plurality of first swing region converting blocks configured to convert the plurality of output signals to a plurality of converted output signals swinging in the CMOS region, a serialization block configured to serialize a plurality of converted output signals, thereby outputting a serialized signal swinging in the CML region, and a second swing region converting block configured to convert the serialized signal to a serialized output signal swinging in the CMOS region.
US07830280B2

Semiconductor devices, a system including said semiconductor devices and methods thereof are provided. An example semiconductor device may receive data scheduled for transmission, scramble an order of bits within the received data, the scrambled order arranged in accordance with a given pseudo-random sequence. The received data may be balanced such that a difference between a first number of the bits within the received data equal to a first logic level and a second number of bits within the received data equal to a second logic level is below a threshold. The balanced and scrambled received data may then be transmitted. The example semiconductor device may perform the scrambling and balancing operations in any order. Likewise, on a receiving end, another semiconductor device may decode the original data by unscrambling and unbalancing the transmitted data. The unscrambling and unbalancing operations may be performed in an order based upon the order in which the transmitted data is scrambled and balanced.
US07830279B2

An apparatus for inputting characters and method thereof are disclosed, by which a character can be inputted at high speed in a manner of implementing a new character set and by which a character can be inputted at high speed using a new character set and a rotatable moving key. The present invention includes an input unit comprising a plurality of roller type keys, each generating a rotation-associated keying signal or a pressing-associated keying signal and a plurality of selection keys, each generating the pressing-associated keying signal and a controller performing a character set search by a character set unit according to the rotation-associated keying signal, the controller performing a character input according to the pressing-associated keying signal.
US07830277B2

A method and apparatus for providing and displaying information generated with a bar code and stored within a mobile communication terminal for easy recognition is provided. The method of providing intrinsic information in a mobile communication terminal includes verifying whether intrinsic information about the mobile communication terminal is stored; and displaying the intrinsic information on a screen when the intrinsic information is stored. Therefore, when a user wants to verify information for a mobile communication terminal, information about the terminal is displayed on a screen with a bar code, so that it is easy to verify and recognize the information about the terminal. Further, even if the mobile communication terminal is turned off, information about the terminal stored in the RFID tag is read by an RFID reader, so that it is easy to verify and recognize the information about the terminal.
US07830276B2

A method is provided for indicating the boundaries of a required navigational performance (RNP) corridor on an aircraft's map display. The method includes the steps of producing an aircraft leg segment symbol on the map display, establishing an RNP value, and scaling the RNP value to the map display field of view. The method further includes the step of generating an RNP corridor boundary graphic on the map display offset from the aircraft leg segment symbol by the scaled RNP value.
US07830273B2

A sensor network for monitoring of a pipeline comprises a sensor disposed for monitoring of a pipeline, the sensor capable of acquiring data related to the pipeline and communicating sensor data; a first remote sensor interface (RSI) comprising a data communications device capable of receiving the sensor data communicated from the sensor, and transmitting data relating to the received sensor data; and a data communications device capable of receiving the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmitting data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network. The sensor network comprises a common designation network.
US07830268B1

A high liquid alarm system for use in detecting the presence of water and oil in water present in a confined space is disclosed. In one implementation, the system includes an optical sensor capable of detecting water at a certain level, a sensing device capable of differentiating oil and water, and an alarm indicator. The sensors are in communication with an indicator which is capable of providing alert signals. The optical sensor is configured to activate a second alarm in the indicator when water is detected at about a predetermined level and the sensing device is configured to trigger a first alarm when oil in water is detected at about the predetermined level. The sensors can also be interconnected such that the sensing device is activated upon detection of water by the optical sensor, reducing the power consumption of the system.
US07830267B2

A system and/or method for sensing the presence of moisture (e.g., rain) and/or other material(s) on a window such as a vehicle window (e.g., vehicle windshield, sunroof or backlite). In certain example embodiments, a plurality of sensing capacitors are supported by a window such as a vehicle windshield, the capacitors each having a different field and/or pattern. A sensing circuit outputs an analog signal that is based on and/or related to the capacitances of one or more of the sensing capacitors. In certain example embodiments, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) mountable in or on a vehicle window is provided. First and second sensing circuits are formed on opposing sides of the flexible PCB, with each said sensing circuit comprising a plurality of different fractal structures. A ground plane is located between the first and second sensing circuits, with the ground plane being arranged so as to decouple the first and second capacitor arrays and to shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array and vice versa. The electronic device is configured to detect moisture on an exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on an interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI.
US07830265B2

The present invention relates to a sleep alert device that acts by pressure of the fingers of the user on sensors. The invention includes a limited number of sensors as well as an instant alarm system which prevents accidental problems with previous delay alarm systems. At least one sensor is mounted on the fingers of the user or the steering wheel and with no delay of any kind connected directly or wirelessly to a control panel for control of the pressure sensors. The device has a means for detecting the wearing by the user, such as a pulse detector which can tell if the device is on or off when a pulse is detected respectively.
US07830262B1

RFID reader systems, readers, components, software and methods are provided for inventorying RFID tags. In some embodiments, a population of RFID tags begins being inventoried using a first set of communication parameters, and then continues using a second set of communication parameters. This way, some RFID tags can be inventoried faster, without missing tags that require a longer time to read.
US07830258B2

In one embodiment the present invention is an encoder for commissioning RFID transponders and includes a housing encasing a motor assembly, wireless communication means for transferring instructions and data from and to a remote host, on-board memory, a processor, and an antenna with corresponding mechanism to encode and verify a programmable RFID transponder within a protective enclosure. The present invention further includes novel methods for commissioning RFID transponders, as well as methods for recycling and reusing various components including the protective enclosure and RFID transponders.
US07830254B2

An advanced technology screening checkpoint system includes a baggage screening zone, a passenger screening zone, and a secondary screening zone. The baggage screening zone may include an explosives scanning system and an imaging system, while the passenger screening zone may include an explosives detection portal and a self-divestment portal to show passengers what to divest prior to screening by a high sensitivity metal detection portal. In some implementations, a secondary screening zone includes a sealed-bottle scanning system, an enhanced explosives detection system, a weapons search routine, and a body scanning system. Centralized monitoring of screening results for individual detection and screening systems of the baggage, passenger, and secondary screening zones may be provided by a combined user interface (CUI).
US07830251B2

A receiving apparatus includes a receiving section for receiving a broadcast. The apparatus further includes a location detector for detecting the location of the receiving apparatus, a moving direction calculator for calculating a moving direction of the receiving apparatus based on the location detected by the location detector, and a controller for allowing a reproducing section to reproduce a part of or all of the broadcast received by the receiving section selectively based on the moving direction calculated by the moving direction calculator.
US07830237B1

A transformer includes an iron core having a shaft around which a plurality of coil modules is mounted. Each coil module includes spiral, upper and lower coil sections each having an outer loop and a plurality of inner loops received in and coplanar with the outer loop. The inner loops of the spiral upper coil section and the inner loops of the spiral lower coil section include a common innermost loop through which the shaft extends. Upper and lower ends of each coil module are respectively interconnected to the outer loops of the upper and lower coil sections. The spiral upper section is superimposed on the spiral lower section to form a two-layer structure. The lower end of an upper one of two adjacent coil modules interconnected to the upper end of a lower one of the two adjacent coil modules.
US07830235B2

An inductor array that includes a plurality of inductors where adjacent inductors share a core piece and thus a flux path to reduce the size and weight of the array. In one embodiment, the shared core pieces are formed as back-to-back U-shaped members defining an indented region at the center of the core piece. In another embodiment, a plurality of small block-shaped center core pieces in each inductor defines a plurality of gaps therebetween.
US07830232B2

A circuit breaker includes a conductor, a fixed contact connected to the conductor, and an arc runner disposed on the conductor adjacent the fixed contact. The arc runner includes a first portion abutting the fixed contact and a second portion disposed in a recess of the circuit breaker housing. The arc runner is adapted to draw an arc from the fixed contact. A circuit breaker operating mechanism cooperates with a movable contact for opening and closing the fixed contact and the movable contact. An arc chute is adjacent the arc runner. A trip unit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the fixed and movable contacts.
US07830230B2

A handle arm assembly is for a circuit interrupter including an undervoltage release mechanism having a reset mechanism. The handle arm assembly includes a body portion rotatable through an arc between an on position, an off position, and a reset position beyond the off position and an arm portion projecting laterally from the body portion out of the plane of the arc through which the body portion rotates. The body portion and the arm portion are formed from a single piece of material wherein the body portion and the arm portion are different portions of the single piece of material. The arm portion is structured to engage the reset mechanism in a manner such that arcuate movement of the arm portion as the body portion moves to the off position is translated into actuation of the reset mechanism.
US07830227B1

A method for fabricating integrated MEMS switches and filters includes forming cavities in a silicon substrate, metalizing a first pattern on a quartz substrate to form first switch and filter elements, bonding the quartz substrate to the silicon substrate so that the first switch and filter elements are located within one of the cavities, thinning the quartz substrate, forming conductive vias in the quartz substrate, metalizing a second pattern on a second surface of the quartz substrate to form second switch and filter elements, etching the quartz substrate to separate MEMS switches from filters, forming protrusions on a host substrate, metalizing a third metal pattern on the host substrate to form metal anchors and third switch elements, compression bonding the metal anchors on the host substrate to second switch and filter elements, forming signal lines to integrate the MEMS switches and filters and removing the silicon substrate.
US07830221B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving an interconnection layout for an integrated circuit (IC). One such layout includes a plurality of differential pairs of lines. Each differential pair has two lines including one or more parallel portions extending substantially parallel to each other. Each pair also includes a shield line. Each of the shield lines includes one or more parallel portions interposed between the parallel portions of one of the pairs of differential lines. One or more of the shield lines are electrically connected to a voltage reference, such as ground. This layout is believed to reduce or eliminate intra-pair coupling as well as inter-pair coupling.
US07830218B2

A communications device includes a supply terminal which is able to be connected to a two-position-controlled power supply; a pulse width recording device, which is coupled to the supply terminal and which records a pulse width of current pulses that flow through the supply terminal, and a signal processing device which assigns a first logical level to a first recorded pulse width and a second logical level to a second recorded pulse width.
US07830204B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit device for fast and low power operations, comprising a plurality of circuit blocks of a chip, each of which has a plurality of states with different power consumption values. A power management circuit determines the state of each of the circuit blocks so as not to exceed a maximum power consumption value of the semiconductor integrated circuit device by considering the power consumption of each circuit block and by each state transition in each circuit block. The maximum power consumption value may be preset or adjustable after fabrication.
US07830191B2

A ring oscillator oscillates at a frequency determined by an input bias signal. A bias signal adjusting unit produces a bias signal for the ring oscillator using feedback so that the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator matches a predetermined reference frequency. An individual bias circuit includes a plurality of bias circuits provided for a total of N second variable delay elements, respectively. The bias circuits are configured such that the bias signals can be individually adjusted.
US07830190B2

The present invention provides a data latch circuit. The data latch circuit includes a first data latch unit, a second data latch unit, a third data latch unit, and a phase selector. The first data latch unit is used for latching a first input data according to a first clock signal and outputting a first output data. The second data latch unit is used for latching the first output data according to a second clock signal and outputting a second output data. The third data latch unit is used for latching the second output data according to a third clock signal and outputting an output data. The phase selector is coupled to the second data latch unit for generating the second clock signal to the second data latch unit according to phase relation between the first clock signal and the third clock signal.
US07830187B2

A delay locked loop circuit includes a delay locking unit configured to output a first internal clock and a second internal clock, a rising edge of which is synchronized with that of the first internal clock by delaying a compensated external clock for compensating a skew of a semiconductor memory device; a duty ratio compensation unit configured to generate the compensated external clock by compensating a duty ratio of an external clock of the semiconductor memory device and to compensate duty ratios of the first and second internal clocks; and a clock control unit configured to control an activation state of the second internal clock after the duty ratio compensation of the external clock.
US07830182B2

A comparator has P-channel field effect transistors that are supplied at respective gates with input voltages Vin and Vref, which are objects of comparison, and that act as a differential transistor pair; and N-channel field effect transistors that serve as current channels for respective drain currents of these two P-channel field effect transistors and that act as a current mirror circuit. The comparator outputs a drain voltage Vx of an N-channel field effect transistor as a signal showing a result of comparison between the two input voltages. An N-channel field effect transistor diode-connected to the comparator is interposed between drains of the N-channel field effect transistors.
US07830181B1

A deglitch circuit including signal transmission units is provided. The signal transmission units are connected in serial to form a signal transmission unit string, and a first signal transmission unit of the signal transmission unit string receives a digital signal. Each signal transmission unit includes a first switch, a first delay circuit and a second switch. First and second terminals of the first switch are coupled to a previous signal transmission unit of the signal transmission unit string and an input terminal of the first delay circuit, respectively. The second switch is coupled between an output terminal of the first delay circuit and a first voltage. When the digital signal has a first logic state, the first switch is turned off, and the second switch is turned on. When the digital signal has a second logic state, the first switch is turned on, and the second switch is turned off.
US07830180B2

A noise protector includes a first noise control block for NORing an input signal and a first trimmed input signal and providing an output; a second noise control block for NANDing the input signal and a second trimmed input signal and providing an output; and an output signal generation block for outputting an output signal removed of noise in response to the outputs of the first noise control block and the second noise control block.
US07830178B2

The dynamic circuit includes: a dynamic node; an evaluation circuit for changing the charged state of the dynamic node according to a result of logic evaluation for a plurality of input signals; a control circuit for outputting a control signal of which the logic level changes according to the result of logic evaluation performed by a replica of the evaluation circuit; and an initialization circuit for receiving the control signal from the control circuit and an external control signal, to control start and stop of initialization of the dynamic node according to the control signals.
US07830177B2

A low power output driver includes one of a regulated reduced voltage source that receives a supply voltage and outputs a regulated reduced voltage that is a lower voltage than the supply voltage. The driver also includes a first driver input that receives a first logic signal, a second driver input that receives a second logic signal, a first driver output that outputs a first output signal and a second driver output that outputs a second output signal. The driver includes first, second, third and fourth n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) that are cross-connected between the reduced voltage and the first and second driver outputs or a constant voltage internal ground. When the second input is high, the second NMOS and the third NMOS are gated on, the second driver output is raised to the reduced voltage and the first driver output is pulled down to the constant voltage ground.
US07830174B2

An input/output circuit operable in input and output modes and including an input/output terminal, pull-up and pull-down output transistors, and first and second logic circuits operated in accordance with data and an enable signal. A control circuit maintains the pull-up output transistor in an inactivated state regardless of the voltage applied to the input/output terminal in the input mode. A switch circuit disconnects the first logic circuit from a power supply when an input signal having voltage higher than the power supply voltage of the power supply is input to the input/output terminal in the input mode. A back gate control circuit supplies back gates of P-channel MOS transistors in the first logic circuit and the switch circuit with back gate voltage having the same voltage as the input signal when the input signal is input in the input mode.
US07830169B2

There is provided a current amount adjusting section adjusting a current amount flowing through a power supply line supplying power to an internal circuit which includes a circuit operating based on a clock signal and a ratio of consumed charge amounts by the current flowing at a rising edge of the clock signal and by the current flowing at a falling edge of the clock signal so that noise generated in the power supply line may be restrained.
US07830163B2

The invention discloses a testing circuit board for placing a device under test and further testing the device under test according to a plurality of testing signals generated by a tester. The testing circuit board includes a circuit board and a plurality of sets of sockets. The circuit board includes a plurality of connecting holes. The plurality of sets of sockets are located on a plurality of connecting holes and electrically connects to the device under test via a plurality of connecting interfaces for transferring the plurality of testing signals to test the device under test.
US07830152B2

A system and method for enhanced accuracy in cable diagnostics of cable length. Conventional cable diagnostics such as time domain reflectometry can be used to determine cable length. This conventional technique can have accuracy limitations in certain situation such as with perfectly terminated cable. A cable length can also be determined through the use of link delay measurements that are based on clock synchronization between nodes in a network. Notwithstanding the accuracy issues of these link delay measurements, overall accuracy can be increased through the combination of the two cable length delay measurements into a final estimate.
US07830149B1

A transmitter for use with an underground utilities locator including a portable elongate housing; an electronic circuit mounted in the housing and configured to generate an electrical output signal at a frequency suitable for tracing an underground utility; a pair of springy helical coil type electrical cords each having an inner end connected to the circuit; means electrically connected to an outer end of each of the electrical cords for coupling the predetermined electrical output signal across the underground utility; and the housing having a pair of upwardly opening pockets formed on opposite ends of the elongate housing and each sized to permit the electrical cords to be wrapped into loops and stowed into corresponding ones of the pockets.
US07830148B2

An NMR sample tube for NMR measurement is provided. It includes a plug on both sides or one side of a sample to be measured, in an axial direction of the sample tube. The plug is adjusted to have magnetic susceptibility equal to or substantially equal to that of the sample. A whole shape of the plug and a sample space together is axisymmetric about an axis of the sample tube, and a surface of the plug not abutting the sample space bulges in a direction away from the sample space.
US07830118B2

A battery includes at least one rechargeable battery cell that is operable to store energy. An electronics unit is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein the electronics unit is operable to control an operating condition of the battery, and wherein the electronics unit is inoperable when the energy stored in the at least one rechargeable battery cell is insufficient to operate the electronics unit. A detector component is coupled to the electronics unit and operable to determine that the electronics unit is inoperable. A charge discharge component is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the electronics unit being operable, the charge discharge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell through a first charge path. A trickle charge component is coupled to the detector component and the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, the trickle charge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, through a second charge path that bypasses the electronics unit, that is sufficient to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell such that the electronics unit becomes operable.
US07830112B2

A method for operating a traction converter circuit for coupling to an electric DC voltage network is stated, where the traction converter circuit comprises a network converter, which network converter on the DC voltage side is connected with a DC voltage circuit, wherein the DC voltage circuit can be switched to the electric DC voltage network, a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the network converter on the alternating voltage side is connected with the primary winding of the transformer, a converter unit, which converter unit on the alternating voltage side is connected with the secondary winding of the transformer and where the network converter is controlled by means of a predeterminable network converter control signal (SN) for the setting of the network converter alternating voltage (UG). To simplify the traction converter circuit the network converter control signal (SN) according to the method is a rectangular signal which follows a reference rectangular signal (SClk).
US07830111B2

A power cell system includes a structure that provides multiple power cell locations. The system also includes at least one regenerative power cell, and at least one non-regenerative power cell. The cell locations and power cells are sized and positioned so that each cell location may interchangeably accept either a regenerative power cell or a non-regenerative power cell.
US07830109B2

A movable member is moved in a preset direction in a linear motor. A characteristic-change position-detecting unit detects a position where the magnetic characteristic of the magnets has abruptly changed. The position detected is used as an origin-setting reference position. A reference position for the absolute position of the magnetic linear encoder is set based on the reference position.
US07830104B2

The brushless motor includes a coil array, a magnet array, a magnetic sensor, a drive control circuit for driving the coil array, and a temperature sensor for detecting a detection target temperature associated with either the coil temperature or the driving element temperature. The drive control circuit reduces the effective value of driving voltage supplied to the coil array when coil temperature detected by the temperature sensor has exceeded a prescribed threshold value.
US07830100B2

A system for driving a plurality of lamps may monitor the faults of the lamps by detecting the voltage variance of the first, second and third detecting resistors connected to the low voltage ends of the first and second secondary winding for providing the power to the lamps.
US07830091B2

A plasma display panel includes a front panel and a rear panel. The front panel includes a front substrate and a display electrode. The rear panel includes a rear substrate, a barrier rib, a data electrode, and a phosphor layer. The rear substrate is arranged while facing the front substrate to form a discharge space between the front panel and the rear substrate. The barrier rib is formed at the rear substrate to partition the discharge space, the data electrode is formed while intersecting the display electrode, and the phosphor layer is formed between the barrier ribs. The barrier rib is formed at the divided areas separately in a direction parallel to the data electrode, and the barrier ribs formed at the divided areas separately have different properties among the plurality of areas. A large-screen plasma display panel having a high-resolution display quality is easily realized by the above configuration.
US07830090B2

A light emission device having an evaporating getter unit and a display device utilizing the light emission device as a light source. The light emission device includes a vacuum vessel having first and second substrates facing each other and a sealing member, the first and second substrates having an active area and a non-active area, an electron emission unit located on the first substrate at the active area, a light emission unit located on the second substrate at the active area, a getter unit provided between the first and second substrates at the non-active area, and a barrier disposed between the getter unit and the active area. The barrier blocks diffusion of getter material toward the active area during the getter activating process and prevents (or reduces) a slip or a movement of the getter unit.
US07830086B2

A light emitting device includes an organic light emitting layer disposed on a substrate and first and second electrodes between which the organic light emitting layer is disposed on the substrate. The second electrode is formed on the opposite side to the substrate of the organic light emitting layer. A buffer layer is disposed between the second electrode and the organic light emitting layer and is mainly made of oxide having a smaller quantity of oxygen generated in decomposition upon formation of the buffer layer than that of oxygen generated in decomposition upon formation of the second electrode. Further, the substrate is made of metal.
US07830080B2

In a display device with a pixel constituted using an EL element or the like, leak light from a monitoring element that is provided for correcting changes in the properties of the element due to the temperature change, deterioration, or the like is effectively suppressed. The display device has a structure in which an insulating layer is formed over a substrate and a plurality of light emitting elements each of which has a light emitting layer interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode are formed over the insulating layer. Furthermore, at least part of the plurality of light emitting elements has a structure in which an opening is formed in the insulating layer, and the light emitting layer is formed in the opening region of the insulating layer.
US07830072B2

An electromechanical rotation converter having at least one fastening element, an oscillating element, a connecting element and an electromechanical conversion device. The fastening element is designed to fasten the rotation converter to a rotating body. The connecting element forms a movable connection between the fastening element and the oscillating element, and the movement of the oscillating element drives the electromechanical converter. The connection between the fastening element and the oscillating element is such that the center of mass of the oscillating element follows a curved path in such a way that the path describes the perimeter of a surface, the normal to the surface being at an angle to the axis of rotation that is less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees.
US07830063B2

A machine useful for ship propulsion purposes include a double-sided generator or motor with two concentric air gaps. In one embodiment, the machine includes a double-sided rotor with an inner rotor side and an outer rotor side; and a stator with an inner stator core and an outer stator core, wherein the double-sided rotor is concentrically disposed between the inner stator core and the outer stator core.
US07830057B2

A transverse flux machine (TFM) includes a stator assembly that provides a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits placed circumferentially around a rotor assembly. The plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits being comprised of a first stator segment, a second stator segment, and a plurality of stator yokes. The first stator segment and the second stator segment each have a plurality of poles spaced around a first circumference and a plurality of slots spaced around a second circumference opposite each of the plurality of poles. The plurality of stator yokes each have a first end sized to fit within one of the slots associated with the first stator segment and a second end sized to fit in one of the slots associated with the second stator segment. Positioning of the first and second ends of the stator yokes within the slots of the first and second stator segments, respectively, results in the creation of the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits, each magnetic circuit defined by one of the plurality of poles associated with the first stator segment, one of the yokes, and one of the plurality of poles associated with the second stator segment.
US07830054B2

A spindle motor, obtaining more accurate shaft perpendicularity and more convenient assembling process, is disclosed, the spindle motor includes: a rotor; a bearing housing into which the rotor is inserted; a base plate fixing the bearing housing; a housing guide fixed to the base plate, the housing guide having at least one vertical portion guiding an outer surface of the bearing housing; a printed circuit board mounted on the base plate; and a stator coupled to an outer surface of the bearing housing and supplied with power from the printed circuit board.
US07830051B2

A resolver includes a terminal block having a plurality of terminals integrally formed therein. Each of the terminals has a conductive wire connecting portion arranged to allow a conductive wire of a resolver stator to be fixed thereto and a lead wire connecting portion which allows a lead wire to be connected thereto. Ultrasonic welding is carried out to join the lead wire connecting portion and a connecting end of the lead wire.
US07830041B2

An electric socket is provided. The socket includes a power saving circuit determining operation status of an electronic apparatus or plural electronic apparatus connected to another electric socket according to a load signal to control to supply or automatically interrupt power. It is possible to control power according to operating status of the connected electronic apparatus and to control power supplied to the electronic apparatus connected to a home network. After time has elapsed when the electronic apparatus is not used, power is automatically interrupted so that undesired power consumption due to standby power can be prevented and costs thereof are significantly saved. The electronic apparatus is prevented from accident load inputted from the exterior so that the lifespan of the electronic apparatus can be elongated and user convenience is remarkably improved.
US07830030B2

The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy system wherein when a first settable boundary value (G1) is reached by a first parameter (M1) a process is automatically started whose course is monitored by measuring a second parameter (M2). By comparing the measured values of the second parameter (M2) with a second settable boundary value (G2), the first settable boundary value is changed upon reaching the second boundary value (G2) by the second parameter (M2).
US07830029B2

A wind park system is disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises at least one wind power installation having a generator for the delivery of electrical power to an electrical network, characterized in that the power delivered to the network by the wind park is regulated or adjusted in dependence on the network frequency of the electrical network.
US07830026B2

A semiconductor device with plastic housing composition includes an internal wiring that is electrically insulated from the plastic housing composition by an insulation layer. The plastic housing composition has a high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of expansion, the coefficient of expansion being adapted to the semiconductor chip of the semiconductor device. This is achieved by forming the plastic housing composition with electrically semiconducting and/or electrically conducting filler particles. In particular, this plastic housing composition is advantageously used for semiconductor devices with flip-chip contacts and/or for semiconductor devices which are constructed according to the “universal packaging concept”.
US07830020B2

An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing an electrical interconnect system including an inner lead-finger system and an outer lead-finger system; stacking a first device, a second device, and a third device between and over the electrical interconnect system; connecting the first device and the second device to the inner lead-finger system; and connecting the third device to the outer lead-finger system.
US07830017B2

Provided are a wafer level chip scale package in which a redistribution process is applied at a wafer level, a manufacturing method thereof, and a semiconductor chip module including the wafer level chip scale package. The wafer level chip scale package includes a semiconductor chip having a bonding pad, a first insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor chip so as to expose the bonding pad, a redistribution line disposed on the exposed bonding pad and the first insulating layer, a sacrificial layer disposed below a redistribution pad of the redistribution line, a second insulating layer disposed on the redistribution line so as to expose the redistribution pad and including a crack inducement hole disposed beside the sacrificial layer, and an external connection terminal attached to the redistribution pad.
US07830012B2

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).
US07830008B2

Gold wire for connecting a semiconductor chip basically containing praseodymium in 0.0004 mass % to 0.02 mass % in range and, considering the bonding characteristics, containing beryllium or aluminum or both in limited ranges and, considering the precipitates formed in the gold wire, further containing auxiliary additive elements of calcium, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and samarium in limited ranges.
US07830006B2

A chip scale integrated circuit package includes an integrated circuit chip which has a first face and a second face. A plurality of pillar bumps are formed on the first face of the integrated circuit chip. An encapsulant material encapsulates the sides and the first face of the integrated circuit chip, and the pillar bumps. Upper ends of the pillar bumps remain free from encapsulant material and a substantially planar surface is formed by an upper surface of the encapsulant material and the upper ends of the pillar bumps. A plurality of solder balls are mounted on the substantially planar surface in locations corresponding to the upper ends of the pillar bumps.
US07830003B2

A device according to the present invention includes a MEMS device supported on a first side of a die. A first side of an isolator is attached to the first side of the die. A package is attached to the first side of the isolator, with at least one electrically conductive attachment device attaching the die to the isolator and attaching the isolator to the package. The isolator may include isolation structures and a receptacle.
US07829997B2

A semiconductor device (601) is provided which comprises a substrate (603); a semiconductor device (605) disposed on said substrate and having a first major surface; a first metal strap (615) which is in electrical contact with said substrate and which is adapted to provide power to a first region (608) of said semiconductor device; and a second metal strap (616) which is in electrical contact with said substrate and which is adapted to provide ground to a second region (609) of said semiconductor device.
US07829994B2

A reconfigurable high performance computer occupies less than 360 cubic inches and has an approximate compute power of 0.7 teraflops per second while consuming less than 1000 watts. The computer includes a novel stack of semiconductor substrate assemblies. Some semiconductor substrate assemblies involve field programmable gate array (FPGA) dice that are directly surface mounted, as bare die, to a semiconductor substrate. Other semiconductor substrate assemblies of the stack involve bare memory integrated circuit dice that are directly surface mounted to a semiconductor substrate. Elastomeric connectors interconnect adjacent semiconductor substrates proceeding down the stack. Tines of novel comb-shaped power bus bar assembly structures extend into the stack to supply DC supply voltages. The supply voltages are supplied from bus bars, through vias in the semiconductor substrates, and to the integrated circuits on the other side of the substrates. The power bus bars also serve as capacitors and guides for liquid coolant.
US07829976B2

Microelectronic devices, methods for packaging microelectronic devices, and methods for forming interconnects in microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a microelectronic substrate having a front side and a backside. The substrate has a microelectronic die including an integrated circuit and a terminal operatively coupled to the integrated circuit. The method also includes forming a passage at least partially through the substrate and having an opening at the front side and/or backside of the substrate. The method further includes sealing the opening with a conductive cap that closes one end of the passage while another end of the passage remains open. The method then includes filling the passage with a conductive material.
US07829975B2

A multichip semiconductor device is disclosed in which chips are stacked each of which comprises a semiconductor substrate formed on top with circuit components and an interlayer insulating film formed on the top of the semiconductor substrate. At least one of the chips has a connect plug of a metal formed in a through hole that passes through the semiconductor substrate and the interlayer insulating film. The chip with the connect plug is electrically connected with another chip by that connect plug.
US07829972B2

A semiconductor component has a drift path (4) in a semiconductor body (5) of a semiconductor chip (6). The semiconductor component has an edge area (7) and a cell area (8), which is surrounded by the edge area (7). A trench structure (9), which surrounds the semiconductor component (6) in the edge area (7), is arranged in the edge area (7) of the semiconductor component (6). At least the trench walls (10) are covered by an insulation material (11). The trench structure (9) which surrounds the semiconductor component (6) has overlapping trench zones (12) with semiconductor material (13) arranged between them.
US07829971B2

A semiconductor apparatus is disclosed. The semiconductor apparatus includes an SOI substrate including an active layer, a buried insulation film and a support substrate; a low potential reference circuit part located in the active layer and operable at a first reference potential; a high potential reference circuit part located in the active layer and operable at a second reference potential; a level-shifting element forming part located in the active layer and for providing a level-shift between the first and second reference potentials; and an insulation member insulating first and second portions of the support substrate from each other, wherein locations of the first and second portions respectively correspond to the low and high potential reference circuit parts.
US07829970B2

A junction barrier Schottky diode has an N-type well having surface and a first impurity concentration; a p-type anode region in the surface of the well, and having a second impurity concentration; and an N-type cathode region in the surface of the well and horizontally abutting the anode region, and having a third impurity concentration. A first N-type region vertically abuts the anode and cathode regions, and has a fourth impurity concentration. An ohmic contact is made to the anode and a Schottky contact is made to the cathode. The fourth impurity concentration is less than the first, second and third impurity concentrations.
US07829964B2

A magnetic memory element utilizing spin transfer switching includes a pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer and a free layer structure. The tunneling barrier layer is disposed on the pinned layer. The free layer structure includes a composite free layer. The composite free layer includes a first free layer, an insert layer and a second free layer. The first free layer is disposed on the tunneling barrier layer and has a first spin polarization factor and a first saturation magnetization. The insert layer is disposed on the first free layer. The second free layer is disposed on the insert layer and has a second spin polarization factor smaller than the first spin polarization factor and a second saturation magnetization smaller than the first saturation magnetization. Magnetization vectors of the first free layer and the second free layer are arranged as parallel-coupled.
US07829963B2

A MTJ structure is disclosed in which the seed layer is made of a lower Ta layer, a middle Hf layer, and an upper NiFe or NiFeX layer where X is Co, Cr, or Cu. Optionally, Zr, Cr, HfZr, or HfCr may be employed as the middle layer and materials having FCC structures such as CoFe and Cu may be used as the upper layer. As a result, the overlying layers in a TMR sensor will be smoother and less pin dispersion is observed. The Hex/Hc ratio is increased relative to that for a MTJ having a conventional Ta/Ru seed layer configuration. The trilayer seed configuration is especially effective when an IrMn AFM layer is grown thereon and thereby reduces Hin between the overlying pinned layer and free layer. Ni content in the NiFe or NiFeX middle layer is above 30 atomic % and preferably >80 atomic %.
US07829958B2

A MOS transistor capable of withstanding significant currents, having doped areas corresponding to first and second main terminals of elementary MOS transistors and having, in top view, the shape of parallel strips separated by gate regions; first conductive elements which do not extend on the doped areas corresponding to the second main terminals and dividing into first fingers extending at least partly on the doped areas corresponding to the first main terminals and connected thereto; and second conductive elements which do not extend on the doped areas corresponding to the first main terminals and divide into second fingers extending at least partly on the doped areas corresponding to the second main terminals and connected thereto, the second fingers being at least partly intercalated with the first fingers.
US07829953B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an NMOS region and a PMOS region, a gate insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, an NMOS gate formed on the gate insulating layer of the NMOS region, and a PMOS gate formed on the gate insulating layer of the PMOS region. Any one of the NMOS gate and the PMOS gate includes a one-layered conductive layer pattern, and another of the NMOS gate and the PMOS gate includes a three-layered conductive layer pattern.
US07829942B2

A first transfer transistor includes a first diffusion layer connected to a first bit line, and a second diffusion layer connected to a first storage node, the first diffusion layer is provided in a substrate, the second diffusion layer is provided in a bottom part of a recess provided in the substrate, a channel region of the first transfer transistor is offset with respect to the second diffusion layer toward the first storage node, and the offset part functions as a resistor.
US07829935B2

A semiconductor memory has a composite floating structure in which quantum dots composed of Si and coated with a Si oxide thin film are deposited on an insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, quantum dots coated with a high-dielectric insulating film are deposited on the quantum dots, and quantum dots composed of Si and coated with a high-dielectric insulating film are further deposited. Each of the quantum dots includes a core layer and a clad layer which covers the core layer. The electron occupied level in the core layer is lower than that in the clad layer.
US07829920B2

A photo detector has a sensing TFT (thin film transistor) and a photodiode. The sensing TFT has a gate and a base. The photodiode has an intrinsic semiconductor region electrically connected to the gate and the base of the sensing TFT. The sensing TFT and the photodiode both have a structure comprising low temperature poly-silicon. A display panel contains the photo detector is also disclosed.
US07829916B2

Source and drain electrodes are each formed by an alternation of first and second layers made from a germanium and silicon compound. The first layers have a germanium concentration comprised between 0% and 10% and the second layers have a germanium concentration comprised between 10% and 50%. At least one channel connects two second layers respectively of the source electrode and drain electrode. The method comprises etching of source and drain zones, connected by a narrow zone, in a stack of layers. Then superficial thermal oxidation of said stack is performed so a to oxidize the silicon of the germanium and silicon compound having a germanium concentration comprised between 10% and 50% and to condense the germanium Ge. The oxidized silicon of the narrow zone is removed and a gate dielectric and a gate are deposited on the condensed germanium of the narrow zone.
US07829910B2

Each second electrode formed on a second main surface of a compound semiconductor layer of a light emitting device has an alloyed contact layer disposed contacting the second main surface, aimed at reducing contact resistance with the compound semiconductor layer, and a solder layer connecting the alloyed contact layer to the conductive support. The solder layer forms therein a Sn-base solder layer disposed on the alloyed contact layer side having a melting point lower than the alloyed contact layer, and a Au—Sn-base solder layer disposed contacting the Sn-base solder layer opposed to the alloyed contact layer side, containing total Au and Sn of 80% or more, and having a melting point higher than the Sn-base solder layer. This configuration can provide excellent reliability of bonding between the Au—Sn-base solder layer and the alloyed contact layer, and consequently less causative of delamination of the Au—Sn-base solder layer.
US07829907B2

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting element comprising: a first light emitting unit comprising a light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes; and a second light emitting unit comprising a light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes. In the organic light emitting element, one electrode of the two pairs of electrodes which is positioned on the outermost side has light reflective properties, and the other electrodes have light transmission properties, while a light-transmitting insulating layer is provided between the first and second light emitting units. The insulating layer is formed in a thickness to prevent light emitted by the light emitting layer of the light emitting unit without the light reflective electrode from interfering with other lights, or formed to have properties of scattering the emitted light. Thus, the interference between the lights emitted by the light emitting layers and the other lights is reduced, so that in the organic light emitting element, the angular dependence of light emission spectrum is small, making it possible to adjust color.
US07829903B2

A light emitting apparatus includes a semiconductor light emitting element mounted on a circuit board; a lighting circuit part mounted on the circuit board; and a cover which covers the semiconductor light emitting element and the lighting circuit part. The lighting circuit part converts a voltage inputted from a power source into electromagnetic energy and propagates the converted electromagnetic energy to the semiconductor light emitting element as light emitting energy, and the cover transmits light from the semiconductor light emitting element.
US07829885B2

Disclosed herein are organic memory devices and methods for fabricating such devices. The organic memory devices comprise a first electrode, a second electrode and an organic active layer extending between the first and second electrodes wherein the organic active layer is formed from one or more electrically conductive organic materials that contain heteroatoms and which are configured in such a manner as that the heteroatoms are available for linking or complexing metal atoms within the organic active layer. The metal ions may then be reduced to form metal filaments within the organic active layer to form a low resistance state and the metal filaments may, in turn, be oxidized to form a high resistance state and thereby function as memory devices.
US07829884B2

A non-volatile ferroelectric memory device is proposed which comprises a combination of an organic ferroelectric polymer with an organic ambipolar semiconductor. The devices of the present invention are compatible with—and fully exploit the benefits of polymers, i.e. solution processing, low-cost, low temperature layer deposition and compatibility with flexible substrates.
US07829883B2

Carbon nanotube field effect transistors, arrays of carbon nanotube field effect transistors, device structures, and arrays of device structures. A stacked device structure includes a gate electrode layer and catalyst pads each coupled electrically with a source/drain contact. The gate electrode layer is divided into multiple gate electrodes and at least one semiconducting carbon nanotube is synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition process on each of the catalyst pads. The gate electrode has a sidewall covered by a gate dielectric and at least one semiconducting carbon nanotube adjacent to the sidewall of the gate electrode. Source/drain contacts are electrically coupled with opposite ends of the semiconducting carbon nanotube to complete the device structure. Multiple device structures may be configured either as a memory circuit or as a logic circuit.
US07829877B2

A memory structure has an access transistor connected in series with a programmable resistive element, wherein the programmable resistive element comprises on a semiconductor substrate; an insulated layer with a cavity comprising: a first layer lining the lateral surfaces and the bottom of the said cavity and impermeable to the diffusion of metal; a second layer made of porous material on the said first layer; a third layer of metallic material allowing to realize a contact electrode susceptible to spread within the said formed porous material of the second layer. Diffusion of metallic ions within the said second layer is controlled by the joint action of an electric field and temperature. A manufacturing process is also described.
US07829871B2

An electron beam apparatus such as a sheet beam based testing apparatus has an electron-optical system for irradiating an object under testing with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and projecting an image of a secondary electron beam emitted by the irradiation of the primary electron beam, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron beam image projected by the electron-optical system; specifically, the electron beam apparatus comprises beam generating means 2004 for irradiating an electron beam having a particular width, a primary electron-optical system 2001 for leading the beam to reach the surface of a substrate 2006 under testing, a secondary electron-optical system 2002 for trapping secondary electrons generated from the substrate 2006 and introducing them into an image processing system 2015, a stage 2003 for transportably holding the substrate 2006 with a continuous degree of freedom equal to at least one, a testing chamber for the substrate 2006, a substrate transport mechanism for transporting the substrate 2006 into and out of the testing chamber, an image processing analyzer 2015 for detecting defects on the substrate 2006, a vibration isolating mechanism for the testing chamber, a vacuum system for holding the testing chamber at a vacuum, and a control system 2017 for displaying or storing positions of defects on the substrate 2006.
US07829868B2

A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.
US07829867B2

An apparatus for irradiating blood or blood products, preferably with ultra violet or visible light, to reduce contaminants in the blood or blood products. A removable radiometer having light integrating chambers detects the light intensity, allowing the radiation characteristics of the apparatus to be calibrated. A control circuit uses the measurements to control the delivery of an effective dose of illumination to blood or blood products in a bag or container. One or more light integrating optical chambers in the radiometer allow a single light sensor to sense light across an entire field. Thermistors in the irradiating apparatus or the radiometer or both sense the temperature of photo sensors. The control circuit compensates for temperature-dependant variations in the output of the photo sensors.
US07829861B2

A digital x-ray detector and its fabrication method are disclosed to strengthen an electrical connection between an upper electrode and a lower by employing a multi-contact hole structure and obtaining reliability of a contact hole by electrically connecting the side of the lower line and the upper electrode. A semiconductor layer is inserted at a lower portion of the contact hole to prevent damage of a gate insulating layer possibly caused by an overetch to thus reduce a defective contact.
US07829852B2

In an embodiment of the present invention, a device includes a first etched feature located in a critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) characterization location, the first etched feature having an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section wherein the middle section is severely shrunk relative to a corresponding middle section of a second etched feature having similar dimensions and composition that is not located in a CD-SEM characterization location. In another embodiment of the present invention, the middle section of the first etched feature has a shrinkage carryover exceeding a threshold. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the middle section of the first etched feature exhibits a line edge roughness.
US07829846B2

The present invention achieves accurate quantitative determination without reducing measurement throughput and also without having to add a multi-component reference standard. An analytical instrument of the present invention for determining the concentration of a target compound contained in a target sample includes: a means for ionizing a mixture having a specific compound added to the target sample; a means for performing mass analysis on resulting ions; and a database that stores dependence of signal intensity on the concentration of a specific matrix component for each of the target compound and the addition compound, wherein the database is used to calibrate the concentration of the target compound from a signal derived from the target compound and a signal derived from the addition compound, each signal obtained by the mass analysis means. The present invention achieves a multi-component analyzer using low-cost, high-throughput mass analysis, as compared to conventional technique.
US07829842B2

A method of mass spectrometry having the steps of, in a first cycle: storing sample ions in a first ion storage device; ejecting the stored ions out of the first ion storage device into a separate ion selection device; selecting a subset of the ions in the ion selection device; ejecting the subset of ions selected within the ion selection device to a fragmentation device; directing ions from the fragmentation device back to the first ion storage device without passing them through the said ion selection device; receiving at least some of the ions ejected from the first ion storage device, or their derivatives, back into the first ion storage device; and storing the received ions in the first ion storage device.
US07829838B2

A mobile storage unit system includes a vehicle guide arrangement that navigates a forklift or other vehicle along aisles formed between mobile storage units. The vehicle guide arrangement allows an operator to identify the aisle containing a desired loading or unloading point and the guide arrangement defines a path of travel for the vehicle along that aisle to ensure that the vehicle has sufficient room to perform the loading and unloading functions. The mobile storage unit system may also include one or more perceptible indicators, such as lamps, that provide the operator a signal when an aisle is fully open and ready to receive the vehicle. A corresponding signal may also be provided to the vehicle guide arrangement so that the vehicle is not navigated along an aisle until the aisle is fully open. This ensures that the vehicle has the space needed to maneuver during the loading and unloading process.
US07829833B2

An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup device comprising a bare chip and having an image pickup area and a mount area on the same face; an electric board having the image pickup device mounted thereon; and a support having an opening. The support is disposed on the rear face of the mount surface of the image pickup device such that the rear face of the image pickup device is opposed to and exposed through the opening. The opening is supplied with an adhesive to fix the support to the image pickup device. Thus, the image pickup apparatus to which the support can be fixed with a sufficient adhesive strength can be provided.
US07829826B2

The invention refers to an electric heater for a clothes dryer, said heater comprising at least one heating wire, a ring shaped support structure carrying the at least one heating wire. The at least one heating wire is a flat wire bent into loops.
US07829822B2

An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.
US07829803B2

A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. The material for the one or more sections is formed from a material that deforms with inward movement of either the first segment or the second segment of the keycap. A layer formed by a thickness of the one or more sections of material extending over the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is non-uniform in either dimension or amount of material.
US07829798B2

An electronic control unit includes a printed wiring board (50), electronic components (51 to 53) mounted on the printed wiring board (50), and a synthetic resin coating (57) formed by injection molding to cover the printed wiring board (50) and the electronic component (51 to 53). The electronic components (51 to 53) are housed in a protective case (75) that can resist pressure and heat during the injection molding of the coating (57). Thus, in the electronic control unit, an electronic component is not damaged by formation of a coating by injection molding so that the electronic control unit can always function normally.
US07829794B2

The present invention relates to partially rigid flexible circuits having both rigid portions and flexible portions and methods for making the same.
US07829788B2

Apparatus for coupling a signal between a wiring and a device. Junction box mounting is popular in North America, whereas cavity mounting is popular in Europe and the Middle East. The apparatus includes an adapter and provides universal mounting for specialized faceplates which are designed and intended for junction box mounting. The adapter features clamps for gripping the inner surface of a wall cavity or sleeve and a plate for mounting an faceplate designed for junction box mounting. The plate has mounting points with a nominal center-to-center distance of 3¼ inches, corresponding to the requirements of junction box mounting.
US07829786B2

A sealing system for sealing a component (102) within an electronic device (100) is provided. The system includes one or more apertures (206) within an internal housing (202). Further the system includes an adhesive (602), adhered on a first surface to a ledge (502) and bottom perimeter surface 402 of the component. Furthermore, the system includes an external housing (204). The external housing presses the perimeter of the component onto the ledge.
US07829772B2

Disclosed are photoluminescent particles. The particles include a core nano-sized particle of carbon and a passivation agent bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. The passivation agent can be, for instance, a polymeric material. The passivation agent can also be derivatized for particular applications. For example, the photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles can be derivatized to recognize and bind to a target material, for instance a biologically active material, a pollutant, or a surface receptor on a tissue or cell surface, such as in a tagging or staining protocol.
US07829770B1

An inbred corn line, designated MN7, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line MN7, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line MN7 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred corn line MN7 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred corn line MN7.
US07829768B2

The invention provides seed and plants of the tomato variety designated EX01419137. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato variety EX01419137 and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety EX01419137 with itself or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of tomato variety EX01419137 including the fruit and gametes of such plants. The invention also relates to tomato variety CHI 14-2079. The present invention is also directed to tomato variety CHD 14-2080.
US07829765B2

A soybean cultivar designated S070156 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S070156, to the plants of soybean S070156, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S070156 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S070156 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 S070156, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S070156 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 S070156 with another soybean cultivar.
US07829762B2

The present invention is directed to plants having increased resistance to an imidazolinone herbicide. More partitularly, the present invention includes wheat plants and triticale plants containing at least one IMI nucleic acid such as an imidazolinone resistant Brookton BR-8 or Krichauff K-42 cultivar. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these wheat plants and triticale plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these wheat plants.
US07829755B2

A system and method is provided for producing a safely disposable end product from waste matter containing undesirable materials, such as infectious, biohazardous, hazardous, or radioactive elements. The method comprises the steps of providing a highly alkaline solvent, immersing the waste matter containing the undesirable materials within the highly alkaline solvent, and heating the solvent. The waste matter containing the undesirable materials is allowed to remain within the solvent until digested, thereby forming a solution void of any infectious or biohazardous elements and/or containing a decreased concentration of radioisotope.
US07829754B2

A soil cleaning method (phytoremediation) of absorbing a contaminating substance contained in a contaminated soil by a plant to clean the soil. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of cleaning a contaminated soil which performs cleaning of a soil containing heavy metals in a shorter term than before and, at the same time, utilizes phytoremediation having little influence on the environment. The object is attained by absorbing heavy metals by a plant of Polygonaceae family, Fagopyrum genus, and, at the same time, adding a biodegradable chelating agent to a contaminated soil in order to assist the absorption. And, a biodegradable chelating agent having the high heavy metal dissolving out ability not only enhances the cleaning efficacy but also reduces secondary influence on the environment.
US07829748B1

The invention provides an economic process for the manufacture of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze) by a two stage process. A vapor phase hydrofluorination of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFC-1233zd) into 1-chloro-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244fa) and/or 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) is conducted, followed by the thermal dehydrochlorination of HCFC-244fa and dehydro fluorination of HFC-245fa into HFO-1234ze in the presence of a catalyst which comprises one or more of alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, halogenated metal oxides, zero oxidation state metals, zinc halides, palladium halides, and activated carbon.
US07829744B2

A primary phosphine or a secondary phosphine is reacted with an ester compound selected from the group consisting of; a phosphate triester; a phosphonate diester; a sulfate diester; and a sulfonate ester; to form a phosphonium salt of formula (VII) wherein each of RQ, RX, RY, and RZ is independently hydrocarbyl and X− is a phosphate, phosphonate, sulfate, or sulfonate. These phosphonium salts may find utility in a wide range of applications, including as surfactants, as polar solvents (ionic liquids), as antimicrobial agents, and as a component of spinning finish in polyamide fiber processing.
US07829739B2

The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are ionic liquids, the compositions comprising any of eleven cations combined with any of three fluorinated sulfonated anions. Compositions of the invention should be useful as solvents and, perhaps, as catalysts for many reactions, including aromatic electrophilic substitution, nitration, acylation, esterification, etherification, oligomerization, transesterification, isomerization and hydration.
US07829736B2

Method of performing condensation reactions, acylations or of preparing heterocycles comprising forming cyclic phosphonic anhydride of the formula (III) by a) reacting phosphonic acid derivatives of formula (I) with acetic anhydride at a temperature ranging between 30 and 150° C. while separating a mixture of ethanoic acid and acetic anhydride by means of distillation, b) then reactively distilling the oligomeric phosphonic acid anhydrides of formula (II) obtained in step a) and transforming the same into the corresponding cyclic trimeric phosphonic acid anhydrides of formula (III), wherein n represents a number between 0 and 300 while R represents allyl, aryl, or open-chain, cyclic, or branched C1 to C8 alkyl radicals, aryloxy, allyloxy, or alkoxy comprising open-chain, cyclic, or branched C1 to C8 alkyl radicals. Preferably the cyclic trimeric phosphonic acid anhydrides formed in step b) are immediately dissolved in an organic solvent that exhibits an inert behavior relative thereto.
US07829729B2

Disclosed is a 1-glycidyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine(GDNAZ) of Formula I wherein dinitroazetidine group which is a high energy group having unit structure of explosive moiety is incorporated to a monomer, and the method thereof. By using the GDNAZ of the present invention in the synthesis of energetic binder for high-performance insensitive explosive, an energetic binder with enhanced thermal and storing stability and explosive power can be provided.
US07829727B2

An electronic device including a compound comprising at least one type of an optionally substituted indolocarbazole moiety and at least one divalent linkage.
US07829724B2

The present invention provides novel triazole derivatives as ghrelin analogue ligands of growth hormone secretagogue receptors according to formula (I) that are useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions in mammals, preferably humans, that are mediated by GHS receptors. The present invention further provides GHS receptor antagonists and agonists that can be used for modulation of these receptors and are useful for treating above conditions, in particular growth retardation, cachexia, short-, medium- and/or long term regulation of energy balance; short-, medium- and/or long term regulation (stimulation and/or inhibition) of food intake; adipogenesis, adiposity and/or obesity; body weight gain and/or reduction; diabetes, diabetes type I, diabetes type II, tumor cell proliferation; inflammation, inflammatory effects, gastric postoperative ileus, postoperative ileus and/or gastrectomy (ghrelin replacement therapy).
US07829721B2

The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I), and to their use as caspase-10 inhibitors, especially for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
US07829710B2

The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are ionic liquids, the compositions comprising any of eleven cations combined with any of three fluorinated sulfonated anions. Compositions of the invention should be useful as solvents and, perhaps, as catalysts for many reactions, including aromatic electrophilic substitution, nitration, acylation, esterification, etherification, oligomerization, transesterification, isomerization and hydration.
US07829702B2

A process for preparing optically active trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholine by (i) reacting racemic trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholine with D-mandelic acid, (ii) removing the salt formed from D-mandelic acid and one enantiomer of trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholine from the other enantiomer of trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and (iii) isolating the desired optically active trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholine.
US07829699B2

An efficient synthesis for the preparation of N-[(3R,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-yl]-4-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl)piperidine-1 -carboxamide, by coupling (3R,6S)-3-amino-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-2-one and 2-oxo-1-(4-piperidinyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine dihydrochloride with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (“CDI”) as carbonyl source; and an efficient preparation of the potassium salt of N-[(3R,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-yl]-4-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl)piperidine-1-carboxamide.
US07829697B2

The invention relates to mutant strains of the genus Sphingomonas which have a mutation in at least one gene encoding a protein involved in polyhydroxybutyrate (“PHB”) synthesis that allows the mutant strains to produce PHB-deficient sphingans. The invention is also directed to a process for preparing a clarified sphingan solution comprising heating aqueous sphingan solution, in particular PHB-deficient sphingan solution, to a clarification temperature of about 30° C. to about 70° C., and treating the solution with a clarification agent and enzymes. In addition, the invention is directed to a food or industrial product comprising a PHB-deficient and/or clarified sphingan. One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a clarified, PHB-deficient high-acyl gellan and the processes of making thereof.
US07829696B2

Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for APP.
US07829693B2

The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to at least a part of a target gene and which is no more than 49, preferably less than 25, nucleotides in length, and which comprises a complementary (antisense) RNA strand having a 1 to 4 nucleotide overhang at the 3′-end and a blunt 5′-end. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene, at low dosages (i.e., less than 5 milligrams, preferably less than 25 micrograms, per kg body weight per day). The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene.
US07829686B2

A recombinant Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunit protein resistant to cardiac glycosides, e.g. oubain, is disclosed, as well as methods for its production and use. The resistance to cardiac glycosides are obtained by alterations in the region situated between and including the amino acids 65-133. Such recombinant protein and nucleic acid constructs expressing the same are useful as selection markers in gene therapy and research applications.
US07829675B2

The present invention provides the TWEAK receptor and methods for identifying and using agonists and antagonists of the TWEAK receptor. In particular, the invention provides methods of screening for agonists and antagonists and for treating diseases or conditions mediated by angiogenesis, such as solid tumors and vascular deficiencies of cardiac or peripheral tissue.
US07829656B2

The invention is a method for making condensation polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate polyester. The method includes introducing a catalyst system, which includes a coordination catalyst component and an acid component, to a polycondensation reaction.
US07829654B2

A process for continuous or discontinuous synthesis of elastomeric copolyesters from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyoxytetramethylene glycol is described in which the tetrahydrofuran (THF) obtained as a byproduct in synthesis of polybutylene terephthalate from 1,4-butanediol is rectified and then reacted by ring-opening polymerization to form polyoxytetramethylene glycol which condenses with the free or esterified carboxyl groups of PBT to form the copolyester, whereby chain termination and catalyst deactivation are accomplished by adding 1,4-butanediol without separating the catalyst.
US07829653B2

A horizontal trayed reactor operable to facilitate a chemical reaction in a reaction medium flowing therethrough. The reactor can include a plurality of vertically spaced trays disposed within the horizontally elongated vessel shell. The reaction medium can flow in generally opposite directions on vertically adjacent trays so that the reaction medium flows generally back-and-forth through the reactor.
US07829647B2

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of branched siloxanes containing R—SiO3/2 units, where R=organic radical, wherein straight-chain polysiloxanes containing silane hydrogen in the polymer chain are reacted in the presence of ammonium or metal carboxylates as a catalyst in the absence of hydroxy-functional organic compounds, and to siloxanes thus prepared and the use thereof in the preparation of polyurethane foams and antifoam formulations.
US07829646B2

The present invention is directed to PE-100 ethylene copolymers and pipe made thereof having a Tabor abrasion between about 0.01 and about 0.001 grams lost/1000 revolutions. These copolymers are formed by contacting ethylene with at least one mono-1-olefin comonomer having from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms per molecule in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions in the presence of a hydrocarbon diluent, a catalyst system, and a cocatalyst. Additionally, the comonomers may be selected from mono-1-olefins having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, such as, 1-hexene, 1-butene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene, and 1-decene. Further, these ethylene copolymers may be employed to produce PE-100 pipe having both small diameters and diameters in excess of 42 inches substantially without sagging or other gravitational deformation. Copolymers of ethylene and 1-hexene are disclosed which are used to produce PE-100 pipe.
US07829639B2

A composition for conductive materials comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (A1): wherein: R1 is the same or different and each independently represents a C2-C8 straight-chain alkyl group; R2 is the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group; Y represents a group containing at least one substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring, or substituted or unsubstituted heterocyle; and X1 is the same or different and each represents a substituent represented by the following general formula (A2): wherein n1 is an integer of from 2 to 8.
US07829626B2

The present invention provides aqueous matte coating compositions comprising a binder component B) and a polymeric duller component A) composed of particles of one or more multi-stage copolymer or single stage crosslinked (co)polymer, e.g. crosslinked t-butyl (meth)acrylate, the duller component particles A) having an average diameter of 1-20 μm. Components A) and B) are compatible. Preferably, the duller component A) is acrylic; more preferably, components A) and B) are acrylic. The aqueous compositions provide matte coatings having haptic or feel (soft touch) properties, film and appearance properties, including burnish resistance and low color loss.
US07829623B2

A TPV composition having improved fabricability and surface appearance is achieved by a process for preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition having a dispersed, cross-linked rubber phase in a continuous thermoplastic polypropylene phase comprising: a) providing into melt processing equipment at least the following components; i) at least one thermoplastic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a melt temperature greater than 120° C.; ii) 6-12 wt. %, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic vulcanizate composition, at least one propylene copolymer having from 7 to 30 wt. % ethylene, based upon the weight of the random propylene copolymer, and a melting point less than 120° C.; iii) at least one cross-linkable rubber, where, if including an ethylene copolymer rubber, said copolymer rubber having equal to or more than 40 wt. % the total copolymer rubber weight; b) melt processing the blend of i), ii), and iii) of a); c) dynamically vulcanizing the cross-linkable rubber iii) in the presence of the thermoplastic i) and random copolymer ii); and d) removing a thermoplastic vulcanizate product of c) from the melt processing equipment, wherein the dispersed, cross-linked rubber phase of the product thermoplastic vulcanizate d) consists of particles having an effective diameter not greater than 2 millimicrons.
US07829603B2

A fluorinated ion exchange polymer prepared by grafting at least one grafting monomer on to at least one base polymer, wherein the grafting monomer comprises structure 1a or 1b: wherein Z comprises S, SO2, or POR wherein R comprises a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group of 1 to 14 carbon atoms optionally containing oxygen or chlorine, an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 12 carbon atoms or a substituted aryl group of 6 to 12 carbon atoms; RF comprises a linear or branched perfluoroalkene group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally containing oxygen or chlorine; Q is chosen from F, —OM, NH2, —N(M)SO2R2F, and C(M)(SO2R2F)2, wherein M comprises H, an alkali cation, or ammonium; R2F groups comprises alkyl of 1 to 14 carbon atoms which may optionally include ether oxygens or aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms where the alkyl or aryl groups may be perfluorinated or partially fluorinated; and n is 1 or 2 for 1a, and n is 1, 2, or 3 for 1b. These ion exchange polymers are useful in preparing catalyst coated membranes and membrane electrode assemblies used in fuel cells.
US07829601B2

The invention is directed to a process for preparing a mixture comprising CO and H2 by operating a partial oxidation process of a solid carbonaceous feed, which process comprises the steps of: (a) supplying the solid carbonaceous feed and an oxygen-containing stream to a burner, wherein a CO2 containing transport gas is used to transport the solid carbonaceous feed to the burner; (b) partially oxidizing the carbonaceous feed in the burner wherein a gaseous stream comprising CO and H2 is being discharged from said burner into a reaction zone, wherein the temperature in the reaction zone is from 1200 to 1800° C. and wherein said reaction zone is at least partly bounded by a wall, which wall comprises conduits in which steam is prepared by evaporation of water, resulting in a flow of steam being discharged from said reaction zone; (c) monitoring the conditions in the reaction zone by continually or periodically measuring the rate of the steam flow and using said flow rate as input to adjust the oxygen-to-coal (O/C) ratio in step (a).
US07829598B2

The present invention relates to a method of producing a nano-sized material such as in the form of a colloidal suspension of nano-sized particles and/or as a coating and/or as a thin film comprised by such nano-sized particles on the surface of a substrate. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the present invention.
US07829592B2

Catechol protected levodopa diester prodrugs pharmaceutical, compositions comprising catechol protected levodopa diester prodrugs, and methods of using such prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions for treating diseases such as Parkinson's disease are provided.
US07829586B2

Disclosed is an aryl-substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound represented by the formula (I) below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This compound serves as nociceptin receptor antagonist and is useful as a pharmaceutical agent for treating diseases associated with a nociceptin receptor. (I) [in the formula, A1, A2 and A3 independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, and one or two of A1, A2 and A3 represent a carbon atom; R1 represents a lower alkyl group or the like; R2 represents a phenyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or the like; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or the like; and R4 represents a lower alkyl group or the like.]
US07829580B2

A compound having the general formula (I) wherein R1 represents C1-C6 alkyl, etc., R2 represents hydrogen, C2-C7 alkanoyl, C7-C11 arylcarbonyl, the formula R4—(CH2)l—, etc., R3 represents C6-C10 aryl, etc., X1, X2, X3, X4 and X5 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, etc., and n represents an integer of 0 to 2, pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof or prodrugs thereof. They have excellent inhibition of platelet activation, etc. and are useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agents for diseases related to thrombus or embolus formation.
US07829579B2

Provided is a method of increasing the stability of wild-type β-glucocerebrosidase. Also provided are methods of treating and/or preventing an individual having a neurological disease in which increased expression or activity of β-glucocerebrosidase in the central nervous system would be beneficial. This method includes administering an effective amount of a pharmacologic chaperone for β-glucocerebrosidase, with the proviso that the individual does not have a mutation in the gene encoding β-glucocerebrosidase. Further provided are β-glucocerebrosidase inhibitors which have been identified as specific pharmacologic chaperones and which have been shown to increase activity of β-glucocerebrosidase in vivo in the central nervous system.
US07829550B2

The invention provides the use of a cyclodextrin compound for the manufacturing of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of bronchial inflammatory diseases, particularly for asthma.
US07829543B2

Disclosed are methods of treating bacterial infections including those caused by multidrug resistant bacteria using polyamine efflux pump inhibiting compounds, including for example N-benzylated polyazaalkanes, N-benzylated polyaminoalkanes, or mixed N-benzylated poly(aza/amino)alkanes, optionally in combination with other drugs such as antibiotics, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US07829542B2

Methods and compositions for treating or ameliorating diseases and other conditions, such as infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and allergies are provided. The methods employ cyclic AGPs for selectively stimulating immune responses in animals and plants.
US07829535B2

Methods for promoting osteogenesis to accelerate or enhance bone fracture healing, treat bone defects, and enhance bone formation are disclosed. The methods modulate an arachidonic acid metabolic or signaling pathway in general, and, in particular, utilize 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. These molecules can be delivered alone or in combination with one or more agents that inhibit bone resorption, regulate calcium resorption from bone, enhance bone accumulation, enhance bone formation, induce bone formation, impair growth of microorganisms, reduce inflammation, and/or reduce pain.
US07829530B2

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for treating Type II diabetes in an animal, comprising conjointly administering to the animal metformin and an inhibitor of dipeptidylpeptidase IV or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount sufficient to treat Type II diabetes of the animal but not sufficient to suppress the animal's immune system.
US07829529B2

The present invention relates to use of FVII and/or FVIIa and/or another TF agonist and/or FVIIai and/or another TF antagonist in therapeutic treatment of pathological conditions that can be related to cell migration or treated by specific regulation of cell migration or chemotaxis.
US07829524B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides having antimicrobial activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US07829506B1

Aqueous fluids for circulation through a well during drilling operations, especially drilling operations where shale and another clay bearing formations are encountered, and methods for circulating such clay stabilizing drilling fluids are provided for. The drilling fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying polymer, a starch, and a chloride-free clay stabilizer. In one embodiment, the starch is selected from the group consisting of potato and corn starch and mixtures thereof and is present in relatively high amounts, i.e., starch in amounts from about 6 to about 18 lb/barrel of fluid, and stabilizer in amounts up to about 3% by volume of fluid. Other embodiments provide concentrations of polymer, starch, and clay stabilizer effective to provide the fluid with clay swelling of about 10% or less, preferably about 5% or less, and shale disintegration of about 10% or less, preferably about 5% or less. Preferably the novel fluids also comprise an environmentally friendly lubricant and surfactant.
US07829502B2

A method for identifying aptamers that bind to target molecules may include contacting an oligonucleotide library with target molecule and digesting unbound oligonucleotides with one or more endonucleases, one or more exonucleases, or one or more endonucleases in combination with one or more exonucleases. A method for identifying aptamers may further include optionally subjecting selected aptamers to one or more rounds of selection under conditions of increased stringency. A method for identifying aptamers may include yet further amplifying selected aptamers. The described methods may be performed in a screen for identifying aptamers either alone or in combination with other methods typically employed in the art for selecting aptamers (such as, e.g., SELEX). Also contemplated herein are systems and kits for accomplishing the above.
US07829499B2

The invention aims at providing a granular pesticide preparation which can be prepared by a simple and easy process and attain optimum controlled-release of pesticidal active ingredients and which is reduced in environmental load and in sufferings induced by pesticidal active ingredients and exerts stable drug effects. The invention relates to a granular pesticide preparation which consists of both non-disintegrating pesticide granules comprising an acid pesticidal active ingredient, a cationic surfactant, and a basic substance and causing no disintegration in water within 30 minutes and a pesticidal active ingredient and which has a particle size of 0.3 to 3 mm in diameter or of 0.6 to 3 mm in breadth and 2 to 10 mm in length and the property of falling into water after the application on water surface and disintegrating in water within 30 minutes.
US07829497B2

There are described thermal imaging members and thermal imaging methods utilizing unsymmetrical rhodamine compounds. The rhodamine color-forming compounds exhibit a first color when in a crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in an amorphous form.
US07829496B2

The present invention discloses a method for preparing platinum (Pt) based nano-size catalyst which is useful as an electrode catalyst of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). This method includes the implementation of a reduction reaction of a platinum precursor and an optional ad-metal precursor with a reducing agent in a solvent and in the presence of a stabilizer to form a suspension containing colloidal particles of platinum or platinum/ad-metal; mixing the suspension with a co-solvent; subjecting the resultant mixture to a centrifugal treatment to form a platinum or platinum/ad-metal colloidal particle portion and a liquid portion, repeating the co-solvent mixing and centrifugal treatment to the platinum or platinum/ad-metal colloidal particle portion until the resultant liquid portion no longer contains the product of the reduction reaction; and drying the resultant platinum or platinum/ad-metal colloidal particle portion to obtain a platinum based nano-size catalyst.
US07829495B2

The invention comprises an olefin polymerization process comprising contacting ethylene alone or with one or more olefinically unsaturated comonomers with a Group 3-6 metallocene catalyst compound comprising one π-bonded ring having a C3 or greater hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl or hydrocarbylgermyl substituent said substituent bonded to the ring through a primary carbon atom; and, where the compound contains two π-bonded rings, the total number of substituents on the rings is equal to a number from 3 to 10, said rings being asymmetrically substituted where the number of substituents is 3 or 4. The invention process is particularly suitable for preparing ethylene copolymers having an MIR less than about 35, while retaining narrow CD even at high comonomer incorporation rates, and with certain embodiments providing ethylene copolymers having improved melt strength with the low MIR.
US07829481B2

This invention concerns a flame-resistant garment having an outer shell fabric comprising 50 to 95 parts by weight of a polypyridobisimidazole fiber having an inherent viscosity of greater than 20 dl/g and 5 to 50 parts by weight of polybenzimidazole fiber.
US07829480B2

The present invention is to provide a printed circuit board (PCB) supporting woven fabric and a PCB having the same. The PCB includes a supporting woven fabric, a filling resin body enveloping the supporting woven fabric and at least one signal trace arranged on the surface of the filling resin body. The supporting woven fabric is made by a number of warp fiberglass strands and weft fiberglass strands interlaced mutually, wherein each of the warp fiberglass strands initially crosses above one weft fiberglass strand to separately form a bump upwardly and passes through under the next at least two weft fiberglass strands. The invention aims to decrease the number of the bumps bulged thereof to make the PCB improved in effectiveness and speed of signal transmission.
US07829475B2

The present invention relates to control of copper contamination to semiconductor substrates upon operation of a heat treatment apparatus which is a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and which is constructed with quartz products having been contaminated with copper when machined. The quartz product is placed in a heating atmosphere on the stage where it is not still used for a heat treatment for semiconductor substrates. Baking gases including a hydrogen chloride gas and a gas for enhancing activity of the hydrogen chloride gas, for example, an oxygen gas, are then supplied to the quartz product. Consequently, the copper concentration in the region from the surface to the 30 μm depth of the quartz product can be controlled below 20 ppb, preferably below 3 ppb. The baking process may be carried out before or after assembling the quartz product into the heat treatment apparatus.
US07829473B2

A first conductive layer is formed, a composition layer over the first conductive layer is formed by discharging a composition in which nanoparticles comprising a conductive material covered with an organic material are dispersed in a solvent, and the composition layer is dried. Subsequently, pretreatment is performed in which the organic material covering the nanoparticles, which are positioned on a surface of the composition layer, is decomposed, and then baking is performed. In this manner, a second conductive layer is formed by sintering nanoparticles which are positioned on a surface of the composition layer. A memory layer is formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer using the nanoparticles covered with the organic materials to which the pretreatment is not performed.
US07829471B2

A method and apparatus for process integration in manufacture of a photomask are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cluster tool suitable for process integration in manufacture of a photomask including a vacuum transfer chamber having coupled thereto at least one hard mask deposition chamber and at least one plasma chamber configured for etching chromium. In another embodiment, a method for process integration in manufacture of a photomask includes depositing a hard mask on a substrate in a first processing chamber, depositing a resist layer on the substrate, patterning the resist layer, etching the hard mask through apertures formed in the patterned resist layer in a second chamber; and etching a chromium layer through apertures formed in the hard mask in a third chamber.
US07829470B2

A contact hole, after hole etching, is subjected to light etching using a process gas containing a fluorocarbon-based gas and oxygen, with the oxygen being enriched, under condition without applying bias. Then, reaction products (5) having C—F bond and adhered to an interior of a hole (3) are removed using plasma treatment. After that, deposits (4) that have been left at a hole bottom are removed by wet processing. Then, a conductive material is buried in the hole to form a contact plug (7).
US07829469B2

A method and system for adjusting and controlling the plasma uniformity in a plasma processing system is described. The plasma processing system includes an electron source electrode to which direct current (DC) power is coupled in order to generate a ballistic electron beam during the etching of the substrate. A ring electrode, provided about a periphery of the substrate and opposite the electron source electrode, is utilized to create a ring hollow cathode plasma to affect changes in the distribution of plasma density.
US07829468B2

A method of fault detection for use in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The method comprises monitoring plasma parameters within a plasma chamber with a single planar ion flux (PIF) probe, analyzing the resulting information, measuring the plasma parameters as a function of time and analyzing the resulting data. The data can be observed, characterized, compared with reference data, digitized, processed, or analyzed to reveal a specific fault. The PIF probe is preferably positioned at a grounded surface within the reactor. Chamber faults that can be detected include a build-up of process by-products in the process chamber, a helium leak, a match re-tuning event, a poor stabilization rate, and a loss of plasma confinement.
US07829464B2

A method of planarizing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second components provided on the surface of the substrate, and a first material provided between and above the first and second components. The first component has a height greater than a height of the second component. The method includes performing a first polishing step on the semiconductor device to remove the first material above a top surface of the first component, to remove the first material above a top surface of the second component, and to level the top surface of the first component. The method also includes performing a second polishing step on the semiconductor device to planarize the top surfaces of the first and second components.
US07829463B2

A plasma processing method performs a desired plasma process on substrates by using a plasma generated in a processing space. A first and a second electrode are disposed in parallel in a processing vessel that is grounded, the substrate is supported on the second electrode to face the first electrode, the processing vessel is vacuum evacuated, a desired processing gas is supplied into the processing space formed between the first electrode, the second electrode and a sidewall of the processing vessel, and a first radio frequency power is supplied to the second electrode. The first electrode is connected to the processing vessel via an insulator or a space, and is electrically coupled to a ground potential via a capacitance varying unit whose electrostatic capacitance is varied based on a process condition of the plasma process performed on the substrate.
US07829459B2

A method and apparatus for partially strapping two polysilicon lines, each having a first end and second end, uses a metal line having a plurality of spaced apart metal segments with each metal segment partially strapping a different portion of a polysilicon line. The metal segments are arranged from the first end to the second end with the signals propagating from the second end to the first end. Where two metal segments are used, the segments have lengths of x = 2 ⁢ ⁢ L 7 and L-X where L is the length between the first end and the second end. Where three segments are used, the segments have lengths of X=0.25 L, Y=0.48 L, and Z=0.27 L.
US07829453B2

By controlling the cooling rate during the oxidation process for forming an oxide layer on solder balls and by selecting an elevated temperature as an initial temperature of the oxidation process, a reliable yet easily removable oxide layer may be obtained. Consequently, yield losses during the flip chip assembly process may be significantly reduced.
US07829448B1

Disclosed herein are a structure of a metal oxide semiconductor pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (MOS-PHEMT) suitable for use in a semiconductor device, such as a single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch of a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC); and a method of producing the same. The MOS-PHEMT structure is characterized in having a gate dielectric layer formed by atomic deposition from a gate dielectric selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, HfO2, La2O3, and ZrO2, and thereby rendering the semiconductor structure comprising the same, such as a high frequency switch device, to have less DC power loss, less insertion loss and better isolation.
US07829443B2

The present invention relates to the growing of nitride semiconductors, applicable for a multitude of semiconductor devices such as diodes, LEDs and transistors. According to the method of the invention nitride semiconductor nanowires are grown utilizing a CVD based selective area growth technique. A nitrogen source and a metal-organic source are present during the nanowire growth step and at least the nitrogen source flow rate is continuous during the nanowire growth step. The V/III-ratio utilized in the inventive method is significantly lower than the V/III-ratios commonly associated with the growth of nitride based semiconductor.
US07829441B2

A thermosetting die-bonding film having excellent adhesion to an adherent and preferable pickup properties and a dicing die-bonding film having the thermosetting die-bonding film are provided. The thermosetting die-bonding film of the present invention is a thermosetting die-bonding film that is used when manufacturing a semiconductor device and contains 15 to 30% by weight of a thermoplastic resin component and 60 to 70% by weight of a thermosetting resin component as main components, wherein a surface free energy before heat curing is 37 mJ/m2 or more and less than 40 mJ/m2.
US07829436B2

A processing time required for regeneration of a layer transferred wafer is reduced and the regeneration cost is lowered, while a removal amount at the regeneration is decreased the number of regeneration times is increased. A main surface of a semiconductor wafer (13) has a main flat portion (13d) and a chamfered portion (13c) formed in the periphery of the main flat portion (13d), an ion implanted area (13b) is formed by implanting ions only into the main flat portion (13d), a laminated body (16) is formed by laminating the main flat portion (13d) on a main surface of a support wafer (14), and moreover, the semiconductor wafer (13) is separated from a thin layer (17) in the ion implanted area (13b) by heat treatment at a predetermined temperature so as to obtain a thick layer transferred wafer (12), which is to be regenerated. The main flat portion (13d) of the semiconductor wafer (13) is formed to have a ring-shape step (13e) protruding from the chamfered portion (13c), and the semiconductor wafer (13) is separated from the thin layer (17) on the whole surface of the ion implanted area (13b) so that no step is generated in the periphery thereby to obtain the layer transferred wafer (12).
US07829434B2

To provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer having a small and uniform thickness over an insulating film. Further, time of adding hydrogen ions is reduced and time of manufacture per SOI substrate is reduced. A bond layer is formed over a surface of a first semiconductor wafer and a separation layer is formed below the bond layer by irradiating the first semiconductor wafer with H3+ ions by an ion doping apparatus. H3+ ions accelerated by high voltage are separated to be three H+ ions at a semiconductor wafer surface, and the H+ ions cannot enter deeply. Therefore, H+ ions are added into a shallower region in the semiconductor wafer at a higher concentration than the case of using a conventional ion implantation method.
US07829429B1

One or more trenches can be formed around a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, and an insulating layer can be formed under the first portion of the semiconductor substrate. The one or more trenches and the insulating layer electrically isolate the first portion of the substrate from a second portion of the substrate. The insulating layer can be formed by forming a buried layer in the substrate, such as a silicon germanium layer in a silicon substrate. One or more first trenches through the substrate to the buried layer can be formed, and open spaces can be formed in the buried layer (such as by using an etch selective to silicon germanium over silicon). The one or more first trenches and the open spaces can optionally be filled with insulative material(s). One or more second trenches can be formed and filled to isolate the first portion of the substrate.
US07829416B2

A gate electrode 18 formed on a silicon carbide substrate 11 includes a silicon lower layer 18A and a silicide upper layer 18B provided on the silicon lower layer 18A, the silicide upper layer 18B being made of a compound of a first metal and silicon. A source electrode 1as formed on the surface of the silicon carbide substrate 11 and in contact with an n type source region and a p+ region contains second metal silicide different from the first metal silicide. Side faces of the silicon lower layer 18A are covered with an insulator.
US07829409B2

In accordance with the present invention, a novel method to fabricate topological capacitors is provided. The fabrication method of the instant invention is based upon a reversed surface topology utilizing deep reactive ion etching to establish conductive capacitive elements and non-conductive capacitive element groups.
US07829406B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes forming an insulating film above a semiconductor substrate having a recess and stopper film formed above the semiconductor substrate excluding the recess, thereby filling the recess with the insulating film, performing a first polishing by polishing the insulating film by means of a chemical mechanical polishing method using a first polishing liquid containing cerium oxide and first anionic surfactant, thereby obtaining a flattened surface, and performing a second polishing by polishing the flattened insulating film using a second polishing liquid containing cerium oxide and a second anionic surfactant having a smaller molecular weight than that of the first anionic surfactant under a polishing condition which differs from that of the first polishing, thereby exposing the stopper film.
US07829405B2

Conduction between source and drain or emitter and collector regions is an important characteristic in transistor operation, particularly for lateral bipolar transistors. Accordingly, techniques that can facilitate control over this characteristic can mitigate yield loss by promoting the production of transistors that have an increased likelihood of exhibiting desired operational performance. As disclosed herein, well regions are established in a semiconductor substrate to facilitate, among other things, control over the conduction between the source and drain regions of a lateral bipolar transistor, thus mitigating yield loss and other associated fabrication deficiencies. Importantly, an additional mask is not required in establishing the well regions, thus further mitigating (increased) costs associated with promoting desired device performance.
US07829403B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A first active region and a second active region are defined in a substrate. An electrode covering the first active region and the second active region is formed on the substrate. A first sacrificial layer is formed on the second active layer. A first work function electrode is formed on the first active layer by performing a first doping process to a portion of the electrode. The first sacrificial layer is removed. A second sacrificial layer is formed on the first active layer.
US07829400B2

In fabricating a semiconductor device, an element forming surface formation step of forming a plurality of element forming surfaces of different heights on a semiconductor layer to have different levels, a semiconductor element formation step of forming a plurality of semiconductor elements and, one in each of a corresponding number of regions of the semiconductor layer, each region including an associated one of the plurality of element forming surfaces, a level-difference compensation insulating film formation step of forming a level-difference compensation insulating film on the semiconductor layer to cover the semiconductor elements and have a surface with different levels along the element forming surfaces, a release layer formation step of forming a release layer in the semiconductor layer by ion-implanting a peeling material through the level-difference compensation insulating film into the semiconductor layer, and a separation step of separating part of the semiconductor layer along the release layer are performed.
US07829395B2

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a display device which can reliably form electrodes in a thin film transistor. A method for manufacturing a display device includes the steps of: preparing a substrate having a sequentially stacked body formed of a gate signal line, an insulation film, a semiconductor layer and a conductor layer; forming a drain electrode and a source electrode of a thin film transistor at least in a region where the thin film transistor is formed in a pattern in which one of the drain electrode and the source electrode is formed in an approximately U shape having an open-ended one end side and a connecting portion on another end side such that one electrode surrounds a distal end portion of another electrode as viewed in a plan view and a projecting portion is formed on a side of the connecting portion opposite to another electrode, wherein the respective electrodes are formed by selectively etching the conductor layer using a photoresist film as a mask; and etching the semiconductor layer using a deformed photoresist film which is formed by directly reflowing the photoresist film as a mask.
US07829388B2

The invention discloses an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit package comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto and a first hole passing through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface. A plurality of conductive lines is disposed on a portion of the second surface of the substrate. A semiconductor chip is disposed above the second surface of the substrate, wherein a chamber is formed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate. A plurality of bonding pads are disposed on a side of the semiconductor chip which is toward the second surface of the substrate, wherein at least one of the bonding pads are electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductive lines. A first heat dissipation layer is disposed in the first hole, and extends into the chamber. A method for fabricating the integrated circuit package is also provided.
US07829387B2

An electronic apparatus includes metal wiring plates placed together in the same plane to provide a wiring circuit, electronic devices mounted to the wiring plates through a solder, a case having a base portion and columnar portions extending from the base portion. The wiring plates are fixed to the columnar portions such that the wiring circuit is spaced from the base portion. The wiring plates have an enough thickness to resist a large current for operating the electronic devices and to release heat generated by the electronic devices. The wiring circuit is spaced from the base portion of the case so that the heat generated by the electronic devices is released in the space efficiently. The electronic devices are soldered to the wiring plates at once in a thermal reflow process.
US07829382B2

A method for making a multipackage module that has multiple die of various types and having various functions and, in some embodiments, the module includes a digital processor, an analog device, and memory. A first die, having a comparatively large footprint, is mounted onto first die attach region on a surface of a first package substrate. A second die, having a significantly smaller footprint, is mounted upon the surface of the first die, on a second die attach region toward one edge of the first die. The first die is electrically connected by wire bonds to conductive traces in the die-attach side of the substrate. The second die is electrically connected by wire bonds to the first package substrate, and may additionally be electrically connected by wire bonds to the first die.
US07829380B2

A method of forming flip chip bumps includes forming a plurality of metallization pads on a die. In another step, a structured layer having pores is formed on the die and metallization pads where the pads on the die are exposed through the pores. In yet another step, the die is transferred to a chamber having a liquid metal bath. In another step, a first pressure is created within the chamber followed by dipping the die in the liquid metal bath. In another step, a second pressure is created within the chamber such that liquid metal fills portions of the pores thereby forming metal pillars connected to the pads.
US07829369B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming openings in which a metal-containing structure is formed over a region of a semiconductor substrate. A patterned metal-containing material is formed over the metal-containing structure, with the metal-containing material having a gap extending therethrough. An entirety of the metal-containing structure is removed through the gap to leave an opening over the region of the semiconductor substrate. The region of the semiconductor substrate may comprise CMOS sensors, and one or both of filter material and microlens material may be formed within the opening.
US07829366B2

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) component 20 includes a portion 32 of a MEMS structure 30 formed on a semiconductor substrate 34 and a portion 36 of the structure 30 formed in a non-semiconductor substrate 22. The non-semiconductor substrate 22 is in fixed communication with the semiconductor substrate 34 with the portion 32 of the MEMS structure 30 being interposed between the substrates 34 and 22. A fabrication method 96 entails utilizing semiconductor thin-film processing techniques to form the portion 32 on the semiconductor substrate 34, and utilizing a lower cost processing technique to fabricate the portion 36 in the non-semiconductor substrate 22. The portions 32 and 36 are coupled to yield the MEMS structure 30, and the MEMS structure 30 can be attached to another substrate as needed for additional functionality.
US07829363B2

Disclosed are apparatus and methods that provide for electrical contacts in a substrate. For example, the apparatus may comprise a trench formed in a substrate, with an electrical contact pad formed on interior walls of the trench that comprises a narrowed opening. A conductive wire is squeezed into the trench that is secured by mechanical stress resulting from material deformation. One exemplary method comprises depositing metal on walls of the trench such that a narrowed opening is provided, and disposing a conductive wire in the trench so that it contacts the deposited metal and is secured by mechanical stress resulting from material deformation. Another exemplary method comprises providing a substrate having a trench formed therein, placing a conductive wire in the trench, and depositing metal atoms into the trench to bury the wire and provide exposed metal on a surface of the substrate.
US07829360B2

A method of nanomachining is provided. The method includes plunging a nanometer-scaled tip into a surface of a substrate at a first location in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface, thereby displacing a first portion of the substrate with the tip. The method also includes withdrawing the tip from the substrate in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction. The method further includes moving at least one of the tip and the substrate laterally relative to each other. In addition, the method also includes plunging the tip into the substrate at a second location in a third direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction, thereby displacing a second portion of the substrate with the tip and withdrawing the tip from the substrate in a fourth direction that is substantially opposite to the third direction.
US07829348B2

The present invention provides a new class of Raman-active reagents for use in biological and other applications, as well as methods and kits for their use and manufacture. Each reagent includes a Raman-active reporter molecule, a binding molecule, and a surface enhancing particle capable of causing surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The Raman-active reporter molecule and the binding molecule are affixed to the particle to give both a strong SERS signal and to provide biological functionality, i.e. antigen or drug recognition. The Raman-active reagents can function as an alternative to fluorescence-labeled reagents, with advantages in detection including signal stability, sensitivity, and the ability to simultaneously detect several biological materials. The Raman-active reagents also have a wide range of applications, especially in clinical fields (e.g., immunoassays, imaging, and drug screening).
US07829347B2

A diagnostic test kit that provides an integrated system for accurately detecting a test analyte over a broad range of possible concentrations is provided. One feature of the integrated system is that it is capable of indicating whether an analyte is within the “hook effect” region. Based on this indication, a technique may be selected for correlating a measured signal intensity to an analyte concentration or range of concentrations. For example, when it is determined that the test sample falls outside the “hook effect” region, the analyte concentration may be determined using one portion of a dose response curve. On the other hand, when it is determined that the test sample falls within the “hook effect” concentration, the analyte concentration may be determined using another portion of the dose response curve. Alternatively, the sample may simply be diluted for re-performing the assay. Regardless of whether the test sample is within or outside of the “hook effect” concentration, another feature of the integrated detection system of the present invention is that it is internally calibrated to provide a more accurate quantitative or semi-quantitative result to a user.
US07829346B2

Disclosed herein is a method for extracting a biosubstance from a root of a hair, including the step of using as the hair a hair that has pulling force of at least a predetermined reference value to pull out the hair.
US07829339B2

The content of casein in milk is determined by two measurements of infrared absorbance in a milk sample by infrared spectrometry before and after a separation of the casein. The casein content is calculated by use of absorbance data recorded during the two absorbance measurements. The new method is considerable faster than the known wet-chemical methods, such as the normal wet chemical reference method for casein determination in milk using a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the milk sample, then a coagulation of the milk, and finally a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the filtrate. Further the new method provides a more reliable accuracy than the know determination using a single infrared analysis of a milk sample.
US07829324B2

The present invention relates to a method for the microbiological isomerization of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids using an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid racemase, the enzymes used for this method and microorganisms which express a suitable racemase activity, a screening method for microorganisms with alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid racemase activity, the nucleic acid sequences encoding this enzyme, expression vectors, recombinant microorganisms which express this racemase, and methods for the production or isolation of a protein with alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid racemase activity.
US07829323B2

The invention relates to flow-through devices for mixing fluids and uses thereof for mixing and for lysing cells to release biological compounds of interest. The invention particularly encompasses flow-through methods for mixing and chemical methods for the isolation and purification of plasmid DNA from cell culture.
US07829322B2

A host microorganism capable of increasing productivity of a protein or polypeptide, a recombinant microorganism obtained by introducing a gene encoding a protein or polypeptide into the host microorganism, and a method for producing a protein or polypeptide using the recombinant microorganism are provided.Also provided is a recombinant microorganism obtained by introducing into a host microorganism a gene encoding a heterologous protein or polypeptide, wherein in said host microorganism the Bacillus subtilis aprX gene or a gene corresponding to the aprX gene has been deleted or knocked out, and a method for producing a protein or polypeptide using the recombinant microorganism.
US07829320B2

The invention relates to new asparaginases having improved properties, preferably improved thermotolerance, such as improved activity at high temperatures and/or improved thermostability. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such improved asparaginases, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the asparaginases, in particular for reduction of acrylamide in foods. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing asparaginase variants having improved properties.
US07829317B2

The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and substrates that can be used for, for example, immobilizing biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to surfaces coated with a polymer according to the present invention. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to methods for thermochemically and/or photochemically attaching molecules to a surface at a high density.
US07829315B2

A process is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters. More specifically, carboxylic acid esters are reacted with an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity. The present perhydrolase catalysts are classified as members of the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) based on the conserved structural features. Further, disinfectant formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US07829310B2

Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNA's, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNA's/synthetases are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins using these orthogonal pairs.
US07829306B2

A gene encoding a production amount-potentiating factor is introduced into an animal cell to transform the cell. Alternatively, a protein production gene and the gene encoding the production amount-potentiating factor are introduced into the animal cell to transform the cell. Herein, as the production amount potentiating factor, there is used a factor having caspase activity inhibiting activity and/or protein biosynthesis activity potentiating action, for example, baculovirus P35. Further, the animal cell is cultured by a culturing method under a condition that apoptosis is not induced, so that a protein is mass-produced.
US07829300B2

A method of measuring the activation or deactivation of G(alpha)i- or G(alpha)o-coupled receptors, and methods of identifying agonists or antagonists of such receptors.
US07829296B2

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a KIF18A polypeptide being expressed in mesenchymal stem cells is disclosed. Methods of detecting same are disclosed as well as methods of using same for modulating estrogen signaling in cells.
US07829294B2

The present invention is directed to a monoclonal antibody against a soluble fibrin, which specifically recognizes a conformation-changed site newly occurred in a C-terminal region of an Aα-chain of the soluble fibrin formed through thrombin digestion of fibrinogen. The present invention is also directed to a hybridoma which produces the antibody, an immunological assay method employing the antibody, and a method for evaluating hypercoagulability in a test sample by measuring the soluble fibrin level in the sample with the assay method. Through employment of the monoclonal antibody of the present invention, soluble fibrin on which plasmin has not acted, which reflects exclusively initial hypercoagulability, can be specifically detected.
US07829291B2

The present invention provides for the simultaneous assessment of a plurality of tissue regions or microregions, the benefit being homogeneity of the sampling, both in terms of tissue content and timing. Discrete regions of a tissue sample, such as those demarcated by microwells formed within the tissue itself or tissue plugs removed from the tissue in a spatially referenced fashion, can be treated with one or more physical or chemical treatments to liberate target molecules of interest. Subsequent analysis of said target molecules by, e.g., mass spectroscopy, permits identification of a variety of biological parameters, including those associated with disease or therapy.
US07829288B2

Methods are provided for accurately predicting efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Methods of the invention increase the positive predictive value of chemosensitivity assays by assessing both the ability of a chemotherapeutic to destroy cells and the genetic propensity of those cells for resistance. Results obtained using methods of the invention provide insight into the in vivo effectiveness of a therapeutic, and lead to more effective chemotherapeutic treatment.
US07829285B2

Methods and kits are provided for diagnosing, monitoring, or predicting the conditions of pre-eclampsia, fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, and pre-term labor in a pregnant woman, as well as for detecting pregnancy in a woman, by quantitatively measuring in the maternal blood the amount of one or more mRNA species encoding human chorionic gonadotropin β subunit (hCG-β), human placental lactogen (hPL), human corticotropin releasing hormone (hCRH), KiSS-1 metastasis-suppressor (KISS1), tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TPFI2), placenta-specific 1 (PLAC1), or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and comparing the amount of the mRNA species with a standard control.
US07829280B2

A method of conducting a biochemical assay that allows for a reduction of assay interferences. The method comprises treating a mixture of cell sample and cell constituents solubilizing agent, with an insoluble agent prior to conducting the assay. There is also provided a device as well as a kit for carrying out such assays.
US07829277B2

Gene expression profiles produced in response to lunasin exposure, wherein such gene expression profiles correlate with anti-neoplastic activity, methods for using such expression profiles for screening potential anti-neoplastic agents, and methods for treatment and monitoring of a subject having a neoplastic disease.
US07829268B2

A method of selectively removing a sacrificial material on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate. Thereafter, the sacrificial layer is selectively decomposed at a temperature less than the temperature required to thermally decompose the sacrificial layer by selectively exposing the sacrificial layer to UV radiation.
US07829267B2

A stamper is formed so that a thickness between a concave/convex pattern formation surface, where a concave/convex pattern is formed, and a rear surface gradually decreases in a predetermined area of the stamper. The predetermined area corresponds to an area where pressure is likely to be concentrated when the concave/convex pattern of the stamper is used to form a concave/convex pattern on a substrate. A method of forming a concave/convex pattern uses such stamper, and a method of manufacturing an information recording medium uses a concave/convex pattern formed by such method.
US07829265B2

A board interconnection structure having a first printed wiring board in which a first conductive circuit is arranged on a first insulating layer, the first conductive circuit having, on an end portion thereof, a first connection terminal in which an upper surface width is narrower than a bottom surface width; a second printed wiring board in which a second conductive layer having a second connection terminal is arranged on a second insulating layer; and a connection layer that forms fillets along longitudinal side surfaces of the first connection terminal, and interconnects the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal. The first connection terminal may have a projection portion.
US07829262B2

Methods of forming electrically conductive and/or semiconductive features for use in integrated circuits are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used, in combination with pitch-reduction techniques, to create densely-packed features. The features can have a reduced pitch in one direction and a wider pitch in another direction. Conventional photo-lithography steps can be used in combination with pitch-reduction techniques to form elongate, pitch-reduced features such as bit-line contacts, for example.
US07829259B2

A resin for photoresist compositions is disclosed with excellent resolution and line edge roughness characteristics. A photoresist composition and a method for forming a resist pattern using such a resin are also disclosed. The resin has a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom at a polymer terminal, and the carbon atom in the α-position to the hydroxyl group has at least one electron attractive group.
US07829258B2

Record material imageable with a laser beam. The material is a substrate such as paper or polyolefin film having provided on at least one surface thereof a coating containing a solvent-soluble or disperse-type dye suitable for coloring plastics or polymers. Typical solvent-soluble and disperse-type dye include monoazo dyes, diazo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, coumarin dyes, quinoline dyes, xanthene dyes, and naphthalimide dyes. The record material does not show visible dye specks in the coating layer on the substrate because the dye has a very small average particle size—less than 50 microns. No more than 1% of the dye particles are larger than 100 microns. Also, method for imaging a substrate using heat energy by applying heat energy to the described record material to bring about a temperature in the coating greater than the melting temperature of the dye, causing color to become visible in the record material.
US07829254B2

The present invention aims at providing non-magnetic toner which is excellent in fixing property and charge property and capable of inhibiting occurrence of scumming, as well as an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the non-magnetic toner.A non-magnetic toner comprising: a toner base particle which comprises a binding resin, and a colorant; and external additives,wherein a surface of the toner base particle contains at least a resin having at least silanol group, and the external additives contain at least particles composed of silicon oxide.
US07829250B2

In accordance with the invention, there are xerographic photoreceptors, image forming apparatus, and methods of forming an image on image. The xerographic photoreceptor can include a substrate and a conductive ground plane having an optical transparency disposed over the substrate, the conductive ground plane including a carbon nanotube layer, such that machine cycling of the xerographic photoreceptor can produce less than approximately a 10% change in the optical transparency of the conductive ground plane after about 100,000 or more machine cycles. The xerographic photoreceptor can also include a photosensitive layer disposed over the conductive ground plane, wherein the photosensitive layer can include a charge generator material and a charge transport material.
US07829247B2

A photomask includes a transparent mask substrate, and a plurality of square mask cells provided on the mask substrate. Each mask cell includes at least one of a light transmitting region and a light shielding region. A planar region (in which the mask cells are formed) of the mask substrate includes a first region, a second region surrounding the first region, and a third region outside the second region. The first region includes a first group of mask cells transmitting lights of a first light intensity greater than zero and less than or equal to 1. The second region includes a second group of mask cells transmitting lights of a second light intensity greater than zero and less than the first light intensity. The third region includes a third group of mask cells transmitting lights of a third light intensity greater than or equal to zero and less than the second light intensity.
US07829238B2

In order to prevent an electrolyte membrane from being broken, and make an assembling steps of a cell easy, in a fuel cell provided with a membrane electrode complex in which catalyst layers are respectively arranged on both surfaces of a electrolyte membrane, first and second gas diffusion layers which are arranged on both surfaces of the electrode complex, separators for respectively supplying reaction gas to the first and second gas diffusion layers, and a gasket for sealing the reaction gas, the gasket is formed on a surface of the gas diffusion layer so as to oppose to the separator, at least the gasket forming portion of the gas diffusion layer has a lower void content than the portion in contact with the catalyst layer, and the gasket arranged in the first and second gas diffusion layers is integrally formed at least via a through hole passing through the first and second gas diffusion layers.
US07829234B2

A technique for controlling the relative humidity of a cathode airflow to a fuel cell stack that includes compensating for valve non-linearities. The cathode input air flows through a water vapor transfer unit where it is humidified. The humidified cathode exhaust from the fuel cell stack is output to the water vapor transfer unit to provide the water vapor for humidifying the cathode input airflow. A first control valve controls the flow of the cathode exhaust through the water vapor transfer unit and a second control valve controls the flow of the cathode exhaust that by-passes the water vapor transfer unit to control both the relative humidity of the cathode input airflow and the pressure within the stack. By compensating for the non-linearity, the first and second valves control the relative humidity of the cathode airflow without changing the cathode output resistance.
US07829230B2

A method for optimizing a fuel cell diffusion media having a spatially varying mass transport resistance is provided. The method includes at least two passes where a first-pass D/Deff profile for the fuel cell diffusion media is provided and applied to a computational model of the fuel cell having a baseline variable profile. At least one first-pass variable profile resulting from the application of the first-pass D/Deff profile to the computational mode is calculated and compared to a desired variable range. The first-pass D/Deff profile is refined, if necessary, to provide a second-pass D/Deff profile. A relative performance of the fuel cell with a second-pass variable profile resulting from an application of the second-pass D/Deff profile is determined. The second-pass D/Deff profile is refined, if necessary, until the second-pass variable profile has a desirable performance. An effective D/Deff profile is thereby provided.
US07829228B2

A system and method for reducing RH cycling of the membranes in a fuel cell stack. A control algorithm damps a power request signal using a first order filter during low power transients so that the fuel cell stack continues generating power at a higher rate than is requested. The excess power generated by the stack is used to recharge a battery in the fuel cell system. The damped power signal is weighted so that more fuel cell stack power is provided for a low battery state of charge unless stack power is provided for a high battery state of charge.
US07829221B2

A nickel-zinc galvanic cell is provided, having a zinc oxide negative electrode, a nickel oxide positive electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte. Chemical additives are placed in each of the negative and positive electrodes. The positive nickel hydroxide electrode contains a mixture of cobalt oxide contained within a nickel oxide matrix in the range of about 1% to 10%, and cobalt metal in the range of about 1% to 10%, by weight. The negative zinc oxide electrode may contain oxides other than the oxide of zinc, which have redox potentials which are negative of −0.73 volts. Also, the metal oxide additives to the negative zinc oxide electrode are such as to inhibit release of soluble cobalt from the nickel oxide negative electrode prior to a formation charge being applied to the electrochemical cell.
US07829220B2

To provide a hydrogen storage alloy for an alkaline battery capable of having high performance of power characteristics much more beyond the related-art range, and a production method thereof, as well as an alkaline battery by investigating the constituent ratios of the A2B7-type structure and the A5B19-type structure.The hydrogen storage alloy for an alkaline battery of the present invention includes: an element R selected from the Group IV and the rare earth elements including Y and excluding La; and an element M consisting of at least one of Co, Mn, and Zn. The hydrogen storage alloy is represented by general formula: LaαR1−α−βMgβNiγ−η−εAlηMε (wherein α, β, γ, η, ε satisfy numerical formulae: 0≦α≦0.5, 0.1≦β≦0.2, 3.7≦γ≦3.9, 0.1≦η≦0.3, 0≦ε≦0.2); and the constituent ratio of the A5B19-type structure is 40% or more in the crystal structure thereof.
US07829211B2

The present invention provides a system and method for passive thermal-fluids management in a liquid feed fuel cell. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for passive thermal-fluids management in a direct methanol fuel cell having a methanol storage medium and a methanol and water mixing medium. The fuel cell may also include a methanol distribution medium that facilitates uniform distribution of methanol to the mixing medium and the anode, wherein the methanol and water are used for fuel by the direct methanol fuel cell.
US07829208B2

A magnetic recording media with a multilayer structure and methods for forming the media are described. The magnetic recording media includes a substrate, an underlayer on top of the substrate and a magnetic layer over the underlayer. The underlayer includes a CrN film formed by sputter depositing chromium in the presence of nitrogen or nitrogen containing compounds.
US07829204B2

A material for organic electroluminescence device with specific structure having poor symmetry. An an organic electroluminescence device comprising a cathode, an anode and an organic thin film layer which is sandwiched between the cathode and the anode and comprises at least one layer, wherein at least one layer in the organic thin film layer contains a material for the organic electroluminescence device described above. An organic electroluminescence device with excellent efficiency of light emission, without pixel defects and which is superior in heat resistance is obtained.
US07829202B2

A large-heat-input butt-welded joint of welded structures prepared by butt-welding high-strength steel plates over 50 mm in thickness, having excellent brittle fracture resistance, is characterized by: (a1) the hardness of the weld metal is not more than 110% of the hardness of the base metal or (a2) the hardness of the weld metal is not less than 70% and not more than 110% of the hardness of the base metal, and, as required, (b) the width of the weld metal is not more than 70% of the plate thickness of the base metal, (c) the width of the region affected by welding whose hardness is softened to not more than 95% of the hardness of the non-heat-affected base metal has a width not less than 5 mm, and/or (d) the prior austenite grain size in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) contacting the welding fusion line is not more than 200 μm.
US07829198B2

An oil-repellent coating layer 2 is disposed on both surfaces of a lens material 1 consisting of glass or a plastic. Furthermore, a minute particle layer 3 in which minute particles of a metal oxide or minute particles of a fluoride, or both, are dispersed is formed on the surface of the oil-repellent coating layer 2, and a resin layer 4 consisting of an organic compound is disposed on the surface of the minute particle layer 3. Since the adhesion between the resin layer 4 and the two-sided adhesive tape that is used when the lens is set in the lens edging machine is good, axial shifting tends not to occur during working.
US07829196B2

A hard tissue repairing material includes zirconia as a base material. A surface of the base material has a hydrophilic group. The hydrophilic group is bonded to zirconium atom in the base material. The base material may contain at least an ionic component that is selected from a group consisting of calcium ion, sodium ion, potassium ion, and phosphate ions within the surface. A hard tissue repairing material may include zirconia as a base material and a layer of a main component of an apatite. The layer of the apatite may be formed on a hydrophilic group bonded to zirconium atom in the base material.
US07829186B2

A porous film with chemical resistance of this invention includes a porous film base covered with a chemical-resistant polymeric compound and has a multiplicity of communicating micropores having an average pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm. The chemical-resistant polymeric compound can be, for example, any of phenolic resins, urea resins, melamine resins, benzoguanamine resins, polyimide resins, epoxy resins, benzoxazine resins, polypropylene resins, polyurethane resins, fluororesins, alkyd resins, cellulose acetate resins, phthalic resins, maleic resins, and silicone resins.
US07829183B2

Improved methods for manufacturing silicon carbide rings using chemical vapor deposition. Cylindrical tubes are used as deposition substrates and the resulting material deposited on the inside surface of cylindrical tubes or on the outside surface of cylindrical mandrels, or both, is sliced or cut into the desired ring size and shape. The resulting rings have a crystal growth that is oriented substantially planar to the finished article. The invention also relates to nitrogen doped silicon carbide material, as well as to silicon carbide structures having axes of grain growth substantially parallel to the plane of the structure and to each other, and having rotational orientation that is substantially random with respect to the axes of grain growth of the grains.
US07829182B2

A coated printing paper offering high gloss, no mottled impression, sufficiently practical levels of printability in terms of ink-drying property and surface peel strength, and good productivity achieved by elimination of deposits on the calender rolls, wherein the coated printing paper comprises a base paper and a coating layer comprising pigment and adhesive formed on the base paper, and wherein a surface layer comprising 100 weight-parts of thermoplastic copolymer with a glass-transition temperature of 80° C. or above and 3 to 100 weight-parts of surface sizing agent of styrene-acrylic, olefin or styrene-maleic acid copolymer type is formed on the coating layer.
US07829169B2

An information recording medium ensuring high recording and erase function and excellent archival characteristic at a high linear velocity and over a wide range of linear velocities is provided. Such a medium is obtained by constructing a recording layer which has a composition that can generate phase change as a whole, of a first through an M-th constituent layers (wherein M is an integer of 2 or greater) which are stacked in a thickness direction, such that elemental compositions of contiguous an m-th constituent layer and a (m+1)th constituent layer are different from each other (wherein m is an integer and satisfies 1≦m≦M) assuming that the constituent layer located at an m-th position from a laser light incident side is the m-th constituent layer. In this information recording medium, at least one m-th constituent layer constituting the recording layer preferably includes at least one element selected from Te, Bi, Sb, Ge, In, Ga, Al, Sn, Pb, Se and Si.
US07829168B2

A batch of wafers is temporarily stalled during a Double Pattern Technology (DPT) process before a temporary representation of a second of to-be-overlaid patterns is permanently combined with a first of the patterns. Sampled ones of the stalled wafers are inspected to determine if sufficiently close alignment is present between the two patterns. If excessive misalignment is detected (e.g., by SEM microscopy), the second but still temporary pattern representation is erased from all wafers of the batch and the batch is routed for rework and corrected reestablishment of the temporary representation of the second of to-be-overlaid patterns.
US07829163B2

The present invention provides a shrink sleeve for use on a closure of an article. The present invention does so by providing a decorated closure for an article, such as a container, used to package an item or items. The decorated closure includes a shrink sleeve and a closure for an article. The closure has a top end, a bottom end, and a side surface. The closure may further include a centerpoint of the top end and a centerpoint of the bottom end with a longitudinal axis passing therethrough. The shrink sleeve is shrunk around at least the side surface of the article, and includes at least one visible decoration on a surface of the shrink sleeve.
US07829162B2

A thermal transfer printing medium that contains a thermal transfer layer which contains a first taggant and colorant, wherein: the first taggant comprises a fluorescent compound with an excitation wavelength selected from the group consisting of wavelengths of less than 400 nanometers, wavelengths of greater than 700 nanometers. When the thermal transfer layer is printed onto a white polyester substrate with a gloss of at least about 84, a surface smoothness Rz value of 1.2, and a reflective color represented by a chromaticity (a) of 1.91 and (b) of −6.79 and a lightness (L) of 95.63, when expressed by the CIE Lab color coordinate system, and when such printing utilizes a printing speed of 2.5 centimeters per second and a printing energy of 3.2 joules per square centimeter, a printed substrate with certain properties is produced. The printed substrate has a reflective color represented by a chromaticity (a) of from −15 to 15 and (b) from −18 to 18, and the printed substrate has a lightness (L) of less than about 35, when expressed by the CIE Lab color coordinate system. When the printed substrate is illuminated with light source that excites the first taggant with an excitation wavelength selected from the group consisting of wavelengths of less than 400 nanometers, wavelengths greater than 700 nanometers, the printed substrate produces a light fluorescence with a wavelength of from about 300 to about 700 nanometers.
US07829159B2

A method of forming an organosilicon oxide film by plasma CVD includes: (i) adjusting a temperature of a susceptor on which a substrate is placed to lower than 300° C.; (ii) introducing at least tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and oxygen into a reactor in which the susceptor is disposed; (iii) applying high-frequency RF power and low-frequency RF power; and (iv) thereby depositing an organosilicon oxide film on the substrate.
US07829155B1

The present invention provides a new monomer and methods of using the monomer to fabricate robust polymer surface coatings with controlled thicknesses between 1 and 5 nanometers. The coatings are composed of a new material containing polymerized monomers of 4-vinylbenzenepropanethiol. The polymer surface coating may be applied to metal and silicon. The method includes exposing a metal substrate to a solution of the monomer in hexanes in order to deposit a monolayer of the monomer onto the metal surface. The substrate is then irradiated with ultraviolet radiation in order to graft a thin polymer coating onto the surface. The procedure can be repeated in order to control the thickness of the coating between about 1 nm and 5 nm. Alternatively, thermally initiated polymerization or deposition of partially oligomerized monomers onto the surface provides nanothin coatings with identical performance. The coating provides complete surface coverage, is extremely robust, and exhibits excellent insulating and anti-corrosive properties.
US07829154B2

To provide a (homogeneous) particle deposit without any impurity contamination, on which only particles with a desired size are deposited. A solution, with particles dispersed in a solvent, is jetted as a flow of fine liquid droplets from a tip part of a capillary, and the jetted fine liquid droplets are electrically charged. This flow of the droplets is introduced into a vacuum chamber through a jet nozzle, as a free jet flow. The free jet flow that travels in the vacuum chamber is introduced into an inside of a deposition chamber, inside of which is set at lower pressure, through a skimmer nozzle provided in the deposition chamber, as an ion beam. Subsequently, by an energy separation device, only particles having particular energy are selected from the electrically charged particles in the flow, and are deposited on a deposited body disposed in an inside of the deposition chamber.
US07829153B2

The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.
US07829151B2

The invention relates to a method for modifying piece surfaces consisting in bringing pieces into contact with at least one type of a modifying agent in such a way that the modification of the surface is carried out.
US07829150B2

Systems and methods for preparing inorganic-organic interfaces using organo-transition metal complexes and self-assembled monolayers as organic surfaces. In one embodiment, a silicon wafer is cleaned and reacted with stabilized pirhana etch to provide an oxide surface. The surface is reacted with the trichlorosilyl end of alkyltrichlorosilanes to prepare self assembling monomers (SAMs). The alkyltrichlorosilanes have the general formula R1-R—SiCl3, where R1 is —OH, —NH2, —COOH, —SH, COOCH3, —CN, and R is a conjugated hydrocarbon, such as (CH2)n where n is in the range of 3 to 18. The functionalized end of the SAM can optionally modified chemically as appropriate, and is then reacted with metal-bearing species such as tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium, Ti[N(CH3)2]4, (TDMAT) to provide a titanium nitride layer.
US07829147B2

A method for hermetically sealing a device without performing a heat treatment step and the resulting hermetically sealed device are described herein. The method includes the steps of: (1) positioning the un-encapsulated device in a desired location with respect to a deposition device; and (2) using the deposition device to deposit a sealing material over at least a portion of the un-encapsulated device to form a hermetically sealed device without having to perform a post-deposition heat treating step. For instance, the sealing material can be a Sn2+-containing inorganic oxide material or a low liquidus temperature inorganic material.
US07829145B2

Apparatus and methods for distributing gases into a processing chamber are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for processing a substrate includes delivering a processing gas into a chemical vapor deposition chamber through a first gas pathway that includes flow through a first plurality of apertures in a blocker plate, the blocker plate creating a pressure drop of at least approximately 0.8 torr thereacross, reacting the processing gas to deposit a material on a substrate surface, removing the substrate from the chamber, delivering a cleaning gas into the chamber through a second gas pathway around the blocker plate bypassing the blocker plate and through a second plurality of apertures formed in the blocker plate, and reacting the cleaning gases with deposits within the chamber to etch the deposits from the chamber.
US07829139B2

A new method of making self-assembled nanoparticle wires involves: (1) at about ambient temperature and at or near atmospheric pressure, immersing a hydrophilic solid substrate at a non-horizontal angle (e.g., vertically) into a suspension of nanoparticles in a solvent, the suspension having a negative meniscus, the immersion forming a solid-liquid-air interface at the meniscus of the suspension; (2) gradually exposing the immersed substrate to air by gradually removing (preferably evaporating) the suspension, thereby causing deposition of the nanoparticles at a first location on the substrate at the meniscus, thereby forming a first nanoparticle wire on the substrate; (3) after a first deposition time period, rapidly removing a portion of the suspension, thereby causing deposition to stop and then re-start at a second location on the substrate at the meniscus; (4) continuing to gradually expose the immersed substrate to air by gradually removing the suspension for a second deposition period, thereby forming a second nanoparticle wire on the substrate; and optionally (5) repeating steps (3) and (4) one or more times to form one or more successive nanoparticle wires on the substrate. The above method can also be used to form integrated nanoparticle wire arrays.
US07829136B2

The invention relates to fuel cells and methods of making bipolar fuel cell electrodes. The invention provides a method of producing bipolar fuel cell electrodes, including providing a collector having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, coating the first side with a first active material, coating the second side with a second active material, and compressing the coated collector to form a bipolar cell electrode. The invention also provides a method of producing bipolar fuel cell electrodes wherein the first side of the collector is first coated with the first active material and compressed at a first pressure, and subsequently the second side of the collector is coated with the second active material and compressed at a second pressure. The invention further provides an improved bipolar electrode for fuel cells.
US07829134B2

A method for producing a solid electrolyte material region for a memory element of a solid electrolyte memory cell. A first material is formed in substantially pure form. A thermal treatment is carried out in the presence of at least one second material, and the chalcogenide material of the solid electrolyte material region thereby being produced.
US07829126B2

Disclosed are infant formulas and corresponding methods of using them to promote retinal health and vision development in infants. The formulas, which are free of egg phospholipids and comprise fat, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals, including docosahexaenoic acid and, on a ready-to-feed basis, at least about 50 mcg/liter of lutein, wherein the weight ratio of lutein (mcg) to docosahexaenoic acid (mg) is from about 1:2 to about 10:1. The formulas are also believed to be especially useful in reducing the risk of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.
US07829122B2

The invention concerns a microgranule consisting of a core coated with at least a coating layer, said coated core comprising at least an active principle. The invention is characterised in that the core and said coating layer contain each between 80 and 95 wt. % of active principle, the complement to 100% consisting of at least a binding agent, and the coated core has a substantially spherical shape. The invention also concerns the method for making such microgranules.
US07829120B2

The invention relates to a once a day formulation of trazodone or a trazodone derivative. The formulation contains trazodone or a trazodone derivative and a controlled release excipient so that, once administered orally, the trazodone or the trazodone derivative is maintained at a therapeutic plasma concentration from at least 1 hour to at least 24 hours after initial administration. After administration, the initial therapeutic action takes effect within the first hour and lasts at least about 24 hours. This therapeutic effect remains relatively and substantially stable for the remaining period of 24 hours. The formulations can be used for treating depression and/or sleeping disorders.
US07829117B2

Novel compositions and formulations are disclosed that have use as toxicity-reducing agents for various chemotherapeutic agents and as treatment for certain diseases and conditions. The compositions of matter are amino acid and peptide heteroconjugated disulfides of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium.
US07829116B2

The present invention relates to novel adhesive-forming compositions of silylated polyurethane prepolymer blended with pre-formed adhesives, and pressure sensitive adhesives containing the same. The silylated polyurethane prepolymer is obtained from the silylation of a polyurethane prepolymer derived from the reaction of polybutadiene polyol and polyisocyanante, where the polybutadiene polyol possesses a primary hydroxyl group content of from about 0.1 to about 2.0 meq/g.
US07829112B2

The invention relates to an drug delivery device and a method for delivering multiple drugs over a prolonged period of time. The drug delivery device has two or more unitary segments comprising a drug-permeable polymeric substance, wherein at least one of the segments further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent. The invention also relates to a method for the treatment of a benign ovarian secretory disorder in a female mammal, a method of contraception, and a method of relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal, perimenopausal and post-menopausal periods in a woman.
US07829110B2

A surgical implant with a basic structure, preferably configured as an implant mesh, contains an anabolic steroid and a corticosteroid. The implant is preferably designed to release these active substances after implantation. It becomes incorporated rapidly and effectively, without any undesired scar contraction occurring.
US07829109B2

Catheter injectable depot compositions are provided that include a bioerodible, biocompatible polymer, a solvent having miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7 wt. % at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the polymer and form a gel therewith, a thixotropic agent, and a beneficial agent. The solvent comprises an aromatic alcohol, an ester of an aromatic acid, an aromatic ketone, or mixtures thereof. The compositions have substantially improved shear thinning behavior and reduced injection force, rendering the compositions readily implanted beneath a patient's body surface by injection.
US07829108B2

Methods are provided for producing a bioscaffold from natural tissues by oxidizing a decellularized tissue to produce a bioscaffold having pores therein. The pore size and porosity is increased to better accommodate intact cells so that live cells can better infiltrate and inhabit the bioscaffold. The bioscaffold may be freeze-dried or lyophilized, sterilized and (optionally) aseptically packaged for subsequent use. A further aspect of the present invention is a bioscaffold produced by the processes described herein. Methods of treatment using the bioscaffold as a graft or as a biomedical implant for implantation are also provided. Also provided are methods of seeding a bioscaffold with mammalian cells, wherein the seeding carried out either in vitro or in vivo, and wherein a bioscaffold produced as described herein is utilized for said seeding.
US07829106B2

Among cleansing cosmetics for the purpose of removing makeup, the aqueous type cleansing cosmetics containing no oil at all or a small amount of oil have had a disadvantage that remover capability is weak even though they give reduced oily feel after cleansing. The liquid oil-based makeup remover has a low viscosity so that there has been a disadvantage in usefulness that the liquid oil-based makeup remover drips off upon taking on hand. An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for cosmetics which is excellent in usefulness, has excellent affinity to makeup soil, quickly suspends soil, and is excellent in stability and rinsability.A composition for cosmetics is characterized in that the composition for cosmetics comprises a polyglycerol fatty acid ester obtained from a polyglycerol having a hydroxyl value of 1200 or less and primary hydroxyl groups in an amount of 50% or more of the total hydroxyl groups and one or more kinds of fatty acids having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, is excellent in stability, and has a viscosity of from 100 to 5000 mPa·s at 25° C., and whereby the above-mentioned problems are solved.
US07829098B2

Methods for preparing an herbal powder extract from a polysaccharide-peptide rich mushroom, including Coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi), are disclosed. A more effective, highly pure Yunzhi powder extract, methods of preparing and using the same in ameliorating cancerous cell proliferations and hepatitis and are also disclosed.
US07829095B2

A monoclonal antibody which inhibits the blood clotting factor VII-activating protease and its proenzyme and a blood clotting factor VII-activating protease, stabilized by the addition of said monoclonal antibody, and its proenzyme are described. A suitable monoclonal antibody is produced by hybridoma cell line DSM ACC 2533. The application of the inhibitory, monoclonal antibody in the stabilization of blood clotting preparations and in preparations for reducing the coagulability of the blood is disclosed.
US07829091B2

The present invention provide purified Flt4 receptor tyrosine kinase polypeptides and fragments thereof, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, antibodies that specifically bind such polypeptides, and uses therefor.
US07829083B2

A novel gene apparently encoding a transmembrane glycoprotein has been successfully isolated by constructing a cDNA library of 4 kb or above in size from mRNA expressed in human adult brain and analyzing the structures of the cDNAs contained within said library by the shotgun method. The novel gene shows brain-specific expression and the protein encoded by said gene has a typical PDZ binding motif.
US07829079B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for administration of Lactobacillus iners alone or together with at least one other probiotic organism such as Bifordobacterium, or another Lactobacillus for reduction of the risk of urogenital infection and concomitant restoration and/or maintenance of a healthy urogenital flora. A method of treatment of vaginal infections is also contemplated.
US07829068B2

A novel cosmetic bronzing agent based on dihydroxyacetone. the bronzing agent contains 0.1-4.5 wt. % dihydroxyacetone (DHA) mounted in a lamellar structure, 0.15-3.5 wt. % free dihydroxyacetone, whereby the ratio between mounted lamellar DHA and free DHA is located in the region of 1:1.5 -1:0.25 and the total amount of DHA is equal to or less than 5 wt, %, also containing 0.01-10 wt % phospholipids and up to 100 wt % cosmetic auxiliary agents, carrier substances, additional active ingredients and mixtures thereof. The bronzing agent has a particularly durable, even and intensive synergistic action.
US07829067B2

A composition and method for treating periodontal infections and gingivitis includes an extract of Centipeda cunninghami, coenzyme Q10, aloe vera and folic acid. The composition also contains additional plant extracts and nutrients that are effective in cell reproduction, wound healing and provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. The composition is applied to the teeth and gums to inhibit bacterial growth and reduce inflammation of the gums.
US07829064B2

Disclosed are compositions that include anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the immunoconjugates and using the immunoconjugates in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The compositions may be part of a kit for administering the anti-CD74 immunoconjugates compositions in therapeutic and/or diagnostic methods.
US07829063B2

The present application discloses methods for identifying inhibitors with high binding-affinity for the carbonic anhydrase-IX (CA-IX) enzyme using click chemistry and uses the candidates thereof as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents.
US07829056B2

Disclosed herein is a method of forming a guanidine group on carbon nanotubes to improve the dispersibility of carbon nanotubes, a method of attaching carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups to a substrate, and carbon nanotubes and a substrate manufactured by the above methods. The method of forming the guanidine group on the carbon nanotubes includes forming a carboxyl group on the carbon nanotubes, and forming the guanidine group on the carboxyl group of the carbon nanotubes. In addition, the method of attaching the carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups to the substrate includes coating a substrate with a polymer having crown ether attached thereto, drying the polymer layer having crown ether attached thereto formed on the substrate to be semi-dried, and coating the semi-dried polymer layer with a solution including carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups dispersed therein. The carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups, which are manufactured by the method of the current invention, are hydrogen bonded with the solvent molecule capable of reacting with the guanidine group to form the hydrogen bond, and thus, are uniformly dispersed in the solvent. Further, by using the properties of the guanidine group capable of being selectively combined with crown ether, the carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups are aligned perpendicularly to the substrate at regular intervals thereon.
US07829052B2

A process for initiating a reaction between methanol and a peroxide to produce a gas, which comprises contacting methanol and peroxide in the liquid phase and at a pressure equal to, below or above atmospheric pressure in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one group 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 transition metal.
US07829023B2

A test strip with a covering layer having a novel vent. The vent divides the inventive covering layer into two parts and provides an opening that allows air to escape as fluid enters a cavity or sample receiving chamber formed in the test strip. In preferred embodiments, the covering layer is clear such that the user can see through it and the vent doubles as a “fill line.” The user can thus watch the fluid sample enter the test strip, progress through the capillary cavity, and then stop at the slot or fill-line. This provides positive assurance to the user that the sample size is sufficient and the test strip has been filled properly. The present invention also provides an advantageous method of mass-producing the inventive test strips without having to align the vent opening laterally with respect to the test strips and without having to punch a vent opening. The method is also well suited to mass production by roll processing techniques.
US07829020B2

A simple and effective system for the colorimetric determination of organic peroxides and hydrogen peroxide. A peroxide pen utilizing a swipe material attached to a polyethylene tube contains two crushable vials. The two crushable vials contain a colorimetric reagent separated into dry ingredients and liquid ingredients. After swiping a suspected substance or surface the vials are broken, the reagent is mixed thoroughly and the reagent is allowed to wick into the swipe material. The presence of organic peroxides or hydrogen peroxide is confirmed by a deep blue color.
US07829016B2

A C-Band Disinfector disinfects objects placed within the interior of the device by subjecting the objects to emissions of UV-C radiation. Multiple UV-C sensors measure UV-C radiation dosage to the objects and control the period of operation of the device, terminating the emission of UV-C radiation only after all of the UV-C radiation sensors have received a minimum predetermined dosage.
US07829015B2

An apparatus and process for forming compacted powder metal parts having a non-axial undercut feature. An undercut die is located between the upper and the lower dies and contains a plurality of shaped punches aligned in a circular pattern. Each of the shaped punches contains a working edge. The working edges converge to form an inner circumference which creates the undercut feature. The edges of the shaped punches slide with respect to each other to change the size of the inner circumference from a maximum diameter position to a minimum diameter position. During compaction, the rotation of the shaped punches alters the inner circumference to its minimum diameter position thereby forming an undercut in the final compacted part. The retraction of the shaped punches to its maximum diameter position enables the unimpeded removal of the part from the tool set.
US07829004B2

A method and system for molding an electronic device which is located next to a molding cavity and clamped to the molding cavity during molding, comprising providing molding compound in a mold supply pot, discharging the molding compound from the mold supply pot into a runner, and distributing the molding compound through the runner into the molding cavity in order to fill the molding cavity. A movable surface comprised in the molding cavity is positioned to form a first gap between the movable surface and the electronic device when the molding cavity is being filled. After filling the molding cavity with molding compound, the movable surface is driven to form a second gap between the movable surface and the electronic device which is smaller than the first gap, thereby compressing the molding compound in the molding cavity. A molded electronic device thus produced is then separated from the molding cavity.
US07829000B2

A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object includes spreading a reactive powder on a substrate, selectively dispensing a core binder in the reactive powder to form a core material, and selectively dispensing a shell binder in the reactive powder to form a shell on the core material.
US07828999B2

A fine particle producing process introduces a material for producing fine particles into a thermal plasma flame to make a vapor-phase mixture and quenches the vapor-phase mixture to form the fine particles. In the process, the material for producing the fine particles is dispersed or dissolved in a dispersion medium or solvent, preferably containing a combustible material to prepare a dispersion such as a slurry, a colloidal solution or a dissolution solution, the dispersion is made into a form of droplets, or the material for producing the fine particles is dispersed with a carrier gas and a combustible material and the dispersion in a droplet form or the dispersed material is introduced into the thermal plasma flame. In the fine particle producing process and apparatus, a gas of an amount sufficient to quench the vapor-phase mixture is supplied toward a tail of the thermal plasma flame. In the process and apparatus, primary fine particles are introduced into a cyclone to be subjected to cooling and classification and secondary fine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less which are left upon removal of coarse particles are recovered.
US07828997B2

According to the present invention, a cellulose acylate film difficult to be broken even if the stretching ratio is increased upon stretching and whose retardation (Re) is easily controllable to a desired value can be produced by melt film forming. Accordingly, a stretched cellulose acylate film highly oriented and having an appropriate retardation (Re) required from liquid crystal display device manufacturers can be produced.
US07828990B1

A low-melting point, heat transfer fluid made of a mixture of five inorganic salts including about 29.1-33.5 mol % LiNO3, 0-3.9 mol % NaNO3, 2.4-8.2 mol % KNO3, 18.6-19.9 mol % NaNO2, and 40-45.6 mol % KNO2. These compositions can have liquidus temperatures below 80° C. for some compositions.
US07828987B2

In some implementations, a method is provided in a plasma reactor for etching a trench in an organic planarization layer of a resist structure comprising a photoresist mask structure over a hardmask masking the organic planarization layer. This may include introducing into the plasma reactor an etchant gas chemistry including N2, H2, and O2 and etching a masked organic planarization layer using a plasma formed from the etchant gas chemistry. This may include etching through the planarization layer to form a trench with a single etch step.
US07828986B2

A method. A combination is provided of a block copolymer and additional material. The copolymer includes a first block of a first polymer covalently bonded to a second block of a second polymer. The additional material is miscible with the first polymer. The first polymer includes polystyrene and the second polymer includes poly(ethylene oxide). A first layer including polydimethylglutarimide is adhered onto a surface of a substrate including a dielectric coated silicon wafer. A film is formed of the combination directly onto a surface of the first layer. Nanostructures of the additional material self-assemble within the first polymer block. The film and the first layer are simultaneously etched. The nanostructures have an etch rate lower than an etch rate of the block copolymer and lower than an etch rate of the first layer. Portions of the film are removed. Features remain on the surface of the first layer.
US07828982B2

A method of forming an adhesive force includes removing a seta from a living specimen, attaching the seta to a substrate, and applying the seta to a surface so as to establish an adhesive force between the substrate and the surface. The seta is applied to the surface with a force perpendicular to the surface. The seta is then pulled with a force parallel to the surface so as to preload the adhesive force of the seta.
US07828981B2

A semiconductor probe with a high-resolution tip and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor probe includes: a cantilever doped with a first impurity; a resistive convex portion projecting from an end portion of the cantilever and lightly doped with a second impurity opposite in polarity to the first impurity; and first and second electrode regions formed on either side of the resistive convex portion and heavily doped with the second impurity.
US07828967B2

A water purification method and devices, and in particular a purification method effective against microbes, that uses a silane-based antimicrobial, and in particular the AEGIS MICROBE SHIELD antimicrobial, where the antimicrobial is embedded, coated, or otherwise permanently applied to a substrate or carrier, such as a solid, a porous solid, fibers or the like. A volume of microbe contaminated water is exposed to the antimicrobial carrier for sufficient residence time such that sufficient quantities of microbes are eradicated and the water is made potable. The antimicrobial carrier may be an object suspended or placed into a container or reservoir for the water, or the antimicrobial carrier may comprise the container or reservoir itself. Particulate filters or the like may also be combined with the antimicrobial container to remove other undesirable contaminants.
US07828954B2

A method for electrode-based patterning of thin film, self-assembled nanoparticles. The method uses a variety of types of thin films and electrodes.
US07828946B2

A magnetic guide is presented that controls an electric arc between an anode and a cathode, which may be a target, over the whole cathode surface. The magnetic guide may be included in an arc evaporator and may include a first magnetic system having a group of permanent magnets located on the periphery of the evaporator or target, so that magnetization is perpendicular to the surface of the target. The magnetic guide may also include a second magnetic system that includes an electromagnet located at the rear of the target housed in an electrically insulating body at a distance from the target, with at least one of its magnetic poles parallel to the surface of the target, so that the combined action of the two magnetic systems provides uniform use or consumption of the target.
US07828945B2

The present invention can provide 1 which barrel plating apparatus where a plating barrel has permeable holes and slits in a size of order of micrometers on the wall thereof. The plating barrel is fabricated with porous plastic materials which have permeable holes and slits to the plating liquid and no piece materials to be plated are dropped thereof. Further advantage of the present invention is to provide a drain tool to drain the plating liquid L staying in the plating barrel.
US07828941B2

A distributing element for an electrolyte percolating-type electrochemical cell comprises an external feeding manifold and an assembly formed by a gas diffusion electrode, a percolator and optionally an on-exchange membrane. The element is particularly suitable for chlor-alkali electrolysis cells and alkaline fuel cells. It is also disclosed a method for retrofitting membrane electrochemical cells by inserting the distributing element of the invention therein.
US07828938B2

A hybrid water and power system comprises a power generation device for generating electricity and waste heat and a thermal purification system that utilizes at least a portion of the waste heat to cleanse nonpotable water introduced therein to produce a semi-cleaned water stream and a water filtration system for receiving and processing at least a portion of the semi-cleaned water stream to produce a potable water stream. In one embodiment, a containerized hybrid water and power unit comprises a power generation device, a thermal purification system and a water filtration system, and is housed in a containment vessel. Containerized water and power unit has an input for fuel and nonpotable water and produces both electricity and potable water.
US07828937B2

The invention relates to a scraper blade holding device comprising a mounting unit into which a scraper blade is normally inserted. According to the present invention a scraper blade carrier, which has in its region projecting out of the mounting unit fastening means for a scraper blade, is inserted into the mounting unit. This has the advantages that scraper blades with reduced dimensions can be used.
US07828931B2

An absorbent sheet of cellulosic fibers includes a mixture of hardwood fibers and softwood fibers arranged in a reticulum having: (i) a plurality of pileated fiber enriched regions of relatively high local basis weight interconnected by way of (ii) a plurality of lower local basis weight-linking regions whose fiber orientation is biased along the machine direction between pileated regions interconnected thereby, wherein the sheet exhibits a % CD stretch which is at least about 2.75 times the dry tensile ratio of the sheet. Tensile ratios of from about 0.4 to about 4 are readily achieved.
US07828926B1

The present invention provides assemblies and methods for selectively removing resin coatings from a radiation detector. A method includes positioning a cutting edge on a resin coating formed on a radiation detector. The method further includes positioning a bonding member on the resin coating, applying a force to the bonding member such that a portion of the resin coating is pulled away from the radiation detector, and cutting the resin coating so as to detach the portion of the resin coating pulled away from the detector, thereby selectively removing the portion of the resin coating from the radiation detector.
US07828919B2

A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component can prevent the occurrence of bubble trapping. In the method, when an external layer ceramic green sheet is pressure-bonded, for example, to a sheet made of a good quality paper having a rough surface, which is placed on a supporting member, followed by peeling off its carrier film, a first-layer ceramic green sheet is formed. The first-layer external layer ceramic green sheet uses a sterically hindered dispersing agent, such as an aryl ether polymer, as a dispersing agent. Since it is light in weight, the binder segregates at the upper side, and hence a C concentration changes in the thickness direction. More particularly, compared to a C concentration at a surface at a carrier film side supported by the carrier film, a C concentration at an open surface opposite to the surface at the carrier film side is about 1.5 to about 4.0 times.
US07828916B2

Disclosed are methods for crimping a medical device, such as a stent, wherein the medical device is formed of a superelastic alloy. A method for crimping a medical device includes cooling the stent until the alloy becomes martensitic, allowing the stent to warm after cooling, crimping the stent with a crimping apparatus.
US07828914B2

The invention relates to a method and an aluminium alloy sheet material. The method of producing aluminium alloy sheet material comprising the following steps: continuous strip casting of a sheet at a predetermined solidification rate ensuring material microstructure exhibiting primary particles having average size below 1 micrometer2, and (cold) rolling of the strip cast sheet to an appropriate gauge with optionally intermediate annealing during the cold rolling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method of production of Al-alloy sheets applicable on heat exchanger sheet based components resulting in improved pitting corrosion applying (base) Al-alloy material with higher Fe-content.
US07828913B1

A metastable, peritectic alloy contains nickel in addition to tantalum and, optionally, niobium and/or tungsten. The alloy typically contains between from about 60 to 70 weight percent nickel and between from about 30 to 40 weight percent tantalum. The alloy may be prepared by melting the nickel and tantalum and/or a tantalum-nickel alloy under an inert gas or under a vacuum to a temperature of approximately 1475° C. to about 1550° C. The molten metal is then poured through a ceramic nozzle fitted with gas jets to atomize the molten stream into small droplets. The metastable characteristics of the corrosion resistant alloy are attained due to the rapid solidification of the molten alloy during the atomization process. The metastable alloy may further be used as cermet binder wherein another metal or interstitial alloy is incorporated by communition and/or blending into the alloy. This provides a unique system of materials that will impart even higher oxidation resistance and/or chemical and/or wear resistance than the metastable alloy per se. Surface treatments, such as pulse laser, transferred arc plasma, etc. of the peritectic, metastable alloy further may serve to regenerate a surface containing the alloy which has been exposed to harsh environments.
US07828907B2

A cleaning composition for removing soils includes an alkyl vinyl ether-maleic acid copolymer and at least one component selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. The composition contains less than about 10% by weight of at least one component selected from the group consisting of phosphorous-containing components and aminocarboxylates.
US07828896B2

A method of growing a group III nitride crystal grows a group III nitride crystal from a solution in which an alkaline metal, a group III metal and nitrogen are dissolved, and includes, in the solution, a material which increases solubility of the nitrogen into the solution.
US07828887B2

Dye-based ink formulations and methods of making dye-based ink formulations are disclosed.
US07828877B2

An inventive adsorptive gas separation process is provided capable of producing a purified methane product gas as a light non-adsorbed product gas as opposed to a heavy desorbed exhaust gas component, from a feed gas mixture comprising at least methane, and carbon dioxide. In an embodiment of the invention, the feed gas mixture may comprise at least about 10% carbon dioxide, and the purified methane product gas may be desirably purified to contain less than about 5000 ppm carbon dioxide. In another embodiment of the invention, the feed gas mixture may comprise at least about 50% carbon dioxide, and the purified methane product gas may be desirably purified to contain less than about 5000 ppm carbon dioxide.
US07828870B1

A filter assembly includes a filter element mounted in a housing at a sealing interface provided by an integrally molded seal.
US07828869B1

A filter element is provided with a space-effective construction facilitating efficient space utilization in applications of constrained space requirements.
US07828867B2

A portable air treatment device and system including a filter retaining mechanism for selectively retaining a replaceable filter assembly. The filter retaining mechanism includes a rigid, non-moveable body that reduces a size of an access opening to a filter chamber otherwise formed by the air treatment device housing, along with a bearing surface. The rigid body serves as a catch or latch, preventing unexpected dislodgement of a filter assembly from the chamber. The bearing surface is also rigid and non-moveable, and provides a means for easily inserting and removing a primarily non-permanently deflectable filter assembly about the rigid body.
US07828865B2

A gas-liquid separator assembly has dual flow first and second split partial paths. The first path is an impaction separation path effecting liquid particle separation from a gas-liquid stream by inertial impaction. The second path is a coalescence-separation path effecting liquid particle separation from the gas-liquid stream by coalescence.
US07828864B2

Systems and methods for producing hydrogen gas with a fuel processing system that includes a hydrogen-producing region that produces hydrogen gas from a feed stream and a heating assembly that consumes a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating the hydrogen-producing region. In some embodiments, the heating assembly heats the hydrogen-producing region to at least a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature. In some embodiments, the feed stream and the fuel stream both contain a carbon-containing feedstock and at least 25 wt % water. In some embodiments, at least one of the feed and fuel streams contain at least one additional component. In some embodiments, the feed and fuel streams have the same composition. In some embodiments, the feed and fuel streams are drawn or obtained from a common source or supply, and in some embodiments as a liquid stream that is selectively apportioned to form the feed and fuel streams.
US07828862B2

The fuel additives of the present invention comprise essentially of about 10-50 weight % of terpene, 0-15 weight % of Alkylene Glycol Ether, and 40-80 weight % of 2-Propanone, 0-20 weight % of Dibasic Methyl Ester and 0-15 weight % of nonyl phenol ethoxylate and 0-15 weight % of mineral oil. This highly effective fuel additives can eliminate the formation of deposits and form air-borne micro-cluster molecules in internal combustion engines, particularly, in the fuel injection system and combustion chamber of such engines.
US07828861B1

A new and useful way of producing a used oil fuel mixture for a compression ignition engine is provided. A mass of used oil from which water has been substantially removed, is initially filtered, e.g. to remove particles greater than a predetermined size. The used oil is then centrifuged, under predetermined conditions to remove any remaining water and to remove particles to a predetermined size level. The drained, filtered and centrifuged used oil is then mixed with fuel (e.g. diesel fuel) in a predetermined ratio, to form a used oil fuel mixture and optionally adding an additive (e.g. a diesel fuel additive) to the used oil fuel mixture. Then, the used oil fuel mixture is centrifuged to promote mixing, and the centrifuged used oil fuel mixture is then pumped through one or more final filtering stages, to produce the used oil fuel mixture that is useful with compression ignition engines.
US07828856B2

A prosthesis system can have an advantageous use over conventional prostheses in certain activities, including, but not limited to certain sports activities: The system includes, elastic member(s) that can store and release energy. The storing and releasing of energy in the elastic members happens during the movements made by the user and with the application of the user's own body weight while performing an activity. Implementations can also include a variety of routing configurations for the elastic member(s), as well as a variety of mounting points to integrate the elastic member(s) into the system, and/or a variety of adjustable anti-hyperextension members, and/or a variety of interchangeable shoes used for applicable activities.
US07828850B2

The present invention provides methods and devices for annulus disc repair with and without the use of a patch or stent. The methods and devices are particularly suited to the repair and/or reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, with reduced failure rate as compared to conventional surgical procedures.
US07828845B2

Intervertebral spacers are provided for use in orthopedic treatment of spinals defects. The intervertebral spacer is formed of a shape memory polymer. The spacer can be fabricated into a desired configuration and then deformed into an alternative or deformed configuration. Cooling the deformed spacer effectively freezes the spacer into its deformed conformation. The deformed configuration can be selected to facilitate implantation of the spacer into a prepared disc space between adjacent vertebrae. During operation, the surgeon can heat the spacer to allow it to revert to its original configuration. The spacer in its original conformation is sized to restore and/or maintain the adjacent vertebrae in a desired conformation and disc space height.
US07828833B2

A composite intraluminal prosthesis which is preferably used as a vascular prosthesis includes a layer of ePTFE and a layer of textile material which are secured together by an elastomeric bonding agent. The ePTFE layer includes a porous microstructure defined by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The adhesive bonding agent is preferably applied in solution so that the bonding agent enters the pores of the microstructure of the ePTFE. This helps secure the textile layer to the ePTFE layer.
US07828825B2

Systems and methods for multi-level, multi-functional stabilization of a spinal column segment are provided. The systems include one or more constructs having a motion preserving portion that permits motion of at least a portion of a vertebral level and a motion preventing portion that substantially prevents motion of at least a portion of a second, adjacent vertebral level.
US07828822B2

A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. In an embodiment of the invention, the implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion. In an embodiment of the invention, the extension stop consists of conically shaped members that snap or are otherwise fastened together. In an embodiment of the invention, the cones are made of a flexible material and the surfaces are flattened to carry and spread the load applied to the spinal processes. In an embodiment of the invention, the extension stop pieces are inserted after the spinous processes are spread apart.
US07828812B2

A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, and a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue. The suture housing has an open position and a closed position, and the needle can be removed from the suture housing when in the open position.
US07828810B2

A novel catheter-based system which ligates the left atrial appendage (LAA) on the outside of the heart, preferably using a combination of catheters and/or instruments, e.g., a guide catheter positioned inside the left atrial appendage which may assist in locating the left atrial appendage and/or assist in the optimal placement of a ligature on the outside of the appendage, and a ligating catheter and/or instrument outside the heart in the pericardial space to set a ligating element at the neck of the left atrial appendage.
US07828806B2

Accessory for implantation of a hip joint endoprosthesis, with a manipulation cup, a manipulation joint head with means for orienting the manipulation cup in the acetabulum, and with a device to represent the correctly oriented position of the manipulation cup such that by means of this device a bone-milling cutter and an impact instrument can then oriented appropriately for placement of the prosthesis cup.
US07828799B2

The disclosure provides a probe arrangement having a distal probe tip and a proximal hand portion for the electrothermal coagulation of tissue. The probe arrangement has at least a first and a second electrode in the region of the distal probe tip. An inner conductor of the probe arrangement extends from the distal probe tip to the proximal hand portion and contacts the first electrode in the distal probe tip. An outer conductor of the probe arrangement extends from the distal probe tip to the proximal hand portion and serves to electrically contact the second electrode in the distal probe tip. The inner and outer conductors of the probe arrangement are electrically insulated from each other. Furthermore the inner conductor is selected in such a way that the flexural stiffness of the probe arrangement is increased between the probe tip and the hand portion.
US07828784B2

A disposable absorbent article including a pair of first fasteners, at least a portion of each first fastener being situated inboard from each longitudinal side edge in the first waist region, each first fastener being adapted to engage at least a portion of the inner surface of the second waist region, each first fastener comprising a resilient material. The disposable absorbent article also includes a disposal fastener, at least a portion of the disposal fastener being situated inboard from the longitudinal side edge in the second waist region, the disposal fastener adapted to engage at least a portion of the outer surface, the disposal fastener comprising a resilient material.
US07828782B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a tissue cell culture system whereby a call tissue can be efficiently and quickly proliferated in vivo and the onset bacterial infection in an injured part can be avoided in the course of a treatment. More specifically, a closed cell culture system (1) characterized in that a defection (2) of a tissue on the body surface or inside the body is tightly sealed to form a closed environment free from the invasion of bacteria, etc. and then a solution appropriate for cell culture is circulated in the tissue defection thus sealed to thereby regenerate the defective tissue; and a method of administering a drug which comprises dissolving a remedy in the perfusion with the use of the above system and thus promoting the treatment of the defection.
US07828778B2

A handling device for use with a medical injector (11) including a protective sheath (17) for a needle (14) has a carrier (20) with an outer cylindrical wall (21) and a coaxial inner tube (33) which is a close sliding fit over the protective sheath (17). A cylindrical sleeve (24) is slidably mounted within the outer cylindrical wall (21) and is adapted to receive the cylindrical body (12) of the injector (11). A bushing (25) is slidably retained within the cylindrical sleeve (24) and is configured to receive a boss (13, 15) supporting the needle (14) at the forward end of the injector body, a spring (29) urging the bushing (25) towards the rear of the sleeve. A plug (35) is mounted on the carrier (20) and is engaged by the forward end of the protective sheath (17) when the injector is received within the cylindrical sleeve, so that the plug is projected forwardly from the carrier when the injector is fully engaged. On removing the carrier (20) from the injector (11), the plug (35) remains projecting therefrom and the sheath (17) is removed together with the carrier.
US07828771B2

A patch pump device generally includes at least one fluid source, a fluid communicator, and an electrochemical actuator. The fluid communicator is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The electrochemical actuator is operative to cause fluid to be delivered from the fluid source into the fluid communicator.
US07828761B2

An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient includes a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel, a blood pump, an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood, a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered, a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid and a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.
US07828760B2

The neck traction device elongated a user's neck with the application of force on the user's shoulders. One embodiment includes a head pad, a vertically movably head support frame, a pivotally connected linkage member coupled to a shoulder frame element. The shoulder frame and shoulder pads are longitudinally movably mounted and the linked system exerts a longitudinal force on the user's shoulders when the user's head rests on the head pad and depresses the head pad. A biasing mechanism either upwardly supports the head frame or longitudinally limits the extension of the shoulder frame such that when the head is lifted off the head frame, the biasing mechanism raises the head pad and moves back the shoulder frame and pads. Alternatively, a transmission may be used to convert the substantially downward force due to the head weight to a longitudinal force on the shoulder pads.
US07828759B2

An ankle support has a tubular sock-like elastic sheath which, in use, is slipped over the foot and ankle of a wearer and extends upwardly over the lower leg, the sheath thereby having lateral and medial sides and a posterior end for receiving the heel of a wearer. Heel locks are provided by lateral and medial elastic locking straps secured to the sheath at a bottom portion of the posterior end of the sheath, and at a rear portion of the sheath (back of the heel) above the posterior end. The action of the two locking straps locks the heel of the wearer against lateral and medial movement. An elastic wrap on the sheath over the foot and ankle of the wearer overlies the lateral and medial portions of the locking straps to provide a lift to the heel.
US07828744B2

A device, method, and system are provided for immobilizing and stabilizing a breast in preparation for tumor ablation or biopsy while the patient is lying supine. The breast is lifted away from the chest wall of the patient, so that the tissue abnormality to be treated is also lifted away from the chest wall. This reduces the possibility of damage to the neighboring costochondral wall and the surrounding healthy tissue. The device includes a medical device holder that can be used to accurately aim a medical probe, and hold it in place during treating.
US07828743B2

A temperature sensing device accurately determines the core temperature of a warm blooded animal or human based on at least one measurement of the temperature of the skin of the warm blooded animal or human. The device includes a housing, and a first contact type temperature sensing element coupled to the housing. The first contact type temperature sensing element includes a first temperature sensor that is operative to measure the temperature of the skin when the first contact type temperature sensing element is in contact with the skin. The first temperature sensor produces at least a first signal representative of the measured skin temperature. An electronic circuit uses the first signal to determine the core temperature of the warm blooded animal or human. An electronic communication device, such as a display, is coupled to the electronic circuit for communicating the core temperature to a user.
US07828741B2

A method for determining whether a subject has Gram negative bacterial pneumonia based on the presence of lipopolysaccharide in exhaled breath condensate collected from the subject. The collection devices utilized to collect exhaled breath condensate from both spontaneously breathing and mechanically ventilated subjects and the devices utilized to determine whether lipopolysaccharide is present in the collected exhaled breath condensate.
US07828734B2

Apparatus is provided, including a housing, adapted for placement on tissue of a subject, and a plurality of transducers, disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, and configured to transmit energy towards each other, in a plane defined by the housing.
US07828731B2

An ultrasonographic apparatus in which the S/N ratio of a compound image is improved operates by combining a plurality of reception beam signals from probes arranged at different positions relative to a sample, converting the combined ultrasonic beam into a luminance signal, and displaying the luminance signal.
US07828729B2

A method of measuring blood clotting ability of a patient. A known volume of blood is dispensed on a reference disc of blotter paper, such that at least one reference blotch is formed on the reference disc. The surface area of the reference blotch formed on the reference disc, such that a relationship between the volume of blood and the surface area of the reference blotch can be obtained. An incision is made at the patient. A piece of blotter paper to the incision is applied to the incision to collect blood flowing therefrom, such that at least one blotch is formed on the piece of blotter paper. The surface area of the blotch formed on the piece of blotter paper is measured. The volume of the blood absorbed blood by the blotter paper is calculated according to the relationship between the blood volume and the surface area of the blotch.
US07828719B2

A constriction device (100) for a male organ (170) of a user comprising: a substantially portable base (110); at least two bands (140, 150), each comprising of an elastic central ring (141, 151) tightly adjustable onto said base; each elastic central ring (141, 151) tightly encircling male organ (170) upon releasing the corresponding band (140, 150) from base (110), thereby substantially avoiding back-flow of blood out of the male organ (170) and therefore improving erection of male organ (170).
US07828718B2

A penis exercise machine includes an attaching portion main body which is abutted against and mounted on a body surface side of a periphery of a man's penis, a pair of support rods whose one ends are turnably mounted on a surface of the attaching portion main body such that the support rods are located on both sides sandwiching the penis, a support portion which is mounted such that it can be attached to both end sides of the support rods and which is abutted such that a glans on the side of a tip end of the penis is supported, and a holding belt of the glans mounted on the support portion.
US07828706B2

An apparatus for simulating sculling or rowing on water includes a support frame with foot rests, a sliding seat, bilateral oars that are rotationally coupled to a set of actuators, integrated input velocity and torque sensors, computer and computer display. Each actuator incorporates a mechanical transmission, a rotational inertial mass, a variable linear and a variable non-linear damping element. The damping elements can be controlled manually or automatically by computer programs under user control.
US07828693B2

In one embodiment, a hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises at least one drive wheel; a first motor coupled to the drive wheel, said first motor configured to selectively generate electrical energy from kinetic energy received at the drive wheel; a second motor configured to selectively generate electrical energy from kinetic energy received at the drive wheel; a transmission including a first end coupled to the first motor and a second end coupled to the second motor; and a control system configured to vary a level of electrical energy generated by the first motor relative to the second motor in response to a thermal condition of at least one of said first and second motors to provide vehicle braking.
US07828688B2

The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide ten forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, and two fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish ten forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US07828677B2

A molded plastic unitary driving range golf tee which has an outwardly extending flange at its base with a tubular member centrally disposed thereon and extending therefrom. The tubular member terminates at a rim and a plurality of discrete flexible fingers extend upwardly from the rim and terminate in distal ends which support a golf ball. The molded plastic tee is adapted to be received in an opening provided in a typical driving range mat with the discrete flexible fingers extending above the surface of the mat.
US07828673B2

A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.
US07828672B2

A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.
US07828671B2

A golf club head of this invention includes a face, a plurality of score line grooves formed on the face, and a plurality of striations formed on the face. The angle formed by an arrangement direction of the plurality of striations and the score line grooves is between 40 degrees and 70 degrees, inclusive, as viewed clockwise from a toe side end of the score line grooves.
US07828670B1

A golf ball marker retention system, comprising: a retaining cavity associated with a golf club handle, the retaining cavity having an entry channel that expands as an object is inserted and contracts when the object has been substantially fully inserted within the cavity, the cavity being oriented substantially perpendicular to an elongate axis of the golf club handle; and a ball marker receivable within the cavity, the ball marker being insertable and storable within the retaining cavity and being sized and shaped such that, as the marker is inserted into the cavity through the entry channel, the entry channel first expands and then contracts after the marker has been substantially fully received within the retaining cavity.
US07828661B1

An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients (“buddies”) to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game.
US07828654B2

A system for providing access to casino gaming and sports booking is provided which permits a gambler to place wagers using a location based mobile gaming unit. The gambler may access the system through a wireless network. Further, the gambler may be positioned anywhere there is an established local gaming server. A gambler profile may be provided wireless access to the local server along with the games available in the local server jurisdiction based on a global positioning of the mobile gaming unit.
US07828652B2

Various methods and systems for providing a reliable verification of a player at a remote gaming terminal are disclosed. This is done by providing gaming events remotely via a first mode of communication, establishing criteria for verifying the identity of a player, receiving a player request to participate in a gaming event remotely, obtaining personal information for that player via a second mode of communication, verifying that the obtained personal information is adequate, and permitting the requested gaming event to commence. Additional features can include a subsequent repetition of the steps of obtaining and verifying personal information, and permitting the gaming event to commence or continue. Personal information can include pictures and/or the geographic location of the player. A cellular telephone can be used to take pictures and determine the geographic location of the player, and both of these items can be transmitted via a cellular telephone call.
US07828649B2

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.
US07828647B1

Gaming machines, gaming systems, and methods for awarding time-sensitive tickets in a gaming environment are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game having one or more winning game outcomes. The gaming machine also includes one or more network interfaces that is in communication with a ticket database that provides time-sensitive tickets. The gaming machine also includes a game controller in communication with the game display and the network interfaces. The game controller awards one or more time-sensitive tickets in response to one or more triggering events.
US07828640B2

A blower has an air outlet duct having an internal space, and an air outlet opening extending from the air outlet duct. A fan having a plurality of blades is positioned inside the internal space. A base seat is positioned below the air outlet duct, with an air inlet provided in a side wall of the base seat, and with an air inlet pipe extending from the air inlet. A motor is positioned in the base seat and has a shaft that extends through the air outlet duct to be coupled to the blades.
US07828621B2

Apparatus and methods are provided through which a multi-electrode cathode assembly can be manufactured comprising bonding a monolithic metal block to the nonconductive base; and thereafter machining the block to form at least one electrode.
US07828620B2

A method of manufacturing a tubular carbon molecule capable of regularly aligning a carbon nanotube with a finer spacing is provided. A catalyst is arranged on a material substrate (10) made of a semiconductor such as silicon (Si) and including iron (Fe) as a catalyst through the use of melting according to a modulated heat distribution (11). The heat distribution (11) is formed, for example, through diffracting an energy beam (12) by a diffraction grating (13). As a method of arranging the catalyst, for example, iron may be deposited in a planar shape or a projection shape in a position corresponding to the heat distribution (11), or the deposited iron may be used as a master to be transferred to another substrate. A carbon nanotube is grown through the use of the arranged catalyst. The grown carbon nanotube can be used as a recording apparatus, a field electron emission device, an FED or the like.
US07828619B1

A method for preparing a nanostructured composite electrode through electrophoretic deposition and a product prepared thereby are presented. A conductive material and an active material are suspended into a stable suspension in solution by ultrasonication. The conductive material includes functionalized carbon multi-walled nanotubes. The active material includes synthesized nanoparticles. A surface charge is applied to the active material by adding an electrolyte into the stable suspension. At least two electrodes are introduced into the stable suspension in opposing parallel orientation. A direct current electrical field is formed between the electrodes sufficient to cause conductive material and the active material formation thereupon.
US07828617B2

Provided is a display apparatus which can easily bond a drive panel (10) and a sealing panel (20) together. The drive panel (10) includes organic electroluminescence devices (10R), (10G) and (10B) on a substrate for drive (11) and extracts light from the side of the organic electroluminescence devices (10R), (10G) and (10B). The sealing panel (20) includes a color filter (22) on a substrate for sealing (21). The drive panel (10) and the sealing panel (20) are disposed to face each other, and the whole facing surfaces of the drive panel (10) and the sealing panel (20) are bonded together with an adhesive layer (30). The adhesive layer (30) is cured with at least heat, and is made of only one coating liquid or a combination of two or more coating liquids for curing. A temporary fixing portion (30A) is formed in an edge portion of the adhesive layer (30). The temporary fixing portion (30A) is made of, for example, an ultraviolet cure resin, and is formed so as to straddle between the sealing panel (20) and the drive panel to align their relative positions.
US07828613B2

This invention is a cable terminal connector, primarily comprising of a U-shaped contact body at the front end of the connector, with a compressible slot located between its upper and lower faces, forming upper and lower resilient clamping faces above and below the compressible slot. When the cable terminal connector's U-shaped contact body is held in place by the cap, the resilient clamping faces on the U-shaped contact body spring back to hold the cap in place, preventing it loosening and increasing the stability of conduction, thereby making it a more effective cable terminal connector.
US07828610B2

Connecting elements and methods for the electrical connection between a light-weight metal conductor and an electrical contact, in particular for use in motor vehicles are disclosed. A metal sleeve is cold welded to the conductor. A contact element is connected to the metal sleeve in an electrically conductive manner and can be connected to the contact. A hardenable liquid seals, in a gas-tight manner, a contact element-side opening in the metal sleeve cold welded to the light-weight metal conductor.
US07828608B2

A connector (10) has a terminal fitting (17) press-fit into a terminal holding portion (18). The terminal fitting (17) has a wide rectangular cross-sectional shape and includes a lower surface (17A), two side surfaces (17B) standing upward from the opposite lateral edges of the lower surface (17A) and an upper surface (17C) connecting the upper edges of the side surfaces (17B). The terminal holding portion (18) includes two side walls (18B) that interfere with the side surfaces (17B), a bottom wall (18A) formed with lower interfering portions (18E) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the lower surface portion (17A) not to be held in contact with a mating terminal fitting (21) and a ceiling wall (18C) formed with upper interfering portions (18D) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the upper surface (17C) not to be held in contact with the mating terminal fitting (21).
US07828594B2

A connector having a front end for attachment to a terminal and a back end for attachment to a coaxial cable includes a body, a post mounted within the body; and a contact assembly movably mounted within the post and body. The contact assembly includes a guide, a contact mounted to the guide, and preferably a clip mounted to the contact for making electrical and mechanical connection with the center conductor of the coaxial cable and a sabot. The contact assembly moves longitudinally toward the front end of the connector, such that the front end of the contact moves from a first position completely within the body to a second position proximate the connector interface, as the connector receives the coaxial cable. Preferably, the guide has an opening for the center conductor, which is viewable to a user during attachment until the center conductor enters the opening. The sabot moves with the contact assembly in a telescoping fashion enabling a greater distance of axial displacement. In addition, the contact assembly preferably contains a means to prevent the cable from being forced backward after installation.
US07828592B2

An interface module includes a housing configured to hold at least one modular jack. The housing is configured to be mounted on a panel. The housing includes an electrically conductive portion. An electrically conductive fastener has a housing interface configured to engage the electrically conductive portion of the housing and a panel interface configured to engage an electrically conductive surface of the panel. The electrically conductive fastener creates an electrical connection between the housing and the panel.
US07828587B2

Electrical connector for supplying electronic circuits with current. The connector comprises a flat metal bar and an insulating case comprising an open cavity extended by an inclined support covered by an end portion of the bar.
US07828585B2

A connector including a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle insulator in which an accommodation recess is formed, and receptacle contacts mounted on a circuit board, supported by the receptacle insulator. The plug connector includes a plug insulator which is accommodated in the accommodation recess, plug contacts which are supported by the plug insulator, and cables, one ends of which are connected to the plug contacts. Each receptacle contact includes a bifurcated connecting portion. Each plug contact includes a contacting portion held between a bifurcated connecting portion. Engaging/holding grooves are formed on a portion of the plug insulator which faces a bottom surface of the accommodation recess. Each contacting portion is shaped into a flat plate which projects in an opposite direction to that of the other ends of the cables. The receptacle contacts are orientated in a common direction.
US07828576B2

A test socket comprising an insulative base with a plurality of contacts received in the base and a cover pivotally mounted to one end of the base. The cover comprises a pusher with an opening extending therethrough and a lid aligned with the pusher. The lid has a through hole corresponding to the opening of the pusher. Between the pusher and the lid have a plurality of elastic members for making the lid moveably with respect to the pusher.
US07828574B2

An edge connector assembly includes a PCB defining a first face, a second face opposite to the first face thereof and a notch therein, a daughter board defining a front mating portion and a rear retaining portion and an edge connector mounted in the notch of the PCB. The connector includes an insulating housing defining a longitudinal slot for receiving the front mating portion of the daughter board and a mounting face thereof to abut against the first face of the PCB, a plurality of contacts defining contacting portions extending into the slot. The daughter board is inserted into slot from the second face of the PCB in a slant direction and then pivots about the front mating portion and is retained in the notch.
US07828573B2

A subsea electrical connector for connecting a first cable and a second cable. A first insulator has an outer face, possibly an inner face, and a pin portion transverse to the outer face. A second insulator has a mating outer face, an inner face, and a pin receptacle. At least one face seal ring is positioned between the first insulator outer face and the second insulator outer face. At least one pin seal ring is positioned between the pin portion and the pin receptacle. Preferably, an interference fit is provided between the pin and pin receptacle. A preferred seating angle seal has an angled surface adjacent the end of the pin portion and within the pin receptacle. First and second electrical connectors are mounted within the first insulator and the second insulator. The first and second metal electrical connectors each have a socket for receiving the first and second cables. A preferred embodiment includes receptacles for the fasteners with stop members, which limit the relative rotation to align the fasteners with the receptacles.
US07828570B2

A connector to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, includes a required number of contacts, a housing, and a pivoting member acting upon the contacts to bring them into contact with a connecting object. In case of having many contacts, at least one contact is provided with an extended portion at a tip of its pressure receiving portion to extend toward its connection portion, and instead of a pushing portion of the pivoting member acting upon the contact, the pivoting member is provided with an engaging rod to engage the extending portion of the contact. The contact is arranged at an optional position so as to prevent the pivoting member from being warped. The contacts are arranged in a single row, or alternately arranged to be staggered. With the connector thus constructed, the pivoting member is not damaged when pivotally moving after the connecting object has been inserted to achieve a stable electrical connection even with very small pitches of contacts and very thin walls of the housing.
US07828569B2

A receptacle that is configured to receive connectors of different types. If a connector of one type is received into the receptacle, the connector contacts engage one set of receptacle contacts. If a connector of another type is received into the receptacle, the connector contacts engage another set of receptacle contacts, and so forth for potentially other connector types and other contact sets. A communication system may also control which PHY circuitry communicates with the receptacle depending on which connector type is plugged into the receptacle. The receptacle can include a connector detection mechanism configured to detect whether a connector of the first type or second type is inserted into the receptacle. Circuitry and pin design of the receptacle also depends on the first and second connector types.
US07828568B2

A mounting plate having an orienting portion facilitates orienting the vacuum connection opening of the mounting plate with respect to an anticipated orientation of a receptacle and electrical box. The orienting portion is optionally releasably attachable to the main body of the mounting plate which main body comprises the vacuum connection opening. The mounting plate is mounted prior to installation of the electrical receptacle in the electrical box. The orienting portion of the mounting plate facilitates orienting the vacuum connection opening in a known orientation with respect to an anticipated orientation of the electrical receptacle when inserted in the electrical box. After installation of the inlet valve and the electrical receptacle, a hose cuff having standard electrical terminals oriented with respect to the vacuum connection of the hose cuff may be simultaneously inserted into the electrical receptacle and the vacuum connection opening. The electrical terminals in the hose cuff are oriented with respect to the vacuum connection in a second known orientation corresponding to the first known orientation such that the electrical terminals mate with the electrical receptacle which has been installed in the electrical box when the vacuum connection opening receives the vacuum connection. In this manner, a hose cuff utilizing standard electrical terminals may be mated with an electrical terminal without interfering with the electrical box. Furthermore, because the orienting portion is releasably attached to the main body, the orienting portion can be removed to avoid interference with other trades.
US07828566B2

A card edge connector (100) for receiving a module (200) includes an elongated insulative housing (1) having a receiving slot (19) for receiving the module and at least one arm portion (10) positioned at one end of the insulative housing. The arm portion (10) has a pair of side walls (11) and a recess (12) located therebetween. Each side wall has a stopper (14) extending in the recess. A sets of terminals (2) are mounted on said insulative housing and extend into the receiving slot thereof. A latch (3) is adapted to be rotatably received in the recess (12). The latch includes an ejecting portion (33) for ejecting the module out of the receiving slot, a locking portion (34) for locking the module into the receiving slot and a pair of projections (31) formed on opposite sides thereof for cooperating with the stoppers (14). The projection (31) has a side surface (312) coated with a lubricant film (315) thereon for interfering engagement with the stopper (14) when the latch is rotated inwardly.
US07828558B2

The present invention provides an electrical connector system comprising an IC package and an electrical connector. The electrical connector comprises a base defining a plurality of passageways, a plurality of contacts received in the passageways, and a cover moveable relative to the base from a first position to a second position. The contacts each have a resilient arm extending out of the passageway and extending in a space defined by a lower surface of the cover and a mating surface of the base. The IC package is mounted on an upper surface of the cover, defining a plurality of pins through a plurality of through holes of the cover. During movement of the cover from the first position to the second position, the pins press on a surface of the resilient arm of the contact in a vertical direction and the resilient arms deflect toward an adjacent passageway.
US07828551B2

A system for computer-based testing includes a test driver that delivers the test to an examinee using a display device and controls progression of the test, a template module that stores presentation format information comprising the presentation format of the test, the presentation format information being accessible to the test driver, and a data module that stores data content information comprising the data content of the test, the data content information being accessible to the test driver, the presentation format information combining with the data content information to create the presentation format and the data content of the test. A method of computer-based testing includes retrieving presentation format information from a template module, the presentation format information dividing the display device into a predetermined number of areas in a predetermined arrangement, retrieving data content information from a data module, and combining the presentation format information and the data content information to create the presentation format and data content of the test.
US07828547B2

Rapid heating of a lithographic printing plate is achieved by feeding the printing plate along a substantially curved path that is adjacent to one or more curved pads of an air bearing that is pressurized with heated air. The one or more curved pads are constructed such that the substantially curved path is curved with an axis of curvature substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the printing plate. The plate is additionally elastically bent to follow and conform to the substantially curved path. The substantially curved path minimizes printing plate distortion during heating, and thus prevents the plate from being damaged from contact with any of the one or more curved pads. The one or more curved pads are also arranged to allow for exceptionally good heat transfer characteristics and thus more effective plate heating.
US07828543B2

An improved dough sheeter having a pair of counterrotating sheeter rollers and a cutter roller rotating against a front one of the sheeter rollers to cut a pattern into a sheet of dough therebetween. The improvement is the cutter roller being formed from an oil-impregnated wear resistant plastic that results in a much longer cutter life. The dough sheeter's cutter roller may have axial shaft, a pair of cutter lift arms including a U-shaped end, and a pair of needle bearing assemblies, each needle bearing assembly located on a corresponding end of the axial shaft. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cutter roller for a dough sheeter where the crown is formed before the cutting pattern is cut into the cutter roller.
US07828540B2

Disclosed is a drive unit, in particular for an injection unit or an ejector of an injection molding machine, comprising a stroke spindle device with a spindle and a spindle nut, and a prestressing device for prestressing the spindle that is dischargeable in a displacement phase of the stroke spindle device and is chargeable when the spindle is driven in the opposite direction, wherein the stroke spindle device and the prestressing device are supported by the same component, and wherein a load measuring device is provided for measuring the load acting on the spindle, which senses the forces acting on the component.
US07828535B2

A fluid pump (10) or motor (100) includes a pair of enmeshed tapered rotors (22,24,122,124) having intersecting axes of rotation. The first rotor (22,122) includes a small low pressure end (34,54,134,154) and a larger high pressure end (32,52,132,152) and a spiral thread (36,56,136,156) that increases in width and depth as it progresses from the high pressure end (28,128) to the low pressure end (26,126). The second rotor (24,124) enmeshes with the first rotor (22,122), and has an identical structure, except that its threads (36,56,136,156) progress in the opposite direction. Both rotors (22,24,122,124) are mounted on sliding splines (42,62,142,162) which permit them to move, to a limited extent, into and out of their respective receiving cavities. The pressure on the high side (28,128) of the pump (10) or motor (100) tends to urge the rotors (22,122,24,124) against the walls (16,20,116,120) of the receiving cavities thereby improving their sealing capabilities and the overall efficiency of the pump (10) or motor (100) as a whole.
US07828532B2

A rotary-vane machine, has a stationary tubular housing having a lubricated pump with an oil carter, and an oil-free section, with two pairs of ports through which a working medium enters or exits, a housing cover plate, a sun gear attached to a boss, a bearing and oil transferring member, a cover disc attachable to the end of the oil-free housing section, and a tubular rotor inside of which are fixedly attachable, two tapering vanes rotatable, together with the rotor, at a uniform speed. The machine has a first rotor end plate, attached to a drive shaft, a second rotor end plate attached to the rotor, a hollow oscillatable main shaft in bearings in the first and second end plates is concentric with the rotor, two substantially flat vanes fixedly attached to opposite sides of the hollow shaft define with, the hollow shaft, the tubular rotor, the tapering vanes and the first and second end plates, four chambers, a shaft rotatable in bearings mounted in the second end plate, and a connecting rod having a big end and a small end. The big and small ends are associated with the eccentrics and a rocker arm attached to the reduced main shaft end. Drive shaft rotation at uniform speed rotates the rotor at the same uniform speed, while oscillatory motion is superposed on the hollow shaft, whereby the chambers to successively vary between minimum and maximum volume.
US07828521B2

A turbine module for a gas turbine engine includes at least an annular distributor and a turbine rotor inside a casing, where the annular distributor includes a plurality of elements in the form of a ring sector, of which a first part supports fixed blades positioned radially towards the turbine axis, and a second part forms a seal with the tips of the turbine rotor blades. The elements in the form of a ring sector are held inside the casing by attachment resources.
US07828517B2

A turbine assembly for a variable-geometry turbocharger includes a turbine housing defining a divided volute having first and second scrolls, wherein the first scroll has a substantially smaller volume than the second scroll. The first scroll feeds exhaust gas to a first portion of a turbine wheel upstream of the throat of the wheel, while the second scroll feeds gas to a second portion of the wheel at least part of which is downstream of the throat. Flow from the second scroll is regulated by a sliding piston. The first scroll can be optimized for low-flow conditions such that the turbocharger can operate effectively like a small fixed-geometry turbocharger when the piston is closed. The turbine housing defines an inlet that is divided by a dividing wall into two portions respectively feeding gas to the two scrolls, a leading edge of the dividing wall being downstream of the inlet mouth.
US07828516B2

The invention relates to a device for support of an adjusting ring which encompasses at a distance a basically circular blade carrier, which adjusting ring is rotatable in the circumferential direction around a center axis which is identical with the blade carrier, in order to adjust radially extending blades of a ring of a turbo-engine, wherein a plurality of levers are provided between the blade carrier and the adjusting ring, which levers are distributed over the circumference, extend tangentially in each case, and which on their free ends have a rotatable roller in each case, which are rollable in the circumferential direction on the adjusting ring or on the blade carrier. According to the invention, the lever is tightly clamped on one side to disclose a wear-free and reliable device for support of an adjusting ring which encompasses at a distance a circular blade carrier.
US07828512B2

An arrangement for supporting a shaft of a vacuum pump includes a first bearing for supporting the shaft at one of its end, a second bearing for supporting the shaft at another of its ends and formed as a rolling bearing, a holder for receiving the second bearing and including an oscillating base, a fixation member secured in the vacuum pump housing, metallic connection members for connecting the oscillating base with the fixation member and axial springs arranged between the oscillating base and the fixation member and providing for the axial stiffness of the holder which is greater than its radial stiffness thereof and greater than the axial stiffness of the first bearing.
US07828511B1

An axial tip turbine driven pump in which a first fluid pumped by an inducer is driven by a second fluid that reacts with a turbine blade extending from a shroud on the inducer. The inducer includes a set of screw thread blades and a second set of partial blades that are covered by a shroud in the aft section of the inducer. A row of turbine blades extends from the shroud and into a manifold that forms the outer casing for the pump. The fluid flow through the manifold reacts with the turbine blades and drives the inducer to pump the fluid from the inlet and through guide vanes downstream from the inducer. The fluid passing through the turbine blades is collected in an outlet collector manifold and discharged into the fluid flowing through the guide vanes. The inducer with the turbine blades is rotatably supported within the housing formed by the guide vane support member and the manifold casing. The swirl flow direction of the turbine blades is opposite to that of the swirl flow in the inducer. The structure that rejoins the two fluids redirects the turbine blade flow into the same swirl direction as the inducer flow.
US07828510B2

This is related to a fan including a casing, a first impeller structure, a second impeller structure, and at least one driving device. The casing has an outlet and an air-containing portion having an entrance and an exit provided inside the casing. The first impeller structure and the second impeller structure are installed inside the casing, and include a first blade set and a second blade set, respectively. The first blade set is located corresponding to the entrance of the air-containing portion. The second blade set is located corresponding to the exit of the air-containing portion. The driving device drives the first and second impeller structures.
US07828501B2

A mounting mechanism is provided for securing an article to a wall. The mounting mechanism can include an insertion member, a base member, and a tab member. The insertion member has at least one hub formed thereon. The base member has a flange and at least one arm depending from the flange. The flange defines an insertion hole, and the at least one arm includes a guide. When the insertion member is provided in the insertion hole, the guide receives the at least one hub. The guide directs movement of the insertion member relative to the base member. The insertion member and the base member include a ratchet mechanism for maintaining the position of the insertion member relative to the base member. The ratchet mechanism can include a pawl formed on the at least one hub and at least one indentation provided on the guide. The pawl can interact with the at least one indentation. The tab member can be removably coupled to the insertion member. The tab member can be used to articulate the insertion member from an insertion orientation to an installed orientation.
US07828499B2

An erosion control system for reducing erosion under effluent flow conditions. The system includes an erosion control mat anchored over an erosion susceptible area. The anchoring system uses an anchor positioned below the soil, connected to the mat by a flexible strap. Due to its high shear resistance, the system may be used in high effluent flow areas, such as drainage ditches and creeks.
US07828498B2

A block assembly includes integral connection mechanisms specifically designed for incorporation into engineered retaining walls. These connection mechanisms specifically accommodate the use of reinforcing grids in the formation of a retaining wall which, when used, will stabilize the retaining wall and provide additional strength. The connection mechanism is formed prior to fabrication of the block itself, and thus can be integrally incorporated during casting/fabrication of the block itself. The connection mechanism defines a connection slot usable during retaining wall fabrication (by allowing easy connection to the reinforcing grid) while also accommodating holding and lifting of the block assembly. Due to the fabrication method, the configuration of the connection mechanisms inserted into the block can be uniquely designed to provide desired physical coupling once the concrete is hardened. This further allows the use of different materials and different structures to provide the desired strength and allow the use of optimal materials.
US07828497B2

A retaining wall for supporting and stabilizing cut or fill areas of excavation and a method of constructing a retaining wall. The wall is preferably constructed by applying the concrete pneumatically. The method comprises installing a backing board while the vertical wall is pneumatically constructed. The backing board may be selectively removed after application of concrete. The footing and vertical wall can be constructed monolithically utilizing this method. This method of construction yields a high strength wall with very few construction steps and uses materials efficiently. The flexibility in the design and advantages regarding accessibility, along with needing fewer workers for construction, are also a large benefit.
US07828488B2

A developing apparatus includes two rotating members respectively having parallel horizontal axes of rotation and disposed longitudinally opposite to each other, a carrying passage forming mechanism extended between the rotating members to form a carrying passage, and capable of moving along an orbital path to carry a wafer supported thereon along the carrying passage, a sending-in transfer unit disposed at the upstream end of the carrying passage, a sending-out transfer unit disposed at the downstream end of the carrying passage, a developer pouring nozzle for pouring a developer onto the wafer, a cleaning nozzle for pouring a cleaning liquid onto the wafer, and a gas nozzle for blowing a gas against the wafer. The developer pouring nozzle, the cleaning nozzle and the gas nozzle are arranged in that order in a direction in which the wafer is carried along the carrying passage.
US07828486B1

Surveillance apparatus including an elongated base anchor structure, elongated core structure carrying surveillance equipment and having a lower end fixed against movement relative to the ground, and an elongated enclosure attached to the base anchor structure and surrounding the elongated core structure and the surveillance equipment, the elongated core structure and the surveillance equipment structurally isolated from the elongated enclosure and protected from vibration caused by wind impacting the elongated enclosure.
US07828475B2

A blended drink concession apparatus has a motorcycle engine, mounted in a motorcycle engine display area. The motorcycle belt is powered by the motorcycle engine and the motorcycle pulley is also powered by the motorcycle engine. The motorcycle pulley operates a shaft and the shaft operates a belt. The belt operates the blender shaft. The blender connector is powered by the blender shaft. A variety of hundred jars each having a blender blade is powered by the blender shaft connector. Thus, users can have blended drinks from the power of a motorcycle engine. Optionally, propane can be injected into the exhaust and ignited for visual effect. Optionally, handlebars mounted in front of the engine provide additional decoration. The motorcycle handlebars may have gearshift control, start and kill switch or other controls. The blended drink concession apparatus is mounted on a trailer that can be pulled around from event to event.
US07828473B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with a backlight module including a light-emitting diode (LED)-based illumination device is disclosed. The illumination device includes more than one LED of the waveguide type for use as a light source of the backlight. The LCD panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed between these substrates, and a polarization plate. Output light of the LED is linearly polarized in advance. A waveguide is arranged for giving off polarized light components from the LED only in a chosen direction to thereby permit incidence in parallel with a polarized light transmission direction of the LCD polarizer plate. The LED is amounted and arranged so that the polarized light transmission direction of the polarizer plate is the same as the polarization direction through an optical system associated therewith.
US07828469B2

A light source module adapted to a projecting device including a light bulb, a fan, and an air tunnel structure is provided. The fan is located by the light bulb for cooling the light bulb. The air tunnel structure is located respective to the location of the light bulb, for removing the heat generated by the light bulb. The air tunnel structure has a curved inner wall, a plurality of fins, and a tank. The curved inner wall is located inside the air tunnel structure respective to the location of the light bulb. The fins are formed on the curved inner wall for blocking the fragments generated by the explosion of the light bulb. The tank is located by a side of the curved inner wall for carrying the fragments clashing the fins.
US07828459B2

To improve semiconductor-based systems for generating white light, a phosphor is integrated with an external structure, such as a reflector. A disclosed exemplary system, for illumination applications, utilizes one or more semiconductor devices for emitting radiant energy of a first wavelength. A reflector outside the package of the LED or other semiconductor device has a reflective surface arranged to receive radiant energy from the energy source. At least some of the received radiant energy of the first wavelength excites one or more phosphors associated with an external light processing element, for example, located along the surface of the reflector, to emit light, including visible light energy of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength. In the examples, at least some of visible light emitted by the phosphor is reflected by the reflective surface of the reflector and directed to facilitate the particular humanly perceptible luminance or illumination application.
US07828451B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for occulting light. The occulter shape suppresses diffraction at any given size or angle and is practical to build because it can be made binary to avoid scatter. Binary structures may be fully opaque or fully transmitting at specific points. The diffraction suppression is spectrally broad so that it may be used with incoherent white light. An occulter may also include substantially opaque inner portion and an at least partially transparent outer portion. Such occulters may be used on the ground to create a deep shadow in a short distance, or may be used in space to suppress starlight and reveal exoplanets.
US07828450B2

An apparatus for sun shielding for telescopic sights and binoculars incorporating a shutter mechanism to both protect the sighting system and to vary the light entering the sighting system.
US07828448B2

An illumination unit and an image projection apparatus employing the same. The illumination unit includes: a first reflective surface reflecting light incident thereon; a light-emitting device generating and emitting illuminating light; and a second reflective surface reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting device to a light source surface that includes the light-emitting device.
US07828442B2

A film-feeding mechanism is provided having at least one conveying claw for intermittently transporting a motion picture film that is provided with perforations which extend parallel to the lateral edges thereof. Said film-feeding mechanism further includes at least one locking claw whose tips engage into a perforation in order to ensure picture steadiness, and a film-guiding device that aligns the motion picture film. Lateral film-guiding elements of the film-guiding device are disposed so as to be at least partly movable relative to the lateral edges of the motion picture film.
US07828439B2

In accordance with the invention there is disclosed a method for determining the amount of prism needed to be placed in spectacle lenses to correct ones fixation disparity and or proprioceptive misalignment, wherein target objects viewed by each eye will be perceived to be at optical infinity and the objects to be viewed by each eye are seen separately but also simultaneously, the method comprising: adding Base Out prism in a smooth and continuous manner until the target objects jump together, switch sides or are suppressed; decreasing Base Out prism and thereafter continuing to add Base In prism until the target objects return to their original position; and recording amount of prism needed to achieve the target objects returning to their original position.
US07828434B2

Vision training eyewear include lenses having a plurality of obscuration zones. The obscuration zones are individually switchable to provide light emission or attenuation that can interfere with normal vision of the wearer. A pattern or sequence of patterns can be selectively activated at a fixed or variable rate while a trainee is exposed to a test situation.
US07828430B2

A transparent optical component comprises a set of cells (15) juxtaposed on a surface of the component. Each cell encloses a determined substance so as to endow the component with particular optical characteristics, and two neighbouring cells are separated by a wall (18). Some walls are not straight at the surface of the component, so that the light diffracted by the walls does not form any luminous glint or any flashing. In particular, the walls can be curved or made up of straight segments disposed end-to-end.
US07828425B2

An ink circulation system, an inkjet recording apparatus having the ink circulation system, and an ink circulating method thereof. The ink circulation system includes an ink tank including an ink outlet and an ink inlet, a head assembly including a head chip through which an ink is discharged, and a filter, a supply path which supplies the ink of the ink tank to the head assembly, a first feed line through which ink of the head assembly at the upstream of the filter is conveyed into the ink tank, a second feed line through which the ink of the head assembly at the downstream of the filter is conveyed to the ink tank, and a pump which is provided at the ink inlet of the ink tank to provide the first and the second feed lines with a negative pressure to circulate the ink.
US07828422B2

A liquid container contains a liquid therein and is detachably mountable to a liquid ejection device. The liquid container has a liquid lead-out port for supplying said liquid to the outside, the liquid lead-out port being disposed in a connection surface, and an abutment surface for opening a channel valve by abutting against part of said channel valve provided in said liquid ejection device, the abutment surface being disposed in said connection surface.
US07828412B2

An ink jet printer for printing on a substrate comprising a first print head outputting ink and defining an ink meniscus; a platen operable to carry the substrate; a support structure; and a print head mechanism coupled to the support structure and carrying the first print head. The print head mechanism moving the first print head relative to the platen. A controller controls the print head mechanism such that at least one of a predetermined acceleration and predetermined deceleration of the print head mechanism is achieved such that the ink meniscus is operably maintained.
US07828411B2

A print unit includes, a first ejection head which ejects a first liquid, a second ejection head which ejects a second liquid and disposed on an upstream side of the first ejection head in terms of a first direction; a conveyance device which conveys a recording medium relatively with respect to the print unit; and a switch-back unit which reverses a conveyance direction of the recording medium, from the first direction, to a second direction opposite to the first direction. Only the first ejection head ejects the first liquid toward the recording medium when the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction; the switch-back unit reverses the direction from the first direction to the second direction; and only the second ejection head ejects the second liquid toward the recording medium when the recording medium is conveyed in the second direction.
US07828406B2

Provided are a print head error checking apparatus and method in which the residual oscillation of a piezoelectric element corresponding to each nozzle of a print head is sensed, the sensed residual oscillation of each piezoelectric element and a predetermined residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element are compared to each other, and whether a print head normally operates is checked in consideration of the results of the comparisons.
US07828390B2

A vehicle armrest assembly (20) includes an armrest (22), a ratchet mechanism (24) having a linear ratchet plate (36) that cooperates with a pawl locking assembly (38) to permit vertical adjustment of the armrest. An upper armrest portion (100) is mounted on an armrest housing (96) by a track (102) for adjustable movement. An adjuster (114) of the armrest permits pivotal adjustment of the armrest as well as pivoting to a nonuse position.
US07828387B2

A headrest storage recession of seat back in an upside-recessed-and-headrest-storage type of seat has, provided at the backward side thereof, an integral combination of a cover element and an upward extension of a back board disposed behind the seat back. Namely, the cover element is connected continuously with the back board upward extension, without any connection line therebetween. A thin hinge portion is defined in boundary between those cover element and upward extension, and the cover element is folded relative to such thin hinge portion and securely attached to the upward extension, thereby constituting a backward wall of the headrest storage recession.
US07828380B2

A pew style seating assembly includes a plurality of seat members, each of which is pivotable, independently from all others of the plurality of seat members, between an occupied position and an unoccupied position. Each seat member, when in the occupied position, defines a seating area above a top surface thereof, with the seating areas defined by the plurality of seat members defining a continuous and uninterrupted pew seating area spanning the plurality of seat members. The seating assembly further includes a single, continuous seat back attached to each of the seat support members and spanning the entire pew seating area, such that the plurality of seat members are associated with the single, continuous seat back.
US07828379B2

There is disclosed a vehicle seat provided with a system for facilitating relieving of fatigue of an occupant on the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a seat back, the system comprising an occupant's body-motion promoting means 6 provided in an interior of the seat back 1 for repeatedly locally pressing the occupant on the vehicle seat, to thereby promote blood circulation of the occupant, a lateral acceleration sensor 8 provided in the interior of the seat back 1 for detecting accelerations that are applied in right and left lateral directions relative to a vehicle, and an acceleration-distinction control circuit provided in the interior of the seat back 1 for causing the body-motion promoting means 6 to be maintained in a drivable state according when an acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor 8 is in a predetermined value range, for causing drive of the body-motion promoting means to be once stopped when the lateral acceleration becomes an excessive value exceeding an upper limit of the predetermined value range during the drive of the body-motion promoting means, and for returning the body-motion promoting means to the drivable state when the lateral acceleration drops toward the predetermined value range from the excessive value.
US07828375B2

An outer sliding sunroof apparatus having a roof panel attached to an opening of a fixed roof of a vehicle, a drive device for opening and closing the roof panel, and a control unit for controlling the drive device. The apparatus further includes a load detector for detecting load applied to the drive device when the roof panel in a closed state is tilted up and moved toward a rear of the vehicle. When the load detector detects the load not less than a predetermined amount of load, the control unit is configured to move the roof panel in the closing direction.
US07828374B2

The front end structure of a motor vehicle includes a fender support and a fender for attachment to the fender support and an absorber, which is mounted between the fender support and the fender, and wherein the absorber is constructed as a profiled deformation element to which a number of add-on pieces can also be attached.
US07828366B2

The rear unit comprises first and second doors for a motor vehicle. The first and second doors respectively comprise first and second tailgates, the second door carrying the first tailgate. The first rear door has hinge means for hinging the first tailgate relative to the body of the motor vehicle, which means are fastened to the first tailgate. The first tailgate is pivotally movable relative to the body about a main pivot axis of the hinge means. The main axis is also suitable for moving in at least one guide slideway for guiding the main pivot axis in translation relative to the body in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
US07828357B2

An aluminum roof outer panel (2) is spot welded to a roof side rail (3) consisting of galvanized steel sheet. The outer panel (4) of the roof side rail is made of galvannealed steel sheet that has a favorable property but cannot be favorably welded to the aluminum roof outer panel, but the inner panel (5, 6) of the roof side rail is made of non-galvannealed steel sheet that can be favorably welded to the aluminum roof outer panel. Flanges of the outer panel (4) and inner panel (5, 6) overlap each other, and the flange of the outer panel is provided with a plurality of notches (11) along an edge of the outer panel. A corresponding flange of the roof outer panel is welded to the parts of the inner panel exposed by the notches of the outer panel.
US07828351B2

A manipulator robot for handling objects and in particular bottles. The manipulator robot includes a body whereon are fitted equipment items for gripping the bottles and the lower part of the body includes slide-shaped devices connecting the body and elongated support members whereon is arranged the equipment items. Fast fixing devices are also interposed between the body and each elongated support member to facilitate changing the elongated support members. The elongated support members may include all sorts of equipment items such as pneumatic bell-shaped gripping heads or handling suckers and/or claw systems for handling cartons.
US07828337B2

A threaded connection includes a pin member having a pin thread having a pin load flank and a pin stab flank. The threaded connection includes a box member having a box thread having a box load flank and a box stab flank. The pin thread includes a first wedge segment on the pin stab flank and the box thread includes a second wedge segment on the box stab flank. Upon make-up of the pin member with the box member, a contact stress results from engagement of the first wedge segment with the second wedge segment.
US07828333B1

A printable form comprising a printable face ply and a wristband releasably bonded to a surface of the printable face ply. In at least one embodiment the wristband may be detached from the surface of the printable face ply and secured to around a body part for use in identification. In at least one embodiment the printable face ply comprises one or more labels that may be detached therefrom and applied to the wristband.
US07828332B2

A seat belt tensioner includes a guide, which has a pair of opposing plates connected by a connector, a wire, a first end of which extends upward to be connected to a seat belt, a central portion of which is curved to extend around the connector, and a retracting mechanism, which is connected to the second end of the wire and is operated by an external signal in an emergency. Here, the connector is integrally formed with at least one of the plates. Thus, the seat belt tensioner enables structural simplification, easy assembly, and a reduction in the number of parts.
US07828322B2

An airbag comprises a bag which is bent in the shape of an arrow ‘<’ in a deployed state, and a connection member which is arranged on a side of the bag, facing a vehicle body, and connects the upper and lower ends of the bag with each other. A longitudinal intermediate portion of the bag projects toward a vehicle occupant. A space is defined between the projecting intermediate portion and the connection member. The head of the vehicle occupant initially comes into contact with the intermediate portion and then presses the bag toward the vehicle body. Upper and lower parts of the bag which extend upward and downward from the intermediate portion cooperate with the connection member to define a triangular space.
US07828314B2

A wheel suspension system having under powered acceleration a squat response that begins in the realm of anti squat and passes through a point of lessened anti squat at a further point in the travel.
US07828311B1

A wheelchair includes a wheelchair frame, a pair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheels carried by the wheelchair frame, a drive motor drivingly engaging at least one of the pair of rear wheels and the pair of front wheels, a pair of wheelchair tracks detachably carried by the wheelchair frame and a locomotion assist assembly carried by the wheelchair frame.
US07828309B2

The invention relates to a road-building machine whose left front wheel (4) or caterpillar, right front wheel (6) or caterpillar, left rear wheel (8) or caterpillar and right rear wheel (10) or caterpillar are connected to the road-building machine chassis by means of an actuating element and are height-adjustable with respect to the road-building machine frame. According to said invention, different actuating elements are rigidly connected to the road-building machine chassis and forcedly coupled to each other in such a way that the left front wheel (4) or caterpillar and the right rear wheel (10) or caterpillar are height-adjustable in the same direction and with respect to the right front wheel (6) or caterpillar and the left rear wheel (8) or caterpillar are adjustable in the opposite directions. The all wheels (4, 6, 8, 10) or caterpillars are equally height-adjustable. The inventive road-building machine provides a high operational stability, the improved compensation of the adjustment of lateral hindrance inclination of the road-building machine and the irregularities in the longitudinal direction thereof.
US07828295B2

Game information is provided that includes a table, a formed object incorporating a coil and a memory for storing identification information on the formed object. When a formed object is placed on the tablet, the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and direction on the tablet, and identification information on the formed object. The apparatus can detect a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system, select character information corresponding to the identification information, dispose the character in a game space, control motion and movement of the character according to the change detected, and generate an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.
US07828292B2

A spring is bridged between a pair of press levers, and a pair of driven rollers is pressurized uniformly, so that clamping and conveying force of the sheet of paper P on the front side and rear side by conveying rollers and the driven rollers is made equal such as Pf=Pr, the sheet of paper P are prevented from being skewed, while the sheet of paper P are clamped and conveyed by a conveying device, and the good conveying of the sheet of paper P is improved, thus the image quality is improved.
US07828288B2

A multi-functional peripheral device is provided. The multi-functional peripheral device includes a bottom frame and a top frame that is installed so as to be movable with respect to the bottom frame. The height of a paper stacker, to which paper is delivered and stacked, is controllable, since the top frame is movable with respect to the bottom frame.
US07828282B2

An imaging system includes a media holder configured to hold a plurality of sheets of media. A pick arm, including a pick roller, is positioned to contact an individual sheet of the plurality of sheets of media in the media holder. A member has a measurable property that is sensed by a sensor in correlation with a position of the individual sheet of the media in the media holder. The member or the sensor is movable by the pick arm along a path such that the measurable property is sensed by the sensor in order to provide a signal indicative of the position of the individual sheet of media in the media holder. The member produces zero drag upon the individual sheet of media.
US07828281B2

When a sheet is conveyed from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a bar-like pushing member is moved in a direction of the stacking tray in synchronization with an ejector. Consequently, simultaneously with the movement of the sheet by the ejector, a lower surface of a leading end of the sheet is pushed to relax and reduce a contact force between the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet and the stacking tray (or an upper surface of a sheet already stacked on the stacking tray). As a result, static friction at the leading end of the sheet is changed to dynamic friction and the entire sheet is conveyed to the stacking tray without bending.
US07828278B2

An inserter apparatus has a printer A and an inserter apparatus B. The printer A has a print section 13, and an insert information output section 9 for outputting insert information including an insert page showing a position of an insert paper and an interval of printing papers. The inserter apparatus B has a discharged paper carrying section 17 of printing papers from the print section 13; a counter section 19 for counting the number of sheets of the printing papers; a paper feeding section 21 for setting the insert paper therein; and a paper feeding controller 23. Based on insert information from the insert information output section 9, the paper feeding controller 23 controls the insert paper to be fed at a timing before the next paper interval is passed after a count value of the counter section 19 reaches one page before the insert page. Therefore, it is possible to realize an excellent short insert processing for the printing papers.
US07828277B2

A sheet storing device that has a conveyance device that holds a folded sheet to convey and a sheet storing section on which a sheet falling after being released from holding is placed, and allows a position of holding lower end position of the aforesaid conveyance device to be variable, a post-processing apparatus equipped with the sheet storing device and an image forming system equipped with the aforesaid items.
US07828276B2

There is provided a technique which can greatly improve throughput at the time when, after a folding process is performed to a bundle of sheets, the bundle of sheets subjected to the folding process is transported to a downstream side, and can prevent a wrinkle from occurring in the bundle of sheets at the time of the folding process. A sheet transport speed of a pair of rollers is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed at a specified timing between when a folding blade finishes a pressing operation of the bundle of sheets and starts a return operation to a waiting position and when a rear edge of the bundle of sheets pressed into a nip of a pair of rollers by the folding blade passes through the nip of the pair of rollers.
US07828271B2

Process for preparing an alkoxypolyoxyalkylene (meth)acrylate in which a) a metal alkoxide MetOR10 is initially charged, b) an alkylene oxide of the formula (IV) is added and reacted with the metal alkoxide and c) (meth)acrylic anhydride is added directly and reacted with the reaction product from step b). Appropriately, in step c), a stabilizer mixture is added which comprises, for example, the following components I. at least one compound of the formula (I) II. at least one compound of the formula (IIa or IIb) or of the formula (IV) III. at least one compound of the formula (V)
US07828269B2

A valve unit for regulating a flow and a disposable urine bag are provided. The valve unit includes an inlet portion and an outlet portion separated from each other by a slide valve. The slide valve includes a female part in direct communication with the inlet portion and the outlet portion and a male part axially displaceable in liquid-proof contact with the female part. The male part includes a closing position wherein a portion of the male part is outside the female part and an open position wherein the male part allows liquid passage between the inlet portion and the outlet portion by means of a communication part. The female part includes a tubular member open at both ends and having a tubular wall extending along the entire length of the male part in the open position for deterring displacement of the male part to the closed position.
US07828267B2

A slide valve is provided, in which the conductance in the minimum region is controllable with high accuracy to enable stable control, a slide plate is prevented from plastically deforming to acquire good controllability of the minimum flow rate, and it is possible to detach a valve element and an air drive portion integrally with the slide plate, thereby facilitating the maintenance. The slide valve includes a body having a flow path, a slide plate provided within the body and between a closing position preventing a flow on the flow path and an open position permitting the flow, disposed perpendicularly relative to a flow path axis and movable horizontally or on a straight line, and a valve element incorporated in the slide plate and operated in a direction of the flow path axis to switch between the closing position and the open position of the slide plate by air cylinder drive. The slide plate has an upper surface and a lower surface that form small clearances in cooperation with the body when the valve element is in the open position, thereby enabling control of the minimum conductance. When the valve element has been in the closing position to induce a pressure difference load, the slide plate when receiving the pressure difference load is not plastically deformed.
US07828266B2

A valve body of each of low and high-pressure couplers is urged in a close direction in to a supply side of a partition. A stem that penetrates through an opening portion and projects into the receive side is connected to the valve body. A cylinder portion is formed on the receive side of the partition. A locking mechanism is provided in a vicinity of an end portion of the cylinder portion. A movable sleeve having an annular projecting portion is provided on an inside of the cylinder portion. Each of low and high-pressure plugs has an annular projecting surface that can engage with the annular projecting portion, a flange that engages with an end portion of the cylinder portion, and an engaging portion that can engage with the locking mechanism.
US07828249B2

First and second releasably connectable portions of a docking system are moved together. A relatively central concave element of the second portion of the docking system contacts a corresponding relatively central mating convex element of the first portion of the docking system. A plurality of relatively distal coupling elements rigidly connected to one of the first and second portions of the docking system are inserted into a corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets of the other of the first and second portions of the docking system. The plurality of relatively distal coupling elements are captured with a corresponding plurality of relatively distal latch mechanisms associated with the plurality of relatively distal sockets responsive to inserting the plurality of relatively distal coupling elements into the corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets.
US07828238B2

A media-agitation type wet disperser is provided which eliminates the group motion of media, attains high dispersion efficiency, and avoids wear problem. A cylindrical vessel having a feed opening for the treating material and a discharge opening for the treated material is equipped with a cylindrical separator and a rotor rotating while being fixed to a rotary shaft. The rotor is composed of pluralities of small rotors each having a cylindrical agitation part and a disk-shaped holding part. The agitation part has pluralities of throughholes connecting the inside and the outside thereof.
US07828236B2

A grinding mill grinds grains or similar foodstuffs, while the concept of the invention could also be applied to other feed materials. The grain is fed at a controlled rate to an impeller chamber, ground by the impeller until a small enough size to fit through a sieve, and separated into a sample cyclone stream and a bulk or waste cyclone stream. Each cyclone includes a central air return duct which channels air back to the grain feeder chamber and then into the impeller chamber. By having the air from grinding recirculated back to the grinder after separation, the grain grinding process is cleaner and results in less moisture loss.
US07828230B1

A sprinkler includes a riser, an impeller mounted in the riser, and a nozzle rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser. A drive assembly including a reduction gear train couples the impeller and the nozzle. A clutch in the drive assembly includes a clutch member having an axis of rotation that provides a positive drive connection under a normal load and axially displaces and slips under an excessive load.
US07828227B2

There is provided a fuel oil atomizer comprised of an elongated outer member, an elongated inner member and an atomizing head. The inner member is a fuel supply conduit which coaxially received within the central opening of the outer member defining therebetween a generally annular atomizing fluid supply conduit. The atomizing head includes a fuel chamber, an atomizing fluid chamber and a mixing chamber. The fuel supply conduit communicates with the fuel chamber. The atomizing fluid supply conduit communicates with the atomizing fluid chamber. The fuel chamber has a first end and a second end. The atomizing fluid chamber is circumambient to the first end of the fuel chamber and the fuel chamber has a portion that extends axially from the atomizing fluid chamber. The mixing chamber is circumambient to the second end of the fuel chamber.
US07828219B2

Printed document 3 includes at least one microcircuit capable of generating and transmitting a signal that allows identifying a microcircuit and contact parts in series with the microcircuit 5 for the activation of the microcircuit 5.
US07828213B2

In an RF label identification system comprising a label reader and a plurality of labels, a unique and secret identifier being associated with each label, a first random number is sent from a label to the reader. A second random number is then sent from the reader to the label. In the RF label, a value of the encrypted identifier is then obtained by generating third and fourth random numbers in accordance with a probabilistic rule, by transforming the first and second random numbers in accordance with a determined function and by combining the identifier with the first and second random numbers, with the first and second transformed numbers and with the third and fourth random numbers. The value of the encrypted identifier is sent to the reader. After N repetitions of the above process, the reader identifies the RF label as a function of the N values of the encrypted identifier received, of the determined function, of the N first and second random numbers and of the probabilistic rule.
US07828208B2

Retail point-of-transaction systems, program products, and related computer implemented methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a retail sales point-of-sale transaction which includes the use of one or more electronic coupons is provided. The retail point-of-sale system can include a computer having memory and configured to facilitate one or more transactions each of which include the use of one or more electronic coupons through a retail point-of-transaction terminal positioned remote from, and adapted to be in communication with, the computer. The computer can also include a set of instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to redeem one or more electronic coupons for one or more retail transactions responsive to a customized set of identification data provided by the computer responsive to a data profile derived from a set of personal data of at least one of a plurality of remotely positioned users.
US07828205B2

A system and method are described whereby a health care organization (HCO) cooperates with a financial organization by promoting enrollment and use of a financial product or service that includes terms having incentives related to health care expenditures. In one embodiment, the financial product or service is a credit card program including incentives related to health care expenses. The HCO identifies and selects a group of consumers suitable to receive promotional information related to the credit card program. Preferably, the credit card program is associated with the HCO via a co-branding arrangement. The HCO obtains revenue from the financial organization based on consumer's use of the credit card and, optionally, based on new enrollments. Although a consumer can use the credit card to pay for any product or service, the incentives are applied when the card is used in connection with products or services related to health care.
US07828202B2

A system and method for controlling the transport of articles comprises in one embodiment one or more communication devices for receiving and transmitting data, at least one primary server in communication with the primary server for allocating couriers for the collection and delivery of articles, a program for controlling the server, and at least one remote interface for placing orders for the collection and delivery of the articles, wherein the program, upon the execution of an order, compares stored historical travel times from one geographic location to another with actual travel times from one geographic location to another to thereby provide updated estimates for the collection time and delivery time of articles provided in subsequent orders.
US07828195B2

The present invention provides bottle sleeves for bottles, such as beverage bottles. Bottle sleeves of the present invention include a rib. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottle sleeves comprise a sleeve sidewall including a partially cylindrical sidewall section and a rib, wherein the sidewall is continuous with the rib. In another embodiment of the present invention the bottle sleeves comprise a substantially cylindrical sidewall and a rib such that the rib overlaps the sidewall. Ribs of the present invention include at least one rib stiffener that is positioned inside the rib interior.
US07828192B2

A system and method for maintaining a substantially constant gap between a horn and an anvil includes the act of positioning a horn proximal an anvil, so that a gap is established between the horn and the anvil. An alternating current (AC) signal is applied to a converter coupled to the horn. The AC signal exhibits an amplitude. The amplitude of the AC signal is adjusted during operation of the horn, so as to maintain the gap between the horn and the anvil substantially constant.
US07828189B2

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US07828179B2

A collapsible garment hanger comprising a central portion and two garment supporting members, where the central portion has a casing, enclosing a u-shaped top member engaging and operating the garment supporting members.
US07828166B1

A dispenser closure is provided having an upper wall portion with at least one opening therein and having a thread depending from an inner annular surface thereof. A lower wall portion of the closure has at least two lugs depending from a lower inner annular surface thereof having a configuration and size to cooperate with at least one stop lock depending from a container neck and at least one of the cooperating closure lugs does not cooperate with the cooperating stop lock when the lower wall portion is deformed by a squeezing force.
US07828164B2

A suspended platform is provided which can prevent an article from overturning and falling even when a great quake such as an earthquake occurs. The suspended platform is intended for an overhead traveling carriage which transfers an article having an abutting surface facing upward in a transfer direction on a horizontal plane and mounts the article on the suspended platform, the suspended platform including a tilt regulating part positioned, in relation to a receiving part on which the article is mounted, such that the tilt regulating part (i) does not touch the article when the article is transferred and mounted on the suspended platform, (ii) is above the abutting surface of the article when the article is transferred and mounted on the suspended platform, (iii) and regulates, by abutting the mounted article at the abutting surface, the tilt range of the article.
US07828158B2

A box structure has a plurality of walls positioned and configured to prevent access to an interior space housing merchandise in a secure manner. A first movable wall permits manual access to a frontal portion of the interior space while at the same time moving a barrier strip to prevent manual access to other than said frontal portion of the interior space. A roll-out shelf mounts merchandise supporting modules with pushers to move merchandise toward the front of the structure where ejection mechanisms in each of the modules are able to direct selected items to the front of the structure where they can be accessed by consumers. The ejection process creates a characteristic noise to alert store personnel that products are being dispensed.
US07828154B2

A manifold for a fuel filter assembly includes a first base, which may define a first inlet passage to direct flow to a first filter element, and a first outlet passage to direct flow from the first filter element to a second base. The manifold includes a second base, which may define a second inlet passage to receive flow from the first base and direct the flow to the second filter element, and a second outlet passage to receive the flow from the second filter element. The manifold includes a diverting module, which may provide flow communication between the first outlet passage and second inlet passage, such that flow in the first inlet passage passes through the first filter element before entering the second inlet passage. The first and second inlet passages may define a common longitudinal axis. The first and second outlet passages may define a common longitudinal axis.
US07828151B2

A corner protector, e.g. for a sheet of glass, has a pair of generally triangular side walls connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls. The internal faces of the bridging walls are substantially flat and are separated by a recess. Internal channels are provided along the junction between the side walls and the bridging walls. The margins of the side walls which extend between the outer ends of the bridging walls are curved such that they are mutually offset from each other for most of their length. At least one of the side walls contains a through-aperture for receiving an adhesive pad which adheres to the protected article in use to hold the corner protector in place. A finger notch provides access to an edge of the adhesive pad to facilitate peeling in order to remove the corner protector.
US07828149B2

A sealed blister assembly is made tip of a blister sheet, a lid sheet, and a label sheet. The plastic sheet and plastic lid are joined together to form a substantially impermeable seal. The seal is formed by engagement of an undercut in the plastic sheet and a shoulder in the plastic lid. A plastic sheet and/or plastic lid are made from a polymer such as low density polyethylene to obtain the impermeable seal. The label sheet is secured directly to the blister and lid sheets.
US07828148B2

An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time. The medication organizing system enables the preparation of small, easily transportable packages of medication that can be quickly and easily filled, sealed, handled, and reopened by any user, including the elderly.
US07828147B2

A multi-layer medication carrier or blister card may comprise a plurality of layers. A support layer is provided with one or more openings to receive corresponding blisters formed in a blister layer. A backing layer is provided over the blister layer to form one or more enclosures capable of holding unit doses of a medication. Perforations provided in at least the blister layer define unit dose packages. Dimples may be provided in the blister layer within a boundary defined by the perforations, which dimples may be used to ensure subsequent ejection of each unit dose package. An adhesive-free region in the backing layer may be provided in alignment with the perforations defining each unit dose package to further ensure proper ejection. Additionally, a partial-depth cut in the backing layer may be provided in substantial alignment with each blister, thereby facilitating removal of the unit dose of medication.
US07828142B2

A unit dose package for applying a material with an applicator having a separate material and applicator portion. In one embodiment, a material well is squeezed to dispense the material onto an applicator through a releasable portion between the material well and the edge of the tray. In another embodiment, a plurality of material wells is used to mix different materials to be dispensed with an applicator. In another embodiment a portion of the cover is removable.
US07828138B2

A case, in particular for writing utensils, has a shell-like lower part and a shell-shaped upper part. The two parts are pivotally connected to one another. The upper part has a viewing window. A holding device for a decorative material blank is disposed on the inner side aligned with and covering the viewing window on the inside.
US07828137B2

The present disclosure provides a contact lens package containing a contact lens in a compressed state. In one exemplary embodiment, the overall internal depth of the package is less than the natural sagittal depth of the contact lens. Different single-use contact lens package shapes and configurations may be used. In some embodiments, a spring disc is included in the packages to help present the contact lens to the user when the package is opened. The contact lens packages may be adhered or clipped to a card or other carrier sheet, and may be housed in a number of different secondary packages.
US07828132B2

An electric clutch actuator capable of operating in two power loss conditions. For a condition where a normally engaged clutch is disengaged during a system power loss and the desired action is for the clutch to remain in the disengaged positional state, a holding device moves to a power off activated position to prevent movement of an actuator for the clutch. For a condition where the clutch is disengaged during a system power loss and the desired action is for the clutch to move to an engaged positional state, a motor in the electric clutch actuator is used as a generator to convert the potential energy of a clutch pressure spring into electrical energy to provide energy for powering the holding device to remain deactivated, permitting movement of the clutch actuator to the engaged position. Maintaining the holding device deactivated permits the clutch to move to the engaged position and thereby allows vehicle engine braking to be used during a power loss of the system.
US07828129B2

A magnetorheological clutch comprises a stationary part, a rotating primary part with primary laminated strips and a secondary part with secondary laminated strips, whereby a controllable magnetic field acts upon the magnetorheological fluid. The aim of the invention is to allow transmission of a highest possible torque in a smallest possible space and with minimal power consumption. Said aim is achieved, whereby a number of solenoid coils, each having a first yoke with a substantially radial winding axis, are alternately oppositely polarized; the first yokes have cylindrical front faces, whereby the magnetic field lines radially enter and exit said yokes, the primary laminated strips and secondary laminated strips form closed cylindrical envelopes and second outer and inner yokes are provided radially outside of and radially inside the first yokes, whereby the magnetic field lines radially enter the second yokes and radially exit said yokes in the opposite direction.
US07828128B2

A system for controlling hydraulic fluid supplied to a torque converter of an transmission includes a torque converter including a chamber containing an impeller and a turbine, and a bypass clutch having a variable torque capacity, a source of variable control pressure, a latch valve changes in response to the variable control pressure alternately between an unlatched state, wherein the latch valve produces a low pressure output, and a latched state, wherein the latch valve produces a high pressure output, a first valve for limiting hydraulic pressure in the chamber alternately at two magnitudes of pressure in response to the low pressure output and the high pressure output, and a second valve responsive to the variable control pressure for regulating a magnitude of hydraulic pressure that actuates the bypass clutch and changes the torque capacity of the clutch.
US07828110B2

A steering device for steering front wheels of a four-wheeled vehicle is disclosed, comprising a steering wheel, a steering column, a lower column, and a steering gear box. The lower column is coupled via universal joints to the steering column and the steering gear box. The steering gear box includes a housing in which a rack and a screw rod are accommodated. The rack has an end coupled via a spherical joint to a tie rod, which is jointed to the front wheel. The spherical joint includes an anti-loosening washer. The housing has an inside surface forming a step over which a sleeve is fit for being engageable with the anti-loosening washer of the spherical joint to form a constraint to an inward travel of the spherical joint of the tie rod into the housing so as to set a constraint to steering angle of the front wheel.
US07828109B2

The present invention discloses a transmission and steering system of a double-head vehicle, comprising a first steering wheel; a front wheel group; a first signal acquisition and transceiver device which can output steering information according to the steering angle of the first steering wheel; a first motor group; a second signal acquisition and transceiver device which can receive the steering information output from the first signal acquisition and transceiver device; a rear wheel group; and a second motor group; such that through the aforementioned structure, when the first steering wheel is turned, the first motor group may be controlled by the first steering wheel to drive the front wheel group to turn and in the mean time, the second signal acquisition and transceiver device may receive the steering information and transmit it to the second motor group to drive the rear wheel group.
US07828107B2

A forward/reverse control system for a work machine cancels a second control state, in which forward/reverse switching control is performed by a second forward/reverse control means, by an operation of a first forward/reverse control means to return to a first control state in which forward/reverse switching control is performed by the first forward/reverse control means. The system is provided with a F-N-R lever unit 30 (the first forward/reverse control means) and F-N-R switch unit 40 (the second forward/reverse control means) that instruct forward, reverse or neutral, a controller 42 which performs forward/reverse switching control by giving priority to an instruction from the F-N-R lever unit 30 over an instruction from the F-N-R switch unit 40, and a selector switch 41 which by an operation of a switching control member 41a, instructs the controller 42 to switch to the second control state or to cancel the second control state. As a consequence, the system has made it possible to return to the first control state without an operation of the first forward/reverse control means.
US07828103B2

A motorcycle has an engine, a main frame passing above the engine and extending rearward, and a down tube passing below the engine and extending rearward. An upper part of the engine is overlapped with the main frame without projecting above the main frame, and a lower part of the engine is overlapped with the down tube.
US07828102B2

A motorcycle with a rear spoiler and a storage box. A rear spoiler is provided with a through hole adapted to directly apply the load of a rear seat to the rear seat support portion. A portion of the storage box is allowed to face the through-hole, forming the rear seat support portion. The bottom plate of the rear seat is abutted against the rear seat support portion to support the load of the rear seat. A labyrinth structure seals between the storage box and the rear spoiler. The first seal member attached to the rear seat seals between the rear spoiler and the rear seat.
US07828101B2

A wheel with a self-contained drive mechanism is provided to propel (or assist in propulsion of) bicycles, tricycles, and similar vehicles. The wheel preferably takes the form of a detachable wheel which is readily received within the dropouts of a bicycle frame or fork to be attached therein by a standard quick-release mechanism. Thus, the wheel may be added to (or removed from) preexisting standard bicycles and the like.
US07828100B2

A front hood system has a front hood of a vehicle that is coupled to the frame of the vehicle via at least one multiple-joint hinge. In addition, the vehicle's front opening hood can be latched by means of at least one hood lock. At least one multiple-joint hinge has at least one link that can separate into at least two parts due to the force of impact of a pedestrian.
US07828094B2

A driving system, vehicle, and control method in which a difference between the detection value of an intake air pressure sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor is computed as a detection value difference in the engine stop condition. An estimate of a potential for an abnormality of the detection value difference is determined, or the abnormality of the detection value difference is determined according to the duration time of an unusual state having the detection value difference of greater than a preset reference value. In an ignition-on state, when a delayed activation is requested, it is identified whether the abnormality in the detection value difference is to be determined. The delayed activation is requested in response to confirmation of a potential abnormality condition where there is a potential for an abnormality in the detection value difference but the abnormality in the detection value difference is not determined.
US07828093B2

A controller for a vehicle including at least one motor driving wheels, an inverter driving the motor, and a boosting converter supplying a dc power supply current to the inverter, is provided with a control portion performing rectangular wave control and non-rectangular wave control on the inverter in a switched manner. The control portion has an emergency switching condition for switching control from the rectangular wave control to the non-rectangular wave control, as a determination reference, and when the emergency switching condition is satisfied while the rectangular wave control is being executed (YES at step S5), the control portion instructs the boosting converter to lower target output voltage (S7). Preferably, the control portion determines that the emergency switching condition is satisfied when a q-axis current supplied from the inverter to the motor exceeds a prescribed threshold value.
US07828092B2

A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support. The traction device includes a storage position and a use position.
US07828083B2

A method of controlling operation of a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. A rate of flow of a flushing medium of the rock drilling rig is determined, and the operation of the rock drilling rig is controlled on the basis of the determined rate of flow by influencing pressure of the flushing medium.
US07828078B2

The present invention is a self-contained, high-energy liquid rock-boring system that will bore a small-diameter access hole [5] several hundred meters through hard granite and other obstacles within minutes of deployment. It employs a land unit [100] platform subsystem [1000] with an energetic fluid fuel reservoir [1300] and a boring subsystem [3000] having a plurality of pulsejets [3100]. Each pulsejet [3100] repeatedly ignites the energetic fluid [7] causing a plurality of rapidly-expanding gas bubbles [3250] which create and force a plurality liquid slugs [10] ahead of them rapidly out through a nozzle [3260] causing the slugs [10] to impact against materials ahead of the nozzles [3260], boring an access hole [5]. The system also employs an umbilical subsystem [2000] connecting the boring [3000] and the platform subsystems [1000]. The system can be used to rapidly bore an access hole [5] to provide air and resources to trapped miners. Alternatively, the system may also be used to bore an access hole [5] to underground threatening targets to neutralize them.
US07828077B1

A rotary angle tool is provided for driving a fastener while controlling the rotational speed of the chuck by varying the pressure or force of the tool against the fastener. The tool includes an angled chuck assembly that is drivable by a motor, an output shaft of the chuck assembly having a rotational axis that is non-parallel to the rotational axis of the motor drive shaft. A sensor is responsive to the proximity of or movement of a detectable element at the chuck output shaft. The sensor generates a signal for controlling the output of the motor in response to detection of the proximity or movement of the detectable element. Moving the chuck output shaft by urging the rotary tool against a fastener varies the proximity of the detectable element relative to the sensor and the sensor output or control proportionally varies the power supplied to the motor.
US07828075B2

An apparatus for manipulating a target includes a base which may be secured to a trolley and a hydraulic arm mounted on the base arranged for being controlled remotely by a user. The arm includes at an end distal from the base a tool coupling which is arranged to receive a variety of tools for performing work on the target object.
US07828063B2

A technique involves facilitating fracturing operations along a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. A stress device is deployed in a wellbore and activated to engage a surrounding wall. The stress device can then be manipulated to create a reduced stress region in the formation at a desired location along the wellbore. The reduced stress region facilitates the controlled formation of a fracture in the formation at the desired location. Furthermore, the stress device can be moved and the process repeated at multiple locations along the wellbore.
US07828061B2

An electric plasma arc apparatus and method produces nitrogen compounds, solely using ambient air extracted in proximity to the apparatus. The nitrogen compounds are brought into contact with a water processing system, forming nitrate on-site. Hydrogen sulfide present in the water processing system is removed, and the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is eliminated by introducing nitrate into the system, whereby denitrifying microorganisms, using the nitrate, outcompete the sulfate-reducing bacteria for the available carbon nutrients, thus preventing the SRB from producing hydrogen sulfide. Nitrate ions generated in the water processing system which contains the denitrifying microorganisms can enhance oil recovery by means of microbial enhanced oil recovery mechanisms. Further, the electric plasma arc apparatus and methodology eliminate major costs of conventional treatment techniques, including the transportation and storage of nitrate and the need for a continuous supply of natural gas and water.
US07828059B2

A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a pump, an inlet section for receiving fluid, a pump motor, and an actively controlled flow restriction device for controlling flow to the submersible pump from an upper fluid producing zone. Active flow control proximate to the submersible pump motor protects the pump motor from overheating.
US07828055B2

An apparatus and method for filling a defined space, such as an annulus around a production tubular within a wellbore, includes a compliant porous material. The compliant porous material can be compressed and maintained in a compressed state by incorporation of a deployment modifier which may be a water-soluble or oil-soluble adhesive or biopolymer, used as an impregnant, a coating, or a casing. The production tubular can be positioned at a desired location and the compliant porous material exposed to a deployment modifier neutralizing agent, which then dissolves or otherwise prevents the deployment modifier from continuing to inhibit the deployment. Thus, deployment can be delayed to an optimum time by controlling exposure of the deployment modifier to the deployment modifier neutralizing agent.
US07828050B2

A vehicle seat air-conditioner includes a seat on which an occupant sits, a seat temperature adjustment device that adjusts the temperature of a conditioned gas, a blower that supplies the conditioned gas to the seat, a seat covering layer provided on a surface of the seat and facing the seated occupant, and a flow channel provided on an underside of the seat covering layer that pass the conditioned gas that is introduced by the blower. The vehicle seat air-conditioner is adapted to convey heat of the conditioned gas to an occupant side of the seat covering layer by directly blowing out a portion of the introduced conditioned gas to the occupant side of the seat covering layer, and to perform heat exchange with the occupant side of the seat covering layer by circulating a portion of a remainder of the conditioned gas through the flow channel.
US07828047B2

A cooling unit has a heat receiving unit that receives heat from a body radiating heat; a radiator disposed at a distance from the heat receiving unit and radiating recovered heat; a liquid coolant transporting heat generated at the heat receiving unit to the radiator; and a hollow tube disposed so that the liquid coolant circulates between the heat receiving unit and the radiator, a circulating flow of the liquid coolant formed by an elevating force of air bubbles generated from the heat received at the heat receiving unit, the radiator having an air pocket forming one part of the circulation path of the liquid coolant together with the hollow tube and capable of collecting the air bubbles.
US07828023B2

The invention relates to a device for introducing solid particles into a vessel, in particular into a chemical reactor which comprises a pipe, preferably flexible and cylindrical, through which said particles flow from the top downward and is characterised in that it also comprises at least one helicoidal ramp (2) which is placed inside the pipe, wound around a central axis (2) and whose width is such that a distance between the external edge (4) of the ramp (2) and the pipe (1) is less than the size of introducible solid particles. A method using the inventive device is also disclosed.
US07828022B2

The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for handling powder in a 3D printer. The invention includes a means of transporting powder from multiple sources to a powder dispensing apparatus with minimal user intervention, thus reducing contamination of the 3D printer and surrounding area with loose powder, while also providing a means of improving the recycling of powder for re-use.
US07828011B2

A pneumatic safety valve prevents dangerously rapid outflow of pressurized air in the event that an air hose ruptures or a pneumatic tool is accidentally decoupled from the hose downstream of the valve. The valve has an internal air conduit in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports. The air conduit cooperates with a pivotal flap that selectively closes to prevent a sudden discharge of air in the event of a hose rupture or an accidental decoupling of the pneumatic tool from the hose. By containing the highly pressurized air and preventing the air from rapid discharge, the valve prevents the air hose from flailing or whipping violently, thus eliminating the physical dangers to operators and other personnel in the vicinity of the rupture. This simple and inexpensive valve ensures safe containment of hose ruptures or of accidental disconnections of the pneumatic tool from the high-pressure hose.
US07828003B2

A collapsible hunting blind is provided having a primary frame, a panel, an image of a game animal, and a secondary frame. The primary frame has a folded position and an unfolded position. The panel is supported by the primary frame and has a front surface, a rear surface, and an outer periphery. The panel is supported by the primary frame between the folded position and the unfolded position. The image of a game animal is provided on the front surface. The secondary frame communicates with the panel and is configured to hold the primary frame and the panel in the unfolded position.
US07828001B2

A pad washing system is provided. This system includes a filter device that further includes: a filter component having a textured top surface and at least one baffle formed on the underside thereof; a filter support apparatus adapted to receive the filter device, wherein the filter support apparatus further includes: a base, a plurality of vertical support columns formed integrally with the base, a plurality of caps mounted on top of the vertical columns, and a plurality of biasing members disposed between the caps and the tops of the vertical columns; a bucket for receiving both the filter device and the filter support apparatus; a threaded rim attached to or formed integrally with the top edge the bucket; and a splash guard mountable within the threaded rim.
US07828000B2

A cosmetic case is provided. The cosmetic case includes: a first casing having a first container; a second casing which is connected with the first casing in a sliding manner, opens and closes the first container, and has a second container; and a third casing which is connected with the second casing, and opens and closes the second container, wherein, when the first container is open by sliding the second casing with respect to the first casing, the third casing is lifted at the same time, thereby opening the second container.
US07827999B2

A bobby pin includes a clamping ribs unit and a hair fork. The clamping rib unit consists of a left and a right clamping rib member interspaced, and the left and the right clamping rib member have a press grip with a shaft hole and a guiding groove. The hair fork has two rods extending from a base member. A shaft stands on the base member, extending in the shaft hole of the press grips with a spring fitted around the shaft. In using, a user presses the two press grips to open the left and the right clamping rib member, with the rods of the hair fork shifted and located in the center of the bobby pin. Then the user inserts the left and the right clamping rib member in hair, with the press grips released to permit the left and the right clamping rib member closed up for clamping hair together with the hair fork.
US07827998B2

Provided is a disk-type mascara brush, used to makeup eyelash with mascara solution applied thereto, whose brush portion is formed whole at the end of a wand and in such a shape that pluralities of triangle-like elliptic disks are piled consecutively with an alternated arrangement with the angle of 120 degree. In a disk-type mascara brush where a brush portion 1 is provided at one end of a wand 2, a mascara cap 3 is provided at the other end of a wand 2 and the brush portion 1 is formed at the end of the wand 2 as if disks are piled; the mascara brush includes a brush portion 10 which is formed whole at the end of the wand and in such a shape that plurality of triangle-like elliptic disks are piled consecutively with an alternated arrangement with the angle of 120 degree. Thereby, a tooth-protruded portion 14, where the plate-tooth 12 is protruded, and a tooth-indented portion 16, where the plate-tooth 12 is indented, are formed at the outer circumstance of the brush portion 10 respectively; and a tooth-spaced portion 18 is formed between the tooth-protruded portion 14 and the tooth-indented portion 16.
US07827997B2

A filter element incorporating an adsorbent material is provided. The filter element may comprise a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material spaced apart to form a compartment therebetween. The compartment may be filled with one or more adsorbents or the compartment may be divided into two regions, wherein one compartment region is filled with an adsorbent and the other compartment region is either filled with an ion-exchange resin or remains empty. The section of filter material adjacent to the tobacco rod may include one or more channels therethrough for passaging smoke directly from the tobacco rod into the adsorbent-filled compartment. The mouth end section of filter material may contain a breakable capsule, wherein the breakable capsule is filled with a flavoring agent capable of altering the taste characteristics of mainstream smoke.
US07827991B2

A method and system for preventing head injury by providing parallel alignment of a jaw are disclosed. A method of preventing a head injury comprises providing a dental appliance having a left body, a right body and a lingual bar engaging the left body and the right body; placing the dental appliance over a plurality of teeth of a lower jaw so the lower jaw and a upper jaw are approximately parallel; and absorbing a force applied to the lower jaw, wherein the dental appliance absorbs the force applied to the lower jaw while preventing a condyle of a mandible from transferring the force to a temporal bone.
US07827984B2

The invention relates to a hand-held device for apportioned delivery of sprayable substances, in particular inhaler medicaments the device, having a cartridge which is displaceable by pressing in a housing into the open position for delivery, and an indexing mechanism which is moved along by the cartridge during the opening stroke of the cartridge for registering and displaying delivery actuations which have been carried out. The feeding mechanism, which indexing mechanism is disposed in a housing centrally below the opening-side end wall of the cartridge, overlappinqly with respect to the valve tube of the cartridge. In order to configure a hand-held device of the type in question in a spatially advantageous manner with a simplified construction and such that it is more reliable in terms of handling, it is proposed to displace plate-shaped housing as a whole with the cartridge, except for a step-by-step indexing finger star disposed therein.
US07827980B2

A multiplicity of wafers are sliced from a workpiece which has a longitudinal axis and a cross section, the workpiece fastened on a table being fed by a relative movement directed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece between the table and the wire gang of a wire saw, with a variable forward feed rate through the wire gang formed by a sawing wire moved with an effective speed, the effective speed of the sawing wire being regulated as a function of the forward feed rate and the workpiece cross section so as to result in uniform wear of the sawing wire.
US07827979B2

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an arrow rest usable with an archery bow to support an arrow shaft in a ready-to-draw position during the draw and until the release of the arrow by an archer. The arrow rest preferably aligns an elongate axis of the arrow shaft in a desired path which the arrow follows during release from the bow and at least initially towards the target. In certain embodiments, the arrow rest includes a support frame mounted to an archery bow riser. At least one resilient, inwardly extending support piece made from a sheet-based material extends across the frame to radially support portions of the arrow shaft. In use, arrow rests according to preferred embodiments of the present invention preferably support the arrow in place and impede the arrow from laterally escaping from the arrow rest.
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