US08111628B2
A method for measuring Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) in Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) includes: setting an Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time to prevent Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time from overlapping constantly the transmission time of MCCH information; performing Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement by a UE according to the Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time. In the present invention, the Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time can be prevented from overlapping constantly the time when UTRAN transmits the MCCH information, so that the problem that the UE cannot receive MCCH information during Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time may be solved. In the invention, a measurement time setting device is also provided for implementing Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement in Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service.
US08111623B2
A node configured to communicate with at least one further node. The node includes a buffer configured to receive data transmitted from the at least one further node. The node also includes an output configured to transmit data to the at least one further network element. The data includes information about the ability for the buffer to receive further data transmitted from the further node.
US08111605B2
The invention provides an optical disk system having at least: an optical disk including, on a substrate having pre-pits, an image-recording layer capable of drawing an image by irradiating a laser light; and a reading device which reads information included in the pre-pits by a return light of the laser light when the laser light having a wavelength of in a range of 630 to 680 nm is irradiated to the pre-pit of the optical disk. The pre-pits have a shortest pit length in a range from 0.6 to 0.9 μm being formed on the substrate. The invention further provides an optical disk recording apparatus, an image drawing method and an optical disk which utilize the optical disk system.
US08111598B2
An optical disk apparatus according to the present invention includes a spindle motor that rotates an optical disk on whose information recording surface a plurality of addresses is recorded, an optical pickup that records/reproduces an information signal on/from the information recording surface of the optical disk rotated by the spindle motor, an strobe light-emitting unit that irradiates a label surface of the optical disk with light, and a control unit that causes the strobe light-emitting unit to emit light based on an address selected from the plurality of addresses as a reference address and a reference signal readable from the optical disk.
US08111595B2
An optical disc recording and playback apparatus includes an optical pickup performing an operation for recording and playing back signal information into and from an optical disc; an optical element allowing a light beam irradiated onto an optical disc by the optical pickup to be split into a main beam and sub-beams on both sides of the main beam and supplying the beams to the optical disc; an optical detector detecting return light from the optical disc; and a computation circuit detecting a track control error signal by a phase difference method and a differential push-pull method by using the detection signal from the optical detector and also detecting a wobble signal.
US08111594B2
In an optical disk drive mounting a drive unit 20 having a control use circuit 21, and a pickup 1 having an aberration correction liquid crystal element 13 and a drive use circuit 2 which drives the aberration correction liquid crystal element, wherein the drive use circuit 2 stores astigmatic data for correcting a static astigmatism peculiarly provided in an optical system in the pickup 1 in an astigmatic data storage 6, and drives the aberration correction liquid crystal element 13 based on the astigmatic data. By storing the static astigmatic data peculiar to the pickup, inside the pickup, it is possible to transfer the stored astigmatic data to the optical disk drive side easily, and to correct the astigmatism by driving the aberration correction liquid crystal element based on the astigmatic data.
US08111593B2
An objective lens drive and an optical pickup apparatus are provided which can be reduced in size. Two tilt coils and two tracking coils are disposed so that among planes defined by the respective coils, a plane perpendicular to a winding direction thereof is parallel to a reference plane defined on a lens holder at a predetermined reference distance or less, and are disposed at such positions as to be symmetrical to each other about a center of gravity of the lens holder. A focus coil is disposed so that among planes defined by the focus coil, a plane perpendicular to a recording surface of an optical disk is parallel to the reference plane at a predetermined reference distance or less relative to the two tilt coils and the two tracking coils.
US08111590B2
An electronic timepiece comprises a drive module configured to drive a hand, an electricity generation module, first and second capacitor modules, the second capacitor module having smaller capacitance than the first capacitor module, and an auxiliary drive control module which causes the drive module to perform the auxiliary driving when the charge level of the second capacitor module exceeds a third level indicating an amount of electricity which enables the auxiliary driving, and waits until the charge level of the second capacitor module exceeds the third level after performing the auxiliary driving.
US08111589B2
Digital wristwatch, digital watch, and digital clock. For example, a digital wristwatch comprises: a clocking module able to track: (a) current real time, and (b) rounded time; and a display unit able to display at least the rounded time. Additionally or alternatively, the digital wristwatch comprises: a clocking module able to determine current real time; a rounding unit able to determine that the real current time is at least two seconds prior to a rounded horological hour, and able to calculate rounded-up horological information; and a display unit able to display the rounded-up horological hour.
US08111588B2
Two or more wirelessly networked devices for control or data acquisition functions for real-time application are provided with a error corrected synchronization and data collection process. A single start device transmits a start message, followed by each stop device acknowledging that start message. If one or more stop devices fails to acknowledge the initial start message, one or more start messages are transmitted including an elapsed time since the initial start message. Each stop device receives the initial start message and any subsequent start messages, using the elapsed time in the start message to synchronize a local timer. Upon stop event detection, each stop device records its local timer value and subsequently transmits that value to a collection device or console.
US08111587B2
The present invention aims to provide a watch with a calendar mechanism which allows a reduction in the thickness of a date feeding mechanism and a month feeding mechanism. In a watch with a calendar mechanism according to the present invention, a date indicator includes a month end tooth for driving a month feeding lever at the end of a month and feeding the date indicator at the end of a shorter month. A month indicator includes a month cam for operating a shorter month end feeding lever at the end of a shorter month. The shorter month end feeding lever can feed the date indicator by one day based on the rotation of a date indicator driving wheel and the rotation of the month cam. The month feeding lever moves toward the month indicator at the end of a month based on the rotation of the date indicator, and can feed the month indicator by one month.
US08111580B2
Memories, multi-phase clock signal generators, and methods for generating multi-phase duty cycle corrected clock signals are disclosed. For example, one such clock signal generator includes a delay-locked loop having a first multi-tap adjustable delay line configured to delay a reference signal to provide a plurality of clock signals having different phases relative to the reference clock signal. A periodic signal generated by the delay-locked loop is provided to a second multi-tap adjustable delay line as an input clock signal. Clock signals from taps of the second multi-tap adjustable delay line are provided as the multi-phase duty cycle corrected clock signals.
US08111574B2
The present invention relates to a circuit and a method for controlling a self-refresh cycle of a dynamic random access memory or DRAM. A cell voltage is directly detected so that a self-refresh cycle can be variably controlled. Detectors each detecting whether or not a voltage charged into a capacitor of a detection cell drops to or below a reference voltage and outputs a detection signal. A pulse generator generates a self-refresh pulse while being linked with an enabled detection signal of the plurality of detectors. A self-refresh cycle can be variably controlled and set to be suitable for the charging capacity of a cell. The detection cell is adapted to the change of the charging capacity of the cell in accordance with a change in temperature.
US08111573B2
Provided is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of performing a writing action for a memory cell at high speed. The device includes a memory cell array having a first sub-bank and a second sub-bank each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells arranged in a form of a matrix; a row decoder shared by the first sub-bank and the second sub-bank; a first column decoder and a second column decoder provided in the first sub-bank and the second sub-bank, respectively; and a control circuit arranged to execute alternately a first action cycle to perform a programming action in the first sub-bank and a reading action for a programming verifying action in the second sub-bank and a second action cycle to perform the reading action for the programming verifying action in the first sub-bank and the programming action in the second sub-bank.
US08111569B2
A latch structure includes a first inverter that includes a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor, and a second inverter that includes a second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor, receives an output signal of the first inverter, and outputs an input signal to the first inverter. The sources of the first and second transistors of the same type are connected to a common straight source line.
US08111559B2
The non-volatile random access memory (RAM) includes a non-volatile RAM array, a buffer configured to buffer data to be programmed in the non-volatile RAM array and configured to buffer data read from the non-volatile RAM array, and a control block configured to read data from at least one of the non-volatile RAM array and the buffer based on whether the data to be read has been stored in the buffer, a temperature when the data was programmed, and a time lapse since the programming of the data.
US08111556B2
A nonvolatile memory device and a method of operating the same. The nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells for storing data, a temperature sensor and a controller. The temperature sensor outputs a temperature detection signal according to ambient temperatures while changing one or more pieces of reference voltage information, which are previously stored, when data is programmed into the memory cell array. The controller performs a verify operation of the program using a fast verify method and decides the number of steps which are comprised in step-shaped verify voltage pulse of the fast verify method according to the temperature detection signal.
US08111553B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of reducing program disturb and a method of programming the same are provided. A bit line connected to a non-selected memory cell in the same block as a selected memory cell enters a floating state by inactivating a bit line selection switch, so that voltage levels of an first conductivity type channel and a source/drain terminal formed in a pocket second conductivity type well below a memory transistor have an intermediate level of a voltage level of a selection line and the pocket P type well. Therefore, program disturb caused by FN tunneling and junction hot electrons can be inhibited.
US08111548B2
A non-volatile storage system stores data by programming the data as binary data into blocks that have not yet been programmed with multi-state data and have not yet been programmed with binary data X times. The system transfers data from multiple blocks (source blocks) of binary data to one block (target block) of multi-state data using a multi-state programming process, where the target block has been previously programmed with binary data X times (or less than X times).
US08111547B2
A multi-bit flash memory and a reading method thereof. Multiple reference memory cells for saving reserved data are provided to operate together with multiple data memory cells. Before the data memory cells are read, data stored in the reference memory cell is sensed based on a present reference current. Then, a value of a new reference current for reading the data memory cells is determined according to a difference between the sensed data and the reserved data.
US08111545B2
A phase-change memory device and its firing method are provided. The firing method of the phase-change memory device includes applying a writing current to phase-change memory cells, identifying a state of the phase-change memory cells after applying the writing current, and applying a firing current, in which an additional current is added to the writing current, to the phase-change memory cells in accordance with the state.
US08111543B2
An SRAM cell includes one pair of drive transistors, one pair of load transistors, one pair of write access transistors, one pair of read drive transistors, and one pair of access transistors. A voltage source potential is supplied to drains of the read drive transistors.
US08111539B2
A memory system includes a substrate, control circuitry on the substrate, a three dimensional memory array (above the substrate) that includes a plurality of memory cells with reversible resistance-switching elements, and a circuit for detecting the setting and resetting of the reversible resistance-switching elements.
US08111537B2
A semiconductor memory that includes a memory cell array by which power consumption can be reduced and that enables a reduction in circuit area. In the memory cell array, each of capacitor plate lines is arranged so as to connect with ferroelectric memory cells in a same row, and each of word lines is arranged so as to connect with ferroelectric memory cells in different rows in a column direction. In addition, of drive circuits for driving the capacitor plate lines and the word lines, part of word line drive circuits (WL drive circuits) are arranged in the column direction. Therefore, it is possible to drive all of the word lines without using a dummy area. As a result, circuit area can be reduced.
US08111533B2
The power consumption of a search engine such as a CAM device is dynamically adjusted to prevent performance degradation and/or damage resulting from overheating. For some embodiments, the CAM device is continuously sampled to generate sampling signals indicating the number of active states and number of compare operations performed during each sampling period. The sampling signals are accumulated to generate an estimated device power profile, which is compared with reference values corresponding to predetermined power levels to generate a dynamic power control signal indicating predicted increases in the device's operating temperature resulting from its power consumption. The dynamic power control signal is then used to selectively reduce the input data rate of the CAM device, thereby reducing power consumption and allowing the device to cool.
US08111527B2
A support element for an electronic control device includes receivers for peripheral electronic components and at least one path region for guiding electrical connections. The electrical connections lead to an integrated standardized interface for connection to central control electronics.
US08111519B2
A hybrid structure of multi-layer substrates comprises a first multi-layer substrate and a second multi-layer substrate. The first multi-layer substrate stacks up first metal layers, first dielectric layers alternately and has VIAs. A border district of a first metal layer connects with a border district of the corresponding first dielectric layer. The border districts are separated from adjacent first metal layers and adjacent first dielectric layers. The second multi-layer substrate stacks up second metal layers and second dielectric layers alternately. A border district of a second metal layer connects with a border district of the corresponding second dielectric layer. The border districts are separated from adjacent second metal layers and adjacent second dielectric layers. The VIAs are located at the border districts of the first dielectric layers and each VIA has electric conductor therein to connect one first metal layer with one second metal layer.
US08111515B2
Methods and apparatuses for transferring heat from stacked microfeature devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microfeature device assembly comprises a support member having terminals and a first microelectronic die having first external contacts carried by the support member. The first external contacts are operatively coupled to the terminals on the support member. The assembly also includes a second microelectronic die having integrated circuitry and second external contacts electrically coupled to the first external contacts. The first die is between the support member and the second die. The assembly can further include a heat transfer unit between the first die and the second die. The heat transfer unit includes a first heat transfer portion, a second heat transfer portion, and a gap between the first and second heat transfer portions such that the first external contacts and the second external contacts are aligned with the gap.
US08111510B2
A Flip-out multimedia car stereo comprises a top casing, a bottom casing, a disk loading driver, a flip-out device and a control circuit board. The flip-out device is installed between the top and bottom casing. The flip-out device further comprises a display monitor mount, a folding mechanism, a display monitor circuit board, a slide frame and an operating device. A slideway is placed on the inner two sides of the top casing for accommodating the slide frame. The disk loading driver is fixed onto the top of the bottom casing. The control circuit board is installed at the back of the disk loading driver. The operating device is installed at one side of the slide frame. The display monitor circuit board is installed on the slide frame.
US08111508B2
A hinge for rotatably connecting a lid to a base includes a first fixing member for being fixed to the lid, a second fixing member for being fixed to the base, a hollow member, and an axle member. The hollow member defines a chamber having a lateral surface. A protrusion protrudes from the lateral surface. The axle member includes a protruding wall received in the chamber, a first end and a second end extending out of the chamber, the first end is fixed to the first fixing member. The second end is rotatably connected to the second fixing member. The protruding wall cooperates with the protrusion to divide the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber.
US08111495B2
A low forward voltage drop transient voltage suppressor utilizes a low-reverse-voltage-rated PN diode electrically connected in parallel to a high-reverse-voltage-rated Schottky rectifier in a single integrated circuit device. The transient voltage suppressor is ideally suited to fix the problem of high forward voltage drop of PN diodes and high leakage of low reverse breakdown of Schottky rectifiers. The low-reverse-voltage PN rectifier can be fabricated through methods such as 1) double layers of epi (with higher concentration layer epi in the bottom) or 2) punch through design of PN diode by base with compression.
US08111492B2
An intelligent electronic device creates one or more virtual communications channels using unused or dedicated bits from a primary real-time communications channel. The virtual communications channels are used to transport low-speed information, such as executable commands, or automatic functions not requiring high bandwidth.
US08111485B2
An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a flexible circuit assembly and a sensor. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature and a turnaround feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable has a service loop portion, a mounting portion coupled to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion coupled to the turnaround feature of the stiffener. The turnaround portion is configured to couple the mounting portion to the service loop portion. The sensor is in contact with a surface of the arm and is electrically coupled to the flexible cable.
US08111482B2
According to one embodiment, a slider of a head includes a trailing step portion which protrudes from a facing surface of the slider, is situated on the downstream side of a negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow, and has a top surface, a trailing pad which protrudes from the top surface, and an adjustment recess which is formed in the top surface on the upstream side of the trailing pad with respect to the airflow and is shallower than the negative-pressure cavity. The adjustment recess defines a first step portion, which extends across a first direction and hangs from the top surface toward a bottom of the adjustment recess, and a second step portion, which extends across the first direction, is spaced in the first direction from the first step portion, and rises from the bottom of the adjustment recess toward the top surface.
US08111476B2
A disk drive configured to control spindle spin is provided. The disk drive includes a spindle motor for spinning a disk configured for storing data, a nonvolatile memory comprising instructions associated with a first process for spin-up of the spindle motor from a power-on mode and the nonvolatile memory comprising instructions associated with a second process for spin-up of the spindle motor from a power save mode, a controller for determining which of the first or the second process for spin-up of the spindle motor to implement in accordance with the instructions stored in the nonvolatile memory and a motor driver for spinning up the spindle motor according to the first process or according to the second process for spin-up of the spindle motor.
US08111472B2
The present invention relates to a color wheel which allows for an easy to perform balancing. The color wheel comprises a motor and a color rotor with a carrier. Filter segments are mounted to the carrier. In addition the color rotor comprises a body with a surface perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor. The surface comprises a two dimensional matrix of holes which can be filled with balancing masses. In order to balance the color rotor it is rotated. During rotation, the unbalance is detected. In addition the location where to put balancing mass is detected. At this location balancing mass, such as for example adhesive is filled into the respective hole.
US08111461B2
The invention relates to a transparent substrate comprising, on its surface, a light-diffusing array comprising at least 10 juxtaposed sub-gratings of parallel lines of features, said features being separated by domains with a refractive index differing from that of the features, each sub-grating comprising at least 20 repeated successive identical features equally spaced apart with a period p, said period varying non-monotonically from one edge of the sub-grating array to the other. This substrate redirects the light without iridescence in a daylighting application.
US08111460B1
The present invention provides a solar tracking skylight system for illumination, primarily including a light guide, a solar tracking controller, a two-axis tracking mechanism, an energy converter and energy storage system, and a weather protective cover. The system uses the solar tracking controller to detect the direction of the light, thereby enabling the two-axis tracking mechanism to move toward the light to facilitate the light guide in collecting light and diffusing it indoors for illumination use. The protective cover provides waterproofing, and the energy converter and energy storage system is used to store electrical energy generated by the solar energy panel for system use. External power is not needed for the system to operate and provide indoor lighting, thereby achieving the objective of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
US08111448B2
An electrophoretic display device includes pixel electrodes, a transparent electrode, and an electrophoretic ink layer including cavities. Each cavity is arranged between one of the pixel electrodes and the transparent electrode, and each cavity comprises suspension fluid, charged particles, and neutral particles, the charged particles and neutral particles being dispersed in the suspension fluid. The neutral particles are dispersed in the center of the cavities and substantially stationary, and the charged particles are capable of moving through the suspension fluid. Application of an electric field to a pixel electrode and the transparent electrode causes a migration of the charged particles of a cavity connected to the pixel electrode and a corresponding color becomes viewable.
US08111443B1
A plasmonic transistor device includes an electro-optic substrate and a conductive layer placed on said electro-optic substrate to establish an interface therebetween. The first conductive layer and electro-optics substrate are made of materials that are suitable for transmission of a surface plasmon along the interface. The conductive layer is further formed with a source input grating and a drain output grating, for establishing the surface plasmon. A means for varying the electro-optic substrate permittivity, such as a light source or voltage source, is connected to the electro-optic substrate. Selective manipulation of the varying means allows the user to selectively increase or decrease the substrate permittivity. Control of the substrate permittivity further allows the user to control surface plasmon propagation from the source input grating along the interface to a drain output grating, to achieve a transistor-like effect for the surface plasmon.
US08111442B2
A display apparatus using electroplating on an electrode for modulating light includes a layer formed on the electrode. The layer has an insulator with a gap therein, and conductive fine particles are dispersed in the gap.
US08111440B2
A structure includes a film having a plurality of nanoapertures and a semiconductor layer in connection with the film. The nanoapertures are configured to allow the transmission of a predetermined subwavelength of light through the film via the plurality of nanoapertures. The semiconductor layer facilitates the modulation of the predetermined subwavelength of light transmitted through the film. The structure also includes a carrier generator for modulating the predetermined subwavelength of light by generating charge carriers.
US08111421B2
The present invention discloses an apparatus 100 that provides an order separator 330 for photographic order fulfillment. The present invention includes one or more output print devices 110 that print one or more photographic prints 320 of a photographic order 402/404/406 using photographic paper 300. Additionally included is a separator print 330 that is a sheet of photographic paper 300 that is larger than the photographic prints 302 of the photographic order 402/404/406. The present invention further includes a system controller 102 that controls the utilization of the photographic paper 300 of the output print devices 110 for the photographic prints 320. The system controller 102 controls whether to create the separator print 330 or the photographic prints 320. The individual separator print 330 creates a tab 401/403/405 separating different photographic orders 402/404/406 of the photographic prints when multiple photographic orders 400 are stacked together.
US08111419B2
A rasterizing device is provided with a first storage area capable of storing a downloaded DL object, and a rasterizer that creates bit-mapped data in band units by rasterizing data. With respect to a predetermined band in which a predetermined DL object is to be included, the rasterizer performs following processes: (1) the rasterizer downloads the predetermined DL object and stores it in the first storage area in a case where the predetermined DL object has not been stored in the first storage area, wherein the predetermined DL object is not downloaded in a case where the predetermined DL object has been stored in the first storage area; (2) the rasterizer rasterizes the predetermined DL object stored in the first storage area; and (3) the rasterizer deletes the predetermined DL object from the first storage area in a case where bit-mapped data of the predetermined DL object for the predetermined band is created and the predetermined DL object is not to be included in a band after the predetermined band, wherein the predetermined DL object is not deleted from the first storage area in a case where the predetermined DL object is to be included in the band after the predetermined band.
US08111417B2
A system and method for modeling print jobs provides a central server that is accessible to remotely located print shops. The remote print shops are able to communicate with the central server to forward print job parameters and to receive the output from a modeling program to enable the print shop to run “what-if” scenarios to maximize print shop efficiency. The central server is also provided with various other print shop tools to assist with print shop design and organization.
US08111413B2
An approach is provided for securely printing policy-enabled electronic documents. According to the approach, a determination is made at a client device whether policy-enabled printing has been specified for a particular electronic document. If policy-enabled printing has been specified for the particular electronic document, then a determination is made whether a print driver, installed on the client device for supporting printing for a particular printing device, is configured to support policy-enabled printing. Also, a determination is made whether the particular printing device is currently configured to support policy-enabled printing. The particular electronic document is allowed to be processed at the client device for printing only if both the print driver is configured to support policy-enabled printing and the particular printing device is currently configured to support policy-enabled printing.
US08111404B2
A method for measuring a saturated photorefractive index and a recording time constant to correct the precision includes measuring the diffraction efficiency as a function of time for both phase matching and phase mismatching. The saturated photorefractive index and the recording time constant are verified by substitution into a theoretical formula derived from the Coupled Wave Theory. Thus, the method allows a precise determination of the dynamic range of volume holographic memories and thus their storage capacities. The same procedure can also apply to photopolymers.
US08111395B2
In one general aspect, a spectroscopic apparatus is disclosed for investigating heterogeneity of a sample area. The apparatus includes an image acquisition system operative to acquire images of a plurality of sub-areas in the sample area and a sub-area selection interface operative to receive a selection designating one of the sub-areas for which an image has been obtained. A spectrometer has a field of view and is operative to acquire a spectrum of at least part of one of the sub-areas in its field of view, and a positioning mechanism is responsive to the sub-area selection interface and operative to position the field of view of the spectrometer relative to the sample area based on a received selection.
US08111378B2
Disclosed is an exposure method which illuminates a first object with an exposure beam and exposes a second object with the exposure beam through the first object and a projection optical system, wherein at least a part of one of the first object and the projection optical system is irradiated with a light beam having a wavelength range different from that of the exposure beam through a space waveguide mechanism, to correct an imaging characteristic of the projection optical system.
US08111374B2
An analysis method includes a developing process (SA60), which develops the substrate, a first measuring process (SA50), which measures the abnormalities of the pre-development substrate, a second measuring process (SA70), which measures the abnormalities of the post-development substrate, and an analyzing process (SA80), which analyzes the exposure defects of a substrate exposed via a liquid based on the measurements results of the first measuring process (SA50) and the measurement results of the second measuring process (SA70).
US08111373B2
An exposure apparatus is provided which can supply and collect a liquid in a prescribed state, and that can suppress degradation of a pattern image projected onto a substrate. The exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member (70) having a supply outlet (12) that supplies a liquid (LQ) and a collection inlet (22) that collects a liquid (LQ), and a vibration isolating mechanism (60) that supports the nozzle member (70) and vibrationally isolates the nozzle member (70) from a lower side step part (7) of a main column (1).
US08111372B2
A coating film forming apparatus for immersion light exposure includes one or more coating units configured to apply a resist film or a resist film and an additional film onto a substrate, one or more thermally processing units configured to perform a thermal process, a defect eliciting unit configured to perform a process for eliciting a latent defect of a coating film at an edge portion of the substrate, a checking unit configured to check a state of the coating film after the process by the defect eliciting unit, a control section configured to use a check result obtained by the checking unit to make a judgment of the state of the coating film and permit transfer of the substrate to the light exposure apparatus, and a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning on the substrate before the process by the defect eliciting unit.
US08111370B2
A liquid crystal display panel (1x) includes an active matrix substrate (3), a liquid crystal material (40), and a color filter substrate (30), wherein a spacer (33) is provided between the active matrix substrate (3) and the color filter substrate (30), and the color filter substrate (30) includes a step section (7) for restricting a movement of a spacer, the step section being provided so as to surround the spacer (33). This makes it possible to restrict the movement of the spacer in the liquid crystal display panel, thereby improving evenness of a cell gap.
US08111357B2
An optical element is arranged in such a manner that a screen thereof can be hardly observed from a predetermined direction, and a deterioration of an image quality caused by moire does not occur. The optical element is constituted by a first polarizing layer, a second polarizing layer, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between these two polarizing layers. In the optical element, absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer are located parallel to each other; the liquid crystal layer is made of hybrid-aligned discotic liquid crystal; and an alignment axis of the liquid crystal layer is located parallel to, or perpendicular to both absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and of the second polarizing layer.
US08111356B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display panel with microlenses in which deformation, peeling, and the like of an optical film are not likely to occur and which has a good displaying quality.A liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention includes: a microlens array provided on a light-incident side of a liquid crystal display panel; a support provided on the light-incident side of the liquid crystal display panel so as to surround the microlens array; and an optical film attached to the liquid crystal display panel via the support. A gap is formed between the microlens array and the optical film; at least one vent hole connecting a space outside the support and the gap is formed in the support; and, when seen perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the liquid crystal display panel, the vent hole extends in a bending manner or the vent hole extends in an oblique direction with respect to an inner face of the support.
US08111351B2
The disclosure relates to the backlight unit for preventing the optical sheet from cracking and the liquid crystal display using the backlight unit. The backlight unit comprises a light having a plurality of light sources; a bottom cover housing the light and having a first protrusion; a support side engaging to both open ends of the bottom cover to support the light and having a second protrusion; an optical sheet disposing on the light and including a first hook having a first elliptical hole for inserting the first protrusion and a second hook having a second elliptical hole for inserting the second protrusion; and a first slit between an edge of the first hook and the first elliptical hole within the first hook, and a second slit between an edge of the second hook and the second elliptical hole within the second hook.
US08111340B2
A display apparatus includes scanning lines; signal lines crossing the scanning lines; thin-film transistors connected to the scanning lines and the signal lines; capacitors connected to the thin-film transistors; interlayer insulating films disposed over the scanning lines with the signal lines, the thin-film transistors, and the capacitors disposed between or on the interlayer insulating films; upper interlayer insulating films disposed above the signal lines, the thin-film transistors, and the capacitors; common lines disposed between or on the upper interlayer insulating films; pixel electrodes disposed between or on the upper interlayer insulating films; and connection holes continuously penetrating the interlayer insulating films disposed between the common lines and the capacitors. The common lines and the capacitors are directly connected via the connection holes, and the connection holes have a ratio of depth to opening width of more than 1.
US08111332B2
An apparatus for suppressing noise of a video signal. The apparatus includes: a difference-signal generation section generating a difference signal being a field or frame difference between the input and the output video signals; a noise compensation-signal generation section generating a noise compensation signal; a noise-compensation signal subtraction section; and a feedback-ratio control section, wherein the feedback-ratio control section includes a signal-level determination section determining a signal level of the difference signal for each area and detecting an abrupt change in an input signal, a count section counting the number of input fields or frames from the time of an abrupt change in a signal level to the subsequent abrupt change, and a feedback-ratio setting section setting a feedback ratio for the area in accordance with a count value, wherein the feedback-ratio setting section sets the feedback ratio such that the ratio gradually increases as the count value increases.
US08111328B2
An image signal processing apparatus, an image display, and an image display method that enable detecting a black band region included in an input image signal in a shorter time and realizes a more viewable image are provided. The image signal processing apparatus includes a black band detecting means for detecting in a unit frame period a black band region included in an input image signal, a calculating means for calculating a scaling ratio of the input image signal while maintaining an aspect ratio thereof based on a detection result from the black band detecting means, and a scaling means for scaling the input image signal up or down based on the ratio obtained by the calculating means.
US08111323B2
A digital camera of the present invention includes a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 133 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 133 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein the microcomputer 110 controls so that, when the live view mode is set, the digital camera comes out of the live view mode, and setting information on the digital camera is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150, in accordance with the manipulation of the manipulation portion 140. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
US08111322B2
An optical apparatus including an imaging apparatus and a lens apparatus each having a communicating portion performing communications is disclosed. The optical apparatus is provided with: an imaging optical unit; a memory in which information of an optical performance of the imaging optical unit is stored; an image pickup device imaging a subject image from the imaging optical unit; an imaging controller changing an information size of image information from the image pickup device; and a lens controller connected to the imaging controller through the communicating portions and performing communications with the imaging controller. The lens controller takes out the information of the optical performance from the memory in response to an instruction from the imaging controller, and transmits the information to the imaging controller through the communicating portions. The imaging controller changes the information size of the image information in accordance with the information of the optical performance from the lens controller.
US08111315B2
An imaging device including an image pickup device which converts an optical image of a photographic subject received through an imaging lens into an image signal; a displaying device which displays a through-the-lens image based on the image signal; a person detecting device which detects one or more persons from the image signal; a distance calculating device which calculates a distance between a plurality of the detected persons; and a composition assisting device which displays on the displaying device information as to whether the distance between the detected persons is proper or not based on the calculated distance between the detected persons. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an image with a proper composition in a case when there are a plurality of persons being the photographic subjects.
US08111312B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix; a sequential scanning device that selects each row of pixels; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit having a first analog-to-digital converter that is connected to a vertical signal line to which a pixel signal is supplied from the pixel and performs a first bit-length analog-to-digital conversion on an output signal from the vertical signal line or a pixel output signal obtained by sampling the output signal, and a second analog-to-digital converter that, when the first analog-to-digital converter completes the conversion operation, subtracts an analog signal corresponding to the first bit-length from the pixel output signal and then performs a second bit-length analog-to-digital conversion.
US08111303B2
An album creating apparatus is provided to insert a title appropriate for the timing at which the image stored in the album is captured. The album creating apparatus includes: an image acquiring section for acquiring a plurality of images in association with image capturing times; a reference time acquiring section for acquiring a reference time indicative of the time and date of a main event in an album; an image capturing timing specifying section for specifying an image capturing timing indicative of a period for the reference time acquired by the reference time acquiring section, which includes the image capturing time and dates of the plurality of images acquired by the image acquiring section; a title determining section for determining a title to be inserted into the album based on the image capturing timing specified by the image capturing timing specifying section; and an album creating section for creating the album by laying out the title determined by the title determining section and the plurality of images acquired by the image acquiring section.
US08111300B2
Systems and methods to selectively combine video frame image data are disclosed. First image data corresponding to a first video frame and second image data corresponding to a second video frame are received from an image sensor. The second image data is adjusted by at least partially compensating for offsets between portions of the first image data with respect to corresponding portions of the second image data to produce adjusted second image data. Combined image data corresponding to a combined video frame is generated by performing a hierarchical combining operation on the first image data and the adjusted second image data.
US08111296B2
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for generating a panorama image, and a computer readable medium stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method.The apparatus for generating a panorama image according to the present invention comprises an input unit for receiving a plurality of input object images for panorama image generation; an edge detecting unit for outputting edge data of the input object images; a matching area output unit for outputting a matching area, namely, a standard area for pattern matching, within the edge data; a pattern matching unit for matching patterns of a plurality of the object images based on the matching area; and a stitching unit for generating a plurality of the object images into a panorama image based on the matched patterns.
US08111290B2
A method of calibrating a brightness value measured by a camera with an amount of light received by the camera includes creating a series of measurements, wherein for each measurement the amount of light received at an image plane in the camera is controlled to be a known ratio of two opposed irradiance values: a high irradiance value and a low irradiance value. Each ratio is correlated with the brightness value measured by the camera. A function is obtained describing the correlation.
US08111269B2
An object of the invention is to provide a plant information display device which deforms and displays drawing data without hiding all pieces of information necessary for plant monitoring and plant instrument operation while visibility is not lowered. The plant information display device according to an aspect of the invention includes an input unit; a region determination unit into which an interest region and a deformation condition in a plant are fed using the input unit, the region determination unit specifying a deformation target region based on the interest region and deformation condition supplied from the input unit; a region division unit which divides a drawing into plural regions based on the deformation target region specified by the region determination unit, the region division unit performing management while the deformation target region and a non-deformation target region are divided; a drawing distortion unit which separately deforms the deformation target region and non-deformation target region in a display region; a drawing output unit; and a display unit.
US08111267B2
A method of displaying information on a mobile terminal. The method includes displaying an object on a screen of the mobile terminal, receiving at least two least two input signals corresponding to the displayed object, and animating the displayed object based on the at least two signals corresponding to the displayed object. In addition, the at least two input signals include a) first and second touching signals of the screen of the mobile terminal, b) touching and tilting signals of the mobile terminal, or c) a first proximity signal and a second proximity signal of the mobile terminal.
US08111262B2
Methods are described for selecting reflective layer distances in an interferometric modulator display that result in reduced color sensitivity to temperature and process variation. Colors are selected for interferometric modulator subpixels that correspond to a minimum in the rate that the colors change with respect to reflective layer distance. In some cases, colors are selected that deviate from the minimums in order to obtain a desired target color (e.g., a desired white point).
US08111259B1
An apparatus for use in image processing is set forth that comprises a pixel processor, context memory, and a context memory controller. The pixel processor is adapted to execute a pixel processing operation on a target pixel using a context of the target pixel. The context memory is adapted to store context values associated with the target pixel. The context memory controller may be adapted to control communication of context values between the pixel processor and the context memory. Further, the context memory controller may be responsive to a context initialization signal or the like provided by the pixel processor to initialize the content of the context memory to a known state, even before the pixel processor has completed its image processing operations and/or immediately after completion of its image processing operations. In one embodiment, the pixel processor executes a JBIG coding operation on the target pixel.
US08111255B2
A mobile communication terminal and a method of controlling display of a webpage thereof are disclosed. When a web browser is initiated to gain access to a webpage, the web browser screen is formed as a 3D polyhedron structure and a plurality of webpage screens are displayed on a plurality of facets of the 3D polyhedron structure. Therefore, a user is provided with various webpage screens on the web browser. Since different webpage screens are displayed on the plurality of facets of the polyhedron structure, the user is able to access a desired webpage screen easily in a single step.
US08111251B2
To increase the proportion of the perfects to the whole lot of final products and to reduce the cost for active matrix EL display devices by checking the operation of a TFT substrate before depositing an EL material. A capacitor for testing is connected to a drain terminal of a driving TFT in a pixel portion to observe charging and discharging of the capacitor. Whether the driving TFT is normal or not is judged by the observation, so that the rejects can be removed before the manufacturing process is completed.
US08111245B2
An exemplary touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. Each of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a plurality of spaced carbon nanotube structures. A display device incorporates the touch panel and also includes a display element adjacent to the touch panel.
US08111241B2
System and methods for an application that allows users to interactively create, transform and play music using cell phones, iPhones™ and other enabled mobile communication devices communicating with a remote host are disclosed. Using an enabled mobile communication device, users are able to strike the mobile device like a drum to create and record rhythms, enter melodies using the keypads, add voice recordings, and manipulate musical tracks by tilting the mobile device continuously in three dimensions. The musical input is sequenced in multiple tracks and the transformative manipulations are applied in real time, allowing users to create their songs in an expressive motion-based manner.
US08111236B2
A backlight driving device for driving a backlight that illuminates a display panel is disclosed. The backlight driving device includes: a luminance data input device into which luminance data indicated by a video signal is entered; a drive signal-generating device configured to create a drive signal; a power supply device configured to supply electric power to the backlight according to the drive signal so as to drive the backlight; a video signal decision device configured to make a decision as to whether each value of the luminance data entered into the luminance data input device is smaller than a given value; and a thinning-out device configured to thin out components of the drive signal when the video signal decision device has determined that the value of the luminance data is smaller than the given value and supply the thinned drive signal to the power supply device.
US08111230B2
In a drive circuit of a display apparatus in which a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines are orthogonalized, a first data latch circuit latches image data for every line in response to a horizontal signal. A decoder circuit decodes the latched image data. A gradation voltage selecting circuit selects voltage lines based on the decoded image data, to connect each of the plurality of data lines with any of the voltages lines. A data determining circuit generates determination signals based on the selected voltage lines such that each of a plurality of gradation amplifiers is selectively set to an inactive state based on the determination signal. A gradation amplifier circuit includes the plurality of gradation amplifiers, each of which amplifies a corresponding one of gradation voltages when being in an active state and does not amplify the corresponding gradation voltage when being in an inactive state, and the amplified gradation voltage being outputted on a corresponding one of the voltage lines. An output circuit drives the plurality of data lines based on the amplified gradation voltages on the voltage lines.
US08111229B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of liquid crystal cells, the plurality of liquid crystal cells associated to a first and second liquid crystal cell groups, a data drive circuit to supply a data voltage to the data lines in response to a polarity control signal, a gate drive circuit to supply a scan pulse to the gate lines, and a polarity control circuit to generate different polarity control signals for each frame period and to control data voltage frequencies of the first and second liquid crystal cell groups to be different from each other.
US08111227B2
Systems for displaying images incorporates a display device that includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines intersecting the plurality of gate lines, a plurality of switches each having a first end coupled to a corresponding gate line and a second end coupled to a corresponding data line, a plurality of storage units each coupled to a third end of a corresponding switch for storing data received from a corresponding data line, a power line formed in parallel with the plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of coupling capacitors each having a first end coupled to the power line and a second end coupled to a corresponding data line.
US08111222B2
The output uniformity of a display device, such as a self light emitting display device, is improved by detecting the emitted brightness of pixels of the display device using an external detection system, controlling the pixel intensity to determine the non-uniformity of the driver circuits connected with the pixels, and generating a calibration factor for the pixels to modify the output of the driver circuits. Calibration can be performed for each pixel, or each group of pixels, such as each row and column of pixels.
US08111217B2
A driving circuit of an OLED diode is inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and having at least one input terminal receiving an input voltage signal and an output terminal for the generation of a driving current of the OLED diode, the driving circuit having at least one driver transistor having a first conduction terminal connected to the first voltage reference, a second conduction terminal connected to the output terminal and a control terminal connected to at least one first capacitor and one second capacitor. The first capacitor is inserted between this control terminal and an inner circuit node and the second capacitor is inserted between the inner circuit node and the second voltage reference, the driving circuit 10 further including: a first switch inserted between the input terminal and the inner circuit node; a second switch inserted between the first conduction terminal and control terminal of the driver transistor, and a third switch inserted between the inner circuit node and the second voltage reference, in parallel to the second capacitor, as well as a fourth switch inserted between the first voltage reference and the first conduction terminal of the driver transistor.
US08111210B2
A system for operating a color flat panel display (FPD) is provided that includes a color FPD, a light source, and a display processing device. The color FPD has an adjustable color depth and is configured to reflect ambient light. The light source transmits light through the bottom surface of the color FPD. The display processing device is coupled to the color FPD and decreases the color depth of the color FPD when the light source is activated and increases the color depth of the color FPD when the light source is turned off.
US08111209B2
A composite display is disclosed. A first paddle has a first plurality of pixel elements wherein the first paddle is arranged to sweep out a first area during a first paddle cycle. A second paddle has a second plurality of pixel elements wherein the second paddle is arranged to sweep out a second area during a second paddle cycle and wherein the first and second areas include first and second nonoverlapping portions. A first pixel element on the first paddle is configured to be activated when the first pixel element coincides with a first image pixel. A second pixel element on the second paddle is configured to be activated when the second pixel element coincides with a second image pixel. An image corresponding to the first and second image pixels is represented on the composite display by activating the first and second pixel elements.
US08111200B2
Disclosed is a planar antenna, including: a film formed of a planar insulating material; an antenna portion which is a planar conductor on the film; and a ground portion which is a conductor to be grounded, wherein the antenna portion comprises: at least one first short stub; a first antenna element which is connected to the ground portion through the at least one first short stub and whose shape has such an angle that a distance between the first antenna element and the ground portion increases with increasing distance from a feeding point along the ground portion, the feeding point being provided between the first antenna element and the ground portion; a second short stub; and a second antenna element which is connected to the first antenna element through the second short stub.
US08111195B2
A multi-frequency antenna (100) comprises a radiating patch (20) having a first radiating body operating in lower frequency band and a second radiating body operating in higher frequency band; a grounding patch (10) spaced apart from the radiating patch; a connecting element (30) electrically connecting the first radiating body, the second radiating body, and the grounding patch; a feeding line (5) comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The first radiating body comprises a first radiating element and a second radiating element extending from the first radiating element. The second radiating body comprises the first radiating element and a third radiating element extending from the first radiating element. The radiating patch also comprises a fourth radiating element extending from an end of the connecting element and a coupling element extending from the grounding patch. The inner conductor electrically connects to a joint of the fourth radiating element and the connecting element. The outer conductor electrically connects to the grounding patch.
US08111193B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for estimating the distance between a transmitter and a receiver. A method comprising obtaining a signal from a receiver; determining whether the signal more likely propagated through a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non lme-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; using a model including parameters selected according to the radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and a transmitter which sent the signal.
US08111191B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method to control an antenna pattern of a wideband array antenna wherein a wideband array antenna unit comprising the wideband array antenna and transforming means is accomplished. Embodiments of the invention further include the corresponding wideband array antenna unit and transforming means arranged to control an antenna pattern of an antenna system. The separation between antenna elements in the wideband array antenna can be increased to above one half wavelength of a maximum frequency within a system bandwidth when the array antenna is arranged to operate with an instantaneously wideband waveform.
US08111187B2
A passive system is described for detecting radar emissions from vessels, receiving the radar emissions and analysing the data using a series of algorithms and software manipulation to extract radar signatures representative of the identity of the vessel. The data output is capable of comparison with a stored set of data enabling accurate identification of the vessel. The resulting output is displayed on a suitable display. A system having a library of vessel emission signatures can either be created within the operator's library through measurement made, or it can be supplied from a central database. The system is capable of installation on sea, land or air-based platforms.
US08111184B2
A m-bit DAC outputs a voltage that is the result of interpolation from two reference voltages. The two reference voltages are selected, inclusive of redundant selection of the same reference voltage (inclusive also of reference voltages other than adjacent voltages) out of a plurality of reference voltages. The plurality of reference voltages are grouped into first to (3S+1)th groups (where S is a power of 2). An ith group includes [3S(j−1)+i]th reference voltages (where j=1, 2, . . . h, and h is a prescribed integer). The decoder includes (3S+1)th subdecoders, each selecting one voltage responsive to a first MSB group; and a (3S+1)-input and 2-output subdecoder for selecting two voltages, inclusive of redundant selection of the same reference voltage, out of (3S+1) voltages selected by the respective first to (3S+1)th subdecoders, responsive to a LSB group and outputs them to an interpolation amplifier (ratio 1:1).
US08111182B2
In some embodiments, digital to analog converters are provided which comprise a plurality of cells. Each cell comprises a mixer and coupling circuitry to selectively couple a local oscillator signal to said mixer.
US08111174B2
A method and apparatus for identifying running vehicles in an area to be monitored using acoustic signature recognition. The apparatus includes an input sensor for capturing an acoustic waveform produced by a vehicle source, and a processing system. The waveform is digitized and divided into frames. Each frame is filtered into a plurality of gammatone filtered signals. At least one spectral feature vector is computed for each frame. The vectors are integrated across a plurality of frames to create a spectro-temporal representation of the vehicle waveform. In a training mode, values from the spectro-temporal representation are used as inputs to a Nonlinear Hebbian learning function to extract acoustic signatures and synaptic weights. In an active mode, the synaptic weights and acoustic signatures are used as patterns in a supervised associative network to identify whether a vehicle is present in the area to be monitored. In response to a vehicle being present, the class of vehicle is identified. Results may be provided to a central computer.
US08111173B2
According to the present invention, a first measured data packet M1 of a first vehicle 1 at a first measuring time point tM1 and a first image data packet B1 are generated, and measured data packets MX of additional vehicles X are generated at additional measuring time points tMX, to which measured data packets duplicates of the first image data packet B1 are linked to the extent that the additional measuring time points tMX occur within a predetermined time interval α after the first measuring time point tM1.
US08111164B2
One example of a solution provided here comprises: identifying a location of one or more animals that are on a path to collide with a vehicle or device; directing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy toward the location; and administering an effective amount of the electromagnetic energy to repel the animals. Another example comprises: identifying a location of one or more animals that are in a vehicle's path; directing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy toward the location; and administering an effective amount of the electromagnetic energy to repel the animal, thereby avoiding a collision between the animal and the vehicle. The vehicle could be an aircraft, for example, or another kind of vehicle. Examples in the aviation context involve moving birds or mammals away from runways and taxiways, or otherwise repelling birds that are in the path of an aircraft.
US08111162B2
The presence or absence of objects is determined by interrogating or exciting transponders coupled to the objects using pulsed wide band frequency signals. Ambient or background noise is evaluated and a threshold adjusted based on the level of noise. Adjustment may be based on multiple noise measurements or samples. Noise detection may be limited, with emphasis placed on interrogation to increase the signal to noise ratio. Match filtering may be employed. Presence/absence determination may take into account frequency and/or Q value to limit false detections. Appropriate acts may be taken if detected noise is out of defined limits of operation, for example shutting down interrogation and/or providing an appropriate indication.
US08111159B2
A pad is provided for monitoring administration of medical products to a patient, each of the medical products including a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for storing data related to the respective medical product. The pad includes an RF antenna for reading RFID tags associated with medical products placed in close proximity to the pad to obtain data stored in the RFID tags. A processor coupled to the antenna compares the data with data associated with a patient to verify that the patient is intended to receive the medical products. The pad may include an output device that is activated when the processor detects a mismatch between the data from the RFID tags and the patient data. Optionally, the patient data may be accessed by a remote computer device communicating with the processor to verify that the patient is intended to receive the medical products.
US08111157B2
A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring and detecting movement of components of a shipping container latch. A latch monitor may embody an electromagnetic sensing unit and a nearby magnet or light emitter for measuring and characterizing the profile of a nearby electromagnetic field. The field profile is monitored to detect a change in the profile, log the change, and report any abnormal disturbance to the electromagnetic field, indicating a breach of the integrity of a latching mechanism on a shipping container. An alert of a breach event may be sent via a communication network to an authority for response. The invention can distinguish authorized, incidental, and tampering events, and also store and upload an electronic manifest for a shipping container.
US08111155B2
Among the embodiments of the present invention are pest control devices (1010, 1110, 1210) each operable to detect the presence of pests. The pest control device (1010, 1110, 1210) has a bait (1032) that is consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest, a pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252), and a monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269). The pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252) can be altered by pest activity. The monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269) detects this alteration and reports it automatically or in response to an external stimulus or interrogation to indicate pest presence.
US08111151B2
A WAN-based remote mobile monitoring method and device of electrophysiological data, including microprocessor circuit, electrophysiological signal sampling processing circuit, data storage circuit, image liquid crystal circuit, real-time clock, emergent calling circuit, working power supply management circuit, wireless network interface circuit, USB interface circuit, etc, has the in-built binding IP address of the remote electrophysiological data monitoring server, TCP/IP protocol, PPP protocol and BlueTooth protocol. Application controls self-adaptive analysis computing, exception event warning and alarming privilege graded setting, event data package combination, network digital communication, data storage circuit area management, safety information data storage management and remote emergent calling of the remote mobile monitoring devices. It can have access to Internet in motion and roaming access to Internet by inter-network switch, and have access to the exterior networks wirelessly including Internet, LAN, ADSL, VDSL, ISDN, etc, for digital communication with the remote electrophysiological data monitoring server.
US08111147B2
A lane change assist and/or lane departure warning system adapted for use with a vehicle having a module engaged by an operator, wherein the vehicle travels within a lane, and the system includes a steering wheel sensor, at least one sensor operable to detect a lane-marking or an approaching object in adjacent lanes in the direction of host vehicle travel, a warning device including an active material element engaged with the module, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and device and configured to determine a spatial relationship between the vehicle and the lane-marking or approaching object in the direction of host vehicle travel, compare the relationship to a threshold, transmit an activation signal to the element when the relationship exceeds the threshold or when an object is detected and the wheel sensor indicates a turn towards the object, and generate an alert by activating the element.
US08111146B2
An ultrasonic sensor provided at a flip-up back door that opens and closes via a pivot shaft provided at a rear top of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor detecting an object in a vicinity of the vehicle by intermittently transmitting an ultrasonic wave, which hits the object to thereby generate a reflected wave as a reflection of the ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic sensor including a sensor head provided at the back door and including a transmitter transmitting the ultrasonic wave and a receiver receiving the reflected wave, wherein the sensor head is provided at a position in a vicinity of a centerline of the vehicle in a width direction thereof and where a distance from a corner of an edge portion of the back door to the sensor head is shorter than a distance from the sensor head to a small aboveground structure provided on the ground.
US08111145B2
A single-button ignition control and starting system for a vehicle. The system comprises an onboard computer, a start button, a light source, a clutch sensor, engine sensor and an identity sensor. The computer is connected to the ignition system and starter motor. The start button is connected to the computer to indicate whether the start button is depressed. The light source is connected to the computer to selectively illuminate the start button in a first, a second and a third illumination color. The clutch sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the clutch pedal is depressed. The engine sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the engine is running. The identity sensor adapted to receive identity indicia and is connected to the computer for producing signals indicative of the identity indicia. When the onboard computer 1) receives signals from the identity sensor indicative of a predetermined identity indicia being received, 2) of the engine not running, and 3) of the clutch pedal not being depressed, then the onboard computer 1) energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the first illumination color and 2) does not energize the starter motor if the start button is depressed.
US08111136B2
A fingerprint scanner is provided. The fingerprint scanner includes a control module for detecting and controlling the transmission of signals, an electrical connector coupled to the control module for connecting the fingerprint scanner to a periphery device, a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) indicators coupled to the control module to indicate operation status of the fingerprint scanner, and a fingerprint scanning module. The fingerprint scanning module is coupled to the control module to detect fingerprints and sense touches, and send fingerprint signals and touch signals to the control module. The fingerprint scanning module includes a touch sensor for sensing different touches that represent different command signals.
US08111134B2
A phone used in an authentication process. The phone includes a processor, a display coupled to the processor, and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium includes (i) code for displaying a first authentication image including a plurality of image elements including a set of image elements, where the image elements in the set of image elements are located at a first set of positions on a display screen, (ii) code for receiving a first glyph having a first configuration corresponding to the set of image elements from a user while the first authentication image is displayed, (iii) code for displaying a second authentication image including the plurality of image elements including the set of image elements, where the image elements in the set of image elements are located at a second set of positions on the display screen, where the second set of positions is different than the first set of positions, and (iv) code for receiving a second glyph having a second configuration corresponding to the set of image elements from a user while the second authentication image is displayed.
US08111125B2
A Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be formed from a wire including multiple unreacted strands comprising tin in contact with niobium. The strands are wound into a cable, which is then heated to react the tin and niobium to form a cable comprising reacted Nb3Sn strands. The cable comprising the reacted Nb3Sn strands are then mounted in and soldered into an electrically conductive channel to form a reacted cable-in-channel of Nb3Sn strands. The cable-in-channel of reacted Nb3Sn strands are then wound to fabricate a superconducting coil. The Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be used, for example, in a magnet structure for particle acceleration. In one example, the superconducting coil is used in a high-field superconducting synchrocyclotron.
US08111120B2
An electronic device having two cases and a display module disposed therebetween is disclosed. Magnets are disposed at the two cases and the display module. When an acceleration sensed by a sensing unit of the electronic device is larger than a threshold value. The display module may be suspended via the magnetic repellent between the magnets disposed at the display module and the magnets disposed at two cases.
US08111119B2
A reed switch apparatus utilizes one or more reed switches to communicate with one or more devices. In one configuration, the reed switch apparatus utilizes a single magnetic field to, simultaneously activate two or more reed switches. In another configuration, two or more reed switches, each acting independent of one another are simultaneously activated by a single magnetic field. Additionally, a method of controlling at least two devices includes exposing a reed switch apparatus to a single magnetic field. Yet another method includes activating a device via the use of a single reed switch mounted to a portion of a warehouse structure.
US08111115B2
Novel quadruple-mode, dual-mode, and dual-band filters as well multiplexers are presented. A cylindrical dielectric resonator sized appropriately in terms of its diameter D and length L will operate as a quadruple-mode resonator, offering significant size reduction for dielectric resonator filter applications. This is achieved by having two mode pairs of the structure resonate at the same frequency. Single-cavity, quad-mode filters and higher order 4n-pole filters are realizable using this quad-mode cylindrical resonator. The structure of the quad-mode cylinder can be simplified by cutting lengthwise along its central axis to produce a half-cut cylinder suitable for operation in either a dual-mode or a dual-band. Dual-mode, 2n-pole filters are realizable using this half-cut cylinder. Dual-band filters and diplexers are further realizable using the half-cut structure and full cylinder by carrying separate frequency bands on different resonant modes of the structure. These diplexers greatly reduce size and mass of many-channel multiplexers at the system level, as each two channels are overloaded in one physical branch. Full control of center frequencies of resonances, and input and inter-resonator couplings are achievable, allowing realization of microwave filters with different bandwidth, frequency, and Return Loss specifications, as well as advanced filtering functions with prescribed transmission zeros. Spurious performance of the half-cut cylinder can also be improved by cutting one or more through-way slots between opposite surfaces. Size and mass reduction achieved by using the full and half-cut resonators described, provide various levels of size reduction in microwave systems, both filter level, and multiplexer level.
US08111108B2
Micromechanical resonating devices, as well as related methods, are described herein. The resonating devices can include a micromechanical resonating structure, an actuation structure that actuates the resonating structure, and a detection structure that detects motion of the resonating structure.
US08111107B2
An integrated circuit includes a charge pump having a voltage output. A voltage level detector is arranged to receive the voltage output, wherein the voltage level detector provides a first enable signal for the charge pump. A ring oscillator has multiple inverters. The ring oscillator is coupled to the charge pump. A counter control circuit is configured to provide a control signal for adjusting a frequency of the ring oscillator based on the first enable signal of the voltage level detector.
US08111106B2
Some embodiments of the present invention may include a DPLL circuit comprising a firmware. The firmware may comprise a re-sampled NCO phase detector capable of receiving a reference clock timing signal and a VCXO clock timing signal. The re-sampled NCO phase detector may comprise a resampler capable of receiving phase output and the VCXO clock timing signal and resampling the phase output; and a subtractor capable of receiving the resampled phase output and subtracting the resampled phase output from a calculated mean value of the phase output. The firmware may further comprise a frequency detector capable of receiving the reference clock timing signal and the VCXO clock timing signal; and a multiplexer capable of switching between the re-sampled NCO phase detector and the frequency detector dependent upon a frequency lock status.
US08111103B2
An amplifier circuit with overshoot suppress scheme including an input amplifier, an output amplifier, and a diode is provided. A first and a second input ends of the output amplifier are coupled to a differential output pair of the input amplifier. A first end of the diode is coupled to an output end of the output amplifier. A second end of the diode is coupled to the first input end of the output amplifier. When the voltage difference between the output and the input ends of the output amplifier is greater then the barrier voltage of the diode, the diode is turned on, so that the output end of the output amplifier is coupled to the input end of the output amplifier. In the transient state, it rapidly smoothes the overshoot signal. In the steady state, the diode is cut off to maintain the normal operation of the operational amplifier.
US08111098B2
Various apparatuses and methods for amplifying an FM signal in a segmented linear power amplifier are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus including a signal input, a signal output, and an output driver connected between the signal input and the signal output. The output driver includes a number of driver segments connected in parallel, each having an input connected to the signal input and each having an output. The output driver also includes a number of series capacitors, each associated with one of the driver segments. The series capacitors are each connected between the output of its associated driver segment and the signal output. The output driver also includes a number of shunt capacitors, each associated with one of the driver segments having an associated series capacitor. The shunt capacitors are each connected between the output of their associated driver segment and a ground.
US08111096B2
This variable gain amplifier is provided with an operational amplifier. The non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a reference potential. A feedback resistor is connected between the output terminal and inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier. An input resistor is inserted between the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier and the input terminal of the variable gain amplifier circuit. An adjustment resistor is connected between the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier and the reference potential. The resistance value of the adjustment resistor is controlled in such a way as to maintain constant against the resistance value change a combined resistance value in its parallel connection with the input resistor when changing the resistance value of the input resistor.
US08111078B1
A method based on the measurement of the oxidation power or the cathodic current density using a corrosion-resistant electrode (noble electrode) to derive the bounding corrosion rates of the corroding metal, which is either a stand-alone electrode or an actual component of an equipment, is disclosed. During the measurement, the potential of the noble electrode is controlled at the corrosion potential of the corroding metal. A modified version the sensor that provides a correction factor for the estimation of the corrosion rate according to the bounding corrosion rate is also disclosed. The correction factor is derived based on the cathodic currents measured for the noble electrode and for the corroding metal at a potential that is significantly lower than the corrosion potential, so that the measured cathodic current density from the corroding metal equals the true cathodic current density on the corroding metal.
US08111065B2
There is described a sensor unit (3) for a rotary encoder which serves for detecting the rotary movements of a drive shaft (1) in both directions and which has a single-stage transmission with an input gear (15) which is arranged concentrically with respect to and is non-rotatably connected to the drive shaft (1). The sensor unit includes an absolute segment counter which serves for counting the angle segments through which the drive shaft passes within each 360° rotation and has the following components: a magnetic segment counter exciter arrangement non-rotatably mounted on the second gear (16) of the transmission, that engages into the input gear, a stationary segment counter sensor arrangement which includes a Wiegand or pulse wire (28) with wound-on induction coil (29) and which delivers electrical pulses whenever the magnetic segment counter exciter arrangement passes through predetermined angular positions, and an electronic circuit (32) which counts said electrical pulses, stores the respectively acquired count value and calculates therefrom the instantaneous angular position of the drive shaft having regard to the transmission ratio of the transmission.
US08111064B2
A magnetic rotational angle transducer has at least one Hall sensor (14) rotatable in a magnetic field of a given configuration relative to and offset from the rotational axis (16). To enable linearization of the output signal without additional signal processing over a large range of rotational angles, it is proposed that the Hall sensor is aligned radially and axially to the rotational axis (16) and lies in a central position parallel to the field lines of the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is created by at least one permanent magnet (18) in circular segment form around the rotation axis and the Hall sensor (14) is offset from the rotational axis (16) towards the permanent magnet (18) in circular segment form.
US08111063B2
Embodiments for rotation sensing are provided. The device may include a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be coupled to a dial apparatus of a meter. Also included may be a magnetic field sensor configured to be coupled to a dial cover. When the magnet apparatus is coupled to the dial apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the dial cover, the distance between the magnet and the magnetic field sensor may be a function of the strength of the magnet and the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor. Also, the magnetic field sensor may be configured to generate an analog signal. The device may also include a memory component storing logic configured to detect an abnormal condition based on a data value of the analog signal. The detected condition may be magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and/or a missing dial hand.
US08111059B1
The disclosure herein provides an apparatus for location of a quantity of current vectors in an electrical device, where the current vector has a known direction and a known relative magnitude to an input current supplied to the electrical device. Mathematical constants used in Biot-Savart superposition equations are determined for the electrical device, the orientation of the apparatus, and relative magnitude of the current vector and the input current, and the apparatus utilizes magnetic field sensors oriented to a sensing plane to provide current vector location based on the solution of the Biot-Savart superposition equations. Description of required orientations between the apparatus and the electrical device are disclosed and various methods of determining the mathematical constants are presented.
US08111057B2
A cascode current mirror circuit and a bandgap circuit are provided. The circuits are used together and function as a reference voltage circuit. The reference voltage circuit outputs a reference current resistant to temperature variation and ripple-voltage. Accordingly, a voltage stabilizing/regulating circuit corrects error voltage precisely and promptly, and the resultant voltage is temperature insensitive and ripple-voltage-independent.
US08111053B2
The present invention provides a DC-DC converter including a first series circuit connected to both ends of a first switch and formed of a winding of a first transformer, a first reactor, a first diode, and a smoothing capacitor, a second diode connected to a connection point of a primary winding of the first transformer, the winding of the first transformer and the first switch, and to one end of the smoothing capacitor, a second series circuit connected to both ends of a second switch and formed of a winding of a second transformer, a second reactor, a third diode, and the smoothing capacitor, a fourth diode connected to a connection point of a primary winding of the second transformer, the winding of the second transformer and the second switch, and to the one end of the smoothing capacitor, a third reactor connected to both ends of a series circuit of a secondary winding of the first transformer and a secondary winding of the second transformer, and a control circuit which alternately turns on the first switch and the second switch every ½ cycle, turns off the first switch during an on-period of the second switch, and turns off the second switch during an on-period of the first switch.
US08111049B2
In the case of a power supply device (2) for an electric circuit (3), an energy source (4) and an electric filter (7) are provided for the reliable and low-emission supply of energy to the electric circuit (3), wherein the energy source (4) and the electric filter (7) interact in such a way that the power supply device (2) has, at a filter output (9), a voltage source characteristic in a first frequency range and a current source characteristic in a second frequency range, which has a higher frequency than the first frequency range.
US08111046B2
A constant voltage/constant power AC adapter converts AC voltage to DC voltage to provide power to a plurality of loads. The adapter's output characteristic is approximately a constant voltage as long as the output current draw by the loads is less than a threshold (e.g., a safety threshold for the adapter). If, however, the power draw on the adapter is such that the output current exceeds the threshold, the adapter then decreases its output voltage to maintain the power draw at a safe level. One or more loads that draw power from the adapter may be adapted to detect a drop in the AC adapter's output voltage. When such a voltage drop is detected, that information tells the load that too much current is being drawn from the adapter and that the load should throttle back (e.g., reducing battery charge current, CPU clock frequency, display brightness, etc.).
US08111044B2
An accessory for a portable electronic device, such as a digital music player, includes a set of device controls for controlling the portable electronic device. The accessory includes a microprocessor and a memory that contains function codes corresponding to the functions selected by the controls. Preferably, the accessory is a charger is adapted to be inserted into for a 12-volt car auxiliary power outlet and the protruding face of the charger body is a click wheel controller that rotates. The accessory may also include a FM transmitter for transmitting an audio signal received from the portable electronic device to the car stereo and a verification system for insuring the charger is produced by an authorized supplier.
US08111035B2
A charging system is provided with a secondary battery, a charging current supplier for supplying a charging current to the secondary battery, an internal resistance detector for detecting the resistance value of the internal resistance of the secondary battery, and a charge controller for increasing the charging current to be supplied to the secondary battery by the charging current supplier as the resistance value detected by the internal resistance detector decreases.
US08111028B2
An integrated fan drive system for a cooling tower comprising a high-torque, low speed permanent magnet motor having a rotatable shaft, a fan comprising a hub that is directly connected to the rotatable shaft and a plurality of fan blades that are attached to the hub, and a variable frequency drive device in electrical signal communication with the permanent magnet motor to control the rotational speed of the permanent magnet motor. The high-torque, permanent magnet motor comprises no more than two bearings in operative association with the shaft. The variable frequency drive device has a variable frequency controller that has an input for receiving AC power and an output for providing electrical signals that control the operational speed of high-torque, permanent magnet motor. The variable frequency drive device also includes a user interface in electronic data signal communication with the variable frequency controller to allow a user to input motor speed control data.
US08111027B2
The present motor control device detects from the speed of a motor and a current driving the motor that the motor is overloaded, and exerts control to set a target torque based on the detected overload state of the motor to cause the motor to output a maximal torque that the motor can output, intermittently within a preset allowable speed range. If the motor is overloaded, the motor's output torque is not decreased and a drive circuit can also be protected.
US08111024B2
A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions. The programmable waveform generator can adjust at least one of the oscillating voltage input, the voltage on the injection electrode and the voltage on the extraction electrode according to beam intensity and in response to changes in resonant conditions.
US08111016B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that drives a lighting system with multiple lamps. A phase shift mechanism is produced either by a digital method, an analog method, or a mixture of the two methods. In a digital method, phase shifts are generated by digital circuits comprising counters, a divider, an adder, and a comparator. The digital circuits analyze the signal and use the necessary information to form a series of phased driving signals. In an analog method, phase shifts are generated by analog circuits comprising ramp waveform generators, comparators, and at least one shot generator. Also, an apparatus for driving a lighting system with multiple lamps can be realized by mixing the two methods mentioned above.
US08111011B1
A method and apparatus for adjusting the drive signal of an LED luminaire is provided and includes an LED light source assembly, an ambient sensor circuit, a comparator circuit, and a driver circuit. The ambient sensor circuit provides an ambient signal to the LED light source assembly, which is a function of the ambient (such as temperature, humidity or air visibility) proximate to the LED light source assembly. The comparator circuit provides a bidirectional ambient adjustment signal to the driver circuit, which is a function of the ambient signal and a reference signal. And the driver circuit provides an adjustable drive signal to the LED light source assembly, which is a function of the bidirectional ambient adjustment signal.
US08111003B2
A backlight assembly with a light source unit, includes: a drive signal generator which generates a switching drive signal on the basis of a predetermined drive frequency and a feedback power fed back from the light source unit; a switching unit which outputs a power to the light source unit in response to the switching drive signal; and a controller which decreases the drive frequency if the feedback power is higher than a predetermined critical value.
US08111002B2
A device for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp (930) with a bipolar supply current and a regulated power input. The device includes a regulator (961) with an asymmetrical regulating characteristic curve for forming a current or power impulse (K1, K2) close to the zero crossing of the supply current.
US08110996B2
Disclosed is a modular lighting system that incorporates wireless technology and a standard interface. The lighting system may be installed in new buildings or retrofitted into existing buildings in such a way that provides many lighting configurations and programmability options while minimizing the amount of new wiring. The system includes a transceiver that controls one or more lamps using a dimming ballast or a relay and a low cost ballast. The dimming ballast, and the relay (if used) provide low voltage power to the transceiver over a cable having a standard interface, such as an RJ11 telephone jack. The transceiver provides on/off switching control and dimmer control, through the same cable, to the relay or dimming ballast. The transceiver can be located in the same room as the lamps it controls, or remotely located. A central computer or controller can control multiple transceivers over a wireless link.
US08110990B2
Disclosed is an atmospheric pressure plasma apparatus for enhancing and or controlling the dissociation of a secondary gas by converting a source gas into a plasma state at atmospheric pressure and controlling the interaction between that plasma and the secondary gas using porous metal, and ceramic tubes to create a path having controllable isolation from the region where plasma is generated.
US08110982B2
An organic light emitting diode display device having a frit which can improve mechanical strength and adhesion between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display device includes a lower substrate, an organic light emitting diode disposed on the lower substrate, an upper substrate to be coupled to the lower substrate, and a frit disposed between the lower substrate and the upper substrate to couple both the lower substrate and the upper substrate to each other where the frit has a plurality of pores.
US08110980B2
A novel anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided, which enables the production of a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency and a long lifetime. A high-performance light-emitting device and electronic device in which the anthracene derivative is employed are also disclosed. The anthracene derivative of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1), in which the unit A represents any one of substituents represented by General Formulae (1-1) to (1-3). The variables shown in Formulae (1) and (1-1) to (1-3) are defined in the specification.
US08110975B2
A field emission device includes an insulating substrate, one or more grids located on the insulating substrate. Each grid includes a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads and an electron emitting unit. The first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads are located on the periphery of the grid. The first and the second electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The third and the fourth electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The electron emitting unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one electron emitter. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode down-lead, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode down-lead. One end of the electron emitter is connected to the second electrode and an opposite end of the electron emitter is spaced from the first electrode by a predetermined distance.
US08110963B2
An ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer includes a vibrating member and a piezoelectric member coupled to the vibrating member. The piezoelectric member includes a first piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to vibrate the vibrating member or configured and arranged to be deformed by vibration of the vibrating member to produce a potential difference, and a second piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to statically deflect the vibrating member.
US08110954B2
The electric rotating machine is provided with an intermediate plate having a power circuit connection portion that is connected with an outgoing lead drawn out from a power circuit unit and an armature winding connection portion that is connected with the power circuit connection portion and an outgoing lead drawn out from an armature winding. The power circuit connection portion and the armature winding connection portion are arranged at desired positions and outgoing leads from the armature winding of the stator are drawn out in such a way as to fall within a given space, so that intermediate connection lines for connecting windings can be shortened. Accordingly, not only the breakage of an intermediate connection line caused by a vibration can be prevented, but also the switching elements can separately be arranged so as to reduce thermal interference between the switching elements; therefore, the switching elements can effectively be cooled.
US08110951B2
An electromagnetic vibrator includes a vibration sheet, suspension edge, basin frame and magnetic return path system. The electromagnetic vibrator is prepared as connecting back surface of vibration sheet to voice coil being set in magnetic return path system, injecting the vibration sheet and suspension edge to be an integral unit, connecting suspension edge with basin frame by ultrasonic mode and connecting vice coil wire to terminal sheet on basin frame after the wire is connected by vibration sheet.
US08110949B2
Provided is a wireless power transmission device. The wireless power transmission device includes a power coil in which a high frequency current is applied, a transmission coil in which the high frequency current is induced by magnetic induction, the transmission coil configured to generate an non-radiative electromagnetic wave when the transmission coil has the same resonant frequency as an at least one external target device, and a resonant frequency regulator configured to regulate the resonant frequency of the transmission coil. The wireless power transmission device can transmit the power when it has the same resonant frequency as the target device. Therefore, the overheating due to an eddy current may not occur, and the design may be easily varied.
US08110942B2
A remote-controlled mains power switch is provided, which is suitable for supplying mains-powered equipment such as TVs or personal computers with electricity. The switch comprises mains power input, an electricity storage device, a control circuit and a sensor for receiving signals from remote controlling equipment, which is ordinarily supplied with the mains-powered equipment. In use, the electricity storage device is charged by the mains power whilst the mains-powered equipment is in use, the control circuit is powered by the electricity storage device and is operative to selectively switch the mains power supply on or off in response to signals received from controlling equipment.
US08110938B2
A line connection structure for a PCU includes: the PCU mounted in an engine room positioned on a front side of a hybrid vehicle; an air cleaner that is provided on a rear side of the vehicle so as to face the PCU and that includes a resin portion deforming easier than electric equipment; and a cable connected to the PCU. The cable is formed by three-phase cables of U, V, and W phases being gathered. The cable is connected to the PCU on the side surface of the PCU positioned on the vehicular-rear side. The three-phase cables positioned between the PCU and the air cleaner is provided so as to align on the identical plane parallel to the width direction of the hybrid vehicle.
US08110934B2
An apparatus for producing electricity includes an elongated body and an electricity generating device operatively connected to the elongated body. A drive shaft is positioned along the elongated body, the drive shaft having an input and an output. A driven shaft is positioned along the elongated body and spaced apart from the drive shaft, the driven shaft having an input and an output, the output driving the electricity generating device. There is a first mechanical linkage between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. A method of producing electricity includes positioning a combustion engine powered vehicle over at least a portion of the apparatus, mechanically linking an output shaft of the combustion engine powered device to the input of the drive shaft, and powering the electricity generating device with the combustion engine powered vehicle.
US08110916B2
A chip package structure includes a chip module, a plurality of pre-patterned structures, a filling material layer, and a redistribution layer. The chip module includes a chip including an upper surface, a side surface, and an active surface. The pre-patterned structures are disposed around the chip. Each of the pre-patterned structures includes a circuit, a first surface, an upper surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface. The filling material layer encapsulates the chip and the pre-patterned structures. The filling material layer includes a second surface, and encapsulates the upper and side surfaces of the chip, and the upper and side surfaces of each of the pre-patterned structures. The active surface, each first surface, and the second surface are substantially co-planar. The redistribution layer is disposed on the active surface, each first surface, and the second surface. The redistribution layer electrically connects the chip and each circuit.
US08110914B2
A wafer level package includes a chip, a removable resin layer, a molding material, a dielectric layer, redistribution lines and a solder resist. The removable resin layer is formed to surround side surfaces and a lower surface of the chip. The molding material is formed on the lower surface of the removable resin layer. The dielectric layer is formed over the removable resin layer including the chip and having via holes to expose portions of the chip. The redistribution lines are formed on the dielectric layer including insides of the via holes to be connected to the chip. The solder resist layer is formed on the dielectric layer to expose portions of the redistribution lines.
US08110912B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a foil formed of an insulating material, where the foil includes at least one electrically conducting element, providing a chip having contact elements on a first face of the chip, and applying the foil over the contact elements of the chip.
US08110906B2
A semiconductor device includes a carrier, a semiconductor chip including an active area on a first face and a separate isolation layer applied to a second face, and an adhesion material coupling the isolation layer to the carrier with the second face facing the carrier.
US08110905B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a substrate; mounting a base integrated circuit on the substrate; forming a leadframe interposer, over the base integrated circuit, by: providing a metal sheet, mounting an integrated circuit die on the metal sheet, injecting a molded package body on the integrated circuit die and the metal sheet, and forming a ball pad, a bond finger, or a combination thereof from the metal sheet that is not protected by the molded package body; coupling a circuit package on the ball pad; and forming a component package on the substrate, the base integrated circuit, and the leadframe interposer.
US08110904B2
Provided are a semiconductor device lead frame and a method of manufacturing of the same that improve adhesive properties between plating layers when a plurality of plating layers are laminated, that control deterioration in wire bonding properties during the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device and worsening of solderability during packaging, and that effectively reduce manufacturing cost. Specifically, the lead frame (2a, 2b) has a laminated structure that includes a lower plating layer (22) formed on a conductive base material (21) and an uppermost plating layer (23), with an organic film (22) that has metal-binding properties formed between the lower plating layer (21) and the uppermost plating layer (23). The organic film (22) is formed as a monomolecular film in which functional organic molecules (11) self assemble. Each of the organic molecules (11) has functional groups (A1, A1) with metal-binding properties on both ends of a main chain (B1).
US08110903B2
An improved Quad Flat No-Lead package is described. The package is formed by encapsulating a die mounted on a leadframe with a moulding compound using a mould chase. The mould chase comprises a number of internal projections which form openings in the mould compound to expose regions of the leadframe. These exposed regions of the leadframe may then be used for soldering the package to a substrate. The arrangement of the openings may be designed such that each aperture is the same shape and size and/or that the apertures are arranged in multiple rows on the underside of the package.
US08110898B2
A structure consisting of well-ordered semiconductor structures embedded in a binder material which maintains the ordering and orientation of the semiconductor structures. Methods for forming such a structure include forming the semiconductor structures on a substrate, casting a binder material onto the substrate to embed the semiconductor structures in the binder material, and separating the binder material from the substrate at the substrate. These methods provide for the retention of the orientation and order of highly ordered semiconductor structures in the separated binder material.
US08110885B2
Provided is a MOS type solid state imaging device, including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels arranged on the semiconductor substrate, each pixel having a light receiving element for generating a signal charge due to incident light, and a MOS transistor for reading the signal charge, and a hydrogen supply film arranged on the semiconductor substrate over the plurality of pixels and having a region corresponding to the light receiving element at least a part of which has a film thickness greater than the other part of the region.
US08110865B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the charge storage layer, and a control electrode formed on the second insulating film, the second insulating film including a lower silicon nitride film, a lower silicon oxide film formed on the lower silicon nitride film, an intermediate insulating film formed on the lower silicon oxide film and containing a metal element, the intermediate insulating film having a relative dielectric constant of greater than 7, an upper silicon oxide film formed on the intermediate insulating film, and an upper silicon nitride film formed on the upper silicon oxide film.
US08110863B2
A rewriteable nonvolatile memory cell having two bits per cell is described. The memory cell preferably operates by storing charge in a dielectric charge storage layer or in electrically isolated conductive nanocrystals by a channel hot electron injection method. In preferred embodiments the channel region has a corrugated shape, providing additional isolation between the two storage regions. The channel region is deposited and is preferably formed of polycrystalline germanium or silicon-germanium. The memory cell of the present invention can be formed in memory arrays; in preferred embodiments, multiple memory levels are formed stacked above a single substrate.
US08110835B2
A light emitting component can include a substrate, a light emitting device supported by the substrate, wherein the light-emitting device has first and second terminals, and a switching element supported by the substrate and having first and second terminals electrically connected to the first and second terminals of the light-emitting device, respectively. The switching element is configured to, at least in part, divert at least some current away from the light emitting device when the switching element is in a closed state. An electrical connection between the first terminal of the switching element and the first terminal of the light emitting device can have a length of less than 5 cm (e.g., less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 5 mm, less than 1 mm). A current regulator may be supported by a second substrate and can supply current to the light emitting device.
US08110831B2
A display device is provided with a pair of a first electrode and a second electrode at least one of which is transparent or translucent and a phosphor layer formed so as to be sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the phosphor layer has a polycrystal structure made of a first semiconductor substance in which a second semiconductor substance different from the first semiconductor substance is segregated on a grain boundary of the polycrystal structure, and the phosphor layer has a plurality of pixel regions that are selectively allowed to emit light in a predetermined range thereof and non-pixel regions that divide at least one portion of the pixel regions.
US08110827B2
A light emitting device includes a stack of layers of a substrate, with a basic layer, first and second electrode layers, and an organic light-emitting layer which is sandwiched between the first and the second electrode layers. At least a part of the basic layer is covered by a shielding structure that includes a plurality of lamella elements that extend sheet-like from the stack of layers in such a way, that the lamella elements guide light out of the light emitting device.
US08110825B2
An organic light-emitting element comprises a large number of unit pixels each at least composed of a base, an auxiliary electrode, a first insulating layer to cover at least the auxiliary electrode, a charge injection layer on the first insulating electrode, laminated bodies each consisting of a first electrode and a second insulating layer and provided in a predetermined pattern, an organic light-emitting layer formed in regions where the laminated bodies are not provided, and a second electrode to cover at least the organic light-emitting layer. The unit pixel has first partitions provided to demarcate the organic light-emitting layer from other adjacent unit pixels and at least one or more second partitions to have a uniform coated thickness, and at least one of the first partition and the second partition is the laminated body.
US08110823B2
Photonic integrated circuits on silicon are disclosed. By bonding a wafer of III-V material as an active region to silicon and removing the substrate, the lasers, amplifiers, modulators, and other devices can be processed using standard photolithographic techniques on the silicon substrate. The coupling between the silicon waveguide and the III-V gain region allows for integration of low threshold lasers, tunable lasers, and other photonic integrated circuits with Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits.
US08110819B2
A system and method including a wand-type ultraviolet (UV) light assembly positioned above a keyboard and other computer peripheral device(s) to be sanitized. The UV light assembly is preferably moved across the peripheral device surface to eliminate nearly all germs, bacteria, viruses, pathogens and other microorganisms that have accumulated on the surfaces of the keyboard and other peripherals. Desirably, the system operation is managed by a controller device which is in communication with a host computer. In addition, the system allows for the collection and analysis of system performance data. The invention provides an extremely effective, compact, virtually cost-free and environmentally-friendly solution to disinfecting surfaces of keyboards and other peripheral devices.
US08110813B2
A charged particle optical system comprising a beamlet generator for generating a plurality of beamlets of charged particles and an electrostatic deflector for deflecting the beamlets. The electrostatic deflector comprises first and second electrodes adapted for connection to a voltage for generating an electric field between the electrodes for deflection of the beamlets, the electrodes being at least partially freestanding in an active area of the electrostatic deflector. The electrodes define at least one passing window for passage of at least a portion of the beamlets between the electrodes, the passing window having a length in a first direction and a width in a transverse direction. The system is adapted to arrange the beamlets in at least one row and to direct a single row of the beamlets through the passing window of the electrostatic deflector, the beamlets of the row extending in the first direction. A substantial part of the electrostatic deflector extends beyond the passing window in the first direction.
US08110807B2
The invention uses a series of combined passive neutron and gamma ray sensors systematically placed along a path of commercial traffic, for example an airport runway, combined with a pulsed source of low energy protons and deuterons. The pulsed source produces monoenergetic gamma rays and low energy (60 keV) neutrons. This pulsed source uses a pinch-reflex ion diode operated on a pulsed power generator to produce proton beams. These beams bombard a PTFE (Teflon) target to produce characteristic gamma-rays. These gamma rays would induce a fission reaction in any fissile material creating gamma rays and neutrons. The passive sensors located in the path of commercial traffic would sense both the resultant gamma and neutron products of the reaction. The short interrogation pulse, approximately 50 nanoseconds, provides a timing marker which can be used to turn on the passive detectors after the interrogation pulse so as to avoid saturation and to enable measuring the spectrum of the fast neutrons using time of flight. The decay rate of the intensity of fast and slow (thermalized by interaction with the runway materials) neutrons provides an unambiguous signature of the presence of fissile material.
US08110798B2
Methods for cooling ions retained in an ion trap are described. In various embodiments, a cooling gas is delivered into a linear ion trap causing a non-steady state pressure elevation in at least a portion of the trap above about 8×10−5 Torr for a duration less than the ion-retention time. In various embodiments, the duration of pressure elevation can be based upon a period of time required for an ion to lose a desired amount of its kinetic energy.
US08110793B2
The invention relates to acquisition methods for fragment ion spectra of biopolymer molecules in tandem mass spectrometers which are coupled to separation devices. The invention provides a real-time method for calculating a quality coefficient for each fragment ion spectrum. The quality coefficient indicates whether the fragment ion spectrum can be used successfully for identifying the biopolymer molecule or whether it should be acquired once more, possibly with other acquisition parameters.
US08110790B2
A system for imaging an object comprising a surface for receiving the object to be imaged and an imaging device. The imaging device comprises a housing and a fixed focusing optical device mounted to the housing, whereby the fixed focusing optics comprises a lens for focusing light reflected from the object. A plurality of independent linear imaging sensors are positioned in the housing at different distances from the fixed focusing lens so that a face of each of the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors is aligned parallel to the surface. A processor is coupled to the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors for receiving an output signal from each of the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors representative of the reflected light. The lens defines a plane parallel to the surface, and the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors are adapted to receive reflected light from the object.
US08110784B2
A projectile including: a casing; first and second windows provided on the casing for at least one of transmitting a first optical signal into an interior of the casing and transmitting a second optical signal from the interior of the casing; a receiving element disposed on the interior of the casing and in optical communication with one or more of the first and second windows for at least one of converting the first optical signal into electrical energy and storing data provided in the first optical signal; and a transmitting element disposed on the interior of the casing and in optical communication with one or more of the first and second windows for transmitting data provided in the second optical signal to outside the casing.
US08110781B2
The present invention provides a golf club head cover which provides conventional protection to golf clubs and in addition provides a heating function for a hitting surface of the golf club in order to keep the temperature within a optimized range for hitting. The golf club head cover has a main housing having an opening side for inserting a top portion of the golf club and a heating side for disposing a temperature controlling device for heating. The temperature controlling device has a power source, a circuit board, and a heating plate which couples with the hitting surface of the top portion of the golf club to apply heat to control the temperature.
US08110776B2
Glass substrate cutting apparatuses using lasers are disclosed, where a laser cutting head is moved. A glass substrate cutting apparatus includes two parts for a laser cutting head: heavy laser beam generators fixed to respective ends of a gantry structure moving in parallel along two gantry stages located on either side of a cutting table, and relatively lightweight laser irradiation heads moving horizontally in parallel with the gantry structure. The glass substrate cutting apparatus includes a cutting table for maintaining a glass substrate in a horizontal state; biaxial gantry stages for moving a gantry structure along the cutting table; the gantry structure moving in between an upper part of the biaxial gantry stages; laser beam generators fixed to respective ends of the gantry structure for oscillating the laser; and laser irradiation heads that move horizontally on respective ends of the gantry structure and irradiate the laser upon the glass substrate.
US08110771B2
A vacuum insulating switch gear formed by integrally molding with epoxy resin of a vacuum double-break three-position type switch including a movable contact, a fixed contact, and a vacuum container composed of an insulating cylinder for covering the movable contact and the fixed contact, a lower lid for closing a lower part of the insulating cylinder, and an upper lid for closing an upper part of the insulating cylinder and an operation rod side of the movable contact, and an earthing switch with a vacuum closed container, comprising a first silicone rubber layer coated on an upper edge corner portion of each insulating cylinder composing the vacuum containers of the switch and the earthing switch, a self fusing insulating tape layer wound around an outer surface of the first silicone rubber layer, a second silicone rubber layer coated on the self fusing insulating tape layer and an outer periphery of the each insulating cylinder, a ring easing shield installed at a position corresponding to a lower end corner portion of the each insulating cylinder after a vacuum deaeration process performed for the first and the second silicone rubber layers, and an epoxy resin portion for integrally molding the each vacuum container so as to cover the first silicone rubber layer, the self fusing insulating tape layer, the second silicone rubber layer, and the ring easing shield.
US08110767B2
A structured touch switch, which is of an electrostatic capacitance, type is provided. The structured touch switch comprises a substrate made of a material having a non-conductive characteristic, a conductive member made of a material having a conductive characteristic and formed integrally with the substrate so that a portion of the conductive characteristic member appears at a surface of the substrate and a detection electrode positioned at a backside of the substrate and in opposed relation to the conductive member in a state where a space is defined with respect to the conductive member.
US08110763B2
A key assembly comprises a base plate, two elastic elements and a key body. Each elastic element has a securing portion and two compressing portions protruding from two ends of the securing portion. The securing portions are latched to the base plate. The key body is slidably mounted to the base plate between the two elastic elements. The key body includes a first key section resisting one of the two elastic elements and a second key section resisting another elastic element. When the first key section slides toward and compresses the corresponding elastic element, the second key section slide away from the corresponding elastic element.
US08110762B2
A single-pole or multi-pole device for low-voltage systems, in particular a circuit breaker or a disconnector, which comprises: an outer casing containing for each pole at least one fixed contact and at least one mobile contact that can be coupled to/uncoupled from one another; a rotating element, defined by a shaped body comprising at least one seat for each pole of said switch, said seat being designed to house at least one mobile contact of a corresponding pole; a control mechanism operatively connected to said rotating element for enabling movement thereof; reinforcement elements positioned in said at least one seat of said mobile contact.
US08110750B2
A multilayer printed wiring board has a core substrate, an interlayer insulation layer formed over the core substrate, conductive layers formed over the core substrate, and a via hole for providing electrical connection between the conductive layers. The conductive layers include a conductive layer formed on the core substrate, and the conductive layer formed on the core substrate has a side face in a form of rounded taper tapering toward the core substrate.
US08110748B2
The present invention provides a wiring, a display device, and a method of manufacturing the same. A first metal diffusion-preventing layer is formed on a substrate or on a circuit element formed on the substrate. Then, a metal wiring layer is selectively formed on the first metal diffusion-preventing layer by an electroless metal plating method or a metal electroplating method. Further, the undesired portion of the first metal diffusion-preventing layer is removed. Finally, a second metal diffusion-preventing layer is formed selectively by an electroless metal plating method in a manner to cover the metal wiring layer or both a seed layer and the metal wiring layer.
US08110747B2
A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) includes a signal layer, upper and lower ground layers, and two dielectric layers. The signal layer includes a differential pair comprising two transmission lines to transmit a pair of differential signals. The dielectric layers are located on and under the signal layer to sandwich the signal layer. The upper ground layer is attached to the dielectric layer on the signal layer, opposite to the signal layer. The lower ground layer is attached to the dielectric layer under the signal layer, opposite to the signal layer. Each ground layer includes a grounded sheet made of conductive material. Two voids are defined in each ground layer and located at opposite sides of the corresponding grounded sheet. Distances between the middle line of the grounded sheet of each ground layer and middle lines of the two transmission lines are equal.
US08110744B2
A flexible shielded cable is disclosed. The cable may include a plurality of conductors formed on a common base, a dielectric material disposed about the plurality of conductors, and a shielding material disposed adjacent the dielectric material. At least one of the plurality of conductors may include an unshielded portion not overlaid by the shielding material and at least one of the plurality of conductors may include a shielded portion overlaid by the shielding material.
US08110739B2
The invention provides a solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a semiconductor structure combination and a multi-atomic-layer structure formed of at least one oxide. The semiconductor structure combination includes at least one p-n junction and has an illuminated surface. The multi-atomic-layer structure overlays the illuminated surface of the semiconductor structure combination. In particular, the multi-atomic-layer structure serves as a surface passivation layer, a transparent conductive layer, and further as an anti-reflective layer.
US08110738B2
A solar cell includes a substrate, a protective layer located over a first surface of the substrate, a first electrode located over a second surface of the substrate, at least one p-type semiconductor absorber layer located over the first electrode, an n-type semiconductor layer located over the p-type semiconductor absorber layer, and a second electrode over the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-type semiconductor absorber layer includes a copper indium selenide (CIS) based alloy material, and the second electrode is transparent and electrically conductive. The protective layer has an emissivity greater than 0.25 at a wavelength of 2 μm, has a reactivity with a selenium-containing gas lower than that of the substrate, and may differ from the first electrode in at least one of composition, thickness, density, emissivity, conductivity or stress state. The emissivity profile of the protective layer may be uniform or non-uniform.
US08110731B1
A transmission linkage for a drum assembly of the present invention is adapted for connecting a pedal unit to a striking portion. The transmission linkage includes a pole a first joint, a second joint, two threaded members and two bearing units. At least one of the first joint and the second joint includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit and the second unit are rotatable about an axis. The first unit has two arms which are formed with threaded holes. The second unit has two coaxial recesses. The bearing units are carried in the recesses. The threaded units are screwed in the threaded holes, being held by the bearing units. As such, an easy-fabricated transmission linkage is provided.
US08110711B2
Disclosed is a process for producing 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol, which comprises reducing a bromodifluoroacetic acid derivative represented by the formula [1] by using an ate hydride complex as a reducing agent. 2-Bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol thus produced can be used as the starting material to carry out the esterification step, the sulfination step and the oxidation step in this order, thereby producing a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt, wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a heteroaryloxy group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom.
US08110707B2
A fatty acid salt of an alkyl quaternary ammonium is used as a novel surfactant which is a cationic surfactant having high detergency and low foaming property.
US08110705B2
A method is disclosed for preparing hydrazides from hydrazine and an acyl chloride which comprises the steps of (a) preparing a stirred substantially uniform slurry comprising hydrazine and an inert solvent at low temperature; and (b) adding an acyl chloride continuously to said slurry. The method avoids or limits production of undesired bis-hydrazide by-products. The method is used to prepare 3-methyl-3-mercaptobutanoic acid hydrazide, a molecule used to link calicheamicin to a monoclonal antibody.
US08110695B2
The present invention relates to compounds, intermediates, compositions, and methods of making compounds and intermediates related to the compounds of Formula (I) and/or Formula (II) and/or Formula (III) and/or Formula (IV) and/or Formula (VI) and/or Formula (VII) as disclosed herein wherein the various substituents are as defined in the written description.
US08110692B2
The present invention relates to new organic-inorganic hybrid silicates and metal-silicates called ECS, characterized by an X-ray powder diffraction pattern with reflections exclusively at angular values higher than 4.0° of 2θ, preferably at angular values higher than 4.7°, and an ordered structure containing structural units having formula (a) wherein R is an organic group: Formula (a) and possibly containing one or more elements T selected from groups III B, IV B, V B and transition metals, with a Si/(Si +T) molar ratio in said structure higher than 0.3 and lower than or equal to 1, wherein Si is the silicon contained in the structural unit (a). A process is also described, starting from disilanes, for the preparation of these materials, which does not include the use of templates or surfactants. These materials can be used as molecular sieves, adsorbents, in the field of catalysis, in the field of electronics, in the field of sensors, in the field of nanotechnologies.
US08110691B2
A new industrial process for the synthesis of solvate-free 17α-acetoxy-11β-[4-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl]-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione [CDB-2914] of formula (I) which is a strong antiprogestogene and antiglucocorticoid agent. The invention also relates to compounds of formula (VII) and (VIII) used as intermediates in the process.
US08110690B2
A substituted indolocarbazole comprising at least one optionally substituted thienyl.
US08110680B2
The present invention discloses an optically active quarternary ammonium salt having axial asymmetry and a method for producing an α-amino acid and a derivative thereof using the same. The optically active quarternary ammonium salt having axial asymmetry of the present invention is a chiral phase-transfer catalyst that has a simple structure and that can be produced in a smaller number of process steps. The compound of the present invention is very useful as a phase-transfer catalyst in the synthesis of an α-alkyl-α-amino acid and a derivative thereof as well as an α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acid and a derivative thereof. Therefore, the compound of the present invention can be used in the development of novel foods and pharmaceuticals.
US08110678B2
This invention is the design and synthesis of a caprolactone monomer which bears a pendant protected carboxyl group. This monomer has been copolymerized with caprolactone in varying ratios. After polymerization, the protecting group can be removed and an antibiotic can be attached as a new pendant group. The bioactivity of the antibiotic-bound poly(caprolactone) polymer is described.
US08110671B2
The specification relates to a method for producing a chimeric non-human animal, which comprises preparing a microcell containing a foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof and transferring the foreign chromosome(s) or fragment(s) thereof into a pluripotent cell by fusion with the microcell; a chimeric non-human animal which can be produced by the above method and its progeny; tissues and cells derived therefrom; and a method for using the same. Further, a pluripotent cell containing a foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof, a method for producing the same, and a method for using the same are also provided. Moreover, a pluripotent cell in which at least two endogenous genes are disrupted, and a method for producing the same by homologous recombination are provided.
US08110668B2
Nucleic acid and protein sequences relating to a cation channel which is sperm-specific (CatSper3) are disclosed. The CatSper3 protein is shown to be specifically expressed in sperm. Nucleic acids, vectors, transformed cells, transgenic animals, polypeptides, and antibodies relating to the CatSper3 gene and protein are disclosed. Also provided are methods of in vitro fertilization and contraception, methods of identifying modulators of CatSper3 activity, methods of genotyping subjects with respect to CatSper3, and methods of diagnosing and treating CatSper3-mediated disorders, including infertility. Related business methods are also disclosed.
US08110661B2
The invention relates to fully human antibodies, and fragments thereof, that bind to interferon-inducible-protein-10 (IP-10, CXCL10), thereby modulating the interaction between IP-10 and its receptor, CXCR3, and/or modulating the biological activities of IP-10. The invention also relates to the use of such anti-IP-10 antibodies in the prevention or treatment of immune-related disorders and in the amelioration of one or more symptoms associated with an immune-related disorder.
US08110650B2
Methods of making unsaturated polyester compositions are provided and include reacting: (i) plant and animal oil triglycerides, an alkyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or mixtures thereof; (ii) a difunctional, or polyfunctional glycol or mixtures thereof; (iii) a difunctional or polyfunctional acid, their anhydrides or alkyl esters and mixtures thereof; (iv) a strained cycloolefin; (v) a component(s) that function as a compound capable of initiating polymerization at high temperature and which is stable at room temperature; and (vi) low profile additives, fillers and reinforcements.
US08110644B2
Disclosed is a bimodal Ziegler-Natta catalyzed polyethylene, having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc, and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, wherein an article formed therefrom has a PENT of at least 1500. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a tubular article including obtaining a bimodal polyethylene having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, and processing the polyethylene under conditions where a specific energy input (SEI) is less than 300 kW·h/ton, and wherein the article has a PENT of at least 1500. Further disclosed is a method for controlling the degradation of polyethylene including polymerizing ethylene monomer, recovering polyethylene, extruding the polyethylene, and controlling the degradation of polyethylene by measuring the SEI to the extruder and adjusting throughput and/or gear suction pressure keep SEI less than 300 kW·h/ton, and forming an article.
US08110640B2
The present invention provides polymerization catalyst compositions employing half-metallocene compounds with a heteroatom-containing ligand bound to the transition metal. Methods for making these hybrid metallocene compounds and for using such compounds in catalyst compositions for the polymerization and copolymerization of olefins are also provided.
US08110626B2
The present invention is directed to compositions comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a talc as a filler, wherein the talc particles have a mean particle size of from 0.4 to 25 μm, and are present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% based on the weight of component (a) and (c) a dispersing agent which is based on a non-ionic surfactant or an amphiphilic statistical, block or comb copolymer, provided that when the synthetic polymer (a) is a polyamide, this is present in an amount of less than 55% based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c).
US08110620B1
A process for producing an uncured rubber composition containing a rubber wet master batch obtained by using, as raw materials, at least a filler, a dispersing solvent, and a rubber latex liquid made mainly of a natural rubber latex, mainly comprising: a step (I) wherein at the time of dispersing the filler into the dispersing solvent, at least one portion of the rubber latex liquid is added thereto, thereby preparing a slurry containing the filler to which rubber latex particles adhere, a step (II) wherein the slurry is mixed with the rest of the rubber latex liquid, thereby preparing the rubber latex liquid containing the rubber-latex-particle-adhering filler.
US08110606B2
A method is provided for treating pain in patients recovering from post-surgical trauma by administering between about 13 to about 30 mg of diclofenac potassium in a liquid dispersible formulation over a period of at least 24 hours, wherein the daily total amount of diclofenac potassium administered is less than or equal to about 100 mg. The method is particularly useful in treating acute pain in bunionectomy patients.
US08110602B2
The invention relates to Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compounds, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as pain, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound.
US08110587B2
This invention relates to new aryl ureas and methods for their synthesis. The inventive compounds are useful in the treatment of (i) raf mediated diseases, for example, cancer, (ii) p38 mediated diseases such as inflammation and osteoporosis, and (iii) VEGF mediated diseases such as angiogenesis disorders.
US08110585B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), amino optionally having substituent(s), hydroxy optionally having a substituent or a heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s); R2 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s); Xa and Xb are each C, N, O or S; Xc and Xd are each C or N; m is 0-2; n is 1-3; ring A is a 5-membered ring optionally having substituent(s); ring B is a 6-membered ring optionally having substituent(s); and ring C is a 3- to 5-membered ring optionally having substituent(s), provided that when Xa, Xc and Xd are each C, then Xb is N or S, or a salt thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease relating to an action of melatonin, and the like.
US08110583B2
Compounds of the formula I, in which s, k, I, W, R1, R2, R3, and U have the meanings indicated in claim 1, can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours.
US08110582B2
The present invention provides a method of protecting a subject against UV-induced epidermal neoplasia. Generally, the method includes administering to a subject an IRM compound in an amount effective to provide protection against UV-induced epidermal neoplasia. The present invention also provides compositions that include an IRM compound in an amount effective for providing protection against UV-induced epidermal neoplasia.
US08110580B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of such compounds as corticotropin releasing factor 1 (CRF1) receptor antagonists in the treatment of psychiatric and neuroendocrine disorders, neurological diseases, and metabolic syndrome.
US08110575B2
The present invention relates to new CGRP-antagonists of general formula I wherein U, V, X, Y, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined as in the description, the tautomers, the isomers, the diastereomers, the enantiomers, the hydrates, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof and the hydrates of the salts, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, medicaments containing these compounds, their use and processes for preparing them.
US08110573B2
The invention provides a compound of the formula (I): or a salt, solvate, tautomer or N-oxide thereof, wherein M is selected from a group D1 and a group D2: and R′, E, A and X are as defined in the claims. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, processes for making the compounds and the use of the compounds in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state mediated by a CDK kinase, GSK-3 kinase or Aurora kinase.
US08110571B2
This invention relates to benzimidazole and benzothiazole compounds of formula (I) to methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and to methods of treatment comprising administering of such compounds.
US08110570B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula I: along with methods of use of these compounds as pharmaceuticals, particularly in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diseases associated with reduced neuronal metabolism, and cancer as well as the use of these compounds for treatment of pathogens of humans and animals, and for the control of agricultural pests, particularly fungi, weeds and insects.
US08110566B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, A, X, Y are as described in the specification, their use in pharmaceutical compositions and in methods of treatment or prophylaxis of a melanin-concentrating hormone related disease or condition.
US08110565B2
A composition for transdermal administration resulting from an admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of a drug that includes a parent drug and a prodrug; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the parent drug and prodrug are individually present in an amount sufficient for a pharmacological effect. In a preferred embodiment, the admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent that includes a corresponding steroid and a steroid derivative; and a carrier for the pharmaceutically active agent. The steroid and the corresponding steroid derivative are present in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 steroid:corresponding steroid derivative. In a preferred embodiment ratio is 6:1 to 1:6. In a preferred embodiment, the corresponding steroid derivative is a steroid ester. In another preferred embodiment, the carrier is a polymer that includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, the parent drug is an ACE inhibitor such as ramipril and the prodrug is an ACE inhibitor prodrug such as ramipril ethyl and/or methyl ester.
US08110564B2
The present invention relates to the use of a bile acid or bile salt fatty acid conjugate of general formula II W—X-G in which G is a bile acid or bile salt radical, which, if desired, is conjugated in position 24 with a suitable amino acid, W stands for one or two fatty acid radicals having 14-22 carbon atoms and X stands for a suitable bonding member or for a direct C═C bond between said bile acid or bile salt radical and the fatty acid(s) or of a pharmaceutical composition comprising same for the reduction of Cholesterol in blood, for the treatment of Fatty Liver, Hyperglycemia and Diabetes.
US08110563B1
The present invention features a composition for killing fire ants. In some embodiments, the composition comprises an insecticide and a triclosan composition. In some embodiments, the composition is a liquid composition.
US08110561B2
A therapeutic composition for treatment of a body tissue which includes an aqueous solution of a cross-linked polymer being capable of: (i) maintaining a liquid state in storage at room temperature for at least 24 hours; and (ii) assuming a gel state following deposition within the body tissue. The therapeutic composition can be effectively administered into a damaged body tissue via injection or catheterization, thereby treating the damaged body tissue.
US08110560B2
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions capable of blocking the inhibitory effect of a newly-identified intronic inhibitory sequence element, named ISS-N1 (for “intronic splicing silencer”), located in the SMN2 gene. The compositions and methods of the instant invention include oligonucleotide reagents (e.g., oligoribonucleotides) that effectively target the SMN2 ISS-N1 site in the SMN2 pre-mRNA, thereby modulating the splicing of SMN2 pre-mRNA to include exon 7 in the processed transcript. The ISS-N1 blocking agents of the invention cause elevated expression of SMN protein, thus compensating for the loss of SMN protein expression commonly observed in subjects with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
US08110557B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of malignancies associated with gamma-herpesvirus infection. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of gamma-secretase inhibitors to prevent the production of intracellular Notch1 thereby arresting the growth of the infected cells.
US08110554B2
A generic structure for the peptides of the present invention includes A-X-B-C, where C is a cargo moiety, the B portion includes basic amino acids, X is a cleavable linker sequence, and the A portion includes acidic amino acids. The intact structure is not significantly taken up by cells; however, upon extracellular cleavage of X, the B-C portion is taken up, delivering the cargo to targeted cells. Cargo may be, for example, a contrast agent for diagnostic imaging, a chemotherapeutic drug, or a radiation-sensitizer for therapy. Cleavage of X allows separation of A from B, unmasking the normal ability of the basic amino acids in B to drag cargo C into cells near the cleavage event. X is cleaved extracellularly, preferably under physiological conditions. D-amino acids are preferred for the A and B portions, to minimize immunogenicity and nonspecific cleavage by background peptidases or proteases.
US08110549B2
The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed α-conotoxins herein), about 10-30 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds.
US08110541B2
The present invention relates to fluorocarbon vectors for the delivery of antigens to immunoresponsive target cells. It further relates to fluorocarbon vector-antigen constructs and the use of such vectors associated with antigens as vaccines and immunotherapeutics in animals.
US08110537B2
A liquid detergent composition is described. The liquid detergent composition includes an emulsion having a water phase and an oil phase. The liquid detergent composition includes a detersive amount of a nonionic surfactant component, an emulsion stabilizing amount of a cationic surfactant component, about 5 wt. % to about 94 wt. % water, and at least about 5 wt. % of a suspended particulate component. A detergent use solution and methods for using a liquid detergent composition are described.
US08110533B1
A liquid cleansing composition is provided which includes from 5 to 25% by weight of a fatty acids mixture and from 30 to 90% by weight of water, wherein the fatty acids mixture is present in a weight amount greater than a total of all surfactants other than soap present in the composition. Further, the fatty acids mixture is 70-95% of lauric and myristic fatty acids in a weight ratio from 9:1 to 1:2, and 5-30% C16-C20 fatty acid, all by weight of the fatty acids mixture. Still further, 60-90 mole % of the fatty acids mixture is neutralized into soap.
US08110529B2
Liquid aqueous formulations of water-soluble active crop protectant ingredients which comprise (a) one or more water-soluble active crop protectant ingredients (type (a) ingredients), (b) one or more water-dispersed active crop protectant ingredients (type (b) ingredients), (c) one or more surfactants from the class of the polyacrylic acid derivatives, (d) one or more aluminum silicates as stabilizer(s), (e) if desired, further anionic or nonionic, cationic and/or zwitterionic surfactants, (f) if desired, other customary formulation assistants, and (g) water are suitable as stable coformulations for use in crop protection.
US08110527B2
The present invention discloses an alumina support having multiple pore structure, wherein the alumina support has a specific surface area of from 40 to 160 m2/g and a total pore volume of from 0.3 to 1.2 cm3/g; a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of less than 30 nm comprises 5 to 60% of the total pore volume; a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of from 30 to 60 nm comprises 20 to 75% of the total pore volume; and a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of larger than 60 nm comprises 20 to 60% of the total pore volume. The present invention further discloses a catalyst used for selective hydrogenation of a pyrolysis gasoline, comprising: (a) the alumina support according to the invention; and (b) 0.01 to 1.2 wt. % of metal palladium or palladium oxides, based on the weight of the alumina support.
US08110518B2
Supported catalyst systems and methods of forming the same are described herein. In one specific embodiment, the methods generally include providing an inorganic support material and contacting the inorganic support material with an aluminum fluoride compound represented by the formula AlFpX3-pBq to form an aluminum fluoride impregnated support, wherein X is selected from Cl, Br and OH−, B is H2O, p is selected from 1 to 3 and q is selected from 0 to 6. The method further includes contacting the aluminum fluoride impregnated support with a transition metal compound to form a supported catalyst system, wherein the transition metal compound is represented by the formula [L]mM[A]n; wherein L is a bulky ligand, A is a leaving group, M is a transition metal and m and n are such that a total ligand valency corresponds to the transition metal valency.
US08110516B2
An object is to provide a sintered body having a sufficiently higher polishing rate than a conventional AlTiC sintered body and providing a sufficiently smooth air bearing surface. The sintered body according to the present invention consists of Al2O3 and a compound represented by the chemical formula (1) below: TiCxOy (1) wherein x+y≦1, x>0 and 0.3
US08110506B2
Methods of forming a semiconductor device can be provided by simultaneously forming a plurality of mask patterns using self-aligned reverse patterning, including respective mask pattern elements having different widths.
US08110492B2
Disclosed in this specification is a semiconductor package with a die attach pad and a lead frame which are electrically and mechanically connected to one another through a conductive wire ribbon. Such a configuration reduces the package footprint and also permits different styles of die attach pads and lead frames to be interchanged, thus reducing production costs.
US08110486B2
A semiconductor wafer is produced at a step of forming a lattice relaxation or a partly lattice-relaxed strain relaxation SiGe layer on an insulating layer in a SOI wafer comprising an insulating layer and a SOI layer, wherein at least an upper layer side portion of the SiGe layer is formed on the SOI layer at a gradient of Ge concentration gradually decreasing toward the surface and then subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere.
US08110483B2
Solutions for forming an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a wafer including a plurality of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer regions separated by at least one shallow trench isolation (STI); amorphizing the plurality of SOI layer regions by implanting the plurality of SOI layer regions with an implant species; and removing a portion of the amorphized SOI layer region to form at least one recess in the amorphized SOI layer region.
US08110481B2
To provide a method of segmenting a semiconductor wafer, which is capable of preventing chippings.A semiconductor wafer 1 is partitioned into a circumferential ring-shaped region 1a and a segmentation region placed in the inner side of the ring-shaped region 1a. The semiconductor wafer 1 included in the segmentation region is cut into the form of a lattice along a plurality of perpendicular cutting lines 4 and is segmented into a plurality of chips 2. On the other hand, the semiconductor wafer 1 included in the ring-shaped region 1a is cut along two partition lines 5 extending in parallel to the cutting lines 4 from the center O of the semiconductor wafer 1 and is partitioned into four independent regions.
US08110480B2
A photovoltaic cell device, e.g., solar cell, solar panel, and method of manufacture. The device has an optically transparent substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface. A first thickness of material (e.g., semiconductor material, single crystal material) having a first surface region and a second surface region is included. In a preferred embodiment, the surface region is overlying the first surface of the optically transparent substrate. The device has an optical coupling material provided between the first surface region of the thickness of material and the first surface of the optically transparent material.
US08110460B2
A method for producing stacked and self-aligned components on a substrate, including: providing a substrate made of monocrystalline silicon having one face enabling production of components, forming a stack of layers on the face of the substrate, selective etching by a gaseous mixture comprising gaseous HCl conveyed by a carrier gas and at a temperature between 450° C. and 900° C., depositing resin, implementing lithography of the resin, replacing resin eliminated during the lithography with a material for confining remaining resin, and forming elements of the components.
US08110459B2
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate, an n-channel MOSFET formed on the substrate and a p-channel MOSFET formed on the substrate. A first layer is formed to cover the n-channel MOSFET, wherein the first layer has a first flexure-induced stress. A second layer is formed to cover the p-channel MOSFET, wherein the second layer has a second flexure-induced stress.
US08110452B2
A lower substrate for a liquid crystal display device and the method of making the same are disclosed. The method includes steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a patterned transparent layer having plural recess on the substrate; (c) forming a first barrier layer on the surface of the recess; (d) coating a first metal layer on the first barrier layer and making the surfaces of the first metal layer and the transparent layer in substantially the same plane; and (e) forming a first insulated layer and a semi-conductive layer in sequence. The method further can optionally comprise the steps of: (f) forming a patterned second metal layer, wherein part of the semi-conductive layer is exposed, thus forming the source electrode and the drain electrode; and (g) forming a transparent electrode layer on part of the transparent layer and part of the second metal layer.
US08110449B2
The HVIC includes a dielectric layer and an SOI active layer stacked on a silicon substrate, a transistor formed in the surface of the SOI active layer, and a trench isolation region formed around the transistor. The dielectric layer includes a first buried oxide film formed in the surface of the silicon substrate, a shield layer formed below the first buried oxide film opposite the element area, a second buried oxide film formed around the shield layer, and a third buried oxide film formed below the shield layer and the second buried oxide film. Therefore, the potential distribution curves PC within the dielectric layer are low in density and a high withstand voltage is achieved.
US08110447B2
A lead frame with patterned conductive runs on the top surface to accept a wire bonded or flip-chip or COL configuration is disclosed. The top pattern is completed and the bottom is etched away creating cavities. The cavities are filled with a pre-mold material that lend structural support of the lead frame. The top is then etch through the lead frame to the pre-mold, except with the top conductive runs exist. In this manner the conductive runs are completed and isolated from each other so that the placement of the runs is flexible. The chips are mounted and the encapsulated and the lead frames are singulated. The pattern on the top and the bottom may be defined by first plated the patterns desired.
US08110446B2
Method of making a semiconductor chip assembly with a post/base heat spreader and a conductive trace
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post and a base, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post into an opening in the adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the adhesive including aligning the post with an aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the adhesive into and upward in a gap located in the aperture between the post and the conductive layer, solidifying the adhesive, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, a terminal and a selected portion of the conductive layer, mounting a semiconductor device on a heat spreader that includes the post and the base, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08110439B2
An electronic component is disclosed including a plurality of stacked semiconductor packages. A first such embodiment includes an internal connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages. A second such embodiment includes an external connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages.
US08110438B2
A method and apparatus for assembling a semiconductor device. A chip (901) with solder bodies (903) on its contact pads is flipped onto a substrate (904). After the reflow process, a gap (910) spaces chip and substrate apart. A polymer precursor is selected for its viscosity of known temperature dependence. The apparatus has a plate (800) with heating and cooling means to select and control a temperature profile from location to location across the plate. After preheating, the assembly is placed on a mesa (801) of the plate configured to heat only a portion of the substrate. Movable capillaries (840, 921) blow cooled gas onto selected locations of the assembly. After the temperature profile is reached, a quantity of the precursor is deposited at a chip side and pulled into the gap by capillary action. The capillary flow is controlled by controlling the precursor viscosity based on the temperature profile, resulting in a substantially linear front, until the gap is filled substantially without voids.
US08110434B2
A circuit board has a curved portion provided in at least one side of an external shape thereof. An external connecting terminal is provided on a first main surface of the circuit board. A semiconductor element is mounted on a second main surface of the circuit board. A first wiring network is provided in a region except the terminal region on the first main surface. A second wiring network is provided on the second main surface. Distance from the side including the curved portion to the first wiring network is larger than distance from at least one of the other sides to the first wiring networks, and distance from the side including the curved portion to the second wiring network is larger than distance from at least one of the other sides to the second wiring networks.
US08110433B2
A method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor is disclosed, which comprises steps of (S1) forming a gate electrode on a substrate; (S2) forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; (S3) providing a gas on the surface of the gate insulating layer to form hydrophobic molecules on the surface of the gate insulating layer; (S4) forming an organic semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode over the gate insulating layer having hydrophobic molecules thereon, wherein the gas of step (S3) is at least one selected from the group consisting of halogen-substituted hydrocarbon, un-substituted hydrocarbon, and the mixtures thereof. The method of the present invention utilizes gases comprising carbon or fluorine atom to perform surface treatment on the surface of the gate insulating layer, therefore the hydrophobic character of the surface of the gate insulating layer can be enhanced and the electrical properties of the OTFT can be improved. Also, a method of surface treatment for the gate insulating layer is disclosed.
US08110432B1
Thin film transistor substrates with conductor components in conjunction therewith, and related methods of fabrication.
US08110419B2
An inline process for manufacturing a photovoltaic device on a removable substrate is disclosed. The process discloses two semiconductor layers forming an active region; at least one of the semiconductor layers is formed by a high-purity plasma spray process; optional layers include a release layer, one or more barrier layers, a cap layer, a conductive support layer, a mechanical support layer, an anti-reflection layer, and distributed Bragg reflector. The process may also be used to form multiple active regions.
US08110408B2
This invention discloses using SPR technology to simultaneously and quantitatively measure the concentrations of diabetes related immunological makers in a serum sample, which can be used to diagnose and/or early diagnose diabetes as well as to predict the onset risk of diabetes in first-degree relatives. It also discloses an efficient formula to make a mixed SAM that can greatly enhance the immobilization ability of the metal surface in SPR based techniques, which is good for the immobilization of relevant antigens and antibodies used for the detection of respective diabetes related immunological makers in a serum sample.
US08110407B2
Disclosed is a fluorescent semiconductor microparticle assembly comprising at least three kinds of fluorescent semiconductor microparticles with an average particle size of from 1 to 10 nm, having the same chemical composition, a different average particle size and a different emission maximum wavelength in the emission spectra, wherein a standard deviation of emission intensity in each of the at least three kinds of fluorescent semiconductor microparticles is not more than 15%.
US08110400B2
A method for the differentiation of mammalian pluripotent stem (PS) cells into a mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population is provided which comprises culturing the pluripotent stem cells in the presence of Hyaluronan (HA). The mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may be a population of mesenchymal stem cells. The mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may form cells of the mesodermal lineage, suitably osteoblasts. Alternatively, the mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may form cells of the endodermal lineage or of the ectodermal lineage, which may be neuronal progenitors.
US08110396B2
The invention relates to a thermocycler module for heating and/or cooling of a thermocycling device comprising a thermal switch, a heating block and a heat sink. The thermal switch comprises a thermoconducting liquid, e.g. a magnetic fluid or a liquid metal, and a stimulating unit, e.g. a magnetic unit or a Lorentz-force unit, for moving the thermoconducting liquid. The movement of the thermoconducting liquid provides, in an on-state of the thermal switch, a thermal connection between the heating block and the heat sink.
US08110395B2
Certain embodiments and aspects of the present invention relate to a photobioreactor including covered photobioreactor units through which a liquid medium stream and a gas stream flow. The liquid medium comprises at least one species of phototrophic organism therein. Certain methods of using the photobioreactor system as part of fuel generation system and/or a gas-treatment process or system at least partially remove certain undesirable pollutants from a gas stream. In certain embodiments, a portion of the liquid medium is diverted from a photobioreactor unit and reintroduced upstream of the diversion position. In certain embodiments, the disclosed photobioreactor system, methods of using such systems, and/or gas treatment apparatus and methods provided herein can be used as part of an integrated combustion method and system, wherein photosynthetic organisms used within the photobioreactor are harvested from the photobioreactor, processed, and used as a fuel source for a combustion system such as an electric power plant.
US08110385B2
A linear biodevice is provided with fibers that have a curved portion in its cross section approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and approximately spherical adhesive cells that adhere to the periphery of the fiber. A membrane-like biodevice is provided with a sheet that has an opening and approximately spherical adhesive cells that adhere to the opening. A curved portion is present in the cross section on an inner edge of the opening. A bioreactor is provided with a membrane-like biodevice in which spherical adhesive cells grow densely so as to close the openings of the sheet.
US08110378B2
Nucleic acids encoding mammalian, e.g., primate, receptors, purified receptor proteins and fragments thereof. Antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, are also provided. Methods of using the compositions for both diagnostic and therapeutic utilities are described.
US08110367B2
The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing the presence and progress of pathologies characterized by an accumulation of the extracellular matrix components by measuring the level of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in a sample. The method of the present invention is directed to diagnosing kidney fibrosis and associated renal disorders, in particular, complications associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypertension.
US08110352B2
The invention relates to method of diagnosing and treating cancer, in particular β-catenin related cancers. The invention further relates to methods of identifying CTNNB1 related cancer CTNNB1 therapeutics.
US08110345B2
Provided are a high resolution lithography system and method. In one example, a method for producing a pattern on a substrate includes separating the pattern into at least a first sub-pattern containing lines oriented in a first direction and a second sub-pattern containing lines oriented in a second direction. Lines oriented in the first direction are created on a first layer of photosensitive material on the substrate using a first standing wave interference pattern. A portion of the created lines are trimmed to create the first sub-pattern. A second layer of photosensitive material is applied to the substrate after creating the first sub-pattern. Lines oriented in the second direction are created on the second layer using a second standing wave interference pattern. A portion of the created lines are trimmed to create the second sub-pattern.
US08110334B2
A radiation-sensitive composition containing a resist compound having a high sensitivity, a high resolution, a high etching resistance, and a low outgas which forms a resist pattern with a good shape is described. Further described is a method of forming a resist pattern using the radiation-sensitive composition. Still further described are a novel composition for forming a photoresist under coat film which is excellent in optical properties and etching resistance and contains substantially no sublimable substance and an under coat film formed by the composition. Still further described are a radiation-sensitive composition containing a solvent and a cyclic compound having a specific structure, for example, a cyclic compound (A) having a molecular weight of 700 to 5000 which is synthesized by the condensation reaction of a compound having 2 to 59 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 formyl groups (aldehyde compound (A1)) with a compound having 6 to 15 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 phenolic hydroxyl groups (phenol compound (A2)), and a cyclic compound for use in the radiation-sensitive composition.
US08110330B2
To provide a toner that contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, a releasing agent and zeolite, the toner being manufactured through O/W type wet granulation and having an average circularity of 0.970 or greater, and a developer and image forming method using the toner.
US08110319B2
An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.
US08110312B2
A fuel cell system and a starting method therefore prevent problems when the system is started. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a secondary battery that is electrically connected with the fuel cell, and a cell temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the fuel cell. Energy which is necessary for starting the fuel cell system is calculated based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the cell temperature sensor. The calculated value is used as a threshold for determining a start-up mode of the fuel cell system.
US08110310B2
Coal is reacted in a furnace 22 to obtain a coal gasification gas. The coal gasification gas is cooled by a gas cooler 23, passed through a porous filter 24, and desulfurized by a desulfurizer 25 to produce a CO-containing gas as an anode. The CO gas-containing gas is subjected to an exothermic reaction in a shift reactor 26 to form H2 and CO2, and the anode gas containing H2 is supplied to an anode 7 of MCFC 2. Thus, in the absence of an extra heat source and a heat exchange source, a desired anode gas is obtained from the coal gasification gas, and with heat buildup of the MCFC 2 being inhibited and its performance being maintained, reduction of CO2 is taken into consideration. A power generating plant equipped with the MCFC 2 capable of using a coal gasification fuel substantially containing a CO gas is thus achieved.
US08110305B2
A rechargeable lithium battery including: a negative electrode comprising lithium-vanadium oxide having the following Formula 1 and being capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, and a carbon-based material; a positive electrode comprising a positive active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions; and an electrolyte comprising a monomer including alkylene oxide and a reactive double bond, a lithium salt, and a non-aqueous organic solvent. LixMyVzO2+d Chemical Formula 1 In Formula 1, 0.1≦x≦2.5, 0≦y≦0.5, 0.5≦z≦1.5, 0≦d≦0.5, and M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Mo, Ti, W, and Zr.
US08110294B2
A fluorene compound and an organic light-emitting element including the fluorene compound are provided. The fluorene compound is represented by the following general formula [1], and the fluorene compound is a material for an organic light-emitting element. A steric hindrance group is introduced directly on a fluorene ring in the fluorene compound.
US08110293B2
Provided is a white organic light emitting device including an anode, a cathode and an organic layer disposed therebetween, the organic layer having a structure wherein an arrangement of a green emissive layer and a blue emissive layer is formed on both surfaces of a red emissive layer such that the resultant structure is symmetrical around the red emissive layer, and a spacer layer is disposed between opposing surfaces of the blue emissive layer and the green emissive layer, where the white organic light emitting device including this structure exhibits a constant luminescence spectra irrespective of any change in current density. A method of forming the white organic light emitting device is also disclosed.
US08110292B2
The present invention provides high strength steel plate with excellent low temperature toughness, high strength steel pipe using this as a base metal, and methods of production of the same. The steel plate of the present invention contains Mo: 0.05 to 1.00% and B: 0.0003 to 0.0100%, has a Ceq of 0.30 to 0.53, has a Pcm of 0.10 to 0.20, and has a metal structure which has an area percentage of polygonal ferrite of 20 to 90% and has a balance of a hard phase comprised of one or both of bainite and martensite. To obtain this steel plate, strain-introducing rolling is performed with a start temperature of not more than Ar3+60° C., an end temperature of Ar3 or more, and a reduction ratio of 1.5 or more, then the plate is air-cooled and then acceleratedly cooled from Ar3−100° C. to Ar3−10° C. in temperature by 10° C./s or more.
US08110286B2
A peelable sealing structure includes a sealing layer and one or more optional additional layers. The peelable sealing structure includes a sealing surface that is formable into a peelable seal upon contact with a sealing substrate at all temperatures in a peelable seal temperature range. Moreover, the peelable sealing structure comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an additive dispersed within at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer with the peelable sealing structure defining the sealing surface.
US08110284B2
The invention relates to microcapsules having a core material encapsulated within a microcapsular shell, the core material comprises at least one active ingredient, wherein the microcapsular shell comprises at least one inorganic polymer comprising polymerized precursors obtained by in-situ polymerization of the precursors; wherein the concentration of the core material based total weight of the microcapsules is above 95% w/w. The invention further relates to a composition and to a suspension comprising the microcapsules. The invention additionally relates to a process for preparing the microcapsules.
US08110283B2
An article includes a membrane having pores and that is air permeable. A nanoparticle precursor is dispersed throughout the pores, and the nanoparticle precursor is responsive to a stimulus to form a catalytically active nanoparticle. An associated method is also provided.
US08110275B2
Mixed particles including noble metal particles of a noble metal, first particles of one or more metal oxides, and second particles of a metal oxide. The first particles of one or more metal oxides are selected from Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2 and TiO2. The second particles of a metal oxide have a larger adsorptive interaction with the noble metal of the noble metal particles as compared with the metal oxide of the first particles. The noble metal particles are carried by the second particles in a larger proportion than by the first particles.
US08110269B2
A frictional holding pad removably attaches handheld items, such as a cell phone, to a surface, such as a dash, to allow storage of handheld items on the surface with the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the support surface. A smoother application side of the pad clings to the handheld item by specific or mechanical adhesion, and a contoured exposed side of the pad clings to the surface by specific or mechanical adhesion. The smoother application side of the pad can have a greater surface area than the contoured exposed side so the pad remains with the handheld item when removed from the surface. Indicia can be formed on the pad. The pad can be translucent or transparent. The pad can include an expanded vinyl material or a polyurethane material.
US08110267B2
An artificial or modified natural blood flow tubing has a helical-flow inducer to induce helical flow in such a fashion as to eliminate or reduce turbulence. One inducer is a tubular stent of expansible mesh having a helical vane.
US08110263B2
The double packing materials according to the present invention which primarily packs the infusion solution with a polypropylene packing material and secondarily vacuum packs and hermetically seals the packed polyethylene packing material with a material including an aluminum foil ensures safety of the content therein from light and has high thermal resistance and excellent preservation properties that resists to the damage and tearing by external force on long-term storage despite that it is not stored in dark place, and thus is very useful as the packing material for storing expensive infusion solution such as the contrast medium which is radiological diagnostic solution.
US08110260B2
A container for a moisture-sensitive product. The container has an openable container body defining an interior volume for holding the product. More specifically, a rigid container defining an interior volume for holding a moisture-sensitive product, and comprising at least an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner and outer layers being coextruded layers, the inner layer comprising a polymeric material and a desiccant material, the outer layer comprising a moisture-barrier material.
US08110258B2
A glazing unit has a at least one self-supporting insert of light-transmissive insulation material in the form of honeycomb arrangement of cells sandwiched in a gap between a pair of glass lites. A granular, light-transmissive, thermally insulating filler, such as silica aerogel, substantially fills the cells.
US08110252B2
The invention is directed to a solution and process for improving the solderability of a metal surface. In one embodiment, the invention is a silver deposit solution comprising an acid, a source of silver ions, and an additive selected from among pyrroles, triazoles, and tetrazoles, as well as derivatives and mixtures of those components. In another embodiment, the silver deposit solution also includes a 6-membered heterocyclic ring compound, wherein three members of the 6-membered heterocyclic ring are nitrogen atoms. Still another embodiment is a process for improving the solderability of a metal surface which involves applying a silver deposit solution as previously described to a metal surface.
US08110248B2
A fuel cell structure comprises a diffusion layer and/or a catalyst layer which are made of a carbonaceous porous material having a nano-size structure, such as carbon nanowall (CNW). A method of manufacturing the structure is also disclosed. The structure and method simplify the process of manufacturing a fuel cell electrode comprised of an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The electrical conductivity of the catalyst layer is increased and the diffusion efficiency of the diffusion layer is improved, whereby the electricity generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.
US08110247B2
A method of depositing various materials onto heat-sensitive targets, particularly oxygen-sensitive materials. Heat-sensitive targets are generally defined as targets that have thermal damage thresholds that are lower than the temperature required to process a deposited material. The invention uses precursor solutions and/or particle or colloidal suspensions, along with optional pre-deposition treatment and/or post-deposition treatment to lower the laser power required to drive the deposit to its final state. The present invention uses Maskless Mesoscale Material Deposition (M3D™) to perform direct deposition of material onto the target in a precise, highly localized fashion. Features with linewidths as small as 4 microns may be deposited, with little or no material waste. A laser is preferably used to heat the material to process it to obtain the desired state, for example by chemical decomposition, sintering, polymerization, and the like. This laser processing may be performed in an ambient environment with laser powers of less than 100 milliwatts. Cover gases and/or forming gases may be used during thermal processing to change the material properties, for example by preventing oxidation.
US08110245B2
There is provided a semiconductor device comprising: a first plating layer formed on one surface of an interconnect pattern; a second plating layer formed within through holes in the interconnect pattern; a semiconductor chip electrically connected to the first plating layer; an anisotropic conductive material provided on the first plating layer; and a conductive material provided on the second plating layer, wherein the first plating layer has appropriate adhesion properties with the anisotropic conductive material, and the second plating layer has appropriate adhesion properties with the conductive material.
US08110244B2
A manufacturing method and apparatus of an organic resin coated metal sheet is provided. Temperatures of edge portions of the metal sheet and a temperature of an approximately central portion of the metal sheet are respectively measured using a metal-sheet temperature measuring device arranged directly upstream of lamination rolls. Respectively measured temperature values are inputted to a heating temperature controller, and output values calculated by the heating temperature controllers are inputted to a metal sheet center portion heater and the metal sheet center portion heater, respectively, to control the heating of a widthwise approximately center portion and edge portion, respectively, to a first and second temperature, respectively, the second temperature being higher than the first. A resin film is extruded to pre-rolls and is sandwiched and pressure-bonding to the metal sheet between a pair of lamination rolls. Resin portions projecting from both edge portions are then removed.
US08110234B2
An apparatus and a process for extracting poultry meat from crushed and dismembered poultry pieces is provided. The extracting method is based on mechanical separation utilizing heated water spray within a rotating drum assembly for removal and separation of meat from bone and collagen. The water is collected, pumped into a holding tank, and is flavored with natural poultry extract and antifoam agent for recycle within the process. The apparatus includes a hopper, an inclined rotating drum assembly having perforated walls and an internally located nozzle dispensing a water spray for separating meat from bones, a tank having at least one water jet for separating meat from bone fragments, a vibrating dewatering apparatus for separating meat from the water, and a re-circulation system for collection, reheating, and re-using the solution of water and poultry extract. The apparatus and process provides bone free poultry meat that retains the natural poultry flavor and has a low bacterial count because the process is performed in 170° F. water solution.
US08110229B2
Disclosed herein is a herbal composition comprising supercritical fluid extracts/oils of Jyotishmati, Bacopa monnieri, Ginger Oil, Flax Seed oil, Rosemary Ext and Vitamin E in an effective amounts useful in the treatment of symptoms associated with Attention Deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
US08110228B2
A method of using an herbal extract of the a mixture of: Herba Scutellaria barbata, Radix Sophora subprostratae, Radix Anemarrhena, Semen Glycine sojae, Radix Glycyrrhiza, Rhizoma Rhei, Fructus Tritici levis, Radix Astragali, Radix Rehmania, Fructus Ligustri lucidi, Semen Zyziphi spinosa, Plumula Nelumbinis, Poria cocas, Rhizoma Alismatis, Cortex Moutan radicis, Fructus Corni, Radix Achyranthis, Concha Ostrea, Radix Aspargi, Radix Pueraria, Radix Atractylodis macrocephala and Herba Epimedium, for the treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause is disclosed herein.
US08110227B2
The central nervous system (CNS), i.e. the spinal cord and the brain, contains a large amount of various lipids, collectively called CNS lipids. These lipids are essential for embryonic induction but are also active in the adult body in keeping our cells in healthy normal function. By actively incorporating these normal vital CNS lipids in functional foodstuffs, it is possible to improve the immunity of a person by ingestion of such foodstuffs. The problem associated with the addition of brain substance to the diet is associated with bad taste and unpleasant attributes of the brain substance. The present invention discloses CNS lipids containing foodstuffs without the unpleasant taste and other attributes of the brain substance. The present invention relates to dairy based foodstuffs where normal fats and lipids have been replaced by CNS lipids.
US08110225B2
Provided are low-volume, safe for injection formulations of dantrolene yielding significant advantages over the currently approved and marketed dantrolene for malignant hyperthermia (MH) threatening anesthetic crisis. Once dantrolene can be made immediately available to patients triggered of MH, the anesthesiologist will be able to focus exclusively on the management of the patient's physiologic status in this complex and evolving crisis, not on the laborious and time consuming reconstitution process of the rescue agent. The low volume, safe for injection formulations of dantrolene have significant advantages over currently used approaches to the prevention and treatment of pumphead, and other neurological, cognitive and motor dysfunction incident to iatrogenically or trauma induced situations of altered blood flow, including those incurred during surgical procedures involving CPB or related procedures, as well as those incurred during non-normothermic episodes caused iatrogenically or by disease.
US08110221B2
The present invention relates to the use of a mixture of modified starch and protein for encapsulating oxygen sensitive agents, wherein the modified starch is a starch derivative containing a hydrophobic group or both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group which has been further enzymatically hydrolyzed by an exo-enzyme. The encapsulated materials have a high level of active agent and retention and provide excellent oxidation resistance. Further, the encapsulated materials are useful in a variety of products, including food products.
US08110212B2
Hydrogels comprising poly(N-alkylacrylamide), poly(alkyleneglyco)di-acrylate or methacrylate, cross-linking agent, a source of calcium ions, and water are described, as well as methods of their preparation and use.
US08110206B2
The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising in a physiologically acceptable medium at least one phenylsilicone oil of high viscosity and at least one non-volatile hydrocarbon oil having a molecular mass of more than 500 g/mol. The composition possesses at least one good property chosen from staying power, gloss, and comfort.
US08110205B2
The present invention is completed by finding that a silver ion-containing zirconium phosphate represented by the following formula (1) is excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, low in resin coloring and excellent in processability. AgaMbZrcHfd(PO4)3.nH2O (1) wherein, in the formula (1), M is at least one ion selected from alkali metal ion, hydrogen ion and ammonium ion, a, b, c and d are positive numbers satisfying a+b+4(c+d)=9; c and d satisfy 1.75<(c+d)<2.25; and n is 0 or a positive number of not more than 2.
US08110201B2
The present invention relates to compositions and fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium sp. antigens, and nucleic acids encoding such compositions and fusion proteins. The compositions of the invention increase serological sensitivity of sera from individuals infected with tuberculosis, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis infection.
US08110196B2
The present invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic methods for treating or preventing an infectious disease in a subject by stimulating or enhancing an immune response against an infectious agent causing the disease. The methods comprise administering to the subject a plurality of compositions, each composition being administered to a different site of the subject, wherein each site is, or substantially drains to, an anatomically distinct lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, a nonencapsulated cluster of lymphoid tissue, or the spleen. Each composition comprises at least one antigenic molecule having one or more epitopes of the same infectious agent or a strain thereof. The antigenic molecules of each composition comprise in aggregate a set of epitopes distinct from that of any other composition that is administered to the subject.
US08110192B2
The present invention provides an antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein that can recognize one or more strains of HIV, wherein the epitope of HIV recognized by the antibody is inducible, and wherein the antibody binding to the epitope is enhanced by the presence of CD4 and the HIV co-receptor, and related fusion proteins, conjugates, nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, compositions and methods of use to inhibit an infection of a human at risk of becoming infected with HIV, to reduce the severity of an infection of a human infected with HIV, and to treat an infection of a human with HIV.
US08110189B2
The invention relates to compositions which bind T cell inhibitory receptor molecules and modulate T cell activity, and methods of using such compositions. Such compositions include biliary glycoprotein binding agents. Methods for modulating killer T cell activities, including cytotoxicity and proliferation also are provided.
US08110187B2
The present invention is a novel cytokine protein called IL-12 or Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Maturation Factor (CLMF) which is produced and synthesized by human NC-37 B lymphoblastoid cells (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.). CLMF synergistically induces with low concentrations of IL-2 the cytolytic activity of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells, and CLMF is capable of stimulating T-cell growth.Also claimed are the cloned gene for CLMF, its recombination in a suitable vector, the transformed cells containing said vector, the recombinant protein produced by the transformed cells and antibodies to CLMF.
US08110183B2
A method for sustained expression of an exogenous gene forms a circular episomal plasmid to solve the problem of transient expression of baculovirus in the transduced mammalian cells caused by the dilution and degradation when mammalian cells replicate and also prevents dysfunctional cell metabolism.
US08110182B2
The present invention consists of the combination of Interferon alpha and C-Phycocyanin (IFN-α/C-Phyco) for obtaining a pharmaceutical preparation for autoimmune disease, allergy and cancer treatments. The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-proliferative and anti-tumoral effects, associated to the regulatory T cell inducer effect demonstrated in this invention is the rationale for the use of the IFN-α/C-Phyco combination in these diseases.
US08110179B2
The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein.
US08110176B2
This invention relates to a crystalline molecular sieve, in its ammonium exchanged form or in its calcined form, comprising unit cells with MWW topology, said crystalline molecular sieve is characterized by diffraction streaking from the unit cell arrangement in the c direction. The crystalline molecular sieve is further characterized by the arced hk0 patterns of electron diffraction pattern. The crystalline molecular sieve is further characterized by the unit cells streaking along c direction. This invention also relates to a method of making thereof.
US08110174B2
Disclosed is a reactive working material for use in a process of producing hydrogen by splitting water based on a two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle through the utilization of solar heat, industrial waste heat or the like, which comprises a ferrite fine powder and a cubic zirconia supporting the ferrite fine powder. This reactive working material makes it possible to prevent scaling off of the ferrite fine powder from the zirconia fine powder due to volumetric changes of the ferrite fine powder during repeated use, and suppress growth of FeO grains due to repetition of melting and solidification when used as a reactive working material for a cyclic reaction under a high temperature of 1400° C. or more.
US08110168B2
A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a negative active material including a plate-shaped carbon powder particle agglomerated in a primary structure in which the plate-shaped particle is oriented in a plane direction and laminated. Fine carbon powder particles are then agglomerated to form a secondary structure on the surface of the primary structure such that the resulting particles include fine pores formed on the surface.
US08110166B2
A process for producing from olivine precipitated silica with controlled specific surface area and high degree of purity. The process comprises adding olivine in a controlled manner to a heated mineral acid solution; after separating undissolved olivine and filtering the silica is slurried in aqueous solution to obtain a low viscosity high solid content silica slurry that can be efficiently degritted and dried with a relatively low energy consumption. The obtained silica can be in powder, bead or granule form and preferably has a specific surface area of at least about 100 m2/g.
US08110164B2
A flue-gas purification system includes a flue-gas cycling system, a reactor, an absorbent adding system having at least a catalytic absorbent, wherein the catalytic absorbent is being gasified for reacting with the flue-gas in the reactor in a homogenous gas-gas phase reacting manner. Therefore, the purification system has fast reaction rate between the pollutants of the flue-gas and the catalytic absorbent, which is preferably ammonia, to efficiently remove pollutants, so as to effectively purify the flue-gas.
US08110158B2
A system and method for preventing or reducing unwanted heat in a microfluidic of the device while generating heat in selected regions of the device. In one example, current is supplied to a heating element through electric leads, wherein the leads are designed so that the current density in the leads is substantially lower than the current density in the heating element. This maybe accomplished using conductive leads which have a cross-sectional area which is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the heating element. In another example, unwanted heat in the microfluidic complex is reduced by thermally isolating the electric leads from the microfluidic complex. This maybe accomplished by running each lead directly away from the microfluidic complex, through a thermally isolating substrate. After the leads pass through the thermally isolating substrate, they are then routed to the current source. Thus, the thermally isolating substrate substantially blocks the transfer of heat from the leads to the microfluidic complex. In another example, unwanted heat is removed from selected regions of the microfluidic complex using one or more cooling devices. One or more Peltier cooling devices may be attached to a substrate to remove heat generated by heating elements and/or other electronic circuitry.
US08110157B2
The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.
US08110151B2
The present disclosure relates to an diesel exhaust treatment device including a main body having a central longitudinal axis that extends between first and second ends of the main body. A catalyzed substrate is positioned within an interior of the main body. A side inlet is positioned at a side of the main body for directing exhaust gas into the interior of the main body. A flow distribution element is positioned within the interior of the main body at a location between the side inlet and an upstream face of the substrate. The flow distribution element extends across a direction of exhaust flow through the main body and is mounted at a side of the main body that is opposite the side inlet.
US08110148B2
Methods and apparatus for facilitating the synthesis of compounds in a batch device are presented. Application of the batch type microfluidic devices to the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds is described. These methods and apparatus enable the selective introduction of multiple reagents via an enhanced rotary flow distribution valve through a single inlet port of the synthetic device. The sequential introduction of multiple reagents through a single inlet port allows an optimal delivery of highly concentrated reagents into the reactor and facilitates the synthesis of the desired products with a minimal loss of materials during transfers, which is critical to the synthesis of radiolabeled biomarkers.
US08110144B2
Disclosed are processes for sterilization of cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions, the compositions, comprising 2-cyanoacrylate ester monomers, so produced and a method for assaying the effectiveness of the sterilization process. The process comprises heating the adhesive composition to from about 70° C. to about 140° C. for an effective amount of time. The effectiveness of the process can be assayed by disposing bacterial spores in the cyanoacrylate monomer, exposing the composition to a dry heat sterilization process, transferring the cyanoacrylate composition to a sterile aldose solution, transferring and exposing the sample to a nutrient medium which supports germination and growth of viable spores, incubating the samples, and determining the presence or absence of growth.
US08110129B2
The invention pertains to a method for obtaining para-type wholly aromatic polyamide particles, comprising the steps: a) introducing an aramid polymer solution into a water-based coagulating liquid to obtain a hydrous shaped product; and b) subjecting the never-dried or partly-dried shaped product having a water content of 10 to 99% by weight to freeze-grinding. These aramid polymer particles can be used as a filler material.
US08110125B2
The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by chirality and/or diameter, using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs in and surface active components in density gradient media.
US08110119B2
A method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor device in one embodiment includes applying a mask on a substrate, performing a wet etching procedure on the substrate for generating at least a first groove having tilted side walls, and depositing at least one layer of magnetoresistive material onto a section of the surface of at least a first tilted side wall of the groove. A method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor device on a substrate having a plurality of tilted planar sections, each of the tilted planar sections having a surface normal angled with respect to a surface normal of the substrate is also provided. The method includes depositing a magnetoresistive layered structure positioned at each of the tilted planar sections of the substrate, wherein the tilted planar sections are oriented such that a direction of an applied magnetic field in at least one of an x-, y- and z-direction relative to the substrate is detectable based on field-induced resistance changes of the magnetoresistive layered structures.
US08110115B2
A mobile water treatment apparatus to on-load a dirty fluid into a storage container attached to a motor vehicle and transport the fluid in the storage container from a first location and to a second location where the fluid is filtered by a filtration system attached to the motor vehicle. The filtered fluid is discharged from the mobile water treatment apparatus at the second location.
US08110113B2
The present invention provides a method for determining a level of a RuBP, PGA, 2-PA in a photosynthetic cellular extract by resolving at least one RuBP, PGA, or 2-PA or combinations thereof in a photosynthetic cellular extract obtained from a plant. In another aspect, it provides for detecting at least one resolved RuBP, PGA, or 2-PA or combinations, thereby determining a level of the resolved RuBP, PGA, or 2-PA or combinations. In one aspect the photosynthetic cellular extract is obtained from a plant subjected to an abiotic stress. A method of the invention can be useful, for example, for identifying plants with increased photosynthetic performance. Also included herein is a high throughput system for identifying a plant with increased photosynthetic performance.
US08110112B2
A rapid one-pass liquid filtration system efficiently concentrates biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. Additional concentration stages may be added in “cascade” fashion, in order to concentrate particles below the size cut of each preceding stage remaining in the separated fluid in a concentrated sample suspension. This process can also be used to create a “band-pass” concentration for concentration of a particular target size particle within a narrow range.
US08110095B2
A control system for an oil sand processing apparatus and a method for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum, an oil sand feed mechanism, a drive mechanism for rotating the drum, a first drum support and a second drum support. The control system includes a first drum load sensor associated with the first drum support for sensing a first drum load, a second drum load sensor associated with the second drum support for sensing a second drum load and an oil sand feedrate sensor associated with the oil sand feed mechanism for sensing a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism. A controller is provided for controlling a rotation speed of the drum and a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism in response to input data from the first drum load sensor, the second drum load sensor and the oil sand feedrate sensor.
US08110090B2
Integrated slurry hydrocracking (SHC) and solvent deasphalting (SDA) methods for making slurry hydrocracking (SHC) distillates are disclosed. Representative methods involve passing a slurry comprising a vacuum column resid, a recycled, deasphalted oil obtained from SDA, and a solid particulate through an SHC reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to obtain the SHC distillate. Fractionation or distillation in the SHC product recovery section yields a combined SHC gas oil/SHC pitch stream that is sent to SDA. In a representative embodiment, vacuum distillation in the SHC product recovery is avoided, thereby eliminating equipment that is often most susceptible to fouling.
US08110089B2
The invention provides an improved method for creating at least two flows of water from a reactor, derived from substantially pH7 water, for various applications and having widely divergent pH readings between 2 and 14 without need for chemicals. In addition, the reactor generates said divergent flows without need of an RF or A/C generator.
US08110073B2
Aromatic amines are produced by catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds. The reaction mixture generated by this hydrogenation is then worked up by distillation in a manner which makes it possible to substantially free the amine of water with increased energy efficiency. Water free of amine and low boilers and the low boiling materials are also obtained.
US08110070B2
A method of producing non-woven elements made from a raw material comprising grass plants. A first intermediate product is made of per-prepared, damp natural fibers having a dry substance concentration of between 30%-50%, more preferably approximately 40%. The invention also relates to the production of a second intermediate product from the first intermediate product according to the following steps. The natural fibers are predried, thermoactive binding fibers are added thereto, additives are sprayed thereon and the order of the step can vary and/or individual steps may be carried out simultaneously with one another. Preferably, the raw material is silated grass and, in order to produce the first intermediate product, the raw material is defibered and the digestible components of the raw material are separated therefrom.
US08110063B2
This mask includes: a substrate in which an aperture is formed; a mask member which, along with being formed with a plurality of through holes, is joined to the substrate in correspondence to the aperture; and spacers which hold the substrate and the mask member with a predetermined gap between them.
US08110051B2
[PROBLEMS] To provide an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger, which has high strength and high heat conductivity after brazing, and is excellent in the resistance to sagging, erosion and self-corrosion and the in the sacrificial anode effect.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method for producing an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger which comprises providing a molten aluminum alloy having a chemical composition, in wt %, that Si: 0.5 to 1.5%, Fe: 0.15 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.8 to 3.0%, Zn: 0.5 to 2.5%, with the proviso that the content of Mg as an impurity is limited to 0.05 wt % or less, and the balance: Al and inevitable impurities, casting the molten alloy continuously into a thin slab having a thickness of 5 to 10 mm by the use of a twin belt casting machine, winding up the slab into a roll, cold-rolling the slab into a sheet having a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, subjecting the sheet to an inter annealing at 350 to 500° C., and cold-rolling the annealed sheet with a cold reduction rate of 10 to 96%, to prepare a sheet having a final thickness of 40 to 200 μm, and optionally subjecting the final sheet to a final annealing (a softening process) at a holding temperature of 300 to 400° C.
US08110040B2
A lightweight structural concrete is composed of coarse structural aggregate sized between ¼″ to ½″ occupying 15% to 25% of total concrete volume, large non-structural lightweight aggregate such as expanded polystyrene bead of a particular size distribution and volume amount, small size non-structural lightweight aggregate or entrained air cells of another specific size distribution and volume amount, and a dense cementitious composition comprising cement binder, pozzolan, and fine structural filler no larger than concrete sand ASTM C33.
US08110036B2
A moisture-curable, silane-modified oil is disclosed. The silane-modified oil includes an unsaturated oil having at least one unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain per molecule of the unsaturated oil, and at least one hydrolysable silyl group grafted to the unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain. The silane-modified oil has a degree of unsaturation that is substantially similar that of the unsaturated oil. A process for forming the moisture-curable, silane-modified oil according to the disclosure includes reacting the unsaturated oil with an unsaturated hydrolysable silane in the presence of a free radical initiator. Also disclosed is a cured silane-modified oil which includes the reaction product of the silane-modified oil and water. Compositions according to the disclosure have relatively low viscosities (facilitating their application to a substrate) and have relatively high levels of silane grafting (resulting in non-leaching cured compositions with a high gel content).
US08110035B2
An integrated dental porcelain system for making dental prostheses and restorations is provided. The system includes three universal major components: a) opaque porcelain composition; b) pressable dentin ingot; and c) veneering porcelain composition that can be used interchangeably for making restorations. Techniques for making the prostheses and restorations include porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM), press-to-metal (PTM), and either pressed and/or machined all-ceramic methods. The system uses both a hand-layering of veneering porcelain (PFM technique) and a hot-pressing process (PTM and all-ceramic technique) to fabricate the prostheses and restorations.
US08110030B2
A method of formulating an aqueous ink having minimal visible coloration. The method includes the steps of: providing an aqueous ink formulation containing a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety; and adjusting a pH of the formulation to a pH value in the range of 4 to 6.5 so as to minimize visible coloration of the formulation.
US08110028B2
A process to purify biogases (i.e., landfill gas and municipal digester gas), to 5 enable such biogases to be utilized to generate electricity and heat. Biogases from these sources generally include small amounts of organosilicons (which are particularly harmful to power generation equipment, and especially harmful to micro-turbines, reciprocating internal combustion engines, and large turbines), and halogenated chemical species (which can foul expensive emission catalysts). A fluidized media bed reactor is configured to concentrate offending organics, and is coupled with another reactor vessel configured to strip the offending organics off saturated media with a hot inert gas. The removed organics are further concentrated into an inert gas stream that is conveyed to a small flare for greater than 99% destruction. The energy required to strip the organics from the spent media, and to energize the flare, is generated by the combustion of a small quantity of the purified biogas.
US08110026B2
A gas diffusion barrier contains a polymer matrix and a functional graphene which displays no signature of graphite and/or graphite oxide, as determined by X-ray diffraction.
US08110014B2
An air distribution system for providing rinse air to a gas cleaner is provided, which includes a filter housing, a holding plate wherein holes are arranged in concentric circles for holding filter bags or filter elements in the filter housing, filter bags or filter elements, rinse air supply means, and an air distribution device for distributing rinse air. In the system, a tube (6) is arranged rotatable in a rotatable distributor body (109) in the air distribution device (101), which distributor body (109) are connected to tubes (7), and which distributor body (109) includes rotating means (4, 5, 104), and when the distributor body (109) is rotated, tubes (7) are moved from a position above one hole (110) in the holding plate (111) to another hole (110) in the holding plate.
US08110012B2
In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66. The chemical looping system is in fluid communication with at least a portion of an existing power generation system.
US08110010B2
Agents for coloring keratin-containing fibers, in particular human hair, that contain encased oxidation dye precursor products. More-uniform coloring, which is independent of which strands are wetted first or last with the coloring product, is thereby ensured. The casing of the oxidation dye precursor products is made up of an encapsulating material made of methacrylic-acid, methacrylic acid-ester, or vinyl-acetate homo- or copolymers, or shellac, as well as at least one release agent. Contact time is equalized over time and shortened overall, resulting in a reduction in hair damage due to excessively long contact times. A method for manufacturing coloring agents for keratinic fibers, containing coated particles is also provided.
US08110008B2
The present invention relates to secure paper (1), characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least one fiber layer (2); and at least one electronic chip (3) integrated in the fiber layer (2), said chip (3) including a memory (10) in which at least a first key is stored for use in authenticating the secure paper; the chip being configured to spoil, and in particular to delete, the first key in the event of an attempt at forced access to the chip, so as to make it impossible subsequently to authenticate the secure paper (1).
US08110007B2
Implants, such as interbody spacers, fusion devices and bone grafts, are provided having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles. Such implants include a three-dimensional scaffold formed from particles, such as microspheres, which may in some embodiments be resorbable or biodegradable and which may have at least two different degradation rates. In some embodiments, the scaffold may be elastomeric. The three-dimensional scaffold may be for example, porous or semi-porous. Also provided are kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.
US08109996B2
A cardiac-valve prosthesis is adapted for percutaneous implantation. The prosthesis includes an armature adapted for deployment in a radially expanded implantation position, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion, which are substantially axially coextensive with respect to one another. A set of leaflets is coupled to the support portion. The leaflets can be deployed with the armature in the implantation position. The leaflets define, in the implantation position, a flow duct that is selectably obstructable. The anchor portion can be deployed to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at an implantation site.
US08109994B2
A stent is fabricated utilizing a polymer that is selected for its tendency to degrade from the surface inwardly rather than undergo bulk erosion so as to substantially reduce the risk of large particles becoming detached and being swept downstream. Such polymer is hydrophobic yet has water-labile linkages interconnecting the monomers. Ester or imide bonds are incorporated in the polymer to render the surface degrading materials suitable for use in stent applications. The stent may be coated with such polymer or may be wholly formed therefrom.
US08109992B2
A stent shaped as a three-dimensional body which is formed by interlaced threads (1) arranged in multistart turns of a helical line. The threads (1) are arranged in at least two groups (2 and 3) of the helical turns featuring opposite senses of helix. The stent ends are established by sections (5) where the turns of one helical line merge into those of the other helical line, said sections appearing as a single length of the thread (1).
US08109985B2
A stent delivery catheter for positioning a stent across a lesion of a blood vessel is disclosed. The catheter includes an inflation balloon coupled to a distal region of the elongate shaft of the catheter and a stent loaded on the inflation balloon. The catheter may also include an occlusion balloon having a proximal waist secured to the elongate shaft and a distal waist secured to the elongate shaft. The occlusion balloon includes a first folded-over portion extending distal of the distal waist to a distalmost extent of the occlusion balloon and a second folded-over portion extending proximal of the proximal waist to a proximalmost extent of the occlusion balloon. The catheter further includes a fluid discharge port located distal of the occlusion balloon for discharging a lubricious fluid exterior of the elongate shaft toward the stent to facilitate advancing the stent across an occlusion.
US08109975B2
A dynamic spinal stabilization assembly includes at least one mounting collar with a bore therethrough along a longitudinal axis, and a spinal rod slidably extending through the bore. The bore includes a medially disposed first section of reduced size that tapers both inwardly and outwardly relative to the axis, and respective end sections of relatively larger size. The bore may be defined by an interior wall that convexly curves toward the axis in the first section, advantageously with a constant non-zero radius of curvature. The bore profile helps minimize potential binding that may occur between the collar and the rod. The rod is coupled to bone anchoring elements, with at least one such connection being via the collar.
US08109972B2
An embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention can include an implant having a spacer with a thickness and a wing, wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness and wherein the wing is adapted to be selectably arranged in a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height. A periphery of the implant has a shape generally conformal with a shape of an inner surface of a cannula and a cross-sectional diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cannula. The cannula is inserted such that a proximal end of the cannula is arranged between the adjacent spinous processes. The implant is then urged into position between the adjacent spinous processes by way of the cannula, and subsequently arranged in a second configuration to fix the implant in position.
US08109970B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08109967B2
A novel high tensile strength semi-absorbable composite suture with minimized non-absorbable mass. The suture has a core made from a bioabsorbable polymer. The core is covered by a braided sheath. The braided sheath is made from an absorbable yarn and a bioabsorbable yarn. The bioabsorbable yarn is made from a least one filament of a bioabsorbable polymer. The nonabsorbable yarn is made from at least one filament of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
US08109953B1
A medical device for traversing an occlusion in a vessel includes a straightening sleeve positioned at a distal aspect of a catheter, a steering sleeve having an arcuate distal end, and a guidewire disposed through the steering sleeve. The steering sleeve has a first position in which the arcuate distal end is straightened within the straightening sleeve, and a second position in which the steering sleeve extends distally past the straightening sleeve to expose the arcuate distal end. The tip of the arcuate distal end of the steering sleeve or the guidewire can be used to pierce the occlusion. An arrangement of hub assemblies with locking mechanisms and motion limiting structures facilitates adjusting and locking the relative positions of the straightening sleeve, the steering sleeve, and the guidewire. Detent mechanisms are associated with the motion limiting structures for providing controlled incremental movement of the sleeves and the guidewire.
US08109941B2
A device and related method of use is provided for the capture and removal of various unwanted objects present within the body's anatomical lumens. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the device includes an external elongate member; an internal elongate member disposed within the external elongate member; and a retrieval assembly connected to the internal elongate member and retractable within and extendable from a lumen of the external elongate member. The retrieval assembly includes an end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed.
US08109939B2
A method comprising removing a port from a patient through an incision and coupling a rod disposed in a sheath to the end of a catheter. The method also includes sliding the sheath along the rod and catheter into tissue surrounding the catheter in a rotating manner to separate the tissue from the catheter until the catheter is able to freely be removed from the patient, and removing the catheter from the patient. The method may also include making a shorter second incision on the patient and exposing a portion of the catheter through the patient's skin to facilitate coupling of the rod with the catheter and retrieval of the catheter.
US08109931B2
A surgical device for preparation of an implant site is disclosed. The device comprises a body capable of being held by a user and an insert that is capable of being coupled to an end of the body. An ultrasound transducer is disposed within the body and provides an ultrasound frequency vibration to the insert in response to an electrical signal. The insert includes a tip having a plurality of cutting elements disposed in a substantially circular configuration. The insert also includes a channel having an opening at the tip for the passage of fluid.
US08109925B2
An elongate probe, with a suction channel extending longitudinally along the probe, is inserted into a patient so that a distal tip of the probe is in contact with a fibroid mass inside the patient. Thereafter the probe is ultrasonically vibrated so that the distal tip has an excursion amplitude or distance greater than 275 microns. During probe vibration, suction is applied to the channel at a vacuum level greater than 24″ Hg to thereby maintain the target tissue mass in engagement with the distal tip during the vibrating of the probe and enable ablation of at least a selectable portion of the target tissue mass.
US08109916B2
A pant-type absorbent article (55) includes a chassis structure, the chassis structure including a front panel (56), a back panel and a crotch panel (58) arranged between the front and back panels (56,57) and front and back waist panels (61a,61b) arranged at the front and back panels (56,57) respectively. At least one of the front and back panels (56,57) includes an activated three-layer elastic laminate (68) including a first fibrous nonwoven web and a second fibrous nonwoven web and an elastic film between the first and second fibrous nonwoven webs. At least one of the first and second fibrous nonwoven webs is a creped nonwoven web.
US08109909B2
An indwelling needle assembly has a hollow outer needle fixed to an outer needle hub, an inner needle in the outer needle and fixed to an inner needle hub, and a protector. A step section of the outer needle hub serves as a speed reducer that reduces the speed, in the direction of the flow path axis of a main pipe, of a liquid portion flowing in the flow path, the portion flowing along that portion of the inner surface of the main pipe located on that side of the main pipe on which a branch flow path is located. The step section has an opening in the inner surface of the main pipe located at a position corresponding to a front end opening of the branch flow path. The step section forms a space between the opening and the front end opening of the branch flow path.
US08109901B2
A breast pump has at least one collection assembly for engaging at least a portion of a breast surrounding a nipple and a vacuum pump for applying a vacuum to the collection assembly and thereby to at least the nipple of the breast. A controller is operable to cyclically operate the vacuum pump between a maximum vacuum pressure in the range of about 70 mm Hg to about 150 mm Hg and a latching pressure of about 30 mm Hg.
US08109899B2
A method and device for measuring and regulating pressure and flow in the spinal canal, in order to characterize individual patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. A unique disposable tube-set plate, with computer regulated automated solenoids is used to control flow pressure and the location of a small pressure sensor allows for fully automatic control of the analysis process.
US08109890B2
An autonomous sensing unit and system that includes a set of sensors, a conditioning means for deriving information from the sensors, display means for displaying the information to an operator, and a means for recording the kinematic parameters of a body segment, and a method for using the system.
US08109885B2
A biopsy device for taking tissue samples, includes a housing, a removable element and a control panel. The housing contains an electric power source and a tension slide connected to the power source. The tension slide may be brought into a cocked position against the action of a spring by the power source. The removable element is configured for insertion into the housing and includes a biopsy needle unit, a vacuum pressure-generating device and a control panel. The removable element may be provided as a sterile package unit. The biopsy needle unit can be arranged on the tension slide and includes a hollow biopsy needle with a sample removal chamber and a cutting sheath. The biopsy device can be held in one hand and is fully integrated with all components required to perform a vacuum biopsy such that no cables or lines are required to other external units.
US08109877B2
A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and an ultrasonic imaging device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user.
US08109875B2
Disclosed is a derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system configured to acquire an array of data pertaining to a subject and their skin disorders. This data is subjected to a comprehensive analysis that culminates in diagnoses, treatments, monitoring activity and health strategy implementation. The derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system comprises a user interface and display unit, capable of acquiring a range of subject data, and communicatively coupled to a remotely located data analysis and reporting unit. The data analysis and reporting unit is capable of receiving and assessing the acquired data, using multiple analytical processes that culminate in a highly probable diagnosis and an effective treatment that is documented in a report and submitted to the subject. The diagnoses, treatments and supporting data are then permanently archived and made available for retrieval.
US08109872B2
A delivery apparatus cooperable with a grasping slot of an elevator of endoscope for enhanced delivery to a target location in a patient is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a catheter including an inner lumen and an outer surface. The outer surface has a projection formed thereon. The projection radially extends from the outer surface. The projection is configured to receive the elevator for enhanced delivery in the patient.
US08109870B2
An inflatable penile prosthesis includes an implantable pump having a bypass valve. The bypass valve includes a cavity having a valve seat at a port, a poppet and a spring. The poppet includes a valve member and a stem extending from the valve member. In operation, the poppet includes a sealing position, where the valve member seals the port through contact with the valve seat, and a deflating position, where the valve member is displaced from the valve seat. The spring is configured to bias the valve member toward the valve seat, wherein the spring engages a portion of the stem while the poppet is in the deflating position.
US08109867B2
A sacrocolpopexy mesh that includes lateral support to improve vaginal contact during colpopexy and to prevent slipping.
US08109849B1
An apparatus for compressing an automatic belt tensioning cylinder to permit a belt to be placed around, the engine pulleys, includes a pneumatic cylinder and a jig, the jib being adapted to hold the tensioning cylinder during compression thereof by the pneumatic cylinder. The jig holds a plunger sensor that is operable to detect the presence of the tensioning cylinder, and to control the flow of pressurizing fluid such that the pneumatic cylinder cannot be operated in an extension direction when the tensioning cylinder is absent from the jig.
US08109832B2
A Sic-bo automated dice-cage has a control module, a dice module and a switch module. The dice module is connected to the control module and has a base, a dice container, multiple dice, a shaker and a cover. The dice container is pellucid and is mounted on the base. The dice are placed in the dice container. The shaker is mounted movably inside the dice container and is controlled by the control module to shake the dice at a variable frequency. The cover selectively covers the dice container and is controlled by the control module to cover and uncover the dice container. The switch module is electronically connected to the control module and comprises actuators to activate the control module to shake the dice, to cover and uncover the dice. The variable frequency of movement of the shaker may further change according to a position of the cover.
US08109830B2
A driving simulation device for executing a simulating game includes a mounting frame and a seat body. The seat body has a coupling portion and a seating portion located above the coupling portion. The seat body further includes first and second connecting rods having at least two fixing parts journaled to the mounting frame, two swinging parts journaled to the coupling portion of the seat body and two coupling parts interconnecting the fixing parts and the swinging parts and transversely crossing each other. Once a rider is seated on the seating portion and swings the seat body so as to simulate a driving action, the seating portion and the coupling portion swing respectively in two directions opposite to each other, and thereby a swinging center of the seat body can fall between the coupling portion and the seating portion.
US08109827B2
A method of facilitating the play of a progressive game and a system for facilitating the play of a progressive game are disclosed. The method may include accruing a portion of wagers to a multi-vendor progressive prize fund, tracking the total amount accrued to the multi-vendor progressive prize fund by the first set of game terminals in a first prize determination interval. The method may include receiving a second wager from a second player of a second game of chance, the second game of chance operating on a second game terminal in a second set of game terminals. The method may include determining that the second player has won a progressive. The method may also include determining the value of the progressive prize, the value of the progressive prize depending on the size of the multi-vendor progressive prize fund and on an amount of contributions accrued from the second set of game terminals to the multi-vendor progressive prize fund during a second prize determination interval.
US08109815B2
A combine has a cutting mechanism (12) for cutting a crop and a feed mechanism (13) for feeding the cut crop towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine, the cut crop moving between the rotor and the housing from an inlet end of the housing towards an outlet end of the housing across a grating (22) through which separated grain leaves the housing. The harvested crop is fed by a final feed section (18) of the feed mechanism into the inlet end (20a) of the housing across a transition edge (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the housing which is split into a number of sections. The overall direction of extension of each section (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the transition edge is inclined at substantially the same angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor so that the crop entering the inlet end of the housing across the transition edge does so generally perpendicular to the transition edge, the transition edge being inclined generally helically relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
US08109813B2
A thin air outlet structure to a vehicle compartment exhibiting excellent directivity while ensuring sufficient volume and velocity of air conditioning air stream. In the air outlet structure 10, delivery direction of the air stream can be altered by altering the posture of a pair of fins 16 provided at a middle portion 13 in the flow direction in a case 12. Since the air outlet 20 does not require a plurality of fins for altering the delivery direction, the air outlet 20 can be made thin. Since the delivery direction of the air stream can be altered by means of the pair of fins 16 and the number of the fins 16 is small, flow of air is not impeded in the flow path within the case 12 and effective cross-sectional area of the flow path within the case 12 can be ensured. Consequently, sufficient volume and velocity of air stream can be secured. Furthermore, the size for each blade of the fins 16 can be increased by the decrease made in the number of fins 16. The air conditioning air stream excellent in directivity can be obtained.
US08109810B2
A shellfish positioning and opening apparatus having at least one processing lane whereby the apparatus includes the following stations of an in-feed and singulation station followed by a reorientation assembly station utilizing a vision system and a holding and opening assembly station. The said processing stations are operatively connected in that order together to receive shellfish having meat therein to position said shellfish according to their shape and orientation to enable shellfish to be halved so that one shellfish half has the shellfish meat thereon. A method is also included having the steps of—singulating the shellfish; applying vision system to determine and compare orientation of shellfish, reorienting each shellfish so that the shellfish is pointing in the right direction, abutting said shellfish to the vertical alignment device to cause said shellfish to be substantially vertical and loading shellfish onto lifting assembly to lift said shellfish to allow the holding and opening assembly to hold it against the hinge breaker, apply a vacuum to create a gape whereby the knife assembly slidably operates to cut the meat from one shellfish half.
US08109806B2
A bra that is adapted to be a face mask has first and second bra cups, each of which includes an air filter and which are removably coupled to each other with a first attachment member. A formable member is incorporated into the upper rim of each bra cup as a structural element of the bra. A first body strap is coupled to the first bra cup and a second body strap is coupled to the second bra cup. A second attachment member removably couples ends of the first and second body straps together. When the bra is used as a face mask, first and second body straps are separated and the second attachment member couples the first body strap to the first bra cup via the first attachment member as the first bra cup is separated from the second bra cup.
US08109805B2
A wheel device for a toy vehicle, in which one of a pair of wheels rolling on a pair of metal rails attracts with a magnet to reduce resistance caused by magnetic force and suppress load on a motor. The wheel device 1 includes a first axle 2, and a first wheel 10 and a second wheel 20 provided on opposite sides of the first axle 2. The first wheel 10 includes a first wheel main body 11 rolling on one of the rails 261 and a first flange 12 guided by the one rail. The second wheel 20 includes a second wheel main body 21 rolling on the other of the rails 261 and a second flange 22 guided by the other rail. The second wheel main body 21 is formed of a magnet.
US08109801B2
A boat propulsion system that easily and finely adjusts the rotational speed of a propeller includes an outboard motor including a power source, a propeller, a control lever to which an accelerator opening is input, an accelerator opening detection section arranged to output an operating amount of the control lever, a sensitivity switching section, and a control device. A degree of the accelerator opening relative to the operating amount of the control lever is switched by the sensitivity switching section operated by a boat operator. The sensitivity switching section outputs the degree of the accelerator opening relative to the input operating amount of the control lever as a sensitivity switching signal. The control device controls output of the power source based on the operating amount of the control lever and the sensitivity switching signal.
US08109796B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a pair of contacts. The insulative housing defines a mating face, a rear face opposite to the mating face, and a receiving cavity between and running through the mating face and the rear face. The contacts are retained in two opposite sides of the receiving cavity and each defining a contacting portion, a retaining portion extending backward from the contacting portion and at least a terminal portion extending from the contacting portion. A pair of elastic pieces integrally extend backward from the mating face of the insulative housing to the receiving cavity and free ends of the contacting portions resist on the elastic piece. The elastic pieces shift away from the receiving cavity under a condition that a mating electrical connector is inserted in the receiving cavity and press against the elastic pieces. The contacts are wider than the elastic pieces.
US08109794B2
In a contact of the present invention, a first plate spring piece portion 11c having a first fulcrum portion 11b in one side extends in a cantilevered manner from the first fulcrum portion 11b in a direction opposite to a card insertion direction so as to be elastically deformable in a thickness direction of the card. A second plate spring piece portion 11e having in one side a second fulcrum portion 11d which is the other side of the first plate spring piece portion 11c is formed in a shape where the second plate spring piece portion extends at an inclination angle from the second fulcrum portion 11d in the card insertion direction so as to be elastically deformable in the card thickness direction. The other side of the second plate spring piece portion 11e is to be contacted with the contact pad 2 of the card 1.
US08109793B2
The instrument includes a connector block (24) suitable for receiving a removable memory card (12), a printed circuit (20), a case including an opening (16) for insertion of the memory card, and contacts (48) for reprogramming the microcontroller (22). The reprogramming contacts (48) are disposed on the printed circuit (20) at a distance from terminals (26) for making contact with the memory card, in the space that the connector block (24) occupies on the printed circuit, and they are available from the inside volume of the connector block. The instrument is essentially lacking in any opening dedicated to accessing the reprogramming contacts, with access to these contacts being possible via the opening in the case and the inside volume of the connector block by inserting an insert (52) into the instrument instead of and replacing a memory card.
US08109787B1
A swivel connector for coupling a cable to a terminal is disclosed. There is a socket contact plug in electrical communication with the terminal, and a fixed joint bushing attachable to the terminal with the socket contact plug extending therethrough. A joint housing is rotatably engaged to the fixed joint bushing. There is a primary terminal axially mounted to and electrically isolated from the joint housing, and includes an inner sleeve contact that is frictionally engaged to the socket contact plug. An outer sleeve contact is fixed to the joint bushing, and is also in electrical communication with the joint housing and with the terminal. The joint housing is rotatably engaged to the outer sleeve contact.
US08109786B2
A connector for a coaxial cable physically and electrically connects a coaxial cable with various kinds of electric members. The coaxial cable includes a hollow inner conductor and a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor. A carrier terminal inserted into the inner conductor of the coaxial cable has a diameter elastically adjusted to an inner diameter of the inner conductor.
US08109780B2
An apparatus for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device is provided. The apparatus may prevent and detect tampering occurring through an aperture in a casing of the electronic device where the aperture is configured for receiving a standoff that couples a communication cable to a communication port of the electronic device. Upon removal of the standoff, visual indicia of tampering may be provided. Additionally, a shield may block entry of the standoff into the aperture if the standoff is removed.
US08109778B2
A locking assembly for selectively locking a female electrical receptor with an electrical male plug connector is disclosed. The male plug has a plurality of prongs with apertures, and female receptor has prong-receiving contact members with openings that are aligned with the apertures when the plug is connected with the receptor. The locking assembly can have a pair of caps with conical projections that fit into the openings in the contact members and apertures of the prongs. A spring-loaded actuator button moves the caps in and out of engagement with the contact members and the prongs. Several embodiments of the locking assembly are disclosed.
US08109774B2
In a connector for connecting a connection object having a locked portion, a movable member is provided so as to be movable in a predetermined direction between a connecting position and an ejecting position together with the connection object. A cam mechanism is coupled to the movable member and selectively maintains the movable member at the connecting position or at the ejecting position. A first engaging member is held by the movable member and is rotatable in a rotating direction. The first engaging member has a locking portion to be engaged with the locked portion in the predetermined direction when the first engaging member is located at a predetermined angular position. A braking device is coupled with the first engaging member to brake the first engaging member in the rotating direction.
US08109768B2
A connector is provided that includes: a molded base part having a substrate and elastomers arranged on both sides of the substrate; a plurality of through holes in the molded base part, which pass through the molded base part in a stacked direction of the substrate and the elastomers, and are arranged in parallel at predetermined spacing; and L-shaped contacts arranged via the through holes from one surface side of the molded base part to another surface side, wherein: the elastomers incorporate a plurality of first protruding parts whose top faces are inclined, and second protruding parts that protrude from top faces of the first protruding parts in a dome shape; said contact has dome shaped convex parts whose insides are hollow, and said convex parts are formed at two ends of the contact, and the convex parts are arranged such that they cover the respective second protruding parts. Also provided is an electronic component provided with this connector.
US08109764B2
Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
US08109760B2
A torch, and ignitor or gas valve interlock located on the same part which the operator moves to activate the torch, which is overcome by the operator by providing a tangential rolling force to the interlock as the finger is seated on a downwardly actuated ignitor. The torch ignitor and gas valve interlock according to the present invention requires a skilled, compound motion easily provided by an adult and unlikely to be imposed by accidental gross motions, without diminishing or interfering with the operator's ability to easily operate the ignitor.
US08109753B2
A nano-imprint lithography system is described for patterning first and second substrates, the system includes a translation stage constructed to alternatively place substrate chucks in position with respect to a nano-imprint mold assembly such that the nano-imprint mold assembly may imprint a pattern on one of the substrates, while concurrently obtaining a desired spatial relationship for the remaining substrate.
US08109751B2
There is provided an imprint device for transferring a fine pattern to a material to form a patterned material. The device comprises a stamper having the fine pattern thereon, and a pressure distribution mechanism. The stamper is pressed against the material, and the pressure distribution mechanism provides a nonuniform pressure distribution in a patterned region of the patterned material, while the stamper is in contact with the material. There are provided an imprint device and a microstructure transfer method, by which it is possible to sufficiently spread a resin or other material for forming a pattern layer between a stamper and a patterned material with a lower pressure so as not to damage the stamper or the patterned material, and to form a pattern formation layer having the uniform thickness on the patterned material.
US08109744B2
An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades, and a bearing and motor section having a motor for rotating the main shaft and a bearing mechanism for supporting the main shaft rotatably. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft.
US08109743B2
An axial flow fan unit includes a first and a second axial flow fan. The first axial flow fan includes a first motor, a plurality of first lead lines connected to the first motor, a first impeller rotatable about a center axis by the first motor, and a first housing arranged to enclose the first motor and the first impeller, wherein the first housing has a first recess portion extending from an inside to an outside of the first housing. Likewise, the second axial flow fan includes a second motor, a plurality of second lead lines, a second impeller, and the second housing, wherein the second housing has a second recess portion extending from an inside to an outside of the second housing. The first and the second lead lines are led out from the first and the second housings through the first and the second recesses, respectively. Further, the first recess portion is deviated relative to or partially overlapped with the second recess portion along a circumferential direction.
US08109739B2
A dosing pump for a liquid additive in fuel of a heavy fuel engine includes a piston, a cylinder, and a high resolution linear actuator, including a motor driven by a controller, for moving the piston axially in the cylinder. The pump includes a manifold, and a low friction dish-shaped seal having a peripheral portion forming a seal between the cylinder and the manifold in a fully extended position of the piston. The dish-shaped seal includes a top portion attached to the piston that moves with the piston such that the top portion of the seal is compressed against the manifold in the fully extended position. The shape of the seal minimizes non-linearity of the volume dosed as a function of movement of the piston, and the controller drives the motor so as to remove a remaining non-linearity of the volume dosed as a function of movement of the piston.
US08109738B2
A gas pressure booster and a method for using it, which recovers fugitive gas emissions such as at atmospheric pressure, boosts them such as to the pressure level of the low pressure gas sink, and returns them to, e.g., the low pressure gas sink, in a single stage of compression. No electricity or cooling water is required. All gas used to drive the vapor recovery booster may be recovered and vented to the low pressure gas sink.In one preferred embodiment, the gas pressure booster includes a drive cylinder and a boost cylinder interconnected by reciprocating drive and boost pistons. The drive piston supplies force powered by a first gas stream within the drive cylinder which exhausts to a second gas stream at a lower pressure. Fugitive gas emissions may be captured and transported to the lower pressure second gas stream to eliminate gas discharged to atmosphere. The need for boosting a gas multiple ratios is eliminated, as the pressure of the fugitive emission vapor is equalized to the low pressure gas sink at the end of the piston suction stroke. Preferably, a four-way valve operating on differential gas pressure may be used to automatically actuate the reciprocating piston.
US08109736B2
An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a linear compressor by detecting a phase difference inflection point at a time point when a phase difference between a current and a stroke is placed within a certain region, and by recognizing the phase difference infection point as a top dead center (TDC)=O. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a linear compressor, comprises: a controlling unit for detecting a phase difference between a current and a stroke, and outputting a frequency varying signal or a phase difference inflection point detecting signal based on the detected phase difference; a phase difference inflection point detecting unit for judging whether to detect a phase difference inflection point or not by the phase difference inflection point detecting signal, and outputting a stroke command value controlling signal based on a result of the judgement; and a stroke command value determining unit for determining a stroke command value based on the stroke command value controlling signal.
US08109733B2
A method of adjusting the speed of blades rotating in a rotor plane on a wind turbine, wherein the angle between at least two blades in the rotor plane is changed, whereby the tip speed of each individual blade can be optimised relative to the current speed of the wind experienced by the blade. Hereby it is possible to take into consideration the variation of the wind as a function of the height above ground level, and the yield of the wind turbine can be increased. The angular displacement of each blade can be changed individually independently of the remainder of the blades and cyclically. The method also comprises that each blade is accelerated on its way upwards in the rotation cycle and decelerated on its way down. Further details are provided about a system for controlling blades in a wind turbine comprising one or more wind speed meters, position meters, and/or acceleration meters, based on which parameters control of the angular displacement of each blade in the rotor plane is performed.
US08109725B2
A turbine engine airfoil includes an airfoil structure having an exterior surface providing a leading edge. A radially extending first cooling passage is arranged near the leading edge and includes first and second portions. The first portion extends to the exterior surface and forms a radially extending trench in the leading edge. The second portion is in fluid communication with a second cooling passage. In one example, the second cooling passage extends radially, and the first cooling passage wraps around a portion of the second cooling passage from a pressure side to a suction side between the second cooling passage and the exterior surface. In the example, the first portion is arranged between the pressure and suction sides. In one example, the first cooling passage is formed by arranging a core in an airfoil mold. The trench is formed by the core in one example.
US08109722B2
A turbine for use with a turbine generator, the turbine including at least one turbine blade for positioning in a flowpath, a hub mounting the at least one turbine blade, and a rotatable shaft in operational communication with the hub via a hinge assembly, an axis of the hub being independent of an axis of the shaft. The hinge assembly is disposed between the shaft and the hub and configured to adjust an angle therebetween. A controller assembly is configured to adjust at least one operational characteristic of the hinge assembly during turbine operation. In one embodiment the operational characteristic is a teeter angle of the hinge assembly. In one embodiment operational characteristic is a stiffness or damping force. Methods for using and controlling a fluid turbine are also disclosed.
US08109719B2
A stator vane assembly for a compressor has a support structure which carries and is bounded by an annular stator vane structure. The stator vane structure comprises a central bore and a sleeve carried on the central bore. The sleeve is disposed between the support structure and bore of the annular stator vane structure. The annular stator vane structure is made from a non-metallic composite material and the sleeve is made from a first material. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the non metallic material is equal to or less than the co-efficient of thermal expansion of the first material.
US08109715B2
There is provided a turbocharger with a variable nozzle assembly having a plurality of cambered vanes positioned annularly around a turbine wheel, each vane (20) being pivotable around a pivot point (Pp) and being configured to have a leading edge (Ple) and a trailing edge (Pte) connected by an outer airfoil surface (2) and an inner airfoil surface (4), said outer airfoil surface (2) being substantially convex and said inner airfoil surface (4) having a convex section at the leading edge (Ple) which has a local extreme (Pex) of curvature and transitions into a concave section towards the trailing edge (Pte). The positions of the pivot point (Pp) and the local extreme (Pex) are set such that, even when the vanes are placed in a closed position, the exhaust gas stream exercises a positive torque on the vanes which tends to open the nozzle.
US08109712B2
Disclosed is a turbine or compressor component with an integrated cooling channel, in particular a turbine blade, and a method for producing the same. The cooling channel of the component is subjected to internal pressure during a pressure impingement phase, the internal pressure being at a level sufficiently high that it causes the at least semiplastic deformation of the wall regions delimiting the cooling channel.
US08109711B2
A wind turbine energy conversion device that can take advantage of the higher speed and more persistent winds at higher altitudes is hereinafter disclosed. The wind turbine energy conversion device includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected to one end of a tether (which may include multiple shorter tethers), the other end being connected to a terrestrial anchorage point. The UAV flies at altitudes where wind speeds can reach 40 mph or higher. The UAV comprises a flying wing with one or more trailing wind power turbines and flies airborne maneuvers designed to increase relative wind speed up to about four times the true wind speed.
US08109701B2
A cutting head of a reamer has a cutting head forward end, a cutting head rear end distal the cutting head forward end, and a peripheral surface therebetween. The peripheral surface has at least two wiping pads that extend rearwardly from the cutting head forward end. At least one cutting section extends between two consecutive wiping pads and has a chip evacuation flute that extends rearwardly from the cutting head forward end and a cutting edge that is formed at the intersection of a rake surface and a relief surface. A chip former extends rearwardly from the rake surface. The chip former has a front portion that is slanted rearwardly and downwardly from the rake surface, and, a rear portion that is slanted rearwardly and upwardly with respect to the rake surface. A rear end of the rear portion joins the chip evacuation flute and form therewith a forming internal angle.
US08109690B2
Systems for improved vehicular movement between first and second crossing roadways. The systems employ multiple turn roadways to permit a vehicle traveling on one of the crossing roadways to appropriately turn and continuously travel onto the other of the crossing roadway. The systems are adaptable to use in conjunction with either left side of the road vehicle movement or right side of the road vehicle movement. In addition, the systems can be adapted for use in conjunction a roadway crossing whereat at least one of the roads is for forwarded vehicle movement in only one direction.
US08109678B1
An optic connector jack is provided with a punch-down fiber optic cable termination. The jack is made up of a housing with a connector mating interface, for connection to a plug connector, and a cradle for receiving a fiber optic cable. The cradle has at least one U-shaped punch-down blade for securing each fiber optic cable with respect to the housing. A crimping plate overlies the cradle and mates to the housing for securing each fiber optic cable in the cradle. The U-shaped punch-down blade has an open top portion, a closed bottom portion, and an inside diameter about equal to a fiber optic cable diameter. The U-shaped punch-down blade has an interior blade edge, the interior blade edge securing a fiber optic cable by slicing into at least a part of the fiber optic cable circumference. In one aspect, the jack includes a lens for each fiber optic cable.
US08109671B1
A kitchen device in the form of a cone shaped metal foil grease container for receiving and disposing of hot cooking grease. The cone shaped grease container includes a back side, a front side, an open top, downwardly and inwardly sloping edges and a closed bottom. The closed bottom is dimensioned for receipt inside an open top of a garbage disposal for holding the container upright thereon. A portion of the top of the back side of the container includes an upwardly extending flap. The flap, when folded over, is secured to the front side of the container prior to disposing of the grease stored therein.
US08109665B2
A backlight module is provided. The backlight module has a reflective chamber and a light source. The reflective chamber includes a bottom reflector, a top reflector, at least a light entrance, and a plurality of light emitting openings disposed on the top reflector. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance. The number of the light emitting openings per unit area in a region near the light source is less than the number of the light emitting openings per unit area in another region far from the light source.
US08109664B2
A vehicle lighting equipment is provided with: a light source in which a light emitting diode is employed; and a transparent lens on which a light emitted from the light source is incident and from which the incident light is emergent. The transparent lens includes: a center portion positioned to oppose the light source; and a light guiding portion positioned on an outer peripheral side of the center portion to guide the incident light to an inward area.
US08109662B2
The invention relates to a single-piece headlamp lens (2) for a vehicle headlamp (1), in particular for a motor vehicle headlamp (1), wherein the headlamp lens (2) comprises a first region (40) designed as a free-form lens part or as part of an aspherical lens, and at least one second region (41) designed as part of a Fresnel lens.
US08109660B2
An L.E.D. light emitting assembly (20) includes a heat sink (50) defined by independent elongated sections (52) upwardly from a base (26) in parallel relationship. L.E.D.s (72) are disposed on a mounting surface (60) and fins (64) are disposed on a heat transfer surface (62) of the elongated sections (52). The elongated sections (52) and base (26) are pivotably connected at a hinge (86). The hinge (86) can include a spring (102). A spreader (90) can pivot the elongated sections (52) about the hinge (86). A flexible stop (106) with a resilient tip (110) is attached to top ends (58) of the elongated sections (52). The elongated sections (52) are held together by a retainer (88), such as a band (104), and inserted through a narrow opening (22) of a globe (24). A deployment mechanism (84) moves the elongated sections (52) to a non-parallel position to fill the globe (24).
US08109652B2
An improved LED assembly comprises a frame and a circuit substrate. The frame has a slot, which has an opening on the upper surface of the frame. An elongated inverted L-shaped structure is formed on either side of the opening, and one or more conductive strips are formed on the inner side of the elongated inverted L-shaped structure. Therefore, electricity may be supplied to the conductive strips of the frame. In assembly, the circuit substrate is slid into the slot of the frame so that each of the conductive strips of the circuit substrate is engaged with the corresponding conductive strip of the frame. Therefore, electricity from the electric source may be fed from the source through the conductive strip of the frame and the conductive strip of the circuit substrate and then to the light-emitting units so that each of the light-emitting units may be powered up.
US08109641B2
A safety interlock system for a projector system is provided. The projector system has a lamp, a controller and ballast for powering the lamp upon receipt of a lamp enable signal from the controller. The projector system further has a safety inter-lock system for deactivating the lamp in the event the lamp is not properly installed.
US08109640B2
A color wheel module for use in a projection apparatus is disclosed. The projection apparatus comprises an optical engine, which comprises a chassis and an electrical socket. The electrical socket is disposed on the chassis. The color wheel module comprises a color wheel, a housing module and a connecting device. The connecting device comprises a fastening device and an electrical connector. The color wheel and the electrical connector are disposed on the housing module, wherein the electric connector is adapted to electrically connect to, and detach from, the electrical socket when the housing module is fastened onto the chassis through the fastening device.
US08109637B2
The wavelength-selective polarization conversion element includes a plurality of polarization splitting surfaces each of which separates entering light into two polarized light components having polarization directions different from each other, a plurality of phase plates that causes a polarization direction of one polarized light component in the two polarized light components from the polarization splitting surfaces to coincide with a polarization direction of the other polarized light component. The element further includes a plurality of dichroic surfaces that is disposed closer to a light entrance side than the plurality of polarization splitting surfaces or between the plurality of polarization splitting surfaces and the plurality of phase plates, each dichroic surface separating entering light into two wavelength region components different from each other. The element is capable of generating light components having different polarization directions and different wavelength regions from non-polarized light while preventing a reduction of light use efficiency.
US08109636B2
The invention provides an illumination optical system that guides light emitted from light source device 1 to DMD 2, the illumination optical system including: light tunnel 20 that uniformizes luminance distribution of light emitted from light source device 1; relay optical system 40 that guides light having uniformized illumination distribution to DMD 2; and shield board 30 disposed on an optical path between light tunnel 20 and relay optical system 40. Shield board 30 is smaller than outlet end face 22 of light tunnel 20 and at the same time has an opening of a shape similar to the image formation area on DMD 2, and is movable in a plane containing the opening.
US08109631B2
A method for manufacturing an ophthalmic progressive addition lens (100) with customized design features adapted to a wearer, the method comprising the following steps: /a/ a providing step of a lens substrate; /b/ a modifying step in which a first target virtual lens is provided and modified so as to obtain a second target virtual lens, the second target virtual lens having a design feature parameter substantially equal to a customized design feature parameter; /c/ an optimizing step in which an optimized trial virtual lens is obtained by optimizing a trial virtual lens in such a manner that the optimized trial virtual lens has optical characteristics which are substantially equal to the characteristics of the second target virtual lens; and /d/ a manufacturing step of the ophthalmic progressive addition lens from the lens substrate according to the trial virtual lens. Method for the determination of a customized ophthalmic progressive addition lens with customized design features. Related computer program product.
US08109628B2
A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.
US08109618B2
An ink cartridge carrier device includes a casing, having an opening and an inner chamber communicated with each other, for carrying an ink cartridge; a locking/unlocking mechanism, pivoted on the casing, such that the locking/unlocking mechanism is made to be rotatable and applies a restraining force to fix the ink cartridge into the inner chamber; a first elastic member, connected to the locking/unlocking mechanism, for providing the restraining force to actuate the locking/unlocking mechanism, so as to fix the ink cartridge into the inner chamber; a pushing mechanism, for pushing a part of the ink cartridge carried within the inner chamber out of the casing, so as to unload the ink cartridge. The device makes the ink cartridge well fixed, and enables the ink cartridge to be horizontally loaded or unloaded, which does not have the problems of unsmooth loading or unloading or getting stuck during unloading or loading.
US08109606B2
In general, a fluid delivery system includes a plurality of fluid delivery printheads, a first reservoir for holding an ink, the first reservoir coupled to a first one of the plurality of fluid delivery printheads, and a second reservoir for holding a flavored liquid, the second reservoir coupled to a second one of the plurality of fluid delivery printheads.
US08109605B2
The array pitch between image recording element dots, the swath tilt angle, the image recording pitch between image recording dots in a direction y, or the phase difference between image recording positions in the direction y of adjacent image recording dots that are formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction y is adjusted according to an image pattern, so that a jaggy pitch or a jaggy amplitude of jaggies may be of a predetermined value or less to produce a good image.
US08109604B2
Two arrays of ejection openings which eject relatively large amounts of ink are provided for each of different color inks and are disposed at symmetrical positions in the order of colors in a direction corresponding to a record scan. In addition, a single array of ejection openings which eject relatively small amounts of ink is disposed for at least one color ink. Since the symmetrical disposition in the color order of the ejection opening arrays which eject large amounts of ink prevents color unevenness from appearing even when the bidirectional recording is performed. Since the single array is formed of the ejection openings which eject small amount of ink, and which is used for highly precise recording, it is possible to avoid image deterioration due to the shift of dot formed positions, even when the recording head is mounted in an inclined manner attributable to the variation in manufacturing.
US08109601B2
A printer including a medium supporting member that supports a print medium in a state placed thereon, a print head that has nozzles for ejecting ink droplets downward and freely reciprocates above the medium supporting member, and a maintenance device. The maintenance device is disposed to face the lower surface of the print head when the print head is in a standby position and receives residual ink in the nozzles which is ejected from the nozzles when the print head is in the standby position. The maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber that opens upward for receiving the residual ink ejected from the nozzles and a liquid injection member that injects liquid into the ink receiving chamber when the print head is away from a position where the print head faces the ink receiving chamber in the vertical direction.
US08109580B1
An enclosure device is disclosed for housing a visual display device adjacent to a surface. The enclosure comprises a cabinet defining a cabinet chamber. A face plate defines a continuous frame. A pyramid body defines a cover chamber. The cabinet chamber receives the visual display device. The face plate compresses against the cabinet, for simultaneously positioning the face plate over the visual display device and positioning the pyramid body adjacent to the wall.
US08109576B2
A seat assembly is revealed. A connection slot is formed around a circumference of a rear side of a support and an assembly block is projectingly arranged at a center of the connection slot. At least one channel penetrating from one side to the other side of the assembly block is formed on the assembly block. A cloth surface is covered from a front side to a rear side of the support and a circumference thereof is mounted into the connection slot. A frame formed by injection molding is to cover the circumference of the rear side of the support and fill into the connection slot and the channel so as to connect and secure the cloth surface with the frame as well as the support by multiple bends of the cloth surface and infiltration of frame material into pores of the cloth surface.
US08109572B2
The wheelchair comprises a seat back a module (2) movably coupled to a seat module (5). Two lateral plates (10, 10′) are secured to the seat back module (2) and pivotally mounted on the seat module (5). Each of said plate is provided with a recess (18, 18′) adapted to lodge an excenter member (19) comprising two parallel side faces (26, 27) and being perforated by three holes (21, 22 and 23), adapted to receive a spring release locking pins for locking the angle position of said seat back module. Due to the positioning of said three holes and the possibility of lodging the excenter member with either one of its two side faces (26 or 27) inside the recess (18), five different locking angle positions of the seat back module are possible.
US08109569B2
A vehicle passenger is provided with a console (1) for mounting an entertainment apparatus, the console being coupled to the back of a more forwardly located seat by headrest retaining clips (7) of the kind adapted to hold posts of a height adjustable headrest (6) for the seat at a height selected position. In one arrangement, the console is sandwiched between the headrest retaining clips and the top of the seat back. In an alternative arrangement, the console incorporates integral headrest retaining clips that replace the conventional headrest retaining clips.
US08109568B2
A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom, a seat back pivotably attached to the seat bottom, a seat belt. The seat bottom has a support frame to be attached to a vehicle body, and a bottom cushion supported by the support frame. A pretensioner is disposed between the bottom cushion and the support frame to move the bottom cushion rearward with respect to the support frame when the unpreferable external force is generated. When the pretensioner is actuated, the bottom cushion moves rearward, and a moving distance S of a tip anchor and a tongue anchor is set larger than a moving distance T of the bottom cushion.
US08109565B2
An automotive seat has a seat back and a seat bottom that are movable between a seating configuration and a work desk configuration. When moving from the seating configuration to the work desk configuration, the seat bottom pivots forwardly into a generally vertical orientation and the seat back pivots downwardly into a generally horizontal orientation. The seat bottom supports an end of the seat back when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. The back surface of the seat back faces upwardly to provide a work surface when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. Sufficient space is provided beneath the seat back when in the work desk configuration to accommodate a person's legs underneath the seat back.
US08109563B2
A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, including a sitting portion secured to two vertical support straps attached to a vehicle and disposed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the sitting portion. Each support strap is a strap sling stretched between vertically spaced-apart anchors on the vehicle and includes a front strap facing the seating portion and a rear strap spaced therefrom. A transverse rod near the rear sitting portion edge reaches into the intermediate space between front and rear straps and is secured in closed fixed loops situated on the rear straps. The sitting portion is braced against the strap slings via supports pivotably connected to side rods of the sitting portion and extending at an angle below the sitting portion to the straps slings. The supports, via a transverse bracing disposed at their lower ends, reach into the intermediate space between front and rear straps. This transverse bracing is supported in loose loops on the rear straps that permit vertical movement of the transverse bracing.
US08109559B2
A door structure of a vehicle, having an effective space within a vehicle compartment increased, is provided. The door structure has a carrier plate (4) fixed to an inner panel (3) for closing an opening portion (3a) formed in the inner panel (3); and a plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) for covering an inside of the carrier plate (4) within a vehicle compartment, the plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) including a belt line trim (7) disposed along a belt line in an upper end portion of the inner panel (3), a pocket trim (8) disposed in the vicinity of a lower portion of the inner panel (3), and an arm rest trim (9) disposed between the belt line trim (7) and the pocket trim (8).
US08109558B2
A door structure includes a door for opening and closing a door opening formed in a vehicle body. The door has a side impact bar extending in the backward and forward direction of the vehicle body and a window regulator for lifting and lowering a glass of the door. The window regulator is mounted on the side impact bar and is disposed within a sectional width area of the side impact bar in a vehicle width direction.
US08109557B1
A foldable vehicle floor mat can be used as a ballistic shield when unfolded and attached to a vehicle door. The mat comprises a weather protective layer and an impact-resistant layer. When completely unfolded, the mat covers the length and height of the vehicle door, for which it was designed. The mat is provided with hanging hooks attached to the upper side of the mat, whereby the mat can be hung upon the vehicle door, and a ballast weight attached to the bottom side of the mat, whereby draping the mat across the door is facilitated, and magnetic strips can be provided along the perimeter of the unfolded mat.
US08109545B2
A handle assembly selectively allows the door latch of a door of a motor vehicle to be released. The handle assembly includes a base fixedly secured to the door. The handle assembly also includes a handle portion and a lock trigger. The handle portion is operatively connected to a door latch mechanism effectuating the opening of the door. The lock trigger is movably engaged with the handle portion to allow or disallow the movement of the handle assembly and hence the opening of the door.
US08109536B2
A goalie skate having a skate boot comprising a thermoformed outer shell with a sole and an ankle portion for receiving the ankle of the foot, the ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides for facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively, the medial side comprising an upper edge that is a first distance away from the sole and the lateral side comprising an upper edge that is a second distance away from the sole, the first distance being greater than the second distance. By having a goalie skate boot that has the lateral upper edge located below the medial upper edge, the lateral outward flexion of the foot is eased when the goalie skate is in an angled position. The invention also relates to a goalie skate with a skate boot comprising an outer shell that is thermoformed such that it comprises an integrated toe portion, thereby eliminating the traditional toe cap.
US08109530B2
The headset includes upper and lower rolling bearings (8, 9) housed inside the head tube so as to allow relative rotation of the steering tube, and clamping elements (18, 21) for axially clamping the lower and upper bearings (8, 9) against, respectively, a lower end and an upper end of the head tube. The axial-clamping elements include a threaded sleeve slipped over the steering tube. This sleeve is secured to the steering tube by connecting elements including a pin extending through two diametrically opposed holes in the threaded sleeve and through two diametrically opposed holes provided in the steering tube. The sleeve collaborates with a tapped annular cap slipped over the steering tube so as to force the upper bearing downward as the annular cap is screwed onto the sleeve.
US08109529B2
The present application pertains to a wheelchair having a frame; a seat attached to the frame and supporting a user; two lateral drive wheels mounted on essentially horizontal axes; and a propulsion system including a handle, an operating lever supporting said handle and having a friction element mounted onto the operating lever. The operating lever is movable axially with respect to one axis between a first and second position and radially. The friction element is arranged and constructed to frictionally engage said drive wheel in the first position and radial movement of the propulsion system propels the chair in a predetermined direction.
US08109521B2
A metal laminate cylinder head gasket is formed by a plurality of metal plates laminated together, and a misalignment preventing portion for preventing misalignment of the laminated metal plates, formed in the metal plates. The misalignment preventing portion includes a pair of notches facing each other and penetrating each of the metal plates, and a bridging portion provided between the notches in each of the metal plates and bulging in one direction to project from a surface of each of the metal plates. The metal plates are laminated together such that the notches and the bridging portions overlap and closely contact to engage together to thereby prevent displacement of the metal plates.
US08109519B2
The invention describes a leak proof shaft seal for valves and other pressurized vessels, wherein the shaft seal can deform elastically by either stretching or twisting without loosing its ability to seal all, or a portion, of said shaft from harmful fluids. Furthermore, the elastic shaft seal is immune to static pressures, since it closely surrounds a shaft and thus is protected from collapse.
US08109518B2
The present disclosure is directed to a game in which players launch, shoot, or propel objects at a target, and more specifically, to a game in which players launch, shoot, or propel objects in an attempt to attach the objects to a target that may be in motion, or to dislodge objects that are hanging from the target.
US08109503B2
A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit, supplying a paper to an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus or other sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising: a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame; and an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or the frame of the other sheet feeding unit, wherein: the connection member is rotated between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engagement member and a retracting position where the connection member disengages with the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position.
US08109502B2
An open/close mechanism of a media feed path for feeding a sheet medium from a media insertion unit allowing for a reduced parts count and minimal installation space is disclosed. In an embodiment, an open/close lever and paper pressure member of a check feeding device pivot horizontally on first and second vertical support shafts. When the pressure member pivots and presses against the delivery roller, the back end of the lever is pushed by the pressure member, pivoting the lever thereby retracting the front end of the lever from the check feed path. Because the lever is urged in a pivot direction causing the front end to enter the check feed path, when the paper pressure member returns to the position not pressed against the delivery roller, the open/close lever pivots in this urging direction returning to the position where the front end closes the check feed path.
US08109501B2
As a guide member provided on a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed toward a separation device, a guide member having a sloping guide surface is used, and the aforesaid guide member is arranged so that an uppermost stream point of the sloping guide surface may be positioned at the upstream side of a separation point of the aforesaid separation device and a lowermost stream point of the aforesaid guide surface may be positioned at the downstream side of the aforesaid separation point.
US08109498B2
A sheet feeding device, having a sheet feeding mechanism and an image processor is provided. The sheet feeding mechanism includes a base structure, a first roller, and a second roller. The first roller includes a first shaft and a first roller body fixed to the first shaft. The second roller includes a second shaft and a second roller body fixed to the second shaft. The first roller feeds a sheet into a sheet feeding path, and the second roller conveys the sheet in the sheet feeding path. The first roller and the second roller are connected with each other by a connector member, which rotatably supports the first shaft and the second shaft and maintains positional relation of the first shaft and the second shaft with respect to each other.
US08109497B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a cutting device for cutting a fore-edge portion of a center-folded bunch of sheets disposed in a position spaced from a sheet discharge outlet to eliminate the risk for inflicting a wound on the body of an operator, an end binding device for gathering sheets received from a carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the end portion of a bunch of sheets, a saddle-stitching device for gathering sheets received from the carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the center portion of a bunch of sheets, and a center-folding device for performing center-folding processing on the bunch of sheets subjected to the saddle-stitching processing. A cutting device is subjected to the center-folding processing. A second discharge outlet is disposed in the other side face of the apparatus frame to discharge the bunch of sheets subjected to the center-folding processing in the center-folding device.
US08109496B2
A sheet processing apparatus is disclosed. The sheet processing apparatus has a stacking unit configured to stack a sheet discharged from an image forming unit, the stacking unit including a stacker being configured to support a lower end of the sheet and a supporter being configured to support an under side of the sheet; a driver configured to drive the stacker along the supporter; and an opening configured for allowing removal of the sheet on the stacker to an outside; and a controller configured to control the stacker so that the stacker is driven to the opening along the supporter if a process is cancelled and if the sheet on the stacker needs to be removed.
US08109495B2
An spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer, a contact member including a first row of grooves provided in a contact surface thereof to house a projection projecting from a folded portion of a bundle of folded sheets, a driving unit to move the contact member, first and second sandwiching units to squeeze the bundle, a discharge unit, and a controller. The first row of grooves extends in parallel to the folded portion of the bundle and includes at least a first pair of grooves inclined in different directions with an interval therebetween varying in size with location of the grooves in a first direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. The contact member is moved to change the size of interval between the first pair of grooves at a position aligned with the projection projecting from the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets.
US08109494B1
A device for holding a workpiece, the device comprising a base, a first jaw member, a movable jaw member, and features which allow the movable jaw member to be moved in large increments relative to the first jaw member in addition to features which allow the movable jaw member to be moved in smaller increments. The device can include a drive member operably engaged with the base and the movable jaw member such that the operation of the drive member can move the movable jaw member in small increments. The movable jaw member can include a connection member, or claw, which can operatively engage the movable jaw member with the drive member. The connection member can be moved between first and second positions to disengage the movable jaw member from the drive member such that the movable jaw member can be slid relative to the first jaw member in large increments.
US08109491B2
A vibration damper, comprising a damping medium-filled cylinder, in which a piston rod is guided with freedom of axial movement, where, inside a working space in the cylinder, a stop spring in the form of a circular ring is located, which, after the piston rod has reached a defined stroke position, is compressed between a stop surface on the piston rod side and an end surface forming an axial boundary of the working space, and where the stop spring also forms a boundary of a radially inner space, which is connected to the working space outside the stop spring by means of at least one radial channel. The stop surface on the piston rod side and/or the axially limiting end surface is formed by a rigid body and is provided with at least one radial channel, which extends from the radially inner space to the radially outer working space, “inner” and “outer” being defined with respect to the stop spring.
US08109489B2
A method for contacting gases and liquid droplets for mass and/or heat transfer and a spray tower are disclosed, in which liquid is injected at a number of levels in counterflow to the gas, the gas being fed through at least two inlet openings in the shell of the spray tower. In this case, in order to reduce the differences in the contact duration, the flow direction of the gas at the inlet openings points into the internal region of the spray tower, which has a diameter of greater than or equal to 12 m, in particular greater than 20 m, such that the flow directions of the at least two gas streams intersect on their extension inside the spray tower, in particular at the center of the spray tower at up to half the spray tower radius downstream of the center of the spray tower.
US08109485B2
A display wall mount comprising a wall bracket configured to couple to a wall and having a first wall bracket edge, a display bracket configured to couple to the display and having a first display bracket edge, and a curvilinear bar moveably coupled between the first wall bracket edge and the first display bracket edge. The display bracket is moveably coupled to the wall bracket.
US08109483B2
A swivel support base apparatus is disclosed. One embodiment of the swivel support base apparatus includes a frame, a swivel mechanism, said swivel mechanism including a foot having a defined frictional coefficient that enables rotation of the frame and impedes translational movement of the foot, and secondary feet connected to the frame and disposed in locations surrounding the swivel mechanism, said secondary feet having a lower frictional coefficient than the foot.
US08109479B1
A multi-vacuum mount type support device includes a multi-end connection bar, multiple supporting arms each having one end thereof horizontally pivotally connected to a respective end of the multi-end connection bar by a respective pivot lock, multiple vacuum mount assemblies vertically pivotally connected to the other ends of the supporting arms by respective pivot lock for securing to a flat surface by a vacuum suction force, and a mount connected to one front end of the multi-end connection to hold a holder member for holding an electronic apparatus.
US08109475B2
A pig tail spring exhaust hanger includes a pig tail coil having at one end an upper arm and at the other end a lower arm. The upper arm is mounted to the vehicle underbody, and the lower arm is connected to the exhaust system, wherein the orientation of the upper and lower arms is substantially vertical and the orientation of the central axis of the pig tail coil is substantially horizontal. This arrangement provides a moment at each of the upper and lower arms which act to suspended weight of the exhaust system radially with respect to the pig tail coil.
US08109472B1
Structures and methods are disclosed regarding deployable structures with expandable longerons adjustably coupled with supporting structures such that an angle between the supporting structures can be adjusted. Such structures can include and/or be used for solar arrays, bridges, support structures, and more. These structures can be easily transported to a new location and deployed from the stowed configuration into a larger functional structure. In some embodiments these structures can use one or more longerons that can have two resting states: deployed and rolled.
US08109456B2
An integrated unit (1) for the treatment of drill cuttings, comprising one or more drill cutting inlets (2), one or more water inlets (4), one or more binder inlets (3) and one or more additive inlets (6). One or more measuring devices are arranged for measuring the composition of the drill cuttings furnished to the unit. One or more dosage units are arranged for furnishing the required amount of binder or additive respectively. The device further comprises a mixing (7) unit arranged for mixing the compounds and a first granulation unit (8) for milling, granulating, setting and hardening the mixture. The invention further describes a method for the treatment of drill cuttings and the use of an integrated unit on an off-shore drilling unit.
US08109453B2
A machine for quenching, crushing and feeding material that includes a continuous loop drag chain conveyor. A first portion of the conveyor travels through a quenching tank and a second portion travels beneath the tank's bottom wall. Large blocks of hot material are dropped onto the conveyor inside the tank. A rotary crusher is positioned to crush the cooled blocks into sized pieces as they exit the tank. The sized pieces drop through an opening in the conveyor's frame and onto the second portion of the conveyor. The pieces dewater on the second portion of the conveyor and drop through a discharge opening and into a removal device for transfer to a remote location for further processing.
US08109451B2
There is described a shower spray device including a lower plate with a plurality of nozzles and an upper plate with an inlet for the water supply. An elastic sealing element is interposed between the two plates to delimit therewith a chamber for distributing water to the nozzles. To maintain the correct pressure of the two plates, clamping screws are used also having the function of delivery nozzles, i.e. screws formed by threaded pins having an axial duct, with an outlet open towards the outside to allow water delivery, and at least one transverse duct to place the distribution chamber in fluid communication with the axial duct for water delivery.
US08109443B2
An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation can include a workpiece carrier movable relative to the workstation and having an encoder strip, at least one encoder reader located at the workstation for generating a signal in response to interaction with at least one encoder strip, and a drive engaging the workpiece carrier for moving the carrier relative to the workstation, the drive responsive to the signal from the encoder reader. The encoder reader can be selected from a group consisting of an optical encoder reader, a magnetic encoder reader, and any other absolute positioning encoder reader. A closed loop feedback control system can be provided for receiving the signal from the encoder reader, and for generating an output signal in response to the signal from the encoder reader in accordance with a program stored in memory. The encoder reader can be used for generating a signal corresponding to at least one of a position identification signal, a workpiece carrier identification signal, and a workpiece configuration identification signal.
US08109430B2
In one aspect the invention provides a method of cleaning molten solder from the hot tip of a soldering iron that does not require a water-laden sponge. The hot tip of the iron is wiped against a block of dry open-celled melamine foam. The block is formed with an inclined through-hole that leads to the bottom of a receptacle holding the block. The hot tip is wiped against the foam surrounding an upper end of the through-hole, and the molten solder removed from the tip accumulates in the receptacle below.
US08109417B2
A bra-washing device includes a shell and a divider removably insertable into the shell. The divider keeps one cup of the bra in one location of the shell and the other cup of the bra in another location of the shell. A system for washing garments includes a shell and two or more inserts each interchangeably coupleable to the shell. Each insert includes a three-dimensional form that is different from the three-dimensional form(s) of the other inserts. The openings in the shell may be sized to inhibit a bra strap from extending through the shell through the openings. A device may have buoyancy such that substantially all of the garment is maintained below the surface of water in a washing machine when the device and the garment are placed in the washing machine.
US08109416B2
A filling device (10) includes a tubular body (12) including, in an upper section (14), a feeding chamber (18), and provided with a nozzle (20) for the flow of the liquid, wherein a liquid feeding conduit (22) leads into the feeding chamber (18) through a feeding orifice (24), and including a plug (26) which is controlled in axial sliding inside the tubular body (12), between an open position and a closed position. The device includes a servo valve (42, 142) coaxial to the plug (26) which is arranged in the upper section (14) of the tubular body (12). The servo valve (42, 142) includes a wall (44, 144) which partly closes the feeding orifice (24), and the servo valve (42, 142) is pivotingly controlled about its axis (A1) so as to regulate the feeding flow rate by modifying the closure area of the wall (44, 144).
US08109403B2
A cover assembly adapted to be fitted over the open top of a bin includes a pair of spaced apart, domed rigid hoods releasably attachable to upper portions of the hopper whereby an elongated opening is defined between the hoods of sufficient width as to provide access to the hopper. A flexible closure member spans the opening between the hoods while supported on trackways extending along marginal edge portions of the hoods which bound the elongated opening. A pair of rotatable rollers are attachable, one at each of the opposing end portions of the opening. One roller is spring-loaded, upon and from which roller the closure member is wound and unwound during travel of said closure member over the elongated opening. The other roller is connected by pull cables to the closure member, and powered to provide for travel of the closure member.
US08109397B2
A container made from plastic for holding beverages. The container comprises a mouth, a wall section which adjoins the mouth in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container, and a base section which is designed as a standing face. The wall section merges into the base section. The container is formed in one piece. The base section has an injection point located in the interior in a radial direction (R) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), and a central region which surrounds this injection point, and also a transition section which extends from the central region to the wall section. The transition section has a curvature with a finite radius of curvature in at least one and preferably in every radial direction (R) of the container in every geometric sub-section.
US08109393B2
The invention relates to a holder for safely storing and/or transporting frameless PV modules or other flat, cuboidal bodies, the size of which is defined by three sides and the thickness of which is defined by the shortest one of the three sides, wherein the holder comprises a base body made from a first material, which base body has a first and second side wall, at least one first and second support element and at least one first and second securing element, and further comprises a buffer structure made from a second material which is softer with respect to the first material and has an adhering effect.
US08109388B2
A security packaging provides multi-layer laminate structure for providing evidence of package tampering. The packaging may include a first panel having an opening therein in planar contact with an insert member and a film layer. The film layer may include a pattern layer that may be adhered to the film layer via an adhesion layer. A second adhesion layer may be placed onto the pattern layer to adhere the pattern layer to the insert member.
US08109381B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sorting piece goods. The apparatus comprises a sorting arrangement which comprises two rollers arranged parallel to one another, wherein these rollers can rotate about their longitudinal direction and wherein the rollers are configured in such a way that the piece goods are transported along the rollers, and comprising a transport device which conveys the piece goods in the direction of the sorting arrangement. According to certain embodiments, arranged above the transport device are displacement devices which make contact with the piece goods at least temporarily and displace said piece goods relative to the transport device.
US08109375B2
Some embodiments of a clutch system may an output member and an input member can be biased to engage one another along opposing clutch surfaces. When input member drives rotation of the output member and a fan blade device secured thereto, the resulting fan thrust provides supplemental engagement to the opposing clutch surfaces.
US08109371B2
A damper is comprised of an actuator (A) connected to a sprung member (B) side of a vehicle, the actuator (A) including a motion converting mechanism (T) for transforming a linear motion into a rotational motion and a motor (M) to which the rotational motion resulting from the transformation by the motion converting mechanism (T) is transmitted; a hydraulic damper (E) including a cylinder (C), a piston (P) inserted slidably into the cylinder (C) and defining two pressure chambers within the cylinder (C), and a rod (R) connected at one end thereof to the piston (P), wherein a linear motion of the actuator (A) being transmitted to one of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C) while the other of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C) being connected to an unsprung member (W) side of the vehicle; and biasing means (1, 2, X, Y, Z) for biasing the hydraulic damper (E) in both compressing and extending directions.
US08109370B2
An actuator has planetary rollers disposed between a rotor shaft of an electric motor and an outer ring member fixed around the rotor shaft. The planetary rollers are rotated about the axis of the rotor shaft and about their own axes, thereby converting rotary motion of the rotor shaft to linear motion of the planetary rollers A helical groove is formed in the radially outer surface of each planetary roller in which a helical rib formed on the radially inner surface of the outer ring member is received. The helical groove has a pitch equal to that of the helical rib and a lead angle different from that of the helical rib. The amount of the linear motion of the planetary rollers relative to the amount of the rotary motion of the rotor shaft is determined by the difference in lead angle between the helical groove and the helical rib.
US08109356B2
A vehicle having an auxiliary power system for supplying power to an implement is disclosed. The power system includes a power enablement device having an enablement component that allows or prevents supplying power to the implement, and an auxiliary actuator operably coupled to the power enablement device. The auxiliary actuator can be manipulated between a first, de-actuated position and a second, actuated position. An operator actuable continuous actuation device is moveable between engaged and disengaged positions, providing an actuation signal indicative of its position. A continuous enablement actuator is capable of engaging the enablement component when the enablement component is in the actuated position to discourage the enablement component from moving to the de-actuated position. The continuous enablement actuator engages the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates one of the engaged and disengaged positions and is disengaged from the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates the other position.
US08109354B2
An oxyhydrogen vehicle includes an oxyhydrogen generating unit for electrolytically converting an electrolyte into oxyhydrogen gas, a combustible fuel supply unit for storing combustible fuel, an engine unit coupled to the oxyhydrogen generating unit and the combustible fuel supply unit, and an electric power supply system electrically connected to the oxyhydrogen generating unit for providing electric power thereto. The electric power supply system includes: a storage battery; an alternator driven by the engine unit to generate an electrical output, and electrically connected to the storage battery; a current controller electrically connecting the storage battery and the alternator to the oxyhydrogen generating unit for controlling electric current flow to the oxyhydrogen generating unit; and an auxiliary electricity generating unit electrically connected to the storage battery, and driven by renewable energy resources so as to generate an electrical output for charging the storage battery.
US08109352B2
Children's ride-on vehicles having window mechanisms, and window mechanisms for such vehicles. In some embodiments, the window mechanism is a manual window mechanism, and in some embodiments the window mechanism is a powered, or motorized, window mechanism. The window mechanism includes a window drive assembly that selectively drives movement of a window member relative to the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a powered window drive assembly that includes a window motor assembly and a window linkage to couple the output of the window motor assembly to the window member. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a manual window drive assembly. In some embodiments, the window member includes a receiving region coupled to the window linkage. In some embodiments, the window mechanism includes a window support assembly that maintains the window member in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle body.
US08109351B2
The present invention employs a multi-link to an excavator for the first, and restricts a relative movement of the center frame (10) and the roller frame (20) using a multi-link bridge (30) in relation to an undercarriage system of vehicle body structures of the excavator. According to the present invention, in an undercarriage system in which the center frame 10 and the roller frame 20 are independently from each other, a plurality of links is added to rotate up and down by a predetermined angle in a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction of the roller frame (20) and thus the overturning can be prevented and also operator's feeling of riding can be enhanced by preventing an inclination of the center frame (10) due to condition of an uneven road surface, and a service life of the track can be increased as the partial wear is prevented.
US08109348B2
There is provided a downhole hammer including a drill bit (2) retained by short (4) and long (5) drive pins in the bore of a driver chuck (1). The chuck (1) and bit (2) shank have machined longitudinal grooves (3), every second bit shank groove being blind and connected to the adjacent open groove by a short-pin length relief. The shorter pins (4) are inserted into the visible holes formed by the alignment of the open drill bit grooves and driver chuck grooves (3). The chuck (1) is then indexed which shunts the short pins (4) sideways until the longer pins (5) are insertable. The driver chuck (1) and drill bit (2) are engaged rotationally. The bit (2) slides by the desired distance due to the shorter pins (4) being entrapped in the blind grooves. The arrangement does not require a bit shank extension to accommodate a conventional bit retainer ring.
US08109335B2
Methods and compositions that include a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising at least a plurality of degradable diverting agents that comprise at least one degradable material selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol, a fatty acid salt, a fatty ester, a proteinous material, and a combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation during a subterranean operation via a well bore.
US08109329B2
An annular coupler for transmitting data across a tool joint may include a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. The annular coupler may further include a second coupler segment, electrically insulated from the first coupler segment, which spans a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. In selected aspects, the first and second portions do not overlap one another along the circumference. In certain aspects, the first and second coupler segments each span about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler. Thus, each coupler segment may make up roughly half of the annular coupler.
US08109327B2
A temperature control system for a container includes a refrigeration circuit having a primary fluid circulating therein and a secondary fluid circuit in communication with a first compartment of the container and a second compartment of the container. The secondary fluid circuit has a secondary fluid separate from the primary fluid circulating therein. The secondary fluid circuit includes a first heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the first compartment and a second heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the second compartment. Each of the first and second heat exchange modules includes a pump, a heater, a heat exchanger, and a three-way valve. A heat exchange interface between the refrigeration circuit and the secondary fluid circuit is operable to transfer heat from the secondary fluid to the primary fluid.
US08109326B2
The invention relates to a heat transfer plate (1) intended to constitute, together with other heat transfer plates, a plate stack (2) with permanently connected plates for a heat exchanger (3), which heat transfer plate (1) has a first long side (4) and an opposite second long side (5), a first short side (6) and an opposite second short side (7), a heat transfer surface (8) exhibiting a pattern (9) of ridges (10) and valleys (11), first and second port regions (12 and 13), the first port region (12) being situated in a first corner portion (14) formed at the meeting between the first long side (4) and the first short side (6), the second port region (13) being situated in a second corner portion (15) formed at the meeting between the second long side (5) and the first short side (6), and the first port region (12) being connected to a number of ridges (10a-d) and valleys (11a-e), which ridges (10a-d) and valleys (11a-e) have in principle an extent from the first port region (12) diagonally towards the second long side (5).
US08109311B2
A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding a sheet by applying adhesive including, an adhesive tank for storing adhesive; first and second heaters for heating the adhesive; a first adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a first position; a second adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a second position; an agitation member for agitating the adhesive in the adhesive tank; and a control device, wherein the control device operates, the agitation member after the heaters are turned on, then turns off the second heater and continues to have the first heater on after the second heater has been turned off when the second adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached a first temperature that is higher than an application temperature, and then completes a warm-up when the first adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached the application temperature.
US08109310B2
The rotational vacuum press with a membrane; according to the invention, is aimed at veneering of profiled surfaces and laminating of wooden elements and other materials according to a modem facilitated with pressure generated by vacuum and applied on the surface through the membrane. It is consisted of the main construction (21) on which central axis (16) is placed on which at least four turning working tables are placed (12) with moveable frame (14) which has an elastic rubber membrane fixed on (13) under which, on the working table (12), a working piece (15) is placed preheated in the heating chamber (31) with heaters (36), which is placed on rails in the low down part of the construction (21). On the surface of the table (12) there are canals (11) for vacuum, connector (18) and the vacuum conduit (17) linked by the vacuum conduit (10) through the irreversible valve (4) and entry filter (2); with vacuum pump (1) which has an outlet filter on (3) and is fixed on the carrier (27): Locking of the working table (12) is achieved by the mechanism (22) with lever (23) and handle (24). The press and heating chamber (31) are linked with the control cabinet (26).
US08109298B2
A duct system comprises a duct region to be monitored and an aircraft leakage monitoring element (2). The aircraft leakage monitoring element comprises a sensor wire which is designed, at least in one section, in the shape of a coil with a plurality of windings.
US08109292B2
An insertion piece to a single-grip mixing faucet developed as a control unit. On one side, the control unit is connected to a footing having warm and cold water inlets. On the other side, the control unit is connected to a driving arm. The control unit includes a fixed inlet disc and a moving control disc arranged above the inlet disc to form together a plane sealing. The side of the inlet disc opposite the control disc is coupled to the footing, whereas the side of the control disc opposite the inlet disc is in connection with a ceramic moving element, which, in turn, is in connection with the driving arm. The inlet disc includes at least one inlet opening for warm water, at least one inlet opening for cold water, and an outlet hole forming at least two outlet openings, preferably one for tub filling and one for shower filling. The driving arm independently controls the separate outlets.
US08109285B2
A roll-over vent valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve seating bounding an outlet aperture of the housing, a float member received within the housing and axially displaceable between a sealed position wherein a sealing member thereof sealingly bears against the valve seating of the outlet aperture to seal the fluid outlet, and an open position wherein the sealing member is disengaged from the valve seating whereby the fluid outlet is in flow communication with the fluid inlet. There is further provided a pressure-retention device extending intermediate the valve seating and the fluid outlet, to thereby shut fluid flow therebetween as long as pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet does not exceed a minimal pressure threshold. The valve further comprises a one-way fluid inlet valve being in flow communication with said fluid outlet to allow fluid flow towards said fluid inlet a substantially high flow rate at the event of under-pressure at the fluid inlet.
US08109283B2
An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.
US08109280B2
A device such as a compact or product container includes a plurality of stacked sections or housings, which are pivotable with respect to each other. The sections are substantially aligned with each other when the device is in a closed position, and when pivoted with respect to each other, the device is opened to allow access to compartments or reservoirs of the different sections. According to an example, a lower housing or section can include a projection which is received in a groove formed in the adjacent section and a depth of the groove can change from a first end of the groove to a second end of the groove to thereby change and vary the resistance felt by the user.
US08109268B2
A device is provided for detecting a gas volume flow, especially for a respirator. The device includes a flow sensor, which surrounds a lumen for guiding the gas volume flow, and the flow sensor has an ultrasound transmitter with a sound generator (20) and an ultrasound receiver. The device has a connection sensor (17, 19), which is designed to detect a connection, especially an installation position or correctness of the connection or both, of the ultrasound transmitter to the transmitter mount and/or a connection of the ultrasound receiver to the receiver mount and to change at least one of its electrical properties as a function of the connection, or to generate a connection signal, which represents the connection, and to output this signal on the output side.
US08109267B2
A dry powder inhaler for pulmonary or nasal use, comprising at least an inhaler body and a cartridge with one or more compartments each containing one dose of a drug. The compartment has holes to admit air and holes to deliver powder, which, in use, communicate with an inhalation channel in the inhaler body. To prevent the powder from leaking through the compartment holes before use, the air admission holes are of reduced dimension, thereby blocking or hindering powder exit under the force of gravity. When the cartridge is inserted inside the inhaler body, all its holes can be blocked. By sliding the cartridge in relation to the body until the inhalation position is reached, the holes come into in fluid communication with one another and with the inhalation channel, thereby allowing a flow of air to disperse and entrain the dose through the mouthpiece. Five embodiments are disclosed.
US08109263B2
An outdoor cooking grill includes a removable grease drip pan. The grease drip pan has a drain hole and a drain assembly having a plug that is selectively moveable to seal the drain hole. The user may use the drain assembly to drain grease and other liquid collected in the grease drip pan.
US08109261B2
A speed nock for use with an archery bow includes a first enlarged portion and a second enlarged portion connected via a central portion. The central portion has a maximum dimension smaller than maximum dimensions of the first and second enlarged portions. The central portion is positioned between strands of a bowstring of the bow so that the strands pinch the central portion, at least assisting in holding the speed nock in place along the bowstring. The speed nock can be moved along the bowstring to a selected location that maximizes energy imparted to an arrow shot from the archery bow, and thus the speed of the arrow. A related method of using the speed nock above is also provided.
US08109260B2
A bolt has a cylindrical fit receiving portion. When the bolt slides forward, the rear part of a valve body enters the fit receiving portion. At a closed end opposed to its opening behind the fit receiving portion, a cylindrical body is provided. The cylindrical body lets the interior of the bolt and the exterior of the bolt communicate with each other. The shank of an opening/closing body is slidably placed in the cylindrical body. This opening/closing body has an lid portion at the end of the shank on the fit receiving portion side and a coming-off preventing portion at the outside end of the shank. An opening/closing body spring is placed between the closed end of the bolt and the lid portion and pushes the lid portion toward the fit receiving portion.
US08109242B2
A cooling system for an engine is disclosed. The cooling system may have a pump driven by the engine to pressurize coolant, a single heat exchanger configured to cool pressurized coolant, and an aftercooler configured to transfer heat from air entering the engine to pressurized coolant. The cooling system may also have a multi-thermostat arrangement configured to always direct at least a portion of the pressurized coolant from the pump through the aftercooler, and selectively direct pressurized coolant from the pump through the single heat exchanger. The multi-thermostat arrangement may also be configured to selectively mix pressurized coolant from the aftercooler with a remaining portion of the pressurized coolant from the pump to form a coolant mixture, and to selectively direct the coolant mixture through the engine or around the engine.
US08109230B2
A coating and drying apparatus for the application of a coating substance to a stent and drying the stent is provided. The apparatus can include a cartridge. The cartridge can comprise a core, a plurality of stent mandrels, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The core can extend outwards from a circumference of the core. Each stent mandrel can be capable of supporting a stent. The first clutch can be coupled to the core and capable of being removeably coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first shaft enables rotation of the core. The second clutch can be coupled to the plurality of stent mandrels and capable of being removeably coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second shaft enables rotation of the stent mandrels.
US08109229B2
A spreading head particularly for spreading one or more adhesives or mixtures of adhesives, of the hot-melt or cold type, comprising a body for conveying the one or more adhesives to an extrusion tool; the body has two or more ducts, which are all separate or of which two or more converge, and the tool has one or more first extrusion channels and/or one or more mixing chambers which are connected to one or more second extrusion channels, the first and/or second extrusion channels being optionally mutually superimposed and/or laterally adjacent.
US08109221B2
The catamaran hull includes a pair of substantially parallel separate hulls, connected by an intermediate hull portion, wherein only one of the separate hulls includes a propulsion assembly. Each hull is asymmetric, but differently configured, such that the off-center thrust created by the propulsion assembly in the one hull is substantially offset by the turning force created by the difference in the two asymmetric hull shapes.
US08109210B2
The invention relates to a device for producing compressed bales from compressible pressed product pieces, each compressed bale produced having a cuboid form with edge lengths A, B and C. The device includes a press housing having at least one press chamber and a press shield that can be moved in the press chamber in the press direction and back by means of a mechanical drive. The press chamber has a cross-sectional surface of A×C/n. In the press chamber, n partial compressed bales can be produced in n first press steps, with a flat cuboid form with the edge lengths A, B and C/n. A storage space is arranged downstream from the press chamber, n partial compressed bales being transferable into the storage space. The partial compressed bales can be joined in the storage space to form the cuboid compressed bales with the edge lengths A, B and C. The press chamber is separated from the storage space by a mobile partition, and an opening-that can be freed by the partition has at least the dimension A×B in the opening position, such that a partial compressed bale formed in the press chamber can be transported into the storage space through the opening.
US08109204B2
A steam cooker includes a steam generator for generating steam, a steam temperature-raising device for raising a temperature of steam coming from the steam generator, and a heating chamber in which an object to be cooked is heated by steam supplied from the steam temperature-raising device. The steam generator has a pot (41) to which water is supplied, a heater (42) placed in the pot (41), a water level sensor (43) and a temperature sensor (48) placed in the pot (41). The water level sensor (43) and the temperature sensor (48) are placed at opposed side surfaces in the pot (41) that correspond to the short sides of an elongated roughly rectangular planar shape of the pot (41). An exposed state of the heater (42) from the water in the pot (41) is judged by the water level sensor (43) and the temperature sensor (48).
US08109196B1
An improved gas tube system for a firearm having a gas tube with a distal end that is selectively openable to permit access to the distal end of the gas tube for cleaning thereof.
US08109189B2
A hole punching device includes two first punching members and a second punching member intermediate the two first punching members. First, second and third lever arms are adapted to render one of the two first punching members, another of the two first punching members and the second punching member to press holes in sheets respectively. The first lever arm has a longitudinal length longer than those of the second and third lever arms, with the second lever arm being longer than that of the third lever arm. Further, the first lever arm actuates the second and third lever arms upon depression of the hole punching device.
US08109187B2
A tissue harvesting method and device for obtaining micrograft tissue particles within the size range of 50-1500 microns, and more preferably 500-1000 microns, and most preferably 600 microns. The particles may be processed after a piece of donor tissue has been excised from the donor site, or processed into the desired size directly at the donor site, and thereafter excised. Cutters having blades or cutting edges spaced in the range of 50-1500 microns are utilized to obtain particles within the desired size range. An elastomer is positioned between the cutting edges to push the excised particles out of the blades for ease of use.
US08109183B2
An impact resistant tool or tool bit holder has an active end for driving a fastener and a shanking end for securing to a power tool. The active end includes a body with a bore to receive the shank and a pocket to receive a damping mechanism. The shank includes an end to engage the bore in the body, and a pocket to receive the damping mechanism. The shank is received in the bore in the body for limited rotation with respect to the body. A damping mechanism is positioned in the pockets to provide damping between the body and the shank during torque loading.
US08109171B2
An end effecter is positioned with high precision by stabilizing its attitude. Included are arms each having a pair of rods arranged in parallel, a bracket having the end effecter attached thereto and retained by the pair of rods, ball joints and each including a first joint element having a ball and displaceably connecting the bracket with the arm and a second joint element having a socket for retaining the ball, a connecting member for connecting the pair of parallel rods together and restricting rotation of the rods about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof, and a biasing member for providing a biasing force for retaining the ball in the socket.
US08109166B2
A twin clutch speed-change apparatus that can reduce shift shock includes a transmission with multiple gear pairs disposed between a main shaft and a countershaft. A twin clutch is provided on the main shaft, a rotational drive force from an engine being connected/disconnected between the transmission and the engine, a dog clutch is provided between an axially slidably attached slidable gear and an axially non-slidably attached non-slidable gear to select a gear pair, for transmitting a rotational drive force, from the multiple gear pairs. Dog teeth of the dog clutch include steps different in axial height from each other between a portion abutted against a lateral wall surface of a dog hole when the rotational drive force is transmitted by the dog clutch, and a portion abutted against a lateral wall surface of the dog hole when the rotational drive force is not transmitted by the dog clutch.
US08109165B2
A linear actuator includes a first structure having an axis. A second structure is configured to translate relative to the first structure in response to rotation of the first structure. First and second stops are respectively operatively connected to the first and second structures. The first and second stops are configured to engage with one another at a travel limiting position. A compliant member is operatively arranged between the first and second structures and is configured to absorb energy between the first and second structures in the travel limiting position.
US08109161B2
Solids deposition in a gas environment, such as a gas transmission line or pipeline are measured using metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment. The metal coated on the QCM may be iron, iron alloys and/or iron oxide. The weight measurements are conducted at a constant (ΔT) or controlled (T=f(t)) temperature between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe. The weight gain during a CE cycle is associated with the solids formation rate.
US08109151B2
A flow sensing system is provided. The system can include a first graphitic member and a first measurement device communicatively coupled to the first graphitic member. The first measurement device is adapted to measure a voltage along each of a plurality of orthogonal axes defined by the first graphitic member. The system can further include a display communicatively coupled to the first measurement device, the display adapted to convert the measured voltages into a signal proportionate to the fluid flow past the first graphitic member.
US08109147B2
A method for an imaging ultrasonic inspection of a three-dimensional workpiece, in which ultrasonic waves are coupled into the workpiece with at least one ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic waves reflected within the workpiece are received by ultrasonic transducers and converted into ultrasonic signals forming the basis of the non-destructive imaging ultrasonic inspection.
US08109144B2
A multi-axis accelerometer or a multi-axis angular rate sensor which can be made by an easy process and the size of which can be greatly reduced is provided. An inertia sensor has a substrate, a flat proofmass formed on the substrate and a stacked structure including at least a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode, an anchor unit formed in a cutout inside of the proofmass and fixed on the substrate, and a plurality of flat piezoelectric beams each having one end connected to the proofmass, the other end connected to the anchor unit, and a stacked structure formed in a cutout inside of the proofmass and including at least a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode, wherein the inertia sensor enables to detect an acceleration applied on the proofmass based on charges generated to the electrodes of the piezoelectric beams.
US08109141B2
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 or backlite). In certain example embodiments, a capacitor-based system and/or method is provided for auto-correlating sensor data to determine the existence of a material on the window, and then cross-correlating sensor data to identify the type and/or amount of that material (e.g., rain). This data may be used to actuate and/or deactivate a vehicle's wiper(s), and/or adjust wiper speed. In certain example embodiments, the sensor may include an array of at least two capacitors. In certain example embodiments, the system and/or method may perform check(s) to enhance the accuracy of the detection by comparing, for example, the sign of autocorrelation values, maximum autocorrelation values, and/or gradients of autocorrelation values.
US08109139B2
The invention relates to a method for monitoring air pressure in vehicle tires using wheel electronics, which comprise a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure present in the tire, a transmitter for transmitting pressure information, and a receiver for receiving interrogation signals, wherein a transmission activity of the wheel electronics is triggered by the reception of an interrogation signal, which is transmitted as a pulse train comprising a command section that encodes a transmission instruction for the wheel electronics. According to the invention, the pulse train comprises an adjustment section having several pulses before the command section.
US08109129B2
A nanoparticle size classifier comprising a variable flow rate system with a single diffusion element 3 placed inside a cell 2 containing inlet 1 and outlets 6 and 7, an aerosol filter 8, flow meter 9, pump 10 and pump controller 11, which enables a plurality of measurements to be obtained by means of passing an aerosol through the diffusion element 3 at various flow rates. Preferably, outlet of the diffusion cell is connected to a particle counter 5 via a three-way valve 6. The diffusion element has a net or screen that permit air through but capture some particles. In a preferred embodiment, the nanoparticle size classifier is connected to a PC 12 (a notebook or a palm-size computer) to acquire and process data.
US08109125B2
A method for manufacturing ultralow-resistance current sensors of size 0402 to 4518 of IEEE specifications includes the steps of: a raw metallic strip being pressed to roll over a first tension roller, a cutting tool over the first tension roller being fed to cut the raw metallic strip so as to form a deep groove thereof along the moving metallic strip, an insulating material being filled into and along the deep groove so as to form an lengthwise insulating portion of the metallic strip, and the metallic strip with the insulating portion being segmented into a plurality of ultralow-resistance current sensors.
US08109122B2
A key-operated cylinder lock for operating a bolt or a latch, that can be programmed for use with one of a plurality of user keys without disassembling the lock or replacing the tumblers, with reduction or elimination of incidental or accidental re-keying of the lock. The lock has a rotating plug having one or more retainer cavities formed into the periphery, and lock configuration change balls, movable within the lock between a first position within a driver chamber and a second position within a corresponding retainer cavity when the plug is in a programming position. The positioning of the change balls within either the pin chambers or the retainer cavities determines the key configuration that can operate the lock. The lock employs a means for isolating selectively the retainer cavities from the corresponding driver chambers when the plug is in the programming position, to prevent incidental or accidental movement of the change members from the driver chamber into the retainer cavities.
US08109121B2
Disclosed is a drum type washing machine comprising a cabinet having an opening, a door installed at the cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, a gasket sealing a gap between the door and the tub by being installed between the opening of the cabinet and the tub and a moisture removing means provided at the gasket and a means sealing a gap between the door and the tub installed between the opening of the cabinet and the tub to prevent pollutants from being generated at a middle of a lower end of an inner side surface or to prevent washing water from remaining thereat, where the residual washing water preventing means is implemented as a drain portion or a heating member provided at the gasket that is capable of preventing odor or foreign substances caused by moisture remaining at the gasket.
US08109113B2
An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.
US08109112B2
A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the ice level sensor functions in a standard manner, or a reflecting configuration wherein the sensing level is effectively lowered within the storage assembly. In the reflecting configuration, first and second mirrored inserts, supported by respective insert portions on the storage assembly, cooperate with first and second reflecting plates on the storage assembly to redirect light from the emitter in a circuitous path. A user may position the mirrored inserts at various angles, depending on the level of ice desired within the storage assembly. The storage assembly may be utilized alone, or as in insert within an ice bucket.
