US08149379B2
The use of electro wetting to control the behavior of immersion liquid within an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed.
US08149374B2
Cholesteric liquid crystal display (Ch-LCD) devices with actuating thin-film driving elements are presented. The Ch-LCD device includes a first substrate and an opposing second substrate. An actuating thin-film structure is disposed on the first substrate. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer is filled between the first substrate and the second substrate. A common electrode is disposed on the second substrate. In operation, the actuating thin-film structure is deformed to drive phase transition of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer.
US08149363B2
A VA-mode liquid crystal display device which includes a pair of alignment sustaining layers 34a and 34b formed by a photopolymerized material on surfaces of a pair of vertical alignment films 32a and 32b which are closer to a liquid crystal layer, and a cruciform opening 22a provided only in a counter electrode. When a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, four liquid crystal domains are formed such that the azimuths of the directors of the respective liquid crystal domains are different from one another and form an angle of about 45′ relative to the polarization axes of a pair of polarizing plates. When no voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the pretilt azimuths of liquid crystal molecules included in regions respectively corresponding to the four liquid crystal domains are regulated by the alignment sustaining layers 34a and 34b.
US08149358B2
An ATM of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel having, between two transparent substrates, (i) an image forming layer including at least a liquid crystal layer and a pixel section in which RGB pixels are arranged in a matrix manner, and (ii) a plurality of barriers (16) for splitting a display image formed by the image forming layer into a plurality of images each having a specific viewing angle. The plurality of barriers are provided so as to face the image forming layer. The plurality of barriers (16) are extended in a horizontal direction (lateral direction) parallel to the surfaces of the transparent substrates, and provided at substantially regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, parallel to the surfaces of the transparent substrates (i.e., in a longitudinal direction). This makes it possible to provide an ATM that prevents a peep at private information such as a secret number without giving, whichever direction a display is viewed, a false recognition that the display is in a resting state.
US08149356B2
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel which has a liquid crystal cell including a predetermined liquid crystal layer and polarizing plates for holding the liquid crystal cell, a backlight source which is arranged on the rear side of the liquid crystal panel, for irradiating the liquid crystal panel with white light, and an absorbing layer which is arranged between the backlight source and the liquid crystal cell, for absorbing only the light of the wavelength band corresponding to a changed color of the white light while passing through the liquid crystal panel in the oblique direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal panel.
US08149348B2
A display device includes a display panel on which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, and a lenticular sheet which is disposed above the display panel and includes a plurality of prism lenses disposed on the lenticular sheet. Each of the plurality of prism lenses includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. Each surface of the prism lens is disposed extending in a first direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the prism lenses, and arranged substantially parallel with each other.
US08149347B2
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes forming a gate electrode; forming a gate insulator on the gate electrode, an active layer on the gate insulator, and an etch stopper on the active layer; depositing an ohmic contact layer, a first metal layer and a second metal layer on the substrate; etching the ohmic contact layer, and the first and second metal layers to form ohmic contact patterns, and first and second metal patterns including source, drain and pixel electrodes using a single photomask.
US08149346B2
It is an object of the present invention to form a pixel electrode and a metal film using one resist mask in manufacturing a stacked structure by forming the metal film over the pixel electrode. A conductive film to be a pixel electrode and a metal film are stacked. A resist pattern having a thick region and a region thinner than the thick region is formed over the metal film using an exposure mask having a semi light-transmitting portion. The pixel electrode, and the metal film formed over part of the pixel electrode to be in contact therewith are formed using the resist pattern. Accordingly, a pixel electrode and a metal film can be formed using one resist mask.
US08149338B2
A method presents metadata that is used for determining the color correction processes to be performed on image data representing a sequence of moving images. Instructions in the metadata controls how many color corrections are to be performed and when such operations occur. The image data is then subjected to the specified color correction operations that are performed at specified times and in a determined order. The image data is then rendered as a series of images by a rendering device. Optionally, different regions of the image data may be subjected to different color correction operations.
US08149334B2
A PIP (Picture In Picture) processing apparatus processes a main image and a secondary image and includes a scaling circuit, a memory circuit, a first selecting circuit and a processing circuit. The scaling circuit scales down the secondary image to output a scaled-down secondary image. The memory circuit stores the main image and the scaled-down secondary image. The first selecting circuit is connected with a controlling circuit to receive an image selecting signal, and is connected with the memory circuit to select the scaled-down secondary image or the main image as an output according to the image selecting signal. The processing circuit is connected with the first selecting circuit to process the main image or the scaled-down image.
US08149329B2
An image processing system, for processing display data and vertical blanking interval data carried by a composite signal, is disclosed. The image process system includes: a video decoder, for decoding the display data to generate corresponding image data; a VBI decoder, for decoding the VBI data to generate corresponding VBI image data; a converter, for converting the VBI image data into color index data; a transmission interface, for transmitting the decoded image data and color index data; and an image processing module, for receiving the image data and the color index data to deinterlace/scale the image data and converting the color index data back into the original VBI image data, mixing the processed image data and the VBI image data such that data to be displayed can be generated.
US08149324B2
The ratio between an image A and an image B is calculated as the comparison result of the images A and B obtained from a pair of optical images. The variance is then calculated in order to evaluate the statistical fluctuation of the ratio obtained for each pixel. The fluctuation due to the variance is evaluated for each phase difference while the phase between the image A and the image B is shifted. The phase difference detection is performed on the basis of the evaluation result of the fluctuation.
US08149320B2
A shooting optical system for performing flange back adjustment by moving a lens unit included in the shooting optical system in an optical axis direction includes: a drive gear engaging a lens holding frame for holding the lens unit; a drive unit for rotating the drive gear; a first gear rotating relatively to the drive gear; an operation unit for the flange back adjustment, for rotating the first gear; a detection unit for detecting a relative positional relationship between the first gear and the drive gear; and a control unit for driving the drive unit so as to rotate the drive gear based on a detection signal detected by the detection unit, thereby moving the lens holding frame in the optical axis direction so that the flange back adjustment is performed.
US08149318B2
A reproducing apparatus, an image data reproducing method, a program, and a storage medium each detects an attitude state of the reproducing apparatus, extracts a part of an area of image data obtained by an image pickup device, and reproduces the part of the area of the extracted image data. According to the detection result, the part of the area of the image data is changed to another part of the area and rotation processing of another part of the area is performed, thereby reproducing the another part of the area which was subjected to the rotation processing.
US08149308B2
A high dynamic range solid-state image pickup device is provided with a plurality of unit cells, which convert light into signal charges and accumulate the signal charges. The unit cells are arranged by rows and columns for outputting a signal voltage corresponding to the signal charges. A selector and a read transistor set an accumulation time period for accumulating the signal charges in the unit cells to a first period and a second period different from each other. The row selector and a vertical selection transistor select a row. Sampling capacitors (210a, 210b) are connected to the unit cell of each column. A pulse generator and sampling transistors select an arbitrary sampling capacitor from the sampling capacitors. The pulse generator and the sampling transistors perform selection so as to accumulate the signal voltage corresponding to the signal charges accumulated during the first period and the second period in the sampling capacitors, respectively.
US08149304B2
Solid-state imaging device having a plurality of vertical signal lines, includes for each vertical signal line, an effective pixel and a dummy pixel, a switch transistor provided on a path connecting the dummy pixel and the vertical signal line, and a read-out unit. The switch transistor is OFF while a first signal is outputted from the effective pixel and ON while a second signal is outputted from the dummy pixel. The read-out unit (i) reads out a level of the first signal while the switch transistor is OFF, and (ii) reads out a difference between the level of the first signal and a level of the second signal when the switch transistor is turned from OFF to ON.
US08149303B2
Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur.
US08149302B2
A method of processing noise in image data by an image processor having a signal-processing portion converting an image signal from an image sensor into a digital signal and outputting the converted signal as image data for each frame, the image data indicating sets of pixel values each having a brightness at a corresponding one of coordinate points arranged in directions of rows and columns is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: extracting pixel values; deciding pixel value; finding autocorrelation coefficients of pixel values which are less than a first threshold value; and deciding random noise in the image.
US08149294B2
An imaging device 11, in which photoelectric conversion is performed by an imaging element 16 for acquiring an image of a subject formed by the photographing lens 12, comprising a light source estimation unit 31 for generating estimated light source information for estimating a light source of the subject, on the basis of an image signal acquired by the imaging device 16; an light source sensor 18 for detecting a spectrum of the light source; a light source sensor information calculation unit 32 for generating a light source sensor information including the spectrum based on the spectrum; a color conversion parameter calculation unit 33 for calculating the color conversion parameters of the image signal based on the estimated light source information and the light source sensor information; and, a color conversion processing unit 34 for performing color conversion of the image signal by using the color conversion parameters. This allows the imaging device to realize precise color reproduction with an improved accuracy.
US08149293B2
A high luminance point detecting section of an image processing apparatus detects a high luminance point of the captured image. A chroma extracting section sets a first area in the captured image with the high luminance point serving as a reference point and extracts a first chroma by using color information of the first area. Further, the chroma extracting section sets a second area at a position more apart from the high luminance point than the first area in the captured image and extracts a second chroma by using color information of the second area. A color bleeding estimating section estimates intensity of color bleeding appearing in the captured image based on a value of the first chroma relative to the second chroma.
US08149289B2
A method of k*k subsampling, where k is an integer greater than one, a full frame readout on a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each pixel belonging to one of at least two sets, a first set configured to sense a first value of an image parameter and a second set configured to sense a second value of the image parameter, the method including sampling signals of k pixels of at least one set in a first row to output subsampled signals, converting the subsampled signals into digital signals having a lower resolution than the full frame readout, repeating sampling and converting for k rows, and adding digital signals for the first to kth rows within the at least one set.
US08149287B2
An imaging system is provided and includes an imaging lens and an imaging device such that the maximum diameter of an effective region of a point image becomes a size covering three or more pixels of light receiving pixels, the point image being projected onto a light receiving surface through the imaging lens from any position of X, Y, and Z directions. A signal processing unit in the imaging system executes restoration processing on first image data output from the imaging device that images an optical image of a subject projected onto the light receiving surface through the imaging lens, the restoration processing being executed to generate second image data equivalent to the first image data output from the imaging device when the resolving power of the imaging lens is higher.
US08149283B2
To provide a technique to obtain a synthesized image with an expanded dynamic range with ease and a technique to reduce workload of a user while maintaining the degree of freedom relating to image processing. There provides an image inputting part taking in at least one of a plurality of low-resolution images and a high-resolution image obtained by shooting the same subject while changing exposure condition, a shift detecting part detecting a positional shift of pictorial pattern between each of the plurality of low-resolution images and the high-resolution image, and a gradation expanding part generating a synthesized image in which a range of reproduced gradation is expanded by performing position alignment between each of the plurality of low-resolution images and the high-resolution image based on the positional shift, extracting a gradation information of the plurality of low-resolution images, and synthesizing it with the high-resolution image.
US08149279B2
A method of manufacturing a digital video camera is provided. The method comprises acquiring video images of colored light, and measuring a light intensity response of the video camera to the colored light. The method further comprises comparing the intensity of the measured response to a desired colored light intensity for determining a color intensity bias and storing the intensity bias for the colored light in the camera so that the bias can be applied when the camera is operating at an arbitrary lighting condition.
US08149275B2
A fixed-position buoy for observing and monitoring the surface of a predetermined area of water, including a flotation device; an imaging device operable for obtaining images of the surface of the predetermined area of water; memory for storing the images of the surface of the predetermined area of water; one or more communications devices operable for transmitting a signal representing the images of the surface of the predetermined area of water to a remote location; and a tether and a mooring attached to the flotation device, the tether and the mooring operable for securing the flotation device.
US08149261B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a video multipoint control unit (MCU) and an audio conferencing bridge, the audio conferencing bridge being operable to receive audio streams from audio-only and video endpoints, and to negotiate video sessions between each of the video endpoints and the video MCU. In response to detecting when one of the video endpoints is an active speaker, the audio conferencing bridge transmitting a dummy audio stream over a dummy audio channel from the audio conferencing bridge to the video MCU. The dummy audio stream causes the video MCU to switch an image in a video output stream. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08149257B2
A printer includes printing unit provided on a conveying path of a recording sheet and sheet feed unit provided on the downstream and upstream sides of the printing unit in a conveying direction of a recording sheet. The printer includes a platen roller, a first sheet feed roller, a second sheet feed roller, a first branch transmission gear group, a second branch transmission gear group, and thrust amount adjusting unit. A tooth trace of one of the gears of each of the first and second branch transmission gear groups has an inclination angle with respect to an axial direction, and the first and second branch transmission gear groups are formed of first and second idler gears including inclined gear portions of which inclined directions of tooth traces are the same as each other.
US08149247B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of generating a first rendered image associated with a first application, independently generating a second rendered image associated with a second application, applying a first set of blending weights to the first rendered image to establish a first weighted image, applying a second set of blending weights to the second rendered image to establish a second weighted image, and blending the first weighted image and the second weighted image before scanning out a blended result to a first display device.
US08149246B2
The invention relates to an editing of a digital document containing an image, a text, a pattern and the like on pages constituting the digital document. In response to an operation for deleting an image positioned in a page, such image is not added to another page but is moved to and displayed in an evacuation area provided independently from the page area. In the evacuation area, such image is displayed together with a serial number of the page in which such image was present originally. Thus the page layout is not destructed in pages other than the page of image deletion, and the user can easily confirm later the image existed in such page.
US08149240B2
An efficient symbolic differentiation method and system that automatically computes one or more derivatives of a function using a computing device. A derivative graph is used to graphically represent the derivative of a function. Repeated factorization of the derivative graph yields a factored derivative graph. The derivative is computed by summing the products along all product paths in the factored derivative graph. The efficient symbolic differentiation method and system operates on both single input/single output and multiple input/multiple output functions. For a single input/single output function, the order of the factoring does not matter. However, for a multiple input/multiple output function, the factoring order is such that the factor subgraph appearing most frequently in the derivative graph is factored first. The method and system also use a product pairs priority queue to avoid the re-computing of sub-strings that are common between product paths.
US08149234B2
A system is presented that is configured to reduce power consumption when performing processing tasks. The system includes a first processing entity capable of performing a set of operations, and a second processing entity configured to consume less power than the first processing entity and capable of performing a subset of operations that is part of the set of operations. During system operation, the second processing entity is configured to perform the subset of operations instead of the first processing entity.
US08149222B2
An electronic device includes a main body, a panel mounted on the main body, and a substrate disposed between the main body and the panel. The substrate is configured for carrying touch sensors, and is connected to the panel. The electronic device further includes elastic arms extended from the main body, bearing resilient against the substrate. The touch sensors are mounted in the electronic device reliably.
US08149217B2
A system for associating a selected object on any printed material to a valid response provided by a computer system includes a maker component to define an object on a page of printed material, and to link a position of the object on the page, the contents of the page, and the response to be performed by a computer system. The system also includes a pointing device to determine a position on the printed material, a communicating device to transmit the position to the computer system, and a player component to correlate the position to selected digital content associated with the printed materials, the selected digital content being accessible by the computer system; and to provide a valid response to a user based at least in part on the position and the correlated content, wherein the valid response includes at least one of rendering audio content, rendering video content, rendering image content, and performing an action by the computer system.
US08149209B1
A user interface system includes a data receiving device and a portable data device having a memory. The portable data device may include a wireless interface configured to transmit data stored in the memory. A user may interface with the data receiving device by physically manipulating the portable data device.
US08149203B2
A method and a system for displaying images are provided. In the method, a pixel is provided that includes a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material. A first electric field is momentarily applied to the pixel to electrically polarize the ferroelectric layer to a first polarization. The first polarization is then used to maintain the liquid crystal material in a first orientation corresponding to a first apparent brightness of the pixel.
US08149200B2
An overdrive system adaptable for a dynamic gamma generator is disclosed. A current gray-to-voltage converter (G/V) converts image data of a current frame from gray code to voltage level, and a previous gray-to-voltage converter (G/V) converts image data of a previous frame from gray code to voltage level. The voltage level of current frame and the voltage level of previous frame are inputted to an overdrive-voltage lookup table to retrieve an overdrive voltage level. Afterwards, a voltage-to-gray converter (V/G) converts the retrieved overdrive voltage level from voltage level back to gray code, resulting in an overdrive gray code. Accordingly, the overdrive gray code is compensated. Alternatively, the overdrive gray code is used to update an overdrive-gray-code lookup table, an output gray code of which is fed to the source driver.
US08149198B2
Gray scale display is performed by combining time ratio gray scale and voltage gray scale in a liquid crystal display device which performs display in OCB mode. In doing so, one frame is divided into subframes corresponding to the number of bit for the time ratio gray scale. Initialize voltage is applied onto the liquid crystal upon display of a subframe.
US08149196B2
A display device, and an apparatus and method for driving the display device are provided, to obtain a rapid speed in a calculation circuit for converting data of three colors to data of four colors, and to perform various algorithms for extracting white color data with one data converter. The apparatus in one embodiment includes a data driver for supplying video data signals to the respective sub-pixels; a gate driver for supplying scan signals to the respective sub-pixels; a data converter for extracting a plurality of white color signals by using three-color source data, and for generating white color data based upon a selection signal, so as to convert the three-color source data to four-color data; and a timing controller for supplying the four-color data outputted from the data converter to the data driver, and controlling the gate driver and the data driver.
US08149194B2
A base structure is used for bearing a display. The base structure includes a support and a seat. The support is connected to a display at one end and detachably disposed on the seat at the other end. The support has a buckling member, and the seat has at least one slot. The buckling member is fitted on the end of the support disposed on the seat, and is rotatable between a release position and a clamping position relative to the support. The buckling member has at least one baffle. When the buckling member is at the release position, the support is detached from the seat by passing the baffle through the slot. When the buckling member is at the clamping position, the baffle and the slot form an angle, and the baffle and the seat have a retaining relationship so as to lock the support on the seat.
US08149192B2
There is provided an optical writing image forming device including: a positioning section positioning an optically written display medium including a pair of electrodes with at least one of which formed by a group of plural sub-electrodes, a display layer, and a photoconductor layer; a display layer initialization section applying an initialization voltage between the pair of electrodes and irradiating initialization light over the entire region of the photoconductor layer; an optical writing section; a head position identification section; and a writing information erasing section, based on information identified by the head position identification section, erasing in a time-series writing information in the display layer corresponding to the group of the plural sub-electrodes by selecting the sub-electrodes in sequence so that an image writing head does not obstruct light emitted from the initialization light source while the image writing head light source is being returned to a standby position.
US08149189B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a first scan switching element controlled in response to a first scan signal from a first scan line and connected between a first data line and a first node, a first storage capacitor connected between the first node and an AC voltage supply line, a first driving switching element controlled in response to a signal applied to the first node and connected between a second node and the AC voltage supply line, a light emitting element connected between a high-level voltage supply line and the second node, a first sensing switching element controlled in response to a first gate signal from a first gate line and connected between the first data line and the second node, a second scan switching element controlled in response to a second scan signal from a second scan line and connected between a second data line and a third node, a second storage capacitor connected between the third node and the AC voltage supply line, and a second driving switching element controlled in response to a signal applied to the third node and connected between the second node and the AC voltage supply line.
US08149188B2
A power source line 1 and a scanning line 3 are arranged on different wiring layers so as to be orthogonal to each other. In the wiring layer on which the scanning line 3 is arranged, a bypass line 111 is arranged on at least a part of a portion obtained by removing a planar position of the scanning line 3 from a planar position of the power source line 1. Contacts 121 and 122 establish electric connection between the power source line 1 and the bypass line 111. As described above, the bypass line 111 is connected to the power source line 1 in parallel, leading to decrease in resistance of the power source line 1 and suppression of unevenness in brightness at a display screen. Moreover, an additional manufacturing step for providing the bypass line 111 is unnecessary. Further, an aperture ratio is not reduced even when the bypass line 111 is provided. When the bypass line 111 is made wider than the power source line 1, a pixel circuit can be prevented from operating erroneously due to external light.
US08149187B2
An organic light emitting display that can minimize degradation of a drive transistor comprising a first switching element whose control electrode is electrically coupled to a scan line, being electrically coupled between a data line and a first voltage line for transmitting a data signal; a drive transistor whose control electrode is electrically coupled to the first switching element, being electrically coupled between the first and second voltage lines; an organic light emitting diode electrically coupled to the drive transistor, displaying an image by a current supplied through the drive transistor; a first capacitive element electrically coupled between the control electrode of the drive transistor and the first switching element; a second capacitive element electrically coupled between the first capacitive element and the second voltage line; a second switching element electrically coupled between the first voltage line and the control electrode of the drive transistor; a third switching element electrically coupled between the first switching element and the drive transistor; a fourth switching element electrically coupled between the control electrode of the drive transistor and the second voltage line; and a fifth switching element electrically coupled between the drive transistor and the second voltage line.
US08149186B2
A pixel including an organic light emitting diode, a second transistor controlling a current supplied to the organic light emitting diode, a pixel circuit configured to compensate a threshold voltage of the second transistor; and a compensating unit controlling a voltage of a gate electrode of the second transistor in order to compensate for deterioration of the organic light emitting diode. The compensating unit includes seventh and eighth transistors coupled in series between the organic light emitting diode and a first power source, the seventh and eight transistors being commonly connected to a fourth node therebetween, first and second feedback capacitors coupled in series between the fourth node and a second node, the second node being coupled to the gate electrode of the second transistor, and a ninth transistor coupled between a predetermined voltage source and a fifth node that is common to the first and second feedback capacitors.
US08149185B2
A pixel circuit, display device, and method of driving a pixel circuit enabling source-follower output with no deterioration of luminance even with a change of the current-voltage characteristic of the light emitting element along with elapse, enabling a source-follower circuit of n-channel transistors, and able to use an n-channel transistor as an EL drive transistor while using current anode-cathode electrodes, wherein a source of a TFT 111 as a drive transistor is connected to an anode of a light emitting element 114, a drain is connected to a power source potential VCC, a capacitor C111 is connected between a gate and source of the TFT 111, and a source potential of the TFT 111 is connected to a fixed potential through a TFT 113 as a switching transistor.
US08149183B2
Various embodiments and methods relating to driving a stacked arrangement of display panels are disclosed.
US08149177B1
A slotted waveguide antenna stiffened structure for an aircraft having an aircraft skin. The slotted waveguide antenna stiffening structure including a structural stiffening element reinforcing the aircraft skin; the structural element connected to a radio frequency feed source, the source providing energy with electromagnetic bandwidth to a slotted waveguide antenna having a plurality of slots. The antenna conformal to the aircraft skin and the structural stiffening element, the structural stiffening elements functioning as waveguides for the electromagnetic bandwidth. The slots may include a slot sealant enclosing the plurality of slots.
US08149176B2
A device for controlling a satellite tracking antenna. An azimuth drive is configured to impart an azimuthal rotational motion to the antenna about an azimuth axis. An elevation axis drive is configured to impart a rotational motion to the antenna about an elevation axis orthogonal to the azimuth axis. A tilt axis drive is configured to impart a rotational motion to the antenna about a tilt axis. The tilt axis is connected to the elevation axis in such a way that the rotational freedom of motion of the antenna about the tilt axis is dependent on the elevation angle such that: at an elevation angle of 0° the rotational freedom of motion of the antenna about the tilt axis corresponds to the azimuthal rotational motion; at an increasing elevation angle the rotational freedom of motion about the antenna successively transcends into a roll rotation; and at an elevation angle of 90° the rotational freedom of motion of the antenna about the tilt axis corresponds to a roll rotation about a roll axis orthogonal to the azimuth axis and to the elevation axis. A control controls the operation of the azimuth axis drive, the elevation axis drive, and the tilt axis drive. The control includes a true north seeking gyro for tracking position, orientation, direction and speed of movement of the device. The control further includes an additional gyro comprising an elevation gyro axis arranged to sense the elevation movement and a tilt gyro axis arranged to sense the tilt movement, so as to minimize the angular velocity of the antenna pointing vector. A method for controlling a satellite tracking antenna, and a vessel including the device.
US08149174B2
An antenna system includes plural antennas. Each antenna is different than every other antenna. Each antenna is characterized by a principal plane. A principal plane of a first antenna is oblique to a principal plane of a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first insulating substrate extending in the principal plane of the first antenna. The first antenna further includes a first radiating element and a connected first conductor and includes a second radiating element and a connected second conductor. The first antenna further includes a coupling conductor coupling the second radiating element and the first conductor. The first antenna further includes a first coupler having a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor. The first signal conductor is coupled to the second conductor, and the second signal conductor is coupled to the first radiating element.
US08149172B2
An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a substrate, a ground element, a first feed conductor and a second feed conductor. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The ground element is formed on the first surface, wherein the ground element has an aperture, the aperture is funnel shaped, the aperture has an opening portion and a convergent portion, and the opening portion is connected to the convergent portion. The first feed conductor is disposed on the second surface, wherein the first feed conductor feeds a first signal to the aperture. The second feed conductor is disposed on the second surface, wherein the second feed conductor feeds a second signal to the aperture.
US08149165B2
Techniques for interfacing a set of active elements with an antenna array. In one exemplary embodiment, the active elements include a plurality of signal paths, each signal path including a mixer coupled to a local oscillator (LO) signal having an adjustable phase. When the active elements are to be interfaced with an unbalanced antenna, the phase of the LO signal for each signal path coupled to the unbalanced antenna may be adjusted independently of the other signal paths. When the active elements are to be interfaced with a balanced antenna, the phases of the LO signals for the two signal paths coupled to the balanced antenna are adjusted to differ by π radians from each other. The techniques may be applied in either receiver or transmitter applications to provide a flexible interface between an antenna array and an integrated circuit (IC) without the use of baluns.
US08149163B2
To provide a GPS compound device having a configuration including a GPS receiver, that accurately determines abnormality in an output from the GPS receiver based on a difference between a GPS pseudorange measurement and a Doppler frequency measurement, when detecting the abnormality in the outputs from the GPS receiver, while avoiding continuation of the abnormality at the time of the abnormality determination resulting from estimation errors of the GPS pseudorange measurement and the Doppler frequency measurement. When the abnormality of the outputs from the GPS receiver are detected, an abnormal period is counted. When the count value is below a predetermined threshold, the outputs from the GPS receiver are treated as abnormal, and after it exceeded the threshold, the outputs from the GPS receiver are treated as normal. Thus, the abnormality of the outputs from the GPS receiver can be determined accurately.
US08149151B2
A sensor system for generating sample analog signals for processing by a signal processing circuit that utilizes non-constant weights includes a plurality of signal generating elements and a switching network having a plurality of switches operably coupled to the plurality of signal generating elements. The switching network is configured to switch the plurality of signal generating elements between a plurality of different configurations. The system includes a dynamic element matching (DEM) control system for controlling the switch network to implement a second order DEM rotation scheme in which the plurality of signal generating elements are switched to each configuration in the plurality of configurations in a first sequence and then switched to each configuration in the plurality in a second sequence, the second sequence being the reverse of the first sequence.
US08149150B2
A cyclic A/D converter 21 provides an amplification type noise cancellation process and cyclic A/D conversion in which a plurality of capacitors and an operational amplifier are shared without complicated processing. In the cyclic A/D converter 21, a gain stage 23 uses first to third capacitors 33, 35 and 37 and an operational amplifier circuit 39 to perform the process for noise cancellation and amplification to generate a difference signal between first and second signal levels. In the process for noise cancellation, the difference between the first signal level VR and the second signal level VS is generated. The amplification of this difference is carried out in conjunction with the process for noise cancellation. The gain stage 23 uses the first to third capacitors 33, 35 and 37 and the operational amplifier circuit 39 to perform the process for cyclic A/D conversion of the difference signal. A sub A/D converter circuit 25 receives a signal VOP from an output (e.g., a non-inverting output) 39a of the operational amplifier circuit 39.
US08149147B2
Disclosed herein are one or more embodiments that facilitate compression of a source file having a fixed-length record therein. One or more of the disclosed embodiments detect the fixed-length records and determine a reordering plan for the source file, including determining a plurality of column groupings within the detected fixed-length records.
US08149146B2
An automatic power control system, an automatic power control method, a down sampling circuit and a down sampling method. The automatic power control system is incorporated in an optical disc drive comprising a laser diode for receiving a control signal to generate a laser beam; and a photodetector for detecting the laser beam to generate an analog input signal. The automatic power control system comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a down sampling circuit, a comparator, and a digital-to-analog converter. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog input signal to digital data. The down sampling circuit, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, comprises a down sampler, a counter, and a controller. The down sampler receives a predetermined amount of digital data to generate representation data. The counter, coupled to the down sampler, calculates the amount of digital data, and resets the down sampler when the amount equals or exceeds the predetermined count. The controller, coupled to the counter, disables the counter when the digital data is invalid. The comparator, coupled to the down sampling circuit, compares the representation data with predetermined target data to generate error data. The digital-to-analog converter, coupled to the comparator, converts the error data to analog to generate the control signal.
US08149145B2
A method for performing adaptive lossless data compression using a buffer memory comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of first match signals (m(0) to m(n)), each first match signal indicating whether a byte of an input sequence matches a byte in a memory location of the buffer memory. A plurality of second match signals (mD(0) to mD(n)) are generated, wherein a second match signal (mD) is a delayed version of a corresponding first match signal (m). The second match signals (mD(0) to mD(n)) are used to detect a match sequence between the data bytes received in the input sequence and the data bytes stored in the content addressable memory, and the first match signals (m(0) to m(n)) used to predict whether the match sequence continues during a subsequent byte of the input sequence.
US08149142B2
An adaptive range vehicle recovery system including an adaptive range vehicle locating unit including a narrowband baseband generator for generating a narrowband signal, a wideband baseband generator for generating a wideband signal, a timing control circuit responsive to an activation signal to transmit, alternately, said narrowband signal at a first rate, and said wideband signal at a second rate and responsive to a track signal to transmit one of said wideband and narrowband signals at a third, different, rate; and also to an adaptive range vehicle recovery system including an adaptive range vehicle track unit including a data decoder including, a wideband decoder for detecting data from a wideband baseband signal, a narrowband decoder for detecting data from a narrowband baseband signal, a bandwidth detector responsive to a received signal to distinguish narrowband and wideband signals and an input switching circuit responsive to said bandwidth detector for directing the wideband signal to the wideband decoder and the narrowband signal to the narrowband decoder.
US08149141B2
The present invention relates to a method for automatically preparing an update of audio communication frequencies between aircraft and ATC stations on the ground, a method making it possible to reduce the communication time associated with the necessary frequency changes between control sectors, therefore limiting the frequency space requirement, and reducing the workload due to the manipulations and control of these frequency changes, both for the air traffic controllers and for the aircraft crews, and wherein the flight plan or the current trajectory followed by the aircraft is dynamically coupled with the geometry information of the control sectors overflown by the aircraft and that, thereby knowing the intersection points of the flight plan with the sector limits, the frequency changes and sector name are prepared before each change of sector, while warning the pilot of their imminence.
US08149108B2
A system and method for controlling one or more medical devices by a remote console. The remote console communicates wirelessly with a central control unit that connects to one or more of the medical devices. To conserve battery power and simplify operation, the remote console is configured to automatically power on and initiate a wireless connection in response to being brought into proximity of the central control unit. According to another embodiment, the remote console automatically powers on and terminates any previously established wireless connections when brought into proximity of the central control unit.
US08149097B2
An electro-mechanical horn is configured with a body, a sound-generating unit mounted in the body, and a plurality of power source receiving regions for storing at least one removably mounted power source in a storage manner while containing a second power source in an operative manner thereby limiting discontinuity of the operation of the sound-generating unit.
US08149096B2
A patient-portable medication event monitor is disclosed which is capable of detecting the dispensing of doses of a particular medication from the monitor, comparing the dispensing detected with information concerning the desired dosing regimen for the certain medication and displaying graphically to the patient at least one feedback indication of the patient's degree of compliance or deviation with the desired regimen.
US08149094B2
Methods and systems of the present invention are directed to clustering RFID-tag readers of a multi-RFID-tag-reader network in order to obtain a set of RFID-tag readers with high probability of detecting an event, but with low probability of collisions and with an acceptable cost. The cost may be determined by any of numerous cost functions of the RFID-tag readers in the set of RFID-tag readers, and may represent a cost in power, long-term reliability, and other such metrics that may be applied to an RFID-tag network.
US08149088B2
The invention concerns a biometric capture optical device (1) comprising a prismatic optical element (2) having one side (4) appearing in a window (3) to provide a support surface for a bodily limb and illuminating means (6) designed to illuminate the side (4) from within the element (2) and form by total reflection a biometric image of the bodily limb; in addition, luminous information display means are located beneath the element (2) opposite the window (3) so as, in the absence of the bodily limb on the side (4), to transmit, without total reflection, through the window (3) a luminous information image visible from outside (15).
US08149080B2
An integrated circuit includes a substrate and an inductive device on a first side of the substrate. The integrated circuit includes a first ferromagnetic material on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side.
US08149076B2
The present invention relates to MEMS device that comprises a first electrode, and a second electrode suspended with a distance to the first electrode with the aid of a suspension structure. The MEMS device further comprises at least one deformation electrode. The second electrode or the suspension structure or both are plastically deformable upon application of an electrostatic deformation force via the deformation electrode. This way, variations in the off-state position of the second electrode that occur during fabrication of different devices or during operation of a single device can be eliminated.
US08149061B2
A class H amplifier circuit includes a Buck converter 20 and a charge pump 30 which are used to generate voltages which are used in turn to power an output driver 10. A feedback path 36 controls the loop. The circuit is particularly suitable as a high efficiency circuit for driving headphones or loudspeakers.
US08149056B2
An amplifier having an output stage with a complementary pair of first and second transistors each coupled to an output node of the amplifier; control circuitry arranged to provide a control signal at a control node of the first transistor based on the voltage at an input node of the amplifier; and adjustment circuitry arranged to adjust the control signal to maintain the current through the first transistor above a minimum value.
US08149052B2
A transconductor for providing an output current that is linear in the input voltage (Vin) comprises a main output transconductor (Ms, Mc) and a model transconductor (Msr1, Msr2, Mcr1, Mcr2) that are controlled by the same signal (Vc, Vc′). The latter transconductor (Msr1, Msr2, Mcr1, Mcr2) is comprised in a predistortion circuit (A), which measures the output of the model transconductor and the overall voltage input (Vin) to provide a control signal (Vc, Vc′) for the transconductors that compensates for their non-linearity.
US08149048B1
An apparatus and method for programmable power management in a programmable analog circuit block. Specifically, the present invention describes an operational amplifier circuit that includes current sources that are coupled in parallel. Configuration bits are asserted to selectively enable or selectively disable one or more of the current sources in order to modulate the performance of the operational amplifier circuit block. Selective addition or removal of current sources increases or decreases the amount of current within the operational amplifier and, correspondingly, the speed and power consumption of the operational amplifier. Combinations of asserted configuration bits pass a bias voltage in order enable selected current sources. In one embodiment, the bias voltage can be increased in order to increase the current output of one of the current sources which, correspondingly, increases the speed of the operational amplifier circuit block.
US08149047B2
A bandgap reference circuit comprising a current mirror, an operational amplifier, first and second BJT transistors is disclosed. The current mirror comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal and at least one output terminal. The operational amplifier is coupled to the current mirror, wherein a first transistor and a second transistor respectively coupled to the first and the second input terminals have a zero or near zero threshold voltage. The first and second BJT transistors are coupled to two input terminals of the operational amplifier respectively, wherein at least one of the first and second BJT transistors is coupled to the output terminal of the current mirror through a conductive path.
US08149037B2
A clock duty correction circuit includes a first current sourcing unit that sources a current to a current path in response to a clock signal, a first current sinking unit that sinks the current of the current path in response to the clock signal, a second current sourcing unit that sources a current to the current path in response to a delay clock signal obtained by delaying the clock signal by a predetermined time, a second current sinking unit that sinks the current of the current path in response to the delay clock signal, a current adjustment unit that adjusts an amount of the current flowing through the current path according to a voltage level of a control voltage, and a clock output unit that outputs an output clock signal having a voltage level corresponding to the amount of the current flowing through the current adjustment unit.
US08149036B2
A semiconductor device includes a phase division unit, a clock delay unit, a duty cycle correction clock generation unit, and a duty cycle correction voltage generation unit. The phase division unit is configured to divide a phase of a source clock to generate a first division clock. The clock delay unit is configured to delay the first division clock by a delay amount corresponding to a voltage level of a duty cycle correction voltage to output a second division clock. The duty cycle correction clock generation unit is configured to generate a duty cycle correction clock whose logic level changes at respective edges of the first division clock and the second division clock. The duty cycle correction voltage generation unit is configured to generate the duty cycle correction voltage whose voltage level changes depending on a duty cycle of the duty cycle correction clock.
US08149034B2
Locked loops, delay lines and methods for delaying signals are disclosed, such as a delay line and delay lock loop using the delay line includes a series of delay stages, each of which consists of a single inverting delay device. The inputs and outputs of a selected stage are applied to a phase inverter that inverts one of the signals and applies it to a first input of a phase mixer with the same delay that the other signal is applied to a second input of the phase inverter. The delay of the signals from the selected delay element are delayed from each other by a coarse delay interval, and the phase mixer interpolates within the coarse delay interval by fine delay intervals. A phase detector compares the timing of a signal generated by the phase interpolator to the timing of a reference clock signal applied to the delay line to determine the selected delay stage and a phase interpolation value.
US08149024B2
A dual function differential driver includes a voltage mode differential driver portion and a current mode differential driver portion. Control circuitry is connected to the voltage mode differential driver portion and the current mode differential driver portion. The control circuitry switches the dual function differential driver between operation as a voltage mode differential driver and operation as a current mode differential driver.
US08149023B2
An RF buffer circuit for a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) includes dynamic biasing circuitry to selectively flip the phase of the output voltage waveform. In a CMOS implementation, a PMOS/NMOS pair is employed in an output path. During a high (voltage) swing mode condition, the phase of the output is flipped such that the output waveform is in phase with the voltages appearing at the gates of the PMOS/NMOS pair. The technique thereby reduces peak gate-to-drain voltages and allows for improved reliability of the MOS devices in a configuration amenable to low phase noise and low power consumption.
US08149021B2
A first auxiliary switch circuit is connected to one terminal and a first terminal of a main switch circuit and generates a first auxiliary detection current. A second auxiliary switch circuit is connected to the other terminal and a second terminal of the main switch circuit and generates a second auxiliary detection current. A current adjustment detection circuit adjusts the first auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the other terminal and the first terminal are equal and passes the first auxiliary detection current in a direction of receiving the current from the first auxiliary switch circuit and adjusts the second auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the one terminal and the second terminal are equal and passes the second auxiliary detection current in a direction of outputting the current to the second auxiliary switch circuit, thereby generating a detection current being proportional to the output current.
US08149018B2
A sense amplifier according to the present invention for detecting a potential difference of signals input to a first input terminal and a second input terminal, includes a first means for applying voltages corresponding to threshold voltages of first and second transistors to gate-source voltages of the first and second transistors, and a second means for transferring signals input to the first and second input terminals to gates of the first and second transistors. In this case, a threshold variation of the first and second transistors is corrected.
US08149013B2
A novel driver circuit that uses a differential driver as a design backbone is described. Unlike a conventional differential interface, which typically has two or more outputs for providing an output signal and its complement, one of the differential driver's outputs is coupled to drive an output signal onto a signal line, while another one of the differential driver's outputs is unused and terminated, for instance by coupling the output to package ground or a voltage source via a capacitor. The performance of the driver circuit is significantly improved over conventional singled-ended driver designs.
US08149011B1
A method comprising applying a first voltage to a first transistor to create a defect in the first transistor, wherein (i) the first voltage is greater than a maximum operational voltage of the first transistor and (ii) the maximum operational voltage does not cause a defect in the first transistor when applied to the first transistor. The method further includes determining whether the first transistor has been programmed, including (i) measuring a first current through the first transistor, (ii) measuring a second current through a second transistor, and (iii) comparing the measured first current to the measured second current, wherein a difference between the measured first current and the measured second current indicates that the first transistor has been programmed.
US08149003B2
A method and a device for determining a humidity content of an insulation of a transformer, the insulation having a liquid. At least one dielectric property of the insulation is measured, an uncorrected humidity content of the insulation and a conductivity of a liquid which is included in the insulation is derived from a model of the insulation, said model being chosen depending on the measured dielectric property of the insulation, and the humidity content of the insulation is corrected by means of the conductivity.
US08149001B2
Low cost fingerprint system having a single chip solution includes a circuit board, a fingerprint sensor array fabricated onto a first surface of the circuit board, and an integrated circuit die for processing information received from the fingerprint sensor array is mounted directly to a second surface of the circuit board. The integrated circuit die may be electrically connected to the sensor by, for example, vias in the circuit board.
US08148990B2
A marine electromagnetic acquisition apparatus includes a sensor module having at least one sensor associated therewith. A sensor arm assembly is coupled to the sensor module. The sensor arm assembly has at least one sensor arm and at least one sensor disposed along the at least one sensor arm. An actuator is coupled to the sensor arm assembly for moving the sensor arm assembly between a folded position and an unfolded position.
US08148986B2
The invention relates to an HF-antenna system for carrying out and/or detecting a magnetic resonance in an object exposed to a main magnetic field which orients the object spins in a desired longitudinal direction (z) comprising at least one first antenna element (1) provided with several conducting sections (11, 12, 13, 14) which lead a high-frequency alternating current and extend from the common top to a base area in the form of separate claws in such a way that the testable object containing a volume of interest is enveloped in a helmet manner. Said invention is characterized in that each conducting section (11, 12, 13, 14) is embodied in the form of a HF (HL) line for electromagnetically connecting a wave propagating in a TEM mode or in an quasi-TEM mode with the spins of the testable object to be enveloped and the electrical length the terminals of the HF (HL) lines are selected in such a way that the magnetic resonance frequency waves are produced therein.
US08148985B2
A method for reducing maximum local specific absorption rate (“SAR”) in a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system is disclosed. More specifically, a plurality of candidate radio frequency (“RF”) pulses are designed and the manner in which they are applied to a subject is determined such that the maximum local SAR is substantially reduced relative to applying the candidate RF pulse that produces the lowest maximum local SAR alone. Put another way, this “time-multiplexing” of a set of RF pulses that each produce approximately the same excitation pattern yields a lower maximum local SAR than does transmitting the individual RF pulse having the lowest local SAR over many repetition times (“TRs”). A convex optimization method is utilized to determine the manner in which the RF pulses are multiplexed in time such that a substantially lower maximum local SAR is achieved.
US08148971B2
A layout of a voltage/current reference system is disclosed. A first voltage/current reference circuit (for example, a bandgap reference circuit) and a second voltage/current reference circuit are respectively laid out on either side of a substrate, such as edges or perimeter sides of the substrate. A reference voltage/current is derived by averaging respective output reference voltage/current values of the first and the second voltage/current reference circuits. Accordingly, the noise influence on the voltage/current reference system is minimized.
US08148963B2
A converter has a main feedback path and two auxiliary feedback paths from an output node to an auxiliary differential input pair of a comparator. The auxiliary feedback paths have different RC time constants so that a differential ramp signal is effectively applied to the auxiliary differential inputs of the comparator. The circuit design compensates for a negligibly small equivalent series resistor of an output capacitor so that modern capacitors may be used without compromising the stable oscillation of the converter.
US08148962B2
Systems and methods providing for improved voltage regulation of a supply voltage for an integrated circuit are described herein. The voltage regulator circuit includes a feedback circuit coupled to a first current path and adapted to maintain a gate voltage of a feedback transistor substantially constant. A pass device is coupled to a second current path and adapted to receive a signal with a magnitude based on first and second currents supplied by first and second current sources to the second current path. In an embodiment, the first current is a substantially constant current and the second current has a magnitude based on a magnitude of the voltage at the feedback transistor gate and a magnitude of a voltage at an output of the voltage regulator circuit coupled to the pass device.
US08148950B2
A charging method includes first and second charging steps to charge a lithium-ion battery. In the first charging step, a temperature rise gradient of the battery is detected. A battery temperature when the battery is charged to a first predetermined capacity is predicted based on the detected gradient. A charging current is controlled based on the predicted temperature. The battery is charged, at a current that results in a battery temperature that is lower than a predetermined temperature, to the first predetermined capacity. In the second charging step, a temperature rise gradient of the battery is detected. A battery temperature when the battery is charged to a second predetermined capacity is predicted based on the gradient. A charging current is controlled based on the predicted temperature. The battery is charged, at a current that results in a temperature of the battery that is lower than the predetermined temperature, to the second predetermined capacity.
US08148946B2
A battery pack has first through third external terminals connected to positive and negative power supply terminals and a voltage detection terminal, respectively. A secondary battery is connected between the first external terminal and the third external terminal. A protection circuit controls ON/OFF of first and second switching elements provided on a wiring between the secondary battery and a load or a charge device by detecting an overcharge, an overdischarge and an overcurrent of the secondary battery. A first thermistor is connected between the second external terminal and the third external terminal. A series circuit containing a second thermistor and a resistor is provided in parallel to the secondary battery. A third switching element is connected between the second external terminal and the third external terminal. The protection circuit turns on the third switching element and short-circuits between the second external terminal and the third external terminal when a detection is made by the second thermistor that a temperature of the secondary battery exceeds a predetermined temperature.
US08148945B2
A device configured to suppress the occurrence of an inrush current is provided at a low cost, where the device includes a power circuit configured to generate a voltage used to drive a load, a capacitor connected to a supply line provided to supply power from the power circuit to the load, the capacitor being configured in such manner to stabilize the potential of the load, a charging/discharging circuit that supplies an amount of power smaller than a predetermined amount of power to the capacitor and that discharges the smaller amount of power from the capacitor, a charging circuit that supplies an amount of power larger than the predetermined amount of power to the capacitor, and a switch circuit configured to make each of the charging/discharging circuit and the charging circuit operate.
US08148939B2
In a battery pack (1), control means (3) reads identification information or operating state detection information out of identification information memory means (4) or battery operating state detection means (10) and inputs it to a modulation circuit (5). The modulation circuit (5) modulates the information into an information signal which can be superimposed on a direct-current power transmission line and sends it to a charging device (20) or a loading device (30) through a positive charge and discharge terminal (11). The charging device (20) or the loading device (30) demodulates the sent information signal to take out the identification information or the operating state detection information and allows power source control means (25, 35) to control the output of charging energy from a charging power source (23) or the output of discharging energy to a load (33). Thus, in addition to the transmission of direct-current power, information can be transmitted only by the connection of two positive and negative terminals.
US08148935B2
A machine has a basic body and a machine element. The machine element can be moved relative to the basic body by an electric working drive which is connected to an electric supply system via a working converter. An electric buffer drive is connected to the electric supply system via a buffer converter. The working converter and the buffer converter are controlled by a control device in line with a predetermined travel movement of the machine element in a coordinated manner. The coordination is such that a total load on the supply system by both converters together during the total travel movement of the machine element remains below a maximum load prompted by the working converter alone. The buffer drive has a drive shaft which has no flywheel connected to it.
US08148933B2
A circuit arrangement for automatic, load-dependent control of at least one winding current of a respective motor winding of a self-timed bipolar stepper motor, includes a first power driver circuit for a first motor winding and a second power driver circuit for a second motor winding. The circuit arrangement includes a first XOR gate and a second XOR gate, and a first resistor connected so as to couple the first XOR gate to an anode of a first diode. A cathode of the first diode is coupled to the comparator input of the first power driver circuit via a second resistor. A third resistor is connected so as to couple the second XOR gate to an anode of a second diode. A cathode of the second diode is coupled to the current-controlling comparator input of the second power driver circuit via a fourth resistor.
US08148928B2
A method for starting a brushless DC motor. A rotor is aligned with a stator in accordance with a predetermined phase. After alignment, the rotor is positioned in accordance with another phase, two phases are skipped, a timer is set to a first count time, and the rotor is aligned with the stator in accordance with a third phase. Then the timer is restarted and the rotor is aligned with the stator in accordance with a fourth phase. After a first delay, first back electromotive force value is stored. The timer is stopped when the first back electromotive force value substantially equals a peak amplitude of opposite polarity. The timer is updated to a second count time that is substantially equal to a time at which the second timer was stopped. The process is repeated until the rotor has a position and a velocity that are suitable for normal operation.
US08148924B2
An electrical load controller that controls the starting sequence for a plurality of electrical loads includes a start demanding unit that generates a demand to start at least one of the plurality of electrical loads. A first electrical load is started immediately if the time between when a second electrical load start and when the second electrical load receives a signal indicating that the first electrical load will start (second prescribed time) is longer than the time required to send the signal between the first and second electrical loads (third prescribed time), and the time required for an inrush current to decrease to a prescribed value (first prescribed time) is less than the difference between the second prescribed time and the third prescribed time. Thus, there is sufficient time for the inrush current of the first electrical load to decrease before starting the second electrical load.
US08148921B2
In a method and apparatus for propagating optical signals via optical cables such as plastic optical fiber, known as lightguide joint and mingled with the electrical wiring and home automation system for controlling LED illuminators enclosed in standard screw type bulb bases or plug-in bases, such as used for halogen lamp via optical signal propagated through such standard bases. Same optical signals are propagated through power outlets and via power cable assemblies to electrical appliances for controlling the appliances operation and on-off switching. Full range of control, distribution, signal conversion, keypads and touch screen including video interphones monitors and shopping terminals operate and controls such home automation via the optical cables.
US08148916B2
A light source module includes a plurality of light-emitting blocks. A local-dimming driver drives the light-emitting blocks based on a received clock signal (first reference clock) and received dimming levels. The clock signal is input to a liquid crystal display panel and is also input to the local-dimming driver but is delayed within the local-dimming driver by fixed propagation delay. A delay modeling part performs modeling of the fixed propagation delay amount. The clock signal input to the local-dimming driver is first phase-compensated (delayed) by a phase compensation amount to synchronize the driving signals output by the local-dimming driver with the clock signal. The sum of the modeled propagation delay amount and the phase compensation amount is equal to an integral multiple of the period of the clock signal. The driving signal of the light-emitting blocks are synchronized and in phase with the clock signal.
US08148910B2
A differential driving circuit for powering a light source is disclosed. The differential driving circuit includes a first set of switches and a second set of switches. A first current from a power source flows through the first set of switches to charge a first energy storage element when the first set of switches are turned on. A second current from the first energy storage element flows through the second set of switches to power the light source when the second set of switches are turned on. The differential driving circuit further includes a second energy storage element coupled to the light source in parallel and for providing a differential voltage to the light source.
US08148908B2
A power supply control device for lamp includes a control unit, the control unit receives a forward voltage signal and a reverse voltage signal simultaneously from a zero-crossover sampling circuit and determines if a connected load is an LED lamp, then the control unit turns on a tri-electrode AC switch (TRIAC) after an operating voltage for the LED voltage is reached, thereby outputting the AC power to an outlet for illuminating the LED lamp; since the TRIAC can be turned on with the forward voltage or the reverse voltage, the LED lamp is powered with a stable power supply to prevent the LED lamp from blinking.
US08148906B2
In a constant current switching power supply, the current flowing through the load, is feedback-controlled based on the deviation of the detection value (Id) from the target value (Ir), multiplied by a proportional gain (PG), the value of the gain is set to a predetermined value immediately after the load switching element (5) is turned on, and is thereafter gradually reduced with elapse of time. When the current to the load (4) is supplied by a PWM controlled switching circuit (1), the PWM signal is determined based on a product of the deviation and a proportional gain. It is possible to shorten the rise time of a pulsative load current in a situation where the current is relatively large.
US08148905B2
An AC LED package and circuits are disclosed along with an AC LED driver. The AC LED circuit may include as few as one LED or an array of anti-parallel LEDs driven with AC power sources and AC LED drivers at various voltages and frequencies. The AC LEDs are pre-packaged in various forms and materials and designed for mains or high frequency coupling in various forms to AC power sources, inverter type drivers or packages. The AC LED driver is a fixed frequency driver that provides a relatively constant voltage output to different size loads within the wattage limitation of the driver and in some cases is a direct mains power source.
US08148890B2
A light-emitting device includes a support substrate which includes a light-emitting layer and a light extraction surface, and a light transmission layer, formed on the light extraction surface of the support substrate, having a periodic refractive index distribution structure in an in-plane direction and a thickness direction, the light transmission layer including a plurality of projections formed of a having a refractive index lower than that of the support substrate.
US08148879B2
In a sheet-type piezoelectric vibrator provided with a piezoelectric sheet made from a transparent organic polymer and electrodes formed on respective main surfaces that are opposite to each other of the piezoelectric sheet, an electrode material that is effectively used for making the vibrator colorless is provided. The first electrodes formed on one of the main surfaces of piezoelectric sheets are made of zinc oxide electrode layers, each mainly containing zinc oxide, and second electrodes formed on the other main surface of the piezoelectric sheets include polythiophene electrode layers made from a conductive polymer containing thiophene in a molecule structure thereof. Although the zinc oxide electrode layer is transparent, it is slightly yellowish, while, on the other hand, although the polythiophene electrode layer is also transparent, it is slightly bluish. Since the spectral characteristic of light transmitted through these two electrode layers is made substantially flat in the visible region, the coloring of the transmitted light is suppressed so that the layers appear colorless and transparent.
US08148876B2
Piezoelectric actuator (51) includes a piezoelectric element (11) that performs expansion/contraction movement in accordance with the state of an electrical field, a base (21) with the piezoelectric element (11) adhered to one surface thereof, and a support member (46) for supporting the piezoelectric element (11) and the base (21), the piezoelectric element (11) and base (21) vibrating up and down in accordance with the expansion/contraction movement of the piezoelectric element (11). The base (21) is connected to the support member (46) by way of a vibration film (31) having less rigidity than the base (21). In addition, the piezoelectric element (11) and support member (46) have different outline shapes.
US08148870B2
A coil assembly for a rotating electric machine is a stator coil for use in the stator of a motor or the like, which includes a coil plate composed of at least two coil plate elements respectively provided with an internal peripheral portion and an external peripheral portion and having predetermined wiring patterns formed by slits. The coil plate elements are bonded together at their internal peripheral portion and external peripheral portion while leaving the medial portion lying between the internal peripheral portion and the external peripheral portion spaced apart, so as to form the predetermined coil winding patterns.
US08148863B2
A drive arrangement with a first motor and a second motor is described, the first and second motor being coupled via a first coupling unit. The first motor is provided to generate uniform low-frequency movements and the second motor performs a higher frequency alternating movement to be overlapped. The total movement is transmitted from the second motor to a machine component coupled via a second coupling unit. The first coupling unit is configured to transfer the uniform low-frequency movement of the first motor to the second motor, wherein a transmission of the higher frequency alternating movement of the second motor to the first motor is suppressed.
US08148848B2
Solid state power controller (SSPC) used as bus tie breaker in electrical power distribution systems
The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system that includes a first primary distribution panel (PDP) connected to a first source of electrical power and a second PDP connected to a second source of electrical power. The second PDP is connected to the first PDP by a conductor. A first solid state power controller (SSPC) receives signals corresponding to the flow of current through the first PDP to a load. A second SSPC receives signals corresponding to the flow of current between the first PDP and the second PDP. The first and second SSPC protect the electrical power distribution system from a variety of fault conditions.
US08148847B2
An exemplary power source system includes a power source, controller, and a voltage fine adjusting unit. The power source includes a number of cells and a number of switches configured for connecting the cells in series or in parallel. The controller is configured for coarsely controlling an output of the power source by selectively turning on and off the switches. The voltage fine adjusting unit is configured for further and finely adjusting the output of the power source on condition that the coarsely controlled output of the power source is outside a predetermined acceptable range of output.
US08148843B2
An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
US08148842B2
An improved EPGS with an integrated electrical system architecture uses SPDAs with localised power converters to provide the necessary types of power to their respective electrical loads so that a single type of primary power bus may be used to connect its PDAs to respective SPDAs.
US08148840B2
An engine for reducing the temperature at the surface of a body of water during a storm includes at least one floatation member for supporting the engine, an elongate tube mounted on the floatation member configured to receive a stream of air therethrough, the elongate tube having first and second ends, a constricted center section therebetween and means for distributing water into the tube adjacent the constricted center section, a wind turbine having at least one rotor, a differential and a shaft connecting the rotor to the differential, a pump operatively connected to the wind turbine and extending into the body of water to a depth where the temperature of the water is less the water temperature at the surface and wherein water from beneath the surface of the body of water is pumped into the manifold and distributed into the elongate tube to cool the stream of air.
US08148830B2
A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board having an outer surface configured with a plurality of discrete electrical components. The assembly includes a first protective dielectric layer overlying the outer surface, and a second dielectric layer overlying the first protective dielectric layer and the discrete electrical components. The second dielectric layer includes a dielectric material having modulus of elasticity less than 3.5 Giga-Pascal (GPa), a dielectric constant less than 3.0, a dielectric loss less than 0.008, a moisture absorption less than 0.04 percent, a breakdown voltage strength in excess of 2 million volts/centimeter (MV/cm), a temperature stability to 300° Celsius, pinhole free in films greater than 50 Angstroms, hydrophobic with a wetting angle greater than 45 degrees, capable of being deposited conformally over and under 3D structures with thickness uniformity less than or equal to 30%.
US08148827B2
The present invention relates to a quad flat no lead (QFN) package is provided. In the invention, a plurality of first pads are disposed outside an extension area of a conductive circuit layer, and a plurality of second pads are disposed inside a die bonding area of the conductive circuit layer, wherein the extension area surrounds the die bonding area. First ends of a plurality of traces are connected to the second pads, and second ends of the traces are located in the extension area. An insulating layer fills at least the die bonding area and the extension area, and exposes top surfaces and bottom surfaces of the second pads. A chip is mounted at the die bonding area and a plurality of wires electrically connect the chip to the first pads and the second ends of the traces respectively. An encapsulation material is used to cover the conductive circuit layer, the chip and the wires. Whereby, the package of the invention can have more inputs/outputs terminals, and the insulating layer can prevent moisture permeation from corroding the joints between the wires and the first pads and the second ends of the traces, thus increasing the reliability of the package of the invention.
US08148824B2
A through substrate via having a low stress is provided. The through substrate via is positioned in a substrate. The through substrate via includes: an outer tube penetrating the substrate; at least one inner tube disposed within the outer tube; a dielectric layer lining on a side wall of the outer tube, and a side wall of the inner tube; a strength-enhanced material filling the inner tube; and a conductive layer filling the outer tube.
US08148815B2
An improved organization for a MOSFET pair mounts first and second FET dies in an overlying or stacked relationship to reduce the surface area ‘footprint’ of the MOSFET pair. The source and drain of a high side FEThigh and a low side FETlow or the drains of the respective high side FEThigh and low side FETlow are bonded together, either directly or through an intermediate conductive ribbon or clip, to establish a common source/drain or drain/drain node that functions as the switch or phase node of the device. The stacked organization allows for lower-cost packaging that results in a significant reduction in the surface area footprint of the device and reduces parasitic impedance relative to the prior side-by-side organization and allows for improved heat sinking.
US08148812B2
A thermal resistor is a metal body having a contact surface to be partially in contact to form a void and is electrically conductive as a whole. The thermal body may be a layered body having a plurality of metal bodies layered so as to be partially in contact with one another to form a void between them, or a metal body having a plurality of convex and concave portions on the surface, or a metal body formed by a plurality of metal plates each having a plurality of creases and layered so that the creases of the adjacent metal plates intersect, or a layered metal body formed by metal plates each having elasticity in the thickness direction and having elasticity in the layered direction as a whole, or metal body having a film formed by a different metal. Also disclosed in a semiconductor device having the thermal resistor inserted between a heating semiconductor element and a case cover and between a heat spreader and the case cover. Also disclosed is an electric device using the device.
US08148802B2
The present invention provides methods of protecting a surface of an aluminum nitride substrate. The substrate with the protected surface can be stored for a period of time and easily activated to be in a condition ready for thin film growth or other processing. In certain embodiments, the method of protecting the substrate surface comprises forming a passivating layer on at least a portion of the substrate surface by performing a wet etch, which can comprise the use of one or more organic compounds and one or more acids. The invention also provides aluminum nitride substrates having passivated surfaces.
US08148800B2
A nanowire-based device and method employ removal of residual carriers. The nanowire-based device includes a semiconductor nanowire having a semiconductor junction, and a residual carrier sink. The residual carrier sink is located at or adjacent to the semiconductor nanowire near the semiconductor junction and employs one or both of enhanced recombination and direct extraction of the residual carriers. The method includes providing a semiconductor nanowire, forming a semiconductor junction within the semiconductor nanowire, forming a residual carrier sink, and removing residual carriers from the semiconductor junction region using the residual carrier sink.
US08148798B2
The semiconductor device includes a capacitor 36 formed over a semiconductor substrate 10 and including a lower electrode 30, a dielectric film 32 and an upper electrode 34; a first insulation film 58 formed above the capacitor 36; a first interconnection 88a formed over the first insulation film 68; a second insulation film 90 formed over the first insulation film 68 and over the first interconnection 88a; an electrode pad 102 formed over the second insulation film 90: and a monolithic conductor 100 buried in the second insulation film 90 immediately below the electrode pad 102 and buried through the second insulation film 90 down to a part of at least the first insulation layer 68.
US08148796B2
Disclosed are a solar cell and a manufacturing method thereof. The solar cell in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate having a plurality of holes formed on one surface thereof; a metal layer formed on an inner wall of the hole and on one surface of the substrate; a p-type semiconductor coated on the metal layer; an n-type semiconductor formed inside the hole and on one surface of the substrate; a transparent conductive oxide formed on the n-type semiconductor; and an electrode terminal formed on the p-type semiconductor and on the transparent conductive oxide.
US08148791B1
A test assembly for a disk drive suspension head gimbal assembly includes a steel mount plate and a mount sub-plate of a material such as silicon carbide having a modulus of elasticity to density ratio that is significantly higher than the ratio for stainless steel. Preferably the mount plate and the mount sub-plate taken together have a first resonant shear frequency of greater than 50 KHz, which is generally greater than the frequency range of interest for testing head gimbal assemblies. The high modulus of elasticity to density ratio helps to ensure that any shear mode resonances of the test assembly occur at frequencies that are higher than the frequencies of interesting for head gimbal assembly shear resonance testing purposes.
US08148789B2
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes: a first columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a charge accumulation layer formed on the first columnar semiconductor layer via a first air gap and accumulating charges; a block insulation layer contacting the charge accumulation layer; and a plurality of first conductive layers contacting the block insulation layer.
US08148787B2
There is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising a P-channel MIS transistor which includes an N-type semiconductor layer, a first gate insulating layer formed on the N-type semiconductor layer and containing a carbon compound of a metal, and an N-channel MIS transistor which includes a P-type semiconductor layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the P-type semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer.
US08148780B2
Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for a memory cell having a floating body. A memory cell may include a transistor over an insulation layer, the transistor including a source, and a drain. The memory cell may also include a floating body including a first region positioned between the source and the drain, a second region positioned remote from each of the source and drain, and a passage extending through the insulation layer and coupling the first region to the second region. Additionally, the memory cell may include a bias gate at least partially surrounding the second region and configured for operably coupling to a bias voltage. Furthermore, the memory cell may include a plurality of dielectric layers, wherein each outer vertical surface of the second region has a dielectric layer of the plurality adjacent thereto.
US08148779B2
Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing the same and flat panel display device having the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) using an oxide semiconductor as an active layer, a method of manufacturing the TFT, and a flat panel display device having the TFT include a gate electrode formed on a substrate; an active layer made of an oxide semiconductor and insulated from the gate electrode by a gate insulating layer; source and drain electrodes coupled to the active layer; and an interfacial stability layer formed on one or both surfaces of the active layer. In the TFT, the interfacial stability layer is formed of an oxide having a band gap of 3.0 to 8.0 eV. Since the interfacial stability layer has the same characteristic as a gate insulating layer and a passivation layer, chemically high interface stability is maintained. Since the interfacial stability layer has a band gap equal to or greater than that of the active layer, charge trapping is physically prevented.
US08148778B2
A semiconductor device includes: an n-type first well diffusion layer; an n-type second well diffusion layer; a p-type source diffusion layer; a p-type third well diffusion layer; a p-type drain diffusion layer; a gate insulating film; a gate electrode; a device isolation insulating film; and a buffer layer. The buffer layer is formed between the first well diffusion layer and the third well diffusion layer to be in contact with an end of the third well diffusion layer opposing the source diffusion layer, and extends from immediately below the gate insulating film to a position deeper than a peak of curvature of impurity concentration distribution of the third well diffusion layer. The buffer layer has an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration in the third well diffusion layer.
US08148775B2
Methods of isolating gates in a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, isolation is achieved using a spacer material in combination with fins having substantially vertical sidewalls. In another embodiment, etch characteristics of various materials utilized in fabrication of the semiconductor structure are used to increase an effective gate length (“Leffective”) and a field gate oxide. In yet another embodiment, a V-shaped trench is formed in the semiconductor structure to increase the Leffective and the field gate oxide. Semiconductor structures formed by these methods are also disclosed.
US08148774B2
To provide a semiconductor device in which an interval between first wells can be shortened by improving a separation breakdown voltage between the first wells and a method for manufacturing the same. A semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate 1, second conductivity type first wells 2 and 3 disposed on a surface layer of the semiconductor substrate 1 with a predetermined interval between them, a first conductivity type second well 4 disposed between the first wells 2 and 3 on the surface layer of the semiconductor substrate 1 and having an impurity concentration higher than that of the semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity type third well 5 at least disposed below the second well 4 in the semiconductor substrate 1 and having an impurity concentration higher than that of the semiconductor substrate 1 and lower than that of the second well 4, and a first conductivity type fourth well 11 at least disposed below the third well 5 in the semiconductor substrate 1 and having an impurity concentration higher than that of the semiconductor substrate 1 and lower than that of the second well 4.
US08148768B2
A memory device, and method of making the same, in which a trench is formed into a substrate of semiconductor material. The source region is formed under the trench, and the channel region between the source and drain regions includes a first portion that extends substantially along a sidewall of the trench and a second portion that extends substantially along the surface of the substrate. The floating gate is disposed in the trench, and is insulated from the channel region first portion for controlling its conductivity. The control gate is disposed over and insulated from the channel region second portion, for controlling its conductivity. The erase gate is disposed at least partially over and insulated from the floating gate. The erase gate includes a notch, and the floating gate includes an edge that directly faces and is insulated from the notch.
US08148766B2
A nonvolatile memory cell is provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A conducting layer and a spacer layer are sequentially disposed above the semiconductor substrate. At least a trench having a bottom and plural side surfaces is defined in the conducting layer and the spacer layer. A first oxide layer is formed at the bottom of the trench. A dielectric layer is formed on the first oxide layer, the spacer layer and the plural side surfaces of the trench. A first polysilicon layer is formed in the trench. And a first portion of the dielectric layer on the spacer layer is removed, so that a basic structure for the nonvolatile memory cell is formed.
US08148764B2
A semiconductor device having a high aspect cylindrical capacitor and a method for fabricating the same is presented. The high aspect cylindrical type capacitor is a stable structure which is not prone to causing bunker defects and losses in a guard ring. The semiconductor device includes the cylindrical type capacitor structure, a storage node oxide, a guard ring hole, a conducive layer, and a capping oxide. The cylindrical type capacitor structure in a cell region includes a cylindrical type lower electrode, a dielectric and an upper electrode. The storage node oxide is in a peripheral region over the semiconductor substrate. The conductive layer coating the guard ring hole. The guard ring hole at a boundary of the peripheral region that adjoins the cell region over the semiconductor substrate. The capping oxide partially fills in a part of the conductive layer. The gapfill film filling in the rest of the conductive layer.
US08148763B2
Provided are a three-dimensional semiconductor device and a method of operating the same. The three-dimensional semiconductor device includes: a plurality of word line structures on a substrate; active semiconductor patterns between the plurality of word line structures; and information storage elements between the plurality of word line structures and the active semiconductor patterns. Each of the plurality of word line structures includes a plurality of word lines spaced apart from each other and stacked, and the active semiconductor patterns include electrode regions and channel regions, the electrode regions and the channel regions having different conductive types and being alternately arranged.
US08148761B2
Photoelectric conversion elements disposed on an imaging surface of a substrate, receiving light incident on a light receiving surface and performing photoelectric conversion to produce a signal charge; electrodes interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements; and light blocking portions provided above the electrodes and interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements. The light blocking portions include an electrode light blocking portion formed to cover the corresponding electrode, and a pixel isolation and light blocking portion protruding convexly from the upper surface of the electrode light blocking portion. The photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at first pitches on the imaging surface. The electrode light blocking portions and the pixel isolation and light blocking portions in the light blocking portions are arranged at second and third pitches, respectively, on the imaging surface. At least the third pitch increases with distance from the center toward the periphery of the imaging surface.
US08148758B2
A high-voltage field-effect device contains an extended drain or “drift” region including an embedded stack of JFET regions separated by intervening layers of the drift region. Each of the JFET regions is filled with material of an opposite conductivity type to that of the drift region, and the floor and ceiling of each JFET region is lined with an oxide layer. When the device is blocking a voltage in the off condition, the semiconductor material inside the JFET regions and in the drift region that separates the JFET regions is depleted. This improves the voltage-blocking ability of the device while conserving chip area. The oxide layer prevents dopant from the JFET regions from diffusing into the drift region.
US08148753B2
The present invention provides a compound semiconductor substrate, including: a single-crystal silicon substrate having a crystal face with (111) orientation; a first buffer layer which is formed on the single-crystal silicon substrate and is constituted of an AlxGa1-xN single crystal (0
US08148748B2
An Adjustable Field Effect Rectifier uses aspects of MOSFET structure together with an adjustment pocket or region to result in a device that functions reliably and efficiently at high voltages without significant negative resistance, while also permitting fast recovery and operation at high frequency without large electromagnetic interference.
US08148745B2
A light emitting module includes a semiconductor light source, a first lead with a bonding pad to which the light source is attached, and a second lead spaced from the first lead in a first direction contained in the plane of the first die bonding pad. The second lead includes a wire bonding pad connected to the light source via a wire. The module also includes a case formed with a space elongated in the first direction for accommodating the light source. The first lead includes an extension extending from the first die bonding pad, and a mounting terminal connected to the extension. The extension extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and contained in the plane of the first die bonding pad. The mounting terminal extends perpendicularly to the second direction. The extension overlaps the light source in the first direction.
US08148744B2
A semiconductor light emitting device including a substrate, an electrode and a light emitting region is provided. The substrate may have protruding portions formed in a repeating pattern on substantially an entire surface of the substrate while the rest of the surface may be substantially flat. The cross sections of the protruding portions taken along planes orthogonal to the surface of the substrate may be semi-circular in shape. The cross sections of the protruding portions may in alternative be convex in shape. A buffer layer and a GaN layer may be formed on the substrate.
US08148741B2
A semiconductor device is provided comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction. The potential wells may be quantum wells. The semiconductor device is typically an LED, and may be a white or near-white light LED. The semiconductor device may additionally comprise a third potential well not located within a pn junction. The semiconductor device may additionally comprise absorbing layers surrounding or closely or immediately adjacent to the second or third quantum wells. In addition, graphic display devices and illumination devices comprising the semiconductor device according to the present invention are provided.
US08148717B2
A manufacturing method for semiconductor device includes: forming an opening, in a surface of a semiconductor substrate being composed of first atom, the opening having an opening ratio y to an area of the surface of the semiconductor substrate ranging from 5 to 30%; forming an epitaxial layer in the opening, the epitaxial layer being made of a mixed crystal containing a second atom in a concentration ranging from 15 to 25%, and the second atom having a lattice constant different from a lattice constant of the first atom; implanting impurity ion into the epitaxial layer; and performing activation annealing at a predetermined temperature T, the predetermined temperature T being equal to or higher than 1150° C. and satisfies a relationship of y≦1E-5exp (21541/T).
US08148715B2
This invention concerns a quantum device, suitable for quantum computing, based on dopant atoms located in a solid semiconductor or insulator substrate. In further aspects the device is scaled up. The invention also concerns methods of reading out from the devices, initializing them, using them to perform logic operations and making them.
US08148713B2
A yellow Light Emitting Diode (LED) with a peak emission wavelength in the range 560-580 nm is disclosed. The LED is grown on one or more III-nitride-based semipolar planes and an active layer of the LED is composed of indium (In) containing single or multi-quantum well structures. The LED quantum wells have a thickness in the range 2-7 nm. A multi-color LED or white LED comprised of at least one semipolar yellow LED is also disclosed.
US08148710B2
A phase-change memory device including a first contact region and a second contact region formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer with a first contact hole and a second contact hole is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, exposing the first and second contact regions. A first conductive layer is disposed on the first insulating interlayer to fill the first and the second contact holes. A first protection layer pattern and a lower wiring protection pattern are disposed on the first conductive layer. A first contact with a first electrode and a second contact with a lower wiring are disposed so as to connect the first and second contact regions. A second protection layer with a second electrode is disposed on the first protection layer pattern and the lower wiring protection pattern. A via filled with a phase-change material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08148708B2
A resistive memory device includes a first conductive line on a substrate, a vertical selection diode comprising a nanowire or a nanotube and being arranged over the first conductive line, a resistive element including a resistive layer arranged over the vertical selection diode; and a second conductive line arranged over the resistive element.
US08148702B2
The invention is directed to an arrangement for the illumination of a substrate with a plurality of individually shaped, controllable particle beams, particularly for electron beam lithography in the semiconductor industry. It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for illuminating a substrate with a plurality of individually shaped, controllable particle beamlets which permits a high-resolution structuring of substrates with a high substrate throughput without limiting the flexibility of the applicable structure patterns or limiting the high substrate throughput due to a required flexibility.
US08148701B2
Described is device comprising dosimeter for measuring one or more doses of radiation; and an RFID tag comprising an antenna for communicating with an RFID tag reader and non-volatile memory for storing data therein.
US08148696B2
Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning disposable single-use radiation sensor patches that have adhesive means onto the skin of a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a treatment session. The sensor patches are configured to be minimally obtrusive and operate without the use of externally extending power chords or lead wires.
US08148686B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for sensing ambient conditions in electric equipment. These conditions may include verification of the user, the location of the equipment and various properties of the environment. The invention is preferably applied in mobile terminals. One idea of the invention is to provide a sensor arrangement with a substrate (663) that forms at least part of a sensor, and also serves as a substrate for other sensors (695-698). The substrate is preferably flexible so that it can be formed in a shape which is follows the shape of the device cover. The invention also describes a way to create two- or three-dimensional electrode structures that can be used to optimize the performance of the sensor. When the surface structure is designed to follow the shape of a finger, a very small pressure is required when sliding the finger along the sensor surface. This way the use of the sensor is ergonomic and the measurement is made very reliable.
US08148675B2
The length of the collision cell (20) in the direction along the ion optical axis (C) is set to be within the range between 40 and 80 mm, and typically 51 mm, which is remarkably shorter than before. The CID gas is supplied so that it flows in the direction opposite to the ion's traveling direction. Since the energy that an ion receives in colliding with a CID gas increases, it is possible to practically and sufficiently ensure the CID efficiency even though the collision cell (20) is short. In addition, since the passage distance for an ion is short, the passage time is shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the degradation in the detection sensitivity and the generation of a ghost peak due to the delay of the ion.
US08148668B2
A continuous oil fryer used to fry food slices, such as potato chips, having an internal oil stripping capability. The fryer accumulates the steam produced by the frying process in a hood and utilizes such steam, after superheating the steam by passing it through a heat exchanger, to strip oil from product immediately upon removal from the hot oil bath by passing the superheated steam through a product bed while on an output conveyor. The superheated steam removes oil from the product on the output conveyor without increasing the moisture level of the product. The fryer therefore accomplishes the same function as a low-oil stripper without increasing the footprint of the frying unit and with less energy.
US08148654B2
A switchgear assembly is disclosed wherein to combine individual functions to form a standardized unit, without deviating from known technology, electrical cabling between the electrical functional components of the switchgear assembly can be replaced by a wiring in a box. The electrical components can each be connected directly to the box by a bundle of bound cables. Another embodiment includes a coding plug for being plugged from the exterior.
US08148650B2
A transport system that reduces the amount of oscillation of the weighing platform thereby weighing mail pieces faster. A take-away nip of the weighing module is formed by a pivot arm having a roller mounted thereon and a drive roller mounted in the weighing platform. The take-away nip feeds mail pieces from the weighing platform to the subsequent module of the mailing machine. The pivot arm has a biasing mechanism with a force that results in less impact force between the pivot arm roller and drive roller when the trailing edge of each mail piece passes through the take-away nip, resulting in less vibration of the weighing platform as mail pieces exit the weighing platform. The reduction in vibration results quicker settling of the weighing platform during weighing of subsequent mail piece, allowing for faster weighing of the mail pieces, which increases the throughput of the mailing machine.
US08148648B2
A method for forming an electronics enclosure is disclosed. The method comprises extruding a backplane having a first extruded length, the backplane comprising slots on opposing sides of the backplane, wherein the slots extend along the first extruded length. The method further comprises extruding at least one door panel at the first extruded length, wherein the backplane and the door panel each have extruded hinge features for pivotally coupling the door panel to the backplane, and coupling at least two cast metal plates to opposing ends of the backplane, where each of the cast metal plates comprise a gland that aligns with the slots of the backplane to create a continuous channel for inserting a seal.
US08148642B2
A printed circuit board has a first main side and a second main side disposed opposite the first main side. A first and a second rigid zone are linked to each other by way of a flexible zone and the flexible zone is embodied thinner than the first and second rigid zones perpendicular to the first and second main sides. The flexible zone has at least one metallization layer and at least one substrate layer formed of an insulating material and connected to the at least one metallization layer. The substrate layer is formed with a plurality of trenches which in each case extend at the most up to one of the one or more metallization layers.
US08148639B2
An electrical cable (1) provided with a sheath (2) having external marking. The marking is formed from a block (3) of two patterns (4, 5), the two patterns being consecutive along a length of the cable, said block being repeated at least twice along the length of the cable starting from the free end (12) of the cable. The disclosed embodiments also relates to a method of crimping a contact (7) onto such a cable, the external marking of the cable making it possible to know the position of the cable in the barrel and thus guarantee that the crimping that takes place will be of good quality.
US08148634B1
An electrical box assembly for mounting a security camera or electrical fixture on a wall or ceiling. The electrical box assembly includes an electrical box and a trim piece. A plurality of rotatable flags, adjustable from the front of the electrical box assembly, are tightened to secure the assembly to the wallboard in a ceiling or wall. Wall preparation for installation of the electrical box assembly requires only a round hole in the wallboard, which can be easily provided by a hole-saw. The flags can be rotated inward to enable easy insertion of the electrical box within the hole in the wallboard. The electrical box assembly includes a mounting bar and adapter plate that adapt the assembly for mounting a wide variety of security cameras and electrical fixtures. The electrical box assembly conforms to the electrical code in those areas that require a metallic box.
US08148624B2
A control unit for a musical instrument having a keypad and/or touch pad areas for controlling a signal processing unit. The control unit is preferably formed in a thin and elastic layered structure whereby touching electrode surfaces of the structure generates a charge, voltage or capacitance that is subsequently processed. The control unit includes a surface element, whereby settings and values of the signal processing unit can be changed and controlled by a user applying physical contact to the surface element. A user control device is further coupled to the control unit, and is operable under at least two forms of operation, and wherein the user control device is configured to (1) select an acoustic parameters and (2) adjust the selected acoustic parameter.
US08148623B2
An apparatus is to assist an unskilled player in playing a musical instrument by detecting the quantity of the player's manipulation against the instrument, modifying the detected manipulation quantity with reference to a recommended manipulation to a degree according to a given assistance coefficient, and actuating the instrument with the modified manipulation quantity. For a brass instrument, the apparatus comprises an embouchure sensor and a breath pressure sensor to detect the embouchure and the breath pressure of the player as he/she plays the brass instrument. The detected embouchure and breath pressure are then modified with reference to a recommended embouchure and breath pressure weighted by a given assistance coefficient. The apparatus actuates the brass instrument based on the modified embouchure and breath pressure.
US08148622B2
Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.
US08148619B1
In combination with a musical drum with a hollow shell having at least one opening and a drumhead with a tensioned membrane with a playing surface covering the opening, the present invention is an improved means to dampen resonating drum sounds consisting of an annular fixture mounted on a playing surface with the fixture having an outer concentric edge adjacent a flange member having an inner surface faced opposed to the playing surface, an inner concentric edge spaced apart from said playing surface and an area adjacent the inner concentric edge which defines an annular channel with the drumhead for receiving a damping member in fixed retained relation with the annular fixture. The annular fixture, including the damping member, is mounted to the playing surface by a series of incrementally spaced-apart non-adhesive means or non-adhesive means disposed in a continuous array provided for attaching the flange member to the playing surface. Included in near conformal reflation with the inner surface of the flange member is the means to reduce or eliminate vibration and vibrational-generated noise occurring along sections of the drumhead where the inner surface and playing surface coincide and touch, when the drumhead is struck.
US08148615B1
A novel maize variety designated PHV92 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHV92 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHV92 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHV92 or a trait conversion of PHV92 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHV92, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHV92 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08148610B2
A lettuce cultivar, designated 51-0804523-B, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar 51-0804523-B, to the plants of lettuce cultivar 51-0804523-B and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar 51-0804523-B with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar 51-0804523-B, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar 51-0804523-B and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 51-0804523-B with another lettuce cultivar.
US08148606B2
The object of the invention is to provide a plant body in which the program for accumulating storage products has been modified, and applications of the same. In the invention, the plant body is constructed so as to have a B3 DNA-binding domain and an EAR motif, and so as to be capable of repressing the expression of two or more genes which code for two or more proteins having a sugar-inducible promotor function-suppressing activity.
US08148602B2
The invention relates to isolated diacylglycerol acyltransferases and polynucleotide sequences encoding the DGAT enzymes; polynucleotide constructs, vectors and host cells incorporating the polynucleotide sequences; and methods of producing and using same. Also provided are transformed cells and transgenic plants, especially Camelina sativa plant, with enhanced oil accumulation and quality.
US08148599B2
The present invention is directed to the production, breeding and use of transgenic non-human animals such as mice in which specific genes or portions of genes have been replaced by homologues from another animal to make the physiology of the animals so modified more like that of the other animal with respect to drug pharmacokinetics and metabolism. The invention also extends to the use of the genetically modified non-human animals of the invention for pharmacological and/or toxicological studies.
US08148596B2
A wound treatment apparatus is disclosed, which comprises: a first portion, a second portion and a porous matrix. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first portion, being an adhesive film, is formed with at least a first hole; and the second portion, being made of a flexible, water-resistant material, is formed with at least a second hole and at least a third hole in a manner that the at least one second hole and the at least one third hole are capable of communicating with each other and thus causes an accommodation space to be formed inside the second portion while the at least one second hole is arranged at a position corresponding to the at least one first hole as the second portion is connected to the first portion. Moreover, the porous matrix is received inside the accommodation space of the second portion.
US08148594B2
A process and system for treating waste water containing contaminants to prevent excessive accumulation on demineralizer media of a driver contaminate capable of such accumulation before another contaminant can reach a predetermined level of accumulation. The waste water is treated upstream of the demineralizer media with removal means for specifically removing the driver contaminant while leaving the other contaminant for subsequent removal by the demineralizer media. The amount of accumulation on the demineralizer media of the other contaminant is monitored, and the supplying of treated waste water to the demineralizer media is terminated when its accumulation reaches the predetermined level.
US08148579B2
Methods are disclosed for forming heptan-4-one, and, optionally, heptan-4-ol, from fermentable sugars. The sugars are fermented using a bacteria or yeast that predominantly forms butyric acid. The butyric acid is subjected to catalytic ketonization conditions to form heptan-4-one, with concomitant loss of water and carbon dioxide. The heptan-4-one can be subjected to catalytic hydrogenation to form heptan-4-ol, an either of these can be included in gasoline compositions. In one aspect, the fermentable sugars are derived from lignocellulosic materials such as wood products, switchgrass, or agricultural wastes, which are delignified to form lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. The cellulose and hemicellulose can be depolymerized to form glycose and xylose, either or both of which can be fermented by the bacteria. Thus, the methods described herein can convert biomass to a fuel composition or fuel additive, which can be used in a conventional gasoline engine, unlike traditional fuels such as ethanol or biodiesel.
US08148571B2
A novel compound (I) represented by the following formula (1) is provided which is suitable for a dental composition and has a polymerizable group, a carboxyl group and a phosphoric acid group. A method for producing a polymerizable amide is provided, which method can make a condensation reaction of a carboxylic acid with an amine to proceed easily and is excellent in safety: wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently are a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; (A) and (B) are each any constituent unit; m is an integer of from 1 to 3; n is an integer of from 1 to 3; R4 is an organic group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; R5 is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, R6 and R7 each independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or a metal atom.
US08148566B2
A method for producing a dialkyl carbonate and a diol, comprising: (a) effecting a transesterification reaction between a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture containing a product dialkyl carbonate and a product diol, (b) withdrawing a dialkyl carbonate-containing liquid from the reaction mixture, followed by separation of the dialkyl carbonate from the dialkyl carbonate-containing liquid, and (c) withdrawing a diol-containing liquid from the reaction mixture, followed by separation of the diol from the diol-containing liquid, wherein the cyclic carbonate contains a cyclic ether in an amount of from 0.1 to 3,000 ppm by weight, and the product dialkyl carbonate contains a carbonate ether of not more than 10,000 ppm by weight.
US08148554B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for use in treating diseases associated with excessive cellular proliferation, such as cancer, and intermediates for the synthesis of such compositions.
US08148553B2
Described is a method to make liquid chemicals, such as functional intermediates, solvents, and liquid fuels from biomass-derived cellulose. The method is cascading; the product stream from an upstream reaction can be used as the feedstock in the next downstream reaction. The method includes the steps of deconstructing cellulose to yield a product mixture comprising levulinic acid and formic acid, converting the levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone, and converting the γ-valerolactone to pentanoic acid. Alternatively, the γ-valerolactone can be converted to a mixture of n-butenes. The pentanoic acid so formed can be further reacted to yield a host of valuable products. For example, the pentanoic acid can be decarboxylated yield 1-butene or ketonized to yield 5-nonanone. The 5-nonanone can be hydrodeoxygenated to yield nonane, or 5-nonanone can be reduced to yield 5-nonanol. The 5-nonanol can be dehydrated to yield nonene, which can be dimerized to yield a mixture of C9 and C18 olefins, which can be hydrogenated to yield a mixture of alkanes. Alternatively, the nonene may be isomerized to yield a mixture of branched olefins, which can be hydrogenated to yield a mixture of branched alkanes. The mixture of n-butenes formed from γ-valerolactone can also be subjected to isomerization and oligomerization to yield olefins in the gasoline, jet and Diesel fuel ranges.
US08148550B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of statins, which are known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. A few of the intermediate compounds for use in the process in accordance with the invention are novel compounds and the invention also relates to these novel intermediate compounds.
US08148547B2
The present embodiment of the invention is generally directed to compositions comprising suspensions of poorly water soluble compounds recrystallized in nanoparticulate sizes ranging from 0.1 to 5 μm. In addition, the embodiment of the invention is directed to methods for preparation and administration of these compositions to a patient for prevention and treatment of disease states. In particular, the embodiment of the invention is directed to compositions comprising suspensions of poorly water-soluble compounds, such as antimitotics and antibiotics, in nanoparticulates and methods of prevention and treatment of chronic disease states, such as cancer, by intraperitoneal and intravenous administration of such compositions.
US08148545B2
The present invention discloses processes for producing γ-nitrocarbonyl and γ-dicarbonyl compounds, which can be precursors in the synthesis of pyrrole compounds. A process for producing pyrroles such as 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, and structurally similar pyrrole compounds, is also disclosed.
US08148535B2
The present invention relates to compounds having the structure useful as potassium channel inhibitors to treat cardiac arrhythmias, and the like.
US08148529B2
The present invention provides novel pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for the preparation thereof, and compositions comprising the same. The pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of the present invention have excellent proton pump inhibition effects and possess the ability to attain a reversible proton pump inhibitory effect.
US08148526B1
The present invention relates to novel “reverse amide” compounds comprising a zinc chelator group, and the use of such compounds in the inhibition of HDAC6 and in the treatment of various diseases, disorders or conditions related to HDAC6.
US08148524B2
A process for producing a sulfonyl chloride compound comprising:(A) a step comprising reacting a pyridazine compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or atoms, or the like, R2 and R3 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R4 represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or atoms, or the like, with a sulfonating agent; (B) a step comprising contacting the reaction mixture obtained in the step (A) with a chlorinating agent; and (C) a step comprising mixing the reaction mixture obtained in the step (B) with an aqueous inorganic base solution to separate an organic layer containing a sulfonyl chloride compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 to R4 are the same meanings as defined above.
US08148522B2
The invention relates to 2,4-dibromoropyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazine, which is an intermediate useful in preparing 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolotriazine compounds, and a process for preparing the intermediate.
US08148521B2
This invention provides compounds of Formula 1, their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b and R5 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are methods for controlling invertebrate pests comprising contacting the invertebrate pests or their environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula 1 or a composition comprising a compound of Formula 1.
US08148511B2
The present invention is drawn to methods and compositions for the rapid assessment of fecal indicator bacteria in a sample. Provided herein are novel primer and probe compositions for use in detecting the presence of these organisms in a sample, particularly using quantitative PCR methods. Provided herein are novel oligonucleotide primers and probes, including the primers set forth in SEQ ID NO:1-4, the novel oligonucleotide probe sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:5-8, and methods for using these primers and probes for the detection and/or quantification of fecal indicator bacteria, particularly E. coli and Enterococcus spp. in a sample.
US08148503B2
The present invention relates generally to labeled and unlabled cleavable terminating groups and methods for DNA sequencing and other types of DNA analysis. More particularly, the invention relates in part to nucleotides and nucleosides with chemically cleavable, photocleavable, enzymatically cleavable, or non-photocleavable groups and methods for their use in DNA sequencing and its application in biomedical research.
US08148501B2
Absorbent hydrogels are formed by reacting a protein meal base, a radical initiator and a polymerizable monomer. Optionally, a cross-linking agent and/or a radical accelerant, such as tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) or sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), is also added to the mixture. Preferably, the radical initiator is ammonium persulfate (APS) or potassium persulfate (KPS), and the cross-linking agent is preferably trifunctional trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) or methylene bis acrylamide (MBA). The polymerizable monomer is preferably acrylic acid, or a combination of acrylic acid and acrylamide. The as-formed hydrogel is washed in order to extract non-reactant components from the gel and then dried. The resultant absorbent and superabsorbent hydrogels have high water uptake ratios, and can be utilized for a variety of applications.
US08148500B2
The growth hormone supergene family comprises greater than 20 structurally related cytokines and growth factors. A general method is provided for creating site-specific, biologically active conjugates of these proteins. The method involves adding cysteine residues to non-essential regions of the proteins or substituting cysteine residues for non-essential amino acids in the proteins using site-directed mutagenesis and then covalently coupling a cysteine-reactive polymer or other type of cysteine-reactive moiety to the proteins via the added cysteine residue. Disclosed herein are preferred sites for adding cysteine residues or introducing cysteine substitutions into the proteins, and the proteins and protein derivatives produced thereby. Also disclosed are therapeutic methods for using the cysteine variants of the invention.
US08148499B2
The invention relates to a vaccine for the treatment of disease caused by Neisseria, the vaccine comprising one or more immunogenic components for Neisseria serogroups, as well as antibodies to the immunogenic components and methods of preventing and treating Neisseria infections. The immunogens are based on elements of the inner core lipopolysaccharide.
US08148494B2
The present invention comprises a signal peptide with a cleavage site to a recombinant protein, wherein the last three amino acids before the cleavage site are alanine-phenylalanine-alanine (AFA).
US08148493B2
The present invention is directed to peptides, antibodies and antibody fragments inhibiting activity of “Melanoma Inhibitory Activity” (MIA).
US08148488B2
Disclosed is a polyisocyanate composition which is excellent in both curability and drying characteristic. The polyisocyanate composition contains at least one compound selected from aliphatic diisocyanates, at least one compound selected from alicyclic diisocyanates and at least one compound selected from polyols, while satisfying all of the following conditions; i) the diisocyanate monomer concentration is not more than 3 mass %, ii) the polyol component concentration is 1-50 mass %; and iii) the glass transition temperature is from −50° C. to 0° C.
US08148485B2
In obtaining a water-absorbing resin with high property in high productivity, produced a production method for a water-absorbing resin in high property and stably. Provided is a production method for a water-absorbing resin, comprising: a step for polymerizing an acrylic acid aqueous solution; a step for drying the resultant water-containing gel; a step for pulverizing and classifying the dried substance; and a step for surface cross-linking after classification, wherein a hopper having an inclination angle of a cone part of equal to or larger than 45 degree, and a drawing rate of 30 to 80% is used.
US08148475B2
Thermoplastic polyether polyurethane polymers are disclosed which are mixed with a crosslinking agent to achieve long run times in a melt spinning process to make elastic fibers. The crosslinking agent is preferably a polyether or polyester polyol reacted with a diisocyanate. A melt spinning process is also disclosed using a polyether polyurethane with a crosslinking agent. Long melt spinning run times can be achieved without experiencing excessive pressure buildup in the spinneret and fiber breakage. The thermoplastic polyether polyurethane polymers are made by reacting: (1) a blend of two or more hydroxyl terminated intermediates wherein one intermediate is a polyether intermediate and has a higher number average molecular weight than the other said polyether intermediates, and wherein the weighted average number average molecular weight of said blend is greater than 1200 Daltons; (2) at least one polyisocyanate; and (3) at least one hydroxyl terminated chain extender. Melt spun fibers disclosed have excellent dye pickup, bleach resistance, and color fastness. The melt spun fibers can be dyed with polyester fibers and retain excellent physical properties.
US08148471B2
A pre-adhesive composition is described comprising an acid-functional (meth)acrylate copolymer and a crosslinking system comprising an aziridine crosslinking agent and epoxy-functional (meth)acryloyl monomer, which when crosslinked, provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive and pressure-sensitive adhesive articles.
US08148467B2
A silicone-polymer-modified vulcanized-rubber composition based on unvulcanized rubber, characterized in that the composition can be produced by co-vulcanization from the following components: A1) at least one vinyl-reactive polysiloxane component, and/or A2) at least one mercapto-reactive polysiloxane component, and B) at least one unsaturated vulcanizable unvulcanized-rubber component, and to a process for the production of said silicone-polymer-modified vulcanized-rubber composition based on unvulcanized rubber, and also to a windshield-wiper blade encompassing a silicone-polymer-modified vulcanized-rubber composition based on unvulcanized rubber.
US08148447B2
There is provided an ink composition which can yield images having silver salt photograph-like gloss and is also excellent in fixation, lightfastness, and gasfastness of recorded images. The ink composition comprises: a resin produced by emulsion polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a reactive emulsifier containing a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and a radical reactive group; water; and a pigment.
US08148440B2
Process for preparing rigid urethane-modified polyisocyanurate foams from polyisocyanates and polyfunctional isocyanate-reactive components in the presence of a blowing agent, a metal salt trimerisation catalyst and a functionalised carboxylic acid.
US08148439B2
It is intended to provide resin foamed particles having a high environmental compatibility. Furthermore, it is intended to provide an economical and easy-to-use method of producing resin foamed particles having biodegradability without using a crosslinking agent, which should be handled with care, in the step of producing foamed resin particles. It is also intended to provide a molded article made of foamed particles having an extremely high heat insulating property and a biodegradability. Thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, in which the ratio of cells with diameter of 50 μm or less amounts to 20% or more in an arbitrary two-dimensional section of a thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, are first produced and then a molded article is produced with the use of these resin foamed particles.
US08148437B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing integral polyurethane foams, in which a) organic polyisocyanates are mixed with b) relatively high molecular weight compounds having at least two reactive hydrogen atoms, c) blowing agents, d) dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates and, if appropriate, e) chain extenders and/or crosslinkers, f) catalysts and g) other auxiliaries and/or additives to form a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture is introduced into a mold and allowed to react to form an integral polyurethane foam. The present invention further relates to integral polyurethane foams comprising dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates, the use of such foams in the interior of road vehicles or as shoe soles and the use of dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates as internal mold release agents in the production of integral polyurethane foams.
US08148424B2
The present invention provides an antiproliferative compound having a structural formula where X and Y independently are oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; R1 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carboxylic acid, carboxylate, carboxamide, ester, thioamide, thiolacid, thiolester, saccharide, alkoxy-linked saccharide, amine, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, alcohol, ethers or nitriles; R2 and R3 are hydrogen or R4; R4 is methyl, benzyl carboxylic acid, benzyl carboxylate, benzyl carboxamide, benzylester, saccharide or amine; and R5 is alkenyl; where when Y is nitrogen, said nitrogen is substituted with R6, wherein R6 is hydrogen or methyl. Also provided are methods for treating a cell proliferative disease and for inducing apoptosis in a cell comprising administering this compound is also provided.
US08148418B2
The present invention pertains to certain compounds of Formula (Ia) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the treatment of platelet aggreagation, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, angina, stroke, atrial fibrillation, blood clot formation, asthma or symptoms thereof, agitation or a symptom thereof, behavioral disorders, drug induced psychosis, excitative psychosis, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, manic disorder, organic or NOS psychosis, psychotic disorder, psychosis, acute schizophrenia, chronic schizophrenia, NOS schizophrenia and related disorders, and sleep disorders, sleep disorders, diabetic-related disorders, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and the like. The present invention also relates to the methods for the treatment of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor associated disorders in combination with other pharmaceutical agents administered separately or together.
US08148394B2
Described herein are compounds with affinity for the 5-HT6 receptor, which have the general formula I: wherein A, B, D, E, R1 to R3 and n are described herein. Also described is the use of these compounds as pharmaceuticals to treat indications where inhibition of the 5-HT6 receptor is implicated, such as schizophrenia.
US08148393B2
A zolpidem tablet having modified release is designed as a tablet-in-tablet dosage form.
US08148380B2
The present invention provides novel amide and sulfonamide substituted heterocyclic urea compounds having useful antibacterial activity. Use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions and method of their production are also provided.
US08148369B2
Novel fused pyrazine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and others.
US08148363B2
The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of Formulae I-III; as disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, prodrug or stereoisomer thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds, and methods for using said compounds for treating or preventing a thromboembolic disorder.
US08148352B2
The disclosure provides compounds and methods to treat bacterial pathogenesis, and demonstrates that the S. aureus pigment is a virulence factor and potential novel target for antimicrobial therapy.
US08148348B2
Provided are a process for producing a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-containing composition which is very excellent in a stability by adding at least ascorbic acids or salts thereof to a composition liquid containing S-adenosyl-L-methionine and then drying the above composition liquid or separating and drying a crystallized deposit obtained from the above composition liquid, a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-containing composition obtained by the above production process and a molding obtained from the above composition.
US08148345B2
Introduction of double stranded RNA into cells, cell culture, organs and tissues, and whole organisms, particularly vertebrates, specifically attenuates gene expression.
US08148334B2
The invention relates to peptides having the capacity to bind to interleukin-10 (IL-10) and their use in the treatment of clinical conditions or pathological disorders associated to IL-10 expression, particularly to a high IL-10 expression, for example, infectious diseases, tumors, cancers and acute damage conditions.
US08148331B2
The present invention is directed generally to recombinant methods for making a desired polypeptide. These method(s) yield a polypeptide product containing reduced levels of isoform impurities thereof. In particular, the present invention is directed to (1) a recombinant method for preparing growth hormone with reduced isoform impurities thereof and (2) a recombinant method for preparing a growth hormone antagonist, such as pegvisomant, and its protein intermediate, also having reduced isoform impurities thereof. More specifically, the isoform impurities that are decreased by methods of the present invention are the trisulfide and des-phe isoform impurities of growth hormone and growth hormone antagonist (or its intermediate), respectively.
US08148329B2
Described are osteogenic implants that include a first implant material covered at least in part by a second implant material carrying an osteogenic protein such as a bone morphogenic protein. The first implant material can comprise a mineral and provide an inner scaffolding portion for supporting bone ingrowth, and the second implant material can comprise a collagen or other sponge carrier covering the first implant material and having a liquid osteogenic protein formulation imbibed therein. Related implant materials and methods of preparation and use constitute additional aspects of the invention.
US08148322B2
The invention relates to carrier complexes and methods for delivering molecules to cells. The carrier complexes comprises a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide in accordance with the invention. In one embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a carrier complex. In another embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide.
US08148297B2
A porous ceramic material is disclosed having a principal cordierite phase, the porous ceramic material exhibiting a normalized strength greater than 20 MPa. The cordierite phase has a reticular microstructure. A method for forming a porous ceramic body having a predominant phase of cordierite is provided which includes forming a body from a plasticized mixture of inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients that include a magnesia source, a silica source, and an alumina source, the alumina source including alumina-containing elongated particles, wherein at least 90 wt % of the alumina-containing elongated particles have a length of 50 to 150 μm, and then firing the body.
US08148293B2
Highly uniform cluster based nanocatalysts supported on technologically relevant supports were synthesized for reactions of top industrial relevance. The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes. Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.
US08148292B2
A method is provided for preparing a supported cobalt-containing catalyst having substantially homogenously dispersed, small cobalt crystallites. The method comprises depositing cobalt nitrate on a support and then heating the support in an oxygen-containing, substantially water-free atmosphere to about 160° C. to form an intermediate decomposition product. This intermediate decomposition product is then calcined and reduced.
US08148287B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a heterogenised catalyst, comprising grafting a catalyst or catalyst precursor, via click chemistry, to a siliceous mesocellular foam (MCF). The invention also relates to a heterogenised catalyst comprising a catalyst species grafted onto a siliceous mesocellular foam (MCF) via a 1,2,3-triazole.
US08148282B2
The invention generally relates to a sintered CBN composite compact having a non-CBN portion. The compact includes about 86 to about 90% CBN and the non CBN portion contains borides and nitrides of Al. The compact is for use as a cutting tool insert in continuous machining of gray cast iron. The sintered compact has a thermal conductivity of 1.25-4 W/cm/° K. in the temperature range of about 200° C. to about 600° C. and sonic velocity of at least about 14.5 Km/sec at room temperature.
US08148281B2
Disclosed is a highly-pure fine titanium carbide powder having a maximum particle size of 100 nm or less and containing metals except titanium in an amount of 0.05 wt % or less and free carbon in an amount of 0.5 wt % or less. The powder has a NaCl-type crystal structure, and a composition represented by TiCxOyNz, wherein X, Y and Z satisfy the relations: 0.5≦X≦1.0; 0≦Y≦0.3; 0≦Z≦0.2; and 0.5≦X+Y+Z≦1.0.) The powder is produced by: dissolving an organic substance serving as a carbon source in a solvent to prepare a liquid, wherein the organic substance contains at least one OH or COOH group which is a functional group coordinatable to titanium of titanium alkoxide, and no element except C, H, N and O; mixing titanium alkoxide with the liquid to satisfy the following relation: 0.7≦α≦1.0 (wherein α is a molar ratio of the carbon source to the titanium alkoxide), so as to obtain a precursor solution; and subjecting a product in the precursor solution to a heat treatment in a non-oxidizing atmosphere or a vacuum atmosphere at a temperature of 1050 to 1500° C. The present invention can provide fine titanium carbide powders with nano-scale particle sizes, which are free of inorganic impurities, such as titanium oxide and metal, low in free carbon, and effective in enhancing characteristics of a titanium carbide-ceramics composite sintered body.
US08148280B2
An optical glass of the present invention has optical constants of a refractive index (nd) within a range from 1.75 to 1.85 and an Abbe number (νd) within a range from 35 to 45, comprises SiO2 and B2O3 as essential components and one or more components selected from the group consisting of ZrO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5 and WO3, has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 580° C. or below and has weathering resistance (surface method) of Class 1 or Class 2.
US08148278B2
Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.
US08148268B2
The invention provides a plasma treatment apparatus or a plasma treatment method having a high productivity while maintaining a stable treatment performance. In a plasma treatment apparatus feeding a plurality of gases fed into the treatment chamber and treating a sample arranged within the treatment chamber by a plasma formed by using the plurality of gases, the plasma treatment apparatus has a plurality of feeding gas lines in which the plurality of gases respectively pass, a plurality of gas flow rate regulators respectively arranged on the feeding gas lines and respectively regulating flow rates of the plurality of gases, and a testing gas flow path coupled to the gas line so as to be arranged outside the treatment chamber and arranging a tester testing a flow rate of a gas from a gas flow rate controller therein, and the plasma treatment apparatus tests the gas flow rate regulator on a gas line corresponding to the gas which is not used for the treatment in the plurality of gases in parallel with the treatment.
US08148265B2
Techniques are disclosed for efficiently fabricating semiconductors including waveguide structures. In particular, a two-step hardmask technology is provided that enables a stable etch base within semiconductor processing environments, such as the CMOS fabrication environment. The process is two-step in that there is deposition of a two-layer hardmask, followed by a first photolithographic pattern, followed by a first silicon etch, then a second photolithographic pattern, and then a second silicon etch. The process can be used, for example, to form a waveguide structure having both ridge and channel configurations, or a waveguide (ridge and/or channel) and a salicide heater structure, all achieved using the same hardmask. The second photolithographic pattern allows for the formation of the lower electrical contacts to the waveguides (or other structures) without a complicated rework of the hardmask.
US08148260B2
Provided may be a semiconductor memory device and a method of forming the semiconductor memory device. The memory device of example embodiments may include a bit line structure including a bit line on a semiconductor substrate, and a buried contact plug structure including a buried contact pad and a buried contact plug that extends in a lower portion of the bit line from one side of the bit line and connected to the buried contact pad. A width of the buried contact plug near a top surface of the buried contact pad may be greater than a width of the buried contact plug adjacent to the bit line.
US08148245B2
There is provided a method for producing an a-IGZO oxide thin film by sputtering, which can control the carrier density of the film to a given value with high reproducibility. The method is an amorphous In—Ga—Zn—O based oxide thin film production method including: providing a sintered oxide material consisting essentially of indium (In), gallium (Ga), zinc (Zn), and oxygen (O) as constituent elements, wherein the ratio [In]/([In]+[Ga]) of the number of indium atoms to the total number of indium and gallium atoms is from 20% to 80%, the ratio [Zn]/([In]+[Ga]+[Zn]) of the number of zinc atoms to the total number of indium, gallium and zinc atoms is from 10% to 50%, and the sintered oxide material has a specific resistance of 1.0×10−1 Ωcm or less; and producing a film on a substrate by direct current sputtering at a sputtering power density of 2.5 to 5.5 W/cm2 using the sintered oxide material as a sputtering target.
US08148242B2
A method for manufacturing a SeOI substrate that includes a thin working layer made from one or more semiconductor material(s); a support layer; and a thin buried oxide layer between the working layer and the support layer. The method includes a manufacturing step of an intermediate SeOI substrate having a buried oxide layer with a thickness greater than a thickness desired for the thin buried oxide layer; and a dissolution step of the buried oxide layer in order to form therewith the thin buried oxide layer. After the dissolution step, an oxidation step of the substrate is conducted for creating an oxidized layer on the substrate, and an oxide migration step for diffusing at least a part of the oxide layer through the working layer in order to increase the electrical interface quality of the substrate and decrease its Dit value.
US08148229B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light-receiving device having high reproducibility and reliability. Specifically disclosed is a semiconductor light-receiving device 100 with a mesa structure wherein a light-absorbing layer 6, an avalanche multiplication layer 4 and an electric-field relaxation layer 5 are formed on a semiconductor substrate 2. The light-absorbing layer 6, avalanche multiplication layer 4 and electric-field relaxation layer 5 exposed in the side wall of the mesa structure are protected by an SiNx film or an SiOyNz film. The hydrogen concentration in the side wall surface of the electric-field relaxation layer 5 is set at not more than 15%, preferably not more than 10% of the carrier concentration of the electric-field relaxation layer 5.
US08148227B2
An embodiment according to the present invention comprises a method for providing a self-aligned conductive structure comprising providing a first structure on a surface, wherein the first structure comprises a first and a second layer, and providing an intermediate structure on the surface, wherein the intermediate structure at least partially abuts the first structure laterally at a first lateral edge of the first structure. The method further comprises removing at least a part of the second layer, the part being adjacent to the first lateral edge, and providing the conductive structure such that the conductive structure replaces at least the removed part of the second layer and abuts the first lateral edge.
US08148223B2
Embedded memories. The devices include a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, and a plurality of capacitors. The substrate comprises transistors. The first dielectric layer, embedding first and second conductive plugs electrically connecting the transistors therein, overlies the substrate. The second dielectric layer, comprising a plurality of capacitor openings exposing the first conductive plugs, overlies the first dielectric layer. The capacitors comprise a plurality of bottom plates, respectively disposed in the capacitor openings, electrically connecting the first conductive plugs, a plurality of capacitor dielectric layers respectively overlying the bottom plates, and a top plate, comprising a top plate opening, overlying the capacitor dielectric layers. The top plate opening exposes the second dielectric layer, and the top plate is shared by the capacitors.
US08148218B2
The present invention is related to a semiconductor device with group III-V channel and group IV source-drain and a method for manufacturing the same. Particularly, the energy level density and doping concentration of group III-V materials are increased by the heteroepitaxy of group III-V and group IV materials and the structural design of elements. The method comprises: preparing a substrate; depositing a dummy gate material layer on the substrate and defining a dummy gate from the dummy gate material layer by photolithography; performing doping by self-aligned ion implantation using the dummy gate as a mask and performing activation at high temperature, so as to form source-drain; removing the dummy gate; forming a recess in the substrate between the source-drain pair by etching; forming a channel-containing stacked element in the recess by epitaxy; and forming a gate on the channel-containing stacked element.
US08148217B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a mask layer on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, etching the semiconductor substrate using the mask layer as a mask, thereby forming a projecting semiconductor layer, forming a first insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate to cover a lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, doping a first-conductivity-type impurity into the first insulating layer, thereby forming a high-impurity-concentration layer in the lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, forming gate insulating films on side surfaces of the projecting semiconductor layer which upwardly extend from an upper surface of the first insulating layer, and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating films and on the first insulating film.
US08148205B2
A method of making a microelectronic connection component is disclosed. A plurality of portions of a conductive, etch-resistant material is provided on a surface of a metallic sheet. The sheet is etched from the surface to form posts extending generally parallel to one another aligned with the portions of the etch-resistant material. A microelectronic device is provided having one of a front face or a rear face overlying first ends of the posts. Second ends of the posts remote from the first ends face away from the microelectronic device as interconnection terminals for the connection component. At least some of the posts are electrically connected to the microelectronic device.
US08148200B2
A wire short-circuit defect during molding is prevented. A semiconductor device has a tab, a plurality of leads arranged around the tab, a semiconductor chip mounted over the tab, a plurality of wires electrically connecting the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip with the leads, and a molded body in which the semiconductor chip is resin molded. By further stepwise shortening the chip-side tip end portions of the leads as the first edge or side of the principal surface of the semiconductor chip goes away from the middle portion toward the both end portions thereof, and shortening the tip end portions of those of first leads corresponding to the middle portion of the first edge or side of the principal surface which are adjacent to second leads located closer to the both end portions of the first edge or side, the distances between second wires connected to the second leads and the tip end portions of the first leads adjacent to the second leads can be increased. As a result, it is possible to prevent the wire short-circuit defect even when wire sweep occurs due to the flow resistance of a mold resin.
US08148193B2
A semiconductor device such as a phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region, a conductive pattern disposed to expose the active region, an interlayer dielectric pattern provided on the conductive pattern and including an opening formed on the exposed active region and a contact hole spaced apart from the opening to expose the conductive pattern, a semiconductor pattern and a heater electrode pattern electrically connected to the exposed active region and provided in the opening, a contact plug connected to the exposed conductive pattern and provided to fill the contact hole, and a phase change material layer provided on the heater electrode pattern.
US08148188B2
Photoelectrochemical cells and methods are provided, in particular, to the functionalization of semiconductor surfaces such that its semiconducting and light generating properties are maintained and the surface becomes stable in wet environments. In particular the preferred embodiments relate to unstable semiconductor materials which have photocurrent generating properties, and to methods for the functionalization of surfaces with metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
US08148186B2
An efficient long-wavelength light-emitting diode has a resonant-cavity design. The light-emitting diode preferably has self-organized (In,Ga)As or (In,Ga)(As,N) quantum dots in the light-emitting active region, deposited on a GaAs substrate. The light-emitting diode is capable of emitting in a long-wavelength spectral range of preferably 1.15-1.35 μm. The light-emitting diode also has a high efficiency of preferably at least 6 mW and more preferably at least 8 mW at an operating current of less than 100 mA and a low operating voltage of preferably less than 3V. In addition, the light-emitting diode preferably has an intensity of maxima, other than the main maximum of the emission spectrum, of less than 1% of an intensity of the main maximum. This combination of parameters makes such a device useful as an inexpensive optical source for various applications.
US08148184B2
An optical device wafer processing method for dividing an optical device wafer into a plurality of individual optical devices. The optical device wafer is composed of a substrate and a semiconductor layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The optical devices are partitioned by a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the semiconductor layer. The optical device wafer processing method includes a division start point forming step of applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the substrate to the intersections of the crossing division lines in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set inside the substrate in an area corresponding to the intersections of the crossing division lines, thereby forming a plurality of crossing modified layers as division start points inside the substrate at the intersections of the crossing division lines; and a crack growing step of applying a CO2 laser beam along the division lines to grow cracks inside the substrate from the division start points.
US08148183B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device includes forming a separation groove on a major surface of a substrate. A semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer is formed on the substrate. The separation groove separates the semiconductor layer into a plurality of elements. The method includes forming an insulating film on the major surface of the substrate. The insulating film covers the semiconductor layer and a bottom surface of the separation groove provided on the substrate. The method includes separating the substrate from the semiconductor layer by irradiating the semiconductor layer with laser light from an surface of the substrate opposite to the major surface. An edge portion of irradiation area of the laser light is positioned near an edge portion of the semiconductor layer neighboring the separation groove.
US08148181B2
A flat display device is provided. The flat display device a substrate divided into an active region for displaying an image and a peripheral region that does not display the image, and includes: a gate line that crosses a data line to define a pixel region in the active region; a thin film transistor in a region near a crossing of the gate line and the data line; a first common electrode in the pixel region; a storage electrode on the first common electrode to provide storage capacitance; a pixel electrode electrically connected with the storage electrode and overlapping the pixel region, the data line, and the gate line; and an ink film covering the active region and the peripheral region, and having microcapsules including charged particles.
US08148176B2
A method of distinguishing a set of highly doped regions from a set of lightly doped regions on a silicon substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing the silicon substrate, the silicon substrate configured with the set of lightly doped regions and the set of highly doped regions. The method further includes illuminating the silicon substrate with an electromagnetic radiation source, the electromagnetic radiation source transmitting a wavelength of light above about 1100 nm. The method also includes measuring a wavelength absorption of the set of lightly doped regions and the set of heavily doped regions with a sensor, wherein for any wavelength above about 1100 nm, the percentage absorption of the wavelength in the lightly doped regions is substantially less than the percentage absorption of the wavelength in the heavily doped regions.
US08148168B2
The invention provides extraction columns for the purification of an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein or nucleic acid) from a sample solution, as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the column, often between two frits. In some embodiments, the extraction columns employ modified pipette tips as column bodies. In some embodiments, the extraction columns are comprised of frits having a low pore. In some embodiments, the frits of the extraction columns have a pore volume of less than one microliter or less than 10% of the interstitial volume of the bed of extraction media.
US08148138B2
A seed treated with a fungal/bacterial antagonist combination and a seed assembly comprising a seed and a fungal/bacterial antagonist combination. The fungal/bacterial antagonist combination comprises a Trichoderma virens fungal antagonist and a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterial antagonist for controlling plant pathogens as a biocontrol agent, bio-pesticide or bio-fungicide. In preferred embodiments, the invention produces an increase in plant yield. Control of early and late season stalk and root rot caused by fungi such as Fusarium, Phythium, Phytophthora and Penicillium in tomatoes, peppers, turf grass, soybeans, sunflower, wheat and corn is achieved.
US08148124B2
The invention relates to the cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the Coactivator Associated arginine (R) Methyltransferase protein, CARM1. A method is described for the use CARM1 to regulate gene expression in vivo. CARM1 has also been used to methylate arginine residues of histones, synthetic peptides, and other proteins. A method to use CARM1 to screen for drugs that inhibit its methyltransferase activity is also described, as is a method to screen for drugs that modulate CARM1's interactions with other proteins.
US08148122B2
The present invention relates to culturing cells utilizing a matrix of microfibrillated thermoplastic polymeric materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of culturing cells. In addition, the invention relates to a microfibrillated article for culturing cells dispersed in a cell culture medium. The matrix of thermoplastic polymeric materials for culturing cells of this invention finds use in tissue engineering and wound healing applications.
US08148102B2
Polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides involved in biosynthesis of FK 228 and those involved in synthesis of a novel FK228 analog, thailandepsin are disclosed herein. Also provided are methods of making FK228, thailandepsin and analogs of these molecules and methods of using these FK228 analogs. Chromobacterium and Burkholderia gene inactivation mutants are provided. Methods of forming a disulfide bond in a chemical are also disclosed.
US08148097B2
An in vitro screening method for identifying a compound with iPLA2β modulating activity.
US08148091B2
The invention is a method of detecting CAD in a CKD diagnosed human patient or CKD in a CAD diagnosed human patient, or detection of the presence of both CKD and CAD by assaying a plasma or serum sample of a human patient for elevated levels of BMP-4.
US08148089B2
The invention provides agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with Lewy body diseases (LBDs) in the brain of a patient. Preferred agents include inhibitors of PLK2 kinase.
US08148086B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods for predicting the resistance of cancer to members of the taxoid family by measuring the levels of prohibitin. Methods for treating cancer and taxoid family member resistant cancers using inhibitors of prohibitin, as well as therapeutic complexes that target prohibitin are also provided.
US08148082B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic and amino acid sequences of a taste cell receptor that serves as a sensor for the bitter taste of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), antibodies to such PTC taste receptor, methods of detecting such nucleic and amino acid sequences, and methods of screening for modulators of such PTC taste receptor.
US08148081B2
The present invention relates to a method using a composition for permeabilizing microorganism walls for counting and detecting in a targeted manner the microorganisms on a membrane. The invention also relates to a kit and to probes that are suitable for carrying out the method.
US08148076B2
The present invention concerns prognostic markers associated with EGFR positive cancer. In particular, the invention concerns prognostic methods based on the molecular characterization of gene expression in paraffin-embedded, fixed tissue samples of EGFR-expressing cancer, which allow a physician to predict whether a patient is likely to respond well to treatment with an EGFR inhibitor.
US08148070B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods based on genetic polymorphisms that are associated with coronary heart disease (particularly myocardial infarction), aneurysm/dissection, and/or response to drug treatment, particularly statin treatment. For example, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, variant proteins encoded by these nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and variant proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid molecules and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.
US08148069B2
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provide methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
US08148067B2
The invention presents a method of diagnosing or monitoring the status of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a subject or patient comprising detecting the expression of all genes of a diagnostic set in the subject or patient wherein the diagnostic set comprises two or more genes having expression correlated with the classification or status of SLE; and diagnosing or monitoring the status of SLE in the subject or patient by applying at least one statistical method to the expression of the genes of the diagnostic set.
US08148065B1
A method is described for the identification of point mutations by a template-dependent ligation procedure. Also described is a template-dependent ligase chain reaction procedure for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid sequences.
US08148062B2
The invention is directed to methods for the non-radioactive labeling, detection, quantitation and isolation of nascent proteins translated in a cellular or cell-free translation system. tRNA molecules are misaminoacylated with non-radioactive markers which may be non-native amino acids, amino acid analogs or derivatives, or substances recognized by the protein synthesizing machinery. Markers may comprise cleavable moieties, detectable labels, reporter properties wherein markers incorporated into protein can be distinguished from unincorporated markers, or coupling agents which facilitate the detection and isolation of nascent protein from other components of the translation system. The invention also comprises proteins prepared using misaminoacylated tRNAs which can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diseases and disorders in humans and other mammals, and kits which may used for the detection of diseases and disorders.
US08148060B2
A recombinant herpesvirus, a method for producing the recombinant herpesvirus, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the recombinant herpesvirus, are provided with a method for producing a recombinant herpesvirus using a BAC vector sequence. In addition, a vector comprising a herpesvirus genomic gene and a BAC vector sequence, a cell comprising the vector, and a nucleic acid cassette comprising a fragment, which is capable of homologous recombination with a herpesvirus genome, and a BAC vector sequence, are provided.
US08148053B2
To provide a method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray which will ensure the secure immobilization of a material in a site-selective manner at a low cost. The method comprises the steps of: forming a monomolecular film on the surface of a substrate using a silane compound represented by the following general formula (1), Y3Si—(CH2)m—X (1), wherein m represents an integer from 3 to 20; X represents a hydroxyl group precursor functional group which will be converted to a hydroxyl group when exposed to acid; and Y independently represents a halogen atom or alkoxy group having 1-4 carbon atoms; and converting the hydroxyl group precursor functional group represented by X to a hydroxyl group; wherein the step of converting a hydroxyl group precursor functional group represented by X to a hydroxyl group comprises forming, on the monomolecular film, a polymer layer containing a compound represented by the following general formula (2) or (3),
US08148050B2
Disclosed herein is a method for fabricating a probe needle tip of a probe card, in which, in order to prevent a poor grinding effect caused by irregular removal or flexibility of the photoresists laminated to be high in the course of polishing a first metal loaded into the opening of the photoresists laminated into a multilayer configuration upon formation of the probe needle tip of the probe card, a second metal is laminated on any one of one or more stacked photoresist layers, thus firmly holding the photoresist layers on/beneath the metal.
US08148048B2
A method of processing an on-press developable lithographic printing plate involving the removal of the overcoat after laser imaging and before on-press development is described. The plate comprises a substrate, an on-press ink and/or fountain solution developable photosensitive layer, and an overcoat. The laser imaged plate is mechanically stripped off the overcoat, and then developed with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press. Such a process allows the use of overcoat to achieve faster photospeed and improved durability of the plate without having various issues as related to overcoat such as contamination to the fountain solution, difficulty to remove of certain overcoat, and limited white light stability.
US08148045B2
A novel compound is a highly-sensitive photopolymerization initiator with excellent stability, low sublimability, excellent developability, and high transmittance in the visible region. It efficiently absorbs, and is activated by, near-ultraviolet rays such as at 365 nm. Also provided are a photopolymerization initiator and a photosensitive composition using such compound. An oxime ester compound is represented by the following general formula (I), a photopolymerization initiator containing the same, and a photosensitive composition containing the photopolymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond: R1 and R2 each represent R11, COR11, CONR12R13, CN, etc.; R11, R12, and R13 each represent a C1-20 alkyl group, etc.; R3 and R4 each represent R11, OR11, COR11, CONR12R13, OCOR11, CN, a halogen atom, etc.; a and b each represent an integer 0-4; X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, etc.; and R5 represents OH, COOH, or a group represented by general formula (II).
US08148041B2
An objective is to provide a carrier exhibiting stable charge providing ability in which sufficient charge can be provided to toner having a small particle diameter, and no image contamination such as fog caused by toner scattering via lack of electrification is generated. Another objective is to provide a carrier capable of maintaining a charging level of no interference for image formation even under the image forming condition at which a charging level for printing a number of prints continuously is difficult to be maintained. Disclosed is a carrier comprising a core particle made of ferrite possessing Mg and coated thereon, a resin, wherein the core particle has a ratio of the number of irregular-shaped core particles of at most 5%, based on the total number of core particles, and a surface of the core particle has grains having a maximum grain diameter of 2-5 μm.
US08148028B2
Crosslinked polybenzoxazines obtained by crosslinking a monofunctional first benzoxazine monomer and a multifunctional second benzoxazine monomer with a crosslinkable compound, an electrolyte membrane including the same, a method of preparing the electrolyte membrane, a fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane having the crosslinked polybenzoxazines using the method. The crosslinked polybenzoxazines have strong acid trapping capability, improved mechanical properties, and excellent chemical stability as it does not melt in polyphosphoric acid. Even as the amount of impregnated proton carrier and the temperature are increased, mechanical and chemical stability is highly maintained, and thus the electrolyte membrane can be effectively used for fuel cells at a high temperature.
US08148021B2
A method for refilling a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material comprises establishing a fluid connection between the hydrogen reservoir and a cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material. The second hydrogen-storing material releases hydrogen at a pressure sufficient to charge the first hydrogen-storing material. Some embodiments involve heating the second hydrogen-storing material and/or allowing heat to flow between the first and second hydrogen-storing materials.
US08148019B2
An apparatus and method for generating power from the voltage gradient naturally found in marine sediments. A pump flows sediment porewater to an anode, and a cathode is exposed to marine water. The arrangement can power a circuit.
US08148004B2
The present invention relates to a pouch type secondary cell with high water-resistance. The pouch type secondary cell comprises a positive electrode, a separation layer, and a negative electrode. Here, the sealing unit of the secondary cell includes steps so that the sealing unit has an outer side thinner than an inner side in thickness. The present invention is advantageous in that the manufacture process can be simplified, the water-resistance and sealing property of sealing portions can be further improved, and the manufacture costs can be reduced.
US08147999B2
A closure assembly for an electrochemical cell including a container and an end assembly sealing an open end of the container in order to minimize mass or weight loss of the cell due to electrolyte vapor transmission is disclosed. The end assembly is provided with a vent member capable of venting a fluid when the pressure within the cell exceeds a predetermined limit; a contact member operatively in electrical contact with a conductive contact of the end assembly and a current collector of an electrode of the cell; and an insulating, polymeric seal member disposed at least between conductive components of the closure assembly having different polarities. In a preferred embodiment, the seal member has a selected dimensional ratio in order to minimize vapor transmission of the electrolyte through the seal member.
US08147997B2
A film-covered electrical device packaging system of the present invention includes frame member (10) which holds film covered battery (1) by an outer periphery portion of film covered battery (1) and which has a portion thicker than the thickness of power generation element (2), and in which waste gas channel (10i) is formed in a position corresponding to gas discharger (8), and first pressure plate (20) which sandwiches frame member (10), in which penetrating portion (22) is formed in a position corresponding to waste gas channel (10i), and in which gas guide groove (21) communicating from through holes (22) to sidewall face (24) is formed.
US08147993B2
The present invention provides a ceramic porous body for in-vitro and in-vivo use comprising a composition comprising a calcium aluminate (CA) containing phase and optionally at least one of an accelerator, a retarder, a surfactant, a foaming agent, a reactive alumina, water, a fiber, and a biologically active material, and combinations thereof. Ceramic compositions are provides as well as method of using the ceramic compositions and methods of manufacturing a ceramic porous body. The ceramic porous bodies of this invention may be used as artificial bones, joints, in-vitro support structures, and in-vivo support structures for cells, tissues, organs, and nerve growth and regeneration.
US08147988B2
A platinum complex is represented by General Formula (1) below. In Formula (1), Pt represents a tetravalent platinum atom. The ring structure A represents a cyclic substituent having a carbon atom that forms a covalent bond with Pt. The ring structure B represents a cyclic substituent having Q that forms a coordination bond with Pt, where Q is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a phosphorous atom. X1 represents a monovalent-bidentate ligand, and X2 represents a divalent-bidentate ligand.
US08147985B2
A method for coating a diamond where an initiation site is provided on the diamond surface or initiation of a living polymerization on the site and the initiation site is reacted with a monomer having a site the reacts with and bonds to the initiation site to form an chemically attached chain with a new initiation site on the chain for further reaction with a monomer. An article with a coating upon a diamond surface, the coating the reaction product of a living polymerization reaction with initiation site on the diamond surface.
US08147984B2
The present invention provides an oriented substrate for forming an epitaxial thin film thereon, which has a more excellent orientation than that of a conventional one and a high strength, and a method for manufacturing the same. A clad textured metal substrate for forming the epitaxial thin film thereon according to the present invention comprises a metallic layer and a nickel layer which is bonded to at least one face of the metallic layer, wherein the nickel layer has a {100}<001> cube texture in which a deviating angle Δφ of crystal axes satisfies Δφ≦7 degrees and has a nickel purity of 99.9% or more. The oriented metal substrate is manufactured by cold-working the nickel sheet having a purity of 99.9% or more, heat-treating it for orientation, and bonding the metal sheet with the oriented nickel sheet by using a surface activated bonding process.
US08147982B2
A method for coating a substrate of a turbine engine component, the method comprising cold spray depositing a metal-based material onto a surface of the substrate, and heating the deposited metal-based material to increase the porosity of the deposited metal-based material.
US08147978B2
The invention is directed to a composition suitable for use in a single-sided stretch cling film, the composition having from 0.1 to 20 percent by weight of a propylene-based copolymer having substantially isotactic propylene sequences, and having from 80 to 99 percent by weight of an ethylene-based copolymer having a density of at least 0.905 g/cc, wherein a film made from the composition exhibits cling layer to release layer cling of at least 70 grams force per inch as measured by ASTM D-5458-95, noise levels of less than 87 dB during unwinding operations, and has a modulus of at least 3 MPA as determined by ASTM D-882.
US08147976B2
A method is described herein for sintering a frit to a glass plate where the sintered frit and glass plate are subsequently sealed to another glass plate to form a sealed glass package. Examples of the sealed glass package include a light-emitting device (e.g., organic light emitting diode (OLED) device), a photovoltaic device, a food container, and a medicine container.
US08147974B2
A composition comprising: a)one or more film forming resins having at least one functional group capable of polymerization; b) one or more adhesion promoters comprising compounds containing one or more unsaturated groups capable of free radical polymerization and one or more trialkoxy silane groups; c) one or more fillers capable of imparting abrasion resistance to the composition; d) one or more compounds which is reactive with the film forming resin which also contains an acidic moiety; and e) one or more compounds comprising a siloxane backbone and one or more active hydrogen groups capable of reacting with the functional groups on a glass bonding adhesive: one or more second adhesion promoters comprising one or more silicon, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, or metal containing compounds; organic materials having reactive groups reactive with reactive groups on the surface of substrates or adhesives; or mixtures thereof.
US08147968B2
The disclosure relates to an adhesive composition for bonding lignocellulosic substrates. The adhesive composition contains a crosslinker and a non-urea diluent where the non-urea diluent is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 75 weight % based on the total wet weight of the composition and where the crosslinker contains essentially no formaldehyde. Also disclosed is the adhesive further containing. an aqueous mixture of a protein source. The disclosure also relates to a process for making lignocellulosic composites utilizing the disclosed adhesive composition and to the lignocellulosic composites made using the disclosed process.
US08147966B2
Fluorocarbon- and urethane-(meth)acryl-containing additives and hardcoats. The hardcoats are particularly useful as a surface layer on an optical device.
US08147960B2
A bactericidal composition comprising inorganic fillers having modified surface with submicrometric particles of a metal and/or salts thereof. Use of the composition in the preparation of latex paints, solvent based paints, powder paints, plasterings, putties, pre-dosed renderings and hydrophobic mass additives.
US08147956B2
To obtain an ultrafine heat-shrinkable conjugate fiber at high productivity, in which a flow-drawing state of a polyester undrawn yarn is realized easily and stably.By drawing undrawn yarn comprising a conjugated polyester polymer and olefin polymer, a flow-drawing process can be easily and stably realized using conventional production facilities; and the heat-shrinkable fiber, a drawn intermediate, and an ultrafine hot-melt adhesive conjugate fiber produced by redrawing the drawn intermediate of the present invention can be obtained with high productivity and excellent runnability. More specifically, the ultrafine hot-melt adhesive conjugate fiber obtained by redrawing can be drawn at a heretofore unseen high drawing magnification, and the fiber structure of the olefin polymer constituting part of the conjugate fiber is markedly developed. The heat-shrinkable fiber and ultrafine hot-melt adhesive conjugate fiber thus obtained can be suitably used in hygiene products and industrial materials by utilizing these features.
US08147955B2
The joint-sealing tape of flexible foam capable of recovering its shape after compression with two lateral surfaces (3, 4) is colored on at least one of the two lateral surfaces (3, 4) with a colorant in such a way that, in a partially expanded functional state of the sealing tape, i.e., in a state of partial recovery after compression, the coloring on the lateral surface (3, 4), when viewed from the side, appears to the human eye as a continuous colored surface.
US08147954B2
Disclosed are a perfluoropolyether-modified silane compound, an antifouling coating composition comprising the same, and a film comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a novel perfluoropolyether-modified silane compound of the formula (1) below, an antifouling coating composition comprising the compound and, when coated on the surface of transparent glass or plastic materials, providing superior antifouling property, scratch resistance and durability while maintaining the transparency of the materials, and a film formed by coating the composition and applicable as antireflection film or optical filter of flat panel displays such as lenses, glass windows, liquid crystal displays (LCD), plasma display panels (PDP), organic electro-luminescence (EL) and filed emission displays (FED): wherein n is an integer of 10 to 70; m is an integer of 1 to 3; p and q are independently 2 or 3; R1 is C2-C4 alkyl; R2 and R3 are independently C1-C6 alkyl or phenyl; R4 is C3-C5 alkyl or C3-C6 alkyl ether; R5 is C1-C6 alkyl or phenyl; and X is C1-C3 alkoxy.
US08147949B2
A lower periphery constraint portion and an upper periphery constraint portion for molding the periphery of a lens as well as a mirror-finished optical molding surface and another mirror-finished optical molding surface are formed on a lower mold body and an upper mold body of a mold respectively. The upper periphery constraint portion and the lower periphery constraint portion are so formed as to have prescribed thicknesses α1 and α2 in a pressure axis direction respectively. A periphery nonconstraint portion not constraining ceramics when molding a ceramics material is provided between the lower mold body and the upper mold body. Thus, a ceramics molded component or the like is prevented from breakage and can be easily detached from the mold, so that the same can be more homogeneously densified.
US08147939B2
The present invention provides an artificial grass granulated infill excellent in productivity, workability, and recyclability, and an artificial grass structure using the same. A hollow cylindrical granulated infill 5 which has a height h of 3.0 mm or less and an outside diameter of 3.0 mm or less and satisfies the condition: φ2/φ1=0.40 to 0.85, where φ1 presents the outside diameter and φ2 represents the inside diameter, is made from a material comprising a synthetic resin having a hardness of 60 or more in accordance with JIS-K6253 type A.
US08147931B2
A cellulose-film modifier, having a compound represented by the following Formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic acyl group; R2, R3 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic group; and at least one of R2, R3 and R4 represents an aliphatic group bonding via its secondary carbon; a cellulose composition, an optical cellulose film, a polarizing plate-protecting film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device.
US08147925B2
A pattern is formed by applying a coating composition containing magnetic particles to an article so that a coating film is formed, and a plurality of sheet form magnets are placed along the front surface of this coating film. Adjacent sheet form magnets are arranged in such a state that the magnetic poles on the front surface and the magnetic poles on the back surface are different between adjacent sheet form magnets, and side surfaces of the sheet form magnets contact each other. The coating composition contains a thermoplastic resin, magnetic particles with flaky form and a specific low boiling point solvent and a specific high boiling point solvent. A magnetic field is applied to the coating film by the sheet form magnets, so that the magnetic particles in the coating film are oriented by the magnetic field and the magnetic particles are oriented substantially parallel to the front surface of the coating film above the contact portions between the sheet form magnets. Light is reflected from the magnetic particles in the coating film so that a pattern is formed.
US08147918B2
The present invention provides a sol-gel composition which is dilutable with water in any proportion and is based on the reaction of at least the following components: (i) a glycidyloxypropylalkoxysilane, (ii) an aqueous silica sol having a solids content of >1% by weight, (iii) an organic acid as hydrolysis catalyst, and (iv) n-propyl zirconate, butyl titanate or titanium acetylacetonate as crosslinker, starting from a mass ratio of the solids mass of component (ii) to component (i) 0.75, a process for preparing it and its use, in particular as a sol-gel composition for corrosion control coatings, a corresponding corrosion control coat or primer coat, and articles equipped with such a coating.
US08147917B2
The present invention provides a sealing member for fuel which includes a fluororubber base and a sliding-treated layer coating the surface of the base. The sliding-treated layer includes a matrix made from a fluororubber, a sliding thin film formed in the surface portion of the matrix from a molten first particulate solid lubricant, and a second particulate solid lubricant dispersed in the matrix and the sliding thin film without being melted.
US08147909B2
Provided is a method for processing a wafer that includes providing an alloy susceptor including an exterior surface and a wafer contact surface. The exterior surface of the alloy susceptor is treated to produce a roughness of the exterior surface. The roughened exterior surface of is coated with a ceramic material. The alloy susceptor including the ceramic-coated roughened exterior surface is positioned in a wafer process chamber. A plurality of layers of a film are deposited on the ceramic-coated roughened exterior surface of the alloy susceptor, wherein a first adhesion exists between the plurality of layers of the film and the ceramic material coated on the roughened exterior surface of the alloy susceptor that is greater than a second adhesion that would exist between the plurality of layers of the film and a non-roughened exterior surface of the alloy susceptor without the ceramic material.
US08147907B2
The present invention provides a retroreflective sheet with a discernable image. The retroreflective sheet comprises a transparent polymeric spacing layer having a first surface and a second surface; a layer of transparent microsphere lenses embedded into the first surface of the spacing layer at varying depths forming an image, wherein the spacing layer adheres to and conforms to the microspheres; and a reflective layer adhered to the second surface of the spacing layer. The present invention also provides methods for preparing such retroreflective sheet.
US08147905B2
To provide a heat-sensitive recording material, including: a substrate; a heat-sensitive color developing layer on the substrate, the heat-sensitive color developing layer containing at least a leuco dye and a developer; and a protective layer on the heat-sensitive color developing layer, the protective layer containing at least a binder resin, wherein the binder resin in the protective layer contains diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, the degree of polymerization of the binder resin in the protective layer is 1,000 to 1,800 and the degree of saponification of the binder resin is 90% or greater and less than 98%.
US08147904B2
A method for manufacturing a metal clad laminate having a film and a metal layer formed of a foundation layer and an upper layer includes the steps of forming the foundation layer on at least a part of a surface of the film by plating to obtain a first laminate; forming the upper layer on the first laminate by plating to obtain a second laminate; and heating the second laminate to obtain the metal clad laminate. Further, the film is a flexible thermoplastic polymer film, the foundation layer is formed of a nickel alloy, the upper layer is formed of copper, at least one of the foundation layer and the upper layer has a compression stress before the step of heating the second laminate, and the metal clad laminate shrinks in a planar direction of the film during the step of heating the second laminate.
US08147903B2
A circuit pattern forming method that can reduce a possibility of undesired short-circuits being produced in the circuit by satellites formed when fabricating a conductive pattern. Thereby, a highly reliable printed circuit board can be formed. A conductive pattern and an insulating pattern of a predetermined thickness are overlappingly drawn by scanning a liquid ejection head and a substrate relative to each other a plurality of times, while ejecting droplets of a conductive pattern forming solution and an insulating pattern forming solution. When forming the conductive pattern and the insulating pattern that adjoin each other on the substrate, the step of forming the insulating pattern of at least one scan is executed between the conductive pattern forming steps that are executed the plurality of times, until the conductive pattern has a predetermined thickness.
US08147898B2
A drug coating is formed by vaporizing a drug in a deposition chamber having an implantable medical device such as a stent loaded therein. A vacuum is utilized to lower the pressure within the deposition chamber, thereby reducing the temperature necessary to vaporize the drug. The drug is then deposited onto the implantable medical device while in a vapor phase to form the drug coating.
US08147892B2
The invention relates to gamma-glutamyl and beta-asparagyl peptide compounds of formula (I) that provide a kokumi flavor to consumables and flavor compositions, and to consumables and flavor compositions comprising such compounds. Enzymatic methods to prepare the compounds are provided.
US08147891B2
Use of a powder comprising more than 40% by weight of sodium bicarbonate, for its acaricidal effects in the storage of cereals.
US08147874B2
Coated pellets which comprise an active pharmaceutical ingredient that is poorly soluble in water, release at least 80% of the active ingredient under in vitro conditions in phosphate buffer at pH 5.0 after 30 minutes and are bioequivalent to a liquid formulation of the active ingredient under in vitro fed status test conditions and/or are coated with a composition, which includes a lipophilic component (A) and a hydrogel former (B), wherein the pure lipophilic component (A) has (i) an HLB value of ≦5, and/or (ii) a melting range of ≧60° C., and/or (iii) a solidification range Δ of less than 35° C., and/or (iv) a density of ≧0.80 g cm−3.
US08147873B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ion imbalances. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising sodium-binding polymers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods of use of the polymeric and pharmaceutical compositions for therapeutic and/or prophylactic benefits are disclosed herein. Examples of these methods include the treatment of hypertension, chronic heart failure, end stage renal disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal insufficiency, fluid overload, or sodium overload.
US08147871B2
The present invention is directed to novel pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for melt extrusion and injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form.
US08147866B2
The present invention provides methods for enhancing transmucosal uptake of a medicament, e.g., fentanyl or buprenorphine, to a subject and related devices. The method includes administering to a subject a transmucosal drug delivery device comprising the medicament. Also provided are devices suitable for transmucosal administration of a medicament to a subject and methods of their administration and use. The devices include a medicament disposed in a mucoadhesive polymeric diffusion environment and a barrier environment.
US08147862B2
Osteogenic sponge compositions having enhanced osteoinductive properties for use in bone repair are described. The compositions include a quickly resorbable porous carrier, a more slowly resorbed mineral scaffold and an osteogenic factor, preferably a bone morphogenetic protein. The compositions enable increased osteoinductive activity while retaining a reliable scaffold for the formation of new bone at an implant site. Methods for therapeutic use of the compositions are also described.
US08147860B2
Porous calcium phosphate implant compositions that approximate the chemical composition of natural bone mineral are provided. In addition to calcium phosphate, the compositions include an effervescent agent to promote the formation of interconnected pores and a cohesiveness agent to maintain the shape and hardness of the hardened composition. When introduced at an implant site, the calcium phosphate compositions are remodeled into bone. Methods for using the calcium phosphate compositions, e.g., to repair or replace bone, are also provided.
US08147859B2
Implantable materials having defined patterns of affinity regions for binding endothelial cells and providing for directed endothelial cell migration across the surface of the material. The affinity regions include photochemically altered regions of a material surface and physical members patterned on the material surface that exhibit a greater affinity for endothelial cell binding and migration than the remaining regions of the material surface.
US08147855B2
Methods for inhibiting sensory responses in the skin such as pain and itch using topical formulations containing aqueous-soluble divalent strontium cation in a suitable topical keratinized skin formulation vehicle are disclosed.
US08147854B2
This invention relates to a cosmetics characterized in that it contains a gelling agent comprising an organopolysiloxane having a silicon-bonded organic group represented by general formula: R1—X—CO—NH—[X—N(—CO—X—R1)]p—X— (1) (wherein R1 designates a group containing metal salt of a carboxylic acid represented by formula —COO− (Mn+)1/n (where M is a metal that has a valence of 1 or higher); X's designate the same or different C2 to C14 bivalent hydrocarbon groups; and p designates an integer from 0 to 10.). Preferably, the organosiloxane has an optionally substituted C9 or more univalent hydrocarbon group. Adding the gelling agent makes it possible to provide a cosmetic possessing superior temporal stability, water retention properties, sensory feel, gloss, curl retention, and cleansing power.
US08147853B2
A rinsable personal care composition includes (a) 0 to 75 weight percent of a composition surfactant; (b) 0.01 to 99 weight percent of a skin benefit agent or emollient; (c) 0.01 to 20 weight percent of a hydrophobically modified non-platelet particle; and (d) 0 to 99% water.
US08147849B2
The invention provides protective antigens for Group B streptococcus hypervirulent strains. The fragments are useful in vaccine compositions to induce protection against S. agalactiae, particularly against hypervirulent strains.
US08147845B2
Reovirus can be used to selectively remove ras-mediated neoplastic cells from a cellular composition. It is of particular interest to purge autographs which may contain neoplastic cells with reovirus before transplanting the autographs back into the recipient, thereby reducing the risk of introducing or reintroducing neoplastic cells into the recipient.
US08147833B2
The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with synucleinopathic diseases, including Lewy bodies of alpha-synuclein in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the Lewy body. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Parkinson's disease.
US08147832B2
A CD20-binding polypeptide composition comprising a combination of a modified heavy chain variable region polypeptide and a modified light chain variable region polypeptide. The combination can be (a) a modified 2B8 antibody heavy chain variable region polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 48; and a modified 2B8 antibody light chain variable region polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 49; or (b) a modified Leu16 antibody heavy chain variable region polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 50; and a modified Leu16 antibody light chain variable region polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 51.
US08147826B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08147822B1
The present invention is directed to a method of reducing the viability of a tumor cell involving administering a virus that is not a common human pathogen to the tumor cell. Preferably, the virus exhibits differential susceptibility, in that normal cells are not affected by the virus. This differential susceptibility is more pronounced in the presence of interferon. The tumor cell is characterized by having low levels, or no, PKR activity, or as being PKR−/−, STAT1−/− or both PKR−/− and STAT1−/−. The virus is selected from the group consisting of Rhabdovirus and picornavirus, and preferably is vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or a derivative thereof.
US08147814B2
The present invention relates to personal care compositions comprising certain dye-polymer complexes. Additionally, methods for coloration of personal care compositions using said dye-polymer complexes are disclosed.
US08147812B2
The present invention is directed to a personal care composition comprising:a.) from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a detersive surfactant;b.) a silicone elastomer formed from the following reaction: and; c.) an aqueous carrier. wherein m=30 to 70, n=1 to 5, and a=8 to 20.
US08147809B2
Soft anticholinergic esters of the formulas: wherein R1 and R2 are both phenyl or one of R1 and R2 is phenyl and the other is cyclopentyl; R is C1-C8 alkyl, straight or branched chain; and X− is an anion with a single negative charge; and wherein each asterisk marks a chiral center; said compound having the R, S or RS stereoisomeric configuration at each chiral center unless specified otherwise, or being a mixture thereof.
US08147808B2
Anhydrous, solid antiperspirant compositions comprising: (a) from about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of the composition, of a high-efficacy antiperspirant active; (b) from about 0.1% to about 35% by weight of the composition, of a thickening agent; (c) from about 10% to about 99% by weight of the composition, of an anhydrous liquid carrier; (d) from about 5 ppm to about 20% by weight of the composition, of a primary fragrance; and (e) from at least about 5 ppm by weight of the composition, of a secondary fragrance that is distinct from the primary fragrance and is included in a surfactant-free, water-releasable matrix, which renders the secondary fragrance within the matrix substantially odorless prior to aqueous activation, wherein the anhydrous, solid antiperspirant composition exhibits an Antiperspirant Efficacy Index of at least about 0.9, and wherein the anhydrous, solid antiperspirant composition is substantially devoid of a malodor reducing agent.
US08147806B2
The disclosure provides, in part, fluorocarbon imaging reagents and formulations for the ex vivo labeling of cells. Labeled cells may be detected in vivo or ex vivo by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The disclosure additionally provides methods for using the imaging reagents in a variety of clinical procedures.
US08147802B2
Provided herein are chelator-functionalized nanoparticles comprising a passive core; and an active coating that demonstrate T1 magnetic resonance pattern upon exposure to a magnetic field. Also provided are methods of making such chelator-functionalized nanoparticles as well as imaging methods using the nanoparticles.
US08147785B2
Combustion flue gas containing NOX and SOX is treated to remove NOX in a multistep system in which NOX is reduced in the flue gas stream via selective catalytic reduction or selective non-catalytic reduction with ammonia or an ammonia-forming compound, followed treatment with hydrogen peroxide to remove residual ammonia and, optionally, treatment with an alkali reagent to reduce residual NOX in the flue gas stream. The NOX-depleted flue gas stream may also be subjected to a desulfurization treatment for removal of SOX.
US08147782B2
A process for producing a purified nickel hydroxide precipitate from a nickel-containing leach solution with impurities including one or more of the following: manganese, copper, zinc, iron and/or cobalt, so that the purified nickel hydroxide is suitable for pelletization with iron-containing ores and/or stainless steel production, includes treating the leach solution with a base to form a slurry of mixed hydroxide precipitate and low-nickel barren solution, thickening the slurry to form filter cake, washing the filter cake and contacting it with acid to dissolve nickel and other metals to produce a concentrated nickel-containing solution, subjecting the concentrated nickel-containing solution to solvent extraction with an organic acid extractant to remove metals other than nickel from the nickel-containing solution and form a solvent extraction raffinate of purified nickel solution and treating the solvent extraction raffinate with a base to precipitate the purified nickel hydroxide precipitate.
US08147778B2
A specimen container carrier for a conveyor in a laboratory automation system which includes a circular body driven by the conveyor and container holding elements arranged in the circular body, the container holding elements being maintained in a container holding position by respective elastic elements and are connected to each other by synchronization elements forcing the specimen container to remain coaxially positioned with respect to the circular body.
US08147771B2
A sterilizing material supply apparatus has a sterilizing material gas generator including a mist generation unit and a vaporizing unit. In the mist generation unit, hydrogen peroxide solution in a cup is converted into a mist by ultrasonic vibration generated by an ultrasonic vibrator. The hydrogen peroxide solution which has been turned into the mist is heated by a heater in the vaporizing unit so as to be gasified. The gasified hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to a workroom of an isolator as a sterilizing gas.
US08147766B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for processing biomass to selectively yield a variety of hydrocarbon molecules and hydrogen as products, wherein some or all of these products can be further utilized for other biomass processing sub-processes, particularly wherein they lead to the generation of biofuels and/or other high-value products.
US08147765B2
A novel process and apparatus is disclosed for sustainable, continuous production of hydrogen and carbon by catalytic dissociation or decomposition of hydrocarbons at elevated temperatures using in-situ generated carbon particles. Carbon particles are produced by decomposition of carbonaceous materials in response to an energy input. The energy input can be provided by at least one of a non-oxidative and oxidative means. The non-oxidative means of the energy input includes a high temperature source, or different types of plasma, such as, thermal, non-thermal, microwave, corona discharge, glow discharge, dielectric barrier discharge, or radiation sources, such as, electron beam, gamma, ultraviolet (UV). The oxidative means of the energy input includes oxygen, air, ozone, nitrous oxide (NO2) and other oxidizing agents. The method, apparatus and process of the present invention is applicable to any gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuel and it produces no or significantly less CO2 emissions compared to conventional processes.
US08147756B2
Device for carrying out a chemical or physical treatment, comprising a frame on which a turntable is arranged rotatably. The reaction vessels are arranged on the turntable, and a different connection between the feed/discharge lines, which are fixedly connected to the frame, and the reaction vessels is constantly provided via a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises two disks, each provided with ports which are positioned opposite one another in constantly changing positions. In order to minimize the non-operational time, an indexing movement is carried out using the turntable. In the case of relatively large installations, to prevent associated forces from affecting the movement of the valve assembly, it is proposed that the valve assembly be fitted directly on the turntable and that the turntable be driven directly by the motor.
US08147749B2
A composition of matter comprises, in combination, in weight percent: a largest content of nickel; at least 16.0 percent cobalt; and at least 3.0 percent tantalum. The composition may be used in power metallurgical processes to form turbine engine turbine disks.
US08147743B2
The present invention relates to a method for deforming a plastic plate comprising a core of resin-treated fibers, wherein the plate is obtained by-compression under elevated pressure and temperature conditions and the plate thus obtained is deformed in a mold (1, 2, 3), characterized in that the plastic plate must have a temperature in the range of (Tg+15″C)-(Tg+115″C) prior to being deformed in the mold, wherein Tg (″C) is the deformation or glass transition temperature of the plastic plate.
US08147739B2
A method for manufacturing a cable, the cable including at least one transmissive element and at least one coating layer made of a polymeric material and arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the transmissive element. The method includes the steps of: a) feeding the polymeric material to an extrusion apparatus including an extrusion head, the extrusion head including a male die; a female die coaxially arranged with respect to the male die; a conveying channel, at least one portion of which is defined between the male die and the female die; and b) controlling a cross-sectional area of the at least one portion of the conveying channel in response to a detected quantity, the quantity being caused to vary during the manufacturing of the cable as a function of the actual extrusion speed. An extrusion apparatus for carrying out the process.
US08147728B2
The present invention provides a method for making colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) applying a color coat to at least a portion of at least one of molding surfaces of a lens mold with an ink, wherein the ink comprises at least one colorant, a binder polymer, an adhesion promoter, and optionally a diluent, wherein the binder polymer is a copolymerization product of a polymerizable mixture including (i) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer; (ii) at least one functionalizing vinylic monomer containing at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group —OH, amino group —NHR (wherein R is hydrogen or C1 to C8 alkyl), carboxylic group —COOH, epoxy group, amide group —CONHR, and combinations thereof; (iii) at least one silicone-containing vinylic monomer or macromer, and (iv) optionally one or more components selected from the group consisting of a polymerization initiator, a chain transfer agent, and a solvent, wherein the mold has a lens-forming cavity between the molding surfaces, wherein the colored coat contains a first surface exposed to the interior of the lens-forming cavity and a second surface in contact with the molding surface; (b) curing the ink printed on the mold; (c) dispensing a silicone hydrogel lens-forming material into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; (d) curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored coat detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens.
US08147727B2
Methods and systems are provided for making an ophthalmic lens. The present methods and systems are effecting in coupling two mold sections together at two or more discrete regions. Embodiments of the methods and systems form a bore that extends completely through one of the mold sections and only partially through the other mold section. During formation of the bore, the mold material in proximity to the bore being foamed becomes molten and diffuses from the bore. A portion of the molten mold material is provided at a contact point between the two mold sections and when the molten material cools, the material foams a spot weld between the mold sections. By foaming multiple hollow spot welds in a mold assembly, the two mold sections can be securely coupled to each other during the manufacture of an ophthalmic lens, such as a silicone hydrogel contact lens.
US08147724B2
A tin oxide-based electrode formed from a composition including a majority component comprising tin-oxide (SnO2), and additives comprising CuO, ZnO, and a resistivity modifying species. The total amount of CuO and ZnO is not greater than about 0.3 wt %, and the ZnO is present in an amount within a range between about 0.1 wt % and about 0.19 wt %.
US08147722B2
Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A spin-coatable liquid for formation of a nanotube film includes a liquid medium containing a controlled concentration of purified nanotubes, wherein the controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity, and wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than 1×1018 atoms/cm3 of metal impurities. The spin-coatable liquid is substantially free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm.
US08147721B2
The present invention relates to electrically conductive polymer compositions, and their use in organic electronic devices. The electrically conductive polymer compositions include an intrinsically conductive polymer having at least on monomer unit derived from Formula I: where: X=N, CR6 Z=NH, S, O, Se, Te Q=N, CR5 R1 through R4 can be H, F, Cl, C1-C24 alkyl, C2-C24 alkenyl, aryl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C1-C10 alkylseleno, C1-C10 alkylthio, C1-C10 alkylsilyl, NH2, or C1-C10 dialkylamino, where adjacent R groups can join together to form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic or aromatic rings, with the proviso that at least one of R1 through R4 is NH2, and. R5 and R6 can be H, C1-C24 alkyl, C2-C24 alkenyl, and aryl. The electrically conducting polymer is doped with a fluorinated acid polymer.
US08147716B2
A red phosphor includes yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), an alkaline-earth metal element, and europium (Eu). A plasma display panel (PDP) includes the red phosphor.
US08147692B2
A reverse osmosis system and method for operating the same includes a fluid reservoir, a valve and a brine feed tank in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir through an input. The brine feed tank has brine feed fluid therein. The system also includes a high pressure pump and a pressure vessel in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir through the high pressure pump. The pressure vessel comprises a permeate outlet. The brine feed tank is in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. During a permeate production cycle, the high pressure pump pumps additional fluid under high pressure from the fluid reservoir into the pressure vessel using a high pressure pump. The pressure vessel communicates brine fluid into the brine feed tank. The high pressure pump raises a pressure in the pressure vessel until an amount of permeate is produced from a permeate output of the pressure vessel.
US08147691B2
The present disclosure pertains to a fluid filter having integral attachment means which may take the form of a threaded portion of a filter cartridge. The threaded portion threadably interacts with a complementary threaded portion of a filter mounting to retain the filter cartridge to the filter mounting. The disclosure also pertains to a fluid filter having a cartridge made from two plastic shells welded together. The disclosure also pertains to a fluid filter with filter media positioned within a filter cartridge by an end cap with extending ribs welded to one of the two shells which compose the filter cartridge.
US08147682B2
A process and process line is provided for recovering heat in the form of cleaned warm water and residual bitumen from oil sand tailings produced during an oil sands extraction process. The process includes removing at least a portion of the coarse solids from the oil sand tailings to produce a reduced solids tailings fraction; separating at least a portion of the bitumen from the reduced solids tailings fraction to produce a bitumen fraction and a warm water and fines fraction; and removing at least a portion of the fines from the warm water and fines fraction to produce cleaned warm water and a concentrated fines fraction. The cleaned warm water can then be reused in the oil sands extraction process.
US08147674B2
A sensor system, device, and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample is described. Input signals including multiple duty cycles of sequential excitation pulses and relaxations are input to the sample. One or more signals output from the sample within 300 ms of the input of an excitation pulse may be correlated with the analyte concentration of the sample to improve the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis. Determining the analyte concentration of the sample from these rapidly measured output values may reduce analysis errors arising from the hematocrit effect, mediator background, and other error sources.
US08147667B2
A method of manufacturing an exhaust gas sensor that includes positioning at least a portion of a subassembly of the exhaust gas sensor in a mold fixture, overmolding at least a portion of the subassembly with a ceramic material, and removing the overmolded subassembly from the mold fixture.
US08147663B2
A scaffold holding one or more ion-conductive ceramic membranes for use in an electrochemical cell is described. Generally, the scaffold includes a thermoplastic plate defining one or more orifices. Each orifice is typically defined by a first, second, and third aperture, wherein the second aperture is disposed between the first and third apertures. The diameter of the second aperture can be larger than the diameters of the first and third apertures. While at an operating temperature the diameter of the ceramic membrane is larger than the diameters of the first and third apertures, heating the scaffold to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time causes the third aperture's diameter to become larger than the membrane's diameter. Thus, heating the scaffold may allow the membrane to be inserted into the orifice. Cooling the scaffold can then cause the third aperture's diameter to shrink and trap the membrane within the orifice.
US08147660B1
A semiconductive counter electrode covers a highly electronically conductive electric current buss. The semiconductive counter electrode is impervious to ion flow. A substrate holder is operable to hold a substrate and to form a thin fluid gap between the semiconductive counter electrode and a substrate surface. A thin liquid electrolyte layer is located in the thin fluid gap. A power supply connected to the electric current buss and a peripheral edge of a conductive substrate surface is able to generate a potential difference between the electric current buss and the semiconductive counter electrode, on one side of the electrolyte layer, and the substrate on the other side. The semiconductive counter electrode provides a substantial resistance in the various current flow paths between the electric current buss and the semiconductive counter electrode, on one side, and the conductive substrate surface, on the other, thereby enhancing control of current distribution.
US08147656B2
The present invention relates to a method for the production of silicon from silyl halides. In a first step, the silyl halide is converted, with the generation of a plasma discharge, to a halogenated polysilane, which is subsequently decomposed to silicon, in a second step, with heating.
US08147642B2
A boxer-style pant and a method of making a boxer-style pant having side seams, a contracted crotch region, and hanging legs. A web is provided. The web may be a single pant assembly, or a continuous web of multiple pant assemblies connected to one another. The web may be folded against a support structure. In certain embodiments, a multi-lane production system may be used wherein the web is folded against multiple support structures each parallel to a direction in which the web is conveyed, with each lane or machine direction array of pant assemblies folded against just one support structure. The web is cut to define leg openings, and contracted in selected areas along the web between the leg openings. Front and back regions are then joined together to form the side seams. An absorbent structure may be attached to the web.
US08147640B2
A fabricating method of a flexible display device includes the steps of providing an adhesive layer including a first adhesive material on a first surface of a support film, a second adhesive material on a second surface of the support film such that an adhesive strength of the second adhesive material is lower than an adhesive strength of the first adhesive material, and a third adhesive material encompassing an edge of the second adhesive material such that an adhesive strength of the third adhesive material is higher than the adhesive strength of the second adhesive material; a first passivation film adhered to the first surface of the support film with the first adhesive material therebetween; and a second passivation film adhered to the second surface of the support film with the second adhesive material and the third adhesive material therebetween; peeling the first passivation film from the adhesive layer; adhering a rigid substrate to the first adhesive material; peeling the second passivation film from the adhesive layer; and adhering a flexible substrate onto the second and third adhesive materials.
US08147624B2
The present invention relates to an electrode composed of an Al-M-Cu based alloy, to a process for preparing the Al-M-Cu based alloy, to an electrolytic cell comprising the electrode the use of an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode and to a method for extracting a reactive metal from a reactive metal-containing source using an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode.
US08147619B2
Cavitation is an often used mechanism for accelerating chemical reactions and for cleaning purposes. This invention describes a very simple process for generating cavitation with a vibration table through vertical excitations which generates a “water hammer” that generates very effective cavitation. A simple example is given for an industrial application of this process—splitting cellulose via sulfuric acid to glucose.
US08147609B2
A non-dispersible concrete for underwater and underground construction is disclosed, whose composition primarily comprises: coarse aggregate in a range of from 600 to 1200 kgw/m3; fine aggregate 500 to 1100 kgw/m3, with a fineness modulus (F.M.) in a range of from 2.2 to 3.2; powder 300 to 700 kgw/m3; mixing water 140 to 300 kgw/m3; and cohesion-enhancing admixture (for example, polyacrylamide, PAA) whose solid content is 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of the powder. In addition, a SCC for underwater and underground construction is also developed and has excellent property of self-consolidation (its test value is 400 to 750 mm in slump flow spread test) and an appropriate compressive strength (between 14 to 70 MPa), so as can be widely applied to underwater and underground construction, whose composition further includes superplasticizer with solid content 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of the powder. Also, it covers: water to binder ratio (W/B) of 0.22 to 1.00, paste volume 0.25 to 0.60 m3, and water/powder volume ratio 0.5 to 2.95.
US08147606B2
A wax composition comprises at least three amide waxes A, B, and C, where amide wax A is the reaction product of alkylenediamine with linear fatty acids or with mixtures composed of fatty acids, amide wax B is the reaction product of alkylenediamine with 12-hydroxystearic acid, and amide wax C is the reaction product of alkylenediamine with 12-hydroxystearic acid and with linear fatty acids. The wax composition is suitable as a processing aid in engineering thermoplastics or for the preparation of solvent-based wax pastes or the preparation of wax micronizates for coatings or for the preparation of aqueous dispersions.
US08147596B2
A hydrogen-permeable film has a ceramic material of a nitride or oxide of a metal element belonging to group IVB, VB or VIB and hydrogen-permeable metal particles of at least one kind selected from palladium (Pd), niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), tantalum (Ta) and alloys thereof dispersed in the ceramic material. A ratio of the hydrogen-permeable metal particles in the hydrogen-permeable film is 20 to 70 mass %, and a thickness of the hydrogen-permeable film is 5 to 1,000 nm.
US08147586B2
Method for producing molybdenum metal powder. The invention includes introducing a supply of ammonium molybdate precursor material into a furnace in a first direction and introducing a reducing gas into a cooling zone in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The ammonium molybdate precursor material is heated at an initial temperature in the presence of the reducing gas to produce an intermediate product that is heated at a final temperature in the presence of the reducing gas, thereby creating the molybdenum metal powder comprising particles having a surface area to mass ratio of between about 1 m2/g and about 4 m2/g, as determined by BET analysis, and a flowability of between about 29 s/50 g and 86 s/50 g as determined by a Hall Flowmeter. The molybdenum metal powder is moved through the cooling zone.
US08147582B2
An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.
US08147578B2
A filter assembly and filter element are provided utilizing a given volume of space effectively and efficiently with low restriction. An irregular shape filter is provided to fit the space, including a filter element circumscribing an inner plenum and having an axially extending sidewall. The sidewall has a differential axial height as it circumscribes the inner plenum.
US08147575B2
A separator for separating a liquid-gas flow into a liquid and a compressed gas includes a housing that defines an inner space and that is adapted to contain the full pressure of the compressed gas. The housing includes a liquid-gas inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas outlet. A first stage separator is positioned to receive the liquid-gas flow from the inlet. The first stage separator is operable to separate a first portion of the liquid from the liquid-gas flow. A second stage separator includes a swirl vane separator and is positioned to receive the liquid-gas flow from the first stage separator and is operable to separate a second portion of the liquid from the liquid-gas flow. A third stage separator is positioned to receive the liquid-gas flow from the swirl vane separator and is operable to separate a third portion of the liquid from the liquid-gas flow. The first stage separator, the second stage separator, and the third stage separator are completely contained within the housing.
US08147573B2
A cutting tip for a drilling tool includes a cemented carbide cutting base, a diamond element supported by the cutting base, and a bonding layer formed between the cutting base and the diamond element in order to bond them. The bonding layer includes diffusion layers and in which one or two or more metals selected from a group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Ti, Zr, W, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and Hf diffuses into at least one of the diamond or the cement carbide.
US08147571B2
The fuel processor (10) comprises a desulphurization reactor (12), a catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14), a combustor (16) and a pre-reformer (18), means (20) to supply a hydrocarbon fuel to the desulphurization reactor (12), means (24) to supply air to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) and means (24) to supply air to the combustor (16). The desulphurization reactor (12) is arranged to supply desulphurised hydrocarbon fuel to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) in first, second and third modes of operation, to the combustor (16) in a first mode of operation to the pre-reformer (18) in a third mode of operation. The combustor (16) is arranged to supply oxygen depleted air and steam to the pre-reformer (18) in the first mode of operation. The catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) is arranged to supply hydrogen to the desulphurization reactor (12) in all three modes of operation. The catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) is arranged to supply the pre-reformer (18) in all three modes of operation and the pre-reformer (18) is arranged to supply product gases to the fuel cell arrangement.
US08147569B2
A quaternary ammonium salt detergent made from the reaction product of the reaction of: (a) a hydrocarbyl substituted acylating agent and a compound having an oxygen or nitrogen atom capable of condensing with said acylating agent and further having a tertiary amino group; and (b) a quaternizing agent suitable for converting the tertiary amino group to a quaternary nitrogen and the use of such quaternary ammonium salt detergents in a fuel composition to reduce intake valve deposits.
US08147567B2
The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
US08147564B2
The present disclosure relates to an agent for dyeing and/or bleaching keratin fibers, comprising: composition (A) comprising at least one basifying agent, and anhydrous composition (B) comprising hydrogen peroxide and/or at least one hydrogen peroxide precursor, wherein composition (A) and/or composition (B) comprise at least one fatty substance not containing any carboxylic acid functional groups, such that the total amount of the at least one fatty substance not containing any carboxylic acid functional groups is present in the mixture of composition (A) and composition (B) in an amount greater than 20% by weight. The disclosure also relates to a process for treating human keratin fibers using this dyeing and/or bleaching agent, and a multi-compartment kit comprising this dyeing and/or bleaching agent in at least two parts.
US08147561B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices that help to curb appetite and/or reduce food intake. In one embodiment, the methods and devices of the present invention include a small intestinal/duodenal insert comprising an elongated member with at least one flow reduction element that can cause the stimulation of one or more biological signals of satiety.
US08147559B2
A system for positioning an element relative to an articular surface. An embodiment of the system may include a first element having a positional reference relative to an articular surface. The system may further include a second element capable of indicating the positional reference of the first element relative to said articular surface. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US08147555B2
A multi-piece disc replacement implant device for replacing a disc removed by a discectomy including an upper plate member, a lower plate member, and an intermediate resilient member providing movement between the two plate members replicating the natural movement of the spine including flexion/extension, lateral bending, and, in some embodiments, rotation. The plate members are rigid and have orthogonal sidewalls forming an enclosure. The resilient member is an elastic solid or a multi-chamber balloon structure of fluid-filled sacks that collectively define a non-uniform shape such as an oblate spheroid, or a helically coiled string of beads. Such an implant is capable of supporting the compressive and cyclic loads required of a natural disc. The upper and lower plate members are cooperatively formed to selectively limit the allowable range of motion in any given direction. Alternate embodiments of the invention may be employed in conjunction with removal of the nucleus pulposus when removal of the annulus fibrosus (annulotomy) is not required or desirable.
US08147551B2
A cervical intervertebral disk prosthesis has two cover plates, at least one of which is provided with a wedge-shaped connection surface for connection to a vertebral body and which is wider than it is deep. The dorsal edge of the connection surface may be set back from the dorsolateral edge of the cover plate having the connection surface and be connected to the dorsal edge protruding above it via a rounding or bevel.
US08147550B2
An articulating expandable intervertebral implant is described for insertion between vertebrae of a human spine. The articulating expandable intervertebral implant includes an upper body that engages a first vertebra, a lower body that engages a second vertebra, and an insert. The inferior surface of the upper body may include a concave portion. The superior surface of the insert may include a convex portion. The insert may be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the concave portion of the inferior surface of the upper body. In some embodiments, an expansion member may engage the insert to increase a height of the intervertebral implant and/or allow or increase articulation of the upper body with respect to the insert. The insert may include one or more features designed to limit articulation of the upper body with respect to the insert.
US08147543B2
An artificial valve (100) and related methods are provided for implantation in a patient's blood vessel (200), in particular an artificial heart valve, including a first (10) and a second (20) valve member each having a first smooth surface (11, 21) facing each other so as to form a sealing contact between the first and second valve members and further having at least one blood flow passage (13, 23a) extending from the first surface to a second surface (12, 22) located on an opposite side of the respective valve member, wherein at least one (10) of the valve members is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the other (20) valve member in a slidable manner such that the passage (23a) of the second valve (20) member can be brought into at least partial alignment with the passage (13) of the first valve member (10) while maintaining the sealing contact between the first and second valve members, and a displacing mechanism (M; 50-56) for the relative displacement of the valve members (10, 20). The valve members can be made from ceramics. A valve system comprises the artificial valve (100) and additional components such as a motor (M), an energy source (E), a control unit (C), a pressure sensor (P), a feed back system and/or an alarm system.
US08147540B2
This disclosure relates to implantable medical devices coated with a taxane therapeutic agent, such as paclitaxel, in one or more solid form(s) having varying dissolution rates. Particularly preferred coatings comprise amorphous and/or solvated solid forms of taxane therapeutic agents that provide durable coatings that release the taxane over a desired period of time, which can be varied in the absence of a polymer by selecting the type and amount of solid forms of the taxane therapeutic agent in the coating. Other preferred embodiments relate to methods of coating medical devices and methods of treatment. The coatings can provide a sustained release of the taxane therapeutic agent within a body vessel without containing a polymer to achieve the desired rate of paclitaxel elution.
US08147534B2
A system and method for deploying an occluding device that can be used to remodel an aneurysm within the vessel by, for example, neck reconstruction or balloon remodeling. The system comprises an introduer sheath and an assembly for carrying the occluding device. The assembly includes an elongated flexible member having an occluding device retaining member for receiving a first end of the occluding device, a proximally positioned retaining member for engaging a second end of the occluding device and a support surrounding a portion of the elongated flexible member over which the occluding device can be positioned.
US08147529B2
Anterior cervical instrumentation systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. Systems may facilitate immobilizing or providing support for the cervical portion of the vertebral column of a patient. A device may comprise a plate having two channels located in a proximal to distal direction, and may further comprise at least one aperture. The device may further comprise attachment elements such as attachment cross-links and spacer cross-links, and fasteners. The plate and the attachment elements may be secured to the vertebrae by passing fasteners through apertures and channels. The length of the plate, position and number of the attachment cross-links, position and number of spacer cross-links and degree of movement may be intraoperatively selected by the surgeon to provide an optimal application and procedural outcome. Uniform components of the devices and systems allow for a more streamlined and simplified method of treating spinal conditions.
US08147522B2
A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device. The steps of fixing include inserting the pedicle screw into a bone, the pedicle screw including a head portion, expanding a first inner member over the head portion of the pedicle screw after the pedicle screw is inserted into a bone, fixing an angle of the tulip assembly relative to the pedicle screw using the first inner member and a second inner member, the first and second inner members situated in an outer member of the tulip assembly and positionally locking a rod in the tulip assembly after the angle is fixed by rotating the second inner member and outer member relative to each other after the fixing step.
US08147513B2
Apparatus is provided for sealing a puncture within a vessel or tissue to provide hemostasis, comprising a first disk coupled to either a second disk or a spring, and sealingly engaged to the vessel or tissue surrounding the puncture. At least the first disk is preferably configured to substantially conform to the profile of the vessel or tissue when deployed. In one embodiment, the disks may be released from engagement with the vessel or tissue to reposition the disks after deployment.
US08147512B1
A hand-operated surgical instrument with sequentially engaged tip closing guides. The instrument includes first and second arms having tips that close during a closure operation. A slotted tip closure guide on the arms engages first during the closure operation. A pin closure guide on the arms between the slotted closure guide and the tips engages during the closure operation after the engagement of the slotted closure guide. The sequential engagement of the guides provides precise approximation of the instrument tips and prevents “scissoring” of the tips.
US08147509B2
A lancet is pressed against a puncture needle cartridge while fitting a puncture needle loading inlet of the lancet to the axis of a puncture needle on the puncture needle cartridge. In order to facilitate the operation, one of plural puncture needles, arranged in parallel, is tilted up from its initial position at a predetermined angle, and the puncture needle is guided into a puncture needle holding rod of the lancet. Simultaneously, the puncture needle is pressed up to a position where the rear end part of the needle pushes the bottom surface of a puncture needle loading chamber of the puncture needle holding rod, whereby the puncture needle is loaded. When discarding a used puncture needle, the puncture needle is inserted into a lancet guide member of the puncture needle cartridge, whereby the puncture needle is reliably captured to be discarded.
US08147506B2
A method for gastric reduction surgery includes the step of applying at least one clamp to the stomach in a manner forming a gastric pouch. The clamp includes a clamp body shaped and dimensioned to create a gastric pouch with a standard size from approximately 15 cc to approximately 30 cc.
US08147505B2
A surgical instrument and method for manipulating surgical suture during minimally invasive surgical procedures. Surgical instrument includes an elongate body with a handle at the elongate body's proximal end. Elongate body also includes a distal portion, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and the distal portion includes at least one moveable wire. This wire moves so as to selectively capture and release a suture and suture purchase may be substantially obtained between the wire and the elongate body outer surface. The instrument also includes an actuation mechanism connecting the handle to the wire. The wire is moved via the actuation mechanism and a substantial component of the motion of the wire is eccentric rotation.
US08147502B2
A gastric coil manipulator includes a longitudinally extending shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a flexible element with a portion thereof extending beyond the distal end of the shaft for the creation of a resilient arc, wherein an actuator cable is secured to the flexible element for manipulation of the portion of the flexible element extending beyond the distal end of the shaft.
US08147498B2
An apparatus and method for implanting a prosthesis includes implanting a first component into a recess in a bone. The first component defines a main body defining a receiving portion and a locating bore. A second component is located into engagement with the first component, the second component defining a passage therethrough. A rod is inserted through the passage defined on the second component and into the locating bore of the first component. A handle associated with the rod is slidably actuated into contact with the second component to matingly lock the first component to the second component.
US08147491B2
A clamp for an external fixation system includes a body having a bottom portion and semi-spherical top portion. The top portion has a threaded bore provided along a longitudinal axis: The clamp includes a clamp assembly having a base with a semi-spherical cavity and a lid positioned over the base to house at least one pin between the base and the lid. The base and the lid have a bore provided along a longitudinal axis thereof. A fastening member is provided that extends through the bore in the base and the lid of the clamp assembly and is secured within the threaded bore of the top portion of the body. The bores in the base and the lid have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the fastening member.
US08147489B2
A disposable open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue is disclosed in the present disclosure. The disposable open electrosurgical forceps comprise a pair of first and second shaft members containing a fiber reinforced thermoplastic blend material having fiber strands of at least 2 millimeters in length. Each shaft member includes a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members also includes an electrically conductive sealing plate for communicating electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. At least one of the jaw members includes a knife channel defined along a length thereof which is dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong. An actuator is included for selectively advancing the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members. The actuator includes a trigger which cooperates with a rack and pinion system to advance the cutting mechanism from the first to second positions through tissue held therebetween.
US08147484B2
A system and method that enable real-time optical measurements of tissue reflection spectral characteristics while performing ablation, involves the radiation of tissue and recapturing of light from the tissue to monitor changes in the reflected optical intensity as an indicator of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam pop. The system includes a catheter adapted to collect light reflected from tissue undergoing ablation, a detection component that identifies and separates constituent wavelengths of collected light, a quantification apparatus for generating measured light intensity data for the collected light, and a processor that analyses the measured light intensity data in relation to time. The system may include a graphical display and/or an audio output (e.g., speaker) that provide visual and/or audio alarm when the system infers formation of a steam pocket in the tissue. The method for monitoring formation of steam pocket during ablation, wherein a measured reflectance spectral intensity MRSI versus time is analyzed, includes delivering light to tissue, delivering energy for ablation at tissue and measuring the reflectance spectral intensity of the tissue, wherein observation is made as to whether the MRSI initially increases in a specified time period followed by a decrease at a specified rate in the MRSI. If there is no decrease in the MRSI, then delivery of ablation energy to tissue continues. However, if there is a decrease in the MRSI within a specified time and at a specified rate, then the method infers the formation of a steam pocket and decreases or discontinues the delivery of ablative energy to tissue.
US08147479B1
A physician, nurse, or other healthcare practitioner can deliver a therapeutic agent to a patient in a manner that maintains effectiveness of the therapeutic agent, via monitoring and controlling shear, stress, or other potentially detrimental effect. A gauge, meter, or other monitoring device can provide an indication of shear (or other effect) that the therapeutic agent is experiencing during delivery. The monitoring device can provide information relevant to delivering the therapeutic agent in a manner that maintains effectiveness, thereby guiding the practitioner during delivery. For example, the monitoring device can display an estimate of shear based on sensing flow rate or pressure. The therapeutic agent can comprise one or more therapeutic cells, such as progenitor cells or stem cells, or some other healing substance delivered via a cardiac catheter to the patient's cardiovascular tissue, for example.
US08147477B2
The present invention provides devices and methods for mixing a formulation containing two or more constituents, such as a drug product and a diluent. The devices have a chamber for securing a container of the drug product. Various embodiments are presented. In one embodiment the device has two or more sides connected by a hinge, the two or more sides defining the chamber between them, and a handle for grasping and manipulating the device. In another embodiment the device has a housing with two or more side bars defining the chamber, the container being visible from outside the housing between the side bars and having a stopping element at the distal end, and a handle having two arms for grasping.
US08147474B2
The present invention provides an absorbent article 1 that does not easily warp in a leg-surrounding portion. The absorbent article 1 includes an absorbing member 2 in an elongated shape arranged along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and a stretchable chassis 3 having a leg-surrounding portion 3a recessed inward in a width direction. At least a part of the chassis 3 is composed of a composite sheet 13 obtained by affixing a stretchable sheet 15 and a non-stretchable sheet 16 to each other by a plurality of adhesive portions 18. The leg-surrounding portion 3a has an intersection crossing an expansion and contraction direction of the chassis 3 at a predetermined angle. The plurality of adhesive portions 18 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction.
US08147471B2
The present invention relates to a sanitary napkin whose securing means includes a “braid” of absorbent material. The braid structure maximizes absorbency, while minimizing bulk and thus allows the pad to be comfortably held in place during use, in much the same way that the popular underwear are held.
US08147467B2
A device enables a patient to perform non-invasive punctal occlusion by applying firm pressure to the skin external to the lacrimal canaliculi during the administration of eyedrop medicine, for the purpose of prolonging the medicine retention time. The device of this invention may be adjusted to fit the nasal aspect of the orbital rims where the lacrimal canaliculi are located. The pressure to be applied on the lacrimal canaliculi is adjustable to meet the optimal pressure requirement. The device also has a visual reference attachment that provides visual referencing points for positioning the tip of the eyedrop bottle towards the eyes. This device enables a hands-free operation and does not interfere with the wearing of eyeglasses.
US08147457B2
A trocar for performing a procedure on a patient. The trocar includes a hollow cannula having a distal end and a proximal end. The trocar includes a housing having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the cannula and a proximal end having a wall attached thereto. The wall having an aperture therethrough. The trocar further includes a first seal disposed within the housing comprising a plurality of layered elastomeric members forming conical shape.
US08147454B2
A gastrostomy tube extension device used for inserting or taking out the gastrostomy tube into/from the hole on the patient includes a rod, a fixing member, and an engaging member. The rod is formed of a rod-shaped member, and may be formed with engaging stepped portions on the proximal portion thereof. The fixing member is adapted to be capable of moving along the longitudinal direction of the rod, and an engaging projection which can be fixed to the tube member is formed on the peripheral surface of the fixing member. The engaging member includes a lower engaging portion engageable with the engaging projection and an upper engaging portion which is engageable with the engaging stepped portion. This assembly allows the extension to be locked, allowing the operator to manipulate the device with a single hand.
US08147452B2
A tearaway introducer sheath assembly (10) for use in implantation of a catheter into a patient, having an elongated polytetrafluoroethylene sheath tube (12) and a proximal polyethylene hub component (16). The hub comprises two halves (22) insert molded about the sheath tube proximal end and joined to each other by frangible webs (28) enabling manual splitting. At least one pair of opposed holes (42) is formed through the tube proximal end portion 44, and a polyethylene liner (46) is inserted into the tube's proximal end portion. The polyethylene flows into the at least one pair of holes (42) to fuse with the liner, establishing a pair of physical joints (50′) integrally joining the liner (46) to a respective hub half (22). Upon manual splitting of the hub halves, the sheath tube easily splits along its length as a result of a property of the polytetrafluoroethylene material.
US08147451B2
A fluid delivery system is provided for delivering fluid to a patient. The system comprises a reservoir for storing the fluid to be delivered to the patient and a fluid discharge device operatively coupled to the reservoir for delivering the fluid from the reservoir to the patient. A controller is configured to operate the fluid discharge device. An input device is in electronic communication with the controller and configured for setting at least one operating parameter of the system. The controller operates the fluid discharge device based on the at least one operating parameter and locks the system after the at least one operating parameter is set such that the at least one operating parameter is unable to be modified. A display is in electronic communication with the controller to at least periodically display a code for resetting the at least one operating parameter. The code is altered at least once during use. The controller is further configured to unlock the system upon receiving the code thereby allowing a user to reset the at least one operating parameter.
US08147449B2
The invention describes a closure device for the provision of freshly created gastric feeding fistulas, the basis of the design of the device being an introverted balloon that allows a sealing and hemostatic axial traction movement on the fistula that is to be sealed, the concentric balloon ends which run transmurally through the stomach and abdominal wall being arranged in a special seal-promoting and hemostatic manner.
US08147439B2
An ankle-foot orthosis having a tubular calf brace and a splint. The calf brace is configured to substantially enclose and compress a calf of a patient and includes a front wall, a rear wall and a chute formed at the rear wall. The splint includes a footplate and a stalk extending from the footplate, the stalk being insertable into the chute of the tubular calf brace to removably secure the splint to the tubular calf brace.
US08147432B2
A skin massage device having a handset connected to a machine body. The handset in turn has a chamber closed by a deformable membrane which adheres to a patient's skin by virtue of a vacuum generated in the chamber by a vacuum generating device. The device also has an electronic device for producing a variable vacuum in the chamber to deform the membrane and so lift, fold, compress, and smooth the patient's skin as to perform the massage cycle set by the operator.
US08147412B2
The present application provides a method for generating dealiased Doppler signals in a spectral Doppler system. The method comprises the steps of: filtering each of two quadrature components of obtained quadrature Doppler signals by using at least four filters in at least four parallel branches respectively so as to output eight signals, wherein the at least four filters for each quadrature component are equally divided into two groups, and outputs of each group of the filters are to be used for Doppler signals processing in one of forward and reverse directions, and coefficients of the different filters in each group can be interleaved with each other to form coefficients of a desired filter; interleaving and accumulating the output eight dealiased signals, according to direction and quadrature component of the output Doppler signals, to obtain forward and reverse dealiased Doppler signals F (t) and R (t).
US08147408B2
Systems and methods are shown which provide feedback with respect to the desired or proper placement of a medical device guide without introducing protuberances or other perturbations to the surface of devices used in medical procedures. Embodiments provide a biopsy needle guide bracket for use with an ultrasound transducer assembly, wherein the biopsy needle guide bracket and ultrasound transducer assembly are adapted to detect when the biopsy needle guide bracket is properly located on the ultrasound transducer assembly using one or more sensors. Embodiments may implement various sensor technology, such as Hall effect sensors, optical sensors, capacitive coupled sensors, inductive coupled sensors, and/or the like to provide feedback with respect to placement of a medical device guide.
US08147389B1
An adjustable weight-loaded dip-chin machine. Dip bars and chin bars with means for vertical adjustment are mounted on columns, which in turn are mounted on a base. An arm is pivotally attached to the base, and weights can be added to an arm spindle attached to the arm. A belt is attached to the arm, and the weighted arm spindle resist upward exerciser motion when performing dips or chins. A pivot hook releasably engages the arm spindle in an elevated position for convenience and safety when commencing and ending a squat exercise series. Means are disclosed for adjusting the height of the pivot hook on a column, and for automatically disengaging the pivot hook from the arm spindle when exercise commences. A squat platform is sized to fit between foot platforms, which together form a stable standing area for the exerciser. Squat handles are height-adjustably mounted to the columns.
US08147385B2
An exercise device includes a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface and a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface. The exercise device further includes an upper body exercise assembly operably associated with the exercise device. The first treadle assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame structure, and the second treadle assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame structure. In another form, an exercise device includes a frame structure, a first treadle assembly having a first endless belt in rotatable engagement with a first roller, a second treadle assembly having a second endless belt in rotatable engagement with a second roller, and a flywheel operably coupled with the first endless belt and the second endless belt.
US08147383B2
A vaulting pole apparatus having a predetermined angular displacement at an end of a vaulting pole, attributable to the vaulting pole being constructed with an inherent structural deviation located along and offset from its longitudinal axis. The vaulting pole may be constructed with a fixed structural deviation or with a removable structural deviation, wherein an end of the vaulting pole deviates or is offset from the vaulting pole's central longitudinal axis. Embodiments of this structural deviation may be fixed during vaulting by a vaulter athlete or may be adjustable by a vaulter athlete in real-time or near-real-time.
US08147379B2
A control device, in which a shift-up control is automatically executed when an engine's over revolution with a turbine speed for a shift gear set by a manual shift mode exceeding a preset limit speed A is executed, is configured such that a controller detects an engine's over revolution (Yes in step s2), and cancels the shift-up control (step s8) when detecting a closing change of an accelerator opening by a specified angle (Yes in step s5) during a period of time from an output timing of a shift-up command (step s4) to specified timing of an inertia phase start I (Yes in step s6).
US08147378B2
An engine control system comprises a torque determination module, a limit determination module, a torque limit module, and a torque control module. The torque determination module determines a desired torque based on a desired engine speed. The limit determination module determines a torque limit based on one of an engine oil temperature and a transmission fluid temperature. The torque limit module determines a final torque based on the desired torque and the torque limit. The torque control module selectively determines a throttle area based on the final torque. A throttle valve is actuated based on the throttle area.
US08147377B2
A method for controlling a vehicle operation in the transmission lash region. One method includes transitioning a combustion mode of a cylinder, and varying a timing of said transition responsive to whether the transmission is operating within the lash region of the transmission.
US08147375B2
A method of starting an internal combustion engine includes selecting a first or a second clutch, and pressurizing the selected clutch with an auxiliary pump. The pressurized clutch is synchronized using the first and second electric machines, and then engaging. The internal combustion engine is started with the first and second electric machines. The first and second clutches may be engine reactive clutches. Selecting the first or second clutch includes determining whether an input-split or compound-split mode is requested. If the input-split mode is requested the first clutch is selected, and if the compound-split mode is requested the second clutch is selected. The first and second electric machines may be high voltage machines, configured to operate in conjunction with a high-voltage battery pack. The first and second electric machines may be configured as propulsion motors for the vehicle.
US08147368B2
A seat adjustment device for a vehicle seat includes a driving motor that is in engagement with a driving part of a self-locking free wheel. An output part of the free wheel is connected to a gearing. To obtain a compact structure, the driving motor, the free wheel and the gearing are located in a common housing, which preferably has a housing base part and at least one housing covering.
US08147350B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
US08147348B2
An adjustable golf shaft having an upper shaft member and a lower shaft member. The upper shaft member has an elongated bore therein and the lower shaft member has a cylinder and a rod having one end fixed to a proximal end of the cylinder. A fixed bushing is positioned within the elongated bore of the upper shaft member and has an elongated bore extending therethrough. The rod is slidably mounted through the elongated bore of the bushing. The frictional force between the rod and the bushing prevents the rod from sliding relative to the bushing when the user of the golf swings the golf shaft.
US08147338B2
A gaming network is disclosed which includes point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine. Each first gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a point to point protocol. The gaming network also includes an interface device having a communications bus connectable to a master/slave control device and to the point to point cabling infrastructure such that each first gaming machine is connected to the communications bus and is controllable by the master/slave control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure. The point to point cabling infrastructure is also connectable to a point to point control device such that at least one second gaming machine is controllable by the point to point control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure.
US08147337B2
An ensemble game system for executing an ensemble game comprises a plurality of game apparatuses 10a through 10c communicable to each other. Each of the game apparatuses 10a through 10c outputs a sound of an own part in accordance with a play operation by the player during a first play period, and also transmits play data (rehearsal data) for specifying a play result of the own part during the first play period to the other game apparatuses. Play data for specifying play results of the parts other than the own part is received from the other game apparatuses and stored on a storage device. During a second play period subsequent to the first play period, each of the game apparatuses 10a through 10c outputs the sounds of the other parts using the play data of the other parts stored on the storage device, while outputting a sound of the own part in accordance with a play operation by the player.
US08147335B2
A method of providing golf contents in a mobile terminal is disclosed. The method includes calculating the current location of the mobile terminal and a cup distance, displaying hole information if the cup distance is greater than a first critical distance, displaying green information if the cup distance is less than or equal to the first critical distance and greater than a second critical distance, and displaying a score record screen if the cup distance is less than or equal to the second critical distance.
US08147326B2
The invention comprises an electronically secured inter-processor and virtual device communications system, with an input/output controller board, a multi-drop bus interface to multiple devices, and a parallel interface to an industry standard single board computer. The invention assigns a bus address and virtual identification number to each device and controls communications between the main central processing unit and the devices through a Plug-n-Play protocol.
US08147319B2
The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game having a parlay feature. Using the parlay feature, a player can place a wager that is greater than a maximum wager allowed at the gaming terminal. In addition, the parlay feature allows a player to wager a portion of the player's prior winnings, instead of the entire amount. Furthermore, the parlay feature can be saved and used in a later gaming session at the same or different gaming terminal.
US08147317B2
A gaming machine that provides a wagering game, including a user interface in communication with a game controller, through the operation of which a player selects one of a plurality of wager options that determine a number of symbols to be active and inactive in the wagering game. For at least one said wager option at least one, but not all of the plurality of symbols that define a possible said winning combination are rendered inactive for forming the winning combination.
US08147314B2
A result represented by a matched bingo card representation is displayed to a player in a bingo-type game through a result representation provided at a suitable player station. Each result representation includes a graphical representation unrelated to the bingo-type game. That is, although the game results are simply bingo game results defined by predetermined patterns of matches between the various card designations and the designation set produced or called for a particular bingo-type game, the game results are displayed to the players with a graphical display including a graphic that is not merely a graphical representation or reproduction of a bingo card.
US08147313B2
Systems and methods for providing a wager in a financial market environment are provided. A first interface may be displayed to a first user at a first time. The first interface may comprise a plurality of moving lines and corresponding values associated with a financial market. The first interface may also display betting icons for selecting to bet that, at the designated future time, the value of the financial market will be either above or below the displayed value of each line. After receiving a wager from the first user, the values corresponding to the lines may be updated based on current market information. A second interface may display to a second user betting lines, corresponding updated values associated with the financial market, and corresponding betting icons. The second interface may also display icons for betting that, at the designated future time, the value of the financial market will be either above or below the updated value of each line. The wagers may be monitored in order to determine whether the financial market value was above or below the moving market line at the designated time.
US08147311B2
To suppress easy transmission of information on the hand of a player to another player through an audience when the audience can watch the status of a hand of each player of mah-jongg, a card game, or the like, in a game status presenting device (801), an identifier storing unit (802) stores an identifier of a hand of each player, a first correspondence-table acquisition unit (803) acquires a first correspondence table which associates an identifier with presentation information to be presented to a player, a second correspondence-table acquisition unit (804) acquires a second correspondence table which associates an identifier with presentation information to be presented to an audience, a player presentation unit (805) refers to an identifier stored in the identifier storing unit (802) as a hand of each player and the first correspondence table, and presents presentation information on the hand of the player to each player, and an audience presentation unit (806) refers to an identifier stored in the identifier storing unit (802) as hands of all players and the second correspondence table, and presents presentation information of the hands of all players to an audience.
US08147309B2
A system and method for facilitating play of a game of chance by multiple players at multiple locations using a virtual card deck are provided. The system may include a plurality of terminals at the multiple locations, the terminals receiving wagers from the plurality of players, the plurality of terminals issuing tickets to the plurality of players. Each ticket may include a respective player hand chosen from the virtual card deck and an identification code uniquely identifying the ticket. The system may include a plurality of displays at the multiple locations, the displays displaying a shared community hand chosen from the virtual card deck. The system may include a server in communication with the plurality of terminals and the plurality of displays. The server may select a set of removed cards from the virtual card deck prior to issuing tickets for the game. The server may receive an indication of each player's wager from a terminal and responsively providing a respective unique identification number and a respective player hand for inclusion on the ticket delivered to the player, each player hand chosen from the virtual card deck but not from the set of removed cards. The server may select the shared community hand from the set of removed cards and communicating the shared community hand to the plurality of displays for display. The server may determine if a ticket is a winning ticket in accordance with predetermined game rules, based on the player hand included on the ticket and the shared community hand.
US08147308B2
Embodiments related to conducting a wagering game according to the rules of a base game includes defining a finite set of game indicia. In some embodiments the player plays multiple sequential game hand by placing a wager, receiving game indicia from the finite set cumulatively excluding any game indicia previously dealt, playing the game hand to completion, collecting the game indicia from the player and excluding the dealt game indicia from further play, and displaying at least the excluded game indicia or any winning combinations precluded by the excluded game indicia. In some embodiments the game hands continue in sequence until a restoration event, which may include a manually triggered restoration or an automatic restoration event, that restores the excluded game indicia. Other embodiments are also described.
US08147303B2
The invention concerns a harvested crop chopper remains-and-distribution arrangement for a combine (10) with a straw chopper (60) and an impeller blower (80) arranged downstream of the straw chopper (60), that includes at least one impeller blade (82) arranged to rotate in a direction of rotation about an axis (84) for the distribution across a field of the harvested crop remains provided by the straw chopper (60). An axially outer region (104, 106,114) of the impeller blade (82) leading in the direction of rotation is curved or angled in the direction of rotation. The axial dimension of the axially outer region (106) of the impeller blade (82) increases toward the outside in the radial direction. The impeller blade (82) is provided with a region (104) adjacent to the axial outer region (106) of the impeller blade, whose axial dimension decreases toward the outside in the radial direction and that extends in the radial direction and that is flat or is curved in a concave shape towards the front in the radial direction and is flatter than the outer region (106).
US08147296B2
The invention relates to a method and machine for the dressing of a grinding tool (1), which has at least one tooth-shaped profile (2) with a first flank (3) and an opposing second flank (4). A disk-shaped dressing tool (5) used for dressing of the grinding tool (2) has a first abrasive area (6) and a second abrasive area (7). To allow a faster and thus more economical dressing of the grinding tool, the first abrasive area (6) contacts the first flank (3) and the second abrasive area (7) contacts the second flank (4) simultaneously, and the disc-shaped dressing tool (5) and/or the grinding tool (1) are pivoted relatively to another around an axis (A) being arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation (C) of the grinding tool (1), so that both flanks (3, 4) are dressed simultaneously.
US08147283B2
A steering apparatus whereby the steering load is equal even when the left and right steering angles are large when an outboard motor is steered to the left and right via a swivel shaft. A connecting hole of a steering plate is provided at a position spaced from a center line of the steering plate so that equal angles are formed by a first straight line, joining the center of the swivel shaft and the connecting hole, and a second straight line, joining the connecting hole and a link hole formed in a steering rod.
US08147278B2
An electrical connector mountable on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the electrical connector comprises an insulative housing comprising one or more electronic components, a plurality of electrical conductors in signal communication with the electronic components and adapted to interface with a plug and a plurality of terminals in signal communication with the one or more electronic components. In one aspect, the plurality of terminals are adapted to interface with one or more externally mounted electronic components on the printed circuit board thereby filtering signals passing between the electrical conductors and the printed circuit board, with the externally mounted electronic components mounted within the footprint of the electrical connector. Methods of manufacture for the aforementioned electrical connector and business methods are also disclosed.
US08147271B2
An electronic connection device for electrically connecting two electronic devices to each other includes a connection unit for electrically connecting the two electronic devices to each other and a receiving unit. The connection unit includes a data cable. The receiving unit includes a main body and a sleeve barrel. The sleeve barrel is detachably assembled to the main body and receives the main body therein. The data cable is coiled on the sleeve barrel when the sleeve barrel assembled to the main body and is coiled on the main body when the sleeve barrel is detached.
US08147269B2
A connector assembly has a receptacle connector mounted on a substrate and a plug connector matable with and removable from the receptacle connector on a plane parallel to the substrate. The plug connector includes side portions. The receptacle connector includes guiding portions configured to guide the side portions of the plug connector for mating and removal of the plug connector and fixing portions fixed on the substrate and formed integrally with the corresponding guiding portions.
US08147265B2
This invention relates to a card edge connector and a latch thereof. The connector is used to receive a printed circuit card and includes a housing having two opposite ends, a card slot disposed between two opposite ends. The housing has a first width. The latch as a latch body portion, pivotally mounted on two ends of the housing for ejecting the card, and at least one through hole and a second width. The latch further has a latch head portion, extending from the body portion for latching the card, having at least one through hole and a third width. The second and third widths are substantially the same, and are smaller than the first width of the housing for improving heat dissipation.
US08147264B2
One or more saw tooth shaped flexible ribs in between a connector interface provide asymmetric sliding resistance and a one sided sealing effect. The asymmetric sliding resistance provides for low frictional engaging resistance and for a high disengaging resistance of the connector interface. The one sided sealing effect provides in conjunction with an interface cavity for back flow resistance into the cavity during disengagement movement in the interface and for a vacuum effect that assists in opposing the disengagement movement. The flexible ribs may be monolithically fabricated together with the entire housing of the respective connector.
US08147262B1
Disclosed is a card connector, which includes an insulative body, a plurality of the conductive terminals, a metal shell and a supporting plate. The insulative body has a main body in which a plurality of terminal slots is defined. The conductive terminals are respectively received in the terminal slot. The metal shell covers the insulative body and defines a receiving space therebetween. The supporting plate is movably disposed in the receiving space. The supporting plate has a swingable connecting portion. The front substrate can swing up and down relative to the rear substrate through the design of the supporting plate and the swingable connecting portion, so that the electronic card can be easily inserted into and ejected from the card connector without being damaged, thereby prolong the service life of the electronic card.
US08147258B2
The invention relates to an adapter for accommodating electrical installation devices and for fixing to a conductor rail system, comprising a housing which is made of plastics material and comprises an upper housing wall on which means for mounting an electrical installation device are provided, comprising feet for fixing to the conductor rail system by gripping, comprising a first contact member for connecting the electrical installation device, the first contact member extending at least substantially within the housing, and comprising a second contact member, electrically connected to the first contact member, for contacting a respective one of the conductor rails of a conductor rail system, characterised in that the housing comprises a guide recess, the second contact member being provided so as to be displaceable along said recess within the housing, in that the second contact member comprises a guide means and catch means, and in that catch recesses, with which the catch means of the second contact member can be brought into engagement, are provided in predetermined catch positions of the housing.
US08147257B2
An electrical, electronic, fiber-optic, hydraulic, or pneumatic component is mounted upon a rectangular support body having an upper surface containing at least one linear groove, wherein a first connector is mounted in protectively concealed relation adjacent a given vertical side wall of the groove beneath an overhanging portion of the support body that extends partially into the groove, and a second connector extends downwardly from the component into the groove when the component is seated on the top surface of the support body. When the component is mechanically or manually horizontally displaced laterally of the groove from its initial inserted position toward a connected position adjacent the given vertical wall, the second connector is brought into connection with the first connector. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second connectors are electrical devices connected with electrical or electronic circuits contained within the component.
US08147255B2
An electrical connector assembly (100), comprises an insulative housing (1) having a receiving space (14) therein communicated with an exterior along a longitudinal direction, a partition (15) formed in the receiving space and dividing the receiving space into a front receiving room (141) and a rear receiving room (142). Two PCB modules (2, 3) are arranged in a stacked manner and received into the receiving space. Each PCB module defines a mating section (210, 310) passing through the partition and received into the front receiving room. And two mating sections of the two PCB modules are spaced apart with each other along a vertical direction. And a latch (5) is assembled to the insulative housing.
US08147250B2
A method and system for performing automatic text analysis is described. A local ranking for one or more contexts with respect to a word and a global ranking for one or more contexts are generated. The rankings are based on the frequency with which the contexts appear in a corpus. A statistic may be generated using the local and global rankings, such as a log ratio rank statistic equal to the logarithm of the global rank divided by local rank, to measure the similarity of contexts with respect to words with which they combine. A source matrix of word to context values is then created. Singular value decomposition is used to create sub-matrices from the source matrix. Vectors from the sub-matrices corresponding to context(s) and/or word(s) are then selected to determine term-term or context-context similarity or term-context correspondence.
US08147247B1
Systems and methods are described for creating and delivering courses of personalized traffic safety instruction. Instruction courses are generated based on combinations of identifying information and demographic information of a student, one or more citations issued to the student and State requirements for coursework required in traffic school, including courses associated with the one or more citations. The course of instruction includes required and elective materials and typically is configured to meet a minimum time requirement. Citations associated with the student can be retrieved from government databases and course requirements associated with citations can be obtained from Courts and State agencies. Systems are described whereby instruction is delivered to the student using a computer system.
US08147244B2
An orthodontic retainer system includes retainer modules that are applied to adjacent teeth in a patient's mouth, and a method and apparatus for delivering the system. The retainer modules may be provided in the form of mutually attracted members, such as magnets, that are temporarily coupled on opposites sides of a delivery member for positioning and bonding to an adjacent pair of teeth. The delivery member may include pusher elements that contact the retainer modules for exerting a force against the modules to press same firmly against the teeth in order to enhance bonding between the modules and the teeth.
US08147242B2
To provide a substrate supporting/transferring tray, which can be placed on a substrate supporting part arranged in a treatment chamber in which the heat treatment is performed to a substrate, especially on a substrate supporting part having a built-in heating means for heating the substrate, and on an upper side of which, the substrate is placed. At the time of heat-treating the substrate, the substrate can be more uniformly heated, and when the heat treatment is completed, the tray can be easily removed from the substrate supporting part without waiting for the temperature of the substrate to be reduced, and can transfer the substrate to other parts from the treatment chamber in which the heat treatment is performed. The substrate supporting/transferring tray, which has the disc-shaped substrate supporting part on an upper plane side, and is provided with a cylindrical side wall part extending from a periphery of the disc-shaped substrate supporting part to a lower side, and an annular part extending from a lower end side of the cylindrical side wall part to an outer side in a diameter direction.
US08147228B2
A progressing cavity pump/motor includes a stator tube (12), a rotor (20) within the stator tube, and a coupling assembly (30) interconnecting the upper and lower rotor sections. The coupling includes a drive adapter (32) and a socket adapter (36) for transmitting torque between the upper and lower rotor sections, and at least one alignment surface (60) in cooperation with a mating surface to rotationally position the drive adapter within the socket adapter at a selected circumferential position. The pump/motor may be reliably assembled in the field while maintaining precise axial and rotational positioning of the rotor sections.
US08147224B2
An air pump has a one-piece cylinder and a piston assembly. The one-piece cylinder has a body, a cap, a pedal and a base formed together by injection molding and welding process. The piston assembly is mounted in the one-piece cylinder and has a rod, a handle and a piston. The one-piece cylinder is structurally firm and provides excellent hermetic characteristics.
US08147219B2
A motor direct driven compressor system includes a motor, a coupling and a compressor, and the coupling is coupled between the motor and the compressor, and a second assembling portion, a coupling portion and a metal plate of the coupling are used for connecting a driving shaft of the motor and a transmission shaft of the compressor. With this design, the driving force of the motor can be transmitted to the compressor and provided for the operation of the compressor. In addition, errors produced by the rotation and transmission during the transmission process can be minimized, so that the compressor can be operated accurately and normally.
US08147216B2
The invention relates to a motor-pump unit having an electric motor and a pump, the pump having a suction inlet and a pressure outlet, and the electric motor comprising a motor housing which is enclosed by a cooling housing, whereby a cavity is formed, it being possible for cooling liquid to be fed to the cavity via a cooling-housing inflow and to be conducted away therefrom via a cooling-housing outflow, and the cooling-housing outflow being in flow connection with the suction inlet. In order to develop the motor-pump unit such that, if required, a flow connection can easily be made from the cooling-housing inflow to the suction inlet via the cavity and the cooling-housing outflow, it is proposed that the motor-pump unit has a connecting device which is disposed laterally alongside the pump and has a first connection, which is connected in a releasable manner to the cooling-housing inflow via a first flow channel, and a second connection, which is connected in a releasable manner to the cooling-housing outflow via a second flow channel and is connected to the suction inlet.
US08147215B2
A reciprocating-piston compressor having at least two working cylinders arranged in series, along a cylinder axis is described. The compressor includes a piston in each of the cylinders, guided in an axially movable manner, and a common axially actuated piston rod of the pistons, extending through a passage opening in a partition between the at least two working cylinders. The at least two working cylinders are sealed off with respect to one another in a region of the common axially actuated piston rod, exclusively by a non-contact seal. The axial seal has an axial gap seal formed between a radially outer circumferential surface of the common axially actuated piston rod and a radially inner circumferential surface of the passage opening.
US08147204B2
A fan comprises a hub, a plurality of fan blades, and a plurality of interface components. Each interface component is configured to mount at the first end of a corresponding fan blade. Each interface component is further configured to simultaneously engage an outer surface of the hub and the first end of the fan blade. For instance, the outer surface of the hub may be curved, and a hub-engaging edge of each interface component may be complementarily curved to provide a substantially continuous fit between the hub-engaging edge of each interface component and the curved outer surface of the hub. Each interface component may further comprise a resilient member configured to resiliently bear against the first end of a corresponding fan blade. In addition, each interface component may further comprise a sleeve configured to extend along a portion of the length of a corresponding fan blade.
US08147202B2
The invention relates to a wind turbine including at least two blade units. Each blade unit has a pitch controlled wind turbine blade and at least one pitch bearing including at least one outer ring, at least one center ring and at least one inner ring. The wind turbine further includes a hub comprising a mount area for each of the blade units (31). The mount area comprises at least two concentric load transferring surfaces for attaching the blade unit, via the at least one pitch bearing.The invention further relates a hub and a use hereof.
US08147201B2
A rotor hub mounting arrangement for removably mounting a plurality of turbine rotor blades to the rotor hub in a compact and secure manner. The rotor hub includes an internal mounting assembly, preferably comprised of a series of interconnected mounting plates, positioned adjacent a series of foil shaped openings in the rotor hub into which the root end of turbine blades can be inserted and removably mounted to the internal mounting assembly.
US08147196B2
A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine with a cooling system and a compliant dual wall configuration configured to enable thermal expansion between inner and outer layers while eliminating stress formation in the outer layer is disclosed. The compliant dual wall configuration may be formed a dual wall formed from inner and outer layers separated by a support structure. The outer layer may be a compliant layer configured such that the outer layer may thermally expand and thereby reduce the stress within the outer layer. The outer layer may be formed from a nonplanar surface configured to thermally expand. In another embodiment, the outer layer may be planar and include a plurality of slots enabling unrestricted thermal expansion in a direction aligned with the outer layer.
US08147187B2
A device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade in a stator of a turbomachine compressor is disclosed. The device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade includes a control lever and a pivot with a bottom end and a top end. The top end is connected to the control lever. The device also includes a first swivel bearing placed at the bottom end of the pivot and a second swivel bearing placed at the top end of the pivot.
US08147179B2
Disclosed is a hot-gas-conducting housing element for a hot-gas-conducting housing of a gas turbine system encompassing a compressor, a turbine, and a turbine rotor. The hot gas-conducting housing element is embodied so as to surround a protective shaft jacket placed around the turbine rotor and conduct a hot gas to the turbine. The hot gas-conducting housing element comprises: — at least one hot gas inlet; — an opening facing the turbine; — a section for conducting the hot gas from the at least one hot gas inlet to the opening facing the turbine, said conducting section being provided with an inner housing hub which is configured so as to surround the protective surface facing the protective shaft jacket. Said rib extends in the circumferential direction, protrudes from the circumferential surface, and is disposed in the zone of the circumferential surface bordering the opening that faces the turbine. The rib and/or the inner housing hub is/are fitted with cooling fluid ducts.
US08147169B1
Apparatus comprising an implement for extracting charges of uniform size of articles from a mass of the articles and delivering the charges to a receiver. The implement has a chamber for receiving the articles to form the charge. The chamber has a mouth through which articles are drawn into the chamber by applying a vacuum to the chamber. The implement then delivers and deposits the charge by releasing the vacuum. The chamber has a vent with an air permeable article barrier for access to a vacuum generator.
US08147166B2
A strip of membrane material is laminated to a wider strip of netting and then the longitudinal edges of the strip of netting are seamed together into a sleeve for receiving aggregate to form an elongated tubular drainage element. The laminated peripheral portion of the resultant sleeve is used as the top of the drainage element to preclude fine material from entering the drainage element. Where a membrane is used to form the sleeve, holes or slits are placed in the peripheral portion of the sleeve that is to form the bottom of the drainage element. The seaming of the overlapped longitudinal edges of the membrane is effected using glue and a nozzle that blows air under pressure onto the seam to force the edges and glue to bond together.
US08147158B2
A writing instrument includes a travel multiplier mechanism that includes a cam member that pivots about a pivot axis in response to motion of a push button member. The cam member engages a sliding piston member in order to provide a travel multiplying effect such that a distance of travel of the sliding piston member exceeds a distance traveled by the push button member.
US08147149B2
The present invention provides a barrier unit, of which the blades can be opened fully.The barrier unit is designed to be attached to a camera in order to protect the lens of the camera and is ready to open or close as needed. The barrier unit includes: a base with a cylindrical portion; a first ring, which is arranged so as to rotate around the cylindrical portion; and first and second blades, which are interlocked with the first ring and which are gradually opened and closed as the first ring rotates. When one of the first and second blades is fully opened, the first ring is further movable to turn the other blade in a closing direction.
US08147142B1
Embodiments of present invention relate to a bearing assembly, and a bearing apparatus and motor assembly that employs such a bearing assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, a bearing assembly comprises a support ring including a plurality of recesses and at least one opening. The bearing assembly further includes a plurality of bearing elements, each of which is positioned generally within a corresponding one of the recesses. At least one of the bearing elements includes at least one groove. At least one retention element may be positioned generally within the at least one opening and adjacent to the at least one groove. Further embodiments of the present invention are directed to a thrust-bearing apparatus, a radial bearing apparatus, and a downhole motor that may utilize any of the disclosed thrust-bearing assemblies and radial bearing assemblies.
US08147137B2
A substrate processing system includes a processing chamber, a pedestal for supporting a substrate disposed within the processing chamber, and an optical pyrometry assembly coupled to the processing chamber to measure an emitted light originating substantially from a portion of the pedestal or substrate. The optical pyrometry assembly further includes a light receiver, and an optical detector. The optical pyrometry assembly receives a portion of the emitted light, and a temperature of the substrate is determined from an intensity of the portion of the emitted light near at least one wavelength.
US08147132B2
In a method for detecting the freezing of water within a fuel cell, precise detection can be performed using a phenomenon specific to the time when water starts to freeze to allow a reduction in erroneous activation. Detection at an early stage after the start of freezing is allowed, and hence measures can be taken against an output reduction before the water within the fuel cell completely freezes.
US08147127B2
A method is disclosed for making an isochronous balance-wheel-and-spring assembly for a horological movement in which one spring out of a series of springs is paired with a balance wheel. The spring has characteristics that vary by comparison with other springs of the series, and the spring is designed to be mounted on the staff of the balance wheel via a collet. One collet out of a set of collets of different sizes is selected on the basis of the spring's characteristics. The collets of different sizes have connection points for attachment of the spring that are located (after assembly) at different distances from the center of the balance staff, the choice of the collet of the most appropriate size facilitating the adjustment of the balance-wheel-and-spring assembly.
US08147125B2
The open top of a blender container (11) is closed by a cover (10). The cover (10) is provided with an internal vane (25) which extends downwardly from the top wall (17) of the cover (10) and inwardly from the sidewall (16) of the cover (10). The vane (25) disrupts any turbulence which might be created by a fluid being mixed in the container (10).
US08147124B1
A static mixing device for mounting or other attachment within a hollow tubular conduit including a plurality of vanes generally equally spaced therein and each including a generally oblong plate radially inwardly extending from the conduit internal wall surface and wherein each of said plates is provided with a generally wing-shaped cap that downwardly, rearwardly and inwardly bends from the top of the plate to said conduit wall.
US08147123B2
An apparatus and method are provided for mixing paint disposed in either a conventional one gallon paint container or a square paint container having a body with a handle passage extending therethrough. The apparatus includes a square bucket for holding the container. A rocker is pivotably mounted to a side wall of the bucket and includes a pair of heads aligned over a pair of openings in the side wall. A floor of the bucket has a plurality of support structures extending upwardly therefrom. When the conventional one gallon paint container is disposed in the bucket, the container rests on the floor, the vertical axis of the container is offset from the central axis of the bucket, and both heads of the rocker are disposed against the container inside the bucket. When the square paint container is disposed in the bucket, the container is supported on top of the support structures so as to be elevated above the floor, the vertical axis of the container is collinear with the central axis of the bucket, and one of the heads of the rocker is disposed in the handle passage of the container.
US08147122B2
A tip (10) for mixing a plurality of components and for dispensing the mixture. The tip is particularly suited for use with a bulk supply of the components (11). The tip is further particularly suited for the mixing and dispensing of reactive materials. The tip (10) includes a housing (32) having a stator (31) positioned therein. The housing (32) includes a plurality of feeder channels (20, 21) that correspond to outlet channels of the bulk storage device. At least one of the feeder channels (20, 21) has a length dimension such that it extends into the outlet channel of the bulk storage device to prevent cross-contamination of the components held within the bulk storage device.
US08147120B2
A disposable shaker (1) made of synthetic material having a cup-like cover (3) and a cup-like base (2) which can be removably connected together and have or form the one or the other (2; 3) a container with a plurality of bins (4) which contain the ingredients for a desired cocktail and are closed by a membrane (6) which is tearable by means of tearing teeth (7) in one-piece with said cover (3) or base (2) inside thereof. In a preferred embodiment the shaker (1) is provided with unambiguous guiding manipulation means (20) for the membrane tearing stroke and shaker opening stroke after the mixing or shaking phase for the cocktail preparation.
US08147112B2
A backlight assembly is suitable for emitting uniform flat light. The backlight assembly causes light from a lamp to travel in the form of flat light using a light guide plate disposed to have one plane facing the lamp. The light guide plate includes one or more rounded portions at one or more edges of an incident plane thereof onto which the light from the lamp is incident, and the one or more rounded portions cause the light from the lamp to travel into the light guide plate.
US08147109B2
A heat dissipation device of a vehicle lamp and an interposing element thereof are provided. The heat dissipation device is installed in a lamp room which is divided by the interposing element into a front partition and a rear partition. A heat sink is installed in the interposing elements. An air feeding fan is disposed in an air feeding channel of the interposing element, for drawing air in the front partition to the rear partition through the air feeding channel. Further, a back flow fan is disposed in the rear partition, for drawing air in the rear partition to the front partition through a back flow channel. Whereby, the air in the front partition is cooled down through an external air flow passing through the lamp cover. Then, the heat sink dissipates heat of the air flow with the relatively low temperature in the front partition to the rear partition.
US08147100B2
A lighting device includes a substrate, a LED element, and a lens. A light exit surface of the lens includes a first light exit surface and a second light exit surface. A curve obtained by cutting the light exit surface by a plane including the optical axis has, on a boundary between the first light exit surface and the second light exit surface, a change point at which a rate of inclination decreases discontinuously. An angle between the optical axis and a line segment connecting the change point and a light emission center of the LED element is approximately equal to an emission angle with the highest light intensity, among emission angles, when light rays emitted from the light exit surface are sorted by respective emission angles.
US08147097B1
An angle-adjustable aroma-diffusing night lamp system includes an electrical plug unit, a lamp socket unit, a collar coupled to a front coupling neck of the housing of the electrical plug unit and affixed to the housing of the lamp socket unit for allowing rotation of the lamp socket unit relative to the electrical lug unit within a predetermined angle, a spring-supported latch installed in the housing of the electrical plug unit to lock the electrical plug unit to the collar in one of a series of angular position, and a lampshade coupled to the lamp socket unit around the lamp bulb in the lamp socket unit and holding a fluid aroma substance for heating by the radiation heat from the lamp bulb into vapor.
US08147091B2
A linear light-emitting diode (LED)-based solid-state device comprising at least two shock protection switches, at least one each at the two ends of the device, fully protects a person from possible electric shock during re-lamping with LED lamps.
US08147087B2
An illumination device in one embodiment includes a housing comprising a bottom cavity; a battery powered light emitting assembly disposed in the housing and comprising an exposed light source; and a magnetic assembly comprising two separate magnetic members each having an inner inclined flat surface, the magnetic members being secured to the cavity. The illumination device is adapted to releasably secure to one of a variety of tools or a metal object.
US08147084B2
An ear hook device with illumination function is worn on a user's ear to provide illumination, so that the user can have their hands free to do more works. Furthermore, the ear hook device is further provided with a holding assembly which can hold the ear hook device and is then clipped to the user's pocket when the ear hook device is not in use, making it easier for the user to use and carry the ear hook device.
US08147078B2
The illumination apparatus includes a light source, an optical member configured to at least transmit therethrough light from the light source, and a reflective member configured to include a reflective portion which extends closer to the optical member than the light source and reflects the light from the light source to cause the light to enter the optical member. A concave portion is formed, on a light entrance side surface of the optical member, in an outside area located outside a light entrance area where the light reflected by the reflective portion reaches. The concave portion includes a refractive surface refracting light, which is part of the light from the light source and enters the concave portion without being reflected by the reflective portion, toward an exit surface of the optical member.
US08147073B2
A virtual reality creating system including: a screen 1 including a projection plane of arbitrary shape; a distortion correction unit 3 which performs distortion correction for projecting image light onto the projection plane of arbitrary shape for a two-dimensional image signal to project image light onto a two-dimensional projection plane and then outputs the same; a parameter adjusting PC 5 which creates a distortion correction table as a correspondence map between the two-dimensional projection plane and a mesh model of the projection plane of arbitrary shape; and projectors 2a and 2b unit which project an image based on the image signal outputted from the image signal processing apparatus onto the screen. The distortion correction unit 3 receives the distortion correction table from the parameter adjusting PC 5 and performs distortion correction processing for each pixel of the two-dimensional image signal received by the image signal input unit with reference to the distortion correction table to generate the image signal to project the image light onto the projection plane of arbitrary shape. It is therefore possible to display images with reduced distortion of image light viewed by a viewer with a simple structure in real time.
US08147065B2
Electronically controlled film transport methods and systems are described. One system described comprises a film transport path for transporting film, an input drive assembly for advancing film through the film transport path, an output drive assembly for advancing film out of the film transport path, an aperture positioned in the film transport path, at least one registration pin capable of engaging at least one perforation in the film to secure a portion of the film in the aperture, wherein the at least one registration pin is capable of retracting to a non-engaging position, and a controller for controlling the retraction of the at least one registration pin.
US08147064B2
When pattern recognition of a fundus image is started in step S1, output from a fundus image sensing unit is compared with a regional pattern of stored fundus image specific regions in step S2, and it is decided whether to proceed to pattern recognition. If pattern recognition is possible, based on an AF evaluation value, the lens is driven, with which automatic focusing is completed.
US08147060B2
A method for controlling a printing position for a printing apparatus for using a plurality of printing heads to print an image is provided. This method prevents, even when a conveyed print medium has deformation such as deflection, a printing position of a print medium from being dislocated. To realize this, components 11 to 14 for detecting the conveyance speed of a print medium and components 101 to 107 adjusting the driving timing at which the respective plurality of printing heads eject ink in accordance with the resultant conveyance speed are provided. As a result, even when a conveyed print medium has deformation such as deflection, the control can be provided that prevents the print medium from having a dislocated printing position.
US08147041B2
A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric film containing lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), and titanium (Ti). The piezoelectric film has a composition satisfying the relationship of Zr/(Ti+Zr)>Ti/(Ti+Zr) and has a polarization-electric field hysteresis loop having a Pm/2Pr of 1.95 or more and a Vc(−) of −1.75 V or more, wherein Pm denotes saturation polarization, Pr denotes remanent polarization, and Vc(−) denotes a negative coercive electric field intensity.
US08147037B2
Provided are an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate which includes an ink feed passage, a chamber layer, which is disposed on the substrate and a plurality of ink chambers in which ink supplied from the ink feed passage is filled. It also includes a nozzle layer, which is disposed in the chamber layer and includes a plurality of nozzles through which the ink is ejected. The chamber layer and the nozzle layer are cured products of a first negative photoresist composition and a second negative photoresist composition. Each of the first negative photoresist composition and the second negative photoresist composition includes an epoxidized multifunctional bisphenol B novolak resin, a cationic optical initiator, and a solvent.
US08147026B2
A method and system for improved image quality using an image quality matching method is used to match the optical density of single prints produced on multiple print engines by first sensing the optical density of a first image produced on a first print engine and then sensing the optical density of a second image produced on a second print engine before comparing the optical densities and determining if they are substantially equal. If they are not equal set points and exposures are adjusted on one or both print engines until the differences between the optical densities is less than 0.05, preferably 0.03. The density is changed by adjusting the initial voltage on the primary imaging member of at least one print engine and/or by adjusting the exposure of the primary imaging member of at least one print engine.
US08147022B2
A recording system includes: a feeding device including a pair of rollers that cooperate with each other to nip a recording medium; a recording device which is configured to record an image on the recording medium; and a control device which is configured to control operations of the feeding device. The control device includes an adjusting portion which is configured to adjust an amount of head poke such that a trailing end of the recording medium is not stopped inside the predetermined range relative to a nip position of the pair of rollers.
US08147018B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of data output parts for outputting printing data corresponding to a plurality of colors in synchronization with a reference clock signal. A clock control part controls the reference clock signal to be input to the data output parts, respectively. A control part outputs an initial clock signal forming the basis of the reference clock signal and initial data forming the basis of the printing data to the data output parts, and controls the clock control part to output the reference clock signal to the data output parts when the initial data corresponding to the colors corresponding to the data output parts are output to the data output parts. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing power wastefully consumed in a data output part and a control method thereof are provided.
US08147010B2
A slide assembly having an automatic retractable device includes a sliding member, a fixing base, a retainer, a guiding member provided on a sliding rail, and a stationary rail. The sliding rail is free to move with respect to the stationary rail. The sliding member is slidably disposed in the stationary rail. The fixing base is secured at the end of the stationary rail. The retainer is disposed in the stationary rail. The sliding member is linked to a first resilient member, which urges the sliding member back to the fixing base. An engaging plate is provided on the sliding member. The engaging plate has a first end and a second end. The first end of the engaging plate is pivotally connected to the sliding member. An engaging rod is provided on the second end of the engaging plate.
US08147000B1
The cushion includes a seat and a back separated from each other by a seat-sacral hinge to define two separate air fillable spaces. Separate fill port tubes are provided for filling and adjusting level of fill within the seat and back of the cushion. Weld lines are provided within the seat to define separate chambers within the seat but which are joined together by a common manifold. Weld lines within the back of the cushion divide the back into a sacral/hip space and a sacral/lumbar/kidney space, as well as various back chambers above the sacral/lumbar/kidney space. The cushion includes webs that support dowel pockets that receive dowels for removable attachment of the cushion to an underlying chair. As an alternative, the cushion can be built into the chair.
US08146991B2
A transmission device for a vehicle component adjuster, such as a seat adjuster, may include a drive screw, a drive member and a load transfer member. The drive member engages the drive screw and has a first end with an outer periphery and an end surface. The load transfer member has a first portion disposed at least partially around the periphery of the drive member and a second portion configured to be positioned between the end surface and a support structure supporting the seat adjuster relative to a track arrangement or system. The load transfer member is configured to transfer an axial load applied to the drive member to the support structure.
US08146979B2
A seal molding configured for minimizing a first perceivable gap having a first width between a vitreous element and a body panel of a vehicle includes a first portion configured for abutting the vitreous element and a second portion configured for abutting the body panel and including an elongated flexible segment and a protrusion projecting away from the segment. The second portion is configured for flexing toward the first portion to define an alternative gap having a second width that is smaller than the first width to thereby minimize the first perceivable gap between the vitreous element and the body panel. A vehicle includes a body panel, a vitreous element having an outer surface and spaced apart from the body panel to define the first perceivable gap, and the seal molding disposed between and in contact with the vitreous element and the body panel.
US08146978B2
A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail movable relative to the lower rail and a lock member for restricting the relative movement of the upper and lower rails. The restriction of the relative movement can be released and the lock-released position can be retained. The seat slide device further includes a memory piece detachably engaged with the lower rail and provided in a direction separating from the lower rail and engaging therewith when a seatback is reclined forward, wherein the memory piece is moved in association with the movement of the upper rail by retaining the memory piece at the receiving portion and the shaped portion when the memory piece is separated from the lower rail and wherein the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail at the engaging portion when the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail.
US08146968B1
An adaptive grip for aiding users with limited hand use and dexterity to grasp everyday essential objects, comprising a finger grip, an anchor, and a clasping mechanism. The finger grip includes at least two rings for inserting fingers of the user and a vertical stem for coupling with the anchor which is positioned perpendicularly along the vertical stem. The clasping mechanism has a clip with rubber-lined curved teeth for grasping objects, a lever for loosening and tightening the clip around the object, and a horizontal shaft for securing the clasping mechanism to the anchor. The user can position and secure the anchor and clasping mechanism by a first and second thumb screw, respectively, to maintain a comfortable and easy to use adaptive grip.
US08146962B2
A latch structure of fire door lock includes a lock base, a latch unit, a blocking member, an elastic member and a linking set. The lock base comprises an accommodating slot, a first lateral portion having a first sliding slot, and a second lateral portion having a second sliding slot. The latch unit has a combining pin. The blocking member is disposed in the accommodating slot and includes a contacting portion. The contacting portion is pressed by the elastic member. The combining pin is connected at the linking set and the latch unit. Two end portions of the combining pin are slidably disposed at the first sliding slot and the second sliding slot respectively. The end portions of the combining pin are restrained within a first recess of the first sliding slot and a second recess of the second sliding slot respectively.
US08146958B2
In certain embodiments, a preconditioned air connector has a hollow body configured to route a fluid therethrough and a hook member configured to mate with a cooperating element to draw the hollow body into fluid communication with a mating component. The preconditioned air connector also has a pivotable member actuatable along an arc tangential to the hollow body to direct axial translation of the hook member from a first position to a second position to draw the hollow body into fluid communication with the mating component. The pivotable member has an arcuate camming surface having a locking portion that secures the connector in a fully engaged position with respect to the mating component.
US08146954B2
A quick plugging set of pneumatic tools including a connector, a steel ball seat and a tailstock, wherein the steel ball seat and the ball head of the connector are integrated completely through stamping and covering by a friction ring coordinated with a holding groove with thin cladding at the outer end of the steel ball seat providing the connector with angle-adjustment feature; a prefabricated covering interpolation segment at the rear portion of the connector integrates with the tailstock, a corresponding ring groove is placed therein, and a bolt hole drilled on the side of the tailstock penetrating the ring groove; a pre-determined number of the steel balls are filled into the ring groove through the bolt hole to provide the connector with rotary movement thus allowing the quick plugging set of pneumatic tools to have arbitrary angle adjustment and flexible rotation.
US08146951B2
A scupper joint for a ship includes a body and a nut. The body has a tubular structure as a piece cut from a seamless tube. The tubular structure has a first section and a second section. The first section has a flange at one end thereof as an evagination and a threaded segment at an outer periphery thereof. The second section has at least one annular protrusion at an outer periphery thereof. The nut has an annular structure. The tubular structure has an end evaginated to form a flange and has an inner wall threaded to form a threaded segment. The threaded segment of the nut and the threaded segment of the first section are configured to couple with each other.
US08146950B2
A method in a diffractive color system that specifies visual color effects and/or target colors that are formed by mixing together two or more diffractively produced primary colors. The primary colors and the characteristics of the elementary gratings used in producing them are selected in such a manner that they produce the desired exact primary colors particularly in the application-specific lighting and by taking into account, when required, the color of the substrate material and/or other background separately. A diffractive color system implements the method. A diffractive component produces the mixed target color. A product contains one or more diffractive color effects.
US08146949B2
Mud flap having a plurality of laterally spaced, vertically extending vanes defining a plurality of vertically extending channels on the front side of the flap for directing water and debris from a wheel in a downward direction toward the roadway and not to the rear or sides of the flap, and vertically extending slotted openings in the channels of a size permitting air to pass through the openings to the rear of the flap and preventing water and debris from doing so. In some embodiments, vertically extending deflectors are positioned to the rear of the slotted openings for directing any water and debris passing through the openings in a downward direction toward the roadway.
US08146946B1
A method, system and apparatus for adjusting a restraining device. The method, system and apparatus can include a body foldably formed with a first segment, a second segment and a third segment. There may further be a first anchor and a second anchor disposed on an interior portion of the first segment, as well as a third anchor disposed on an interior portion of the second segment. Additionally, a backing material may be disposed on an interior portion of the third segment, on exterior portions of the first segment, the second segment and the third segment and extending beyond the exterior portion of the third segment and a coupling mechanism can be disposed on portions of the backing material.
US08146940B2
The invention relates to an ankle strap assembly for a snowboard binding. The strap assembly includes a middle strap portion having a stiffening panel with a longitudinal slot defining upper and lower rails, and at least one stiffening member that engages the upper and lower rails. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the stiffness of a strap assembly for a snowboard binding.
US08146938B2
A pedalling method and device for a user in standing position. The device includes a drive shaft whereof the rotation about its axis is coupled with the rotation of two right and left pedals. The pedals are mutually assembled via a plurality of cranks, connecting rods, and pivots such that: the pedals can travel freely along a circular path, for a constant rotational speed of the shaft, the speeds of the pedals are recurrent at equal time intervals but out of phase, minimal at lower dead center, maximal at upper dead center, and when the pedals are simultaneously at a common height lower than that of the center of the trajectory, the speeds of the pedals are equal. The vertical oscillation of the center of gravity of a user in standing position is reduced compared to a conventional pedal assembly.
US08146934B2
A suspension link assembly is provided. The link assembly includes a link member having a head portion and a shank. The head portion has a concave surface. The head portion further includes a convex surface. At least one bushing is provided. The bushing has convex and concave surfaces for respectively engaging the concave and convex surfaces of the head portion. A tapered aperture extends through the head portion from the convex surface to the concave surface.
US08146930B2
A bearing cap for a wheel assembly includes a bearing cap seal for sealing against an annular bore of a knuckle. The bearing cap is coupled to an outer ring, which is disposed within an annular bore of a knuckle. The bearing cap includes a face and a collar extending along a longitudinal axis into the annular bore. The bearing cap seal is disposed annularly about the collar, within the annular bore. The bearing cap seal prevents contamination of an engagement interface between the knuckle and the outer ring.
US08146926B2
Aspects of the present invention involve a steerable stroller including a rear frame assembly supporting two rear wheels and a front frame assembly, which may take the form of a boom or other frame work, pivotally coupled with the rear frame assembly and supporting a front wheel. A centering mechanism is provided that elastically couples the front frame assembly with the rear frame assembly so that the boom and front wheel are normally in a straight orientation with respect to the rear wheels, and when a user imparts a turning force the centering mechanism acts to return the boom and front wheel to the straight orientation when the force is reduced or removed. It is also possible to include a pivoting front wheel in conjunction with or separate from the pivoting boom, with pivoting wheel also including a centering mechanism. Finally, aspects of the present invention may include a removable seat assembly.
US08146921B2
A beer pong arcade game apparatus and methods of operation are described. Initially, a new round is started and out limit is set. For each shot, it is determined whether the player has successfully made the ball into one of the plurality of cups. If the user makes the ball into one of the cups, that cup is retracted below or flush with a surface. Alternatively, if the user fails to make the ball into one of the cups, the out limit is decremented. The game ends if the out limit reaches zero before the player manages to make all of the cups. However, if the player manages to make all cups before exceeding the out limit, then a new round is started with a new out limit and a new set of cups.
US08146919B2
An image reading apparatus, a document supply device thereof and methods thereof may reduce a scanning operation time. A document supply device may include a holding position (e.g., internal) for a following document such that a scanning time between documents may be reduced. The document supply device may include a main feed path to guide an introduced document, a simplex path coupled to the main feed path and to guide the document fed through the main feed path to the scanning window to scan one document surface (e.g., first surface), a duplex path to guide the document having passed the scanning window to the simplex path to scan the other document surface (e.g., second surface), an auxiliary supply path coupled to the main feed path and the simplex path where the document fed through the main feed path temporarily stands by before being fed to the scanning window.
US08146916B2
Positioning in the width direction of a sheet is performed by a skew correcting unit which is provided on a re-conveying path for reversing the sheet and conveying it again to an image forming unit and which has a reference surface that is come into contact with a side edge of the sheet and a plurality of diagonal feed units which obliquely convey the sheet so as to be come into contact with the reference surface. The pressures in nip portions of the other diagonal feed units excluding one of the plural diagonal feed units are reduced or cancelled by a reducing/cancelling unit according to a length in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet which is conveyed.
US08146912B2
A recording media separating device that separates recording media fed by a feeding roller and a hopper into a top recording medium and next-to-top recording media is provided. The recording media have been held in a feeding tray before being fed. The recording media separating device includes a movable contact separator having a movable contact separation surface that contacts leading ends of the recording media. When the number of the recording media held in the feeding tray becomes less than a predetermined number, the movable contact separation surface of the movable contact separator is moved to a separation position in a transportation path for the recording media.
US08146906B2
A sheet processing apparatus equipped with a saddle stitch stapler is provided with: a driver unit (1) configured to drive a staple; a clincher unit (2) configured to clinch the staple driven by the driver unit (1); a saddle portion (3) integrated with the clincher unit (2); and a guide portion (6) configured to guide the clincher unit (2) toward a predetermined position of the driver unit (1), when a center portion (11) of a bundle of sheets (10) is clamped between the clincher unit (2) and a staple striking portion (21) of the driver unit (1) after the center portion (11) of the bundle of sheets (10) is placed on the saddle portion (3).
US08146902B2
A carrier structure for supporting a substrate when being processed by passing the carrier through a meniscus formed by upper and lower proximity heads is described. The carrier includes a frame having an opening sized for receiving a substrate and a plurality of support pins for supporting the substrate within the opening, the opening being slightly larger than the substrate such that a gap exists between the substrate and the opening. The frame comprises a composite core, a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a layer of aramid fabric between the top sheet and the core and a second layer of aramid fabric between the bottom sheet and the core. The top sheet and the bottom sheet being formed from a polymer material. A method of manufacture is also described.
US08146900B2
A positioning and clamping apparatus, capable of positioning and clamping a panel material and removing the panel material from a locating pin under a state of releasing the clamping, is provided. A base having a contact surface contacting with the panel material is provided with the locating pin that penetrates through a through-hole of the panel material. A clamp arm moving between an escaping position and a clamping position is provided in a slit, and the clamp arm is moved between these positions by a reciprocating cam. When the clamp arm reaches the clamping position, the panel material is clamped by a clamp portion which is a tip of the clamp arm. A pusher driven by a pushing piston is provided inside the base, and the panel material is removed from the locating pin by the pusher.
US08146896B2
An apparatus for generating a gaseous chemical precursor is provided and contains a canister having a sidewall, a top, and a bottom encompassing an interior volume therein, an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with the interior volume, and an inlet tube extending into the canister and having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is coupled to the inlet port. The apparatus further contains a gas dispersion plate coupled to the outlet end of the inlet tube, wherein the gas dispersion plate is at an angle within a range from about 3° to about 80°, relative to a horizontal plane which is perpendicular to a vertical axis of the canister.
US08146891B2
Powered tools and interchangeable driver assemblies for removal of fasteners from a host material are disclosed. The tool includes a housing having a chamber operatively associated with an actuator assembly. Interchangeable driver assemblies may be provided that include a plurality of interchangeable particularly configured drive pins and a plurality of interchangeable guide elements, each guide element selectively adapted for use with a different one of the drive pins. The guide element has an elongate central passage therethrough, is receivable by a mount releasably maintained at the housing adjacent the chamber, and may be configured for slidable retention thereat. In such case, the guide element is biased toward a fully extended position and is slidable between the fully extended position and a retracted position.
US08146889B2
A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat ring is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity, the seat ring having an engaging face. A gate in the cavity has an engaging face that slidingly engages the face of the seat ring while being moved between open and closed positions. A friction-resistant coating is on at least one of the faces.
US08146887B1
A damper mechanism comprising a single piece damper blade and a damper seal. The damper blade having a tie-down tab pair, with the tie-down tab pair positioned along a periphery edge of the damper blade for coupling a damper seal with the damper blade. The damper seal is comprised of a set of apertures for insertion of the tie-down tab pair for locking the damper seal with the damper blade.
US08146882B2
Cubipods are heavy concrete objects used as protection means for dyke or breakwater mantles on coasts or the like and have a cubic or orthohedral shape with projections on the faces (3) thereof; the number, position and geometric shape of said projections (2) may vary. The mold comprises a table (4) with a plate (6) wherein is hollowed a recess (5) corresponding with the lower projection of the cubipod (1) and has support legs (9) on a rigid plinth (10). A prismatic casing (11) with the cubipod (1) shape but lacking the upper base, rests on the table (4). A frame of profiles (18, 19) with a hood (17) for forming the upper projection is hinged on an upper edge. Mould removal is achieved by raising the casing (11), after taking away a number of dihedral surfaces (14-15) which form the lower face of the projections (2) and lower part of the casing.
