US08154039B2
A light emitting diode is disclosed having a vertical orientation with an ohmic contact on portions of a top surface of the diode and a mirror layer adjacent the light emitting region of the diode. The diode includes an opening in the mirror layer beneath the geometric projection of the top ohmic contact through the diode that defines a non-contact area between the mirror layer and the light emitting region of the diode to encourage current flow to take place other than at the non-contact area to in turn decrease the number of light emitting recombinations beneath the ohmic contact and increase the number of light emitting recombinations in the more transparent portions of the diode.
US08154033B2
A light emitting diode (LED) device including a transparent substrate, a plurality of LED chips, a circuit, and a transparent encapsulant is provided. The LED chips are fixed on the transparent substrate, and utilized for radiating at least a light beam. The circuit is disposed on the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the LED chips. The transparent encapsulant is utilized for packaging the LED chips. The light beam of the LED chips can propagate from two opposite sides of the transparent substrate. Blue LED chips and the circuit of the transparent substrate can be directly soldered, and the phosphors are arranged to convert the wavelength of blue light, so a dual-side white light emitting device can therefore be provided.
US08154032B2
An electrooptical device having a plurality of light-emitting regions includes a substrate, a bank disposed in a region other than the light-emitting regions on the substrate so as to surround the light-emitting regions, and a functional layer disposed in openings surrounded by the bank. The bank includes an upper bank segment and a plurality of lower bank segments having a higher wettability than the upper bank segment. The number of the lower bank segments exposed is smaller in second regions of the openings than in first regions of the openings.
US08154030B2
An optical component with integrated back monitor photodiode. The optical component includes a substrate doped with a first type dopant, such as an n-type dopant. The substrate has a trench with sloped walls. An optical source is disposed in the trench. An implant of a second type dopant, such as a p-type dopant, is in the substrate around at a least a portion of the optical source. The implant in the substrate in combination with the first type dopant in the substrate forms a diode.
US08154027B2
An SiC substrate includes the steps of preparing a base substrate having a main surface and made of SiC, washing the main surface using a first alkaline solution, and washing the main surface using a second alkaline solution after the step of washing with the first alkaline solution. The SiC substrate has the main surface, and an average of residues on the main surface are equal to or larger than 0.2 and smaller than 200 in number.
US08154018B2
A semiconductor device includes a ZnO-containing substrate containing Li, a zinc silicate layer formed above the ZnO-containing substrate, and a semiconductor layer epitaxially grown relative to the ZnO-containing substrate via the zinc silicate layer.
US08154013B2
A thin-film transistor comprises a semiconducting layer comprising a semiconducting material selected from Formula (I) or (II): wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 a, b, and n are as described herein. Semiconducting compositions of Formula (I) or (II) are also described.
US08154012B2
A thin film transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconducting layer, and a gate electrode. The drain electrode is spaced from the source electrode. The semiconducting layer is connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode. The gate electrode is insulated from the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the semiconducting layer by an insulating layer. The semiconducting layer includes a carbon nanotube film, a plurality of carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film oriented along a direction from the source electrode to the drain electrode.
US08154010B2
A memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and a nanotube or nanowire network disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, having a stacked structure of a P-type network and an N-type network, and having a diode characteristic. Since the nanotube or nanowire network has the stacked structure of the P-type network and the N-type network, and has the diode characteristic, it is possible to enhance a degree of integration of the memory device and simplify the fabrication processes without separately requiring a selection device.
US08154005B2
An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can include a diode steering element in series with an antifuse and/or other state change element. The devices are formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower sets of conductors. The height of the pillar structures are reduced by forming part of the diode for each pillar in a rail stack with one of the conductors. A diode in one embodiment can include a first diode component of a first conductivity type and a second diode component of a second conductivity type. A portion of one of the diode components is divided into first and second portions with one on the portions being formed in the rail stack where it is shared with other diodes formed using pillars at the rail stack.
US08154001B2
An ion radiation therapy machine provides a steerable beam for treating a tumor within the patient where the exposure spot of the beam is controlled in width and/or length to effect a flexible trade-off between treatment speed, accuracy, and uniformity.
US08153999B2
Provided is a terahertz wave optical device that can be used as a terahertz wave generating device including: an optical switch portion for generating a carrier abruptly by irradiation with excitation light; and a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion that are disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the optical switch portion therebetween so as to apply an electric field in a thickness direction of the optical switch portion. The first electrode portion includes, at least in part, an antenna portion having an antenna function of distributing the carrier generated by the irradiation with the excitation light in a direction crossing an application direction of the electric field. With the terahertz wave optical device, a step for adjusting the incident angle of the excitation light is simplified.
US08153998B2
A temperature radiator, which comprises an emission surface emitting a thermal radiation, is provided with a radiation converter to which a laser beam is irradiated. The radiation converter comprises a micro-structured receiving surface and a micro-structured emission surface. These two surfaces are surrounded by a smooth boundary. The laser radiation is absorbed at the receiving surface and converted into thermal radiation which is emitted in a uniformly distributed manner at the emission surface.
US08153997B2
A cyclotron that includes a magnet yoke having a yoke body that surrounds an acceleration chamber. The cyclotron also includes a magnet assembly to produce magnetic fields to direct charged particles along a desired path. The magnet assembly is located in the acceleration chamber. The magnetic fields propagate through the acceleration chamber and within the magnet yoke, wherein a portion of the magnetic fields escapes outside of the magnet yoke as stray fields. The cyclotron also includes a vacuum pump that is coupled to the yoke body. The vacuum pump is configured to introduce a vacuum into the acceleration chamber. The magnet yoke is dimensioned such that the vacuum pump does not experience magnetic fields in excess of 75 Gauss.
US08153994B2
A cooling system (10) for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) grazing incidence collector (GIC) mirror assembly (240) having at least one shell (20) with a back surface (22) is disclosed. The cooling system has a plurality of spaced apart circularly configured cooling lines (30) arranged in parallel planes (PL) that are perpendicular to the shell central axis (AC) and that are in thermal contact with and that run around the back surface. Input and output secondary cooling-fluid manifolds (44, 46) are respectively fluidly connected to the plurality of cooling lines to flow a cooling fluid from the input secondary cooling-fluid manifold to the output cooling secondary fluid manifold over two semicircular paths for each cooling line. Separating the cooling fluid input and output locations reduces thermal gradients that can cause local surface deformations in the shell that can lead to degraded focusing performance.
US08153983B1
The present invention concerns scintillator compositions comprising gadolinium halide and a dopant. The gadolinium halide and dopant material (e.g., GdI3:Ce) has surprisingly good characteristics including high light output, high gamma-ray stopping efficiency, fast response, low cost, good proportionality, and minimal afterglow, thereby making the material useful for various applications including, for example, gamma-ray spectroscopy, medical imaging, nuclear and high energy physics research, diffraction, non-destructive testing, nuclear treaty verification and safeguards, and geological exploration. The timing resolution of the scintillators of the present invention also provides compositions suitable for use in imaging applications, such as positron emission tomography (e.g., time-of-flight PET) and CT imaging.
US08153980B1
Systems and methods for color correcting radiation by alternately focusing a first radiation spectrum on a first radiation spectrum detector, and then focusing at least one additional radiation spectrum on at least one additional radiation spectrum detector.
US08153978B1
A single focal plane integrated circuit hybrid replaces multiple focal plane circuits and associated off-focal plane signal processing electronics. A dual function, dual color focal plane PSD sensor chip assembly includes a PSD array, a traditional pixelized camera array, a signal processing chip, and flip-chip interconnects and wirebond pads to support electronics on the signal processing chip. The camera array is made of a material sensitive to wavelengths longer than the PSD array material is sensitive to. The PSD array is disposed in the same substrate as the camera array. The PSD array tracks object locations and directs the camera array to window and zoom while capturing images. Inherent registration of PSD cells to the pixelized camera array makes responsivity map testing and spatial calibration unnecessary. Reduction in power dissipation is achieved by powering on the camera array only when the PSD detects a change in scene.
US08153977B2
Various embodiments are disclosed that are related to an optic with a dichroic coating. In one embodiment, sn optic comprises a wedge-shaped light guide having opposing first and second faces and a turning film bonded to the wedge-shaped light guide. The turning film comprises a plurality of facets oblique to the first face of the wedge-shaped light guide and supports a dichroic coating.
US08153972B2
An infrared camera including optics and a detector sensitive to infrared radiation is used in conjunction with at least one light source, such as a laser, to locate a reference point on a target. Two intersecting line segments are produced by the one light source or a combination of two light sources to locate the reference point on the target. The infrared camera would display both an infrared image as well as a visible image which can be merged onto a single display. The teaching of the present invention could also be used to determine the distance to the target as well as the area of the target.
US08153967B2
A representation of a particle beam image is generated by acquiring plural data sets using a particle beam apparatus. Each data set represents secondary particle intensities from a region of an object. The secondary particle intensities are acquired for the different data sets with different parameter adjustments of the particle beam apparatus. From the plural acquired data sets image data are generated using a tone-mapping method. The image data are represented at an output medium.
US08153966B2
A high-resolution sample image is acquired by eliminating both of charge over an entire sample (global charge) and charge in a local region irradiated with a primary charged particle beam (local charge). An electrode unit (50) according to the present invention is used in a charged particle beam device. The electrode unit (50) includes a plate electrode disposed facing an insulator sample between an objective lens and the sample, and further includes: a first charge-neutralization charged particle beam source which emits a first charged particle beam to eliminate local charge on the sample; and a second charge-neutralization charged particle beam source (25) which emits a second charged particle beam to eliminate global charge on the sample. A first hole (53) through which a primary charged particle beam passes, and a second hole through which the second charged particle beam is emitted are provided in the plate electrode, and the first and second charge-neutralization charged particle beam sources are disposed at such positions as not to interfere with each other. The charged particle beam emitted from the first charge-neutralization charged particle beam source is introduced in the vicinity of the first hole (53).
US08153961B2
A method for acquiring and analyzing polypeptide mass spectra comprising: creating first and second sets of fragmented ions using first and second fragmentation techniques; obtaining mass spectra of the first and second sets of fragmented ions; searching a database of fragments of a first fragment pair type and of a second fragment pair type to respectively provide a set of M ranked and a set of N ranked best matching polypeptide sequences; subtracting synthetic spectra corresponding to each of the M and N ranked sequences from the mass spectra to provide first and second sets of modified mass spectra; searching the database of fragments of the second fragment pair type and of the first fragment pair type to provide third and fourth sets of polypeptide sequences providing best matches to the first and second sets of modified spectra, respectively; and creating a cumulative ranking of the third and fourth sets.
US08153956B2
An interrogator for a plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings. The interrogator includes a broadband optical source; at least one beam splitter directing output of the optical source to the sensor fiber optic gratings; at least one linear filter for converting changes in peak reflection wavelength to changes in intensity; at least one optical receiver; and at least one amplifier associated with each optical receiver. The interrogator also includes, alternatively, a driver/modulator for the optical source providing on/off pulses; an analog integrator following the at least one amplifier; or a mechanism compensating for masking of one sensor fiber optic grating by another.
US08153949B2
In response to objects having relative motion within an encoding/sensing region relative to an encoder/sensor that, e.g., photosenses emanating light or performs impedance-based sensing, sensing results can indicate sensed time-varying waveforms with information about the objects, about their relative motion, about excitation characteristics, about environmental characteristics, and so forth. An encoder/sensor can include, for example, a non-periodic arrangement of sensing elements; a longitudinal sequence of sensing elements with a combined sensing pattern that approximates a superposition or scaled superposition of simpler sensing patterns; and/or IC-implemented sensing elements that include photosensing arrays on ICs and readout/combine circuitry that reads out photosensed quantities from cells in groups in accordance with cell-group sensing patterns and combines the readout photosensed quantities to obtain the sensing results. Objects can move fluidically as in flow cytometry, through scanning movement as in document scanning, or in other ways.
US08153948B1
Image acquisition systems utilizing a pixilated transducer.
US08153943B2
A tornado disarming network includes a command center, tornado detection systems, and tornado busting missile launch sites in communications with the command center. Tornado busting missiles are at the tornado busting missile launch sites. Each tornado busting missile includes a radar, a guidance system and a solid rocket motor for propelling the missile toward the tornado. A thruster control system causes the tornado busting missile to travel upward within the tornado upon reaching the tornado. An explosive discharge system explodes within the tornado to generate heat for causing the air within the tornado to expand, thereby weakening the tornado.
US08153942B2
An apparatus and method for synthesizing nanostructures in a reactor having a reaction zone and a conductive susceptor positioned in the reaction zone. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of placing a semiconductor plate having a film of a catalyst in the reaction zone such that the semiconductor plate is supported by the conductive susceptor; transporting a gas mixture having a feedstock gas having hydrocarbon and a carrier gas into the reaction zone of the chamber; inductively heating the reaction zone; and regulating the heating so that the temperature of the conductive susceptor increases from a first temperature to a second temperature when the gas mixture is introduced into the cavity of the chamber to allow nanostructures to be grown from the interaction of the gas mixture with the film of a catalyst of the semiconductor plate.
US08153939B2
The invention relates to a fluid-heating device (1) comprising: a fluid circulation conduit (5), electric heating means (4), and a switch (6) which can be moved selectively between a configuration in which the electric heating means are powered and a configuration in which the electric power being supplied to the electric heating means is cut off. The invention also comprises a thermally-fusible part (7) which is intended to be heated by the electric heating means when in operation and which is designed (i) to fuse at least partially when at least one area (8) of the electric heating means exceeds a critical temperature threshold and (ii) to move the switch (6) from the power supply configuration to the power cut-off configuration.
US08153936B2
Herein is described a method for the heating-up of a ceramic glow plug by applying a variable electric voltage to the glow plug. In accordance with the invention it is provided that, starting from a base value, the electric voltage increases in a time-averaged manner superproportional to the elapsed heating-up time. The invention relates also to a glow plug control unit for carrying out of such a method.
US08153933B2
The present invention provides a welding control apparatus including: a droplet separation detecting unit that detects separation of a droplet from a tip end of welding wire; and a waveform generator that alternately generates a first pulse for separating the droplet and a second pulse for shaping the droplet and outputs the generated pulse to a welding power source, the waveform generator generating a third pulse having a pulse shape different in a pulse peak current and/or a pulse width from the second pulse to output the generated third pulse to the welding pulse source after a base time of the first pulse if separation of the droplet is not detected within a peak period, a falling slope period, or a base period of the first pulse to thereby restore a droplet supply regularity.
US08153925B2
A system is provided that includes a torch power unit. The torch power unit includes a compressor and a moisture remover coupled to the compressor. A method is provided that includes compressing a gas via compressor and removing moisture from the gas via a moisture remover coupled to the compressor. A method of manufacturing a torch system is also provided. Additionally, a system for a torch power unit is provided that includes a moisture remover.
US08153920B2
A touch panel roll and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes providing a first structure roll and a second structure roll. A manufacturing method of the first structure roll includes forming an opening in a first flexible substrate, wherein conductive lines respectively connected with electrodes extend to the opening. A manufacturing method of the second structure roll includes forming conductive lines respectively connected with electrodes and independent conductive lines corresponding to the conductive lines in the first structure roll on a second flexible substrate, wherein one end of each conductive line in the second structure roll is located at a position corresponding to the opening. The method further includes laminating the first structure roll and the second structure roll by a roll-to-roll process.
US08153915B2
A control element including at least four switches for electrical/electronic functions having a precise guidance for operation, where mount arms are disposed in a cross shape on their underside on a tip disposed in a housing, and on their top side in a spherical shell, and a pin is attached to the housing in each corner formed by the arms.
US08153907B2
An electromagnetic bandgap structure and a printed circuit board that solve a mixed signal problem are disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the electromagnetic bandgap structure includes a first metal layer; a first dielectric layer, stacked in the first metal layer; a second metal layer, stacked in the first dielectric layer, and having a holed formed at a position of the second dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer, stacked in the second metal layer; a metal plate, stacked in the second dielectric layer; a first via, penetrating the hole formed in the second metal layer and connecting the first metal layer and the metal plate; a third dielectric layer, stacked in the metal plate and the second dielectric layer; a third metal layer, stacked in the third dielectric layer; and a second via, connecting the second metal layer to the third metal layer.
US08153903B2
In a circuit board disposed in parallel to a fixing plane, a guard spacer (abutting member) is disposed on a multi-layer printed circuit board on the side of the fixing plane to suppress deformation of the multi-layer printed circuit board to prevent short circuit if an impact is applied to the circuit board. The guard spacer may be a dummy electronic component or a plate member. An image display using the circuit board is also disclosed.
US08153898B2
A power feeding device for a slide structure, which includes a link arm turnably provided to one of a slide structure and a fixed structure in a direction to absorb a surplus length of a wire harness, and a harness holding portion provided to a top end side of the link arm. The wire harness is provided from the harness holding portion to a harness fixing portion of the other of the slide structure and the fixed structure, is employed. The link arm is energized by a resilient member. A harness guide is provided along the link arm, and an electric wire portion of the wire harness is provided along the harness guide so as to have a surplus length. A frame-like guide case into which the wire harness is inserted in a turning direction of the link arm is provided.
US08153883B2
The disclosure relates to control and audio manipulation of a digital audio signal by a user manipulable rotary control. The disclosure is specifically applicable to manipulation of a digital audio signal by disc jockeys (DJs). A magnet and corresponding sensor are used to obtain rotational state information from the turning of the user manipulable rotary control. This rotational state information is used to manipulate a digital audio signal. Manipulation of the digital audio includes forward and backward motion as well as a “scratch effect”. Rotational state information obtained from rotating magnet includes the possibility of absolute rotation position as well as relative rotational position, or rotational direction.
US08153880B2
A performance apparatus capable of reproducing performance data having a desired tempo, even if performance data having the desired tempo is not present in a play list. In a search, a main point value indicated in each of meta data in music information files respectively corresponding to pieces of music registered in the play list is compared with a target tempo value. If the main point value falls within a range in which main point does not vary more than plus or minus 3% from the target tempo value, the music whose main point value is currently compared with the target tempo value is determined as intended music. If the intended music is not present in the play list, music data having the target tempo is automatically produced and reproduced.
US08153879B2
A reproduction list PL1 and specified BPMs of pieces of music that are to be used to control the operation of replaying the pieces of music are prepared on the basis of their ordinary BPMs that indicate the tempos specified in advance for the respective pieces of music (and hence the reproduction speeds specified in advance by the audio data of the respective pieces of music) so that it is now possible to prepare with ease a reproduction list PL1 for replaying only pieces of music having the same tempo or specified BPMs for changing the tempo of each of the pieces of music to a desired one, according to the tempo of a piece of music. Thus, it is also possible to replay with ease each of the pieces of music with a desired tempo (or a reproduction speed) according to the reproduction list PL1 and the specified BPMs.
US08153865B2
The invention relates to a novel canola line designated as SCV152154. The invention also relates to the seeds, the plants, and the plant parts of canola line SCV152154 as well as to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola line SCV152154 with itself or with another canola line. The invention also relates to methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic canola plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention further relates to canola lines or breeding lines and plant parts derived from canola line SCV152154, to methods for producing other canola lines or plant parts derived from canola line SCV152154 and to the canola plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention additionally relates to hybrid canola seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the line SCV152154 with another canola line.
US08153861B2
A gene comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and another gene comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, the latter being artificially synthesized according to plant preferred codons. Both genes encode a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. Also provided are recombinant vectors containing each of the genes and host cells transformed with the recombinant vectors. The host cells can be prokaryotic cells [[and]] or eukaryotic cells. The transgenic plants comprising the gene having the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 show improved salt and drought tolerance after the [[said]] gene is expressed in the transgenic plants.
US08153858B2
Four zebrafish gene promoters, which are skin specific, muscle specific, skeletal muscle specific and ubiquitously expressed respectively, were isolated and ligated to the 5′ end of the EGFP gene. When the resulting chimeric gene constructs were introduced into zebrafish, the transgenic zebrafish emit green fluorescence under a blue light or ultraviolet light according to the specificity of the promoters used. Thus, new varieties of ornamental fish of different fluorescence patterns, e.g., skin fluorescence, muscle fluorescence, skeletal muscle-specific and/or ubiquitous fluorescence, are developed.
US08153857B2
The present invention relates to absorbent articles and composites that provide improved protection and comfort by use of a vapor permeable, liquid barrier layer and an exudates thickener. In particular, the barrier layer results from deposition of barrier coating on one or more regions of the barrier layer such that select regions of the overall article exhibit a barrier to liquid while the article in general is still deemed breathable.
US08153850B2
According to an embodiment, a biomass conversion subsystem produces methane and/or alcohol and residual biomass. A pyrolysis or a gasification subsystem is used to produce thermal energy and/or process gasses. The thermal energy may be stored thermal energy in the form of a pyrolysis oil. A fuel conversion subsystem produces liquid hydrocarbon fuels from the methane and/or alcohol using thermal energy and/or process gasses produced by the gasification or pyrolysis subsystem. Because the biomass production system integrates the residual products from biomass conversion and the residual thermal energy from pyrolysis or gasification, the overall efficiency of the integrated biomass production system is greatly enhanced.
US08153844B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 1 by contacting compound of Formula 2 with R1—NH2 in the presence of a carboxylic acid and a method for preparing a compound of Formula 2 by contacting a compound of Formula 4 with phosphorus tribromide. wherein R1 is H, C1-C4 alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl or methylcyclopropyl; R2 is CH3 or Cl; R3 is C1-C6 alkyl or C3-C6 alkenyl, each optionally substituted with up to 3 halogen and up to 1 phenyl; and X is Cl or Br. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 5 wherein R4, R5, R6 and Z are as defined in the disclosure, using a compound of Formula 1 that is characterized by preparing the compound of Formula 1 by the method above.
US08153843B2
Antibacterial compounds of formula I are provided: As well as stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and prodrugs thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of treating bacterial infections by the administration of such compounds; and processes for the preparation of the compounds.
US08153841B2
The present invention relates to compounds comprising the general formula (I), in which R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, are selected from the group comprising —H or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or together form an aromatic or aliphatic ring with 5 or 6 atoms; Y and Z, which may be identical or different, are selected from the group comprising —H, —OH, —COOH, —OR3, —CH(OR3)COOH, in which R3 is selected from H, phenyl, benzyl, —CF3 or —CF2CF3, vinyl, allyl and a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US08153834B2
The present invention relates to particles, i.e., oxides of Si, Ti, Zn, Zr, Mn, Al and combinations thereof, where at least one particle has a surface covalently bonded to at least one fluorosilane group. The particle is first bonded to a divalent organic linking group which in turn is bonded to a perfluoroalkyl group. It has been discovered that incorporation of the aforementioned divalent organic linking group can improve the ability of the resulting hydrophobized inorganic particles to impart hydrophobic and oleophobic properties.
US08153832B2
Pentakis(dimethylamino) disilane with general formula (1): Si2(NMe2)5Y, where Y is selected from the group comprising H, Cl or an amino group its preparation method and its use to manufacture gate dielectric films or etch-stop dielectric films of SiN or SiON.
US08153822B2
A fluorene compound is provided, which is represented by the following Formula (I): in Formula (1), R11 and R12 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R21 and R22 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of from 1 to 5.
US08153818B2
Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR2 or CCR9 receptor. Animal testing demonstrates that these compounds are useful for treating inflammation, a hallmark disease for CCR2 and CCR9. The compounds are generally aryl sulfonamide derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR2-mediated diseases, CCR9-mediated diseases, as controls in assays for the identification of CCR2 antagonists and as controls in assays for the identification of CCR9 antagonists.
US08153814B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or tautomers thereof, to processes for the preparation of, intermediates used in the preparation of, and compositions containing such compounds, and the uses of such compounds, in particular for the treatment of pain.
US08153809B2
Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds and using the compounds for treatment of diseases associated with the P2X7 purinergic receptor.
US08153808B2
Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds and using the compounds for treatment of diseases associated with the P2X7 purinergic receptor.
US08153798B2
The use of substituted amides of structure (I) for modulating the activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 βHSD1) and the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions, are described. Also a novel class of substituted amides, their use in therapy, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as their use in the manufacture of medicaments are described. The present compounds are modulators and more specifically inhibitors of the activity of 11 βHSD1 and may be useful in the treatment, prevention and/or prophylaxis of a range of medical disorders where a decreased intracellular concentration of active glucocorticoid is desirable.
US08153796B2
The invention relates to tricyclic N-heteroaryl-carboxamide derivatives having the formula (I): Wherein A, P, W, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z8, R3 and R3′ are as described herein. The invention also relates to a method for preparing the same and to the therapeutic use thereof.
US08153794B2
The present invention relates to a new method of cross-coupling aryl moieties comprising reacting an arylhalide with an arylboronic acid in the presence of a palladium compound and a compound comprising a di-alkylphosphine moiety.
US08153789B2
The invention provides novel imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, polymorphs, hydrates, tautomers, solvates and stereoisomers thereof.Compounds of formula (I) are useful for treating or preventing diseases associated with GABAA receptors modulation, anxiety, epilepsy, sleep disorders including insomnia, and for inducing sedation-hypnosis, anesthesia, sleep and muscle relaxation.The invention also provides synthetic procedures for preparing said compounds and certain intermediates, as well as intermediates themselves.
US08153784B2
This invention relates to biochemistry and magnetic resonance imaging.
US08153783B2
The production of polysaccharide networks, especially starch networks, having a high network density, high solidity, a low swelling degree, and exhibiting reduced water absorption and to the uses thereof, especially, in the filed of biodegradable plastics.
US08153782B2
Processes for recycling an ionic liquid comprising employing an initial ionic liquid as a solvent and/or reagent resulting in a modified ionic liquid and thereafter subjecting at least a portion of the modified ionic liquid to at least one anion exchange process to produce a reformed ionic liquid. The initial ionic liquid can be employed in a cellulose esterification process, thereby producing the modified ionic liquid. At least a portion of the reformed ionic liquid can be recycled to a point upstream in the cellulose esterification process.
US08153781B2
Disclosed are conjugates comprising a dendrimer and a ligand, which is a functionalized congener of an agonist or antagonist of a receptor of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, for example, wherein the functionalized congener is an A1 adenosine receptor agonist having a purine nucleoside moiety and a functional group at the N6 position of the purine nucleoside moiety, wherein the functional group has the formula (I):N6H—Ar1—CH2—C(═O)NH—R1 (I), wherein Ar1 and R1 as defined herein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treating various diseases, and a diagnostic method employing such conjugates.
US08153780B2
The invention relates to a reporter unit for detecting a target molecule comprising at least one component attached to a target molecule specific probe, wherein said at least one component is liberated from said probe by the activity of a first enzyme thereby making the at least one component available as a substrate for a second enzyme which employs the substrate in a polymerization reaction to obtain a detectable structure.
US08153776B2
The present invention provides methods for attenuating gene expression in a cell, especially in a mammalian cell, using gene-targeted double stranded RNA (dsRNA), such as a hairpin RNA. The dsRNA contains a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under physiologic conditions of the cell to the nucleotide sequence of at least a portion of the gene to be inhibited (the “target” gene).
US08153773B2
New RNA cap analogs are disclosed containing one or more phosphorothioates groups. The analogs also contain modifications at the 2′-O position of 7-methylguanosine that prevent them from being incorporated in the reverse orientation during in vitro synthesis of mRNA and that hence are “anti-reverse cap analogs” (ARCAs). The ARCA modification ensures that the S atom is precisely positioned within the active sites of cap-binding proteins in both the translational and decapping machinery. The new S-ARCA analogs are resistant to in vivo decapping enzymes. Some S-ARCAs have a higher affinity for eIF4E than the corresponding analogs not containing a phosphorothioate group. When mRNAs containing the various S-ARCAs are introduced into cultured cells, some are translated as much as five-fold more efficiently than mRNAs synthesized with the conventional analog m7GpppG.
US08153770B1
Mutants of human FGF-1 are disclosed having increased stability and mitogenic potency. In the FGF-1 polypeptide, primarily residue 12 is substituted with cysteine and/or residue 134 is substituted cysteine, valine or threonine to render the polypeptide more stable and/or to increase its mitogenecity.
US08153769B2
An efficient low-cost method of proteoglycan recovery from natural resources. There is provided a process for producing proteoglycan, comprising the steps of immersing a biological sample containing proteoglycan in an alkali solution of 0.0025 to 0.1 N and recovering the solution after the immersion. As compared with the conventional extraction method, proteoglycan can be recovered in unaltered undecomposed form easily within a short period of time, thereby attaining substantial reduction of proteoglycan production cost. Further, proteoglycan highly useful in industry can be recovered from wasted portions of fin, feather, mammal, etc. having mainly been discarded, thereby contributing toward effective utilization of industrial waste and reduction of the volume of industrial waste per se.
US08153764B2
The invention provides a polypeptide and a specific partial peptide thereof, as well as a polynucleotide and a specific partial nucleotide thereof, that can be used as a biomarker specific for the brain/nerves or specific for nerve differentiation; an expression vector for such a polynucleotide and a specific partial peptide thereof; a transformant incorporating such an expression vector; an antisense molecule, RNAi-inducing nucleic acid (e.g., siRNA), aptamer, or antibody for such a biomarker, and a composition comprising the same; a mammalian cell or non-human mammal wherein the expression or a function of such a biomarker is regulated; a measuring means (e.g., primer set, nucleic acid probe, antibody, aptamer) for such a biomarker, and a reagent comprising the same and the like.
US08153763B2
Heteromeric taste receptors are provided. These receptors comprise a first polypeptide containing extracellular domains and transmembrane domains wherein the extracellular domains are at least 95% identical to the extracellular domains of specific T1R2 polypeptides and the transmembrane domains are at least 95% identical to the corresponding transmembrane domains of the specific T1R2 polypeptide or a different GPCR; and a second polypeptide comprising extracellular and transmembrane domains wherein the extracellular domains are at least 95% identical to the extracellular domains of specific T1R3 polypeptides and the transmembrane domains are at least 95% identical to the corresponding transmembrane domains of the specific T1R3 polypeptide or a different GPCR.
US08153761B2
An instrument and associated method are disclosed for the accelerated synthesis of peptides by the solid phase method. The instrument includes a microwave cavity, a microwave source in communication with the cavity, a column in the cavity formed of a material that is transparent to microwave radiation, a solid phase peptide support resin in the column, respective filters for maintaining the solid phase support resin in the column, a first passageway for adding starting compositions to the column, a second passageway for removing compositions from the column, and a third passageway for circulating compositions from the column into the third passageway and back to the column.
US08153744B2
There is provided a novel hyperbranched polymer in which the refractive index is precisely controlled while retaining its hyperbranched structure, and a method for producing the hyperbranched polymer. Further, there is also provided an optically and thermally stable novel hyperbranched polymer in which the desired refractive index is precisely controlled, and a method for producing the hyperbranched polymer. The hyperbranched polymer has, as a branched structure, a repeating unit structure produced from two dithiocarbamate compounds each having a vinyl structure, at the polymerization initiation site having a vinyl structure. A specific example of the hyperbranched polymer can be produced by subjecting to a living radical polymerization N,N-diethyldithiocarbamylmethylstyrene in the presence of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamylethyl methacrylate.
US08153741B2
The present disclosure provides copolymers including a first monomer including at least one phospholipid possessing at least one vinyl group and a second monomer including a furanone possessing vinyl and/or acrylate groups. Compositions, medical devices, and coatings including such copolymers are also provided.
US08153736B2
A composition that may be useful for thermoforming and blow molding applications comprises a metallocene catalyzed propylene-ethylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of from about 0.1 to about 1.5 weight percent based on the copolymer, and exhibits a flexural modulus of at least about 1,100 MPa, a haze of less than about 40 percent, a melt flow of from about 1.0 dg/min to about 3.0 dg/min, and a xylene solubles content from about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent based on the copolymer. A process for preparing the copolymer and articles prepared therefrom are also disclosed. The composition's properties may make it particularly desirable for applications such as bottles, syringes and containers such as those used for food and medical purposes.
US08153731B2
The present invention relates to comb (block) copolymers obtainable by reacting I at least one (block) copolymer comprising polymerized, optionally substituted styrene and maleic anhydride units, which copolymer has been obtained by living, free-radical polymerization, with II at least one polyalkylene oxide monoamine comprising a primary amino end group at a reaction temperature of ≧150° C. and by subsequent salification of at least 25 mol % of the free carboxyl groups of the reaction product at a reaction temperature of <100° C. and optionally after addition of H2O and to the use of these comb copolymers as wetting agents and dispersants.
US08153723B2
A process for simply and inexpensively producing a conjugated diene polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high cis-bond content at a low cost is provided. The process comprises a polymerization step, wherein a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5 mass % or more and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) measured by gel permeation chromatography of 2.5 or less is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction in conjugated diene compounds using a catalyst composition containing a rare earth element-containing compound or a reaction product of the rare earth element-containing compound with a Lewis base, an aluminoxane and/or organoaluminum compound, and an iodine-containing compound.
US08153718B2
Polyorganosiloxane compositions heat-vulcanizable into silicone elastomers are useful in the field of electric wire or cable production via vulcanization employing salt baths.
US08153717B2
A rubber composition includes a vulcanization promoter composition which comprises a modified calcium carbonate (A) surface-treated with a fatty acid or a resin acid and a silicic acid, an inorganic filler (B) exhibiting an oil absorption of as high as 50 to 300 ml/100 g, and a vulcanization promoter component (C) liquid at ordinary temperatures, characterized in that the (A):(B) mixing ratio is within the range of 30:70 to 95:5 and the content of (C) is 30 to 80 wt % based on the whole of the promoter composition and precipitated silica are blended into a rubber.
US08153714B2
A process for producing polyolefin articles comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the polyolefin component is melted and mixed with the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer in the presence of a stabilizing composition comprising: a) one or more acid scavengers in amounts equal to or higher than 300 ppm by weight with respect to the weight of the polyolefin component; and b) one or more phenolic antioxidants in amounts equal to or higher than 1100 ppm by weight with respect to the weight of the polyolefin component.
US08153713B2
A core-shell particle is formed by a method that includes forming a crosslinked polyorganosiloxane core, reacting a graftlinking agent with the crosslinked polyorganosiloxane core, and polymerizing a poly(alkenyl aromatic) shell around the graftlinking agent-functionalized polyorganosiloxane core. The method produces a core-shell particle with improved adhesion between shell and core. The core-shell particle is useful as an impact modifier in thermoplastic compositions.
US08153709B2
A composition for preparing a halogen-free resin is provided, the composition including a halogen-free phosphorated epoxy, a urethane-modified copolyester, a curing agent, a filler, a surfactant, and a solvent. A halogen-free prepreg is also provided, including a glass fabric cloth and a halogen-free resin layer on the glass fabric. The halogen-free resin layer is made from the foregoing halogen-free resin.
US08153704B2
The invention provides a fluid cement for medical use for bone reconstruction, in particular for filling the vertebral body, and a binary composition which is intended for the preparation of such a cement. The invention also provides a device for conditioning the binary composition, and a method of preparing a bone cement from a binary composition. The fluid cement according to the invention comprises: a) approximately 60% to 85% by weight of a polymer comprising a polymethylmethacrylate and a methylmethacrylate monomer and b) approximately from 15 to 40% by weight of a radio-opaque composition. Preferably, the radio-opaque composition comprises a radio-opacifier, such as barium sulfate and zirconium dioxide, in a mixture with a calcium phosphate, for example apatite hydroxide.
US08153696B2
The invention concerns a product consisting in an injection medicinal formulations comprising at least one compound to provide a viscous formulation, ethanol and at least one compound making said formulation opaque to X rays so as to control its delivery and its action. Said formulation is in particular useful for treating herniated invertebral discs but also in intervention having demonstrated the efficacy of pure ethanol: treatment of hepatocellular tumours or osteoid osteomas, renal cysts and arterial-veinous angiomas.
US08153687B2
Provided are complexes of gallium and polyalcohols. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such complexes and methods of their use. Methods of preparing the complexes are also provided.
US08153685B2
The present invention provides new salts and/or addition compounds and/or complex compounds of guanidinoacetic acid with malic acid, aspartic acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, pyruvic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, oxalic acid, pyroglutamic acid, 3-nicotinic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, taurine, betaine, choline, methionine and lipoic acid as well as in the form of sodium, potassium or calcium guanidinoacetate. These salts have improved physiological and therapeutic properties and are particularly suitable for use as dietary supplements, as animal feeds and in cosmetic or dermatological preparations in which especially the marked stability and good bioavailability of the salts come to the fore.
US08153682B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula I as follows: wherein A, B, G, Y, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are defined herein.
US08153674B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): said compound is inhibitor of aldosterone synthase, and thus can be employed for the treatment of a disorder or disease mediated by aldosterone synthase. Accordingly, the compound of formula I can be used in treatment of hypokalemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, renal failure, in particular, chronic renal failure, restenosis, atherosderosis, syndrome X, obesity, nephropathy, post-myocardial infarction, coronary heart diseases, increased formation of collagen, cardiac fibrosis and remodeling following hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. Finally, the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition.
US08153664B2
Heterocyclic-substituted tricyclics of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of said compound, isomer or racemic mixture wherein represents an optional double bond, the dotted line is optionally a bond or no bond, resulting in a double bond or a single bond, as permitted by the valency requirement and wherein E, A, G M, Het, B, X, R3, R10, R11, R32 and R33 are herein defined and the remaining substituents are as defined in the specification, are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a method of treating diseases associated with thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure, and cancer by administering said compounds. Combination therapy with other cardiovascular agents is also claimed.
US08153656B2
Disclosed are beta and gamma-amino isoquinoline amide compounds and substituted benzamide compounds. In particular, the invention provides compounds that affect the function of kinases in a cell and that are useful as therapeutic agents or with therapeutic agents. The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions including eye diseases such as glaucoma, cardiovascular diseases, and diseases characterized by abnormal growth, such as cancers. The invention further provides compositions containing the beta or gamma-amino isoquinoline amide compounds or substituted benzamide compounds.
US08153647B2
Disclosed are compounds according to formula (I): wherein A, Q, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 are as defined herein. The disclosure also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of formula (I), to processes for preparing the compounds of formula (I), and to methods of using the compounds of formula (I).
US08153645B2
The present invention provides methods of treating chronic pain in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of a selective persistent sodium channel antagonist that has at least 20-fold selectivity for persistent sodium current relative to transient sodium current.
US08153632B2
The present invention relates to pyrimidine compounds that are useful as anti-proliferative agents. More particularly, the present invention relates to oxygen linked and substituted pyrimidine compounds, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and uses of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative disorders. These compounds may be useful as medicaments for the treatment of a number of proliferative disorders including tumors and cancers as well as other disorders or conditions related to or associated with kinases.
US08153628B2
The present invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that are substituted xanthines of formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: Z is selected from the group consisting of oxazoyl, isoxazoyl, thiazolyl, and isothiazoyl; and Z1 is a 5-14 member substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl ring; which are selective antagonists of A2B adenosine receptors (ARs). These compounds and compositions are useful as pharmaceutical agents.
US08153627B2
The present invention provides a compound of general formula 5, useful as potential antitumour agents against human cancer cell lines. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine hybrids of general formula (5): wherein n=3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and wherein R1 and R2 is selected from the group consisting of R1═H, R2═H or R1═CH3O, R2=CH3O or R1═CH3O and R2═C2H5O.
US08153622B2
Provided are compositions and methods useful for modulation of signaling through the Toll-like receptors TLR7 and/or TLR8. The compositions and methods have use in the treatment of autoimmunity, inflammation allergy, asthma, graft rejection, graft versus host disease, infection, sepsis, cancer and immunodeficiency.
US08153619B2
Novel diazonamide analogs having anti-mitotic activity, useful for the treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders are provided.
US08153614B2
There is provided a therapeutic agent for treating osteoarthritis, which is a drug comprising hyaluronan as an active ingredient. The hyaluronan is preferably a tetrasaccharide including two units, with a single unit being -D-glucuronic acid-β-1,3-D-N-acetylglucosamine-β-1,4- (HA4).
US08153605B2
Antisense oligonucleotide compounds, compositions and methods are provided for down regulating the expression of TLR3. The compositions comprise antisense oligonucleotides targeted to nucleic acids encoding TLR3. The compositions may also comprise antisense oligonucleotides targeted to nucleic acids encoding TLR3 in combination with other therapeutic and/or prophylactic compounds and/or compositions. Methods of using these compounds and compositions for down-regulating TLR3 expression and for prevention or treatment of diseases wherein modulation of TLR3 expression would be beneficial are provided.
US08153604B2
A method, aerosol composition, and aerosolizing device for treating a brain tumor in a subject are disclosed. The method includes intranasally administering to the subject, an amount of a telomerase inhibitor, such as an oligonucleotide telomerase inhibitor, effective to inhibit growth of the tumor in the subject.
US08153598B2
The invention relates to kinase ligands and polyligands. In particular, the invention relates to ligands, homopolyligands, and heteropolyligands that modulate protein kinase D (PKD) activity. The ligands and polyligands are utilized as research tools or as therapeutics. The invention includes linkage of the ligands and polyligands to cellular localization signals, epitope tags and/or reporters. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the ligands and polyligands.
US08153586B2
The present invention relates to methods of using zFGF5 compositions to proliferate chondrocytes and their progenitors, and to induce deposition of cartilage. zFGF5 compositions are disclosed for treating disorders associated with chondrocytes, such as cartilage injuries and defects. In addition, methods for treating neurological disorders, such as stroke, are disclosed, and methods for using zFGF5 compositions to stimulate growth of cells associated with neurological injury and disease are disclosed.
US08153584B2
Compositions and methods are provided for promoting organ development in warm blooded animals, and in particular in certain aspects a premature infant or fetus. Compositions and methods are also provided for the administration of at least one colony stimulating factor-1 protein (CSF-1), precursor, variant, analogue, derivative thereof, or combinations thereof, or otherwise, at least one nucleic acid molecule encoding colony stimulating factor-1 protein (CSF-1), precursor, variant, analogue, derivative thereof, or combinations thereof.
US08153577B2
A method for treating a contaminated substrate comprising the steps of contacting an emulsion to a substrate surface soiled with one or more contaminants, the emulsion comprising a blend of dibasic esters, whereby the emulsion is capable of emulsifying all or some of the contaminants, forming a resulting emulsion; removing substantially all of the resulting emulsion from the substrate surface; and, optionally, in recovering the contaminant, adding an amount of water or a solvent to the resulting emulsion effective to form at least a first phase layer comprising a substantial amount of the contaminant and a second phase layer comprising a substantial amount of the emulsion. The dibasic esters can be a blend of adipic, glutaric, and succinic diacids, and, in one particular embodiment, the blend comprises dialkyl methylglutarate and dialkyl ethylsuccinate, wherein the alkyl groups individually comprise a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group. The one or more surfactants and additional components can be added.
US08153573B2
A cleaning composition for removing soils includes an aluminum salt, a hydroxycarboxylate, an alkalinity source and optionally, a surfactant system. The cleaning composition has a pH of between about 9 and about 14.
US08153562B2
Oligoglycerol esters of fatty acids, preferably of unsaturated fatty acids, can be used as thickeners in oil-based drilling mud compositions. The oligoglycerides are preferably employed in invert drilling muds, the oily phase of which contains paraffins.
US08153557B2
A composition comprising at least one aromatic compound and at least one lactate ester compound is provided. Optionally, said composition can further comprise Cloquintocet-mexyl. Optionally, said composition can further comprise at least one emulsifier. Optionally, said composition can further comprise at least one herbicide. Processes comprising mixing such components are provided. Processes for controlling weeds or grasses or both with such compositions are provided.
US08153551B2
An optical isomer separating filler wherein a polysaccharide derivative is chemically bonded onto a support. This optical isomer separating filler is characterized in that the halogen content in the filler is 3.0 to 5.0%.
US08153546B2
A catalytic composition useful for the conversion of an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, isobutylene or mixtures thereof, to acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and mixtures thereof. The catalytic composition comprising a complex of metal oxides comprising bismuth, molybdenum, iron, cerium and other promoter elements, wherein the X-ray diffraction pattern of the catalytic composition has X-ray diffraction peaks at 2θ angle 28±0.3 degrees and 2θ angle 26.5±0.3 degrees, and wherein the ratio of the intensity of the most intense x-ray diffraction peak within 2θ angle 28±0.3 degrees to the intensity of most intense x-ray diffraction peak within 2θ angle 26.5±0.3 degrees is defined as X/Y, and wherein X/Y is greater than or equal to 0.7.
US08153535B1
Combinatorial plasma enhanced deposition techniques are described, including designating multiple regions of a substrate, providing a precursor to at least a first region of the multiple regions, and providing a plasma to the first region to deposit a first material on the first region formed using the first precursor, wherein the first material is different from a second material formed on a second region of the substrate.
US08153525B2
A polishing method includes a first polishing step of halfway polishing a film to be polished formed on a substrate, and a second polishing step of further polishing the polished film, wherein a first film thickness profile showing an in-plane distribution of a film thickness of the polished film after the second polishing step for a first substrate is measured, and the first polishing step for a second substrate is executed to obtain a second film thickness profile which has a size relation in a film thickness opposite to the first film thickness profile.
US08153515B2
A nitride based heterojunction transistor includes a substrate and a first Group III nitride layer, such as an AlGaN based layer, on the substrate. The first Group III-nitride based layer has an associated first strain. A second Group III-nitride based layer, such as a GaN based layer, is on the first Group III-nitride based layer. The second Group III-nitride based layer has a bandgap that is less than a bandgap of the first Group III-nitride based layer and has an associated second strain. The second strain has a magnitude that is greater than a magnitude of the first strain. A third Group III-nitride based layer, such as an AlGaN or AlN layer, is on the GaN layer. The third Group III-nitride based layer has a bandgap that is greater than the bandgap of the second Group III-nitride based layer and has an associated third strain. The third strain is of opposite strain type to the second strain. A source contact, a drain contact and a gate contact may be provided on the third Group III-nitride based layer. Nitride based heterojunction transistors having an AlGaN based bottom confinement layer, a GaN based channel layer on the bottom confinement layer and an AlGaN based barrier layer on the channel layer, the barrier layer having a higher concentration of aluminum than the bottom confinement layer, are also provided. Methods of fabricating such transistor are also provided.
US08153507B2
A method of manufacturing an array type semiconductor laser device. The method includes forming first and second electrodes on lower and upper surfaces of a wafer comprising a plurality of semiconductor laser arrays having a plurality of laser emission regions, and forming a metal bonding layer on the second electrode of the wafer. The method also includes dicing the wafer into the semiconductor laser arrays and mounting each of the individually separated semiconductor laser arrays on a base with the surface of the metal bonding layer in contact with the base. The method further includes melting the metal bonding layer to fix the mounted semiconductor laser array on the base.
US08153498B2
A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device protecting a resistive structure in gate replacement processing is disclosed. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate; forming at least one gate structure including a dummy gate over the semiconductor substrate; forming at least one resistive structure including a gate over the semiconductor substrate; exposing a portion of the gate of the at least one resistive structure; forming an etch stop layer over the semiconductor substrate, including over the exposed portion of the gate; removing the dummy gate from the at least one gate structure to create an opening; and forming a metal gate in the opening of the at least one gate structure.
US08153497B2
Methods and devices for a dielectric are provided. One method embodiment includes forming a passivation layer on a substrate, wherein the passivation layer contains a composition of silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen. The method also includes forming a lanthanide dielectric film on the passivation layer, and forming an encapsulation layer on the lanthanide dielectric film.
US08153493B2
Provided is a top-channel only finFET device. The methods and devices described herein may provide a native device that is compatible with a finFET process flow. A gate may be formed on the top of a fin providing the channel region of the device. In an embodiment, the gate is provided only on one side of the channel, for example, on the top of the fin. The sidewalls of the fin including channel may abut an isolation structure. In an embodiment, isolation structures are formed between the fins to provide a planar surface for the formation of a gate.
US08153488B2
Manufacturing a nonvolatile storage device including: stacking a first electrode film forming a first electrode and a first storage unit film forming a first storage unit on a substrate; processing the first electrode film and the first storage unit film into a strip shape; burying a sacrifice layer between the processed first electrode films and between the processed first storage unit films; forming a second electrode film forming a second electrode on the first storage unit film and the sacrifice layer; forming a mask layer on the second electrode film; processing the second electrode film into a strip shape using the mask layer; removing a portion of the first storage unit film exposed from the sacrifice layer using the mask layer processing the first storage unit film into a columnar shape, removing the sacrifice layer exposing the first storage unit film; and removing the exposed first storage unit film.
US08153487B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer provided on the first insulating film, a second insulating film comprising a plurality of insulating films provided on the charge storage layer and comprising a nitride film as an uppermost layer, and a single-layer control gate electrode provided on the second insulating film and comprising metal silicide.
US08153485B2
A method for fabricating a memory is described. Word lines are provided in a first direction. Bit lines are provided in a second direction. A top electrode is formed connecting to a corresponding word line. A bottom electrode is formed connecting to a corresponding bit line. A resistive layer is formed on the bottom electrode. At least two separate L-shaped liners are formed, wherein each L-shaped liner has variable resistive materials on both ends of the L-shaped liner and each L-shaped liner is coupled between the top electrode and the resistive layer.
US08153484B2
An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The first and second source/drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A gate is formed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor layer, at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. At least a given one of the first and second source/drain regions is configured having an effective width that is substantially greater than a width of a junction between the semiconductor layer and the given source/drain region.
US08153481B2
A semiconductor power device comprises a semiconductor substrate. The substrate includes an N-type silicon region and N+ silicon region. An oxide layer overlies the N− type silicon region, the oxide layer formed using a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor deposition (PECVD) method. First and second electrodes are coupled to the N− type silicon region and the N+ type silicon region, respectively. The oxide layer has a thickness 0.5 to 3 microns. The power device also includes a polymide layer having a thickness of 3 to 20 microns; a first field plate overlying the oxide layer; and second field plate overlying the polymide layer and the first field plate, wherein the second field plate overlaps the first field plate by 2 to 15 microns.
US08153463B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate includes a first process in which a gate line pattern including a gate line and a gate electrode is formed with a first conductive material on a substrate using a first mask, a second process in which a first insulating layer is formed on the substrate and a data line pattern including a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode is formed with a second conductive material using a second mask, and a third process in which a second insulating layer is formed on the substrate and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode is formed on the second insulating layer with a third conductive material.
US08153461B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) apparatus includes a thermoconductive substrate, a thermoconductive adhesive layer, an epitaxial layer, a current spreading layer and a micro- or nano-roughing structure. The thermoconductive adhesive layer is disposed on the thermoconductive substrate. The epitaxial layer is disposed opposite to the thermoconductive adhesive layer and has a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer. The current spreading layer is disposed between the second semiconductor layer of the epitaxial layer and the thermoconductive adhesive layer. The micro- or nano-roughing structure is disposed on the first semiconductor layer of the epitaxial layer. In addition, a manufacturing method of the LED apparatus is also disclosed.
US08153456B2
An improved bifacial solar cell is disclosed. In some embodiments, the front side includes an n-type field surface field, while the back side includes a p-type emitter. In other embodiments, the p-type emitter is on the front side. To maximize the diffusion of majority carriers and lower the series resistance between the contact and the substrate, the regions beneath the metal contacts are more heavily doped. Thus, regions of higher dopant concentration are created in at least one of the FSF or the emitter. These regions are created through the use of selective implants, which can be performed on one or two sides of the bifacial solar cell to improve efficiency.
US08153454B2
A fabrication apparatus and fabrication method of a semiconductor device are provided, allowing the temperature distribution of a substrate to be rendered uniform. The fabrication apparatus for a semiconductor device includes a susceptor holding the substrate, a heater arranged at a back side of the susceptor, a support member located between the substrate and susceptor, including a support portion, and a spacer located between the susceptor and support member. The spacer has an opening formed corresponding to the site where said support portion is located, at an opposite face side of the support member.
US08153448B2
There are provided a capacitor lower electrode formed on an adhesive layer, whose surface roughness is 0.79 nm or less, and having a (111) orientation that is inclined from a perpendicular direction to an upper surface of a substrate by 2.3° or less, a ferroelectric layer having a structure the (111) orientation of which is inclined from the perpendicular direction to the upper surface of the substrate by 3.5° or less, and a capacitor upper electrode.
US08153439B2
The presently-disclosed subject matter provides sensors and methods for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by determining the conductivity of a chemiresistant film upon exposure to VOCs, including for example chemiresistant films comprised of surfactant-coated metal alloy nanoparticles.
US08153438B2
This invention relates to using an electron microscope to sequence by direct inspection of labeled, stretched DNA. This method will have higher accuracy, lower cost, and longer read length than current DNA sequencing methods.
US08153436B2
Methods of assaying for disease-associated crystal species in biological samples are described. Such methods involve contacting a patient sample with an excess of a detectable crystal-tagging compound reactive with a plurality of crystal species under conditions that allow the detectable crystal-tagging compound to react with a plurality of crystal species, if present, to form tagged crystal species complexes. Substantially all unreacted tagging compound is then removed. If desired, chemical, enzymatic, or physical treatment can be used to selectively degrade some, but not, of the tagged crystal species. Assessment of soluble versus crystal-associated label is then performed.
US08153432B2
The present invention relates to automated methods of introducing multiple nucleic acid sequences into one or more target cells.
US08153429B2
The present invention relates to cell culture methods and compositions that are essentially serum-free and comprise a basal salt nutrient solution and an ErbB3 ligand.
US08153426B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of efficient antigen-presenting human γδ T cells, to the γδ T cells prepared by such a method, and to their use in immunotherapy, vaccination, vaccine development and diagnostics. Similar to dendritic cells (DCs) in potency and efficacy, these human γδ T cells process antigens and present antigenic peptides to αβ T cells and induce antigen-specific responses (proliferation and differentiation) in naïve αβ T cells. γδ T cells are easily purified from peripheral blood, acquire “maturation” status (expression of essential adhesion, co-stimulatory and major histocompatibility complex molecules) within 1 day of in vitro culture under stimulation and induce strong primary and secondary T helper cell and cytotoxic T cell responses. The γδ T cells may be used in a method of treatment of tumors or chronic or recurrent infectious diseases, in identification of novel tumor or pathogen-derived antigens, and in the diagnosis of the immune competence of a patient.
US08153420B2
Compositions having polynucleotides encoding multiple translational stop signals in more than one reading frame are provided. The compositions include isolated polynucleotides, expression cassettes, and vectors, as well as host cells, prokaryotic organisms, and eukaryotic organisms comprising the polynucleotide(s). Methods include using the polynucleotides to stop translation of an mRNA into a protein, to produce a transformed cell and/or organism comprising the polynucleotide, and to identify transformed cells or organisms of a specific lineage.
US08153419B2
An Intermodal container, also known as an ISO Ocean Freight Container is suitable for the dual purposes of bio-containment and also Intermodal shipping. Provision is made for the introduction of water, oxygen or other liquids or gasses to be treated into the container, for exit of liquids or gasses generated or converted in the container, and for the monitoring of biological processes occurring within the container, all in a liquid impervious container. Improved air ducts and flow paths are provided, while the effects of shrinkage and channeling are reduced, through a strategically placed and relative percentage of openings through the floor. Further improvements in air distribution are achieved by an elimination or substantial reduction in percentage of opening through the floor in areas immediately adjacent to the container side walls. The flooring incorporates a self-cleaning hole design which increases in diameter with increasing distance from the container contents. The increases in diameter may be achieved either through smooth and continuous increases, or through discontinuous increments, though the objective regardless of the approach is to ensure that the holes do not clog either when the container is filled with matter, or when vibrated and jolted during handling and transport.
US08153416B2
There is provided a process for manufacture of optically-active, 2-(acyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolanes of Formula I comprising a preparation of a racemic compound and an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the enantiomers. The invention may further provide for the esterification and racemization of the by-product of the enzymatic reaction. In this manner, 2(R)-(benzoyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolane is prepared as a useful intermediate for manufacture of the anti-HIV drug Apricitabine.
US08153404B2
The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the zwf gene of coryneform bacteria, which encode variants of the Zwf subunit of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.49), and to processes for preparing amino acids, in particular L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by using bacteria which harbor said alleles.
US08153401B2
The present teachings relate to improved methods, kits, and reaction mixtures for amplifying nucleic acids. In some embodiments a novel direct buffer formulation is provided which allows for the direct amplification of the nucleic acids in a crude sample with minimal sample purification.
US08153398B2
The invention provides human signal peptide-containing proteins (HSPP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HSPP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with expression of HSPP.
US08153392B2
A method of detecting, diagnosing and prognosticating atherosclerosis by measuring the activities of Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases is described. It is suggested that enhancing the activities of Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases results in an increase in the plasma, leukocyte, platelet and endothelial cell levels of γ-linolenic, dihomo-γ-linolenic, arachidonic, stearidonic, 20:4 ω-3, eicosapentaneoic and docosahexaenoic acids and PGE1 (prostaglandin E1), prostacyclin (PGI2), prostaglandin I3 (PGI3), lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, nitric oxide, and nitrolipids that prevent, arrest and reverse atherosclerosis. The invention is also directed to the delivery of proteins, peptides, lipids, lipoproteins, glycolipids, statins and troglitazones and their derivatives, and other compounds (synthetic or natural), cDNA clones and genes of Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases to enhance the activities of Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases in vivo to prevent, arrest, reverse and treat atherosclerosis.
US08153391B2
Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
US08153389B2
The present invention relates to methods for the identification of a PI3K interacting compound using phenylthiazole ligand 1.
US08153386B2
The present invention relates to the discovery of a specific human taste receptor in the T2R taste receptor family, hT2R64 that responds to particular bitter compounds The present invention further relates to the use of this receptor in assays for identifying ligands that modulate the activation of this taste receptor. These compounds may be used as additives and/or removed from foods, beverages and medicinals in order to modify (block) T2R-associated bitter taste. A preferred embodiment is the use of the identified compounds as additives in foods, beverages and medicinals for blocking bitter taste.
US08153384B2
Human MARK genes are identified as modulators of the p53 pathway, and thus are therapeutic targets for disorders associated with defective p53 function. Methods for identifying modulators of p53, comprising screening for agents that modulate the activity of MARK are provided.
US08153382B2
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrate depleted of anti-A and anti-B antibodies and of polyreactive IgGs
The present invention relates to an immunoglobulin G concentrate for therapeutic use, in which the respective contents of anti-A and anti-B antibodies are in accordance with a negative result in the in vitro indirect Coombs test. This IgG concentrate also has a polyreactive IgG content of between 0.01% and 0.1%, in particular between 0.07% and 0.1%, relative to the total content of IgG.
US08153381B2
Provided are methods and devices for determining the strain of a pathogen in a sample.
US08153380B2
A method of predicting clinical outcome in a subject diagnosed with colorectal cancer comprising determining evidence of the expression of one or more predictive RNA transcripts or their expression products in a biological sample of cancer cells obtained from the subject.
US08153379B2
A method of predicting clinical outcome in a subject diagnosed with colorectal cancer comprising determining evidence of the expression of one or more predictive RNA transcripts or their expression products in a biological sample of cancer cells obtained from the subject.
US08153377B2
The present invention is directed to a method for detecting and quantifying rare mutations in a nucleic acid sample. The nucleic acid molecules under investigation can be either DNA or RNA. The rare mutation can be any type of functional or non-functional nucleic acid change or mutation, such as deletion, insertion, translocation, inversion, one or more base substitution or polymorphism. Therefore, the methods of the present invention are useful in detection of rare mutations in, for example, diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up applications, when the targets are rare known nucleic acid variants mixed in with the wildtype or the more common nucleic acid variant(s).
US08153372B2
Methods are provided for determining, in a single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction, the quantity, quality, and gender of origin of DNA in a sample, and whether or not the sample contains PCR amplification inhibitors. The methods involve carrying out a single PCR multiplex reaction utilizing primer sets specific for amplifying the human amelogenin locus, an X- and/or Y-chromosome specific gene that is shorter than the amelogenin gene, and a heterologous, non-human reporter gene.
US08153367B2
The present invention concerns an array-based analytical system and method having an enhanced sensitivity which allows for simple and rapid analysis of relative unmodified samples which comprises an analytical system of the type having a plurality of different first members of a specific binding pair affixed in an array thereupon, a mixture including at least one second member of a specific binding pair capable of binding to one of the first members so as to form a specific binding pair which is affixed to the support member, and a reporter system that produces a detectable signal indicative of the presence of the specific binding pair on the support member and wherein the reporter system includes an amplified reporter system that is independent of layering.
US08153366B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for predicting drug responses. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for determining individualized Warfarin dosages based on genotype of DNA polymorphisms and haplotypes derived from them in the VKORC1 gene.
US08153362B2
The present invention relates to a PHB2 gene regulator and a therapeutic drug for mitochondrial-function-related disease containing the same, for example.
US08153359B2
An in vitro toxicity assay based on human blastocyst-derived stem cells for the detection of toxicity in the human species is provided, which enables novel detection of in vitro human toxicity for a substance and/or more efficiently detects human toxicity compared to non-human assays. Furthermore, the detection of toxicity for substances is enabled, which is known to display inter-species differences and the toxic effect was not detectable by toxicological tests in mice.
US08153348B2
Method and systems for patterning a hardmask film using ultraviolet light is disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention alleviate the processing problem of depositing and etching photoresist in order to produce a hardmask pattern. A hardmask layer, such as, silicon oxide, is first deposited on a substrate within a deposition chamber. In some cases, the hardmask layer is baked or annealed following deposition. After which, portions of the hardmask layer are exposed with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light produces a pattern of exposed and unexposed portions of hardmask material. Following the exposure, an etching process, such as a wet etch, may occur that removes the unexposed portions of the hardmask. Following the etch, the hardmask may be annealed, baked or subjected to a plasma treatment.
US08153340B2
To provide a photosensitive composition with which it is possible to form partition walls (black matrix) having excellent light shielding properties and liquid repellency.A photosensitive composition, which comprises a polymer (A) having a side chain containing a fluorine atom-containing group or a silicon atom-containing group and a side chain containing an ethylenic double bond in one molecule, a black colorant (B), a photopolymerization initiator (C) which is an O-acyloxime compound, and a photosensitive resin (D) containing an acidic group and an ethylenic double bond in one molecule, wherein the proportion of the black colorant (B) in the total solid content of the composition is from 15 to 60 mass %.
US08153326B2
A fuel cell cabinet air feed and exhaust system is provided. The air feed and exhaust system includes a sealed air feed system that feeds air from outside a fuel cell cabinet to a fuel cell disposed inside the fuel cell cabinet, and a sealed air exhaust system that exhausts air from the fuel cell to the outside of the fuel cell cabinet. Each of the sealed air system and the sealed air exhaust system is sealed with respect to the fuel cell such that the sealed air system, the sealed air exhaust system, and the fuel cell form a sealed system.
US08153318B2
A method of making a fuel cell device comprises forming a green stacked structure to provide an internal active section of intervening green layers of ceramic material separating anode layers from cathode layers and sacrificial layers of organic material adjacent each of the anode and cathode layers opposite the intervening green layers, and a non-active section of the green layers substantially surrounding the active section. The sacrificial layers are sized to provide internal gas passages in the active section for feeding gases to the internal anodes and cathodes, and the sacrificial layers are coupled to edges of the structure to couple each of the internal gas passages to an inlet and an outlet of the device. The green stacked structure is heated to bake out the organic material to form the passages and to sinter together the green layers in the active and non-active sections.
US08153316B2
A stackable unitized fuel cell system includes a cooling capability. A unitized fuel cell system includes a unitized fuel cell assembly having a first flow field plate, a second flow field plate, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) provided between the first and second flow field plates. In one configuration, a cooling structure is separable with respect to the unitized fuel cell assembly. In another configuration, the cooling structure is integral to the unitized fuel cell assembly. A retention arrangement is provided on one or both of the unitized fuel cell assembly and cooling structure. The retention arrangement is configured to facilitate mating engagement between the unitized fuel cell assembly, the cooling structure, and adjacent unitized fuel cell systems of a fuel cell stack.
US08153307B1
A battery is disclosed. The battery includes an electrolyte activating one or more anodes and one or more cathodes. The electrolyte includes one or more salts dissolved in a solvent. The solvent includes one or more first siloxanes and/or one or more first silanes. Each of the first siloxanes and/or first silanes have one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The solvent also includes one or more second siloxanes and/or one or more second silanes. Each of the second siloxanes and/or second silanes have one or more second substituents that each include a carbonate moiety.
US08153300B2
In an improved rechargeable alkaline manganese cell that has a manganese dioxide cathode comprising pellets formed by pressing a cathode powder blend comprising a hygroscopic additive for increasing cumulative capacity, the sticky consistency of the pellets, which is un-desirable for continuous automated production is compensated for by the addition of up to 0.5% of a hydrophobic binder. This small amount leaves the cell performance substantially unimpaired, but provides the desired consistency for large-scale production. Further disclosed is an improved charge methodology for a rechargeable alkaline manganese cell wherein the charge current is pulsed at a voltage in excess of 1.65 V and the no-load cell voltage response is monitored at predetermined intervals. No charge current pulse is permitted to pass through the cell if the no-load voltage exceeds a threshold value. This results in increased utilization of the capacity of the cell while reducing the likelihood of damage to the cell due to overcharging.
US08153299B2
In an improved rechargeable alkaline manganese cell that has a manganese dioxide cathode comprising pellets formed by pressing a cathode powder blend comprising a hygroscopic additive for increasing cumulative capacity, the sticky consistency of the pellets, which is un-desirable for continuous automated production is compensated for by the addition of up to 0.5% of a hydrophobic binder. This small amount leaves the cell performance substantially unimpaired, but provides the desired consistency for large-scale production. Further disclosed is an improved charge methodology for a rechargeable alkaline manganese cell wherein the charge current is pulsed at a voltage in excess of 1.65 V and the no-load cell voltage response is monitored at predetermined intervals. No charge current pulse is permitted to pass through the cell if the no-load voltage exceeds a threshold value. This results in increased utilization of the capacity of the cell while reducing the likelihood of damage to the cell due to overcharging.
US08153298B2
A positive electrode for an alkaline battery of the present invention includes a spinel-type manganese oxide as a positive electrode active material, wherein the spinel-type manganese oxide has a potential of 0.26 to 0.34 V with respect to a Hg/HgO reference electrode, and the content of the spinel-type manganese oxide in the entire positive electrode active material is not less than 30 mass %. Further, an alkaline battery of the present invention includes the above-described positive electrode for an alkaline battery of the invention, a negative electrode and an electrolyte.
US08153297B2
Positive electrode active material and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing the same
In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: a negative electrode containing, as a negative electrode active material, at least a material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions or metal lithium; a positive electrode; and an electrolyte, an oxide containing nickel and manganese elements, the material comprising primary particles of the oxide having a twining portion and a superlattice arrangement of a [√{square root over (3)}×√{square root over (3)}] R30° when assigned as R3-m is used as a positive electrode active material.
US08153289B2
A secondary battery has a safety vent formed on a can accommodating an electrode assembly. The safety vent is formed in a groove shape and the depth of the groove varies. The fracture site of the safety vent is controlled by adjusting the depth of the safety vent. The safety vent is prevented from damaging the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is inserted in the can, and contacts the safety vent.
US08153287B2
An air supply system for a fuel cell and a fuel supply system with the same include a housing having an inlet hole and an outlet hole for respectively allowing inward and outward flow of a fluid; an air pump inserted and installed into the housing and having an inlet tube into which the fluid flows and an outlet tube through which the fluid flows out; a filtering portion installed between the inlet hole and the outlet hole within the housing and filtering particulate contaminants and chemical contaminants in the fluid; and a soundproofing member installed between the outlet tube and the outlet hole within the housing.
US08153286B2
The present invention provides a perfluorocarbon ionomer membrane with aligned fibril-like nanostructures and its preparation method.
US08153284B2
A method for manufacturing a glass substrate which has a uniform and minute pattern of stripes formed on the surface thereof by ultraprecision polishing, and which allows the recording capacity of a magnetic disk to be increased, includes an inspecting step before the glass substrate is subjected to ultraprecision polishing, whether the Young's modulus Es in topmost part as determined by the nanoindentation method and the Young's modulus Eg as determined by ultrasonic resonance fulfill the inequality 0.8 Eg
US08153279B2
Provided are novel organic electroluminescent compounds, and organic electroluminescent devices and organic solar cells employing the same. Specifically, the organic electroluminescent compounds according to the invention are characterized in that they are represented by Chemical Formula (1): wherein, A, B, C and D independently represent CR5 or N, provided that A, B, C and D cannot represent CR5 all at the same time. Since the organic electroluminescent compounds according to the invention have good luminous efficiency and excellent color purity and life property of material, OLED's having very good operation life can be manufactured therefrom.
US08153275B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic electroluminescent element having a longer lifetime. In order to accomplish the object, an organic electroluminescent element adapted to comprise a light emitting layer including an organic material between an anode and a cathode is provided with a hole transport layer for transporting holes injected from the anode toward the light emitting layer. Along with the hole transport layer, an intermediate layer having an energy level of a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital lower than those of the hole transport layer and the light emitting layer is provided therebetween.
US08153272B1
A process for joining a brass part and a silicon carbide ceramic part comprising: providing a brass part, a SiC ceramic part, a Al foil and a Ni foil; placing the SiC ceramic part, the Al foil, the Ni foil, and the brass part into a mold, the Al foil and the Ni foil located between the SiC ceramic part and the brass part, the Al foil abutting against the SiC ceramic part, the Ni foil abutting against the brass part and the Al foil; placing the mold into a chamber of an hot press sintering device, heating the chamber and pressing the brass part, the SiC ceramic part, the Al foil, and the Ni foil at least until the brass part, the SiC ceramic part, the Al foil and the Ni foil form a integral composite article.
US08153268B1
A compound comprising at least one alkoxy silane moiety; and at least one moiety selected from a nitrosobenzene or a nitrosobenzene precursor and combinations thereof are provided and used in polymer to metal in particular rubber to metal bonding. The nitrosobenzene precursor may be at least one of a quinone dioxime or a quinone oxime.
US08153265B2
A transparent glass-type substrate coated with a stack of thin layers and a process for the production of the substrate coated with a stack of thin layers which are deposited by pyrolysis. The stack of thin layers includes at least one titanium oxide-based underlayer and a tin oxide-based main layer, the coated substrate having a very low haze, while also exhibiting a low emissivity or favourable electrical conductivity.
US08153261B2
A solid polymeric substrate having a resin derived from curable silylated polyurethane composition exhibiting superior properties adhered thereto. The silylated polyurethane is prepared by reacting a polyol component with a diisocyanate component to form a hydroxyl-terminated prepolymer and endcapping the prepolymer with an isocyanate silane.
US08153254B2
Described are methods for surface modification of an object (10) in order to increase the adhesive power of the object, wherein the surface (11) is subjected to structuring so that a multitude of projections (12) are formed, each comprising a foot part and a head part, wherein the head part comprises a front surface (13) which faces away from the surface, wherein each projection (12) is made in a size such that all front surfaces (13) project to the same vertical height above the surface (11), and form an adherent contact surface (14) which is interrupted by mutual spacing between the front surfaces (13).
US08153243B2
The present invention relates to compositions and processes of making and using interpolymers having a controlled molecular weight distribution. Multilayer films and film layers derived from novel ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers are also disclosed.
US08153241B2
The invention is directed to highly reflective optical elements having an amorphous MgAl2O4−SiO2 coating with fluoride enhancements inserted and sealed by dense smooth SiO2 layers, and to a method for preparing such elements using energetic deposition techniques and the spinel crystalline form of MgAl2O4 as the source of the amorphous MgAl2O4 coating, The coating and the method described herein can be used to make highly reflective mirrors, and can also be applied to beamsplitters, prisms, lenses, output couplers and similar elements used in <200 nm laser systems.
US08153237B2
A laminated glazing with at least one rigid pane and an adhesive layer assembled to the rigid plane by surface bonding, via which a protective and/or functional sheet is applied to the rigid pane. The protective sheet is set back relative to an outer edge of the rigid pane, at least in certain parts. At least one retaining element is placed on the edge of the rigid pane in the region of the set-back of the protective sheet. The retaining element has a thickness approximately corresponding, or corresponding, to the maximum thickness of the adhesive layer at the edge of the protective sheet and is partially covered by the protective sheet at least in defined parts.
US08153234B2
Floor panel, whereby this floor panel (1) includes a decor (8), as well as a top layer or laminate layer (9) on the basis of synthetic material (10), and whereby the decorative side (16) of the floor panel (1) imitates a wood pattern, wherein the floor panel (1), at its upper surface, has zones (22-23) of different gloss degrees, which extend over the upper surface as a function of the imitated global wood pattern.
US08153226B2
A laminate web having a nonwoven web in facing relationship with a polymer film. The laminate web has a first side comprising the polymer film and a plurality of discrete tufts including fibers integral with and extending from the nonwoven web. Each of the tufts has a tuft base proximal to the nonwoven web and a distal portion opposing the tuft base. At least part of the distal portion of each of the tufts is covered by a cap, each cap being an integral extension of said polymer film extending over the distal portion of a discrete tuft. The cap has a first opening including a location of rupture in the polymer film above which the tuft extends.
US08153225B2
Disclosed is a fibrous web having a first region and at least one discrete integral second region, the second region having at least one portion being a discontinuity exhibiting a linear orientation and defining a longitudinal axis, and at least another portion being a deformation having a plurality of tufted fibers integral with but extending from the first region.
US08153219B2
A tape for closing an opening in at least substantially dustproof but ventilating manner includes an elongate strip of fabric (10) with an open pore structure (11). The strip is provided according to a pattern (13) with a layer which at least substantially completely closes the pores locally and on a rear side with a glue layer in opposite edge parts (12). The glue layer is arranged between the edge parts (12) in accordance with the pattern and at least almost completely closes the pores (11) locally.
US08153210B2
A recording medium in which a base paper, a first layer including a binder and an antistatic agent, and a second layer including a white pigment are formed in this order; the content of the antistatic agent is from 0.2% by mass to 10% by mass based on an amount obtained by removing the antistatic agent from all solids in the first layer; the Cobb water absorption degree within a contact time of 120 sec at a surface of the first layer of the base paper provided with the first layer is 2.0 g/m2 or less, and the surface resistivity at 50% RH and 23° C. on the surface is 1×1012Ω or less; and the water absorption amount within a contact time of 0.5 sec determined by a Bristow test at a surface of the second layer is from 2 mL/m2 to 8 mL/m2.
US08153208B2
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a field generating electrode disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules and an alignment polymer. The alignment polymer is formed by light-irradiating the liquid crystal molecules and an alignment aid. The alignment aid includes a mesogen having halogen atoms and at least one photo-polymerizable group combined to the mesogen, and the alignment aid is electrically neutral or quasi-neutral.
US08153205B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a patterned medium includes depositing a magnetic recording layer and applying an ultraviolet curable resin on both surfaces of a medium substrate, pressing a first resin stamper and a second resin stamper each including patterns of recesses and protrusions, corresponding to a patterned medium, against both surfaces of the medium substrate in such a manner that a direction from a center of the medium substrate toward a center of the first resin stamper is off-oriented from a direction from the center of the medium substrate toward a center of the second resin stamper to imprint the patterns of recesses and protrusions on the ultraviolet curable resin, and irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin with an ultraviolet ray through each of the first and second resin stampers to cure the ultraviolet curable resin.
US08153192B2
The invention relates to a method of forming a composite, to composites and devices produced by said method, and to uses thereof.
US08153190B2
Provided are a patterned magnetic recording medium which has an extremely planarized surface and a method of manufacturing the same. The medium includes a patterned magnetic layer including a plurality of magnetic columns that are arranged with a predetermined pitch therebetween; a substrate that supports the patterned magnetic layer; and a boundary layer, which is filled in gaps between the magnetic columns of the patterned magnetic layer. Thus, an air bearing due to stable airflow is created over the magnetic layer, and magnetic recording/reproduction are easily achieved at ultrahigh density.
US08153184B2
A method for fabricating a display device includes providing a substrate, forming an underlying layer over the substrate, forming an insulating layer over the substrate exposing the underlying layer, and forming an organic EL layer on the exposed portion of the underlying layer by a Laser Induced Thermal Imaging (LITI) method, wherein a thickness of the insulating layer is less than 500 nm.
US08153182B2
A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.
US08153180B2
A process for making stable and uniformly dispersed oil-in-water beverage emulsions is provided. The process comprises combining an oil mixture and an aqueous mixture to form a beverage pre-emulsion; in-line mixing of the beverage pre-emulsion; and homogenizing of the beverage pre-emulsion to form a stable and uniformly dispersed beverage emulsion.
US08153176B2
The present invention relates to biodegradable protein based thermoset compositions formulated from a powder of a dry and finely ground protein material, from which the water has been thoroughly removed, an anhydrous and liquid alcohol and other optional additives. The inventions also relates to the method for obtaining these compositions in which the components are homogeneously mixed, under controlled conditions of temperature and moisture, to obtain a homogenous and shelf-cohesive mass, that can be shaped in any predetermined form by diverse molding methods, being readily set through the application of a certain amount of heat during a short period of time, which enables it to turn into a solid shaped body or article through a very simple process.
US08153173B2
The invention relates to feedstuff for economically useful animals such as, for example, chicken, pigs, calves and fish that are being raised. The inventive feedstuff contains functional additives. The feedstuff contains a pure finely divided cellulose additive and optionally a prebiotic additive.
US08153166B2
The present invention relates to a composition for prophylaxis or treatment of urinary system infection, comprising a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor. The present invention also relates to a method for prophylaxis or treatment of urinary system infection, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of composition comprising a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.
US08153161B2
The invention provides a medicament-containing particle wherein an unpleasant taste of the medicament is alleviated, which is obtainable by mixing and granulating the following ingredients: (1) the medicament with an unpleasant taste, (2) methylcellulose and (3) mannitol; and a solid preparation including the particle. The invention can make an unpleasant taste of the medicament alleviated and furthermore when the formulation including the particle is administered, the unpleasant taste can be masked and the formulation has a good dissolvability in gastrointestinal tract.
US08153158B2
A biocompatible composite includes a solid biocompatible material and a plurality of living human progenitor or living stem cells attached thereto. The composition resulting in accelerated repair to damaged bones and tissues.
US08153151B2
Compositions and methods for controlling transdermal drug delivery, particularly of amine-functional and basic drugs, comprising a blend of a first silicone-based polymer having a reduced silanol concentration and a second silicone-based polymer have a substantial or high silanol concentration. The blend of such silicone-based polymers, particularly pressure-sensitive silicone adhesives, provides sufficient drug solubility and reduced initial drug delivery onset to permit a prolonged delivery duration at a substantially zero-order rate of delivery.
US08153148B2
A biocompatible and biodegradable implant for a cavity in a bone of a living organism is made of biocompatible and biodegradable granules. The biocompatible and biodegradable granules are provided with a coating, which includes at least one layer of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. The biocompatible and biodegradable implants are obtained by fusing together the polymer-coated granules through polymer-linkage of the polymer coatings of neighboring granules.
US08153138B2
The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.
US08153126B2
Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to □v□□. Also included are methods of using these antibodies to treat mammals having or at risk of having □v□6-mediated diseases, or to diagnose □V□6-mediated diseases.
US08153114B2
The present invention relates to new and improved interleukin-7 polypeptides, as well as compositions comprising the same, their preparation and uses. The invention more particularly relates to hyperglycosylated IL-7 polypeptides having improved properties, as well as their manufacture and therapeutic uses. The invention also discloses novel IL-7 polypeptides having modified amino acid sequences containing artificially created glycosylation site(s), as well as corresponding nucleic acid molecules, vectors and recombinant host cells. The invention also relates to the use of such polypeptides, cells or nucleic acids for curative or preventive treatment of mammalian subjects, including human subjects.
US08153112B2
Compositions, methods and kits to be used as a lubricant and for treatment of a cavity pathology including joint pathology are provided. The composition comprises therapeutically effective amounts of at least one bioactive agent, such as magnesium compound, at least one lubricating agent, such as hyaluronic acid, and at least one cell membrane repairing agent, such as polyethylene glycol. The components of these compositions may be administered by a direct application, an application through a cannula, an intra-articular injection, as a flush fluid during an arthroscopy of the affected area, as a post-arthroscopy injection, or as part of a lavage of the area affected by the intra-articular pathology. In addition, the composition of the present invention may be administered to the patient from a pump or a depot.
US08153107B2
The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous suspension of anionic colloidal silica having a neutral pH which is stable over time and comprises individualized particles of colloidal silica which are not bound to one another by siloxane bonds. The instant suspensions show high storage stability and are particularly useful for the clarification of beer, for the preparation of cosmetic formulations, for the production of ink for printers, for paints and for anticorrosive treatments.
US08153094B2
A single step process for degrading plastic waste by converting the plastic waste into carbonaceous products via thermal decomposition of the plastic waste by placing the plastic waste into a reactor, heating the plastic waste under an inert or air atmosphere until the temperature of 700° C. is achieved, allowing the reactor to cool down, and recovering the resulting decomposition products therefrom. The decomposition products that this process yields are carbonaceous materials, and more specifically egg-shaped and spherical-shaped solid carbons. Additionally, in the presence of a transition metal compound, this thermal decomposition process produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
US08153085B2
Provided are a microfluidic chip and a method of fabricating the same. The microfluidic chip includes: a lower substrate; an upper substrate formed of a silicone resin, wherein the lower substrate and the upper substrate, bonded together, provide a channel through which a fluid can flow and a chamber to receive the fluid; and an organic thin film formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate except for portions on which the lower substrate and the upper substrate are attached to each other.
US08153079B2
Microfluidic apparatus including integrated porous substrate/sensors that may be used for detecting targeted biological and chemical molecules and compounds. In one aspect, upper and lower microfluidic channels are defined in respective halves of a substrate, which are sandwiched around a porous membrane upon assembly. In other aspect, the upper and lower channels are formed such that a portion of the lower channel passes beneath a portion of the upper channel to form a cross-channel area, wherein the membrane is disposed between the two channels. In various embodiments, one or more porous membranes are disposed proximate to corresponding cross-channel areas defined by one or more upper and lower channels. The porous membrane may also have sensing characteristics, such that it produces a change in an optical and/or electronic characteristic. Accordingly, the apparatus may further include instrumentation or detection equipment to measure the changes, such as optic-based detectors and electronic instrumentation.
US08153073B2
A honeycomb filter includes a ceramic block which includes a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies, an adhesive layer, and irregularities on a peripheral face of the ceramic block. Each honeycomb fired body has a longitudinal direction and cell walls extending along the longitudinal direction to define cells each sealed at either one of both ends of each of the cells. The honeycomb fired bodies include at least one of silicon carbide and silicon-containing silicon carbide. The adhesive layer is provided between the honeycomb fired bodies to connect the honeycomb fired bodies. The irregularities on the peripheral face include a projected portion formed by apart of the cell walls. A sealing material layer is provided on the peripheral face of the ceramic block in accordance with the irregularities on the peripheral face so that an outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb filter has surface irregularities thereon.
US08153067B2
A circuit with at least one catalytic measuring element (1), in which the at least one catalytic measuring element (1) is connected to a supply voltage (5) without a protective resistor and without a thermal safety device arranged upstream. The circuit makes it possible to develop gas-measuring devices with catalytic measuring elements that are characterized by an especially low power consumption.
US08153060B2
An automatic analyzer includes a B/F separator including a reaction vessel holding unit provided with magnets disposed around a reaction vessel held on the reaction vessel holding unit and a rotating device for rotating the reaction vessel holding unit holding the reaction vessel about an axis of rotation aligned with the center axis of the reaction vessel or an axis of rotation parallel to and separated by a distance from the center axis of the reaction vessel. Both magnetic force and centrifugal force are exerted simultaneously on a specimen contained in a reaction vessel to capture magnetic particles contained in the liquid contained in the reaction vessel at a high capturing efficiency.
US08153047B2
A method for manufacturing sintered magnet poles is described. A vitrifiable base material powder is filled into a mold, the mold is closed with a plate, the mold with the powder is placed in a magnetic field for aligning the powder, the plate is pressed such onto the powder as to establish a compact that holds the alignment in place, and the compact is sintered so as to form a sintered magnet pole. The mold ultimately forms a protective cover of the sintered magnet pole and the plate ultimately forms a base plate of a magnet pole piece. Furthermore, a magnet pole piece is provided which has a magnet pole and a base plate which is fixed to a protective cover so that the base plate and the protective cover surround the magnet pole. The base plate and/or the protective cover of the magnet pole piece has at least one element that provides a geometrical locking of the magnet pole to the base plate and/or the protective cover.
US08153043B2
The present invention provides bimodal polyethylene resins in which the high molecular weight ethylene copolymer component typically has a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution, with short chain branching content being substantially constant across its molecular weight distribution. The resins of this invention are typically characterized by improved toughness and resistance to slow crack propagation properties making them useful for pressure pipe applications.
US08153041B2
To provide a membrane capable of efficiently collecting fine particles for a long period of time, disclosed is a polytetrafluoroethylene microporous membrane wherein the mean pore size in the surface of the membrane is larger than the mean pore size in the back thereof and the mean pore size continuously changes from the surface toward the back.
US08153039B2
A method for producing foam insulation board, the method comprising forming a foam product as part of a continuous process, where said foam product includes at least one side edge, monitoring on-line the compressive strength of the foam product, along said at least one side edge, and adjusting said step of forming a foam product in view of data obtained from said step of monitoring.
US08153038B2
The present invention relates to a type of wood section material manufacturing method, especially with respect to soft wood section material and its manufacturing method. It belongs to wood processing field. This invention is achieved by the following technical plans: a type of wood section material manufacturing method includes the following steps: (1) wood preparation; (2) drying; (3) Polishing; (4) Hot pressing, which is to use two hot pressing boards with 140-200° C. to firmly press two surfaces of panel blank material; (5) Pre-carbonization, which pre-carbonize the panel blank material under 160° C. and 200° C.; (6) Carbonization, which carbonize the panel blank material between 200° C. and 225° C.; (7) Cooling; and (8) Moisture content control. This invention is particularly suitable to make wooden floor boards and office furniture.
US08153035B2
An apparatus for wetting and coating ophthalmic lenses having a tank with a cleaning or coating solution and a handling system for sequentially moving a lens and the solution in relation to each other, to wet the lens. A master control module is coupled to the handling system and configured execution a wetting profile. The wetting profile moves the lens to obtain a generally consistent lens surface wetting speed so that the lens coating has a more uniform thickness. According to a method, lenses are wetted in a liquid bath. The lens is placed in a handling system which moves the lens with respect to the bath according to a wetting profile. The wetting profile is based on the incremental vertical lens surface slope with respect to the surface of the solution.
US08153019B2
Methods for preventing isotropic removal of materials at corners formed by seams, keyholes, and other anomalies in films or other structures include use of etch blockers to cover or coat such corners. This covering or coating prevents exposure of the corners to isotropic etch solutions and cleaning solutions and, thus, prevents higher material removal rates at the corners than at smoother areas of the structure or film from which material is removed. Solutions, including wet etchants and cleaning solutions, that include at least one type of etch blocker are also disclosed, as are systems for preventing higher rates of material removal at corners formed by seams, crevices, or recesses in a film or other structure. Semiconductor device structures in which etch blockers are located so as to prevent isotropic etchants from removing material from corners of seams, crevices, or recesses in a surface of a film or other structure at undesirably high rates are also disclosed.
US08153012B2
The invention relates to a device for filtering a fluid, in particular a liquefied plastic, with a housing with backflush channel and screen carrier and filter element whereby, in order to accelerate and improve the backflush effect, one or more displacement cylinders are provided that guide material removed from the production at adjustable high pressure and speed to the screen to be cleaned from the clean screen side to the dirty screen side, whereby an additional pressure generator ensures constant process pressure.
US08153011B2
The invention relates to a method for separating off coloring components from aqueous plant extracts in which magnesium ions (Mg2+) are added to the plant extract, at least one alkaline component is added to the plant extract, a precipitate is formed, and the precipitate formed is separated off from the plant extract.
US08153009B2
A method for extracting at least one target compound from a sample includes injecting an overloaded amount of the sample into a chromatographic conduit (110), and flowing a solvent having a time-varying composition through the conduit (110). An apparatus for extracting at least one target compound from a sample includes a chromatography module, a mass-spectrometry module in fluid communication with the chromatography module to receive a portion of an eluent from the chromatography module, and a control unit in communication with the chromatography module and the mass-spectrometry module.
US08153007B2
A method of treating a wastewater, containing the steps of: filtering a wastewater supplied into an activated sludge tank and biologically-treated therein, in a membrane module installed outside the activated sludge tank; chemical-cleaning the membrane module with a membrane-cleaning agent while the membrane module is disconnected from the activated sludge tank with a valve; and water-flushing off the substances contained in the wastewater that react with the membrane-cleaning agent and form hazardous substances and/or operation-inhibiting substances, or the membrane-cleaning agent remaining in the membrane module with water while the membrane module and the activated sludge tank are disconnected from each other by the valve, wherein the membrane-cleaning agent is prevented from contacting the substances contained in the wastewater that react with the membrane-cleaning agent and form hazardous substances and/or operation-inhibiting substances.
US08153002B2
A device for treating water, particularly a filtration device, including a cartridge, which has a receptacle for receiving treatment agents for water, particularly for receiving filtration agents, and a connecting head disposed on the receptacle, wherein the connecting head at the outer surface thereof has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. The device further includes a connecting element, which has a holder for the connecting head with at least one inflow opening and an outflow opening, which are connected to the inlet and outlet openings of the connecting head in a sealing manner by means of sealing elements. The connecting head is tapered toward the free end, wherein the outer surface has at least one first curved outer surface section, which is inclined toward the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and a second outer surface section opposite from the first outer surface section. The inlet and outlet openings are located in the first and/or the second outer surface sections. The connecting head is inserted in the holder in the axial direction, wherein the inside surface of the holder has first and second inside surface sections that complement at least the first and second outside surface sections.
US08153001B2
A liquid vacuuming and filtering device may include a container having an interior sealed from the ambient, a vacuum pump in communication with the interior, a two-way valve connected to the container interior, a flexible hose connected to the valve, a filter positioned within the container interior and connected to the valve and a standpipe positioned within the interior and connected to the valve. The vacuum pump may be adjusted to a filling configuration in which the pump evacuates the container interior to a pressure below ambient, which causes fluid to be drawn through the hose, valve and through the filter, which may collect particulates that contaminate the fluid. Filtered fluid then collects within the container. The vacuum pump also may be adjustable to a discharge configuration in which the pump pressurizes the interior to a pressure above ambient, wherein the valve is adjusted to allow filtered fluid within the container to flow through the standpipe, valve and be discharged from the container through the hose. The device may be suitable for reclaiming contaminated fluid used in machining operations, oil or coolant reservoirs, cooking oil and the like.
US08152997B1
A stormwater control system including conveyance, filtration and discharge systems. The conveyance system includes a set of conduits and connections providing a flow path through a compacted soil embankment from an upper inlet to a lower discharge area of an underlying soil infiltration zone. The control system has configurations for transferring stormwater from pervious and impervious surfaces to the soil infiltration zone. The control system optionally includes a media filter device that may be installed within the conveyance system to intercept sediment and other contaminants prior to discharge within the underlying soil infiltration zone.
US08152995B2
Hot water pipes, in areas with hard water, tend to fill with scale until they no longer pass enough water. De-scaling water pipes with acid is dangerous, expensive and damages the pipes. Ion exchange and reverse osmosis water softeners eliminate scale buildup in pipes, but are expensive. Embodiments of this invention provide a means of keeping an amount of the scale precipitate, created when water is heated, inside a housing by passing the hot water through a removal medium where the scale sticks to the surface. The removal medium can be placed inside the water heater or in a separate housing connected to the water heater; both configurations remove the precipitate from hot water; both save hot water pipes from scale accumulation.
US08152967B2
Described herein is a new concept in air dried tissue (ADT). The wet tissue web is received from the wet end of a papermaking machine and dried by an air floatation dryer that uses an endless loop to transport and support the wet tissue web as it is dried.
US08152964B2
The invention relates to a press fabric, especially a press felt, for a machine for the production of a fibrous web, especially paper or cardboard, which is fluid permeable and which includes an elastomer polymeric material. The invention is characterized in that the total weight component of the elastomer polymeric material contained in the press fabric is more than 50%, preferably more than 60% of the total weight of the press fabric.
US08152962B2
A process for producing paper of high basis weight by draining a paper pulp on a wire in the presence of a combination of at least two polymers as a retention and drainage aid system, forming sheets, and drying the sheets, which comprises forming the sheets in the absence of finely divided inorganic flocculants and using as retention and drainage aids(a) at least one amino-containing polymerand(b) at least one branched cationic polyacrylamide.
US08152948B2
One embodiment of a composite part comprises a curved elongated section comprising a plurality of stacked reinforcement layers. The stacked reinforcement layers in the curved elongated section comprise at least one of non-continuous woven fabric and non-continuous reinforcement.
US08152943B2
Manufacturing heat-treatable wrought metal plate having length, width and thickness directions and an engineering properties gradient along at least one plate dimension. Rolled, extruded or forged wrought metal plate is solution heat treated and rapidly cooled. The cooled plate is aged by heat treatment for time to arrive at different tempers across at least one plate dimension (length or width). Controlled heat-input into the plate along its length direction raises plate temperature above ambient temperature to temperature T1, and a temperature gradient is applied between temperature T2 and T3, wherein T2>T3, across at least one direction of the plate by controlled heat-input into the plate from one side (width or thickness) of the plate to temperature T2 and controlled cooling to temperature T3 from the plate at the opposite side of the controlled heat-input, and ageing the plate while applying the temperature gradient between T2 and T3.
US08152936B2
There is provided a rare earth magnet with excellent Br and HcJ values. The rare earth magnet according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by being composed mainly of R (where R is at least one element selected from among rare earth elements including Y), B, Al, Cu, Zr, Co, O, C and Fe, wherein the content of each element is R: 25-34 wt %, B: 0.85-0.98 wt %, Al: 0.03-0.3 wt %, Cu: 0.01-0.15 wt %, Zr: 0.03-0.25 wt %, Co: ≦3 wt % (but not 0 wt %), O: ≦0.2 wt %, C: 0.03-0.15 wt % and Fe: remainder.
US08152930B2
Method and apparatus for removing residual material from sample wells of a multiwell plate. Wells located on a multiwell plate are placed in fluid communication with wash wells of a wash reservoir where cleaning fluid is provided to remove residual material from the sample wells of the multiwell plate.
US08152925B2
A baffle plate, provided in a processing chamber for processing a substrate therein such that the baffle plate is disposed around a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon, has a plurality of gas exhaust holes, through which a gas is exhausted from the processing chamber. The baffle plate has a stacked structure including a plurality of plate-shaped members. The baffle plate includes a pressure adjustment gas supply passageway to supply a pressure adjustment gas for adjusting a pressure in the processing chamber.
US08152923B2
An MOCVD reactor such as a rotating disc reactor (10) is equipped with a gas injector head having diffusers (129) disposed between adjacent gas inlets. The diffusers taper in the downstream direction. The injector head desirably has inlets (117) for a first gas such as a metal alkyl disposed in radial rows which terminate radially inward from the reactor wall to minimize deposition of the reactants on the reactor wall. The injector head desirably also has inlets (125) for a second gas such as ammonia arranged in a field between the rows of first gas inlets, and additionally has a center inlet (135) for the second gas coaxial with the axis of rotation.
US08152919B2
An epitaxial silicon wafer is provided in which an epitaxial layer is grown on a silicon wafer having a plane inclined from a {110} plane of a silicon single crystal as a main surface. In the silicon wafer for growing the epitaxial layer thereon, an inclination angle azimuth of the {110} plane is in the range of 0 to 45 degrees as measured from a <100> orientation parallel to the {110} plane toward a <100> direction. With such an arrangement, LPDs of 100 nm or less can be measured from a {110} wafer that has a carrier mobility (including the hole and electron mobilities) higher than that of a {100} wafer. Also, surface roughness degradation in the {110} wafer can be suppressed. Also, the surface state of the {110} wafer can be measured. Further, a quality evaluation can be performed on the {110} wafer.
US08152915B2
The invention pertains to a novel, simpler dry-milling method for comminuting crude pigments (especially crude phthalocyanines) for use in publication gravure and packaging inks, wherein the crude pigment is dry-milled at relatively low temperature in combination with a resin and a pigment derivative, preferably further together with an extender and optionally an antioxidant. The invention also pertains to the thus obtained, new compositions, which are extraordinarily easily dispersible in aromatic solvents, and their use for the preparation of publication gravure or packaging inks or ink concentrates. Pigment dispersions obtained from the preferred compositions are also claimed.
US08152911B1
A tank system for capturing fluids from an oil or gas well. The system comprises a trailer, a tank body supported on the trailer, a separator supported on the trailer, and a sand trap supported on the trailer. The tank includes a gas buster line and a flare line. The tank body has a main inlet port at a top of the tank body and a vent port on a top of the tank body. The gas buster line is disposed in the tank body and is connected to the main inlet port. The gas buster line has multiple lengths of pipe sections, each pipe section increasing in length and diameter. The last section of the gas buster is characterized by a plurality of slots cut in a circumference of the pipe section to allow fluids in the gas buster line to disperse into the tank. The flare line is operatively connected to the vent port and includes an igniter to burn gases before they are vented to the atmosphere. The sand trap and the separator can be used as conditions require to treat fluids from a well before the fluids enter the tank.
US08152900B2
A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08152899B2
An air filter for purging unwanted substances from air, the air filter comprising: an acid-purging stage, wherein the acid-purging stage comprises an air-permeable skeleton which has an acid-neutralizing substance mounted thereto, wherein the air-permeable skeleton comprises fiberglass fibers and the acid-neutralizing substance comprises sodium bicarbonate, and further wherein the sodium bicarbonate is secured to the fiberglass fibers using an adhesive; and a solvent-purging stage, wherein the solvent-purging stage comprises solvent-purging granules captured between two air-permeable screens, and further wherein the solvent-purging granules comprise activated carbon granules.
US08152892B1
Liquid fertilizer compositions and methods of making liquid fertilizer compositions are set forth herein. In one embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition includes an aqueous ammonium chloride solution and an acrylamide copolymerized with acrylic acid. In another embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition includes an aqueous ammonium chloride solution having a pH between 6.5 and 8.5 and an anionic polyacrylamide. The anionic polyacrylamide is present between 0.5 and 1.0 percent by weight. In yet another embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition consists essentially of at least 16.5 percent by weight ammonium chloride, between 0.5 and 1.0 percent by weight acrylamide copolymerized with acrylic acid or salt thereof, an effective amount of corrosion inhibitor, and water.
US08152886B2
A filter arrangement for removing impurities from a fluid is disclosed, the filter arrangement (10) includes a plurality of screen portions (18, 20) through which the fluid passes. The screen portions include a first screen portion (18) and a second screen portion (20) separated by a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance can be determined on the basis of a threshold particle length. In one form the filter arrangement (10) is mounted in a housing (16) which is configured to receive two filter elements (18, 20) arranged in a nested configuration. A particle detector using the filter is described.
US08152885B2
An air passage device, in particular a filter fan or outlet filter for installation in a mounting opening in a wall or in a housing of a switch cabinet, which is essentially formed by a ventilation grating and a main housing, and a filter mat is insertable between the ventilation grating and the main housing, the ventilation grating being situated on the main housing using an articulated connection, the ventilation grating having joint pins to form the articulated connection, which may each be guided in joint pin guide structures introduced into the main housing, the joint pin guide structures each connecting at least one closure position, one folded-out catch position, and one removal position to one another. An air passage device is thus provided which, based on a simple construction, allows high flexibility in regard to the operation of the ventilation grating and the filter mat.
US08152884B1
An inertial gas-liquid impactor separator includes flow director guidance structure directing and guiding flow through the housing from the inlet to the outlet along a flow path from upstream to downstream. The flow director guidance structure may include a flow controller controlling and directing flow.
US08152871B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel source including a chemical hydride and at least one reactive metal source selected from the group consisting of a reactive metal, a reactive metalloid and a combination thereof.
US08152870B2
A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
US08152864B2
High purity copper sulfate having a purity of 99.99% or higher and in which the content of transition metals such as Fe, Cr, Ni is 3 wtppm or less is provided. A method for producing such high purity copper sulfate includes the steps of dissolving copper sulfate crystals in purified water, performing evaporative concentration thereto, removing the crystals precipitated initially, performing further evaporative concentration to effect crystallization, and subjecting this to filtration to obtain high purity copper sulfate. This manufacturing method of high purity copper sulfate allows the efficient removal of impurities from commercially available copper sulfate crystals at a low cost through dissolution with purified water and thermal concentration.
US08152862B2
A coloring system can include a noble gas, colorant, and one or more vessels configured to convert the noble gas into a supercritical fluid, and/or receive and color an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A coloring process can include converting a noble gas into a supercritical fluid state; dissolving, suspending, or absorbing a colorant into the supercritical noble gas, and coloring an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A coloring composition can include a noble gas in a supercritical fluid state, and a colorant located in the supercritical noble gas.
US08152854B2
A modular resurfacing implant for a radioscaphoid joint of a wrist includes a stem and an articular component coupled to the stem. The stem includes a threaded body for implantation into a distal radius and a connection member positioned at a second end of the stem. The articular component includes a body member configured to resurface a scaphoid fossa of the distal radius. The body member includes a concave top surface matching a curvature of the scaphoid fossa and a bottom surface having a post extending therefrom that is configured to mate with the connection member of the stem. The articular component is configured to resurface the scaphoid fossa while leaving a lunate fossa of the distal radius intact.
US08152852B2
A variable height vertebral body replacement implant used in corpectomy surgery to provide support in place of a removed or damaged vertebrae, and contain and compact bone graft material.
US08152845B2
An implantable blood pump system includes a blood pump housing and a mounting cuff. The blood pump housing at least partially contains a pump drive system adapted to transfer blood from an interior chamber of a heart and return the blood to a circulatory system. The blood pump housing includes an inlet port adapted to provide a passage for the flow of blood from the interior chamber of the heart into an interior space of the pump housing and an outlet port adapted to provide a passage for the flow of blood from the interior space of the pump housing to the circulatory system. The blood pump housing includes a first external surface adjacent to the inlet port and a second external surface adjacent to the first external surface. The first external surface is adapted to be implanted substantially adjacent to an outer surface of an epicardium of the heart. The second external surface at least partially defines an outside perimeter of the pump housing. The mounting cuff is adapted to mechanically couple to the second external surface and to the epicardium of the heart. The mounting cuff can allow for the placement of the pump against the epicardium without a gap, thus minimizing the effective size of the pump. The mounting cuff can also provide a mechanical advantage to the attachment and consequently greater resistance to myocardial trauma.
US08152842B2
A self-expanding stent comprising a series of zig-zag stenting rings (A, B, C, D, E, F, D1, D2) spaced along the axis and with adjacent said rings connected by connecting links (12, 14) spaced around the circumference of the rings, the links (12) between any two axially adjacent rings A, B being circumferentially staggered relative to the links (14) between the rings B and C, each ring being constituted by a succession of alternating struts (18) with points of inflection (16, 16′, 16″) therebetween. The points of inflection at one end of at least one of the rings are staggered in their location along the longitudinal axis whereby, with axial withdrawal of a surrounding sheath at a stenting site, to deploy the self-expanding stent, the individual points of inflection at said one ring end escape from the sheath sequentially, with continued withdrawal of the sheath, rather than simultaneously.
US08152838B2
An orthopedic bone fixation device for stabilizing a plurality of bone segments includes a bone plate and a screw assembly. The bone plate includes a body defining at least one thru-bore, wherein the thru-bore is defined to include a central cavity, the central cavity having a middle diameter, an entry diameter, and an exit diameter, the middle diameter being larger than both the entry diameter and the exit diameter. Further, the screw assembly is configured to be coupled to the bone plate, wherein the screw assembly includes a bone screw having a head section, a thread section, and a central bore, an expandable ring coupled to the head section, and a pin at least partially disposed in the central bore, wherein the pin includes a varying outer profile that engages the expandable ring to vary an outer diameter of the expandable ring to lock the screw assembly in the thru-bore.
US08152837B2
Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer having an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the spacer has axial and radial dimensions for positioning between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. The systems include one or more spacers and a mechanical actuation means for delivering and deploying the spacer. The methods involve the implantation of one or more spacers within the interspinous space.
US08152832B2
Anchoring mechanisms for releasably securing an intravascular device along an elongated member such as a guidewire or catheter. The anchoring mechanism may include an object that can be actuated between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the anchoring mechanism is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member. In the locked position, the anchoring mechanism is releasably secured to the elongated member, preventing movement thereon. A placement mechanism such as a tubular member can be utilized to actuate the anchoring mechanism between the unlocked and locked positions.
US08152829B2
A dilator having a retractable needle is disclosed. The dilator includes an elongated dilator body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen longitudinally extending therethrough. A handle is mounted at the proximal end of the dilator body, and a control button is moveably connected to the outside of the handle. The needle extends through the lumen and has a distal end comprising a needle tip section. An arm attached the control button to the needle. Distal movement of the control button causes the needle to move from a retracted position, wherein the needle tip is disposed within the lumen of the dilator body, to a protruding position, wherein the needle tip protrudes beyond the distal end of the dilator body. In use, the distal end of the dilator is inserted into the right atrium of a patient, a position on the atrial septum to be punctured is located with the distal end of the dilator body, the needle tip is advanced beyond the distal end of the dilator body, and the atrial septum is punctured with the needle tip.
US08152828B2
A surgical obturator is disclosed comprising an elongate shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The bladeless tip has a conical surface forming proximally into an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point and having a pair of side sections. The side sections extend from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis. The conical surface facilitates insertion of the obturator with a reduced penetration force and minimizes tenting of the body wall. The conical surface further facilitates separation of different layers of the body wall and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers.
US08152826B2
A lancet device for obtaining a blood sample from a finger or at an alternate site of a patient. The lancet device includes a body and a lancet, the lancet being movable between a retracted position in which the lancet tip is disposed within the body and an extended position in which the lancet tip extends beyond the body. The device is cocked by compressing a U-shaped spring steel accessible on opposite sides of the body, the U-shaped spring steel being coupled to the lancet. Once cocked, a pawl retains the U-shaped spring steel in a compressed state. The device is fired by contacting the patient where sampling is to occur with one end of an actuator, the opposite end of the actuator serving to release the pawl from the U-shaped spring steel.
US08152825B2
Several embodiments of medical ultrasound handpieces are described each including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system includes a medical ultrasound handpiece having a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and includes an ultrasonically-vibratable medical-treatment instrument which is attachable to a distal end of the transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system has a handpiece including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and including a housing or housing component surrounding the transducer assembly. A method for tuning a medical ultrasound handpiece includes machining at least a distal non-threaded portion of an instrument-attachment stud of the transducer assembly to match a measured fundamental frequency to a desired fundamental frequency to within a predetermined limit. A method for making a medical ultrasound transducer assembly determines acceptable gains for gain stages of the transducer assembly.
US08152818B2
Medical device delivery systems, and related methods and components, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery system includes a catheter, a sheath at least partially surrounding the catheter, and a tip coupled to a distal end portion of the catheter. The tip can cooperate with a distal end surface of the sheath to form a gap therebetween so that there is fluid communication between an interior region of the sheath and an exterior region of the sheath.
US08152808B2
The invention is directed toward a surgical kit having component parts capable of use in excising a cartilage defect site on a patient to prepare the same for receipt of an implant plug, the kit comprising a cylindrical gauge with a central bore used to measure the defect area, a guide rod adapted to be driven through the gauge tube into the center of said defect area and a cartilage cutting assembly adapted to be mounted over the guide rod and used for excising the defect area and cutting a cylindrical bore into the defect area. The method for use of the kit comprises the steps of: marking the defect area to be cut; placing a guide rod into the center defect area and driving the same to a predetermined distance to secure the same in the defect area and placing a drill bit over the guide rod and rotating the drill bit to cut a cylindrical blind bore removing the cartilage defect.
US08152803B2
An apparatus to treat a sphincter has a support member. A sphincter electropotential mapping device includes a mapping electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is coupled to the support member and configured to detect aberrant myoelectric activity of the sphincter.
US08152801B2
Tissue ablation systems and methods are provided. Ablation energy (e.g., radio frequency energy) is delivered to the tissue and a physiological parameter (e.g., impedance and/or temperature) indicative of a change in moisture concentration of the tissue is sensed. The ablation energy is alternately pulsed on and off to generate an energy pulse train, with the ablation energy being pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and being pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration.
US08152786B2
A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.
US08152783B2
Provided is a method of activating osteogenic or chondrogenic activity at a site in a subject in need thereof. Also provided is a method of treating a bone or cartilage defect in a subject. Additionally, the use of a reduced pressure apparatus for treating a bone or cartilage defect adjacent to dura mater, periosteum, or endosteum is provided. Further provided is a composition for treating a bone or cartilage defect. Also, the use of a reduced pressure apparatus and a biocompatible scaffold for the manufacture of a composition for treating a bone or cartilage defect adjacent to dura mater, periosteum or endosteum is provided.
US08152771B2
An injector device for transcutaneously placing a hollow cannula of a subcutaneous infusion set is disclosed. The injector device includes a plunger slidably received within the device housing for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position, the plunger having an insertion needle secured thereto by a stable connection preventing loss of the insertion needle during use of the device. The insertion needle receives and supports the cannula of the subcutaneous infusion set in a position with the cannula oriented for transcutaneous placement upon movement of the plunger from the retracted position to the retracted position.
US08152760B2
A medical balloon having a resistance to circumferential tearing comprises a substantially cylindrical portion disposed between first and second tapered portions that have a decreasing cross-sectional area along a length thereof away from the cylindrical portion. The substantially cylindrical portion includes first and second end portions and a midsection disposed therebetween. The midsection includes a first region having a first resistance to tearing and a second region having a second lower resistance to tearing, where the second region extends about only a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical portion and does not extend beyond the midsection.
US08152759B2
The invention generally relates to internal (e.g., implantable, insertable, etc.) drug delivery devices which contain the following: (a) one or more sources of one or more therapeutic agents; (b) one or more first electrodes, (c) one or more second electrodes and (d) one or more power sources for applying voltages across the first and second electrodes. The power sources may be adapted, for example, to promote electrically assisted therapeutic agent delivery within a subject, including electroporation and/or iontophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second electrodes are adapted to have tissue of a subject positioned between them upon deployment of the medical device within the subject, such that an electric field may be generated, which is directed into the tissue. Furthermore, the therapeutic agent sources are adapted to introduce the therapeutic agents into the electric field. In another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of ion-conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents. In yet another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of electrically conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents.
US08152758B2
An apparatus including an expandable body; at least one delivery cannula coupled to an exterior portion of the expandable body; a needle having a protuberance thereon disposed in a lumen of the at least one delivery cannula; a stop disposed in the lumen of the at least one delivery cannula at a position distal to the protuberance on the needle. A method including positioning a catheter assembly including at least one needle delivery device disposed in an at least one delivery cannula, the at least one delivery cannula having an exit end; modifying the shape of the catheter assembly to modify the orientation of the exit end of the at least one delivery cannula at a region of interest; and advancing the at least one needle delivery device beyond the exit end of the at least one delivery cannula according to a controlled orientation.
US08152757B2
A guide catheter and a needle catheter are disclosed. The guide catheter construction provides for maximum articulation of the deflectable tip and maximum torque response during rotation. The needle catheter may include a release mechanism that imparts a sudden force to the needle in order to facilitate tissue penetration.
US08152753B2
Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, ultrasound catheters include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.
US08152746B2
A powered massager having coaxially mounted first and second massage actuators that are positioned along the main axis of the powered massager is disclosed. The powered massager further includes a hand-held unit including a control panel for controlling the operation of the massager and a power source that is operatively associated with an electric motor that drives a rotatable output shaft through a gear arrangement. In one embodiment, the first massage actuator is a squirming massage actuator having a plurality of frames interposed between rolling members that are operable when the output shaft is driven by the electric motor, while the second massage actuator is a vibratory massage actuator that is operatively associated with the power source through a conductive pathway established between the power source and the vibratory massage actuator.
US08152738B2
An apparatus and method that may be used for collecting target cells or tissue and preparing a cell block are disclosed.
US08152735B2
A vaginal probe for acquiring and correlating vaginal measurement data with folliculogenesis in a female for prediction of fertility.
US08152732B2
A system and method for organization and analysis of complex and dynamically interactive time series is disclosed. One example comprises a processor based system for relational analysis of physiologic signals for providing early recognition of catastrophic and pathologic events such as pathophysiologic divergence. The processor is programmed to identify pathophysiologic divergence of at least one of first and second physiologic parameters in relationship to the other and to output an indication of the divergence. An object-based method of iterative relational processing waveform fragments in the time domain is described wherein each more complex waveform object inherits the characteristics of the waveform objects from which it is derived. The first physiologic parameter can be the amplitude and frequency of the variation in chest wall impedance or nasal pressure and the second parameter can be a measure or indication of the arterial oxygen saturation.
US08152723B2
An ultrasound system is provided which includes a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer and operates in accordance with a method to direct the application of the therapy ultrasound. The method includes operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer to acquire a first ultrasound image; simultaneously operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and therapy ultrasound transducer for a second interval to acquire a second ultrasound image; and determining a difference in the first and second images indicative of the pattern of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal. The difference in the images, which result from enhanced non-linearities and propagation distortions induced by the high intensity therapy ultrasound, can be obtained by subtracting the two images. A method is also provided for monitoring the progress of high intensity therapy ultrasound which evaluates transient changes due to in-situ heating as well as permanent changes which result from cell microstructure alteration.
US08152721B2
An improved radial expansible retractor and a method of minimally invasive surgery, by opening a channel in the brain or other soft tissue of a patient, by inserting the radial expansible retractor into the body of the patient, and by widening the channel at a continuous and gentle rate. The use of the improved radial expansible retractor renders surgical procedures, including neurosurgical procedures, shorter, less traumatic, and more reliable, reducing risk and the need for subsequent surgery and reducing recovery time. Procedures are carried out with real time monitoring of the retracted brain perfusion pressure. A plurality of improved radial expansible retractors may be used in a single operation. The improved radial expansible retractor allows access to areas of the brain previously almost impossible to access.
US08152716B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of endoscopy and specifically to endoscopic apparatus used for endoscopic procedures during which a flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and colon for examination of the colon interior for abnormalities. More particularly, the present invention refers to a control system for supplying a fluid medium, e.g. air, carbon dioxide, water, to the endoscope.
US08152712B2
An electronic endoscope has a light guide for leading a light and a solid-state image sensor for capturing an image of a human body cavity during illumination. In inspecting the number of broken optical fibers in the light guide, a cap is attached to a distal portion of the electronic endoscope. The cap has a test chart. The solid-state image sensor captures an image of the test chart which is illuminated with the light transmitted through the light guide. A photometric circuit calculates an average luminance value “Y” of the test chart from a chart image signal. A broken fiber number calculator calculates the number “N” of broken optical fibers that satisfies N=M×(1−Y/I). “Y” represents an average luminance value of the test chart. “I” represents an ideal average luminance value when all optical fibers are conducting, and “M” represents the total number of the optical fibers.
US08152711B2
A method is provided for controlling blood flow through a blood vessel of a subject. The method includes implanting a pump outside of the blood vessel and placing within the blood vessel an expansion element that is capable of expanding the blood vessel subsequent to compression of the blood vessel by the pump. Other embodiments are also described.
US08152707B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bio cell cleaning centrifuge including: a motor; a rotor rotated by the motor; holders that are equipped on the rotor and that hold test tubes to be pivotable toward a rotational radial direction of the rotor; a cleaning liquid distributor mounted on the rotor to supply a cleaning liquid to the test tubes; a locking mechanism that locks the holders so that the test tubes are in a vertical state with respect to the rotational radial direction; and a controller that controls the motor and the locking mechanism, wherein the holders are configured to hold the test tubes so that central axes thereof are inclined from a rotational axis direction toward a rotational tangent direction of the rotor.
US08152700B2
A multistation weight machine including a cam pivotally connected to the base on an lever axle that functions as the sole and central pivot point for a class II lever in the machine's lever system. A plurality of handles storable on the apparatus are removably insertable into a plurality of variously positioned handle receptacles operatively connected to the lever axle and provide means for performing a wide variety of exercises in a standing position. One or more foot pedals or any handle connected to the lever axle through a handle receptacle results in the smooth upward linear translation of all or a portion of a weight stack.
US08152696B2
An exercise apparatus including a video display. In certain embodiments the apparatus includes an integrated platform. Memory within the apparatus contains a library of instructional exercise programs, such as yoga, Pilates, body toning and stretching routines. The apparatus may also connect to a network, such as the Internet to stream and/or download additional exercise programs. A user interface enables the user to select from available programs, which are shown on the video display. Audio for the programs may be provided via speakers or though headphones, which may be rechargeable and/or wireless.
US08152693B2
A method for providing an exercise goal using an exercise data device, the method including: receiving input indicating a selected exercise goal; obtaining exercise goal data relating to the selected exercise goal; obtaining a current performance measurement related to exercise performance of a user of the exercise data device, the current performance measurement including a current distance and a current time measurement; calculating a current progress indicator using the current performance measurement and the exercise goal data; and providing the current progress indicator to the user.
US08152692B2
A discharge capacity reduction device that, while neutral control is performed, reduces the discharge capacity of an oil pump that is driven by the engine is provided, so that the load applied to the oil pump is reduced. Thus, the load applied to the engine is reduced and it is possible to further reduce the engine output, so that it is possible to further improve fuel economy.
US08152685B2
A planetary drive servo actuator comprises a drive assembly operable to turn an output shaft. The drive assembly includes an outer cylinder configured to rotate within the housing and an inner cylinder configured to rotate within the outer cylinder. A clutch is operable to prevent the outer cylinder from rotating within the housing and to allow the inner cylinder to be rotated within the outer cylinder to turn the output shaft.
US08152683B2
An eight, nine, eleven or thirteen speed automatic transmission has an input and output, four planetary gear assemblies, four connecting members for coupling certain elements of the planetary gear assemblies to other elements, four brakes for selectively connecting certain elements of the planetary gear assemblies to ground and three friction clutches for selectively connecting certain elements of the planetary gear assemblies to other elements. Sequenced operation of the brakes and clutches provides, eight, nine, eleven or thirteen forward speeds or gear ratios and reverse.
US08152679B2
The invention relates to rotary units and rotary mechanisms that are suitable for use in numerous applications. Rotary units typically include rotational components that are configured to rotate. In some embodiments, for example, multiple rotary units are assembled in rotary mechanisms such that neighboring pairs of rotational components counter-rotate or contra-rotate relative to one another during operation of the rotary mechanisms. Rotational components generally include one or more implements that are structured to perform or effect one or more types of work as the rotational components rotate relative to one another in a given rotary mechanism. In certain embodiments, implements are configured to rotate and/or to effect the movement of other components as rotational components rotate.
US08152678B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid differential gear device achieving the small and light devices as a whole and easy assembling of a differential case.A hybrid differential gear device has a first differential gear mechanism 2 and a second differential gear mechanism 3. The first differential gear mechanism 2 has a plurality of planetary gears 5 as an input element, a sun gear 6 engaging with the plural planetary gears 5 as a first output element, and an internal gear engaging with the plural planetary gears 5 as a second output element. The second differential gear mechanism 3 has side gears 14R, 14L connected respectively to a right and a left front tire wheel, pinion gears 12, 13 engaging with the side gears 14R, 14L, and a pinion gear shaft 15 supporting rotatably the pinion gears 12, 13. The pinion gear shaft 15 is supported non-rotatably and movably to a direction of a rotational axis of a differential case 4.
US08152673B2
A continuous variable transmission is provided that is based on gearwheels. The novel gear acts as efficient transmission that can replace conventional manually or automatics gears. The CVT comprises sun gear connected to input shaft and ring gear fixedly connected to output shaft. Planet gear is arranged between and engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear wherein a planet carrier that is vertically enclosing the ring gear and the sun gear is provided with a canal in which an oil pump is provided. A control valve is capable of controlling the flow of lubricant within the canal.
US08152666B2
A power transmission belt, in particular for a motor vehicle and presenting at least V-ribs having flat side faces and rounded ridges, wherein the ridges present a convex curvilinear profile having a mean radius of curvature greater than 1 mm and less than or equal to 1.5 mm.
US08152656B2
A golf ball having a reduced distance while maintaining the appearance of a normal high performance trajectory. The golf ball has a core, an inner cover layer, and a cover. The core has a diameter of from about 1.300 to 1.620 inches, while the ball has a weight from 1.30 to 1.620 ounces, a diameter from 1.670 to 1.800 inches and a maximum Coefficient of Restitution from about 0.600 to about 0.790 as measured at 125 ft/sec incoming ball velocity. The ball has a drag to weight ratio of greater than 2.4 at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095.
US08152653B2
A golf ball including a core having an outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a substantially homogenous composition throughout, the core having a diameter of 1.20 inches or less, a compression of 45 or less, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.780 or greater. An outer cover having a thickness of 0.04 inches or less and having a material Shore D hardness of 55 or less is present along with an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the outer cover. The intermediate layer has a thickness of 0.14 inches or greater and a Shore D hardness of 60 to 70. The outer surface of the core has a first hardness and the geometric center of the core has a second hardness, the first hardness being substantially the same as or lower than the second hardness to define a “negative” hardness gradient.
US08152651B2
A golf club is provided having improved playing characteristics based upon a multiple material construction. This construction involves a club body in combination with a face insert that defines a hollow channel therebetween. This hollow channel is substantially filled with a heterogeneous viscoelastic material, such as urethane containing tungsten powder. The heterogeneous material is formulated such that the density of the material is varied based upon the location of that material within the hollow channel of the golf club head. In particular, lower density portions of the material are located near the top of the club head, and higher density portions are located near the bottom or sole of the club head. This moves the center of gravity of the club head downward and rearward, yielding improved feel and improved weight distribution and enhancing performance of the club.
US08152644B2
A method for outputting data streams in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: executing an electronic game application at a user terminal, the game application being programmed to allow two or more users of the communication system to participate in the game; receiving two or more data streams at the user terminal, each data stream being generated by a user of the communications system participating in the game; applying game logic to determine the current state of the game application; and selecting one or more of the received data streams to be output from an output device of the user terminal, wherein the selection depends on the current state of the game application.
US08152634B2
This disclosure describes methods and wager gaming devices that can enter different operation modes based on different network connections. In one embodiment, a method includes connecting to a content provider via a first network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the first network connection enables a first mode of operation and prohibits a second mode of operation. The method can also include operating in the first mode of operation. The method can also include connecting to the content provider via a second network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the second network connection enables the second mode of operation. The method can also include operating in the second mode of operation, wherein the operating includes, presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered.
US08152632B2
A gaming machine system includes a system controller. A plurality of gaming machines are linked to the system controller. Each gaming machine has a first display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the first display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the first display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize; a second display; and a feature game where, during play of the feature, feature images associated with the feature game are displayed on the second display. The system further includes a remote display to which each of the gaming machines is connected. The remote display is visible to a player playing any one of the gaming machines connected to the remote display. Images appearing on the displays of any of the gaming machines of the system participating in the feature game are related to images displayed on the remote display and the feature images are used in determining outcomes on those gaming machines participating in the feature game.
US08152619B2
Various methods and apparatus are described. Some examples include dealing cards, determining actions that must be taken by a player according to game rules, game rules that require certain actions to be taken in certain circumstances, determining outcomes of games according to poker rankings of hands of cards, awards to winning players, and/or other desired features. Further embodiments are described.
US08152617B2
Among other things, a system includes a card-game table that includes visually defined regions on a surface of the card-game table to accommodate one or more card hands of each of one or more participants in addition to one or more separate card hands of a house entity. An analysis system is associated with the card table and configured to receive data representing at least a value associated with each card from a group of cards dealt by a dealer to the one or more hands of each participant in addition to the one or more separate hands of the house; process the received data to calculate scores and odds for the one or more hands of each participant in addition to the one or more separate hands of the house, and generate an output signal indicative of the calculated scores and odds.
US08152609B2
A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.
US08152606B2
A skinning knife, comprising a handle, a slitting blade disposed at a forward portion of the handle and having an upwardly- and forwardly-directed cutting edge, a first spreading member disposed at the forward most position of the knife so as to spread apart two portions of animal hide or other material that have been separated by the slitting blade as the knife is thrust forwardly, and a retractable punch blade disposed in the handle beneath slitting blade for opening a hole in the hide when the knife is thrust forwardly, the first spreading member having a slot therein for receiving the punch blade. A punch blade actuation mechanism is provided for selectively moving the punch blade forwardly and rearwardly through the slot in the first spreading member. Preferably, the skinning knife also comprises a second spreading member disposed below and forward of the first spreading member for facilitating entry into a small slit.
US08152601B2
A motor-driven machine tool (1) with a tool that can be rotatably driven comprises a drive shaft (5) and a tool shaft (6) on which the tool is received, the rotational movement of the drive shaft being transmissible onto the tool shaft via a coupling device (8). The drive shaft is rotatably received in pivot bearings (14, 15) in the housing of the machine tool, the coupling device acting upon the drive shaft in the portion between the two pivot bearings.
US08152597B2
A wafer grinding method and a wafer grinding machine are disclosed for grinding a wafer by executing both the rough grinding process and the finish grinding process. After the rough grinding process before the finish grinding process, the wafer thickness is measured with a noncontact-type thickness gauge, and during the finish grinding process, the finish thickness is finely adjusted by use of a contact-type thickness gauge and referring to the measurement data of the noncontact-type thickness gauge.
US08152595B2
In a polishing process, the characteristics of the removal process may be monitored at different lateral positions to identify the clearance of the various device regions with a high degree of reliability. Consequently, upon forming sophisticated metallization structures, undue over-polishing may be avoided while at the same time providing reduced leakage currents due to enhanced material removal.
US08152587B1
A novelty toy having a body with a concealed basket compartment creating a cavity to house, store, secure, and conceal novelty items. The toy further includes a detachable cover to conceal the cavity when the cover is attached to the body and reveal the cavity when removed. The novelty toy also includes a removably changeable housing insert assembly embedded within the cavity having several attachment components which include a light source, a changeable housing insert template, a changeable inner insert template, an insert cover template and an insert ramp accessory. The cavity and insert assembly is used to display, store, house, secure templates with indicia including but not limited to arts and crafts, traditional family, learning and sport activity games. The toy body may be in the form of an animal-like, humanoid, holiday figure, mascot, icon or any characters attracted, known or recognizable to children or adults.
US08152586B2
A lamp or light tube that is both shatterproof and produces an after-glow effect. The light tube is comprised of a cylinder sealed by glass and metal end caps on each end of the glass-sealed cylinder, and electrical conducting pins extend from at least one of the metal end caps to connect the light tube to a power source. The glass-sealed cylinder is coated on its exterior with a shatterproof coating composition that emits an after-glow effect. The coating composition is comprised of a strontium aluminate after-glow phosphor, an ethylene acid copolymer resin, and an ultraviolet additive.
US08152583B2
A mother element substrate and a mother seal substrate are adhered with each other via an adhesive sheet. An adhesive sheet cut portion of the adhesive sheet corresponding to a terminal portion is formed at a time when the adhesive sheet is applied to the mother seal substrate, thus requiring no processing of the terminal portion afterward. Since the adhesive sheet cut portion extends to reach an edge of the adhesive sheet to prevent deformation of the adhesive sheet around the terminal portion after adhering the mother element substrate and the mother seal substrate with each other under the negative pressure so as to be returned to the atmosphere, thus realizing the solid seal type organic EL display device with high reliability.
US08152580B2
The present invention relates to a loading system for transferring at least one medium between a first installation and a floating vessel, comprising an anchoring device which can be fixed relative to a seabed, at least one elongated first transfer element, which is normally vertically oriented in an installed state, at least one flexible second transfer element arranged in the extension of the first transfer element by a swivel arrangement which is mounted between the first and second transfer element. The swivel arrangement is rotatable at least about a longitudinal axis of the first transfer element. A free end of the second transfer element, in an installed state when the system is not being used, is located freely suspended in the body of water. The invention also relates to a retrieval system and method.
US08152572B1
A connector includes an insulation body having a recess defined in the first end thereof and a protrusion extends from the inner end of the recess to form an annular gap between the inner periphery of the recess and the protrusion. The protrusion has a connection hole defined therethrough and a shoulder is formed in the connection hole. A passage is defined in the second end of the insulation body and communicates with the connection hole. A conductive member is inserted into the connection hole and the passage. Multiple flexible plates extend inclinedly from the outer periphery of the conductive member and are engaged with the shoulder. The body is easily removed from the mold and the conductive member is securely connected to the insulation body.
US08152570B2
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide protection from exposed wires or terminals when a power plug is damaged or destroyed. One example may provide a plug having an inner cover that shields power carrying wires or terminals when an outer shell is damaged or destroyed. The inner cover may include openings to receive conductors, where the openings may lead to terminals or wires that connect to plug prongs. The received conductors may attach directly or indirectly to an outer shell, and further to a power cord, circuitry, or other electronic components. When the outer shell is damaged or destroyed, the conductors may pull out of the openings in the inner cover, thus disconnecting from the wires or terminals. The wires or terminals may thus remain protected by the inner shell, avoiding exposure to contact by users or inadvertent conductors.
US08152567B2
A modular jack connector (100) includes a contact module (2) having a paddle board (22) formed with two conductive sections (28b). The contact module includes two transformers (24) each including a magnetic core (271) embedded in the paddle board, and a number of PCB layout traces distributed in the paddle board and including a first group of PCB layout traces having one group of tips extending to a position adjacent to corresponding magnetic core to form a magnetic field and another group of tips connected to the conductive section, and a second group of PCB layout traces having one group of tips extending to a position adjacent to corresponding magnetic core to form a magnetic field and another group of tips connected to the vias. The common mode chokes are surface mounted on the conductive section.
US08152562B2
An electrical connector system configured to be attached to a support structure is disclosed. The electrical connector system may include a mount capable of being attached to the support structure. The mount may include a bezel and a flange. The bezel may define a first opening, a second opening and aperture. The flange may be integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the bezel. The first opening may be capable of receiving a first power connector and the second opening is capable of receiving a second power connector. The second power connector is capable of extending into the aperture of the bezel such that the first and second power connectors mate.
US08152560B2
A receptacle assembly includes a housing having a front mating face and receptacles configured to receive plugs therein through the front mating face, where the plugs have connectivity pins attached thereto. The receptacle module includes connectivity sensor areas associated with the receptacles, where each connectivity sensor area is positioned adjacent the corresponding receptacle. Each connectivity sensor area has a first connectivity sensor and a second connectivity sensor that is electrically isolated from the first connectivity sensor when the plug is disconnected from the receptacle. Both the first and second connectivity sensors are configured to be engaged by different connectivity pins of the plug when the plug is received in the corresponding receptacle to form a sense circuit.
US08152558B2
The present invention relates to a universal serial bus (USB) connector for use in a base unit in a car kit comprising at least two pairs of shielded connection lines. It further relates to a USB cable for providing a shielded connection between a mobile unit and a car kit adaptor. The USB connector for use in a base unit in a car-kit comprises two twin axial connectors (430) including two inner contacts separated by a dielectric and further adapted to be connected to respective complementary connectors and two pairs of shielded connection lines (104 and 104′). Each pair is connected to a twin axial connector (430). Further, a shielded USB bridge (100) connects the two pairs of connection lines (104 and 104′) to four cable terminations (106) to form a USB line (108). The bridge (100) is mounted in the base unit (400′) with the twin axial connectors (430) located in modified guide gins (441) that extend from the base unit.
US08152556B2
An electric connector includes a female connector and a male connector. The female connector defines a first sliding groove, a second sliding groove parallel to the first sliding groove and a guiding slot communicating with the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove. The guiding slot includes a first guiding slot and a second guiding slot communicating the first guiding slot with the second sliding groove. The first sliding groove and the first guiding slot collectively form a step portion. The male connector includes a latching hook to engage with the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove. The latching hook slides along the first sliding groove to be received in the first guiding slot and resist on the step portion to combine the male connector with the female connector. The latching hook sides along the second guiding slot to release the male connector from the female connector.
US08152553B2
A socket contact that makes contact with a lead pin is provided on a mating electronic component, wherein this socket contact comprises a retention section that is press-fit in a contact cavity provided in a housing, a base section that extends downward from this retention section, and a pair of resilient contact pieces that extend from either side edge of this base section in mutually facing directions. The paired resilient contact pieces respectively comprise end sections that extend backward from the side edges of the base section, and lead pin contact sections that extend upward and forward at an inclination from the rear ends of the base section and that are also formed with an inclination so as to approach each other toward the tip ends thereof, and after the lead pin is inserted into the contact cavity toward the rear ends of the base end parts, the lead pin moves forward so as to contact the lead pin contact section in a position to the rear side of the retention section.
US08152545B1
A card connector includes an insulating housing defining a first receiving chamber and a second receiving chamber, a monitoring terminal fastened in one side of the insulating housing and having a contact plate, a first switch terminal fastened in the one side of the insulating housing and having a first pressing arm slantwise extending into the first receiving chamber and a first contact portion formed at a distal end of the first pressing arm for elastically contacting the contact plate by means of pressing the first pressing arm sideward, and a second switch terminal fastened in the one side of the insulating housing and having a second pressing arm slantwise stretching into the second receiving chamber and a second contact portion formed at a distal end of the second pressing arm for elastically contacting the contact plate by means of pressing the second pressing arm sideward.
US08152537B1
A grounding clamp positioned on a coaxial cable at a location other than an end of the coaxial cable, wherein the grounding clamp includes a first shell portion disposed over an elastomeric sleeve, the elastomeric sleeve having a slit extending therethrough; a second shell portion disposed over the elastomeric sleeve, wherein the first shell portion and second shell portion securably join to form an outer shell, the outer shell having a first end and an opposing second end; and a conductive bonding contact at least partially surrounded by the elastomeric sleeve, the conductive bonding contact at least partially surrounding an exposed outer conductive portion of a coaxial cable; wherein tightening of the first shell portion to the second shell portion drives the conductive bonding contact into contact with the exposed outer conductive portion of the coaxial cable to facilitate an adequate electrical grounding connection. Furthermore, an associated method for maintaining ground continuity is also provided.
US08152534B1
A connector comprises a coaxial connector and two metallic blocks. The coaxial connector has an outer conductor, a dielectric material, a mounting wall, and a center conductor. The space between the two conductors of the coaxial connector is filled with the dielectric material. The center conductor is extended from the inside of the coaxial connector to the other side of the mounting wall. The two metallic blocks are split from a metallic plate with a circular through hole in the center by milling across the plate at a proper position. Both metallic blocks are attached to the mounting wall of the coaxial connector with the extended center conductor placed in the center of the original through hole and surrounded by the recesses of the two blocks. Hence, the connector improves the transmission passband of a transition between a coaxial cable and a microstrip line at high frequencies.
US08152526B2
Dental implants for fixed and removable prosthetic devices, and for other devices such as orthodontic devices, which have application to single tooth replacement, e.g., caps and crowns, and multiple tooth replacement using one or more implants, e.g., bridges, and multiple implants for full and partial prosthetic devices. The dental implants include a post or posts inserted into the jawbone and a base that is loaded, in the general area of the gum line, against the jawbone using the post or posts. The base may be loaded against the jawbone by a fastener system.
US08152512B2
The present invention provides an imprinting apparatus in which stampers, after a transfer step, can be readily and quickly detached from a substrate and an atmosphere in the imprinting apparatus is kept clean. The imprinting device has an ejecting mechanism for separating a recording medium substrate from a first stamper and a second stamper the ejecting mechanism being formed including a sleeve and a coil spring that are movably provided in a movable die base with an exhausting duct, and also including a sleeve and a coil spring that are movably provided in a fixed die base with an exhausting duct.
US08152510B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing baked goods and a mold apparatus having a cavity in a desired shape for use in said method, the mold apparatus comprising a gap that allows for venting of vapor produced during heating or baking of a mixture in the mold apparatus but does not allow any significant amount of the mixture to escape from the cavity of the mold apparatus via the gaps.
US08152497B2
In sealed compressors, in one form of the invention, the compressor housing and the compression mechanism are assembled to one another without fasteners. As a result, the time required to install and tighten the fasteners is eliminated, lessen the time required to assemble the compressor. Further, such a fastenerless assembly requires less parts and machining, further reducing the cost of the compressor. Additionally, in one form of the invention, the compression mechanism includes two bearings mounted to the compressor housing and a cylinder block reciprocatingly driven between the bearings by an eccentric member of the crankshaft. Typically, the cylinder block of existing compressors is rigidly mounted to the compressor housing and does not reciprocate.
US08152489B2
A motor-driven supercharger is provided with a stator assembly inserted and attached to a bearing housing, and a seal plate closely attached to a compressor side of the stator assembly and comparting between a compressor housing and a motor stator (24). The stator assembly has the motor stator and an outer sleeve having an inner peripheral surface closely attached to an outer peripheral surface of the motor stator and supporting the motor stator in such a manner as to constrain a rotation of the motor stator, wherein the motor stator and the outer sleeve form an integral part so as to construct the stator assembly, and the outer sleeve constructs a liquid tight water cooling jacket between the outer sleeve and the bearing housing. The outer sleeve and the seal plate are fastened together in an axial direction between the bearing housing and the compressor housing.
US08152486B2
A medical pump includes a chassis having a fixed seat, and a main carriage having a carriage footing for receiving a fluid delivery device and restricting its movement. An actuator automatically moves the main carriage between open and closed positions to engage the fluid delivery device to the seat. The seat establishes the position of both the main carriage and fluid delivery device in the closed position. The actuator is connected to the main carriage by a rear carriage assembly having a manual release element for disengaging the actuator from rear carriage assembly and thereby from the main carriage. A processing unit detects jam conditions by processing carriage position data and electrical load data from the actuator.
US08152485B2
A DC brushless motor pump comprises a stator unit consisting of a plurality of silicon steel laminations and a coil, a rotor, an excitation circuit connected to the stator unit, a signal controller supplying power to the excitation circuit, and a magnetic induction module connected to the signal controller to control the pump running. Further, in the pump, a cylinder is provided between the stator unit and the rotor. An orientation component that protrudes in a radial direction is provided on an outer circumferential wall of the cylinder so that the magnetic induction module may be mounted onto the orientation component. Thus, the orientation component is used to fix the magnetic induction module for increasing the accuracy of detection.
US08152475B2
In a method for controlling operation of a compressor, the compressor is shut off by a control device in order to prevent thermal damages when an estimated temperature value Ts calculated by said control device exceeds an upper threshold value Tmax while the compressor remains on or is allowed to be turned on when there is a need for compression and a lower threshold value Tmin is not reached. In order to be able to more accurately estimate the estimated temperature and increase the thermal availability of the compressor, the estimated temperature value Ts is indirectly and cyclically determined by means of a mathematical-physical model that characterizes the cooling and heating properties of the compressor.
US08152473B2
For the rotor and stator blades of turbomachines, more particularly of gas-turbine engines, an airfoil design is provided with a defined area of a skeleton line angle distribution for skeleton lines of airfoil sections near the gap. With the distribution of the dimensionless skeleton line angles (α) over the chord length (l) in a certain area between two limiting curves (7, 8) according to the present invention, and the corresponding course of the skeleton lines in a blade portion extending up to 30 percent of the blade height, a uniformed pressure distribution is ensured, minimizing disturbances and losses due to the influence of the gap.
US08152472B2
A fan blade for heat sink fans is provided. The fan blade includes a wheel hub and a plurality of blades which is disposed around the rim of the wheel hub. The surfaces of the blade fans are designed with protruding or recessing inhibiting part. The flow rate on the blade surfaces is made unsteady by the inhibiting part as the airflow is flowing by to form a constant air flow impact and generate a boundary layer on the blades effectively. The effective second order distribution of the pressure rise is formed, and the effective working area of the fan is expanded. The improvement increases the static pressure and lowers the noise.
US08152471B2
An apparatus (3) retains bladed rotor disks (4, 6, 9) of a jet engine which engine includes an axial-flow compressor with several bladed rotor disks (4, 6, 9), at least one turbine section, at least one shaft and at least one tie-rod (12, 47), with at least two bladed rotor disks at the compressor inlet side (2) being designed as blisks (6), each being a single component integrally combining a rotor disk and circumferentially distributed rotor blades (5). So that apparatus for the retention of blisks can easily be mounted and demounted, the blisks (6) are releasably retained via the tie-rod (12, 47) and the other rotor disks (4, 9) are firmly attached to each other separately and independently of the tie-rod (12, 47).
US08152461B2
A nacelle assembly and a method for assembling the same is provided. The nacelle assembly includes an inner barrel and an outer structure comprising a highlight and an outer aft section, wherein the highlight is defined by a forward end of the outer structure, wherein the outer aft section includes a point defined by a maximum diameter of the nacelle assembly, wherein the nacelle assembly extends at least between the highlight and the point.
US08152454B2
A guide vane for a gas turbine includes a vane body having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a shroud extending at least between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The shroud has a first side wall and a second side wall extending essentially radially and in a longitudinal direction of the gas turbine. The first side wall has a groove disposed in a region of the trailing edge extending in a longitudinal direction of the shroud and is configured to receive a sealing plate. The first side wall also has a clearance extending from the groove in a region of the trailing edge, wherein a depth of the clearance in a circumferential direction of the gas turbine is equal to a depth of the groove, and wherein a width of the clearance in the longitudinal direction of the shroud is between one to three times the depth of the clearance.
US08152451B2
A fairing for a structural strut in a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an inner band; (b) an outer band; (c) a hollow, airfoil-shaped vane extending between the inner and outer bands; (d) wherein the fairing is split along a generally transverse plane passing through the inner band, outer band and vane, so as to define a nose piece and a tail piece; and (e) complementary structures carried by the nose piece and the tail piece adapted to secure the nose piece and the tail piece to each other.
US08152450B1
A gas turbine engine with a floating air seal to form a seal between a rotor disk and an adjacent stator vane segment shroud and allow for both axial and radial shifting of the rotor disk with respect to the stator while maintaining the sealing capability. The floating air seal includes an annular piston that slides within an annular groove formed within the stator in an axial direction. The annular piston includes an annular groove on the rotor disk side to form an air cushion against the rotor disk, a pressure buffer surface on the opposite end, and a central passage to supply the air cushion chamber with pressurized fluid from the buffer pressure chamber. A balancing force on the annular piston is formed between the air cushion formed and the pressure force acting to push the annular piston toward the rotor surface.
US08152445B2
A fluid flow machine has a flow duct confined by a wall of a casing, with a fluid supply chamber being arranged in an area of the wall, which is in flow connection with an injector insert. The injector insert is provided with an injector nozzle for supplying fluid from the fluid supply chamber into the flow duct. The injector insert is closely connected to the wall of the fluid supply chamber.
US08152443B1
A centrifugal pump mounted in an external housing. The pump has a split housing containing an impeller with outwardly extending vanes that is mounted on a drive shaft. The drive shaft at one end is mounted to a sealed bearing within the external housing and at the other end to a drive.
US08152442B2
A molecular spiral-type vacuum pumping stage comprises a rotor disk having smooth surfaces cooperating with a stator. The stator is provided with a plurality of spiral channels at least on the surface facing the rotor disk, wherein the gas to be pumped flows in centripetal direction. The cross-section area (σ) of the channels is reduced from the center towards the outer periphery of the stator. Due to this arrangement, it is possible to avoid the reduction of the internal gas flow velocity along the pumping stage and the related risk of internal compression or re-expansions, this limiting the power losses. The present invention also refers to a vacuum pump comprising at least one pumping stage as described above.
US08152433B2
A loader vehicle includes a main frame, a lift arm, and a lift cylinder. The lift arm is connected to the main frame. A working implement is attached to the lift arm at the front end thereof. The lift cylinder is connected to the lift arm and the main frame. The lift cylinder includes a piston, a piston rod fixed to the piston, and a cylinder tube. The piston rod is connected to the main frame. The cylinder tube has a bottom portion and a side wall portion. The cylinder tube is connected to the lift arm by a connecting portion. The connecting portion is provided at the side wall portion of the cylinder tube.
US08152428B2
A fastener assembly includes a bolt having first and second ends and comprising a bolt head at the first end and a shank, at least a part of which is screw threaded, a nut for screw threaded engagement with the shank of the bolt, and a template alignment pin, wherein the bolt head is provided with a coupling formation for detachably coupling to a corresponding formation on the template alignment pin.
US08152426B2
A rotation indicator device comprises a body having a bore, whereby the body is adapted to be releasably mounted on a polygonal fastener or other multi-angled component in any selected position. At least part of the body which defines the bore is formed of a resilient material of suitable grip and flexibility characteristics, such as silicone rubber material, and the bore has an edge margin which is of a tapered profile in cross-section so that the body can be snugly mounted onto the fastener or other component without any relative rotation occurring between the device and the fastener or other component.
US08152420B1
A drill bit jig includes an elongate member, two jig securing elements and a drill bit guide. The elongate member is hollow so that one or more elongate drill bits may be stored therein. The drill bit guide includes a plurality of through holes where the axes of the through holes are parallel to the axis of the elongate member. Each of the plurality of through holes in the drill bit guide has a different diameter for accommodating drill bits of different thicknesses. The jig securing elements each include an L-shaped bolt and a door protecting material encasing one of the straight sections of the bolt.
US08152410B2
An apparatus for compaction, breaking and rubbilization comprises a first non-circular plate having a first plate flat portion and a first plate thickness, a second non-circular plate having a second plate flat portion and a second plate thickness substantially equivalent to the first plate thickness, and a third plate having a third plate first flat portion and a third plate second flat portion and a third plate thickness less than the first plate thickness and the second plate thickness. The first plate flat portion is coupled to the third plate first flat portion and the second plate is coupled to the third plate second flat portion and each of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate are configured to form a multi-lobed roller assembly.
US08152409B1
An apparatus for screeding concrete to produce a level finished surface includes a rigid frame assembly; a telescopic boom assembly secured directly to the frame assembly; and a screeder head assembly having a plurality of vertically oriented alignment poles secured to the boom assembly. The telescopic boom assembly may include a plurality of boom sections, each having a leveling mechanism whereby each boom section may be individually leveled with respect to each preceding boom section to provide for a consistently level finished surface.
US08152397B2
A product replacement unit for a base stick module in particular of a cosmetic stick comprises a replacement housing with a reservoir in which a product, in particular a cosmetic product, is present in creamy, liquid or pasty form. An applicator is in a fluid connection with the reservoir, and a piston is guided for displacement in the replacement housing for feeding the product to the applicator. A piston connecting component is present on the piston for cooperating with a push rod connecting component of a piston push rod forming part of a feed device of the base stick module for extending the piston, wherein the piston push rod is formed to establish a push connection with the piston and is formed to be positioned on the side of the piston remote from the product.
US08152395B2
A pen with adjustable holding structure is essentially for the user to write with his/her specified finger to lean against a stop protuberance. The pen has a penholder with a writing end formed at its front tip for writing. The stop protuberance is provided ahead of the holding position, and an adjustable holding part is formed on the penholder behind the stop protuberance. With this structure, when manipulating the pen, the user may select one of five fingers as a specified one to lean against the stop protuberance to settle thereat. The adjustable holding part is bendable at random according to the user's manipulation habit so as to lead the specified finger to lean against the best position on the stop protuberance to perform writing with the pen.
US08152394B2
In order to reliably and promptly release bite of a fixed blade and a movable blade with a simple manipulation without being influenced by a state of paper jam of a recording sheet, provided is a printer capable of performing printing on a recording sheet and then cutting the same, including: a fixed blade (11); a movable blade (30); a movable blade drive system (31) including a rack (40) attached to the movable blade, and a rack gear (42) which gears with the rack, rotates in accordance with rotation of a drive gear (41) coupled to a forward/reverse rotatable motor, and linearly moves the rack; a manipulatable lever portion (32); a cooperative mechanism (13) including a pushing portion (12) for moving the fixed blade in a direction of moving away from the movable blade in conjunction with manipulation of the lever portion, and for releasing a contacting pressure of both the blades; a first unit mainly incorporating the fixed blade and the cooperative mechanism; and a second unit (4) mainly incorporating the movable blade and the movable blade drive system, in which one of both the units is separable from another unit, and combination is released.
US08152388B2
A power transmission mechanism includes a cam-incorporated gear which rotates in one rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from a drive source via a planet gear when engaged with the planet gear, wherein the cam-incorporated gear stops rotating when disengaged from the planet gear; a driven member which includes a follower which contacts at least one surface cam formed on the cam-incorporated gear, the driven member being driven in accordance with the rotation of the cam-incorporated gear in the one rotational direction, and exerting a surplus torque on the cam-incorporated gear in the one rotational direction thereof so as to increase the rotation of the cam-incorporated gear in the one rotational direction, the surplus torque being independent of a torque exerted on the cam-incorporated gear by the drive source; and a damping mechanism which continuously exerts a load torque on the cam-incorporated gear in a rotational direction opposite to the one rotational direction of the cam-incorporated gear so as to cancel out the surplus torque.
US08152379B2
A bearing device include: (a) a bearing supporting a shaft, and having (a-1) a tubular body portion in which the shaft is rotatably received and (a-2) a radially projecting portion that projects from the tubular body portion outwardly in a radial direction of the tubular body portion; and (b) a bearing receiver plate having (b-1) a receiver hole in which the tubular body portion of the bearing is received, and (b-2) a cutout which extends from the receiver hole and which has an opening that opens outwardly of the bearing receiver plate, such that the bearing can be introduced into the receiver hole via the cutout. The bearing receiver plate and the radially projecting portion of the bearing cooperate with each other to establish (i) a rotation preventer preventing rotation of the bearing relative to the bearing receiver plate and (ii) a backlash reducer reducing play of the bearing relative to the bearing receiver plate. Also disclosed is an image recording apparatus including the bearing device.
US08152377B2
A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.
US08152349B2
End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.
US08152343B2
An adaptor or an original lamp. The adaptor is used with a lamp having a light bulb to better mount a loop-type lamp shade thereon. The adaptor has a harp assembly with harp sections that extend from a mounting ring or collar that fits about the head of the lamp. The collar can be eliminated when the apparatus is built in to the lamp head during manufacture. The adapter allows support of the lamp shade by both the loops and using a harp to thus reduce tilting or other disorientation of the lamp shade.
US08152340B1
A loupe light that is compact and lightweight is described. The loupe light includes an adhesive that is electrically insulating and thermally conducting to help secure a wire supplying power to a light source. The loupe light also includes an end piece configured to help secure the wire as well.
US08152339B2
An illumination device having an optical waveguide stage to which is optically coupled a light-projecting stage. The illumination device accepts light from a small isotropic light source such as a light emitting diode or a bulb coupled to the optical waveguide stage. The illumination device spreads the light over a wide area while also collimating it to form a beam. The light-projecting stage and the optical waveguide stage are made of thin slabs of optically transmissive material.
US08152338B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp unit is disclosed for obtain a thin profile display device, to improve uniformity of light, and to simplify a power connection line for operation, which includes an optical lens having a central recess part and an edge, wherein the central recess part is hollowed out inwardly, and the edge is formed in shape of a flat surface or in shape of a convex lens; at least one or more LED chips arranged at fixed intervals in a lower portion of the optical lens; and a lower reflecting sheet positioned on a bottom surface of the LED chip.
US08152337B2
A multi-panel electronic display for use on a structure, comprising a frame removably attached to the structure in such a way as to encounter a natural airflow, a plurality of individual panels mounted on the frame, each panel comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein each individual panel works with other individual panels to display an image, and a printed circuit on the second side of more than one of the individual panels of the multi-panel electronic display and in thermally conductive communication with the frame such that heat generated by electronic components on the circuit board is dissipated within the frame and such that the frame is cooled by the natural airflow. The frame may be corrugated to facilitate dissipation of the heat and create space for electrical wiring, and thermally conductive pads may be inserted between the circuit board and the frame to further dissipate heat. A 12 volt, 24 volt, or greater power source can be stepped down to 5 volts on the panel itself, outside the structure, to minimize holes needed in the walls of the structure.
US08152335B2
A substrate of the present invention is provided with a plurality of parallel-arranged functional sections. First and second connecting sections are provided on both ends of the functional sections. Every two adjacent functional sections are separable from one another and are respectively connected with different connecting sections so that the substrate can be separated into two daughter substrates having identical areas. The two daughter substrates of the substrate can be processed simultaneously before separated from each other, thus saving the processing time. When used by a user, one daughter substrate can be used independently as a light source or the two daughter substrates can be used opposite to each other so that the functional sections of the two daughter substrates are staggered.
US08152329B2
A solar table lamp and solar flashlight combination includes a pivotal parallelepiped electricity generation and storage assembly including two solar cell panels mounted thereon, an internal circuit board, and a rechargeable battery. Electricity generated by the solar cell panels is supplied to the rechargeable battery for charging via the circuit board, and the circuit board can control on or off of the charging of the rechargeable battery. A pivotal parallelepiped illumination assembly includes a light source mounted on a front end, and a switch mounted thereon. Two links each include a first pivot pivotably connected to a midpoint of either side of the illumination assembly and a second pivot pivotably connected to a rear end of either side of the electricity generation and storage assembly.
US08152325B2
A reflective surface electric road flare designed to be positioned on a roadway and to emit light to alert oncoming drivers to a hazard on the roadway. The flare comprises a housing supporting a circuit. The circuit comprises an led light source, a power controller and a power supply. The power controller energizes the led light source with the power supply such that the led light source emits light according to its design specification. The emitted light is concentrated about the horizontal by a lens into a horizontal light beam visible throughout the azimuth. Concentrating the emitted light into a horizontal light beam increases its intensity as perceived by oncoming drivers located within the projected horizontal light beam. A portion of the horizontal light beam intersects a top surface of the road flare where it is reflected towards oncoming vehicles. The light reflected from the top surface enhances the visibility of the road flare by increasing the intensity of the light perceived by oncoming drivers and by increasing the perceived size of the illuminating surface of the road flare. The road flare is configured to withstand being run over by vehicles and to resist being moved or shifted to an undesirable location during vehicle run over.
US08152322B1
A heat dissipating helmet provides a heat dissipating material portion. One or more high powered LEDs may be in thermal contact therewith providing a significant portion of a heat sink to remove heat from the LEDs to maintain them at a proper operating temperature during operation. The heat dissipating material may be also in contact with air flow as the helmet moves through space thereby allowing convection to assist in removing heat from the helmet. Furthermore, heat moving elements located internal to the helmet may assist in transferring heat to the heat dissipating material from the scalp of a wearer.
US08152321B2
An illumination apparatus for a drink holder that includes a base portion having a planar top surface attachable to a bottom surface of the drink holder, a lighting device disposed at an exterior bottom surface of the base portion, to supply light in a downward direction away from the drink holder, and a circuit enclosed by the base portion at a predetermined distance from the planar top surface of the base portion. The circuit includes a power supply unit to supply power for operation of the lighting device, a light driving unit electrically connected with the power supply unit and the lighting device, to regulate power supplied to the lighting device, and a switch device configured to switch the illumination apparatus between an on-state and an off-state.
US08152315B2
A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab (30) for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end (40); and a tapered output slab (10) arranged to receive rays from the said output end of the input slab, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The taper is calculated so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output face. The thickness of the input slab light guide (30) is greater in the transverse direction away from the centre line C, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide (10) bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.
US08152313B2
A projection display device has an imager that modulates light from a light source in accordance with an image signal, a projection optical system that enlarges and projects the light modulated by the imager onto a projection plane, a focus adjustment part disposed in the projection optical system, and a displacement part that displaces the imager in a direction vertical to a light axis of the projection optical system, in conjunction with the focus adjustment part.
US08152311B2
Disclosed are a display apparatus and a light control method thereof, in which the display apparatus including a display panel, a light source unit, an illumination unit to illuminate the display panel with light emitted from the light source unit, and a projection unit to project the light from the display panel in a predetermined direction includes: a light sensor which is provided between the light source unit and the illumination unit; and a light controller which corrects brightness of light sensed by the light sensor on the basis of reflective characteristics of the display panel. With this configuration, the quantity of light is prevented from decreasing so as to prevent the brightness of an image from decreasing.
US08152307B2
A optical apparatus (201) for use in an laser imaging system (200) is provided. The optical apparatus (201) includes one or more optical elements (215) that are configured to create an intermediate image plane (217) in the laser imaging system (200). A diffractive optical element (216) is then disposed at the intermediate image plane (217) to reduce speckle. The diffractive optical element (216) includes a periodically repeating phase mask (218) that can be configured in accordance with steps, vortex functions, Hermite-Gaussian functions, and so forth. Smooth grey-level phase transitional surface (337) can be placed between elements (333,334) to improve brightness and image quality. The periodically repeating phase mask (218) makes manufacture simple by reducing alignment sensitivity, and can be used to make applicable safety standards easier to meet as well.
US08152295B2
A recording apparatus includes a holding tray, a transport driving roller that applies a transport force to the other surface of the holding tray, and an ejection driving roller located downstream of the recording unit such that the ejection driving roller is placed on the same side as the transport driving roller. The other surface of the holding tray has an irregular pattern including a protrusion or a flat portion and a recess, the protrusion coming into contact with the outer surface of the transport driving roller, the recess being located so as to face the ejection driving roller.
US08152294B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a substantially flat top face and a slanted front face, the bottom side of which recedes backward. The image forming apparatus may includes a paper discharge tray disposed at a lower portion of the slanted front face, the paper discharge tray protruding forward. The paper discharge tray may be tiltable upward and downward. Because the bottom side of the slanted front face recedes backward, the flat top face can be provided, and simultaneously, enough space for the feeding and discharging of paper can be secured.
US08152291B2
A device for printing two-dimensional parts, particularly plastic substrates, preferably plastic cards, having a depot comprising the parts to be imprinted, a printing station with a printing device, and a transport device for transporting the parts through the printing station, characterized in that aligning means serving the alignment of the parts on the transport device are provided in front of the printing station.
US08152288B2
A system for use with a phase change ink imaging device comprises a leveler roller disposed along a web path downstream from a printing station. The leveler roller is formed of a thermally conductive material and includes a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a leveling temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web in order to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being moved. The predetermined dwell time is configured to allow conductive heat transfer to occur between the continuous web and the leveler roller to equalize the continuous web and the melted phase change ink temperatures on the web to within a predetermined range about the leveling temperature. A midheater is disposed along the web path downstream from the leveler roller. The midheater is configured to heat the continuous web and the melted phase change to a midheating temperature that is greater than the leveling temperature.
US08152285B2
An Inkjet head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an ink storage unit including an inner storage space, a head unit connected to the ink storage unit, and a plurality of nozzles discharging the ink, wherein the floors of the inner storage space of the ink storage unit form a step. Accordingly, in the Inkjet head of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the floors of the inner storage space of the ink storage unit form a step, and the ceiling of the inner flow space of the head unit is inclined, thereby preventing the ink vapor from being confined inside the head unit. Therefore, the ink to be discharged through the nozzle flows in a predetermined direction and does not include ink vapor, thereby preventing discharge deterioration.
US08152282B2
A droplet discharge device including a plurality of vibrators arranged on an upper surface of a substrate. The substrate has a cavity, discharge hole and supply hole, which serve as a liquid flow path, formed inside a plate including flat upper and lower surfaces. A width of the cavity narrows from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side. A depth of the cavity deepens from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side. The depth of the cavity may become shallower from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the supply hole side and occupies a relatively small area, and the depth of the cavity may become deeper from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the discharge hole side and occupies a relatively large area.
US08152281B2
A liquid ejecting head including a first base member in which a plurality of pressure generating chambers communicating with nozzle openings and a series of partition walls are arranged in parallel, a second base member disposed on the first base member, a reservoir serving as a common liquid chamber for the pressure generating chambers, and an adhesive agent adhered to a first angular portion formed in an end portion of the partition walls near the reservoir which is adjacent to the second base member.
US08152275B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a common liquid chamber to which the liquid is supplied, a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate with the common liquid chamber and which cause a pressure change in the liquid, a plurality of nozzles which jet the droplets of the liquid, a pressure attenuation chamber which has a throttled portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the common liquid chamber, and an attenuation portion having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the throttled portion, the attenuation portion being connected to one end portion of the common liquid chamber via the throttled portion, a discharge port formed in the pressure attenuation chamber, a discharge channel connected to the discharge port, and having a throttle in which a channel area of the discharge channel is decreased, and a dummy nozzle connected to the discharge port via the discharge channel.
US08152273B2
To provide a waste ink absorbing tank, capable, even in the case of utilizing an ink of a high coagulating property, of causing a waste ink absorbent member to efficiently absorb such ink. A waste ink absorbent member has a hole portion corresponding to an introducing position of the waste ink, and the hole portion is opened on a lateral face of the absorbent member. The waste ink, introduced into the hole portion moves in one direction toward the waste ink absorbent member and absorbed therein.
US08152270B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which first and second heads are mounted, a first cap configured to cap the first head, and a second cap configured to cap the second head. A distance from the first cap to the first head is shorter than a distance from the second cap to the second head. The carriage stops at a first capping position where capping is performed only with the first cap and a second capping position where capping is performed with both the first cap and the second cap.
US08152266B2
To provide a method of effectively reducing the amount of ink droplets remaining on a nozzle surface after a cleaning operation, and an inkjet recording apparatus capable of shortening an entire processing time of an initial filling operation and a cleaning operation by shortening an ink discharge operation time. By providing a partition wall so that a suction port and an atmosphere opening port provided on a back side of a porous sheet placed in a cap are not directly communicated with each other, in an ink discharge operation in the cap, air having entered through the atmosphere opening port flows through a space between the porous sheet and the nozzle surface, and thereafter, flows to the suction port via the porous sheet. Therefore, ink droplets remaining adhering to the nozzle surface can be removed using the force of air flow.
US08152252B2
A slide assembly includes a bracket, having a first horizontal portion and a first vertical portion; a first rail member slidably disposed on the bracket, having a first horizontal portion, a first vertical portion, a second horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion; a second rail member slidably disposed on the first rail member, having a first vertical portion, a first horizontal portion and a second vertical portion; a first auxiliary sliding member disposed between the bracket and the first rail member; a second auxiliary sliding member disposed between the first rail member and the second rail member; and a plurality of ball bearings including at least one first ball bearing and at least one second roller bearing.
US08152250B2
A synchronizing device for use with a pair of drawer slide assemblies where each drawer slide assembly has at least a first slide member moveable relative to a second slide member, and includes a first stabilization element configured to be coupled to the second slide member of one of the slide assemblies, and a second stabilization element configured to be coupled to the second slide member of the other slide assembly. A linking element extends transverse to an extension direction of the slide assemblies and synchronizes movements of the first slide members of the slide assemblies.
US08152249B2
Apparatus and method for a flip rail in a rack mount are disclosed herein. A flip rail apparatus for allowing full width electronic equipment to be slide mounted in a rack mount case includes a rack mount frame coupled to a rack mount case. The rack mount frame is configured to hold standard rack mountable electronic equipment. The frame has a first front vertical rail and a second front vertical rail. The first vertical flip rail is attached to the first vertical rail and the second vertical flip rail is attached to the second vertical rail. The first and second vertical flip rails selectively rotate outward away from the electronic equipment in order to allow electronic equipment to be removed.
US08152242B2
A head restraint actuation system includes a head restraint positionable in an upright and folded position. Repositioning of the head restraint is accomplished through the action of a head restraint actuator. The head restraint actuator is in communication with the head restraint. An actuating cable system includes a cable that is in communication with the head restraint actuator and a user operated handle. User initiated movement of the handle causes movement of the cable thereby causing the head restraint to be positioned in the folded position. The activation system is able to simultaneously actuate a plurality of head restraints.
US08152239B2
The present invention concerns a safety bow (40) for use in children's chair (1) comprising a seat plate (2), a backrest (3, 4) and possibly two side pieces (5), wherein the backrest or side pieces have at least one opening each, the safety bow being a three armed constructional part in one piece comprising: two first ends (43) with first and second connecting members (44) for hooking into the opening(s) in the backrest (3, 4) or the side pieces (5); and a third end comprising a third connecting member (46) for detachable fixing to the seat plate (2). The invention also concerns the use of the safety bow in a children's chair.
US08152237B2
A chair is designed to stack generally vertically with a number of like chairs. A chair frame has a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs and a generally horizontal seat frame element that is supported by the front and rear legs. A generally horizontal stack frame element is interconnected with the front and rear legs of the chair frame and is spaced below the seat ring. A seat is supported by the chair frame. When the chair is stacked on a like chair, the stack frame element of the upper chair is disposed on and supported by the seat frame element of the lower chair.
US08152235B2
An elongated edging is provided for use in a method of upholstering a chair element with a perimeter edge. The edging has a pair of sides and a top portion, with a slot defined between the sides for receiving the perimeter edge of the chair element. A flange extends outwardly from the outward face of the side of the edging and defines a recess between an upper side of the flange and the outward face of the side of the edging. A portion of upholstery is attached to the chair element using fasteners which are positioned in the recess.
US08152234B2
Embodiments of the present invention include an amenity pocket comprising a rigid structure, a vehicle surface, and a deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism provides a non-zero deployment angle of the rigid structure relative to the vehicle surface. In some embodiments, the amenity pocket is coupled to a passenger seat back. In other embodiments, a mounting structure comprising a base may be pivotally coupled to the base of the rigid structure and coupled to the vehicle surface. An interior surface of the rigid structure may be coupled to a filler. In some embodiments, the filler may be coupled to a protective surface. In other embodiments, an exterior surface of the rigid structure may be coupled to a cover.
US08152222B2
A routing structure of an operating cable of a vehicle comprising a power slide door, comprises: a retractor of a seatbelt device placed between a vehicle body panel and an interior material covering an inner side of a vehicle body panel facing an interior of a vehicle chamber; a webbing pulled out from the retractor, the webbing being passed through an opening of the interior material, and pulled out from a back part of the interior material towards an inner side of the vehicle chamber; the operating cable for the power slide door routed between the vehicle body panel and the interior material by crossing over a back part of the webbing, wherein a restricting piece, restricting a displacement of the operating cable towards a direction approaching the webbing, is provided on the interior material.
US08152219B2
A vehicle door structure includes: a door body that includes an inner panel and an outer panel and that has a space between the inner panel and the outer panel; an acceleration detector that is arranged in the space; a support portion that supports the acceleration detector on the door body so that a direction of sensitivity of the acceleration detector differs from a direction in which the door body is closed; and a sensitivity direction changing portion that changes a position in which the acceleration detector is supported by the support portion so that the direction of sensitivity of the acceleration detector approaches a direction in which the inner panel faces the outer panel as the outer panel is relatively displaced toward the inner panel.
US08152218B2
A door trim substrate having a construction which includes, in combination, an energy-absorbing pre-crush protective portion and a pelvic bolster portion is provided for use in a vehicle. The pre-crush protective portion is configured so as to protect the pelvic bolster portion from pre-crush in a vehicle side-impact event. The pre-crush portion is defined by a rib cassette structure which is preferably integrally molded into the door trim substrate below the pelvic bolster portion.
US08152213B2
A tweezer that is especially useful for testing and repair of electronic circuits includes a pair of resilient blades (14, 16) with rear ends (22) fixed at a mount (24) to a pair of dielectric plastic mounting blocks (110, 112) that are clamped together by a clamping tube (140) that can be slid on and off. Front portions of the blades are connected to a spacing adjuster (80) that includes a thumb wheel (86) that can be turned to adjust the separation of the front ends (20) of the blades. The tweezer can be used as a regular tweezer, and the blades can be used as independent electrical probes.
US08152212B2
A pinching tool includes a pair of less deformable elongated plate shape bodies and a resilient body. Each of plate shape bodies has a pinching portion at one end with a flat pinching surface on its inner surface, a supporting portion at another end with a flat contact surface on its inner surface, and a handling portion between the both ends with an inner surface. When the pinching surface and the contact surface of one of the plate shape bodies is brought into contact with those of another of the plate shape bodies, the pinching surfaces and the contact surfaces are respectively tightly in contact with each other. The resilient body is fitted to the supporting portions and couples the pair of the plate shape bodies together to be spring-loaded in a direction of separation of the two plate shape bodies.
US08152205B2
A stainless-steel fitting for resin tubes, which easily and securely connects resin tubes and is also inexpensive, is provided. Resin tube (9) is inserted into insert part (8), provided on fitting main body (1); nut (3) is screwed onto fitting main body (1) and sleeve (2) is moved; in the pipe fitting which presses and locks resin tube (9) between insert part (8) and sleeve (2), a step part, composed of large diameter part (2a) and small diameter part (2b), is formed on the outer surface of the sleeve part (2); the length of small diameter part (2b) is that wherein the end-face of the small diameter part (2b) protrudes outward from nut (3), when sleeve (2) is inserted into nut (3); and nut (3) and sleeve (2) are integrated by pressing and spreading the inner diameter of this end-face.
US08152200B2
Heavy equipment trailer and deck extension. The trailer has an elongated main deck with longitudinally extending frame members on opposite sides thereof, and ground engaging wheels toward the rear of the main deck. The extension has longitudinally extending frame members aligned with the frame members of the main deck, and coupling pins extend between the frame members of the main deck and the extension in load supporting relationship, with lock pins preventing longitudinal separation of the main deck and the extension. C-shaped channel members extend along the upper, lower, and outer sides of the extension, past the coupling pins, and along upper, lower, and outer side portions of the frame members of the main deck to hold the frame members in alignment and prevent sagging under load conditions.
US08152197B2
A side airbag unit disposed in a side support of a seat capable of absorbing collision energy sufficiently during a side collision of a vehicle is described. In one example, the airbag unit comprises: a low expansion member disposed inside of a front skin of the seat, wherein one end of the low expansion member is attached to the inside of the front skin in the vicinity of a fragile part of the seat and the other end of the low expansion member is attached to the seatback frame through a slit. The low expansion member inhibits the front skin from expanding due to the inflation of the airbag, and a cushion pad located outside of the slit in the vehicle width direction and inside of the fragile part in the vehicle width direction is moved outward and frontward by the inflation of the airbag in a vehicle collision.
US08152192B2
An all terrain adapter for a wheelchair that removably clamps onto the foot support of the wheelchair and supports a relatively large diameter, slightly inclined swivelling nose gear wheel at an extended distance from the foot support to stabilize the wheelchair when it is being pushed over soft or uneven surfaces and which swivels around when the wheelchair is moved forward to lift the front wheels of the wheelchair clear of the ground.
US08152187B1
A roll formed step rail for a vehicle comprises an elongated rail body having two opposing edges which define a longitudinal channel. The channel receives a pinch clamp which is wider than the channel and has a fastening hole and an alignment means. The rail body is lowered onto the mounting surface of a mounting bracket adapted for rigid connection to a vehicle. The mounting surface defines another fastening hole and another portion of the alignment means. A fastener draws the pinch clamp and the mounting surface toward opposite sides of the opposing edges of the rail body. Because the pinch clamp spans the width of the channel and is aligned properly relative to the mounting surface, the rail body is secured between the clamp and the mounting surface by the tightened fastener.
US08152182B2
A pushchair for restraining, supporting and transporting a child comprises a ground-engaging frame to support a seat for a child. The frame includes a plurality of ground-engaging wheels to facilitate movement of the frame and one or more handles to allow a carer to control movement of the frame. The seat includes first and second seating components mounted on the frame to define a seat base and a seat back. Each seating component includes a closed frame over which a flexible membrane is stretched to define a support surface.
US08152177B1
A shopping cart has a forward end and an aft end and includes a base structure including wheels, a chassis supported on the wheels, and a basket attached to the chassis. The shopping cart also includes an accessory seat structure attached in articulated fashion to the base structure and including a seat base and at least one leg attached to the seat base. The seat base has a forward end and an aft end. The accessory seat structure is movable relative to the base structure between a stored position, in which the forward end of the seat base is positioned beneath the basket, and a deployed position, in which the seat base extends aft of the basket and is supported in a substantially horizontal orientation by the base structure at the forward end of the seat base and by the leg at the aft end of the seat base.
US08152166B2
A method of providing hybrid control of sheet transport modules in a processing device. The method includes setting velocity of a first sheet transport module of the processing device to a predetermined velocity value before transfer of a sheet from the first sheet transport module to a second sheet transport module of the processing device. The method further includes setting torque of the first sheet transport module to a torque value to control tension of the sheet to a first sheet tension value when the sheet transfers from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module.
US08152156B2
A rotation-body controlling apparatus including: a first motor configured to rotate a first rotation body; a second motor configured to rotate a second rotation body; a first rotation amount detecting portion configured to detect a rotation amount of the first rotation body rotated in synchronization with the first motor; a second rotation amount detecting portion configured to detect a rotation amount of a second rotation shaft rotated in synchronization with the second rotation body; a transmitting mechanism configured such that a rotation of the first rotation body is transmittable to the second rotation shaft; and an origin-position detecting portion configured to detect an origin position of a rotation phase of the first rotation body on the basis of a phase of the first rotation body at a time when the second rotation amount detecting portion has detected a rotation of the second rotation shaft, where the rotation of the first rotation body operated by the first motor is transmitted to the second rotation shaft via the transmitting mechanism.
US08152148B2
A device for positioning components, in particular for use in bodymaking of the motor vehicle industry, is provided with a rotatable receiving plate (1) for the components and a drive device for turning the receiving plate (1) about an axis of rotation (18), preferably arranged perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the receiving plate (1). A drive device is provided with a toggle clamping device (5) known per se, wherein a linear drive (6) is connected via a toggle lever to a swivel pin (16). The swivel pin (16) is positively and/or non-positively connected via a receptacle (15) to the receiving plate (1) and provides an adjustable swivelling movement of the receiving plate (1) into a locked, advanced end position.
US08152140B1
A flat belt clamping pulley securely clamps the end of a flat belt to the pulley without requiring fastener holes being provided through the end of the flat belt. The design of the flat belt clamping pulley enables the pulley to be economically constructed without requiring difficult or troublesome machining steps.
US08152134B2
A terminal valve having a cone (9) that communicates with a valve seat (10) of a seat ring (19) and cooperates with a veil (12) to control flow. The valve seat (10) and the veil (12) together form a sealing element, which seals against the cone (9) as well as the valve body (1). The cone (9) has a cylindrical portion (46) with slits (49, 50) that form a flow passage area which allows a flow that corresponds to a modified logarithmic function.
US08152133B2
A pneumatic pressure regulating valve, the opening of which can be automatically changed in a pressure-related manner, including a control diaphragm that is subjected to a reference pressure, to the gas pressure as well as to a governor spring, wherein a change in the differential pressure causes an adjustment of the control diaphragm and the latter itself or a closing element actuated by it changes the opening through an outflow cross-section, and wherein a structure that is arranged adjacent to the outflow cross-section on the diaphragm side forms a stop for the control diaphragm or for the closing element in the closed position of said control diaphragm. At least one preliminary stop is arranged in the pressure regulating valve such that, when the control diaphragm is moving in its closing direction, the control diaphragm or the closing element first comes into contact with the preliminary stop and that, when the control diaphragm is moving further in its closing direction, the control diaphragm or the closing element will then, while being subjected to elastic and flexible deformation or being further subjected to elastic and flexible deformation respectively, further reduces the opening and, in a final position, also comes into contact with the stop.
US08152130B1
An apparatus for baking a plurality of bore containing cookies for the insertion of a message post baking. One embodiment also provides for the simultaneous baking of flat cookies. The apparatus integrates a pan with wall slots, a mold having a plurality of shape makers each with an opening in one end, and a U-frame having a series of spaced aligned pins, the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of the openings of the plurality of shape makers. One embodiment provides for the simultaneous baking of flat cookies in spaces defined by adjacent and opposed shape makers. The mode of assembly of the components as part of a baking process and the formed cookies are also disclosed.
US08152124B2
An adjustable support arm for a vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a holder base adapted for mounting to the vehicle; a holder pivotally carried on the holder base; a pivot control unit included in the holder for engaging the holder base to resist rotation of the holder on the holder base; the pivot control unit including: a compression spring disposed within a retainer opening of the holder; a bushing carried on the compression spring for engaging a bearing surface in the retainer opening; and, a retainer carried in the retainer opening and coupled to the holder base to retain the compression spring and the bushing in the retainer opening, wherein the retainer is constructed and arranged to direct the bushing laterally against the bearing surface and the compression spring biases the bushing against the retainer in sliding engagement to resist rotation of the holder on the holder base.
US08152108B2
Apparatuses and methods for optimizing power generation of a solar array are disclosed. The bus voltage is regulated with a regulator controlled through one or more reference signals. When the power bus is being used by electrical systems that are tolerant of a higher variable voltage range, the bus voltage can be temporarily set higher by a commanded reference signal to allow additional solar array power to supply to the power bus. The peak power point may be identified through an established relationship with the solar array performance as a function of temperature, season and/or the age of the solar array. In addition, a reference signal controlled by one or more temperature sensors on the solar array may also modify the bus voltage set-point. Improved solar array power may be extracted from spacecraft beginning-of-life to end-of-life operations due to low insertion loss of a direct energy transfer scheme.
US08152105B2
A parachute packing system for facilitating insertion of a parachute canopy into a deployment receptacle or parachute receptacle includes an adjustable spring-like cylindrical sleeve that conforms to a “C”-shaped cross section, the sleeve member having rounded edges to prevent snagging of parachute material, and a gap defining a line passage slot within the cylindrical sleeve for passage of parachute suspension lines and bridle, and a pair of opposing deployment receptacle attachment points or knobs affixed to the outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve. Preferably, at least one of the receptacle attachment points or knobs engages a slotted track for sliding adjustment thereof, and a mechanism for reversibly locking the receptacle attachment point or knob within the slotted track. Optionally, the cylindrical sleeve includes an integral mat attachment hook, which runs across the bottom of the sleeve opening, for attachment to a packing mat made of non-slip rubberized material.
US08152099B2
A method of landing an aircraft having wheels includes causing the aircraft to land in a manner that causes the wheels to have a spin-up phase on contact with the landing surface during landing. A braking force is applied immediately after the wheels touch the runway so as to reduce, or delay the start of, the spin-up of the wheels. The braking force is, for example, applied using the same braking system as used conventionally to decelerate the aeroplane on landing. The peaks, over time, of the vertical wheel to ground loads (LV) and the horizontal drag loads (LH) caused by friction between the tires of the wheels of the aircraft and the ground can be decoupled, or separated, such that the maximum total load,owing to the combination of the vertical loads (LV) and the drag loads (LH), sustained by the aircraft during landing is reduced (compared with peak 8).
US08152089B2
According to the disclosed is a method for controlling taper tension in the winding section of a web handling system, a more stable, high-quality wound roll can be produced by stabilizing radial stress distribution and minimizing telescoping, which is the lateral displacement of material in the winding section, using either hybrid taper tension control through a hybrid factor (α) or heaviside taper tension control through a heaviside factor (φ), in the winding process, which is the final section of the roll-to-roll or web handling system.
US08152085B2
A crusher is provided that can stably crush various information media, such as paper, magnetic recording media including cassette tapes and the like, optical recording media, and substrates, and the like, and has excellent maintainability.Hammer members 29 that extend from a rotation shaft 45 in a radial direction and rotate with a rotation of the rotation shaft 45 are housed in a casing 21 that includes an upper loading opening 22 for loading an object to be crushed and a lower discharge opening 23 for discharging a crushed object. Fixed blades 47 are arranged within the casing 21 on an outer diameter side of the hammer members. The hammer members 29 and the fixed blades 47 crush the object to be crushed when the hammer members 29 are rotated. A guide path 20 that that guides the object to be crushed that is loaded from the upper loading opening 22 into a crushing chamber 26 in which the object to be crushed is crushed by the hammer members 29 and the fixed blades 47 is provided within the casing 21. Guide bodies 75 that lift the object to be crushed towards the crushing chamber 26 side are provided on a downstream side of the guide path 20.
US08152078B2
A faucet spray head or gun body arrangement, including a spray gun body, a spray gun press handle, a spray gun inner core tube and control means, the spray gun press handle being movably fixed on the spray gun body, the spray gun inner core tube being disposed in the spray gun body, and the control means engaging with the spray gun inner core tube and the spray gun press handle, wherein two outlet waterways are provided in the spray gun inner core tube, and the control means is provided with a movable central pin controlling and shifting the two outlet waterways of the spray gun inner core tube.
US08152077B2
A flat pump for producing liquid spray or for producing an atomized liquid stream may have a thickness of 6 millimeters or less. The flat pump may include an internal reservoir, a valve, a valve conduit and a vortex chamber wherein fluid from the reservoir may be pumped through the valve, along the valve conduit, and into the vortex chamber. An atomized liquid stream, spray, or mist formed in the vortex chamber may be expelled from the flat pump.
US08152074B1
A multi-application smart card may be personalized by receiving a smart card request, preparing an anonymous smart card having multiple user applications that are disabled for uses requiring a link to an identified user and enabled for uses not requiring a link to an identified user, and issuing the anonymous smart card to a user.
US08152067B2
Systems and methods for utilizing time-dependent markings in systems including a mail delivery system for utilizing time-limited business reply mail are described. A business reply mail authorization permit is applied to a business reply mail piece using a time-dependent marking such as time-dependent ink. After the time-dependent ink changes state, the mail piece is no longer marked as an authorized business reply mail piece.
US08152066B2
Embodiments related to methods and systems for determining support for a memory card, where the memory card is accessible to a card reader and the card reader is in communication with an accessing device. One embodiment relates to a method comprising: a) transmitting a session request from the accessing device to the memory card via the card reader; b) receiving a first response to the session request from the memory card, the first response comprising first data related to a type of the memory card; c) determining at the accessing device that the memory card type is not recognized by any of a plurality of card drivers on the accessing device, based on the first data; d) for a selected one of the plurality of card drivers, transmitting a test command to the memory card, the test command being specific to a selected card type; e) receiving at the selected card driver a second response to the test command; and f) determining from the second response whether the selected card type corresponds to the memory card type and is supported by the selected card driver.
US08152061B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for processing closed loop cards/codes. The method includes identifying a closed loop card/code having associated money in an account, receiving a confirmation of an amount of money in the closed loop card/code account, presenting an owner of the closed loop card/code with the amount of money in the closed loop card/code account and an offer to pay an offer amount for the closed loop card/code, receiving an indication that the owner accepts the offer, receiving the amount of money from the closed loop card/code account, and paying the owner the offer amount. Payment can be on an open loop card/code, cash, automated clearing house (ACH) to bank, check, merchant credit, or bill pay. The method can include generating a new closed loop card/code associated with the amount of money. The new closed loop card/code can be sold to another user.
US08152055B2
A banking system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to card data read from data bearing records by a card reader. The system includes at least one automated banking machine comprising a cash dispenser. The system is operative during a cash dispense transaction request to receive through an automated banking machine, user input of data corresponding to a mobile phone number. The system is operative to generate a security code for the requested cash dispense transaction. The system uses the phone number to send the generated security code to the mobile phone. The cash dispense transaction is allowed to proceed only if the system receives machine user input of the sent security code within a predetermined amount of time.
US08152054B2
The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.
US08152052B2
A multiple punch and multiple die assembly has a workpiece protector as a punch lifter that is operatively associated with each punch for supporting each of the punches in an inactive position as an active punch is moved by the ram to the active, i.e. operating position to thereby eliminate scoring or marking of the sheet material or other workpiece that is being punched. To eliminate the need for hand tools and hand assembly or disassembly, a manually moveable retainer on the punch assembly is provided that can be moved by hand between a punch-releasing and punch-retaining position for holding the punches within the multi-punch assembly during operation. To prevent stress fractures that formerly occurred in die carriers, support of each die is distributed between two different die components thereby reducing impact stress on the carrier as the ram drives the punch through the workpiece.
US08152049B2
The present invention aims at providing an electronic component mounting apparatus and an electronic component mounting method that perform automated setting of a thickness of a paste film.The electronic component mounting apparatus of the present invention has a paste transfer unit 10 that horizontally, relatively moves a squeegee 11b and a transfer surface 13 with respect to each other, thereby spreading, over the transfer surface 13, a paste film 3 whose thickness is equivalent to the height of a squeegee gap “c” formed from clearance between the squeegee 11b and the transfer surface 13; a storage unit 18 that stores a database defining correlation among bump heights, paste types, and squeegee-gap heights; a computing unit 20 that derives, from the database, a squeegee-gap height G21 in correspondence with a height H1 of a bump of an electronic component to be mounted and a type P2 of paste to be transferred; and a vertical movement mechanism 16b that adjusts the height of the squeegee gap “c” formed from clearance between the squeegee 11b and the transfer surface 13 to a derived squeegee-gap height.
US08152047B2
An aluminum heat exchanger having increased resistance to galvanic corrosion. The exterior of one end of the aluminum tube or connector is coated with a metal or metal alloy. This end is brazed onto a copper or copper alloy inlet or outlet tube. The metal or metal alloy coating inhibits the formation of galvanic corrosion.
US08152046B2
A method of forming a conductive bump is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) bonding a free air ball to a bonding location using a bonding tool to form a bonded ball; (2) raising the bonding tool to a desired height, with a wire clamp open, while paying out wire continuous with the bonded ball; (3) closing the wire clamp; (4) lowering the bonding tool to a smoothing height with the wire clamp still closed; (5) smoothing an upper surface of the bonded ball, with the wire clamp still closed, using the bonding tool; and (6) raising the bonding tool, with the wire clamp still closed, to separate the bonded ball from wire engaged with the bonding tool.
US08152045B2
A method for batch brazing jet stacks in a diffusion furnace. The method may include inserting fusible parts into slots of quartz boats and transporting the quartz boats into an interior of a reaction chamber of a diffusion furnace. An operator may seal the interior of the reaction chamber and an atmosphere of the interior of the reaction chamber may be adjusted according to a brazing recipe. A preheated furnace heating element may be moved toward the reaction chamber to increase a temperature and the fusible parts may be brazed according to the brazing recipe. The furnace heating element may then be moved away from the reaction chamber, the chamber unsealed, and the brazed parts removed.
US08152039B2
A recess filling apparatus forms part of, or is for use with, a tool for driving a multiplicity of fixing elements into a work surface. The apparatus utilizes a dispensing strip defining a multiplicity of chambers containing filler material, each chamber containing sufficient filler material for use with a single fixing element. The apparatus comprises means to support the dispensing strip, and means for locating a chamber that contains filler material in or adjacent to the path of a fixing element, and for advancing the dispensing strip prior to driving the next fixing element.
US08152028B2
An activation and fluidification system (100) for granular material silos (101) or containers, comprising a plurality of fine adjustment firing valves (102) comprising discharge limiters to limit the discharge of a pressurized aeriform from an initial pressure to a predetermined final pressure lower than the initial pressure, and connected to the silo (101), the system comprising a tubular network (103) for storing pressurized aeriform at the initial pressure, and to which the plurality of valves (102) are connected.
US08152025B2
A self-contained mixing and dispensing container having at least two chambers, includes a valving combination of two oppositely installed one-way valves by which fluid may be transferred from one chamber to another by deforming one chamber. One of the valves permits the transfer of fluid and the other valve, communicates with the ambient atmosphere, to permit air into the deformed chamber to replace the removed fluid.
US08152024B2
A drip tray is attached to a beverage dispenser below a splash panel of the dispenser by a releasable latching mechanism that permits the drip tray to be removed from and replaced on the dispenser while the splash panel remains in place on the dispenser.
US08152020B2
A container for dispensing dosages of multiple medications over time. The present invention includes a container which has a plurality of compartments each configured to contain a plurality of dosages of a different medication. A rotatable lid is attached on top of the container such that an opening in the lid may be selectively positioned in fluid communication with each of the plurality of compartments. A lid position detection device is provided for identifying which of the compartments the opening is presently addressing. A programmable computing device is provided to track dosages administered from each of the plurality of compartments. A display, controlled by the programmable computing device, conveys information regarding the medication contained within a selected compartment.
US08152019B1
Snapable narrow width rectangular dust pans that can easily clip about a flat side outer edge of the open end of a refuse containers having curved or flat side open rim edges. The dust pans can be used as adapters, systems, devices, apparatus, and include novel methods of converting refuse containers into dust pans refuse containers. The receptacles and the dust pans can be formed from molded plastic. The receptacles include an open upper end with a D-shaped configuration and a closed bottom end with a substantially circular bottom configuration. The receptacles can have a generally cylindrical shape and a flat side wall having a triangular tubular shape for allowing the receptacle to be laid on its side so that rakes and brooms can move debris fully into the D-shaped opening with ease. At least one handle located on the apex of the D-shaped opening allows the container to be easily lifted to a vertical standing position, and curved interior wall surfaces allow debris to easily slide toward the bottom of the container. Embodiments allow for different sizes of container, and extras such as lids, wheels and supports for tools. such as but not limited to rakes, hoes, and shovels to be carried and stored by the receptacles.
US08152013B2
A wall-mounting block or frame is used to mount fixtures to exterior building walls having siding. The wall-mounting block includes two major parts, a first or base section and a second or holding section which are both configured as cap-like structures detachably connected to each other with integrated, adjustable connectors. The present design eliminates the need for special hardware to attach the holding section to the base section, and helps prevent awkward mounting situations.
US08152012B1
A handle for gripping a container includes a circumferential portion and a plurality of arm portions. The circumferential portion defines an opening configured to receive therethrough, along an axis of the opening, a container such that the circumferential portion surrounds and grips the container in an interference fit therewith. A plurality of arm portions integral with the circumferential portion extend therefrom in a radial direction relative to the axis of the opening of the circumferential portion. Each of the plurality of arm portions defines an opening configured to receive therethrough one or more fingers of hand for gripping engagement of the handle by the hand, whereby the arm portion defines a handle grip for handling the container.
US08152000B2
A secure electronic equipment rack with horizontal side panels on which components are mounted vertically. The side panels of the rack are shorter than the depth of components to be mounted, thus allowing space to be saved. The rack can include tamper resistance by adding baffling of ventilation areas, for example in both top and bottom vent patterns, and can be designed to be assembled in an overlapping fashion which allows no exposed hardware with the last piece to be assembled being the first to be removed in sequence.
US08151996B2
Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.
US08151994B2
A vibratory separator including a frame, a screen configured to connect to the frame, a first actuator coupled to the frame, and a second actuator coupled to the frame, wherein the first actuator imparts a high frequency motion to the frame, and wherein the second actuator imparts a low frequency acceleratory motion to the frame is disclosed. Also, a method for processing drilling waste including imparting a low frequency acceleratory motion to a frame of a vibratory separator and imparting a high frequency motion over the low frequency acceleratory motion is also disclosed.
US08151993B2
A vehicle for separating a mixed debris stream is disclosed. The vehicle may include an elongate vehicle frame; a separating structure mounted on the vehicle frame and configured to contact the mixed debris stream with a fluid stream to separate the mixed debris stream into at least a first debris stream and a second debris stream; a first conveyor; a second conveyor; and a fluid collection structure configured to receive fluid from at least one of the separating structure, the first conveyor, and the second conveyor, the fluid collection structure including an upper tank, a lower tank, and one or more conduits fluidly connecting the upper and lower tanks, wherein the one or more conduits are free from a valve configured to regulate flow from the upper tank toward the lower tank.
US08151986B1
A tool box includes: a first casing having a receiving space, a first horizontal slot and a first arcuate slot being formed on an outer face of a first left board section of the first casing, a second horizontal slot and a second arcuate slot being formed on an outer face of a first right board section of the first casing; a locating seat having multiple receiving holes and pivotally disposed in the receiving space; and a second casing. A first and a second raised sections are disposed on an inner face of a second left board section of the second casing. A third and a fourth raised sections are disposed on an inner face of a second right board section of the second casing. The first and second raised sections are engaged in the first horizontal slot and the third and fourth raised sections are engaged in the second horizontal slot.
US08151982B2
Protective coverings suitable for protecting and housing electronic devices such as a KINDLE™ ebook reader or an APPLE™ iPAD™ tablet are disclosed. Methods of making and using protective coverings are also disclosed.
US08151977B2
An endless conveyor chain assembly (10) includes two piece enclosed curved track sections (15) having curved sections (15) for the passage therethrough of a series of conveyor chain links (12). Outer race (18) of the curved track sections (15) include an impervious horizontal bottom wall (22) that is U-shaped in cross section for retaining any lubricants or other liquids or debris. Inner race (20) with a wear strip (44) attached thereto is removable from the outer race (18) without having to cut the curved conveyor track sections (15) from the track and without having to remove the conveyor chain from the track when performing maintenance to the conveyor chain assembly.
US08151974B2
A linear axle for contactless energy transmission has a belt with an electrical conductor, a movable carriage and a circuit that is movable with the carriage and which is electrically connected with the conductor. In addition, a locationally fixed circuit and an inductive coupling device are provided to inductively couple electrical energy from the locationally fixed circuit into the conductor of the belt.
US08151973B2
Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
US08151971B2
An apparatus or device is described for forming a continuous and cadenced flow of groups of rolls of paper or other products, coming from the production line or from pre-packaging lines, and rotated by a carousel with horizontal shaft of rotation. The carousel is provided with the blades of L-shaped stalls which pass cyclically and in the right phase between and underneath pairs of supports, to raise the products positioned thereon and set them on a horizontal conveyor. The stalls are controlled to rotate with respect to the carousel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the carousel to avoid interference with the products once the products are placed on the horizontal conveyor.
US08151965B2
A clutch arrangement having an input element and an output element that are rotatable relevant to one another, a friction clutch and a pump. The friction clutch couples the input element with the output element in dependence on a hydraulic pressure in a pressure space of the clutch arrangement. The pump has a first pump part that is rotationally fixedly connected to the input element and a second pump part that is rotationally fixedly connected to the output element. The pump may be driven by a rotary movement of the input element and the output element relative to one another, with a pressure side of the pump being connected to the pressure space. An orifice having a substantially temperature independent leakage characteristic is arranged in a leakage line that leads from the pressure space to a low pressure space and which extends parallel to the pump.
US08151964B2
In a multiple disc clutch apparatus 10, a cam member 41 which is disposed on a side of a clutch inner member 16 is formed into an annular shape. The cam member 41 extends in a radial direction so that an outer circumferential surface of the cam member 41 is brought into abutment with a cylindrical face 19d on an inner circumferential surface of a clutch center member 19.
US08151960B2
The present invention relates to a method for moment transmission, preferably torque transmission, between a first object (4) and a second object (5) that are separated by a gap (g), the method comprising the arranging in said gap (g) of a force-transmitting device (1) that comprises at least one flexible element (3A, 3B) and a plurality of force-transmitting elements (2) that are not part of the flexible element (3A, 3B) but are arranged at said flexible element (3A, 3B), which force-transmitting elements (2) are arranged to have a maximum cross-sectional dimension (amax) that is larger than the gap (g) and another cross-sectional dimension (a) that is smaller than the gap (g), in order by friction by wedge-action to transmit moments between said first object (4) and said second object (5), said elements (2) being arranged to have a design and an attachment at said flexible element (3A, 3B) that without external influence of said device (1) enable transmission of force in two opposite directions. The invention also comprises such a device.
US08151945B2
A brake apparatus for a bicycle includes a finger member; a first am comprising a cable adjuster with a brake cable securely passing through, and a first brake pad; a first pivot for pivotably securing the first arm and one end of the finger member to a frame of the bicycle; a pivot member pivotably secured to the other end of the finger member and comprising a second brake pad and a bifurcation; a second arm having an extension proximate to one end and the other end secured to one end of the brake cable; a second pivot for pivotably securing the bifurcation and one end of the second arm and together; a spring depressible cam lever pivotably mounted in the bifurcation, the cam lever being pressed by the extending end of the second arm and comprising an actuation projection; and a fastener adjacent the cam lever.
US08151944B2
A system and device for estimating an amount of time needed for a vehicle brake assembly to cool to a predetermined temperature includes a first input for receiving data indicative of a temperature of the brake assembly, a second input for receiving data indicative of at least one environmental condition that affects cooling of said brake assembly, a processor and memory, and logic stored in said memory and executable by said processor. The logic stored in memory includes logic that simulates a temperature response of the brake assembly based on the brake assembly temperature and the at least one environmental condition.
US08151943B2
A method of controlling an intelligent destination elevator control system streamlines the control of two or more destination elevators. Operations of a group of destination elevators are monitored to gain experience about how the population is served by the group of destination elevators that serves a building or a building zone. The analysis of measured and/or modeled data and conditions with data about traffic patterns and traffic characteristics enables the system to dynamically control the destination elevators. The system may enhance passengers' experience through efficiency and/or with an improved comfort level.
US08151936B2
An access ladder for an access hole in a building includes a plurality of sections which telescope relative to each other between an extended position, where the sections define a plane and a user can climb the sections, and a retracted position where the sections are folded on each other. Several of the sections have a least one step which preferably moves between an unfolded position where the user can stand on the step when the sections are in the extended position, and a folded position when the sections are in the retracted position. Each section slides relative to another section of the plurality of sections which it is in contact in order for the sections to telescope. A method for using an access ladder attached to an end of an access hole of a building.
US08151925B2
A two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The two-wheeled vehicle may include a passenger hand grip which is stowable under a straddle seat of the vehicle. The two-wheeled vehicle may include saddlebags having an open bottom.
US08151910B2
A bidirectional drilling jar, capable of repeated unidirectional firing, including a sliding assembly that is disposed in a sliding relation to the interior of a barrel assembly. A portion of the inner diameter of the barrel assembly forms a restricted barrel segment. The restriction intermediate an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A metering system comprising an upper flange a meter valve, and a lower flange. The meter valve slideably disposed on the sliding assembly between the upper and lower flanges. The metering system travels between the upper chamber and the lower chamber providing limited, controlled flow of the fluid contained therein when passing through the restriction in order to pressurize the system and produce a jarring stroke. Alternatively, the metering system comprises an upper flange, a meter ring, a meter valve, and a lower flange. The meter valve and meter ring are slideably disposed on the sliding assembly intermediate the upper and lower flanges.
US08151908B2
An exemplary embodiment of the jet motor includes a control sleeve, and power shaft having at least one opening thereon. The power shaft is rotatable in relation to the control sleeve. The power shaft has a central longitudinal shaft axis and upper and lower ends. The at least one opening in the power shaft generates rotational torque when acting in cooperation with the control sleeve. The jet motor connects to a member that is in fluid communication with the source of drilling or cleaning fluid. Drilling or cleaning fluid pressure is directed to the at least one opening in the power shaft. The power shaft having at least one opening having an opening axis and an interior opening. The at least one opening may be acutely oriented with respect to a plane extending along the power shaft's central longitudinal axis wherein the plane intersects the opening axis at the interior opening. The at least one opening may be oriented toward the upper end of the power shaft to provide downward force. An alternative embodiment with a drill bit functionally connected to the power shaft wherein the drill bit contains drill bit nozzles that provide both rotational and forward force when a fluid is passed therethrough.
US08151898B2
A wildfire suppressor made from a composite mixture bonded by a resin. The suppressor may be cylindrically shaped so that it wraps around a wooden utility pole or it may be a flat sheet adapted to be used under shingles or siding on a house or other suitable building. The fire suppressor comprises two layers. The first layer is adapted to reflect heat and is located on the outer portion of the sheet. The second layer is located closer to the object being protected. Above a certain predetermined temperature the second layer undergoes a chemical reaction to help protect the pole, building, or other object being protected.
US08151897B1
An extended coverage sidewall automatic fire sprinkler includes a generally tubular body with a central passageway and a central axis. One end of the passageway forms an outlet at one end of the tubular body. A closure at the one end of the tubular body at least essentially generally closes the passageway. A trigger positioned to releasably retain the closure at the outlet closes the passageway. A deflector at a discharge end of the sprinkler is coupled with the tubular body facing and spaced axially away from the outlet and intersects the central axis. The tubular body has a K factor greater than 9. The deflector is shaped and positioned to transform water discharged horizontally from the outlet upon release of the closure by the trigger into a spray pattern of water droplets dispersed over a generally horizontal, generally rectangularly-shaped extended coverage are of more than one hundred square feet located on one side of the sprinkler in an amount and with a distribution effective to control an ordinary hazard fire in the coverage area.
US08151891B1
A formation saver sub or pump out sub incorporating an anti-surge feature. The sub includes a body, a mandrel, a piston (or an annulus fluid pressure chamber and a tubular pressure chamber), a sleeve, a spring, a releasable seat, and a plug. The plug and seat are released from the sub when one or more dogs releasably positioning the seat in the mandrel bore disengages from the seat due to a bleed off of fluid pressure in the well bore.
US08151890B2
A modular tree production tree assembly reduces the weight during transfer of the tree components from a barge to a production rig. The tree assembly includes an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module. The upper tree module has a tree head, the lower tree module has a guidance system and ties in the flow lines to the in-field infrastructure, and the choke bridge module has the choke and instrumentation bridge to link the three components together. Prior to delivery to the rig, the components of the modular tree assembly may be joined together and tested on shore. Upon arrival at the rig, the components are individually lifted from the barge onto the rig by a crane. After the tree components are on the rig, the modular tree is reassembled and then deployed to the sea floor via the draw works.
US08151888B2
A well tool with combined actuation of multiple valves. A well tool includes at least two valves and an actuator which actuates each of the valves, one valve being positioned longitudinally between the other valve and the actuator, and the other valve being operable in response to displacement of an operating device by the actuator. Another well tool includes a valve with a closure which displaces when the valve is operated, a volume of a chamber which increases and a volume of another chamber which decreases when the closure displaces, and a pressure differential between the chambers being substantially zero when the closure displaces. Another well tool includes at least two valve closures which are the only displaceable components of the well tool exposed to a first internal flow passage portion when one closure prevents fluid communication between the first and a second internal flow passage portions.
US08151884B2
A method for producing hydrocarbons from subsurface formations at different depths is first provided. In one aspect, the method includes the step of heating organic-rich rock, in situ, within a subsurface formation at a first depth. The result of the heating step is that at least a portion of the organic-rich rock is pyrolyzed into hydrocarbon fluids. Preferably, the organic-rich rock of the subsurface formation of the first depth is oil shale. The method also includes providing at least one substantially unheated zone within the formation of the first depth. In this way, the organic-rich rock in that zone is left substantially unpyrolyzed. The method further includes drilling at least one production well through the unheated zone, and completing the at least one production well in a subsurface formation at a second depth that is deeper than the first depth. Thereafter, hydrocarbon fluids are produced through the at least one production well.
US08151880B2
A method for producing alkylated hydrocarbons is disclosed. Formation fluid is produced from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process. The formation fluid is separated to produce a liquid stream and a first gas stream. The first gas stream includes olefins. The liquid stream is fractionated to produce at least a second gas stream including hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3. The first gas stream and the second gas stream are introduced into an alkylation unit to produce alkylated hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the olefins in the first gas stream enhance alkylation. The alkylated hydrocarbons may be blended with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.
US08151875B2
A screen assembly includes a tubular having one or more openings therein. A screen disposed about the tubular. The one or more devices disposed within the one or more openings. The devices each include a beaded matrix and a housing. Also included is a method for completing a wellbore with a sand screen.
US08151858B2
Each of two tracks are in an inverted L-shaped configuration and have a vertical section and a horizontal section. A single panel garage door is mounted for movement in the tracks between a closed orientation between the vertical sections and an open orientation between the horizontal sections. A rectangular portal is positioned within the garage door. Major screening in the garage door is at locations remote from the portal. A screen door within the portal is moveable between a closed orientation over the portal and an open orientation remote from the portal.
US08151843B2
A pneumatic tire 1 according to the invention has bead portions 11, 12 including bead cores 11a, 12a, and at least a carcass layer 13 and a tread portion 16 arranged, wherein in a section in a tire-width direction, assuming as a reference a tire centerline CL making right angles with a bead line BL interconnecting a center of the bead core 11a and a center of the bead core 12a, and passing a center of the bead line BL, an outer ground-contact area 20B is wider by 5 to 15% than an inner ground-contact area 20B, and wherein in the section in the tire-width direction, a carcass periphery length as a distance along a carcass centerline CaL from a crossing point P to an approach point P2 is longer by 0.5 mm to 10 mm than a carcass periphery length Ca as a distance from the crossing point P to an approach point P1.
US08151841B2
A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion on each side of the equatorial plane. At least two circumferential main grooves and three land portions are formed in the tread portion. In a cross section in a meridian direction of the pneumatic tire, profile lines of the land portions form arcs, and an intersection of extension lines of profile lines of adjacent land portions forms an inflection point in a circumferential main groove. Tensile strength of a reinforcing layer in the land portions is larger than that in the circumferential main groove having the inflection points.
US08151835B2
An automated medication preparation system for delivering a dosage of medication to a drug delivery bag having a fill port through which the medication is delivered into the bag includes an automated transport device for controllably delivering each drug delivery bag from one location to another location via a driven member. The system has a carrier that releasably captures and holds a portion of the bag and orients each bag such that the fill port of each bag is positioned at a uniform location relative to the carrier. The carrier is coupled to the transport device such that movement of the driven member is translated into movement of the carrier and the captured drug delivery bag. An automated drug delivery device is part of the system and includes a drug delivery member that sealingly mates with the fill port for delivering the dosage of medication to the bag. A controller is in communication with the automated transport device for moving the automated transport device in an indexed manner, including moving the carrier to a fill location where the fill port and the drug delivery member are aligned to permit the sealed mating between the two and transfer of the dosage of medication.
US08151831B2
Containers for packaging liquid or powder products are directed onto a carousel (1) presenting a support element (9) equipped with a number of peripheral stations (10), each accommodating a relative container (2), and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by a drive system (6) housed internally of floor-standing frame (5) on which the carousel (1) is mounted. The support element (9) presents substantially disc-like appearance and is hollow, composed of a top panel (11) and a bottom panel (12) distanced one from another in such a way as to create an annular chamber (13) between the two panels.
US08151827B2
In an existing pipe rehabilitating method according to an embodiment, a profile strip (2) for lining an existing pipe (10) is shaped using a thermoplastic resin, joint portions (21) are provided at both end portions in a width direction of the profile strip, and the profile strip (2) is inserted into the existing pipe (10) and is helically wound in the existing pipe (10). The joint portions (21) of adjacent windings of the profile strip (2) are interlocked with each other, thereby forming a rehabilitating pipe (20). Also, the profile strip (2) of the rehabilitating pipe (20) is deformed by a heating step in which the profile strip (2) is subjected to a heating process so as to conform a shape of a curved portion (13) of the existing pipe (10), thereby integrating the profile strip (2) with an inner peripheral surface of the curved portion (13) of the existing pipe (10).
US08151815B2
A solenoid valve control apparatus has a solenoid valve having first and second solenoid valves that output first and second solenoid pressures respectively, a pressure regulation valve that works with the first and second solenoid pressures being working signal pressures, and a foreign matter removal controller that removes a foreign matter that adheres to a valve open/close portion of the solenoid valve. Each of the first and second solenoid valves has a solenoid coil that drives a plunger inside the solenoid valve in accordance with an application current. The foreign matter removal controller is configured so that when applying the rectangular-wave current, which performs a reciprocating movement of the plunger and removes the foreign matter, to the solenoid coil of one solenoid valve of the first and second solenoid valves, a current application to the solenoid coil of the other solenoid valve, by which the solenoid pressure becomes a maximum pressure range, is maintained.
US08151812B2
A sit down and stand up walker for assisting a user during walking and when not walking in a standing, partially standing or sitting positions with partial or full weight bearing support and with means to change from standing, partially standing to sitting positions with partial weight bearing support to a fixed elevation with full weight bearing support in any varied or repeated sequence. The partial or full weight bearing means supports a seat assembly which includes a seat and front body support with adjustable positioning to provide pelvic stability. The angle of the seat assembly relative to a flat ground surface is maintained at any elevation of the seat assembly between a standing and sitting position. The weight bearing means is responsive to the variable force supplied by the user as the user walks, stands or sits allowing the seat assembly to move up or down. The weight bearing means in a preferred embodiment is an enclosed gas spring cylinder with piston rod that can be locked at differing elevations or released to respond to a user's body force as the user walks, stands or sits. The walker is intended to be moved without the user's hands holding onto the frame thereby promoting a normal gait and posture. The walker enables the user to expend less energy as the body's center of gravity with partial or full weight bearing support rises and falls with each stride. The walker facilitates transfers from a sitting to standing positions and vice versa by the user independently without the intervention of caregivers.
US08151807B2
A brush assembly with an applicator rod, a brush sleeve with a tubular core member and a plurality of bristles, a rod hole in the distal end of the applicator rod, and a rivet for being received into the rod hole to retain the brush sleeve. A peripheral retaining wall can retain and protect a proximal end of the brush sleeve. The brush sleeve can have radially projecting, diamond-shaped bristles and can be slidably received over a body portion of the rivet or over a support stem forming a distal portion of the applicator rod. The body portion of the rivet or the support stem can have a non-circular cross section or an arcuate longitudinal profile to induce the brush sleeve to have the non-circular cross section or acruate longitudinal profile. A method for producing brush assemblies can produce brush assemblies with brush sleeves of varied cross sections.
US08151803B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a smoking appliance which can heat a filter medium for eliminating particulate phase components in tobacco smoke to a desired temperature precisely as well as can ensure safety for the smoker. According to the present invention, there is provided a smoking appliance including a holder having a through hole serving as a smoke passage, which detachably holds a filter medium in a middle of the smoke passage, a heater attached to the holder at a location upstream to the filter medium, a heat insulator attached to the holder at a location upstream to the heater, and a metal plate which covers surfaces of the heater facing the filter medium and the smoke passage.
US08151796B2
The inflatable harness crew mask includes an inflatable harness with a compressed gas supply system connected to the inflatable harness independent of oxygen supplied to the mask from an oxygen regulator. The mask includes a valve connector with an exhalation and inhalation valve and an inflation valve connected to a pressurized gas inflation supply assembly including a container portion for a compressed gas cartridge, and a regulator portion connected to provide pressurized gas from the cartridge to an inflation gas supply tube connected to the inflation valve, which is manually operable by the user.
US08151794B2
Ventilator circuit aerosol delivery systems used to administer medication to a patient are disclosed. In one implementation, a metered dose inhaler (“MDI”) ventilator assembly may include a housing that defines an interior space, an inhalation port that defines an inhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, an exhalation port that defines an exhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, a patient port that defines a patient passageway in communication with the interior space, and a MDI receptacle positioned on the housing and in communication with the interior space. The MDI receptacle is operative to receive a MDI container and dispense an aerosolized medication within the MID container into the interior space so that during inhalation, an inhalation flow including the aerosolized medication may flow through the inhalation port, the interior space, and the patient port. Conversely, during exhalation, gases, moisture, condensation, and/or mucus expelled from the patient flow through the patient port, the interior space, and the exhalation port.
US08151788B2
The invention concerns a wall or roof of a building, wherein at least one heat controlling element for controlling a temperature in the building is arranged in the wall or the roof to form a segment of the wall or roof, the heat controlling element comprising at least a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a heat collecting and storing material and the second section comprising a heat insulating material, wherein the heat controlling element may adopt a first configuration, in which the first section is directed towards the outside of the building and the second section is directed towards the inside of the building, and a second configuration, in which the second section is directed towards the outside of the building and the first section is directed towards the inside of the building.
US08151786B2
A gas cooking appliance for cooking a food item, such as a turkey, in a cooking vessel having a bottom surface, such as a pot, the gas cooking appliance configured to be connected to a gas source for permitting a flow of gas to the gas cooking appliance, the appliance having a sensor configured to engage a shielded portion of the bottom surface of the cooking vessel and to shut off or reduce the flow of gas to the appliance in the event that the shielded portion exceeds a predetermined temperature.
US08151785B2
A stove (or range) burner guard attached to the front of a gas or electrical stove (or range) by fastening a guard panel through two vertical slots to a clamping body that is attached to the oven door handle. The height of the guard panel is adjustable by sliding the guard panel through the vertical slots. The guard prevents young children from reaching the burners, control knobs and cookware on the stovetop. The guard can be installed, adjusted or removed quickly and easily.
US08151784B2
A portable grill is described. The portable grill has a grill member, a frame, and a support arm. The frame supports the portable grill on a support surface. The support arm extends outwardly from the frame. The support arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is joined to the grill member. The proximal end is pivotally joined to the frame forming a fulcrum therewith. The support arm is pivotable about the fulcrum to raise and lower the grill member relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member substantially level.
US08151776B2
A blow-by gas introducing passage having a blow-by gas inlet port, an air-cleaner-side breather passage that extends upwardly as branched from the blow-by gas introducing passage so as to communicate with an intake system, and a case-side breather passage that extends downwardly as branched from the blow-by gas introducing passage so as to communicate with an oil chamber are provided to an inner surface of a side cover that is detachably mounted to a timing-gear chamber communicating with a crank chamber. The blow-by gas introducing passage, the air-cleaner-side breather passage, and the case-side breather passage are formed integral with the side cover.
US08151772B2
A supercharged internal combustion engine is disclosed which includes a supercharger operatively connected to the crankshaft via a clutch supported by an intermediate shaft such that torque variations are partially absorbed by the clutch.
US08151769B2
A method of manufacturing and assembling a carbon canister for a fuel vapor management system of a vehicle includes injection molding a housing partially defining a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a baffle. The housing includes a first wall defining an interface between the first and second chambers and a second wall with a portion of the second wall defining an interface between the second chamber and the baffle with apertures proximate a first side of the housing. The method may include injection molding first and second retention plates, filling first, second, and third chambers with carbon pellets, installing the first retention plate into the second side of the housing proximate the first and second chambers to enclose the carbon pellets, and installing the second retention plate into the second side proximate the third chamber to enclose the carbon pellets in the third chamber.
US08151761B2
A vehicle engine with integrated intake valve and fuel injector is provided. An intake valve is housed in an intake valve body which is provided with a valve seat face. A fuel passage is positioned at the valve seat face toward a spark plug. Further, a valve stem is disposed at the intake valve at a position above the valve seat. The valve stem can be in fluid communication with an intake valve guide and a high pressure tube. With the integrated intake valve and fuel injector, e.g., high level of charge homogeneity can be achieved in a simple manner.
US08151744B2
Embodiments described herein include a method for converting free-piston linear motion to rotary motion, comprising: providing a free-piston generator or motor/generator that includes one or more pistons; and, for each piston, a surface is provided defining a helical channel, wherein the piston is rotated in a single direction through the helical channel.
US08151738B1
An apparatus for restraining a pet. The apparatus includes a sphere having a weighted center and a chain attached to the sphere and a collar worn by the pet. The chain allows the sphere to hang from the pet. Thus, the movement of the pet is restricted by the added weight of the sphere. Preferably, the sphere includes at least two bars affixed to an outer surface of the sphere. In addition, the chain preferably includes at least two chain extensions. Each extension of the chain is attached to each of the bar. In addition, the chain is of a sufficient length to allow the sphere to roll upon the ground. The sphere may be constructed of a rubberized material. In addition, the chain may be covered by a fabric material.
US08151737B1
A pet leash includes an elongated shaft formed of an inner core of bendable but extremely resilient tubing similar to that used to construct certain tent frames. The tubing is encapsulated by a cylindrical foam layer and an outer hollow sleeve that minimize impact with surrounding objects when the shaft is flexed and suddenly released. At an upper end of the shaft is a handle formed of a length-adjustable strap with a loop attached thereto. A clip at the lower end of the shaft is releasably securable to either a pet collar or an adjustable yoke. The resilient-but-flexible shaft easily bends around trees and similar obstructions but returns to an original, linear configuration when a stressing force is removed to prevent entangling.
US08151736B2
A process and apparatus for restraining an animal involves urging a spool containing a flexible tension link connectable to the animal, to retract the flexible tension link into a housing. Movement of the spool in a direction associated with retraction disengages a brake urged into braking engagement with the spool, and causes the brake to engage with a lock to lock the brake in an disengaged position. The flexible tension link may be dispensed from the spool while the brake is in the disengaged position. A spool-operated actuator is operably configured to release the lock to permit the brake to engage the spool to stop dispensing the flexible tension link when a selected one of a plurality of discrete pre-determined lengths of flexible tension link has been dispensed. The apparatus may be pivotably mounted on an anchor to restrain the animal from moving any farther than a predefined radius from said anchor.
US08151729B2
In a mask assembly and a method of fabricating the same, when the mask assembly is fabricated by tensile welding a pattern mask to a mask frame, a tensile welding portion of the pattern mask welded to the mask frame is structurally changed. Thus, the pattern mask can be easily welded to the mask frame, and patterns of the pattern mask can be precisely aligned, thereby minimizing stain failure rate due to the mask assembly. The mask assembly includes: a mask frame including an opening and a support; and a pattern mask including a pattern portion having a plurality of patterns arranged in a matrix and a plurality of tensile welding portions extending from the pattern portion in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes: providing a mask frame, a support, and a pattern mask as described above; disposing the pattern mask and the mask frame in a unique manner; combining the pattern mask with the mask frame by welding; measuring an aligned state of the pattern arranged in the first direction of the pattern mask; and welding a tensile welding portion using a secondary welding process according to an aligned state.
US08151724B2
A rudder assembly for a boat has a securing base, a rudder board and at least one engaging bolt. The rudder board is mounted detachably on the securing base and has a bottom and two rudder hooks. The rudder hooks are formed respectively on two ends of the bottom and are connected securely to the securing base with the at least one engaging bolt. The at least one engaging bolt is mounted detachably on the securing base and engages respectively at least one of the rudder hooks on the rudder board. Accordingly, a rudder board can be conveniently detached from the securing base even while an inflating boat is at an inflated condition.
US08151721B2
A thread tensioning device for a sewing machine comprises a limit member fixed on the sewing machine, and an elastic pulling member mounted on the limit member. The pulling member includes an elastic extension portion which is movably disposed on the limit member. The pulling member further includes a free end formed with a hook-shaped thread pulling portion. The limit member is provided with two limit portions defining a space for passage of the thread. During a thread loosening operation, the thread will be moved within the space defined by the two limit portions while being pulled by the thread pulling portion of the pulling member, so that the thread pulling portion can provide a proper amount of tension to the thread timely, thus avoiding the occurrence of skip stitch and ensuring the sewing quality.
US08151718B2
A seed meter for a planting machine is provided with an adjustable drive coupling between the seed meter and the planting machine main drive. The drive coupling includes a drive member connected to the planter drive and a driven member coupled to the seed meter shaft. The drive member and driven member are drivingly engagable with one another and held into the engaged position by a biasing member. The drive member and driven member are selectively movable relative to one another to a disengaged position, enabling adjustment of the seed meter relative to the drive by rotation of the meter shaft. Once released, the coupling self-engages.
US08151715B2
An automatic lock for mobile steps (15) employed to allow passengers to get on and off railway coaches, located in the lower bodywork of the coach and enclosed inside a casing (12) positioned below the bracket (13) of the fixed step (14), on the outer edge of which the mobile step (15) is hinged, and whereby said step (15) is activated by a connecting rod (18) to move from a lowered position to a raised position and visa versa. The other end of the connecting rod (18), opposite the pin coupling it to the step (15), is hinged to a carriage (19) equipped with bearings (20) which slide inside a shaped guide (21), activated by the stabilizer shaft (11) for opening/closing the railway coach doors, or by an independent unit (30), and thereby transforming the sliding of the carriage (19) into an angular movement of the step (15).
US08151713B2
The guidance system comprises two guidance devices (16) mounted in opposite directions either side of the axle (2) and each comprising: a guidance arm (17) terminated by at least one guidance roller (18); a set of articulated connecting rods serving as a deformable link interface (23) between the axle and the guidance arm; and a jack (29) with two independent and opposing rods (30, 31), having a “rods extended” position in which its two rods lock the set of connecting rods to render it rigid and orient the axle, and a “rods retracted” position in which the set of connecting rods is free and allows a lateral oscillation. Preferably, the jack (29) offers an additional function for damping the lateral oscillation. This invention is of interest in the field of the guidance of public transport road vehicles by a rail.
US08151710B2
A surface ship, deck-launched anti-torpedo projectile is disclosed. The projectile has a blunt-end nose to create a cavitating running mode. The nose has a gradual, stepped, right-circular cylindrical or conic geometry. In some embodiments, the projectile includes a plurality of tail fins that are dimensioned and arranged to be within the generalized elliptical cavity that shrouds the projectile in the cavitating running mode.
US08151706B2
An apparatus for safely operating at least two components which are movable relative to one another in a machine for processing printing materials, includes drive motors each driving a respective one of the movable components. At least one control computer detects movement of the movable components. The control computer is set up in such a way that, if a spacing is reduced between the movable components, at least that movable component, which is the cause for the reduction in the spacing between the movable components, is brought to a standstill. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
US08151702B2
The device for dehumidifying and compacting solids contained in sewage for disposal, is designed to be applicable to machinery (1) comprising: a tubular screen (2) having at least an inlet (4) for a product to be separated, at least an outlet (5) for a separated solid part, and at least a filtering wall (3) through which the separated liquid part exits; a transport organ (7) predisposed internally of the screen (2) for transporting the solid part to be compacted towards the outlet (5). The device comprises a contrast element (9), predisposed at the outlet (5) for interacting contactingly with the product, which in a rest position thereof occupies at least a part of a mouth of the outlet (5) and which, under an effect of a pushing action of the product to be compacted, can elastically deform in order to increase a size of a free mouth of the outlet.
US08151700B2
The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of frozen instant cooking pasta from elongated dried pasta products that substantially retains the pre-processing length of the dried pasta comprising the steps of; (i) dividing an elongated dried pasta products into one or more portions, each portion having a desired mass; (ii) loading each portion of pasta into one of a plurality of separate dosing devices; (iii) re-hydrating each portion of pasta within a dosing device; (iv) quenching the re-hydrated pasta resulting from step (iii); (v) freezing. Further embodiments are directed to the apparatus that is necessary for carrying out this process and the frozen product achieved.
US08151692B2
Apparatus for preparing a beverage using a soluble preparation, comprising a container for the soluble preparation, a mixer provided with a mixing chamber, said chamber having a filling inlet for the soluble preparation, at least one opening for supplying a liquid for solubilizing the preparation and forming the beverage, a duct for evacuating any vapour and/or aerosol which forms during preparation of the beverage, said duct comprising a suction fan, as well as an opening for dispensing the prepared beverage, a centrifuging device housed inside said mixing chamber and rotationally operated by an associated electric motor positioned outside said chamber, means for conveying a predetermined quantity of soluble preparation from the said container to the filling mouth of said mixing chamber, as well as means for conveying the solubilization liquid from the associated source to the respective opening of the mixing chamber.The apparatus also includes a movable member for closing and opening the said filling inlet of the mixing chamber and means for displacing this member from a position where it keeps the filling inlet open during introduction of a quantity of soluble preparation and a position where it is over said inlet and keeps it closed during formation of the beverage and vice versa.
US08151688B2
A throttle path for returning a part of pilot oil to a tank is formed by a tank path provided in a valve block of a control valve and a notch provided in a spool thereof. The above path is opened within a section from a vicinity of a stroke where a hydraulic actuator starts moving to right before a stroke end among a spool stroke of the control valve. An opening area of the above path is slowly reduced in accordance with an increase in the stroke at a final phase of the section.
US08151687B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a blast-resistant panel may include a layer of a pre-cured elastomeric material having a predetermined thickness, a body portion, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges having a substantially equal width and depending away from a same side and at approximately equivalent right angles to the body portion. The blast-resistant panel may also include a plurality of fastener elements for securing the pre-cured elastomeric material layer to a surface of a structure through the plurality of flanges of pre-cured elastomeric material layer.
US08151671B2
The tool adaptor of the present invention includes a first work piece, a second work piece and a block element. The work pieces are pivoted with each other. The block element is sleeved on the first work piece and slidable between a first position and a second position. As the block element locates at the second position, it engages with the first and second work pieces simultaneously to restrict the sway of the first work piece about the second work piece. The tool adaptor is therefore switchable between a swayable mode and a fixation mode by moving the block element between such positions.
US08151669B2
A method and device for producing band saw blades, particularly for the timber-processing industry. A blank band saw blade is produced from a metal band, such as a metal band that can be stored on a roll. Several metal bands are combined into a flush metal band packet which can be introduced into a saw band grinding machine. The metal bands are pressed onto a planar guide. The metal band packet is clamped and a grinding machine operates to produce a desired saw tooth profile. A pawl is introduced into a tooth profile which is ground into the metal band packet. The clamped metal band packet is then loosened and advanced with a predetermined tooth spacing.
US08151660B2
A rotational motion-positioning apparatus capable of generating rotational movement about three orthogonal rotational axes. A first axial cam and second axial cam are supported by a rotational joint base. A rotational joint is attached between the rotational joint base and a work load support. The work load support has at least one first axial cam follower tracking the first axial cam rotation, thus rotating the work load support about the rotational joint first rotational axis. The work load support has at least one second axial cam follower tracking the second axial cam rotation, thus rotating the work load support about the rotational joint second rotational axis. The rotational joint base is supported by and rotatable about a housing, thus rotating the work load support about the third rotational axis. Three rotational drive unit are attached to the housing to rotate the first axial cam, second axial cam and rotational joint base.
US08151655B2
A cross-belt sampler (100) for material (70) on a belt-conveyor (60) has a cutter head (50), where the cutting edges (9) of the side plates (3,4) lie on lines co-incident with the axis of rotation (1) of the cutter head (50). The rear plate (5) lies on a plane parallel to the axis of rotation (1) and a truncated plate (6) eliminates a sharp corner in which the material (70) may be compacted. The axis of rotation (1) of the cutter head (50) is offset a distance (28) relative to the longitudinal axis of the belt conveyor (60).
US08151653B2
A Coriolis flowmeter 10 vibrates a measurement tube through which a fluid subject to measurement flows, detects vibrations including Coriolis force developed in the fluid from the vibrations, and measures a mass flow rate of the fluid from a detection signal. The Coriolis flowmeter is characterized by including fluctuation calculation section 50 that calculates fluctuations from a detection signal SA; status value calculation section 60 that calculates a status value showing a state of air bubbles in the fluid from the fluctuations calculated by the fluctuation calculation section 50, and determination section 70 that determines a state of air bubbles from the status value calculated by the status value calculation section 60.
US08151647B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring blade vibrations in a turbine engine having blade tip target portions associated with blades. An illumination conduit including a plurality of optical fibers conveys light from a light source to a transmission end of the optical fibers where the light is focused to define an axially elongated projected image. The blade tip target portions pass through the projected image and reflect light to a receptor array defined by receptor ends of a plurality of optical fibers forming an imaging conduit for conveying the reflected light to a sensor array. An imaging end of the imaging conduit radiates an image onto the sensor array that is identical to the reflected light image received at the receptor array to track tangential and axial movement of a predetermined point on the target portion.
US08151642B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate and an MEMS sensor provided on the semiconductor substrate. The MEMS sensor includes a first electrode having a plurality of first interdigital portions aligned in a prescribed direction X at an interval, a second electrode, having a plurality of second interdigital portions aligned in the direction X at an interval, so arranged that the second interdigital portions are opposed to the first interdigital portions in the direction X respectively, a third electrode having a plurality of third interdigital portions aligned in a direction Y orthogonal the direction X at an interval, a fourth electrode, having a plurality of fourth interdigital portions aligned in the direction Y at an interval, so arranged that the fourth interdigital portions are opposed to the third interdigital portions in the direction Y respectively, and a fifth electrode opposed to the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode and the fourth electrode in a direction Z orthogonal to the direction X and the direction Y.
US08151634B2
The present invention provides a device (10) for detecting the frothing ability of a fluid, said device including: an inlet (11) for receiving a portion of said fluid; means (12) for entraining air into said fluid portion; a mixing chamber (13) for receiving said air entrained fluid portion, said mixing chamber (13) being adapted for mixing said fluid portion and said air; and a detector (15) for detecting the amount of froth (18) generated in said mixing chamber (13). The invention also provides a method for detecting the frothing ability of a fluid.
US08151633B2
Methods and systems for characterizing drilling fluids laden with LCM (Lost Circulation Material) and other solid materials are disclosed. A test cell for analyzing a fluid is provided with a first conical inner portion and an axial positioning device positioned along an axis of the test cell. A first conical plug is coupled to the axial positioning device and is movable in and out of the first conical inner portion along the axis of the test cell. A fluid inlet is positioned at a first location on the test cell and a fluid outlet at a second location.
US08151627B2
An output signal of a knock sensor is converted by an A/D conversion part in a specified knock determination range. In a time-frequency analysis part, data of frequency, time, and vibration intensity are extracted at the same time from an output signal of the knock sensor, and the time-varying patterns of vibration intensities in multiple frequency ranges are extracted. A knock determination part computes the number of time-varying patterns of vibration intensity which rise at same time. The knock determination part executes a knock determination based on whether the number of the time-varying patterns of vibration intensity is greater than a knock determination threshold.
US08151624B2
A method for measuring the surface smoothness of hair comprising the steps of: a) providing a means for measuring hair surface smoothness; b) using said means for measuring hair a surface smoothness to obtain a measured surface smoothness value for said hair; and c) correlating said surface smoothness value to a surface smoothness descriptors.
