US08174237B2
In a battery system, battery modules (3a, 3b) connected to each other in series respectively include: one or more single cells (3a1 to 3an, 3b1 to 3b-n) connected to one another in any one of series, parallel, and series-parallel; cell voltage switches (7a, 7b) for detecting voltages respectively of the one or more single cells; module monitoring control units (9a, 9b) each for monitoring the detected voltages respectively of the one or more signal cells; and communications level converter circuits (14a, 14b). The battery system includes a master unit (8a) for receiving information on the voltages respectively of the one or more single cells from the module monitoring control units via the communications level converter circuits. One of the communications level converter circuits includes a switch element (Q32) for transmitting a signal of a low-potential battery module to a high-potential battery module. A series circuit includes resistors R1′, R2′ and R5 as well as the switch element is connected between a positive electrode of the highest-potential single cell in the high potential battery module and a negative electrode of the lowest-potential single cell in the low-potential battery cell.
US08174236B2
A battery charging device includes a power terminal unit to be connected to a power source and provided with power therefrom, a charging terminal unit to be connected to a power terminal of a battery, and a holding device to be fixed to side faces of the battery when the charging terminal unit contacts the power terminal of the battery.
US08174229B2
The present invention provides a stage apparatus capable of reducing a positioning time without increasing a positional deviation. A positioning control method of a sample stage apparatus includes: a high-speed movement step of moving a table to a high-speed movement target position at a first movement speed; a positional deviation correcting step of moving the table to a low-speed positioning step start position at a second movement speed that is lower than the first movement speed; a low-speed positioning step of moving the table to a target position at a third movement speed that is lower than the second movement speed. After the low-speed positioning step is completed, a rod connected to a motor returns to its original position to separate a pin of the rod side from a concave portion of the table side.
US08174226B2
A control method of a current limit of a DC motor includes generating a reference voltage according to a preset current limit value of a DC motor; comparing the reference voltage with the voltage drop of a power control switch which drives the DC motor to generate a compare result; and controlling the power delivered to the DC motor according to the compare result in order to limit the current of the DC motor.
US08174206B2
A controlled lighting system includes an encoding device and a lamp. The encoding device includes a rectifier for rectifying an AC voltage input to result in a rectified signal, and an encoder for generating an encoded signal from the rectified signal and display data. The encoded signal has consecutive signal regions with a waveform of a positive half-cycle of an AC sinusoidal wave or a low potential. The lamp includes a LED unit and a decoding device. The decoding device includes a direct current converter for extracting a direct current voltage from the encoded signal, a detecting circuit for extracting a wave signal from the encoded signal, a processor for generating decoded data related to a light-emitting operation according to the wave signal, and a driver for driving the LED unit according to the direct current voltage from the direct current converter and the decoded data from the processor.
US08174199B2
A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a power control circuit that outputs a DC current, an AC conversion circuit to which the DC current is inputted, the AC conversion circuit repeatedly reversing the polarity of the DC current between a first polarity and a second polarity at predetermined timings to produce and output a discharge lamp driving AC current, and a controller that controls the AC conversion circuit to perform AC conversion control in which the timings at which the polarity of the discharge lamp driving AC current is reversed are controlled and controls the power control circuit to perform section current control in which the magnitude of the DC current is controlled in each polarity reverse timing section. In the section current control, the magnitude of the DC current is controlled in accordance with a periodic pattern in each of the polarity reverse timing sections to control the ratio of accumulated energy supplied to each electrode of the discharge lamp in the first half of the polarity reverse timing section to that in the second half of the polarity reverse timing section.
US08174175B2
The light-emitting device of the present invention is a light-emitting device having a plurality of pixels that comprises a light-emitting function layer of at least one layer that emits light in accordance with a supplied current, a first electrode layer of a conductive material provided at one surface of the light-emitting function layer, and being transparent to at least part of a wavelength range of light emitted from the light-emitting function layer, a second electrode layer provided facing the first electrode layer on the other surface of the light-emitting function layer, including conductive material, and being transparent to at least part of the wavelength range of light emitted from the light-emitting function layer, and a reflecting layer provided on the second electrode layer, and being reflective to at least part of the wavelength range of light emitted from the light-emitting function layer.
US08174167B2
The invention concerns a bistable piezoelectric generator comprising at least one element in piezoelectric material, with at least one end fixed at a base and having the other end with a mass capable of making oscillations between two distinct positions, respectively a first equilibrium position and a second position opposed to the first, said at least one element being subjected to nonlinear bistable oscillations, the kinetic energy of such bistable oscillations being converted into electric energy and transformed through an electronic circuit in a suitable form for the powering of electric and/or electronic devices.
US08174166B1
The invention as disclosed is a strain sensor that locates and quantifies the strain energy from a structure. The strain sensor has a lead zirconate titanate wafer with a circular shape such that the shape does not directionally restrict the signal of the sensor.
US08174162B2
Disclosed is a washing machine which includes a tub which holds laundry, a drum which is disposed in and rotates within the tub, a stator which is fixed to the tub, and a rotor which is fixed to the drum. The rotor includes a frame, a bushing installed on the frame, a motor shaft having an end which is inserted in and fixed to the bushing, a bearing interposed between the motor shaft and the tub, and at least one guide disposed between the motor shaft and the bushing at an end of the bushing.
US08174160B2
A group of three stator windings for a stator of an electric machine, a stator arrangement, a generator, and wind turbine are provided. The first winding head segments of the three stator windings differ in form such that the first winding head segments of at least two of the three stator windings are differently tilted in radial direction of the electric machine and the length of the three stator windings is substantially the same.
US08174151B2
A power supply control apparatus includes a plurality of power supply units for supplying electric power to a plurality of electric circuits respectively. The power supply control apparatus receives pulse signals from the exterior. Each of the plurality of power supply units comprises a counter for counting the pulse signals. And a controller initiates to supply of the electric power to corresponding one of the electric circuits when the number of the pulse signals counted by the counter reaches the particular value which corresponds to an initiating timing of supplying electric power to corresponding one of the electric circuits.
US08174148B2
Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.
US08174145B2
The invention relates to a combined supply and communications system for transferring data between a data server and at least one of several terminal devices over a power supply cable wherein the data server and each of the several terminal devices are each connected to the power supply cable over an incoupling/decoupling unit.In order to enable an optimum supply of consumers spread out around the aircraft both with electrical energy and with the desired communications resources and at the same time to minimize the cabling expense, the power supply cable comprises according to the invention at least four conductors wherein at least one conductor corresponds to a transfer channel in the downward direction and at least one conductor corresponds to a transfer channel in the upward direction.
US08174139B1
A wind turbine electrical generator may include a monopole tower extending upwardly from ground level. The wind turbine electrical generator may also include an electrical power generator carried by an upper end of the monopole tower and may include a horizontally extending drive shaft. The wind turbine electrical generator may further include a plurality of wind-driven blades carried by the horizontally extending drive shaft. The monopole tower may have an outer surface with a vertically extending outer corner therein defining a pair of adjacent vertical facets. The monopole tower may be positioned with the vertically extending outer corner aligned with the land-based radar site so that the pair of adjacent vertical facets reflects radar illumination away from the radar site to reduce an amount of the radar illumination reflected back to the land-based radar site.
US08174133B2
A remote control is suggested, which comprises an electric signal transmitter being supplied with energy from an electrical energy storage device. The remote control comprises a generator for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy to be stored in the electrical energy storage device. The remote control is provided with a display indicating an empty electrical energy storage device. The display informs the user immediately and unambiguously about the situation that he has to recharge the energy storage of the remote control before he tries to send out a command in vain.
US08174131B2
Methods are provided for packaging a semiconductor die having a first surface. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of forming a trench in the first surface of the die, electrically and physically coupling the die to a packaging substrate, forming a sealant layer on the first surface of the die, forming an engagement structure within the trench, and infusing underfill between the sealant layer and the engagement structure and the packaging substrate.
US08174120B2
An integrated circuit package system is provided. A dual-type leadframe having first and second rows of leads is formed. A first row of bumps is formed on an integrated circuit chip. Solder paste is placed on the first row of leads, and the first row of bumps is pressed into the solder paste on the first row of leads. The solder paste is reflow soldered to form solder and connect the integrated circuit chip to the first row of leads, and the integrated circuit chip, the first row of bumps, the solder, and the leadframe are encapsulated.
US08174114B2
A semiconductor package structure with a heat dissipating stiffener and method of fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the package structure comprises a substrate having a front side and a back side; a semiconductor chip mounted on the front surface of the substrate; a thermally-conductive stiffener mounted over the front surface of the substrate and surrounding the chip, the stiffener having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion so as to allow for easy egress of a dispenser into a gap between the chip and the substrate; an underfill layer filled and cured in the gap; and a plurality of solder balls mounted on the back surface of the substrate.
US08174108B2
An integrated circuit package comprises a package substrate, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a first area and formed on a first wafer made from a select semiconductor material, a second wafer of the select semiconductor material, and a supplemental-integrated circuit. The supplemental-integrated circuit has a second area different from the first area. The first wafer includes a through-wafer via to couple the ASIC to the package substrate. An active surface of the ASIC is coupled to the second wafer. The second wafer is arranged with a window there through that is sized to closely receive and align one or more bonding interfaces of the supplemental-integrated circuit to respective bonding interfaces of the ASIC. A corresponding method for assembling a die-stacked integrated circuit package is disclosed.
US08174102B2
A semiconductor device including: a substrate formed with a concave portion at one surface thereof; and a first semiconductor chip provided in the concave portion of the substrate and is adhered to the substrate by an underfill in the concave portion, wherein the concave portion includes a chip arrangement region in which the first semiconductor chip is arranged, and an adjustment region which protrudes from at least a portion of the periphery of the chip arrangement region when seen in a plan view at a height of at least a portion of a region where the first semiconductor chip is placed in a stacked direction of the substrate, and has different shapes from the chip arrangement region is provided.
US08174094B2
An electronic device comprises a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, a substrate carrier comprising a first surface and a second surface, and an inorganic material bonding the second surface of the substrate and the second surface of the substrate carrier.
US08174085B2
A method of manufacturing an MEMS sensor according to the present invention includes the steps of: forming a first sacrificial layer on one surface of a substrate; forming a lower electrode on the first sacrificial layer; forming a second sacrificial layer made of a metallic material on the first sacrificial layer to cover the lower electrode; forming an upper electrode made of a metallic material on the second sacrificial layer; forming a protective film made of a nonmetallic material on the substrate to collectively cover the first sacrificial layer, the second sacrificial layer and the upper electrode; and removing at least the second sacrificial layer by forming a through-hole in the protective film and supplying an etchant to the inner side of the protective film through the through-hole.
US08174082B2
A micromechanical component having at least two caverns is provided, the caverns being delimited by the micromechanical component and a cap, and the caverns having different internal atmospheric pressures. The micromechanical component and cap are hermetically joined to one another at a first specifiable atmospheric pressure, then an access to at least one cavern is produced, and subsequently the access is hermetically closed off at a second specifiable atmospheric pressure.
US08174074B2
A semiconductor device, an integrated circuit, and method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack formed on an active region of a silicon-on-insulator substrate. A gate spacer is formed over the gate stack. A source region that includes embedded silicon germanium is formed within the semiconductor layer. A drain region that includes embedded silicon germanium is formed within the semiconductor layer. The source region includes an angled implantation region that extends into the embedded silicon germanium of the source region, and is asymmetric relative to the drain region.
US08174063B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a first gate formed on a first region of a surface of the substrate, a second gate formed on a second region of the surface of the substrate, a charge storage layer filled between the first gate and the second gate, a first diffusion region formed on a first side of the charge storage layer, and a second diffusion region formed opposite the charge storage layer from the first diffusion region. The first region and the second region are separated by a distance sufficient for forming a self-aligning charge storage layer therebetween.
US08174061B2
Floating-gate memory cells having a floating gate with a conductive portion and a dielectric portion facilitate increased levels of charge trapping sites within the floating gate. The conductive portion includes a continuous component providing bulk conductivity to the floating gate. The dielectric portion is discontinuous within the conductive portion and may include islands of dielectric material and/or one or more contiguous layers of dielectric material having discontinuities.
US08174054B2
A field effect transistor comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising an electrically conducting channel layer therein; a plurality of source and drain fingers on a first face of the substrate, each finger separated from the adjacent finger by a gate channel; the gate channels comprising at least one active gate channel defined by a source finger and a drain finger arranged on the first face such that current is free to flow between them via the electrically conducting channel layer, and, a plurality of inactive gate channels, each inactive gate channel being defined by either two fingers of the same type or a source finger and a drain finger, the source finger and drain finger being arranged on the first face such that current is not free to flow between them via the electrically conducting channel layer; the gate channels being arranged such that each active gate channel has a gate channel on each side; each active gate channel comprising a gate therein for controlling current flow in the electrically conducting channel layer.
US08174053B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor as a resistance element, wherein a variation in resistance of the thin film transistor is suppressed without increasing an area of the resistance element and the resistance element can be produced through simplified production steps. The semiconductor device of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor on a substrate, the first thin film transistor being used as a resistance element, the second thin film transistor including a semiconductor layer having a low concentration drain region and a high concentration drain region, the low concentration drain region and the high concentration drain region being different in impurity concentration, wherein an impurity concentration of a channel region of a semiconductor layer in the first thin film transistor is the same as an impurity concentration of the low concentration drain region of the semiconductor layer in the second thin film transistor.
US08174038B2
A light emitting device includes a board, a semiconductor light emitting element formed on the board optionally via a submount, a cap sealing the semiconductor light emitting element and a reflector provided surrounding the cap. The cap has top and bottom surfaces that are parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor light emitting element, and the spacing between the top and bottom surfaces is 1-3 times the longest diagonal or the diameter of the semiconductor light emitting element. Also disclosed is a process for producing the device.
US08174037B2
A high efficiency Group III nitride light emitting diode is disclosed. The diode includes a substrate selected from the group consisting of semiconducting and conducting materials, a Group III nitride-based light emitting region on or above the substrate, and, a lenticular surface containing silicon carbide on or above the light emitting region.
US08174031B2
The light-emitting element chip includes: a substrate; a light-emitting portion including plural light-emitting elements each having a first semiconductor layer that has a first conductivity type and that is stacked on the substrate, a second semiconductor layer that has a second conductivity type and that is stacked on the first semiconductor layer, the second conductivity type being a conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer that has the first conductivity type and that is stacked on the second semiconductor layer, and a fourth semiconductor layer that has the second conductivity type and that is stacked on the third semiconductor layer; and a controller including a logical operation element that performs logical operation for causing the plural light-emitting elements to perform a light-emitting operation, the logical operation element being formed by combining some sequential layers of the first, second, third and fourth semiconductor layers.
US08174029B2
The purpose of the invention is to improve reliability of a light emitting apparatus comprising TFTs and organic light emitting elements. The light emitting apparatus according to the invention having thin film transistors and light emitting elements, comprises; a second inorganic insulation layer on a gate electrode, a first organic insulation layer on the second inorganic insulation layer, a third inorganic insulation layer on the first organic insulation layer, an anode layer formed on the third inorganic insulation layer, a second organic insulation layer overlapping with the end of the anode layer and having an inclination angle of 35 to 45 degrees, a fourth inorganic insulation layer formed on the upper surface and side surface of the second organic insulation layer and having an opening over the anode layer, an organic compound layer formed in contact with the anode layer and the fourth inorganic insulation layer and containing light emitting material, and a cathode layer formed in contact with the organic compound layer containing the light emitting material, wherein the third inorganic insulation layer and the fourth inorganic insulation layer are formed with silicon nitride or aluminum nitride.
US08174007B2
A hole transporting region made of a hole transporting material, an electron transporting region made of an electron transporting material, and a mixed region (light emitting region) in which both the hole transporting material and the electron transporting material are mixed and which is doped with a triplet light emitting material for red color are provided in an organic compound film, whereby interfaces between respective layers which exist in a conventional lamination structure are eliminated, and respective functions of hole transportation, electron transportation, and light emission are exhibited. In accordance with the above-mentioned method, the organic light emitting element for red color can be obtained in which power consumption is low and a life thereof is long. Thus, the display device and the electric device are manufactured by using the organic light emitting element.
US08174006B2
An object is to provide a higher-performance and higher-reliability memory device and a semiconductor device provided with the memory device at low cost and with high yield. A semiconductor device of the invention has a memory element including an insulating layer and an organic compound layer between first and second conductive layers. When melting, an organic compound of the organic compound layer aggregates due to surface tension of the organic compound. By applying a voltage to the first and second conductive layers, writing to the memory element is carried out.
US08174004B2
An organic thin film transistor is disclosed, which comprises an azole-metal complex compound used as the gate insulating layer. The method of making the self-assembled gate insulating layer is a water-based processing method that enables the azole-metal complex compound to be self-formed on the patterned gate electrode in a water-based solution and serves as a gate insulating layer. The organic thin film transistor (OTFT) of the present invention comprises the azole-metal complex compound used in the gate insulating layer, therefore can be manufactured in a simple, quick, easy way for large quantities, and low cost.
US08173997B2
A disclosed laminated structure includes a substrate; a wettability varying layer formed on the substrate, the wettability varying layer including a material whose critical surface tension is changed by receiving energy; and an electrode layer formed on the wettability varying layer, the electrode layer forming a pattern based on the wettability varying layer. The material whose critical surface tension is changed by receiving energy includes a polymer including a primary chain and a side chain, the side chain including a multi-branched structure.
US08173989B2
Provided may be a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. The resistive random access memory device may include at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode spaced apart from the at least one first electrode, a first structure including a first resistance-changing layer between the at least one first and second electrodes, and a first switching element electrically connected to the first resistance-changing layer, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes include an alloy layer having a noble metal and a base metal.
US08173986B2
Described are infrared light sources and methods for generating infrared radiation. The infrared light source includes a source of laser radiation, a target and an enclosure. The target is positioned in a path of an output region of the source of laser radiation. The target includes an absorbing material that absorbs radiation at a wavelength within the lasing spectrum of the source of laser radiation and converts the absorbed radiation into thermal energy. The enclosure defines a cavity that includes the target. The enclosure includes an infrared reflecting film on a side that defines the cavity.
US08173979B2
A method for generating and visualizing an ion beam profile is provided. The method includes specifying an incidence direction of a particle beam, specifying a target region that is to be irradiated by said particle beam, creating an ion beam profile from points that are located on a downstream side of the target region or that are located in front of the target region and project onto the contour of the target region with respect to the incidence direction, and displaying a graphical representation of the ion beam profile.
US08173978B2
Provided is a method for controlling electron beams in a multi-microcolumn, in which unit microcolumns having an electron emitter, a lens, and a deflector are arranged in an n×m matrix. A voltage is uniformly or differentially applied to each electron emitter or extractor. The same control voltage or different voltages are applied to a region at coordinates in a control division area of each extractor to deflect the electron beams. Lens layers not corresponding to the extractors are collectively or individually controlled so as to efficiently control the electron beams of the unit microcolumn. Further, a multi-microcolumn using the method is provided.
US08173970B2
A method for detecting Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) or Radiological dispersion Devices (RDD), comprising: conveying an object along a predetermined path; imaging a distribution of radioactive sources associated with the object as it passes along said path; determining the presence and location of one or both of an RDD or SNM radioactive source within the object.
US08173969B2
A radiation detecting apparatus includes a flexible radiation conversion panel for detecting radiation that has passed through a subject and converting the detected radiation into radiation image information, and grips disposed on ends of the radiation conversion panel. A hardness of the grips is greater than that of the radiation conversion panel. Holes are formed in the grips for enabling the grips to be gripped.
US08173967B2
A method includes detecting a neutron based on a time proximity of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal indicates detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray. The second signal indicates detection of a gamma ray. The method further includes measuring an amount of detected gamma rays, for example, an amount different from an amount detected and associated with the second signal.
US08173966B2
According to some embodiments, a patient support system for a nuclear medical imaging system is provided that includes: a patient support; a collimator storage unit located under the patient support; a first support means for supporting substantially all of the weight of the collimator storage unit; and a second support means for supporting the patient support at least at a position distal from a gantry of the nuclear medical imaging system. In some embodiments, the first support means includes means for supporting the patient support at a position proximate a gantry of the nuclear medical imaging system and the second support means includes two vertical support structures. In addition, the system preferably includes at least one laterally extendable frame member mounted between the two vertical support structures.
US08173962B2
An evaluation method and apparatus is provided for evaluating a displacement between patterns of a pattern image by using design data representative of a plurality of patterns superimposed ideally. A first distance is measured for an upper layer pattern between a line segment of the design data and an edge of the charged particle radiation image, a second distance is measured for a lower layer pattern between a line segment of the design data and an edge of the charged particle radiation image; and an superimposition displacement is detected between the upper layer pattern and lower layer pattern in accordance with the first distance and second distance.
US08173961B2
While applying a square wave voltage to the ion electrode (21) so that ions already captured in the ion trap (20) do not disperse, the timing of irradiating a laser light for ion generation is controlled in such a manner that ions reach the ion inlet (25) at a predetermined timing of a cycle of the voltage. In the case of a positive ion (cation) for example, the timing of laser light irradiation is adjusted in such a manner that the target ions reach the ion inlet (25) in the low level period of a cycle of the square wave voltage. By injecting ions in addition to the ions already captured in the ion trap (20) in this manner, the amount of ions can be increased, and by performing a mass separation and detection after that, the signal intensity in one mass analysis can be increased. Accordingly, by decreasing the number of repetitions of the mass analysis for summing up mass profiles, the measuring time can be shortened.
US08173952B2
A method for operating an assembly configured to produce electromagnetic radiation, especially X-ray radiation or extreme ultraviolet radiation. Particles, especially electrons, are guided onto a target by way of an adjustable focusing device. The particles produce electromagnetic radiation in the target. At least one object, especially a calibration object, is penetrated by the electromagnetic radiation and a radiogram of the object is recorded. The radiogram or a plurality of radiograms is automatically evaluated and the focusing device is adjusted depending on the evaluation.
US08173951B2
In an optical encoder for measuring relative displacement, a scale 10 has a reference mark 14 composed of a reflection slit formed on at least one point of an incremental track 12, a detection portion (20) has a light irradiation portion (24), main light receiving portions 30a, 30b, 30ab and 30bb that are disposed at the surrounding centering around the corresponding light irradiation portion and output incremental signals four phases of which are different from each other, and a pair of reference signal light receiving portions 32z and 32zb that are disposed in the direction perpendicular to the length measurement direction using the light irradiation portion as the center of point symmetry, and a signal processing portion 40 has a three-phase signal generation portion 48, a quadrature sine wave signals generation portion 50, a direction judgment circuit 56, an internal period counter 58, and a reference signal processing portion 60, thereby bringing about a micro-sized optical encoder capable of detecting the reference.
US08173949B2
An image sensing apparatus with artificial ommatidia includes an imaging optical lens group forming a concave focal surface, an artificial ommatidia unit having a curved top surface corresponding to the concave focal surface and a flat bottom surface, and an image sensor disposed under the artificial ommatidia unit. The artificial ommatidia unit is disposed under the imaging optical lens group so that the curved top surface is coincided with the concave focal surface of the imaging optical lens group. The artificial ommatidia unit having a plurality of artificial ommatidia collects light emitting from the imaging optical lens group, and guides the light to the bottom surface thereof.
US08173947B2
A scanning projector includes a mirror that scans in two dimensions, at least one of which is sinusoidal. A position sensor provides a position signal that represents an angular displacement of the mirror. The position signal is amplified by an amplifier with time variant characteristics. A beam position determination component compensates for the time variant characteristics of the amplifier.
US08173946B1
A method of defeating an incoming missile, such as a rocket propelled grenade, includes soft launching an interceptor missile, and then using pitch over motors of the interceptor missile to alter course of the missile to a desired interception direction. By launching at a relatively slow speed, such as a speed less than or equal to 40 m/sec (130 ft/sec), the interceptor missile may reach the desired interception direction within 250 milliseconds of launch. The interceptor missile may be able to cover substantially all interception directions over a hemisphere or greater extent around a launch location. For example, the interceptor missile may be launched vertically from a ground vehicle, and be capable of altering course to any above-ground trajectory within 250 milliseconds.
US08173940B2
A high-power plastic aquarium heater includes a narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip wound on a mica tube and electrically connected with a circuit board inside a tubular plastic casing, and vacuum mounts fastened to the tubular plastic casing with pipe clamps for securing the tubular plastic casing to the inside wall of an aquarium. The use of the narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip facilitates positioning of the mica tube in the longitudinal center axis of the tubular plastic casing for even distribution of heat energy. Further, the nickel-chrome steel strip has a broad heat generating surface area in one particular direction to that the high-power plastic heater has a high performance while saving much the consumption of electric power.
US08173932B2
A perforation method and an perforation apparatus in which a hollow member of a fuel injection nozzle is filled with a filler such as a zirconia ball, and a laser light is applied to the hollow member to form an injection hole while vibrating the zirconia ball using an ultrasonic vibrator. After the injection hole is formed, the laser light is introduced through the injection hole to the inside of the fuel injection nozzle, and thereby is applied to the vibrated zirconia ball.
US08173928B2
In a processing apparatus for performing a specified process on a target object at a predetermined process pressure, the apparatus includes an evacuable processing chamber having a gas exhaust port formed in a bottom portion thereof; a mounting table provided within the processing chamber for holding the target object; a pressure control valve connected to the gas exhaust port, the pressure control valve including a slide-type valve body for changing an area of an opening region of a valve port; and a gas exhaust system connected to the pressure control valve. The pressure control valve is eccentrically arranged such that a center axis of the mounting table lies within an opening region of the pressure control valve formed over a practical use region of a valve opening degree of the pressure control valve.
US08173926B2
The invention describes an arc-quenching arrangement for an electrical service switching device, with a fixed contact piece, a movable contact piece, with an arc splitter stack having arc splitter plates, each arc splitter plate having a cutout which is open towards the arc formation point, has a V-shaped notch and tapers in the form of a funnel in the arc running direction, and the arc being guided into the arc splitter stack via a first arc guide rail, which is associated with the fixed contact piece, and a second arc guide rail, which is associated with the movable contact piece. The first arc guide rail has a first, rectangular section, which faces the arc formation location, and a second section, which adjoins the first section and is in the form of a rectangular trapezium and whose first limb extends at an angle with respect to the mid-longitudinal axis of the first section and away therefrom.
US08173923B2
The present invention relates to a rotary switch assembly for an air conditioner in a vehicle, in which detent means is mounted on a holder joined to a front housing to mount a knob on the holder, so that a cable switch assembly for operating a cable to control the air conditioner can be used to various switches in common without regard to existence and nonexistence of a detent structure or positions of the detent structure and the rotary switch assembly can prevent a movement of the knob and effectively transfer a manipulation force of the knob to the cable switch assembly since the detent means is mounted on the holder adjacent to the knob.
US08173920B2
A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. The base module has a controllably conductive device and a controller for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the controller is operatively coupled to the actuation member and the visual display.
US08173917B2
An actuating device contains two shifting buttons which are arranged on the upper side and lower side of the steering wheel. The shifting buttons are guided together rectilinearly on guide pins during a shifting operation, which guide pins are held in sleeves of a supporting plate and are fastened to a steering wheel cover.
US08173916B2
Disclosed is an interlock apparatus for a move-out type circuit breaker, capable of automatically discharging elastic energy charged in a closing spring and a trip spring when a main body of the circuit breaker is moved-in or moved-out, the apparatus including, a releasing protrusion member fixed to a predetermined position on a path that the circuit breaker is moved-in or moved-out and protruded upwardly from the predetermined position, an automatic releasing mechanism configured to be moved up by coming in contact with the releasing protrusion member upon moved-in or moved-out the circuit breaker to thereby drive a latching mechanism for latching the closing spring and the trip spring in a charged state to the release position.
US08173912B2
A housing for retaining an electronic component, including a lid and a lower part made of synthetic material, wherein the lid is joined in a force-fit manner to the lower part by clamping geometry, and in order to affix the electronic component in position, the lid applies a specified force (F) to the electronic component after being joined to the lower part due to its design. Here, the lid is designed in such a manner that the force (F) applied lies within a specified force range (B), and that the clamping geometry comprises a groove on the lower part and a ridge on the lid which grips into the groove, wherein a clamp web on the lower part or on the lid is arranged in such a manner that the lid is removably clamped to the lower part after being joined to the lower part with a force (F) which acts parallel to the clamping force (KF).
US08173909B2
Inspection windows are cut or formed into the tail section of the flexure circuit tail in a hard disk drive Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA), or CIS, to enable visual inspection of the alignment of the CIS to the head preamp circuit, or FPC. The holes are made in the steel backing and base polyimide, and are positioned between adjacent conductive pads. In addition to facilitating visual inspection, the windows also enable rework of solder. Additionally, solder wicking holes may also be provided in the conductive pads and/or the polyimide and steel backing.
US08173905B2
A wiring structure has a silicon layer, a backing layer provided on the silicon layer, the backing layer comprising a copper alloy containing a nickel, and a copper layer provided on the backing layer, and a diffusion barrier layer having an electrical conductivity, the diffusion barrier layer being provided at a region including an interface between the silicon layer and the backing layer, in which a nickel in the diffusion barrier layer is enriched compared with the backing layer.
US08173904B1
An adapter for use between a two-hole blade end fitting of a line post insulator arm and a Y-clevis bolt eliminates the need to replace the entire insulator arm when the end fitting fails or becomes distorted due to wear of the Y-clevis bolt. The adapter includes a body with a two-hole insulator end that connects to the end fitting and a single or double eye conductor end that supports the Y-clevis bolt. The conductor end is configured to align the load axis of the insulator arm with the Y-clevis bolt to transfer the tension load effectively through the adapter. Annular shoulders surround the two holes in the adapter back and the insulator end of the body. The shoulders extend into the bolt holes in the end fitting to center the bolts and form a clamp on the blade end to prevent further damage to the end fitting.
US08173899B2
A water drain for a busway housing at the lowest point in a busway, typically at the elbow transition from vertical to horizontal and at the outside to inside junction of a building. There is a bulge made in the lowermost housing edge with a drain hole. A cap is fitted over the drain hole so no debris/conductors can blow in, but water leaks out.
US08173898B2
Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides an uninterruptible power supply system for use with a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices having a power input to receive power. The uninterruptible power supply system includes an equipment rack, an input to receive input power, a DC power source mounted in the equipment rack that provides DC power, an output that provides output power derived from at least one of the input power and the DC power, power distribution circuitry, mounted within the equipment rack, having a plurality of distribution devices each having an input coupled to the output to receive the output power, and a plurality of output power cables each having a first end coupled to one of the plurality of distribution devices to receive output power and a second end that mates with the power input of one of the plurality of devices.
US08173895B2
A solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode on one surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, a second electrode provided on other surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, and a third electrode on the other surface of the photoelectric conversion layer. The third electrode is substantially rectangular with its corners rounded off in the in-plane direction of the photoelectric conversion layer, and overlaps the second electrode at the periphery thereof.
US08173879B1
A novel maize variety designated 10173980 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 10173980 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10173980 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10173980, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10173980. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10173980.
US08173864B2
The present invention relates generally to transcriptional control sequences. Generally, the present invention relates to transcriptional control sequences that specifically or preferentially direct expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant egg cell. The present invention is predicated, in part, on the identification of transcriptional control sequences derived from EC1 genes which, in preferred embodiments, direct preferential expression in an egg cell of at least one plant taxon.
US08173857B1
The present invention deals with the ability to transform a variety of inert, synthetic, popular, modern nonwovens and other filamentous materials into reactive products having a wide and diverse varying nature due to the coatings that can be successfully applied. This principle holds true especially for the web forming nonwovens of which the high lofts are an ideal dimensional matrix material, for not only having a good carrying capacity for a wide variety of active ingredients, but can scrub and entrap soils and particles as well, sometimes simultaneously. The active ingredient is held and protected within the open cell of the carrier media by means of an adhesion enhancing agent, such as a tackifier, that is coated on the fibers of the nonwoven carrier.
US08173849B2
A (−)-stereoisomer of formula (I): (formula I), wherein X is H or F; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, is useful as an anesthetic.
US08173823B2
Process for preparing an epoxide, wherein halogenated ketones are formed as by-products and there is at least one treatment intended to remove at least part of the halogenated ketones formed.
US08173822B2
The present invention relates to novel 1,3-oxathiane compounds represented by Formula I: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, butyl, propyl, and (methylthio)ethyl, and their uses to enhance a flavor or fragrance composition.
US08173819B2
This invention relates to new fluorescent chemical entities, including fluorescent molecules that comprise a carboxyl or carbonyl functionalized pyridine moiety. This invention also relates to the corresponding reactive versions of such molecules. This invention also relates to the corresponding conjugates with moieties such as peptides, proteins, various biomolecules, carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds, sugars, and their uses thereof.
US08173815B2
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, d, m, n, p, s, t, W, Ar1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08173807B2
Compounds of formula (I): R1-A-V—B—R2, wherein V is phenyl or a 6-membered heteroaryl ring containing up to three N-atoms, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are agonists of GPR116 and are useful for the treatment of obesity, and for the treatment of diabetes.
US08173795B2
The invention provides novel methods and compositions for amplifying portions of the HCV genome. The nucleic acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS:1-64 derived from HCV cDNA and functional equivalents thereof, kits containing same, and methods employing same, are useful for the identification and characterization of HCV in biological samples.
US08173792B2
Methods and compositions for the rapid and reversible destabilizing of specific proteins using cell-permeable, synthetic molecules are described. Stability-affecting proteins, e.g., derived from FKBP and DHFR proteins are fused to a protein of interest and the presence or absence of the ligand is used to modulate the stability of the fusion protein.
US08173788B2
To provide a cancer diagnostic reagent for determining malignancy of a cancer patient or a cancer cell and a tendency of canceration of a healthy subject, the reagent including a peptide having an ability to activate a cancer-related gene and extracted from cell membrane surfaces of human squamous-cell carcinoma cells or including a synthetic polynucleotide encoding the peptide or a partial amino acid sequence of the peptide.
US08173783B2
The present invention mainly relates to a process for isolation and purification of yolk antibodies from egg yolk of an anseriform bird by an adsorption chromatographic procedure using a water insoluble non-charged absorbent to accomplish a desired separation of yolk antibodies, and by a salting-out procedure that differentially precipitates the IgY antibodies. The present invention also relates to the yolk antibodies produced thereby and various uses of such yolk antibodies.
US08173779B2
The present invention includes fully human, neutralizing, monoclonal antibodies against human Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor-I (IGFR1). The antibodies are useful for treating or preventing cancer in a subject. Also included are methods of using and producing the antibodies of the invention.
US08173760B2
Methods for producing dendrons of different generations with hydrophobic functional end-groups, and for producing polyurethanes with the side-chain dendrons are disclosed step-by-step. The dendron with hydrophobic functional end-groups in the polyurethane systems, and the honeycomb-like structure thin films are obtained by a breath-figure process. The structures of dendrons and dendritic side-chain polyurethanes are respectively expressed in the following and the end-groups (R) of the dendron are long alkyl chains or perfluoroalkyl derivatives.
US08173754B2
This invention relates to a process for the preparation of plastic material for use in optical lenses comprising the steps of: a) synthesizing lead acrylate by adding lead monoxide to NaoH, which is stirred to obtain a homogenous mixture, b) adding an inhibitor to such a monomer mixture; c) adding acrylic acid drop wise to such a monomer mixture so as to avoid the formation of by products, d) heating the mixture of step (c) to a temperature of 35 to 45° C. till a white precipitate of lead acrylate is obtained, e) filtering, washing and drying the precipitate, f) subjecting lead acrylate to the step of polymerization by stepwise heating.
US08173753B2
A method for producing an aliphatic polyester resin including a melt polymerization step and a subsequent solid phase polymerization step, using a sulfonic acid group-containing compound as a catalyst, wherein the addition amount of the sulfonic acid group-containing compound during melt polymerization is 300 to 3000 ppm with respect to a raw material monomer calculated as sulfur atoms, the content of the sulfonic acid group-containing compound during melt polymerization is 300 to 3000 ppm with respect to a produced polymer calculated as sulfer atoms, and a residual rate of the sulfonic acid group-containing compound after solid phase at polymerization is more than 50.
US08173751B2
The invention provides novel defoamers which are useful as defoamers for top coat paints for motor vehicles. When the defoamers are incorporated with paints which do not use melamine resins as the curing agent, they can impart defoaming property to the paints without inviting turbidity in the painted films caused by infiltration of water. Hence the defoamers are particularly useful when used for baking finish type clear top coat paints for motor vehicles. The defoamer is characterized by comprising a copolymer of 2-50% by weight of (A) a polymerizable monomer capable of forming a copolymer having isocyanate groups which can react with a binder resin in thermosetting type paint or (b) a polymerizable monomer capable of forming a copolymer having the groups which produce isocyanate groups reactable with a binder resin in thermosetting type paint during the baking step of the same paint, and 98-50% by weight of (C) a monomer or polymer conventionally used for defoamers.
US08173744B2
This invention provides a water-based primer composition characterized by comprising an aqueous dispersion formed by dispersing unsaturated carboxylic acid- or acid anhydride-modified polyolefin (a) having a melting point of 50-120° C. and a weight-average molecular weight within a range of 30,000-200,000, and unsaturated carboxylic acid- or acid anhydride-modified polyolefin (b) having a melting point of 30-100° C. and a weight-average molecular weight within a range of 30,000-200,000, in an aqueous medium, the melting point of the modified polyolefin (a) being higher than that of the modified polyolefin (b) by at least 10° C.
US08173739B2
The invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising: (i) at least one thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of at least about 220° C.; (ii) at least one phenylalkoxysilane, biphenol, trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxane, or mixture of two or more thereof; (iii) inorganic particulates having an average particle size in the range up to about 100 nanometers dispersed in the thermoplastic resin, the inorganic particulates having an index of refraction in the range from about 1.4 to about 3; and (iv) an effective amount of at least one dispersant to disperse the inorganic particulates in the thermoplastic resin; with the proviso that when the trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxane is in the form of particulates with an average particle size up to about 100 nanometers, the trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxane particulates are optionally used as both component (ii) and as a partial or complete replacement for the inorganic particulates in component (iii). The polymer composition may be a high temperature thermoplastic suitable for forming, such as by molding, optical articles such as lenses.
US08173731B2
The instant invention relates to a composition and process for the stabilization of halogen containing polymer slurries, in particular polyvinylchloride (PVC). The composition comprises a halogen containing polymer in the form of an aqueous suspension or emulsion, a partially hindered phenolic antioxidant and selected sulfur containing antioxidants, which are both solid at 20° C. A further aspect of the invention is the use of specific antioxidant mixtures for the stabilization of halogen containing polymer suspensions or emulsions, in particular PVC.
US08173728B2
The invention relates to stabilized thermoplastic polymers, in particular polyolefin films. The stabilizing composition contains a tertiary amine with a molecular weight greater than 400 g/mol, a UV-absorber and/or a sterically hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS). Further aspects of the invention are a process for stabilizing thermoplastic polymers and the use of the above composition for stabilizing thermoplastic polymers.
US08173727B2
The present invention provides a crosslinkable elastomer composition, in which generation of HF under high temperature conditions is reduced, the decrease in weight to both NF3 plasma treatment and O3 treatment in the semiconductor manufacturing process is small and generation of foreign substances (particles) in these treatments is suppressed significantly. Specifically, the present invention relates to a crosslinkable elastomer composition comprising a crosslinkable elastomer and a filler having a specific surface area of at least 0.5 m2/g and containing a synthetic polymer having a thermally and chemically stable aromatic ring in the main chain, a crosslinkable elastomer composition comprising a crosslinkable elastomer and nonoxide ceramics and a crosslinkable elastomer composition wherein the decrease in weight by NF3 plasma irradiation is at most 0.20%.
US08173725B2
The present invention relates to a pellet type SBS-asphalt master batch modifier composition comprising styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer and asphalt, and modified asphalt prepared by melting and mixing the pellet type SBS-asphalt master batch modifier composition with asphalt. The modified asphalt prepared thereof has advantages that deterioration of physical properties and thermal oxidation can be prevented while productivity can be improved due to reduced melting time of modifier.
US08173720B2
A transparent gel is disclosed which has an interpenetrating polymer network of a copolymer containing a polysiloxane structure and a polycarbonate structure and a hydrophilic polymer obtained by polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer. The transparent gel is useful as a cultivation substrate, a container for storage and an ophthalmic material, comprising an easily synthesizable and purifiable silicon-containing resin, wherein a gel strength, transparency, oxygen permeability, birefringence and other characteristics are excellent.
US08173717B2
Closed cell silicone foams are formed by subjecting a silicone base to an inert gas at an elevated pressure, preferably after a pre-curing step, reducing the pressure to allow the base to expand to produce closed cell silicone foam and curing this expanded foam at an elevated temperature.
US08173713B2
A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.
US08173703B2
The present invention relates to novel carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, skin treatment compositions containing these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, methods of treating skin changes by topical application of these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, and their methods of synthesis. The carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention are unexpectedly effective in treating skin, particularly with respect to skin tolerance. When included in a topical composition, the carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention have an antioxidant effect that is useful in treating a skin change.
US08173700B2
The present invention relates to salts of substituted allophanates, methods for their production, medicaments containing said compounds and the use of said compound for the production of medicaments.
US08173697B2
The invention relates to new alkoxyalkyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which A, B, D, G, W, X, Y and Z have the definitions indicated above, to a number of processes and intermediates for their preparation, and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides and/or microbicides. The invention further provides selectively herbicidal, compositions which comprise alkoxyalkyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols on the one hand and a crop plant tolerance promoter compound on the other.The invention further relates to the boosting of the action of crop protection compositions comprising compounds of the formula (I) through the additions of ammonium salts or phosphonium salts and optionally penetration promoters.
US08173680B2
Compounds of formula (I) are modulators of cannabinoid receptor CB1, useful inter alia for treatment of obesity: Formula (I). Wherein: X is a bond, or a divalent radical selected from —C(R10)(R11)—*, —C(R10)(R11)—O—*, —C(R10)(R11)CH2—*, —C(R10)(R11)CH2—O—*, —CH2C(R10)(R11)—*, —CH2C(R10)(R11)—O—*, and —CH2—O—C(R10)(R11)—*, wherein the bond indicated by an asterisk is attached to the pyrazole ring; Z is a carboxyl isostere radical selected from the group specified; R3 is hydrogen, (C1-C)alkyl or (C1C3)fluoroalkyl; R4 is a radical of formula -(Alk1)p-(Q1)r (L)s-Q2 wherein p, r, s, Alk1, L, Q1 and Q2 are as specified; or R3and R4 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a cyclic amino ring of 4 to 7 ring atoms which is optionally substituted by a radical of formula -(L)s-Q2 wherein s, L and Q2 are as defined above, or by an optional substituent selected from hydroxy, methoxy, —NH2—, or mono- or di-(C1C3)alkylamino; R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently selected from hydrogen —F, —Cl, —Br, —CN, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C1C3)fluoroalkyl, cyclopropyl, and —OR9; R10 is hydrogen, (C1C3)alkyl, hydroxyl or NH2, and R11 is hydrogen or (C1-C3)alkyl; or R10 and R11 taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a (C3-C5)cycloalkyl ring.
US08173678B2
Kappa opioid receptor antagonists are provided that yield significant improvements in functional binding assays to kappa opioid receptors, and the use of these antagonists in treatment of disease states that are ameliorated by binding of the kappa opioid receptor such as heroin or cocaine addictions.
US08173674B2
The invention relates to sulfonyl-phenyl-oxadiazolones and to their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives showing PPARdelta or PPARdelta and PPARgamma agonist activity.What are described are compounds of the formula I, in which the radicals are as defined, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparations. The compounds are suitable for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders as well as of disorders in which insulin resistance is involved and demyelinating and other neurodegenerative disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.
US08173671B2
Topical ophthalmic and otic solution compositions of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone phosphate are disclosed.
US08173667B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) where X, R, Y, D, A and B are as defined herein.
US08173665B2
The invention relates to 4-cyanophenyl, 2-sulfanyl, 1-phenyl pyrimidine derivatives, processes for their preparation, and pharmaceutical compositions of the same. Compounds and compositions of the invention are useful in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure development.
US08173663B2
Compounds, pharmaceuticals, kits and methods are provided for use with DPP-IV and other S9 proteases that comprise a compound comprising: wherein M is N or CR4; Q1 and Q2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO, SO2, and C═NR9; and each L, X, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US08173651B2
This invention features compounds of formula (I): pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds, and methods of using the compounds for the treatment of, inter alia, IL-12-related diseases and disorders.
US08173648B2
The invention provides a type of novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives with a structure of formula (I): wherein R1 represents propargyl or cyclopropylmethyl; wherein R2 represents N-ethyl-N-methylamino, 1-Pyrrolidyl, 1-Piperidinyl, or 1-Morpholinyl. The invention provides further a process for preparing said derivatives and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same. Said derivatives can be used to modulate the proteolytic process of amyloid precursor proteins (APP), and provides further novel compounds useful for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD).
US08173645B2
Compounds are provided for use with glucokinase that comprise the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds; and methods of using said compounds.
US08173643B2
The present invention relates to N-Substituted thiomorpholine compounds of formula I, the possible isomers, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, the solvates, the hydrates or the prodrugs thereof as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV); and to a method for preparing the compounds of formula I, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I and use of the compounds of formula II in medical field, particularly in the preparation of medicaments for treating and preventing diabetes (in particular type II diabetes), hyperglycemia, X syndrome, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, atherosclerosis and all kinds of diseases modulated by immune system.
US08173635B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08173633B2
Disclosed is a protein kinase C enhancer characterized by containing a benzothiophene alkyl ether derivative represented by the general formula below or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R1 and R2 may be the same or different and represent one or more groups selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkenyl group, an amino group, a heterocyclic group, an optionally protected amino group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an oxo group and the like; R3 represents an alkylamino group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group or the like; and m and n may be the same or different and represent an integer of 1-6.) This protein kinase C enhancer is useful for treatment or prevention of various diseases associated with protein kinase C.
US08173629B2
The present invention relates to natural products that possess fatty acid synthesis inhibitor activity and can be used to treat and prevent diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, fungal infections, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, malarial infections and other apicomplexan protozoal diseases.
US08173628B2
The present invention comprises the design, synthesis and development of a new class of chemotherapeutic agents for prophylactic and therapeutic treatments in a mammal, particularly a human, believed to be at risk of suffering from a hormone-responsive disorder. In an aspect of the invention, such treatments include therapeutic compositions comprising novel steroidal antiestrogen and antiandrogen compounds. In a preferred aspect, such a novel compound of the present invention has an address and a message component, which are made into a single composite entity for more aggressive intervention and effective treatment of hormone-responsive disorders, thereby prolonging the disease-free interval for the patient and reducing a number of side effects.
US08173625B2
A water-soluble aspirin-theanine cocrystal composition which includes a quantity of acetylsalicylic acid and a quantity of a theanine enantiomer associated with the quantity of acetylsalicylic acid. The composition may be created by a method including the steps of: (i) providing a quantity of acetylsalicylic acid; (ii) adding a quantity of a theanine enantiomer to the quantity of acetylsalicylic acid to form a mixture comprising the quantity of acetylsalicylic acid and the enantiomer of theanine; (iii) wetting the mixture; and (iv) grinding the mixture for a length of time sufficient to produce a dried crystalline mass. The water-soluble cocrystal composition is suitable for intravenous administration, preferably to humans.
US08173616B2
The invention is directed to RNA molecules that can be used to inhibit protein synthesis and to induce cells to undergo apoptosis. It also includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the RNAs that can be used in treating or preventing tumors; abnormal dermatological growths and viral infections.
US08173614B2
The invention provides novel combination therapies for treating Huntington's disease which comprise a) BDNF or suitable fragments thereof and b) agents capable of causing inhibition of a gene responsible for the neurodegenerative disease. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences, methods, and systems suitable for applications of these combination therapies.
US08173613B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the modulation of metastatic and mesenchymal cell growth and mobility via the regulation of the formation of Twist/Twist homodimers and Twist/E heterodimers. The present invention also relates to methods for screening agents and compound libraries for molecules that function to modulate the formation of Twist/Twist homodimers, Twist/E protein heterodimers or their upstream or downstream effector molecules.
US08173606B2
The invention relates to compounds which are polysulfated oligosaccharide derivatives having activity as inhibitors of heparan sulfate-binding proteins and inhibitors of the enzyme heparanase; methods for the preparation of the compounds; compositions comprising the compounds, and use of the compounds and compositions thereof for the antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticoagulant and/or antithrombotic treatment, lowering of blood triglyceride levels and inhibition of cardiovascular disease of a mammalian subject.
US08173605B2
The present invention encompasses a method for screening for a kokumi-imparting substance by using the calcium receptor activity as an index, a composition containing a kokumi-imparting substance obtained by the screening method, a method for producing food or drink imparted with kokumi, and food or drink imparted with kokumi.
US08173599B2
The present invention relates to a spray-dried composition comprising as an active ingredient at least one member protein of the collectin family or its functional equivalent for treating and preventing microbial infectious diseases. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the same composition. The composition produced by the method of the present invention is effective in suppressing infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Since the composition is developed in a form suitable for inhalation, it can directly provide the active ingredient to the sites of infection from these microbes, and thus treat and prevent respiratory infections and external wounds.
US08173588B2
Provided is a solid composition comprising an iminocarboxylic acid salt, wherein the iminocarboxylic acid salt is 3-hydroxy-2,2′-iminodisuccinic acid and/or a salt thereof. The solid composition comprises 70% by weight or more of the iminocarboxylic acid salt, relative to a solid content except for moisture of the solid composition, and the solid composition comprises 20% by weight or less of moisture, relative to the solid composition. Also a production method of the solid composition, comprising a step of drying an iminocarboxylic acid salt-containing composition is provided.
US08173586B2
The present invention is directed to a coating removal composition comprising at least one weak metal binding agent, a solvent system comprising at least one alcohol or ester, and a corrosion inhibition system. A method of removing a coating from an intentionally colored concrete floor is also disclosed. Utilization of the method results in at least 70% retention of colorant component after stripping a coating from an intentionally colored concrete surface, such as a floor.
US08173583B2
The present invention relates to the use of cationic polymers obtainable by free-radical copolymerization of a) 60 to 99 mol % of at least one 1-vinylimidazole monomer, b) 1 to 40 mol % of at least one free-radically polymerizable quaternizable monomer b1) or methacrylic acid b2) and c) 0 to 30 mol % of at least one further free-radically copolymerizable monomer different from a) and b) in hair cosmetic preparations.
US08173582B2
This invention provides an oil composition for cutting and grinding by minimum quantity lubrication system, characterized by comprising an ester oil with a kinematic viscosity of 0.5-20 mm2/s at 100° C., and an ester-based polymer with a kinematic viscosity exceeding 20 mm2/s at 100° C. and an average molecular weight of 5,000-10,000,000. The oil composition for cutting and grinding by minimum quantity lubrication system according to the invention can achieve an excellent balance between misting property and inhibition of floating mist and ensure that an adequate amount reaches the working section, for cutting and grinding by minimum quantity lubrication system.
US08173579B2
In a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire by filling a tube with a MgB2 superconducting powder and forming it into a tape or wire, a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape (and wire) which is characterized by using a MgB2 superconducting powder having a high critical current density (Jc) owing to its lowered crystallinity and having potential for excellent grain connectivity as the MgB2 superconducting powder. Provided are a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire which can fabricate a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire having a level of Jc sufficiently high for practical applications and homogeneous quality throughout its length by an ex-situ process employing a material of the composition suitable for its working environment as the sheath material, and a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire thereby fabricated.
US08173577B2
The present invention is directed to the treatment of a plant at the flowering or fruiting stage with an effective amount of abscisic acid, its analogs or derivatives and salts thereof to reduce the number of fruits that the plant sets and grows to maturity.
US08173576B2
A method of producing a suspended agricultural chemical composition, includes the steps of: grinding an agricultural chemical active ingredient; mixing at least water, a polyalcohol, a mineral salt, and a surfactant to produce a solution; adding to the solution the ground agricultural chemical active ingredient and a suspension stabilizer, to produce a mixture; heating the mixture to 40 to 70° C. while stirring; cooling the heated mixture to 10 to 25° C.; and wet-milling the cooled mixture at 30° C. or below. Alternatively the method includes the steps of: grinding an agricultural chemical active ingredient; mixing at least water, a polyalcohol, a mineral salt, and a surfactant to produce a solution; adding to the solution the ground agricultural chemical active ingredient and a suspension stabilizer to produce a mixture; wet-milling the mixture; heating the wet-milled mixture to 40 to 70° C. while stirring; and cooling the heated mixture.
US08173569B2
A Ziegler-Natta procatalyst composition in the form of solid particles and comprising magnesium, halide and transition metal moieties, said particles having an average size (D50) of from 10 to 70 μm, characterized in that at least 5 percent of the particles have internal void volume substantially or fully enclosed by a monolithic surface layer (shell), said layer being characterized by an average shell thickness/particle size ratio (Thickness Ratio) determined by SEM techniques for particles having particle size greater than 30 μm of greater than 0.2.
US08173564B2
A gasifier comprising an interior wall on which a layer is applied or an interior wall protected by an assembly of blocks, said layer or said blocks having at least one region of a sintered material containing: i) at least 25% by weight of chromium oxide Cr2O3; and ii) at least 1% by weight of zirconium oxide, wherein at least 20% by weight of said zirconium oxide ZrO2 is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.
US08173551B2
Lattice-mismatched epitaxial films formed proximate non-crystalline sidewalls. Embodiments of the invention include formation of facets that direct dislocations in the films to the sidewalls.
US08173541B2
A chip carrier substrate includes a capacitor aperture and a laterally separated via aperture, each located within a substrate. The capacitor aperture is formed with a narrower linewidth and shallower depth than the via aperture incident to a microloading effect within a plasma etch method that is used for simultaneously etching the capacitor aperture and the via aperture within the substrate. Subsequently a capacitor is formed and located within the capacitor aperture and a via is formed and located within the via apertures. Various combinations of a first capacitor plate layer, a capacitor dielectric layer and a second capacitor plate layer may be contiguous with respect to the capacitor aperture and the via aperture.
US08173536B2
An interconnect pad is formed over a first substrate. A photoresist layer is formed over the first substrate and interconnect pad. A portion of the photoresist layer is removed to form a channel and expose a perimeter of the interconnect pad while leaving the photoresist layer covering a central area of the interconnect pad. A first conductive material is deposited in the channel of the photoresist layer to form a column of conductive material. The remainder of the photoresist layer is removed. A masking layer is formed around the column of conductive material while exposing the interconnect pad within the column of conductive material. A second conductive material is deposited over the first conductive layer. The second conductive material extends above the column of conductive material. The masking layer is removed. The second conductive material is reflowed to form a column interconnect structure over the semiconductor device.
US08173526B2
Various embodiments include forming a silicon-germanium layer over a substrate of a device; forming a layer in the silicon-germanium layer, the layer including at least one of boron and carbon; and forming a silicon layer over the silicon-germanium layer. Additional embodiments are described.
US08173522B2
A process and an apparatus are described for the treatment of wafers, in particular for the thinning of wafers. A wafer with a carrier layer and an interlayer arranged between the carrier layer and the wafer is also described, in which the interlayer is a plasmapolymeric layer that adheres to the wafer and adheres more strongly to the carrier layer than to the wafer.
US08173521B2
The present invention is a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer by an ion implantation delamination method including at least the steps of, bonding a bond wafer having a micro bubble layer formed by gas ion implantation with a base wafer to be a supporting substrate, delaminating the bond wafer along the micro bubble layer as a boundary to form a thin film on the base wafer, the method comprising, cleaning the bonded wafer after delaminating the bond wafer using ozone water; performing rapid thermal anneal process under a hydrogen containing atmosphere; forming a thermal oxide film on a surface layer of the bonded wafer by subjecting to heat treatment under an oxidizing gas atmosphere and removing the thermal oxide film; subjecting to heat treatment under a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere. As a result, the method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, which can remove the damage caused by the ion implantation and can suppress a occurrence of the concave defects without deterioration of surface roughness on the surface of the thin film of the bonded wafer after delamination is provided.
US08173515B2
An oxide film and a liner film are formed on an inner wall of a trench in a semiconductor substrate. After filling an SOD film in the trench, a heat treatment is carried out. Part of the liner film in contact with the SOD film is removed to expose part of the SOD film. A heat treatment is carried out on the SOD film. An isolating region is formed by filling an insulating film in the trench.
US08173514B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an isolation region defining an active region in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first insulating film over the semiconductor substrate, forming a second insulating film having etching properties different from those of the first insulating film over the first insulating film, selectively removing the second insulating film from a first region over the active region and the isolation region by dry etching using a fluorocarbon-based etching gas, removing a residual film formed by the dry etching over the first insulating film by exposure in an atmosphere containing oxygen, and selectively removing the first insulating film from the first region by wet etching.
US08173508B2
A method (and resultant structure) includes forming a semiconductor layer having plural stripe-like trenches, forming a gate electrode buried partially in each of the plural trenches, and introducing an impurity into the semiconductor layer by ion implantation after forming the gate electrode. The gate electrode has a buried portion formed in each of the trenches and a protruding portion situating above the buried portion and having a width larger than that of the buried portion. The introducing the impurity includes introducing an impurity into the semiconductor layer below the protruding portion by oblique ion implantation.
US08173507B2
Methods include forming a charge storage transistor gate stack over semiconductive material. One such stack includes a tunnel dielectric, charge storage material over the tunnel dielectric, a high-k dielectric over the charge storage material, and conductive control gate material over the high-k dielectric. The stack is etched at least to the tunnel dielectric to form a plurality of charge storage transistor gate lines over the semiconductive material. Individual of the gate lines have laterally projecting feet which include the high-k dielectric. After etching the stack to form the gate lines, ions are implanted into an implant region which includes the high-k dielectric of the laterally projecting feet. The ions are chemically inert to the high-k dielectric. The ion implanted high-k dielectric of the projecting feet is etched selectively relative to portions of the high-k dielectric outside of the implant region.
US08173506B2
A method of forming a buried gate electrode prevents voids from being formed in a silicide layer of the gate electrode. The method begins by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a conformal gate oxide layer on the semiconductor in which the trench has been formed, forming a first gate electrode layer on the gate oxide layer, forming a silicon layer on the first gate electrode layer to fill the trench. Then, a portion of the first gate electrode layer is removed to form a recess which exposed a portion of a lateral surface of the silicon layer. A metal layer is then formed on the semiconductor substrate including on the silicon layer. Next, the semiconductor substrate is annealed while the lateral surface of the silicon layer is exposed to form a metal silicide layer on the silicon layer.
US08173496B2
A stack including at least an insulating layer, a first electrode, and a first impurity semiconductor layer is provided over a supporting substrate; a first semiconductor layer to which an impurity element imparting one conductivity type is added is formed over the first impurity semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer to which an impurity element imparting the one conductivity type is added is formed over the first semiconductor layer under a condition different from that of the first semiconductor layer; crystallinity of the first semiconductor layer and crystallinity of the second semiconductor layer are improved by a solid-phase growth method to form a second impurity semiconductor layer; an impurity element imparting the one conductivity type and an impurity element imparting a conductivity type different from the one conductivity type are added to the second impurity semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode layer is formed via a gate insulating layer.
US08173494B2
A thin film transistor array and method of manufacturing the same include a pixel electrode formed of a transparent conductive layer on a substrate, a gate line formed of the transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer on the substrate, a gate electrode connected to the gate line and formed of the transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer on the substrate, a gate insulating layer which covers the gate line and the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer to overlap the gate electrode, a data line which intersects the gate line, a source electrode connected to the data line to overlap a part of the semiconductor layer, and a drain electrode connected to the pixel electrode to overlap a part of the semiconductor layer.
US08173493B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a thin film transistor array panel, which includes forming a gate line on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and an ohmic contact on the gate line; forming a first conducting film including Mo, a second conducting film including Al, and a third conducting film including Mo on the ohmic contact; forming a first photoresist pattern on the third conducting film; etching the first, second, and third conducting films, the ohmic contact, and the semiconductor layer using the first photoresist pattern as a mask; removing the first photoresist pattern by a predetermined thickness to form a second photoresist pattern; etching the first, second, and third conducting films using the second photoresist pattern as a mask to expose a portion of the ohmic contact; and etching the exposed ohmic contact using a Cl-containing gas and a F-containing gas.
US08173487B2
A thin-film transistor (1) of the present invention includes an insulating substrate (2), a gate electrode (3) which has a predetermined shape and is formed on the insulating substrate (2), a gate insulating film (4) formed on the gate electrode (3), and a semiconductor layer (5) which is polycrystalline ZnO and is formed on the gate insulating film (4). The semiconductor layer (5) is immersed in a solution in which impurities are dissolved so that the impurities are selectively added to a grain boundary part of the polycrystalline ZnO film. Subsequently, a source electrode (6) and a drain electrode (7) are formed so as to have a predetermined shape. Next, a protection layer (8) is formed on the source electrode (6) and the drain electrode (7). Thus, a thin-film transistor which has a good subthreshold characteristic and has a zinc oxide film as a base of an active layer can be realized.
US08173483B2
A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes forming a transparent conductive layer on a substrate by depositing a transparent conductive oxide under room temperature, crystallizing the transparent conductive layer by irradiating a laser beam to the transparent conductive layer using a first laser; selectively etching the crystallized transparent conductive layer to form embossed and depressed patterns at a surface of the transparent conductive layer; forming transparent electrodes in unit cells by patterning the transparent conductive layer having the embossed and depressed patterns; forming a p-n junction semiconductor layer on the transparent electrodes and patterning the p-n junction semiconductor layer; and forming rear electrodes on the patterned p-n junction semiconductor layer by forming a metallic material layer and patterning the metallic material layer, the rear electrodes corresponding to the unit cells.
US08173482B2
Methods for protecting a cadmium sulfide layer on a substrate are provided. The method can include sputtering a cadmium sulfide layer onto a substrate from a cadmium sulfide target at a sputtering pressure (e.g., about 10 mTorr to about 150 mTorr), and sputtering a cap layer directly on the cadmium sulfide layer. The cap layer can be sputtered directly onto the cadmium sulfide layer without breaking vacuum of the sputtering pressure. Methods are also provided for manufacturing a cadmium telluride based thin film photovoltaic device through depositing a cadmium sulfide layer on a substrate, depositing a cap layer directly on the cadmium sulfide layer, heating the substrate to sublimate at least a portion of the cap layer from the cadmium sulfide layer, and then depositing a cadmium telluride layer on the cadmium sulfide layer. An intermediate substrate for forming a cadmium telluride based thin-film photovoltaic device is also provided.
US08173475B2
A method of producing a photoelectric conversion device having a multilayer structure formed on a substrate, the multilayer structure including a lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer made of a compound semiconductor layer, an n-type buffer layer made of a compound semiconductor layer, and a transparent conductive layer, is disclosed. A reaction solution, which is an aqueous solution containing an n-type dopant element, at least one of ammonia and an ammonium salt, and thiourea, is prepared, the n-type dopant is diffused into the photoelectric conversion layer by immersing the substrate including the photoelectric conversion layer in the reaction solution controlled to a temperature in the range from 20° C. to 45° C.; and the buffer layer is deposited on the photoelectric conversion layer by immersing the substrate including the photoelectric conversion layer subjected to the diffusion step in the reaction solution controlled to a temperature in the range from 70° C. to 95° C.
US08173471B2
A method for fabricating MEMS device includes providing a substrate having a first side and a second side. Then, a structural dielectric layer is formed over the substrate at the first side, wherein a structural conductive layer is embedded in the structural dielectric layer. A multi-stage patterning process is performed on the substrate from the second side, wherein a plurality of regions of the substrate with different levels is formed and a portion of the structural dielectric layer is exposed. An isotropic etching process is performed from the second side of the substrate or from the both side of the substrate to etch the structural dielectric layer, wherein a remaining portion of the structural dielectric layer comprises the structural conductive layer and a dielectric portion enclosed by the structural conductive layer.
US08173460B2
A plurality of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) control circuits, each circuit comprising three electrodes, a first electrode, a second electrode independently controlled from the first electrode, and a third electrode is connected in common with the third electrode from another OLED control circuit and independently controlled from the first and second electrode. Given a first and second OLED, the first electrode is connected to a first terminal of the first OLED, the second electrode is connected to a second terminal of the first OLED and to a first terminal of the second OLED, and the third electrode is connected to a second terminal of the second OLED. At least one bypass transistor, responsive to a bypass signal, connects the second electrode and third electrode.
US08173456B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode element is provided. A first patterned semi-conductor layer, a patterned light emitting layer, and a second patterned semi-conductor layer are sequentially formed on an epitaxy substrate so as to form a plurality of epitaxy structures, wherein the first patterned semi-conductor layer has a thinner portion in a non-epitaxy area outside the epitaxy structures. A passivation layer covering the epitaxy structures and the thinner portion is formed. The passivation layer covering on the thinner portion is partially removed to form a patterned passivation layer. A patterned reflector is formed directly on each of the epitaxy structures. The epitaxy structures are bonded to a carrier substrate. A lift-off process is performed to separate the epitaxy structures from the epitaxy substrate. An electrode is formed on each of the epitaxy structures far from the patterned reflector.
US08173447B2
A magnetoresistive element includes: a magnetization free layer having a first plane and a second plane located on the opposite side from the first plane, and having a variable magnetization direction; a magnetization pinned layer provided on the first plane side of the magnetization free layer, and having a pinned magnetization direction; a first tunnel barrier layer provided between the magnetization free layer and the magnetization pinned layer; a second tunnel barrier layer provided on the second plane of the magnetization free layer; and a non-magnetic layer provided on a plane on the opposite side of the second tunnel barrier layer from the magnetization free layer. The magnetization direction of the magnetization free layer is variable by applying current between the magnetization pinned layer and the non-magnetic layer, and a resistance ratio between the first tunnel barrier layer and the second tunnel barrier layer is in a range of 1:0.25 to 1:4.
US08173442B2
Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of a dihydroxyvitamin D metabolite in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally comprise ionizing a dihydroxyvitamin D metabolite in a sample and detecting the amount of the ion to determine the presence or amount of the vitamin D metabolite in the sample. In certain preferred embodiments the methods include immunopurifying the dihydroxyvitamin D metabolites prior to mass spectrometry. Also provided are methods to detect the presence or amount of two or more dihydroxyvitamin D metabolites in a single assay.
US08173440B2
The invention concerns a method for detecting and/or assaying and/or capturing at least one aldehyde, preferably formaldehyde, including a step of contacting a gas stream with a material comprising a nonporous metal oxide sol-gel matrix, said matrix containing at least one probe molecule bearing at least one reactive function capable of reacting with at least one aldehyde function. The invention also concerns the material for implementing said method, a method for preparing same, and sensors incorporating such materials.
US08173434B2
The invention provides isolated anti-PCan065 antibodies that bind to PCan065. The invention also encompasses compositions comprising an anti-PCan065 antibody and a carrier. These compositions can be provided in an article of manufacture or a kit. Another aspect of the invention is an isolated nucleic acid encoding an anti-PCan065 antibody, as well as an expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid. Also provided are cells that produce the anti-PCan065 antibodies. The invention encompasses a method of producing the anti-PCan065 antibodies. Other aspects of the invention are a method of killing an PCan065-expressing cancer cell, comprising contacting the cancer cell with an anti-PCan065 antibody and a method of alleviating or treating an PCan065-expressing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-PCan065 antibody to the mammal.
US08173430B2
Provided is a simulant material for simulating hazardous materials, including a quantity of at least one explosive material and at least one inert material. The simulant material is a non-explosive material and is in the form of a homogenous, flexible and non-particulated material. Also provided is a method for manufacturing such a simulant material.
US08173426B2
A method for the production of retinal cells, useful in transplantation therapy, comprises: (i) obtaining one or more mammalian adult Müller cells; and (ii) culturing the cells in the presence of an extracellular matrix protein and a growth factor to thereby induce dedifferentiation of the Müller cells into a progenitor phenotype.
US08173414B2
An apparatus for establishing sulfide perfusion is described and includes a sulfide supply for introducing sulfide into fluid for perfusion, an apparatus for delivery of the perfusion fluid, a fluid chemistry monitor for monitoring the concentration of sulfide and other components of the perfusion fluid, and an electronic controller connected with the sulfide supply and the fluid chemistry monitor to control the sulfide supply to regulate the sulfide concentration of the perfusion fluid based on input from the fluid chemistry monitor.
US08173408B2
Recombinant carrier molecules having amino acid sequences from thermostable enzymes and methods of use for expression, recovery and delivery of foreign sequences (peptides and polypeptides) produced in different systems (bacteria, yeast, DNA, cell cultures such as mammalian, plant, insect cell cultures, protoplast and whole plants in vitro or in vivo are provided. The recombinant carrier molecule using sequences from lichenase B(Lic B) were also made and used as part of carrier protein to express, recover and deliver a variety of target polypeptides of interest.
US08173401B2
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.
US08173395B2
The present invention relates to a bioadhesive derived from mussel. In particular, it relates to a novel Mytilus galloprovincialis foot protein type 5 (MGFP-5) and a recombinant protein that is a hybrid of MGFP-5 and foot protein type 1 (FP-1), where an adhesive protein with adhesive activity can be economically mass-produced to be used in place of chemical adhesives through the present invention.
US08173392B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids. Also provided are compositions including proteins with unnatural amino acids.
US08173390B2
The present invention features a method for facilitating the fermentation of a high solids composition. The method involves subjecting the high solids composition to granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme during the fermentation process to provide a steady source of glucose. Moreover, the instant method is carried out under reduced pressure to selectively remove volatile components such as ethanol and water from the fermentation vessel.
US08173389B2
The disclosed technology relates to a sterilization indicator and a process to concentrate signal generated by constraining it to a minimal surface, in a minimal volume and minimal pH and growth buffering or mediating influences. The sterilization indicator may comprise a carrier 12, the carrier having a first surface 14 and a second surface 16; a support 20, the support having a first section 22 and a second section 24, the carrier 12 overlying the first section 12 of the support 20, the second surface 16 of the carrier being adhered to the first section 22 of the support 20; and a biological indicator 30 supported by the carrier 12. The second section 24 of the support 20 may be of sufficient dimension to permit handling the sterilization indicator 10 without contacting the biological indicator 30. A process for making the sterilization indicator is disclosed. Processes for using the sterilization indicator are disclosed.
US08173381B2
A novel gene (designated 85P1B3) and its encoded protein are described. While 85P1B3 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, it is aberrantly expressed in multiple cancers including set forth in Table 1. Consequently, 85P1B3 provides a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for cancers. The 85P1B3 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit an immune response.
US08173377B2
This application describes an antibody that specifically binds to a synthetic oligomer (e.g., an oligonucleotide or oligopeptide) having a organic protecting group covalently bound thereto, which antibody does not bind to that synthetic oligomer when the organic protecting group is not covalently bound thereto. Methods of making and using such antibodies are also disclosed, along with cells for making such antibodies and articles carrying immobilized oligomers that can be used in assay procedures with such antibodies.
US08173369B2
The disclosed invention comprises methods and materials for screening cells for genetic profiles associated with autism spectrum disorders. The methods typically involve isolating a cell from an individual and then observing the expression profile of one or more genes in the cell, wherein certain expression patterns of the genes observed are associated with autism spectrum disorders.
US08173368B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for preparing synthetic nucleic acids.
US08173361B2
A method for detecting one or more metabolites of a test agent in a tissue including: A) incubating a test agent and an enzyme within a three-dimensional structure comprising a first mold or polymer scaffold, a semi-permeable membrane, and a second mold or polymer scaffold, wherein the semi-permeable membrane is disposed between the first and second molds or polymer scaffolds, and wherein the first mold or polymer scaffold has microchannels that form a fluidic branching network that mimics the forces and transport of natural vasculatures and wherein the second mold or polymer scaffold comprises cells; B) forming an enzyme-substrate complex between the enzyme and the test agent; and C) detecting one or more metabolites of the test agent.
US08173359B2
A sample of unknown bacterial spores is added to a test strip. The sample of unknown bacterial spores is drawn to a first sample region on the test strip by capillary action. Species-specific antibodies are bound to the sample when the unknown bacterial spores match the species-specific antibodies, otherwise the sample is left unbound. DPA is released from the bacterial spores in the bound sample. The terbium ions are combined with the DPA to form a Tb-DPA complex. The combined terbium ions and DPA are excited to generate a luminescence characteristic of the combined terbium ions and DPA to detect the bacterial spores. A live/dead assay is performed by a release of the DPA for live spores and a release of DPA for all spores. The detection concentrations are compared to determine the fraction of live spores. Lifetime-gated measurements of bacterial spores to eliminate any fluorescence background from organic chromophores comprise labeling the bacterial spore contents with a long-lifetime lumophore and detecting the luminescence after a waiting period. Unattended monitoring of bacterial spores in the air comprises the steps of collecting bacterial spores carried in the air and repeatedly performing the Tb-DPA detection steps above. The invention is also apparatus for performing the various methods disclosed above.
US08173337B2
Exemplary embodiments provide material compositions useful for electrophotographic devices and processes. The material composition can include a plurality of graphene-containing particles dispersed or distributed in a polymer matrix. Such material composition can be used for electrophotographic members and devices including, but not limited to, a fuser member, a fixing member, a pressure roller, and/or a release donor member. In one embodiment, a material composition dispersion can be applied on a substrate in electrophotography to form a functional member layer to control, e.g., to improve, at least one of thermal, mechanical and/or electrical properties.
US08173336B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for transferring a pattern of a circuit pattern precursor formed of electroconductive particles containing no resin component onto an objective substrate with high transfer efficiency while retaining a pattern shape. A method of transferring the circuit pattern precursor formed from an conductive particle dispersed solution on a dielectric thin film body includes the steps of: temporarily removing a liquid film remaining around the circuit pattern precursor right after a development step; subsequently re-electrifying the electroconductive particle pattern by supplying a solvent again to the circuit pattern precursor; and then electrostatically transferring the pattern onto the objective substrate through electrophoresis in the solvent.
US08173326B2
A polymer electrolyte electrochemical device includes an anode current collector (1), a membrane electrode assembly (2) with anode and cathode gas backings (3, 4), and a cathode current collector (5), wherein the membrane electrode assembly is sealed and attached at least to the anode current collector by adhesive elements, thereby creating an anode gas chamber, and optionally attached to the cathode current collector by adhesive elements, the adhesive elements being electrically conducting or electrically non-conducting. The invention also relates to polymer electrolyte electrochemical device components adapted for use in a single cell electrochemical device and a series arrangement electrochemical device.
US08173324B2
A platinum alloy catalyst PtX, wherein the atomic percent of platinum in the bulk alloy is from 5 to 50 at %, the remaining being X, characterised in that the atomic percent of platinum at the surface of the alloy is from 10 to 80 at %, the remainder being X, provided that the at % of platinum at the surface of the alloy is at least 25% greater than the at % of platinum in the bulk alloy is disclosed.
US08173322B2
An intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell structure capable of operating at from 600° C. to 800° C. having a very thin porous hollow elongated metallic support tube having a thickness from 0.10 mm to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.10 mm to 0.35 mm, a porosity of from 25 vol. % to 50 vol. % and a tensile strength from 700 GPa to 900 GPa, which metallic tube supports a reduced thickness air electrode having a thickness from 0.010 mm to 0.2 mm, a solid oxide electrolyte, a cermet fuel electrode, a ceramic interconnection and an electrically conductive cell to cell contact layer.
US08173320B2
A fuel cell stack includes a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrode catalyst layers sandwiching the electrolyte membrane; metal separators that define gas channels, the metal separators being respectively disposed at both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly; a current collector from which electromotive force is derived, the current collector being in contact with at least one of the metal separators; and joining parts that join the metal separator to the current collector at portions where the metal separator contacts the current collector.
US08173316B2
A fuel cell system which includes: a fuel cell having a fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas flow path and generating electricity by being supplied a fuel gas to the fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas to the oxidant gas flow path; fuel gas supplying means; a discharge valve; fuel gas exchange means for exchanging an atmosphere inside the fuel gas flow path for the fuel gas at a starting of the system; and cold start determination means for determining whether to conduct or not to conduct the cold start of the system, wherein when the cold start determination means determines to conduct the cold start, the cold start determination means increases a total discharge amount of a gas to be discharged for exchanging the atmosphere inside the fuel gas flow path for the fuel gas, and thereby increases a fuel gas concentration in the fuel gas flow path.
US08173309B2
A reformer for a fuel cell system includes a heating source for generating heat by a reaction of a fuel and an oxidant using an oxidizing catalyst, and a reforming reaction part for generating hydrogen by a reforming catalyst reaction. The oxidizing catalyst includes a solid acid, including a strong acid ion and an inorganic oxide, and a platinum-based metal. The reformer for a fuel cell system can start a fuel oxidation catalyst reaction at a low temperature with the heating source having a simplified structure.
US08173304B2
The electric current collector of the present invention comprises a substrate composed of aluminum, a junction layer, formed on the surface of the substrate, in which aluminum and an electrically conductive material having electrical conductivity have been mixed, and an electrical conductor layer, formed on the junction layer, comprising the electrically conductive material. The electrode and the charge accumulating device of the present invention employ the electric current collector of the present invention.
US08173297B2
A battery capable of improving at least one of high-temperature storage characteristics and high-temperature cycle characteristics is provided. A battery includes a cathode, an anode and an electrolytic solution, and a separator arranged between the cathode and the anode is impregnated with the electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes an acyl halide such as succinyl chloride or succinyl fluoride as well as a solvent and an electrolyte salt.
US08173296B2
A lithium rechargeable battery comprising: an electrode assembly including a cathode plate and an anode plate facing each other; a separator provided between the cathode plated and the anode plate; a can to receive the electrode assembly; a cap assembly to seal an upper opening of the can; an upper insulation plate located between the electrode assembly and the cap assembly; and a gasket located between the cap assembly and the can. An outer layer of the separator is wound on an outer portion of the electrode assembly and is exposed above the upper insulation plate.
US08173289B2
The storage cell includes a flat roll electrode that includes a strip of positive electrode having a positive electrode current collector foil and a positive electrode layer formed thereon, a strip of negative electrode having an electrode current collector foil and a negative electrode layer formed, and a strip of electrically insulated separator, the strip of positive electrode and the strip of negative electrode being wound into a flat roll configuration with the strip of electrically insulated separator sandwiched therebetween; a sealed casing that hermetically seals the flat roll electrode impregnated with an electrolyte; a positive terminal and a negative terminal each electrically insulated from the sealed casing, connected to the positive current collector foil and the negative current collector foil, respectively.
US08173285B2
Provided is a system for managing a lithium battery system having a plurality of cells. The battery system comprises a variable-resistance element electrically connected to a cell and located proximate a portion of the cell; and a device for determining, utilizing the variable-resistance element, whether the temperature of the cell has exceeded a predetermined threshold. A method of managing the temperature of a lithium battery system is also included.
US08173277B2
A quinoxaline derivative expressed by the general formula (1) is provided. (Each of R1 to R12 represents one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an acyl group, a dialkyl amino group, a diarylamino group, a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle group. Ar1 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group, and Ar2 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic heterocycle group.)
US08173276B2
The present invention relates to organic semiconductors which contain structural units L=X and in addition structural units which emit light from the triplet state. The materials according to the invention are more soluble and easier to synthesise and are therefore more suitable for use in organic light-emitting diodes than comparative materials in accordance with the prior art.
US08173274B2
Organic compounds and organic electroluminescence devices employing the same are provided. The organic compound has a chemical structure represented as follows: wherein, R1 and R2 are independent and can be aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, hetero-cycloalkyl, or a cycloaliphatic group, or R1 and R2 link together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a fused aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, hetero-cycloalkyl, or a cycloaliphatic group, and R3, R4, and R5 are independent and can be H, C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy, C1-8 halo-alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, hetero-cycloalkyl, or a cycloaliphatic group.
US08173269B2
In an alloy coating film having a diffusion barrier layer and an aluminum reservoir layer on a substrate, the diffusion barrier layer is composed of a single phase that is a Re—Cr—Ni—Al system σ phase containing Al by less than 1 atomic %, or composed of a first phase which is the Re—Cr—Ni—Al system σ phase and one or more second phases selected from a γ phase, γ′ phase and β phase.
US08173265B2
A coating composition for a food or beverage can that includes an emulsion polymerized latex polymer formed by combining an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component with an aqueous dispersion of a water-dispersible polymer.
US08173260B1
The present invention features additions of nano-structures to interconnect conductor fine particles (spheres) to: (1) reduce thermal interface resistance by using thermal interposers that have high thermal conductivity nano-structures at their surfaces; (2) improve the anisotropic conductive adhesive interconnection conductivity with microcircuit contact pads; and (3) allow lower compression forces to be applied during the microcircuit fabrication processes which then results in reduced deflection or circuit damage. When pressure is applied during fabrication to spread and compress anisotropic conductive adhesive and the matrix of interconnect particles and circuit conductors, the nano-structures mesh and compress into a more uniform connection than current technology provides, thereby eliminating voids, moisture and other contaminants, increasing the contact surfaces for better electrical and thermal conduction.
US08173256B2
An aromatic polyamide fiber comprising an aromatic polyamide containing a structural repeating unit of the following formula (1), and a structural repeating unit of the following repeating unit (2) in an amount of 30 mol % or more to the whole amount of the aromatic polyamide structural units, the fiber having strength of 20 cN/dtex or more and modulus of elongation of 500 cN/dtex or more: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted divalent aromatic group.
US08173251B2
A gasket material including: a metal plate; and a fluorine rubber layer having a Vickers hardness of 15 to 30 N/mm2, being provided on one side or both sides of the metal plate, and obtained from a fluorine rubber composition containing a fluorine rubber polymer. The gasket material maintains a sealing bead surface at a high surface pressure without changing the engine block design and the gasket design and also possible to absorb flange surface roughness that is an original purpose of the rubber layer.
US08173247B2
Stiff, lightweight composite materials that include a Class A surface finish as well as methods of making these composites and articles that include these composites. The fiber reinforced HPPC composite sheet material includes a glass laminate layer and a metal layer. The metal layer covers the unidirectional glass fibers in the HPPC composite while the glass laminate layer gives the composite mechanical puncture resistance, while providing a composite sheet material with Class A surface properties that is still lightweight.
US08173246B2
The transparent conductive laminate of the present invention is a transparent conductive laminate, comprising: a transparent film substrate; a transparent conductive thin film provided on one side of the transparent film substrate with a dielectric thin film interposed therebetween; and a transparent substrate bonded to another side of the transparent film substrate with a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween, wherein the transparent substrate comprises at least two transparent base films laminated with the transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween, and the dielectric thin film comprises a first transparent dielectric thin film consisting of a SiOx (x is from 1.5 to less than 2) film having a relative refractive index of 1.6 to 1.9, and a second transparent dielectric thin film consisting of a SiO2 film. This feature can improve the surface contact pressure durability.
US08173245B2
A support tape used in semiconductor wafer processing that includes an adhesive tape and a plurality of spaced support ribs arranged on the adhesive tape.
US08173240B2
A paper for a laminate panel includes a first layer that includes a resin impregnated decorative paper or a resin impregnated overlay; and a second layer of abrasion resistant particles uniformly distributed on and adhered to the first layer.
US08173231B2
The heat-shrinkable cylindrical label of the present invention comprises a cylindrical body formed a heat-shrinkable film into a cylindrical form, and a resin layer laid on a partial region of the cylindrical body, wherein the heat-shrinkable film is a film having a heat shrinkage ratio of 30% or more when the film is heated to 85° C. and having a shrinkage stress of 6.5 MPa or less when the film is heated to 85° C., and the resin layer is a layer which does not substantially deform when the layer is heated to 85° C.In a cylindrical-label-attached article, wherein the cylindrical label is shrunk by heat to be fitted to an article, the regions where the resin layer is formed rise up as a three-dimensional pattern in a convex form.
US08173230B2
A UVB phosphor of the composition (Laj_,,—y—,Gd,,Yy)PO4:Ce, is described, in which x=0 to 0.5, y=0 to 0.5 and z=0.01 to 0.3 and the sum of x, y and z is less than 1. From a phosphor of this kind, a phosphor layer can be produced that, in fluorescent lamps based on low-pressure mercury discharge lamps, produces a spectrum of 5 UV light that is particularly well suited to the cosmetic or medical treatment of the skin.
US08173223B2
A method for discharging a liquid material includes performing a scan by moving a discharge target having a film formation area and a plurality of nozzles forming a nozzle row, and discharging a liquid material containing a functional material from the nozzles onto the film formation area by selectively applying one of drive waveforms generated using time division to an energy generation element in synchronization with the scan. The method includes applying a first drive waveform to a first nozzle and a second drive waveform having a different discharge timing to a second nozzle with the second nozzle being adjacent to the first nozzle, and setting the combination of the first and second drive waveforms so that the number of the energy generation elements to which the first drive waveform is applied is the same as the number of the energy generation elements to which the second waveform is applied.
US08173221B2
Metal products having improved properties and processes for preparing the metal products are provided. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a metal product comprising a metal surface, an oxide layer and a glass layer. The glass layer is provided by coating a stable aqueous silicate or borosilicate solution onto the metal surface and curing the aqueous solution to produce a glass layer. The metal products have surface characteristics that outperform current anodized metal surfaces.
US08173213B2
A stabilized cyclic alkene composition comprising one or more cyclic alkenes, and at least one stabilizer compound having the Formula (I), R1,R2,R3,R4,R5(C6)OH Formula (I) wherein R′ through R5 can each independently be H, OH, C1-C8 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, C1-C8 linear, branched, or cyclic alkoxy or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and wherein the stabilizer compound is present in an amount greater than 200 ppm up to 20,000 ppm and has a boiling point lower than 265° C. A method for forming a layer of carbon-doped silicon oxide on a substrate, which uses the stabilized alkene composition and a silicon containing compound.
US08173211B2
A method of production of carbon nanoparticles comprises the steps of: providing on substrate particles a transition metal compound which is decomposable to yield the transition metal under conditions permitting carbon nanoparticle formation, contacting a gaseous carbon source with the substrate particles, before, during or after said contacting step, decomposing the transition metal compound to yield the transition metal on the substrate particles, forming carbon nanoparticles by decomposition of the carbon source catalysed by the transition metal, and collecting the carbon nanoparticles formed.
US08173210B2
A method for surface modification of non-dispersible metal nanoparticles comprises mixing metal nanoparticles having an amorphous carbon layer on the surface with an alcohol or thiol solvent, mixing a capping molecule having a carboxylic head group in the mixed solution, and separating the metal nanoparticles from the mixed solution and the metal nanoparticles for inkjet printing thus modified.
US08173208B2
A method for producing graphite spheres from graphite fines by charging a quantity of spherical media into a rotatable cylindrical overcoater, charging a quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater thereby forming a first mixture of spherical media and graphite fines, rotating the overcoater at a speed such that the first mixture climbs the wall of the overcoater before rolling back down to the bottom thereby forming a second mixture of spherical media, graphite fines, and graphite spheres, removing the second mixture from the overcoater, sieving the second mixture to separate graphite spheres, charging the first mixture back into the overcoater, charging an additional quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater, adjusting processing parameters like overcoater dimensions, graphite fines charge, overcoater rotation speed, overcoater angle of rotation, and overcoater time of rotation, before repeating the steps until graphite fines are converted to graphite spheres.
US08173204B2
The present invention relates to the technical field of electrochemistry and describes a method and an apparatus for producing fuel cell components, in particular membrane electrode units (“MEUs”) for membrane fuel cells.In the case of the method according to the invention, anode and cathode electrodes are applied to two neighboring heated rollers that are subjected to a vacuum. The applied vacuum has the effect that they are introduced exactly in position into a roller nip and then laminated with an ion-conducting membrane. Due to the extended heat influencing zone, high production rates are achieved with the method according to the invention.The apparatus according to the invention comprises a rolling mill with heatable vacuum rollers. It has advantages due to the simple construction and the absence of transfer locations.
US08173198B2
Intermediates and methods for forming activated metal complexes bound to surfaces on oxide layers, immobilizing beads to the modified surface and articles produced thereby are described. Hydroxyl groups on the oxide surfaces are reacted with a metal reagent complex of the formula Y(L-Pol)m, where Y is a transition metal, magnesium or aluminum, L is oxygen, sulfur, selenium or an amine, and “Pol” represents a passivating agent such as a methoxyethanol, a polyethylene glycol, a hydrocarbon, or a fluorocarbon. The resulting modified surface can be further reacted with a passivating agent having a phosphate functional group or a plurality of functional groups that are reactive with or that form complexes with Y. The metal oxide surfaces exhibit minimal binding to bio-molecules, exhibit uniform deposition and immobilization of beads at high density, can be subsequently modified to create surfaces having a variety of properties, and can be used for nucleic acid sequencing and other analyses and in single-molecule detection schemes.
US08173189B2
A method and device for treating a perishable object, the method exposing the perishable object to a south magnetic field created by magnetic interference of a plurality of magnets. The device comprising a panel defining a portion of a space for containing the perishable object, the plurality of magnets housed within the panel and arranged such that the magnets extend into the space for containing the perishable object.
US08173185B2
It is intended to provide a means for obtaining a novel soy sauce with less soy sauce smell and having a rich flavor although it is a brewed soy sauce. More particularly, it is intended to provide a process for producing such a brewed soy sauce, comprising: preparing a soy sauce koji; preparing a soy sauce moromi by adding an aqueous common salt solution to the soy sauce koji at a ratio of water within 170% to 450% (V/V); fermenting and maturating the soy sauce moromi; adding either a soy sauce koji alone or a combination of a soy sauce koji and an aqueous common salt solution to the soy sauce moromi during the fermentation and maturation; and further fermenting and maturating the soy sauce moromi after the addition thereof.
US08173182B2
Antimicrobial compositions based on a combination or blend of plant essential oils is of enhanced antimicrobial effectiveness; by adding to the combination of at least two plant essential oils, and preferably adds a small but antimicrobial enhancing effective amount of an enhancer selected from the group consisting of polyionic organic enhancers and polyionic inorganic enhancers. One preferred blended oil composition is a mixture of plant essential oils wherein at least one of the oils is oregano oil. The oil blend is used as a major component in the finished product anti-microbial.
US08173179B1
Previous research demonstrated that aflatoxin contamination in corn is reduced by field application of wheat grains pre-inoculated with the non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain NRRL 30797. To facilitate field applications of the biocontrol isolate, a series of laboratory studies were conducted on the reliability and efficiency of replacing wheat grains with the novel bioplastic formulation Mater-Bi® to serve as a carrier matrix to formulate this fungus. Mater-Bi® granules were inoculated with a conidial suspension of NRRL 30797 to achieve a final cell density of ˜log 7 conidia/granule. Incubation of 20-g soil samples receiving a single Mater-Bi® granule for 60-days resulted in log 4.2 to 5.3 propagules of A. flavus/g soil for microbiologically active and sterilized soil, respectively. Increasing the number of granules had no effect on the degree of soil colonization by the biocontrol fungus. In addition to the maintenance of rapid vegetative growth and colonization of soil samples, the bioplastic formulation was highly stable, indicating that Mater-Bi® is a suitable substitute for biocontrol applications of A. flavus NRRL 30797.
US08173176B2
Embolization, as well as related particles, compositions and methods, are disclosed.
US08173173B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of anhydrous lactose agglomerates, said process comprising (i) subjecting essentially anhydrous lactose primary particles comprising at least 60 wt % crystalline-lactose in a granulator to a wet granulation step at a temperature in the range of 30-100° C. using a binder solution, wherein the granulation mass is subjected to drying for at least part of the granulation step, and (ii) after-drying the granulation mass. The anhydrous lactose agglomerates thus produced comprise at least 50 wt %-lactose crystallites and have a total water content in the range of 0-1.0 wt %, which is required according to the standards laid down by the Pharmacopoeia for anhydrous lactose excipients. These agglomerates combine have excellent compactibility and flowability properties and are particularly useful as excipient in moisture-sensitive applications.
US08173157B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a phenylamidine derivative or a salt thereof, represented by a general formula, wherein R1 and R2 may be same or different, and represent an optionally substituted C3-4alkyl group; and one or more agents selected from azole antifungal agents, polyene antifungal agents, candin antifungal agents and fluoropyrimidine antifungal agents, and a method for combination use of the phenylamidine derivative or a salt thereof and the agents are useful for treating fungal infections caused by a fungal pathogen.
US08173152B2
A stabilized bioadhesive composition containing an alkaline labile drug and a method for its preparation are provided. In one aspect, the composition is a hot-melt extruded (HME) composition comprising a preformed excipient mixture comprising an acidic component and an alkaline thermoplastic matrix-forming material, e.g. polymer. The excipient mixture is formed before blending with an alkaline labile drug. The blend is then hot-melt extruded to form the HME composition. By so doing, the acidic component is able to neutralize or render moderately acidic the excipient mixture. This particular process has been shown to substantially reduce the degradation of an alkaline labile drug during hot-melt extrusion. The excipient mixture softens or melts during hot-melt extrusion. It can dissolve or not dissolve drug-containing particles during extrusion. Various functional excipients can be included in the carrier system to improve process performance and/or improve the chemical or physical properties of the HME composition.
US08173146B2
A stoma wipe and adhesive remover is for use by an ostomy patient in cleaning a stoma and the area of skin surrounding the stoma, also known as the peristomal skin. The stoma wipe includes a convenient, pre-moistened and disposable towelette. The towelette includes an absorbent fibrous web of material into which is absorbed a liquid cleaning solution having a soap component, an emulsifying component, a water component and an antifungal component. The wipes can be packaged in a convenient, portable, re-sealable package. The stoma wipe is suitable for cleaning a stoma and its surrounding skin area without causing irritation to the stoma and the surrounding skin area, while at the same time removing adhesive residue from an ostomy appliance. The cleaning of the skin and removing old adhesive residue improves adherence of the stoma pouch to the skin area surrounding the stoma.
US08173145B2
There is provided an emulsion composition for therapeutic administration comprising: (a) at least one mono-(electron transfer agent) phosphate derivative; (b) at least one di-electron transfer agent phosphate derivative; wherein the amount of transfer agent phosphate derivatives is no less than equimolar to the amount of di-electron transfer agent phosphate; and (c) a suitable carrier.
US08173144B2
Signs of aging of the skin and/or mucous membranes are prevented and/or reduced, and the activity of the proteolytic enzymes of the stratum corneum are stimulated as well, by administering to an individual in need of such treatment, a cosmetic/pharmaceutical composition which comprises a thus effective amount of at least one hydroxylated urea compound having the following formula (I): in which: the radicals R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, are each a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl radical or a C2-C6 hydroxyalkyl radical which can contain from 1 to 5 hydroxyl groups, wherein at least one of the R1 to R4 radicals represents a hydroxyalkyl radical, or salt, solvate or isomer thereof, formulated into a physiologically acceptable medium therefor.
US08173139B1
Populations of Salmonella in animals may be substantially reduced by treatment with a vaccine composition which has been produced by exposing whole, intact cells of a Salmonella species to irradiation with an electron beam under conditions effective to kill the cells. The electron beam irradiated cells of Salmonella are effective for stimulating protective immune responses in the animals against the Salmonella. Induction of these immune responses significantly reduces or eliminates the colonization of the animal by the Salmonella, and consequently reduces or eliminates the shedding of Salmonella in the feces of the animals.
US08173135B2
Methods for preparing complex multivalent immunogenic conjugates that include simultaneously reacting a plurality or immunogenic-distinct polysaccharides with at least one protein to make the complex multivalent immunogenic conjugates. The simultaneous reaction involves reaction of a hydrazide group on one reactant with an aldehyde or cyanate ester group on the other reactant.
US08173133B2
The present invention is directed in particular to dipeptide-like compounds derived from functionally substituted amino acids, having fatty acid chains bound thereto through amidification of the amine functional groups of said dipeptide-like compounds, one end portion of which bears an accessory functional side chain spacer, with the other end portion being an acid group either in neutral or charged state.Compounds of the present invention have immunomodulating properties like adjuvants, In addition, compounds of the invention can be grafted on a given antigen in order to modulate or tune the immune response or can be equally grafted on a pharmaceutical carrier to enhance the therapeutic effect or targeting thereof. Accordingly, compounds of the invention find use in human and veterinary medicine both as immunogens and diagnostic tools.
US08173130B2
The present invention provides a novel class of monoclonal antibodies which have a high affinity, broad spectrum neutralizing reactivity to flagellin from various Gram-negative bacteria including, but not limited to, E. coli, Salmonella, Serratia, Proteus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Campylobacter and Pseudomonas. The present invention further provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and methods of treating enterobacterial infections using anti-flagellin antibodies in humans, other animals and birds.
US08173125B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences which influence bone deposition, the Wnt pathway, ocular development, tooth development, and may bind to LRP. The nucleic acid sequence and polypeptides include Wise and Sost as well as a family of molecules which express a cysteine knot polypeptide. Additionally, the present invention relates to various molecular tools derived from the nucleic acids and polypeptides including vectors, transfected host cells, monochronal antibodies, Fab fragments, and methods for impacting the pathways.
US08173112B2
An emulsified composition for hair, which contains a nonionic surfactant that is a solid at normal temperature and has a Krafft point of at least 40° C., an oil component, and water, and which has an average emulsified particle size of 0.5 μm or less, provides long-lasting luster. Further, an emulsified composition for hair, which is an water-in-oil emulsified composition and which contains the following two types of oil phase as the oil phase, improves the feel of hair immediately after use: 1) an oil phase with an average particle size of 0.5 μm or less, formed with a nonionic surfactant that is a solid at normal temperature and has a Krafft point of at least 40° C., and 2) an oil phase with an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 μm, formed with a surfactant and/or an alkyl-modified carboxyvinyl polymer.
US08173107B2
The present invention relates to the delivery of antipsychotics through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing antipsychotics that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, an antipsychotic is delivered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises an antipsychotic, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles with less than 5% antipsychotic drug degradation products. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering an antipsychotic through an inhalation route is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of an antipsychotic composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.
US08173082B1
A fuel processing system for heavier sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels, such as JP-8 and diesel fuels, having a fuel processor in which the sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels are reformed using steam reforming, an integrated desulfurization/methanation unit, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The heart of the system is the desulfurization/methanation unit which has a first reactor vessel and a second reactor vessel disposed within the first reactor vessel, forming an enclosed reaction space between the first reactor vessel and the second reactor vessel. A methanation catalyst is provided in the enclosed reaction space or the second reactor vessel. A desulfurization material is provided in the other of the enclosed reaction space and the second reactor vessel. During the normal course of operation, the desulfurization material will reach a saturation point at which it is no longer able to adsorb the sulfur-containing compounds. Contrary to conventional systems in which a fuel containing sulfur is desulfurized prior to methanation in two separate desulfurizer and methanation vessels and the spent desulfurization material is regenerated, the first and second reactor vessels of this invention are separable such that the reactor vessel containing the spent desulfurization material simply can be removed and replaced with a reactor vessel containing fresh desulfurization material.
US08173081B2
A stopper body of refractory material and cylindrical shape having a first end (10), a second end (14) and an intermediate zone (12) there between, with a bore (16) of circular cross section, extending from said first end (10) in an axial direction of the stopper body into said intermediate zone (12) towards the second end (14), wherein the said bore being provided with an enlarged cross section (at 16s) along at least part of said intermediate Zone (12).
US08173078B2
A microfluidic chip with a built-in gravity-driven micropump is provided. The gravity-driven micropump comprises a winding channel, an inert fluidic material placed inside the winding channel, and a suction channel that links the winding channel to the microfluidic chip. The winding channel is for the inert fluidic material to flow in. A fixed volume of high density, inert fluidic material is placed in the winding channel to act as a micropump in the bio chip. When the microfluidic chip is placed in a declining or standing position, the inert fluidic material flows along the winding channel due to the gravity. The invention provides a simple, convenient, and robust microfluid pumping source. With the built-in micropump, this invention is free-of-pollution and saves the manufacturing cost for the pipe link between the bio chip and peripheral devices.
US08173069B2
An ion analyzing apparatus includes a sensor; a counter electrode having openings, the counter electrode being positioned so as to substantially surround the sensor; and a bias generating circuit coupled to the sensor, wherein the sensor includes quartz crystal and a pair of electrodes positioned on surface of the quartz crystal, and one of the pair of electrodes is coupled to the bias generating circuit.
US08173063B2
The invention relates to a process for producing a molding, comprising a disk-like or plate-like basic body -5- having a large number of knob-like and/or web-like elevations -4-3- which merge into the basic body -5- with inclined side surfaces, by means of pressing and sintering powdery raw materials close to the final shape.According to the invention, the pressing is carried out in a two-stage pressing operation. In the first stage the boundary surfaces of the basic body -5- are pressed to at least the approximate final shape as far as the transition regions of the elevations -3-4- and, at the same time, the elevations -3-4- are pressed to an oversize. The projection h′ of the elevations -3-4- from the basic body -5- is greater by 10%-150% as compared with the projection h from the basic body -5- in the finally pressed state. Their side surfaces form an angle of inclination α′ in the range from 90°-150° with the respectively adjacent boundary surface of the basic body -5-. In the second stage, the elevations -3-4- are pressed to at least approximately the final shape, the angle of inclination α′ being enlarged to a value α which lies in the range from 95°-170°.
US08173059B2
A method of manufacturing an article using stereolithography in which the article includes at least one feature that defines an isolated volume is described. The method includes the step of forming one or more removable structures within said isolated volume from cured resin during the stereolithography process. The removable structures restrict the flow of liquid resin within said isolated volume.
US08173044B1
Biomass is processed through a biomass fractioning system that creates, through the application of selective temperature ramps and pressure shocks, a series of useful volatile components and BMF char, wherein the BMF char is reacted sacrificially with any one stream of methane, carbon dioxide, steam or oxygen to create highly pure synthesis gas with a controllable range of compositions. The resulting synthesis gas may be used in any desired manner, including conversion to oxygenates such as methanol and dimethyl ether, and to hydrocarbons.
US08173043B2
The present invention provides a fluorescent substance composite glass which is chemically stable, has a large size, is reduced in wall thickness, has a uniform thickness and therefore has a high energy conversion efficiency; a fluorescent substance composite glass green sheet and a process for producing the fluorescent substance composite glass. The fluorescent substance composite glass of the present invention is produced by baking a mixture containing a glass powder and an inorganic fluorescent substance powder, in which the energy conversion efficiency to a visible light wavelength region of 380 to 780 nm is 10% or more, when light having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 350 to 500 nm is applied.
US08173042B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to inorganic phosphors based on silicate compounds having improved stability under a resulting radiation load and resistance to atmospheric humidity, which are capable of converting higher-energy excitation radiation, i.e. ultraviolet (UV) or blue light, with high efficiency into a longer-wavelength radiation which may be in the visible spectral range. A calcium molar fraction x having a value between 0 and 0.05 is added to a silicate phosphor having the general formula Sr3-x-y-zCaxMIIySiO5:Euz.
US08173039B2
Disclosed is a method for directly preparing cerium oxide powder in a solution phase by a) mixing a cerium precursor solution with a precipitant solution to cause a reaction; and b) performing oxidation treatment of the reacted solution, wherein at least one kind of pure organic solvent containing no water is used as a solvent for the cerium precursor solution as well as the precipitant solution to thereby prepare the cerium oxide powder, the particle size of which is adjusted to 50 nm to 3 μm. Cerium oxide powder obtained from the method and CMP slurry comprising the cerium oxide powder as a polishing agent are also disclosed. The method makes it possible to prepare cerium oxide powder with an average particle size of 50 nm or greater and high crystallinity, which is difficult to prepare by the conventional wet precipitation process, by using an organic solvent as a solvent in a wet precipitation process, and the so-prepared cerium oxide powder can be used as a polishing agent for CMP slurry even without being subjected to separate heat treatment.
US08173033B2
In a nano filter structure for breathing and a manufacturing method of the nano filter structure, a semiconductor process technology is used for manufacturing a nano filter structure comprising a top gate, a bottom gate, a plurality of sidewall gates and a plurality of supports. The sidewall gates include a plurality of filterable gratings, and the filterable gratings are controlled precisely to a nanoscale by a semiconductor process technology. Therefore, the nano filterable gratings can be manufactured easily and quickly, and the multilayer design of the filterable gratings enhances the aperture ratio of a filter material, such that users can inhale or exhale easily through the filter material.
US08173030B2
A method for forming a self-aligned hole through a substrate to form a fluid feed passage is provided by initially forming an insulating layer on a first side of a substrate having two opposing sides; and forming a feature on the insulating layer. Next, etch an opening through the insulating layer, such that the opening is physically aligned with the feature on the insulating layer; and coat the feature with a layer of protective material. Patterning the layer of protective material will expose the opening through the insulating layer. Dry etching from the first side of the substrate forms a blind feed hole in the substrate corresponding to the location of the opening in the insulating layer, the blind feed hole including a bottom. Subsequently, grind a second side of the substrate and blanket etch it to form a hole through the entire substrate.
US08173028B2
A magnetic head includes a pole layer, first and second side shields, and an encasing layer having first to third grooves that accommodate the pole layer and the first and second side shields. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes the step of forming the first to third grooves in a nonmagnetic layer by using an etching mask layer having first to third openings. This step includes the steps of forming the first groove by etching the nonmagnetic layer using the first opening, with the second and third openings covered with a first mask; and forming the second and third grooves by etching the nonmagnetic layer using the second and third openings, with the first opening covered with a second mask.
US08173024B2
A method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions wherein any precipitated solids do not contact the solid side walls of the containment vessel so as to prevent any of these precipitated solids from adhering to or corrode the vessel walls is provided. To do this, a controlled, continuous flow of clean fluid, preferably under supercritical conditions, is introduced to the process so as to form a film-like, clean fluid surface between the physical containment vessel walls and the supercritical wet oxidation reactants.
US08173021B2
The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of functionalized sulfated cellulose membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to the preparation of sulfated cellulose membranes under specific reaction conditions allowing to provide a sulfated cellulose membrane useful for pseudo-affinity purification. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the sulfated cellulose membrane itself as well as its use for isolation of proteinaceous compositions. Finally, the present invention provides a method for isolating whole virus, virus proteins or heparin binding molecules comprising the step of affinity purification using the sulfated cellulose membrane according to the present invention.
US08173017B2
A mechanical flotation system having only one cell may be nearly as efficient as one having two or more cells, yet provide an apparatus with a considerably smaller footprint, significantly reduced capital and operating costs, as well as be resistant to floating oil recovery platform wave effects. The single-cell mechanical flotation system may have one skim collection channel that at least partially surrounds a single gas ingestion and mixing mechanism. At least one baffle may direct suspended matter or floc toward the skim collection which may be circular. The gas layer over the liquid is not vented for the purpose of gasification. The vessel may be a cylindrical pressure vessel oriented vertically, and optionally the inlet may be tangential to the periphery of the vessel to impart liquid rotation inside the vessel when liquid is introduced.
US08173015B2
A photocatalytic reactor for carrying out a photocatalytic reaction on a liquid which is to be treated, the reactor comprising a reaction chamber which comprises: (i) a foraminated member which supports a plurality of mobile photocatalyst particles, the size and density of which is such that they tend to rest on the foraminated member in use; and (ii) an aeration device which causes gas bubbles to rise from the foraminated member and agitate the mobile photocatalyst particles. The reactor may be a flow-through reactor. The photocatalytic reactor can be applied to the remediation of waste water using titanium oxide.
US08173003B2
The present invention discloses a turn-back electrodeionization apparatus in which the central section of cation exchange membrane and anion exchange membrane constituting a dilute chamber is adhered along axial direction, and the dilute chamber is separated into an inner side dilute chamber unit and an outside dilute chamber unit, so that the dilute sequentially flows through the outside dilute chamber unit and inner side dilute chamber unit in a turn-back way.
US08172997B2
An electrochemical sensor system for sensing free radicals or materials which generate free radicals in solution includes a working electrode coated with a plurality of cerium oxide nanoparticles and a counter electrode. A solution to be analyzed provides electrolytes to electrically couple the working electrode to the counter electrode. Electronics are connected to at least one of the working and counter electrodes for measuring and amplifying an electrical current signal generated by reduction or oxidation occurring at the working electrode, wherein in a presence of free radicals an electrical current signal flows between the working electrode and the counter electrode. The system can be used to sense the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
US08172988B2
The system contains a liquid-tight enclosure. An input source is connected to the liquid-tight enclosure for inputting water into the liquid-tight enclosure. A heating element is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the water within the liquid-tight enclosure. A plurality of substantially vertical plates are aligned along a substantially horizontal axis within the liquid-tight enclosure. Each of the substantially vertical plates has an opening. A groove is formed along each of the substantially vertical plates. A first end of the groove on each of the substantially vertical plates is proximate to the opening. At least one manifold extends through a plurality of the openings of the substantially vertical plates. The manifold is in fluid communication with a plurality of the first ends of the grooves. An output opening is formed in the liquid-tight enclosure. The output opening is arranged in fluid communication with the manifold.
US08172986B2
A fabric belt unit for manufacturing corrugated board in a corrugator machine includes a belt (1) joined together at its two ends (2, 3) to form a continuous belt. The fabric belt has an outer paper side (6) as well as an inner driven side (8). The belt ends (2, 3) are reduced thermally in thickness and have a plurality of approximately U-shaped clamps (7) which are connected to each other to form a joint. The U-shaped clamps (7) lie at a distance (a) one next to the other. The distance (u) of the driven side (8) of the belt to the plane (36) of the thickness-reduced belt ends (2, 3) is greater than the distance (v) between the paper side (6) and the plane (46) of the thickness-reduced belt ends (2, 3) in order to obtain a longer service life of the belt.
US08172985B2
The present invention relates to extraction bedplates 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 for use in apparatus 5 for defiberizing paper making stock and methods for making such bedplates. Preferred methods for making such bedplates 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 include the step of cutting a disc shaped blank from a metal plate and the step of forming holes 45, 145, 245, 345, 445, 545, 645, 646 either the metal plate or the disc shaped blank. The holes 45, 145, 245, 345, 445, 545, 645, 646 preferably are formed using a cutting stream, most preferably either a laser or a water jet. Use of a such a cutting stream to form the holes facilitates the cutting of holes 45, 145, 245, 345, 445, 545, 645, 646 having non-circular, and preferably tesselatory, cross sections as well as holes 45, 145, 245, 345, 445, 545, 645, 646 extending at acute angles with respect to an axis 20 of the bedplate.
US08172984B2
An apparatus is provided for digesting samples. The apparatus includes a vessel, a closure, and a fluid transporting system. The vessel has a digestion chamber therein that contains a sample holder, e.g., with a plurality of weights, the holder being accessible through a vessel opening. Typically, a vessel flange circumscribes the chamber at the chamber's opening, and the closure has a closure flange that may interface with the vessel flange to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber. The fluid-transporting system may direct digestion fluid out of the digestion chamber through a submerged outlet port and back into the digestion chamber through an inlet port that traverses through the closure or the vessel flange. Such a fluid transporting system may be set up to allow the sample holder have a high volumetric capacity, e.g., at least 75% of the chamber.
US08172982B2
Conductive nonwoven webs are disclosed. The nonwoven webs contain pulp fibers combined with conductive fibers. In one embodiment, the webs are made in a wetlaid tissue or paper making process. The pulp fibers contained in the webs may comprise softwood fibers, while the conductive fibers may comprise carbon fibers. Base webs can be produced having a resistance of less than about 100 Ohms/square in one embodiment. Once produced, the conductive material can be cut into slits that are then wound on spools. From the spools, the conductive slits can be fed into a process for making any suitable product.
US08172979B2
Disclosed is a porous adhesive for corrugated cardboard, including sticky starch and porous zeolite, in which microscopic holes to be joined with the microscopic holes in zeolite are formed in starch, thereby maintaining the freshness of food products stored in a corrugated cardboard box and efficiently eliminating remaining agricultural chemical components. Also, a method of manufacturing corrugated cardboard using the porous adhesive is provided. The porous adhesive for corrugated cardboard is obtained by blending a mixture, including 68.5˜79.5 wt % corn starch, 20˜30 wt % zeolite powder having the same particle size to that of the corn starch, and 0.5˜2 wt % microorganism-containing yellow soil, caustic soda and a hardener, with water. The zeolite powder and the corn starch have a particle size of 300˜350 meshes. The microorganisms contained in yellow soil are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., and mixtures thereof.
US08172975B2
There is disclosed thermal transfer media containing both fixed and variable printed information, and method of making and using such a thermal transfer medium. The fixed information is printed in one or more fixed-information zone(s) preferably on a web during a long production run and thereafter as the need arises the variable information is printed or imprinted in one or more variable information zone(s) on sections of the web during shorter production runs. The transfer medium is particularly suited for printing onto fabrics that are subject to repeated home laundering and commercial dry cleaning.
US08172970B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of at least one layer (1) of a shoe upper or of a part of a shoe upper, wherein a nonwoven fabric (2) made of thermoplastic elastomere (TPE) is used as the basic material for at least a section of the layer (1) of the shoe upper. To influence the local properties of the material selectively in a cost efficient manner the invention suggests that at least partitions (3) of the surface of the nonwoven fabric (2) are exposed to a welding beam (4) in such a manner, that in those partitions (3) at least a partial melting of the nonwoven fabric (2) takes place, so that the density of the material is increased in the molten partitions (3).
US08172969B2
A method for ultrasonic debulking a composite laminate includes the steps of defining a path across the laminate, the path having a starting location and an ending location and applying a force to and transmitting ultrasonic vibration into the laminate along the path, beginning at the starting location and ending at the ending location. The method further includes determining a temperature of a surface of the laminate proximate to the path and varying at least one of an amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration, the applied force, a feed rate at which the force and the ultrasonic vibration are applied along the path, an angle at which the ultrasonic vibration is applied to the laminate, and an interval at which plies of the laminate are processed, based upon the determined temperature of the surface of the laminate.
US08172964B2
A method for creating a pyrophoric material according to one embodiment includes thermally activating a carbon foam for creating micropores therein; contacting the activated carbon foam with a liquid solution comprising a metal salt for depositing metal ions in the carbon foam; and reducing the metal ions in the foam to metal particles. A pyrophoric material in yet another embodiment includes a pyrophoric metal-carbon foam composite comprising a carbon foam having micropores and mesopores and a surface area of greater than or equal to about 2000 m2/g, and metal particles in the pores of the carbon foam. Additional methods and materials are also disclosed.
US08172963B2
A laminated energetic device is disclosed. The laminated energetic device includes a low-gas generating energetic mixture, a first film on which the low-gas generating energetic mixture is located, and a second film for sealing the low-gas generating energetic mixture between the first and second films.
US08172952B2
A method for reducing noxious sulfur species including hydrogen sulfide in sewage collection systems including force mains is disclosed, where the method involves administering a an effective amount of a composition including a water soluble sulfur scavenger and an oil soluble sulfur scavenger in the presence of sufficient surfactant to produce a homogeneous product.
US08172946B2
Stagnation of gas used for substrate processing in an exhaust trap is prevented, and localized precipitation of components in the gas used for substrate processing is reduced. The proposed apparatus includes a substrate processing chamber (cylindrical space 250), a gas supply tube 232 for supplying substrate processing gas to the substrate processing chamber, a first exhaust tube (upstream exhaust tube 231a) for discharging gas used for substrate processing from the substrate processing chamber, an exhaust trap 49 for removing components contained in the gas used for substrate processing introduced through the first exhaust tube, and a second exhaust tube (downstream exhaust tube 231b) for exhausting gas out of said exhaust trap 49 after components have been removed from the gas used for substrate processing, wherein the exhaust trap 49 is provided with a cooled baffle plate 59 that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which gas is introduced into the exhaust trap 49 and that has a concave surface 59a in the side facing the gas introduction port 55a of the exhaust trap 49.
US08172942B2
The arc discharge apparatus comprises a plurality of carbon electrodes connected to respective phases of a power supply for heating a silica powder and causing it to fuse by generating arc discharge between the carbon electrodes. All of the carbon electrodes have a density in a range from 1.30 g/cm3 to 1.80 g/cm3, and variability in density among the carbon electrodes is 0.2 g/cm3 or less. The carbon particles that constitute the carbon electrodes preferably have a particle diameter of 0.3 mm or less.
US08172930B2
A system for reducing the occurrence of fires in a fabric filter dust collection system. The system includes an elongated housing having a first end and a second end distal from the first end. A gas flow inlet is provided in flow communication with an interior portion of the housing for flow of gas and particulates from a source into the housing. A gas flow outlet is provided in flow communication with the housing for flow of gas and particulates out of the housing and into the dust collection system. An elongated spark arrestor is disposed in the housing between the first end and the second end. The spark arrestor has a plurality of spaced-apart, wedge-shaped members having a gap between adjacent members sufficient to interrupt the flow of combustible particles from the source to the dust collection system.
US08172918B2
A filter device has a filter housing and a filter element that is exchangeably arranged in the filter housing. A housing cover for closing the filter housing is provided. Interacting locking elements are arranged on the filter element and on the housing cover wherein the interacting locking elements have a locked position and a release position and are moveable between the locked position and the release position.
US08172916B2
An aqueous suspension liquid of finely divided diamond particles comprising 0.05 to 160 parts by weight of a finely divided diamond particles in 1000 parts of water, wherein; (i) the finely divided diamond particles have an element composition consisting mainly of 72 to 89.5% by weight of carbon, 0.8 to 1.5% of hydrogen, 1.5 to 2.5% of nitrogen, and 10.5 to 25.0% of oxygen; (ii) and, almost all of said diamond particles are in the range of 2 mu to 50 nm in diameters thereof (80% or more by number average, 70% or more by weight average), (iii) and, said finely divided diamond particles exhibit a strongest peak of the intensity of the Bragg angle at 43.9° (20±20), strong and characteristic peaks at 73.5° (20±20) and 95° (20±2°), a warped halo at 17′ (20±2′), and no peak at 26.5°, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum analysis using Cu-Ku radiation when dried, (iv) and, specific surface area of said diamond particles when dry state powder is not smaller than 1.50×105 m2/kg, and substantially all the surface carbon atoms of said particles are bonded with hetero atoms, and the total absorption space of said powder is 0.5 m3/kg or more, when dried. The diamond particles are very active and dispersible in aqueous liquid in stable, and have essentially same mechanical properties as that of usual diamonds.
US08172909B2
A modular prosthetic foot characterized by an ankle component; a forefoot component having a circular part with a rounded top surface and at least one flat side surface, said circular part being connected to a rear part of the forefoot component; a forefoot cushion bumper positioned around the circular part; and a heel component.
US08172899B2
Described herein are devices and methods for treating eye conditions. Described is an ocular implant including an elongate member having an internal lumen forming a flow pathway, at least one inflow port communicating with the flow pathway, and at least one outflow port communicating with the flow pathway. The elongate member is adapted to be positioned in the eye such that at least one inflow port communicates with the anterior chamber, at least one outflow port communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid pathway between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space when the elongate member is implanted in the eye. The elongate member has a wall material imparting a stiffness to the elongate member. The stiffness is selected such that after implantation the elongate member deforms eye tissue surrounding the suprachoroidal space forming a tented volume.
US08172898B2
An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.
US08172896B2
Several unique intracardiac pressure vents, placement catheters, methods of placement and methods of treating heart failure are presented. The intracardiac pressure vents presented allow sufficient flow from the left atrium to the right atrium to relieve elevated left atrial pressure and resulting patient symptoms but also limit the amount of flow from the right atrium to the left atrium to minimize the potential for thrombus or other embolic material from entering the arterial circulation. Retrievability during deployment is improved, in part, by providing at least one segment or portion of the device that is retained within the placement catheter while all other segments or portions of the device are deployed.
US08172893B2
A stent has a porous surface having a repeating pattern generally in the shape of a “butterfly” comprising alternative concave and convex segments which give the stent good flexibility when unexpanded, and good shape retention once expanded.
US08172890B2
A combination underbody and overbody blanket has first and second portions sandwiching a middle portion. The first portion may be shorter than the second portion. An opening is provided at the middle portion, or at a location that overlaps the middle and first portions. The opening has a dimension sufficiently large to enable the head of a patient to pass through. At least one air inlet is provided at the middle portion to allow air to be input into the blanket. The blanket is configured in the shape of a poncho, with the first portion covering the front torso of the patient and the second portion covering the back of the patient. A tearable seal is provided at the first portion that allows the first portion to be separated into two halves to expose the front upper torso of the patient and/or to facilitate the placement of the middle portion about the neck and onto the shoulders of the patient.
US08172879B2
A spinal rod includes a rod tube formed of a biocompatible material, a spring rod formed of a biocompatible material and having a spring rod portion disposed in the rod tube, the spring rod portion axially movable within the rod tube whereby application of an axial force on the spring rod portion creates axial movement of the spring rod relative to the rod tube causing the spring rod and the rod tube to flex and arch, and a spacer ring radially disposed between the rod tube and the spring rod.
US08172878B2
A conical interspinous apparatus includes a distractor comprising an insertion portion and a central engagement groove, the insertion portion having a conical shape which tapers to a tip and is adapted to enable passage of the distractor between two spinous processes of vertebrae, and the central engagement groove is adapted to secure the distractor between the two spinous processes such that the two spinous processes rest in the central engagement groove. The conical interspinous apparatus includes a stabilizer which is adapted to be deployed from within the distractor to secure the two spinous processes within the central engagement groove and an insertion driver detachably coupled to a rear portion of the distractor. A guide wire, having a pointed tip, aids in the insertion of the distractor between the two spinous processes and is configured to guide the insertion of the distractor.
US08172874B2
A nipple simulating the shape, surface geometry and function of a woman's breast is provided. The nipple has a stem and a base. The base has an areola region and a bulbous region. The areola region is positioned between the stem and the bulbous region, and can simulate the areola of a woman's breast. The bulbous region can simulate the region of a woman's breast surrounding the areola. The areola region has a texture or surface geometry that is different from the texture or surface geometry of the stem or bulbous region.
US08172844B2
The present invention relates to a bone implant device, particularly for dental and orthopedic prosthesis on the vertebral column, having a quicker osteo-integration compared to the prior art devices. Particularly, the present invention relates to an implant device, of metal or polymer nature, a layer of hyaluronic acid being chemically bound on the surface thereof, for use in applications in contact with the bone, with activity of stimulating the bone tissue growth, as well as a process for preparing the same.
US08172842B2
A cervical plate system which includes a cervical plate having a thickness between a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, and at least one slot extending through the thickness of the plate. The system further includes a first rotating element positionable within a first slot of the cervical plate, the first rotating element including at least one threaded hole, and at least one bone screw insertable into the at least one threaded hole of the first rotating element.
US08172832B1
A fat harvesting container that safely harvests human body fat, whereby it minimizes exposure to air and bacteria to reduce contamination risks. It comprises a container assembly. A funnel structure is secured within the container assembly. The funnel structure comprises a top edge, an aperture, a sidewall, and a connecting line that extends from the aperture. A lid assembly comprises a top wall having a first outlet and a first inlet. The lid assembly also comprises a sidewall and a channel that aligns with to receive the first top edge when the lid assembly is placed thereon with a predetermined force to seal the container assembly. The instant invention also comprises a tubing assembly. The container assembly further comprises a first valve assembly, and the tubing assembly comprises at least first, second, third, and fourth tubes, and a second valve assembly.
US08172826B2
Devices, systems, and methods are described herein for controlling the level of one or more target cell types in the blood fluid and/or lymph fluid of a vertebrate subject. Devices and systems are provided that include a body defining at least one lumen configured for fluid flow; at least one controllable flow barrier to the at least one lumen; one or more sensor configured to detect one or more target cell types in blood fluid or lymph fluid of a vertebrate subject; at least one treatment region disposed within the at least one lumen; at least one reactive component disposed in the at least one treatment region, the at least one reactive component configured to modulate a physiological effect of the one or more target cell types in the vertebrate subject; and at least one controller in communication with the one or more sensor and in communication with the at least one controllable flow barrier to the at least one lumen; wherein the at least one controller is configured to open or close the at least one controllable flow barrier in response to the one or more sensor.
US08172817B2
Various embodiments of a fluid collection system having multiple storage chambers are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system may include a first chamber in fluid communication with a suction source and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second chamber may have a volume less than a volume of the first chamber. The second chamber may also comprise an inlet port for connecting to an external tube. The system may be configured to selectively drain liquid from the second chamber into the first chamber.
US08172813B2
Medical devices comprising a syringe barrel, a stopper and a two piece plunger rod are provided. According to one or more embodiments, the two piece plunger rod includes a first plunger rod piece slidably mounted to a second plunger rod piece. The first and second plunger rod pieces include locking elements which allow the length of the plunger rod to be extended during use or injection or compressed during storage or packaging. In one or more embodiments, the medical device is further packaged in a compressed position.
US08172809B2
A safety shield apparatus including a safety shield and mounting structure for mounting the safety shield to a medical needle. The safety shield includes a distal segment, a proximal segment and a retention member. The distal segment is pivotally secured to the proximal segment and the proximal segment is pivotally secured to the retention member. The retention member includes an opening for receiving a nose of a medical needle device, e.g., a blood collection device. In one embodiment, a retaining collar is provided which is dimensioned to be press-fit about the nose of the medical needle device to secure the safety shield to the medical needle device. Alternatively, mounting structure is formed directly on the retention member to secure the safety shield to the medical needle device.
US08172807B2
A catheter anchoring assembly includes a permeable adhesive strip, a platform for securing the catheter, and a flowable adhesive layer. The flowable adhesive layer adhesively secures the platform to the adhesive strip. The flowable adhesive is applied to one side of the strip with a skin-contacting adhesive on the opposite side of the strip. The flowable adhesive layer and strip are configured so that the flowable adhesive is spaced from the skin-contacting adhesive or, at the very least, is prevented from penetrating the skin-contacting adhesive. The flowable adhesive layer and strip also permit the assembly to be very flexible and, thus, comfortable for a patient to wear.
US08172799B2
In one embodiment, a volumetric pump in a medical fluid delivery system comprises at least one piston in a hollow cylinder, the pump having at least one inlet port through which a medical fluid can be sucked into a pump chamber during an instroke of said piston, and at least one outlet port through which the medical fluid can be expelled during an outstroke of the piston. The piston or the hollow cylinder can be actuated directly or indirectly by a rotor. This rotor transmits on the one hand a bi-directional linear movement to the piston or to the cylinder and on the other hand, a bi-directional angular movement either to the piston or to another ratable element in order to open and close alternately the inlet and outlet ports.
US08172798B2
A system for managing an infusion therapy, including: a server in communication with a central server; and an infusion pump in wireless communication with the server and for: uploading respective label data from respective labels for at least one medication, the respective label data including respective label pump programming data for infusion of the at least one medication by the pump; wirelessly transmitting the uploaded label data to the server; and wirelessly transmitting pump data identifying the pump to the server. The server is for transmitting the pump data and the respective label data to the server; and receiving, from the central server and in response to receipt of the pump data and the respective label data by the central server, second pump programming data regarding a second medication. The server is for comparing the first pump programming data with the second pump programming data.
US08172792B2
An apparatus for removing emboli from a vessel during an interventional procedure comprising a catheter. The catheter includes: an elongate member having a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a dilation element disposed on a distal portion of the elongate member, the dilation element having a contracted state and an expanded state; an occlusion element disposed on a distal portion of the elongate member, the occlusion element being disposed proximal of the dilation element, and the occlusion element having a contracted state and an expanded state; and one or more aspiration ports disposed on a distal portion of the elongate member, the one or more aspiration ports being in fluid communication with the lumen, and one or more of the aspiration ports being disposed proximal of the dilation element and distal of the occlusion element.
US08172784B2
Described are compositions and methods for treating liver disease, e.g., acute liver disease, using bone marrow-derived stem cells and bone marrow-derived stem cell conditioned media.
US08172783B1
The invention presents is a fluid isolation system and method for confining fluid is a biological mass having at least one upstream channel and downstream channel. The system includes a delivery conduit for administering fluid to the biological mass and a collection conduit having and external seal and for retrieving the fluid. In the use of the system, the delivery conduit is positioned adjacent to or into the upstream channel and the collection conduit is inserted adjacent to or into the downstream channel. In one manner to confine the fluid, the seal on the collection catheter is activated to occlude outside fluid flow and divert the fluid into the lumen of the catheter.
US08172782B2
A compression garment includes a plurality of fabric segments having differing elastic properties arranged to provide the garment with regions of differential compression. The fabric segments define an inner surface of the garment. the inner surface includes at least one region of pile or raised fibers for increased thermal insulation.
US08172780B2
A support apparatus comprising a waist band, a thigh band, a lateral vertical strap attached to said waist band and two extensions attached to said thigh band, and a medial vertical strap attached to said waist band then wrapping medially down around the thigh and attaching to the thigh band.
US08172763B2
Apparatus (2) is provided, including a heartbeat measurement device (3), which senses a cardiac parameter of a patient and generates a cardiac parameter signal responsively thereto. An optical measurement device acquires data by emitting towards tissue of the patient 400-1000 niti light, and receiving light reflected from the tissue. An integrator unit (10) receives the cardiac parameter signal and, in response thereto, actuates the optical measurement device to acquire the data.
US08172761B1
A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
US08172759B2
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting an epilepsy event in a patient using a medical device. The medical device is capable of determining an occurring epilepsy event, for example a seizure or an increased risk of a seizure. The determination is performed by determining at least one nonlinear analysis parameter associated with the beat sequence of the patient's heart. The medical device may then take a responsive action, such as warning, logging the time of the seizure, computing and storing one or more seizure severity indices, and treating the epilepsy event.
US08172745B2
A method of treating anal incontinence in a patient comprises providing a sling having a central portion and first and second arms, creating a subcutaneous tunnel between a first buttock incision and a second buttock incision in the patient, mechanically widening the subcutaneous tunnel to create a pocket for the central portion of the sling, grasping the first arm of the sling and pulling the sling through the subcutaneous tunnel such that the central portion of the sling rests underneath the ano-rectum, inserting an introducer needle through a first thigh incision formed in the patient and advancing the introducer needle through the first buttock incision, pulling the first sling arm through the first thigh incision, inserting the introducer needle through a second thigh incision formed in the patient and advancing the introducer needle through the second buttock incision, and pulling the second sling arm through the second thigh incision.
US08172732B1
An exercise machine has a user support movement arm rotatably mounted on a support frame for rotation about a first pivot axis, and a user support assembly pivotally connected to the movement arm for rotation about a second pivot axis so that the user support assembly rotates in two directions about different pivot axes. An exercise arm pivotally mounted on the frame is linked to the user support assembly or user support movement arm so that movement of the exercise arm automatically moves the user support assembly. Movement about one pivot axis may be a free pivoting, non-resisted movement while movement about the other pivot axis may be associated with a resistive load.
US08172730B2
A stilt device having a front extendible strut and a cooperating rear extendible strut pivotally connected to a base member and a shoe plate, the front and rear extendible struts being disposed in a parallelogram relationship. The rear extendible strut has a rear member and a rear extendible member. A leg support pole is supported at one end by the rear extendible member and extends for its other end to be connected to a workman's leg to provide stability and to thereby enable the replacement of height determining extendible members, the distance from the shoe plate being a common vertical difference that is unchanged the extension of the extendible struts or by components thereof. For stilts of increased height the springs of the damping assemblies are selectively stiffened.
US08172723B1
An exercise system may include an exercise device. The exercise device may be configured to facilitate personal exercise and quantification thereof. The exercise device may include a housing body configured to receive compressive force during personal exercise. Personal exercise may include an exercise performed by a user involving one or more body parts of the user such as an arm, hand, leg, foot, torso, neck, and/or other body part. The exercise device may include a force sensor carried by the housing body. The forces sensor may be configured to generate an output signal responsive to compressive force being exerted on the housing body. The exercise device may include one or more processors carried by the housing body. The one or more processors may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules to, among other things determine one or more exercise parameters based on the output signal of the force sensor.
US08172714B2
A composite planetary transmission section (P) is provided for synthesizing output from a stepless speed changing section (20) with an engine drive force. In a transmission line from the planetary transmission section (P) to an output rotational body (90), there are provided first clutch mechanism (60), a second clutch mechanism (70), a speed-reducing planetary transmission mechanism (80), an operable coupling clutch mechanism (110) and an output clutch mechanism (120). A ring gear (83) of the speed-reducing planetary transmission mechanism (80) includes a brake mechanism (100). A sun gear (43) of the planetary transmission section (P), an input side rotational member (62) of the first clutch mechanism (60), an input side rotational member (71) of the second clutch mechanism (70), a sun gear (84) of the speed-reducing planetary transmission mechanism (80), and an input side rotational member (122) of the output clutch mechanism (120) are rotatable about a common rotational axis. A rotational shaft (97) operably coupling a carrier (44) of the composite planetary transmission section (P) with the output rotational body (90) is inserted through a planetary transmission mechanism (50) of the composite planetary transmission section (P), the first clutch mechanism (60), the second clutch mechanism (70) and the speed-reducing planetary transmission mechanism (80).
US08172710B1
An individual automatic transmission for each road wheel, independently connected to the drive shaft, so that each wheel acts without regard to the requirements of the other road wheels. With exception of some type of manual reversing system, a brake, and a gas pedal, no manually operated clutches, shift levers, or differential gearing is required. A vehicle having four road wheels has a correct torque exerted on each of the wheels as long as the drive engine is running, the intensity of which is determined by road conditions on that wheel and on the desires of the operator who controls the engine speed. Connection of each driven wheel shaft to the engine shaft can be made by bevel gears of the desired ratio and/or universal couplings.
US08172709B2
The present invention relates to a tensioning rail or a guide rail for tensioning and/or guiding a drive chain, comprising an opening for receiving a retaining bolt and a retaining bolt which can be inserted into the opening, wherein a lock device working between the retaining bolt and the opening is provided with a lock projection at the opening and a lock recess at the retaining bolt or vice versa, which lock device secures the retaining bolt in a mounting position relative to the opening and at least temporarily releases the retaining bolt in order to move it to a fixing position.
US08172702B2
A personal golfing assistant system is comprised of software running on a PDA attached directly or remotely to a GPS receiver that enables the user to survey and/or electronically capture geophysical golf data. A handheld device connected to or integrated with a GPS receiver can instead be used. Software allows a golfer to use a handheld PDA/GPS unit during the course of play to mark a ball location automatically and/or determine the distance to golf course targets and/or objects, and to analyze golf related data and generate statistics. The system can send a set of parameters tailored for a specific course to a real time tunable GPS to adjust for optimal performance and can adjust measurements to compensate for environmental condition changes. The system provides an improved graphical method for measuring and displaying distances between a golfer and a golf course object, for displaying multiple measured distances along a line of sight between a golfer and a golf object or target, and for orienting a target or object on a display to coincide with a user's line of sight. There is also provided a method for collecting and uploading golf course geographic information services (GIS) data to an internet accessible server, processing the uploaded data, distributing data upon an authorized user request, and downloading the requested data to an electronic device.
US08172700B2
Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head having at least one rib with an external portion. For example, according to one embodiment, a wood-type golf club head includes a body that has at least one wall defining an interior cavity. The golf club head further includes at least one rib projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one rib can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.
US08172696B2
A training device for improving one's swing in a particular sport having a weighted member flexibly tethered to a handle. The handle is gripped swinging the weighted member against a target.
US08172694B2
An apparatus and method for determining the kinematic characteristics of a golf club head are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one piezoelectric component selectively positioned within or upon a club head. The piezoelectric component is preferably positioned to the rear of the center of gravity, and near the midpoint of the face of the club head. During a golf club swing, the piezoelectric component determines the acceleration and deceleration of the golf club head. When the club head impacts an object such as a golf ball, the piezoelectric component is also operable to determine the velocity of the club head. It may also be desirable for the piezoelectric component to determine the magnitude of vibration during impact. In this manner, the piezoelectric component may function determine the efficiency of a golf club swing.
US08172688B2
A gaming machine has a first gaming device component and a second display device component and is particularly suited to presentation of wagering games. The gaming device is a first housing with associated player input devices and a game controller. The display device has a second housing with at least one game information display. The display device may be mounted to the gaming device to create a unitary device, or it may be mounted or set apart from the gaming device. The display device may also be connected to the gaming device in a number of orientations to create different gaming machine configurations. The display device also supports various display configurations, such as video displays and spinning reels.
US08172681B2
When a player selects an object group displayed on a screen, a related selected area display indicating that the object group is in a selected state is displayed. While the display remains, the player performs an input by drawing a track which intersects the related selected area using a stick or the like. When it is determined that the inputted track and the related selected area intersect, the selected state is released.
US08172678B2
This image processing device for games is a device whereby a prescribed number of models (characters) are setup in virtual space, these models are controlled such that they move in prescribed directions in the virtual space, and images of this virtual space from a virtual viewpoint are displayed on means for display. In order to display the movement of the models that are arranged in virtual space more realistically, in one construction thereof, this device is provided with means for image processing that apply virtual centripetal force to the models. Furthermore, in order to display the movement of the models more realistically and to heighten the dramatic effect, in one construction thereof, this device is equipped with means for processing residual image presentation in order to represent the track of movement of a model as residual images. This means for processing is equipped with means for storage that store without modification motion data of the model prior to the current motion and with means for display control that display this stored data together with the current motion data.
US08172674B2
A game chip writer for writing at least identification information in a game chip used for a game includes an encryption unit for encrypting at least part of recording-information with use of a private key and a writing unit for writing the encrypted information. A game chip reader includes a reading unit for reading the encrypted information from the game chip and a decryption unit for decrypting the read information with use of a public key.
US08172671B2
Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.
US08172669B2
A gaming system includes a cabinet having an electro-optical assembly including a substrate and a layer having a variable opacity. Also included in the gaming system is a first input device for receiving a wager from a first player and a second input device for receiving a wager from a second player, as well as at least one video display for displaying video images relating to a wagering game. A controller is electrically coupled to the layer having a variable opacity and is programmed to alter the opacity of the layer to allow the first player to view the video images reflected from the at least one display.
US08172666B2
A slot machine according to the present invention includes: a plurality of reels having thereon plural types of symbols set in array; a display device having a symbol matrix display region having therein the plurality of symbols set in array on the reel, and a symbol image display region for displaying a symbol image of a symbol not arranged in the symbol matrix display image; a memory storing symbol image data relating to symbols identical or similar to the plural types of symbols set in array on the reel, and reel image data relating to a reel having a reel shape; and a controller for controlling the reels, the display device, and the memory. The controller is programmed to: rearrange the plural types of symbols in the symbol matrix display region; read out of the memory the reel image data and symbol image data corresponding to the symbol not arranged in the symbol matrix display region; and display in the symbol image display region, the reel image in which the symbol image is filled in the reel image having the reel shape, in a manner to correspond to display on the symbol matrix display region.
US08172657B2
Provided is a game machine capable of desirably demonstrating an “extent of field-of-view” of a player in a sports game. A field-of-view area setting unit (64) sets, based on a location and orientation of an operational target player character, a field-of-view area of the operational target player character. A pass-partner-search-area setting area (74) sets a pass-partner search area, based on the location of the operational target player character and a direction specified by a pass-direction instructing operation. In the case where a pass-execution instructing operation is received, a pass-execution control unit (68) determines whether a moving object character is moved in a direction determined based on a location of a teammate player character selected from among teammate player characters located within the pass-partner search area, or in a direction specified by the pass-direction instructing operation, based on a judgment result as to whether or not one or more teammate player characters are located within the field-of-view area of the operational target player character.
US08172656B2
Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute.
US08172652B2
A method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts from a giblet package comprising an infeed pinch roller assembly, a slide assembly, an indexer assembly, an intestine pull down and a liver and heart separator assembly, for harvesting livers and hearts with an increased yield. The steps of the process include loading a load viscera pack into a feed chute that channels the pack to a pair of counter rollers. The viscera pack is captured by infeed pinch rollers thereby forcing the package into and between the rollers with only the gizzard remaining on top of the roller body. The liver and heart is isolated and separated by a pull down stripper assembly and a stripper arm assembly.
US08172646B2
Provided are magnetically actuated wafer chucks that permit a wafer to be clamped or unclamped at any time during a process and at any rotational speed, as desired. Such wafer chucks may include constraining members that are movable between open and closed positions. In a closed position, a constraining member aligns the wafer after wafer handoff and/or clamps the wafer during rotation to prevent it from flying off the chuck. In an open position, the constraining member moves away from the wafer to allow liquid etchant to flow from the wafer edge without obstruction. The constraining members may be, for example, cams, attached to arms or links of the chuck. The cams or other constraining members move between open and closed positions by self-balancing forces including a first force, such as a spring force, that acts to move a cam in a first direction, and a non-contact actuate-able force, such as a magnetic force, that acts to move the cam in the opposite direction. The resulting cam motion is smooth and continuous.
US08172645B2
The invention provides a dosing device for a particulate material blasting apparatus comprising a dosing chamber having a base, a rotor carrying a plurality of circumferentially formed pockets ratably mountable with the chamber, a particulate product feed conduit adapted to feed particulate product onto a base of the dosing chamber adjacent a receiving side of the dosing chamber and a particulate product delivery conduit formed in the base of the dosing chamber adjacent a delivery side of the dosing chamber. The base of the dosing chamber is disposed with respect to the particulate product feed conduit such that particulate material will not spill over the base into the delivery conduit. The rotor is disposed with respect to the feed conduit such that particulate product fed onto the base of the dosing chamber will be picked up by the pockets formed in the rotor and lifted up and around the chamber from a receiving side of the dosing chamber to a delivery side of the dosing chamber.
US08172643B2
Embodiments described herein relate to a track system in a polishing system. One embodiment described herein provides a track system configured to transfer polishing heads in a polishing system. The track system comprises a supporting frame, a track coupled to the supporting frame and defining a path along which the polishing heads are configured to move, and one or more carriages configured to carry at least one polishing head along the path defined by the track, wherein the one or more carriages are coupled to the track and independently movable along the track.
US08172629B2
A personal watercraft comprises an oil cooler including an oil cooling passage through which oil circulating inside an engine flows and a coolant passage through which coolant for cooling the oil in the oil cooling passage flows; a first oil passage through which the oil flowing toward the oil cooling passage flows; a second oil passage through which the oil flowing out from the oil cooling passage flows; a bypass passage connecting the first oil passage to the second oil passage so as to bypass the oil cooling passage; and a valve configured to open and close the bypass passage; wherein the valve opens the bypass passage when the temperature of the oil is lower than a predetermined value and closes the bypass passage when the temperature of the oil is not lower than the predetermined value.
US08172626B1
A three-pin electrical plug with improved terminal structure includes an earth pin, two terminals and a plug body. The terminal has a blade portion, a joint portion and a wire-gripping portion. The terminal further has a first axis passing through a widthwise center of the blade portion; a second axis being parallel to the first axis and passing through a widthwise center of the joint portion; and a third axis being parallel to both of the first axis and the second axis, and passing through a widthwise center the wire-gripping portion, wherein the third axis coincides with neither the first axis nor the second axis. Thereby, a mold for deforming the wire-gripping portion can have its side walls made thicker so as to extend the service life of the mold. Thus, the improved terminal structure is conductive to mass manufacturing of the plug in terms of both efficiency and cost.
US08172621B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing and contacts made from metallic wire. The insulating housing includes a front portion with a mating cavity and a rear portion. Each contact includes a contacting portion, a leg portion and a connecting portion connecting with the contacting portion and the leg portion. Each leg portion includes a linking portion, a first soldering portion and a second soldering portion. The linking portion connects with the connecting portion and the first soldering portion, and the second soldering portion connects with the first soldering portion. Two soldering portions are on a same plane and parallel to each other.
US08172619B2
A heat sink for a smart card, the heat sink having a contact plate having a contact surface, a riser extending upward from the contact plate, and a hook extending upward from the contact plate and located opposite the riser is disclosed. A smart card socket having a frame having a slot for receiving a smart card, the slot being defined by at least one wall, and a smart card heat sink at least partially abutted to the at least one wall is also disclosed. Finally, a method of transferring heat energy away from a smart card, comprising the steps of associating a smart card heat sink with a smart card socket and positioning at least a portion of the smart card heat sink between at least a portion of a smart card and at least a portion of the smart card socket is disclosed.
US08172614B2
An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connector is assembled from wafers each containing a column of conductive elements, some of which form differential pairs. Skew control is provided for at least some of the pairs by providing a profile on an edge of the shorter signal conductor of the pair. The profile may contain multiple curved segments that effectively lengthen the signal conductor without significantly impacting its impedance. For connectors in which ground conductors are included between adjacent pairs of signal conductors, patterned segments of varying parameters may be included on edges of the signal conductors and ground conductors to equalize electrical lengths of all edges in a set of edges for which there is common mode or differential mode coupling as a signal propagates along each pair. Such features for skew control may be used in combination with other skew control features. The features used may vary depending on the location of the pair within the column.
US08172605B2
A lamp socket includes a socket body, a flange and a plurality of support members. The flange is connected to the socket body and protrudes from the socket body horizontally. The plurality of support members are connected to the socket body. At least one engaging groove including at least two engaging widths is formed between the plurality of the support members and the flange, so as to secure the socket body to a bezel.
US08172601B2
The motor cable device which can prevent damage on an inverter-side connecting member of the motor cable device and lowering in a connecting reliability of the inverter-side connecting member is provided. Also, a resin component used in the above-described motor cable device is provided. The motor cable device electrically connects a motor and an inverter and includes an inverter-side protector and a motor-side protector. The inverter-side protector includes a fixed end which is directly or indirectly fixed to the inverter and which supports the inverter-side connecting member. A swinging motion absorbing portion is formed continuously to the fixed end, the swinging motion absorbing portion being arranged to support a cable body at the inverter-side connecting member and absorb the swinging motion generated at the cable body of the motor cable device, is further included.
US08172594B2
A multi-pole connector has a first movable or plug-in connector member (30) with a plurality of electric contacts (131) supported by a terminal strip (31). The electric contacts are arranged in a pattern. The movable member (30) is designed to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a framework (1) which includes a second stationary, spring-biased connector member (5) which has at least one terminal strip (4, 4′) with a plurality of electric contact terminals (104, 104′) thereon, in the form of islands of material arranged in the same pattern. The movable member (30) is to be inserted into a fixed slide guide (103) and the connector member (5) is urged by springs (7) to bring terminal strips (4, 4′) into an electrical connection position with movable member (30) and a rotatable shaft (106) with cam (306) is used to move the stationary member (5) away from such position, to thereby permit release of the movable member (30).
US08172592B2
A connector configured to effectively prevent an incomplete connection caused by an imperfect insertion of an object to be connected. A tip of a flexible circuit inserted into a connector main body abuts against a lock member, a press member is rotated toward one direction while the lock member is moved toward outside in the width direction of the connector main body, a protrude portion of the press member abuts against the lock member so that the rotation of the press member becomes regulated, and the press member is rotated toward one direction while the lock member is returned toward inside in the width direction of the connector main body, the press member is allowed to rotate, therefore, the press member does not rotate to the closed position while the flexible circuit is imperfectly inserted.
US08172590B2
The present invention relates to a connecting structure of a lamp head base (2) and a lamp tube base (3). The lamp head base (2) includes an upper cover (21) and a lower cover (22) to engage with each other. The lower cover (22) has two troughs (221) which face downward and a through hole (222) disposed between the two troughs (221). A locking base (5) is connected to the lower cover (22). The locking base (5) includes a press surface (51) which is exposed outside an outer surface of the lower cover (22) and a hook (52) at an inner end thereof. The hook (52) is located above the through hole (222). The lamp tube base (3) includes two tubular sleeves (31) to fix two feet (41) which extend upward from a lamp tube (4), a connecting portion (32) to secure the two tubular sleeves (31), and a locking slot (33) disposed above the connecting portion (32). When assembling, the two tubular sleeves (31) and the connecting portion (32) of the lamp tube base (3) are respectively inserted in the two troughs (221) and the through hole (222) of the lower cover (22) of the lamp head base (2), and the hook (52) of the locking base (5) engages with the locking slot (33) of the lamp tube base (3).
US08172588B2
A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring.
US08172560B2
A fluid machinery includes a rotary mechanism, an annular back pressure chamber and an oil passage. The rotary mechanism includes first and second cooperating members, each including an engaging member extending from an end plate, with the cooperating members being arranged to oscillate relative to each in order to change volumes of operation chambers formed between the cooperating members. The annular back pressure chamber is formed on the back surface side of the end plate of the first cooperating member, and communicates with an intermediate operation chamber of the operation chambers to thrust the first cooperating member against the second cooperating member. The intermediate operation chamber is in an intermediate pressure state. The oil passage is arranged to communicate an oil into the back pressure chamber to fill the back pressure chamber with the oil. The rotary mechanism can include a piston and cylinder, or can include a fixed and orbiting scroll.
US08172554B2
In a chemical liquid supplying apparatus, discharge accuracy of chemical liquid is enhanced, and durability of a flexible tube is enhanced. By the flexible tube incorporated into a pump housing, an interior of the pump housing is partitioned into a pump chamber, which communicates with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and a drive chamber in which an incompressible, indirect medium is enclosed. Outer surfaces of end portions of the flexible tube are sealed by outer seal members, and their inner surfaces are sealed by inner seal members. Fastening cylindrical bodies disposed in the end portions of the flexible tube are radially expanded by wedge sleeves, whereby the outer and inner seal members are caused to closely contact with the flexible tube.
US08172550B2
Provided is a vacuum self priming pump. The pump includes an actuating member that is installed in an outlet by a hinge shaft to be capable of rotating and configured to be quickly opened by water pressure when water is discharged through the outlet, an arm that extends from the actuating member to an external side over the outlet, a clutch unit that is movably formed in a length direction of a rotational shaft of a motor to selectively transfer power to an eccentric wheel to free-rotate the eccentric wheel on the rotational shaft, and a transferring unit that is installed between the arm and the clutch unit to cut off the power from the clutch unit to the eccentric wheel when the arm moves.
US08172543B2
An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08172524B2
A fan includes an impeller rotatable about a rotation axis and having a plurality of rotating vanes, and a plurality of stationary vanes connecting an outer casing to a supporting body which supports a motor rotating the impeller. At least in a portion of each stationary vane in a radial direction, an axial distance between that stationary vane and one of the rotating vanes closest thereto and a slant angle of that stationary vane with respect to an axial direction increase as that stationary vane moves outwardly in the radial direction.
US08172523B2
A multistage pump assembly includes a manifold having an inlet port configured to be coupled to a supply pipe and an outlet port configured to be coupled to a discharge pipe. The inlet and outlet ports define an end suction, radial outlet port configuration. The pump assembly also includes a cartridge having a sleeve and plurality of pumping stages that define a pump stack received within the sleeve. An outer chamber is defined between the pump stack and the sleeve. Each of the pumping stages includes an impeller mounted along a pump shaft that rotates about a rotation axis. The cartridge is aligned horizontally such that the rotation axis is substantially horizontal. An end plate is positioned between the manifold and the cartridge and includes at least one cartridge engagement surface supporting the cartridge. The end plate is removably coupled to the manifold.
US08172520B2
A turbine vane of a gas turbine, especially a gas turbine aircraft engine, is disclosed. The turbine vane includes a vane base body with an outer surface forming a suction side and a pressure side, the outer surface of the vane base body being at least partially coated with a thermal barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating extends continuously or uninterruptedly at least largely over the suction side and largely over the pressure side of the surface of the vane base body, with the layer thickness of the thermal barrier coating being variable or adjustable.
US08172505B2
In this cooling structure, a cooling flow path, which is meandering around a flow direction of a high temperature combustion gas, is provided in a structural body. The cooling flow path has an inflow path for a cooling air formed inside of the structural body; at least one straight flow path provided with intervals with respect to an axial line; and a turning flow path for communicating the end portions of the inflow path with the straight flow path or communicating with the end portions of the straight flow paths one after another.
US08172503B2
A turbomachine has a shaft mounted in a shaft housing, and a rotor in a rotor housing at one end of the shaft, for compression, expansion, or transport of a working gas. The shaft is mounted by hydrostatic, gas-lubricated bearings that have a connector to a compressed gas line that is connected with a pressure region of the turbomachine. A portion of the gas that is passed from the pressure region is applied to the bearing. The shaft is mounted so that the bearing effect is at least extensively independent of the rotational speed of the shaft, thereby guaranteeing support of the shaft during startup of the turbomachine, and good rigidity and low sensitivity to pressure surge stresses. The pressure in the connector to the compressed gas line is at least 5 bar greater than the pressure in the region of the ventilation connector.
US08172494B1
A beam assembly is formed from a hollow beam member which has a pair of slidable channel units installed therein and extend from the opposite ends thereof. The ends of the channel units have guide shoes forming latching assemblies pivotally supported thereon, each guide shoe having a spring loaded lock key mounted pivotally mounted thereon. A pair of tracks are spaced from each other in opposing relationship by a distance equal to the longitudinal extent of the beam member. The tracks have a plurality of aligned apertures and C-shaped runners running along their longitudinal extent. The lock keys of the beam member each has a pair of latching fingers extending therefrom which fit into a pair of adjacent track apertures. The latching fingers may be locked in place in the opposing track apertures by the spring action of their associated springs and may be withdrawn from the apertures by way of a hook shaped tab attached thereon. A tool is provided to move the hook shaped tabs away from the track to release the latching fingers from engagement with the apertures in the track and, is desired to move the hook shaped tabs downwardly to move the guide shoes downwardly to a desired location on the track. The guide shoes further have T-shaped portions which engage the C-shaped runners of the tracks to retain the guide shoes on the tracks for vertical movement. A pair of the beam members may thus be raised and lowered on the track and provide support for pallets, planking or the like.
US08172485B2
An end coupling for a shaft of a rock bolt comprises a body having a lead portion with a leading end, and a tail portion with a trailing end. The tail portion is arranged to be connected to a drive to impart rotation to the coupling about its axis. The body defines a passage extending between the leading and trailing ends and a first portion of the passage extends from the leading end and has a first diameter. A second portion of the passage is disposed adjacent the first portion and has a second diameter that is larger than said first diameter. A first thread extends along at least part of the first portion of the passage and is arranged to engage an external thread on the rock bolt shaft. A rock bolt assembly incorporating the end coupling is also disclosed.
US08172479B2
A composition that may be used to seal and strengthen the joints in an asphalt road surface and subsurface to prolong the useful life of the road is disclosed herein. The composition utilizes a polymer modified cationic maltene emulsion containing polymer modified maltene oils and resins, and surfactants/and wetting agents. The emulsion is applied to the longitudinal joints and other joints in the asphalt pavement surface. The emulsion reduces voids in the asphalt pavement and chemically improves the asphalt binder properties, thereby altering the modulus of elasticity of the asphalt binders so that the resistance of the pavement to tension is increased, and the water absorption of the pavement is reduced.
US08172474B2
A writing instrument is releasably attached to a tether. The writing instrument has a hollow body. A locking cap assembly is configured to be coupled to a tether. The locking cap assembly is further configured to detach from the hollow body of the writing instrument when a force is applied to the tether. The locking cap assembly is inserted into an end of the hollow body of the writing instrument. The locking cap assembly comprises a compressive locking cap. The compressive locking cap comprises a compression fastener, a cap, and a nut. The compression fastener and cap have a hole and one end of the tether passes completely through the compressive locking cap through the hole. The nut is coupled to the end of the tether that passed completely through the compressive locking cap.
US08172472B2
To perform forward and backward movements of a stick-shaped material without trouble and prevent detachment of the stick-shaped material by an impact, a piston (7) in a movable body (6) arranged within a container (100) is closely attached within a filling member (1), the stick-shaped material (M) is loaded in the filling member (1) so as to be closely attached thereto, and the piston (7) is closely attached to the stick-shaped material (M), whereby the stick-shaped material (M) is pushed by a forward movement of the piston (7) to appear from an opening (1a) of the container, a sucking action generated due to decompression is applied between the piston (7) and the stick-shaped material (M) by a backward movement of the piston (7) to retract the stick-shaped material (M), and the decompression prevents falling off of the stick-shaped material (M) from the container (100).
US08172469B2
In one example embodiment, an optoelectronic module comprises a body, a signal ground, and an OSA. The body is connected to chassis ground and defines a cavity within which one or more components are disposed. The optical subassembly is disposed in the body cavity, has one or more components connected to signal ground, and comprises a header assembly, a housing, and one or more containment structures. The header assembly houses one or more components that generate EMI emissions and includes an optical aperture. The housing includes a port and a barrel. The port defines a fiber receptacle and the barrel defines a cavity that at least partially receives the header assembly. The containment structure(s) at least partially contain the EMI emissions within the OSA.
US08172463B2
A rolling bearing is provided that includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements provided between a raceway surface of the inner ring and that of the outer ring and has a ceramic film formed on at least one surface selected from among an inner peripheral surface of the inner ring and a peripheral surface of the outer ring. The ceramic film is formed by using an aerosol deposition method in which alumina fine particles or the like is used as a material of aerosol. The ceramic film is formed with an aerosol injection nozzle kept stationary and the inner ring or the outer ring being rotated by using a motor for rotating an object, the inner ring or the outer ring is moved axially by using a positioning XY table.
US08172455B2
A liquid feeding method for feeding liquid in a minute flow path is provided. The minute flow path includes flow paths 43a, 43c, 43d connected to each other directly at respective first ends. The liquid feeding direction of blood S in the minute flow path is controlled by creating a high-pressure state at a second end of the flow path 43a located across the blood S, while creating a low-pressure state or a closed state at a second end of the flow paths 43d, 43c.
US08172453B2
A method for preparing a froth from a milk-based liquid from an appliance which includes a tank for receiving liquid that is to be frothed, and in which liquid a rotatable stirrer is positioned, a stand associated with the tank, and a system for driving the stirrer. The stirrer drive system and the stirrer include magnetic elements allowing the stirrer to be rotationally driven magnetically in the tank. At least one disturbance member is also provided to break or prevent symmetric circulation of the liquid about the median vertical axis of the tank.
US08172448B1
A method and template are provided for modifying an asphalt dryer/mixer that includes an outer drum and an inner drum with a plurality of mixing paddles, the two drums forming an annular mixing chamber in which asphalt cement and aggregate materials are mixed. The template comprises a bracket marking portion that is adapted to locate one or more brackets on the inner drum and a paddle reference portion that is adapted to locate the bracket marking portion with respect to a mixing paddle. A mixing paddle to be referenced for locating a bracket is selected and the template is placed on the inner drum with the paddle reference portion referencing the selected mixing paddle. The template is used to mark the location of the bracket, the bracket is affixed to the outer surface of the inner drum at the bracket location marked; and an agitation strand is attached to the bracket.
US08172446B2
The light emitting module 11 includes: a mount body 20; and a support body 30 supporting the mount body 20. The mount body 20 includes: a circuit board 21 with wirings provided thereon; and a light emitting unit 40 to be mounted on the circuit board 21. The circuit board 21 includes: a base portion 22; and a rising portion 23, with the light emitting unit 40 being attached thereon, rising from one end, in a longitudinal direction, of the base portion 22 through a bending portion 24. The rising portion 23 is divided into seven, first to seventh sidewall portions 23a to 23g with slits 25a to 25f provided at six positions. First to seventh light emitting portions 40a to 40g forming the light emitting unit 40 are attached to the first to seventh sidewall portions 23a to 23g, respectively. Thereby, reduction in thickness of a light emitting device including solid-state light emitting elements is achieved.
US08172436B2
A battery powered rotating LED lighting assembly with a magnetic base, a housing and a pivot post attached to the housing. The lighting assembly housing is supported by the pivot post, which is supported by a support assembly in the base.
US08172429B2
A table lamp with a rotatable lamp casing includes a base and an arm extended from the base. The arm has one end connected to the base and the other end connected to an assembling portion. A luminant portion is mounted on the assembling portion. The luminant portion has a seat mounted on the assembling portion and a lamp mounted on one side of the seat. A transparent casing is rotatably mounted on the assembling portion and covers the luminant portion. The casing has multiple light-guiding sections disposed therein. Each light-guiding section provides a specific illuminant mold.
US08172419B1
An enhanced lighting device having a means providing for the affixing to most conventional eyeglass frames. The unobtrusive lighting device generally comprises an enclosure having a cavity for the containment of a light emitting diode, a powering means and a sliding tensionable clamp for attaching the enclosure to for example, the bridge of a pair of conventional eyeglasses. Additionally, a pair of support posts provides an alignment means whereby the direction of the light is perpendicular to that of the eyeglass frame. A presentation plate is attachable to the front of the device, and may be decorated to provide a fashionable look.
US08172415B2
The invention relates to a color-tunable illumination system (10; 12; 14) and a luminaire. The color-tunable illumination system comprises a first light source comprising a first set of light emitting diodes (21, 24), and a second light source comprising a second set of light emitting diodes (31, 37, 34). Both the first and second light source emit light of substantially a first predefined color into a light mixing chamber (60). The light mixing chamber further comprises a first luminescent material (50) converting light of the first predefined color into light of a second predefined color. The first light source is positioned with respect to the first luminescent material for illuminating the first luminescent material with a first flux of light being part of the light emitted by the first light source into the light mixing chamber. The second light source is positioned with respect to the first luminescent material for illuminating the first luminescent material with a second flux of light being part of the light emitted by the second light source into the light mixing chamber. The first flux is different from the second flux. The effect of the measures according to the invention is that a change in the intensity of the light emitted by the first light source relative to the intensity of the light emitted by the second light source results in a change of the color emitted by the color-tunable illumination system.
US08172414B2
An illuminating device, for illuminating display designed parts on a display panel, includes at least one light source arranged at a rear side of the display panel, and a light guide body having a light guide portion for guiding the light toward its outer-circumferential portion to output the light toward the display designed parts through a front surface of the light guide portion. The outer-circumferential portion has an outer-circumferential side wall surface at is outer end. The light guide portion has at least one projecting portion projecting from the outer-circumferential side wall surface. The projecting portion is provided with a reflecting side surface formed along the outer-circumferential side wall surface so that the reflecting side surface can reflect the light traveling in the light guide portion to be outputted through the front surface of the light guide portion.
US08172404B2
In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
US08172403B2
In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
US08172402B2
The invention relates to a projection system for displaying at least one visual image based on three primary colors, comprising a signal processing unit for converting said visual image into at least a visual image based on four primary colors, a frequency band being associated to each color primary, first display means for displaying three first primary colors of said visual image on a screen and second display means for displaying at least the fourth primary color of said visual image on said screen. According to the invention, the system further comprises optical filtering means that are adapted to enhance the separation between the frequency spectrum of the first three primary colors of the first display means and the frequency spectrum of the at least fourth primary color of the second display means. Application to anti-camcorder systems.
US08172397B2
A transparent optical component (10) comprises at least one transparent set of cells (15) juxtaposed parallel to one surface of the component, each cell being separated by absorbing walls (18) parallel to the component surface, and each cell being hermetically sealed and containing at least one substance with an optical property. The optical component may be cut out along a predefined contour and optionally drilled. The invention also relates to a method of producing such an optical component and its use for the production of an optical element. The optical element may especially be a spectacle lens.
US08172389B2
A filter includes a filter plate provided with a through holes formation portion in which a plurality of through holes is formed, a ring-shaped piezoelectric layer arrangement portion on an upper surface of which a piezoelectric layer is formed, and a circular-shaped fixed portion fixed to a tube, an electrode formed almost on an entire area on an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a protective layer covering the piezoelectric layer and the electrode. When a driving electric potential is applied to the electrode, an electric field is generated in the piezoelectric layer, and the piezoelectric layer is contracted to deform the filter plate. With the deformation of the filter plate, the filter vibrates, and it is possible to release impurities and air bubbles in a liquid trapped in the filter. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a long life of the filter.
US08172386B2
A sealing device is disclosed that includes a latching feature configured to facilitate latching of the sealing device to a fluid reservoir; a first region configured to seal or substantially seal a fluid-discharge port on the fluid reservoir from fluid loss when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir; and a second region configured to protect a circuit device on the fluid reservoir when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sealing device provides an effective solution to not only sealing the fluid-discharge ports on the fluid reservoir, but also protecting the circuit device.
US08172384B2
An apparatus includes a carriage on which a head is removably mounted, a cover on the carriage configured to be movable to a first position where the head is fixed to the carriage and to a second position where the head can be removed from the carriage, and a lever configured to press the head mounted on the carriage by rotating with the cover pushed by a part of the cover when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position, wherein a rotational axis of the lever and a rotational axis of the cover are coaxial with each other.
US08172378B2
The present invention relates to a carbon black inkjet ink having improved printhead idle time and start up in order to substantially maintain, un-interrupted printing with better nozzle jetting. The inkjet ink includes a non-ionic silicone surfactant, a polymeric dispersant, and two or more humectants.
US08172353B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a liquid droplet jetting head which is movable in a predetermined scanning direction, and a wind-velocity sensor which measures a wind-velocity around the liquid droplet jetting head. A drive signal to be supplied to the liquid droplet jetting head is adjusted based on the wind-velocity information obtained by the wind-velocity sensor. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a liquid droplet jetting apparatus which is capable of suppressing a shift in a landing position of liquid droplets, which is due to a wind-velocity around the liquid droplet jetting head.
US08172339B2
A compressed air supply system for a utility vehicle includes a compressor that can be driven by a drive by a pneumatic clutch, and a valve that can be actuated by an electrical signal for the selective supply of compressed air to a control input of the clutch. The electrical signal is provided by an electronic control system to which signals indicating an operating state of a compressed air preparation system and various vehicle states can be supplied.
US08172333B2
An air-conditioned vehicle seat is provided having an air impermeable lower upholstered seat or backrest part, an intermediate layer through which air flows, and an upholstery cover through which air flows on the side of the intermediate layer. By way of stitches anchored on the upholstered part, the upholstery cover is divided into mutually delimited upholstery zones, air bridges extending between the individual upholstery zones transversely to the seams provided for connecting the intermediate layer. An unhindered seat ventilation and a durably secure fixing of the stitches is achieved in a simple manner with respect to manufacturing and without impairing the sitting comfort, in that, in the longitudinal direction of the seams, the air bridges have a construction that is narrower than that of the seam-side edge zones of the intermediate layer, and the stitches are anchored without the insertion of air bridges on the wall sections of the upholstered part adjoining the air bridges on both sides.
US08172325B2
According to one embodiment of a seat assembly for a motor vehicle a seat back pivots about a hip axis, a seat bottom pivots about a knee axis, and at least one seat bottom leg is pivots about an ankle axis, so that the seat back folds down against the seat bottom and the seat bottom kneels on the floor to at least partially define a seating load floor. According to another embodiment, a seat bottom and a seat back are articulatable in a forward direction to fold the seat bottom and back down toward a floor of the vehicle to at least partially define a seating load floor.
US08172322B2
A child seat comprises a seat part, a backrest operable to rotate relative to the seat part, a backrest adjusting mechanism and a safety lock movably mounted on the backrest. The backrest adjusting mechanism comprises a positioning element mounted stationary relative to the seat part, and a latch element mounted on the backrest and movable to engage with the positioning element. The positioning element comprises a channel that delimits a range of adjustable angular positions of the backrest relative to the seat part. In addition, the safety lock has a lock position adapted to restrict displacement of the latch element relative to the channel, and an unlock position enabling the latch element to move out of the channel when the backrest is moved out of the range of adjustable angular positions toward a position lying substantially parallel with the seat part.
US08172316B2
In a stackable chair system, a plurality of chairs are provided, each chair having a back, a seat, and first and second armrests all integral with one another in an injection-molded thermal plastic construction. Each first armrest has an integral molded round cup-holder positioned in a region of an outer end of the first armrest. Each second armrest has an integral molded second round cup-holder positioned in a region of an outer end of the second armrest. Each seat portion is contoured downwardly forming a seat depression. Each chair is dimensioned so that the chairs can be stacked on top of one another in nested fashion.
US08172309B1
A magnetic strip device attached across the end of a pick-up truck bed in order to capture loose ferrimagnetic items such as nails, screws, and the like, is herein disclosed. While primarily envisioned for use on pickup trucks, the device can also be used on vans, mini-vans, SUV's, panel trucks, trailers, and other vehicles that are used for hauling and delivering various materials. The device may be mounted to a vehicle using the magnetic attraction of the device or installed in a more permanent manner using threaded fasteners. The device will greatly reduce, if not eliminate loose metallic items from falling off the vehicle and possibly resulting in a safety hazard.
US08172296B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a parcel shelf structure whose opening can be kept largely when the tailgate is opened. In order to achieve the above object, a parcel shelf comprising: a front shelf having a front end rotatably supported by a vehicle body; a rear shelf fixed to a tailgate; and a strap to connect the tailgate to a position apart from the front end of the front shelf in a rear direction, in which when the tailgate is opened, the front shelf is apart from the rear shelf, and when the tailgate is closed, the front shelf is in touch with the rear shelf is provided.
US08172286B2
A motor vehicle front structure is provided with at least one front frame having two side members and an impact cross member structure. Two crash boxes are fixed between the respective front end of the side members and the impact cross member structure. Each of the crash boxes includes, but is not limited to a first and a second leg that are jointly fixed to the front end of each side member and in the shape of a V in the direction of the impact cross member structure turn into ends spread from each other The spread ends are fixed on end regions of the impact cross member structure.
US08172270B2
A system of the present invention couples via a lanyard to a piece of luggage. The system includes a holder having three pockets. A first mask having a first shape and first color card inserts in the first pocket, a second mask and second color card inserts in the second pocket, and an identification card inserts into a third pocket. The system further includes extra color cards and extra masks to provide a traveler with many combinations of colors, patterns, shapes and sequences to identify their luggage.
US08172269B2
A file includes a binding body which is superimposed with a plurality of binding sheets, a curved retaining portion which is curved in a direction in which the binding body extends when the cover is opened, a curved subsidiary portion arranged to fix a back portion thereof in a desired configuration. The binding body is provided adjacent to the curved retaining portion and has an arch-shape in a direction away from the inner side of a spine portion and the curved retaining portion is connected with a width less than a width of the spine portion to the inner side of the curved subsidiary portion at the outer side of the curved retaining portion to enable the end edge adjacently provided on the binding body to curve.
US08172259B2
An airbag cover for receiving an airbag compressed into an airbag package for an airbag module of a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag cover comprising one or more precut sections of a flexible material connecting sites, by way of which regions of the at least one precut material section are connected to each other such that the at least one precut section forms a flexible cover that at least partially receives the airbag package. The airbag cover forms an outer cover of the airbag module which is at least in sections visible for a vehicle occupant when installed into a vehicle as intended, wherein the flexible airbag cover forms a most outer casing of the airbag package. At least some of the connecting sites are configured in a disconnectable such that the corresponding connecting sites are disconnected upon the inflation and deployment of the airbag as intended in the event of a crash.
US08172256B2
The present invention includes a cart which includes: a chassis connected to a plurality of wheels; a basket mounted on the chassis and adapted to store one or more items therein; and a bridge element which is formed as an integral part of the cart and is adapted to fit onto an edge of a vehicular trunk, wherein the bridge element of the cart is at an area of the cart located between the basket and the wheels.
US08172252B2
A snowboard binding includes a base plate and a heel support attached directly or indirectly to this base plate so that it can pivot. Intermediate elements mount the heel support and can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard binding. Thus, the effective length of the snowboard binding can be adapted to the respective boot. Also, through different positioning of the intermediate elements, the heel support can be arranged diagonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard binding.
US08172248B2
A trailer having adjustable elevation is provided which includes a chassis 1 connected with a draw bar assembly 2 by a first linkage means, operating means 8 provided to raise or lower the chassis 1 relative to the draw bar assembly 2, second linkage means connecting pivotal wheel-mount assemblies 4 with the draw bar assembly 2 so that lowering and raising the chassis 1 provides a respective raising, and lowering of the wheel-mount assemblies 4 so that they can be retracted above the chassis 1, the first linkage means including a plurality of link arms 3 adapted to form a substantial parallelogram linkage, between the draw bar assembly 2 and the chassis 1, whereby the draw bar assembly 2 is permitted an arcuate range of motion relative to the chassis 1 while remaining substantially parallel therewith to enable the chassis to be engaged with the ground.
US08172242B1
A workstation includes a cart, a generally elongated linear actuator carried by the cart, a support arm assembly comprising a rail support arm adjustably carried by the linear actuator, a camera support rail adjustably carried by the rail support arm along an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator and an arm motor engaging the rail support arm. The rail support arm traverses the linear actuator responsive to operation of the arm motor.
US08172226B2
A sheet conveyance device has a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface which is curved in a sheet conveyance direction, and a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.
US08172225B2
A feeding device has a conveying roller that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, to selectively convey a sheet in a conveying direction and a reverse conveying direction. A particular guide member is positioned on an upstream side, guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller, and has a stopper that contacts an end portion of the sheet, thereby stopping movement of the sheet in the reverse conveying direction. A control unit causes the conveying roller to rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined position, then to rotate the conveying roller in the reverse direction, wherein the end portion of the sheet contacts the stopper while the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction, and then to again rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed toward the conveying roller.
US08172214B2
A sheet collecting apparatus has a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet, a tray device for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper for regulating the sheet, a holding path to temporarily hold a sheet, an alignment roller to transport the sheet, and a control device for controlling transport of the sheet. The alignment roller adjusts a level of pressing force acting on the sheet transported onto the tray device. The control device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode. In the first operation mode, the alignment roller applies a transport force to the sheet by a predetermined pressing force after a rear end of the sheet is carried into the tray device, while in the second operation mode, changing the pressing force applied to the sheets from the alignment roller from a first pressing force to a second pressing force and applying varied transport force.
US08172211B2
Workpiece rests are disclosed, for holding workpieces in machining systems which machine the workpieces using a cutting beam, e.g., a laser beam. A workpiece rest includes a frame, a plurality of rest elements which are arranged adjacent to one another in the frame so as to support the workpiece, and a supporting element attached to at least one of the rest elements.
US08172206B2
A system for forming mini microbubbles has a motor, a shaft attached to the motor, a displacer attached to the shaft for mixing a media with a liquid, a discharge plate positioned adjacent the displacer, a housing adjustably attached to the discharge plate, and a media chamber fluidly connected with the discharge plate. The motor rotates the shaft. The discharge plate has a discharge hole formed therein. The media chamber is fluidly connected to the discharge hole of the discharge plate. The discharge plate is positioned between the motor and the displacer. The displacer is positioned within the housing. The media chamber can be positioned between the motor and the discharge plate.
US08172202B2
Butterfly valves assemblies are provided that include a flowbody, a butterfly plate, an actuator and an upper chimney and a lower chimney disposed within the flowbody. The flowbody has an inner surface defining a channel. The butterfly plate is disposed in the channel, is rotationally mounted to the flowbody, and has an outer periphery. The actuator has an actuator output shaft that is coupled to the valve shaft via a serrated spline coupling. The upper chimney and the lower chimney are configured to include bearing assemblies that constrain radial loads and thrust loads exerted upon the valve shaft and minimize misalignment of the serrated spline coupling.
US08172194B2
An apparatus for transporting equipment and a method for the manufacture of the apparatus are disclosed. A damping assembly configured to dampen movement of a first item relative to a second item may include an arm and a shock absorber. The arm may be configured to be located between the first item and the second item and may be configured to pivotally couple to the first item and configured to slidably couple to the second item. The shock absorber may be configured to couple between the first item and the arm, such that the shock absorber dampens rotation of the arm to dampen movement of the first item relative to the second item.
US08172188B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an adjustable bracket assembly for mounting to a vehicle. The bracket assembly comprises an integral planar attachment portion, at least one integral mounting portion separate from the planar attachment portion, at least one integral locking portion separate from the attachment portion and at least one integral keeper. The integral planar attachment portion includes a reception portion, wherein at least one of the planar attachment portion and reception portion include at least one slot. The at least one integral attachment mounting portion includes an engaging portion and a mating portion that engages the reception portion, wherein at least the engaging portion is substantially parallel to the planar attachment portion when engaged. The engaging portion includes a receiving portion having diameter “drc” and a radius portion in fluid communication with the receiving portion, the radius portion having diameter “drd”, wherein drc>drd. The at least one integral locking portion engages the attachment portion, and mates with at least the radius portion. The keeper has a diameter “dk”, wherein drd−dk=α. As α approaches a manufacture tolerance, drd approaches and is substantially equal to dk.
US08172187B2
A stand (20) from which a planter (22) can be suspended includes a hollow center post (28) having one end (48) which opens downwardly when the post is arranged substantially vertically. A plurality of openings (66) are defined about the center post, and a plurality of leg members (72) are arranged about the center post. Each of the leg members includes a foot end (76) and two post-engaging portions (94 and 84) wherein a first (94) of the post-engaging portions is accepted by a corresponding one of the openings defined about the center post and a second (84) of the post-engaging portions is accepted by the downwardly-opening end of the center post. In addition, a retainer assembly (70) cooperates between the center post and the leg members for preventing the withdrawal of the first of the post-engaging portions from the openings defined about the center post and for preventing the withdrawal of the second of the post-engaging portions from the downwardly-opening end of the center post.
US08172183B2
A baggage accommodation device for an aircraft, which device comprises a plurality of first rollers and a container, wherein the container comprises a base plate. The plurality of first rollers are arranged on the base plate, and the baggage accommodation device is designed such that it is sufficiently stable for said baggage accommodation device to be able to be moved into and out of the aircraft.
US08172177B2
A stabilized UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The ship-based elements include a robot arm that holds a capture mechanism over the side of the ship while compensating for wave-induced ship motion. The UAV-based elements include a hook mounted to the top of the UAV fuselage. With the capture mechanism held stable from the perspective of a UAV approaching from behind or in front of the mechanism, the UAV is flown under it, snagging an arresting line with the hook. With continued forward motion of the UAV, the arresting line pulls out of a winch drum that is coupled to a brake, bringing the UAV to rest.
US08172176B2
A slider apparatus integral with a slidable member and a method for integrating the slider apparatus with the slidable member. The slider apparatus integrated with the slidable member may be configured to slidably couple with and be structurally supported by a fixed structure. The slider apparatus may comprise a primary slider component made of composite material and at least one chamfered element bonded to the primary slider component. The slidable member may comprise the slider apparatus, a core assembly, a plurality of composite material plies wrapped around the slider apparatus and core assembly and cured therewith, and at least one low-friction slider shoe removably attached to the primary slider component outward of the plurality of composite material plies.
US08172170B2
A portable creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn to a tufting machine. A portable creel provides flexibility for carpet manufactures in that operators can pre-load portable creels with yarn packages for future runs and move them into position when needed. In one aspect, the portable creel comprises an outer frame and a movable inner frame. The inner frame is configured to hold a plurality of yarn packages and the outer frame comprises a plurality of tubes configured to direct the yarn from the yarn packages to a header. The header, in turn, directs the yarn from the portable creel to specific portions of a tufting machine.
US08172157B2
A thermal demand priority type cogeneration system, is made operative for obtaining power output without thermal demand. When the temperature in a hot water tank 17 is low, a heat request is output from a heat request generator 42 and thereby an engine 11 is driven. When the temperature T higher than a predetermined temperature T1, a first water supply instructing unit 44 opens a valve 39 and supplies water to the tank 17 to decrease the water temperature T. When the water temperature goes down, thermal demand is generated, the engine 11 is driven according to the heat request. So as to generate thermal demand, a discharge valve 41 may be opened when the water temperature T is at the predetermined temperature or higher. A second water supply instructing unit 46 opens the valve 39 when reserved water level in the tank 17 goes down. When the valve 39 is opened, water is supplied and the water temperature goes down and thermal demand is generated. At a power failure of a commercial electric power system 14, thermal demand is generated forcibly.
US08172152B2
Electromagnetically recognizable E13B characters can be printed onto conventional paper by an inkjet printer using liquid magnetic ink. The printer receives data representing an E13B character, and prints the E13B character onto a substrate according to a modified E13B character pattern. The modified E13B pattern provides for an interior of the E13B character to be substantially completely filled, and includes one or more void arrangements arranged and positioned relative to a corresponding internal detection edge, and sized and shaped, to amplify the difference between the upstream magnetic signal detected on the upstream side of the internal detection edge and the downstream magnetic signal detected on the downstream side of the internal detection edge when an electromagnetic read head reads the resulting printed E13B character.
US08172151B2
A smart card reader is adapted to extract and store authentication data from a response APDU received from a smart card before generating a filtered response APDU, wherein the filtered response APDU does not include the authentication data. Beneficially, when the smart card reader transmits the filtered response APDU toward a destination, the biometric template data is less susceptible to interception, thereby providing a more secure solution.
US08172144B2
A medium storing a program to make a computer to function as a code detecting device, the code detecting device comprises a base line specifying section to extract edges from a scan image obtained by a process of scanning a printed matter in which at least a one-dimensional bar code or a two dimensional code are printed, to extract straight lines from the extracted edges, and to specify the longest straight line as a base line among the extracted straight lines; and a code detecting section to perform a pattern matching for the scan image based on the base line and to detect the one-dimensional bar code or the two dimensional code.
US08172143B2
Provided is a code reading device capable of reducing a time from start of reading of a symbol code until a decoded result is transmitted to an external device. The code reading device includes first and second CPUs that access a shared memory, an imaging element that optically reads the symbol code to generate a read image, and a DMAC that transfers the read image from the imaging element to the shared memory. The first CPU decodes the read image in the shared memory based on a command of the second CPU. The second CPU selectively executes any one of an imaging control task, a decode control task, and a decoded result transmission task, in which the imaging control task is given priority over the decode control task, and the decode control task is given priority over the decoded result transmission task.
US08172140B2
A method and apparatus include conductive material doped within a microchip that accumulates a detectable charge in the presence of ions. Such ions may result from a focused ion beam or other unwelcome technology exploitation effort. Circuitry sensing the charge buildup in the embedded, doped material may initiate a defensive action intended to defeat the tampering operation.
US08172139B1
A portable system for facilitating inclined shooting of projectile weapons comprises a ranging system, an inclinometer and a processor. The ranging system measures a line-of sight range distance from a vantage point to a target that is elevated or depressed relative to the vantage point, and the inclinometer measures an inclination angle of a line of sight between the vantage point and the target. Based on information from the rangefinder and inclinometer, the processor determines a predicted altitude-compensated inclined shooting (ACIS) trajectory at the line-of sight range distance for a preselected projectile. The ACIS trajectory is based on a bullet path height correction between a bullet path height at a first altitude and a bullet path height at a second altitude, a range distance of the target from the vantage point, and selected meteorological atmospheric information.
US08172131B2
A method is provided for handling cassettes for bank notes, for automatic tellers and/or deposit devices. The method for handling cassettes for bank notes, for automatic tellers and/or deposit devices, includes the step of determining the filling level of the cassette or cassettes, comparing the determined filling level of each cassette with at least one threshold value lower than a maximum capacity of the particular cassette, and wherein, if the comparison yields an excess, the step of producing a signal indicating the exceeding of the threshold value, causing replacement of the cassette for which the signal indicating the exceeding of the threshold value was produced.
US08172126B2
A method of joining at least two parts includes steps of dispersing a joining material comprising a multi-phase nanocrystalline magnetic metal-aluminum powder at an interface between the at least two parts to be joined and applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF). The AMF has a magnetic field strength and frequency suitable for inducing magnetic hysteresis losses in the metal-aluminum powder and is applied for a period that raises temperature of the metal-aluminum powder to an exothermic transformation temperature. At the exothermic transformation temperature, the metal-aluminum powder melts and resolidifies as a metal aluminide solid having a non-magnetic configuration.
US08172124B2
A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.
US08172120B2
Embodiments include a surgical device and a method. An embodiment of the surgical instrument includes at least one grasping jaw, the at least one grasping jaw being adapted to deliver surgical staples by a force generated from a force generator mechanism that is contained within the at least one grasping jaw or is in a proximity to the at least one grasping jaw. Another embodiment includes at least one grasping jaw, at least one delivery mechanism adapted to deliver surgical fasteners, the delivery mechanism being located in a proximity to or contained within the at least one grasping jaw, the surgical fasteners containing at least one shape-transforming material, at least one sensor, at least one chemical tissue sealant and at least one cutter. A method includes: grasping a body tissue with at least one grasping jaw, adjusting a configuration of the grasping in response to a signal or a datum or an image, and releasing a surgical staple/fastener in response to the signal, datum or image.
US08172114B2
In a insert-type continuous casting nozzle comprising a highly functional layer formed to have a high corrosion resistance, a high anti-attachment capability, etc., and provided to define an inner bore thereof, the present invention is directed to providing a refractory material (mortar) for an intermediate layer of the continuous casting nozzle, which has a property capable of fixing an inner bore-side layer to an outer periphery-side layer (a nozzle body) of the continuous casting nozzle, while preventing the occurrence of expansion splitting in the outer periphery-side layer due to a difference in thermal expansion between the inner bore-side and outer periphery-side layers, and a continuous casting nozzle using the refractory material for the intermediate layer. The refractory material for the intermediate layer contains a hollow refractory aggregate in an amount of 10 to 75 volume %, wherein a ratio of an average radius R of each particle of the aggregate to an average wall thickness t of the particle satisfies the following relation: R/t≧10. This refractory material is disposed between an inner bore-side layer (2) and an outer periphery-side layer (3, 4) of a continuous casting nozzle.
US08172103B2
A portable assembly includes a container including top and bottom openings. The portable assembly includes a locking mechanism having a notched shape positioned at a predetermined distance from the bottom opening of the container and a candy pocket. A second locking mechanism may be also provided using tabs. The cup covered and fastened onto a lid is slipped into the container through the bottom opening thereof, over the locking mechanism, and lowered so the cup and the lid latch onto the locking mechanism supporting or holding the cup and lid in place. The cup and the lid enclose the bottom opening of the container to allow the container to be filled with a snacking food. A handle is attached to opposite sides of the container configured to enable a person to carry together the container, the cup, and the candy.
US08172102B2
A cap for use with bottled water dispensing systems. The cap includes a main cap and a liner. The main cap has an opening which receives and seals against a probe. The liner is gripped between the main cap and the bottle neck and has a outside part and an inner movable part. The inner movable part is linked to the outer part by a large connecting section that serves as a hinge, and breakable or frangible connecting section. When the bottle is lowered onto the dispensing system, the probe enters into the opening in the main cap, breaks the frangible connection, and pushes the inner movable part open like a flap. The liner, at the location of the large connecting section, is resilient such that the inner movable part tends to close when the bottle is removed from the dispensing system. When the breakable connecting section is a cut in the liner that does not extend through the liner, the liner itself acts as an additional barrier to the egress of the contents from the container and acts as a barrier to the ingress of dirt or organisms into the container.
US08172099B1
A fixture (12) for forming decorative loops of fondant and gum paste has a support base (14) and two support members (16, 18). The support members (12) are pivotally mounted to opposite, longitudinally disposed ends of the support base (12) for moving from extending horizontally in storage positions to extending vertically in production positions, spaced apart in opposed relation. Apertures (26, 28) extend transversely through the support members (16, 18) and are aligned in registration for receiving forming rods (34, 36) and holding the Forming rods (36, 38) in stationary positions, spaced apart along lengths of the support members (16, 18). In a storage configuration, the support members (16, 18) are folded into horizontally disposed storage positions atop an upper surface of the support base (12), and the forming rods (36, 38) are secured in rod retaining clips (42, 44) mounted to the upper side of the support base (14).
US08172098B2
An end support unit for supporting the ends of at least one front and one rear cross beam including: a front support post having a column of slots along its length for receiving at least one slot engaging member of the front cross beam; a rear support post having a column of slots along its length for receiving at least one slot engaging member of the rear cross beam; an upper brace fixedly extending from the upper end of the front support post to the upper end of the rear support post; a lower brace fixedly extending from the lower end of the front support post to the lower end of the rear support post; and a diagonal brace extending diagonally between the front support post and the rear support post.
US08172094B2
Some embodiments of a product display system can be employed in a retail store or other product storage environment to maintain one or more rows of products in an organized manner on a shelf. In some circumstances, the display system can be readily assembled to the shelf and thereafter receive products so that the products can remain visible and advanced toward the front portion of the shelf.
US08172092B2
A multi-layer filter media including at least one layer of melt-blown fiber filter media and at least one layer of electrospun nanofiber filter media is provided. The multi-layer filter media of the present invention is configured such that the at least one layer of the melt-blown fiber filter media is on the upstream and the at least one electrospun nanofiber filter media is positioned downstream of the at least one melt-blown fiber filter media.
US08172090B1
A system and method of sorting documents utilizing an algorithm or routine that alternates an order of documents with smallest sheet count documents followed by largest sheet count documents in order to optimizes a document throughput of an inserter based on a maximum speed that documents can be collated and accumulated and an algorithm or routine for optimizing the document throughput of a dual sheet cutter by grouping even sheet count documents together on evenly paired sheet boundaries within a mailing group of printed documents, with or without the use of dynamic motion control of the inserter.
US08172087B2
Disclosed is a separation apparatus comprising a conveyor; and a material separator positioned above a conveyor, the conveyor being arranged to convey a mixture of materials to the material separator; the material separator comprising a suction duct comprising a sidewall which defines a passageway linking an inlet positioned adjacent the conveyor to an outlet positioned away from the conveyor; and an airflow generator arranged to blow air through a slit in the sidewall into the passageway at a position between the inlet and the outlet; wherein, in use, the airflow generator blows air through the slit in a direction which is towards the outlet for creating a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet thereby generating an airflow which causes relatively low density materials to be lifted from the conveyor and sucked into the passageway.
US08172086B2
A gum packaging design that utilizes two separate compartments, an upper compartment and a lower compartment. Each of the compartments may be formed from a separate paperboard blank. The blanks are folded to form the compartments and then the lower compartment is adhered to the upper compartment in a fashion that allows the lower compartment to be later separated therefrom by tearing along a perforation after the lower compartment is emptied. A cover flap on the upper compartment can be used to hold the package in a compact, closed position by folding the compartments to face each other and tucking an end into a receiving slot formed in the back panel of the lower compartment. Once the lower compartment is separated from the upper compartment, the same cover flap can be used to close the remaining package by tucking the same end of the cover flap into a receiving slot formed in a front panel of the upper compartment.
US08172083B2
An apparatus for supporting liquid-filled containers having removable closures contacting an interface at one end, in a manner to attenuate escape of gas from the containers between the closures and the interface has a supporting framework and at least one insert within the framework, the insert engaging the framework and presenting a surface having a plurality of indentions in the shape of the liquid-filled containers, each indention conforming to shape of one of the containers in a manner that a container placed in the indention is supported with an axis of symmetry of the container at an acute angle with horizontal and with closure end down, such that liquid in the container surrounds the closure and interface, so gas will not escape between the closure and the interface.
US08172079B2
An apparatus for adding a secondary substance to a primary liquid within a sealed container, for example, a shot of liquor to be added to a can of soda. A secondary container contains the secondary substance preferably a liquid and has a frangible seal. A mechanism sealingly and mechanically attaches the secondary container to the hull of a primary container having primary liquid. A frangible seal is provided to the secondary container. A penetrator is disposed at least partially within the housing of the secondary container and is at least partially surrounded by the attachment mechanism. —The penetrator causes rupture of the seal and mechanically penetrates through the hull of the primary container. The substance from the secondary container mixes with the liquid of the primary container. The secondary container may attach to the top, side, or bottom of a conventional primary container, a soda can.
US08172078B1
A solid and liquid separating device includes an inner container and an outer container. The outer container is sized to receive the inner container. The inner container retains solids. The inner container includes an open bottom that is covered by liquid permeable membrane. The liquid permeable membrane is preferably stretchable. The outer container is filled with a liquid. The inner container floats on a top of the liquid in the outer container. A utensil (such as a spoon) is inserted into the solids and pressed into a portion of the liquid permeable membrane. The liquid permeable membrane stretches and allows liquid to enter the inner container. The liquid combines with the solids in the inner container. When the utensil is withdrawn from the liquid permeable membrane, the liquid no longer enters the inner container. The inner container now floats on the liquid in the outer container.
US08172064B2
A drift conveyor (1) has rollers (14) introduced into bearings (13) of a frame (12). An axle (143) of the roller (14) is received in a receptacle (1310) of the bearing (13), and a roller plate (15) presses the bearing (13) so that a first sealing region (1308) of the bearing (13) contacts a sealing region (152) of the roller plate (15). A rotary fastening region of the bearing (13) contacts a fastening region (153a) of the roller plate (15) and a second sealing region of the bearing (13) contacts the frame sealing region. One side of the bearing (13) has the receptacle (1310), the first sealing region (1308) and a rotary fastening region that prevents rotation of the bearing (13) with respect to the roller plate (15). An opposite side of the bearing (13) has a second region for sealing between the bearing (13) and the frame (12).
US08172052B2
The invention relates to a rapid recovery shock absorber system with hydraulic end stop, comprising a stem (3) and a body (1), in which a piston (8, 9, 10, 11) runs which is fixed to a tube (71) and which defines at least one upper chamber (S) and one lower chamber (I) in the body (1). A body (32, 32a) in the stem (3) comprises a housing (321), in which a piston (33, 33a) runs which is connected to a rod (7) which slides in the tube (71). A clamp (31), for fixing the shock absorber system to the vehicle, tensioning means (35, 37, 39), exerting a force which tends to displace the piston (33, 33a), sliding in the stem body (32, 32a), driving the displacement of the rod (7) which results in the opening or closing of a section of an oil passage in the lower chamber (I) towards the upper chamber (S) are also provided.
US08172044B2
An elevator system including a car call registration device by which an elevator user registers a car call before riding on a car and a group supervisory controller with a building specification data storage section in which building specification data including specially-assigned floors is stored. Further, a specially-assigned floor judgment section judges whether a departure floor is a specially-assigned floor when a car call is registered, and a traffic condition judgment section judges the traffic condition of elevators within a building. A car assignment is performed based on the traffic condition judgment section judging by the specially-assigned floor judgment section that the departure floor is a specially-assigned floor, and a car assignment is performed based on a building specification stored in the building specification data storage section when the specially-assigned floor judgment section judges the departure floor is not a specially-assigned floor.
US08172040B2
Vibration or acoustic sound control is achieved using an elastic layer of thermal or insulation material in which a plurality of discrete masses are distributed throughout. The elastic layer may be installed as a pre-formed layer, or be blown into position within a structure where vibration or acoustic sound control is required.
US08172030B2
A control system for a work machine. The control system allows an operator to selectively maintain control of a ground drive, a work tool, or both the ground drive and the work tool. The system provides a foot pedal movable between multiple positions. The foot pedal allows an operator to selectively hold the position of one or both of the ground drive control and work tool control. When the foot pedal is in a first position, the work tool control and ground drive control are not affected. When the foot pedal is in a second position, the position of the work tool control is maintained, while the ground drive control is not affected. When the foot pedal is in a third position, the position of the work tool control is maintained and the position of the ground drive control is maintained. A work tool control lock is used to prevent the work tool control from engaging when the foot pedal is in the second position or the third position.
US08172028B2
A vehicle driving control is provided. The vehicle driving control includes a dead man's system (VACMA) processing device and a lever arm capable of moving in a predetermined actuation direction with a handle. The handle is arranged at one end of the arm and includes an upper face, at least one lateral face, and a touch button which is electrically connected to the processing device. The touch button is located in the region of the lateral face.
US08172021B2
A vehicle air cleaner mounting structure is disposed in a space between a shelf portion of a fender apron and a hood. The mounting structure has support portions at at least three points. A protruding portion of the air cleaner protrudes farther inward in a vehicle width direction than a vertical wall of the fender apron. The support portions are disposed outside the protruding portion in the vehicle width direction, the first support portion and the second support portion positioned inside in the vehicle width direction out of the support portions are disposed on a phantom axis line extending in a vehicle front-rear direction in a plan view. The air cleaner is supported to be able to turn about the phantom axis line, and the third support portion is disposed outside the phantom axis line in the vehicle width direction.
US08172020B2
A vehicle drivetrain with a wheel and an inside-out motor. The wheel includes a hub and a rim that is disposed about the hub. The rim includes a sealing bead that is configured to sealingly engage the opposite sidewalls of an inflatable tire. The inside-out motor includes a rotor that is at least partially disposed in the rim.
US08172017B2
The invention relates to a circumferential movement field, including all circumferential movement devices such as transport vehicle, toy vehicle, space vehicle, blender etc, especially for energy-saving vehicles utilizing force of gravity. The energy-saving vehicle utilizes force of gravity as driving force, the vehicle body connects with the wheel by swing structure method or eccentric swing structure to utilize force of gravity more efficiently. The invention also provides solutions about two-wheel gravitational vehicle and multi-wheel vehicle and train connected by integrated vehicles or two-wheel vehicles.
US08172015B2
A wheelchair includes a pivoting drive assembly having a drive wheel, a motor drive connected to the drive wheel, and a first pivoting linkage fixedly attached to the motor drive. The pivoting drive assembly is pivotally coupled to a frame at a first frame pivot axis such that the drive wheel, motor drive, and first pivoting linkage pivot about the first frame pivot axis as a unit. The wheelchair further includes a second pivoting linkage and a front caster assembly. The second pivoting linkage is pivotally coupled to the frame at a second frame pivot axis. The first pivoting linkage is pivotally coupled to the front caster assembly at a first front caster pivot axis and the second pivoting linkage is pivotally coupled to the front caster assembly at a second front caster pivot axis.
US08172013B2
A legged robot includes: a body; a leg portion; a foot portion; a falling direction detection unit that detects a falling direction of the body; a control unit; and a distance detection unit that detects a distance between a sole of the foot portion and a road surface. The distance detection unit includes at least three distance sensors provided on the sole, and the control unit includes distance sensor selecting means for selecting a distance sensor and gait data correcting means for correcting gait data based on a detection signal from the distance sensor selected by the distance sensor selecting means. The distance sensor selecting means selects three distance sensors among the distance sensors based on a detection result of the falling direction detection unit.
US08172007B2
A system and method for releasing a marker within a wellbore. The system and method includes a sensor that detects movement or a position of the marker within the wellbore. The marker may be released in drilling fluid, for example, and may travel from the surface to the drill bit and return to the surface with cuttings. As an example, the markers are used to determine the flow of cuttings within the wellbore.
US08172003B2
A portable device having an overload protection device for motor-operated tools has a drive motor, a drive shaft connected to the drive motor and driven in rotation by the drive motor, and an output shaft for driving a cutting tool, wherein the output shaft is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the drive shaft. A drive pinion is connected to the drive shaft. A drum is supported on the output shaft and driven in rotation by the drive pinion. A coupling is arranged between the drum and the output shaft and engages the drum. The coupling is connected to the output shaft. When the output shaft is blocked, the coupling effects an automatic decoupling between the drum and the output shaft in order to prevent overloading of the drive motor.
US08172001B2
A pendent residential fire prevention sprinkler has a frame structure extending from the sprinkler body, and a system for blocking an outlet to prevent fluid from passing through the outlet until occurrence of a predetermined condition and for unblocking the outlet in response to occurrence of the condition. A deflector is supported by the frame structure at a predetermined distance from the outlet, at a position to be impinged upon by the fluid leaving the outlet. The deflector has a central portion and a peripheral portion, and slots formed in the periphery, defining tines therebetween. The slots include a first plurality of slots, each of which extends inward from the deflector periphery with a uniform width, a second plurality of slots, each of which has a first portion and a second portion between the deflector periphery and the slot's closed end, where the first portion has a width that varies at different points, while the second portion has a uniform width.
US08171999B2
A downhole flow control device includes, a first member defining a first portion of a flow path, and a second member defining a second portion of the flow path, the flow path has a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first member and the second member, a length of the flow path is greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area is adjustable by movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member.
US08171992B2
Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, ΔSGPS for a desired propped fracture length, DPST, may be estimated wherein ΔSGPS=SGprop−SGfluid (SGprop being the specific gravity of the proppant and SGfluid being the specific gravity of the transport fluid) in accordance with Equation (I): ΔSGPS=(A)×(1/qi)×(DPST)B×(1/CTRANS)×(1/d2prop)×(μfluid) (I) wherein: A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry; qi is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft; CTRANS is the transport coefficient; dprop is the median proppant diameter, in mm.; and μfluid is the apparent viscosity of the transport fluid, in cP.
US08171984B2
A latent heat storage device including a vessel, a phase change material disposed within the vessel, at least one heat exchange interface in contact with the phase change material, at least one sheet of graphite foil which extends within the bulk of the phase change material.
US08171982B2
A device for manufacturing a metal strip has solidification section (3) formed as a horizontally extending conveyor element for transporting cast metal in a transport direction (F), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3); and a device provided at or downstream of a second location spaced from the first location for maintaining a desired tension of a metal strip and including at least one driver (8, 9) for transporting the metal.
US08171981B2
During casting of metal articles, a mold is moved into a body or bath of molten metal. The mold is moved into a container which contains a portion of the body of molten metal. Heat is transferred at a first rate from the mold to a first portion of the body of molten metal disposed above the container. Heat is transferred at a second rate from the mold to the second portion of the body of molten metal at least part of which is disposed in the container. The container retards movement of molten metal relative to the mold to effect an increase in the temperature of the molten metal in the container and thereby retards transfer of heat from a portion of the mold disposed in the container to the body of molten metal. The mold enters the container through an opening at the upper end portion of the container. One or more additional openings may be provided at the lower end portion of the container.
US08171975B2
An apparatus for mounting planar components onto a pad for a seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lower die for allowing the pad to be carried thereon in a condition where a section of the pad onto which the planar components are to be mounted faces upward, a support frame for supporting the planar components, the support frame having both side portions, the support frame being configured as a handling jig which is separatably combined with the lower die means from an upward direction of the pad carried on the lower die means when the planar components are to be mounted onto the section of the pad, and an upper die means for causing the planar components supported by the support frame to be thermal press-bonded onto the section of the pad, the lower die having spaced apart guide pins for engaging the both side portions of the support frame and causing the support frame to be guided in a condition where the support frame is parallel relative to the section of the pad carried on the lower die, and hook arms for causing the support frame to be hooked with respect to the lower die.
US08171974B2
A conveyor conveys glass sheets horizontally, while holding them in an upright orientation. Film feed units are provided on both sides of a conveyance path of the glass sheets. Nip rollers press against both surfaces of the glass sheets via films fed from the film feed units so as to sandwich the glass sheets, while the glass sheets are being conveyed by the conveyor.
US08171970B2
An apparatus for making “shrink sleeve” labels, comprises a carousel provided peripherally with a spindle arrangement shaped for being wound by portions of film made of plastics, a transferring unit arranged peripherally to the carousel for transferring each portion of film made of plastics on a respective spindle, an electrostatic-charge generating device arranged downstream of the transferring unit such as to charge electrostatically the portions of film made of plastics; a method for labelling containers comprises forming a sleeve and covering a container with the sleeve, the forming comprising winding a portion of film made of plastics to a respective spindle and maintaining the portion of film made of plastics adhering to the spindle in an electrostatic manner.
US08171969B2
A sipe is formed in a block provided in a tread surface, wide portions extending in a sipe length direction are formed in each of a kick-out side and a step-in side of the sipe, and a total of heights of the wide portions in the kick-out side of the sipe is made larger than a total of heights of the wide portions in the step-in side of the sipe.
US08171967B2
A device for extending the life of a tire and providing a new tread layer, principally for off road truck tires, has a mechanically attached surface tread of rubber blocks cooperatively connected with a cable system and specialized tensioning. The apparatus is generally suited to tires of very large size, typically used on dump trucks in open pit mining applications.
US08171962B2
Device for filling an aerosol container with a liquid using in particular a filling arrangement equipped with a pusher element (12), includes a cup designed to accommodate the liquid for filling the aerosol container, this cup being provided on its bottom with an injection opening adapted to the valve of the aerosol container, a piston head (7) acting by pushing on the filling liquid contained in the cup for transferring it from the cup to the container. The piston head (7) comes in the form of a scraper in continuous contact with the inside wall of the cup during the transfer operation. The piston head (7) is shaped to work with the cup after transfer to keep the piston head (7) within the cup to form an airtight wall that retains the residual liquid that has not been transferred within the cup.
US08171953B2
Particular embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for relieving excess pressure or vacuum pressure from a tank interior. An embodiment of a pressure relief device includes a housing having an opening associated with a first end, an opening associated with a second end, and an over-pressure opening. The device further including a pressure relief valve for selectively relieving pressure from a tank, the valve including an over-pressure opening seal biased by a first pressure bias means against a pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening. The device also including a guide block translatable in an axial direction of a second bore of the housing and being biased toward the pressure valve seat by a second pressure bias means. The guide block is translatable independent of the over-pressure opening seal. The device also includes a vacuum relief valve for selectively relieving vacuum pressure in the tank.
US08171951B2
A valve (1) with a AND gate function has a valve member (2) cooperating with moving passage members (23a and 23b) in a valve housing (3) in order to control connections between one outlet (A) and two inlets (E1 and E2). If the pressure difference present at the input side goes above a threshold value, the valve member (2) can thrust back one of the passage members (23a and 23b) against the stressing force of the stressing means (34a and 34b) in order to separate the outlet (A) simultaneously from both inlets (E1 and E2). Accordingly a safety and/or a logic function may be implemented.
US08171950B2
A compressed gas regulator of a piston type is disclosed in which a regulator is configured with an input valve situated entirely inside a compressed air canister, which regulator is then attached to a paintball gun, marker or other device for providing discrete charges of gas at a predetermined pressure to the attached device. The overall size and weight of the regulator are minimized, which allows increased capabilities to the user. A regulator overpressurization port vents behind a conventional safety gauge for safety purposes. Fill, gage, and canister overpressurization rupture ports are interconnected with a fill channel that extends from the canister to the ports without intersecting or interfering with the regulating components within the regulator. The input valve seat face is surrounded by a shallow generally conical surface within an input plenum. The shallow generally conical surface extends at approximately 5 to 15 degrees.
US08171943B2
A cosmetic hair assembly has a shaped piece of wig netting or mesh holding a plurality of cosmetic hairs attached to a correspondingly shaped layer of biomimetic microstructure adhesive (BMA) with tiny synthetic seta for adhesion to human skin. The wig netting is dimensioned slightly larger than the BMA layer to leave a slight overhanging part to facilitate removal from the skin by peeling back the overhanging part. A comb with peeler in the form of hooked portions can be used to peel back the wig netting. In another embodiment, an individual cosmetic hair assembly has a hair shaft attached to a substrate portion attached to a BMA layer, wherein the substrate's edges provide engagement surfaces to facilitate removal by peeling back the BMA layer. An applicator in the form of a thin water-soluble transfer sheet can hold a number of cosmetic hair assemblies until they are ready to be applied.
US08171942B2
An apparatus for receiving operationally powering units interchangeable grooming units. The apparatus comprising a casing, a motor, attachment means for allowing the grooming units to be releasably attached to the casing and mounting means for allowing the grooming units to be driven by the motor. The mounting means comprise a shaft with an end portion having a protrusion located eccentrically on the end portion. The mounting means are adapted to enable the grooming units with accordingly adapted receiving means to carry out a rotational movement and/or a linear movement without gear arrangements in the receiving means of the grooming unit.
US08171941B2
An apparatus for customizing an as-formed cigarette is provided, wherein the as-formed cigarette has a cylindrical rod configuration defining a longitudinal axis, and includes a filter rod portion and a contiguous tobacco rod portion. Such an apparatus comprises a feeder unit configured to feed an as-formed cigarette, from a plurality of as-formed cigarettes, to a register position. An imprinting unit is configured to interact with the as-formed cigarette in the register position so as to imprint at least one of an alphanumeric character and a graphical character thereon. An associated method is also provided.
US08171940B2
A rotary cutter assembly for a lighter comprises a lighter body which is defined with a receiving groove in an outer periphery thereof. A rotary plate is pivoted to the receiving groove in such a manner that the rotary plate can be rotated within the receiving groove. In the receiving groove is disposed a push pole, and on the rotary plate is provided an annular cutter. When the rotary plate is closed, the push pole is inserted in the annular cutter.
US08171939B2
A cigarette injector for loading tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing, an electric motor having an output shaft and a cigarette filling arrangement. The cigarette filling arrangement includes an elongated injection tube having a supplying end communicating with the tobacco cavity and a dispensing end for the cigarette paper tube encircling therewith, and an elongated tobacco feeder, which has a helicoid shape, having a driving end being driven to rotate via the output shaft of the electric motor and a feeding end extended within the injection tube through the tobacco cavity, wherein the tobacco feeder is driven to rotate for loading the tobacco leaves within the tobacco cavity into the cigarette paper tube through the injection tube.
US08171938B2
Devices, systems, and methods provide accurate and consistent identification of the center of a magnetic infusion port.
US08171936B2
The invention provides intrafallopian devices and non-surgical methods for their placement to prevent conception. The efficacy of the device is enhanced by forming the structure at least in part from copper or copper alloy. The device is anchored within the fallopian tube by a lumen-traversing region of the resilient structure which has helical outer surface, together with a portion of the resilient structure which is biased to form a bent secondary shape, the secondary shape having a larger cross-section than the fallopian tube. The resilient structure is restrained in a straight configuration and transcervically inserted within the fallopian tube, where it is released. Optionally, permanent sterilization s effected by passing a current through there resilient structure to the tubal walls.
US08171933B2
A respirator that includes a mask body and a nose clip. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person, and the nose clip is placed on the mask body to extend over the bridge of the wearer's nose when the mask is worn. The nose clip has a predefined shape that comprises first and second wings. These wings exert a force resiliently inward on each side of the wearer's nose when the mask is worn. The invention eliminates the need for the wearer to individually shape the nose clip to the wearer's nose.
US08171931B2
The present invention concerns a valve unit for a rebreather apparatus that recycles gas exhaled by a user. The valve unit includes a housing 5 with a first port for communication with a respiratory system of the user and a first inlet port 9 for breathable gas in said housing, a first exit port for exhausting gas from said housing into a flow channel, at least one separate second exit port 12 for exhausting gas form said housing 5 into an ambient environment, a second inlet port 13 for breathable gas connected to an open loop inlet valve 6 in said housing 5, and a valve body 4 in said housing 5 forming a valve for switching between two operating modes. The valve body 4 is formed as a barrel or cylinder with valve openings sealing against the housing 5, where the valve body 4 forms an internal cavity 18, alone or in combination with the housing 5, in connection with the port 10 for communication with a user. The valve 6 has an outlet in said cavity 18.
US08171930B2
An inhaler has an air inlet port and an entry passage extending from the air inlet port to a contact chamber inlet port, a contact chamber and an inhaler air outlet port. The contact chamber has first and second opposed ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second opposed ends that in cross section is curved, the second opposed end having an opening in air flow communication with a dosage chamber and a contact chamber outlet port. The contact chamber inlet port is provided in the sidewall and faces a portion of the sidewall opposed to contact chamber inlet port. The contact chamber has a cross sectional area that is greater than the cross sectional area of the entry passage.
US08171926B2
A fire igniter of carbonaceous fuel, especially the fire igniter providing an initial operation to ignite cold and raw carbonaceous fuel, includes a barrel unit, a space of which is deformable and is collected easily. The barrel unit includes primarily a front plate, a rear plate and a side wing that are connected by hinges, so as to be deformed and collapsed for reducing a volume to be collected.
US08171922B2
The invention relates to a blow-by gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine. An oil separation cover 10 has a surge-tank mounting portion 400 integrally formed therewith in a columnar shape having a cam-shaped cross-section and a height approximately equal to that of an oil separation space OS. The surge-tank mounting portion 400 has a flat upper surface serving as a mounting seat surface 401 capable of coming into surface contact with an attaching seat surface 7a of a surge tank 7. A first opening 403 of a gas passage from a chamber 300 is opened in a vicinity of an opening of a support through-hole 402 on the mounting seat surface 401. Through an operation of joining the seat surface 7a of the surge tank 7 to the mounting seat surface 401 of the surge-tank mounting portion 400 while communicating the first opening 403 with a second opening 7b opened on the attaching seat surface 7a of the surge tank 7, a third gas passage 15 for supplying blow-by gas to an inside of the surge tank 7 is formed in such a manner as to penetrate through the oil separation cover 10 and the surge tank 7.
US08171905B2
An oil circuit for a continuously variable valve timing apparatus, may include a main line that is formed in a cylinder block to receive oil from a hydraulic pump, a first oil line that connects an intake oil control valve that is mounted on a cylinder head that is assembled to the cylinder block with the main line, a second oil line that connects an exhaust oil control valve that is mounted in a cylinder head cover with the first oil line, a third oil line that connects a cam journal that is formed in the cylinder head with the first oil line, and a fourth oil line that connects a timing chain tensioner that is mounted in the cylinder block with the third oil line.
US08171902B2
A camshaft adjuster (1) for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with a radially outer stator (4) that can be driven by the crankshaft, a radially inner rotor (5) connected locked in rotation with the camshaft (2), working chambers (6) that are arranged between the rotor (5) and the stator (4) and that can be pressurized with a pressure such that the relative rotational position of the rotor (5) to the stator (4) is adjustable, at least one seal cover (7) bordering the working chambers (6) on the sides and contacting the rotor (5) and the stator (4) in a sealing way, with an annular disk-shaped base body (13) and an annular projection (9) encompassing the camshaft (2) and adjacent to the radial inside of the base body (13). The base body (13) contacts, with a seal surface (D), the rotor (5) and transitions via a radius (10) into the annular projection (9). A bead (11) is provided on the annular disk-shaped base body (13) on the side facing away from the rotor (5) in the region bordering the annular projection (9).
US08171894B2
An engine system in which hydrogen is employed as a fuel, including a reactor configured to cause a reaction using a catalyst, in which the reactor is constituted by alternately disposing plural exhaust passages and plural fuel passageways of the engine system with a wall interposed therebetween; at least one carrier configured to carry the catalyst and to be formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape is fitted in at least one of fuel passageways; and the carrier is provided with a plate portion which has a surface disposed in a fuel flowing direction and is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape and at least one slit portion which divides the surface of the plate portion in the fuel flowing direction.
US08171893B2
The boiler of the invention has a circulating fluidized bed, uses solid fuels and the oxygen obtained by high temperature oxygen production membranes, and is characterized in that the membranes are placed in the bed. These membranes are, for example, of the OTM (Oxygen Transport Membranes) type. Since the membranes operate at over 700° C., their positioning in the outer bed is ideally selected because the temperature of the solids circulating in the outer bed is between 750 and 900° C. This is particularly remarkable because the operating temperature windows of the circulating fluidized bed coincide with the optimal temperature window of use of the membranes.
US08171886B2
A fish cultivation net 3 has a rhombically netted form made by arranging a large number of waved wires 6 in parallel such that the adjacent wires are entwined with each other at their curved portions 6a. The wires 6 has a composition containing 62 to 91 mass % of Cu, 0.01 to 4 mass % of Sn, and the balance being Zn. The Cu content [Cu] and the Sn content [Sn] in terms of mass % satisfy the relationship 62≦[Cu]−0.5[Sn]≦90. The copper alloy material has a phase structure including an α phase, a γ phase, and a δ phase and the total area ratio of these phases is 95 to 100%.
US08171883B2
The invention refers to a milking arrangement including a milking box (2) adapted to received an animal to be milked and a milking device having a milk conduit and a set of teatcups (7) to be applied manually by an operator to the teats of an animal. Each teatcup has an upper opening for introducing the respective teat. The milking device draws milk from the animal via the teatcups and the milk conduit through the use of a low pressure. A support device (20) carries the teatcups in at least an idle position, in which the teatcups are located not to interfere with the animal and the operator, and an intermediate position, in which the teatcups are located more closely to the teats. Control equipment controls the support from the idle position to the intermediate position.
US08171877B2
A carrier assembly is provided comprising a backside mounted electrode carrier and electrode mounting hardware. The backside mounted electrode carrier comprises an electrode accommodating aperture, which in turn comprises a sidewall structure that is configured to limit lateral movement of an electrode positioned in the aperture. The electrode accommodating aperture further comprises one or more sidewall projections that support the weight of an electrode positioned in the aperture. The electrode mounting hardware is configured to engage an electrode positioned in the electrode accommodating aperture from the backside of the carrier and urge the electrode against the sidewall projections so as to limit axial movement of the electrode in the electrode accommodating aperture. Additional embodiments of broader and narrower scope are contemplated.
US08171874B2
A wake tower for a powerboat for use in wakeboarding or other water sports is described. The wake tower can include base members attached to the powerboat and a U-shaped bar extending generally upwardly from the base members. The side bars can be tapered inward and can also be angled toward the bow of the powerboat. Support members can be positioned along the side bars to provide increased structural support to increase the maximum load of the wake tower and to increase the rigidity of the wake tower resulting in less shaking during use. A tow cross bar having a tow rope connector can be suspended generally between the side bars of the wake tower. The wake tower can be transitioned between an upright position and a lowered position. Shocks can be used to compensate for some of the weight of the wake tower.
US08171871B2
An anchor handling device for an anchor handling vessel, the anchor handling device being adopted to bring an anchor from a substantially horizontal position resting at an aft deck of the vessel, to a substantially vertical position hanging astern of the vessel, wherein the device comprises two arms (7, 7′) which at first ends are pivotally arranged about a substantially horizontal axis being substantially perpendicular to the length axis of the vessel, and which axis substantially coincides with a rotational of a stern roller (4) arranged at the aft end of a cargo deck (2) of the vessel, and where the arms (7, 7′) at their second ends support an anchor handling roller (8) having an axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for the arms (7, 7′), is described.
US08171865B2
A method and an arrangement for defacing and/or destroying items stored in an alarmed value space (30), wherein there is used a piercable or openable container (80) that contains a defacing agent/destructive agent (C). When an alarm is triggered, the defacing agent/destructive agent (C) is distributed in the value space (30) while, at the same time, reducing the combined volume of the container (80) and the value space (30). The arrangement (50) includes a container (80) which contains defacing agent/destructive agent (C) and an element (62, 63) for piercing or opening the container (80) in conjunction with triggering of the alarm. The arrangement (50) also includes a spring activated press element or press plate (71) and an element (75, 76) for causing the press element/press plate (71) and the piercing element or opening element (62, 63) to move in response to triggering of the alarm. The arrangement can be used effectively in all working directions relative to the value space.
US08171854B2
A cartridge (1) is provided comprising a cartridge case (2) and a projectile arrangement (3; 3′) with an arrow projectile (5; 5′) with a sub-caliber control unit (7), wherein the projectile arrangement (3; 3′) is connected to the cartridge case (2) via a case cover (4), wherein, after firing of the projectile arrangement (3; 3′), a precise guiding of the arrow projectile (5; 5′) in the corresponding weapon barrel is ensured due to a receptacle device (28; 28′) that centers the control unit (7) of the arrow projectile (5; 5′), and that can be separated from the control unit (7) when the projectile arrangement (3; 3′) is fired. The receptacle device is connected to the case cover (4) on the projectile side, wherein the receptacle device grasps a ring-shaped rear flange (29; 29′) whose outer diameter corresponds to the projectile caliber of the respective cartridge (1).
US08171851B2
A kinetic energy penetrator is provided comprising a consolidated body of a metal nanoparticles phase comprising metal nanoparticles and a metal carbide nanoparticles phase comprising metal carbide nanoparticles. Methods for making a kinetic energy penetrator as well as material compositions comprising a consolidated body of a metal nanoparticles phase comprising metal nanoparticles and a metal carbide nanoparticles phase comprising metal carbide nanoparticles are also provided.
US08171841B2
A detachable connecting rod includes a first member (410)a large end portion (411) having a trough hole (H1), and a first connection rod portion (412) extending from the large end portion (411), the first connection rod portion (412) having a pair of spaced apart arms defining a coupling groove (413) extending in the same direction as an axial direction of the through hole (H1); a second member (420) including a small end portion having a through hole (H2), and second connection rod portion (422) extending from the small end portion, the second connection rod (422) portion being inserted into the coupling groove (413) and a coupling unit for coupling the first connection rod portion (412) to the second connection rod portion inserted (412) into the coupling groove (413) of the first member (410). The detachable connecting rod is useable in a compressor.
US08171840B2
A firearm suppressor includes a hollow outer can having an interior-threaded proximal end and a radially closed distal end with a bore, a barrel nut having a barrel bore and an outer-threaded distal threading to the can, and a baffle. The baffle has an intermediate wall with a bore and extends outward to the can interior to prevent fluid passing across other than through the bore. A proximal baffle wall has a bore aligned with the other bores and is shaped to secure to the barrel and extends outward not as far as the outer can interior to permit fluid passage. The baffle is shorter than the can's interior length to have the can, the nut, and the baffle define a plenum extending from the proximal end portion to the nut so that the proximal baffle wall directs fluid from the barrel backwards as a muzzle brake.
US08171829B2
The invention relates to a device for lifting at least one wheel (3, 57) of a rail-bound vehicle, which wheel bears on a rail (5, 71) in a contact point (7, 73). The device comprises a first (9, 59, 63) and a second lifting member (11, 61, 65) adapted to be positioned on each side of the contact point of the wheel, wherein at least the first lifting member comprises a force transfer element (23, 49) comprising an oblique force transfer surface (25a, 25b).
US08171828B2
An electromechanical wrench has a housing that has a working end and a gripping end, with a driver positioned at the working end, and a handle positioned at the gripping end. The wrench further includes a click wrench emulator mechanism provided at the handle. A method of using an electromechanical wrench to secure a fastener using angular measurement without the need for establishing a zero reference point, and allowing for ratcheting, is also provided. A method of counting the number of fasteners secured by an electromechanical wrench during a wrenching job is further provided.
US08171827B2
The invention relates to a power screwdriver (10) comprising a motor (12) and a control circuit (22) which switches the motor (12) off by means of a switch-off signal (s_Stop) when it reaches a preset desired torque value (Md_Soll), and a supporting arm (18) which absorbs energy during screwing. The invention is characterized by a voltage limiting circuit (46) that limits the motor voltage (u_Mot) occurring on the motor (12) when the energy stored in the supporting arm (18) of the motor (12), which is driven as the generator and rotates counter to the direction of drive, is dissipated, to a predetermined limiting voltage (u_Lim). The limiting voltage (u_Lim) is fixed in such a manner that the motor (12) is capable of rotating without counter-torque counter to the direction of drive when operated in the generator mode and that yet no inadmissible overvoltages occur.
US08171821B2
A corner cam assembly for use with a forming die and including a generally cylindrical inner cam component, an outer cam component, a base, and a retainer unit. Contoured contact surfaces on the inner and outer cam components enable the components to slide past one another during transitions between retracted and extended positions. Some features of the corner cam assembly include helical contact surfaces, guide features that control movement of the cam components, removable work steels, standardized cam components, and being able to form negative and other tight angles, multiple corners and edges, to name but a few.
US08171813B2
A double clutch transmission with two clutches that have inputs connected to a drive shaft and outputs which are each connected to one of first and second transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a respective countershaft which have an output gear that couples with an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. First and second dual gear planes each comprise two idler gears supported by a respective countershaft, and one fixed gear. In each of the first and the second gear planes, at least one idler gear is used for two gears. First and second single gear planes each comprise an idler gear and a fixed gear such that at least one winding-path gear can be shifted via at least one, non-engaged coupling device, assigned to one of the output gear.
US08171809B2
A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system on a tower of the wind turbine, the inspection system including a climbing device and an inspection device, the climbing device including a traction apparatus configured to engage the tower and a drive mechanism configured to drive the climbing device. The method further includes rotating a rotor blade of the wind turbine such that the rotor blade is approximately parallel to and proximate the tower, operating the inspection system to traverse the tower, and operating the inspection system to inspect the rotor blade for indications.
US08171805B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining torque in an environmentally isolated system. A drive system is coupled to the environmentally isolated system via a non-contact, magnetic coupling that has a known angular stiffness and at least two coupling sections. A relative deflection of each coupling section is optically measured, and the torque is determined based on the relative deflection and the known angular stiffness.
US08171802B2
It is described a method of measurement of the volume VD of the flow-rate of electrically conductive liquids the conductivity of which is at least codetermined by at least one parameter p, wherein the liquid flows through a vessel having a predetermined shape, and wherein the respective filling volume Vo is determined by at least one measured value x, which is measured by an electrical conductivity measuring device comprising electrodes, wherein the vessel is filled in succession and then is emptied through its outlet, through which the filling heights h are constantly changing. At least one reference table comprising calibration measured values xR and filling volumes Vo belonging to them is constructed by means of calibration measurements using several liquid samples, which have different p-values and different filling heights h in the vessel. The measured values x are measured in time intervals and the respective filling volumes Vo are determined by comparison of the respective measured values x with values xR of the table, and the volume VD of the rate of flow is determined from the filling volumes Vo over a time period. The measuring device for the determination of the volume VD of flow rate of electrically conductive liquids through a vessel comprises at least two measuring electrodes.
US08171798B2
A liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing droplets of a liquid, and methods for measuring various fluid parameters of the liquid are described. The liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a container having a chamber for holding a liquid. An orifice is positioned at an end of the chamber for dispensing droplets of the liquid, the orifice being configured to retain the liquid in the container if the container is positioned with the orifice facing in a downward direction. An acoustic transducer means is at least partially positioned in the chamber for periodically propagating a focused acoustic beam toward the orifice and through at least some of the liquid while the liquid is contained in the chamber, with the focused acoustic beam being capable of causing a droplet of the liquid to be ejected from the orifice when a free surface of the liquid is within the depth of field of the acoustic transducer means. Fluid parameters that can be measured include the sound velocity in the liquid, liquid level and liquid concentration, liquid acoustic impedance, liquid density ultrasonic attenuation and ultrasonic viscosity.
US08171791B2
A rotation sensor configured to be mounted on a rim of a wheel. The rotation sensor includes a band sized and shaped to fit around the rim of the wheel, a first element mounted on the band that generates a first time-varying electrical signal in response to a rotational movement, a second element mounted on the band that generates a second time-varying electrical signal in response to the rotational movement, a processor mounted on the band that receives the first and second time-varying electrical signals and processes the first and second time-varying electrical signals to determine a rotational speed, and a rechargeable power source that receives the first and second time-varying electrical signals, consumes at least a portion of the first and second time-varying electrical signals to recharge the rechargeable power source, and generates a power signal. The processor is connected to the rechargeable power source to receive the power signal.
US08171784B2
A gas cylinder residual gas volume indicator includes a carrier having a weight-receiving part and a pressure-applying part, a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder body holding a hydraulic fluid and a cylinder piston stopped against the pressure-applying part of the carrier and movable with the pressure-applying part relative to the cylinder body to force the hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder body according to the weight received from a gas cylinder by the weight-receiving part, a hydraulic mechanical type meter having an index rotatable by a hydraulic fluid, and an oil pipe for guiding the hydraulic fluid out of the hydraulic cylinder into the meter to rotate the index.
US08171781B2
An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an NOx catalyst of the present invention measures an index value (R) regarding an NOx clarification capacity of an NOx catalyst and determines an abnormality of the NOx catalyst based on index values (R1, R2) respectively measured at a timing (Tc1) at which the NOx catalyst has a relatively-low activation level and a timing (Tc2) at which the NOx catalyst has a relatively-high activation level. Since the index value at the timing at which the NOx catalyst has a relatively-low activation level (i.e., a timing at which the NOx catalyst originally does not have a sufficient NOx clarification capacity) is used, the abnormality diagnosis for the NOx catalyst can be carried out without intentionally deteriorating emission.
US08171764B2
Provided is an electronic lock which achieves improved productivity while maintaining the performance of waterproofness for an internal electronic circuit of an insertion portion for a mechanical lock. Specifically provided is an electronic lock provided with a portable machine (1) which contains an electric circuit that locks and/or unlocks a door by communicating with the outside wirelessly, and a mechanical lock which is attachable to and detachable from the portable machine (1) and mechanically locks and/or unlocks the door. In the electronic lock, the portable machine (1) comprises: an upper case (10) and a lower case (20) which house the electric circuit; an inner case (30) within the upper case (10) and lower case (20), in which the electric circuit is disposed; an insertion portion (21) within the lower case (20), into which the mechanical lock is insertable from the front end thereof and which has an opening (23) in the upper surface (22) at the terminal end thereof; and a rubber member (24) which is inserted into the opening (23) of the insertion portion (21).
US08171759B2
A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes an outer case defining an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a washing tub arranged in the outer case, to receive laundry, a top lid mounted to a top of the outer case such that the top lid is openable and closeable, and an air flow assembly mounted to the top lid, to stepwise adjust a size of a passage communicating an interior of the outer case and an exterior of the outer case. The laundry treating apparatus can prevent moisture from staying in the interior of the laundry treating apparatus for a prolonged period of time, thereby preventing a failure of the laundry treating apparatus, generation of an offensive odor and propagation of bacteria in the interior of the laundry treating apparatus.
US08171746B2
A humidity control device (1) comprises: a processor (10) for dehumidifying air; a regenerator (30) for regenerating a hygroscopic liquid L used by the processor (10); a first hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (50) and a second hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (51) for circulating the hygroscopic liquid L between the processor (10) and the regenerator (30); and a heat pump (20) having an evaporator for cooling the hygroscopic liquid L to be used by the processor (10) and a condenser (22) for heating the hygroscopic liquid L flowing through the first hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (50). The regenerator (30) has: a first regeneration processing unit (31) and a second regeneration processing unit (34); a first tank (37) and a second tank (38) for containing the hygroscopic liquid L; and a heat source (44) for heating the hygroscopic liquid L to be supplied to the second regeneration processing unit (34). The hygroscopic liquid L in the first tank (37) is supplied to the first hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (50) to be supplied through the condenser (22) to the first regeneration processing unit (31) again. Consequently, high energy utilization efficiency can be maintained.
US08171742B2
A pressure wave generator (40) for driving one or more cryogenic refrigerator systems. The pressure wave generator (40) comprises a housing with one or more inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which generated pressure waves of gas may pass through to drive a cryogenic refrigerator system or systems connected to the inlet/outlet ports (57,58). The pressure waves are generated by at least on pair of opposed diaphragms (41,42) located in the housing that are moveable in a reciprocating motion within the housing to create pressure waves in gas spaces (55,56) associated with each diaphragm (41,42). The gas spaces (55,56) each having associated inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which the pressure waves may pass. An operable drive system is also provided to move the pair of diaphragms (41,42) in a reciprocating motion.
US08171732B2
A device is provided. The device includes an inlet manifold configured to direct an exhaust gas flow within the device, an air inlet configured to introduce an airflow within the device and at least one surface of the device having a Coanda profile configured to entrain incoming air through the exhaust gas flow to generate a high velocity airflow.
US08171728B2
In various embodiments, efficiency of energy storage and recovery systems employing compressed air and liquid heat exchange is improved via control of the system operation and/or the properties of the heat-exchange liquid.
US08171727B2
A transition metal-containing catalyzer is arranged on a particle filter installed in the exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine and cannot be separated therefrom without being destroyed. To reduce emissions, at least one molecular sieve which retains polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans is arranged between the transition metal-containing catalyzer and the exhaust gas outlet. Further, the input side of the molecular sieve and/or the output side of the catalyzer has an oxidation activity for hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans upstream of the molecular sieve.
US08171725B2
In an exhaust gas temperature raising control for recovering purification ability of an exhaust gas purification device of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas temperature is efficiently raised to a target level without producing white smoke. In recovery control of the exhaust gas purification device, when the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust gas purification device is lower than a predetermined judgment value, a first exhaust gas temperature raising control that does not include post injection but includes intake air restriction is performed, and when equal to or higher than the predetermined judgment value, a second exhaust gas temperature raising control that includes both the post injection and the intake air restriction is performed to set an intake air restriction amount in the first exhaust gas temperature raising control greater than an intake air restriction amount in the second exhaust gas temperature raising control.
US08171717B2
A coordinated air-fuel controller and associated method provide a fuel controller, a combustion air controller and a steady-state air versus fuel model. The fuel controller generates a fuel control output signal and the combustion air controller generates a combustion air control output signal. The fuel controller determines a preliminary fuel control signal based on at least one of first and second loop control signals, and determines the fuel control output signal based on the preliminary fuel control signal. The steady-state air versus fuel model processes the preliminary fuel control signal to determine an expected steady-state combustion air control signal. The combustion air controller determines a preliminary combustion air control signal based on at least one of a third loop control signal and a fourth loop control signal, and determines the combustion air control output signal based on the preliminary combustion air control signal and the expected steady-state combustion air control signal.
US08171712B2
A multi-layer yarn structure and a method for making the same are provided. The multi-layer yarn structure includes a core layer, a layer of noncircular fibers, and an outer layer. The core layer has a plurality of hydrophobic fibers. The noncircular fibers surround the core layer to form a middle layer. The outer layer surrounds the middle layer and has a plurality of hydrophilic fibers. The method spins different fibers into multi-layer yarn for making textile with a soft, smooth, and thick feel. By utilizing inherent characteristics of the multi-layer yarn structure, the textile may regulate moisture released from the human body and keep the body dry and comfort.
US08171711B2
A hybrid carbon fiber spun yarn having a core region with carbon fibers as a main component, and a surrounding region with carbon fibers as a main component and covers an outer peripheral surface of the core region. 20% by mass or more of fibers forming the core region are long carbon fibers having a fiber length of 500 mm or longer. 80% by mass or more of fibers forming the surrounding region are short carbon fibers having a fiber length of less than 500 mm. A mass ratio between the long carbon fibers and the short carbon fibers (long carbon fibers:short carbon fibers) is in a range of 20:80 to 80:20.
US08171709B1
A multiblade lawn mower including a mower deck having a plurality of cutting blades rotatably disposed therein. A first baffle is positioned within the mower deck between the cutting blades and a front wall of the mower deck and extends substantially continuously between the sides of the mower deck. A second baffle is positioned in the mower deck rearwardly of the cutting blades. The first and second baffles each include a plurality of arcuate baffle portions which define at least one open throat portion therebetween. The first baffle includes at least first, second and third arcuate portions. A third baffle is positioned within the mower deck and extends from adjacent a discharge opening of the mower deck into a circular path defined by peripheral ends of a cutting blade adjacent the discharge opening.
US08171704B2
A method and device for finishing packets having respective overwrappings of heat-shrink material, whereby the overwrappings are sealed about the respective packets and then heated to shrink and adapt to the configuration of the packets; after being heated, the overwrappings are cooled to set and so reduce the risk of damage to the overwrappings at subsequent processing stages.
US08171699B2
An anti-fatigue flooring system includes at least one anti-fatigue area adjacent a work station in a room. The anti-fatigue area includes an anti-fatigue member of a resilient foam material and transition members located about the anti-fatigue member. Flooring extends over the anti-fatigue member and the transition members so that the anti-fatigue member and the transition members are located between the flooring and the subfloor. The transition members transition the flooring from the top of the anti-fatigue member down to the subfloor located about the transition members. The flooring is preferably secured to the top of the anti-fatigue member, the top of the transition members, and the subfloor about the anti-fatigue area.
US08171698B2
An apparatus is described for fastening a finishing strip (2) with a support (1) forming a wall leg (4), which support comprises at least one upwardly protruding holding web (8) engaging in a downwardly open groove (9) of the finishing strip (2) for clamping accommodation of the finishing strip. In order to enable securing the finishing strip (2) in the mounting position it is proposed that the support (1) comprises at least one resilient securing tongue (10) with a leg extending approximately parallel to the holding web (8), which securing tongue overlaps a securing stop (12) of the finishing strip (2) which extends transversally to the holding web (8).
US08171694B2
A cementitious mix for preparing a building block wherein the mix includes the ingredients; sand, cement, sawdust and water; wherein said sawdust comprises the greater proportion of the mix constituents; and wherein the dry density of the mix ranges between 700 kg/m3 and 1500 kg/m3.
US08171688B2
A wooden building element for producing planar constructions, especially for constructing the upright walls of a building. Also, a corner building element adapted to the wooden building element and to a building constructed using the elements. The wooden building elements have two approximately rectangular support bases and two wall panels that are approximately equal in area. The support bases are maintained at a distance from each other by a plurality of supports that are aligned vertically in relation to the finished building and that delimit an interior compartment for the insertion of insulating material and building installations. The wall panels are fastened to the outer surfaces of the support bases and are set off therefrom in relation to longitudinal edges that are aligned approximately horizontally to the finished building and high edges that are aligned approximately vertically.
US08171681B2
An inflatable shutter is provided. The shutter comprises a protective layer and at least one air bladder, and is attached to the outside of a building structure. The shutter is positioned outside the building structure adjacent a window or other opening in order to protect the window or other opening from high velocity winds and flying debris during storms. The shutter may be removed from the outside of the building and compactly stored during periods of nonuse.
US08171678B2
The present invention provides a slab lift bracket that includes an collar portion with a center, an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The slab lift bracket also includes a plurality of protruding members that are distributed around and fixed to the collar portion. The protruding members extend outwardly and downwardly of the collar portion at spaced apart locations, and have a hook shaped free end.
US08171675B2
The invention concerns a roofing element (E) of the type of the one consisting of a material board (100) maintained inside a frame (200), characterized in that it consists of a single-walled solid material board and of at least one tensioning means (300) linked to the frame (200) tending to space apart certain parts constituting the frame (200) so as to stress said board (100), the frame consisting of two transverse profiled sections (210 and 220) fixed to two opposite sides of the board (100), the tensioning means (300) tending to space apart said profiled sections (210 and 220), the edges of the board (100) subjected to a tensile stress and slid into the profiled sections being provided with at least one projection (110) facilitating the transmission of said stress, the profiled section being itself preformed to retain said projection in the direction of the tensile stress. The invention is applicable to swimming pool low shelter, veranda and the like.
US08171666B2
A sighting assembly for a firearm includes a scope and a mounting clamp. The mounting clamp includes a ring cap and a ring base that cooperate to surround and hold the scope. The ring cap and ring base securely grip the scope without damaging the scope. Clamping forces are generally tangent to the scope to minimize or limit the formation of dents, grooves, or other types of marring and/or damage to optics or the body of the scope.
US08171657B1
An application for a pivoting sole for use in an energy-return shoe system includes a shoe portion with a bottom surface. An upper toe sole is affixed to the toe area of the bottom surface and an upper heel sole is affixed to a heel area of the bottom surface. The upper heel sole is pivotally connected to the upper toe sole.
US08171656B2
A sole structure of a sports shoe includes an outsole and an intermediate sole having a number of portions that is flexible and supports the foot during running. The intermediate sole includes a flexible body element extending along the entire length of the shoe, and a flexible heel absorption element extending to the heel area, and a support element fitted between them extending from the heel area to the ball area which is of a less flexible material than the body element or the heel absorption element. The support element includes a substantially plate-like heel portion and a shaped front portion, which are separated from each other by a substantially cross-directional support ridge protruding from the lower surface of the support element. The intermediate sole also includes an hourglass-shaped ball absorption element, a carbon fiber plate increasing the torsional rigidity of the support element and an arch support.
US08171655B2
A footwear construction including an upper, a midsole including a midsole flange, and an outsole shell including an outsole flange. The flanges can project outwardly, away from the upper in the forefoot portion. The flanges can be joined with a direct attach bond and a lock stitch. The flanges can each terminate short of the heel portion. The lock stitch can terminate short of the heel portion, and can be visible above and below the joined flanges. The midsole can include a fully exposed and viewable portion in the heel portion of the footwear. The midsole can include a heel cup integrally formed with the midsole flange. A method for constructing the footwear includes direct attaching a midsole to an upper and an outsole including an outsole flange. The midsole can form with a midsole flange, and the midsole flange and outsole flange can be stitched together with a lock stitch.
US08171647B2
A device for cutting media is provided. The device includes a cover having a sidewall extending therefrom; a guide disposed substantially beneath the cover and comprising a blade; an actuating mechanism disposed in at least one of the cover and the guide; and an actuating wall disposed between the cover and the guide. Engagement of the actuating mechanism creates a cutting action between the blade and the actuating wall.
US08171643B1
A method for making a decorative polymer panel assembly for insertion into an opening of a door or window. The method can include forming a polymer grille by cutting a design into a polymer with a low-moisture content of no more than five wt %. The polymer grille can have a frame portion and a design portion. A seal can be contiguously disposed about a perimeter of the frame portion. A grille assembly can be formed by disposing a translucent panel on each side of the seal, forming an air space with the polymer grille disposed within the air space. The grille assembly can be pressed and heated to form a heat formed seal between the seal, the polymer grille, and each translucent panel. The grille assembly can then be cooled to an ambient temperature, forming the decorative polymer panel assembly.
US08171636B2
A continuously variable transmission has a number of tiltable ball-leg assemblies configured angularly about a longitudinal axis. Each ball-leg assembly is in contact with, and guided through a tilting motion by an axially translating shift cam having a convex shape. The convex shape of the shift cam can have a profile defined by a set of parametric equations. The profile of the shift cam can vary according to the location of the contact point between an idler and the ball-leg assembly as well as the amount of relative axial motion between the ball-leg assembly and the idler. The profile of the shift cam can be configured to control the axial translation of the idler relative to the change in tilt angle of the ball-leg assembly. A roll-slide factor can be used to characterize the axial translation of the idler relative to the tilt angle of the ball-leg assembly.
US08171634B2
A method of producing a plurality of effusion holes in a wall of a combustor of a gas turbine engine comprises: determining a hole pattern definition which provides a functional relationship of the spacing between each adjacent hole within the row of holes; using the hole pattern definition to identify individual positions of the effusion holes to be produced; and using a hole producing system to produce the effusion holes at the identified positions.
US08171631B2
A positioning system used in assembling a scroll-type fluid machine exerts a horizontal thrust on a stationary scroll in a direction opposite to a direction in which an eccentric shaft end portion formed at one end of a rotary shaft is oriented while turning the rotary shaft, and determines an orbital path of the stationary scroll by measuring horizontal displacements thereof. While exerting the horizontal thrust, the positioning system incrementally presses the stationary scroll against a guide frame until a stable orbital path of the stationary scroll is obtained. When the orbital path is judged to be stable, the positioning system determines a fixing point on which the stationary scroll should be fixedly centered with respect to the guide frame, so that a scroll wrap of the stationary scroll and a scroll wrap of an orbiting scroll are correctly intermeshed, forming a series of pockets therebetween.
