US08212835B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transitioning from bilinear sampling to filter-4 sampling, while avoiding the visual artifacts along the boundary between the two different types of filters. The technique may be implemented using a linear transition function or an arbitrary transition function stored in a lookup table. The transition to filter-4 sampling occurs when the view of a textured object includes both minified and magnified levels of texture detail. Using this technique, high image quality is maintained for texture mapped images that include both highly minified pixels as well as highly magnified pixels, without suffering the performance penalty associated with using a filtering operation such as filter-4 sampling across all pixels.
US08212834B2
A system storing digital templates for an image display. The template has a plurality of digital openings for displaying digital images and each opening has at least one corresponding required attribute that is digitally stored in association with its corresponding opening. At least one designated image for display in at least one of the openings is identified and stored. The designated image has image attributes that are used to select complementary images from a database to be stored in other openings of the template.
US08212830B2
An image converter converts an image rendered at a given vertical synchronous frequency into an image compatible with the specification of a display. A frame memory holds the image converted by the image converter by switching a plurality of buffers. A display controller selects one of the buffers in accordance with the vertical synchronous frequency of the display, and scans out the image from the frame memory accordingly. A switch instruction issuing unit issues a frame buffer switch instruction for designating a frame buffer to scan out from subsequently, in synchronization with the vertical synchronous frequency of the display, instead of immediately after the execution of an image converting process by the image converter.
US08212812B2
A method for modeling a vehicle, includes: receiving an image that includes a vehicle; and constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by: (a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles; (b) multiplying each of the base shapes by a parameter; (c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents the vehicle's shape; (d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between a fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized.
US08212811B2
A method of coding, in the form of a digital file of a three-dimensional synthesis image, a model of an object formed by a stream of image elements (FEI) in which elementary images which are subsets of image elements {EIe}e=1e=ex are discriminated (A) in the stream (FEI), each elementary image is coded (B) according to an index value (n) representative of the elementary image, the numerical values (Zk,g,i) of the 3D synthesis image are calculated (C) and these values are stored in the form of a digital file. Application to 3D display involving an interactive dialogue with a user of a graphics application.
US08212808B2
Multilayer polygon data for constructing multilayer polygonal models and a height map including height data values, arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of which indicates the height of each position provided on a three-dimensional object to be drawn, are read from a storage device. Then, the height of a layer of the multilayer polygonal models is compared to the height data value of a position provided on the height map, so as to determine a visible region provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models. And then, the visible region which is determined as described above and provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models is drawn in a predetermined color. Thus, it is possible to easily draw, in three-dimensional image processing, a three-dimensional object, such as an accumulation of snow, soil, sand, or bricks, positioned in the virtual space, regardless of the shape of the object.
US08212799B2
An apparatus and method for performing response time compensation. The apparatus described includes a first response time compensation (RTC) module for providing boosted gray level values when transitioning only from a previous gray level of zero to a first current gray level for a color of a pixel of a display. The apparatus also includes a second RTC module for providing boosted gray level values when transitioning from a previous gray level greater than zero to a current gray level for the color of the pixel.
US08212796B2
Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus for displaying an image corresponding to a signal selected by a user from among a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of input signals. The apparatus includes: a selection outputter for outputting a signal selected from among the plurality of signals on the basis of the selection; a feature quantity calculator for calculating a feature quantity indicative of a status of an image corresponding to the signal outputted by the selection outputter; a status determiner for determining the status of the image on the basis of the feature quantity calculated by the feature quantity calculator; and an image quality changer for changing a parameter for identifying an image quality of the image on the basis of the signal outputted by the selection outputter and a determination result obtained by the status determiner.
US08212793B2
The invention provides a liquid crystal device including: a first substrate; a second substrate that is provided over the first substrate in such a manner that the first substrate and the second substrate face each other; a plurality of optical sensing sections that is formed in an image display area over the first substrate; and a plurality of light-amount adjusting sections that is formed in the image display area in such a manner that each of the plurality of light-amount adjusting sections includes a liquid crystal portion that overlaps the corresponding optical sensing section in a plan view, constituting a part of a liquid crystal layer that is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the plurality of light-amount adjusting sections being capable of adjusting, independently of one another, the amount of incident light that enters the plurality of optical sensing sections through an image display surface that lies at one of two surfaces of the second substrate that does not face the liquid crystal layer, the image display surface being pointed to by a pointing means.
US08212790B2
The use of pressure-sensitive controls is disclosed in which controls respond differently to different pressure applied by a stylus on a digitizer. Users interacting with displayed controls may modify the speed, increment, or other property of the control by pressing harder or softer. Devices that allow for the input of location and pressure information may use embodiments of the invention, including computers with pressure sensitive mice or digitizer tablets, PDAs, or tablet computers. Controls that may use pressure to augment their behavior include scrollbars, spinner controls, resize handles, buttons, drop down menus and so forth.
US08212783B2
Provided is a tactile and visual display device enabling visual information and tactile information to be simultaneously sensed. The tactile and visual display device includes: a display unit comprising a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixels; a tactile sensation generator mounted over the display unit, transmitting light emitted from the pixels, comprising a transistor electrically connecting a plurality of corresponding pixels formed to correspond to the pixels with adjacent corresponding pixels, and generating an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force; and a sensor in contact with the corresponding pixels to sense the generated electrostatic force or magnetostatic force. Accordingly, the texture of an image displayed on a display is provided as tactile information using an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force, so that tactile information as well as visual information of the conventional display may be simultaneously provided.
US08212779B2
A digital audio/video playing device includes a touch control board, a plurality of switch units disposed outside a perimeter of the touch control board, and a support plate disposed on the touch control board and switch units. The support plate includes a central portion, an intermediary portion ringing the central portion, and an outer portion ringing the intermediary portion. The central portion and the outer portion are thicker than the intermediary portion such that the intermediary portion is recessed relative to the central portion and the outer portion. The intermediary portion is disposed directly facing the touch control board. A plurality of depressible tabs are formed in the outer portion, each depressible tab corresponding to and directly facing a corresponding one of the switch units. A surface film is arranged over and covering the support plate such that a raised-recessed-raised configuration is formed.
US08212773B2
There is disclosed a mouse including: an obtaining unit that obtains a vein image; a generation determination unit that determines a predetermined generation from the vein image; and a setting switch unit that switches content of settings, which is set in a computer connected through a predetermined transfer path, to content of settings assigned to the generation determined by the generation determination unit.
US08212755B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of gate lines to select a pixel and a plurality of data lines to supply pixel data, and a drive circuit dividing one frame into a plurality of fields, converting the frame data to field data, and supplying the field data to the data line.
US08212752B2
A method of economically manufacturing display devices having a matrix of drivable pixels arranged in rows and columns arranged to be driven by IC drivers, including the steps of including a plurality of sensor signal lines in the display device that are selectively connectable to certain of the pixel rows, a plurality of sensor signal lines selectively connectable to certain of the pixel columns, transmitting test signals to test predetermined ones of the rows and columns of pixels, and connecting pixel driving circuits to those display devices exhibiting uniform pixel brightness in response to the test signals.
US08212749B2
Disclosed herein is an Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting-Diode (AMOLED) drive circuit using transient current feedback. The AMOLED drive circuit includes a current Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), a data line drive transistor, a constant current source, a variable current source, a differential amplifier, and a transient charging current control unit. The DAC generates current corresponding to input digital data. The data line drive transistor is configured such that the drain terminal thereof is connected to the output node of the current DAC. The constant current source is connected between the source terminal of the data line drive transistor and a ground. The variable current source is connected between both the output node of the current DAC and the drain terminal of the drive transistor, and a voltage source. The differential amplifier is configured to input the output voltage thereof to the gate terminal of the drive transistor. The transient charging current control unit is configured to increase or decrease the bias current of the variable current source depending on variation in the voltage of the output node of the current DAC.
US08212744B2
In a particular embodiment, a see-through display includes a screen having transparent layer of material with a front side and a back side. At least one plurality of shaped louver members is disposed between the front side and the back side. The plurality of the louver members allow transmission of a fraction of light through the screen with minimum scattering within a range of incident angles. The plurality of the louvers also redirect image signal light from an image source into a range of angles centered about a normal to the screen. The louver members combine the image signal light with the light emitted from background objects located on the backside of the screen. The background image light is transmitted through the display screen with minimal scattering. For embodiments providing two sets of louver members, the image signal light may be redirected to observers on either side of the screen, such that the observers may see each other as well as the intended image.
US08212737B2
The present invention relates to an antenna unit (10) for mounting on a mounting surface from a first side of the mounting surface. The antenna unit (10) comprises an element (12) comprising a first side (14) abutting against the mounting surface when the antenna unit (10) is mounted, and a second side (16) arranged parallel to and opposite the first side (14). The antenna unit (10) comprises an antenna mount (18) comprising an attachment member (22) in turn comprising a threaded hole (20) in which a bolt member (24) is applied. The bolt member (24) is manipulated by a tool (26) from the first side of the mounting surface. In a first end position of the attachment member (22), the same is applicable through a hole intended therefor in the mounting surface. In a second end position, when the bolt member (24) has been tightened by the tool (26), the attachment member (22) presses/clamps the antenna unit (10) against the first side of the mounting surface.
US08212735B2
Apparatus including: an antenna configured for efficient far field communication at a first frequency; an inductive element including a plurality of series-connected coiled portions, including a first coiled portion and a second coiled portion, wherein the inductive element is configured to provide near field communication at a second frequency; and at least one reactive element parallel connected between the first coiled portion and the second coiled portion, wherein the at least one reactive element has a lower impedance at the first frequency than at the second frequency.
US08212718B2
A microwave/millimeter wave sensor apparatus including a planar radiation type oscillator substrate having an inner-layer GND interposed between a front surface side dielectric substrate and a rear surface side dielectric substrate and a pair of conductor patches in an axis-symmetric manner on the side of the front surface layer. A gate and drain of a microwave transistor are respectively connected to the conductor patches to supply power to the gate and the drain of the microwave transistor through a gate-side RF choke circuit and a drain-side RF choke circuit. An impedance line satisfying an oscillation condition is connected to a source and a transmit RF signal in an RF zone as a planar radiation type oscillator is transmitted and a receive RF signal as reflected waves is received from a measured object, thus obtaining an IF signal as the sensing information through homodyne mixing.
US08212712B2
The invention targets a method of processing a radar image obtained from a radar. It comprises an automatic evaluation of the altitude of the isotherm at zero degrees Celsius, called zero isotherm, using a processing of the reflectivity information (rf(px)) conveyed by pixels (px) forming all or part of the radar image.
US08212711B1
A method for determining a corrected UAV trajectory for a UAV having an on-board synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a programmed trajectory includes the SAR obtaining observed radar range profile curves associated with point scatterers; calculating an error objective function based on the observed radar range profile curves to obtain a perturbation path; and applying the perturbation path to the programmed trajectory to obtain the corrected UAV trajectory input back into the SAR. Optimal parameter values applied to the UAV motion model then constitute an improved estimate of the UAV trajectory. A system for computing the corrected UAV trajectory also includes an on-board UAV inertial navigation system and an on-board processor having a machine-readable storage media capable for storing the software instructions for applying the subject algorithm via the processor that then applies the corrected trajectory to the SAR.
US08212709B2
A countermeasure method for directing a mobile tracking device away from an asset is provided. The countermeasure method includes directing the output of a continuous wave laser source at a seeker head of the mobile tracking device. The countermeasure method causes the generation of localized sources within the mobile tracking device and confuses the mobile tracking device as to the true location of the asset.
US08212705B2
Pipeline analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are used in many applications, but because of the configuration, components may be idled, which wastes power. Here, an ADC is provided that enables one or more stages to be switched off during a power conservation mode. By using switch networks, the ADC can produce accurate results with reduced power consumption, as desired.
US08212703B2
A segmented digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a plurality of sub-DACs, each of which is adapted to receive a separate reference current that specifies a transfer function of the sub-DAC. A magnitude of the reference current provided to each sub-DAC is separately programmable to thereby separately control a gain of each sub-DAC. The output of the DAC can be used to drive a load having a load transfer function that differs from a desired transfer function. In an embodiment, the separate reference currents provided the sub-DACs of the DAC are programmed to implement a DAC transfer function that causes the DAC and the load (driven by the output of the DAC) to collectively have an effective transfer function that is substantially similar to the desired transfer function.
US08212702B2
A delta-sigma analog-to-digital conversion apparatus for receiving an analog input signal to generate a digital output signal includes a subtracting unit, a quantizer, and a feedback unit. The subtracting unit is utilized for performing a subtraction function to generate a subtracted signal according to the analog input signal and a feedback signal. The quantizer is coupled to the subtracting unit and utilized for performing quantization to generate a quantized signal according to the subtracted signal. The feedback unit is coupled between the subtracting unit and the quantizer, and utilized for providing the feedback signal to the subtracting unit according to the quantized signal. The subtracting unit is arranged to reduce signal input swing of the quantizer.
US08212698B2
An electronic circuit for correcting at least one digital measurement signal (ΣΔn, ΣΔ1, ΣΔ2) comprising at least one measurement channel having a sigma-delta modulator and a correction circuit. The sigma-delta modulator changes an analog measurement signal into a digital measurement signal in the form of a binary value sequence. The correction circuit corrects the digital measurement signal (ΣΔn, ΣΔ1, ΣΔ2) as a function of at least one correction datum (trim), wherein the correction circuit comprises at least one adding element and at least one multiplexer. The digital measurement signal is corrected in that the correction datum (trim) is weighted by means of the multiplexer and the adding element as a function of the digital measurement signal (ΣΔn, ΣΔ1, ΣΔ2).
US08212677B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for tracking the status and use of packaged goods are provided. The systems of the invention coordinate various stakeholders, hardware devices, computer software systems, standards, methods, procedures, practices and their interconnection in ways that lead to greater efficiency, safety, and efficacy, along with potentially lower cost, and less waste in the delivery of packaged goods and their use. In one aspect a Medication Management System (“MMS”) that tracks the status of packaged medications and patient compliance is also provided.
US08212675B2
A Proximity Locator System for individuals includes a credit card size card which is carried in an individual's wallet. The card is provided with a wireless communication device which is used in conjunction with a locating device to locate an individual. This may be utilized to locate individuals lost at sea, in an avalanche, or under the debris of a fallen building. The communication device on the card may be solar powered or activated by a RF signal from the locator device. The card does not require a battery to power the communication device. Therefore it may be carried by and individual and activated at any time. In this manner it is fully operational when someone is attempting to locate the card. The card also contains a smart chip with vital information about the individual which can be accessed by individuals with different authority levels.
US08212669B2
A Remote Area Monitoring System (RAMS) for detecting movement in a disallowed direction through a passageway (P). The RAMS monitors two volumetric spaces that are established by the system, both of which spaces are defined with respect to depth, width, and height. Both a warning zone and an alarm zone are defined for each space. The warning zone protects against inadvertent incursion into the protected spaces; while the alarm zone protects against intentional intrusions thereinto by movement in the disallowed direction. The RAMS automatically monitors both zones and does not require human vigilance to detect and warn of an incursion or intrusion. Human traffic, in both directions through the zones, is monitored; as well as the movement of objects. Movement of humans is detected using a sensor (16) employing machine vision technology including multiple overhead modules (12) linked together so to cover the passageway through which pedestrians travel. The zones covered by the modules overlap so to insure that there are no gaps in coverage. A sensor (18) employs near infrared (IR) imaging techniques to detect thrown or tossed objects. A workstation (20) includes a display (52) where alarm events are recorded and logged. The workstation also includes recording (34) and printing (36) equipment to aid in apprehension of an intruder.
US08212665B2
Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.
US08212663B2
A wheel electronic system and a method for operating a wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system interacts with a tire secured to a vehicle and produces and emits, based on a captured trigger signal, a message containing information on at least one tire parameter measured with the wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system is operated in an operational mode in which the system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a first time period. Based on a predetermined first operational ratio of the vehicle, the wheel electronic system automatically switches to a test mode, in which the wheel electronic system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a second time period which is substantially shorter than the first time period.
US08212660B2
A collision avoidance system for use with vehicles includes a sensor mounted on a moving vehicle, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the distance between an overhead obstacle ahead of the vehicle and the sensor itself; a processor connected to the sensor; means for determining a reference height which is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor; means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle is also entered into the processor; and wherein the processor adds the reference height to the distance between the obstacle and the sensor to determine a measured height of the obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle.
US08212653B1
A system is provided for establishing a protected zone and monitoring interactions therewith. The system includes a protected zone designator and a wearable device. The protected zone designator establishes the protected zone. The protected zone designator is configured for placement at a location in which the protected zone is desired. The wearable device is separate and distal from the protected zone designator. The wearable device includes a protected zone recognition component configured to recognize the protected zone and identify pre-defined interaction criteria for the protected zone. Upon the wearable device entering the protected zone, the protected zone recognition component recognizes the protected zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the protected zone. Based on the interaction criteria the wearable device determines and records compliance with the interaction criteria.
US08212651B2
A method and system for identifying an authentication status of a first item. An RFID reader transmits zero and a random number to a first RFID tag associated with the first item. The first RFID tag uses a hashing function to compute a hash (H1) of a concatenation of an identifier (Id1) of the first RFID tag, the random number, and a first secret key and sends the hash H1 to the RFID reader which then transmits the identifier Id1 and the random number to a second RFID tag. The second RFID tag uses the hashing function to compute a hash (H2) of a concatenation of the identifier Id1, the random number, and a second secret key and sends the hash H2 to the RFID reader. The authentication status of authentic or counterfeit is determined for the first item based on whether or not H1 is equal to H2.
US08212649B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a lower-surface oxidation preventing insulating film formed on a lower surface of a metal resistor element; an upper-surface oxidation preventing insulating film formed on an upper surface of the metal resistor element; and a side-surface oxidation preventing insulating film formed only near a side surface of the metal resistor element by performing anisotropic etching after being deposited on a whole surface of a wafer in a process separated from the lower-surface oxidation preventing insulating film and the upper-surface oxidation preventing insulating film. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the increase of the resistance value due to the oxidation of the metal resistor element and also to prevent the increase of the parasitic capacitance between metal wiring layers without complicating the fabrication process.
US08212643B1
A bobbin is designed to reduce the voltage stress between the winding layers of the inner winding of an inductive electronic component. A partition transversely extends from the winding surface of the bobbin to divide the winding surface into separated winding surface sections. A partition defines a passage for winding the coil from one winding surface section to the other winding surface section. Passage openings are positioned on each winding surface section relative the winding surface so that a portion of the partition is always between the passage opening and the oppositely disposed winding surface section.
US08212642B2
The invention relates to a transponder system for the contactless inductive power transmission of a stationary part having at least one read coil (2) disposed on the stator (1) to a rotating part having at least one transponder coil (4) disposed on a spindle (3). The aim of the invention is to provide a transponder system of the aforementioned kind which can be used for self-sufficient sensor applications even in the vicinity of metal materials and noise fields caused by electric motors conventional in mechanical engineering. For this purpose, the surrounding (5) of the read coil (2), especially the stator is produced from a material having little magnetic permeability and good electrical conductivity, preferably aluminum. The transponder coil (4) and/or the read coil (2) are disposed as flat coil (6) on the inside and/or outside of a cylindrical periphery (9, 10) of the stator and/or rotor (11). A layer (17, 18) of a material having high magnetic permeability is provided between the flat coil (8) and the rotor (11) or stator (1), preferably in the form of a foil of an amorphous ferritic material (17) or of a non-conducting ferritic metal (18).
US08212639B2
A haptic feedback system includes movable and static portions coupled by one or more magnetic fields that serve to retard movement of the movable portion with respect to the static portion so as to provide haptic feedback when the movable portion is moved relative to the static portion. A magnet associated with one of the movable and static portions reacts with structure associated with the other of the movable and static portions so as to provide haptic feedback when the movable portion is moved with respect to the static portion.
US08212636B2
An electromagnetic relay having a high positioning accuracy of a movable iron piece and little variation in operating characteristics. A pair of upper and lower rotating shaft convex portions are provided at one end of a movable iron piece along the same shaft center. The pair of upper and lower rotating shaft convex portions are rotatably supported by a base and a spool of an electromagnetic block mounted on the base respectively. A movable contact piece is driven by the movable iron piece rotated by magnetization or demagnetization of the electromagnetic block to open or close a contact. One end of the spool has a shaft hole in which the upper rotating shaft convex portion of the movable iron piece is inserted.
US08212633B2
A small low-loss laminated band pass filter attains steep attenuation from a pass band to out-of pass band and reduced ripple in the band. Capacitances are generated between a ground electrode on a ground electrode forming layer and capacitor electrodes on a capacitor electrode forming layer, a plurality of inductor electrodes are defined by via electrodes and the line electrodes, and portions of respective loop surfaces of the inductor electrodes overlap with one another when viewed from a direction of arrangement of the inductor electrodes. Furthermore, a line electrode is arranged on a first line electrode forming layer and line electrodes are arranged on a second line electrode forming layer.
US08212628B1
A slide screw microwave impedance tuner has four independent carriages, which slide across a low loss slabline. Each carriage has one or two vertical axes and associated stepper motors and gear, allowing the precise positioning of RF probes (slugs) into the slot of the slabline at any horizontal or vertical position. Each RF probe generates wideband reflection when approaching the center conductor. The associated calibration and tuning software can identify combinations of tuner probe positions corresponding to reflection factors such as to create independent tuning at up to four different frequencies. In case of harmonic frequencies the coverage of the RF probes has to be at least two octaves, i.e.: maximum: minimum frequency ≧4:1; in practice frequency coverage is higher than 4:1, since most applications require a certain operation bandwidth; in the typical case of a fundamental frequency band of 1.8-2.5 GHz the frequency range covered by the RF probes needs to be 1.8 to 10 GHz, the maximum frequency being 4·2.5 GHz=10 GHz.
US08212622B2
An oscillation circuit includes: n ring oscillators each formed from m delay elements connected annularly, m being an integer equal to or greater than 2, n being an integer equal to or greater than 2; and a phase coupled ring.
US08212621B2
A frequency source and a method of frequency generation employ a memristive negative differential resistance (M-NDR) voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The frequency source includes a first M-NDR VCO of a plurality of memristive VCOs to provide a first signal having a first signal frequency. The frequency source further includes a second M-NDR VCO of the plurality to provide a second signal having a second signal frequency. The first and second M-NDR VCOs are interconnected with the plurality of memristive VCOs. The first and second M-NDR VCOs have independent programmable states and are connected to a common output of the frequency source. The method includes providing an M-NDR VCOs, where each M-NDR VCO includes an M-NDR device connected in parallel with a capacitance, and applying a bias voltage to activate a selected M-NDR VCO of the plurality to produce a frequency output.
US08212618B2
A variable gain amplifier which includes a plurality of individual amplifiers and variably controls the gain by switching to and using one of the individual amplifier circuits includes an individual amplifier (11) which amplifies a signal input from the input terminal of the variable gain amplifier (100) by an active element (M1), and outputs the input signal, an attenuator (14) which attenuates the input signal by a passive circuit (ZC), and outputs the input signal as an attenuated signal, and a virtual ground point providing circuit (15) which provides a virtual ground potential to the input terminal of the virtual ground point providing circuit (15) by an isolation active circuit (MC) interposed between the input terminal of the virtual ground point providing circuit (15) and the ground node of the variable gain amplifier (100).
US08212616B2
The invention concerns a biasing circuit for controlling the current flowing through a differential pair (102, 104) comprising: a first branch comprising a first resistor (306), a first transistor device (308) and a second transistor device (310) coupled in series; a second branch comprising a second resistor (312), a third transistor device (314) and a fourth transistor device (316) coupled in series, a control node of the third transistor device being coupled to a first node (324) between the first resistor and the first transistor device, and a control node of the first transistor device being coupled to a second node (322) between the second resistor and the third transistor device; and an operational amplifier (318) having an output node coupled to control nodes of the second and fourth transistor devices, said output node providing a output signal (Vc) for controlling the current flowing through said differential pair.
US08212614B2
A buffer stage includes a flipped voltage follower and an emitter follower. The flipped voltage follower is connected between a high voltage rail and a low voltage rail and includes an input and an output. The emitter follower is also connected between the high voltage rail and the low voltage rail and includes an input and an output. A resistor connects the output of the flipped voltage follower to the output of the emitter follower. The input of the flipped voltage follower and the input of the emitter follower are connected together and provide an input of the buffer stage. The output of the emitter follower provides an output of the buffer stage. A differential buffer stage can be implemented using a pair of such buffer stages. Such a differential buffer stage can provide the output stage for a fully differential operational amplifier.
US08212605B2
A temperature compensation circuit includes a bias circuit configured to output a bias current having a current value increasing in proportion to an absolute temperature in a low-temperature region in which a temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, and having a greater current value than the current value proportional to the absolute temperature in a high-temperature region in which the temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature, and a transistor having a control terminal supplied with the bias current. The bias circuit includes a first current generating circuit configured to generate a first current increasing in proportion to the absolute temperature, a second current generating circuit configured to generate a second current that does not flow in the low-temperature region and flows in the high-temperature region, and a control circuit configured to control the second current and having a connection terminal capable of being connected with an external resistor for adjusting a magnitude of the second current, and is configured to generate a third current by adding the first current to the second current, and output the bias current depending on or equal to the third current.
US08212600B2
The data latch circuit of the invention includes a means for short-circuiting an input terminal and an output terminal of an inverter and by connecting the input terminal to one electrode of a capacitor and sampling a data signal or a reference potential to the other electrode of the capacitor, an accurate operation can be obtained without being influenced by variations in the TFT characteristics even when the amplitude of an input signal is small relatively to the width of a power supply voltage.
US08212597B2
A method is for detecting locking of a phase-locked loop that generates an output signal and includes a phase comparator receiving, as an input, a reference signal and a second signal based upon the output signal. A time window having a duration of at least two periods of a third signal based upon the output signal, and located about a payload edge of the second signal, is generated. A first comparison of the reference signal and the second signal at a first payload edge of the third signal within the time window and on a first side of the payload edge of the second signal is performed. A second comparison of the reference signal and the second signal at a second payload edge of the third signal within the time window and on a second side of the payload edge of the second signal is then performed. Locking of the phase-locked loop based upon the reference signal and the second signal being equal during the first and second comparisons is detected.
US08212595B2
A phase detection system for use with a synchronous mirror delay or a delay-locked loop in order to reduce the number of delay stages required, and therefore increase the efficiency, is disclosed. The invention includes taking a clock input signal and a clock delay or feedback signal, each having timing characteristics, and differentiating between four conditions based upon the timing characteristics of the signals. The phase detector and associated circuitry then determines, based upon the timing characteristics of the signals, which of a number of phase conditions the signals are in. Selectors select the signals to be introduced into the synchronous mirror delay or delay-locked loop by the timing characteristics of the phase conditions. The system is able to utilize the falling clock edge of the clock input signal, and the lock time is decreased under specific phase conditions. The invention increases the efficiency of the circuits by reducing the effective delay stages in the SMD or DLL while maintaining the operating range.
US08212588B2
A bus system that includes a plurality of signal driving devices coupled to a common signal bus, a bus controlled circuit coupled to the common signal bus, and a compare circuit. The plurality of signal driving devices include a first signal driving device and a second signal driving device. The bus controller includes delay compensation circuitry with a configurable delay for each of the signal driving devices. The delay compensation circuitry has a current delay chain configuration associated with the first signal driving device. The compare circuit is configured to compare a first configurable delay associated with a first signal driving device to a second configurable delay associated with a second signal driving device of the plurality of signal driving devices, and for generating an output responsive to the comparing that indicates if the current delay chain configuration can be used by the second signal driving device.
US08212582B2
There is provided a physical property measuring method for a TFT liquid crystal panel, includes an impedance setting step of setting the impedance between the source and drain of a TFT of the TFT liquid crystal panel to be less than or equal to a predetermined value, a voltage application step of applying a voltage that cyclically varies to a liquid crystal layer of the TFT liquid crystal panel. And the method further includes a physical property measuring step of measuring a transient current flowing through the liquid crystal layer to which the voltage that cyclically varies is applied in the voltage application step to measure physical properties of the liquid crystal layer.
US08212574B2
A sensor system for measuring the thickness of flat material that is moved relative to the sensor system has a first sensor device for measuring the thickness of the flat material and a device for generating an air cushion. The device is disposed in such a way that there is an air cushion between at least one side of the sensor device that faces the flat material, and the flat material, during operation. In the region of the air cushion, the first sensor device includes surface sections having porous material and/or material that is provided with micro-holes.
US08212573B2
Analyzing a device under test (“DUT”) at higher frequencies. A phase shifter varies the phase of a standing wave on a transmission line coupled to the DUT. The standing wave magnitude is sampled at each of the phase shifts and one or more DUT characteristics are determined as a function of the sampled magnitudes and phase shifts. Further aspects include a related phase shifter comprising a waveguide having a plurality of sub-resonant slots formed therein and having active elements for loading the slots to control the phase shift applied to the signal.
US08212571B2
A vehicle power supply device comprises a lithium battery module that includes a plurality of lithium battery cells, first control devices, voltage detection harnesses via which terminal voltages at individual lithium battery cells are input to the first control devices, a second control device and a signal transmission path through which signals are transmitted. The first control device comprises a selection circuit that selects terminal voltages at individual lithium battery cells, a voltage measurement circuit that measures the selected terminal voltages, balancing switches used to discharge individual lithium battery cells, a balancing switch control circuit that controls open/close of the balancing switches, and a diagnosis circuit for detecting an electrically abnormal connection in the detection harnesses.
US08212562B2
A variable flip angle (VFA) MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) spin echo train is designed and/or implemented. For example, a target train of detectable spin-locked NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) echo signal amplitudes may be defined and a corresponding designed sequence of variable amplitude (i.e., variable NMR nutation angle) RF refocusing pulses may be determined for generating that target train of spin echoes in an MRI sequence (e.g., used for acquiring MRI data for a diagnostic imaging scan or the like). Such a designed VFA sequence may be output for study and/or use by an MRI system sequence controller.
US08212553B2
An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils.
US08212552B2
A stent and a magnetoelastic resonant sensor are provided for sensor a physical characteristic in a bodily vessel or cavity. External coils interact with the sensor to induce a resonance that is responsive to the physical characteristic, such that the device may wirelessly measure physical characteristics such as mass loading effects and viscosity changes due to progression of pathology in implanted stents and stent grafts. The sensor may be fashioned from a magnetoelastic material and may be integrated near the inner sidewall of the stent. The sensor may take on a complex patterned shape to enhance the sensitivity and flexibility of the sensor structure. When the sensor is interrogated with a time-varying magnetic field, the sensor will mechanically vibrate and generate a magnetic flux which is maximum at a resonant characteristic determined by the mass load on the sensor and the viscosity of the fluid surrounding the sensor. By correlating the measured resonant characteristic to the mass load and viscosity, the pathological state in and around the stent can be determined.
US08212543B2
Methods for selecting between the two modes (states) of operation, continuous conduction and discontinuous conduction, are disclosed. Systems that are capable of selecting the operating mode and operating in the continuous conduction mode or the discontinuous conduction mode are also disclosed.
US08212531B2
The present invention relates to a method of charging a battery having internal resistance, the method including the step of feeding the battery with substantially constant charging current at a charging voltage that is regulated so as to compensate at least in part for the voltage drop generated by the internal resistance of the battery. The invention also provides a charger and a battery for implementing the method.
US08212530B2
A battery module for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The battery module is connected with the portable electronic device with at least three contacts. The battery module includes a battery, a recognition circuit, and a thermal sensing circuit. The recognition circuit has an energy storage element and a current limiting element, and the thermal sensing circuit has a switch and a thermal sensing element. The thermal sensing element varies its electric parameter in accordance with the temperature of the battery module. With the charging curve of charging the energy storage element by way of the current limiting element, the portable electronic device can determine a battery type, and the thermal sensing circuit is then initiated to acquire the thermal information of the battery module.
US08212529B2
A charge/discharge protection circuit for protecting a plurality of serially connected secondary batteries from overcharge, overdischarge, and current overflow by detecting overcharge, overdischarge, and current overflow and switching on/off a discharge controlling FET or a charge controlling FET according to the detection results is disclosed including an overcharge protecting circuit configured to prioritize the detection results corresponding to overcharge and switch off the charge controlling FET in a case where a charger is connected to the charge/discharge protection circuit.
US08212518B2
A power transfer system has a power transfer device including least one portable device and a method of controlling the power transfer system specifically in case of a dead battery condition of a battery of the portable device. The power transfer device for wirelessly charging of the battery arranged in the portable device and the power transfer device each has a near field communication functionality for data communication by a data communication link between the devices. The method includes a step of starting to establish the data comnunication link between the devices.
US08212517B2
A battery type detection approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of detecting a battery type can include: receiving a signal from a battery module in a portable computing device; determining if the signal is in a first state for at least a first predetermined time before transitioning to a second state; determining if the signal transitions from the second state to the first state after a second predetermined time, and identifying the battery type in response thereto; and asserting an indication of the battery type when a third predetermined time period after the transition from the second state to the first state has occurred.
US08212513B2
a method and a device for detecting the rotation of a brush-operated d.c. motor comprising a number of winding branches which are electrically connected between brushes, during the operation of the motor, by means of plates, according to the rotational angle. According to the invention, an alternating voltage signal is modulated on the basis of a supply direct voltage for the brushes, by which means the course of the complex resistance of the direct current motor is determined and used for the detection of rotation. In this way, the invention enables a cost-effective rotation detection that can be used in motor vehicle technology without requiring additional mechanical components.
US08212501B2
An information handling system includes a processor, memory coupled to the processor, a cooling fan, and a controller coupled to the processor and configured to control the speed of the cooling fan based on the operation of the memory. The processor is configured to determine a user-selected performance setting for the information handling system; determine a fan speed limit corresponding to the user selected performance setting; limit the speed of the cooling fan based on the determined fan speed limit; and in connection with limiting the speed of the cooling fan, control an operational parameter of the memory to reduce cooling demands generated by the memory.
US08212497B2
A ballast (10) for powering one or more gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), a filament heating control circuit (300), and a control circuit (500). During a lamp filament detection period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the number of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). During a lamp type detection period following startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a current within filament heating control circuit (300) in order to determine the type of lamp(s) present at ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). The determinations as to the number of lamps and the type of lamps are utilized by control circuit (500) to provide an appropriate level of heating to the lamp filaments. Preferably, control circuit (500) is realized by a microcontroller that is programmed with data relating to the different lamp types that may be powered by ballast (10).
US08212489B2
A circuit arrangement for starting and operating one or more discharge lamps comprising a self-oscillating inverter (1), a resonant circuit (2), a low-pressure discharge lamp (5), a starting voltage controller (3) with a variable resistor (R1), and a lamp filament heating controller (4), wherein the lamp filament heating controller includes an additional variable resistor (R2) in the resonant circuit, which variable resistor measures the current flowing in the resonant circuit, and, in the event of a threshold value being exceeded, disconnects the half-bridge transistor (Q2) and thus limits the current flowing in the resonant circuit, this additional variable resistor (R2) being bypassed by a switch (Q3), depending on the lamp state.
US08212483B2
A method and system is provided for automatic brightness control of a light source. The system includes at least one light sensor that operates in a different range of the light spectrum than the light spectrum generated by the controlled light source.
US08212477B2
A plasma display panel has a first substrate, plural pairs of display electrodes, a second substrate, and plural data electrodes. Each pair of the display electrodes is made up of a scanning electrode and a sustain electrode which are arranged parallel to each other on the first substrate. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. A discharge space is formed between the first substrate and second substrate. The data electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the display electrodes on the second substrate. The data electrode is wider in peripheral portion of the second substrate than in a central portion of the second substrate.
US08212473B2
A light emitting/charge storage device is disclosed. The light emitting/charge storage device includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) portion and at least one charge storage portion electrically and physically connected therewith. The OLED portion includes a first anode layer, a first cathode layer, and an electroluminescent layer disposed at least partially between the first anode layer and the first cathode layer. The at least one charge storage portion includes a second anode layer, a second cathode layer, and an ionic polymer dielectric layer disposed at least partially between the second anode layer and the second cathode layer, and/or a thin film battery layer. A light emitting/charge storage system is also disclosed. Certain embodiments of the device and system of the invention may provide integrated illumination and charge storage in a unitary stacked layered structure with flexible mechanical characteristics.
US08212469B2
A lamp uses a solid state source to pump one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors to produce a light output of a desired characteristic. The nanophosphor(s) is dispersed in a material, examples of which include liquids and gases. Various nanophosphors are discussed. In the examples, the material with the doped semiconductor nanophosphor(s) dispersed therein appears at least substantially clear when the lamp is off. The exemplary lamp also includes circuitry for driving the solid state source and a housing that at least encloses the drive circuitry. The lamp has a lighting industry standard lamp base mechanically connected to the housing and electrically connected to provide electricity to the circuitry for driving the solid state source.
US08212465B2
Provided is a field emission device. The field emission device includes an insulated cathode substrate facing an anode substrate, a plurality of cathodes arranged on the cathode substrate and separated from each other, and an emitter formed on each of the cathodes. In order to prevent accumulation of charges on an exposed area of the cathode substrate between the cathodes due to electrons discharged from the emitter, the distance between the cathodes is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value, and the distance from the emitter to the end of the cathode is equal to or greater than a second threshold value. Accordingly, in the field emission device in which a plurality of cathodes are separated from each other on the same plane, it is possible to prevent abnormal field emission and arc generation due to accumulated charges between the cathodes, thereby performing stable operation.
US08212464B2
This invention relates to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device using a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that is capable of realizing pure colors and having a broad color reproduction range. A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one lamp including a first red phosphor having a dominant wavelength of about 620 nm, a second red phosphor having a dominant wavelength of about 658 nm, a green phosphor having a dominant wavelength of about 515 nm and a blue phosphor having a dominant wavelength of about 447 nm; a bottom cover in which the lamp is disposed; and an optical member disposed on the lamp.
US08212458B2
A flexural-mode tuning-fork type quartz crystal resonator includes a proximal portion, a pair of vibrating arm portions, and a plurality of first concave portions. The vibrating arm portions project in a direction from the proximal portion. The first concave portions are formed into groove shapes in the upper and lower principal surfaces of the proximal portion, and extend in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pair of vibrating arm portions. The first concave portions formed in the upper principal surface of the proximal portion and those formed in the lower principal surface of the proximal portion are arranged at a predetermined interval not to face each other.
US08212455B2
An actuator includes a fired ceramic substrate having a space opened downward, a first electrode formed on the upper surface of the fired ceramic substrate above the space, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body formed on the first electrode so that the volume changes with input and output of electric power, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is composed of Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 or (Li, Na, K) (Nb, Ta)O3 as a main component and contains crystals oriented along the direction of an electric field. In the actuator, the degree of orientation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body can be increased regardless of the orientation of the substrate on which the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is formed.
US08212451B2
A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stack having metal layers and piezoelectric layers stacked one on another, and a pair of external electrodes formed on the side faces of the stack. At least one of the metal layers is a stress relieving layer having partial metal layers scattered between the two piezoelectric layers and voids. Junction sections are formed between the two piezoelectric layers to join and are disposed on both sides of an imaginary straight line drawn to connect the center of width of one of the external electrodes and the center of width of the other of the external electrodes in a plane including the stress relieving perpendicular to the stacking direction.
US08212447B2
A magnet embedded rotor is provided in which permanent magnets are embedded in the iron core of the rotor at a fixed interval. Notch parts are formed at the first protruding part and both the sides of the first protruding parts on the outer face between salient poles in the iron core of the rotor correspond to the multiple permanent magnets. Non-magnetic parts for preventing the short circuit of magnetic flux are formed at both the edges of the permanent magnets. A bridge part between the non-magnetic parts and the notch parts are narrowed as much as possible to an extent to cause a magnetic saturation, and one or multiple of the second protruding part extending to the direction of the outer face are formed at the notch parts.
US08212443B2
A motor includes a motor body and a housing for covering and accommodating the motor body. The housing includes a seat and a cover. The seat has at least one first connecting portion disposed at the circumference of the seat, and the cover has at least one second connecting portion disposed at the circumference of the cover and corresponding to the first connecting portion. The first and second connecting portions are connected by the relative movement of the seat and the cover, so that the seat and the cover can be combined tightly.
US08212441B2
An automotive alternator is provided that has a brush holder assembly that reduces exclusive circumferential space for the brush holder assembly inside a rear bracket, and that also reduces entry of water, dust, etc., into a regulator circuit housing portion.The brush holder assembly has a base and a plate. The base is prepared by molding a brush holder portion, a regulator circuit housing portion, and a connector portion integrally, and the plate is mounted to the brush holder portion, and has a cover portion that closes the resin injection aperture of the regulator circuit housing portion. The brush holder portion, the regulator circuit housing portion, and the connector portion are formed so as to be positioned such that respective center lines thereof are in a common plane that includes a central axis of the rotating shaft. A lead-through opening that is formed on the rear bracket so as to allow the connector portion to be led through is generally closed by the connector portion and the cover portion.
US08212438B2
A cooling system for an electric motor of an electric motorcycle is disclosed. The cooling system includes a motorcycle frame including an internal volume, an entrance orifice and an exit orifice. The cooling system further includes an electric motor including an internal volume, a first tubular element connecting the exit orifice with the electric motor and a second tubular element connecting the electric motor with the entrance orifice. The cooling system further includes a liquid coolant located within the internal volume of the frame, the internal volume of the first and second tubular elements and the internal volume of the electric motor. The cooling system further includes a pump for circulating the liquid coolant from the electric motor, through the second tubular element, through the entrance orifice of the frame, through the internal volume of the frame, through the exit orifice of the frame and back to the electric motor.
US08212434B2
In a process for operating an air-cooled mains supply unit for industrial application, temperatures influenced by outer heat sources and by heat sources arranged in the mains supply unit are measured by thermo-elements and reported to a control system. Temperatures measured by at least two thermo-elements arranged at different measurement points are reported to the control system, and the measured temperatures are compared with temperature patterns. The comparison with known temperature patterns makes it possible to sense the totality of the thermal conditions continuously and to derive therefrom ratings for the control system.
US08212426B2
A bicycle electrical wiring unit is provided with a junction housing, a wiring junction and a cable winding structure. The wiring junction is mounted to the junction housing for connecting at least two electrical cables. The cable winding structure is disposed on the junction housing with the cable winding structure including at least one electrical cable holder for selectively retaining different lengths of an intermediate section of a first electrical cable of the electrical cables to the junction housing.
US08212416B2
A power device is provided for filtering or dampening harmonics and optimizing the power factor in power distributions systems. A device for a 3-phase power system comprises series inductors able to communicate between an AC power source and a non-linear load. Connected in parallel to the series inductors, at the junction with the non-linear load, are shunt inductors used to trap harmonic currents. Power factor correction capacitors are connected to the ends of the shunt inductors. The series inductor and shunt inductor are used to form a coaxial reactor assembly, which further comprises a reactor core. The coaxial reactor assembly is formed by winding a first inductor around the core and then winding a separate second inductor around the perimeter of the first inductor. In another embodiment, the device includes a third inductor to achieve better dampening and power factor performance.
US08212411B2
A system for generating electric energy from renewable energy sources such as waves includes a plurality of generator aggregates (4a-6c) arranged in the sea and a plurality of switchgears (1a-1c) arranged in the sea. Each switchgear (1a-1c) is connected to a plurality of the generator aggregates (4a-6c). A plurality of primary intermediate stations (17a-17c) are respectively connected to a plurality of the switchgears, and a secondary intermediate station (19) is connected to a plurality of the primary intermediate stations (17a-17c). The secondary intermediate station is also connected to a land based electric network. Switching means (192) is present for allowing selective connection to various locations (193, 194, 195) in the electric network.
US08212410B2
In at least some embodiments, an electrically controlled subsea production system includes a subsea electrical distributor that receives a high direct current (DC) voltage. The electrical distributor converts the high DC voltage to a lower DC voltage. The electrically controlled subsea production system also includes a plurality of subsea trees coupled to the subsea electrical distributor, wherein valves of the subsea trees selectively operate based on the lower DC voltage.
US08212403B2
The present invention provides a circuit for controlling the operation of a backup power supply, wherein the circuit comprises a switch unit, a control unit, and a processing unit; wherein the switch unit is configured to be operably coupled to an external power supply; wherein a first input terminal is configured to be operably coupled to a backup power supply, a second input terminal is configured to be operably coupled to the switch unit, the third and fourth output terminals of the control unit are configured to be operably coupled to an input terminal of the processing unit; the fifth and sixth input terminals of the control unit are configured to be operably coupled to a respective output terminal of the processing unit; and the control unit is configured to turn on and off the backup power supply.
US08212395B2
A method of optimizing power loads of a power strip is disclosed. The power strip is of the type having single or three phase power input, a plurality of circuit breakers, and a plurality of outlets. The arrangement is such that at least one circuit breaker is associated with at least one outlet. The method includes: obtaining real-time current measurements for each phase of the single or three phase power input of the power strip; obtaining real-time current measurements for each circuit breaker of the plurality of circuit breakers of the power strip; logging the real-time current measurements for each phase of the single or three phase power input and for each circuit breaker of the plurality of circuit breakers; and analyzing the real-time current measurements of the single or three phase power input and the plurality of circuit breakers to determine a preferential order of outlets in which to apply a new load.
US08212389B2
A capacitor 16 is charged by turning on a switching element 12, and when a relay 18 is operated, by turning off the switching element 12 and turning on a switching element 13, a constant-voltage power supply 11 and the capacitor 16 are series-connected, and a switching element 14 is turned on to cause the series circuit of the constant-voltage power supply 11 and the capacitor 16 to be connected to a relay coil 20, so that the voltage resulting from addition of the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply 11 and the charging voltage of the capacitor 16 is supplied to the relay coil 20, whereby causing the relay 18 to be turned on, after which the capacitor 16 is gradually discharged by means of the relay coil 20.
US08212385B2
A car power source apparatus is provided to include a driving battery 11 outputting an output voltage for driving a car, a monitoring and control circuit 21 monitoring and controlling the driving battery 11 and connected to an auxiliary battery 3 via power supply lines 2, and a battery case 1 housing the driving battery 11 and the monitoring and control circuit 21 and connected to a car chassis ground 5 via a ground line 4. Further, the power source apparatus is provided with a connection detection circuit 40. This connection detection circuit 40 determines the condition of the connection of the battery case 1 and an auxiliary battery 3 power supply line 2 via the ground line 4 and the car chassis ground 5 to determine the condition of the ground line 4 connection.
US08212377B2
A control device, such as a device for connecting with and providing control data on a low voltage line, is provided disclosed. The control device includes a power supply that generates a DC voltage from an input voltage communicated via a low voltage line by a power source. The control device also includes a receiver that extracts timing data from the input voltage and output circuitry that is operable to communicate information to the power source via the low voltage line.
US08212365B2
A printed wiring board is configured to be connected to an organic substrate in a state where a semiconductor chip is mounted thereon. A plurality of first layers are formed of a material having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the semiconductor chip. A plurality of second layers are formed of a material having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the organic substrate. The first layers have different thicknesses from each other and the second layers have different thicknesses from each other. The first layers and the second layers form a lamination by being laminated alternately one on another. The thicknesses of the first layers decrease from a side where the semiconductor chip is mounted toward a side where the organic substrate is connected. The thicknesses of the second layers decrease from the side where the organic substrate is connected toward the side where the semiconductor chip is mounted.
US08212363B2
A multilayer printed wiring board including insulating layers, conductor layers stacked alternately over the insulating layers, respectively, and viaholes formed in the insulation layers and electrically connecting the conductor layers through the insulation layers. The viaholes include a first group of viaholes and a second group of viaholes. The viaholes in the first group are tapered toward the viaholes in the second group, and the viaholes in the second group are tapered toward the viaholes in the first group. The viaholes in the first group and the the viaholes in the second group are formed in the insulating layers, respectively, and the viaholes are formed by plating openings formed after lamination of respective ones of the insulating layers, and each of the insulating layers is about 100 μm or less in thickness.
US08212356B2
A semiconductor device having a multi-layered wiring layer includes a semiconductor substrate, an electrode that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, the insulating film having an aperture at least partly overlapping the electrode, a resin bump that is provided on the insulating film, and the wiring layer that is electrically connected to the electrode and that includes a first conductive layer, an intermediate layer, and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is formed on the electrode and on the resin bump, the intermediate layer is formed on the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer formed on the intermediate layer.
US08212354B2
A system for proximity communication between semiconductor chips includes a package assembly. The package assembly includes a plurality of bridge circuits made of organic or plastic semiconductor material. A plurality of base chips are assembled to the package assembly. The package assembly positions and aligns the plurality of base chips such that the bridge circuits bridge the base chips and enable proximity communication between the base chips.
US08212352B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a package substrate; attaching an integrated circuit die over the package substrate wherein the integrated circuit die has a mount height; attaching an attachment structure having a height substantially the same as the mount height and planar dimensions predetermined to fit adjacent the integrated circuit die and over the package substrate; and attaching a heat dissipation device over the integrated circuit die and the attachment structure.
US08212349B2
A semiconductor package having chip using copper process is revealed. A chip using copper process is disposed on a substrate. The substrate has a core layer, a copper circuitry with connecting pads, a patterned diffusion barrier, and a solder mask. The copper circuitry is formed on the core layer. The patterned diffusion barrier has such a pattern identical to the one of the copper circuitry that an upper surface of the copper circuitry is completely covered. The substrate further has a bonding layer formed on a portion of the patterned diffusion barrier inside the solder mask's opening. Therefore, diffusion of copper ions from the copper circuitry of the substrate to the active surface of the chip can be avoided to prevent function failure of the chip.
US08212347B2
The present invention provides a chip-stacked package structure with leadframe having bus bar, comprising: a leadframe composed of a plurality of inner leads arranged in rows facing each other, a plurality of outer leads, and a die pad, wherein the die pad is provided between the plurality of inner leads and is vertically distant from the plurality of inner leads; a chip-stacked structure formed with a plurality of chips that stacked together and set on the die pad, the plurality of chips and the plurality of inner leads being electrically connected with each other; and an encapsulant covering over the chip-stacked package structure and the leadframe, in which the leadframe comprises at least a bus bar, which is provided between the plurality of inner leads arranged in rows facing each other and the die pad.
US08212343B2
A semiconductor chip package comprises a lead frame having a chip carrier having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A first semiconductor chip is mounted on the first surface, having a plurality of bonding pads thereon, wherein the first semiconductor chip has an area larger that that of the chip carrier. A package substrate has a central region attached to the second surface of the chip carrier, having an area larger than that of the first semiconductor chip, wherein the package substrate comprises a plurality of fingers on a top surface thereof in a marginal region of the package substrate, which are arranged in an array with a row of inner fingers adjacent to the first semiconductor chip and a row of outer fingers adjacent to an edge of the package substrate, wherein the inner and outer fingers are electrically connected to the bonding pads of the first semiconductor chip and the lead frame respectively.
US08212342B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system includes providing a first frame having a first removable backing element connecting a first die attach pad and a first plurality of terminal leads. A first die is attached to the first die attach pad. A substrate is provided. A second die is attached to the substrate. The first die is attached to the second die with a plurality of die interconnects. The first removable backing element is removed after connecting the first die to the second die.
US08212325B2
An electrostatic vibrator has a vibrating plate including beam-shaped vibrating parts each fixed at opposite ends thereof and configured for electrostatic actuation to perform flexural vibration, and temperature compensation parts connected to the vibrating parts. A silicon oxide film covers each of the vibrating parts but not the temperature compensation parts. A substrate is mounted in parallel relation to the vibrating plate. An oxide layer is disposed between the substrate to the vibrating plate. Electrodes are formed on the substrate and arranged on opposite sides of each of the vibrating parts.
US08212324B2
A Micro Electro Mechanical Systems resonance device includes a substrate, and an input electrode, connected to an alternating current source having an input frequency. The device also includes an output electrode, and at least one anchoring structure, connected to the substrate. The device further includes a vibratile structure connected to an anchoring structure by at least one junction, having a natural acoustic resonant frequency. The vibration under the effect of the input electrode, when it is powered, generates, on the output electrode, an alternating current wherein the output frequency is equal to the natural frequency. The vibratile structure and/or the anchoring structure includes a periodic structure. The periodic structure includes at least first and second zones different from each other, and corresponding respectively to first and second acoustic propagation properties.
US08212322B2
Techniques for combining transistors having different threshold voltage requirements from one another are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a first and a second nFET region, and a first and a second pFET region; a logic nFET on the substrate over the first nFET region; a logic pFET on the substrate over the first pFET region; a SRAM nFET on the substrate over the second nFET region; and a SRAM pFET on the substrate over the second pFET region, each comprising a gate stack having a metal layer over a high-K layer. The logic nFET gate stack further comprises a capping layer separating the metal layer from the high-K layer, wherein the capping layer is further configured to shift a threshold voltage of the logic nFET relative to a threshold voltage of one or more of the logic pFET, SRAM nFET and SRAM pFET.
US08212317B2
An integrated circuit with a transistor advantageously embodied in a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device having a gate located over a channel region recessed into a semiconductor substrate and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the transistor includes a source/drain including a lightly or heavily doped region adjacent the channel region, and an oppositely doped well extending under the channel region and a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain. The transistor also includes a channel extension, within the oppositely doped well, under the channel region and extending under a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain.
US08212310B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a deep well of a second conductivity type formed in a portion of an upper layer portion of the semiconductor layer; a well of the first conductivity type formed in a portion of an upper layer portion of the deep well; a source layer of the second conductivity type formed in the well; a drain layer of the second conductivity type formed in the well apart from the source layer; and a contact layer of the second conductivity type formed outside the well in an upper layer portion of the deep well and connected to the drain layer. The drain layer is electrically connected to the deep well via the well by applying a driving voltage between the source layer and the drain layer.
US08212305B2
A semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory is reduced in size. In an AND type flash memory having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells having a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of word lines crossing therewith, and a plurality of floating gate electrodes disposed at positions which respectively lie between the plurality of adjacent first electrodes and overlap the plurality of word lines, as seen in plan view, the plurality of floating gate electrodes are formed in a convex shape, as seen in cross section, so as to be higher than the first electrodes. As a result, even when nonvolatile memory cells are reduced in size, it is possible to process the floating gate electrodes with ease. In addition, it is possible to improve the coupling ratio between floating gate electrodes and control gate electrodes of the word lines without increasing the area occupied by the nonvolatile memory cells.
US08212302B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which is superior in writing property and charge holding property, including a semiconductor substrate in which a channel formation region is formed between a pair of impurity regions, and a first insulating layer, a floating gate, a second insulating layer, and a control gate over the semiconductor substrate. The floating gate includes at least two layers. It is preferable that a band gap of a first layer included in the floating gate, which is in contact with the first insulating layer, be smaller than that of the semiconductor substrate. For example, it is preferable that the band gap of the semiconductor material for forming the floating gate be smaller than that of the channel formation region in the semiconductor substrate by 0.1 eV or more. This is because, by lowering the bottom energy level of a conduction band of the floating gate electrode than that of the channel formation region in the semiconductor substrate, a carrier injecting property and a charge holding property are improved.
US08212299B2
In a thin film transistor, each of an upper electrode and a lower electrode is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metal and a metal nitride, represented by TiN, Ti, W, WN, Pt, Ir, Ru. A capacitor dielectric film is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of ZrO2, HfO2, (Zrx, Hf1−x)O2(0
US08212290B2
A transistor device capable of high performance at high temperatures. The transistor comprises a gate having a contact layer that contacts the active region. The gate contact layer is made of a material that has a high Schottky barrier when used in conjunction with a particular semiconductor system (e.g., Group-III nitrides) and exhibits decreased degradation when operating at high temperatures. The device may also incorporate a field plate to further increase the operating lifetime of the device.
US08212287B2
A structure method for producing same provides suppressed lattice defects when epitaxially forming nitride layers over non-c-plane oriented layers, such as a semi-polar oriented template layer or substrate. A patterned mask with “window” openings, or trenches formed in the substrate with appropriate vertical dimensions, such as the product of the window width times the cotangent of the angle between the surface normal and the c-axis direction, provides significant blocking of all diagonally running defects during growth. In addition, inclined posts of appropriate height and spacing provide a blocking barrier to vertically running defects is created. When used in conjunction with the aforementioned aspects of mask windows or trenches, the post structure provides sign0ificant blocking of both vertically and diagonally running defects during growth.
US08212278B2
Provided are a light emitting package capable of controlling a color temperature, a fabricating method thereof, and a color temperature controlling method of the light emitting package. The light emitting package includes a package body, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the package body and spaced apart from each other, a light emitting element formed on the package body and electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a thin film resistor connected in series to the first electrode.
US08212275B2
A light-emitting device according to an embodiment includes: a blue color LED including a first principal surface, a second principal surface and a side surface, the blue color LED producing light; and a package portion in which a recess portion, which is a light shield portion accommodating the blue color LED with no gap on the side surface side, thereby preventing release of the light from the side surface, is formed.
US08212270B2
A method of manufacturing a transparent encapsulating sheet for a light-emissive device, the method comprising the steps: forming a plurality of cavities in one side of a transparent sheet of material for receiving light-emissive structures therein, said forming step producing a frosted surface comprising micro cracks in the cavities; coating said frosted surface with a low viscosity material whereby the micro cracks in the frosted surface are filled with the low viscosity material in order to form the transparent encapsulating sheet.
US08212267B2
An organic luminescence includes pixel electrodes. Banks are each generally between adjacent ones of the pixel electrodes. The banks define apertures that each correspond to one of the pixel electrodes. An organic luminescent layer is within each of the apertures, and an upper electrode is above the banks and the organic luminescent layer. At least a portion of a periphery of each of the apertures includes curved portions and cusps. The curved portions are concave, and adjacent ones of the curved portions define each of the cusps.
US08212260B2
To provide a p-type semiconductor material having a band matching with a hole injection layer and suitable for an anode electrode that can be formed on a glass substrate or a polymer substrate, and to provide a semiconductor device. In the p-type semiconductor material, 1×1018 to 5×1020 cm−3 of Ag is contained in a compound containing Zn and Se, and the semiconductor device includes a substrate and a p-type electrode layer arranged on this substrate and having the aforementioned p-type semiconductor material.
US08212257B2
Solved is a problem of attenuation of output amplitude due to a threshold value of a TFT when manufacturing a circuit with TFTs of a single polarity. In a capacitor (105), a charge equivalent to a threshold value of a TFT (104) is stored. When a signal is inputted thereto, the threshold value stored in the capacitor (105) is added to a potential of the input signal. The thus obtained potential is applied to a gate electrode of a TFT (101). Therefore, it is possible to obtain the output having a normal amplitude from an output terminal (Out) without causing the amplitude attenuation in the TFT (101).
US08212243B2
An organic semiconducting composition consists essentially of an N,N-dicycloalkyl-substituted naphthalene diimide and a polymer additive comprising an insulating or semiconducting polymer having a permittivity at 1000 Hz of at least 1.5 and up to and including 5. This composition can be used to provide a semiconducting layer in a thin-film transistor that can be incorporated into a variety of electronic devices.
US08212237B2
The present invention provides a nanostructured memory device comprising at least one semiconductor nanowire (3) forming a current transport channel, one or more shell layers (4) arranged around at least a portion of the nanowire (3), and nano-sized charge trapping centers (10) embedded in said one or more shell layers (4), and one or more gate electrodes (14) arranged around at least a respective portion of said one or more shell layers (4). Preferably said one or more shell layers (4) are made of a wide band gap material or an insulator. The charge trapping centers (10) may be charged/written by using said one or more gate electrodes (14) and a change in an amount of charge stored in one or more of the charge trapping centers (10) alters the conductivity of the nanowire (3).
US08212234B2
Nanosized filamentary carbon structures (CNTs) nucleating over a catalyzed surface may be grown in an up-right direction reaching a second surface, spaced from the first surface, without the need of applying any external voltage source bias. The growth process may be inherently self-stopping, upon reaching a significant population of grown CNTs on the second surface. A gap between the two surfaces may be defined for CNT devices being simultaneously fabricated by common integrated circuit integration techniques. The process includes finding that for separation gaps of up to a hundred or more nanometers, a difference between the respective work functions of the materials delimiting the gap space, for example, different metallic materials or a doped semiconductor of different dopant concentration or type, may produce an electric field intensity orienting the growth of nucleated CNTs from the surface of one of the materials toward the surface of the other material.
US08212233B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer having an upper portion and a lower portion. The dielectric layer is either an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) or an inter-metal dielectric (IMD). A phase change random access memory (PCRAM) cell includes a phase change strip, wherein the phase change strip is on the lower portion and has a top surface lower than a top surface of the dielectric layer, and a bottom surface higher than a bottom surface of the dielectric layer. A first conductive column is electrically connected to the phase change strip. The first conductive column extends from the top surface of the dielectric layer down into the dielectric layer. A second conductive column is in a peripheral region. The second conductive column extends from the top surface of the dielectric layer down into the dielectric layer. The first conductive column and the second conductive column have different heights.
US08212227B2
An electron beam apparatus equipped with a height detection system includes an electron beam unit emitting an electron beam to the specimen, and a height detection system for detecting height of the specimen which is set on a table. The height detection system includes an illumination system configured to direct first and second beams of light through a mask with a multi-slit pattern to a surface of the specimen at substantially opposite azimuth angles and at substantially equal angles of incidence, first and second detectors which respectively detect first and second multi-slit images of the first and second beams reflected from the specimen and generate output signals thereof, and a device which receives the output signals and generates a comparison signal which is responsive to the height of the specimen. An objective lens of the electron beam unit is controlled in accordance with the comparison signal.
US08212221B2
The invention relates to a detector for measuring nuclear radiation, especially gamma-radiation, comprising a scintillator crystal with a light decay time of less than 100 ns, a silicon drift detector (SDD) for the measurement of both direct hits of low energy radiation and the light, being emitted from the scintillator crystal, the silicon drift detector being mounted between the scintillation crystal and the radiation entry window, a preamplifier, connected to the SDD, electronic devices, being capable of determining the signal rise time of the measured signals and of separating the signals on the basis of said rise time, electronic devices, being capable of separately collecting the energy spectra of SDD and scintillator detection events on the basis of the different rise times.
US08212210B2
A camera arranged to generate an IR image and a visible light image is proposed, said camera comprising a thermal imaging part for registering IR radiation from a first field of view, a visible light imaging part for registering visible light from a second field of view at least partially overlapping with the first field of view, and a processing device for processing the information related to the registered IR radiation and the registered visible light information. The processing device is arranged to identify any moving objects that are detectable by the thermal imaging part and not by the visible light imaging part, and presenting said moving objects, if any, in such a way that they will be easily recognizable by an operator.
US08212193B2
An aluminium cooking vessel comprises a vessel bottom coupled to a steel plate for providing an electric induction plane heating, the steel plate including a plurality of plate holes and being subjected, about each plate hole to a force applied with an annular pattern to deform the steel plate about each hole with a Z deforming arrangement, the vessel material, displaced as the steel plate is deformed assuming a mushroom arrangement to cover the perimeter of the plate holes.
US08212182B2
A portable wire feeder for providing welding wire and welding current to a welding operation includes an input electrically connected to a power source. An output is selectively electrically connected to the input to receive welding current delivered to the input from the power source and to provide the welding current and welding wire to the welding operation through a guide hose. A contactor includes a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal and a conductive bridge member for selectively electrically connecting the input to the output. The first electrical terminal is electrically connected to the input. The second electrical terminal is electrically connected to the output. The conductive bridge member is movable between the first position in which the bridge member electrically connects the first electrical terminal to the second electrical terminal and a second position wherein the bridge member is separated from at least one of the first and second electrical terminals to electrically isolate the terminals from one another. At least one of the first electrical terminals, the second electrical terminal and the bridge member is independently removable from the contactor for servicing or replacement. A motorized wire feeding system includes a motor and a feed roll driven by the motor to direct the welding wire from a wire supply to the output for provision of the welding wire to the welding operation through the guide hose.
US08212177B2
A variable focus laser machining system is disclosed. The machining system may have a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam. Additionally, the machining system may have a focusing element configured to focus the laser beam. The machining system may also have a controller. The controller may be configured to focus the laser beam at a first focal point. The first focal point may be approximately positioned on a first machining surface of a work piece. The controller may also be configured to determine that the first machining surface has moved relative to the first focal point. Additionally, the controller may be configured to re-focus the laser beam at a second focal point. The second focal point may be positioned between a second machining surface and a predetermined surface spaced apart from the second machining surface.
US08212176B2
A machining head includes a machining head element having an inner-head channel for passing laser light and assist gas, the nozzle having an inner-nozzle channel connecting to the inner-head channel and a nozzle orifice, pins protruding radially inward from a curved inner surface of the nozzle, a pin-locking part formed on the outside of the machining head element, the pin-locking part having pin-fitting openings, a head alignment part formed on a nozzle-side end surface of the machining head element, a nozzle alignment part formed on the nozzle at a location where the nozzle is aligned with the machining head element, and an O-ring fitted between the head alignment part and the nozzle to create a clearance between the head alignment part and the nozzle alignment part for mutual alignment.
US08212173B2
A shield for a plasma arc torch that pierces and cuts a metallic workpiece producing a splattering of molten metal directed at the torch, the shield protecting consumable components of the plasma arc torch from the splattering molten metal. The shield can include a body, a first surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a gas flow, a second surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a liquid flow, and a seal assembly configured to be secured to the body and disposed relative to the second surface configured to retain the liquid flow contact-cooling the second surface.
US08212164B2
An assembly that prevents a circuit breaker from being racked into and out of a switchgear compartment unless the compartment door is closed completely. A coupling member protrudes through the door and has an exposed hexagonal-shaped end to receive a socket of a racking tool. When the door is closed, a recess of the coupling member receives a drive shaft that has a drive pin through it. The drive pin slides into a slot formed in the recess of the coupling member such that when the racking tool cranks the coupling member, the coupling member in turn cranks the drive shaft as the drive pin engages the slot in the coupling member. However, when the door is open, the coupling member is separated from the drive pin so rotating the coupling member does not turn the drive shaft. An optional padlock and deadbolt assembly provides added security against unauthorized access to the tool-receiving end of the coupling member.
US08212162B2
Keys may be formed for keyboards. The keyboards may be attached to electronic devices such as computers or may be formed within a portable computer or other electronic equipment. A keyboard may be provided with a planar housing member such as a top plate. The top plate may have openings through which key caps protrude. Each key cap may be attached to a respective spring mechanism. The spring mechanism for each key may have first and second diving-board structures that flex about respective parallel flex axes. A dome switch may be mounted under each spring mechanism. The dome switch is compressed when the key cap is pressed and the first diving-board structure moves towards the dome switch. The top plate may have edge portions surrounding each key opening that form upstop structures that prevent the key caps and spring mechanisms from tilting when the dome switch is compressed.
US08212160B2
A key-press assembly includes a PCB, an elastic member and a key-press. The PCB forms a contact section on a surface thereof. The elastic member is configured to be mounted on the PCB corresponding to the contact section and includes a pressing portion, a first extension, a second extension, a connecting portion and a trigger portion. The first extension extends out from a circumference of the pressing portion. The second extension extends out from an outer boundary of the first extension parallel to the pressing portion. The electrical connecting portion extends out from a peripheral edge of the second extension and configured to be connected to the contact section. The trigger portion is formed at a junction of the first extension and the second extension correspondingly. The key-press is mounted on the elastic member for sandwiching the elastic member with PCB.
US08212156B2
An enhanced contact metallurgy construction for plastic land grid array (PLGA) modules and printed wiring boards (PWBs). The PWB may, for example, have subcomposite laminate construction and/or a double-sided LGA site. A plurality of preform contacts are each respectively soldered to one of a plurality of metal pads on a PLGA module carrier and/or a PWB. Each of the preform contacts comprises a metal preform base (e.g., copper, nickel) soldered to one of the plurality of metal pads and an electrolytic noble metal plating (e.g., gold) over the metal preform base. An electrolytic non-noble metal underplating (e.g., nickel) may be interposed between the metal preform base and the electrolytic noble metal plating. In one embodiment, the electrolytic non-noble metal underplating is 80-400 microinches thick to provide an enhanced diffusion barrier, and the electrolytic noble metal plating is 30-60 microinches thick and incorporates one or more hardening agents to provide enhanced wear and corrosion resistance.
US08212154B2
A printed wiring board suppresses characteristic impedance mismatch that occurs when the printed wiring board is equipped with a through-type coaxial connector, and includes ground layers stacked in a plurality of layers via insulating layers; a through-hole; a clearance serving as an anti-pad provided in an area between the through-hole and the ground layers; and signal wiring extending from the through-hole to between prescribed ones of the ground layers through the clearance. The prescribed ones of the ground layers have a wiring-impedance adjustment area for adjusting the impedance of the signal wiring, the wiring-impedance adjustment area being arranged so as to overlap a portion of the signal wiring in the clearance.
US08212153B2
A board comprises a through hole including a first opening, a second opening opposite to the first opening, a first conductor formed on a part of the through hole, the first conductor extends from the first opening to a first predetermined position of the through hole, a second conductor formed on a part of the through hole, the second conductor extends from the second opening to a second predetermined position nearer to the second opening than the first predetermined position, and wherein the first conductor alternates with the second conductor with respect to the circumferential direction of the through hole.
US08212145B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit unit accommodation box having receptacles, with the circuit unit accommodation box being able to reliably accommodate a circuit unit having a first connector and also allowing the worker to attach the circuit unit to the circuit unit accommodation box with a simple operation when the circuit unit is to be accommodated in the circuit unit accommodation box. The circuit unit accommodation box includes a box body and a receptacle. The box body includes at least one circuit unit accommodating recess into which a circuit unit, equipped with a first connector, is inserted. The receptacle is disposed in the circuit unit accommodating recess and provides an electrical connection with the inserted circuit unit. The box body and the circuit unit are equipped with a securing mechanism for holding the circuit unit in the box body when the circuit unit is inserted from a first position to a second position.
US08212139B2
In some embodiments, a photovoltaic module includes an active layer, a top layer, and a bottom layer. The active layer includes a plurality of strips of thin-film PV material that are arranged spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other. The top layer is disposed above the active layer and includes a substantially transparent film. The bottom layer is disposed below the active layer, the bottom layer including a conductive backsheet configured to form a current return path for the strips of thin-film PV material. The PV module further includes means for serially and redundantly interconnecting the strips of thin-film PV material together.
US08212130B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH422303. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH422303, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH422303 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH422303.
US08212126B2
According to the invention, there is provided plants and plant parts of the variety designated GSV682287. The invention also relates to methods for using a GSV682287 plant to produce various plants and plant parts.
US08212123B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB38V10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB38V10, cells from soybean variety XB38V10, plants of soybean XB38V10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB38V10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB38V10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB38V10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB38V10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB38V10 are further provided.
US08212102B2
A diaper having front and rear waist regions and a waist-hole, the waist hole having a peripheral edge that is elastically stretchable in a circumferential direction and includes covering zones and elastic zones in the front and rear waist regions, which peripheral edge is adapted to be stretchable beyond lengths of the covering zones in the circumferential direction.
US08212093B2
The production of feed for an olefin hydration zone is improved by integrating treatment of an alcohol containing stream from a fermentation zone into an alcohol separation section. The process passes a stream comprising alcohol, water and an organic acid to a separation column. The separation column concetrates the alcohol and organic acids into an upper column fraction. An additive for neutralization the organic acid into contact with said upper column fraction and reacts with the organic acid to produce a neutralization product that passes to a lower portion of the separation column. The column provides an overhead stream for an olefin dehydration zone having an increased concentration of alcohol and a reduced concentration of organic acid. A column bottoms stream containing the neutralization product returns as an input stream to supply the neutralization product to a fermentation zone that produces the alcohol containing stream.
US08212092B2
The present invention relates to processes for reducing the concentration of acidic impurities HF, HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3 and H2SO4 in fluorinated hydrocarbons. The process involves: (i) contacting the fluorinated hydrocarbon with a phosphorous oxyacid salt, and (ii) recovering the fluorinated hydrocarbon having reduced concentration of, or substantially free of, said acidic contaminant, provided that said fluorinated hydrocarbon is not CF3CH2CF3 or CF3CHFCF3.
US08212084B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4,4′-[1-(trifluoromethyl)alkylidene]bis(2,6-diphenylphenols), in particular for preparing 4,4′-[1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis(2,6-diphenylphenol), which comprises the self-condensation of cyclohexanone in the presence of a basic catalyst to form tricyclic condensation products, dehydrogenation of the resulting tricyclic condensation products in the presence of a supported transition metal catalyst in the condensed phase to form 2,6-diphenylphenol and reaction of the 2,6-diphenylphenol with a trifluoromethyl ketone. The invention further provides an improved process for preparing 2,6-diphenylphenol by aldol self-condensation of cyclohexanone.
US08212083B2
The present invention provides bifunctional polymers, methods of preparing the same, and intermediates thereto. These compounds are useful in a variety of applications including the PEGylation of biologically active molecules. The invention also provides methods of using said compounds and compositions thereof.
US08212082B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing at least one compound with Z−1 cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least one aldehyde group, at least comprising the stages: (a1) oxidation of a composition (A), at least comprising a cyclic olefin with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms and at least two C—C double bonds, by means of dinitrogen monoxide to give a composition (A1), (a2) separating off the at least one cyclic olefin with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least two C—C double bonds from the composition (A1) from stage (a1) in order to obtain a composition (A2), (b1) separating off the at least one cyclic compound with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with a keto group from the composition (A2) from step (a2), in order to obtain a composition (B1), comprising at least 50% by weight of the at least one compound with Z−1 cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least one aldehyde group and at least two C—C double bonds, where Z may be 1, 2, 3 or 4.
US08212071B2
The invention encompasses processes for the synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, (S)-Pregabalin, and intermediates of (S)-Pregabalin.
US08212062B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing fatty acid alkyl esters as well as cellulosic simplified sugars, shortened protein polymers, amino acids, or combination thereof resulting from the simultaneous esterification and hydrolysis, alcoholysis, or both of algae and other oil containing materials containing free fatty acids (FFA), glycerides, or combination thereof as well as polysaccharides, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose, protein polymers, or combination thereof in presences of an alcohol and an acid catalyst.
US08212051B2
A process for the manufacturing of a pure irbesartan comprising converting irbesartan or a protected derivative thereof into an isolated hydrohalide acid addition salt, whereupon said hydrohalide acid addition salt is converted into the irbesartan is described.
US08212047B2
Alternate methods for preparing functionalized pyridyl-amine products from pyridinyl starting materials are provided herein. In addition, these alternately-prepared functionalized pyridyl-amines can be used as ligands or ligand precursors in catalytic compositions, e.g. for use in alkene oligomerization reactions.
US08212046B2
The present invention relates to a production method of a crystal of (R)-2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridyl]methyl]sulfinyl]benzimidazole.n′H2O (wherein n′ is about 0 to about 0.1) or a salt thereof, which characteristically includes crystallization from an organic solvent solution or suspension in which (R)-2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridyl]methyl]sulfinyl]benzimidazole.nH2O (wherein n is about 0.1 to about 1.0) or a salt thereof has been dissolved or suspended, and the like, and provides a convenient method for efficiently producing an optically active sulfoxide derivative having an extremely high enantiomer excess in high yield at an industrial large scale.
US08212029B2
A process for the production of extremely pure galanthamine and galanthamine derivatives is provided. Racemic bromine narwedine is debrominated under palladium catalysis. The reaction mixture is then worked-up in the presence of oxygen or peroxides so that the palladium catalyst is converted into an insoluble form that can be easily separated. Further reaction is carried out by reduction of enantiomerically pure narwedine to form enantiomerically pure galanthamine, which is then alkylated or dealkylated, so that a corresponding substitution on the ring-nitrogen atom is achieved. By further purification, such as recrystallization, residual portions of palladium of below 5 ppm are achieved. The pure galanthamine can then be directly used as a pharmaceutical raw material.
US08212021B2
A process of synthesizing a 5-azacytosine nucleoside, such as azacitidine and decitabine, comprises coupling a silylated 5-azacytosine with a protected D-ribofuranose of formula in the presence of a sulfonic acid catalyst.
US08212016B2
The present invention provides, in part, NPC1L1 from various species. Methods of using the NPC1L1 polypeptides and polynucleotide set forth herein, e.g., in screening assays, are also set forth.
US08212012B2
Novobiocin analogues useful as Hsp90 inhibitors in the treatment of cancer, neuroprotection, and autoimmune disorders.
US08212011B2
Novobiocin analogues and pharmaceutical composition containing such compounds useful for the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disorders and autoimmune disorders, as well as cancer.
US08212006B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising the ligand binding domain (LBD) of a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in crystalline form. In alternative embodiments, the LBD of FXR is complexed with a ligand therefor. There are provided high resolution structures of FXR complexed with a novel high affinity agonist fexaramine. The discovered structure of a FXR LBD provides the first three-dimensional view of the structural basis for FXR ligand binding. The present invention further provides a computer for producing a time-dimensional representation of FXR or a complex thereof, and a computer for determining at least a portion of the structure coordinates of FXR or a complex thereof. The present invention further provides methods of using this structural information to predict molecules capable of binding to FXR; to identify compounds with agonist, antagonist or partial agonist activity for FXR; and to determine whether a test compound is capable of binding to the LBD of FXR. The present invention further provides compositions comprising compounds identified by such invention methods.
US08212004B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides, including soluble forms of the extracellular domain. Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to antibodies or portions thereof that specifically bind Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV and diagnostic and therapeutic methods using these antibodies. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting immune system-related disorders and therapeutic methods for treating immune system-related disorders using the compositions of the invention.
US08212003B2
This application relates to a fusion protein, which is composed of a thrombolytic protein, an anticoagulant protein, and a linker peptide. In particular, the fusion protein is composed of an anticoagulant protein and a protein molecule having plasminogen-activating activity, wherein said two proteins are linked together via a linker peptide, which can be recognized and cleaved by blood coagulation factors. The application also relates to the medical use of said fusion protein, and to the use of the linker peptide which can be recognized by blood coagulation factor in linking a thrombolytic protein and an anticoagulation protein.
US08211997B2
In a process for producing polyarylene sulfide, comprising: reacting an alkali sulfide source and an aromatic dihalide compound in a polar organic solvent to obtain a polymerizate slurry containing polyarylene sulfide particles, by-produced alkali metal salt fine particles and the polar organic solvent, and recovering the polyarylene sulfide particles washed from the polymerizate slurry; the polymerizate slurry is separated by sieving into the polyarylene sulfide particles and a slurry containing the alkali metal salt fine particles, and the separated polyarylene sulfide particles are subjected to a washing step wherein the polyarylene sulfides are introduced into a countercurrent washing apparatus enclosing a movable part and subjected therein to continuous countercurrent contact with a washing liquid. As a result, polyarylene sulfide particles of good quality are produced at a good yield, while pursuing process rationalization.
US08211995B2
The subject matter of the invention is a method for the removal of alkaline or acidic compounds from a solvent-containing metal oxide dispersion, having the following steps: a. conversion of the solvent into gas phase; b. condensation of the solvent; c. bringing the condensed solvent into contact with a neutralizing agent; d. Return of the condensed solvent into the metal oxide dispersion.
US08211992B2
To provide a curable composition comprising a polymer having a reactive silicon group as a curing component, containing no or substantially no organic metal compound, and having a high curing rate. A curable composition comprising a polymer (A) having a reactive silicon group as a curing component and comprising an amidine derivative salt (B) represented by the following formula (2) as a curing catalyst: wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom, each of R3 and two R4's which are independent of one another, is an organic group or a hydrogen atom, R5 is a C1-25 hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom, and X2 is an organic acid ion, an inorganic acid ion or a hydroxy group, and optional two or more of R2, R3 and two R4's may be bonded to form a cyclic structure.
US08211989B2
The invention provides a method of preparing a crosslinked polymer, which method comprises polymerising branched polyunsaturated monomers by a metathesis polymerisation reaction, wherein the branched polyunsaturated monomers contain acyclic ethylenically unsaturated groups that are capable of undergoing polymerization by a metathesis reaction such that the metathesis polymerisation produces a crosslinked polymer and substantially no non-volatile ethylenically unsaturated by-products.
US08211987B2
The present invention relates to a method for reducing residual volatiles from polymer compositions.
US08211984B2
Provided are a ring-opening metathesis polymer and a hydrogenated product thereof that are useful as materials for an optical component, and a method for preparation thereof. The present invention relates to a ring-opening metathesis polymer comprising at least repeating structural units [A] represented by the following General Formula [1] and repeating structural units [B] represented by the following General Formula [2] at a constitutional molar ratio [A]/[B] of 0.1/99.9 to 100/0. The present invention relates to a ring-opening metathesis polymer comprising at least repeating structural units [A] represented by the following General Formula [1] and repeating structural units [B] represented by the following General Formula [2] at a constitutional molar ratio [A]/[B] of 0.1/99.9 to 100/0.
US08211983B2
A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A1/A2 or the ratio A1/A3, wherein: A1 is the maximum absorption between 400 nm and 550 nm; A2 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1100 nm; A3 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1600 nm. Preferred inorganic materials are titanium nitride, indium tin oxide and lanthanum hexaboride.
US08211981B2
Disclosed is a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition having an excellent balance between micropore formability and toughness, which can sufficiently form fine pores by drawing and does not cause a break during drawing. The poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition contains 0-90 parts by mass of a 4-methyl-1-pentene homopolymer (A) and 10-100 parts by mass of a 4-methyl-1-pentene copolymer (B) having a structural unit derived from 4-methyl-1-pentene and a structural unit derived from a C2-20 α-olefin other than 4-methyl-1-pentene. The content of the structural unit derived from a C2-20 α-olefin other than 4-methyl-1-pentene is 0.1-2.1% by mass relative to the total amount of the homopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B). The poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition also contains 0.1-800 ppm of a nucleator (C) relative to the total weight of the homopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B).
US08211980B2
A polymeric material having low tack which has a straight or branched chain carbon-carbon polymer backbone and a multiplicity of side chains attached to the backbone wherein the side chains, which are attached directly to carbon atoms of the polymer backbone, have the formula wherein R1 is H, —C(O)OR4 or —C(O)Q and R2 is —C(O)OR4 or —C(O)Q provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is the group —C(O)Q; R3 is H or —CH3; R4 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Q is a group having the formula —O—(YO)b—(ZO)c—R5′ wherein each of Y and Z is, independently, an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R5 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; a is 3 or 4 and each of b and c is, independently, 0 or an integer of from 1 to 125 provided that the sum b+c has a value in the range of from 10 to 250, preferably from 10 to 120. The polymeric material may be used to replace at least part of a water-insoluble gum base in a chewing gum composition to give a composition exhibiting reduced adhesion to surfaces.
US08211979B2
A multicomponent system is provided, composed of a thermoplastic component and of a rubber component, which comprises at least two different peroxidic crosslinking agents with specific decomposition temperatures, as also is a process for production of rubber-thermoplastic composite mouldings using the multicomponent system, and also the resultant rubber-thermoplastic composite mouldings.
US08211977B2
Polymer compositions with adhesive properties comprising: (1) at least one fluoropolymer (A) grafted by at least one compound (a), wherein the compound (a) contains at least one functional group (f1) capable of conferring adhesion properties on the fluoropolymer; (2) at least one olefin polymer (B) grafted by at least one compound (b), wherein the compound (b) contains at least one functional group (f2) capable of conferring adhesion properties on the olefin polymer and of reacting with the functional group (f1) contained in the compound (a); and (3) at least one polymer (C) chosen from polyesters and polyamides.
US08211972B2
The invention relates to emulsifier systems for cosmetic and pharmaceutical oil-in-water emulsions comprising high molecular weight organomodified polysiloxanes with a dispersion index greater than 1.6.
US08211970B2
The invention relates to aqueous pigment dispersions comprising at least one dispersed pigment, an aqueous carrier and a copolymer prepared by polymerization of at least one macromonomer (1) having a terminal olefinic unsaturation with a mixture of olefinically unsaturated monomers (2), wherein the macromonomer (1) comprises 1a) 5-100% by weight of at least one polymerized acid functional unsaturated monomer, 1b) optionally at least one polymerized hydroxy functional unsaturated monomer, and optionally 1c) at least one further polymerized olefinically unsaturated monomer, and wherein the mixture of olefinically unsaturated monomers (2) comprises 2a) 5-80% by weight of at least one unsaturated vinyl aromatic monomer, 2b) 5-50% by weight of at least one vinyl monomer with at least one polar heterocyclic group with a 5 or 6 membered ring containing at least one ring nitrogen atom which is not connected to a hydrogen atom, and optionally 2c) other olefinically unsaturated monomers.
US08211964B2
A curable composition including a fluorine-containing elastomer having a cyano group in its trunk chain and/or side chain and inorganic nitride particles in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fluorine-containing elastomer, or a curable composition including a specific crosslinking agent selected from an oxazole crosslinking agent, an imidazole crosslinking agent and a thiazole crosslinking agent, a fluorine-containing elastomer having a cure site crosslinkable with the crosslinking agent and inorganic nitride particles. Also disclosed is a molded article obtained by curing the above-mentioned curable composition, and a process for production of a molded article which includes a step of primary vulcanization of the curable composition and a step of secondary vulcanization following the primary vulcanization.
US08211959B2
Biodegradable copolymer hydrogels are provided. The biodegradable copolymer hydrogels have a structure of Formula (I) or Formula (II) A-B—BOX—B-A Formula (I) B-A-B—(BOX—B-A-B)n-BOX—B-A-B Formula (II), wherein, A comprises a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer (A); B comprises a hydrophobic polyester polymer (B); BOX is bifunctional group monomer of 2,2′-Bis(2-oxazoline) and used for coupling the blocks A-B or B-A-B; and n is an integer, equal to or greater than 0.
US08211951B2
Methods comprising mixing at least one nano-porous particle into a homogeneous solution of a polymer and a diluent at an elevated temperature to form a mixture; and cooling the mixture to solidify the polymer. Membranes comprising at least one nano-porous particle; and a polymer; wherein the at least one nano-porous particle comprises pores ranging from about 0.1 nanometers to about 10,000 nanometers in size.
US08211946B2
The invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, and more particularly to formulations containing cannabinoids for administration via a pump action spray. In particular, the invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, for use in administration of lipophilic medicaments via mucosal surfaces, comprising: at least one lipophilic medicament, a solvent and a co-solvent, wherein the total amount of solvent and co-solvent present in the formulation is greater than 55% wt/wt of the formulation and the formulation is absent of a self emulsifying agent and/or a fluorinated propellant.
US08211945B2
Methods for stabilizing β-galactosidase, stabilizing β-glucocerebrosidase, treating a glycolipid metabolic disorder caused by mutation of β-galactosidase gene, treating a glycolipid metabolic disorder caused by mutation of β-glucocerebrosidase gene, regenerating the activity of β-galactosidase, regenerating the activity of β-glucosidase, treating GM1 gangliosidosis, Morquio-B or Krabbe's disease, and treating Gaucher's disease, include administering a carba-sugar amine derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2):
US08211944B2
The present invention relates to compositions suitable for the treatment of pathological conditions distinguished by insufficient or reduced mitochondrial function. The compositions comprise, as principal active ingredients, the amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. The compositions may also comprise, as further active ingredients, amino acids threonine and lysine, and optionally, histidine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, as well as tyrosine and cysteine.
US08211938B2
A method of treatment of native, non-denatured tissue to increase resistance to tearing, fissuring, rupturing, and/or delamination, comprising the step of: contacting at least a portion of the tissue with an effective amount of a reagent that increases crosslinks in the tissue.
US08211935B2
Heterocyclic derivatives act as Ca channel antagonists. The compositions are useful for treating or relieving Ca channel mediated conditions.
US08211929B2
The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibition of kinases, more specifically IGF 1 R kinases. The invention also provides compounds and methods for inhibition of wildtype Abl. The invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, and the invention includes compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof, wherein, V is NR1R1a, or O—R1, wherein X is H, halo, C1-C6 alkyl, NO2, mono-, di-, or tri-halo substituted methyl, NR13R,14. C(O)O—C1-C6 alkyl, or N(R13)—C(O)—C1-C6 alkyl; Y is H, halo, OH, C1-C6 alkyl, C0-C6alkyl-NR,15R16, NR15R,6, C1-C6 alkoxy, —N(R13)—(CH2)n-NR15R16, —C(O)O—C1-C6 alkyl, —O—(CH2)n—NR15R16, —C(O)—C1-C6 alkyl, —C0-C6-alkyl-R21, —O—R21, —C(O)—R21, —O—(CH2)n—R21, —C(O)—NR13R14, —C(O)—N(R13)-aryl, —C(O)—N(R13)(CH2)n—NR15R16, —C(O)—N(R13)—(CH2)n-aryl —C(O)—N(R13)—(CH2)n-heterocyclyl; or X and Y together with the atoms to which they are attached form a 4-7 membered heterocyclyl or heteroaryl group containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S. Z is H, NR2R3, —S—R2a, or —O—R2a
US08211925B2
The present invention relates to N-heteroaryl-benzamides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same. The N-heteroaryl-benzamides are useful in diseases or medical conditions mediated by glucokinase.
US08211922B2
The present invention is directed to nicotinamide derivatives, and their use in treating lipoprotein abnormalities, alone or in combination with a statin.
US08211921B2
Disclosed are compounds of the Formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein R1, R2, R7, R8, R9, W, and X are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, in mammals, and inflammatory conditions. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases in mammals and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US08211910B2
A quinolone synthetic antibacterial agent and a therapeutic agent for an infection which exhibit broad spectrum and strong antibacterial activity for both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and which are also highly safe are provided. The compound provided is represented by formula (I):
US08211909B2
This invention relates to a method of treating infection by methicillin-nonsusceptibale bacteria, vancomycin-nonsusceptibale bacteria, penicillin-nonsusceptibale bacteria, clarithromycin-nonsusceptibale bacteria, or metronidazole-nonsusceptibale bacteria by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the following formula:
US08211906B1
Disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of neoplastic tumors and lesions and localized infections by administering an Immune Response Modifier (IRM) drug to human patients suffering from such tumors, lesions or infections. IRMs act by stimulating cellular immunity and have been found to have both anti-viral and anti-tumor effects. By administering IRM drugs directly into a tumor, lesion or infection, the cells of the tumor, lesion or infection, as well as those surrounding the tumor, lesion or infection can be stimulated to increase their cellular response, thereby inhibiting the growth of such tumors, lesions or infections.
US08211896B2
Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR9 receptor, and which have been further confirmed in animal testing for inflammation, one of the hallmark disease states for CCR9. The compounds are generally aryl sulfonamide derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR9-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of CCR9 antagonists.
US08211882B2
The present invention discloses methods of modulating the activity of Group I mGluRs using a defined class of benzamide compounds. In one embodiment, methods of modulating the activity of mGluR1 are provided. In another embodiment, methods of modulating the activity of mGluR5 are provided. In still another embodiment, methods of simultaneously modulating the activities of both mGluR1 and mGluR5 are provided. The present invention also provides methods of treating diseases or disorders which are mediated in full or in part by Group I mGluRs using one or more compounds belonging to the defined class of benzamide compounds. The present invention further provides methods of preventing diseases or disorders which are mediated in full or in part by Group I mGluRs using one or more compounds belonging to the defined class of compounds. Diseases and disorders contemplated include, inter alia, diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the gastrointestinal system, the circulatory system, skin, retina, brain, heart, and lungs.
US08211878B2
The present invention provides methods for prevention and prophylaxis of neurological diseases accompanied by neuronal death in a patient. The invention includes use of 5-benzylamino salicylic acid (BAS) and its derivatives. Thus, the present invention provides methods for reducing neuronal death in nervous system injuries resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
US08211873B2
This invention relates to certain chirally-correct mitoprotectant phosphorylated heterocyclic agents [formula (I)], which are useful for the treatment of dermatological disorders that include challenged skin from cancer, diabetes, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, and sun-burn; mitochondrial dysfunction; age spots; acne, loss of cellular antioxidants; skin changes associated with aging including collagen loss, loss of skin pliability, loss of skin suppleness, skin wrinkles and fine lines, oxidation, damage from radiation, damage from free radicals, and damage from UV; dry skin; xerosis; ichthyosis; dandruff; brownish spots; keratoses; melasma; lentigines; liver spots; skin pigmentation including pigmented spots, dark circles under the eyes, darkened skin, and blemishes; oily skin; warts; eczema; pruritic skin; psoriasis; inflammatory dermatoses; topical inflammation; disturbed keratinization; scalp dryness; skin depigmentation, and combinations thereof;
US08211862B2
The invention includes methods for isolating crystalline Form I of 5-azacytidine substantially free of other forms, wherein 5-azacytidine is represented by the formula: The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising Form I of 5-azacytidine.
US08211860B2
The invention relates to selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs and their use as mimics of ligands, for receptors expressed by virus. In particular, the invention relates to the use of selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs in methods of inhibiting virus infection and/or promoting clearance of virus from infected subjects. Carbohydrate-lipid constructs selected for use in these methods where the virus is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are provided.
US08211858B2
The present invention relates to a modified plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) molecule that displays an increased in vivo half-life of the active form of PAI-1, but is deficient in one or more functional activities as compared to the wild-type PAI-1 protein. The modified PAI-1 molecule that displays an increased half-life further displays at least one of the following functional characteristics: (i) decreased binding activity to at least one of the following molecules: urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and vitronectin (Vn); and (ii) decreased specific activity against at least one of the following molecules: uPA, tPA and Vn. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising modified PAI-1 molecules and methods of using these pharmaceutical compositions for treatment.
US08211856B2
The present invention is directed to the use of the peptide compound Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH as a therapeutic agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, fibrotic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, lung diseases, heart and vascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Moreover the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions preferably in form of a lyophilisate or liquid buffer solution or artificial mother milk formulation or mother milk substitute containing the peptide Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH optionally together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, cryoprotectant, lyoprotectant, excipient and/or diluent.
US08211853B2
Disclosed is a method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an sFRP-5 peptide effective to reduce the amount of adipose tissue, or an amount of a molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject. Also disclosed is a screen for molecules that can reduce the amount of adipose tissue in a subject.
US08211850B2
Provided are compositions comprising one or more compounds having a structure comprising a node structure with from four to twelve carbon atoms, one or more (poly)glyceryl groups, and one or more hydrophobic moieties, wherein each of the one or more (poly)glyceryl groups is linked to the node structure by a first primary linking group, the one or more hydrophobic moieties are each independently linked either to the node structure by a primary linking group or to one of the (poly)glyceryl groups by a secondary linking group, and wherein the polyglyceryl thickener has an average degree of glyceryl polymerization of from greater than 3 to less than about 11 and an average number of hydrophobic groups per primary linking group of about 0.35 or greater. Also provided are polyglyceryl compounds, compositions comprising water, a surfactant, and a polyglyceryl thickener, as well as, methods of making polyglyceryl compounds and compositions of the present invention.
US08211847B1
A cleaner/polish composition for application to a hard surface, followed by wiping, to provide a clean, shiny surface is disclosed. The composition contains a functionalized dimethicone, nonionic surfactants, emulsifiers, a silicone fluid, an oxidized wax, an alkamidoalkyl dialkylamine, and water.
US08211846B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide improved materials for cleaning patterned substrates with fine features. The cleaning materials have advantages in cleaning patterned substrates with fine features without substantially damaging the features. The cleaning materials are fluid, either in liquid phase, or in liquid/gas phase, and deform around device features; therefore, the cleaning materials do not substantially damage the device features or reduce damage all together. The cleaning materials containing polymers of a polymeric compound with large molecular weight capture the contaminants on the substrate. In addition, the cleaning materials entrap the contaminants and do not return the contaminants to the substrate surface. The polymers of one or more polymeric compounds with large molecular weight form long polymer chains, which can also be cross-linked to form a network (or polymeric network). The long polymer chains and/or polymer network show superior capabilities of capturing and entrapping contaminants, in comparison to conventional cleaning materials.
US08211833B2
The invention pertains to creating new extremely low resistance (“ELR”) materials, which may include high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) materials. In some implementations of the invention, an ELR material may be modified by depositing a layer of modifying material unto the ELR material to form a modified ELR material. The modified ELR material has improved operational characteristics over the ELR material alone. Such operational characteristics may include operating at increased temperatures or carrying additional electrical charge or other operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a cuprate-perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.
US08211832B2
The present invention relates to exogenous compositions and methods of their use, wherein the exogenous chemicals are applied to one or more surface layers of plants to generate a herbicidal biological response and in particular to a glyphosate-based herbicidal composition for spray application to a plant having superior properties of herbicidal cuticle layer coating and penetration, herbicidal uptake, and herbicidal translocation, without cuticle layer damage.
US08211828B2
Fungicidal mixtures comprising as active components: 1) at least one 1-methylpyrazol-4-ylcarboxanilide of the formula I in which the substituents are defined according to the description and 2) at least one azolopyrimidinylamine of the formula II in which the substituents are defined according to the description in a synergistically effective amount. Methods for controlling harmful fungi using mixtures of the compound I and compound II and also the use of the compound I and the compound II for preparing such mixtures, and compositions comprising such mixtures.
US08211820B2
The invention provides a catalyst composition for use in a cross-coupling reaction containing an iron or cobalt fluoride and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring compound represented by General Formula (1A) or (1B), wherein R1 and R2 are same or different, and represent substituted or unsubstituted aryl group etc.; and R3 and R4 are same or different, and represent hydrogen etc., represents a single bond or a double bond, and X− represents a monovalent anion. The invention also provides a method for producing a cross-coupling compound by reacting an organic magnesium compound with an organic halogen compound in the presence of the catalyst composition.
US08211819B2
The present invention relates to catalyst systems containing solid catalyst components comprising titanium, magnesium, halogen and a 1,8-naphthyl diaryloate internal electron donor compound; organoaluminum compounds and alkyl benzoate derivatives as external electron donors. The present invention also relates to methods of making the catalyst systems, and methods of polymerizing or copolymerizing alpha-olefins using the catalyst systems.
US08211818B2
A honeycomb structural body includes at least one honeycomb unit which has a longitudinal direction. The at least one honeycomb unit includes plural cell walls, an inorganic binder, and inorganic particles. The plural cell walls extends along the longitudinal direction from one end face to another end face of the at least one honeycomb unit to define plural cells. The inorganic particles include ceria particles, and a ceramic material which has a degree of self-sintering lower than a degree of self-sintering of the ceria particles.
US08211812B2
One inventive aspect relates to a method for fabricating a high-k dielectric layer. The method comprises depositing onto a substrate a layer of a high-k dielectric material having a first thickness. The high-k dielectric material has a bulk density value and the first thickness is so that the high-k dielectric layer has a density of at least the bulk density value of the high-k dielectric material minus about 10%. The method further comprises thinning the high-k dielectric layer to a second thickness. Another inventive aspect relates to a semiconductor device comprising a high-k dielectric layer as fabricated by the method.
US08211804B2
Methods of forming a hole having a vertical profile and semiconductor devices having a vertical hole
In a method of forming a hole, an insulation layer is formed on a substrate, and a preliminary hole exposing the substrate is formed through the insulation layer. A photosensitive layer pattern including an organic polymer is then formed on the substrate to fill the preliminary hole. An etching gas including hydrogen fluoride (HF) or fluorine (F2) is then provided onto the photosensitive layer pattern to etch the insulation layer so that width of the preliminary hole is increased.
US08211803B2
Methods are disclosed, such as those involving increasing the density of isolated features in an integrated circuit. Also disclosed are structures associated with the methods. In one or more embodiments, contacts are formed on pitch with other structures, such as conductive interconnects. The interconnects may be formed by pitch multiplication. To form the contacts, in some embodiments, a pattern corresponding to some of the contacts is formed in a selectively definable material such as photoresist. The features in the selectively definable material are trimmed to desired dimensions. Spacer material is blanket deposited over the features in the selectively definable material and the deposited material is then etched to leave spacers on sides of the features. The selectively definable material is removed to leave a mask defined by the spacer material. The pattern defined by the spacer material may be transferred to a substrate, to form on pitch contacts. In some embodiments, the on pitch contacts may be used to electrically contact conductive interconnects in the substrate.
US08211802B2
A substrate processing apparatus cleaning method that includes: containing a cleaning gas in a reaction tube without generating a gas flow of the cleaning gas in the reaction tube by supplying the cleaning gas into the reaction tube and by completely stopping exhaustion of the cleaning gas from the reaction tube or by exhausting the cleaning gas at an exhausting rate which substantially does not affect uniform diffusion of the cleaning gas in the reaction tube from at a point of time of a period from a predetermined point of time before the cleaning gas is supplied into the reaction tube to a point of time when several seconds are elapsed after starting of supply of the cleaning gas into the reaction tube; and thereafter exhausting the cleaning gas from the reaction tube.
US08211798B2
A support section (28) for supporting a wafer (1) is convexly formed in the center of a receiving section (26) of a support groove (25) of a boat 21. At the time of boat loading of the boat (21), in which wafers (1) respectively received by the supporting sections (28) are aligned, from a standby chamber (33) to a processing chamber (14), the pressure in the standby chamber (33) and processing chamber (14) is set to 200 pascals or more, and 3000 pascals or less. By supporting the wafer upwards from the receiving section with use of the support section, even if peeling of the film on the wafer occurs from a large frictional force between the supported surface of the wafer and the support section under a reduced pressure, the particles from the peeling are caught by the receiving section and therefore particles are prevented from adhering to the IC fabrication surface of the wafer directly below the receiving section.
US08211792B2
A method for forming conductive contacts and interconnects in a semiconductor structure, and the resulting conductive components are provided. In particular, the method is used to fabricate single or dual damascene copper contacts and interconnects in integrated circuits such as memory devices and microprocessor.
US08211789B2
A manufacturing method of a bump structure having a reinforcement member is disclosed. First, a substrate including pads and a passivation layer is provided. The passivation layer has first openings, and each first opening exposes a portion of the corresponding pad respectively. Next, an under ball metal (UBM) material layer is formed on the substrate to cover the passivation layer and the pads exposed by the passivation layer. Bumps are formed on the UBM material layer and the lower surface of each bump is smaller than that of the opening. Each reinforcement member formed on the UBM material layer around each bump contacts with each bump, and the material of the reinforcement member is a polymer. The UBM material layer is patterned to form UBM layers and the lower surface of each UBM layer is larger than that of each corresponding opening. Hence, the bump has a planar upper surface.
US08211786B2
A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure include a hybrid orientation substrate having a first active region having a first crystallographic orientation that is vertically separated from a second active region having a second crystallographic orientation different than the first crystallographic orientation. A first field effect device having a first gate electrode is located and formed within and upon the first active region and a second field effect device having a second gate electrode is located and formed within and upon the second active region. Upper surfaces of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are coplanar. The structure and method allow for avoidance of epitaxial defects generally encountered when using hybrid orientation technology substrates that include coplanar active regions.
US08211784B2
A semiconductor device has at least two main carbon-rich regions and two additional carbon-rich regions. The main carbon-rich regions are separately located in a substrate so that a channel region is located between them. The additional carbon-rich regions are respectively located underneath the main carbon-rich regions. The carbon concentrations is higher in the main carbon-rich regions and lower in the additional carbon-rich regions, and optionally, the absolute value of a gradient of the carbon concentration of the bottom portion of the main carbon-rich regions is higher than the absolute value of a gradient of the carbon concentration of the additional carbon-rich regions. Therefore, the leakage current induced by a lattice mismatch effect at the carbon-rich and the carbon-free interface can be minimized.
US08211780B2
Adhesion defects between a single crystal semiconductor layer and a support substrate are reduced to manufacture an SOI substrate achiving high bonding strength between the single crystal semiconductor layer and the support substrate. Plasma is produced by exciting a source gas, ion species contained in the plasma are added from one surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate, and thereby forming a damage region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer over one surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate; a support substrate is bonded so as to face the single crystal semiconductor substrate with the insulating layer therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate into a single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate and a single crystal semiconductor substrate, in the damage region; and the single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate is pressed.
US08211771B2
A microelectronic device includes a P-I-N (p+ region, intrinsic semiconductor, and n+ region) semiconductive body with a first gate and a second gate. The first gate is a gate stack disposed on an upper surface plane, and the second gate accesses the semiconductive body from a second plane that is out of the first plane.
US08211749B2
An integrated circuit packaging system is provided including forming a first device wafer having a first backside and a first active side; forming a waferscale spacer wafer having a waferscale spacer and a first opening; mounting the waferscale spacer wafer on the first backside; and singulating an first integrated circuit die having the waferscale spacer from the first device wafer having the first backside with the waferscale spacer wafer thereon.
US08211748B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) device is defined by a low-profile package without a die attach pad (DAP). In place of the DAP, an adhesive element is used to retain a die relative to a lead frame during processing. In one example, a method of manufacturing the device includes sealing the lead frame on one side using an adhesive tape and exposing a portion of the tape within a die attach region. The die is secured onto the tape adhesive and held in place during subsequent processing, such as a wire bonding procedure to couple the die to external portions of the frame.
US08211745B2
Provided is a method and structure for bonding a flip chip while increasing the manufacturing yield. In the method, solder bumps are formed on first electrodes and/or second electrodes disposed on first and second substrates, respectively. In addition, the first and second electrodes are arranged to face each other with a second resin including spacer balls being disposed between the first and second substrates. In addition, while flowing the second resin, the first and second substrates are pressed until the distance between the first and second substrates is decreased smaller than diameter of the spacer balls so as to connect the solder bumps between the first and second electrodes.
US08211741B2
Gate electrodes are formed on a semiconducting carbon nanotube, followed by deposition and patterning of a hole-inducing material layer and an electron inducing material layer on the carbon nanotube according to the pattern of a one dimensional circuit layout. Electrical isolation may be provided by cutting a portion of the carbon nanotube, forming a reverse biased junction of a hole-induced region and an electron-induced region of the carbon nanotube, or electrically biasing a region through a dielectric layer between two device regions of the carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotubes may be arranged such that hole-inducing material layer and electron-inducing material layer may be assigned to each carbon nanotube to form periodic structures such as a static random access memory (SRAM) array.
US08211738B2
Disclosed herein is a method of forming a light-absorbing layer of a polycrystalline silicon solar cell, including: forming a polycrystalline silicon layer on a back electrode; forming an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer on the polycrystalline silicon layer; and heat-treating the transparent insulating substrate to vertically crystallize the intrinsic amorphous silicon layer using the polycrystalline silicon layer as a seed for crystallization through a metal induced vertical crystallization (MIVC) process to form the intrinsic amorphous silicon layer into a light-absorbing layer made of polycrystalline silicon, and is a method of fabricating a high-efficiency polycrystalline silicon solar cell using the light-absorbing layer.
US08211737B2
A nanopatterned surface is prepared by forming a block copolymer film on a miscut crystalline substrate, annealing the block copolymer film, then reconstructing the surface of the annealed block copolymer film. The method creates a well-ordered array of voids in the block copolymer film that is maintained over a large area. The nanopatterned block copolymer films can be used in a variety of different applications, including the fabrication of high density data storage media.
US08211734B2
A method for producing a photovoltaic module by forming solar cells on a glass plate and contacting at least one layer of liquid encapsulant with the solar cells. The liquid encapsulant has two components. The first component is an acrylic polyol having an average number of hydroxy-functional monomer units per polymer chain from 2 to 25 and Mn from 1,000 to 10,000. The second component is a polyisocyanate with an average functionality of at least two. The molar ratio of non-terminal hydroxy groups in the polyol to isocyanate groups in the polyisocyanate is from 0.5:1 to 1:0.5.
US08211733B2
A solid-state imaging device including an imaging region having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and a peripheral circuit detecting output signals from the pixels. An impurity concentration in a transistor of each pixel is lower than an impurity concentration in a transistor of the peripheral circuit. Further, the impurity concentration of a semiconductor well region under a floating diffusion portion in the pixel is set to be lower than the impurity concentration of a semiconductor well region under a transistor portion at the subsequent stage of the floating diffusion portion.
US08211728B2
A first dielectric material layer and a second dielectric material layer are formed on a substrate. Three conductive portions are formed within the second dielectric material layer. An optional third dielectric material layer and an optional dielectric capping layer may be formed over the three conductive portions. Portions of the second dielectric material layer and the first dielectric material layer are removed from within an area of a hole in a masking layer. The first dielectric material layer is laterally undercut to provide a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) switch comprising a conductive cantilever, a conductive plate, and a conductive actuator from the three conductive portions as portions of the first and second dielectric material layers are removed. The MEMS switch may be employed to provide mechanical switchable contact between the conductive cantilever and the conductive plate through an electrical signal on the conductive actuator.
US08211718B2
A semiconductor device having the structure, which is adopted for the highly precise visual inspection with a lower cost, is achieved. A semiconductor device is a semiconductor device having a region for forming an electric circuit, and includes seal rings provided in an interconnect layer and surrounding the region for forming an electric circuit, and a dummy metal via provided in the interconnect layer and located outside of the seal rings. In a cross section perpendicular to an elongating direction of the seal ring, the width of the dummy metal via is smaller than the width of the seal ring.
US08211712B2
The present invention provides a method of producing a planar lipid bilayer on a solid support. With this method, a solution of lipid vesicles is first deposited on the solid support. Next, the lipid vesicles are destabilized by adding an amphipathic peptide solution to the lipid vesicle solution. This destabilization leads to production of a planar lipid bilayer on the solid support. The present invention also provides a supported planar lipid bilayer, where the planar lipid bilayer is made of naturally occurring lipids and the solid support is made of unmodified gold or titanium oxide. Preferably, the supported planar lipid bilayer is continuous. The planar lipid bilayer may be made of any naturally occurring lipid or mixture of lipids, including, but not limited to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinsitol, cardiolipin, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin.
US08211711B2
The invention comprises a device for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample deposited on a first portion of the device for transport to a second portion of the device that is in fluid contact with the first portion. In specific embodiments, the device comprises a labeled conjugate comprising a binding member reactive with a first epitope of the analyte and a label comprising a gold colloid, preferably having a mean particle size of 50 nm to 100 nm. In further embodiments, the device comprises a capture component comprising polymerized streptavidin. The diagnostic device is particularly useful in the preparation of pregnancy test kits.
US08211710B2
A method for obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof. The method includes penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device and forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device to allow air to be vented from the vessel. At least a portion of the contents of the vessel is then drawn into the fluid transfer device before the fluid transfer device is removed from the vessel.
US08211709B2
A method is provided of controlling communication between multiple ports in a microfluidic device. The method includes the step of providing a channel network in a microfluidic device. The channel network including a first channel having a first input port and an output port. The first channel is filled with a fluid and a first output droplet is deposited on the output port. The first output droplet has a radius of curvature. The first output droplet flows toward the first input port in response to placement of a first input droplet having a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the first output droplet on the first input port. The first input droplet flows toward the output port in response to the first input droplet having a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of first output droplet.
US08211707B2
The stress measuring method of the present claimed invention includes an external force impressing process that applies an external force to a specimen, an electron beam irradiating process that irradiates an electron beam to the specimen, a spectroscopy process that conducts spectroscopy on light generated from the specimen by the above-mentioned electron beam irradiating process so as to obtain a spectrum, and a stress calculating process that obtains a stress based on a spectrum shift between a specimen spectrum obtained by irradiating the electron beam on the above-mentioned specimen and a stress impressed spectrum obtained by irradiating the electron beam on the specimen in a state that a stress exists due to the above-mentioned external impressing process.
US08211706B2
A method and apparatus is provided for determining concentration of components in a liquid hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and water flowing through an alkylation process. A fluid flow path conveys the liquid continuously from the alkylation process through a first instrument configured for measuring a property of the liquid mixture, and having responsivities to concentration of the components, which are independent of the concentration of the water. A temperature detector generates temperature data for the liquid, and a second instrument measures another property of the liquid mixture. The instruments have mutually distinct responsivities to concentrations of the components. A processor captures data from the temperature detector and instruments, using the data with a model of responsivities of various concentrations of the components at various temperatures, to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the components while the liquid mixture flows continuously through the fluid flow path.
US08211696B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising cells that can effectively produce HCV after HCV infection, compositions for culturing the cells, methods for making the composition and methods for infecting the cells in the composition with HCV. The present invention also provides methods for assaying HCV production and methods for evaluating compounds that affect the production of HCV.
US08211694B2
Climate control unit with an interior section containing a storage space and with a closable access opening to the storage section whereby at least one part of the interior section is separated and sealed against the rest of the interior section thus forming a separate germ-proof section. The division takes place at least in part by a membrane that is permeable for water vapor and gas but impermeable for microorganisms.
US08211687B2
A thixotropic gel suitable for use in subsurface bioremediation is provided along with a process of using the gel. The thixotropic gel provides a non-migrating injectable substrate that can provide below ground barrier properties. In addition, the gel components provide for a favorable environment in which certain contaminants are preferentially sequestered in the gel and subsequently remediated by either indigenous or introduced microorganisms.
US08211680B2
A method is presented for the production of cellulosic ethanol, acetic acid and derivatives from the extract containing fibers and hemicelluloses after steam cooking of biomass in a host plant. The process is integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and eliminate the need for the waste water treatment plant.
US08211672B2
Ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains or functional mutants thereof and methods of using ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains as forage additives are disclosed.
US08211667B2
The present invention relates to isolated fungal promoter DNA sequences, to DNA constructs, vectors, and fungal host cells comprising these promoters in operative association with coding sequences encoding polypeptides. The present invention also relates to methods for expressing a gene and/or producing a polypeptide using the new promoters isolated. The present invention also relates to methods for altering the transcription level and/or regulation of an endogenous gene using the new promoter of the invention.
US08211666B2
Nucleic acid and protein sequences relating to a cation channel which is sperm-specific (CatSper1) are disclosed. The CatSper1 protein is shown to be specifically expressed in sperm and to be necessary for sperm motility. Nucleic acids, vectors, transformed cells, transgenic animals, polypeptides, and antibodies relating to the CatSper1 gene and protein are disclosed. Also provided are methods of in vitro fertilization and contraception, methods of identifying modulators of CatSper1 activity, methods of genotyping subjects with respect to CatSper1, and methods of diagnosing and treating CatSper1-mediated disorders, including infertility.
US08211663B2
A biological indicator and method of making same. The biological indicator includes a carrier having a recess formed therein in order to restrict movement of an inoculum deposited onto the carrier. The inoculum includes microorganisms (e.g., bacterial spores) suspended in a suspension medium. The microorganisms are prepared by removing extraneous material and subjecting the microorganisms to sonication to break up agglomerations. The suspension medium includes a wetting agent to reduce surface tension, thereby facilitating flow of the suspension medium to prevent stacking of microorganisms on the surface of the carrier, and to allow the inoculum to more evenly “plate out” on carrier surfaces. The carrier, with inoculum deposited thereon, is enclosed in an envelope made of a material permeable to a vaporous deactivating agent (e.g., vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine dioxide, ethylene oxide, etc.), thereby facilitating exposure to the vaporous deactivating agent.
US08211658B2
A chaperone protein Q2 and β-amyloid can form a complex. This complex can be detected in a biological sample, such as, for example, tissues or fluids from a mammal. Q2 levels can also be detected in a biological sample. A method for determining the Q2 level in a biological sample and comparing that level to a normal Q2 level can be used to detect, screen, diagnose, or otherwise determine a person's susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease such as, for example, the presence or absence of Alzheimer's disease, of symptoms of this disease, of factors leading to or associated with this disease, of likelihood of developing this disease, and the like. In one embodiment, a decline in Q2 level correlates to an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. In another embodiment, a decline in Q2 level correlates to an increase in β-amyloid aggregation. The method may further include screening for an apolipoprotein E genotype, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
US08211656B2
Modified red blood cells are described. In an embodiment, the modified red blood cell includes a target-binding agent. Targeted delivery of imaging agents, drugs, and peptide and protein pharmaceuticals using modified red blood cells are described. Processes for preparing the modified red blood cells, pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions containing the same and methods of diagnosis and treatment involving the modified red blood cells are described.
US08211651B2
A technique which is less likely to be affected by turbid or color of samples and with which prompt and simple detection or concentration measurement of endotoxin can be achieved is provided. A reagent in which proteins contained in LAL are adsorbed or bound onto fine particles dispersed in a previously prepared drug liquid is prepared, and this reagent and a sample containing endotoxin are mixed. By doing this, endotoxin acts on the proteins on the fine particles and the fine particles are associated with one another to form a large aggregate at an early stage. By optically measuring the formation of this aggregate, detection or concentration measurement of endotoxin is performed.
US08211650B2
The present invention relates to an assay for determining the implantation potential of a plurality of embryos each obtained or to be obtained by assisted fertilization of an oocyte of a female subject, comprising measuring the levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the follicular fluid (FF) present in the follicle from which each oocyte is derived, and determining the implantation potential of each embryo from the level of measured FF G-CSF. It also relates to a kit for carrying out the assay. It further relates to a method for assisted fertilization.
US08211648B2
The present invention is directed generally to compositions and methods for obtaining secretion of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments from prokaryotes without the need for a signal peptide through making use of mutant host strains with altered secretory properties. In particular, the invention provides host cells and methods for obtaining secretion of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments from bacteria without the need for a signal peptide and provides diverse libraries of antibody sequence resulting from such methods. The invention additionally provides diverse libraries.
US08211645B2
Recurrent gene fusions of androgen regulated genes and ETS family member genes in prostate cancer are described. Compositions and methods having utility in prostate cancer diagnosis, research, and therapy are also provided.
US08211640B2
The invention relates to SCUBE molecules and generally to gene expression in vascular endothelial cells. The invention specifically relates to the discovery of a novel gene family containing the genes and proteins referred to herein as SCUBE1, SCUBE2 and SCUBE3 which can be expressed in endothelial cells. SCUBE proteins may be involved in the development of cardiovascular disease, hemostasis, thrombosis, inflammatory disease, bone metabolism disorders, urinary bladder disorders and breast disorders.
US08211635B2
Methods of screening for modulators of TRIM24 (also known as TIF1-ALPHA) expression and/or biological activity are described. In particular, methods of screening of screening for modulators of TRIM24 E3 ligase activity, and specifically an E3 ligase activity directed at p53 as the target polypeptide are also described. Modulators of TRIM24 expression and activity are provided and their use in treatment of cancer, particularly in breast, colon, prostate, renal cancers and in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Suitable modulators of TRIM24 expression include siRNA and shRNA and can be used in the treatment of cancer and for targeting cancer stem cells.
US08211622B2
A method of conditioning the surface of a work piece, particularly of a strip or sheet, more particularly of a lithostrip or lithosheet, including an aluminum alloy is provided. The method for conditioning the surface of a work piece and a work piece including an aluminum alloy enabling an increasing manufacturing speed in electro-chemically graining and maintaining at the same time a high quality of the grained surface, includes a conditioning method which comprises at least the two steps, degreasing the surface of the work piece with a degreasing medium and subsequently cleaning the surface of the work piece by pickling.
US08211618B2
A positive resist composition comprising as a base resin a polymer having carboxyl groups whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group of acenaphthene structure exhibits a high contrast of alkaline dissolution rate before and after exposure, a high resolution, a good pattern profile and minimal LER after exposure, a significant effect of suppressing acid diffusion rate, and improved etching resistance.
US08211615B2
The present invention provides a copolymer which can prevent problems associated with immersion lithography (including occurrence of a pattern defect such as water mark, and variation in sensitivity or abnormal patterning due to elution of an additive such as a radiation-sensitive acid-generator) and which provides surface characteristics suitable for immersion lithography, and a composition containing the copolymer.The copolymer for immersion lithography has, at least, a repeating unit (A) that generates an alkali-soluble group by removing protecting group through action of an acid, and a repeating unit (B) having a lactone structure, wherein, when a solution of the copolymer in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (hereinafter may be abbreviated as “PGMEA”) is applied to a wafer and then heated to form a thin film, and a 15-μL droplet of pure water is added onto the thin film, the inclination of the wafer at the time when the water droplet starts to move is 35° or less, or the contact angle of the top edge of the water droplet at the time when the water droplet starts to move is 64° or more.
US08211611B2
A process for making particles is provided. In embodiments, a suitable process includes adding a rheology modifier to an emulsion utilized to form toner particles. The rheology modifier permits the use of a higher solid content in the emulsion, with a resulting higher yield of toner particles, without requiring the use of powerful mixing equipment.
US08211610B2
The carrier includes a particulate core material having magnetism; and a resin layer located on the surface of the particulate core material. The resin layer is prepared by forming a layer including a copolymer, which includes a unit (A) having a specific acrylic siloxane structure, a unit (B) having a specific acrylic silicone structure having a crosslinking ability, and a unit (C) having a specific acrylic structure in a specific ratio, on the particulate core material, and then subjecting the layer to a heat treatment to crosslink the layer.
US08211608B2
The present invention relates to a resin emulsion which has a good emulsification performance even when produced by using a crosslinked polyester resin as a binder resin, and also is capable of producing a toner having an excellent storage property therefrom; and a process for producing the resin emulsion. The process for producing a resin emulsion according to the present invention, includes the steps of: (a) mixing a resin containing a polyester having at least one constitutional unit selected from the group consisting of a constitutional unit derived from a trivalent or higher-valent alcohol component and a constitutional unit derived from a trivalent or higher-valent carboxylic acid component, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and an aqueous medium with each other at a temperature not lower than a softening temperature (Ts) of the resin as measured by a flow tester method, the nonionic surfactant and the aqueous medium being used in amounts of from 0.1 to 1.0 part by weight and from 10 to 50 parts by weight, respectively, on the basis of 100 parts by weight of the resin; and (b) neutralizing a mixture obtained in the step (a) with a basic compound in an aqueous medium at a temperature not higher than a softening point (T1/2) of the resin as measured by a flow tester method.
US08211596B2
A method of forming a security device comprises: a) providing an undeveloped photoresist layer on an electrically conductive layer; b) forming a first diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using optical-interferometry; c) forming a second diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using electron beam lithography; and d) thereafter developing the photoresist layer.
US08211589B2
A diffusion media for use in a fuel cell stack and that is adjacently aligned with lands of a reactant plate of the fuel cell stack. The diffusion media includes a sheet having a permeable material with a thickness. A plurality of water transport pores are defined through the sheet. Each of the pores has a pore diameter that is greater than 1.5 times the thickness.
US08211582B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell body that includes a middle plate and an electricity generating unit that generates electricity by a reaction of air and fuel. The middle plate includes a plurality of unit sections, a supply passage formed inside the middle plate, a supply opening for supplying the fuel to the supply passage, a plurality of inlet openings formed on the unit sections, a discharge passage formed inside the middle plate, a plurality of outlet openings formed on the unit sections, and a discharge opening for discharging the fuel from the discharge passage. The fuel is supplied to the unit sections through the inlet openings, and the fuel discharged from the unit sections being discharged to the discharge passage through the outlet openings. In one embodiment, an opening area of an inlet opening become smaller as the inlet opening is located farther from the supply opening. In another embodiment, a vertical cross-sectional area of the supply passage becomes smaller as the location of the vertical cross-section becomes farther from the supply opening.
US08211570B2
An electrode composite material includes an individual electrode active material particle and a protective film coated on a surface of the particle. A composition of the protective film is at least one of AlxMyPO4 and AlxMy(PO3)3, M represents at least one chemical element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Zn, Mg, Zr, Mo, V, Nb, and Ta, and a valence of M is represented by k, wherein 0
US08211564B2
Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, is mounted, wherein the battery pack case is provided with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, which are disposed such that a coolant for cooling the battery cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells, and the battery pack case is further provided with beads formed in a concavo-convex shape for improving the structural stability of the battery pack case against an external force, the beads being constructed in a structure in which the beads do not disturb the flow of the coolant from the coolant inlet port along the advancing direction of a fluid in a flow space defined between the coolant inlet port and the battery module.
US08211562B2
A battery pack includes: a plastic-made, elongated outer casing composed of interconnected peripheral walls to define an interior battery storage portion; and a battery accommodated in the battery storage portion inside the outer casing. The outer casing has a mounting protrusion to be attached to and project outwardly from an electronic equipment casing. An inner casing is incorporated inside the outer casing of the battery pack. The battery pack is constructed and arranged so that an outer battery, located outside the electronic equipment, is accommodated inside the inner casing.
US08211557B2
A magnetic microstructure comprising (i) a magnetic storage layer having a magnetic easy axis perpendicular to a film plane of the storage magnetic layer; (ii) a magnetic assist layer having a magnetic easy axis in the film plane; and (iii) a phase transition interlayer between the magnetic storage layer and the magnetic assist layer. The phase transition layer comprises a material, such as FeRh, that switches from antiferromagnetic at ambient to ferromagnetic at a transition temperature that is greater than ambient, but below the Curie temperature. When the phase transition interlayer is in antiferromagnetic phase, there exists little magnetic coupling between the storage and assist layers. When the interlayer changes to ferromagnetic phase, the interlayer couples the magnetic moments of the storage and assist layer ferromagnetically. If the anisotropy field-thickness product of the two layers is similar and the coupling is sufficiently strong, the effective magnetic anisotropy of the storage layer and the assist layer essentially vanishes. That way, the required write field at the recording temperature needs only to be a few percent of the ambient anisotropy field of the storage layer.
US08211556B2
A gypsum-based building material having increased thermal conductivity and shielding attenuation, a method for producing the building material, a molding containing the building material and a method for producing the molding are provided. The products and methods include adding ground stock formed of compacted expanded graphite to gypsum-based building materials in order to increase the thermal conductivity and the electromagnetic shielding attenuation of the building materials and moldings, for example gypsum cardboards, produced therefrom.
US08211548B2
A heat transfer component that is resistant to both corrosion and fouling is disclosed having a heat exchange surface formed from a silicon containing steel composition including an alloy and a non-metallic film formed on a surface of the alloy. The alloy is formed from the composition η, θ, and τ, in which η is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, and mixtures thereof, θ is Si, and τ is at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Al, Mn, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Sc, La, Y, Ce, Ru, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Ga, Ge, As, In, Sn, Sb, Pb, B, C, N, P, O, S and mixtures thereof. The non-metallic film comprises sulfide, oxide, carbide, nitride, oxysulfide, oxycarbide, oxynitride and mixtures thereof. The surface roughness of the heat transfer component is less than 40 micro inches.
US08211545B2
A silicone rubber composition comprises (a) an organopolysiloxane having alkenyl radicals, (b) a heat conductive filler, (c) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (d) a platinum group metal compound, (e) a reaction regulator, and (f) a silicone resin. A heat conductive cured product is prepared by intimately mixing components (a) to (f), applying the composition as a thin film to a substrate which has been treated to be releasable, and curing the composition.
US08211536B2
The invention relates to a composite solid surface article. More particularly, the invention relates to a composite solid surface article containing fibers and polymeric powder particles. A composite solid surface article may comprise a matrix of at least one polymeric resin, randomly-shaped fibers dispersed in the matrix, wherein the article comprises a substantially smooth surface with a viewable pattern formed by one or more ingredients of the composite solid surface article, the viewable pattern comprises at least part of the randomly-shaped fibers.
US08211524B1
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) anchor (20, 100) joining a metal substrate (40) and a ceramic thermal barrier (38). The CMC anchor extends into and interlocks with the ceramic barrier, and extends into and interlocks with the metal substrate. The CMC anchor may be a honeycomb (20) or other extending-into-and-interlocking geometry. A CMC honeycomb may be formed with first (22) and second (24) arrays of cells (26) with open distal ends (28) on respective opposite sides of a sheet (30). The cells may have walls (32) with transverse passages (36). A metal (40) may be deposited into the cells and passages on one side of the sheet, forming a metal substrate locked into the honeycomb. A ceramic insulation material (38) may be deposited into the cells and passages on the opposite side of the sheet, forming a layer of ceramic insulation locked into the honeycomb.
US08211523B2
In a vacuum thermal insulating material having a core material enclosed in a gas barrier container whose inside is made to be a decompressed state, the core material has a lamination structure in which a plurality of sheet-shaped long fiber organic fibrous assemblies are continuously wound up from an inner periphery to an outer periphery. Then, a plurality of sheet-shaped organic fibrous assemblies are arranged in parallel and sheet-shaped multiple organic fibrous assemblies having joint sections are formed. The joint sections are made not to overlap with the upper and lower of joint sections.
US08211520B2
The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to change the thickness of the colored resin layer of the preform gradually in the upward or downward direction, by utilizing a tendency of gradual decrease in the thickness of the colored resin layer caused by the flow of the main resin inside the preform mold when the main resin and the colored resin are injected into the mold. The objects of this invention is to provide a biaxially drawn, blow molded bottle having new decorativeness created in which sophisticated color gradations associated with color density are created in the body of this bottle. The means of accomplishing this object involves adjusting the injection pattern including the time of starting and ending the supply of the main resin and the colored resin, and pressure or velocity profiles, reducing the thickness of the colored resin layer in the multi-layered molten resin fluid gradually at an upstream or downstream point of the flow, injection-molding the preform in which a color-gradated portion associated with the thickness of the colored resin layer has been formed, and biaxially drawing and blow molding this preform into a bottle having a color-gradated portion associated with the color density or color shade created on the body of the bottle.
US08211518B2
A duct section and system, including a laminated shroud, acting as a secondary duct, for aerospace and other applications, and a method for constructing same. The duct structure incorporates a metallic primary duct tube, with a laminated shroud surrounding the primary duct tube and separated therefrom by an annular gap. The laminated shroud includes a metallic inner layer and a polymeric outer layer. Preferably, the thin metallic layer is a corrosion resistant material such as corrosion resistant stainless steel or titanium. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer polymeric layer is a polyimide material, such as polyimide resin-impregnated fiberglass cloth.
US08211505B2
A laminated sheet includes a surface layer having an optical surface that is of fire-polished quality and a core layer having a higher modulus than the surface layer to increase an overall stiffness or fracture toughness of the laminated sheet.
US08211500B2
A Cu film is deposited on a substrate by ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) process, in which: a Cu-carboxyl acid complex or a derivative thereof having a high vapor pressure and wettability to a base is used in a gasified state; H2 is used as a reductive gas; and a step of adsorbing a source material gas to a substrate and a step of forming a Cu film by reducing the adsorbed gas with a reductive gas are repeated alternately. With this method, a conformal Cu film having excellent quality can be formed.
US08211495B2
The present invention provides technology for noble metal plating of titanium surfaces. A process such as the following would be carried out when manufacturing a partially gold-plated separator for a fuel cell, for example. First, a titanium component made of titanium or titanium alloy is prepared for use as the fuel cell separator (S10). This titanium component is a titanium component whose surfaces are coated with carbon-containing substance. This titanium component is then subjected to a first heat treatment at a prescribed first temperature of between 300 and 700 degrees Celsius (S20). Gold plating of the surfaces of the heat-treated titanium component is then carried out (S80). In this way it is possible to more easily carry out gold electrolytic plating of titanium surfaces.
US08211494B2
A mask film, where squeegee cleaning part has been formed at a predetermined position, and another mask film are attached to both sides of a substrate. A through-hole is formed by using a laser, and conductive paste is filled into the through-hole by using a squeezing method. As discussed above, a paste-residue can be prevented on the through-hole, so that a circuit board having high quality of connection can be obtained.
US08211489B2
Devices and methods for applying a coating to an implantable device are disclosed. A method for applying a coating to an implantable device is disclosed. The method includes positioning an implantable device relative to a material delivery apparatus. A spray pattern of an application material is produced using the material delivery apparatus. At least a portion of the spray pattern is deflected using a focusing assembly.
US08211479B2
Compositions comprising: vasokinetic natural coumarins or extracts containing them; anti-phosphodiesterase agents selected from 3,7-O-di-(2-hydroxyethyl)icaritin or 7-O-hydroxyethyl-icariside II and/or forskolin or extracts containing them; phytoestrogens selected from ferutinine or ferutinine-containing extracts of Ferula sp. or p-pivaloylferutinine.
US08211478B2
The present invention provides a beverage precursor comprising tea material and food-grade additive, wherein the beverage precursor is present in an amount wherein contact of the beverage precursor with 250 ml water for 2 minutes at 90° C. produces a beverage comprising catechins in an amount of between 0.05% and 2% by weight of the beverage. The present invention also provides a process for manufacturing a beverage precursor comprising macerating tea leaf and/or stem with a rotorvane and at least one CTC process.
US08211467B2
A nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle that is capable of suspending an active agent. The nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle includes at least one solvent and at least one polymer and is formulated to exhibit phase separation upon contact with an aqueous environment. The at least one solvent may be selected from the group consisting of benzyl benzoate, decanol, ethyl hexyl lactate, and mixtures thereof and the at least one polymer may be selected from the group consisting of a polyester, pyrrolidone, ester of an unsaturated alcohol, ether of an unsaturated alcohol, polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the at least one solvent is benzyl benzoate and the at least one polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone. A stable, nonaqueous suspension formulation that includes the nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle and an active agent, and a method of forming the same, are also disclosed.
US08211466B2
A mucosal bioadhesive slow release carrier comprising an active principle and devoid of starch, lactose, which can release the active principal for a duration of longer than 20 hours. This bioadhesive carrier contains a diluent, an alkali metal alkylsulfate, a binding agent, at least one bioadhesive polymer and at least one sustained release polymer, as well as a method for its preparation.
US08211456B2
The present invention relates to “grafting to” methods of modifying materials surfaces with high-density polymer brushes. A method of the present invention comprises contacting in succession or simultaneously an activated material surface, a solution of a polymeric material having a polymeric backbone with pendant reactive moieties, and a melt of brush-forming terminally-functionalized polymer chains, in order to allow a covalent bonding reaction to occur between surface and polymers, wherein upon completion of the reaction, the polymeric material forms a layer between the material surface and the brush polymer chains.
US08211443B2
The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.
US08211437B2
Streptococcus proteins and polynucleotides encoding them are disclosed. Said proteins are antigenic and therefore useful vaccine components for the prophylaxis or therapy of streptococcus infection in animals. Also disclosed are recombinant methods of producing the protein antigens as well as diagnostic assays for detecting streptococcus bacterial infection.
US08211432B2
Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These. DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.
US08211429B2
Novel anti-NRP1 antibodies and variants thereof having unique structural and functional characteristics are disclosed. Also provided are uses of the antibodies in research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US08211421B2
The invention concerns a polypeptide having a uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (UPRTase) by mutation of one or several residues of the UPRTase. The invention also concerns a nucleotide sequence coding for the UPRTase mutant, a vector for expressing the latter, a viral particle, a host cell, and a composition containing them. The invention further concerns their therapeutic use and a treatment method using them. The invention is particularly useful in the context of therapy by suicide genes, in particular, for treating proliferative and infectious diseases.
US08211408B2
An oral care composition comprising a fused silica abrasive and a fluoride source. The oral care composition may have a lower pH to aid in fluoride and/or active stability.
US08211407B2
A method of making an oral care composition comprising the addition of a fused silica slurry.
US08211404B2
The invention discloses the use of ionic and non-ionic radiographic contrast agents for combined X-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI) diagnostics.
US08211399B2
A method for making metal sulfide nanocrystals is provided. First, some metal salt powders are provided in a container. Second, superfluous mercaptan is added into the container. Then the superfluous mercaptan and the metal salt are stirred uniformly to get a precursor mixture and the precursor mixture is heated to get the metal sulfide nanocrystals. Lastly, the metal sulfide nanocrystals are separated and washed.
US08211397B2
Disclosed herein are a manganese carbonate useful as a material for spinel-type LiMn2O4, having a spherical morphology, and a method of preparing the same. The spheric manganese carbonate has a high packing density and shows superior lifetime characteristics, leading to spinel-type LiMn2O4 resistant to structural changes and having superior lifetime characteristics.
US08211393B2
An exhaust system for a vehicular positive ignition internal combustion engine comprises a filter for filtering particulate matter from exhaust gas emitted from the engine, which filter comprising a porous substrate having inlet and outlet surfaces, wherein the inlet surfaces are separated from the outlet surfaces by a porous structure containing pores of a first mean pore size, wherein the porous substrate is coated with a three-way catalyst washcoat comprising a plurality of solid particles wherein the porous structure of the washcoated porous substrate contains pores of a second mean pore size, which is less than the first mean pore size, and a three-way catalyst washcoat disposed on a separate substrate monolith located upstream of the filter, wherein a mass of three-way catalyst washcoat on the upstream substrate monolith is ≦75% of the total mass of three-way catalyst washcoat in the exhaust system.
US08211390B2
A method of isolating a radioisotope according to example embodiments may include vaporizing a source compound containing a first isotope and a second isotope of an element, wherein the second isotope may have at least one of therapeutic and diagnostic properties when used as a radiopharmaceutical. The vaporized source compound may be ionized to form charged particles of the first and second isotopes. The charged particles may be separated to isolate the particles of the second isotope. The isolated charged particles of the second isotope may be collected with an oppositely-charged collector. Accordingly, the isolated second isotope may be used to produce therapeutic and/or diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals having higher specific activity.
US08211371B2
A device for heat transfer, particularly in fluidized bed equipment. Several layers of heat exchanger tubes are provided, with radial arms mounted in between to mix and loosen the product. In addition, a process is disclosed for heat transfer in high-temperature processes for bulk material, particularly granulates or powders, in fluidized bed units, where the heat is transferred to and absorbed by the fluidized bed on several levels, and by the fluidized bulk material being agitated mechanically between these levels. This allows transfer of high energy densities without the risk of bridging or local overheating.
US08211368B2
A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.
US08211367B2
A method of separating a cell-containing sample into a substantially cell-depleted portion, and a cell-containing portion comprising at least one of a stem cell, a lymphocyte, and a leukocyte comprises a step in which the sample is received in a vessel with at least one flexible wall. In another step, an additive and particles are added to the sample, wherein the additive substantially binds to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the particles and wherein the particles substantially bind to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the additive, thereby producing a cell-containing network. In a further step, the network is separated from the substantially cell-depleted portion by applying a magnetic force.
US08211366B2
A precious metal testing apparatus and methods adapted to analyze impurities in a precious metal test sample is described. The testing apparatus contains a test probe that has a replaceable portion and that is connected to a meter to measure resistance. The replaceable portion contains or forms a reservoir that includes at least one electrolyte component, a conductive member, and a fibrous tip. The electrolyte component is fluidly associated with a fiber tip and the conductive member contacts an electrical contact located outside the reservoir. Methods of testing and instructions regarding such methods are also included.
US08211361B2
The present invention includes compositions, articles, methods controlling microbial contamination of a surface by functionalizing a surface of an object and binding one or more acyclic-amine structures to the surface. The one or more acyclic-amine structures are halogenated to form one or more acyclic N-halamine structures. The one or more acyclic N-halamine structures modulate the formation of a biofilm.
US08211354B2
A balloon catheter is provided with integral channels for securing dilation elements to the outside of the balloon. The dilation elements have an anchor portion and an intermediate portion that are disposed within first and second longitudinal cavities in the channels. The balloon may be manufactured by extruding a parison and blow molding the parison with the dilation elements installed within the channels.
US08211345B2
This invention provides an optical film having a reduced thickness and an increased width, which is free from bleedout with the elapse of time (during storage) in a continuous wound state, a method for manufacturing an optical film, and a polarizing plate using the optical film. The optical film is a plasticizer-containing optical film having an overall width of 1500 mm to 4000 mm produced by a solution casting method. The amount of the plasticizer present in the center portion in the surface side of the optical film is determined as value A by TOF-SIMS. The amount of the plasticizer present in the center portion in the back side is determined as value B by the TOF-SIMS. Value X is determined by formula 1 based on the values A and B. The amount of the plasticizer present in the end portion in the surface side of the optical film is determined as value A′ by TOF-SIMS, and the amount of the plasticizer present in the end portion of the back side is determined as value B′ by the TOF-SIMS. Value X′ is determined by formula 2 based on the values A′ and B′. The X value is different from and larger than the X′ value.
US08211335B2
A method is provided, comprising: copolymerizing a monomer comprising at least two amide groups, a monomer of formula (a) and a sulfonic acid or salt monomer, wherein R1 is CH3 or H. A polymer made by the method is provided. A method for coating an electrode is provided, comprising: providing an electrode; providing a solution of a free radical initiator, a monomer comprising at least two amide groups, a monomer of formula (a) and a sulfonic acid or salt monomer; wetting the electrode with the solution; and heating the wetted electrode; whereby the monomer comprising at least two amide groups, the monomer of formula (a), and the sulfonic acid or salt monomer are copolymerized; wherein R1 is CH3 or H. An electrode coated by the method is provided.
US08211325B2
A method and apparatus for polishing or planarizing a pre-metal dielectric layer by a chemical mechanical polishing process are provided. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate having feature definitions formed thereon, forming a pre-metal dielectric layer over the substrate, wherein the as-deposited pre-metal dielectric layer has an uneven surface topography, and planarizing the uneven surface topography of the pre-metal dielectric layer using chemical mechanical polishing techniques, wherein planarizing the uneven surface topography comprises polishing the pre-metal dielectric layer with a fixed abrasive polishing pad and a first polishing composition to remove a bulk portion of the pre-metal dielectric layer and achieve a first predetermined planarity, and polishing the pre-metal dielectric layer with a non-abrasive polishing pad and high selectivity slurry to remove a residual portion of the pre-metal dielectric and achieve a second predetermined planarity.
US08211320B2
A carbon nanotube device includes a flexible substrate and a patterned carbon nanotube layer. The flexible substrate defines a plurality of recesses. The patterned carbon nanotube layer is formed on the flexible substrate. The carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotube arrays. Each carbon nanotube array is fixedly attached in the corresponding recess.
US08211319B2
A process for separating solids from liquids in a filtration zone defined by a higher concentration zone and a lower concentration zone separated by a filter. The process includes the steps of directing a slurry feed comprising a liquid and solids into the higher concentration zone, directing a displacement fluid to the higher concentration zone and passing at least a portion of the liquid through a filter to the filtrate zone, producing a filtrate.
US08211318B2
A biocide is formed by mixing at least one of ammonium sulfamate and ammonium carbamate with an aqueous solution of a hypochlorite oxidant at a molar ratio of ammonium to hypochlorite of at least 1:1. The biocide is useful in treating microbial or biofilm growth, pulp and paper process water, cooling tower water, waste water, reclaimed waste water, sludge, colloidal suspensions, irrigation water or a medium having a reducing capacity.
US08211311B2
A method for treating ship ballast water with a membrane, which can easily separate and reliably remove a fouling substance attached to a membrane and maintain the membrane flux for long periods.The method including a membrane separation step of taking in seawater in a port area in which a ship is anchored and separating a microorganism with a size equal to or greater than a predetermined size therefrom with a membrane filtration apparatus installed in or on a hull of the ship and having a filtration membrane module, a backwash step of separating a fouling substance attached to a membrane surface of the membrane filtration apparatus from the membrane surface by backwashing is provided.
US08211310B2
A size-selective hemocompatible porous polymeric adsorbent system is provided, the polymer system comprises at least one polymer with a plurality of pores, and the polymer has at least one transport pore with a diameter from about 250 Angstroms to about 2000 Angstroms, and the polymer has a transport pore volume greater than about 1.8% to about 78% of a capacity pore of volume of the polymer.
US08211308B2
A method for separating polar lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting polar lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal polar lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These polar lipids are high value products which can be used as surfactants, detergents, and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of polar lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels.
US08211307B2
Methods and apparatus for processing algae are described in which a hydrophilic ionic liquid is used to lyse algae cells. The lysate separates into at least two layers including a lipid-containing hydrophobic layer and an ionic liquid-containing hydrophilic layer. A salt or salt solution may be used to remove water from the ionic liquid-containing layer before the ionic liquid is reused. The used salt may also be dried and/or concentrated and reused. The method can operate at relatively low lysis, processing, and recycling temperatures, which minimizes the environmental impact of algae processing while providing reusable biofuels and other useful products.
US08211299B2
An apparatus is disclosed for removing iron powder from rolling oil used in a rolling mill has less trouble and ensures easy maintenance and long lifetime as well as improved workability. Each part combined to the apparatus can be moved and worked individually so as to facilitate repair while enhancing the effect of removing iron powder from the rolling oil. The apparatus includes a magnetic unit that is vertically supported on a frame and moved up and down by elevating means to be located inside or above the oil tank, and a scraper unit disposed at one side of the frame so as to be transverse to the magnetic unit. The scraper unit includes a scraper separating iron powder from the surface of the magnetic unit, and a chute positioned under the scraper to collect and convey iron powder.
US08211298B2
A method of manufacturing a cast article including a frame that in use of the article defines an aperture; and a further component that is in use retained moveably captive relative to the frame. The method casts the further component and respective first and second frame members, the further component and the frame members being securable together to form the article, and subsequently assembles the frame members and the further component together to form the article. A gully grate results from practicing the method.
US08211291B2
A sensor apparatus for an electrochemical measuring device. The apparatus has at least one electrode, which can be heated using a heating current in the form of an alternating current, and a first and a second connection for the supply line for the heating current. The electrochemical measuring device is connected to the electrode by a third connection. In this case, the apparatus has the third connection connected to the electrode by a bridge circuit, which is also connected to the first and second connections. There also is provided a method for carrying out electrochemical measurements at elevated temperature. The sensor apparatus and the method for carrying out electrochemical measurements enable electrochemical measurements with little interference and directly heated electrodes in conjunction with a simplified design of the electrodes.
US08211287B2
Sulfuric acid electrolysis process wherein; a temperature of electrolyte containing sulfuric acid to be supplied to an anode compartment and a cathode compartment is controlled to 30 degree Celsius or more; a flow rate F1 (L/min.) of the electrolyte containing sulfuric acid to be supplied to said anode compartment is controlled to 1.5 times or more (F1/Fa≧1.5) a flow rate Fa (L/min.) of gas formed on an anode side as calculated from Equation (1) shown below and a flow rate F2(L/min.) of said electrolyte containing sulfuric acid to be supplied to said cathode compartment is controlled to 1.5 times or more (F2/Fc≧1.5) a flow rate Fe (L/min.) of gas formed on a cathode side as calculated from Equation (2) shown below. Fa=(I×S×R×T)/(4×Faraday constant) Equation (1) Fe=(I×S×R×T)/(2×Faraday constant) Equation (2) I: Electrolytic current (A) S: Time: 60 second (Fixed) R: Gas constant (0.082 1·atm/K/mol) K: Absolute temperature (273.15 degree Celsius+T degree Celsius) T: Electrolysis temperature (degree Celsius) Faraday constant: (C/mol)
US08211280B2
Devices and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample of liquid are provided.
US08211277B2
The present invention relates to compounds containing organofluorochlorophosphate anions, the preparation thereof and the use thereof, in particular as ionic liquids.
US08211267B2
An electromagnetic shielding composite includes a polymer and a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed in the polymer in a form of carbon nanotube film structure. A method for making an electromagnetic shielding composite includes the steps of: (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes; (b) drawing a carbon nanotube film from the array of carbon nanotubes; (c) providing a substrate, covering at least one carbon nanotube film on the substrate to form a carbon nanotube film structure; and (d) providing a polymer and combining the carbon nanotube film structure with the polymer to form an electromagnetic shielding composite.
US08211266B2
A badminton racket that is strong in respect to impact and twist and that is high in surface stability and a manufacturing method of the badminton racket is provided. A badminton racket includes a frame formed circularly, a shaft joined to the frame, a joint installed reaching inside the frame and the shaft at a joint portion of the frame and the shaft, and an expandable resin placed between the joint and the frame. A badminton racket manufacturing method includes an expandable resin placing process that places an expandable resin that expands when heated on an outer periphery of a portion of a joint, the joint being to be installed to reach inside a frame formed with the resin sheet tube and inside a shaft, the portion being to be installed in the frame.
US08211260B2
The invention presented is a method for applying heat spreaders to a plurality of plasma display panels, including (a) providing a plurality of heat spreader composites, each of which comprises a heat spreader material having an adhesive thereon and a release material positioned such that the adhesive is sandwiched between the heat spreader material and the release material; (b) removing the release material from a plurality of the composites; and (c) applying at least one of the composites to each of the plurality of plasma display panels each such that the adhesive adheres the heat spreader material to the plasma display panel.
US08211257B2
The invention can perform building in a process for building a carcass band or a belt/tread band of a tire, in which two drum transfer support bases (10) supporting building drums (D1) are alternately shifted to first and second transfer sections (11), (12), in which predetermined building positions are set, a rotational transfer device (A) for rotational transfer of the drum transfer support bases (10) is mounted between the first transfer section (11) and the second transfer section (12), which are arranged to get out of position relative to and in parallel to each other, and two pairs of rotational transfer rails (27a), (28a) are juxtaposed on a rotating table (20), which has an axis (O) intermediate between the both transfer sections, to be positioned corresponding to extensions of travel rails (11a), (12a) arranged on the first and second transfer sections (11), (12) to receive two drum transfer support bases (10), (10), which enter from portions of the rails (11a), (12a) of the both transfer sections (11), (12), to have the same rotationally transferring to the other transfer section (12) or (11) at the same time.
US08211243B2
An automatic dishwasher, comprises a wash chamber, a rotating spray arm having an outer periphery or rotation and having at least one outlet for introducing a stream of liquid into the wash chamber, a disperser located within the wash chamber and exteriorly of the outer periphery of the rotating spray arm where during at least a portion of one revolution of the rotating spray arm the disperser is fluidly connected such that the stream of liquid is transferred to the disperser, and a liquid volume controller to control the volume of liquid transferred from the rotating spray arm to the disperser. Wherein the disperser provides an additional source of water spray to utensils in the wash chamber and the liquid volume controller controls the amount of such additional spray.
US08211234B2
An alignment tool is used to ensure proper alignment of a component on a rotating gear relative to a non-rotating platter. The alignment tool includes a first arm member coupled to a locating feature on the gear, and a second arm member that is coupled to the first arm member such that the second arm member is movable relative to the first arm member. When the first arm member is coupled to the locating feature, the second arm member locates off the platter to verify proper alignment. The second arm member is cannot be fitted to the platter when there is improper alignment.
US08211233B2
A method of forming a plurality of multi-layer organic films in a single process includes preparing a first evaporating source that evaporates a first evaporating source material onto a first deposition region and a second evaporating source that evaporates a second evaporating source material onto a second deposition region, wherein the first evaporating source material and the second evaporating source material are different from each other, adjusting the first evaporating source and the second evaporating source in order to obtain a first overlapping region in which the first deposition region and the second deposition region overlap each other, driving the first evaporating source and the second evaporating source to deposit the first evaporating source material and the second evaporating source material onto a portion of an object to be processed, and moving the first evaporating source and the second evaporating source from a first end of the object to a second end of the object to form a multilayer film comprising a first layer that is a deposition of only the first evaporating source material, a second layer that is a deposition of a mixture of the first evaporating source material and the second evaporating source material and a third layer that is a deposition of only the second source material.
US08211220B2
A functional paint composition prevents a power loss caused by corrosion of a structure with high voltage electric current. The paint composition includes, by weight, an acrylic urethane resin of 100 parts as a principal resin, with a potassium silicate resin of 5 to 20 parts, an auxiliary resin of 5 to 10 parts, a functional pigment of 100 to 250 parts, and functional additives of 1 to 2 parts. Accordingly, in embodiments of the disclosure, causes of a negative influence on high voltage electric current not solved in general paint are eliminated, and the economy is considered being applicable to all kinds of materials and composition layers of objects to be coated, thereby providing an effect even in a repair coating for electrical lines and stuck-metal parts having electric current and structures not having an electric current, i.e., steel tower, bridge, storage tanks, steel structures and coating panels, etc.
US08211215B2
An instrument gas conditioning system is provided. The system includes filtering, and optionally drying, a gas stream to obtain a filtered, and optionally dried, gas stream. The filtered, and optionally dried, gas stream is heated in a heater and then regulated through a regulator. The filtered, heated, regulated, and, optionally dried, gas stream may be used as instrumentation gas.
US08211210B2
A system of sampling a fluid comprises a fluid separator having a central axis. The fluid separator includes an insulating sleeve. In addition the fluid separator includes a separator assembly coaxially disposed within the sleeve. Further, the fluid separator includes an annulus radially disposed between the sleeve and the separator assembly. The separator assembly includes a conduit, a support rod coaxially disposed within the conduit, and a plurality of separator members coupled to the support rod within the conduit.
US08211209B2
Apparatuses for controlling a humidity level within an enclosed volume storage device and methods for using same. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a container having outer walls defining an inner volume, at least one of the outer walls, preferably an lid wall, having perforations therein. The apparatus further comprises a composition capable of adsorbing and desorbing water and contained in the inner volume of the container. The composition is hydrated to a hydration level less than about 0.13 mL water per gram of the composition. The methods include a step of hydrating the composition in an apparatus of the invention to a hydration level less than about 0.13 mL water per gram of composition.
US08211206B2
The invention provides a method of processing a starting material in the form of a metal oxide-containing raw metallurgical slag to obtain a processed slag product. The method includes admixing the raw slag with a reductant to obtain a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to cause the reductant to reduce the metal oxide in the slag, to obtain molten metal, in particular containing ferromanganese, and molten processed slag, in particular having a manganese content of at most 10% by mass. The method further includes separating the molten processed slag from the molten metal and causing or allowing the molten processed slag to solidify, thereby to obtain a solid processed slag product. This processed slag product may be, as desired, a filler for use in brick-making or for use in formulating a ready-mix concrete, an extender for extending a cement or for producing a blended cement, or an aggregate for use in the construction or building industry.
US08211198B2
Filter racks are disclosed that are adjustable to accommodate filters of various thicknesses. The filter racks may include an insert that can be positioned within the base of the filter rack in two or more positions to adjust the receiving width of the filter rack. A perforated tab of the insert may be unbent to position the insert within the base at a smaller width, and the tab may be bent to position the insert within the base at a larger width. The insert also may include a divider that can be positioned within the base to reduce the width of the filter rack. Further, a rotating guide may be attached to detents within walls of the filter rack compartment. The guide may be biased at various angles to accommodate filters of different widths.
US08211195B2
Hot gas filtration fabrics for bag filters can be made using fibers that include high silica fibers and at least one FR fiber. The fabrics can be made using these fibers by needling and/or water jet entanglement. The fabrics may be treated with binders with or without additives to enhance mechanical properties or to impart other characteristics such as gas adsorption. Certain non-woven fabrics made according to the invention have improved high temperatures filtration capabilities and mechanical properties.
US08211190B2
This invention relates to fuel oil, especially middle distillate fuel oil, compositions comprising middle distillate fuel oil and incorporated therein an incorporated therein an additive composition comprising (a) at least one fuel-soluble or fuel-dispersible neutral alkaline earth metal compound and/or at least one fuel-soluble or fuel-dispersible neutral alkali metal compound, and (b) at least one fuel-soluble or fuel-dispersible transition metal compound, characterized in that the fuel oil composition contains at most 0.05 mass % of sulfur, the total metal content derived from (a) and (b) in the fuel oil composition is at most 50 ppm by mass, and the mass proportion of (a) to (b), based on metal content, is in the range of from 1:99 to 99:1.
US08211189B2
The present invention is a process and apparatus for forming various bio-products from cellulosic plant material. The plant material is subjected to a pulping step in which lignin is extracted from the material by an aqueous lignin solvent to form a lignin-solvent mixture and purified cellulose. The lignin-solvent mixture can be separated from the water to form a high energy density fuel that can be used independently or combined with biodiesel. The purified cellulose can be used in conventional processes, e.g., paper making, or can be converted to fermentable sugars with a cellulase enzyme to produce other bio-products depending on the operating conditions of the fermenter. The bio-products produced by the fermenter can include the solvent that may be recycled for use in extracting the lignin.
US08211187B2
Elevated vacuum locking systems for prosthetic limbs are disclosed. Some example embodiments may include a manifold mounted to the exterior of the distal end of a socket and may include a cavity adapted to receive a distal end of a plunger pin when the patient's residual limb and a liner are installed into the socket. Some example manifolds may include a through passage fluidicly connecting an interior of the cavity to a fitting mounted on an exterior of the manifold and/or a spool valve arranged to selectively vent the cavity to atmosphere via the through passage and a vent hole. The spool valve may be axially slidable between an open position and a shut position within a channel integrally formed with the manifold.
US08211182B2
A hip implant assembly including a spherical shaped ball and an elongated stem. An annular defining rim separates the ball from the stem and abuts, in a maximum inserting condition, over an exterior reconditioned surface of the femur and upon inserting the stem within an interior passageway formed within the femur. A cup shaped support seats the ball in a universally articulating permitting fashion via a flexible and resilient ligament which extends from the ball and is received within a recess passageway of the cup. The cup also includes a mounting surface with a central projecting portion which is in turn resistively fitted within an undercut defined recess formed in the ilium bone in communication with a base surface of the reconditioned acetabulum socket. A corresponding installation kit assists the preparation of the femur and ilium bones defining the hip joint, as well as the installation of the implant body into the upper conditioned femur end and the cup shaped and outer socket support to a reconditioned acetabulum defined in the ilium bone.
US08211161B2
An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen for treating an area of vulnerable plaque. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. A central section is positioned between distal and proximal sections and is aligned with the area of vulnerable plaque to enhance growth of endothelial cells over the fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque to reinforce the area and reduce the likelihood of rupture.
US08211158B2
Described is a method for deploying a stent-graft in the aorta, the method including positioning a shunt to go along a portion of a brain-supplying artery (BSA) into the aorta; deploying a stent-graft in the aorta along a portion of the shunt; and removing the shunt. Also described is a removable shunt adapted for deployment along a brain-supplying artery into an aorta to supply blood to the artery during deployment of a stent-graft in the aorta, the removable shunt including a stiff segment that is stiff enough to remain at least partially open when between the aorta and the stent-graft and large enough to allow sufficient blood supply to the brain during the deployment of the stent-graft; and a mechanism for facilitating safe removal of the shunt from between the stent-graft and the aorta. Also described is a method of deploying a branch stent graft having a flaring portion in a blood vessel branching at a bifurcation from an aorta to connect to an aortic stent graft deployed in the aorta across the bifurcation, a branch stent-graft useful in the method, and a delivery system useful in the method.
US08211156B2
The invention is a bone screw apparatus. The bone screw apparatus has two specialized functions for stabilizing the screw within a bone. The first is a mechanical structure that anchors the screw within a bone and the second is a structure that allows injection of bone cement through the screw assembly and into the interior structure of the bone. The anchoring mechanism functions by an expandable member that slides concentrically over the shaft of the screw. When the expandable member is forced over a portion of the screw shaft with an enlarged diameter, the expandable member extends radially from the screw shaft, and the bone screw is anchored to the interior structure of the bone. The injecting function of the bone screw apparatus functions through the use of a hollow core within the screw shaft. The hollow core of the screw shaft has an inlet at the top of the shaft and at least one outlet near the tip of the screw shaft. Once the screw shaft is inserted into the interior structure of a bone, bone cement may be injected into the inlet at the top of the screw shaft. The bone cement travels through the hollow core of the screw shaft and is extruded out the holes near the tip of the screw shaft. The bone cement fills the void spaces within the bone structure and strengthens the bone.
US08211153B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for aligning and implanting orthopedic fixation or stabilization implants within the body. In one embodiment, the system includes at least two bone anchors, at least one of which is provided with a transverse portal and a locking member. In one aspect, the system also includes at least one linkage rod, for linking two or more bone anchors through their respective locking members. The linking rod may include at least one angularly adjustable joint, which may be fixed by actuating the locking member. The bone anchors and the linkage rod may be locked into place to form a spinal fusion or fixation prosthesis.
US08211152B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for fixation of a bone anchor to a structural member used for spinal fixation, whereby spinal deformity can be corrected and mechanical stability of the spine is provided so that load is carried fully or partially through the structural member. This invention provides fixation of a bone anchor to a structural member through tensile loading of a component of the fixation mechanism. This invention is widely adaptable to a variety of bone anchors and structural members. This invention allows reduction of spine deformity resulting from varied spinal disease through the fixation mechanism alone without the need for added reduction instrumentation systems. This invention equally provides a fixation mechanism for fixation of a bone anchor to the structural member of a spine fixation system in the absence of deformity.
US08211150B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08211149B2
The present application is directed to devices with expandable lengths for treating bony members. The device may include an elongated member with two sections that are movable relative to each other. An expansion chamber may be positioned between the first and second sections. A pump may move fluid from a reservoir and through a conduit into the expansion chamber. The expansion chamber expands upon receiving the fluid to cause the first and second sections to move apart and increase the length of the elongated member. The device may include multiple expansion chambers along the length, and the elongated member may include multiple sections.
US08211146B2
An implantable device includes a first arm member, a second arm member, a compressible member disposed between and coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member, and a tensioning member coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member. Wherein upon moving the first arm member toward the second arm member the tensioning member translates within the first arm member.
US08211145B2
Vertebra bodies in the human spine are stabilized through the use of minimally invasive surgery for the implantation of an elongate implant plate assembly having spaced first and second screw receiving socket elements which are configured for respective attachment to first and second spaced vertebra with the aid of bone fixation screws and these elements are slidably received with respect to each other for adjustably changing the distance between the screw receiving socket elements. A lock assembly is also provided for selectively locking the first and second screw receiving elements from further relative sliding. An elongate insertion tool is releaseably secured to the plate assembly, and the insertion tool is configured for manipulating the plate assembly as a whole and for remotely manipulating the screw receiving socket elements for adjusting the distance therebetween.
US08211143B2
A medical apparatus and method useful for suturing tissue is disclosed. The medical apparatus can include a curved needle and an apparatus suitable for providing endoscopic suturing. The apparatus can include a needle drive for driving the curved needle about a generally arcuate path. The curved needle can be deformed to form a closed needle structure.
US08211133B2
A lancet has a generally tubular body (1). A hollow insert (4) with a closed end plugs one end of the body (1), and it has a co-axial projection (5) forming a sharp tip proud of that end of the body. The body (1) and insert (4) are simultaneously formed by twin shot moulding, the body being of polyethylene and the insert being of a liquid crystal polymer which will create a sharp tip of adequate strength.
US08211130B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical suture needle assembly is provided including an elongate tube defining a lumen through at least a portion of a length thereof; and a wound treatment material contained within the lumen of the suture structure. The present disclosure further provides for methods of using the surgical suture needle assembly in anastomotic procedures and the like.
US08211128B1
A combined surgical implement used in stomach reduction surgery and for serving as a template and testing integrity of a newly-formed gastric pouch is disclosed. A primary tube extending into a stomach of a patient carries a balloon inflatable to define a size and shape of a newly formed gastric pouch. Suction is applied through the tube to remove the stomach contents and deflate the stomach around the balloon, after which the gastric pouch is surgically formed. After surgical completion of the pouch, the pouch is tested by pressurizing and the pressure monitored. If a leak is present, the pressure falls and air bubbles in the saline solution surrounding the gastric pouch become evident, immediately indicating a leak in the newly-formed gastric pouch, which then may be repaired to seal the leak.
US08211124B2
A sealing clip for sealing or holding punctures or openings in tissue closed is applied from the inner surface of the tissue. In one embodiment, the clip has piercing members for penetrating the tissue from an inner surface thereof adjacent the opening. A delivery apparatus is used to releasably hold the clip in one configuration for introduction of the clip through the puncture or opening and expand the clip to a more open configuration for pulling the clip through the tissue as the delivery apparatus is retracted. Further retraction of the delivery apparatus causes the edges of the tissue surrounding the opening to move along the clip and come together after which the clip is released and closed to hold the tissue edges of the opening together. In the case where the clip has a memory set closed shape, the clip returns toward that shape after being released to hold the tissue edges of the opening together, thereby holding the opening closed.
US08211123B2
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a suture trimmer, the suture trimmer including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an axis therebetween, the shaft having a groove formed in the side thereof, the groove in communication with an opening formed in the side of the shaft, the opening disposed proximal the distal end. The suture trimmer further including a cutting member slidably disposed within the shaft, and a suture retainer slidably disposed within the shaft. Wherein the suture trimmer in accordance with the present invention may be additionally utilized to position knots formed within a suture loop prior to trimming the free end(s) of the suture loop.
US08211120B2
A manipulating handle for a successive clipping device comprises: a cylindrical handle main body connected to a sheath with a manipulating wire extending from the sheath being arranged in an interior thereof; a slider engaged with the manipulating wire for moving the manipulating wire in the axial direction of the handle main body; and a slider-movement-amount regulating member attached onto the outer circumferential surface of the handle main body so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction of the handle main body, for regulating, according to a rotational position in a circumferential direction thereof, an amount of movement of the slider in the axial direction of the handle main body to one of a plurality of different amounts of movement required for respective clipping manipulations using a plurality of clips connected to the manipulating wire.
US08211118B2
Integrated systems and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchoring devices for such purposes.
US08211114B2
A medical instrument including a resiliently flexible first elongate member and a resiliently flexible second elongate member. The first elongate member has a first proximal end portion and a first distal portion. The second elongate member has a second proximal end portion and a second distal portion, wherein the second distal portion is attached to the first distal portion, and wherein the attached first and second distal portions define a distal-loop medical snare which is insertable within a patient. In a first example, the first proximal end portion is lengthwise translatable with respect to the second proximal end portion to articulate the medical snare. In the same or a second example, the first proximal end portion is rotatable about its centerline to articulate the medical snare.
US08211104B2
Medical probe kits and methods for treating tissue regions (e.g. tumors) are provided. The kit comprises a delivery cannula and an ablation probe. The delivery cannula comprises a shaft, a lumen extending through the shaft, and a plurality of windows formed through a wall of the shaft in communication with the cannula lumen. The ablation probe is configured to be removably disposed within the cannula lumen. The ablation probe has a shaft and proximal and distal arrays of electrodes that are deployable from the probe shaft. The electrodes of the proximal array are configured to be deployed out from the respective windows when the ablation probe is disposed within the cannula lumen. The electrodes of the distal array may be configured to be deployed out from an axial opening at the distal end of the cannula shaft when the ablation probe is disposed within the cannula lumen. The method may comprise introducing the cannula within a patient, introducing the ablation probe through the cannula, deploying the electrode arrays into contact with the tissue region, and conveying ablation energy to the ablation probe to ablate the tissue region within the electrode arrays.
US08211102B2
A contact sensing catheter system includes a catheter shaft having a distal end; a flexible conductive polymer electrode located at the distal end of the shaft; and an electro-mechanical contact sensor positioned at least partially within the electrode. The sensor outputs an electrical signal in response to a mechanical force acting thereon. The sensor may be a piezoelectric sensor, a strain gauge, a fiber optic sensor, or another suitable electro-mechanical contact sensor. The electrical signal output by the sensor typically varies in response to variations in the mechanical force acting on the sensor. An output device may receive the signal output by the contact sensor and present to a user of the system an indicator of contact between the electrode and a tissue by assessing, for example, the amplitude or periodicity of the signal.
US08211097B2
An electro-surgical system actively maintains an optimal heating profile at the electrode-patient contact surface under varying load resistivity, thereby reducing the risk of burns and maximizing patient comfort at a given power level. A set of temperature sensors is integrated within the electrode assembly of the electrosurgical system. The sensors are located both at the center and the edges of the electrode. The sensors are thermally coupled to the electrode-patient contact surface and have a time response that is short compared to the thermal time constraints of the tissue. Some degree of signal processing may take place at the sensor, inside the transducer assembly. As RF power is applied, a control loop monitors the temperature at the center and edges of the electrode. If the edge temperature of the electrode is high compared to its center temperature, then the control loop increases the operating frequency, effectively driving heat towards the center of the electrode. Conversely, if the edge temperature of the electrode is low compared to its center temperature, then the control loop decreases the operating frequency, effectively driving heat towards the edges of the electrode. By actively adjusting the operating frequency in this way, the control loop maintains any chosen heating profile at the electrode-patient contact surface.
US08211086B2
The invention relates to a method of making a solution for injection from a solvent and an active ingredient using a disposable injector with a housing, an injector-side, first cylinder-piston unit—at least intermittently fillable—arranged thereon and an upstream detachable container adapter, wherein the container adapter bears a likewise at least intermittently fillable second cylinder-piston unit. A solvent is stored in the first cylinder-piston unit. In the second cylinder-piston unit there is a freeze-dried active pharmaceutical ingredient. Immediately before use of the disposable injector the solvent is conveyed to the second cylinder-piston unit to the active pharmaceutical ingredient, where a solution forms. This solution is transfer-pumped into the first cylinder-piston unit to then be administered.
US08211063B2
An anchoring system includes a device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suture. The anchoring system comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes at least one clip forming at least a portion of a central channel and that moves generally in a lateral direction to capture the medical article to be retained. In certain embodiments, the clip moves in lateral and transverse directions between closed and open positions. The medical article is secured within the central channel. The channel may have a straight or tapering shape depending on the medical article to be retained.
US08211062B2
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may include an illumination instrument that provides the user with an opportunity to illuminate and inspect a targeted location. The illumination instrument can be useful in situations where the ambient lighting is insufficient for the user's inspection needs (e.g., during the night, during presentation or movie in which the lighting is low, or the like). In some embodiments, illumination instrument can be employed to visually inspect one or more components of the pump system, the infusion set, or a combination thereof.
US08211050B2
The medical implant for treating pathological obesity is adapted to modify and, as an alternative, to bypass the natural food passage in the digestive tract. The implant permits an adjustable bypassing of food into the small intestine and/or into the stomach (natural digestive path). Since the ratio of this bypass is adjustable in the course of the treatment by the physician, e.g. with the aid of an endoscope, for the first time a balance between the therapeutic effect and the side-effects can be adapted individually to each patient by the use of the implant. The implant has a hollow body with first and a second tubular end portions and at least one third lateral opening having a hose-like extension. The individual at least partly closable hose-like extensions differ in their ability to allow the passage of food into the stomach. Closing individual hose-like extensions at least partially by means of an endoscope leads to an individually adjustable distribution of food between the stomach and the small-intestine loop.
US08211049B2
A blood processing system is disclosed which is adapted for single or double access draw and return. The blood processing system includes a blood processor for separating blood (or blood components) into one or more components or other components. In one embodiment the blood processor includes an inlet for receiving blood from blood source and an outlet for returning at least one blood component to the source. The processing system includes a first flow path in communication with the inlet, a second flow path in communication with the outlet, a third flow path in communication with a second flow path at two spaced apart locations, a reservoir communicates with the third flow path between the two spaced apart locations, and a flow communication site associated with the second flow path downstream of the spaced apart locations which communication site is adapted to permit communication with the first flow path.
US08211044B2
A medical device comprising a sheath that fits around at least a portion of the circumference of a finger, optionally comprising a pouch for retaining an insert, for supporting and protecting the finger.
US08211043B2
A stabilizing belt for use by a person in need of assisted mobility, the stabilizing belt comprising a pad, a belt to wrap around the pad and secure the pad to a wearer, and a pair of handles attached to the pad. The pad may be uniquely contoured to provide support and comfort for the wearer, either the caregiver or the person in need of assisted mobility. A strap may be provided for added security and comfort. The belt may further comprise handle supports for reinforcement, a cover for durability, and a pocket for versatility.
US08211042B2
A high torque active mechanism for an orthotic and/or prosthetic joint using a primary brake which can be provide by magnetorheological (MR) rotational damper incorporating and an additional friction brake mechanism driven by the braking force generated by the MR damper. This combination of MR damper and friction brake mechanism allows an increase in torque density while keeping the same level of motion control offered by the MR damper alone. The increased torque density achieved by this high torque active mechanism allows to minimize the size of the actuating system, i.e. its diameter and/or breath, while maximizing its braking torque capability. In this regard, the friction brake mechanism is advantageously positioned around the MR damper, such that the dimension of the package is minimized.
US08211036B2
Cap for a testing device. The cap includes a lancet movably mounted within the cap and a skin-engaging end having an opening that allows a portion of a needle of the lancet to pass therethrough. A test strip may be arranged on the cap. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08211026B2
An ultrasound finger-mounted probe that has a finger clip that is adapted to be mounted on a human finger. The finger clip also has an interior surface adapted to contact the human finger. An ultrasound probe is adapted to be supported by the finger clip. Also, the ultrasound probe protrudes outwardly, relative to the interior surface, by less than 1.5 cm.
US08211022B2
A method for dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) assessment includes acquiring a blood pressure (BP) signal having a first oscillatory pattern from a first individual, acquiring a blood flow velocity (BFV) signal having a second oscillatory pattern from the first individual, decomposing the BP signal into a first group of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), decomposing the BFV signal into a second group of IMFs, determining dominant oscillatory frequencies in the first group of IMFs, automatically selecting a first characteristic IMF from the first group of IMFs that has its associated dominant oscillatory frequency in a predetermined frequency range, automatically selecting a second characteristic IMF from the second group of IMFs, calculating a time sequence of instantaneous phase difference between the first characteristic IMF and the second characteristic IMF, computing an average of the instantaneous phase difference in the time sequence, and identifying a pathological condition in the first individual.
US08211019B2
A clinical apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer having at least one oscillator, a transmitter circuit which supplies drive signals to the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer, a receiver circuit which receives echo signals outputted from the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer and which performs phase matching processing on the echo signals, and a data processor which yields superimposed echo signals by superimposing plural beams generated in different directions, where the plural beams are generated by performing at least one of (i) a mechanical scan, (ii) transmission and reception of steered beams in the different directions, and (iii) aperture synthesis in the different directions with respect to the received echo signals.
US08211018B2
The present invention relates to a digital beamformer in ultrasound imaging after the process of receiving a digital echo signal. Provided herein is a time multiplexed device and method for beamforming. The device includes an echo data write/read unit, a multi-beam processing unit, a channel data summing unit, and a parameter distributing and synchronizing unit for distributing and synchronizing respective receive parameters to the echo data write/read unit and the multi-beam processing unit through a parameter load bus for each of the beams in the channel.
US08211013B2
Disclosed are devices and methods for accessing and channeling through biological tissue. One embodiment is a bone access tool including a handle assembly and speculum assembly coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly has first and second portions that are movable relative to one another. The speculum assembly has first and second speculum members movably positioned relative to one another. The speculum members define an internal shaft arranged about a central axis and a tapered shape when positioned adjacent one another. The tapered shape gradually reduces in size from a proximal rim to a distal edge of the speculum assembly. The speculum assembly also has at least one rib extending outwardly from each of the first and second speculum members, the rib having an upper surface and an inclined lower surface. Actuation of the handle assembly causes the first speculum member and second speculum member to spread apart from one another about the central axis so as to retract anatomical tissue and widen a size of the internal shaft for deploying a tool into the internal shaft between the speculum members.
US08211008B2
The invention is a sideways looking video endoscope which offers a rigid endoscope tube. The optical system has one prism, and an image sensor located behind the optical system, provided on the distal end of the endoscope shaft. On the proximal end of the shaft, a knurled wheel is arranged so as to rotate freely. This wheel is provided with permanent magnets that are arranged at identical angular separations, and associated with Hall sensors located on the front face of the tool holder. The angular position of the rotatable wheel can thus be detected by means of the Hall sensors together with an electronic system that evaluates the signals, and displayed on a monitor. By turning the rotating wheel, the image can be rotated, thus correcting the image position when the endoscope is rotated, such that the viewing direction corresponds to the actual position of the object.
US08211007B2
A treatment instrument for endoscope of the present invention includes a puncture needle having a barb. A lymph node removing method of the present invention includes: an insertion step, wherein an endoscope has an insertable insertion portion which is inserted into an esophagus or a trachea being a lumen inside the body of a subject; the step of inserting a distal end portion arranged at the tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope into the lumen; a confirmation step of confirming the position of a mediastinal lymph node by performing ultrasound scanning using an ultrasound transducer arranged at the distal end portion; an anchoring step of placing an anchoring device which has been inserted through a channel inside the insertion portion of the endoscope, on the mediastinal lymph node by performing the ultrasound scanning; a incision step of cutting a wall of the lumen to make a fistula; and a drawing-in step of drawing the mediastinal lymph node into the lumen with the anchoring device.
US08211002B2
A bucket is provided for use with a centrifuge rotor. The bucket includes a bucket body that has a side wall and a bottom wall. A pair of projections extend from the side wall on opposing sides of the bucket body and are configured for engagement with the centrifuge rotor. The bucket also includes reinforcing material coupled to the projections for restricting movement of the bucket body relative to the projections during centrifugation on the centrifuge rotor. The projections may include bushings that extend outwardly from the side wall for engaging corresponding pins on the centrifuge rotor. The projection may alternatively or additionally include pins for engaging corresponding journals on the centrifuge rotor. The bucket body may include a pair of diametrically opposed apertures, with each of the projections extending through one of the apertures.
US08210989B2
A method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism comprises the steps of: detecting a predefined event; moving a locking device into an engaged position with a shift mechanism upon the occurrence of the predefined event to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position; and maintaining an ignition system in a substantially off position during the detecting of the event and the moving of the locking device into the engaged position. A vehicle assembly is also provided comprising the transmission shift mechanism and the locking device coupled to the shift mechanism. The vehicle assembly also includes the ignition system, which is movable between off, accessory, run, and start positions, and a controller with the controller energizing the locking device in response to the predefined event to move the locking device into the locked position while the ignition system remains substantially in the off position.
US08210988B2
The invention relates to a controller for a vehicle having installed thereon a drive power source, a transmission, and a torque converter that is equipped with a lockup clutch and is provided between the drive power source and the transmission. The controller includes a detection unit that detects an actual revolution speed of the drive power source, and a control unit that controls the lockup clutch so that a state of the lockup clutch becomes any state from among a disengaged state, an engaged state, and a slip state. When executing a slip control, the control unit compares the actual revolution speed with the target revolution speed, and feedback controls a transmission torque of the lockup clutch on the basis of a comparison result of the actual revolution speed and a target revolution speed so as to cause the actual revolution speed to follow the target revolution speed.
US08210987B2
A method of actuating an interwheel differential lock of a mobile vehicle. The interwheel differential lock is actuated to engage depending on the speed of the vehicle, the accelerator pedal position and the gradient of the torque at the transmission output.
US08210979B2
A normally-engaged clutch is provided having a friction-element with a first side and an opposing second side, a first plate configured for pressing against the friction-element on the first side, and a second plate configured for pressing against the friction-element on the second side. The clutch also includes a biasing device configured to apply a first force to the second plate for pressing the second plate against the friction-element to engage the clutch. Additionally, the clutch includes an apply piston for applying a second force to the first plate, and a release piston for applying a third force to the second plate. The clutch is disengaged when the second plate is pushed away from the friction-element by the third force in the absence of the second force, and is engaged when the first plate is pressed against the friction-element by the second force.
US08210973B2
A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder may be located within the casing and formed from a plurality of polymer bladder elements joined along abutting edges to form a sealed and valveless structure that encloses a pressurized gas. In some configurations, the bladder may be at least partially formed from an ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane material.
US08210972B2
Magnetic expandable broadhead arrowheads and methods for magnetically holding the blades of broadhead arrowheads in the retracted position are disclosed. Embodiments include deployable cutting blades that are magnetically held in a retracted position during launch and flight and deploy outwardly upon impact with a target. Other embodiments include magnets where the force holding the cutting blades in the retracted position is localized adjacent either the deployable ends or the pivoting ends of the cutting blades. Still other embodiments include magnets adjacent to substantially the entire length of elongated cutting blades while the blades are in the retracted position. Alternate embodiments include elongated cutting blades that extend in a rearward direction when retracted and cutting blades that extend in a forward direction when retracted.
US08210968B2
A table tennis basketball table includes a front leaf forming a front half of a table tennis table. The front leaf is pivotally mounted so that it folds from a horizontal position to a stowed vertical position. A rear leaf forms a rear half of a table tennis table. The rear leaf is pivotally mounted so that it folds from a horizontal position to a stowed vertical position. The table tennis basketball table has a table tennis mode when the front leaf and the rear leaf or in horizontal position. The table tennis basketball table has a basketball mode so that the front leaf is horizontal and the rear leaf is vertical. A pair of net support posts is movable and supports a net between them. The net support posts are mountable to a surface of the front leaf or a surface of the rear leaf.
US08210966B2
The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions including a first portion that interfaces the striking surface with a variety of configurations.
US08210959B2
The present invention relates to shot tracking. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for tracking shots of a golfer during a round of golf. One aspect of the present invention is a system for automatically tracking a golf club swung by a golfer. The system comprises a plurality of golf clubs. Each of the plurality of golf clubs comprises a device attached to a grip which is attached to a shaft which is attached to a golf club head. The device comprises a power source, a shock switch and a RFID component.
US08210954B2
An exercise facility may be part of a water ride. The exercise facility may be coupled to a water amusement system. An exercise facility may include a body of water that assists or resists movement of a participant between stations or apparatus in the facility. Exercise stations may be at least partially submerged in the body of water. Exercise apparatus may float on or be coupled to structures in the body of water. A participant may move from station to station, or apparatus to apparatus, by swimming, floating, traveling underwater, walking or jogging in the body of water, or using a conveyor. A system for providing exercise may include a processing unit that processes information relating to exercise by a participant and a display for displaying information to the participant while the participant is at the exercise stations.
US08210952B2
A pod type universal joint has a roller assembly rotatably carried by a number of trunnion journals. The roller assembly includes a spherical roller having its outer peripheral surface of a true sphere-shape and needle rollers arranged between the spherical roller and each of the trunnion journals. A raceway for the needle rollers and flanges for restricting an axial movement of the needle rollers are formed on an outer periphery of each of the trunnion journals. A projection beyond the circumscribing circle of the needle rollers is provided on the outer periphery of the tip end of each of the trunnion journals by performing plastic working on the tip end surface of each of the trunnion journals.
US08210942B2
A handheld gaming machine including one or more actuators for providing vibrational cues or feedback during play of a wagering game to indicate the occurrence of a wagering-game event, such as a change in game rules, an input of a wager, and the like. The change in game rules may include a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game, a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game, eligibility for bonus play, or eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game. The vibration can be consistent with a wagering-game theme and can accompany or be a substitute for concurrently played audio sounds. The actuator(s) may include a haptic device such as a haptic touchscreen that overlays the display or an electromagnetic coil acting upon an unbalanced mass.
US08210941B2
A medium position detection device including: a medium moving space (10) formed in which a plurality of media (30) can simultaneously move without overlapping in a predetermined direction; a light-guiding plate (11) which perpendicularly intersects the predetermined direction and defines the front of the medium moving space (10); a light source (20) disposed to emit light entering an end surface of the light-guiding plate (11); a reflecting section (13) formed in the light-guiding plate (11) so that the light having entered the light-guiding plate (11) is reflected by the reflecting section (13) and exits the light-guiding plate (11) through a back surface of the light-guiding plate (11); and detection means which detects the light from the light-guiding plate (11).
US08210938B2
The present invention relates to a method of reporting alterations to the operation of a gaming machine. The method includes operating the gaming machine in a standard mode of operation, and subsequently altering the standard mode of operation. In response to this altering, a report is automatically generated for submission to a gaming regulatory agency. The report indicates that the standard mode of operation has been altered. In one common form, the mode of operation being altered is the payout structure, which is information that must be submitted to the gaming regulatory agency in most jurisdictions. In other alternatives, the novel method includes transmitting the report to the agency, possibly automatically via an electronic transmission. The present invention also contemplates gaming machines that are configured to generate such a report, and gaming machine networks that are configured to generate such a report.
US08210935B2
Various embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of tokens which are assignable to a plurality of token collectors. Each of the token collectors has a designated capacity which may be the same or different for the token collectors. In one embodiment, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a number of tokens. In various other embodiments, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a total award value.
US08210928B2
The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.”
US08210927B2
A disclosed player tracking unit provides a display and a player tracking controller designed or configured to provide a web-browser on the display. The player tracking unit may include one or more input devices that can receive selections associated with the web-browser. Furthermore, the player tracking unit can include a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files for output on the display.
US08210910B2
A sanding and finishing tool is constructed from a number of interlocking sanding members configured such that the sanding and finishing tool is equipped for sanding and/or finishing jobs of varying sizes and degrees, and is further able to easily sand and/or finish in and around various sized edges, crevices and corners. The tool includes a first sanding member having a handle which can be provided with auxiliary sanding members having auxiliary sanding surfaces. The first sanding member includes a sanding surface covered by a sanding material, wherein the sanding material is removably attached to the sanding surface. The tool further includes any number of additional sanding members, such that each additional sanding member dovetails on to the last sanding member, and also includes a sanding surface and material.
US08210909B2
The present invention is an abrading system for a hand power tool including a base with a first end portion and a second end portion and configured to couple with the output shaft of a hand power tool, a flexible substrate having a first extending portion coupled with the first end portion and extending outwardly from the first end portion, a second extending portion coupled with the second end portion and extending outwardly from the second end portion, and a middle portion spaced apart from the base and extending between the first extending portion and the second extending portion, and an abrading material attached to the flexible substrate.
US08210896B2
A lights and sounds mechanism for use in a toy is provided. The lights and sounds mechanism may be connected to a product test switch switch. One or more components of the toy may be disassembled for packaging. The disassembled components may include one or more lights or speakers. When the product test switch is triggered, the lights and/or speakers in the disassembled components may properly function.
US08210894B2
A toy with sound-activated motion is provided. The toy comprises a toy body, a single motor within the body, adapted to turn in opposite directions in response to changes in electrical polarity, and control means to automatically reverse the polarity of an electrical current being supplied to the motor in response to an acoustical or electromagnetic input signal. The control means is adapted to automatically reverse the polarity in response to a changing acoustical or electromagnetic input signal.
US08210893B2
One particular implementation of the present invention may involve a flexible material infused with fine iron particles to form at least a portion of a flexible character or object. The flexible creation may be animated by one or more magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation such that the iron particles blended with the flexible material may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets. The infused iron particles may be attracted to the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object or portions of the object. Another implementation may use a magnetic field of a magnet to create an iron-infused flexible plant-like object that may be animated by a magnet. The object may be constructed of a flexible iron-infused material that is introduced into the magnetic field while the material is in a liquid or semi-liquid state. The iron filings blended within the flexible material may align with the magnetic field such that the object may take the shape of the magnetic field and hold that shape until the material has solidified.
US08210892B2
A transformative floor mat system that is interactive as a toy and a mat that is safe, fun and creative. In one form, the floor mat has tiles with interlocking structure around the edges of each tile to prove for a secured large surface area. The floor mat also has play pieces that can be removed from within each tiles so that each tile can be connected to one another to form a play figure. The floor mat system could also be configured to form other three-dimensional structures and environments, such as castles, forests, and beaches.
US08210888B2
Foldable or collapsible watercraft fins are described. Preferred examples of such fins are foldable surfboard, paddleboard, and kayak fins, one or more of which can be attached to a surfboard, paddleboard, or kayak.
US08210884B2
An electrical terminal is provided for terminating a wire. The electrical terminal includes an electrical contact and a crimp barrel extending from the electrical contact. The crimp barrel is configured to be crimped around an end of the wire. The crimp barrel includes a base and opposing side walls that extend from the base. The base and the side walls define an opening of the crimp barrel that is configured to receive the end of the wire therein. The side walls extend outwardly from the base to ends. The side walls include base segments that extend from the base and end segments that extend from the base segments and include the ends. A sealing wing extends from the end of at least one of the side walls. The side walls are configured to be folded over when crimped over the end of the wire such that a gap is defined between the end segment and the base segment of at least one of the side walls. The sealing wing is configured to extend within the gap between the end segment and the base segment of the corresponding side wall when the side walls are crimped over the end of the wire.
US08210883B2
The invention relates to a connector block (11) for separating insulated conductors of a first data cable (82) and a second data cable (86), said connector block containing: first and second groups (12A, 14A) of a plurality of slits (16) arranged in a row along a common side of the connector block; and a plurality of insulation displacement contacts comprising forked contact sections (21, 23) which at least partially extend into respective individual slits in order to electrically separate the insulated conductors. The groups of slits are separated by an insulation space (22) in order to reduce alien crosstalk between the conductors of the first data cable (82), which are coupled to the insulation displacement contacts of the first group of slits (12A), and the conductors of the second data cable (86), which are coupled to the insulation displacement contacts of the second group of slits (14A).
US08210882B2
Modular connector for electrical connections, provided with an external anchoring system which facilitates the grouping and fixing of several connectors through male and female couplings, both laterally and transversally. For first-sight recognition, the wraparound insulating carcasses (4) are standard color-keyed to identify the conductors. For the recognition of each circuit it is provided with an upper cover (6) which can be signaled by the user. The conductor part has a set of one or more metallic parts always of the same pole (1), and the set is built into a wraparound insulating carcass (5), having the same color as the conductor cable for this element.
US08210877B2
An electrical connector includes at least two parts: a housing having a mating side (MS) and a rear side (RS) and a terminal module having a mating side and a rear side. One part includes a mounting structure and the other part includes a corresponding receiving structure for receiving the mounting structure of the other part. The mounting structure extends in a direction from the mating side to the rear side of the part and includes a cross-section perpendicular to that direction, which cross-section has an asymmetric profile.
US08210874B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a first and a second electrical connector each having two connector ports. The first connector port of the first connector has an insulating mating tongue with a plurality of contacts thereon and an insulating protecting frame arranged side by side with the mating tongue along a longitudinal direction of the first connector and spaced away from the mating tongue. The second connector port is received in the protecting frame and has a shielding shell surrounding therearound.
US08210870B2
A coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces. The coupler includes a manifold having pneumatic apertures and a support having connector apertures to accommodate one or more valves.
US08210869B2
The present invention provides a booster cable capable of reliably being connected to a terminal that is provided in a limited space. Specifically, a connecting clip 3 is attached to both ends of a cable main body 4. Clamping sections 6a of the connecting clip 3 are set to be wide and outer surfaces of the pair of clamping sections 6a are set to be substantially in parallel in a closed state so that the clamping sections 6a are set to have approximately same thickness up to root portions. The root portions of the clamping sections 6a do not interfere so that the clamping sections 6a are able to be inserted into a limited space up to the root portions. It is thereby possible to sufficiently clamp and reliably connect the assisting terminal 5 that is provided in a limited space.
US08210865B2
To provide a terminal block having a structure for facilitating the mounting operation of a coil spring to the terminal block, and a method for assembling the terminal block. A spring supporting part (25a) has a supporting surface (251a) in which one end of a coil spring (5a) contacts, and a spring end holding portion (252a) for preventing the end of the coil spring contacting supporting surface (251a) from displacing in the radial direction of the coil spring. Spring end holding portion (252a) extends form supporting surface (251a) and is arranged at a part of the periphery of supporting surface (251a), such that spring end holding portion (252a) does not block a slit (27a). The width of slit (27a) is smaller than an outer diameter of coil spring (5a), and the length of slit (27a) is preferably equal to or larger than the radius of coil spring (5a).
US08210860B2
A connector includes, a frame section which has an inner space defined by side walls and a bottom portion, a plurality of pins protruding from the bottom portion in the inner space, a cover which has a magnet and a plurality of holes, where the cover is movable along the pins in the inner space between a first position and a second position that the pins are electrically connected, a detection unit that output a detection signal, an electromagnet provided at a position on the bottom portion opposing the magnet, and a control unit that controls a moving of the cover between the first position and the second position by bringing the electromagnet in a normal ON state or in an OFF state or a reverse ON state.
US08210856B2
A board terminal is formed by cutting a metal wire material at a predetermined length, the metal wire material having a cross-sectional shape similar to and slightly larger than a terminal holding hole. A press-fit portion press-fitted to the terminal holding hole is pressure-forged in a direction orthogonal to an axis. Thereby, a tapered portion and a stepped edge portions are provided on both sides of the pressure-forging direction, the tapered portion tapering toward a press-fit direction, the stepped edge portion being provided to an end side of the tapered portion. Further, externally projected portions are provided to both sides of the press-fit portion in the direction orthogonal to the axis which is orthogonal to the pressure-forging direction.
US08210855B1
An electrical connector includes a pedestal terminal which has a base board, two fastening boards extending upward from two sides of the base board, and two elastic boards extending upward from two free ends of the fastening boards and inclined gradually away from each other in process of extending upward, and a connecting terminal having two elastic arms and a bent portion connecting the elastic arms together to make the connecting terminal show a substantial inverted-V shape. Two free ends of the elastic boards are bent inward to form two restraining portions. Two free ends of the elastic arms are arched outward to form two interfering portions. The connecting terminal is movably engaged with the pedestal terminal with the elastic arms restrained between the restraining portions, the interfering portions abutting against insides of the corresponding elastic boards and the bent portion projecting upward beyond the pedestal terminal.
US08210854B2
An electrical socket assembly including a socket housing having coupling and flange portions and a contact cavity that extends through the coupling and flange portions along a central axis. The coupling and flange portions have different peripheral contours that extend about the central axis. The peripheral contour of the flange portion being sized and shaped to prevent the flange portion from advancing through a thru-hole of a circuit board. The socket assembly also includes a fastener that is configured to be secured to the coupling portion. The fastener and the flange portion have respective mating surfaces that face each other in opposite directions along the central axis. The respective mating surfaces are configured to grip the circuit board therebetween such that the socket housing has a fixed position relative to the circuit board. A conductive path exists between the power contact and the circuit board.
US08210851B2
A method on a computing device for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method utilizes a sequence of phonemes from a confusable pair which are systematically manipulated to make discrimination between the phonemes less difficult or more difficult based on the success of the adult, such as processing the consonant and vowel portions of the phonemes by emphasizing the portions, stretching the portions, and/or separating the consonant and vowel portions by time intervals. As the adult improves in auditory processing, the discriminations are made progressively more difficult by reducing the amount of processing to that of normal speech. Introductory phonemes may each include a blend of a formant-synthesized phoneme and an acoustically naturalistic phoneme that substantially replicates the spectro-temporal aspects of a naturally produced phoneme, with the blends progressing from substantially natural-sounding to substantially formant-synthesized.
US08210845B1
A two piece orthodontic pliers having a pair of arms separably hinged together, in which a first hinge portion on a first arm includes a shaft having a central, axially projecting protrusion, and a second hinge portion on a second arm includes a bore having a central recess for receiving the shaft and the central protrusion of the first hinge portion.
US08210843B2
A gas torch includes a torch head assembly including a coupled base and a connected portion coupled to an outer periphery of the coupled base. A joint assembly, which is coupled to the coupled base and adapted for connecting to a nozzle of a bottled gas tank, includes a first joint member and a second joint member communicating with the first joint member. Two fasteners are inserted through the first and second joint members and engaged with the coupled base of the torch head. The joint assembly enables the torch head assembly to connect to different kinds of gas tanks.
US08210842B2
A nozzle body defines an upstream channel. A downstream bracing portion has a lateral bore. A nozzle tip extends laterally through the lateral bore of the bracing portion and has a sealing surface for engaging a gate component that defines a mold gate. The runnerless nozzle further includes a securing component inserted into the bracing portion to hold the nozzle tip against the bracing portion. The bracing portion or the securing component defines a lateral channel in communication with the upstream channel for delivering molding material to the nozzle tip. The nozzle tip can be removed by removing the securing component.
US08210837B2
A blown film extrusion line has an annular die gap, from which a film tube can be extruded, a flatness unit or nip rolls, which fold the film tube, a calibration basket, which is disposed between the die gap and the flatness unit or nip rolls, and which has at least two film-guide elements that guide the film tube such that the film tube retains its round cross-section, with the diameter of the film tube being adjustable by changing the relative position of the two film-guide elements. The calibration basket includes a coupling device that couples the movement of the two film-guide elements to each other.
US08210834B2
An air pump for an inflatable article has a housing, and a blower, a switch assembly, an air valve and a fan guard mounted in the housing. The switch assembly has a slider and a driving device sliding the slider and the air valve to switch operating modes of the air pump. Thus, the air pump inflates or deflates the inflatable article or maintains or fine-tunes the air pressure inside the inflatable article. Therefore, the first and second openings of the housing are disposed on the housing for connection to different kinds of inflatable articles and the airflow directly flows through the air pump so inflating and deflating the inflatable article is fast.
US08210823B2
A sealing slot system for a turbine dovetail. The sealing slot system may include a dovetail tab with a first leg and a second leg, an insert positioned between the first leg and the second leg so as to define a sealing slot, and a pin extending through the dovetail tab and the slot insert.
US08210813B2
A method for sealing a gas turbine engine includes coupling a turbine bucket to a rotor wheel and forming an interface region therebetween. A cooling air passage is defined in a portion of the rotor wheel and a cooling air manifold is defined in a portion of the turbine bucket. The method also includes inserting a seal tube within at least a portion of the cooling air passage. The method further includes coupling the cooling air passage, the seal tube, and the cooling air manifold in flow communication to at least partially define a turbine bucket cooling system. The method also includes operating the gas turbine engine such that the rotor wheel and the turbine bucket are rotated, thereby inducing a pressure on the seal tube to substantially decrease air flow discharged from the turbine bucket cooling system through the interface region.
US08210807B2
Gas turbine airfoil assemblies and methods of repair are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: separating the airfoil from the platform; forming a depression in the platform, the depression being sized and shaped to receive a replacement airfoil; and affixing the replacement airfoil within the depression such that the replacement airfoil is attached to the platform.
US08210803B2
A vane has an airfoil shell and a spar within the shell. The vane has an outboard shroud at an outboard end of the shell and an inboard platform at an inboard end of the shell. The shell includes a region having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) varying with depth.
US08210802B2
The turbine casing as described herein may include a first section flange, a second section flange, the first section flange and the second section flange meeting at a joint, and a heat sink positioned about the joint.
US08210781B2
A processing machine includes a machine bed, a spindle seat, a sliding rail unit, and a driving unit. The sliding rail unit is disposed between the machine bed and the spindle seat. The driving unit is used for driving the spindle seat to move within a slot in the machine bed, and includes a threaded rod journalled on a junction between a bottom wall surface and a lateral wall surface of the machine bed, and a nut member disposed fixedly on a junction between a bottom surface and a lateral side surface of the spindle seat and engaging the threaded rod.
US08210776B2
The invention relates to a method for improving the strength of a porous or permeable material. The invention particularly relates to a method comprising: contacting at least one type of calcification bacteria with a porous or permeable material; contacting the calcification bacteria with a calcification medium; said method or process further comprising: contact the calcification bacteria with an adhesion agent and the assimilation of the adhesion agent by the calcification bacteria. The invention can be used for reinforcing floors, in particular liquefiable floors, for the stabilization of slopes, for the calcification of non organic or organic substrates, and for the restoration or protection of a frontage.
US08210772B2
A soil remediation system comprises an in-ground extraction well and separation apparatus connected to receive extracted soil vapors from the extraction well. The separation apparatus comprises plural pressure swing adsorption (PSA) components, respective ones of the PSA components containing a respective adsorption medium adapted to adsorb a respective species contained in the extracted soil vapors, the plural PSA components being connected in a serial succession to provide respective desorbed species flow streams of the respective species from the respective PSA components, some of the species being re-injected into the ground.
US08210755B2
The present invention provides for an optical cable and methods for interconnecting modular components with optical fibers. Each optical fiber is electronically labeled with a unique serial number such that interconnections using the optical fibers can be accurately audited.
US08210745B2
An apparatus for cone beam computed tomography of lower leg portions of a patient has a radiation source and a source transport actuable to move the source along an arcuate source path within a housing, from one side of a circumferential gap to the other and has a radius R2 about a center. A housing is provided for placement of the patient's foot. A digital radiation detector has a detector transport actuable to move the detector along an arcuate detector path within the housing, the detector path having a radius R1 about the center and concentric with the source path, wherein R1 is less than R2, and wherein the detector path extends from one side of the pedestal indent to the other. A gap closure apparatus is movable to a position that continues the detector path across the circumferential gap and encloses the detector path.
US08210742B2
A foreign matter detecting method of detecting foreign matter attached to a peripheral edge of a substrate, which makes it possible to accurately detect foreign matter attached to the peripheral edge of the substrate even if the foreign matter is of a minute size below the detection limit of an existing measuring instrument, and which is highly versatile and suitable for mass production of substrates. The substrate is cooled to condense moisture around the foreign matter attached to the peripheral edge of the substrate, and then the condensed moisture is iced to grow an ice crystal. Then, the foreign matter attached to the peripheral edge of the substrate, which is emphasized by the ice crystal, is detected.
US08210741B2
An apparatus determines cooling characteristics of an operational cooling device used for transferring heat from an electronic device. The operational cooling device is thermally coupled to a heat pipe. The heat pipe has an exposed surface for selective application of heat thereon. Heat from a localized heat source is selectively applied to at least one region of the exposed surface. The heat source is preferably capable of being varied both positionally relative to the exposed surface and in heat intensity. A heat shield is preferably positioned around the exposed surface of the heat pipe to isolate the operational cooling device from the heat from the localized heat source. A temperature detector repeatedly measures a temperature distribution across the exposed surface while the cooling device is in a heat transfer mode. The temperature distribution is then used to thermally characterize the operational cooling device.
US08210740B2
The invention relates to a timepiece component (1) that has an aperture (7) for receiving a support element (3) and includes a clamping system (13) for exerting radial force, enabling said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system (13) includes a radial clamping device (15) that has a crown (6) for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess (8) spaced apart from said aperture, to allow a travel for the crown. Moreover, the clamping system (13) further includes a device allowing a travel (17) that has a second, concentric, blind recess (10), spaced apart from said first blind recess (8), and located on the opposite surface to said first recess, to allow said crown a greater degree of freedom relative to said support element.The invention concerns the field of timepieces.
US08210731B2
The transparent light guide plate includes a rectangular light exit surface, a thick portion positioned at substantially a central portion of the surface, thin edge portions formed in parallel on both sides of the thick portion, a parallel groove accommodating a bar-like light source and being formed at substantially a center of the thick portion and inclined rear portions whose thickness is reduced from the thick portion toward the thin edge portions. An end portion of the groove is narrowed toward the surface symmetrically to a center line of the groove in a sectional shape thereof according to a ratio of a peak value of illuminance or luminance of emitted light at a first portion of the surface corresponding to the groove to an average value thereof at second portions corresponding to the inclined rear portions. The planar lighting device includes the light guide plate. The liquid crystal display device includes the planar lighting device.
US08210730B2
A light guide plate includes a light introducing portion which is positioned facing a point light source and which confines light, and a light guide plate body which is thinner than a maximum thickness of the light introducing portion and which causes a light exit means to emit the confined light outward. The light introducing portion has an inclined face which is inclined from a portion having the maximum thickness to a surface of the light guide plate body. The inclined face includes a directivity converting pattern for converting a directional characteristic of the light that has entered the light introducing portion. The directivity converting pattern's structure includes a plurality of V-shaped grooves. An inscribed circle of the directivity converting pattern passes through both ends of a light exit window of the point light source.
US08210727B2
A vehicle headlamp of the present invention is provided with: a semiconductor-type light source; a main reflecting surface; a first auxiliary reflecting surface; a shade; a second auxiliary reflecting surface; a third auxiliary reflecting surface; and a fourth auxiliary reflecting surface. The shade forms a light distribution pattern for passing, having cutoff lines. The first auxiliary reflecting surface and the second auxiliary surface form a light distribution pattern for overhead sign. The first auxiliary reflecting surface, the third auxiliary reflecting surface, and the fourth auxiliary reflecting surface form an auxiliary light distribution pattern between the light distribution pattern for passing, having the cutoff lines, and a light distribution pattern for overhead sign. As a result, the vehicle headlamp of the present invention improves visibility.
US08210725B2
A light bar has several modular light source heads which may contain different types of light sources as well as different technologies mounted in cages by shock absorbing grommets. The cages are mounted on a bottom member so that the heads can be arranged along opposite sides and the ends of the bottom members. The heads are captured, and assembled with the bottom member, by a top member which also captures translucent or transparent members or lenses along the sides of the light bar and, transparent or translucent end caps which may also provide lenses for the light source heads at the ends of the bar. The end caps are removably connected to the top and bottom members at the ends of the bar by screws extending through the end caps. The light source modules have the same wiring connected thereto by connectors from a connector board to connectors along the back ends of the light source heads. The top member is attached to posts extending from the bottom member by screws so as to enable removal of the top member to expose the light source modules. The modules at the end of the light bar are exposed upon removal of the end caps thereby permitting the light source modules to be installed, removed for servicing, and the interchange of different modular heads to obtain a desired compliment of light sources, which may be of different types and technologies, or may not be installed if desired to meet customers' orders.
US08210723B2
An LED (light emitting diode) illumination device that can generate a uniform light output illumination pattern. The illumination source includes an array of LEDs. Forward of the LEDs is an array of negative lens surfaces. At a distance from the LED the width W of the lens and the spacing D between the LEDs enhances creating the uniform light output illumination pattern. The negative lens surface can be non-symmetric and take a conic or conic-like shape.
US08210721B2
An improved LED lamp manufacturing method and an improved LEP lamp device are described. In one aspect, an LEP lamp device includes an LED lamp bulb, a pair of electrical cables electrically coupled to the LED lamp bulb, and a main body. The main body encloses part of the LED lamp bulb, part of the pair of cables, a connection between the LED lamp bulb, and the pair of electrical cables. The main body includes a first plastic member and a second plastic member coupled to the first plastic member. Each of the first plastic member and second plastic member has a respective pair of cable grooves. The first plastic member or the second plastic member, or both, have one or more welding lines along an edge and between the respective pair of cable grooves.
US08210713B1
An illuminating device which utilizing multiple colored Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) is disclosed. The device incorporates a voltage regulator to allow it to operate on a wide range of voltages typically found on aircraft electrical systems. Additional controls are provided for brightness or dimming controls, and for the selection of the color output. The device includes a mounting clip for attaching it to a boom microphone on an aviation headset, though it could be used in a handheld manner as well.
US08210711B2
The invention relates to a light (1) especially a wall or ceiling light protected from spray water and used to receive at least one long gas discharge lamp (5), said light comprising a closed housing formed by an at least transparent base part (3) which can be mounted in a fixed location and holds electrical devices, and an at least transparent coupling part (2). The base part (3) and the coupling part (2) are injection-molded from the same charges of thermoplastic material in a common mold which is essentially symmetrical in terms of the injection process, and overlap along peripheral edges on both sides, one edge being an insertion edge (10) and the other edge being embodied as a U-shaped receiving element (9) for receiving the insertion edge (10). According to the invention, taking into consideration the characteristic features of the transparent or translucent plastic material and the requirements of large-scale production, the light is designed in such a way that the U-shaped receiving element (9) comprises a seal (14) consisting of an elastomer foam forming a smooth outer skin, and the inner wall (15) of the light is provided with a surface structure improving the adhesion, for receiving the seal (14).
US08210706B2
A street lighting arrangement for providing light distribution over an angular range between an axis and a cut-off angle, the arrangement comprising a first array (1) of at least one LED (2) having a substantially planar distribution pattern, the first array being directed at an angle intermediate to the axis and the cut-off angle, a second array of at least one LED having a substantially planar distribution pattern, the second array being directed at an angle intermediate to the axis and the cut-off angle and generally opposite to the first array, a first reflector (14) directed to receive light from the first array (1) beyond the cut-off angle and reflect it as a substantially parallel beam in the direction of the second array at close to the cut-off angle and a second reflector directed to receive light from the second array beyond the cut-off angle and reflect it as a substantially parallel beam in the direction of the first array (1) and at close to the cut-off angle.
US08210701B2
Disclosed herein is a lighting device including a blue light-emitting element adapted to emit a blue light beam; and a green phosphor layer which is disposed apart from the blue light-emitting element and can function as a light diffusion layer, the green phosphor layer including a green phosphor adapted to emit green fluorescence when excited by the blue light beam, the green phosphor having a refractive index of 1.49 or more and a quantum efficiency of 79% or more.
US08210700B2
A backlight module including a housing, a first reflector plate, a light guide plate, a second reflector plate and at least one light bar is provided. The first reflector plate is disposed on a bottom of the housing, and the light guide plate is disposed within the housing. The light guide plate includes a first optical surface, a second optical surface and a light emitting surface, and the first optical surface is adjacent to the first reflector plate. The second reflector plate is adjacent to the second optical surface of the light guide plate. The light bar is disposed between the first reflector plate and the light guide plate, and the light bar is opposite to the second optical surface.
US08210692B2
A mirror unit of the present invention includes a base member constituted of an upper plate portion, a lower plate portion, a connecting portion connecting the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion, and wall portions. A mirror holder for holding a mirror is pivotally supported between the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. A recess is formed in the wall portions. An adjuster is mounted in the recess. Screw holes extend through the recess, and adjusting screws are engaged in the screw holes. Lifting amounts of plate portions of the adjuster can be adjusted by the adjusting screws. The tilt angle of the mirror is adjusted so that the mirror is properly tilted with respect to a light flux from either one of two lamps.
US08210682B2
The primary objective of the present method and apparatus is to provide a transportable diagnosis system for a reliable method to examine the conditions of a human eye lens. The method provides precise and safe technique for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) which is not involved brain surgery or biopsy. The detection of deposited amyloid plaque in the eyes of the patient has been discovered to be a possible diagnosis solution. The disclosed method uses Terahertz waves in both time and frequency domains instead of laser for scanning the eye of the AD patient to precisely image the amyloid layer non-evasively in real time and to map the deposited plaque with high resolution which can easily distinguish the abnormality of an AD patient with the comparison of the patient eye lens test to the available signature of a normal person and the signature of a person with common age-related cataracts.
US08210681B2
The invention relates to a method for assessing the field of vision, wherein FDF stimuli are produced and detected by a person using the at least one eye to be examined. The invention is based on the object of providing a novel method and a device in order to efficiently assess the field of vision of a person and/or in order to recognize early signs of disease processes, which can lead to limitations in the field of vision. For this purpose, the invention provides that the production of the FDF stimuli is carried out by utilizing a computer-controlled system for the efficient determination of the vision and that the respective FDF stimulus is generated by utilizing an imaging device.
US08210671B2
An ink loader for a phase change ink imaging device includes an automated access control system that enables ink stick insertion based on user initiated ink load requests with reference to the operating state of the imaging device.
US08210669B2
The cartridge case of an ink cartridge has cover panels removably attached to both sides of a case core. A locking mechanism that can be disengaged and holds the cover panels to the case core forcibly elastically deforms the first latch plates of the cover panel, and engages or disengages the first protruding catch of the case core. Elastic deformation of the first latch plates is limited by the locking tab of the other cover panel, and as long as the other cover panel is not removed from the case core, the locking mechanism will not disengage and the one cover panel will not separate from the case core.
US08210668B2
A fluid container includes a body having an inlet configured to receive a fluid, a printhead configured to eject the fluid received at the inlet, and an optical receiver at the body and positioned in optical communication with the inlet such that optical signals received at the inlet are received at the optical receiver.
US08210664B2
A printhead that has at least one printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure has an ink conduit for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The conduit has a set of resonant frequencies at which ink in the conduit generates a standing wave in response to certain operating modes of the array of nozzle. A fluidic damper is incorporated into printhead, the damper having a selected resonant frequency that damps the standing waves associated with each of the set of resonant frequencies such that they have an amplitude less than a maximum threshold.
US08210662B2
A liquid-ejecting head including a pressure-generating chamber communicating with an nozzle, and a piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer arranged above the first electrode, and a second electrode arranged above the piezoelectric layer. An internal electric field in the piezoelectric layer is biased toward the first electrode or the second electrode and no voltage is applied to the first electrode or the second electrode.
US08210654B2
A fluid ejection device includes a chamber, and first and second electrodes configured to generate an electric field within the chamber. A related method includes, in a firing chamber, separating whole ink into colloidal particles and ink vehicle such that the firing fluid within the chamber comprises primarily ink vehicle.
US08210652B2
A printing head is provided by which, even when the stress is caused by a connecting section between a printing element substrate-side electrode terminal and a lead when the connecting section is heated and is subsequently cooled, the connecting section can be suppressed from having a deteriorated reliability. The printing head is structured so that the electrode pads are connected to the inner leads via stud bumps. The connection between the electrode pad and the stud bump is performed by applying ultrasonic oscillation to the connecting part in the first direction while the electrode pad is having a contact with the stud bump. The connection between the inner lead and the stud bump is performed by applying ultrasonic oscillation to the connecting part in the second direction intersecting with the first direction while the inner lead is having a contact with the stud bump.
US08210648B2
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening including an end, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. A structure extends from the end of the outlet opening and is shaped to direct the portion of the liquid diverted from the liquid dispensing channel through a steep angle relative to the direction of travel of the liquid provided by the liquid supply channel.
US08210644B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid drop formed at a lower face thereof, a wiping member wiping an opening portion of the nozzle, a carriage mounted with the liquid ejecting head, and moving in a horizontal direction relative to the wiping member; and an inclined plate mounted on the carriage at a predetermined space from the liquid ejecting head, and formed with an inclined face having a rising inclination as being far from the liquid ejecting head. A projected portion is provided on at least one of the liquid ejecting head and the inclined plate such that an opening portion at a lower side of the space is smaller than an upper portion of the space.
US08210643B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.
US08210637B2
The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of reducing wear of a roller for application, even if liquid (for example, application liquid) is insufficient in a case where liquid is applied to recording media. In an embodiment of the present invention, in a case where it is determined that the application liquid is sufficient in a storage tank, the application liquid is filled in a liquid retention space, the application liquid is applied to the recording medium, and thus recording is performed. In a case where it is determined that the liquid application is insufficient in the storage tank, recording with application is prohibited.
US08210636B2
A double-side recording apparatus which inverts a recording medium after the end of the recording of a first face, and then performs the recording of a second face, includes: a recording unit which performs recording on the recording medium; a transportation unit which transports the recording medium to a position where the recording unit can perform the recording; a movement unit which moves a movable member capable of engaging with the recording unit to an engagement position and a non-engagement position; an inversion unit which inverts the recording medium sent from the transportation unit and returns the inverted recording medium to the transportation unit; a power source which is common to the transportation unit, the movement unit, and the inversion unit.
US08210633B2
Quantizing means generates a quantized density and a quantization error component for a target pixel in a plurality of pixels. A subtracter calculates, for the target pixel, a quantization error correction component by subtracting the density of the target pixel contained in preliminary ejection data from the quantization error component output from the quantizing means. An allocator allocates the quantization error correction component calculated by the subtracter to a plurality of the pixels around the target pixel. The quantizing means outputs the quantized density and the quantization error component of the target pixel by performing an addition using the density of the target pixel contained in the image data, the density of the target pixel contained in the preliminary ejection data, and the accumulated diffused error component assigned to the target pixel by the allocator when other pixels are quantized.
US08210630B2
A method for driving a liquid ejector (1) provided with a piezoelectric actuator (7) including a piezoelectric ceramic layer (6) having a size covering a plurality of pressurizing chambers (2). An arbitrary piezoelectric deformation region (8) of the liquid ejector (1) is deflected in one thickness direction and the opposite direction individually by applying a driving voltage waveform including a first voltage (−VL) and an equivalent second voltage (+VL) of the opposite polarity in order to vary the volume of the pressurizing chambers (2) of a corresponding liquid droplet ejecting portion (4), and a liquid droplet is ejected through a communicating nozzle (3). Since gradual creep deformation of the inactive region (16) of the piezoelectric ceramic layer (6) is prevented, the ink droplet ejection performance is maintained at a good level over a long period.
US08210629B2
A method of determining the state of a printhead/cartridge in a thermal inkjet printer. An inkjet printhead undergoes a jetting operation in which a jetting frequency is selected and a corresponding steady state printhead temperature is known. The printhead is heated to the steady state temperature. Then the printhead is jetted with all nozzles for a predetermined period of time. Temperature samples from the printhead are obtained and the change in the printhead temperature for a short period of time is used to determine a slope in the temperature change. From the slope of printhead temperature changes, the ink flow rate through the printhead can be determined. The flow rate of ink through the printhead can be used to determine the various states of the printhead, including out of ink, clogged, deprimed, a taped printhead, etc.
US08210624B2
A self-closing drawer slide has a housing with a linear channel extending therein at an inner end of an outer longitudinal section. A catch is slidably mounted within the channel and has pivot pins 36 extending out either side thereof (only one side is shown) into corresponding slots in the sides of the channel. The catch is symmetrical about a longitudinal centre line of the housing and rocks rearward to unlock and engage a latch on an inner longitudinal section and forward to lock and release the latch. The catch is biased to slide to an inner end of the channel when the catch is unlocked and there are no external forces on the slide.
US08210618B2
A cutting bit includes a body having a head and a shank, a cutting tip attached to a front surface of the head, the cutting tip including a base portion, an upper portion and a tip portion, and a cavity extending into an interior of the cutting tip a distance from a bottom surface of the base portion. The distance the cavity extends into the interior is such that a bottom of the cavity is axially closer to the tip portion than at least a portion of a skirt separating the base portion and the upper portion. The cutting tip is attached by both a mechanical connection and a joining process. An example of a mechanical connection is a post on the front surface of the head of the body inserted into the cavity of the cutting tip. A cutting tip per se, a cutting bit on a mining machine and a method of manufacturing of a cutting bit are also disclosed.
US08210616B2
Building materials formed from synthetic polymer materials have an appearance which simulates natural woods. The building materials may be used in the construction of fences, sheds, decking materials, indoor/outdoor furniture, railings and numerous other products. The faux wood material is constructed to include reinforcing fibers and voids for weight reduction. The aesthetic appearance of the finished product can be enhanced by applying a color wash which includes a polymer component and a color component adhering to the surface of the material.
US08210614B2
A seat control mechanism for a seat frame has an interlock device that includes a lock plate slidably coupled to a seatback for movement between a locked and a released position. A stop bracket is coupled to a seat bottom and has a first end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seatback is in a full-forward position and a second end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seat back is in a fold-flat position. An actuator moves the lock plate from the locked to the released position to release the lock plate and permit movement of the seatback between the full-forward position and the fold-flat position. The lock plate is biased toward the locked position to engage the ends of the stop bracket to lock the seat back in either the full-forward or the fold-flat position after releasing the actuator.
US08210609B2
A damper 1 includes a vessel 2; a partitioning member 6 which partitions the interior of the vessel 2 into two accommodation chambers 4 and 5 for accommodating a viscous fluid 3, and which rotates together with the vessel 2 in an R direction and is movable in an axial direction A; a moving force imparting means 7 for imparting to the partitioning member 6 a moving force in an A1 direction by the input of rotation in an R1 direction; a resilient means 8 for resiliently urging the partitioning member 6 in an A2 direction; a through hole 9 for allowing the two accommodation chambers 4 and 5 inside the vessel 2 to communicate with each other; and an allowing/limiting member 10 which allows the viscous fluid 3 accommodated in the two accommodation chambers 4 and 5 in the vessel 2 to flow reciprocally between the two accommodation chambers 4 and 5 through the through hole 9, and which limits the flow of the viscous fluid 3 in the accommodation chamber 4 into the accommodation chamber 5 in the A2 direction through the through hole 9 when the internal pressure of the viscous fluid 3 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 4 in the A1 direction is generated in excess of a fixed value on the basis of the movement of the partitioning member 6 in the A1 direction.
US08210599B2
An aerodynamic panel assembly with surface macrostructure is provided for a land vehicle. The panel assembly includes a first plurality of slats each having a longitudinal length greater than its width, and a second plurality of slats each having a longitudinal length greater than its width. The first and second plurality of slats are interwoven, thereby providing significant structural strength while increasing the versatility of the panel assembly to be used on various types of vehicles. Various types of attachment mechanisms are provided for attaching a panel assembly to the vehicle.
US08210590B1
A trim panel assembly for an automotive vehicle having a pocket door that is moveable between a reduced width position and an increased width position. The trim panel assembly includes a panel having a recessed portion. A pocket door is mounted over at least a portion of the recessed portion such that the pocket door and the recessed portion define a storage pocket. The pocket door is mounted for translational movement between first and second positions. In the first position, the storage pocket has a first width defined between an outboard side wall and an inboard side wall. In the second position, the width of the storage pocket is increased. This increase in width occurs over the vertical extent of the storage pocket.
US08210578B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a housing defining a latching groove, a cover defining a latching hook to engage in the latching groove, and an opening assembly mounted in the housing. The opening assembly includes a sliding member slidably positioned in the latching groove, and an operation member positioned in the housing and connected to sliding member. The sliding member defines an abutting surface on the sliding member. The operating member is capable of pulling the sliding member to slide along the latching groove, so that the abutting surface of the sliding member pushes against the latching hook and disengages the latching hook from the latching groove.
US08210571B2
A book cover (10) having a spine (26) and end covers (32) on either side of the spine (26) wherein the spine and end covers (32) are all formed from a single, folded blank (12) and the end covers (32) comprise at least two adhered layers of the folded blank.
US08210570B1
The ski pole grip having a smoking apparatus includes a housing, a bowl piece disposed within the housing, the bowl piece including a bowl portion having a circular opening formed at a bottom thereof, a bowl plate attached to a top of the bowl piece, the bowl plate having an opening aligned with the circular opening of the bowl portion and a bowl, a smoke chamber attached to the circular opening of the bowl portion, and a retractable inhale tube closely received through the opening of the bowl plate and in the smoke chamber. Inhalation through the retractable inhale tube causes air to flow through the bowl, the bowl portion, the smoke chamber and the retractable inhale tube.
US08210568B2
A side airbag unit for a vehicle seat including a generally cylindrical gas generator unit having a longitudinal axis. The vehicle seat has a backrest with a front surface and a side surface. In order to achieve the result that the airbag requires little additional space and nevertheless is relatively easy to mount on the vehicle seat, the longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the front surface and perpendicular to the side surface of the vehicle seat.
US08210563B2
A stroller includes a frame, a pivot joint assembly mounted on the frame, and a handle coupled to the frame at the pivot joint assembly. The handle rotates about a pivot axis defined by the pivot joint assembly between first and second positions relative to the frame. A latch assembly includes a projection and is movable between a latched state in which the latch assembly secures the handle in either the first position or the second position and a released state in which the handle is released for movement between the first and second positions. A latch guide defines a path along which the projection rides during the movement between the first and second positions such that the projection remains in the released state during the movement between the first and second positions
US08210559B2
A trailer hitch device that includes a yoke assembly with a yoke section and a latch section, a latch assembly integral with the latch section with a latch pivot bolt, two latch plates pivotally connected by the latch pivot bolt and a horizontal coupling shaft having two external ends, where the external ends are dimensioned to fit into a vertical opening on the sides of latch section secured by the latch plates. There is also a trailer yoke that the horizontal coupling shaft passes through that can be securely and pivotally connected to the latch assembly by placing the horizontal coupling shaft in the vertical openings of the latch section, rotating the latch plates down over the horizontal coupling shaft and securing the latch plates in position and a longitudinal pivot rivet adjustably disposed on the vehicle side of trailer hitch device.
US08210554B2
A bicycle frame assembly that includes at least one joint having a number of steps and laps formed between adjoining frame members. A first frame member includes a male portion of the joint and has at least three steps that are separated by rises between adjacent steps formed on an exterior surface of the first frame member. A second frame member includes a female portion of the joint and has the same number of steps and rises as the first frame member formed on an interior surface of the second frame member. The steps and rises of the first and second frame members are constructed and orientated so that the first frame member slidably cooperates with the second frame member to form a continuous multidirectional joint therebetween.
US08210550B2
A suspension system for a stroller is described. The suspension system may include a rotating damper mechanism used between a stroller frame and a stroller wheel. In one example, apparatus for providing suspension/damping of a stroller includes a first member attached to a stroller frame, a second member disposed co-axially with the first member and operable to rotate relative to the first member, and at least one elastic member (e.g., urethane) positioned between the first and second members for damping motion (e.g., rotational or translational motion) therebetween. In one example, four elastic members are disposed between the first and second members.
US08210542B1
One or more elastomeric multifunction rings augment a plunger packing assembly within a plunger pump packing box. Each such ring comprises a totally-enclosed circumferential tubular cavity filled with a fluid medium which transmits hydraulic pressure throughout the tubular cavity. Longitudinal ring compression secondary to pumped fluid pressure acts through the compliance of each ring to increase tubular cavity hydraulic pressure, resulting in radial ring expansion. Ring expansion is both inward toward a plunger and, simultaneously, outward toward its packing box. Inward expansion tends to seal the extrusion gap, while outward expansion improves heat transfer via the ring from plunger to packing box. Periodic reduction of pumped fluid pressure tends to reverse radial ring expansion. Thus, relatively more effective sealing and heat transfer functions occur as a pump's pressure stroke increases pumped fluid pressure. And sealing is attenuated between pressure strokes to reduce both frictional ring wear and heat generation.
US08210535B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into a second group of cards, wherein the second group of cards is randomly arranged or shuffled. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack for moving cards one at a time into a selected one of the compartments, another card-moving mechanism for moving cards from one of the compartments to a second card receiver and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanisms and the elevator. A count of cards within specified areas of the card-handling system is maintained and card handling is halted and all cards counted by adding a count of all cards not within the specified areas to the total of cards counted within the specified areas.
US08210532B2
A gaming system having a five card draw poker game is provided. An initial five card hand is dealt and a first draw card is revealed. The player may keep or discard the first draw card. After the player decides whether to keep or discard the first draw card, the player may replace cards in the initial hand. If the player selects to discard the first draw card, this card is not used as a replacement card to form a final hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards in the initial hand to replace. If the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system displays a second draw card and the player may keep or discard the second draw card. This process continues until all discarded cards in the initial hand have been replaced or the player elects to discard one of the draw cards.
US08210528B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which can secure a stacking ability even when a paper is curled.An apex portion is provided downstream in the sheet discharge direction with respect to a center of gravity of the sheets discharged on the discharge tray, and an upstream portion in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet is pushed downward by the image reading apparatus, with respect to a downstream end in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet stacked on the discharge tray, at the downstream portion in the sheet discharge direction with respect to the apex portion of the discharge tray, and the upstream portion of the sheet is pressed by a flag while the downstream portion in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet is bent with the apex portion of the discharge tray.
US08210524B2
The inclination in the sliding direction to an inner rail of the sheet cassette is limited by a swing lever which is provided at a roller bearing support member so as to be protruded through the side of the upper guide surface of the inner rail when the sheet cassette is moved and the limitation of the inclination of the sheet cassette by the swing lever is released when the sheet cassette is pulled out.
US08210520B2
A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.
US08210519B2
An upper air blowing portion that blows air from above a sheet held by a tray is provided above the portion between a trailing end restricting plate and an absorption conveyance portion. A controlling portion drives the upper air blowing portion so as to restrict the movement of the sheet in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction, when the sheet held on the tray moves in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction with the air blown by the air blowing portion.
US08210516B2
The present invention includes a damping device for a media feed mechanism for a peripheral device having a media feedpath having a feed shaft and a downstream exit shaft. In one form a damping hub is mounted on said exit shaft, a resilient biasing member extending between the damping hub and the feed shaft to create a damping force on the damping hub. In another embodiment damping is provided by a brake structure engaging said damping hub. In yet another embodiment, a brake structure is pivotably mounted.
US08210515B2
A document transport apparatus for transporting a document sheet to a predetermined position that includes a first switchback portion for switching back each of the document sheets of which the front side is read in the document reading portion to transport to the document reading portion and a second switchback portion for switching back each of the document sheets of which both sides are read in the document reading portion to discharge to the sheet discharge tray. The first switchback member provided in the first switchback portion transports two document sheets in mutually different directions and the first switchback member has a first switchback path and a first switchback roller pair each for guiding overlapping two document sheets in the mutually different directions or the same direction. The second switchback member provided in the second switchback portion transports two document sheets in mutually different directions.
US08210505B2
The invention relates to a corrugated criss-crossing packing structure for installations that transfer material and/or heat between a gas phase and a liquid phase, comprising a first surface (10), called the primary surface, having a number of parallel channels (11). According to the invention, this structure has a second surface (20), called the secondary surface, comprised of a number of secondary packing elements (21, 31), each secondary packing element being placed inside a channel (11) of said primary surface (10) and being formed separately from the first surface. The invention is for use in cryogenic distillation.
US08210499B2
A ball valve and ball valve actuator including a unique valve stem seal and mounting connection between the ball valve and actuator. The stem seal design reduces leakage issues and significantly lengthens the life span of the ball valve and actuator and the mounting connection between the actuator. The ball valve maintains the centrality of the valve stem in connection with the actuator pinion and minimizes torque and shear forces transferred to the valve stem and hence the stem seal itself.
US08210491B2
A system for dampening the vibrations experienced by a sensing line connected to a jet pump within a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The system may include an eccentric clamp assembly (ECA). The ECA includes: a cam member and saddle; a key member, such as a t-bolt; an eccentric member; a clamp member; clamp body. A jacking bolt, washers, and an ECA connector lock the assembly in place. The ECA allows for adjustment in multiple directions, reducing installation time.
US08210488B2
A base/lifting structure, includes a base frame assembly and a plurality of readily removable lifting bracket channels, the base frame assembly and a plurality of readily removable lifting bracket channels each having structural elements, the structural elements being formed of galvanize sheet metal formed in a C-shape cross section, the structural elements being selectively utilized in the base frame assembly singly and in pairs. A method of forming a base/lifting structure is further included.
US08210485B2
One possible embodiment of the invention could be a trash bag holder and methodology of operating same, the trash bag holder comprises a resilient strip that is looped to adjustably form a hoop of an desired circumference; a catch mechanism that reversibly fixes the hoop at the desired circumference; a handle with two ends, a first end being pivotally attached to at least a portion of the hoop; wherein the hoop retains and holds open an open mouth portion of a trash bag placed upon the hoop by adjusting the circumference of the hoop to at least meet the circumference of the open mouth portion of the trash bag. The holder may further comprise a base reversibly attached to the handle to respectively orient the hoop parallel to and the handle perpendicular to the ground. The hoop may further encapsulate the base edge in a compact state.
US08210471B2
Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.
US08210466B2
This light aeroplane at the same time fulfilled the weight limits for the European ultra light class or acolyte class as do at the same time for the US-American sport plan Category. It comprises an engine arranged at the nose and is provided with tractor airscrew and the cabin cell that is arranged behind the engine and is wide enough for two adjacent passenger seats. A central tube (1) with a 200 mm diameter extends forwards towards the engine and to the rear at least behind the front edge of the lateral rudder and elevator control. Everything else is constructed around said tube. A square profiled element (12) is transversally guided edgeways beneath the central tube (1) and is rigidly connected to the same in a positively engaged manner. An upwardly projecting tube bend (11), which arches over the length of the square profiled element is fixed to the rear side of the square profiled element (12) with the ends thereof. The level of a virtual plane cabin floor is defined above the square profile (12). The free space above said floor is orthorhombic: at least 190 cm long, at least 45 cm wide and at least 40 cm high.
US08210464B1
The present invention is a device used for storing, displaying, and dispensing flexible tubing on a store shelf. The device comprises a bottom wall having a front edge, a rear wall, and first and second sidewalls. The device further comprises flexible tubing wrapped about a spool assembly mounted to and spanning the first and second sidewalls. The device further comprises a bumper removably engaged with the front edge of the bottom wall. The bumber reduces slipping and damage to the device when the flexible tubing is dispensed by the customer.
US08210458B2
A recirculating grinding mill, including at least two rolling presses for comminuting the material to be ground, at least two first classifiers for classifying a coarse-grain fraction, at least one second classifier for classifying a fine-grain fraction and a medium-grain fraction from the fractions classified in the at least two first classifiers. The feedstock is fed into the recirculating grinding mill passing the at least two rolling presses and the at least two first classifiers and then the at least one second classifier and the medium-grain fraction and the coarse fraction of the at least two first classifiers being fed once again to the rolling presses, and the at least two first classifiers being arranged underneath the at least two rolling presses. The rolling presses are placed between at least two risers for transporting the circulating material being ground.
US08210456B2
In a method of recycling sealed batteries, the batteries are shredded to form a shredded feedstock. The shredded feedstock is heated above ambient temperature and rolled to form a dried material. The dried material is screen separated into a coarse fraction and a powder fraction and the powder fraction is output. A system for recycling sealed cell batteries comprises an oven with a first conveyor extending into the oven. A rotatable tunnel extends within the oven from an output of the first conveyor. The tunnel has a spiral vane depending from its inner surface which extends along a length of the tunnel. A second conveyor is positioned below an output of the rotatable tunnel.
US08210452B2
The present invention is directed to a delivery device and a system for introducing the catalyst into the atomized coating composition. This invention is also directed to a system for producing a mixed composition comprising two or more components.
US08210439B2
A merchandise security tag device for use in a merchandise monitoring system is provided. The merchandise security tag device may be configured to display at least one predetermined optical validation image in response to a signal received from a validation scanning process of the merchandise monitoring system. The validation scanning process may verify that the article of merchandise has been paid for by the customer. The optical validation image may be within the visible spectrum and may be verified by a store employee.
US08210435B2
An apparatus for marking predetermined known overhead positional locations within a coordinate space, for viewing by an image acquisition system. The apparatus comprises a plurality of marker tags, grouped in one or more rows, each row having an axis, each row being supported by a row support. Each marker tag comprises an optically opaque, dark colored corrugated substrate, substantially rectangular in shape. A label having a unique machine-readable barcode symbology printed thereon is positioned centrally on the substrate so that a dark colored border of the substrate surrounds the label. Each row support comprises a first support cord and a second support cord. The first support cord supports a first lateral edge of the marker tags in a row group in a fixed, spaced-apart positional arrangement. The second support cord supports the second lateral edge of the marker tags in the row in a slidable support arrangement.
US08210429B1
Methods and devices enable inventory levels to be monitored in one or more cash handling devices. A cash handling device may be stocked with inventory. Deposits to and withdrawals from the cash handling device may be made. Changes in the inventory due to the deposits and the withdrawals may be monitored. Armored service for transport may be dispatched when: 1) the cash handling device requires replenishment for one or more denominations, 2) the inventory rises above or falls below desired thresholds, and/or 3) is approaching maximum capacity for one or more denominations. The inventory in the cash handling device may then be adjusted.
US08210422B2
Electronic assemblies with solder containment brackets are provided. A solder containment bracket may have a planar base and a vertically extending wall. The wall may protrude upwards from the base to form an enclosed region. The base may have a hole that corresponds to the shape of the enclosed region. The wall may have an opening. A wire may be inserted into the opening. The wire may be soldered to the solder containment bracket to form a solder joint that electrically connects the wire to the bracket. The solder joint formed within the enclosed region may have a size that is defined by the bracket wall. The solder containment bracket may be soldered to a solder pad on a printed circuit board by reflowing a layer of solder paste.
US08210415B2
A sub-miniature surgical staple cartridge includes an elongated housing having longitudinally extending strips forming walls with a wall thickness preferably less than 0.015 inch. The walls define a plurality of longitudinally spaced pockets which receive a corresponding plurality of U-shaped surgical staples above generally flat corresponding drivers. The thin walls are formed of sheet metal or extruded plastics material or heat-formed sheet plastics material with the outer side walls having opposite end walls welded together or integrally connected. The outer side walls may be sheet metal enclosing sheet metal or plastic extruded internal walls, or the entire cartridge may be extruded of a plastics material or formed of sheet plastics material and have a plastic bottom wall.
US08210410B2
Surgical method and apparatus for resectioning tissue, preferably lumenal tissue, with a remaining portion of an organ being anastomized with staples or other fastening means, preferably endolumenally. The apparatus may be inserted via a naturally occurring body orifice or a surgical incision and then advanced using either endoscopic or radiological imaging guidance to an area where surgery is to be performed. Under endoscopic or diagnostic imaging guidance the apparatus is positioned so tissue to be resected is manipulated into an inner cavity of the apparatus. The apparatus then cuts the diseased tissue after stapling and retains the diseased tissue within the apparatus. The rent resulting in a border of healthy tissue is anastomosed with surgical staples.
US08210405B1
The invention is a versatile, but simple, rifle sling for carrying a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun over one shoulder. The sling can be attached to the rifle by use of studs or swivels in a conventional manner or can be attached directly to the firearm by using the adjustable loops at each end of the sling. It is constructed from a single strip of leather without the use of any hardware such as buckles, clasps, clamps, hooks, rivets, screws or other devices. Each of the adjustable loops are formed from slide-lock knots.
US08210402B2
A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a mounted member carried on a molten vessel or an adjacent base. The mounted member includes an L-shaped bracket carrying a movable member to release the slag control shape and an actuator for selectively releasing the slag control shape. The mounting member further includes a sleeve secured to the vessel or adjacent base. A rotating shaft is connectable to both the L-shaped bracket and sleeve to provide rotatable movement in selective positions, of the L-shaped bracket relative to the sleeve.
US08210399B2
A dispenser includes a housing having a sidewall with first and second axial ends. A container has first and second end portions with the second end portion engaged with the housing such that the container extends from the first axial end of the housing. A plunger having first and second sides is disposed in the interior cavity of the container. The interior cavity of the container and the first side of the base cooperatively define a product cavity. The interior cavity of the container and the second side of the base cooperatively define an air cavity. A valve mechanism is in engagement with the second end portion of the container. The valve mechanism includes a nozzle defining an orifice and an accumulator defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber is adapted to receive a portion of the product in the container. A piston is selectively slidable in the pumping chamber.
US08210395B1
A spray dispenser and light emitting combination assembly includes a fluid ejecting apparatus that includes a pump and an actuator that is fluidly coupled to the pump. An inlet tube is fluidly coupled to the pump and an outlet tube is fluidly coupled to the pump. The outlet tube has a free end defining a nozzle. The nozzle is positioned in the actuator. The actuator actuates the pump when the actuator is depressed to draw fluid into the inlet tube and eject the fluid outwardly of the nozzle. A container is threadably coupled to the fluid ejecting apparatus. The inlet tube extends into an interior of the container and the nozzle is positioned outside of the container. A light emitting apparatus is mounted in the fluid ejecting system and emits light when the actuator is depressed.
US08210393B1
A tissue dispensing device for use with a standard tissue carton is formed as a helical coil spring that is highly stretchy and has a top coil that is fastened around a dispenser aperture in a top surface of the tissue carton with the remainder of the helical coil spring inserted into a space between the top surface of the tissue carton and top of the stack of tissues within the carton with a bottom coil thereof resting on top of the stack of tissues. The helical coil spring forms an open circular space within its coils under gravity that provides a vertically-extending support structure for supporting a tissue next to be dispensed from the tissue stack in a vertical standing position with a leading part thereof extending through a membrane opening of the dispenser aperture of the tissue carton to enable a user to grasp the leading part to withdraw the next tissue to be dispensed.
US08210372B2
The invention relates to a stackable carrier for growing material, such as pot plants, cuttings and plants placed in trays, comprising a substantially rectangular flat plate (35); and supports (36) extending transversely of the plate from the short sides of the plate for the purpose of supporting the carrier in a stack of carriers. This measure results in simplified handling of the carriers with the plants placed thereon. The carriers with the plants can be easily stacked on top of one another from above, wherein this is avoided in horizontal direction between the vertical posts of the Danish trolleys. Such operations therefore entail less effort. The invention furthermore provides the option of the grower using the carriers for his internal transport and even as carrier for the plants on the seedbeds. The supports preferably extend upward from the plate and the carrier comprises a frame extending at least at the periphery and a plate placed separately inside the frame.
