US08305012B2
A light-emitting adjustment method and a display device are provided. The display device includes a voltage source, a light-emitting diode array, a pulse width modulator, a current sensor and a light-emitting adjuster. The voltage source provides an operating voltage. The pulse width modulator provides operating pulse signals to multiple light-emitting diodes arranged in column in order. The current sensor senses a plurality of overall current values of the light-emitting diodes at different timings during the light-emitting diodes are sequentially enabled. The light-emitting adjuster computes an operating current value of each of the light-emitting diodes according to the overall current values and performs a compensation operation based on the operating current value to obtain and output a compensation signal.
US08305009B2
An inverter driver controls an inverter that supplies driving voltages to a plurality of discharge lamps. The inverter driver includes a first amplifier having an output terminal, a second amplifier having an output terminal connected to the output terminal of the first amplifier, and a capacitor connected between the output terminal and a ground source. The first amplifier outputs only a negative current corresponding to the maximum value among the driving voltages supplied to the plurality of discharge lamps, and the second amplifier outputs a current corresponding to the maximum value among the driving currents flowing through the plurality of discharge lamps. Such inverter driver controls the inverter according to a voltage of the capacitor.
US08304996B2
Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil, including a capacitor of an averaging circuit coupled in parallel with the relay coil. A drive transistor is coupled between the relay coil and a neutral bus that controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit, including a select transistor, is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. The pulse width modulator circuit further includes a current amplifier coupled between the voltage averaging circuit and the select transistor. The current amplifier may amplify a current discharged from the capacitor of the voltage averaging circuit to a base of the drive transistor during the negative half of the AC power source to reduce an amount of current discharged from the capacitor of the voltage circuit .during the negative half of the AC power source.
US08304993B2
A lamp tube according to the present invention at least comprises: a tube body, a light-emitting module, a driving module and an electrical connection module. The light-emitting module and the driving module are disposed in the tube body. The light-emitting module is provided with a first circuit board and a plurality of LEDs. The driving module is provided with at least a second circuit board and a drive circuit. The electrical connection module forms an electrical connection between the first and second circuit boards. It is convenient to independently replace or repair the driving module or the light-emitting module without discarding the entire lamp tube so as to effectively save costs and achieve the effects of energy saving and environmental protection.
US08304990B2
A method for hermetically sealing a device without performing a heat treatment step and the resulting hermetically sealed device are described herein. The method includes the steps of: (1) positioning the un-encapsulated device in a desired location with respect to a deposition device; and (2) using the deposition device to deposit a sealing material over at least a portion of the un-encapsulated device to form a hermetically sealed device without having to perform a post-deposition heat treating step. For instance, the sealing material can be a Sn2+-containing inorganic oxide material or a low liquidus temperature inorganic material.
US08304989B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an organic light-emitting display device and a manufacturing method of the organic light-emitting display device. The organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate; a display unit formed on the substrate; an encapsulation substrate formed above the display unit; a first sealant bonding the substrate and the encapsulation substrate; and a filler disposed between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate. In addition, a second sealant is provided to separate the first sealant and the filler. The adhesive strength of the second sealant is greater than an adhesive strength of the filler.
US08304981B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate. A control electrode is on the substrate. A gate insulating film covers the control electrode. An input electrode and an output electrode are on the gate insulating film and face each other. An oxide semiconductor is between the input electrode and the output electrode and on the control electrode. A pixel electrode is on portions of the edges of the output electrode and is electrically connected. An organic light emitting member is on the pixel electrode. A common electrode is on the organic light emitting member. The oxide semiconductor and the pixel electrode may be of the same layer.
US08304980B2
A fluorescence material and a white light illumination element are provided. The white light illumination element includes a light emitting diode (LED) chip, a first fluorescence material, and a second fluorescence material. The LED chip is configured on a substrate and emits an exciting light. The first fluorescence material and the second fluorescence material are configured on the LED chip. A composition of the first fluorescence material includes an aluminum nitride oxide doped with at least one of europium (Eu) and manganese (Mn). A first emitted light emitted by the first fluorescence material after the first fluorescence material absorbs the exciting light emitted from the LED chip and a second emitted light emitted by the second fluorescence material after the second fluorescence material absorbs the exciting light emitted from the LED chip are mixed to generate a white light.
US08304978B2
A light source module includes first and second light sources. The first light source includes a blue light-emitting body emitting blue light and a red fluorescent material disposed around the blue light-emitting body emitting red light by virtue of being excited by the blue light. The second light source is disposed adjacent to the first light source, and includes a green light-emitting body emitting green light. The blue and green light-emitting materials may include a light-emitting diode (LED) chip including substantially the same material. Accordingly, since a variation of light efficiency of the light source module with respect to temperature is small, a color feedback system may be omitted, and color reproducibility may be high.
US08304974B2
The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp including: a discharge space containing a discharge gas and being surrounded by a glass; a discharge electrode; a phosphor; and a mayenite type compound provided on at least a part of an inner surface contacting the discharge gas. According to the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, a fluorescent lamp that has good luminous efficiency of ultraviolet ray from a discharge gas, has good discharge characteristics such as discharge starting voltage and discharge sustaining voltage in a fluorescent lamp, is chemically stable, has excellent oxidation resistance, has excellent sputtering resistance, and can achieve electric power saving is provided.
US08304971B2
A light emitting diode (LED) light bulb includes a light shade, a heat conduction base, a plurality of heat sink fins, a heat conduction member and a plurality of LED light emitting elements. The heat conduction base has a circumferential portion connected with the plurality of heat sink fins and a central hole to accommodate the heat conduction member. The heat conduction member has an exposed end formed with a plurality of inclined planes and a top plane by stamping. Each of the inclined planes and the top plane are coupled with at least one of the LED light emitting elements, respectively. With the inclined planes and the top plane, the LED light emitting elements project light in different directions. The heat from the LED light emitting elements is transmitted to the plurality of heat sink fins through the heat conduction member to dissipate the heat quickly.
US08304968B2
A quartz crystal vibrator element having the weight section is provided with the intermediate weight section formed to have an arm width W1 larger (thicker) than the arm width W of the vibrating arm section and smaller (thinner) than the arm width W2 of the tip weight section, thereby making the intermediate weight section follow the vibration (the amplitude) of the vibrating arm section. Further, the tip weight section formed to have an arm width W2 larger (thicker) than the arm width W1 of the intermediate weight section is provided, thereby making the tip weight section follow the vibration (the amplitude) of the vibrating arm section and the intermediate weight section. Therefore, the vibration characteristics of the vibrating arm section can be stabilized.
US08304967B2
A flexural vibration piece includes: a base portion; a vibrating arm extending from the base portion and having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and side surfaces connecting the first surface and second surface, wherein a laminated structure including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and second electrode, is formed on each of the first surface and second surface, the piezoelectric layer formed on the first surface side and the piezoelectric layer formed on the second surface side have mutually opposite polarization directions, and the first electrode formed on the first surface side and the first electrode formed on the second surface side are connected to each other.
US08304965B2
Providing a package and a method for manufacturing the package capable of achieving improvement in the degree of vacuum in the cavity, and to provide a piezoelectric vibrator, an oscillator, an electronic device, and a radio-controlled timepiece. There is provided a package which includes a plurality of kinds of gettering materials 20, 21 having different activation temperatures and which are capable of being activated by heating is disposed in the cavity C.
US08304955B2
A PM stepping motor includes: a stator assembly composed of two stator units which are axially coupled to each other with a molding resin material, and each of which includes: inner and outer yokes each having a plurality of pole teeth; a bobbin including inner and outer flanges; and a coil wound around the bobbin, thus providing two such inner yokes, outer yokes, bobbins and coils in total; a rotor assembly which includes a shaft and a magnet, and which is rotatably disposed in the hollow of the stator assembly; and two bearings to rotatably support the shaft of the rotor assembly, wherein the two bobbins are formed of the molding resin material to be consolidated with the two inner yokes, and wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed of the molding resin material to extend integrally from the outer flange of each of the two bobbins.
US08304947B2
Techniques are generally described for adjusting a magnetic field in a magnetic bearing by moving permanent magnets in real time. Some example devices or systems include a magnetic bearing comprising electro-actuators adapted to move permanent magnets relative to a rotor to balance the rotor. For instance, in one example, each electro-actuator includes electro-active material adapted to deform in response to being exposed to an electrical field. This deformity causes permanent magnets attached to a surface of each electro-actuator to move relative to a rotor to balance the rotor. In many examples, a measurement circuit may be coupled to each electro-actuator and adapted to measure a capacitance of each electro-actuator. The capacitance measurement may be used to determine an adjustment signal to adjust the magnetic field in real time.
US08304944B2
A first end region of a rotating shaft of a rotor of a brushless motor is inserted through a control apparatus housing space, and is supported by a first bearing that is held by a first bearing box that is disposed on a first surface side of a base portion of a first housing that configures the control apparatus housing space, and a second end is supported by a second bearing that is held by a second bearing box that is disposed in a motor frame that configures a motor housing space. A control apparatus is disposed inside the control apparatus housing space, and an end portion of the rotating shaft that projects out through the first bearing constitutes a coupling portion.
US08304935B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method and system comprising a source resonator optionally coupled to an energy source and a second resonator located a distance from the source resonator, where the source resonator and the second resonator are coupled to provide near-field wireless energy transfer among the source resonator and the second resonator and where the field of at least one of the source resonator and the second resonator is shaped to avoid a loss-inducing object.
US08304932B2
Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).
US08304921B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a planar support structure having a cavity; forming a terminal within the cavity with the terminal coplanar with the planar support structure; forming a conductive pathway on the terminal and the planar support structure with the conductive pathway having a route portion and an interconnect attach portion at the end of the route portion; connecting a device and the interconnect attach portion with the interconnect attach portion towards the device; and forming an encapsulation over the planar support structure covering the conductive pathway and the device.
US08304916B1
An integrated circuit comprising a substrate including a top-side surface and a backside surface and a plurality of circuit components fabricated on the top-side surface of the substrate. The circuit includes a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending into the substrate from the backside surface of the substrate. Some of the plurality of vias are through vias that extend completely through the substrate and make electrical contact with a circuit component on the top-side surface of the substrate and some of the plurality of vias are part-way through vias that extend only part-way through the substrate and are positioned directly opposite to a circuit component on the top-side surface of the substrate, where the part-way through vias extend at least half-way through the substrate. The number of part-way through vias is determined based on the number of part-way through vias that are necessary to suppress substrate modes in the substrate.
US08304909B2
Embodiments of IC manufacture resulting in improved electromigration and gap-fill performance of interconnect conductors are described in this application. Reflow agent materials such as Sn, Al, Mn, Mg, Ag, Au, Zn, Zr, and In may be deposited on an IC substrate, allowing PVD depositing of a Cu layer for gap-fill of interconnect channels in the IC substrate. The Cu layer, along with reflow agent layer, may then be reflowed into the interconnect channels, forming a Cu alloy with improved gap-fill and electromigration performance. Other embodiments are also described.
US08304890B2
A semiconductor device includes a header, a semiconductor chip fixed to the header constituting a MOSFET, and a sealing body of insulating resin which covers the semiconductor chip, the header and the like, and further includes a drain lead contiguously formed with the header and projects from one side surface of the sealing body, and a source lead and a gate lead which project in parallel from one side surface of the sealing body, and wires which are positioned in the inside of the sealing body and connect electrodes on an upper surface of the semiconductor chip and the source lead and the gate lead, with a gate electrode pad arranged at a position from the gate lead and the source lead farther than a source electrode pad.
US08304887B2
An integrated circuit package is described that includes a substrate, a leadframe and one or more integrated circuits that are positioned between the substrate and the leadframe. Multiple electrical components may be attached to one or both sides of the substrate. The active face of the integrated circuit is electrically and physically connected to the substrate. The back side of the integrated circuit is mounted on a die attach pad of the leadframe. The leadframe includes multiple leads that are physically attached to and electrically coupled with the substrate. A molding material encapsulates portions of the substrate, the leadframe and the integrated circuit. Methods for forming such packages are also described.
US08304883B2
The objective of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that allows individual molding of plural semiconductor chips carried on a surface of the substrate. It includes the following process steps: a process step in which plural semiconductor elements 102 are arranged on the surface of substrate 100; a process step in which the inner side of substrate 102 is fixed on lower die 130; a process step in which liquid resin 114 is supplied from nozzle 112 onto each of the semiconductor elements in order to cover at least a portion of each of semiconductor chips 102; a process step in which the upper die having plural cavities 144 formed in one surface is pressed onto the lower die, and liquid resin 114 is molded at a prescribed temperature by means of plural cavities 144; and a process step in which cavities 144 of upper die 140 are detached from the substrate, and plural molding resin portions are formed individually.
US08304880B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a bottom substrate; mounting a bottom integrated circuit over the bottom substrate; mounting a top substrate over a side of the bottom integrated circuit opposite the bottom substrate; connecting a top interconnect between the bottom substrate and the top substrate; and forming an underfill layer between the bottom substrate and the top substrate, the underfill layer encapsulating the top interconnect outside a perimeter of the bottom integrated circuit.
US08304879B2
A spiral staircase shaped stacked semiconductor package is presented. The package includes a semiconductor chip module, a substrate and connection members. The semiconductor chip module includes at least two semiconductor chips which have chip selection pads and through-electrodes. The semiconductor chips are stacked such that the chip selection pads are exposed and the through-electrodes of the stacked semiconductor chips are electrically connected to one another. The substrate has the semiconductor chip module mounted thereto and has connection pads. The connection members electrically connect the chip selection pads to respective connection pads.
US08304875B2
A semiconductor package comprising a first semiconductor sub-package (40) having a connection face (44) with un-supported connectors (21) depending therefrom arranged to electrically connect a first semiconductor device contained therein to an external circuit, and at least one second semiconductor sub-package (42) also having a connection face (46) with un-supported connectors (25) depending therefrom arranged to electrically connect a second semiconductor device contained therein to an external circuit, the second semiconductor sub-package (42) also having an attachment face (48), on an opposite side thereof from the connection face (46); wherein the second semiconductor sub-package (42) is mounted on the first semiconductor sub-package (40) such that its attachment face (48) is coupled to the connection face (44) of the first semiconductor sub-package (40).
US08304860B2
Epitaxially coated silicon wafers have a rounded and polished edge region and a region adjacent to the edge having a width of 3 mm on the front and rear sides, a surface roughness in edge region of 0.1-1.5 nm RMS relative to a spatial wavelength range of 10-80 μm, and a variation of surface roughness of 1-10%. The wafer edges, after polishing, are examined for defects and roughness at the edge and surrounding region. Silicon wafers having a surface roughness of less than 1 nm RMS are pretreated in single wafer epitaxy reactors, first in a hydrogen atmosphere at a flow rate of 1-100 slm and in a second step, an etching medium with a flow rate of 0.5-5 slm is conducted onto the edge region of the wafer by a gas distribution device. The wafer is then epitaxially coated.
US08304847B2
An object of the present invention is to solve problems in that aluminum electrodes, aluminum wires, and I/O terminals are corroded by corrosive gasses when a pressure of a pressure medium containing corrosive matters such as exhaust gas is measured with a semiconductor sensor; and improve not only the corrosion resistance of the sensor chip but also the corrosion resistance of the portion particularly functioning as the pressure receiver.Each of the aluminum electrodes that is likely to be corroded portions is prevented from being corroded by forming a titanium-tungsten layer and gold layer on the aluminum electrode. The connecting wires are prevented from being corroded by corrosive matters by using gold wires. The I/O terminals are also prevented from being corroded by applying gold plating.
US08304840B2
The disclosure relates to spacer structures of a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a first active region and a second active region; a plurality of first gate electrodes having a gate pitch over the first active region, wherein each first gate electrode has a first width; a plurality of first spacers adjoining the plurality of first gate electrodes, wherein each first spacer has a third width; a plurality of second gate electrodes having the same gate pitch as the plurality of first gate electrodes over the second active region, wherein each second gate electrode has a second width greater than the first width; and a plurality of second spacers adjoining the plurality of second gate electrodes, wherein each second spacer has a fourth width less than the third width.
US08304833B2
The invention provides various embodiments of a memory cell formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) substrate and comprising one or more FET transistors. Each FET transistor has a source region and a drain region at least portions of which are arranged in the thin layer of the SeOI substrate, a channel region in which a trench is made, and a gate region formed in the trench. Specifically, the source, drain and channel regions also have portions which are arranged also beneath the insulating layer of the SeOI substrate; the portion of channel region beneath the insulating layer extends between the portions of the source and drain regions also beneath the insulating layer; and the trench in the channel region extends into the depth of the base substrate beyond the insulating layer. Also, methods for fabricating such memory cells and memory arrays including a plurality of such memory cells.
US08304825B2
The present technology is related generally to vertical discrete devices with a trench at the topside of the vertical discrete devices. The trench is filled with a conducting material. In this approach, a drain or cathode of the vertical discrete devices is electrically connected to the topside to result in a small area with low RON*AREA.
US08304821B2
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode defined on the substrate; a gate dielectric layer provided over the photodiode and the substrate; a polysilicon interconnect contacting a given area of the photodiode via an opening in the gate dielectric layer; a reset transistor coupled to the photodiode; a source follower transistor coupled to the photodiode; and a select transistor coupled to the source follower transistor. The given area of the photodiode defines a node that is coupled to the reset transistor and source follower transistor.
US08304820B2
Processing of memory cells forming a nonvolatile memory in a semiconductor device. A second polysilicon film is formed in such a manner as to cover a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Thus, the second polysilicon film is formed reflecting the shapes of a step difference portion and a gap groove. Particularly, in the second polysilicon film covering the gap groove, a concave part is formed. Subsequently, over the second polysilicon film, an antireflection film is formed. Thus, the antireflection film having high flowability flows from the higher region to the lower region of the step difference portion, but is stored in a sufficient amount in the concave part. Accordingly, the antireflection film is supplied from the concave part so as to compensate for the amount of the antireflection film to flow out therefrom.
US08304815B2
Disclosed is a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric converter, a transfer gate, an insulating layer, a first silicon layer, and a pixel transistor portion. The photoelectric converter converts light energy of incident light into electrical energy and obtains a signal charge. The photoelectric converter is formed on a surface side in the semiconductor substrate. The transfer gate reads the signal charge from the photoelectric converter, and the transfer gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the photoelectric converter. The insulating layer is formed on the photoelectric converter in the semiconductor substrate. The first silicon layer is formed on the insulating layer. The pixel transistor portion amplifies and outputs the signal charge read by the transfer gate. The pixel transistor portion is formed on the insulating layer with the first silicon layer being an active region.
US08304814B2
A bipolar power semiconductor device is provided with an emitter electrode on an emitter side and a collector electrode on a collector side. The device has a trench gate electrode and a structure with a plurality of layers of different conductivity types in the following order: at least one n doped source region, a p doped base layer, which surrounds the at least one source region, an n doped enhancement layer, a p doped additional well layer, an additional n doped enhancement layer, an additional p doped well layer, an n doped drift layer and a p doped collector layer. The trench gate electrode has a gate bottom, which is located closer to the collector side than the additional enhancement layer bottom.
US08304809B2
In a GaN-based semiconductor device, an active layer of a GaN-based semiconductor is formed on a silicon substrate. A trench is formed in the active layer and extends from a top surface of the active layer to a depth reaching the silicon substrate. A first electrode is formed on an internal wall surface of the trench and extends from the top surface of the active layer to the silicon substrate. A second electrode is formed on the active layer to define a current path between the first electrode and the second electrode via the active layer in an on-state of the device. A bottom electrode is formed on a bottom surface of the silicon substrate and defines a bonding pad for the first electrode. The first electrode is formed of metal in direct ohmic contact with both the silicon substrate and the active layer.
US08304808B2
Provided is an electric field head including a resistance sensor to read information recorded on a recording medium. The resistance sensor includes a first semiconductor layer including a source and a drain, and a second semiconductor layer that is heterogeneously combined with the first semiconductor layer. Also, the electric field head further includes a channel between the source and the drain, in a junction region of the first and second semiconductor layers.
US08304807B2
A reduced capacitance diode. A first conductive layer provides conductive interconnects for pad and supply diffusion regions in a diode. A second conductive layer includes a first portion to couple the pad diffusion regions to a pad and a second portion to couple the supply diffusion regions to a voltage supply. Lines of the first and second conductive layers are substantially parallel to each other in a diode region of the diode. Further, for one aspect, a tap for the diode to be coupled to a supply is wider than a minimum width.
US08304805B2
A photonic device comprises a substrate and a dielectric material including two or more openings that expose a portion of the substrate, the two or more openings each having an aspect ratio of at least 1. A bottom diode material comprising a compound semiconductor material that is lattice mismatched to the substrate occupies the two or more openings and is coalesced above the two or more openings to form the bottom diode region. The device further includes a top diode material and an active diode region between the top and bottom diode materials.
US08304801B2
An illuminating means, including a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation in the optical range, a support base, and an electrode arrangement with a first and at least a second electrode. The radiation source is disposed on the support base and connected by connecting wires to the electrode arrangement so as to be electrically conductive, and the radiation source is provided in the form of a first and at least a second semiconductor component. The first electrode is connected to the first semiconductor component via a first contact point, and the second electrode is connected to the second semiconductor component via a second contact point, so as to be electrically conductive. The distance of the first contact point from a center point or a line of symmetry of the support base is different from the distance of the second contact point from the center point or line of symmetry.
US08304800B2
A light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer having an exposed region, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the substrate, a first electrode on the exposed region of the first conductive semiconductor layer, and a second electrode on the second conductive semiconductor layer, wherein a side of the light emitting structure includes a first sloped side sloped from a reference plane, the first sloped side includes a concave-convex pattern having a concave-convex structure in which a first direction length is greater than a second direction length, the reference plane is a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the substrate faces the light emitting structure, and the first direction is a sloped direction of the first sloped side and the second direction is a lateral direction of the first sloped side.
US08304799B2
Optoelectronic components with a semiconductor chip, which is suitable for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation, a basic package body, which has a recess for receiving the semiconductor chip and electrical leads for the external electrical connection of the semiconductor chip, and a chip encapsulating element, which encloses the semiconductor chip in the recess. The basic package body is at least partly optically transmissive at least for part of the primary radiation and an optical axis of the semiconductor chip runs through the basic package body. The basic package body comprises a luminescence conversion material, which is suitable for converting at least part of the primary radiation into secondary radiation with wavelengths that are at least partly changed in comparison with the primary radiation.
US08304795B2
A semiconductor lamination portion (6) is formed by laminating nitride semiconductor layers including an n-type layer (3) and a p-type layer (5) on one side of a substrate (1) so as to form a light emitting layer, and a light transmitting conductive layer (7) is provided at a surface side of the semiconductor lamination portion. A concave-convex pattern, i.e., concaves (7a), is provided on a surface of the light transmitting conductive layer. A p-side electrode (8) is provided on the light transmitting conductive layer, and an n-side electrode (9) is electrically connected to the n-type layer exposed by etching a part of the semiconductor lamination portion. Light emitted from the light emitting layer is therefore totally reflected repeatedly in the semiconductor lamination portion and the substrate and can be effectively taken out without attenuation, so external quantum efficiency can be improved.
US08304793B2
A III-nitride semiconductor optical device has a support base comprised of a III-nitride semiconductor, an n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer, a p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer, and an active layer. The support base has a primary surface at an angle with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis extending in a c-axis direction of the III-nitride semiconductor. The n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer is provided over the primary surface of the support base. The p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer is doped with magnesium and is provided over the primary surface of the support base. The active layer is provided between the n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer and the p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer over the primary surface of the support base. The angle is in the range of not less than 40° and not more than 140°. The primary surface demonstrates either one of semipolar nature and nonpolar nature. The p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer contains carbon as a p-type dopant. A carbon concentration of the p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer is not less than 2×1016 cm−3, and the carbon concentration of the p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer is not more than 1×1019 cm−3.
US08304791B2
A nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device having a structure capable of improving optical output performance, and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The active layer may include a first barrier layer formed of InxGa(1-x)N (0.01≦x≦0.05) on a n-type semiconductor layer, a first diffusion barrier layer formed of InyGa(1-y)N (0≦y<0.01) on the first barrier layer, and doped with an anti-defect agent including at least one of an N (nitrogen) element and a Si (silicon) element, a quantum well layer formed of InzGa(1-z)N (0.25≦z≦0.35) on the first diffusion barrier layer, a second diffusion barrier layer formed of InyGa(1-y)N (0≦y<0.01) on the quantum well layer, and doped with an anti-defect agent including at least one of an N element and a Si element, and a second barrier layer formed of InxGa(1-x)N (0.01≦x≦0.05) on the second diffusion barrier layer. The nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device may include an n-type semiconductor layer, the active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are sequentially stacked on a substrate.
US08304786B2
A light emission device includes: first and second clad layers sandwiching an active layer; a first electrode connected with the first clad layer; and second electrodes connected with the second clad layer, at least part of the active layer forms gain areas corresponding to the second electrodes, the gain areas extend from a first side to a second side of the active layer while inclined to a vertical of the first side, at least first and second gain areas form a set of gain areas and a plurality of sets are provided, the first and second gain areas in each set are disposed perpendicular to a direction extending from the first side to the second side, the second electrodes above the first gain areas are interconnected by a first common electrode, and the second electrodes above the second gain areas are interconnected by a second common electrode.
US08304785B2
A light emitting diode (LED) structure, a manufacturing method thereof and a LED module are provided. The LED structure has temperature sensing function. The LED structure comprises a composite substrate and an LED. The composite substrate comprises a diode structure whose P-type semiconductor region or N-type semiconductor region has a predetermined doping concentration. The diode structure is a temperature sensor, and the sensitivity of the temperature sensor is based on the predetermined doping concentration. The LED is disposed on the composite substrate. The diode structure is used for sensing the heat emitted from the LED.
US08304777B2
A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each including an electro-optic element, a writing transistor writing a video signal into the pixel, a holding capacitor holding the video signal written by the writing transistor, and a driving transistor driving the electro-optic element based on the video signal held in the holding capacitor. The driving transistor includes a channel region, a gate electrode disposed opposite to the channel region, a first source/drain region closer to a power source, a second source/drain region closer to the electro-optic element, and impurity regions disposed between the channel region and the first and second source/drain regions and having a lower concentration than that of the corresponding source/drain region. The impurity region disposed between the channel region and the first source/drain region is formed in a region other than a region facing the gate electrode.
US08304769B2
An active matrix substrate of the present invention is arranged so that each pixel area has a transistor and a capacity electrode which is able to function as an electrode of a capacity. The active matrix substrate includes a conductor which is provided in a layer below the capacity electrode and is able to function as the other electrode of the capacity. The gate electrode of each transistor and a gate insulating film covering the conductor have a thin section with reduced thickness, in an on-conductor area overlapping the conductor. At least a part of the thin section overlaps the capacity electrode. In this way, the active matrix substrate which can reduce inconsistency in capacitance values of capacities (e.g. a storage capacitor, a capacity for controlling an electric potential of a pixel electrode, and a capacity which can function as both of them) provided in the substrate.
US08304768B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes according to an embodiment a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on a substrate, to define pixel regions crossing each other; thin film transistors each formed at the intersection of the gate lines and the data lines, and including a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode; common lines, each including a first pattern formed across the data lines, a second pattern formed adjacent to the data lines on both sides in the pixel region and parallel to the data lines, and a third pattern formed adjacent to the gate lines to connect the second pattern disposed on both the sides in the associated one of the pixel regions, and passing below the drain electrode of the thin film transistors; and pixel electrodes formed in the pixel regions.
US08304766B2
A semiconductor chip comprises a metal pad exposed by an opening in a passivation layer, wherein the metal pad has a testing area and a bond area. During a step of testing, a testing probe contacts with the testing area for electrical testing. After the step of testing, a polymer layer is formed on the testing area with a probe mark created by the testing probe. Alternatively, a semiconductor chip comprises a testing pad and a bond pad respectively exposed by two openings in a passivation layer, wherein the testing pad is connected to the bond pad. During a step of testing, a testing probe contacts with the testing pad for electrical testing. After the step of testing, a polymer layer is formed on the testing pad with a probe mark created by the testing probe.
US08304762B2
To provide an organic semiconductor of tetrathiafulvalene derivative and an organic thin-film transistor formed therefrom, the tetrathiafulvalene derivative being readily formed into a stable thin film and the organic thin-film transistor having a high mobility and being driven at a low threshold voltage, an organic semiconductor includes a hexamethylenetetrathiafulvalene compound represented by the formula (1) below, and an organic thin-film transistor having a thin film obtained therefrom (where R1 and R2 each independently denote an alkyl group which may have a C1-10 branched structure).
US08304756B2
An ultra-violet emitting light-emitting device and method for fabricating an ultraviolet light emitting device (LED) with an AlInGaN multiple-quantum-well active region exhibiting stable cw-powers. The LED includes a template with an ultraviolet light-emitting structure on it. The template includes a first buffer layer on a substrate, then a second buffer layer on the first preferably with a strain-relieving layer in both buffer layers. Next there is a semiconductor layer having a first type of conductivity followed by a layer providing a quantum-well region with an emission spectrum ranging from 190 nm to 369 nm. Another semiconductor layer having a second type of conductivity is applied next. Two metal contacts are applied to this construction, one to the semiconductor layer having the first type of conductivity and the other to the semiconductor layer having the second type of conductivity, to complete the LED.
US08304734B2
An infrared sensor capable of more highly accurately correcting an electrical signal converted by a light receiving unit is provided. An infrared sensor (100) converts energy of infrared rays radiated from an object (for example, human body) to an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal, the infrared sensor comprising: a light receiving unit (10) that includes a quantum type infrared detection element (11) and that converts the energy of the infrared rays to an electrical signal; and a correction unit (20) that corrects the output signal from the light receiving unit (10), wherein the light receiving unit (10) and the correction unit (20) are formed of the identical material on the identical substrate (1) and have the identical configuration so that the infrared rays enters in an identical manner.
US08304721B2
A micro cross-section processing method includes the steps of determining a linear cross-section estimated position including an observation object on a surface of the sample, irradiating the focused ion beam to the cross-section estimated position perpendicularly to or at a tilt angle to form a cross-section at a position in front of the cross-section estimated position, irradiating the focused ion beam to both ends of the cross-section to form side cuts extending to a position in rear of the cross-section estimated position, irradiating the focused ion beam to a position on the surface of the cross-section and at a position deeper than the observation object to form a bottom cut extending to a position in rear of the cross-section estimated position, irradiating the focused ion beam along from the side cuts to the cross-section estimated position to form wedges connecting to the bottom cut, and applying impact to a region in front of the cross-section estimated position of the sample to cleave the vicinity of the cross-section estimated position between the wedges and form a plane of cleavage.
US08304719B2
A method for identifying and characterizing components of interest in complex samples includes subjecting both a sample and its control samples to chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry analysis to detect ions of the samples. The method includes defining sections of control sample data within specified chromatographic fluctuation time and mass precision windows around each ion or each group of the same ions of question in the test sample data. The defined sections of the control sample data are examined and the maximal intensities are subtracted from respective ions in the test sample. Components of interest are determined from the resultant data of the test sample. The method can be used for identifying molecular ions and/or their fragment ions for components of interest in complex samples.
US08304718B2
A method of interfacing atmospheric pressure ion sources, including electrospray and desorption electrospray ionization sources, to mass spectrometers, for example miniature mass spectrometers, in which the ionized sample is discontinuously introduced into the mass spectrometer. Discontinuous introduction improves the match between the pumping capacity of the instrument and the volume of atmospheric pressure gas that contains the ionized sample. The reduced duty cycle of sample introduction is offset by operation of the mass spectrometer under higher performance conditions and by ion accumulation at atmospheric pressure.
US08304710B2
A display device in which light leakage in a monitor element portion is prevented without increasing the number of steps and cost is provided. The display device includes a monitor element for suppressing influence on a light-emitting element due to temperature change and change over time and a TFT for driving the monitor element, in which the TFT for driving the monitor element is provided so as not to overlap the monitor element. Furthermore, the display device includes a first light shielding film and a second light shielding film, in which the first light shielding film is provided so as to overlap a first electrode of the monitor element and the second light shielding film is electrically connect to the first light shielding film through a contact hole formed in an interlayer insulating film. The contact hole is formed so as to surround the outer edge of the first electrode of the monitor element.
US08304705B2
A computer-implemented method for adjusting light intensity of light sources of an image measuring machine in measurement of a surface image of an object includes obtaining the surface image of the object, setting one light source to be adjusted and adjusting a light intensity of the light source according to an adjusting mode. The method further includes computing an optimum light intensity level, adjusting a light intensity to the optimum light intensity level to obtain an optimum surface image of the object, and storing the optimum surface image and the optimum light intensity level into a storage system.
US08304702B2
A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.
US08304694B2
The present invention relates to an electric heating material. Said electric heating material comprises a substrate and an electric heating layer substantially homogeneously attached to said substrate. Said electric heating layer is obtained from an electric heating coating that contains an electric heating base material and a binder. Said electric heating base material is selected from the group consisting of natural graphite, artificial graphite or conductive carbon black; said binder is selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane, melamine, gelatin, carboxymethyl cellulose, or polyvinyl alcohol. In some embodiments, the substrate is paper. Said electric heating material can be applied to make an electric heating laminate floor the temperature of the surface of which can be heated to 15-70° C. within 5 minutes when a 220 V power source is supplied, and this temperature can be kept consistent for a long period of time. The electric heating laminate floor can be applied to replace existing ground heating systems and is reliable, safe, energy saving, easy to repair and replace as well as cost effective.
US08304675B2
A matrix touch panel has an upper panel, a separation layer, an insulation layer and a lower panel. The lower panel has a plurality of first transparent electrodes on a bottom intersected by a plurality of second transparent electrodes on the upper panel. A plurality of wires and leading lines are formed on a border of the upper and lower panels. One terminal of each wire is connected to one end of the corresponding first or second transparent electrode, and the other terminal is connected with a corresponding leading line. One end of the first and second transparent electrode corresponding to the wires has an inner lead and an outer lead. The outer lead is electrically connected with the wires. An area defined between the inner lead and the outer lead varies to generate different impedance to balance the impedance difference among the wires with different lengths.
US08304662B2
A buildup board includes a buildup layer having a multilayer structure and/or a core layer having a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure includes a signal wiring pattern, a pad connected to the signal wiring pattern, an insulating part arranged around the pad on the same layer as the pad, and a conductor arranged around the insulating part on the same layer as the pad. The multilayer structure has at least two different keepouts where the keepout is defined as a minimum interval between an outline of the pad and the conductor closest to the pad on the same layer.
US08304658B2
The invention relates to a layer system comprising on a substrate, the surface of which has been electropolished, (i) a Ni layer having a thickness ≦3.0 μm, (ii) a Ni—P layer having a thickness ≦1.0 μm, and (iii) a Au layer having a thickness ≦1.0 μm.
US08304654B2
A coaxial cable includes an electric conductor, an insulating layer formed on a periphery of the electric conductor, wherein the insulating layer includes an insulating material including a fluorine-containing polymer obtained by grafting at least one compound selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters of the unsaturated carboxylic acids to a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer, a conductive layer formed on a periphery of the insulating layer, wherein the conductive layer includes a sintered product from a metallic nanoparticle paste, and an outer insulating layer formed on a periphery of the conductive layer.
US08304652B2
An electrical fixture faceplate that has illumination functionality is disclosed. The faceplate may be associated with various electrical fixtures such as a receptacle or switch. The faceplate may be illuminated by a lighting device associated or incorporated with the faceplate. The lighting device may further comprise an LED, neon, chemiluminescent material or combinations thereof to provide illumination of the faceplate.
US08304650B2
An arrangement for current limiting is specified, using components (4, 5, 6) composed of a superconducting material which are arranged in a cryostat (KR) which comprises two metallic tubes (1, 2) which are arranged concentrically with respect to one another and between which vacuum insulation (3) is fitted, and which cryostat surrounds a free space (FR) for a coolant to pass through. The components (4, 5, 6) each comprise three phase conductors (7, 8, 9) composed of a superconducting material based on rare earths (ReBCO), which are arranged insulated from one another and concentrically with respect to one another. “n” components (4, 5, 6) are arranged in the cryostat (KR) and their phase conductors are cyclically electrically conductively connected to one another such that the inner phase conductor (7) of each component is connected to the centre phase conductor (8) of a second component, and this centre phase conductor (8) is connected to the outer phase conductor (9) of the third component, where n=3 or an integer multiple of 3.
US08304647B2
Disclosed are fluorescent dye compounds of Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and G are as described herein. The fluorescent dyes are suitable for use in luminescent solar collectors or as a colorant. Methods of making the fluorescent dyes and luminescent solar collectors comprising them are also described.
US08304645B2
A luminescent solar collector contains a first fluorescent dye and a dye compound of Formula (I) or (II): where R, R′, m, and k are as described herein. The luminescent solar collector has improved output.
US08304643B2
The present invention provides a photoelectric conversion material comprising a fullerene derivative represented by the formula C60(R1)5(MLn), wherein: each R1 independently represents an organic group having a substituent; M represents a metal atom; L is a ligand of M; and n is the number of Ls. Further, the present invention also provides a photoelectric conversion device having a self-assembled monomolecular film of the photoelectric conversion material, and a solar cell having the photoelectric conversion device.
US08304640B1
A method and apparatus for protecting a musical instrument includes a ring formed of an impact-absorbing material. A continuous notch on the inner circumference of the ring tightly receives the tubular rim of a particular instrument to anchor the ring thereto. The ring may include lights randomly positioned on the outer circumference to aesthetically enhance the instrument.
US08304636B1
A novel maize variety designated X08A183 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A183 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A183 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A183, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A183. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A183.
US08304633B1
A novel maize variety designated PH18G5 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18G5 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18G5 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18G5 or a locus conversion of PH18G5 with another maize variety.
US08304631B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS09943431 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS09943431 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08304624B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024320. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024320. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024320 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024320 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08304617B2
A soybean cultivar designated S090247 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S090247, to the plants of soybean S090247, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S090247, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S090247 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S090247, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S090247, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S090247 with another soybean cultivar.
US08304604B2
DIG-3 Cry toxins, polynucleotides encoding such toxins, and transgenic plants that produce such toxins are useful to control insect pests.
US08304602B2
The present invention provides methods for regulating the development of apical bud formation in a plant comprising the step of modulating the expression of PtFD1 or a protein having substantial identity to PtFD1, in the plant. Transgenic poplar trees that either overexpress PtFD1 or that down regulate PtFD1 are also provided. Also provided are methods for identifying the regulatory targets of PtFD1.
US08304595B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for nanomaterial-enhanced hemostatic medical devices are provided. Hemostatic materials and structures are provided that induce coagulation of blood at a wound/opening caused by trauma, a surgical procedure, ulceration, or other cause. The hemostatic materials and structures may incorporate nanostructures and/or further hemostatic elements such as polymers and/or glass beads. The hemostatic materials and structures may be resorbable. Example embodiments include hemostatic bandages, hemostatic plugs, and hemostatic formulations.
US08304592B2
A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
US08304585B2
A method is provided for producing highly pure 1,6-hexanediol in which the contents of impurities such as 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1,7-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol and high boiling point components are significantly reduced. The process contains the steps of (1) treating an aqueous extraction concentrate of a reaction mixture obtained by oxidation of cyclohexane with a lower alcohol to esterify monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids contained in the extract, and simultaneously removing and separating by distillation water, excess lower alcohols and carboxylic acid esters; (2) converting oligomer esters contained in the bottom liquid to carboxylic acid esters by depolymerizing the oligomer esters at a high temperature and high pressure in the presence of a lower alcohol and a catalyst; and (3) hydrogenating the carboxylic acid esters distilled off in step (1) and the carboxylic acid esters obtained in step (2) either respectively or collectively to convert to 1,6-hexanediol.
US08304583B2
A process of hydrogenating an aliphatic dialdehyde, preferably, a C6-C16 alicyclic dicarboxaldehyde, to form an aliphatic diol, preferably, a C6-C16 alicyclic diol, most preferably, cis/trans-(1,3)(1,4)-cyclohexanedimethanol. The process involves contacting one or more aliphatic dialdehydes in a liquid phase with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrogenation zone and in the presence of water in an amount equal to or greater than 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the total liquid feed to the hydrogenation. The alicyclic dicarboxaldehyde is preferably prepared via hydroformylation of an olefin with subsequent extraction of the alicyclic dicarboxaldehyde product from the hydroformylation product fluid.
US08304581B2
The present invention relates to a method of enantioselective addition to enones, including: reacting R3(CH2)pCH═CR5C(═O)Y(CH2)qR4 with R6ZnR7 in the presence of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a transition metal catalyst, in which Y, p, q, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are defined the same as the specification. Accordingly, the present invention can perform asymmetric conjugate addition in high yields and enantioselectivity.
US08304579B2
The present invention relates to novel boronic acid aryl derivatives which are useful as antitumor/anticancer agents. The present compounds, which are inexpensive to synthesize, exhibit unexpectedly good inhibitors of the growth of human breast cancer cells. The present invention also relates to the use of the novel boronic acid aryl derivatives to treat cancer. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing the inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
US08304575B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing an ether carboxylate which includes the steps of (1) reacting an aliphatic monohydric alcohol with an alkylene oxide in the presence of an alkali catalyst; (2) neutralizing a reaction solution obtained in the step (1) with an acid such as hydroxycarboxylic acids to obtain an ether alcohol; and (3-1) reacting the obtained ether alcohol with a monohalogenofatty acid or a salt thereof and an alkali metal hydroxide, or (3-2) subjecting the obtained ether alcohol to catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of a catalyst. The obtained ether carboxylate has a less odor and a high quality and is therefore suitably used in the applications such as cosmetics and toiletries.
US08304573B2
A method of recovering pyrolysis products of resin of the present invention includes cooling gaseous pyrolysis products generated from pyrolysis of the resin in a pyrolysis tank to recover the resin as liquid pyrolysis products. The method includes the following steps (1) to (4): (1) continuously feeding fluidization gas, heated solid particles, and a resin into the pyrolysis tank to fluidize the solid particles and the resin by the fluidization gas; (2) continuously feeding the resin into the pyrolysis tank from a position which is ½ or less of the height of a solid particle layer in the pyrolysis tank in a stationary state; (3) continuously discharging the solid particles from a position lower than the height of a feeding position of the resin; and (4) heating the discharged solid particles in a heating furnace and then feeding the heated solid particles into the pyrolysis tank.
US08304568B2
Polyhydroxyamido group-containing polyorganosiloxanes contain from 20 to 90% of end groups which are polyhydroxyamido groups, and are free flowing.
US08304563B2
The present invention relates to a process for converting a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof to a chlorohydrin, by contacting the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof starting material with a source of hydrogen chloride at superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressure conditions for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature, preferably wherein such contracting step is carried out without substantial removal of water, to produce the desired chlorohydrin product; wherein the desired product or products can be made in high yield without substantial formation of undesired overchlorinated byproducts; said process carried out without a step undertaken to specifically remove volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon by-products or chloroacetone, wherein the combined concentration of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon by-products and chloroacetone is less than 2000 ppm throughout any stage of the said process.
US08304562B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing a prostaglandin derivative of formula (A): which comprises reacting an aldehyde represented by formula (1): with a 2-oxoalkyl phosphonate in a reaction solvent under the presence of alkali hydroxide as sole base. By carrying out the reaction using an alkali hydroxide as sole base in the reaction system, the desired prostaglandin derivative can be obtained by simple procedures and with high yield.
US08304561B2
A method of making a metalloporphyrin is carried out by reacting (i) a linear tetrapyrrole, said linear tetrapyrrole having a 19-acyl group and a 1-protecting group, with (ii) a metal salt under basic conditions to produce the metalloporphyrin. Products produced by such methods and intermediates useful for carrying out such methods are also described.
US08304560B2
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes that are intramolecularly crosslinked between the 1-position and 3′-position, their bioconjugates and their uses are described. 1,3′-crosslinked carbocyanines are superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar 1,1′-crosslinked or non-crosslinked dyes. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens.
US08304558B2
Disclosed is a simple and advantageous method for producing a thiazole compound, which method is suitable for commercial-scale implementation. In this method, a thiazole compound is produced by a reaction between 2-halogeno-allylisothiocyanate and sulfuryl chloride generating a large amount of heat, while suppressing decrease in the yield of the thiazole compound. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing 2-chloro-5-chloromethylthiazole represented by the formula (1): This method is characterized in that sulfuryl chloride is added to and reacted with 2-halogeno-allylisothiocyanate represented by the formula (2): wherein Hal represents chlorine or bromine, while blowing a gas inactive to the reaction into the reaction liquid.
US08304557B2
A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are the following combination, (Z1,Z2,Z3,Z4)=(CR4,N,CR5,C), (N,N,CR5,C), (N,C,CR5,N), (S,C,CR5,C) or (S,C,N,C); R1 and R2 are the same or different and each is (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) a halogen atom, (3) a group bonded via a carbon atom, (4) a group bonded via a nitrogen atom, (5) a group bonded via an oxygen atom or (6) a group bonded via a sulfur atom; R3 is an amino optionally having substituent(s); R4 and R5 are the same or different and each is (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) a halogen atom, (3) a group bonded via a carbon atom, (4) a group bonded via a nitrogen atom, (5) a group bonded via an oxygen atom or (6) a group bonded via a sulfur atom; R3 and R4 optionally form a ring optionally having substituent(s); and a group represented by the formula is a cyclic group optionally having substituent(s), or a salt thereof.
US08304552B2
The invention relates to fatty acid niacin conjugates; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate; and methods for treating or preventing an metabolic disease comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate.
US08304542B2
The present invention describes new metal complexes. Such compounds can be used as functional materials in a variety of different applications which can in the broadest sense be considered part of the electronics industry.The compounds of the invention have the formulae (1) and (1a).
US08304522B2
It is intended to provide a soy protein gel which has such gel properties that have never been obtained hitherto and is excellent in taste and color tone, and a soy protein food taking advantage of the gel properties. It has been found out that gel properties can be modified at an extremely elevated level and thus the desired soy protein gel can be obtained by preparing a gel by using a soy protein material in which the lipophilic protein content is reduced and conducting the gelation with the utilization of not only heat but also the action of a protein crosslinking enzyme.
US08304509B2
The present invention relates to a process for continuously preparing diaryl carbonates from dialkyl carbonates and at least one monohydroxyl compound in the presence of catalysts, and to the use thereof for preparation of polycarbonates. The alkylene glycol obtained in the preparation of the dialkyl carbonate used is recycled by oxidative carbonylation with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to give the cyclic alkylene carbonate which is in turn converted to the dialkyl carbonate. More particularly, the process utilizes the alkylene glycol obtained for the diphenyl carbonate preparation process (DPC process).
US08304506B2
Provided are a polymerizable composition for giving a resin which has a high refractive index and low dispersion, and is especially excellent in impact resistance and tintability; and a resin and an optical component each obtained by curing the composition. There used a polymerizable composition comprising (A) a compound represented by Formula (1) and/or by Formula (2), at least one compound as the following component (B), and at least one compound as the following component (C): (B) polythiol compounds optionally having at least one (poly)sulfide bond in a molecule, and (C) compounds represented by Formula (3): HO—[R1-(Y)n]m—R2-X (3) (in above Formula (3), X is an OH group or a SH group; Y is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; R1 and R2 are each independently an optionally substituted methylene group or an optionally substituted alkylene group having carbon atoms of not smaller than 2 and not larger than 4; n is an integer of 0 or 1 when Y is an oxygen atom, or 0 or an integer of not smaller than 1 and not larger than 2 when Y is a sulfur atom; and m is 0 or an integer of not smaller than 1 and not larger than 3, provided that (carbon number of R1+n)×m+(carbon number of R2) is 3 or larger).
US08304502B2
Disclosed is a copolymer coordination compound including two or more kinds of complexes, and a method of preparing the same. Herein, each of the complexes includes an organic ligand and a metal ion, and the two or more kinds of complexes are arranged in a line in a regular or irregular order, and are coordinated to each other. Also, the disclosed copolymer coordination compound functions as a gelator in a solvent, and is formed into a gel.
US08304491B2
The novel process provides latices of homo- and copolymers of chloroprene and of one or more further copolymerizable monomers at a higher reaction rate and hence in an improved space-time yield. The latices obtained have a high gel content, distinctly lower levels of by-products, in particular of chloroprene dimer, than prior art products, and are useful, if appropriate in concentrated form, for a wide variety of applications.
US08304487B2
Concentrates comprising a blend of polybutene-1 and polypropylene and up to 60 wt. % of one or more additives, in particular suitable for use in processes of bulk coloring and spinning of polyolefins.
US08304486B2
A water-base adhesive mix for producing tires and containing, by weight, 20 to 80% water, 10 to 40% of a cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, 0.2 to 1% sulphur, 1 to 25% of a reinforcing filler, 1 to 10% of emulsifiers, 2 to 8% of a resin which cross-links by reaction with polyisocyanates, and 0.5 to 5% of an aqueous dispersion having blocked aromatic polyisocyanates with an activation temperature of 120 to 160° C. The blocked aromatic polyisocyanates are produced by reaction of an aromatic polyisocyanate (a), a blocking agent (b), and a nonionic diol alkoxylate (c) of the general formula (I) R1CH2O(CH2CH2O)n(CH2CHCH3O)mR2 (I) where R1 is R2 and R3 are the same or different, and are selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl; n is a whole number from 0 to 40 m is a whole number from 0 to 40 n+m is a whole number from 20 to 80.
US08304482B2
A rubber composition, in particular intended for the manufacture of tires, based on at least a predominant elastomer, chosen from the group consisting of butyl rubbers, essentially unsaturated diene elastomers, essentially saturated diene elastomers and the mixtures of these elastomers, and a reinforcing filler, characterized in that the composition also comprises graphite and a functionalized or nonfunctionalized polyisobutylene oil, having a molecular weight of between 200 g/mol and 40 000 g/mol, present in a proportion of between 2 and 50 phe.
US08304478B2
A polyamide-poly(arylene ether) composition is prepared by melt blending specific amounts of components including a polyamide, a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene, a compatibilizing agent, and partially saponified ester of a C16-C36 aliphatic carboxylic acid and a C2-C12 aliphatic alcohol. The composition is useful for molding articles that have a significantly reduced incidence of the cosmetic defect known as “silver streaks”.
US08304475B2
A process for the production of a bituminous composition, includes (i) producing a mix of aggregates with a maximum diameter less than or equal to 30 mm and of an amount less than or equal to 0.8 g per square meter of specific surface developed by the aggregates of at least one cationic polymer in the liquid form having a density of cationic charges greater than or equal to 0.5 meq/g and an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.01 to 0.8 dl/g; and (ii) putting the mix obtained in stage (i) into contact with at least one bituminous binder. A bituminous composition includes at least one specific cationic polymer and the use of at least one specific cationic polymer in the surface treatment of aggregates intended for the preparation of a bituminous composition are the other two subject-matters of the present invention.
US08304465B2
A method for the preparation of high strength air-dried organic aerogels. The method involves the sol-gel polymerization of organic gel precursors, such as resorcinol with formaldehyde (RF) in aqueous solvents with R/C ratios greater than about 1000 and R/F ratios less than about 1:2.1. Using a procedure analogous to the preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels, this approach generates wet gels that can be air dried at ambient temperatures and pressures. The method significantly reduces the time and/or energy required to produce a dried aerogel compared to conventional methods using either supercritical solvent extraction. The air dried gel exhibits typically less than 5% shrinkage.
US08304461B2
The present invention provides methods of making composite materials comprising combining particles of crosslinked rubber with coagulated aqueous polymer dispersions to form a mixture in aqueous dispersion, and subjecting the aqueous dispersion mixture to solid state shear pulverization to form materials that can be processed as thermoplastics at crosslinked rubber concentrations of from 10 to as high as 95 wt. %, based on the total solids of the material. The method may further comprise kneading the pulverized product to form useful articles, such as roofing membranes and shoe soles.
US08304453B2
The invention concerns a composition containing at least an alkanolamide, optionally combined with at least a compound such as a metalloprotease inhibitor, a PKC inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, a soothing agent, an immunosuppressor, an ion chelating agent, an oxazolin, an oxazolidinone and a carbamic acid derivative. The invention also concerns the use of such a composition as medicine, in particular its use for preventing or treating skin pathologies of allergic and/or inflammatory and/or irritative origin or resulting from a danger signal. The invention further concerns a method for cosmetic treatment of sensitive, irritated, intolerant, allergy-prone, ageing skin and/or mucosa exhibiting skin barrier disorder, or exhibiting non-pathological immunologic imbalance, which consists in applying such a composition on the skin and/or mucosa.
US08304452B2
It is an object to provide a radical scavenger, an active oxygen-scavenging agent and the like, which are highly efficacious clinically and novel, and so as to attain the object, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine derivatives such as N-β-alanyl-5-S-glutathionyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (5-S-GAD) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are contained as an active ingredient.
US08304444B2
Compounds of the formula (I), in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US08304439B1
A method for the treatment or prevention of a cell or tissue damage in a living subject due to the exposure to ionizing radiation is provided, which comprises administration to said subject of a compound of formula (I) wherein R′ is H, OH, CONH2 or COCH3, R″ is H or CH3, R′″ is H or CH3, and X− is a pharmaceutically acceptable counterion, in an amount sufficient to inhibit radiation-induced damage.
US08304438B2
The present invention relates to heteroarylacrylamides of the formula I, in which Het, X, Ra, Rb, R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings indicated in the claims, which modulate the transcription of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase and are valuable pharmacologically active compounds. Specifically, the compounds of the formula I upregulate the expression of the enzyme endothelial NO synthase and can be applied in conditions in which an increased expression of said enzyme or an increased NO level or the normalization of a decreased NO level is desired. The invention further relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of the formula I, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and to the use of compounds of the formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for the stimulation of the expression of endothelial NO synthase or for the treatment of various diseases including cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, for example.
US08304432B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula I: where a, R1, and R3-6 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08304426B2
Relates to a new polymorphic form of Granisetron base, Form I, to methods for obtaining thereof, to the method for obtaining Granisetron.HCl and its use for preparing pharmaceutical formulations. The Form I is characterized by the X-ray powder diffractogram shown in FIG. 1. Included in summarised form are the methods and solvents for obtaining the Form I: 1) Evaporation of hexane at atmospheric pressure; 2) Evaporation of acetone at atmospheric pressure; 3) Evaporation of toluene at atmospheric pressure; 4) Cooling of a saturated solution of diethyl ether to reflux temperature; 5) Evaporation of 2-propanol atmospheric pressure; 6) Evaporation of tetrahydrofuran at atmospheric pressure; and 7) Cooling of a saturated solution of acetonitrile to reflux temperature.
US08304422B2
The invention encompasses compounds having formula I and the compositions and methods using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK3, are therapeutically useful.
US08304411B2
Disclosed are new dicycloazaalkane derivates represented by general formula (I), preparation processes and pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and the uses for treatment especially for dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitor (DPP-IV), in which each substitute group of general formula (I) is as defined in specification.
US08304407B2
Provided are compositions and methods useful for modulation of signaling through the Toll-like receptors TLR7 and/or TLR8. The compositions and methods have use in the treatment of autoimmunity, inflammation allergy, asthma, graft rejection, graft versus host disease, infection, sepsis, cancer and immunodeficiency.
US08304401B2
The present invention features methods for decreasing fat mass, increasing energy expenditure, increasing resistance to obesity, and lowering blood glucose levels in a subject with an agent that inhibits the expression or activity of type III deiodinase. In this regard, agents of the invention are useful in treating diabetes and obesity.
US08304382B2
The present invention refers to synthetic, cyclic peptides containing a sequence of 13 L-amino acids in their primary structure which present anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities, useful for the treatment of acute or chronic inflammation and/or allergies, being particularly useful for the treatment of acute or chronic allergic asthma. The invention also describes a pharmaceutical composition containing said peptides, its use and a method to treat or prevent acute and/or chronic inflammatory and/or allergic disorders.
US08304381B2
A novel fusion protein, comprising a receptor-antagonizing domain and an angiogenesis inhibiting domain, characterized, for example, by its ability to block apoptosis and/or inhibit endocrine response, is useful in treating cancer. For example, a human prolactin antagonist-endostatin fusion protein combines apoptosis induction and angiogenesis inhibition to combat cancer.
US08304362B2
The invention discloses core/shell type catalyst particles comprising a Mcore/Mshell structure with Mcore=inner particle core and Mshell=outer particle shell, wherein the medium diameter of the catalyst particle (dcore+shell) is in the range of 20 to 100 nm, preferably in the range of 20 to 50 nm. The thickness of the outer shell (tshell) is about 5 to 20% of the diameter of the inner particle core of said catalyst particle, preferably comprising at least 3 atomic layers. The core/shell type catalyst particles, particularly the particles comprising a Pt-based shell, reveal a high specific activity. The catalyst particles are preferably supported on suitable support materials such as carbon black and are used as electrocatalysts for fuel cells.
US08304361B2
Fouling in a dispersed phase reactor in the presence of a phosphinimine catalyst and MAO may be reduced by reducing the loading of the phosphinimine catalyst to provide from 0.02 to 0.031 mmol of transition M per g of catalyst while still maintaining a productivity of not less than 2500 g of polymer/gram of catalyst. The catalyst may optionally be used in the presence of an antistatic agent.
US08304360B2
A blend of ball clays for use as the ball clay component of a slip to produce a ceramic sanitary ware item by a slip casting process. The clay blend including 20-50 percent of a fine-grained ball clay with a low carbon content and 45-55 percent of its particles having a size less than 0.5 microns and about 85-95 percent of the particles less than about 20 microns.
US08304349B2
The present disclosure provides a method for making metal gate stacks of a semiconductor device. The method includes applying a first dry etching process to a semiconductor substrate in an etch chamber through openings of a patterned mask layer defining gate regions, removing a polysilicon layer and a metal gate layer on the semiconductor substrate; applying a H2O steam to the semiconductor substrate in the etch chamber, removing a capping layer on the semiconductor substrate; applying a second dry etching process to the semiconductor substrate in the etch chamber, removing a high k dielectric material layer; and applying a wet etching process to the semiconductor substrate to remove polymeric residue.
US08304332B2
A method for fabrication of a field effect transistor gate, with or without field plates, includes the steps of defining a relatively thin Schottky metal layer by a lithography/metal liftoff or metal deposition/etch process on a semiconductor surface. This is followed by depositing a dielectric passivation layer over the entire wafer and defining a second lithographic pattern coincident with or slightly inset from the boundaries of the previously defined metal gate layer. This is followed by etching the dielectric using dry or wet etching techniques and stripping the resist, followed by exposing and developing a third resist pattern to define the thicker gate metal layers required for electrical conductivity and also for the field plate if one is utilized. The final step is depositing gate and/or field plate metal, resulting in a gate electrode and an integral field plate.
US08304331B2
Angled ion implants are utilized to form doped regions in a semiconductor pillar formed in an opening of a mask. The pillar is formed to a height less than the height of the mask. Angled ion implantation can be used to form regions of a semiconductor device such as a body tie region, a halo region, or current terminal extension region of a semiconductor device implemented with the semiconductor pillar.
US08304330B2
Techniques for low temperature ion implantation are provided to improve the throughput. During a low temperature ion implantation, an implant process may be started before the substrate temperature is decreased to be about to a prescribed implant temperature by a cooling process, and a heating process may be started to increase the substrate temperature before the implant process is finished. Moreover, one or more temperature adjust process may be performed during one or more portion of the implant process, such that the substrate temperature may be controllably higher than the prescribe implant temperature during the implant process.
US08304323B2
[PROBLEMS] To provide a semiconductor element manufacturing method by which a semiconductor element having high accuracy and high function can be manufactured by controlling diffusion depth and diffusion concentration in a pn junction region with high accuracy. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A diffusion control layer (2) composed of a thin film of a substance having a smaller diffusion coefficient than that of a diffusion source (3) is formed between a surface of a substrate (1) and the diffusion source (3), and an element of the diffusion source (3) is permitted to thermally diffuse through the diffusion control layer (2). Thus, the diffusion depth and the diffusion concentration in the semiconductor region, which is formed on the surface portion of the substrate and has a conductivity type different from that of the substrate, can be highly accurately controlled, and the semiconductor element having high accuracy and high function can be manufactured.
US08304320B2
An insulated-gate field-effect transistor (100) provided along an upper surface of a semiconductor body contains a pair of source/drain zones (240 and 242) laterally separated by a channel zone (244). A gate electrode (262) overlies a gate dielectric layer (260) above the channel zone. Each source/drain zone includes a main portion (240M or 242M) and a more lightly doped lateral extension (240E or 242E) laterally continuous with the main portion and extending laterally under the gate electrode. The lateral extensions, which terminate the channel zone along the upper semiconductor surface, are respectively largely defined by a pair of semiconductor dopants of different atomic weights. With the transistor being an asymmetric device, the source/drain zones constitute a source and a drain. The lateral extension of the source is then more lightly doped than, and defined with dopant of higher atomic weight, than the lateral extension of the drain.
US08304319B2
Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. A metal-rich silicide and/or a mono-silicide is formed on source/drain (S/D) regions. A millisecond anneal is provided to the metal-rich silicide and/or the mono-silicide to form a di-silicide with limited spikes at the interface between the silicide and substrate. The di-silicide has an additive which can lower the electron Schottky barrier height.
US08304318B2
Methods of fabricating metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors having elevated source/drain regions are provided. The MOS transistors formed by these methods may include a gate pattern formed to cross over a predetermined region of a substrate. Recessed regions are provided in the substrate adjacent to the gate pattern. Epitaxial layers are provided on bottom surfaces of the recessed regions. High concentration impurity regions are provided in the epitaxial layers. The recessed regions may be formed using a chemical dry etching techniques.
US08304316B2
In a power semiconductor device and a method of forming a power semiconductor device, a thin layer of semiconductor substrate is left below the drift region of a semiconductor device. A power semiconductor device has an active region that includes the drift region and has top and bottom surfaces formed in a layer provided on a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the semiconductor substrate below the active region is removed to leave a thin layer of semiconductor substrate below the drift region. Electrical terminals are provided directly or indirectly to the top surface of the active region to allow a voltage to be applied laterally across the drift region.
US08304314B2
In one embodiment, a method of forming an MOS transistor includes forming the MOS transistor to have an active region and a termination region. Within the termination region the method includes forming a plurality of trenches having a conductor within the plurality of trenches. The method also includes forming another conductor to make electrical contact to one of the conductors within the plurality of trenches.
US08304307B2
An integrated circuit and gate oxide forming process are disclosed which provide a gate structure that is simple to integrate with conventional fabrication processes while providing different gate oxide thicknesses for different transistors within the integrated circuit. For a flash memory, which may utilize the invention, the different gate oxide thicknesses may be used for lower voltage transistors, memory array transistors, and higher voltage transistors.
US08304305B2
A method for producing a semiconductor component is proposed. The method includes providing a semiconductor body having a first surface; forming a mask on the first surface, wherein the mask has openings for defining respective positions of trenches; producing the trenches in the semiconductor body using the mask, wherein mesa structures remain between adjacent trenches; introducing a first dopant of a first conduction type using the mask into the bottoms of the trenches; carrying out a first thermal step; introducing a second dopant of a second conduction type, which is complementary to the first conduction type, at least into the bottoms of the trenches; and carrying out a second thermal step.
US08304293B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the thermal performance of integrated circuit packages. Aspects of the present invention include improved thermal package structures and methods for producing the same through the application of one or more thermal spreaders in the package. In embodiments, a thermal spreader is incorporated in a semiconductor chip package between a semiconductor die and its die pad. By including a thermal spreader in an IC package, the package can handle higher levels of power while maintaining approximately the same temperature of the package or can reduce the temperature of the package when operating at the same power level, as compared to a package without a thermal spreader.
US08304292B1
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a metal plate, providing a ceramic block in the metal plate, providing an insulative material in the metal plate, wherein the metal plate includes a base and a terminal, then providing a conductive layer on the base and the ceramic block, providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, the terminal and a selected portion of the conductive layer, then mounting a semiconductor device on the ceramic block, wherein a heat spreader includes the base and the ceramic block, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08304283B2
An organic semiconductor material comprising a compound which has a generalized porphyrin skeleton and which has a molecular structure such that the distance from the generalized porphyrin ring plane to the center of each atom forming the generalized porphyrin skeleton, is not more than 1A.
US08304281B2
A driving TFT for an organic light-emitting display device includes a gate electrode on a portion of a substrate, a gate insulation layer on an entire surface of the substrate including the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer on the gate insulation layer and covering the gate electrode, the semiconductor layer including an n-type impurity layer, and source and drain electrodes overlapping portions of the semiconductor layer at respective sides thereof.
US08304274B2
Semiconductor-centered MEMS (100) integrates the movable MEMS parts, such as mechanical elements, flexible membranes, and sensors, with the low-cost device package, and leaving only the electronics and signal-processing parts in the integrated circuitry of the semiconductor chip. The package is substrate-based and has an opening through the thickness of the substrate. Substrate materials include polymer tapes with attached metal foil, and polymer-based and ceramic-based multi-metal-layer dielectric composites with attached metal foil. The movable part is formed from the metal foil attached to a substrate surface and extends at least partially across the opening. The chip is flip-assembled to span at least partially across the membrane, and is separated from the membrane by a gap.
US08304267B2
A semiconductor laser has first and second diffractive grating regions. The first diffractive grating region has segments, has a gain, and has first discrete peaks of a reflection spectrum. The second diffractive grating region has segments combined to each other, and has second discrete peaks of a reflection spectrum. Each segment has a diffractive grating and a space region. Pitches of the diffractive grating are substantially equal to each other. A wavelength interval of the second discrete peaks is different from that of the first discrete peaks. A part of a given peak of the first discrete peaks is overlapped with that of the second discrete peaks when a relationship between the given peaks of the first discrete peaks and the second discrete peaks changes. A first segment located in the first diffractive grating region or the second diffractive grating region has an optical length shorter or longer than the other segments of the first diffractive grating region and the second diffractive grating region by odd multiple of half of the pitch of the diffractive grating of the first diffractive grating region.
US08304262B2
A method for etching features in an etch layer. A conditioning for a patterned pseudo-hardmask of amorphous carbon or polysilicon disposed over the etch layer is provided, where the conditioning comprises providing a fluorine free deposition gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas, forming a plasma from the fluorine free deposition gas, providing a bias less than 500 volts, and forming a deposition on top of the patterned pseudo-hardmask. The etch layer is etched through the patterned pseudo-hardmask.
US08304258B2
The present invention concerns antibodies specific for the C-terminus of human hepcidin, and related methods and kits for diagnosing and/or treating a disease condition characterized by non-physiological levels of hepcidin protein, including prohepcidin and fragments thereof, comprising obtaining a tissue or fluid sample from a subject; contacting the sample with an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence between and including amino acids 60 and 84, or, in another embodiment, amino acids 74 and 81, as aligned with the human pre-pro-hepcidin precursor protein, and quantifying the pro-hepcidin and/or mature hepcidin level using an assay based on binding of the antibody and the polypeptide; wherein the non-physiological level of prohepcidin/mature hepcidin is indicative of the disease condition. The present invention also concerns diagnostic methods and kits for applications in genetic technological approaches, such as for overexpressing or downregulating hepcidin.
US08304257B2
Improved methods for preparing thiolate passivated gold nanoparticles are provided resulting in a narrower size distribution. By alternating oxidation and reduction of the particles, after oxidation, the thiolates may be readily displaced with a different thiol, followed by reduction to prevent further reaction. Proteins can be rigidly bound to the gold nanoparticles by binding an scFv for a target protein to the gold nanoparticles, where the scFv prior or subsequent to binding to the gold nanoparticles may be complexed with the target protein. The protein is rigidly held and its structure readily determined using electron microscopy.
US08304255B1
The present invention is directed immunoassay cuvettes that comprise diffusely bound and non-diffusely bound reagents for carrying out an immunoassay. The reaction and detection are carried out in the immunoassay cuvette. The immunoassay cuvette comprises a transparent front wall, a back wall, side walls, a bottom, and a top opening. The back wall of the cuvette has a substantially planar surface made of a non-porous material and comprises a capture zone having reagents non-diffusedly bound and a signal reagent zone having reagents diffusedly bound.
US08304248B2
The present invention provides methods for separating proteins from a protein mixture. In one aspect, a method for separating a high concentration protein mixture into a bound protein fraction and a flow-through protein fraction can include delivering a protein mixture through an ion exchange column at a fixed pH and a fixed salt concentration. The fixed pH and the fixed salt concentration have been preselected to cause separation of the protein mixture into a bound protein fraction and a flow-through protein fraction. In this case, the bound protein fraction binds to the ion exchange column and the flow-through protein fraction flows though the ion exchange column. The method can further include receiving the flow-through protein fraction from the ion exchange column separate from the bound protein fraction, wherein either the bound protein fraction or the flow-through fraction contains a protein of interest.
US08304245B2
The invention provides a device, system and method that enables a microfluidic flow lysometer cell analyzer. Using a population of suspended living cells. cell surface molecule detection reagents, and cell cytoplasm (or nuclear) molecule detection reagents, this microfluidic cell analyzer can rapidly analyze a population of cells by running them on a one-at-a-time basis through small capillary channels. The cell's morphology or surface markers are analyzed, then the cells are lysed, and the molecules present in the cell's cytoplasm or nuclear material are analyzed. Cell morphology is then analyzed as the cell surface molecules are correlated with the molecules present in the same cell's cytoplasm or nucleic acids, and this correlated cell population data is then presented to a user for interpretation. The invention also addresses issues such as device fouling, correction for experimental artifacts (incomplete cell lyis, variable cell debris volume effects), and inadequate data collection that hampered earlier efforts in this area.
US08304244B2
What is described is a single reference material and method of making useful for calibrating or qualifying instruments that are diagnostic spectroscopically for bilirubin, hemoglobin, and hemoglobin fractions, and, optionally, diagnostic for other blood analytes by sensor means.
US08304241B2
The present disclosure provides a method to allow a user to pre-screen numerous crystallization conditions in the crystallization space to identify those conditions with the highest probability of yielding crystals and high quality diffracting crystals. In one embodiment, the dilute solution thermodynamic virial coefficient, termed B, is used to aid in the determination crystallization conditions that increase the probability of producing crystals for the crystallant of interest. The present disclosure also provide methods for predicting solution conditions that generate beneficial solubility and/or stability conditions for a polypeptide of interest using the B parameter. Devices for use in the described methods are also described.
US08304240B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for introducing a physiologically active substance such as a gene into a cell, which introduces a physiologically active substance such as any given gene into any given cell in a view under a microscope, while significantly reducing invasiveness to the cell, and a device used for the above method. The present invention provides a method for introducing a physiologically active substance into a cell, which comprises: allowing a physiologically active substance to attach around a needle having a diameter of 500 nm or less, provided that it is able to be inserted into a cell; and inserting the above-described needle into the cell; and a microinjection device for carrying out the aforementioned method.
US08304239B2
This invention provides an efficient process for in vitro propagation of Jatropha through direct regeneration of leaf disc without any intermediary callus phase. This process provides a commercially viable process for producing true-to-type plants of Jatropha on a large scale and also as a method to produce transgenics through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.
US08304229B2
A process for preparing a substrate having thereon sites reactive with the reactive groups of a molecular probe, the process comprising the steps of applying to the substrate surface a material comprising one or more reactive sites having an activated ethylenically unsaturated double bond of the formula I: wherein the substituents are defined in the specification and, in a further step, covalently binding the reactive group of the molecular probe to the activated ethylenically unsaturated double bond of the reactive sites having formula I.
US08304228B2
A manipulation tool is disclosed for producing cell material having multiple biological cells, which have a predefined geometrical arrangement. The tool includes a tool body, whose surface at least partially contacts the cell material, and a setting device for adjusting the tool body by a continuous expansion, so that geometrical properties of the surface change and an interior of the tool body is enlarged. The setting device is adapted to expand the tool body at an advance velocity in a range from 0.1 μm/h to 1 mm/h.
US08304226B2
Disclosed are quick dissolve tablets, each including freeze dried lysate of Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Llactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidium, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis or Bifidobacterium breve and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), as well as excipients, for oral mucosal administration, for improving the quality of life of Hepatitis C patients. Any formulation suitable for oral mucosal administration can be employed for administering the active ingredients in a sufficient dosage for therapeutic effect, one such formulation being: four parts of bacterial lysate and one part of N-acetyl D-glucosamine. Excipients can include one or more of, maltodextrin; xanthan gum; acesulfam K; lemon powder and a flavoring, e.g., juice; Mannitol TL-32-04, Microcrystalline Cellulose and Carrageenan, Fructose, PVP-XL TL-11-04, Gellan Gum, Citrus TL 1-04, Orange TL 19-04, Sucrolose TL-13-04, and Mg ST TL-13-04.
US08304214B2
A two-step multiplex amplification reaction includes a first step which truncates the standard initial multiplex amplification round to “boost” the sample copy number by only a 100-1000 fold increase in the target. Following the first step the product is divided into optimized secondary single amplification reactions, each containing one of the primer sets that were used previously in the first or multiplexed booster step. The booster step can occur using an aqueous target nucleic acid or using a solid phase archived nucleic acid. In particular, nucleic acid sequences that uniquely identify E. Coli were identified using the multiplex amplification method.
US08304194B2
The present invention relates to a method for measuring the amount of a target nucleic acid in a sample using a standard which is designed to have one base difference compared with the gene of interest or a “target nucleic acid sequence.” Use of such standard in combination with a method of “enhancing” the difference in the standard and the test nucleic acid sample using, for example, a base extension reaction carried right at the mutation site allowing amplification of the standard and target nucleic acids with the same efficiency and facilitating quantification of the target nucleic acid. Thereafter a means of quantifying the “enhanced” standard and target nucleic acid samples is used to determine the amount of the target nucleic acid. In the preferred embodiment, the quantification means is Mass Spectrometry.
US08304188B2
The present invention relates to systems, devices, and methods for performing biological reactions. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of lipophilic, water immiscible, or hydrophobic barriers in sample separation, purification, modification, and analysis processes.
US08304186B2
A reactor (1) for performing biochemical processes, particularly for extraction, purification, enrichment, sedimentation, comprising a container which is provided with at least one mouth (2) which is associated with closure means (3) of the removable type, the container having internally at least one process compartment (4), adapted to accommodate a sample of biochemical material to be processed, at least one containment chamber (5) for a process agent, and at least first means for transferring the process agent from the containment chamber to the process compartment.
US08304183B2
Methods are provided for adding a terminal sequence tag to nucleic acid molecules for use in RNA or DNA amplification. The tag introduced may be used as a primer binding site for subsequent amplification of the DNA molecule and/or sequencing of the DNA molecule and therefore provides means for identification and cloning of the 5′-end or the complete sequence of mRNAs.
US08304182B2
The present invention provides methods of identifying and/or detecting anti-cancer agents. The present invention provides methods of identifying and/or detecting compounds that can activate PARP and/or induce necrosis. The present invention also provides for methods of treating cancer in an individual. The present invention also provides kits for identifying and/or detecting anti-cancer agents.
US08304181B2
The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions. The present application describes a method for using lactate measurement in the arterial and the venous blood lines of the Organ Care System Heart perfusion device to evaluate the: 1) The overall perfusion status of an isolated heart and 2) The metabolic status of an isolated heart and 3) the overall vascular patency of an isolated donor heart. This aspect of the present invention uses the property of myocardial cell's unique ability to produce/generate lactate when they are starved for oxygen and metabolize/utilize lactate for energy production when they are well perfused with oxygen.
US08304179B2
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes coating a photoresist on a substrate. The photoresist is exposed to radiation. The radiation exposed photoresist is baked. The radiation exposed and baked photoresist is developed to create an image pattern. The image pattern is treated with a treating material. An ion implantation process is performed to the substrate and the treated image pattern. The image pattern is stripped from the substrate. A carbon atom ratio of the treating material is less than a carbon atom ratio of the photoresist.
US08304176B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head, the liquid ejection head including: a substrate having an energy generating element that generates energy for ejecting liquid; and a flow path forming member having, on an upper side of the energy generating element, an ejection orifice for ejecting the liquid and a bubble generating chamber communicated with the ejection orifice, the method including: preparing a negative photosensitive resin as a material constituting the flow path forming member; and performing first exposure treatment for forming a first image constituting a side wall of the bubble generating chamber and second exposure treatment for forming a second image constituting a side wall of the ejection orifice so that a side wall of the first image and a side wall of the second image cross each other diagonally.
US08304171B2
A plate making method of a lithographic printing plate precursor includes: exposing imagewise a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support and an image-forming layer and containing (A) a compound generating an acid with light or heat, (B) an aromatic hydrocarbon compound or heterocyclic compound substituted with a functional group containing a nitrogen atom and (C) an aromatic aldehyde protected with an acid-decomposable group; and removing an unexposed area of the image-forming layer of the lithographic printing plate precursor by supplying at least one of dampening water and ink on a cylinder of a printing machine.
US08304170B2
Negative-working imageable elements can be imaged and processed to provide lithographic printing plates, especially with sulfuric acid-anodized aluminum substrates. These elements have an imageable outermost layer that contains two different polymeric binders, a primary polymeric binder is optionally present a discrete particles, and a secondary polymeric binder comprising a poly(vinyl acetate) that has a degree of hydrolysis of less than 60 mol %. These imageable elements can be designed for either off-press or on-press development.
US08304168B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor is provided that includes, above a support, a photosensitive layer including (i) a binder polymer, (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and (iii) a polymerization initiator, the ethylenically unsaturated compound (ii) including a compound represented by Formula (1) below. (In Formula (1), L denotes an (m+n)-valent linking group, the Ds independently denote a group selected from the group consisting of groups represented by Formulae (A) to (D) below, the Rs independently denote a monovalent substituent, m denotes an integer of 1 to 20, and n denotes an integer of 2 to 20.) (In Formulae (A) to (D), X, Y, and Z independently denote an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or NR17, R4 to R14 and R17 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, R15 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R16 denotes a monovalent substituent, and k denotes an integer of 0 to 4.) There is also provided a process for producing a lithographic printing plate, including an exposure step of imagewise exposing the lithographic printing plate precursor and a development step of removing the photosensitive layer of a non-exposed portion in the presence of a developer having buffering capacity.
US08304158B2
A method for manufacturing a toner includes a pre-mixing step and a coating step. In the pre-mixing step, a secondary aggregate of the fine resin particles is disaggregated, while toner base particles and fine resin particles are mixed and stirred using a rotary stirring apparatus. Thus obtained disaggregated fine resin particles are fixed to the surface of the toner base particle. Thus, a fine resin particle-fixed toner is obtained. The rotary stirring apparatus includes a rotary stirring section, a temperature regulation section, a circulating section, and a spraying section. In the coating step, a liquid is sprayed to the fine resin particle-fixed toner with the spraying section using the rotary stirring apparatus. Thus, a film of the fine resin particles is formed. In the pre-mixing step and the coating step, temperature regulation is conducted in the temperature regulation section.
US08304149B2
A photosensitive polymer composition, having (a) a polymer selected from polyimide precursors and polyimides having an acid group protected by a protecting group and having no amino group (—NH2) at the end; and (b) a compound that generates an acid when exposed to light and capable of deprotecting the protecting group from the acid group, is employed to form layers of a semiconductor device.
US08304148B2
A method for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction of a pattern to be formed on a surface is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots are determined, and in which charged particle beam simulation is used to calculate the pattern which the plurality of VSB shots will form on the surface. At least two shots in the plurality of VSB shots overlap each other. In some embodiments, assigned dosages of at least two shots differ before proximity effect correction (PEC). In other embodiments an optimization technique may be used embodiments.
US08304144B2
Fuel cells are formed in a single layer of conductive monocrystalline silicon including a succession of electrically isolated conductive silicon bodies separated by narrow parallel trenches etched through the whole thickness of the silicon layer. Semicells in a back-to-back configuration are formed over etch surfaces of the separation trenches. Each semicell formed on the etch surface of one of the silicon bodies forming an elementary cell in cooperation with an opposite semicell formed on the etch surface of the next silicon body of the succession, is separated by an ion exchange membrane resin filling the separation trench between the opposite semicells forming a solid electrolyte of the elementary cell. Each semicell includes a porous conductive silicon region permeable to fluids, extending for a certain depth from the etch surface of the silicon body, at least partially coated by a non passivable metallic material. Each of the porous and fluid permeable regions communicates with a feed duct of a fuel fluid or of oxygen gas that extends parallel to the etch surface inside the conductive silicon body.
US08304139B2
A bipolar fluid flow flied plate for a fuel cell delivers fuel to a porous anode electrode and oxidant to an adjacent porous cathode electrode. The flow field plate comprises an electrically conductive, non-porous sheet into which fluid flow conduits are formed. A first fluid flow channel is patterned into a first face of the sheet and a second fluid flow channel patterned into the opposite face of the sheet. The pattern of the first channel comprises an interdigitated comb that co-operates with a pattern of the second channel comprising a continous serpentine path, so that no portion of the first channel directly overlies the pattern of the second channel over a substantial active area of the sheet. This allows the channels to be formed with combined depths that exceed the total plate thickness, thereby increasing fluid flow volumes.
US08304138B2
A fuel cell system includes a primary hydrogen source capable of communicating with a fuel cell anode. The system also includes a secondary hydrogen source communicating with the primary hydrogen source. A first valve is positioned downstream of the secondary hydrogen source. The valve allows hydrogen from the secondary source to communicate with hydrogen from the primary source downstream of the valve and upstream of the fuel cell anode.
US08304136B2
Disclosed is a solid oxide fuel cell bundle, including a plurality of fuel cells each having a polygonal tubular support an outer surface of which has a plurality of planes, an outer connector formed on one plane among the plurality of planes of the tubular support, a plurality of unit cells respectively formed on two or more remaining planes of the tubular support except for the one plane, and inner connectors for connecting the unit cells and the outer connector in series, wherein the fuel cells is connected in series in such a manner that the outer connector of a fuel cell is bonded to the unit cell of an additional fuel cell, and the unit cells are connected in series, thus exhibiting excellent cell performance and high power density per unit volume, and maintaining high voltage upon collection of current to thereby reduce power loss due to electrical resistance.
US08304135B2
A method of manufacturing a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a base material and having excellent proton conductivity and methanol blocking properties is provided. The method includes: heat-treating a precursor membrane including PVA and a water-soluble polymer electrolyte having a proton conductive group to proceed crystallization of the PVA; and chemically crosslinking the heat-treated precursor membrane with a crosslinking agent reactive with the PVA, to form a polymer electrolyte membrane in which a crosslinked PVA is a base material and protons are conducted through the electrolyte retained in the base material. The content of a water-soluble polymer except the PVA and the water-soluble polymer electrolyte in the precursor membrane is in a weight ratio of less than 0.1 with respect to the PVA.
US08304126B2
A fuel cell (A1) includes a cell stack (B) and a casing (210) for housing the cell stack (B), and is supplied with two reactant gases flowing separately from each other. The cell stack (B) includes a plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cell units (200) stacked on one another with inter-unit spaces provided therebetween. One of the reactant gases is supplied to the inter-unit spaces and used for power generation. The casing (210) includes a peripheral wall (222) surrounding the cell stack (B). The peripheral wall (222) is provided with at least one gas inlet opening (223) for introducing the one of the reactant gases into the inter-unit spaces and at least one gas outlet opening (224) for discharging the introduced reactant gas, wherein total opening width dimension of the gas inlet opening (223) is greater than total opening width dimension of the gas outlet opening (224).
US08304125B2
Provided is a power system capable of supplying power steadily to the outside even at a low temperature. A power supply unit disposed in the power system is configured to calculate an amount of power needed to heat a fuel cell to a temperature threshold when the temperature thereof measured by an FC sensor is below the temperature threshold, set an SOC lower limit by adding the calculated amount of power to a discharge threshold of a secondary battery, and control the power supply to a first power supply portion in the range of the SOC lower limit.
US08304124B2
A hydrogen generator (100) includes: a desulfurizer (4) having a desulfurizing agent which removes by adsorption a sulfur compound in a raw material; a reformer (1) having a reforming catalyst which generates a hydrogen-containing gas from the raw material; a combustor (5) which heats the reformer (1); and an ignitor (103) which ignites the raw material in the combustor (5), is configured to start combustion of the combustor (5) by using the raw material passed through the desulfurizer (4), and further includes: an upper limit changing device (8) which changes an upper limit of an ignition confirmation time of the ignitor (103); and a change instruction receiving device (101) which receives a signal related to an instruction of the change.
US08304122B2
A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system having a hot zone with a center cathode air feed tube for improved reactant distribution, a CPOX reactor attached at the anode feed end of the hot zone with a tail gas combustor at the opposing end for more uniform heat distribution, and a counter-flow heat exchanger for efficient heat retention.
US08304119B2
In order to inhibit a gasket (1) adhered to a plate body such as a separator (3) of a fuel battery or the like from being adversely affected by an elution component from an adhesion means, the gasket has a main lip (11), a back surface seal portion (12) formed in a back surface of the main lip and closely contacted with a separator (a plate body to be adhered) (3), an adhesion portion (14) arranged in a position in an opposite side to a space (S) to be sealed with respect to the back surface seal portion (12) and adhered to a bottom portion (31a) of a gasket installation groove (31) of the separator (3) via an adhesive agent (2), and an adhesive agent sump (15) formed between the back surface seal portion (12) and the adhesion portion (14) and holding an excess adhesive agent (2a).
US08304114B2
A microporous polyolefin membrane having a structure in which its pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, which is produced by extruding a melt-blend of a polyolefin composition comprising (a) high density polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2.5×105 to about 5×105 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, (b) polypropylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 3×105 to about 1.5×106 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 1 to about 100, and (c) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of about 5×105 or higher, and a membrane-forming solvent, cooling the extrudate to form a high resin content gel-like sheet, stretching the gel-like sheet at a high stretching temperature to form a stretched gel-like sheet, removing the membrane-forming solvent from the stretched gel-like sheet to form a membrane, stretching the membrane to a high magnification to form a stretched membrane, and heat-setting the stretched microporous membrane to form the microporous membrane.
US08304103B2
A battery structure for improving a heat dissipating property and a vibration absorbing performance. The battery structure comprises a plurality of unit cell layers, each formed by alternately stacking a cathode active material layer formed on a surface of one collector, a separator for retaining an electrolyte and an anode active material layer formed on a surface of another collector. The battery structure also comprises a heat dissipating member disposed between at least one unit cell layer and another unit cell layer.
US08304096B2
Provided are a novel fused polycyclic aromatic compound having a fluoranthene skeleton and an organic light emitting device having high efficiency and high durability. The organic light emitting device includes a fused polycyclic aromatic compound represented by the following general formula [1] or [2], and the organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, an organic compound layer interposed between the anode and the cathode, in which at least one layer of the organic compound layers includes at least one kind of the fused polycyclic aromatic compound represented by the following general formula [1] or [2].
US08304094B2
It is an object to provide a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency by using a hole transporting substance with a sufficiently high T1 level. Further, it is another object to provide a light-emitting device and an electronic appliance with low power consumption by using a hole transporting substance with a sufficiently high T1 level. The present invention provides a light-emitting element which has a first layer containing a spiro-9,9′-bifluorene derivative in which one amino group is combined and a second layer containing a phosphorescent compound between an anode and a cathode.
US08304092B2
An aqueous surface-treatment liquid is a treatment liquid containing a water-soluble zirconium compound, water-dispersive particulate silica, a silane coupling agent, a vanadic acid compound, a phosphoric acid compound, a nickel compound, and an acrylic resin emulsion in particular proportions. A surface-treated galvanized steel sheet produced using the treatment liquid is a galvanized steel sheet having a surface-treatment coating on a surface thereof, and the coating contains a zirconium compound, particulate silica, a silane-coupling-agent-derived component, a vanadic acid compound, a phosphoric acid compound, a nickel compound, and an acrylic resin in particular proportions. The amount of coating on a zirconium basis is 10 to 200 mg/m2. This surface-treated galvanized steel sheet is chromate-free and has superior flat-portion corrosion resistance, blackening resistance, and appearance and corrosion resistance after press forming.
US08304090B2
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a composite structure of materials that are formed together in a way which gives the composite structure improved yield strength and thermal conduction capabilities.
US08304086B2
New compositions for forming films for use in optical devices are provided. The compositions comprise a cellulose and a crosslinking agent dissolved or dispersed in a solvent system. Preferred celluloses are cellulose esters such as cellulose acetates, cellulose triacetates, cellulose acetate phthalates, and cellulose acetate butyrates. Preferred crosslinking agents are triazines such as those derived from melamine and benzoguanamine. The inventive compositions can be used to form, for example, protective and/or compensation films for use in polarizing plates.
US08304084B2
Provided is a liquid silicone rubber coating composition with a viscosity at 25° C. of 10,000 to 100,000 mPa·s, comprising: (A) (A-1) a substantially straight chain organopolysiloxane containing alkenyl groups only at both molecular chain terminals, and (A-2) a substantially straight chain organopolysiloxane containing an average of at least two alkenyl groups, only at non-terminal molecular chain positions, within each molecule, (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane containing an average of at least two hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms within each molecule, (C) an addition reaction catalyst, and (D) an adhesion improver, as well as an air bag with a rubber coating layer comprising a cured product of such a composition. Also provided is an air bag with a rubber coating layer comprising a cured product of such a composition. The liquid silicone rubber coating composition can be used without dissolution in an organic solvent, and displays excellent adhesion to fiber and excellent rubber strength.
US08304076B2
Various embodiments provide a plurality of particles and a reimageable medium including the plurality of particles. The plurality of particles can include a binder; a photochromic material; and a light absorbing material. The photochromic material is capable of reversibly converting among a less colored form and a more colored form in response to a predetermined wavelength scope, where light absorption by the light absorbing material is less than about 50% of light absorption by the less colored form of the photochromic material.
US08304074B2
A fine powder of an alkaline earth metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of barium carbonate, strontium carbonate and calcium carbonate, in which a primary particle of the powder has a mean diameter of 30 to 90 nm, in which the mean diameter is measured on a circle obtained from a projected area of the primary particle, and in which an accumulated volume of micropores having a pore size in the range of 10 to 20 nm is not less than 5×10−2 cm3/g can be easily dispersed in an aqueous medium in the form of essentially primary particles by an industrially employable dispersing method.
US08304073B2
A label for removable application to an article such as a beverage bottle includes a backing layer (2) comprising a laminate of a bi-axially oriented polyester such as PET (12) and a bi-axially oriented polypropylene (14). The polyester film (12) has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the polypropylene film (14). Consequently, when the label is heated, it will tend to curl and this effect can be used to assist in the removal of the label from the article in a hot washing bath during recycling of the article.
US08304072B2
Certain example embodiments relate to robust semi-transparent coatings that are suitable for use in a wide variety of display-on-demand mirror applications, and methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a coating supported by a glass substrate. A reflective metal-inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the glass substrate. A silicon oxide inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the reflective metallic layer. A titanium oxide inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the silicon oxide inclusive layer. The metal-inclusive layer is formed so as to reflect incoming light away from the glass substrate such that substantially less incoming light would be reflected away from the glass substrate if lighting were provided on a side of the glass substrate opposite the coating than if no lighting were provided. The surface of the coated article need not necessarily be conductive. The metal-inclusive layer may be connected to a power source so as to heat it (e.g., for defogging purposes).
US08304065B2
A treatment for a microelectronic device comprises a dicing tape (110) and a polymer composite film (120) having a pigment or other colorant added thereto and, in some embodiments, a pre-cure glass transition temperature greater than 50° Celsius. The film can comprise multiple layers, with one layer being tacky and the other layer non-tacky at a given temperature.
US08304061B2
A laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers and an identification image thereon. The document has a core laminate layer having an upper surface and lower surface, at least one surface of which is printed with a dot matrix pattern and at least one visually opaque or reflective laminate layer bonded to and overlaying the printed surface. Upon pitting the laminate layer portions, the dot matrix pattern printed on the core laminate is expopsed to thereby form the identifying image.A laser markable laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers wherein a compatibilizing layer is bonded to adjoining laminate layers, the compatibilizing layer includes an imaging material that can be laser marked.A laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers and an identification image thereon, wherein at least one laminate layer is a compatibilizing layer.
US08304054B2
Disclosed is a multilayer material in which at least two components are jointed to each other via an adhesive bond. The adhesive bond is formed by an adhesive or bonding layer containing nanofiber material in a matrix that is suitable as an adhesive.
US08304049B2
Polypropylene composition comprising a propylene homopolymer (A) and a random propylene-butene copolymer (B) or a random propylene-ethylene copolymer (B′) wherein the polypropylene composition is β-nucleated.
US08304046B2
An encapsulated getter arranged in vacuum glazing comprising an encapsulating box and a getter placed in the encapsulating box. The encapsulating box forms a closed cavity, and there is a gap between the getter and an inner surface of the encapsulating box. The position of the getter can be fixed with respect to the encapsulating box by filling material which is air permeable and thermal insulating in the gap.
US08304044B2
A heat transferable dye donor element includes a heat transferable dye and an N-oxyl radical light stabilizer that is derived from a hindered amine. The N-oxyl radical has the following formula, wherein R1, R2, R5, and R6 are each independently selected from a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl, and R3 and R4 are each independently selected from H, OH, OR, COOH, or COOR, wherein R is a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl or alkene, and has a molecular weight of 600 or less. The dye donor element includes a heat transferable material that can be in one or more sections or patches including heat transferable dye patches. The heat transferable material provides better dye image stability when applied to a thermal receiver element.
US08304036B2
The invention relates to 2,5-selenophene derivatives and 2,5-tellurophene derivatives, inter alia for use as components in liquid-crystal mixtures, and to liquid-crystal mixtures which comprise the compounds, and to liquid-crystal displays based on these mixtures. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds and to Se/Te-containing intermediates.
US08304032B2
Curable coating composition suitable for use on composite substrates such as plastic composites, cementitious composites, ceramic composites, and engineered wood, or on plastic materials. The curable coating composition comprises a multifunctional oligomer, a monomer selected from the group consisting of monofunctional monomers, difunctional monomers and mixtures thereof, a photoinitiator, a polyester resin and a polycarboxylic acid. Also disclosed is a method of coating the substrates with the curable coating composition and a coated substrate wherein the cured coating resides on the surface of the substrate.
US08304029B2
The invention relates to a device for hot-dip coating a metal strand (1), especially a steel strip, in which the metal strand (1) is vertically guided through a container (3) accommodating the molten coating metal (2) and through a guide channel (4) disposed upstream thereof. The inventive device comprises at least two inductors (5) disposed at both sides of the metal strand (1) in the area of the guide channel (4) that are used to generate an electromagnetic field for retaining the coating metal (2) in the container (3), and at least one sensor (6, 6′) for detecting the position (s) of the metal strand (1) in the area of the guide channel (4). In order to simplify and render more precise the detection of the position of the metal strand in the guide channel, the sensor for detecting the position of the metal strand (1) consists of two coils (6, 6′) that are disposed, when seen from the direction of conveyance (R) of the metal strand (1), within the height (H0) of the inductors (5) between the inductors (5) and the metal strand (1). The invention further relates to a method for hot-dip coating a metal strand.
US08304025B2
An optical film is provided and includes: a support; a hard coat layer formed by hardening a hard coat layer-coating composition; and a overcoat layer formed by hardening an overcoat layer-coating composition, in this order. Each of the hard coat layer-coating composition and the overcoat layer-coating composition contains a compound having a plurality of polymerizable functional groups in one molecule, and the compound in the overcoat layer-coating composition contains a compound having at least three polymerizable functional groups.
US08304023B2
Fiberfill fibers are treated with aqueous dispersions of organopolysiloxanes obtained by reaction of condensation-curable organopolysiloxanes with silanes (R3O)3SiCR22—Y or their hydrolyzates, where R2 is hydrogen or a monovalent lower alkyl radical, R3 is an alkyl radical, Y is —NHR4, —NR42 or —NR5 in the presence of water, emulsifier and optionally further silanes (R3O)xR3-xSi—R6—Z or their hydrolyzates, where R6 is a divalent C2-18 hydrocarbyl radical and Z is an amino or aminoalkylamino, epoxy, or (meth)acryloyloxy radical, and x is 1, 2 or 3, and optionally further materials which do not take part in the reaction, wherein no metal-containing catalysts are used and that the organopolysiloxanes and silanes are used in such amounts that the organopolysiloxanes, after removal of water, form elastomeric films insoluble in toluene.
US08304022B1
The invention provides a polyacrylic-based aerosol top coat composition for rapid and economical application of decorative faux finishes on architectural surfaces. The composition dries rapidly, permits further texturing before it dries if desired, is esthetically superior to faux finish top coats made by methods in the prior art, and when dry provides a top coat that is mechanically tough. The invention is particularly useful for providing wood grain faux finishes, and for creating three-dimensional wood-like effects on a two-dimensional non-wood surface. The invention further provides a method wherein a base coat is applied directly to a surfactant-free surface of any of several architectural materials such as bare vinyl, after which the top coat composition is sprayed on reiteratively as needed. Other coatings such as primer coats and protective overcoatings are optional.
US08304016B2
A method of making a fuser member having an annealed outer surface comprising: providing an outer layer comprising compatible first and second fluorothermoplastics over an outer substrate surface, wherein the first fluorothermoplastic is a crosslinkable polymer and the second fluorothermoplastic is a linear polymer; curing the outer layer to crosslink the first fluorothermoplastic whereby the resulting crosslinked first fluorothermoplastic and the linear polymer second fluorothermoplastic form a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN); and annealing an outer surface of the outer layer by contacting the fuser member with applied pressure against a heated surface, without first sintering the second fluorothermoplastic linear polymer through application of heat alone.
US08304008B2
A frozen, filled, yeast-bread product and a method for producing the same, the method including coextruding an unrisen yeast-bread dough and a filling through an extruder that is capable of at least encasing the filling with the unrisen yeast-bread dough to form a filled, unrisen yeast-bread dough; shaping the filled, unrisen yeast-bread dough into a consistent flattened shape; proofing, baking, cooling, enrobing, grilling and freezing the filled, unrisen yeast-bread dough to form a frozen, filled, yeast-leavened bread product that experiences substantially no leaking of filling from out of the bread product.
US08304005B2
Disclosed is a method for improving the filtering properties of a defatted soymilk peptide. Also disclosed is a defatted soymilk peptide having improved filtering properties. The filtering properties of a defatted soymilk peptide can be improved by adding a calcium salt to the defatted soymilk peptide in an amount of 0.6 wt % or more in terms of calcium content relative to the crude protein content. The resulting mixture is filtered once or more times to produce a defatted soymilk peptide having improved filtering properties. The defatted soymilk peptide is characterized by containing a calcium salt in an amount of 0.4 wt % or more in terms of calcium content relative to the crude protein content.
US08304003B1
Disclosed is an ovenable corrugated paper container containing at least an inner liner containing a first paper substrate and a polymeric coating on a food product side; an outer liner containing a second paper substrate; and a corrugated paper layer positioned between the inner liner and the outer liner. Due to its insulation properties, the ovenable corrugated paper container may be used as a serving container without the danger of causing burns.
US08303999B2
The invention relates to a method for producing an extract containing xanthohumol (XN), which is obtained from toasted cereal products, cereal malt, coffee or cocoa. The XN-content in said extract is in the region of 10 mg/kg-2 g/kg xanthohumol. The use of XN-toasted extracts enables the XN-content of foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products to be increased in a natural manner. 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.
US08303998B2
A new process for extracting and purifying glucosinolates from plant material, preferably broccoli sprouts or seeds is described. An alcoholic extract is adsorbed onto a basic resin and eluted with ammonia. Optionally, the alcoholic extract is passed through an ion-exchange column containing acidic resin prior to the adsorption/elution step.
US08303995B1
Compositions comprising from about 40 weight parts to about 1000 weight parts of a botanical nitrate source; from about 20 weight parts to about 500 weight parts of a botanical source of nitrite reduction activity; and from about 4 weight parts to about 100 weight parts of a nitrite salt. Methods of reducing triglycerides or reducing C-reactive protein levels are also provided.
US08303993B2
The present relates to an autologous bioadhesive sealant composition, or fibrin glue prepared by a two-phase method, wherein all of the blood components for the bioadhesive sealant are derived from a patient to whom the bioadhesive sealant will be applied. A platelet rich plasma and a platelet poor plasma are formed by centrifuging a quantity of anticoagulated whole blood that was previously drawn from the patient. In one embodiment the platelet rich plasma is divided into two portions. In phase one, a compound that reverses the effect of the anticoagulant is added to the first portion and a clot is allowed to form. The clot is then triturated, and the resulting, serum containing autologous thrombin is collected. In phase two, the serum obtained from phase one is mixed with the second portion of the-platelet rich plasma to form the bioadhesive sealant of the invention.
US08303982B2
A medical patch system has a first medical patch including an outer locating ring securable to a surface and an inner patch, separable from the outer locating ring, disposed within the outer locating ring. The medical patch system includes a second medical patch adapted for insertion into the central area bounded by the outer locating ring after the inner patch is separated from the outer locating ring. The second medical patch includes a second outer locating ring securable to the surface, and a second inner patch section, separable from the second outer locating ring, disposed within a second central area bounded by the second outer locating ring. The first and second outer locating rings have adhesive layers for securing the outer locating rings to a surface. The adhesive layers on the respective outer locating rings have different sizes, shapes or patterns to minimize skin irritation.
US08303980B2
A wound-dressing material being a product comprising chitosan as a base material and kumazasa extract, and a method for manufacturing the wound-dressing material by gelatinizing a mixture solution containing chitosan and kumazasa extract and drying the resulting gel. The wound-dressing material can be applied to humans and animals, and have biocompatibility, antibacterial effects, and low toxicity, and also have flexibility to be formed into various shapes for applying for various wounds.
US08303978B2
The present invention provides NO and, optionally, drug releasing macromers and oligomers wherein the drug molecule and NO releasing moiety are linked an absorbable macromer or oligomeric chain susceptible to hydrolytic degradation and wherein the macromer or oligomer comprises of repeat units derived from safe and biocompatible molecules such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, caprolactone and p-dioxanone. Furthermore, the present invention relates to controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) and/or drug molecule from a NO and drug releasing macromer or oligomer. Moreover, the present invention also relates to medical devices, medical device coatings and therapeutic formulations comprising of nitric oxide and drug releasing macromers and oligomers of the present invention.
US08303970B2
The present invention relates to a method of covering a metal article with a film formed from the melting of a thin layer of powder comprising: physically blending 99.8 to 97% by weight of at least one polyamide and 0.2 to 3% by weight of an inorganic biocide species consisting of a soluble ceramic in which silver ions are encapsulated to form a powder blend composition; contacting the metal article with said powder composition blend to form a thin layer of said powder on the article; melting the powder blend composition onto the metal article to form a thin coating film; and cooling the coated article; where the powder blend composition is free of zinc compounds.
US08303962B2
This invention provides novel antimicrobial peptides and formulations thereof. The peptides and/or formulations are effective to kill or to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of various bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
US08303961B2
The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein, preferably a hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen from Borrelia, a vector comprising such nucleic acid molecule, a host cell comprising such vector, a protein, preferably a hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen from Borrelia, a process for producing such protein, a process for producing a cell which expresses such protein, an antibody that binds to such protein, a hybridoma cell producing such antibody, a method for producing such antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such nucleic acid molecule, protein, or antibody, use of such nucleic acid molecule, protein, or antibody for the manufacture of a medicament, a method for identifying an antagonist capable of reducing or inhibiting the activity of such protein, a method for diagnosis or treatment of an infection with a pathogen causing Lyme disease or an infection with Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.
US08303956B2
The present invention is directed to ligand/receptor and antigen/antibody specificity exchangers comprising a saccharide or glycoconjugate. Methods of making these specificity exchangers and methods of using said specificity exchangers to treat or prevent human disease are described herein.
US08303955B2
Provided are humanized anti-CD40 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments and methods for treating disease characterized by expression of CD40 antigen.
US08303954B2
An anti-cognitive dysfunction agent comprising a humanized antibody which does not bind to Aβ monomers and specifically binds only to Aβ oligomers and a fragment thereof as an active ingredient, and an therapeutic antibody which can be treat Alzheimer's disease by specifically binding amyloid β protein oligomer (Aβ oligomer) which is considered to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease are required. The present invention can provide an anti-Aβ oligomer humanized antibody and a method for treating Alzheimer's disease using the humanized antibody. An agent for treating Alzheimer's disease; an agent for suppressing formation of neuritic plaque; an inhibitor of formation of Aβ amyloid fiber; a method for at least one of preventing and treating cognitive dysfunction or Alzheimer's disease, comprising the step of administering the humanized antibody; and a method for suppressing progression of Alzheimer's disease, comprising the step of administering the humanized antibody.
US08303953B2
The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of both IL-17A and IL-17F, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.
US08303920B2
An object of this invention is to diminish a ratio of a concentration of N2O in the dilution air to a concentration of N2O in the measurement object gas diluted by the dilution air as much as possible by removing N2O in a dilution air so that a measurement accuracy of a concentration of N2O in a measurement object gas can be improved. A heater 33 that applies heat to the dilution air, a Pd catalyst 341 and a Pt catalyst 342 are arranged in this order on a flow channel where a dilution air used for diluting the measurement object gas flows, and N2O in the dilution air is oxidized to NOx or reduced to N2 by the Pd catalyst 341 and the Pt catalyst 342.
US08303916B2
A reactor system for the transformation of solid, liquid, gaseous, and related hydrocarbon feedstocks into high-purity, high-pressure gas streams capable of withstanding high temperatures and high pressures. The system comprises a plurality of reactor housings and a plurality of molten-metal bath vessels within the housings, the bath vessels in fluid communication with each other via conduits, with communication facilitated by gravity and temperature/pressure differentials.
US08303912B2
The present invention concerns sample pick-up and metering devices, analytical test systems for determining an analyte in a sample liquid and their use for this purpose and methods for determining an analyte in a sample liquid. They comprise or use a sample pick-up and metering device according to the invention which consists of a support and a metering element integrated into the support for taking up a defined volume of sample liquid and a closed liquid compartment located on the support which contains a defined volume of a liquid where the liquid compartment on the support can be opened.
US08303910B2
Provided is a biosensor with precision, high accuracy, and high sensitivity capable of increasing measurement accuracy while allowing measurements to be performed anywhere at any time by anyone, and allowing measurement with a small amount of specimen. In a biosensor including a specimen application portion (12) and a development flow channel (2), the specimen application portion (12) is configured such that an application space (9) is enclosed by a space-forming member (8) made of a liquid impermeable material, and a reaction reagent (14) that contains a labeling-reagent is retained in a position facing the application space (9) of the space-forming member (8) in the specimen application portion (12) so that the reaction reagent can be dissolved into a liquid specimen applied to the application space (9). Thus, it is possible to reduce the amount of specimen required for measurement, also completely dissolve the labeling-reagent and cause the labeling-reagent to react and develop with the entire liquid specimen, allowing measurement with high accuracy and high sensitivity.
US08303909B2
Embodiments of a microfluidic assembly comprise at least two adjacent microstructures and a plurality of interconnecting fluid conduits which connect an outlet port of one microstructure to an inlet port of an adjacent microstructure. Each microstructure comprises an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path not aligned along a common axis. Moreover, the microfluidic assembly defines a microfluidic assembly axis along which respective inlet ports of adjacent microstructures are oriented or alternatively along which respective outlet ports of adjacent microstructures are oriented, and each microstructure is oriented relative to the microfluidic assembly axis at a nonorthogonal angle.
US08303908B2
This invention relates to technology for analyzing a specific component in a sample liquid, and provides an analyzing tool and an analyzing apparatus. Analyzing tool (Y) includes a liquid inlet (61) at a central portion of the tool and a plurality of channels (51) which communicate with liquid inlet (61) and move the sample liquid introduced through liquid inlet (61) by capillary action from the central portion towards a peripheral portion of the tool. Each channel (51) extends linearly for example from the central portion towards the peripheral portion, and the plurality of channels (51) are arranged radially.
US08303903B2
A production amount and a yield in a carbon nanotube producing device are improved. Inside a reaction pipe (20) heated so as to become a circumference heating body, a plurality of nozzles (26) for injecting a material and carrier gas into the reactor pipe and at least one internal heating source (24) are arranged. By arranging a plurality of the nozzles, the production amount is increased. The nozzles are arranged so as to be sandwiched by two heating sources (circumference heating element, internal heating source) and a distance to the closest two heating source peripheral walls is “a”. Also, a distance between the adjacent nozzles is “b” (≧2a). Flows of the material and the carrier gas injected by the nozzles do not interfere with each other or the heating source wall, and the yield is increased.
US08303893B2
Provided are a method and an apparatus that enable rapid and automatic determination of the coagulant injection rate in a process of water treatment through coagulation and sedimentation. Using a coagulation analyzer comprising sample tanks 1A to 1D each for keeping a predetermined amount of raw water, a water supply pump 7, water supply/discharge valves 4, 6 for raw water and washing water, mixers 3A to 3D, a coagulant injection unit 21, and a detector 30 for determining the particle size and the particle number of flocs, the time within which the coagulant 20 injected into the sample tanks is dispersed by mixing and the particles begin to agglomerate (agglomeration start time) is determined, and based on the thus-determined agglomeration start time, the coagulant injection rate is determined, or the amount of the coagulant to be injected is controlled.
US08303889B2
The invention relates to a process for fabrication of a porous refractory ceramic product made from SiC, by heat treatment and sintering at high temperature, starting from a fraction of fine particles of SiC and from a fraction of larger-sized particles of SiC, said process being characterized in that, in a step preliminary to the heat treatment and to the sintering at high temperature, the finest particles of SiC are agglomerated then, in a second step, the granules thus obtained are added to the SiC powder with particles of larger size.The invention also relates to a porous body made from recrystallized SiC in an essentially α form, in particular a particulate filter for automobile application, obtained by such a process.
US08303885B2
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.
US08303884B2
A soft magnetic material includes a plurality of composite magnetic particles (40) each including a metal magnetic particle (10) and an insulation coating (20) covering the surface of the metal magnetic particle (10), wherein the insulation coating (20) contains Si (silicon), and 80% or more of Si contained in the insulation coating constitutes a silsesquioxane skeleton. Therefore, it is possible to effectively decrease a hysteresis loss while suppressing an increase in eddy-current loss.
US08303872B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene urea in solid form, in which a water-comprising product melt of ethylene urea is cooled on a breaking-up apparatus and the water content of the solid obtained is from 5 to 15% by weight. Furthermore, the invention relates to ethylene urea as solid prepared by a process according to the invention, wherein the water content of the solid is from 5 to 15% by weight and the solid displays lasting powder flow.
US08303871B2
An apparatus and process maintain control of the temperature of low-melting compounds, high melt flow polymers, and thermally sensitive materials for the pelletization of such materials. The addition of a cooling extruder, and a second melt cooler if desired, in advance of the die plate provides for regulation of the thermal, shear, and rheological characteristics of narrow melting-range materials and polymeric mixtures, formulations, dispersions or solutions. The apparatus and process can then be highly regulated to produce consistent, uniform pellets of low moisture content for these otherwise difficult materials to pelletize.
US08303867B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a polarizer and to a polarizer produced by the production method. The invention also relates to a polarizing plate and an optical film each using the polarizer and to an image display such as a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescent display and a plasma display panel, each using the polarizing plate or the optical film. The invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning vessel for use in a cleaning process of a polarizer production method and to a cleaning system into which the cleaning apparatus is assembled.
US08303861B2
Colored composite microparticles comprising silica and an organic pigment in which the silica is enclosed in the organic pigment and contained in an amount of 0.001 to 9% by weight (calculated as Si) based on the weight of the composite particles. These microparticles have a high tinting strength and are excellent in dispersibility and light fastness.
US08303836B2
A process of preparing magnetic graphitic materials from graphite in a second container (3) that reacts with one of more transition metal oxide and in a first container (2) at a volume ratio of 1:1, in a closed reactor (1), heated up to a temperature between 600° C. and the melting temperature of the transition oxide (s) for 6 to 36 hours, under a pressure of 10 atmospheres with the help of a transfer inert gas through an inlet (5) and vacuum between 10−2 torr to 10−7 torr through an outlet (6), obtaining at the end of the process a graphitic material with long-lasting magnetic properties at room temperature. The material obtained exhibits a complex structure, with pores, bunches, pilings and edges of exposed graphenes and finds application in nanotechnology, magnetic images in medical science, applications in communication, electronics, sensors, even biosensors, catalysis or separation of magnetic materials.
US08303834B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes an inner upper electrode provided to face a lower electrode mounting thereon a substrate, an outer upper electrode provided in a ring shape at a radially outside of the inner upper electrode and electrically isolated from the inner upper electrode in a vacuum evacuable processing chamber and a processing gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas into a processing space between the inner and the outer upper electrode and the lower electrode. A radio frequency (RF) power supply unit is also provide to apply a RF power to the lower electrode or the inner and the outer upper electrode to generate a plasma of the processing gas by RF discharge. A first and a second DC power supply unit are provided to apply a first and a second variable DC voltage to the inner upper electrode, respectively.
US08303832B2
A printed mask derived from a composition comprised of at least one compound including at least one alkaline-hydrolyzable group, at least one compound including at least one ethylene oxide group and at least one ultraviolet radiation blocking agent, wherein the printed mask is removable using an alkaline solution in about 30 seconds or less.
US08303830B2
The present invention relates to processes involving contacting articles that include titanium or titanium alloy with a solution comprising hydrochloric acid and chloride-containing compound for a time and at a temperature effective to form a plurality of indentions that, independently, have a diameter of from about 200 nm to 10 microns.
US08303829B2
A method of fabricating an apparatus of fabricating a flat panel display device and method of fabricating flat panel display device is disclosed, which enables simplification of process by performing a patterning process without a photo process, the method for fabricating an apparatus of fabricating flat panel display device comprising, preparing a master mold including a thin film pattern, coating a liquid-type molding material including oligomer on the master mold, forming a soft mold including a groove provided with a pattern in a shape corresponding to the thin film pattern of the master mold and adhering the soft mold to a mold support plate, wherein the soft mold is adhered to the mold support plate by a covalent bonding in the interface between the oligomer and the mold support plate.
US08303825B2
A filtration process are provided that facilitate a high quality, fine grade filtration without being burdened by the filter size, flushing, or plugging impediments inherent in the prior art. The filtration device used in the method is comprised of a topologic disk with a vacant circular center and a textured surface, and a conveyance disk with a vacant circular center and a grooved surface containing multiple inlet grooves and multiple outlet grooves. The textured surface of the topological disk and the grooved surface of the conveyance disk may be brought into direct contact with one another for filtration and separated from one another for flushing. At least one of the textured surface of the topological disk and the grooved surface of the conveyance disk may be rotated relative to the other prior to filtration. In one embodiment, the inlet grooves and the outlet grooves are configured in a spiral array.
US08303819B2
A separating material formed by a solid substrate having a substrate surface, primary or secondary amines coupled to the substrate surface, and a graft polymer formed on the substrate by covalently coupling the primary or secondary amines with a thermally labile radical initiator and subsequently contacting the substrate surface with a solution of one or more polymerizable monomers. Methods for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, blood plasma or blood serum employing the separating material, for affinity adsorption, ion-exchange adsorption, hydrophobic adsorption, or hydrophilic adsorption employing the separating material, and a separating column employing the separating material are also disclosed.
US08303816B2
A horizontal flow water treatment method and wetland biofilter apparatus provides a chamber with impermeable outer walls spaced away from permeable interior walls of a media filtration bed such that a catch basin is formed between the outer walls and the interior walls. The catch basin creates an open area around the perimeter of the interior walls for influent water to fill within the open area on all sides before penetrating the filtration media, providing a large surface area for influent water to interact with the media filtration bed. The influent water enters the catch basin in a horizontal flow path to provide for pre-settling of particulates before making contact with the filtration media. The biofilter design increases the available surface area of the media filtration bed by up to four times for a given volume of water, and thereby minimizes the loading or infiltration rate on the media filtration bed.
US08303815B2
A spiral-type separation membrane element is provided that can reduce the pressure loss without changing the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the water-collecting tube. In a spiral-type separation membrane element in which a separation membrane, a feed-side flow passageway member, and a permeate-side flow passageway member are wound in a spiral form around a porous water-collecting tube in a laminated state, the feed-side flow passageway member includes a net-constituting thread in a direction tilted relative to a feed solution flow direction; the net-constituting thread has a cross-sectional part such that a thread diameter X in a direction parallel to a feed solution flow plane is larger than a thread diameter Y in a direction perpendicular to the feed solution flow plane; and a central part between intersection parts of the net-constituting thread is made to have a thread diameter Y smaller than that of an intersection part.
US08303814B2
A cross-flow filtration system includes a first filter element having a first conduit for receiving a flow of a first aqueous feed stream, a second conduit operable to discharge a flow of first permeate water and a third conduit operable to discharge a flow of first retentate water. The cross-flow filtration system includes a coil assembly disposed about the first conduit. The first coil assembly is operable to subject the first aqueous feed stream to electromagnetic pulses. A second filter element is in fluid communication with the first filter element via the third conduit. The second filter element is operable to receive the first retentate water via the third conduit. A second coil assembly is disposed about the third conduit and is operable to subject the first retentate water to electromagnet pulses.
US08303798B2
The invention is a unit that produces Hydrogen Gas (Browns Gas (HHO)) that can be used as an assist to diesel and gas engines. The gas is produced from distilled water, using our stainless steel plate design. The patent should apply to the internal plate placement and design. The internal design of the unit allows it to produce significantly more hydrogen, drawing significantly less current or electricity from its power source. The internal design is in the placement of positive, negative and neutral plates to produce the gas.
US08303789B1
Various embodiments provide an exemplary lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system that serves as an analytical tool and/or as a separation medium for an electrolyte solution including various charged molecular species. The LOC system can include an integrated nanofluidic FET device in combination with suitable analysis systems. By applying and controlling a longitudinal electric field and a transverse electric potential, the flow and the pH of the electrolyte solution in the nanofluidic channels can be controlled.
US08303782B2
A hydrogen generating apparatus is disclosed. The hydrogen generating apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first hydrogen generating unit, which has a first electrode generating hydrogen by decomposing an electrolyte aqueous solution; a second hydrogen generating unit, which has a second electrode that is placed adjacent to the first hydrogen generating unit and surface thereof is formed with a super absorbent polymer that is gelled when water is absorbed; a solution separation membrane interposed between the first hydrogen generating unit and the second hydrogen generating unit; a reactor accommodating the first hydrogen generating unit, the second hydrogen generating unit and the solution separation membrane; and a hydrogen vent being formed on one side of the reactor, which is adjacent to the second hydrogen generating unit.
US08303778B2
The invention relates to a method for generating motion in a thin liquid film on a substrate, in particular in a capillary gap, in which at least one ultrasound wave is sent right through the substrate in the direction of the liquid film, and a device for carrying out the inventive method.
US08303775B2
A papermaking felt which can be easily engaged in a papermaking machine, wherein the work time for engaging the felt is short, the initial warming-up period until reaching the highest papermaking speed is short, and the felt life is long, which is achieved by integrating and attaching by dispersion in the batt layer of the felt a polymeric elastomer having high deformability when pressure is applied and good recoverability after pressure is applied, which polymeric elastomer is attached in an amount of 0.5 to 20 wt. % of the felt, and which polymeric elastomer has a property that when in the form of a film and when measured at a room temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%, the 100% modulus value of the film is 1 to 100 kg/cm2, the residual strain after 100% elongation is 30% or less.
US08303773B2
A method of producing a tissue paper web in a papermaking machine including the steps of forming the web on a skin, selecting a quality of the web, bypassing a dewatering apparatus, passing the skin and web through a nip and conveying the web to a drying cylinder from the skin. The web is formed in a forming section of the machine from a pulp suspension on the skin. In the selecting step a quality of the web is selected thereby defining a quality selection of absorbency or tear resistance. The bypassing step includes bypassing the dewatering apparatus with the web and selecting a type of the skin dependent upon the quality selection. The machine being configured to bypass the dewatering apparatus dependent upon the quality selection; when the quality selection is tear resistance then the skin is a non-structured skin or a felt and the dewatering apparatus is bypassed, when the quality selection is the absorbency then the skin is a three-dimensionally structured skin or a structured mesh and the dewatering apparatus is not bypassed. In the passing step the skin and the tissue paper web passes through a nip defined between a cylindrical surface of the drying cylinder and a mating surface of a press roller.
US08303771B2
Washing apparatus as well as methods for washing and dewatering a cellulose pulp are disclosed comprising a rotary drum with outer compartments for pulp washing, and a stationary casing surrounding the drum to define an annular space between the casing and the drum which is divided into zones by longitudinal seals. The function of the seals is optimized by a force measurement device for measuring forces acting on the longitudinal seal for measuring a biasing force of a spring package in the measurement device and for measurement of a force acting on a load transmission shaft of the device as well as an extractor for extracting a force acting against the seal in a direction away from the drum.
US08303761B2
A method of manufacturing a curved element made of composite material includes: preparing at least one dry, flat reinforcing layer with curved fibers. A resin film is combined with the dry, flat reinforcing layer, and heat and pressure are applied in controlled manner to bring about the infusion of the resin into the reinforcing layer and to obtain at least one layer of pre-infused material. At least one prepreg layer is prepared with straight fibers impregnated with resin compatible with the resin of the pre-infused material. The layer of pre-infused material and the prepreg layer are superimposed on one another to obtain a layered structure. The layered structure, arranged on a shaped support tool is subjected to a polymerization cycle to obtain the curved element.
US08303760B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for producing a combined optical film that includes opposing the end faces of a plurality of optical films to one another and can narrow the gap between the opposed end faces. A method for producing a combined optical film comprising a plurality of optical films each having at least one end face at which the optical films are opposed to one another, comprising the steps of: (1) opposing the end faces of the optical films to one another with a gap provided therebetween; (2) bonding a first seal material to the opposed portions of the optical films on a first side of each optical film to join the optical films; (3) bending the joined opposed portions of the optical films such that the joined opposed portions become concave on a second side of each optical film where the first seal material is not bonded and such that the gap is narrowed on the second side; (4) bonding a second seal material to the opposed portions on the second side, while the joined optical films are bent such that the gap is narrowed on the second side; and (5) cancelling the bending of the joined optical films to make them flat.
US08303755B2
Methods are disclosed for manufacturing piezoelectric devices. An exemplary method comprises the step of bonding a lid wafer, a piezoelectric frame wafer (having a vibrating piece and a outer frame surrounding the vibrating piece), and a base wafer (having at least one wiring through-hole) together. A surface of a unit (typically ball-shaped) of eutectic metal is cleaned and then arranged on the through-hole. The unit of eutectic metal is then melted in a vacuum or inert gas environment to allow the eutectic metal to enter the through-hole.
US08303736B2
A casted aluminum alloy obtained by casting a molten metal of an aluminum alloy, an aluminum alloy material obtained by at least heating the casted aluminum alloy, and methods for producing them. In the production of the casted aluminum alloy, a molten metal is obtained by melting an aluminum alloy containing 0.8 to 5 mass % of Fe, 0.15 to 1 mass % of Ti, Zr or the like as third component elements in an specific amount, and a residual part containing Al and inevitable impurities at a certain temperature (melting step). Subsequently, the molten metal is cast into a plate-like shape by a casting mold while cooling the molten metal to a temperature that is lower by at least 10° C. than a solidus temperature of the aluminum alloy at a cooling rate of 150° C./sec. or more and less than 10000° C./sec. (casting step).
US08303716B2
A high throughput processing system having a chemical treatment system and a thermal treatment system for processing a plurality of substrates is described. The chemical treatment system is configured to chemically treat a plurality of substrates in a dry, non-plasma environment. The thermal treatment system is configured to thermally treat a plurality of substrates chemically treated in the chemical treatment system.
US08303691B2
A composite membrane comprising a discriminating layer and a porous support layer for the discriminating layer, CHARACTERISED IN THAT the discriminating layer comprises at least 60 wt % of oxyethylene groups and the porous support layer has a CO2 gas flux of 5 to 150×10−5 m3 (STP)/m2·s·kPa at a feed pressure of 2.07 kPa. The membranes are particularly useful for purifying waste gas streams e.g. by removing greenhouse gases.
US08303676B1
Methods are disclosed for generating electrical power from a compound comprising carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Water is combined with the compound to produce a wet form of the compound. The wet form of the compound is transferred into a reaction processing chamber. The wet form of the compound is heated within the reaction chamber such that elements of the compound dissociate and react, with one reaction product comprising hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is processed to generate electrical power.
US08303673B2
A method and an apparatus for gasifying combustible dusts in an entrained flow gasifier with several gasification burners. Each gasification burner is associated with one or a plurality of lock hopper and dosing systems having a plurality of supply flows. This has the advantage that the burners will continue to operate in the event of a failure of one supply flow.
US08303670B2
A vacuum pump system for a prosthesis includes an enhanced suspension mechanism and incorporates a vacuum pump system, an adaptor assembly, circuitry, and a power source. A virtually air-tight seal between a residual limb and a socket of the prosthesis allows a vacuum fit to be generated by the pump system. The pump system may be controlled with various circuits and processors receiving instructions from a software program. The pump system may be located within a pylon, but yet remain vibrationally and acoustically de-coupled from the pylon.
US08303651B1
A stent for delivery of a therapeutic agent is disclosed. The stent includes a polymer coating for reducing the rate of release of the therapeutic agent. The polymer has a crystalline structure wherein the polymer is capable of significantly maintaining the crystalline lattice structure while the therapeutic agent is released from the stent such that the aqueous environment to which the stent is exposed subsequent to the implantation of the stent does not significantly convert the crystalline lattice structure of the polymer to an amorphous structure.
US08303642B1
An intravascular stent is formed by utilizing the process of metal injection molding (MIM) applied to metal powder, ceramic powder and ceramic metal composite powder. The devices may have longitudinal/circumferential channels and/or depots molded into the tubing thereof to enable such devices to act as a functional drug delivery vehicle having adequate drug reservoir capability.
US08303640B2
A device for maintaining a patent paranasal sinus ostium includes a tubular element having a proximal end, a distal end, and a center region between the proximal end and distal end. The tubular element has an insertion state and a deployment state. The tubular element is locatable in the sinus ostium when in the insertion state and expandable from the insertion state to the deployment state when located in the sinus ostium. In the deployment state, the center region confronts the sinus ostium with an outward radial force.
US08303637B2
Topical cooling of spinal cord, brain, esophagus, etc. can be selectively and continuously carried out under convenient control without causing any changes in internal pressure of spinal cord cavity, brain pressure, etc. by inserting a catheter, which has no hole connecting to the outside and in which a heat- cooling medium is circulated in its inner space to thereby cool a topical site; into the spinal cord, the epidural cavity, the subdural cavity or the subarachnoid cavity of the brain or the esophageal cavity and placing therein and then circulating the heat/cooling medium within the inner space of the catheter.
US08303612B2
An intravascular foreign matter removing wire has a flexible long wire body, a first catching section located on the tip side of the wire body and operative to catch a foreign matter present inside a blood vessel, and a second catching section located in the vicinity of and on the base end side of the first catching section and operative to catch a foreign matter present inside a blood vessel.
US08303608B2
Devices, systems and methods are provided for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites, particularly in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations. Fixation devices are provided to fix tissue in approximation with the use of distal elements. In some embodiments, the fixation devices have at least two distal elements and an actuatable feature wherein actuation of the feature varies a dimension of the at least two distal elements. In other embodiments, the fixation devices have at least two pairs of distal elements wherein the pairs of distal elements are moveable to engage tissue between opposed pairs of distal elements. Systems are also provided having fixation devices and accessories.
US08303601B2
A distraction wedge inserting and removing device, the device having an outer member with a handle and a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft having at least one collet formed between a pair of slots extending from a distal end of the shaft toward the handle, the at least one collet having a cammed surface on the interior surface thereof. The device also having an inner member with a roller and a rod extending therefrom from a proximal end of the inner member to a head at a distal end of the inner member, the rod being configured to interact with the handle to advance the rod within the outer member toward the distal end of the outer member, whereby the head interferes with the cammed surface of the at least one collet to move the at least one collet outwardly in a radial direction to secure a distraction wedge.
US08303599B2
A stand for use with a syringe is structured to engage a portion of the syringe in order to maintain the syringe in an upright position. The stand may include an aperture structured to engage the nozzle or the plunger of the syringe. Another embodiment of the stand may include a protrusion structured to engage the proximal end of the syringe, or a clip structured to engage a handle of the syringe. The stand may include a package portion having compartments for holding various components, such as components of a bone cement preparation kit. The proximal and distal portions of the barrel of the syringe may be separable to provide an opening into the barrel through which an injectable material may be inserted. The plunger of the syringe may also include a plunger rod removably affixed to the plunger tip.
US08303591B1
A surgical tensioning device for dynamically holding two tissue portions in contact with one another comprises a resilient body having a plurality of spring elements, and a plurality of stop members for limiting travel of the spring elements in order to control energy stored or delivered by the spring elements. A length of suture is also provided, wherein a first end of the suture is connected to the resilient body at a first attachment point and a second end of the suture is connected to the resilient body at a second attachment point. In one embodiment, the stop members contact one another to limit compression of the spring elements. When the suture is placed in tension, the spring elements move to an extended configuration and the stop members move apart, creating gaps between ends of each of the stop members. When the gaps become sufficiently large, edges of the stop elements contact corresponding spring elements to impede further widening of the gaps and consequent further extension of the spring elements, thus protecting the springs.
US08303588B2
An external skeletal fixation device includes first and second pin clamp units fixedly holding rodlike members inserted, respectively, into a first part and a second part of a bone on the opposite sides, respectively, of a virtual hinge point corresponding to a center of rotational angulation, a center on opposite sides of a fracture site of the bone or a part of the osteotomy site for deformity correction are turned, or a center about which a joint turns. A connecting mechanism connecting the first and second pin clamp units has first and second arms pivotally connected to the first and second pin clamp units, respectively. The respective axes of rotary joints respectively connecting the first pin clamp unit and the first arm, the second pin clamp unit and the second arm, and the first arm and the second arms extend toward the virtual hinge point.
US08303582B2
An electrosurgical instrument includes a support member and an electrode. The electrode is disposed on the support member and has a coating disposed thereon. The coating includes a seed layer and an atomic-layer-deposition (“ALD”) layer. The ALD layer is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. The seed layer may be conductive or insulative.
US08303581B2
An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure includes a housing having an elongated flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends. The shaft having a plurality of tubes disposed therein that define a corresponding plurality of working channels configured to house a corresponding plurality of surgical instruments. An actuator is dimensioned for selective reciprocation within the shaft and configured to operably engage one or more of the corresponding plurality of surgical instruments and deploy the corresponding surgical instrument to an operating cavity as needed during a surgical procedure.
US08303579B2
The surgical operation system includes a treatment section for treating a living tissue of a treatment target; an ultrasound generation section for providing ultrasound to the treatment section; an ultrasound drive power supply section for supplying ultrasound drive power to generate ultrasound to the ultrasound generation section; a high-frequency power supply section for supplying high-frequency power to the treatment section; an impedance detection section for detecting the impedance of the ultrasound provided to the living tissue and the impedance of the high-frequency power supplied to the living tissue; and a control section for controlling the ultrasound energy amount and the amount of high-frequency power or a crest factor value thereof in response to the detected impedance values of ultrasound and high-frequency wave.
US08303578B2
The invention relates to a system and a method for the treatment of a patient's eye. The system comprises a laser apparatus, a scanning apparatus and an eye tracking apparatus for determining the actual position of the patient's eye and for generating alignment data of the patient's eye relative to a reference position of the patient's eye to the laser, said eye tracking apparatus being provided with a desired treatment shot file. Said scanning apparatus is connected via a first bidirectional bus to the eye tracking apparatus, said laser apparatus is connected via a second bidirectional bus to the eye tracking apparatus. The eye tracking apparatus adjusts the position data for each shot based on said alignment data of the patient's eye and provides aiming control signals representative of the target position data to the scanning apparatus for said shot via said first bidirectional bus. The eye tracking apparatus comprises a comparator for comparing the target position data with the actual position data provided by the scanning apparatus for the shot to be fired. Moreover, said eye tracking apparatus is sending a command signal to the laser apparatus via said second bidirectional bus for firing the shot when the target position data is equal to the actual position data of the scanning apparatus for the shot to be fired.
US08303577B2
The invention relates to a method for determining an actual value of at least one system parameter or a deviation from a set value of at least one parameter of a system for the treatment of an eye using a treatment laser beam emitted by said system. According to the invention, the surface of a calibrating body is ablated with at least a partial beam of the treatment laser beam with a predetermined ablation program. The surface ablated by the treatment laser beam is examined by means of aberrometry and/or profilometry. The actual value of the system parameter or the deviation from the set value of the system parameter is determined on the basis of the examination data detected during the examination.
US08303560B2
The composite material comprises an elastic film (F), made of polymer material, and a coating made of flocked fibers (13) on at least one face. The fibers are fixed to the film by a layer (C) of bonding material.
US08303556B2
A device for men to manage the involuntary loss of bladder control, the device includes an upper portion integral to a lower portion, wherein the lower portion defines a retention body having a lower opening to access an inner chamber sized and shaped to accommodate the insertion of a male penis. The upper portion defines an upper hood having an open position and a closed position. A replaceable absorbent member is disposed on an interior of the upper portion, and an attachment member releasably secures the upper portion to the retention member such that the upper portion is in the closed position. The device further consists of a first layer having a plurality of vent holes positioned along the length and width of the first layer and, a second layer having a plurality of vent holes positioned along the length and width of the second layer. A plurality of dimples are sandwiched between the first and second layers that form a separation between the layers and provides ventilation to the inner chamber.
US08303554B2
A body interface device for a urine aspiration system comprises a skin contact pad with gel adhesive for adhering to the skin, and a flexible cover attached to the pad. The pad includes at least one aperture for admitting urine through the pad into the body interface device. The flexible cover has a bulged form projecting away from the gasket. The flexible cover defines a urine receiving chamber facing towards the gasket, and recess facing away from the chamber for receiving at least a portion of a non-contact liquid sensor. The recess and chamber have a wall portion in common that separates the recess and the chamber. A liquid acquisition material in the chamber receives and transports urine for rapid sensing by the non-contact sensor. An aspiration unit is responsive to the non-contact liquid sensor to apply aspiration suction to the body interface device, upon detection of urine.
US08303551B2
A wound dressing comprises a wound-contacting layer composed of a mixture of honey and a moisture-absorbing agent; a water-permeable fabric backing layer; and an intermediate layer comprising water-permeable fabric impregnated with a mixture of honey and a moisture-absorbing agent.
US08303549B2
The application relates to a device for an intermittent or continuous administration of a therapeutical substance, such as insulin, including a base part to which an injection part and a delivery part are fastened. The delivery part includes a reservoir and a pump, and the injection part includes base plate, a cannula part with a body with a through-going opening, and at least one cannula having a proximal end protruding from the lower side of the body and an adhesive portion for fastening the base plate to the skin of the user. The delivery part and the injection part are assembled through a connector having a fluid path leading fluid from the reservoir to the through-going opening in the cannula part.
US08303547B2
A system for delivering or withdrawing a fluid to or from the body of a patient in a manner that permits delivery to be controlled based upon feedback from the patient, the system including a syringe assembly providing a syringe operably coupled to one or more sensors adapted to determine one or more corresponding parameters associated with fluid delivery and/or withdrawal, and a monitor adapted to be communicably associated with the one or more sensors of the syringe assembly, and optionally with other sensors or inputs providing additional parameters as well, the monitor comprising one or more read out mechanisms either directly or indirectly corresponding to the one or more fluid delivery/withdrawal parameters, and optionally with one or more of the additional parameters as well.
US08303546B2
A locking device for preventing movement of an elongated instrument includes a tubular base that has an outer surface and an inner surface. At least one lateral opening extends through the tubular base from the outer surface through the inner surface. At least one rocker arm is mounted to the base. Each of the rocker arms has a locking projection that extends radially inwardly aligned with one of the lateral openings of the base. An actuating member is rotatable relative to the base portion between first and second positions. In the first position the actuating member engages the rocker arm to urge the locking projection radially inward through the lateral opening and beyond the inner surface of the tubular base. Movement of the actuating member to the second position causes the locking projection to move radially outward through at least a portion of the lateral opening.
US08303533B2
A device for delivery of glucose-regulating medication, particularly insulin, depending on the measured tissue glucose concentration, having a sensor for measuring the glucose concentration in tissue fluid, possibly a unit for removing fluid from subcutaneous tissue, as well as a container for the glucose-regulating medications, having a unit for subcutaneous delivery of the glucose-regulating medications, and having a unit connected to the glucose sensor for regulating the quantity of the glucose-regulating medication to be delivered depending on the measured tissue glucose concentrations. The device simulates the function of the natural pancreas and is constructed small and compact. The sensor for measuring the tissue glucose concentration or the unit for removing the tissue fluid is combined with the delivery unit for subcutaneous delivery of the glucose-regulating medication, particularly in a shared catheter, so that the measurement of the tissue glucose concentration is essentially performed at the location of the delivery of the glucose-regulating medication.
US08303532B2
A peritoneal function testing apparatus tests the peritoneal function of a dialysis patient easily and with high accuracy. Standards of four kinetic parameters (CCr, Kt/V, MTACu, and MTACc) available in a definite dialysis guideline are computed in accordance with a relational expression, and a curve showing the relation between MTACu/c and the drained fluid volume is indicated in a graph together with the PET data of the patient which has been prepared separately. Thus, the peritoneal function can be evaluated based on the relative position of the patient's data and the curve showing the standard values in the graph.
US08303517B2
A first trocar as an medical apparatus includes an insertion hole having a projection opening for leading out a biopsy forceps into a body of a subject, a lid body for blocking the projection opening of the insertion hole, and a cooling sheet for cryogenically cooling a biopsy portion arranged in the vicinity of the lid body in a state where the biopsy forceps is stored in the insertion hole, and is capable of easily harvesting a living tissue while retaining morphological change of tissues in a living body under various hemodynamics.
US08303515B2
A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. Some embodiments of the surgical access system may be particularly suited for establishing an operative corridor to a surgical target site in the spine. Such an operative corridor may be established through the retroperitoneal space and the psoas muscle during a direct lateral, retroperitoneal approach to the spine.
US08303506B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which one of an imaging method with advantageous time resolution and an imaging method with advantageous spatial resolution can be selectively used according to an imaging object. The apparatus includes a transmission control unit for controlling a drive signal generating unit to scan the object while shifting a center position of a group of transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not larger than an interval of plural transducers in a first imaging mode and shifting a center position of a group of transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not less than twice the interval in a second imaging mode, and an image generating unit for generating an image signal at a first frame rate in the first imaging mode and a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate in the second imaging mode.
US08303505B2
Methods and apparatuses for the image guidance and documentation of medical procedures. One embodiment includes combining small field of view images into a recorded image of with a large field of view and aligning the small field of view real time image with the recorded image through correlation of imaging data. A location and orientation determination system may be used to track the imaging system and provide a starting set of image alignment parameters and/or provide change updates to a set of image alignment parameters, which is then further improved through correlating imaging data. The recorded image may be selected according to real time measurement of a cardiac parameter during an image guided cardiac procedure. Image manipulations planned based on the recorded image can be stored and applied to the real time information. The position of the medical device may be determined and recorded through manipulating a cursor in a 3-D image space shown in two non-parallel views.
US08303504B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of obtaining phase information of ultrasonic waves reflected at respective sampling points within an object to be inspected and displaying the phase information in an easy-to-understand-way. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting and receiving unit for converting reception signals outputted from plural ultrasonic transducers, which have transmitted ultrasonic waves and received ultrasonic echoes, into digital signals; reception focus processing means for performing reception focus processing on the digital signals to generate a sound ray signal along a reception direction of ultrasonic waves; first calculating means for performing quadrature detection processing on the sound ray signal to generate a complex baseband signal; second calculating means for obtaining phase information of the complex baseband signal; and image signal generating means for generating an image signal representing phase rotation of the complex baseband signal at plural sampling points along the reception direction of ultrasonic waves based on the phase information of the complex baseband signal.
US08303503B2
A system and method is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic device is used to acquire RF backscattered data (i.e., IVUS data) from a blood vessel. The IVUS data is then transmitted to a computing device and used to create an IVUS image. The blood vessel is then cross-sectioned and used to identify its tissue type and to create a corresponding image (i.e., histology image). A region of interest (ROI), preferably corresponding to the identified tissue type, is then identified on the histology image. The computing device, or more particularly, a characterization application operating thereon, is then adapted to identify a corresponding region on the IVUS image. To accurately match the ROI, however, it may be necessary to warp or morph the histology image to substantially fit the contour of the IVUS image. After the corresponding region is identified, the IVUS data that corresponds to this region is identified. Signal processing is then performed and at least one parameter is identified. The identified parameter and the tissue type (e.g., characterization data) is stored in a database. In another embodiment of the present invention, the characterization application is adapted to receive IVUS data, determine parameters related thereto (either directly or indirectly), and use the parameters stored in the database to identify a tissue type or a characterization thereof.
US08303494B2
An image of a tissue site including a blood vessel is captured while broadband light and narrow band light are emitted to a body cavity. Thereby, broadband image data corresponding to the broadband light and narrow band image data corresponding to the narrow band light are obtained. Picture elements in the same positions are identified between the broadband image and the narrow band image to obtain a brightness ratio LM therebetween. Based on depth correlation information between the brightness ratio and blood vessel depth, a blood vessel depth D corresponding to the brightness ratio is obtained to determine whether each picture element includes a blood vessel and whether the blood vessel depth D is at the surface. Based on the determination, a surface blood vessel region is extracted. A broadband image having the surface blood vessel region with the reduced contrast is generated.
US08303492B2
An endoscope apparatus includes a transparent member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope to face an image pickup optical system, an ultrasonic transducer attached to an inner surface of the transparent member, and a deflection portion provided at an outer surface of the transparent member which changes a direction of propagation of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer. With the configuration, an ultrasonic wave for stain removal is efficiently propagated from the ultrasonic transducer into a region of an observation field of view in an observation window.
US08303482B2
A physiologic control system and method for controlling a blood pump system such as a VAD system. The pump system includes, for example, a blood pump and a controller for controlling the pump. The system may further include a flow measurement device. A desired peak to peak flow amplitude is determined, and then adjusted in response to various system parameters either manually or automatically by the system.
US08303462B2
A friction-ring transmission has a friction ring, a first friction cone including a first friction-ring running surface, a second friction cone including a second friction-ring running surface, and at least one axial friction-ring securing element for preventing critical travel of the friction ring beyond the friction-ring running surface. The friction ring is disposed to be displaceable axially on the friction-ring running surfaces and in a gap between the friction cones, whereby the at least one axial friction-ring securing element is disposed on at least one of the friction cones.
US08303451B2
A driving force distribution device for distributing driving force from an engine to left and right rear wheels has: a differential case which accommodates a differential mechanism therein; an intermediate shaft which is provided parallel to an output shaft extending leftward or rightward from the differential mechanism; a speed-up mechanism which is provided to the left or right of the differential case and changes and transmits driving force input to the differential case to the output shaft via the intermediate shaft; and a clutch mechanism capable of switching between a transmitting state in which the speed-up mechanism transmits the driving force to the output shaft and a blocking state in which the transmission of the driving force is blocked. According to the driving force distribution device, cost reduction and downsizing of the driving force distribution mechanism and a housing thereof can be realized.
US08303449B2
A transmission assembly is powered by an electric motor and includes a transmission having an outer ring gear, a connector moveable relative to the outer ring gear between a first position, in which the connector is rotatable with the transmission in response to torque received from the motor, and a second position, in which the connector and the outer ring gear are non-rotatable, and a control mechanism operable to detect the operating current of the motor and compare the operating current to a threshold current. The control mechanism is operable to move the connector from the first position to the second position in response to the motor operating current exceeding the threshold current.
US08303446B2
A controlled differential, particularly for exercising steering control of skid steered vehicles, having a compound planetary gear set coupling two shafts. Respective ring gears turn with the shafts and mesh with a compound planet gear in a planet carrier, the ratios of the number of gear teeth between each ring gear and the respective gear of the compound planet being unequal so that when the planet carrier is stationary the two shafts are coupled through the differential to turn together in the same sense but with a speed difference, and controlled rotation of the planet carrier varies the speed difference between the shafts in accordance with the sense and speed of rotation of the planet carrier.
US08303444B2
A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly.
US08303436B2
A multi-layered golf ball having a core, moisture vapor barrier layer, and outer cover, wherein the moisture barrier layer is preferably made from a non-ionomeric polyolefin composition is disclosed. The moisture barrier layer is applied at very low thickness, preferably in the range of 0.0001 to 0.010 inches, so that the playing performance properties of the ball are not altered. Preferably, the moisture vapor barrier layer is applied over the core material using powder coating or solution coating methods.
US08303434B1
A putter golf club that resists twisting by increasing the rotational inertia of the golf club to the maximum degree possible by distributing mass away from the center of mass of the putter, and thereby expands the sweet spot of the putter. Rotational inertia is maximized via use of a heel control wing and a toe control wing extending rearwardly and outwardly from a striking face of the putter as well as a tail rod extending perpendicularly from striking face. Further increase of rotational inertia is accomplished via s symmetrical recesses incorporated into heel and toe control wing.
US08303432B2
A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
US08303430B2
A combination base for a golf practice artificial sod is formed by a number of combination plates for placing the artificial sod on the combination base. Each combination plate is made of foaming PU (Polyurethane) and has a protruding edge to extend upwardly. The protruding edge has a first end formed with a concave hole and a second end formed with a protruding block. The concave hole is connected to a relative protruding block of another adjacent combination plate. Each combination plate has a connecting edge formed with continuous convex teeth and notches to engage with the convex teeth and the notches of a relative connecting edge of an adjacent combination plate.
US08303427B1
A golf putting practice aid assembly for indicating a club face direction of a putter includes a golf putter that has a front club face and a rear club face. A holding member that has a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side and a pair of lateral sides each extending from the top side to the bottom side. The front side has a primary laser aperture extending therethrough. The back side has a secondary laser aperture extending therethrough. A mounting member is attached to the rear face. The mounting member is attached to the bottom side adjacent to the front side. The mounting member is used to elevate the holding member above the club face. A laser light emitter is removably inserted into the secondary laser aperture. The laser light emitter is emitting laser light directed forwardly out of the primary laser aperture.
US08303416B1
A player-matching mechanic selects users for an online asynchronous game where players specify moves at different times. Values from instances of the game are used to determine characteristics of the users including at least one of gameplay characteristics or chat characteristics. Users can be chosen for instances of the game by comparing values corresponding to these characteristics.
US08303413B2
Tools available to a live host for interacting with player of a live broadcast game show. One tool set receives performance data associated with the featured player and the other players, displays to the live host the performance data associated with the featured player and the other players, and allows the live host to broadcast live audio to the featured player and the other players. Another tool set aggregates statistical information associated with the other players participating in the live broadcast game show into multiple categories and ranks the statistical information. Based on at least one category, one of the other players is selected to be the next featured player. The selection is broadcast to the other players.
US08303408B2
Provided is a game device which allows a user to designate even a position within a region that is not being displayed on a game screen within a game space as an action target position for a game character. If it is judged that a screen coordinate value according to a user's operation obtained by a screen coordinate value acquisition unit (80) is a screen coordinate value outside the game screen, a second action target position acquisition unit (86) acquires a position outside a display subject region on the game screen within a game space as the action target position for the game character. The second action target position acquisition unit (86) stores a condition related to the screen coordinate value in association with each of a plurality of action target position candidates set outside the display subject region within the game space. The second action target position acquisition unit (86) acquires an action target position candidate associated with the condition satisfied by the screen coordinate value acquired by the screen coordinate value acquisition unit (80), as the action target position for the game character.
US08303405B2
A controller provides inputs to control execution of a program by combining controller input information and supplementary information indicating a three-dimensional motion of the controller. The combined input can be obtained by assigning the value of the controller input information as coarse control information and assigning the value of the supplementary input information as fine control information or vice versa.
US08303398B2
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a processor for executing gameplay on the gaming machine. The processor has a plurality of power consumption levels. A power regulator is operative to alter the power consumption level of the processor amongst the plurality of power consumption levels. In an embodiment, the power regulator comprises application software stored on a memory device in communication with the processor.
US08303396B2
A lottery game server comprising: a processing unit for controlling the functions of the server; a data transmission unit coupled to the processing unit for communicating with a game terminal; and a memory unit coupled to the processing unit for storing a game board and winning conditions relating to the game board; the processing unit comprises a loading module for loading the game board into the game terminal for playing a lottery game, a selection module for receiving a game selection relating to the game board from the game terminal via the data transmission unit, a comparison module for comparing the game selection with the winning conditions relating to the game board, and a result module for generating a game result on the basis of the comparison conducted. The processing unit further comprises a continuation module for modifying the game board on the basis of the game result and predetermined rules in such a manner that selections made in the game board are deleted from the selection of the game board, and for generating continuation winning conditions relating to the game board on the basis of the game result and the predetermined rules; and the selection module further receives a continuation selection relating to the game board from the game terminal via the data transmission unit; the comparison module further compares the continuation selection with the continuation winning conditions; and the result module further generates a continued game result on the basis of the comparison conducted.
US08303394B2
A gaming system comprises at least one wager input device, a plurality of gaming devices each displaying at least one primary wagering game, and a community display for displaying a community game. At least one controller is operative, in response to a triggering event, to (i) determine which of the plurality of gaming devices are eligible for participation in the community game, (ii) determine an individual award for each of the eligible gaming devices, (iii) determine a community award in the community game, (iv) select an individual award enhancement from a plurality of available individual award enhancements, (v) select one of the plurality of gaming devices to receive the selected individual award enhancement, and (vi) if the selected gaming device is eligible for participation in the community game, enhance the determined individual award for the selected gaming device with the selected individual award enhancement.
US08303386B2
The present invention is related to controlling a video game in which ability of a game character is adjusted on the basis of events in the video game. For example, in a baseball video game, if the game player operating a pitcher character keeps selecting a pitching trajectory that a batter character is bad at hitting the ball object, the extent that the batter character is bad at hitting the ball object in the pitching trajectory will be gradually reduced. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the pitcher character to make the batter character out. Accordingly, advantageous level for the pitcher character will be reduced. Therefore, imbalance of the baseball video game is to be solved between the pitcher character and the batter character.
US08303385B2
A stationary ventilating device for efficiently exhausting airflow converged above a plurality of airflow-guiding plates which are stacked up and assembled together is disclosed. A stationary ventilating device in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a plurality of airflow-guiding plates stacked-up and assembled together on the base, a plurality of guiding members each of which is interposed between the plurality of airflow-guiding plates, and a covering plate including supporting legs on a lower side of the covering plate, the supporting legs vertically erected and installed on an uppermost airflow-guiding plate of the plurality of airflow-guiding plates so that a ventilating passage is formed on the upper side of the uppermost airflow-guiding plate, wherein the slope angle of lateral side of the covering plate is formed to be smaller than the slope angle of lateral sides of the plurality of airflow-guiding plates, and wherein airflows rising from the plurality of airflow-guiding plates flow backward in the covering plate and are ventilated through the ventilating passage.
US08303379B2
Techniques for manufacturing sheet product of varying surface profile and products thus manufactured are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the disclosed invention provides a method for profiling a surface of a sheet product having a first profile on first surface. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a profiling template or contoured support surface. A profiled surface may be formed by arranging the profiling template and the sheet product such that the profiling template is located between the sheet product and a support surface, conforming the arrangement of the sheet product and the profiling template to the support surface such that conformance causes the sheet product to have a second surface profile on the first surface, and processing the sheet product to form a third surface profile on the first surface.
US08303378B2
A polishing pad, a polishing method and a method of forming a polishing pad are provided. The polishing pad includes a polishing layer and a plurality of arc grooves. The arc grooves are disposed in the polishing layer. Each of the arc grooves has two ends, and at least one end thereof has an inclined wall. The angle between the inclined wall of each groove and the surface plane of the polishing layer is less than 90 degree.
US08303371B2
An apparatus and method of roughening the sole side surface of a tread band is provided wherein the sole side surface of a tread band is roughened with at least one abrasive roller. The bottom of at least one groove in a tread side of the tread band is supported while the abrasive roller is roughening the sole side surface opposite the supported groove.
US08303369B2
A dollhouse is moveable from a closed or folded position to an open or unfolded position. In its open configuration, the dollhouse provides one or more play areas on each side of the dollhouse. The dollhouse can be provided with a variety of sensors for detecting play activities and providing feedback such as audible feedback, motion or lights in response to the specific play activities. Feedback can also be produced in response to the order in which the sensors are activated and in response to activation by particular play components to encourage desired play behavior.
US08303360B2
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having a torque converter equipped with a lockup clutch, it is configured to have a clutch controller that controls the lockup clutch to ON when a speed ratio of the torque converter is equal to or greater than a reference value, the clutch controller being configured to determine whether a throttle valve is at about a fully-opened position and to control the lockup clutch to ON when the speed ratio becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value set smaller than the reference value before the speed ratio reaches the reference value, and the throttle valve is discriminated to be at about the fully-opened position. With this, it becomes possible to reliably make a lockup clutch ON when the acceleration is completed, so that the boat speed can reach the maximum speed.
US08303352B2
The contact clip according to the invention comprises a contact portion (11) comprising two elastic blades (15) capable of pressing a male contact portion (2) against an interior cylindrical portion (110) of the said contact portion. In view of the elongate shape of this contact portion, electrical contact between the contact clip and the male contact piece portion is had over a large surface area, thus reducing the contact resistance and the heating when high currents are passed. The contact clip further comprises an attachment portion (10) and possibly an end portion (12) and is intended to be fitted inside a hollow housing of a female contact piece (3).
US08303344B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative body (1) having a wide tongue (123) and a narrow tongue (121) split by a gap (124) therebetween. A metallic shell (32) includes a front pocket (320) defining a large receiving cavity (327) enclosing the wide tongue (123), a small receiving cavity (325) enclosing the narrow tongue (121), and a non-circumferentially enclosed notch structure (33) which protrudes into the gap (124) so as to form the large receiving cavity (327) and the small receiving cavity (325). Besides, the notch structure (33) defines a notch (330) opened to an exterior from a bottom side thereof. First and second sets of contacts (211, 212) are located in the wide tongue and the narrow tongue, respectively, and the first contacts (211) are compatible to version 2.0 Micro Universal Serial Bus.
US08303343B2
When a multipolar plug and a counter connector are fitted to each other, there is a possibility that a seam joint of a shell of the multipolar plug may coincide with that of a shell the counter connector, and high-frequency noises may leak through gaps of the coincident seam joints. The invention has been conducted in view of the problem, and provides a multipolar plug which can improve the EMI characteristics of a multipolar connector. According to the invention, when the multipolar plug 2 and the counter connector 4 are fitted to each other, the seam joint 9a of the shell 9 of the multipolar plug 2 is shifted from a seam joint 17a of a shell 17 of the counter connector 4.
US08303340B2
An elastomer moisture resistant connector for at least one conductor disposed at least partially within a jacket of elastomer material. The connector has a first elastomer portion, which has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first elastomer portion is adapted to be compressed against a support. The connector also has a second elastomer portion that is integrally molded with the first elastomer portion and extends from the second end of the first elastomer portion, and is configured to enclose at least a portion of the jacket. The connector also has a third elastomer portion that is integrally molded with the first elastomer portion, protrudes from the second end of the first elastomer portion, and is adapted to be compressed by an enclosure.
US08303338B2
A grounding electrical connector includes: an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve coaxially positioned around the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve serving to receive the central conductor and the insulator of the cable, the outer sleeve serving to receive the external conductor and the skin of the cable, the inner sleeve having an outer flange, an interface section, a tapered section positioned between the outer flange and the interface section, and a rear end extension section; a nut having an inner flange positioned around the tapered section of the inner sleeve; and a C-shaped contact spring back and forth movably arranged around the tapered section of the inner sleeve in contact with the nut. The C-shaped contact spring is back and forth movable to keep the nut in contact with the inner sleeve so as to achieve good grounding effect.
US08303334B2
The metallic coupler circuit may form a sensing circuit with a status output component and configured to sense physical parameters of the RF electrical signal flowing through the connector or presence of moisture in the connector.
US08303333B2
A light-emitting power connector is disclosed. The light-emitting power connector includes an insulating plug receiving portion, a shell, and a light emitting diode (LED). The insulating plug receiving portion includes a base from which a light penetrating part and a tongue section extend and a plurality of the conductive terminals. The shell is connected to the insulating plug receiving portion and located outside of the tongue section to define a socket between the shell and the tongue section. The LED is installed at a first predetermined position in the insulating plug receiving portion to ensure the shell and the light penetrating part are located within a viewing angle of the LED.
US08303330B2
A continuous flexible bus comprises, for example, a plurality of metal clad flexible conductors. A device, such as a switch for example, is connected to the continuous flexible bus. In order to connect the device to the continuous flexible bus, at least one piercing connector is used, for example. The at least one piercing connector is configured, for example, to pierce one of the plurality of flexible metal clad conductors. Once the one of the plurality of flexible metal clad conductors is pierced, the at least one piercing connector causes, for example, an electrical connection between an electrical conductor in the pierced one of the plurality of flexible metal clad conductors and the switch.
US08303325B2
A plug-type connector includes a connector main body having a forward extended front end to provide a plug portion, and being provided on a top surface with an open-topped recess; a push unit including two corresponding sideward-push plates pivotally assembled to the connector main body to locate in the recess; and a pinch unit being assembled to the connector main body to bear against an upper side of the push unit. The plug portion and the pinch unit cooperatively enable the connector main body to firmly connect to a corresponding receptacle, and the sideward-push plates of the push unit can be caused to separately push leftward and rightward to raise the pinch unit and thereby allow disconnection of the connector main body from the receptacle. Therefore, the plug-type connector has simplified structure, and can be firmly connected to a receptacle and easily disconnected therefrom.
US08303322B1
A card connector (100) used for receiving an inserted card (5), defining a card receiving space and a card insertion/ejection direction, includes an insulative housing (2), a number of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell (7) covering the insulative housing, a slider (41) assembled on the insulative housing, and a spring (42) compressed between the insulative housing and the slider for urging the slider along the card ejection direction. The metal shell includes a flexible beam (711) extending towards the card receiving space and a holding portion (712) at the free end of the flexible beam. The slider has a notch (413) releasably engaged with the holding portion. The slider is moveable relative to the insulative housing along the card insertion direction in response to a separation of the holding portion from the notch.
US08303321B1
A card connector (100) used for receiving an inserted card (5), defining a card receiving space and a card insertion/ejection direction, includes an insulative housing (2) having a holding portion (2323), a number of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing, a slider (41) having a lock retention pocket (413) releasably engaged with the holding portion of the insulative housing, and a spring (42) compressed between the insulative housing and the slider for urging the slider along a card ejection direction. The slider is moveable relative to the insulative housing in response to a separation of the holding portion from the lock retention pocket.
US08303311B2
A call center system for coaching a player in judgmental aspects of an athletic sport or for practicing judgmental aspects of the sport includes a call center computer having a display and a memory. The system may also include a camera, a telephone, and a position locator system. Either the pictures stored in the memory or pictures taken with the camera are used to provide coaching or practice. Pictures of a golf course, golf course mapping data, or both are stored in a call center system. GPS data indicating the position of a golf ball on a golf course hole is used to provide either an overhead view of the hole and terrain features, pictures of the course at or near the location of the ball, or both, on a golf professional computer display.
US08303310B2
An information competency evaluation system and a method thereof are disclosed. The system selects an evaluation group containing an evaluation target from evaluation groups classified by business departments and business position. The system provides evaluation problems of evaluation domains to an evaluation target based on a selected evaluation group, estimates evaluation response received from a terminal of an evaluation target, and estimates EIIC by applying a weight of evaluation domains to a selected evaluation group. The system refers to a core evaluation domain according to EIIC and a selected evaluation group to determine an information competency maturity stage of an evaluation target. The system analyzes information competency of an evaluation target with EIIC and a maturity stage and by business departments and business position to provide the analysis to a terminal. The system analyzes and provides information competency with complex indicators of determining a level of information competency, and provides education information for development of an information competency of evaluation target.
US08303308B2
A fire simulation method and system for simulating ammunition from a weapon. The method includes determining a trajectory of the simulated ammunition, emitting a light beam along a simulation axis, and coding said light beam with information. The method includes determining a point in time when the simulated ammunition passes a target, determining a value related to the distance between the simulation axis and a momentary position of the simulated ammunition along the trajectory at that point in time, and emitting the light beam coded with the determined value during a predetermined time period.
US08303305B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier for use in medical procedures performed in and around a patient's mouth. In one embodiment of the present invention, a kidney-shaped tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier, with an insertion end and a handling end, is inserted into the mouth of a patient. The insertion end of the tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier is specifically positioned to isolate and protect the patient's tongue from the medical procedure and to protect the patient from inhaling or swallowing fluids and scattered debris.
US08303304B2
A detection system for remotely determining the speed of a rotating tool tip in a pneumatic dental handpiece. A means for detecting the speed of the rotating tool tip monitors a periodic mechanical function at the pneumatic hose connected to the handpiece. The monitored periodic mechanical function serves to provide feedback that is used to control the speed of the rotating tool tip. The means for detecting the speed of the rotating tool detects a mechanical function of the rotating tool tip, which in transmitted to a controller. The controller in turn regulates the operation of an air supply valve in response to the detected mechanical function. The valve regulates the flow of air to the handpiece. By continuously adjusting the flow of air through the valve into the pneumatic hose, the speed of the rotating tool is maintained at the desired cutting speed.
US08303296B2
Methods of and systems for fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube along its entire length at the same time and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed herein.
US08303295B2
The present invention is an expansion tool device for pliers or machine for producing sockets at the ends of pipes made out of plastic or composite material, used in the field of plumbing. The device includes a cylindrically-shaped ferrule formed by the tightening of several sector-shaped chucks. The chucks are movable in the radial direction under the action of the insertion between them of a tapered needle movable in axial translation through the actuation of the pliers or machine. The chucks are allowed to pass from a tightened position to a separated position. In an integrated way or in a unit designed capable of being intercalated between the ferrule and the pliers or machine, there is an automatic driver for the ferrule, when the ferrule passes from the separated position to the tightened position, directly or indirectly, in axial swiveling according to a portion of a turn.
US08303290B2
A method of producing a container from a thermoplastic blank, including a step in which the blank is heated using at least one beam of coherent electromagnetic radiation, and a step in which the container is formed from the blank thus heated. The invention also relates to an installation which is used to produce containers and which includes a unit for heating the blanks in order to form containers from the blanks thus heated. The inventive installation defines a path along which the blanks travel inside the heating unit. In addition, the heating unit includes at least one coherent electromagnetic radiation source which is directed toward a zone that is located on the aforementioned path.
US08303280B2
In a scroll type compressor including a fixed scroll having a mirror plate and a lap provided to the mirror plate, a movable scroll having a mirror plate and a lap provided to the mirror plate and engaged with the fixed scroll, and an Oldham's ring disposed on the back side of the movable scroll for constraining rotation of the movable scroll on the axis thereof, the Oldham's ring has a pair of fixing locking pawls extending from the back side of the movable scroll and fitted to the fixed scroll, each of the fixing locking pawls is provided with a reinforcing portion at the base portion thereof, and the mirror plate of the movable scroll is cut out in a concave shape at the edge portion thereof in conformity with a movement range of the reinforcing portion to form a concaved escape portion at the edge portion of the mirror plate.
US08303276B2
Double acting respiratory pump apparatus including a pump member reciprocable with respect to two pump chambers to deliver air to a patient via a respirator exhalation system, which also facilitates exhalation of the patient. The exhalation system has a pump unit that is operatively connected to an exhalation valve member and configured for selectively generating an air pressure sufficient for pressurizing one side of the valve member for closing the same when said exhalation system is operating in inhalation mode, and may be operated for opening to allow the patient to exhale therethrough.
US08303272B2
A hydraulic pump avoids problems with gas lock found in conventional pumps. The pump draws in production fluid in a lower pump volume during the pump's upstroke and diverts the produced fluid to an upper pump volume during the downstroke. Spent power fluid is communicated to the upper pump volume during the pump's upstroke. The pump piston in the upstroke expels the entire volume via a check valve that communicates the upper pump volume with a discharge outlet. The check valve increasing the discharge pressure of the upper pump volume, the upper pump volume of the spent power fluid being greater than the upper pump volume, and the upper pump piston compressing produced gas in the upper pump volume all combine to prevent or reduce the chances that the pump will gas lock during operation.
US08303263B2
The present invention relates to a compressor, wherein a rotary shaft 140 having a swash plate 144 coupled thereto is used to linearly reciprocate a piston 150 in a cylinder bore 134 formed in front and rear cylinder blocks 130 and 130′. The rotary shaft 140 has a flow channel 142 formed therein and inlets 142a formed to communicate with the flow channel 142. A hub 146 is formed in the swash plate 144, and a shaft hole 146a, through which the rotary shaft 140 passes, is formed in the center of the hub 146. Communication holes 146b are formed in the hub 146 to communicate with the inlets 142a of the flow channel 142. First races 148a are coupled to the hub 146. A rotary shaft hole 148d is formed in the first race 148a, which has a thickness greater in its outer peripheral portion than its inner peripheral portion. According to the present invention configured as above, the communication holes 146b are concavely formed in surfaces where inlets of the shaft hole 146a of the hub 146 are provided, so that the communication holes 146b can be formed together with the hub. Thus, there is an advantage in that the compressor can be easily manufactured. Also, the first race 148a has a thickness greater in its outer peripheral portion than its inner peripheral portion. Accordingly, there is an effect in that the strength of the first race 148a can be reinforced while keeping its damping effect, thereby improving durability of the swash plate type compressor.
US08303259B2
Disclosed is an axial flow fan capable of preventing cracks from generating at parts where stress is concentrated, by improving the structure. For this, the axial flow fan includes a hub, a plurality of wings extended from an outer surface of the hub, and a reinforcing member filling a space formed between the outer surface of the hub and a front edge part of each wing.
US08303257B2
An arrangement between blade elements in a blade row in a turbine is described. Each blade element has at least one shroud element and a blade airfoil which abuts on, and is connected to, the shroud element, and essentially extends radially with regard to a principal axis of the blade row. When installed, the shroud element sides, which extend circumferentially, abut on the respectively adjacent shroud element of the respectively adjacent blade element, each forming an essentially radial gap. At least one blade element has a projection which projects into the shroud element of the abutting blade element and extends in the circumferential direction, and at least one blade element has a recess which accommodates such a projection. In the region of the projection or recess there is a stepped region of the radial gap, and the guiding of the radial gap in this stepped region is a labyrinth seal.
US08303245B2
A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed, the shroud assembly including an outer shroud, at least one inner shroud attached to the outer shroud, and at least one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud. The discourager prevents the hot gas or steam in the turbine from having a direct line of access to the outer shroud. In one embodiment, one inner shroud is provided for the shroud assembly, with one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud, the discourager positioned offset from the inner shroud so as to extend past the inner shroud and into an inner shroud of a neighboring shroud assembly. In another embodiment, a plurality of inner shrouds are provided, each inner shroud enclosing a discourager, the discouragers being adjacent to each other within the inner shrouds and positioned offset from the inner shrouds so as to cover a gap between the inner shrouds.
US08303236B2
A bulk seed handler and dispenser or seed tender is provided for transporting bulk seed containers and for dispensing the seed within the containers into planting equipment. The bulk seed handling and dispenser of this invention is comprised of a trailer having a plurality of bulk seed containers mounted thereon, each of which is in communication with seed inlet openings formed in the deck of the trailer. Means is provided for simultaneously clamping the opposite sides of the containers to the deck. When the seed containers are placed on the deck, the doors which provide access to the slide gates thereof are on the driver's side of the trailer. A pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally interconnect the upper auger conveyor section to the lower auger conveyor section for pivotally moving the upper auger conveyor section between a stowed position and an operative position.
US08303234B2
A transfer device includes a carrying-in area (A1) into which a carriage is carried. A positioning mechanism includes left and right rocking arms (60) that engage with and disengage from the carriage to lift the carriage while holding it from both left and right sides and position it at a predetermined height position in the carrying-in area. A transfer mechanism (110) transfers an object from between the positioned carriage and a transfer area. With this construction, the rocking arms lift the carriage from both the left and right sides and from the lower side and position the carriage away from a floor surface. The positioning of the carriage is performed during a rocking operation of the rocking arms, whereby the carriage can be easily and highly accurately positioned without being affected by the flatness of the floor surface even if the carriage has dimensional assembly errors.
US08303232B2
There are disposed two second substrate transferring apparatuses 60a and 60b, which are configured to transfer substrates W between substrate processing units 40 and a substrate accommodating part 30, in the up and down direction so as to correspond to the respective groups to which the plurality of substrate processing units 40 are divided. In addition, there is disposed a substrate displacing apparatus 35 that is configured to displace a substrate W, which has been transferred by a first substrate transferring apparatus 50 to the substrate accommodating part 30 and is not yet processed by the wafer processing unit 40, to another position in the up and down direction in the substrate accommodating part 30, as well as displace a substrate W, which has been processed by the wafer processing unit 40a and transferred by the second substrate transferring apparatus 60a to the substrate accommodating part 30, to another position in the up and down direction in the substrate accommodating part 30.
US08303219B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing chips on a cutting machine. The method includes: a first step in which an air supplied from an air supply source is introduced to a first opening and is ejected from the first opening, so that an airflow having a predetermined chip blowing force is blown onto a first region among surfaces of respective parts of the cutting machine and respective parts of a work; and a second step in which a moving member having a communication path extending from an air inlet port to a second opening is moved to a position at which the air inlet port is communicated with the first opening, so that the air is ejected from the second opening and thus an airflow having a predetermined chip blowing force is blown onto a second region among the surfaces of the respective parts of the cutting machine and the respective parts of the work.
US08303205B2
A leakproof makeup applicator includes a main body, a rod, a collar and a bottle. The main body defines a receiving space therein. A power supply, a motor and a connector are disposed in the receiving space. The power supply electrically connects to the motor, and the connector is driven by the motor to be rotatable with respect to the main body. The rod connects to the connector concentrically and has a sealing sleeve disposed thereon. The bottle defines a liquid chamber and an opening formed at one end thereof. The opening has a plastic ring disposed on its inner periphery, in which the plastic ring defines a through hole. The rod inserts into the liquid chamber via the through hole. The sealing sleeve seals the through hole as the bottle and the collar are threadedly combined with each other.
US08303202B1
A writing utensil kit comprising a plurality of writing utensils including an associated tip having at least one notch formed therein and adapted to mechanically engage a writing surface and produce a stylized design when manipulated thereupon by a user. A method of using the writing utensil wherein a user selects a writing utensil from the kit; orients the writing utensil such that the writing utensil is in mechanical engagement and fluid communication with a writing surface; and manipulates the writing utensil such that a stylized design is produced thereupon.
US08303197B2
In an apparatus for performing a substrate developing process, a first washing tank and a second washing tank are disposed on both sides of a substrate support section for supporting the substrate opposite to each other to wash a developing nozzle. The developing nozzle moves in a horizontal direction from the first washing tank toward the second washing tank and supplies a developing solution onto the substrate in the meantime. After supplying the developing solution, the developing nozzle is received in the second washing tank, and the developing solution adhered to the developing nozzle is removed by a washing solution in the second washing tank.
US08303195B2
The optical module includes an optical device mounting substrate 1 and an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 2. One laser diode and at least one photodetector, which are positioned in the same plane, are mounted on the optical device mounting substrate 1. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is prepared by mounting a wavelength-selective filter and a mirror on the front and back surfaces of a transparent substrate. The optical device mounting substrate and the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer are mounted in a package 3 in such a manner that the optical device mounting surface and the filter surface are not parallel to each other. The optical module also includes a first lens, which is positioned near the laser diode or monolithically integrated with the laser diode, and a second lens, which converges light coming out of the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer toward an optical fiber.
US08303189B2
A bearing support journal for an internal shaft of a gas turbine engine including a device for retaining a sealing sleeve surrounding the shaft is disclosed. The retaining device includes a full radial annular flange formed upstream on an axial cylindrical part of the journal, the full flange being intended to butt axially against a radial annular flange of the sealing sleeve; and a tangential immobilizing device for immobilizing the sealing sleeve with respect to the journal, the tangential immobilizing device being created downstream on the axial cylindrical part of the journal.
US08303187B2
In order to accommodate loading in a number of situations such as with regard to thrusts in a gas turbine engine it is known to provide thrust bearings. These thrust bearings can be large and may be difficult to accommodate. By providing a duplex or multiplex thrust bearing which may be of increased axial length but reduced radial width easier accommodation may be achieved. By providing a thrust element 27 which compromises a balance beam from which extend elastic hinges to a mounting to a fixed bearing frame and ends of bearing races 21, 22 an appropriate thrust response can be achieved dependent upon bearing loads presented through bearing elements 23, 24. By rotation of the balance beam and flexing of the elastic hinges 30, 31, 32 an appropriate bearing load share is achieved.
US08303182B2
A plastic bag includes a front wall and a rear wall that are joined together to define a containment portion. To facilitate pouring a pourable substance from the containment portion, the plastic bag includes a pour spout. The pour spout includes an aperture that is defined in a lip. The lip can be formed into a channel such that the pourable substance is directed through the aperture. The plastic bag also includes a series of ribs that are formed in the region where the bag is folded to define a bottom end. The ribs reinforce the bottom end without compromising the flexibility of the bottom end.
US08303180B2
A temperature recorder in the form of a tubular cover and with an inside piston, in which an altered position of the piston is carried out by a mechanical movement released from a bimetal washer, which, when making a sudden change, changes its form from convex to concave when a determined temperature level is reached. Two line-formed screen patterns, a picture formed by colored lines on the inner surface of the tubular cover, shows a certain pattern in the original position, and a different pattern is shown when an inside piston has been moved vertically inside the outer tubular cover. Friction between the outside of the piston and the inner surface of the tubular cover forms a braking means. A reset button can by means of a magnet or a spring repulse or press back the piston which is in the top of the tubular cover and has a magnet and the piston will be pressed back within the tubular cover to its original position and the first patterns will be shown clearly again by the line-formed screen pattern. The bimetal washer will assume its original form and is prepared to start again when the temperature is increased or decreased.
US08303178B2
A temperature detecting device includes a current source, a plurality of resistors, a binary counter, a multiplexer, a comparator and a control logic. The current source provides a PTAT current. The resistors provide m voltage signals with ascending or descending voltages. The binary counter generates a binary select signal having (n+1) bits. The m voltage signals are selectively outputted from the multiplexer as a multiplexer output signal according to the binary select signal, wherein 2n
US08303171B2
An inverter device is provided that can measure a decrease in cooling capacity caused by a finite service life of a cooling fan or clogging of a cooling fin, without being affected by an ambient temperature or a load state. A thermal time constant is calculated in a thermal time constant calculation circuit from a temperature detection value from a temperature detection circuit and a time signal from a timer on the basis of an operation/stop command for the inverter device. The calculated value of the thermal time constant calculated in the thermal time constant calculation circuit is compared by a comparator with a reference value of the thermal time constant that is stored in advance in a memory. Whether the cooling capacity has decreased is determined based on the comparison results.
US08303167B2
An escapement mechanism adapted for transmitting mechanical energy pulses from a driving source to an oscillating regulator of a timepiece via a blade spring (12) operating in a buckling manner about a curvature point, wherein the blade spring (12) can build up the energy from the driving source between two pulses and transmit the same to the oscillating regulator upon each pulse via first (18) and second (26) levers. In order to optimize the adjustment of the tension of the blade spring (12), the latter is mounted on a frame (50) capable of symmetric deformation relative to a first axis (AA) extending through the rotation axes of the regulator, the levers (18, 26) and through the curvature point, and relative to a second axis (BB) perpendicular to the first one and extending through the ends of the blade spring (12).
US08303159B2
The present invention provides a wet starch preparation system for gypsum wallboard comprising a loss-in-weight starch feeder, a venturi mixer, a vacuum pick-up unit for supplying the dry starch from the feeder at an adjustable rate to the venturi mixer, a first water pump for supplying water at an adjustable rate to the venturi mixer to form a starch pre-dispersion of from about 2% to about 10% by weight starch and a second water pump for supplying gauging water to the starch pre-dispersion, the system equipped with appropriate system controls. The present system provides more efficient use of starch such that the amount of pregelatinized starch is at least about 10% less than a system in which the starch is not pre-dispersed in water prior to the board mixer. The system can be used to make gypsum-containing products including gypsum wallboard having increased board strength and reduced board weight.
US08303147B2
The present invention relates to a luminous garnish for a vehicle in which an illumination unit and a light emitting unit forms an integral part, wherein the garnish provides various patterns and illuminations at a same portion of an integral part, thereby realizing the luxury and high product value of the interior material.
US08303146B2
A side turn signal lamp includes a light guide member having a light guide lens and a plurality of LEDs. The light guide lens includes a front surface and a light entry end face. The light guide lens includes a front surface and a light entry end face. The front surface is configured to correspond to a laterally extending opening in an outer side wall of a side mirror housing so as to guide the light through the opening. The light guide lens is configured to have a width that corresponds to the opening having a shape of a slit in a front view and such that the light entry end face extends in a front-rear direction of the side turn signal lamp. The LEDs are arranged in the front-rear direction to directly face the light entry end face.
US08303132B2
An air-handling luminaire comprises a recessed troffer housing having a first pair of opposed walls and a second pair of opposed walls, the housing having a light output opening and a lens extending across the light output opening, at least one of the walls of the first pair of opposed walls and the second pair of opposed walls being substantially vertical and having at least one flow through opening for fluid communication from a volume beneath the recessed troffer housing to a plenum above the recessed troffer housing and, a rail extending from near a lower edge of the recessed troffer housing upwardly within the recessed troffer housing and adjacent the at least one flow through and concealing the at least one flow through opening.
US08303127B2
A display apparatus and a method for manufacturing an optical compound layer are provided. The display apparatus comprises a light source and an optical compound layer, wherein the light source is adapted to emit a light beam, and the light beam has a polarization direction. The optical compound layer is disposed on the light source correspondingly to receive the light beam. The optical compound layer comprises a thin film and a plurality of dopants doped therein. One of the thin film and the dopants has a specific orientation which is substantially the same as the polarization direction of the light beam and the refractive indexes of the thin film and the dopants are substantially the same as well.
US08303123B2
A stereoscopic 3D viewer used in conjunction with a portable computing device displaying a pair of stereoscopically complementary images. In an improved stereoscopic 3D viewer, the pair of stereoscopically complementary images enter the and right eyes of the user along substantially parallel paths, to eliminate or substantially reduce the need for the user to cross his or her eyes and to improve focus and sharpness of the images. In additional embodiments of the improved stereoscopic 3D viewer, baffles are provided to block the extraneous direct view of the pair of stereoscopically complementary images.
US08303109B2
An eyewear device can include a frame including an eyewire and a ledge, the eyewire at least partially encircling a lens and the at least one lens resting on the ledge, and a plurality of chamber walls in the ledge between the at least one lens and the frame, wherein the plurality of chamber walls are configured to allow air to circulate between opposite sides of the lens to reduce fogging. A method of producing an eyewear device can include providing a frame comprising an eyewire and a ledge, the eyewire at least partially encircling a lens and the at least one lens resting on the ledge, and providing a plurality of grooves in the ledge between the at least one lens and the frame, wherein the plurality of grooves are configured to allow air to circulate between opposite sides of the lens to reduce fogging.
US08303104B2
An inkjet recording apparatus to print onto a surface of a recording medium includes an endless rotation conveyance member with a plurality of through-holes; a suction unit to suction the recording medium on the surface of the endless rotation conveyance member; an ink discharge head including ink discharge nozzles; a blank discharge ink receiver to receive ink through the through-holes; a control unit to make the ink discharge nozzles discharge ink at a predetermined timing; and a fixed plate along an inner surface of the endless rotation conveyance member, the fixed plate including an opening formed in a position corresponding to the ink discharge nozzles and a through-hole. The blank discharge ink receiver is disposed corresponding to the opening of the fixed plate and in close contact with the fixed plate so that an inside space of the blank discharge receiver becomes a substantially closed space.
US08303103B2
An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path. A print station is positioned along the web path and is configured to apply ink to the continuous web. A temperature leveling ink spreader is disposed along the web path downstream from the print station. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a leveler roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a spreading temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being transported to equalize the temperatures of the web and ink on the web to within a predetermined range about the spreading temperature.
US08303082B2
A fluid ejection apparatus includes a substrate having a nozzle surface and a passage through the substrate for fluid flow, the passage having a nozzle that includes an opening in the nozzle surface of the substrate, and an actuator to cause fluid in the passage to be ejected from the nozzle. The nozzle includes side walls extending away from the opening, the side walls sloping outwardly as the side walls extend away. An aspect ratio of a length of the opening to a width of the opening is at least 2:1.
US08303078B2
The liquid ejection apparatus has: a liquid ejection head having a liquid ejection surface in which a plurality of liquid ejection ports which eject liquid are arranged; a pressure adjustment device which adjusts pressure in the liquid ejection head; a head drive device which applies selectively, to the liquid ejection head, a liquid ejection drive waveform which causes the liquid to be ejected from the liquid ejection ports of the liquid ejection head, wherein: a first sliding motion is performed in a state where interior of the liquid ejection head is pressurized by the pressure adjusting device to set the surface of the liquid of each of the liquid ejection ports to a projecting shape, and where a meniscus slight vibration waveform is applied to the liquid ejection head by the head drive device, in such a manner that the liquid ejection surface is wetted by the liquid.
US08303073B2
A connection inspecting method is provided to inspect the electrical connection between bumps and lands of a printer provided with an ink-jet head, FPC having the lands electrically connected to the bumps formed for the ink-jet head, and a driver IC. The connection inspecting method includes supplying a connection inspecting signal from the driver IC to the ink-jet head; detecting whether or not the ink liquid droplets are discharged from a certain nozzle; and judging whether or not the connection between the bump and the land corresponding to the certain nozzle is the normal connection. The connection inspecting signal is set so that ink liquid droplets are discharged from nozzles only when the connection between the bumps and the lands is the normal connection.
US08303066B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
US08303058B2
A refrigerator is provided that allows a user to watch a TV broadcast program or listen to a radio broadcast. The refrigerator includes a main controller that selects a TV function or a radio function according to a user's request, a radio tuner that receives voice data included in a frequency band of a radio set when the radio function is selected by the main controller, a TV driving circuit that receives a TV broadcast program when the TV function is selected by the main controller and outputs image data and voice data included in the TV broadcast program, a TV screen that displays the image data, and a speaker that outputs the voice data included in the TV broadcast program or the voice data included in the frequency band.
US08303050B2
A display case having a preferably square or rectangular outline and a front (1), a rear (2), an upper (5), a right (3) and a left side face (4), a base (6) or in addition an upper part (14) instead of the upper side face (5), all the side faces or at least a part of the same being formed of panes of glass, the interior being sealed in its lower region with a support surface (7) and the display case being sealed extensively in an airtight manner relative to the external air. The display case being formed from two symmetrical halves (8, 9) which are separated from each other vertically, the base (6) and the possibly present upper part (14) forming a part of the front (1), rear (2), right (3) and left side face (4) and the two halves (8, 9) being able to be moved away from each other or towards each other horizontally and parallel, the support surface (7) being excluded from the movement. Such a display case has no door, access to the interior is nevertheless provided in the open state.
US08303041B2
A furniture base including a plurality of legs, each leg may include a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one curve along at least a portion of its length; a central collector which may include a plurality of compartments; and the plurality of compartments and the plurality of legs may be arranged relative to one another such that one of the top or bottom portions of each leg may be positioned within each compartment, and the other of the top or bottom portions of each leg may be positioned away from the central collector; wherein, for each leg, the portion of the leg positioned within the compartment may be positioned in one of the compartments other than the compartment arranged closest to the other portion of the leg.
US08303039B2
An adjustable head restraint assembly is provided with a support rod adapted to be mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A primary frame is supported on the support rod. A secondary frame is mounted to the primary frame for translation in a fore and aft direction. A locking arm is pivotally connected to one of the frames for engagement with a series of notches formed in the other. A biasing member cooperates with a locking arm for biasing the locking arm into a locked position. An actuator pivots the locking arm out of engagement from the series of notches for unlocking the locking arm and permitting adjustment of the adjustable head restraint in the fore and aft direction. The primary frame translates along the support rod with a locking arm for engagement with notches in the support rod for movement by the actuator for adjustment in an upright direction.
US08303035B2
A chair assembly has a base frame, a backrest frame, a seat frame and a seat-adjusting device. The backrest frame is mounted on the base frame. The seat frame is connected pivotally to the base frame. The seat-adjusting device is mounted between the base frame and the seat frame and may be manipulated to move the seat bar backward or forward relative to the base frame. Therefore, a distance between the seat frame and the backrest frame may be adjusted to adapt for different users.
US08303031B2
There is provided a sunroof device which can suppress any forgetfulness of closing of a roof panel through a simple switch manipulation when a shade panel is closed. The sunroof device has the roof panel which is driven by a roof-panel motor and is opened/closed in accordance with a manipulation of a roof-panel opening/closing switch, and the shade panel which is driven by a shade-panel motor and is opened/closed in accordance with a manipulation of a shade panel opening/closing switch. The roof-panel motor is driven together with the shade-panel motor to actuate the roof panel in the closed direction interlocking with the shade panel upon the shade-panel opening/closing switch receiving a manipulation input in the closed direction in a condition other than a condition in which both roof panel and shade panel are fully closed, and the roof panel is fully closed upon the shade panel becoming fully closed.
US08303030B2
An energy management structure for a vehicle may include a first longitudinal rail, a second longitudinal rail joined to the first longitudinal by at least a cross member and a bumper beam. A bumper panel is further provided wherein the bumper panel may be affixed to the bumper beam. The first deflecting rail includes a first front end and a first rear end. The first front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the first rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the first longitudinal rail. The second deflecting rail includes a second front end and a second rear end. The second front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the second rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the second longitudinal rail.
US08303029B2
A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin frame coupled to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, a cover coupled to the vehicle body frame so as to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, and a hood. The hood is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close. A rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover and a rear end of the hood is located in front of a front end of the cabin frame, in a state where the hood is in a closed position.
US08303024B2
The present invention comprises a method and associated devices for reducing the noise produced by an open cavity within a moving automobile (such as open sunroofs and open windows). The invention proposes placing microjet orifices proximate the open cavity. These inject small but rapidly moving columns of air into the prevailing flow. The projected columns reduce the formation of large coherent structures in the prevailing flow. As these large coherent structures are a critical component of the resonance which is responsible for much of the noise produced across the open cavity, the overall noise level is reduced by the microjets.
US08303022B2
A vehicle structural reinforcement system includes: a first pillar; a second pillar; a vehicle door between the first and second pillars; a first crossbeam attached to the door; and a first locking hinge attached to the second pillar. The first crossbeam comprises a first hooked end configured to engage the first locking hinge. The second pillar includes a reinforcement ring and wherein the first locking hinge is attached to the reinforcement ring.
US08303018B2
A device and method for reducing noises created by a movable seat back that is tethered to a cabin wall. The seat back has a latch bracket that hooks over a rigid striker pin extending from the cabin wall. A dynamic hook insert, manufactured from a polymeric material, lines the latch bracket and makes direct contact with the striker pin. The insert is provided with a resiliently bendable section spaced from direct contact with the latch bracket. The resiliently bendable section is dynamically movable for absorbing vibrations transferred to and from the striker pin and for automatically accommodating dimensional variances in the striker pin.
US08303016B2
A stowage retainer is provided for retaining an object, such as a portable electronic device, in a vehicle. The retainer includes a body having at least a bottom wall and side walls. The retainer also includes one or more flexible retention arms extending from the body for retaining a device in the retainer. The flexible retention arms each comprise a flexible inner wire and a soft outer covering material. The flexible retention arms are bendable to reform into a desired configuration to retain a device in the retainer.
US08303015B2
A lower structure of a vehicle body rear portion, includes: a spare tire housing formed in a rear floor; a cross member joining paired side frames, and being provided at a location frontward of the housing; a reinforcement for a hook, being arranged at a center of the housing; and a bumper member provided at a rear end of the vehicle body, in which a front side of the reinforcement is attached to the cross member, the reinforcement forms a closed cross section so that the closed cross section is larger at a rear side than at a front side, the reinforcement includes front and rear portions obtained by dividing the reinforcement at a location corresponding to a center of a spare tire, and an upper side of a rear end of the rear portion is arranged below the bumper member and overlaps with the bumper member (FIG. 2).
US08303011B2
The present invention provides an emergency medical transportation vehicle comprising a two or three-wheeled motorcycle having a structural frame that encompasses a platform horizontally disposed along the wheel-base, where the platform has a front flat surface, and two rear surfaces extending from the front flat surface on either side of the rear wheel. The rear surfaces have sides extending vertically therefrom. The motorcycle carries the load of driver and patient, provides a safe, stable patient transportation, where passenger and rider are in one plane with the rider below and in complete view of the driver. The vehicle has a movable seat for the driver and chambers for placement of emergency medical equipment and supplies.
US08303007B2
A drive mechanism and a gripper mechanism equipped with the drive mechanism are provided. An electrical gripper includes a drive mechanism equipped with a motor, a feed screw that transmits a rotary drive force from the motor to a feed nut capable of displacement in an axial direction, and a gripper section that grips a workpiece by coupling to the feed nut and being displaced thereby. The drive mechanism further is constituted by a self-locking mechanism, which prevents the feed nut from being retracted as a result of a reactive force received in the event that the feed nut is advanced and the workpiece is gripped by the gripper section.
US08303004B2
A door latch apparatus for vehicles includes a latch bracket, an outside handle lever pivotally coupled to the latch bracket, wherein one end of the outside handle lever is coupled to an outside handle, a pawl lift pivotally hinged to the other end of the outside handle lever and including a locking portion, a pawl including a pawl pin, wherein the pawl pin is pivotally movable on the latch bracket, the pawl pin and the pawl lift being coupled in a normal state, a latch fork connected to the pawl to lock or unlock a door depending on rotation of the pawl, and a balance weight mounted to the other end of the pawl lift to apply an inertia load to the pawl lift such that the locking portion of the pawl lift is released from the pawl pin when a vehicle collision occurs.
US08302998B2
A binding system (1) comprising a stack of sheet (2), each with a binding side (3) with attachment means for the connection of the sheets. The binding side of a sheet possesses an alternating sequence of tabs and notches. One sheet can be attached to an adjacent sheet by interlocking its tab (4) into the notches between the corresponding tabs of the adjacent sheet. The tabs fit exactly into these notches to provide a seamless connection between these sheets. Thus this binding system provides for a quick, user-friendly binding system without requiring separate and cumbersome attachment means.
US08302985B2
This invention relates to a footpad device that is removably attached to a wheelchair's footplate and more particularly to a footpad device specifically dimensioned to correct the posture of a person with bare feet sitting in the wheelchair fitted to that person while wearing shoes. The footpad device is made of a flexible water resistant material to help support bare feet when they are wet and is shaped to help prevent bare feet from slipping off the side of the footplate.
US08302984B2
A side stand attaching structure for a motorcycle includes a stand attaching part of a body of the motorcycle, a stand bracket, and a connector. The stand bracket rotatably connects a base end part of a levelable side stand to the stand attaching part. The side stand is provided on one side at a lower part of the body. The connector connects the stand bracket to the stand attaching part. The connector is inclined to extend upward as the connector extends outwardly in a width direction of the motorcycle.
US08302981B1
A bicycle headset includes a first race member, a second race member, at least one rolling member, a compression ring and a sealing ring. The first race member includes a first support surface. The second race member includes a second support surface. The at least one rolling member is disposed between the first and second support surfaces. The compression ring is disposed on the second race member. The sealing ring is disposed on the compression ring.
US08302974B2
An adaptable mobility aid device is disclosed that has length-adjustable front and rear legs, a handle, and a knee support platform coupled to the legs and the handle, the legs being adjustable within a range of lengths suitable to straddle steps for ascending and descending stairways, as well as to function on the level, or on a ramp. The lengths of the legs can be adjusted in tandem via single-hand operability of an adjustment mechanism. The knee support platform provides support for an impaired lower leg of a user, not requiring the leg to contact the stairs, and also not requiring the leg to be held mid-air in a hopping motion. The handle enables one-handed use of the adaptable mobility aid device. In some embodiments, spring loaded pins or a pull bar to activate the pins, enable the single-hand operability of the adjustment mechanism.
US08302962B2
A paper sheet processing device is provided in which no load is imposed on a primary drive which drives a pressing part for pressing the paper sheets stacked and accommodated and a shutter for opening and closing an insertion slot. The paper sheet processing device of the present invention has an insertion slot through which a paper sheet is inserted, a shutter 8 for opening and closing the insertion slot, a paper magazine in which paper sheets loaded through the insertion slot are sequentially stacked and accommodated, a pressing part 50 which comes into contact with paper sheets accommodated in the paper magazine to press the stacked paper sheets, a cam groove 61A which operates the shutter 8 and the pressing part 50, and a drive motor for driving the cam groove 61A, and the cam groove 61A has such a shape that while one of the shutter 8 and pressing part 50 is in operation, the operation of the other is stopped.
US08302959B2
A remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus includes a loading unit that loads a sheet; a moving unit that moves the loading unit to a feed position of the loaded sheet; a feeding unit that feeds the sheet from the loading unit; a sheet thickness detecting unit that detects a thickness of the sheet; a load thickness detecting unit that detects that thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit, gradually decreasing; and a remaining sheet volume calculating unit that calculates a remaining volume within the loading unit based on the certain load thickness detected by the load thickness detecting unit and the sheet thickness detected by the sheet thickness detecting unit, each time a sheet is fed by the feeding unit after the load thickness detecting unit detects that the thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit has reached the certain load thickness.
US08302955B2
A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum.
US08302938B2
A railing section is capable of being adapted for varying conditions of use. The railing section includes first and second support rails. The first support rail has a longitudinal void. A plurality of movable fence members are perpendicularly disposed between the first and second support rails. A drive mechanism is disposed in the longitudinal void of the first support rail and coupled to the plurality of movable fence members. Operation of the drive mechanism causes simultaneous rotation of the movable fence members along longitudinal axes of the respective movable fence members through an angle 360 degrees or more. Two or more railing sections may be coupled together by a member that couples the respective drive mechanisms of the sections.
US08302935B2
The universal cable puller is a flexible elongate member having a handgrip on one end and an adapter fitting on the other end. The adapter fitting is preferably threaded and accepts a correspondingly threaded adapter. A kit of adapters may be provided. Each adapter has a different head that accepts a corresponding cable connector.
US08302933B2
A valve device has a valve space (14) formed in a housing (12a, 12b), a valve drive (16) sealed against the valve space (14) by means of a sealing body (26) made of an elastic material, a two-armed actuating lever (32) which extends through the sealing body and whose first arm (34) is connected to the valve drive (16), and a closing body (28) molded on the sealing body (26), which forms a jacket of the second arm (30) of the actuating lever (32). The closing body (28) can cover or clear a valve seat (24) disposed in a valve space (14) by a swivel movement of the actuating lever (32), wherein the actuating lever (32) includes a spatially fixed bearing axis.
US08302928B2
A cushioning member includes a first plane, an opening opened to the first plane, and an air storage for storing air formed from the opening to an inside of the cushioning member. When a shock load is imposed on the cushioning member, the air in the air storage is compressed, and the first plane is deformed by the pressure of the compressed air to form a gap. A part of the compressed air flows out of the air storage through the gap. This structure provides a high shock-cushioning effect.
US08302925B2
A display unit has upright sections provided in the vicinity of the right and left ends of a rotating shaft, a bearing supporting member has a supporting piece section for attaching a bearing of the rotating shaft and an attaching piece section with respect to a base plate, formed at an end of the supporting piece section in the direction perpendicular thereto, and a positioning structure for positioning the bearing supporting member with respect to the display unit is provided between the supporting piece section and the upright section in the vicinity of the rotating shaft.
US08302922B1
The camp lantern tree stand includes an adjustable tree strap that encircles the outer periphery of a tree to support said stand thereon. The camp lantern tree stand includes a camp lantern support arm that extends and retracts from the stand to support a camp lantern at a predetermined distance away from said tree while above a ground surface. The camp lantern tree stand also includes a plurality of hooks that may extend and retract to support a plurality of items thereon. The camp lantern tree stand provides a useful way to illuminate an area immediately adjacent a tree while simultaneously supporting a plurality of other items thereon. The camp lantern tree stand uses the adjustable tree strap to hang thereon, which does not require mounting means that damage said tree, and which provides ease in mounting or dismounting the camp lantern tree stand therefrom.
US08302900B2
A rewinder (10) for winding paper (11′) around a core (11) for making a log (11″) comprising, in an upstream position, means for transporting and introducing the core (11) into a channel (12) defined at the top by an upper winding roller (14), supplied from above with the paper (11′) directed towards the channel (12), and at the bottom by a cradle member (13) associated downstream with a lower winding roller (15), the rewinder (10) comprising a third oscillating roller (16) arranged above the lower winding roller (15).
US08302898B2
The invention relates to a device for continuous reeling of a pulp web (1), particularly a paper web, for example tissue, where the pulp web (1) is carried over a reel drum (2) that is supported on rocker arms (4) and is then wound onto a winding unit (5), and the pressing force in the nip (24) is measured between paper roll (16) and reel drum (4) with the aid of a load-sensing device (7), where the rocker arm (4) can be preloaded against the load-sensing device (7), where the rocker arm (4) can be preloaded against the load-sensing device (7) by means of a preloading element (8). It is mainly characterized by the preloading force for preloading the rocker arm (4) against the load-sensing device (7) being adjustable by means of the preloading element (8).
US08302889B2
A fuel injection valve has a valve body for opening and closing a valve seat, and receives an operation signal from a control unit to operate the valve body so that fuel is injected from a plurality of injection holes formed in an injection hole plate welded through a welded portion to a downstream side of the valve seat while passing through a gap between the valve body and the valve seat. The injection hole plate is formed at its central portion with a convex portion which is substantially axisymmetric with respect to a valve seat axis and which has a circular-arc shaped cross section, and the welded portion is also substantially axisymmetric with respect to the valve seat axis. Inlet portions of the injection holes are disposed in an injection hole arrangement surface diametrically outside of the convex portion and diametrically inside of a valve seat opening inner wall which is a minimum inside diameter of the valve seat, and the injection hole arrangement surface is coplanar with a surface having the welded portion.
US08302886B2
In a fuel injection valve having a valve plug for opening and closing a valve seat in which fuel is injected from a plurality of orifices provided in an orifice plate mounted at the downstream side of the valve seat by operating the valve plug in response to an operation signal from a controller, a thin wall part is provided by concaving a center portion of an upstream-side end face of the orifice plate to the downstream side by press working, and the orifice plate is disposed so that a virtual circular conical surface extending to the downstream side of the valve seat surface and an upstream-side end face of the orifice plate of the outer peripheral side of the thin wall part intersect to each other to form one virtual circle.
US08302875B2
An air conditioning equipment having an in-room unit connected to one end of the refrigerant pipes and an out-room unit connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipes. The air conditioning equipment includes signal coupling portions which are respectively disposed at both end parts of the refrigerant pipes. Each of the signal coupling portions couples an alternating current (AC) control signal to the refrigerant pipes and exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal. The configuration of the air conditioning equipment brings forth the advantages that the electrical insulation devices used in the prior art are dispensed with, and the signal transmissions between the in-room unit and the out-room unit can be performed by a simple apparatus configuration.
US08302873B2
An air conditioner having a pleasant sleep driving mode including a parameter changing unit (142) for independently changing the respective values of plural parameters for determining a variation pattern of the set room temperature, and a controller (42) for receiving the changed parameters from the parameter changing unit (142) and controlling the operation of the air conditioner according to the pleasant sleep driving mode having the variation pattern of the set room temperature determined by the changed parameters.
US08302856B1
An automated banking machine is part of a banking system that can cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, including user cards. The machine is in operative connection with a system operable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The machine is positioned at a banking facility having a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Captured images can be analyzed at a remote monitoring center. The monitoring center can operate to assure that employees or customers of the banking facility can safely enter and/or exit the banking facility.
US08302854B1
An automated banking machine is part of a banking system that can operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, including user cards. The machine is in operative connection with a system operable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The machine is positioned at a banking facility having a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Captured images can be analyzed at a remote monitoring center. The monitoring center can operate to assure that employees or customers of the banking facility can safely enter and/or exit the banking facility.
US08302846B2
A paper container includes four body portion panels forming a cylindrical body portion having a square section. The paper container is configured so that upper ends of the body portion panels are continuously provided with a pair of gable roof-forming panels which include exterior top seal panels opposed to each other, and provided with a pair of gable wall-forming panels which include interior top seal panels opposed to each other. Any one of the panels serves as a spout and is to be opened. The gable wall-forming panels are folded out between the gable roof-forming panels, and the exterior top seal panels and the interior top seal panels are heated and sealed with each other at a predetermined position so as to be hermetically sealed.
US08302844B2
A package having a wrapper having a length, a top, a bottom, an outer surface having a periphery, a longitudinal axis, and one or more predetermined lines of weakness. The one or more predetermined lines of weakness can be disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The wrapper can enclose an article for feminine hygiene.
US08302842B2
A honeycomb core is created from a stack of metal sheets that are welded together using a serpentine weld path. Each sheet in the stack is welded to the sheet underneath. All the odd-numbered sheets, excluding the bottom sheet, are welded using a first serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds. All the even-numbered sheets are welded using a second serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds, such that the long welds of the second serpentine welding pattern are shifted from the long welds of the first serpentine welding pattern. When a sufficient number of sheets have been welded, the stack is trimmed to remove the short welds. The stack is expanded by pulling the sheets one from another to form the honeycomb core.
US08302841B2
A method of calibrating a wire payout related to predetermined looping motions used during formation of a wire loop is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a first wire payout length related to predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a first of the wire loop, the predetermined looping motions being performed on a first wire bonding system; (b) determining a second wire payout length related to the predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a second of the wire loop; and (c) adjusting at least one wire bonding process variable, and repeating step (b) with the at least one adjusted wire bonding process variable such that the second wire payout length determined in the repeated step (b) is closer to the first wire payout length than the second wire payout length determined in the initial step (b).
US08302840B2
A method of applying bonding energy to form a bond between a portion of a wire and a contact of a bonding location using a wire bonding machine is provided. The method includes: (1) moving a bonding tool towards the contact; (2) detecting when a portion of the contact (100a) is pressed against a device supporting surface (112) of the wire bonding machine; and (3) applying bonding energy to the portion of the contact such that a bond is formed between the contact and the portion of wire.
US08302836B2
A ball array mask includes: a metal mask, which includes through holes into which minute balls are inserted, and which is positioned at a location above an object to be mounted; a hollow frame; a stretchable sheet, edges of the metal mask being affixed to the hollow frame by the stretchable sheet; and projection members that are attached to respective corners of the metal mask so as to pull the metal mask outwardly.
US08302832B2
A fastener driving tool includes a power source including a cylinder, a piston with a driver blade reciprocating in the cylinder, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, and a magazine housing a supply of the fasteners. A magazine feeder mechanism is associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose, and the feeder mechanism includes a reciprocating feed piston. A conduit is connected between a port in the cylinder and the feed mechanism for diverting combusted gas for activating the feed piston. The port is disposed in the cylinder a specified distance below a piston prefiring position, and the distance is reflective of a delay of feeding the gas to the feed piston at least until engagement between an end of the driver blade and a head of a fastener in the tool nose.
US08302831B2
A fuel cell is provided and is constructed and arranged for use with a combustion tool including a cylinder head frame. The fuel cell includes an outer shell having a closed lower end and an open upper end, and a closure crimped over the upper end and defining an opening for accommodating a reciprocating valve stem. An adapter frictionally engages the closure and includes a flange configured for suspending the fuel cell in the fuel cell chamber.
US08302829B2
Disclosed herein is a bicycle carrier for a vehicle, which is housed in the rear bumper of the vehicle to be concealed and when necessary is drawn out from the rear bumper to carry a bicycle. The bicycle carrier includes a front frame positioned in a rear bumper of the vehicle and secured to a rear end of a vehicle body. A central frame perpendicularly passes through the front frame. A rear frame is secured to a rear end of the central frame. A folding unit couples each of opposite ends of the front frame with each of opposite ends of the rear frame and is folded to vary a distance between the front frame and the rear frame. A bicycle wheel support is provided on the folding unit. A bicycle body support is provided on the central frame.
US08302828B2
Disclosed herein is a cross bar of a roof carrier for vehicles. The cross bar may include a cross bar body. First and second brackets are provided on both ends of the cross bar body. First and second locking pins are provided, respectively, on the first and second brackets to be elastically ejected. A link is positioned in the first bracket and hinged to the first locking pin. A release lever includes a coupling part hinged to the link and installed via a rotating shaft, and a grip part exposed to the outside, so that when the release lever rotates, the link and the first locking pin are pulled into the cross bar body. A wire couples the coupling part of the release lever with the second locking pin. According to the present invention, the release lever is mounted to only one side and only one wire is used, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
US08302816B2
A refill cartridge disposable within a spray bottle during usage thereof. The refill cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a cartridge reservoir. The cartridge body includes first and second openings, the second opening being defined by a projection of the cartridge body. A cap is connected to the cartridge body to substantially cover the first opening. The cap includes a cap base having a primary opening. A cap boss is connected to and extends from the cap base and defines a passage concentrically aligned with the primary opening. The refill cartridge additionally includes a plug having a plug body including a plug neck and a flared portion. The plug is engageable with the cap and the cartridge body and is moveable relative to the cap and cartridge body between a sealing position and a dispensing position.
US08302812B2
A dispenser includes a pump that, upon actuation, progresses through a discrete dispense cycle to dispense a discrete dose of product. The dispenser further includes an actuating mechanism serving to actuate the pump, and a dispenser controller that controls operation of the actuation mechanism. The discrete dose is less than a desired dose. When the dispenser controller receives a single dispense request, the dispenser controller causes the actuating mechanism to actuate the pump through multiple discrete dispense cycles so as to dispense multiple discrete doses to achieve a dispensing of the desired dose.
US08302804B2
A lid (18) for a drinking container (14) includes an engagement means (26) for removably securing the lid (18) to the drinking container (14). The lid (18) is formed as a one piece unit and has a deformable spout (20) with a liquid outlet (46). The one piece lid is further provided with an air inlet (22) for the ingress of air into the container (14). Defamation of the spout (20) effects opening of the liquid outlet (46) and the air inlet (22). The spout (20) may be disposed in a forward position on the lid (18). The container wall may lean in the forwards direction when the container is seated on its base (16) on a level surface.
US08302798B2
An anti-spill food or small item container assembly having an open top and defining a chamber adapted to contain food. A lid is detachably secured to the container and the lid includes a flexible portion extending across and covering the open top of the container. The flexible portion includes at least one slit which forms at least one flap in the lid to permit access to the interior chamber of the container in which the food is contained. Furthermore, the flexible portion is constructed of a material having shape memory so that, after deflection of the flap, the flap will substantially return to its original position.
US08302796B1
Anti-theft devices are provided for use with both new and previously installed utility boxes. The utility box includes a sidewall, typically set into the ground, and the anti-theft device includes a bracket that hooks beneath the sidewall. The bracket also includes a threaded bore disposed through a fastening piece. The utility box also includes a cover that seals a top opening of the sidewall. The cover includes a hole for receiving a bolt. The threaded bore aligns with the hole in the cover so a bolt can engage the threaded bore to secure the cover to the bracket.
US08302794B2
A closure is provided for connection to a container. The closure includes a cap and a tamper band. The tamper hand includes retention tabs that retain the tamper band to the container.
US08302792B2
The invention is a child-safe closure device for a container (1) including i) a stopper having a base and a cylindrical side wall, the inside face of which has a screwthread and a first series of teeth (13), and ii) a collar (16) connected to the side wall and equipped with a second series of teeth (17), these two series of teeth engaged with corresponding series of teeth (4,7) positioned on a base of the neck (2) of the container (1), wherein a) the cylindrical side wall is made of a rigid zone (10), and a skirt (11), or a flexible and deformable zone, and b) the collar (16) is attached to the skirt (11) by frangible bridges (22), such that deformation of the skirt (11) does not result in deformation of the collar (16).
US08302789B2
A rotating superstructure includes: a front block on which a power unit that includes a prime mover; and a rear block on which a unit for raising and lowering a boom that includes a winch, a, and an arm. And the rotating superstructure is configured to be split into the front block and the rear block.
US08302777B2
A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step.
US08302774B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for stabilizing glycerin-in-oil emulsions, which can be used to significantly reduce thermal instability or instability over time compared to traditional cosmetics or topical formulations. The compositions comprise one or more oil-soluble rheological modifiers and optionally one or more emulsifiers in a glycerin-in-oil emulsion.
US08302764B2
A double-helix spiral conveyor, a method for conveying articles up and down a spiral conveyor, and a method for constructing a drive drum for a spiral conveyor. The double-helix spiral conveyor conveys articles on the conveyor up the inner side of a spiral drum by engaging the outer edge of the belt and down the outer side of the drum by engaging the inner edge of the belt. A slew drive at the bottom of the drum drives the conveyor.
US08302763B2
An apparatus for buffering products comprises at least three buffer conveyors arranged in series, which can be driven independently of each other, a first buffer conveyor which can be connected to supply device for supplying products and a last buffer conveyor which can be connected to discharge device for discharging the products, wherein the buffer conveyors are so arranged that each of the products follows the same conveying path and that at least one of the buffer conveyors comprises a spiral path.
US08302758B2
According to the invention, a coin processing system comprises a coin verifier (2) and a ring-shaped coin magazine (1), in particular a coin magazine (1) which forms an annulus. The coin magazine (1) comprises a coin input (4) fed by the coin verifier (2), a plurality of coin supports (7.1 . . . 7.5) for separately storing a plurality of coins (12.1 . . . 12.3) and a coin output (15). The coin processing system is further characterized in that the coin verifier (2) is at least partly situated within the cavity (13) defined by the ring-shaped coin magazine (1). Further a method for feeding a ring-shaped coin magazine (1) is presented, whereas the coin magazine (1) defines a cavity (13). In particular a method for feeding a coin magazine (1) which forms an annulus is disclosed, wherein the coin magazine (1) comprises a coin input (4) fed by a coin verifier (2), a plurality of coin supports (7.1 . . . 7.5) for separately storing a plurality of coins (12.1 . . . 12.3) and a coin output (15). The method is characterized in that a coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) being released from the coin verifier (2) is directly fed into the magazine (1) from the cavity (13) being defined by the ring-shaped magazine (1) in a first radially outward pointing direction. Further the coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) is stored within the magazine (1) and eventually the coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) is released from the magazine (1) in a second radially outward pointing direction.
US08302756B2
A clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, includes a clutch actuation setting device that can be placed in various settings, based on which a corresponding actuation of the clutch takes place. The clutch actuation setting device is suitable for generating electrical signals as a function of the setting, based on which the clutch is correspondingly actuated. A method controls/regulates such a clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle.
US08302750B2
The invention relates to a multi-pole conductor line comprising a plurality of insulating profiles disposed one after another in the longitudinal direction, each having a regular arrangement of a plurality of chambers extending in the longitudinal direction. At least one group of chambers is present that are closed in cross section, and at least one group of chambers that are open to one side and are suitable for mounting one busbar each. Connecting links made of insulating material are provided for connecting the front sides of the insulating profiles. Said links each have as components at least one plug element that can be plugged into a closed chamber of the insulating profile at the front side of an insulating profile, and at least one stop element limiting the plug depth of a plug element into an insulation profile, and preferably at least one catch element by which a form-fit engagement between the connecting link and an insulating profile can be produced.
US08302745B2
A backing plate comprises a front side configured to engage a friction material, a rear side opposite the front side, a first edge, a second edge generally opposing the first edge, and at least one channel disposed between the front side and the rear side and extending from the first edge toward the second edge. The rear side is configured to engage a caliper assembly. The backing plate is configured to achieve a resonant frequency that attenuates vibration.
US08302718B2
An engine room cover and a method for mounting thereof in which the engine room cover can be mounted and removed easily. The engine room cover includes a first cover body and a second cover body. The first cover body is installed in an engine room formed in a vehicle body and fixed to the vehicle body with a fastening member. The second cover body is removably attached to the first cover body and covers a maintained member installed in the engine room. The first cover body has a mounting hole bored in a direction of board thickness and an elastic bush fitted along an opening lip of the mounting hole. The second cover body has a boss portion inserted into the elastic bush.
US08302712B2
A fuel cell module for a vehicle, which accommodates a stacked-cell body which is provided with electric output terminals for taking electric power from stacked power generating cells in a metallic casing which has an insulation layer on its inner surface, is disposed in a vehicle front room such that the stacked direction of the power generating cells is a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the electric output terminals face the front of the vehicle. An insulating cover made of insulating rubber which is thicker than an insulation layer of a cover is disposed on the exterior surface of the electric output terminals to prevent short circuiting of the electric output terminals.
US08302711B2
A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.
US08302710B2
A suspension system adapted to receive an endless belt drive is provided, the suspension system comprising a first wishbone adapted to be secured at a first end thereof to a frame of a vehicle a second wishbone adapted to be secured at a first end thereof to the frame, a hub connecting the first wishbone and the second wishbone at second ends thereof, a tandem member pivotally secured to the hub, and at least one pair of wheels attached to the tandem member, the at least one pair of wheels being adapted to contact the endless belt to support the vehicle. A method of using same and a kit providing same are also provided.
US08302702B2
A torque sensing unit for a power tool arranged to generate a torque responsive signal by sensing the reaction torque transferred from a ring gear of a planetary reduction gearing to the tool housing. The torque sensing unit includes an annular torque transferring element disposed perpendicularly to the geometric axis of the ring gear and being formed with a first pair of external engagement portions for connecting the torque transferring element to the housing, a second pair of external engagement portions for connecting the torque transferring element to the ring gear, and at least one pair of weak elastically deformable zones located between the engagement portions and provided with sensors for delivering signals in response to the transferred reaction torque.
US08302698B2
An activation-device launching system, mounted on a cementing head, allows the deployment of a combination of darts, balls, bombs, canisters in order to activate downhole equipment, launch cementing plugs, deliver chemical products, or the like. A valve controls the flow of process fluid, and holds an activation device in place until it is time for launching. The valve also has a hollow axle through which balls may be launched into the process-fluid stream at any time.
US08302688B2
A perforating system and method for use in a wellbore. In operation, the perforating system is disposed in the wellbore and used to form perforations in the wellbore. Thereafter, the perforating system is used to perform a sequence of underbalance pulsations in the wellbore, wherein a first underbalance pulsation has a first underbalance signature and a second underbalance pulsation has a second underbalance signature that is different from the first underbalance signature such that perforating tunnel clean up can be optimized based upon wellbore conditions and without causing damage to the perforating tunnels.
US08302682B2
A wireline tractor includes a displacement mechanism and at least one driving wheel positioned on the displacement mechanism so that the driving wheel is held in a biasing manner against a well wall. The displacement mechanism is rotatable or movable between a first position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on one side of the wireline tractor, and a second position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on the opposite side of the wireline tractor.
US08302678B2
An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal bores of the first and second devices, wherein the fracture isolation sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than or equal to an internal diameter of the production casing.
US08302676B2
In general, an apparatus is provided comprising either a single wall drill string or a concentric drill string for use in drilling, completing and/or stimulating a well in a heavy oil or bitumen reservoir for in situ recovery of heavy oil and bitumen. More particularly, the single wall drill string or the concentric drill string further comprises an electrical cable and heating device for heating the drill string to stimulate the flow of the heavy oil and bitumen in the well after chilling is completed.
US08302668B1
A hybrid core assembly for a casting process includes a ceramic core portion, a first refractory metal core portion and a first plate positioned between the ceramic core portion and the first refractory metal core portion. The ceramic core portion includes a first trough. A portion of the refractory metal core portion is received in the first trough.
US08302666B2
A method of continuous casting a beam blank adapted for impact absorption is disclosed. The method includes: introducing molten steel into a continuous casting mold from a tundish through an immersion nozzle to perform non-oxidation casting, wherein the immersion nozzle is disposed at one side of the continuous casting mold forming both side flanges of a beam blank, and the molten steel is introduced into the continuous casting mold through the immersion nozzle. The method is advantageous in that it is possible to produce steel adapted for low-temperature impact absorption, and productivity is improved due to the increase of the number of consecutive heats of continuous casting.
US08302656B2
A method of casting a molten metal into a mould uses an apparatus which has a casting chamber which includes a mould into which molten metal is introduced when the casting chamber is at least partially evacuated, to fill the mould, a tundish connected to the casting chamber, the tundish having an opening in register with an inlet aperture of the casting chamber to provide an inlet flow path for the molten metal from the tundish into the casting chamber, a plug which includes a sealing part of a material with a melting temperature not greater than the temperature of the metal being cast, the method including locating the plug to close the molten metal flow path, at least partially evacuating the casting chamber, pouring a volume of molten metal into the tundish sufficient to provide the casting, whereby at least the sealing part of the plug melts to permit molten metal to flow along the flow path into the casting chamber.
US08302652B2
A kit for attaching a decorative shutter cover to an associated window shutter is disclosed. The kit comprises a shutter cover which covers a portion or a substantial portion of the window shutter. The kit may further include an attachment member that attaches to the top of the window shutter. The top of the shutter cover and the attachment member can connect to each other. The kit may further comprise a securing member for securing the bottom of the shutter cover to the window shutter. The shutter cover may include a graphic display thereon, such as decorative or artistic representations. Additional interchangeable shutter covers may also be provided with the same or different graphic displays depicted thereon.
US08302650B2
The present invention refers to a device (1) for gluing the final edge (4a) of a log of band-shaped material (4), comprising a rolling plane (2) for feeding a log (3) that has at least a through opening (7) for the application of a glue (8) on the log (3) itself. The device comprises a blade (9) provided for the application of the glue (8) on the log (3). The application blade (9) is mobile between a first position, in which it is spaced from the opening (7), and a second position, in which it is disposed close to the through opening (7). The device (1) comprises a pressure container (10) for housing the glue (8) to be fed to the blade (9). The container (10) has a slot (12) facing towards, and close to an application edge (9a) of the blade (9) when the latter is in the first position. The slot (12) defines an expulsion direction of the glue (8), transversal to the handling direction (DM) of the blade (9) so that the glue (8) being expelled deposits on the application edge (9a) according to a predefined quantity.
US08302648B2
A pneumatic tire comprising an air permeation preventive layer comprising a film of a thermoplastic resin composition containing a polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, to which a protective film of a rubber composition containing an ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is, directly or via an adhesive, placed adjacent thereto, as one layer in at least one side thereof, whereby both a further reduction in the air leakage rate of the pneumatic tire and a good durability can be achieved and furthermore a reduction in the weight of the tire can be achieved.
US08302638B2
An electronically operated fuel nozzle includes a solenoid valve for dispensing fuel, an electronic board for operating the solenoid valve, electric accumulator means for electrically powering the solenoid valve and the electronic board. The solenoid valve includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected to the fuel-dispensing pipe to dispense a full flow of fuel for refueling, and a secondary channel integrated in the solenoid valve for dispensing a lower quantity of fuel for topping up, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are opened by an electromagnetic operating device. The secondary channel is opened by another electromagnetic operating device.
US08302637B2
A partial pressure of oxidizing gas in an opened state FOUP fixed in a FIMS system is reduced when the FOUP is closed. Purge gas supply nozzles are placed outside of two vertical sides of an opening portion (10) within the FIMS. A curtain nozzle is additionally installed which can form a gas curtain from purge gas above the top side of the opening portion (10). When a pod (2) is closed with a lid (4), a door opening/closing mechanism keeps the lid (4) at a given angle with respect to the flowing direction of curtain gas for a given period of time, and hence purge gas supplied to the gas curtain is additionally put into use for the purging of the interior of the pod by the lid 4.
US08302631B2
A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system including a valve housing defining a plurality of compartments and a piston assembly associated with each of the compartments. Each of the piston assemblies is configured to be independently movable in each of the compartments. The control valve assembly also includes a gearbox that is associated with the housing and includes a plurality of cams driven by a motor, where each of the cams is configured to drive a corresponding one of the piston assemblies.
US08302629B2
A valve unit 1 includes a first valve body 14 which is slidable in a valve housing 11 and a second valve body 13 which is slidable with respect to the first valve body 14, and the valve housing 11 has a first passage 11a and a second passage 11b in both of which pressure fluid flows to slide the second valve body 13, a pump port 11c, a tank port 11e, a first cylinder port 11d, and a second cylinder port 11f. A first state 1a, a third state 1c, a second state 1b, and a fourth state 1d are realized by a combination of a position of the first valve body 14 after sliding and a position of the second valve body 13 after sliding with respect to the first valve body 14.
US08302620B2
A water inlet/outlet assembly for a faucet includes a fore-injection molding dividing unit, a post-injection molding connecting unit and at least one supply pipe. The fore-injection molding dividing unit includes at least one water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. The water inlet pipe has at least one catch portion, at least one limit opening and at least one retaining slot. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the water inlet pipe and is combined with the catch portion, the limit opening and the retaining slot to enhance combination strength between the post-injection molding connecting unit and the fore-injection molding dividing unit. The supply pipe has at least one axial breach, at least one mortise and two journals. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the supply pipe and is combined with the axial breach, the mortise and the journals.
US08302615B2
Applicator for a cosmetic product on the skin, intended to be mounted on the body of a container containing the product to be applied, comprising a support strip, means of application borne by the support strip, and fastening means by clipping of said support strip along the body of the container, in such a way that this container forms a handle for using the applicator.
US08302610B1
A spine immobilizer with removable straps for efficiently providing removable straps upon a spine immobilizer for cleaning, maintenance, replacement, or inspection purposes. The spine immobilizer generally includes an immobilizer panel comprised of a semi-rigid structure, wherein the immobilizer panel has a central support, first wings laterally extending from a first end of the central support, and second wings laterally extending from a second end of the central support, a plurality of connectors extending from a back side of the immobilization panel along the first wings and the second wings, and a plurality of strap assemblies removably connected to the plurality of connectors. The plurality of strap assemblies are adapted to removably connect to a correlating strap assembly via a buckle-connector structure and join the first wings and join the second wings of the immobilization panel about a patient.
US08302609B2
A mouth appliance for maintaining effective airflow in a wearer's airway comprises a frame formed to engage the wearer's upper and lower teeth to retain the frame in a selected position in the wearer's mouth in accord with the wearer's natural bite. A tongue depressor is mounted to the frame and formed to extend to a rear portion of the wearer's throat and exert pressure directly on the tongue in the area of the wearer's soft palate, thereby facilitating comfort and ease in occasional swallowing, while providing airflow effectiveness to prevent the wearer from snoring and experiencing sleep apnea.
US08302604B2
A cockpit oxygen mask includes a mask body, an oxygen inhalation valve, a mixed air inhalation valve, an exhalation valve as well as a control device. At least the oxygen inhalation valve is signal-connected to the control device. The oxygen inhalation valve is designed as an electromagnetically actuatable valve, and includes at least one through flow path which may be closed by a magnetically movable valve body, wherein the through flow path is limited by a magnetizable wall, and wherein the wall includes at least one discontinuous location which deforms a magnetic field produced in the wall.
US08302602B2
A method for managing pressure in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient via a patient connection system is provided. The method may include receiving one or more first pressure sensor signals from a first pressure sensor, and analyzing the one or more first pressure sensor signals. Based at least on the analysis of the one or more first pressure sensor signals, either the first pressure sensor or the second pressure sensor may be selected for use in controlling the breathing assistance provided to the patient, and the breathing assistance provided to the patient may be controlled based at least on signals from the selected pressure sensor.
US08302601B2
An inhaler for preparations in powder form, includes a first body (2), which is provided with an inhaling channel (3), and a second body (4), which is provided with at least one reservoir (6), which is open toward the outside and is preset to contain at least one dose of preparation in powder form. The first body (2) is associated with the second body (4) and can move with respect to the second body (4) between a first position, at which it closes the reservoir (6), and a second position, at which at least one connection is open between the reservoir (6) and the inhaling channel (3), making the dose of preparation in powder form available for inhaling.
US08302600B2
A method for providing battery security in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient is provided. A battery security system of the breathing assistance system receives battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system, and analyzes the received battery data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system. If the battery is determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is allowed to provide power to the breathing assistance system. If the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is prevented from providing power to the breathing assistance system.
US08302596B1
A matched glass-to-metal connecting device for use in a vacuum tube collector for a solar energy collecting apparatus is made of a glass envelope and a metal sleeve directly bonded to the glass envelope. The glass envelope is made of a glass having a composition, in percent by weight on the basis of oxide content, consisting essentially of B2O3, 19; Al2O3, 8; Na2O, 2; K2O2, 3; BaO, 3; LiF, 1; and balance of SiO2 and the metal sleeve consists of metal material number 1.3981 of DIN 17745. The glass envelope has a thermal expansion coefficient that deviates from the metal part's thermal expansion coefficient by no more than 4% in the temperature range from 25° C. to 350° C.
US08302595B2
A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
US08302590B2
A controllable launcher for propelling a payload through a predictable and repeatable trajectory to a desired height. The launcher has an energy source for propelling a carriage and a piston in substantially opposing directions and a controller for controlling the trajectory of the propelled payload to enable the payload to land gently at a safe impact distance from the edge of a destination structure.
US08302584B1
A rail gun launcher consists of an armature where a magnetic core with a multiple turn conductive coil, two parallel conductive rails on which terminals of the coil contact and slide, and a non-magnetic conductive barrel enclosing the rails and the armature. The coil partially encloses the magnetic core to shift magnetic equilibrium. When an AC power source is connected to the rails, the coil generates a source magnetism around the coil as well as an induced magnetism on the conductive barrel in an opposite direction through the magnetic core. The source magnetism and the induced magnetism are shifted in magnetic equilibrium and in opposite direction thereby repelling the armature forward. This repulsive force travels with the armature and is continuous from breech to muzzle and propels the armature forward to a high velocity without control circuitry or commutation.
US08302580B2
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
US08302579B2
A chain saw as a portable work machine includes: a body in which an engine is accommodated; a carburetor accommodated in a top handle for generating air-fuel mixture to be supplied to the engine; an air cleaner provided on a lateral side of the body; and an intake communication passage that intercommunicates between the air cleaner and the carburetor.
US08302578B2
A method and an engine are disclosed for determining an amount of fuel in the engine oil. Such information can be used to recommend an oil change and to estimate a fraction of biodiesel in the fuel supplied to the engine. According to one embodiment, actual oil volume in the oil pan is based on a signal from a level sensor in the oil and a theoretical oil volume is determined based on initial oil volume and fuel entering the oil in the oil pan, fuel leaving the oil pan due to evaporation, and oil being consumed in the combustion chamber. Based on the difference between the actual and theoretical oil volumes, a proportion of biodiesel can be determined and transmitted to an engine control system.
US08302570B2
An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.
US08302566B2
Disclosed are an instantaneous boiler and a double pipe heat exchanger for the instantaneous boiler supplying heating water and hot water, which can obtain hot water output larger than heating water output, simultaneously use the heating water and the hot water, and have a simple piping structure. The heat exchanger includes: an outer pipe used for a hot water pathway, to which combustion heat is directly transferred from a burner in a combustion chamber; and an inner pipe used for a heating water pathway and extending through the outer pipe. The boiler includes: a heat exchanger including an outer pipe used for hot water pathway, to which combustion heat is directly transferred from a burner in a combustion chamber, and an inner pipe used for heating water pathway, which extends through the outer pipe; a heating water supply pipe connected to the inner pipe of the heat exchanger; a heating water line connected to the heating water supply pipe; and a heating water returning pipe connected to the inner pipe, wherein the inner pipe of the heat exchanger, the heating water supply pipe, the heating water line, and the heating water returning pipe are connected to one another in series.
US08302556B2
Provided is a coating and developing apparatus composed of an assembly of plural unit blocks. A first unit-block stack and a second unit-block stack are arranged at different positions with respect to front-and-rear direction. Unit blocks for development, each of which comprises plural processing units including a developing unit that performs developing process after exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged at the lowermost level. Unit blocks for application, or coating, each of which comprises plural processing units including a coating unit that performs application process before exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged above the unit blocks for development. Unit blocks for application are arranged in both the first and second unit-block stacks. Unit blocks for application which a wafer goes through are determined depending on the layering positional relationship between an antireflective film and a resist film. An exposed wafer goes only through the unit block for development without going through any one of the unit blocks for application.
US08302553B2
An instrument panel having at least one needle indicator comprising a dial of indicating characters supported by a first faceplate, an indicating needle and a motor for rotating the needle along the dial. The instrument panel includes a second faceplate for supporting other indicating characters, such that the indicating needle is configured to lie between the two faceplates. The faceplates are screen-printed flat before being shaped in relief.
US08302551B2
The foldable cone includes first and second side panels that are tapered in the upward direction, each side panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, a lower edge, an upper edge, and opposing side edges. The cone further includes base panel having a folding seam extending along the central portion thereof in a direction generally parallel to the lower edges of the side panels, wherein the base panel folds along the folding seam. The first and second side panels are secured together at a predetermined location to define concave first and second side panels when the base panel is unfolded.
US08302548B2
The present invention provides a sewing machine that can perform zigzag sewing a cylindrical sewn article.A sewing machine 1 includes an approximately cylindrical guide member 11 that guides a sewn article A, a sewing needle 99 that sews the cylindrical sewn article A, a holding member 71 that holds the sewing needle 99 approximately vertically, a vertical hook 21 provided in the guide member 11 so that the direction of rotation is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction C of the guide member 11 and that catches the upper thread loop of the sewing needle 99, a rotary shaft 22 that rotates the vertical hook 21, and an operating means 50 that moves the holding member 71 and the rotary shaft 22 reciprocatingly at approximately the same time.
US08302544B2
To provide a burner structure that is capable of efficiently cooling a nozzle main body with a small amount of air, and takes an efficient countermeasure against a falling clinker or radiation heat. The burner structure includes: a pulverized coal-air mixture path provided in a burner central portion and supplying a mixture of a fuel and a primary air; a secondary air path provided around the pulverized coal-air mixture path and supplying a secondary air; a cooling air path provided around or above and below the secondary air path and supplying a cooling air; a nozzle main body attached to furnace-side end portions of the pulverized coal-air mixture path and the secondary air path in a tiltable form and provided with a flame holder at its tip end; and a cooling air nozzle attached to a furnace-side end portion of the cooling air path in a tiltable form.
US08302538B2
A method of shipping automobiles, a railcar for shipping automobiles, and a method of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles. The method comprises, among other steps, determining a distribution of vehicle heights for passenger cars sold within a predetermined area and a predetermined time period; assessing weight, bottom clearance, length, width and Cg for the passenger cars; and transporting the passenger cars on a plurality of single-unit tri-level auto rack railcars, each comprising a flat car and a fixed-deck rack built on the flat car. Each of the railcars has (a) three decks which are fixed along their entire lengths and which are capable of transporting in commercial rail service over 90% of passenger cars manufactured in the predetermined area and predetermined time period with a load factor of at least 15 with minimum vertical clearances of between 64 and 66 in. to accommodate the vehicle heights of the passenger cars, while also accommodating at least 3 in. of vertical displacement of the vehicles on their suspension systems on all three decks, and (b) substantially horizontal deck configurations to meet ground clearance requirements for the passenger cars on all 3 decks.
US08302533B2
A protection device comprises a covering including at least a layer of ballistics material, and a layer of an electromagnetic screening material.
US08302525B2
A hydraulic stepless transmission having increased layout freedom and a compact structure with the functions of conventional hydraulic stepless transmission retained and having increased easiness of production. In the hydraulic stepless transmission, the movable swash plate (input side swash plate) of a variable displacement plunger hydraulic pump or motor is tilted by a hydraulic servo mechanism. The hydraulic servo mechanism has a power piston connected to one end of the input side swash plate for tilting the swash plate, a servo spool (13) placed normal to the direction of sliding of the power piston and substantially parallel to the input side swash plate, and a feedback link for connecting the servo spool and the input side swash plate.
US08302519B2
A power tool includes an electric motor, a motor housing in which the electric motor is at least partially positioned, a blade drivably coupled to the motor for rotation about a first axis, and a blade housing in which the blade is at least partially positioned. The blade and the blade housing are pivotably coupled to the motor housing about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis.
US08302514B2
A device for processing a pipe has a bearing plate slidably mounted on a support plate. A drive roller, engageable with an inner surface of a pipe, is mounted on the bearing plate and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Support rollers, mounted on the support plate, engage and support the pipe against the drive roller. Springs are positioned in contact with the support plate and the bearing plate and bias the drive roller into engagement with the pipe. Variations in pipe wall thickness are compensated for by sliding motion of the bearing plate relatively to the support plate as the drive roller rotates and the pipe and the device move relatively to one another.
US08302506B2
A power transmission device includes: a main case having an inside storing an oil; a drum carrying up the oil; and a partition wall partitioning the inside of the main case into a transmission gear housing containing the drum and a catch tank. An inner wall of the main case includes a down-extending portion extending down toward a feed opening of the catch tank, and extending toward the drum rather than along a vertical plane extending in the vertical direction as the down-extending portion extends downward, and a receding portion bordering on the down-extending portion and extending away from the drum from a bordering point where the receding portion borders on the down-extending portion.
US08302503B2
The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle with a steering spindle pivotably supported by a jacket unit and a securement unit rigidly securable on the motor vehicle and bearing the jacket unit. The securement unit includes a base section, at least one side jaw extending next to the jacket unit, and at least first and second securement plates with bolt openings for the securement of the securement unit on the motor vehicle by means of securement bolts. The first and second securement plates are each inclined with respect to the at least one side jaw by an angle in the range between 15° and 75°, and preferably between 30° and 60°.
US08302486B2
A reinforced panel (1) comprising: a composite skin (2); a plurality of stringers (3, 4) bonded to the skin; and one or more strain actuators (5), each positioned between an adjacent pair of stringers. A load is applied to the panel in the plane of the skin, and a local strain is applied to the skin by the strain actuators when the compressive load exceeds a predetermined threshold. This causes the skin to buckle and reduce interface stresses between the skin and the stringers.
US08302481B2
A vibration excitator including a main body, a stinger which is adapted to move relative to the main body, in a particular working direction, an actuator coupled to the main body and the stinger, wherein the stinger has a first end that is coupled to the main body, and an opposite second end that is intended for attachment to an object to be examined, wherein the stinger has an elastic center point, wherein the main body has a center of gravity, and wherein L1=L3 applies, wherein L1 is the distance between the elastic center point and the second stinger end, measured along the said working direction, and wherein L3 is the distance between the center of gravity and the second stinger end, measured along the said working direction.
US08302471B2
A flow meter includes a heater for heating a fluid flow along a membrane. A temperature difference is measured between and upstream point and a downstream point. There are additionally provided one or more strips of material having a relatively high heat conductivity. Strips that are substantially perpendicular to the flow direction direct heat from the heater to the sides of the membrane, causing a large proportion of the heat that would otherwise drive heat flows to be dispersed and decreases inaccuracies or bias in the measured flow rate. Strips of material that are provided parallel to the flow direction act to direct heat from the heater along the direction of flow. This increases the proportion of heat that flows along this axis and guides the flow and hence reduces the proportion of heat available to drive heat flows that cause inaccuracies and bias in the measured flow rates.
US08302468B2
An adjustable chassis dynamometer includes a fixed roller, an adjustable roller that moves with respect to the fixed roller, and at least one sensor that detects a rotational speed of the fixed or adjustable roller. A belt drive synchronizes rotation of the rollers. The belt drive includes a fixed pulley associated with the fixed roller, an adjustable pulley associated with the adjustable roller, and a tensioner pulley. A belt is provided with an inner surface and an outer surface, and surrounding the fixed, adjustable, and tensioner pulleys, such that each pulley engages the belt's inner surface. The belt drive further includes an idler pulley that moves with the adjustable pulley, is located outside of the belt, and engages the belt's outer surface.
US08302466B2
An apparatus and method for detecting a cam phase of an engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism able to vary a rotating phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the engine, which apparatus and method can detect the rotating phase in a short cycle. There is provided a cam angle sensor having a configuration of outputting a cam angle signal at each time when the camshaft rotates by a unit angle. At the same time, by lengthening an output cycle of the cam angle signal on a part thereof or by using a second cam angle sensor able to detect a reference cam angle position, a cam angle position to which individual cam angle signal corresponds is detected. Then, the rotating phase of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft can be detected, based on the detection result of the cam angle position based on the cam angle signal.
US08302464B2
There is provided an automatic sequential sampler for roof-top runoff of rainwater, which comprises: a sensing part, a controlling part and a sampling part, and more particularly, which takes samples of rainwater, at regular intervals, by sensing whether it rains and controlling the rotation and stop of a sample bottle shelf in the sampling part, using a timer and a counter.
US08302458B2
A portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water comprising a miniature preconcentrator and a SAW detector, the latter being characterized by a nanoporous carbon coating that provides improved response compared to prior art polymer coatings, particularly when detecting low concentrations of trihalomethane chemicals, such as chloroform and bromoform.
US08302457B2
A sensor system for detecting a collision between first and second parts moving relative to each other. The sensor system comprises at least one sensor for detecting a collision between the first and second parts, the sensor comprising first and second elongate conductive elements and a non-conducting spacing element partially extending between the first and second elongate conductive elements to separate the conductive elements from each other and to define spaced, adjacent portions of the conductive elements. A signal transmitting wire is in communication with each elongate conductive element. A housing retains the sensor for mounting in a region between the first and second parts such that any collision between the parts will tend to deform the spaced, adjacent portions of the conductive elements into contact with each other at the point of collision to complete a circuit via the signal transmitting wires to indicate the collision has occurred. In a preferred arrangement the moving parts are part of a wood processing unit, and the signal is used to shutdown the unit to prevent damage. The sensor and sensory system described offer improved reliability as compared to previous designs.
US08302447B2
A device and method are provided for forging sleeve-shaped parts such as pistons. The device includes a form with: an upper form mandrel (C); an outer form ring (A); a lower form mandrel (B); an ejector device with an upper ejector (G) for ejection through the upper form mandrel (C); a lower ejector (H) for ejection through the lower form mandrel (B). Optional support devices for the form include a lower reinforcement ring (D) for the lower region of the outer form ring (A), a form mandrel housing (F) for the upper region of the outer form ring (A), and a clamping base (E) to support the lower form mandrel (B), by means of which the lower ejector (H) may be operated. The device and method advantageously facilitates the manufacture of pistons having a long skirt length and a minimal wall thickness.
US08302444B2
According to the invention, folding a sheet edge at high folding speed with no faults may be achieved, wherein a conically contoured folding roller is used with an inclined attitude to the direction of movement thereof, firstly engaging the edge of the sheet for folding with the front region of the largest diameter thereof and then continuously folding the edge of the sheet until contact is made with the limiting part of the sheet component continuously over the conical region until the region of the smallest diameter thereof is reached.
US08302442B2
A method of incrementally forming a workpiece. The method includes determining a desired workpiece geometry, generating a tool path in which a feature is formed outwardly from a point that is disposed a maximum distance from a reference position, and incrementally forming the workpiece.
US08302433B2
A damper including a cylinder, a piston inserted in the cylinder, a movable member disposed in the piston to be movable in the cylinder in a length direction of the cylinder, and a weight sensor mounted on an inner surface of the cylinder, facing an end of the piston, to perceive weight loaded on the piston through contact with the movable member. When applied to a washing machine, the damper is capable of perceiving accurate weight of the laundry supplied in the washing machine.
