US08344949B2
A method of determining the location of a mobile device is provided. The method receives a signal with a known radio transmission pattern at the mobile device from each of several transmitting devices. The method correlates each received signal with a corresponding signal that has a same known radio transmission pattern to determine the time the signal traveled between the corresponding transmitting device and the mobile device. The method determines the location of the mobile device based on the time the signal travelled between the corresponding transmitting device and the mobile device. In some embodiments, determining the location of the mobile device does not require calculating a distance between the mobile device and any of the transmitting devices. In some embodiments determining the location of the mobile device includes solving a function that is dependent on the time the signals traveled between each corresponding transmitting device and the mobile device.
US08344947B2
The location of a receiver is determined by receiving respective ranging signals from each of a plurality of transmitters at known locations. The ranging signals are cross-correlated with respective model signals to provide respective cross-correlation functions. For cross correlation functions that are determined to include multipath noise, the multipath noise is estimated and removed. Respective delays of the cross-correlation functions are estimated and the location of the receiver is inferred from the delays.
US08344934B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system including a receiver configured to receive a plurality of reflected radar pulses corresponding to a plurality of radar transmission pulses having been reflected from a target region. A processing controller divides the target region into a plurality of tiles at a highest data layer and each of the plurality of tiles into a plurality of sub-tiles corresponding to one of a plurality of data layers and iteratively processes a portion of pulse data corresponding to a given tile associated with a higher data layer to generate pulse data corresponding to a given sub-tile in a lower data layer. An image processor is configured to generate a radar image of the target region based on the pulse data corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-tiles associated with a lowest data layer of the plurality of data layers.
US08344932B2
A rectangular RF anechoic chamber, where the material or absorbing material attached to its feeding wall has a homogeneous property on X-Y plane, i.e. the plane parallel to the feeding wall. The MA(s) are mounted on the feeding wall from which the material with a homogeneous property will reduce interferences from the fields which produce scattered fields from the wall; and may produce a quiet zone with significantly improved quality, and specially at low frequency band. Quiet zone quality means the field uniformity in the test zone.
US08344930B2
A successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a first capacitor array, a first input capacitor, a first switch module, a second capacitor array, a second input capacitor, a second switch module, a comparator and a SAR controller. The SAR ADC is operated under sampling phases and amplifying phases many times to perform amplifying operations and ADC operations upon input signals to generate digital output data. In addition, because the SAR ADC has both an amplification function and an ADC function, a circuit utilizing the SAR ADC does not require an additional active PGA, and a power consumption of the circuit is decreased.
US08344923B1
A digital signal power amplification apparatus with multiple digital amplification cells connected in series, each amplification cell processing a separate bit of the digital signal. The apparatus additively combines the output from each amplifier into a single amplified signal without the use of separate signal combining circuitry. The apparatus has high linearity, high efficiency, high bandwidth and high power.
US08344919B2
A processing system including a first processing module and a second processing module is disclosed. The first processing module transforms and amplifies a grounded signal to generate a first processed signal and transforms and amplifies a predetermined signal to generate a second processed signal. The second processing module transforms the first processed signal to a first digital code according to a first reference voltage group and transforms the second processed signal to a second digital code according to a second reference voltage group. The second processing module adjusts a third reference voltage group according to the first and the second digital codes, and during a normal mode, the second processing module generates a third digital code according to the adjusted third voltage group.
US08344916B2
Simplifying transmission in a distributed parallel computing system. The method includes: identifying at least one item in a data input to the parallel computing unit; creating a correspondence relation between the at least one item and indices thereof according to a simplification coding algorithm, where the average size of the indices is less than the average size of the at least one item; replacing the at least one item with the corresponding indices according to the correspondence relation; generating simplified intermediate results by the parallel computing unit based on the indices; and transmitting the simplified intermediate results. The invention also provides a system corresponding to the above method.
US08344913B2
An automatic emergency call is transmitted in the form of voice data which contain address information for the vehicle. The address information has been ascertained inside the vehicle by the emergency call device on the basis of a GPS position.
US08344909B2
A distributed individual vehicle information capture method for capturing individual vehicle data at traffic intersections and transmitting the data to a central station for storage and processing is provided. The method includes capturing individual vehicle information at a plurality of intersections (122) and transmitting the individual vehicle information from the intersections to a central station (124). Consequently, the individual vehicle information is available to be stored and processed by a device at the central station (126). Traffic intersection equipment for capturing individual vehicle data at traffic intersections and transmitting the data to a central station for storage and processing is also disclosed. The equipment includes a traffic detection device (159) for capturing individual vehicle data at an intersection (158) and a network connection to a central station (174). The traffic detection device (159) is operably configured to transmit to the central station (174) the individual vehicle information.
US08344908B2
Managing traffic signal preemption data accumulated at a plurality of intersections. In one approach a method includes reading the preemption data stored at each of the intersections. The preemption data includes for each preemption request an emitter code, and a date and a time the preemption request was submitted. The preemption data read from the intersections are stored in a database, and each emitter code is associated with a vehicle name in the database. Selected preemption data and associated vehicle names are read from the database in response to user input, and the selected preemption data and associated vehicle names are displayed. The database further stores data identifying the intersection from which the preemption data was read.
US08344907B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation can include acquiring imagery of multiple vehicles traveling on a roadway between two locations and individually identifying the different vehicles in the imagery. An elapsed time of travel can be determined for the individually identified vehicles between the two locations and a rate of travel can be computed for each of the individually identified different vehicles based upon the elapsed time of travel. Thereafter, the rate of travel for at least one of the individually identified different vehicles can be broadcast to a subscriber for at least one of the two locations.
US08344904B2
A method of transmitting power and/or data between downhole equipment and a surface through a circuit including an alternating current (AC) powered motor and its associated power cable for powering the downhole equipment is disclosed, where the data is transmitted at frequencies outside the normal operating ranges that are thought acceptable. Associated circuitry and apparatus for performing the method are disclosed.
US08344901B2
A method and handheld electronic device for detecting and providing notification of a device drop are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for providing notification of a device drop on an electronic device having a processor coupled to a memory and an accelerometer, the method comprising: receiving an input from the accelerometer; and issuing an alert when the input indicates a freefall event and at least one secondary indication of a device drop exists.
US08344899B2
Techniques are provided for alerting a person to check a medical device while conserving battery power. The medical device initiates a status alert if a readiness condition of the medical device is no longer being met. The status alert includes notification periods during which an audible sound is emitted alternating with off periods during which substantially no audible sound is emitted. The audible sounds may include certain tones or at least one spoken word. At least one of the duration of successive notification periods or the duration of successive off periods may be varied. In this manner, the medical device may provide audible sound at different times during the day in an attempt to get the attention of a person. In addition, the medical device may sense an activity to determine when to provide the audible sound.
US08344896B2
The invention concerns a process for detecting scale deposit in the liquid supply means of a water pump driven machine comprising at least a water tank, a pump and a heating means, where water is pumped from the water tank and fed to the heating means, and where the pump is energized by a controller by providing the pump with an energizing signal to provide an intended water flow rate F, wherein the actual water flow rate f is measured and the discrepancy Δ between the actual water flow rate f and the intended water flow rate F is directly and/or indirectly compared to an operating instruction related to scale deposit.
US08344895B2
There are provided a photoelectric sensor and a photoelectric sensor system in which received light quantities of a plurality of photoelectric sensors are displayed in an integrated manner, and slight variation in the received light quantity that has nothing to do with a detected condition of a workpiece is ignored and a photoelectric sensor with abnormity is easily found out. Upon acceptance of an instruction to execute scaled display by a control unit of a photoelectric sensor, a scaling adjustment ratio is calculated by assigning the received light quantity to a target value set to be greater than a display upper limit while executing the scaled display. A received light quantity that is subsequently obtained is scaled based on the calculated scaling adjustment ratio to obtain a received light quantity after the scaling.
US08344893B1
A hygiene assurance system utilizing a plurality of individual sensors having a correlating fixture or entrance, a camera for identifying the user and a plurality of visual and audible signals to ensure a user of a bathroom facility washes ones hands for at least 16 seconds to complete a satisfactory hand washing operation before leaving the area. Additionally the present invention provides sensors having individual controls for what predetermined parameters must be met to activate said sensor.
US08344891B2
A security hard tag, uses an attachment clip to couple to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected and which can only be released from the article by use of an authorized detacher that is inserted into the security hard tag. The attachment clip may include various types of locking mechanisms on its two ends, one end which is permanently secured within the security hard tag housing and the other end which is releasably secured within the housing. Before being releasably secured within the housing, the one end is inserted through or around a portion of an article, or through a security tag loop attached to the article, and then that end is locked into the housing. The detacher uses a cam, either located on the detacher itself or positioned within the security hard tag housing, to interact with the one end of the attachment clip to release the locked end. The housing also includes a security element that may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF), benefit denial (e.g., ink-filled or dye-filled capsules) or any combination thereof. A preferred embodiment of the security hard tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism. The non-ferrous composition of the security hard tag, along with the attachment clip design, forms a security hard tag that is strong and lightweight, thereby providing a low impact presentation of a security hard tag with an article.
US08344886B2
An RFID tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area.
US08344877B2
A safety system for providing early warning notifications to an authorized track worker performing official duties along a rail road network is disclosed herein. The safety system determines the position of the authorized worker and determines an estimated time to collision between the authorized track worker and an approaching rail vehicle. The result of the safety system is that the track worker has enough time and sufficiently accurate warning that will enable the track worker to move to a point of safety so as to remain unharmed by the approaching rail vehicle.
US08344874B2
A port that supplies power in accordance with a standard is equipped with a variable power supply and a power line communications module. Power line signals on the power conductors are used to allow a port controller to negotiate power requirements with peripheral devices and the power supply is adjusted accordingly. If the peripheral device does not support such negotiation, power is delivered in accordance with the standard. The port may be a data communications port that supplies power and data in accordance with a standard.
US08344871B2
A vehicular integrated light assembly comprises a first and second pluralities of LEDs arranged on a circuit board, and a controller electrically coupled to the first and second pluralities of LEDs. The light assembly further comprises a housing and at a lens hermetically sealing the circuit board and first and second pluralities of LEDs within the housing. The controller is operable to operate in a warning light mode in which the first plurality of LEDs emit a bright light in a first predetermined color and flash in a first predetermined sequence, and the second plurality of LEDs emit a bright light in a second predetermined color and flash in an alternating sequence from the first predetermined sequence. The controller is further operable to transition to a scene light mode in which the second plurality of LEDs emit a steady bright light in the second predetermined color to illuminate the surroundings.
US08344870B2
In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a dashboard including one or more touchscreen displays; a wireless network interface; and multiple icons for presentation by one or more of the touchscreen displays to a user in the vehicle. Each of one or more of the icons is configurable by the user through tactile interaction with the icon via one or more of the touchscreen displays. Each of the icons when presented to the user makes accessible to the user through one or more of the touchscreen displays particular functionality. The vehicle includes software associated with the icons that is operable to render the icons on the touchscreen displays and implement their functionality.
US08344868B2
An adaptive tire utilizing active material actuation to sense and/or modify an excessive and/or low inflation pressure, so as to autonomously maintain proper inflation pressure.
US08344859B2
A method of changing an association of a remote control device from a first electronic device to a second electronic device is presented. In the method, a command for an electronic device is generated and transmitted by the remote control device. At this point, the remote control device is associated with the first electronic device to control the first electronic device, and the remote control device is not associated with the second electronic device. If an acknowledgment of the command is not received, a request to associate the remote control device with another electronic device is transmitted. A reply to the request is then received from the second electronic device. In response to the reply, the remote control device is disassociated from the first electronic device and associated with the second electronic device.
US08344858B2
A system for and method of tracking and locating RFID tags, including where at least one steerable phase array antenna may locate the tags associated with items in three dimensions in real time, through the use of a beam steering unit and controller therewith to control the direction of a beam launched by the at least one steerable phase array antenna.
US08344849B2
Method for assuring that the operator of a vehicle is an authorized driver, the method including utilizing an onboard, multi-mode driver identification system to ascertain whether an operator is an authorized driver. A first driver identification procedure is performed on a present operator of the vehicle and determining whether the present operator is an authorized or unauthorized driver of the vehicle. A second driver identification procedure is performed on the present operator of the vehicle and determining whether the present operator is an authorized or unauthorized driver of the vehicle, wherein the first and second driver identification procedures are performed with a time interval therebetween, the time interval being dependent upon the nature of the work being performed by the operator. A remedial measure is exercised to avert potentially negative impact when the present operator of the vehicle is determined to be an unauthorized driver based upon at least one of the performed identification procedures.
US08344848B2
The invention relates to methods and appropriate devices for safely, unequivocally and exclusively, temporarily assigning the command authority of an operator (1) to a controllable technical system (60) using a mobile control device (2) which is technically suitable for periodically controlling a plurality of controllable technical systems (60), which is equipped as standard with safety switch elements (38, 39) such as an emergency stop switch, ok key and operating mode selection switches and for a data coupling with the controllable technical system (60) in spite of having only normal transmission means (6) or network technologies without any particular features specific to safety function.
US08344842B1
An vertical PCB inductive device is adapted to be surface mount soldered to a substrate. The inductive device may comprise a transformer having a plurality of windings or one or more discrete inductive devices. The inductive device, being amenable to volume production, may also provide cost savings by reducing the number of layers and the PCB area otherwise required by planar magnetics in a power converter. A power converter may be fashioned to be vertically oriented and surface mount soldered to a substrate such as a customer PCB.
US08344837B2
In a solenoid apparatus, first and second cylindrical holding parts respectively have first and second opening parts. One flange part is provided with first and second notch portions. In an exciting coil, one line end portion is held by the first cylindrical holding part, and is bent immediately after the one line end portion is pulled from the first notch portion to the inside of the flange part. A line member is wound around a winding drum part toward the other side in the circumferential direction opposed to the opening direction of the first opening part and is wound a predetermined number of turns. Thereafter, the other line end portion is bent in the axial direction immediately in front of the second notch portion and is pulled out from the second notch portion to the outside of the flange part, and is then held by the second cylindrical holding part.
US08344836B2
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasable attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
US08344827B2
A phase shifter for reducing a loss by friction, etc by combining a rotation member with a guide member is disclosed. The phase shifter includes a rotation member, a first rotation axis member combined with the rotation member in a direction crossing over the rotation member, a first guide member combined with the first rotation axis member, and configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the first rotation axis member, and a first power delivering member configured to connect at least one of the rotation member and the first rotation axis member to the first guide member.
US08344815B2
In a surface acoustic wave resonator in which an IDT having electrode fingers for exciting surface acoustic waves is formed on a crystal substrate, the line occupying ratio causing the maximum electromechanical coupling coefficient and the line occupying ratio causing the maximum reflection of the surface acoustic waves in the IDT are different from each other, the center of the IDT has the line occupying ratio causing an increase in electromechanical coupling coefficient in comparison with the edges of the IDT, and the edges of the IDT have the line occupying ratio causing an increase in reflection of the surface acoustic waves in comparison with the center of the IDT.
US08344813B2
A systems and methods for providing phase lock conditions detection, such as a quality of phase lock and loss of lock detection, are described herein. One exemplary method comprises detecting an output frequency, comparing the output frequency with a first reference signal, providing a first signal and a second signal as a function of the output frequency and first reference signal comparison, receiving a predetermined threshold from a second reference signal, monitoring a deviation of the first and second signals from the predetermined threshold, generating a third signal as a function of the deviation, comparing the third signal to a window threshold wherein the window threshold is set based on a predetermined loop variable, generating a fourth signal a function of the third signal and the window threshold comparison, and providing an alarm based on the fourth signal.
US08344808B2
Embodiments are directed to capacitance compensation via a compensation device coupled to a gain device to compensate for a capacitance change occurring due to an input signal change, along with a controller coupled to the compensation device to receive the input signal and to control an amount of compensation based on the input signal. In some embodiments, banks may be formed of multiple compensation devices, where each of the banks has a different size and is coupled to receive a different set of bias voltages.
US08344806B1
A power amplifier using a drain (collector) power control loop in which the feedback signal is an estimated output power level computed with a linear summation of the output sensed voltage and current. Both RF and baseband voltage and current sensing are possible, and voltage-mode or current-mode signal processing are feasible. This control loop technique is applicable to any means of drain power control circuits such as: supply regulators, DC-DC converters and others. Voltage error amplifiers can be used in conjunction with voltage feedback network, while current error amplifiers can be used with current feedback networks. Regulator sharing between different bands may be used as an area and cost reduction solution. The linear voltage and current summation driven power control technique can be also applied to the gate (base) power control scheme. Similarly, voltage-mode and current-mode signal processing can be implemented.
US08344804B2
A common-mode feedback circuit includes an amplifying circuit, a biasing circuit connected with the amplifying circuit, and a feedback loop connecting the amplifying circuit with the biasing circuit. The feedback loop includes a first field effect transistor M1, a eighth field effect transistor M1B connected with the first field effect transistor M1, a tenth field effect transistor M2B and an eleventh field effect transistor MFB connecting the eighth field effect transistor M1B and the tenth field effect transistor M2B. The common-mode voltage value of the common-mode feedback circuit is adjusted by the eleventh field effect transistor MFB. The common-mode feedback circuit has the simple structure and is capable of achieving the common-mode feedback without the peripheral feedback circuit and the input reference voltage.
US08344803B2
A variable gain amplifier (VGA) disclosed herein includes an input current connector, an output current connector, a gain adjustment connector, scaled current mirrors copying the input current, means for steering the copied currents either to the current output or to another appropriate location based on the signal present at the gain adjustment connector.
US08344800B2
There is provided a repeating system for cancellation of a feedback interference signal, including: a PA (Power Amplifier) for power-amplifying an output signal; a feedback ICS (Interference Cancellation System) for canceling a feedback interference signal and detecting a residual error; a pre-distorter for compensating for an error of the PA by applying pre-distortion and compensating for the residual error by using information on the residual error detected by the feedback ICS to linearize the characteristic of the PA; and a control unit for controlling the feedback ICS and the pre-distorter.
US08344798B2
Embodiments of switched-capacitor gain stage circuits and methods of their operation are provided. The circuit includes an operational amplifier, parallel sampling capacitors, an offset storage capacitor coupled to an amplifier input, and multiple switches that are configurable to place the gain stage circuit in a sampling state, a gain state, and an output state. In the sampling state, the switches are configured so that a first charge component representing an input signal is stored on the sampling capacitors, and a second charge component representing an amplifier offset voltage is stored on the offset storage capacitor. In the gain state, the switches are configured so that a third charge component representing a finite gain of the amplifier is stored on the offset storage capacitor. In the output state, the switches are configured so that the first, second, and third charge components contribute to an output signal produced at the output node.
US08344797B2
Direct current (DC) offset in and audio driver can cause a constant drain on power even when there is no sound. Furthermore it can cause an audible pop when the audio driver is enabled. A scaled replica output stage can be employed to perform DC offset cancellation offline during a sampling phase. Once DC offset cancellation is achieved, the audio driver uses a full scale output stage during the operation phase.
US08344792B2
A circuit for generating a reference voltage includes a first reference voltage generating circuit disposed outside a chip and a second reference voltage generating circuit disposed inside the chip. The first and second reference voltage generating circuits output first and second reference voltages to first and second output terminals, respectively. The second reference voltage generating circuit includes at least one pull-up resistor and at least one pull-down resistor. The pull-up resistor is coupled between a first node where an internal power supply voltage is coupled and the second output terminal. The pull-down resistor is coupled between a second node and the second output terminal, wherein a voltage at the second node is relatively lower than a voltage at the first node. A third reference voltage is outputted from a node where the first output terminal is coupled to the second output terminal.
US08344777B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for improving steady state operation of a pulse width modulator during transient and soft start events are described herein. An apparatus can include a phase component configured to adaptively modify a pulse width of a first pulse width modulated (PWM) output signal based on a pulse width of a PWM input signal. Further, the apparatus can include a power stage component configured to source at least one of a voltage or a current to a load based on the first PWM output signal. In one example, the phase component can be configured to linearly extend the pulse width of the first PWM output signal based on the pulse width of the PWM input signal. In another example, the phase component can be configured to adaptively modify the pulse width of the first PWM output signal based on a predetermined maximum pulse width.
US08344775B2
A semiconductor device includes an on-die termination circuit, a clock input unit, a clock phase mixing unit, and a data input/output unit. The on-die termination circuit is configured to calibrate a resistance of a termination pad and output an impedance matching code. The clock input unit is configured to receive a data clock. The clock phase mixing unit is configured to receive the data clock through the clock input unit and a delayed data clock, which is generated by delaying the data clock by a predetermined time, mix a phase of the data clock and a phase of the delayed data clock at a ratio corresponding to the impedance matching code, and output a phase-mixed data clock. The data input/output unit is configured to input/output a data signal in response to the phase-mixed data clock.
US08344763B2
A driver circuit includes an output transistor circuit that includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type disposed between a supply voltage source and a reference voltage source, and that outputs an output signal from a connection node between the first transistor and the second transistor, a first pre-buffer circuit that drives a gate of the first transistor in response to an input signal, and a second pre-buffer circuit that drives a gate of the second transistor in response to the input signal.
US08344759B2
A track and hold circuit that includes a switch device and a capacitive hold device. The track and hold circuit includes a track-voltage generating device adapted to generate a control voltage based on a signal on an input terminal of the switch device and supply the control voltage to the switch device during track phases of the track and hold circuit. The control voltage provides a channel charge, which is the same for each track phase, in the switch device.
US08344752B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an impedance control signal generation block configured to transmit first impedance control signals and second impedance control signals through same signal lines at predetermined time intervals, and input/output blocks configured to separately receive the first impedance control signals and the second impedance control signals at corresponding time intervals and perform a data input/output operation based on set impedance.
US08344750B2
According to one embodiment, a surface-plasmon (SP) beam generated by an SP source and directed via an SP waveguide is applied to a gate node of a field-effect transistor (FET). The FET also has a source node and a drain node. In a representative configuration, the gate, source, and drain nodes are electrically biased to pass an electrical current between the source and drain nodes in a manner that makes the electrical current responsive to the intensity of the SP beam.
US08344748B2
A novel hybrid probe design is presented that comprises a torsion element and a bending element. These elements allow the probe to store the displacement energy as torsion or as bending. The novel hybrid probe comprises a probe base, a torsion element, a bending element, and a probe tip. The probe elastically deforms to absorb the displacement energy as the probe tip contacts the DUT contact pad. The bending element absorbs some of the displacement energy through bending. Because the torsion element and the bending element join at an angle between −90 degrees and 90 degrees, a portion of the displacement energy is transferred to the torsion element causing it to twist (torque). The torsion element can also bend to accommodate the storage of energy through torsion and bending. Also, adjusting the position of a pivot can be manipulated to alter the energy absorption characteristics of the probe. One or more additional angular elements may be added to change the energy absorption characteristics of the probe. And, the moment of inertia for the torsion and/or bending elements can by manipulated to achieve the desired probe characteristics. Other features include a various union angle interface edge shapes, pivot cutouts and buffers.
US08344744B2
An arrangement is provided for testing DUTs with a chuck that has a support surface for supporting of a DUT as well as for supplying the support surface with a defined potential, or for connecting the DUT. The arrangement further includes a positioning device for positioning the chuck as well as an electromagnetic shielding housing enclosing at least the chuck. Inside the housing and adjacent to the chuck, a signal preamplifier is arranged whose signal port facing the chuck is electrically connected with the support surface, wherein the signal preamplifier is moveable together with the chuck by the positioning device in a way that it holds its position constant relative to the chuck during positioning. The signal preamplifier is connected to a measurement unit outside of the housing via a measurement cable.
US08344738B2
A multilayer made up of a support member with first electrodes including a plurality of electrodes arranged in parallel to each other and the second electrodes including a plurality of electrodes that are arranged parallel to each other so as to cross the first electrodes. The multilayer also includes a protective layer (a front member) that is provided opposite one side of the support member and with which a predetermined position pointing member is brought into contact, and a reinforcing material (a rear member) provided opposite the other side of the support member. A gas layer (space) is provided between the first electrodes or the second electrodes and at least one of the support member, the protective layer (the front member), and the reinforcing material (the rear member), thereby blocking electrical coupling paths that increase electrostatic capacitance.
US08344731B2
This invention relates generally to detection devices having one or more small wells each surrounded by, or in close proximity to, an NMR micro coil, each well containing a liquid sample with magnetic nanoparticles that self-assemble or disperse in the presence of a target analyte, thereby altering the measured NMR properties of the liquid sample. The device may be used, for example, as a portable unit for point of care diagnosis and/or field use, or the device may be implanted for continuous or intermittent monitoring of one or more biological species of interest in a patient.
US08344729B2
An MRI apparatus includes an imaging means being provided with a means for generating magnetic fields respectively of a static magnetic field, a gradient magnetic field, and an RF magnetic field, and a means for receiving an echo signal generated from a subject, the imaging means being for measuring echo data associated with at least one measurement trajectory in k-space, while varying angles with respect to a coordinate axis in the k-space of the measurement trajectory, so as to collect at least one measured data for each of the angles; and an image reconstruction means for rearranging the measured data in the k-space and reconstructing an image; wherein, the image reconstruction means calculates a phase for correction based on standard data selected from the measured data for each of the angles, prior to rearranging the measured data in the k-space, and performs a phase correction as to the measured data, by using the phase for correction being calculated. With the procedure above, it is possible to reduce an artifact caused by the nonlinearity of the gradient magnetic field and/or inhomogeneities of the magnetic field, without extending the imaging time.
US08344727B2
An imaging system that uses a directed-energy device can include a directed-energy device configured to generate an excitation signal to impinge a region of interest of a target and excite elements therein and receive resonance signals emitted from the region of interest of the target after the excitation signal is terminated. The directed-energy device can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The imaging system can also include plural gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and configured to impress a polarizing magnetic field on a target and a communications interface.
US08344725B2
A device for nondestructive testing of a pipe made of ferromagnetic steel for detection of longitudinal, transverse or inclined flaws using magnetic or magnetic-induction test procedures is disclosed. The device includes a magnetizing yoke which transmits the magnetic flux contactless into the pipe and at least two magnetic-field-sensitive scanning probes having GMR sensors. The GMR sensors are combined into sensor groups in form of a sensor array and electrically connected in parallel. A single preamplifier connected to each sensor group in one-to-one correspondence. The device further includes an evaluation unit.
US08344724B2
Methods and apparatus for non-intrusive power monitoring and current measurement in a circuit breaker without modification of the breaker panel or the circuit breaker itself. In one example, an inductive pickup sensor senses current from the breaker face, an inductive link transmits power through a steel breaker panel door, and a passive balanced JFET modulator circuit modulates a carrier signal on the inductive link with information regarding the sensed current. A demodulated breaker current signal is available outside of the breaker panel door. The JFET modulator circuit does not require DC power to modulate the carrier signal with the information regarding the sensed current from the breaker. Such methods and apparatus may be interfaced with a spectral envelope load detection system that can monitor multiple loads from a central location.
US08344721B2
A method for locating sub-surface natural resources. The method utilizes lightning data to discern relatively likely locations for finding the sub-surface natural resources.
US08344716B2
Methods and systems, utilizing simplified digital hardware, for measuring parameters needed for control of a system (referred to as a plant) such as a power supply or motor. In one embodiment, the system for measuring the desired parameters includes simplified digital hardware to implement the functionality of transfer function measurement in the plant.
US08344713B2
An LDO regulator system has first and second current mirror circuits connected to its output terminal. A load attached to the output terminal is supplied with a constant voltage. Variations in the load that cause variations in the magnitude of the output voltage trigger one of the first or second current mirror circuits to generate a current that varies the magnitude of a gate voltage of a pass-transistor. The variation in the gate voltage in turns varies the drain current of the pass-transistor, which varies the output voltage to counter the change in the magnitude of the output voltage. Using the first and second current mirror circuits avoids the need for a large load capacitor and very high bandwidth of a conventional LDO regulator.
US08344712B2
A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device) monitors energy delivery for each of multiple power converter phases that supply energy to a load. The controller analyzes the energy delivery associated with each of the multiple power converter phases to identify an imbalance of energy delivered by the multiple power converter phases to the load. Based on the analyzing and detection of an imbalance condition, the controller modifies a future order of activating the multiple power converter phases for powering the load. Accordingly, a single phase of a multiphase switching power converter may be prevented from becoming overloaded while delivering energy to power the load.
US08344702B2
A universal serial bus battery includes a universal serial bus interface, a battery, a charger, a comparator, a first switch, and a second switch. The comparator is configured for comparing the voltage at the universal serial bus interface and the voltage of the battery, and to produce an ON signal when the voltage at the serial bus interface exceeds the voltage of the battery, or to produce an OFF signal otherwise. The first switch is configured for establishing an electrical connection between the USB interface and the charger upon receiving the ON signal or cutting off the connection upon receiving the OFF signal. The second switch is configured for establishing a connection between the universal serial bus interface and the battery when the connection between the USB interface and the charger is terminated by the first switch.
US08344688B2
A power reception control device provided in a power reception device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a power-reception-side control circuit that controls an operation of the power reception device, and a power supply control signal output terminal that supplies a power supply control signal to a charge control device, the power supply control signal controlling power supply to a battery. The power-reception-side control circuit controls a timing at which the power supply control signal (ICUTX) is output from the power supply control signal output terminal. The operation of the charge control device is compulsorily controlled using the power supply control signal (ICUTX).
US08344682B2
A first and a second drive current for an electrical drive are generated as a function of a nominal value for a movement variable, such as drive torque or rotational speed. An alternating magnetic field is generated in the drive by the drive currents. The alternating magnetic field causes movement of the drive. A first measurement signal and a second measurement signal are determined by a measurement device. The two measurement signals represent the first drive current and the second drive current. A field-producing direct-axis current component and a torque-producing quadrature-axis current component are determined as a function of the first and second measurement signals. In addition, an actual value of the movement variable is determined as a function of the measurement signals. At least one of the drive currents is generated with a variable test current component which forms a test pattern for checking the measurement device.
US08344675B2
A rechargeable electric power tool includes a motor driven by a secondary battery, a switching element for regulating power distribution to the motor, a motor control unit for controlling rotation of the motor through the switching element, a lead wire for supplying a drive current to the motor therethrough and a trigger switch changed over by a user for turning on or off the drive current supplied to the motor through the lead wire. In the rechargeable electric power tool, upon changeover of the trigger switch, a microcomputer determines a magnitude relation between a detected temperature outputted from a first thermistor and a first temperature threshold value. If the detected temperature is determined to be greater than the first temperature threshold value, the microcomputer is set in a limited operation mode in which a revolution number of the motor is limited to a predetermined value or less.
US08344669B1
A multiphase electromagnetic machine may be controlled by controlling currents in one or more phases of the multiphase electromagnetic machine. A control system may be used to determine how much current to deliver to, or extract from, each phase. The control system may use an objective function, subject to one or more constraints, to determine the current. The control system may use position information to determine the objective function, constraints, or both.
US08344658B2
A method and circuit are provided for matching the brightness of a plurality of lamps driven by an AC drive current. The method may comprise the steps of: determining a brightness of each of said plurality of lamps, while said plurality of lamps are on, by using a current sensing device; selecting a first lamp having a lowest brightness from said plurality of lamps; and reducing a brightness of a second lamp to match said lowest brightness of the first lamp by interrupting the AC drive current in said scond lamp periodically for a predetermined number of half-cycles of said AC drive current. According to another implementation, a reference brightness maybe selected, or optionally a reference AC current level, and the method may reduce the drive current periodically so as to set the lamp brightness in relation to the reference brightness or optionally the reference AC current level.
US08344657B2
An LED driver with open loop dimming including a full wave rectifier circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an oscillator circuit. The rectifier is configured to receive an input voltage in the form of an AC conductive angle modulated voltage and to provide a rectified voltage. The DC/DC converter converts the rectified voltage to an output voltage and an output current, where the output current has a magnitude which varies proportionately with a square of a quadratic mean of the input voltage. The oscillator circuit controls switching of the DC/DC converter with constant frequency and constant duty cycle. The DC/DC converter may be a flyback converter and may include a transformer operated in DCM. The driver may include output voltage and/or output current limit. The output current may be limited when the input voltage is within normal operating range of an AC line voltage from which the input voltage is derived.
US08344651B2
It is an object to provide a light control apparatus and a lighting appliance using the same which enables to increase luminous efficiency in the light control. The lighting appliance includes a light source and a light control apparatus. The light control apparatus includes an electric current output circuit which outputs a constant electric current for lighting to a light source configured of an organic electroluminescence device, an electric current control circuit which controls an intensity of a driving electric current outputted from the electric current output circuit, and the electric current control circuit biases a direct current component so as to vary the driving electric current periodically between a predetermined maximum value and a predetermined minimum value and flows in the same direction at all times in the light control of the light source.
US08344646B2
A ballast and method for operating a ballast includes a switch or other circuit for connecting and disconnecting a voltage multiplier to a rectifier circuit. A control circuit for controlling the switch senses an input voltage and connects the voltage multiplier to the rectifier circuit when an input voltage falls below a selected voltage level.
US08344643B2
Driver system and method for multiple cold-cathode fluorescent lamps and/or external-electrode fluorescent lamps. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for driving a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a subsystem configured to receive at least a DC voltage and generate a first AC voltage in response to at least the DC voltage. The system also includes a power converter configured to receive the first AC voltage and convert the first AC voltage to at least a second AC voltage. The system further includes a plurality of current balancing devices. Each of the plurality of current balancing devices is configured to receive two currents and balance the two currents. The plurality of current balancing devices includes at least a first current balancing device, a second current balancing device, and a third current balancing device. In addition, the system includes a plurality of lamp pairs.
US08344642B2
A lighting device may include a transformer; a rail device, configured to be attached to a surface of an object, wherein the rail device has two rails, which are arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another, to which rail device a lamp can be attached and on which the lamp can be supplied with power, the rails being electrically connected to the transformer, at least one first lamp being arranged on the rails and being configured to be supplied with power in the low-voltage range via the transformer and the rails; and at least one second lamp being arranged on a housing of the transformer and being connected to the system voltage.
US08344636B2
A fixed frequency dimming method and fixed frequency dimming circuit for a light emitting module can control light emitting brightness of the light emitting module through a hysteresis control circuit. A voltage difference between an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of a hysteresis width of the hysteresis control circuit is maintained at a fixed value, and a driving current flowing through the light emitting module is changed by changing the upper limit voltage or the lower limit voltage.
US08344634B2
A lamp driving apparatus includes a switch module, a controller, a resonant module, and a level shift circuit. The switch module includes a high side transistor switch and a low side transistor switch connected in series between an input power source and a common level. The controller controls the high side and the low side transistor switches to control the power from the input power source transmitted through the switch module. The resonant module coupled to the switch module converts the power into an AC output signal to drive a lamp. The level shift circuit generates a high side control signal based on an voltage level of a connecting node of the high side and the low side transistor switches, the level shift voltage, and a control signal generated by the controller so as to control the high transistor switch.
US08344632B2
A light emitting device including a voltage source, a light emitting unit, and a current source is provided. The voltage source is coupled to the light emitting unit for supplying a voltage. The light emitting unit includes n light emitting diodes (LEDs) and n current control switches, wherein n is greater than or equal to 3. The LEDs are respectively coupled to the current control switches in series. The current control switches are turned on and off according to a current threshold. The current source is coupled to the light emitting unit for supplying a fixed current. Thereby, the luminous intensity of the light emitting device remains stable even when some of the LEDs fail.
US08344623B2
A novel lamp fixture which employs semiconductor light sources and which is designed to replace or otherwise substitute for a conventional sealed beam incandescent or gas discharge fixture. Preferably, the semiconductor light sources are arranged in a combination of sub-assemblies, each of which is constructed to provide either spread light illumination or high intensity illumination for a desired illumination pattern.
US08344622B2
A resin molding device includes a lead plate and a first resin molding member. The lead plate includes patterns. Each of the patterns includes a base, a plurality of lead pairs; and a lead connection portion. Each of the lead pairs includes a first lead and a second lead. The first resin molding member is integrally formed with the base and the lead pairs. The first resin molding member defines a recessed portion at a mounting side surface on the base where a light emitting device is to be mounted. The recessed portion is formed to open upwardly and to have a side surface. The lead pairs are partially exposed at a bottom surface area of the recessed portion. The first lead or the second lead is capable of mounting a protection device thereon such that the protection device is covered by the first resin molding member.
US08344620B2
An active matrix electroluminescence display device and a method for fabricating the same, whereby damage caused by UV light rays during the fabrication process can be prevented, are disclosed. The active matrix electroluminescence display device includes a plurality of transistors formed on a substrate having an emissive area and a non-emissive area defined thereon, an insulating layer formed on the substrate and the thin film transistors, a metallic protective layer formed on the insulating layer of the non-emissive area, a first electrode formed on the insulating layer of the emissive area, an electroluminous layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the electroluminous layer.
US08344619B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light-emitting display device includes a plurality of pixels; the pixels further include opposing first and second electrodes, and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The pixels are divided into red, green, and blue sub-pixels. The intermediate layer has a thickness that varies according to the sub-pixels.
US08344618B2
A light emitting device includes a cathode, an anode, a light emitting layer provided between the cathode and the anode, an intermediate layer provided between the cathode and the light emitting layer so as to be in contact with both the cathode and the light emitting layer. The intermediate layer includes a base in the form of a layer, the base being constituted of a metal oxide based semiconductor material as a main component thereof and having a first surface which is in contact with the light emitting layer and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a dye carried on the first surface of the base and inner surfaces of pores formed in the base so as to be in contact with the light emitting layer. By using the light emitting device mentioned above, it is possible to improve properties of the light emitting device such as luminous efficiency and the like. A method for manufacturing such a light emitting device is also provided. An electronic device provided with such a light emitting device is also provided. Electronic equipment provided with such an electronic device is also provided.
US08344612B2
An organic electroluminescent device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The organic electroluminescent device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate, a light emitting diode comprising first and second electrodes and an organic luminescent layer that are formed on the thin film transistor, and first and second passivation layers formed on the first substrate on which the light emitting diode is formed.
US08344609B2
A plurality of electron-emitting devices arranged in a matrix, a row wiring that connects electron-emitting portions of electron-emitting devices arranged in the same line to one another, and a column wiring that connects gate connection members of electron-emitting devices arranged in the same column to one another are included. Each of the plurality of gates is positioned at one side of an electron-emitting portion in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of electron-emitting portions are arranged.
US08344606B2
A field emission device includes a substrate including a groove; a metal electrode disposed on a bottom surface of the groove; and a carbon nanotube (“CNT”) emitter. The CNT emitter includes an intermetallic compound layer disposed on the metal electrode and CNTs disposed on the intermetallic compound layer.
US08344605B2
Provided are a spark plug in which the occurrence of spark blowout or the like is restrained for improvement of ignition performance, and a method of manufacturing the spark plug. A ground electrode (27 ) of the spark plug has a protrusion (28 ) which faces a center electrode (5). The distal end surface of the protrusion (28) has a noble metal tip (32) provided at the center thereof and includes an annular fusion portion (33) adjacent to the periphery of the noble metal tip (32), and an annular electrode base metal surface located externally of the annular fusion portion (33). A spark discharge gap (35) is formed between the center electrode (5) and the distal end of the protrusion (28) including the noble metal tip (32).
US08344600B2
A heat dissipating structure of an LED circuit board includes an LED circuit board having a plurality of soldering points. The soldering points of the LED circuit board are covered by a coating layer including Nanoparticles and a bonding agent. The LED circuit board is covered by the coating layer in an LED lamp tube to accelerate dissipating the heat of the LED circuit board. The coating layer has the characteristics of high emitting rate, temperature resistance, and conductivity insulation. On the other hand, the coating layer can increase the contacting areas of the soldering points with the air to enlarge the heat dissipation area of the LED circuit board to, thereby accelerating dissipating the heat.
US08344599B2
A quartz crystal device includes a crystal resonator element and a package including a plurality of components. The plurality of components are bonded using a metal paste sealing material containing a metallic particle having an average particle size from 0.1 to 1.0 μm, an organic solvent, and a resin material in proportions of from 88 to 93 percent by weight, from 5 to 15 percent by weight, and from 0.01 to 4.0 percent by weight, respectively, to hermetically seal the crystal resonator element in the package.
US08344594B2
Vibration wave driven apparatus and image pickup apparatus including vibration wave driven apparatus
A vibration wave driven apparatus includes a vibrator configured to generate vibration, a rotor configured to be in frictional contact with the vibrator and to rotate about an axis of rotation, and a transmitting member configured to rotate about the axis and to transmit rotation of the rotor to an external component. A part of the transmitting member forms a worm portion of a worm gear.
US08344584B2
The present invention relates to a stator of an electric motor and a washing machine having the same, wherein the stator includes a stator core of a stack of bases each with a plurality of poles, an insulator having an upper insulator and a lower insulator fastened to the stator core, a plurality of fastening portions each having a fastening hole for fastening the stator, and a plurality of connection portions each having a plurality of vertical ribs for connecting the insulator to each of the fastening portions, wherein the insulator, the fastening portions, and the connection portions are injection molded as one unit, with the stator core inserted thereto.
US08344583B2
Provided is an automotive alternator having structure for preventing entry and discharging of foreign matters irrespective of a posture of a brush unit, to thereby allow normalization of the brush unit. The brush unit of the automotive alternator includes a slip ring, a brush, a brush holder, and a slip ring cover coaxially spaced from the slip ring and having an inner peripheral surface surrounding substantially an entire periphery of the slip ring. The inner peripheral surface of the slip ring cover has a tapered surface increasing in diameter from a first end on the frame side toward a second end having a fully-open opening. The fully-open opening is sealed by a sealing member that forms a labyrinth seal with the second end.
US08344579B2
A rotor assembly includes a lamination and a hub. The hub includes an inner portion and an outer portion surrounding the inner portion and separated from it by an expansion gap. The rotor assembly also includes two or more connecting members coupling the inner portion to the outer portion, the connecting members having a first end and a second end.
US08344577B2
Squirrel cage rotors of aluminum end rings solid state welded to aluminum conductor bars for use in electric motors and methods of making them are described. In one embodiment, the method includes: providing a laminated steel stack having a plurality of longitudinal slots; placing a plurality of aluminum conductor bars in the longitudinal slots, the conductor bars having first and second ends extending out of the longitudinal slots; contacting the first and second ends of the conductor bars with a pair of aluminum end rings under pressure; and oscillating the first and second ends of the conductor bars, the end rings, or both to form an oscillation friction weld.
US08344575B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a stator and manufacturing method of the stator in which the coil conducts of the stator have three phases (a U phase, V phase, and W phase), which are arranged in a distributed winding form in a plurality of slots of a stator core. The coil conductors of the three phases each include a slot conductor portion that is disposed in the slot, and a pair of coil end conductor portions disposed on both axial sides of the stator core to connect the slot conductor portions disposed in the different slots. The stator also includes a first side transition wire portion in each phase that is disposed further toward a radial inner side than an inner peripheral end surface of a tooth provided on each circumferential side of the slot so as to overlap another first side transition wire portions in the axial direction.
US08344570B2
A rotor (21) is an interior permanent magnet rotor formed of a rotor core (24) in which a plurality of permanent magnets (25) are embedded at predetermined intervals. First protruding portions (26) and second protruding portions (27) are formed on an outer peripheral face of the rotor, the first protruding portions (26) each opposing the vicinity of a central portion of each of the permanent magnets and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section protruding outward and the second protruding portions (27) each opposing the vicinity of an end portion of each of the permanent magnets and protruding outward. One first protruding portion and two second protruding portions correspond to one permanent magnet. The formation of the first and second protruding portions as described above on the outer peripheral face of the rotor makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the torque ripple and the noise caused by the distortion of air-gap magnetic flux distribution.
US08344564B2
A driving device (100) is provided with first and second rotating electrical machines (MG1, MG2); an inverter (30); a first storing case (23) having a first rotating electrical machine storing section (21) for storing the first rotating electrical machine (MG2), and an inverter storing section (300) for storing the inverter (30); and a second storing case (13) which can store the second rotating electrical machine (MG1) and can be attached to the first storing case (23); a first terminal section (121) connected to the inverter; and a second terminal section (15) which is arranged on the second storing case (13) and is connected to the second rotating electrical machine (MG1). The first terminal section (121) and the second terminal section (15) are arranged so that one protrudes toward the other.
US08344560B2
A magnetically actuated reciprocating motor utilizes the stored energy of rare earth magnets and an electromagnetic field provided by a solenoid to reciprocally drive a solenoid assembly. A converting mechanism, such as a connecting rod and crankshaft, converts the reciprocating motion of the solenoid assembly to power a work object. The solenoid assembly comprises a solenoid having a nonferromagnetic spool with a tubular center section and a coil of wire wrapped around the center section. A magnetic actuator has a permanent magnet at each end of an elongated shaft that is received through the center section of the spool. A switching mechanism switches magnetic polarity at the ends of the solenoid so the solenoid assembly is alternatively repelled and attracted by the permanent magnets. A controlling mechanism interconnecting an output shaft and the switching mechanism provides the timing to switch the polarity of the solenoid and reciprocate the solenoid assembly.
US08344550B2
A power generation system includes a renewable power source for producing source power; a source side converter for converting the source power to converted DC power; a source side controller for driving the converted DC power towards a maximum power point; a DC link for receiving the converted DC power; a grid side converter coupled to the DC link for converting DC link power from the DC link to AC output power for a grid; a grid side controller for controlling the AC output power of the grid side converter to achieve grid interconnection requirements; an electrical energy storage device; an energy storage converter coupling the energy storage device to the DC link; an energy storage controller for controlling the energy storage converter to achieve a desired power balance on the DC link.
US08344546B2
A power supply unit that obviates the need for an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for a server in a data center by receiving a DC power from a temporary backup power source. The power supply unit converts AC power received from a power utility service into a DC power for operating one or more motherboards of the server. An AC to DC converter in the power supply unit senses an input AC voltage and activates a DC to DC converter coupled to the temporary backup power source. The DC to DC converter powers the one or more motherboards until a generator serving as an auxiliary AC power source becomes operational. The power supply unit resumes connection to the AC to DC converter after the generator becomes operational.
US08344544B2
A direct current (DC) power distribution system includes a first electrical distribution and power management (EDPM) unit including a first DC power source connected to a first high voltage DC bus connected to a first DC load, and a first bus-tie solid state power controller (SSPC) connected to the first HVDC bus; a second EDPM unit including a second DC power source connected to a second high voltage DC bus connected to a second DC load, and a second bus-tie SSPC being connected to the second HVDC bus; and a bus-tie connected between the first bus-tie SSPC and the second bus-tie SSPC, wherein in the event a power source failure occurs in the first EDPM unit, power flows from the second DC power source to the first HVDC bus via the second bus-tie SSPC, the bus-tie, and the first bus-tie SSPC.
US08344542B2
Disclosed is a power assembly for supplying electrical power to 4-20 mA 2-wire field devices, including HART-enabled, short run Profibus PA, and Foundation Fieldbus protocols. A preferred embodiment of the power assembly is designed to simplify the testing, troubleshooting, and configuration of HART 2-wire field devices. The disclosed device is compatible with hand-held or PC-based configuration software, and utilizes the available power from the USB port of a laptop, or any other compatible source of low-voltage DC. An internal circuit converts the low voltage DC to 24-volt DC to provide 2-wire power for the field devices. The power supply includes the necessary network communication load and/or resistance and may provide a quick modem/network interface and/or milliamp meter connection. All the necessary connections to the 2-wire field device are made with a single pair of quick-disconnect fittings.
US08344541B1
A reverse current protection system for a vehicle electrical system that communicates with a trailer electrical system generally includes a mode determination module that receives a reverse current flow detection signal and that selectively determines a field effect transistor (FET) operating mode to be a reverse on mode based on the reverse current flow detection signal. A current flow control module generates a current flow control signal to a field effect transistor to control the field effect transistor based on the determined FET operating mode.
US08344537B2
An electricity generating station using a method which enables the force of gravity to be transformed into electricity and which comprises two 6-meter diameter semi-solid combined structure axle-borne wheels which serve to increase the axle revolutions, two electricity generators, six direction reversers fitted to the axle, six plastic containers for transporting water, six chains enabling the reverser to raise and lower the six containers, two revolution step-up gears for increasing the revolutions, an electric pump for raising the water, a water valve which opens and closes for filling the containers, a back sluice for container draining, a pair of tanks and a network of PVC conduits.
US08344535B2
A platform-like device for generating electricity from moving fluids has two has at least two fluid turbines coupled to one another through a frame. The fluid turbines are adapted to rotate in opposite directions. The fluid turbines also provide buoyancy for the platform so that the platform is self supporting in the water. The fluid turbines preferably have helicoid flights (screw-like threads) mounted to generally prolate casings. The fluid turbines preferably connect to electric generators through belt, chain-drive, or other transmission systems. The platform may additional support a wind turbine.
US08344531B2
A number of electrical energy generating assemblies, such as assemblies 10, 240, and 400 which are disposed within a pipeline 12 or in close proximity to the inlet 11 and/or outlet portion 125 of the pipeline 12 and which are adapted to selectively generate electrical energy by use of the material 18 which normally flows through the pipeline 12 according to a certain process.
US08344525B2
The disclosed system, device and method for an electrical power initiator generally includes: a starter in communication with a trigger system and a generator, wherein the trigger is configured to activate the starter in response to an accelerating force and the generator is configured to produce electrical power in response to the activation of the starter.
US08344522B2
The invention provides a solder structure which is least likely to develop Sn whiskers and a method for forming such a solder structure. The solder structure includes an Sn alloy capable of a solid-liquid coexistent state and an Au (or Au alloy) coating covering at least part of the surface of the Sn alloy. The Au covering is a film that covers and coats at least part of the surface of the Sn alloy. As a preferable mode, the Au coating forms a netlike structure on the surface of the Sn alloy. The thickness of the Au coating is, for instance, 1 to 5 μm.
US08344518B2
A multi-chip stack module provides increased circuit density for a given surface chip footprint. Support structures are alternated with standard surface mount type chips to form a stack wherein the support structures electrically interconnect the chips. One aspect is a structure and method for interconnecting a plurality of generally planar chips in a vertical stack such that signals, which are common to the chips, are connected in the stack and signals, which are accessed individually, are separated within the stack.
US08344516B2
A silicon chip includes a silicon substrate, a plurality of pads, and a plurality of through vias to connect back-end-of-line wiring to the plurality of pads. The silicon substrate includes a layer of active devices and the back-end-of-line wiring connected to the active devices.
US08344505B2
A method of manufacturing semiconductor packages at the wafer level is disclosed. A wafer has multiple integrated circuits (ICs) formed on its active surface, with each IC in communication with a plurality under-bump metallization (UBM) pads formed on one surface the package. The UBM pads include a larger pads near the center of package and smaller UBM pads near the periphery. The method includes attaching a stiffener to an inactive surface of the wafer; forming under bump metallization pads; and forming solder bumps extending from the UBM pads.
US08344498B2
A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor element; a support substrate arranged on a surface of the semiconductor element opposite to a surface thereof provided with a pad, the support substrate being wider in area than the semiconductor element; a burying insulating layer on the support substrate for burying the semiconductor element therein; a fan-out interconnection led out from the pad to an area on the burying insulating layer lying more peripherally outwardly than the semiconductor element; and a reinforcement portion arranged in a preset area on top of outer periphery of the semiconductor element for augmenting the mechanical strength of the burying insulating layer and the fan-out interconnection.
US08344497B2
A semiconductor package may include a semiconductor chip, a molding layer which molds the semiconductor chip, and an interconnection which extends crossing an interface between the semiconductor chip and the molding layer and connects the semiconductor chip to an outside, wherein a shape of the interconnection is changed along the extended length thereof. According to the present invention, even if a mechanical stress or a thermal stress is applied to an interconnection, a crack does not occur in the interconnection or the interconnection is not disconnected. Therefore, a reliability of the semiconductor package is improved.
US08344485B1
An integrated circuit die comprises a device layer comprising a plurality of semiconductor devices; an interconnect layer comprising a plurality of interconnect paths connecting the semiconductor devices and embedded in a dielectric material; and a plurality of hard nanoparticles embedded in the dielectric material of the interconnect layer, the hard nanoparticles having a hardness greater than a hardness of the dielectric material and of a hardness of the interconnect paths.
US08344484B2
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to: a semiconductor substrate having an element formation region and a dicing region; an element layer over the element formation region and the dicing region; and a multi-layered wiring structure over the dicing region. The multi-layered wiring structure extends upwardly from the element layer. The multi-layered wiring structure has a groove penetrating the multi-layered wiring structure.
US08344482B2
In the bevel etching apparatus relating to the present invention, a substrate is inserted between electrically connected electrodes. A high-frequency power source is connected to the electrodes, and ground potential is applied to a support unit that supports the substrate. Gas (atmosphere) is supplied to the gap between the electrodes and the application of the high-frequency electric power to the electrodes causes the generation of atmospheric-pressure glow discharge between the electrode and the substrate. Bevel etching is performed by rotating the substrate along the circumferential direction in this condition. According to this construction, the bevel etching can be simultaneously performed to the front surface, the rear surface and the side of the substrate without causing any configuration change in the substrate.
US08344473B2
An isolation oxide film whose upper surface is higher than a surface of a substrate is formed in the substrate. A silicon oxide film is formed on the substrate between the isolation oxide films. A self-aligned polysilicon film is formed on the silicon oxide film between the isolation oxide films. After forming a resist pattern covering the peripheral circuitry, the isolation oxide films in the memory cell are etched by a predetermined thickness. An ONO film is formed on the entire surface of the substrate, a second resist pattern covering the memory cell is formed. Then, the ONO film, the polysilicon film 8 and the silicon oxide film 7 are removed from the peripheral circuitry.
US08344472B2
Transistors (21, 41) employing floating buried layers may be susceptible to noise coupling into the floating buried layers. In IGFETS this is reduced or eliminated by providing a normally-ON switch (80, 80′) coupling the buried layer (102, 142, 172, 202) and the IGFET source (22, 42) or drain (24, 44). When the transistor (71, 91) is OFF, this clamps the buried layer voltage and substantially prevents noise coupling thereto. When the drain-source voltage VDS exceeds the switch's (80, 80′) threshold voltage Vt, it turns OFF, allowing the buried layer (102, 142, 172, 202) to float, and thereby resume normal transistor action without degrading the breakdown voltage or ON-resistance. In a preferred embodiment, a normally-ON lateral JFET (801, 801′, 801-1, 801-2, 801-3) conveniently provides this switching function. The lateral JFET (801-3) can be included in the device (70, 70′, 90, 90′) by mask changes without adding or customizing any process steps, thereby providing the improved noise resistance without significant increase in manufacturing cost. The improvement applies to both P (90-1) and N channel (70-1, 70-2, 70-3) transistors and is particularly useful for LDMOS devices.
US08344467B2
A storage element includes: a storage layer configured to retain information based on a magnetization state of a magnetic material and include a perpendicular magnetization layer whose magnetization direction is in a direction perpendicular to a film plane, a non-magnetic layer, and a ferromagnetic layer that has an axis of easy magnetization along a direction in the film plane and has a magnetization direction inclined to a direction perpendicular to the film plane by an angle in a range from 15 degrees to 45 degrees, the storage layer being configured by stacking of the perpendicular magnetization layer and the ferromagnetic layer with intermediary of the non-magnetic layer and magnetic coupling between the perpendicular magnetization layer and the ferromagnetic layer; a magnetization pinned layer; and a non-magnetic intermediate layer.
US08344465B2
In a method of the present invention during a salicide process, before a second thermal process, a dopant is implanted at a place located in a region ranging from a NixSi layer at middle height down to a front thereof, or before formation of the NixSi layer, located in a region ranging from a silicon layer at a depth ranging from a half of a predetermined thickness of a NiSi layer down to a depth where is a predetermined front of the NiSi layer. The dopant is allowed to be heated with the NixSi layer together during the second thermal process to form a Si/NiSi2/NiSi interface which may reduce SBH and improve series resistance to obtain a semiconductor device having an excellent performance.
US08344461B2
A MOS solid-state imaging device having: a semiconductor substrate provided with a pair of source and drain regions in a pixel area, the pair of source and drain regions constituting part of a transistor in the pixel area; an insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate; a wiring layer formed over the insulating film; and a contact plug penetrating through the insulating film to connect either one of the pair of source and drain regions with the wiring layer, wherein a surface area of said one of the pair of source and drain regions is silicided, the surface area contacting with the contact plug, and a width of the surface area is equal to a width of the contact plug.
US08344455B2
The semiconductor device includes: a transistor having a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate and first and second source/drain regions formed in portions of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode; a gate interconnect formed at a position opposite to the gate electrode with respect to the first source/drain region; and a first silicon-germanium layer formed on the first source/drain region to protrude above the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate interconnect and the first source/drain region are connected via a local interconnect structure that includes the first silicon-germanium layer.
US08344451B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface and a second surface, a source region disposed on the first surface, a gate region disposed on the first surface adjacent the source region, and a drain region disposed on the first surface. The semiconductor device also includes a pair of charge control trenches disposed between the gate region and the drain region. Each of the pair of charge control trenches is characterized by a width and includes a first dielectric material disposed therein and a second material disposed internal to the first dielectric material. Additionally, a concentration of doping impurities present in the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and a distance between the pair of charge control trenches define an electrical characteristic of the semiconductor device that is independent of the width of each of the pair of charge control trenches.
US08344444B2
To provide a technique capable of improving reliability of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell by suppressing the reduction of the drive force.A memory cell is configured by a selection pMIS having a selection gate electrode including a conductive film exhibiting a p-type conductivity and a memory pMIS having a memory gate electrode including a conductive film exhibiting a p-type conductivity, and at the time of write, hot electrons are injected into a charge storage layer from the side of a semiconductor substrate 1 and at the time of erase, hot holes are injected into the charge storage layer from the memory gate electrode.
US08344443B2
A single-poly non-volatile memory includes a PMOS select transistor (210) formed with a select gate (212), and P+ source and drain regions (211, 213) formed in a shared n-well region (240), a serially connected PMOS floating gate transistor (220) formed with part of a p-type floating gate layer (222) and P+ source and drain regions (221, 223) formed in the shared n-well region (240), and a coupling capacitor (230) formed over a p-well region (250) and connected to the PMOS floating gate transistor (220), where the coupling capacitor (230) includes a first capacitor plate formed with a second part of the p-type floating gate layer (222) and an underlying portion of the p-well region (250).
US08344440B2
A three terminal non-volatile memory (NVM) cell for a CMOS IC is formed by either a standard CMOS process flow or a slightly modified CMOS process flow. The NVM cell includes read and injection transistors that share a common floating gate. The floating gate includes a portion disposed over the channel region of the read transistor, a portion disposed over the channel region of the injection transistor, and a portion extending into an enlarged drain diffusion area away from the channel regions, whereby the gate-to-drain capacitance is higher than the gate-to-source capacitances. The source/drain of the injection transistor are formed using different LDD implants to achieve faster program/erase. Alternatively, an optional CHE enhancing implant is added to the source/drain of the injection transistor to enhance CHE programming. Both HV LDD and LV LDD implants are introduced together enabling LDD implant merging under the floating gate extension.
US08344436B2
Some embodiments include DRAM having transistor gates extending partially over SOI, and methods of forming such DRAM. Unit cells of the DRAM may be within active region pedestals, and in some embodiments the unit cells may comprise capacitors having storage nodes in direct contact with sidewalls of the active region pedestals. Some embodiments include 0C1T memory having transistor gates entirely over SOI, and methods of forming such 0C1T memory.
US08344430B2
In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes providing a carrier substrate, forming a first region over an upper surface of the substrate, creating an electrical component using a planar process, embedding the electrical component in the dielectric layer, and removing a substrate portion of the electrical component. The first region includes a dielectric layer and may be made of any material that electrically isolates the electrical component from the carrier substrate. The electrical component may be created using a planar process thereby having an epitaxial surface that is embedded in the dielectric layer.
US08344428B2
Techniques for incorporating nanotechnology into electronic fuse (e-fuse) designs are provided. In one aspect, an e-fuse structure is provided. The e-fuse structure includes a first electrode; a dielectric layer on the first electrode having a plurality of nanochannels therein; an array of metal silicide nanopillars that fill the nanochannels in the dielectric layer, each nanopillar in the array serving as an e-fuse element; and a second electrode in contact with the array of metal silicide nanopillars opposite the first electrode. Methods for fabricating the e-fuse structure are also provided as are semiconductor devices incorporating the e-fuse structure.
US08344422B2
A semiconductor device includes a lower barrier layer 12 composed of a layer of AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1) in a state of strain relaxation, and a channel layer 13, which is composed of a layer of InyGa1-yN (0≦y≦1) disposed on the lower barrier layer 12, has band gap that is smaller than band gap of the lower barrier layer 12, and exhibits compressive strain. A gate electrode 1G is formed over the channel layer 13 via an insulating film 15 and a source electrode 1S and a drain electrode 1D serving as ohmic electrodes are formed over the channel layer 13. The insulating film 15 is constituted of polycrystalline or amorphous member.
US08344413B2
A nitride semiconductor chip is provided that offers enhanced luminous efficacy as a result of an improved EL emission pattern. The nitride semiconductor laser chip (nitride semiconductor chip) has an n-type GaN substrate having as a principal growth plane a plane having an off-angle in the a-axis direction relative to the m plane, and a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the principal growth plane of the n-type GaN substrate. The n-type GaN substrate includes a depressed portion (carved region), which is carved from the principal growth plane in the thickness direction, and an uncarved region, which is a region not carved. The nitride semiconductor layer formed on the n-type GaN substrate has a gradient thickness region whose thickness decreases in a gradient fashion toward the depressed portion (carved region) and an emission portion formation region whose thickness varies very little. In the emission portion formation region 6, a ridge portion is formed.
US08344409B2
An optoelectronic device comprising, a substrate and a first transition stack formed on the substrate comprising a first transition layer formed on the substrate having a hollow component formed inside the first transition layer, a second transition layer formed on the first transition layer, and a reflector rod formed inside the second transition layer.
US08344393B2
A light receiving and emitting device includes: a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are provided on a same substrate, wherein the light emitting unit includes an active layer sandwiched between a first clad layer and a second clad layer, a first electrode electrically connected to the first clad layer, and a second electrode electrically connected to the second clad layer, the light receiving unit includes a light-absorbing layer, at least part of the active layer forms a gain region on a current path between the first electrode and the second electrode, the gain region is provided from a first side face of the active layer to a second side face parallel to the first side face so as to be inclined with respect to a perpendicular of the first side face as seen in a planar view, a light generated in the gain region is divided, at least one of an edge face on the first side face and an edge face on the second side face, the edge faces of the gain region, into a light emitted to an outside and a reflected light, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit.
US08344392B2
A light-emitting element includes a light-emitting stack includes: a first semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; a recess structure formed through the second semiconductor layer, the active layer, and extended in the first semiconductor layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer includes a contact region defined by the recess structure; a first electrode structure including a first contact portion on the contact region of the first semiconductor layer, and a second contact portion laterally extended from the first contact portion into the first semiconductor layer; and a dielectric layer formed on side surfaces of the second semiconductor layer and the active layer to insulate the second semiconductor layer and the active layer from the first contact portion.
US08344378B2
An object is to provide a thin film transistor with small off current, large on current, and high field-effect mobility. A silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer which is formed by oxidizing the silicon nitride layer are stacked as a gate insulating layer, and crystals grow from an interface of the silicon oxide layer of the gate insulating layer to form a microcrystalline semiconductor layer; thus, an inverted staggered thin film transistor is manufactured. Since crystals grow from the gate insulating layer, the thin film transistor can have a high crystallinity, large on current, and high field-effect mobility. In addition, a buffer layer is provided to reduce off current.
US08344376B2
The present invention relates generally to assembly techniques. According to the present invention, the alignment and probing techniques to improve the accuracy of component placement in assembly are described. More particularly, the invention includes methods and structures to detect and improve the component placement accuracy on a target platform by incorporating alignment marks on component and reference marks on target platform under various probing techniques. A set of sensors grouped in any array to form a multiple-sensor probe can detect the deviation of displaced components in assembly.
US08344375B2
Nonvolatile memory elements are provided that have resistive switching metal oxides. The nonvolatile memory elements may be formed by depositing a metal-containing material on a silicon-containing material. The metal-containing material may be oxidized to form a resistive-switching metal oxide. The silicon in the silicon-containing material reacts with the metal in the metal-containing material when heat is applied. This forms a metal silicide lower electrode for the nonvolatile memory element. An upper electrode may be deposited on top of the metal oxide. Because the silicon in the silicon-containing layer reacts with some of the metal in the metal-containing layer, the resistive-switching metal oxide that is formed is metal deficient when compared to a stoichiometric metal oxide formed from the same metal.
US08344370B2
In a display apparatus including pixels, each of which has organic EL elements which emit red, green, and blue (RGB) colors and a refractive index-control layer, an electrode at a light extraction side of each organic EL element is a silver layer in contact with a charge transport layer, the refractive index-control layer is arranged on the silver layer in common with the organic EL elements which emit RGB colors, and an effective refractive index (neff) represented by the following formula is in a range of 1.4 to 2.3. neff=0.7×nu+0.3×nd In the above formula, nu indicates the refractive index of the refractive index-control layer 3, and nd indicates the refractive index of the charge transport layer 1.
US08344369B2
The object of the invention is to provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a peeled layer bonded to a base material with curvature. Particularly, the object is to provide a method for fabricating a display with curvature, more specifically, a light emitting device having an OLED bonded to a base material with curvature. An external force is applied to a support originally having curvature and elasticity, and the support is bonded to a peeled layer formed over a substrate. Then, when the substrate is peeled, the support returns into the original shape by the restoring force, and the peeled layer as well is curved along the shape of the support. Finally, a transfer object originally having curvature is bonded to the peeled layer, and then a device with a desired curvature is completed.
US08344355B2
Semiconductor structures and devices including strained material layers having impurity-free zones, and methods for fabricating same. Certain regions of the strained material layers are kept free of impurities that can interdiffuse from adjacent portions of the semiconductor. When impurities are present in certain regions of the strained material layers, there is degradation in device performance. By employing semiconductor structures and devices (e.g., field effect transistors or “FETs”) that have the features described, or are fabricated in accordance with the steps described, device operation is enhanced.
US08344353B2
A light emitting diode having a transparent substrate and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting diode is formed by creating two semiconductor multilayers and bonding them. The first semiconductor multilayer is formed on a non-transparent substrate. The second semiconductor multilayer is created by forming an amorphous interface layer on a transparent substrate. The two semiconductor multilayers are bonded and the non-transparent substrate is removed, leaving a semiconductor multilayer with a transparent substrate.
US08344348B2
An electrical device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A first active material is between the first electrode and second electrode. A second active material is between the first electrode and second electrode. A nonlinear electrode material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The nonlinear electrode material is electrically in series with the first electrode, the first active material, the second active material, and the second electrode. The first electrode and the first active material undergo no chemical or electrochemical reaction when current passes between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08344339B2
A source-collector module (SOCOMO) for generating a laser-produced plasma (LPP) that emits EUV radiation, and a grazing-incidence collector (GIC) mirror arranged relative to the LPP and having an input end and an output end. The LPP is formed using an LPP target system having a light source portion and a target portion, wherein a pulsed laser beam from the light source portion irradiates a rotating Sn rod in the target portion to generate the EUV radiation. The GIC mirror is arranged relative to the LPP to receive the EUV radiation at its input end and focus the received EUV radiation at an intermediate focus adjacent the output end. A radiation collection enhancement device having at least one funnel element may be used to increase the amount of EUV radiation provided to the intermediate focus and/or directed to a downstream illuminator. An EUV lithography system that utilizes the SOCOMO is also disclosed.
US08344332B2
At a conveying path 10 for continuously carrying a sheet material 1, an electron beam irradiation means 20 is arranged in opposition to at least one surface of the sheet material 1, and at least one surface of the sheet material 1 is sterilized using such an electron beam. The conveying path 10 takes shape of a hollow box surrounding the sheet material, and has an electron beam irradiation area 11 at a part of this area, while keeping a reduced-pressure state ranging from 10 to 80,000 Pa using a pressure reduction means 16. Further, the electron beam irradiation area 11 where the electron beam irradiation means 20 is arranged at least one sub area 12 at each of adjacent hollow box-shaped conveying path 10 at carry-in side and carry-out side of the sheet material, providing the pressure reduction means 16 for depressurizing the sub area 12.
US08344330B2
A radiation detector includes a semiconductor element capable of detecting a radiation, a substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted, and a support member disposed adjacent to the semiconductor element for supporting the substrate. The substrate includes a first end portion on which the semiconductor element is mounted, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion for disposing the support member. The support member includes a first support and a second support, and the first support and the second support each includes a protrusion and an engagement hole for engaging with the protrusion. The protrusion of the first support engages with the engagement hole of the second support to fix the first support and the second support such that the substrate is compressed and supported by the first support and the second support.
US08344321B2
An infrared imaging device according to an embodiment includes: an imaging area formed on a semiconductor substrate, the imaging area having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels including a plurality of reference pixels arranged in at least one row and a plurality of infrared detection pixels arranged in remaining rows to detect incident infrared rays, each of the reference pixels having a first thermoelectric conversion element, each of the infrared detection pixel having a thermoelectric conversion unit, the thermoelectric conversion unit having an infrared absorption film to absorb the incident infrared rays and convert the incident infrared rays to heat and a second thermoelectric conversion element to convert the heat obtained by the conversion conducted by the infrared absorption film to an electric signal.
US08344320B2
A lens adjustment method and a lens adjustment system which adjust a plurality of multi-pole lenses of an electron spectrometer attached to a transmission electron microscope, optimum conditions of the multi-pole lenses are determined through simulation based on a parameter design method using exciting currents of the multi-pole lenses as parameters.
US08344318B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber, a platen positioned in the process chamber for supporting a workpiece, a source configured to generate a plasma in the process chamber, and a monitoring system including an ion mobility spectrometer configured to monitor a condition of the plasma. A monitoring method including generating a plasma in a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, supporting a workpiece on a platen in the process chamber, and monitoring a condition of the plasma with an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided.
US08344316B2
A mass spectrometer includes a first ion trap arranged upstream of an analytical second ion trap. The charge capacity of the first ion trap is set at a value such that if all the ions stored within the first ion trap up to the charge capacity limit of the first ion trap are then transferred to the second ion trap, then the analytical performance of the second ion trap is not substantially degraded due to space charge effects.
US08344301B2
A system for heat-treatment of large metallic samples including a microwave heating apparatus with a wave guide, means for monitoring and measuring temperature, holding means for holding the metallic sample. The holding means comprises a casket configuration made of low density alumina fiber board and wrapped with low density alumina fiber material to define a cavity and provided with susceptors along the inner walls of the cavity.
US08344299B1
A cylinder heater useful in fabricating sleeves for high pressure pump liners comprises a support rotatably supporting a hollow circular cylinder having a metallic powder layer contacting a portion of its inner surface. A vibration sensor indicates vibration of the cylinder, and at least one temperature sensor indicates at least one temperature of the cylinder. At least one circumferential induction heating coil around the cylinder is positionable via the support along the longitudinal axis of cylinder rotation. Longitudinal position and power output of at least one heating coil, and cylinder rotational speed, are adjusted by a controller communicating with the support, the vibration sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one heating coil. Controlled heating of the cylinder and the metallic powder layer results in a stratified abrasion-resistant fused metallic layer on the cylinder's inner surface. The fused layer may be honed to make a liner sleeve.
US08344297B2
Problem to provide a container for an electromagnetic cooker which can be heated corresponding to impedance check frequency which differs depending on a manufacturer of an electromagnetic cooker or the like, can properly and easily set a heat generation characteristic, is excellent in marketability, configuration in use, disposability, handiness in cooking and the like, is suitable for retort foods, instant foods and the like, and exhibits high heating efficiency, means for resolution a container for an electromagnetic cooker includes a container body made of a non-conductive material and a conductive layer in a bottom portion of the container, wherein the ratio of resistance change (R−R0)/R0 of the conductive layer with respect to the impedance check frequency of a heating coil is set to 5.3 or more, and a ratio of inductance change (L−L0)/L0 of the conductive layer with respect to the impedance check frequency of the heating coil is set to −0.17 or less. Here, R indicates the high-frequency resistance (.OMEGA.) on a heating coil side with a load, R0 indicates the high-frequency resistance (.OMEGA.) on the heating coil side without a load, L indicates the inductance (.mu.H) on the heating coil side with a load, and L0 indicates the inductance (.mu.H) on the heating coil side without a load.
US08344296B2
An apparatus, system and method for warming food by controlled heating of heat retention objects such as cookware items or pellets located on a trivet positioned on a countertop, using heating control units, such as induction heating units, remotely located beneath the countertop. The preferred trivet insulates the countertop against damages, and also includes circuitry enabling the indication or display of its proper positioning on the countertop, and also indicating whether the heating unit is heating the heat retention object.
US08344290B1
A robust, insulated, double walled, trigger-type spray bottle having a heating element built-into the bottle to heat water. The bottle is received in a power base having pin/ring connections to provide power only when the bottle is on the base. Sensors control the temperature of water in the bottle and cut off power to the heater if it begins to overheat. A hot water/steam vapor condensate and recycle tube prevents steam build-up in the bottle, and the condensate is led through a drip tube to a collection tray in the base. The recycle tube includes a spring-biased valve so that when the bottle is picked-up there is no drip of hot water. The valve is actuated by a rib and gutter system that permits the bottle to be placed on the base in any orientation, yet will drain. The double wall of the bottle insulates the user's hand.
US08344286B2
A method of enhancing the quality of laser ablation by controlling the laser repetition rate during the ablation process, wherein the method enhances the quality of laser ablation of a photomask in order to improve the optical quality thereof. Also provided is a system employing the method of enhancing the quality of laser ablation.
US08344282B2
A technique for laser welding an anode lead to an anode termination of an electrolytic capacitor is provided. The technique involves directing a laser beam through one or more refraction elements before it contacts the lead and anode termination. By selectively controlling the index of refraction and thickness of the refraction element, the angle at which the refraction element is positioned relative to the laser beam, etc., the laser beam may be directed to a precise weld location without substantially contacting and damaging other parts of the capacitor.
US08344279B2
A mobile terminal keyboard comprises a keyboard body and a key, where sidewalls of the key can produce a cavity so as to form a capsule structure. The keyboard body and the sidewalls can be made of a transparent material; and transparent liquid can be included in the cavity. The mobile terminal keyboard can be convenient for a user and humanized. Light can pass through the transparent liquid in the cavity from one or more directions and generate refraction to form a colorful effect. The liquid in the cavity also can be deformed to generate various color changes on the press of a key.
US08344278B2
An exemplary control key assembly for an electronic device includes a housing and a control key. The housing forms a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes a resisting portion and a hole. The control key is positioned in the receiving portion. The control key includes an operating element and an elastic element. The operating element is received in the hole, and the elastic element includes a bent arm engaging with the resisting portion to limit the movement of the control key.
US08344277B1
A waterproof housing to contain and operate an electronic device with capacitive touch screen and electrically conductive outer case includes interfitting pieces configured to removably receive and immobilize the electronic device. One or more buttons through the housing are aligned opposite control regions of the screen and exposed for user depression. Different conductive polymer members connect at least distal tips of the buttons with the outer case to provide electrical connection between the case and a control region of the touch screen with depression of the button overlying the region. Some members further provide sealing and spring functions.
US08344268B2
An electronic component packaging structure includes a circuit board, electronic components mounted on the circuit board and a moisture-proof coating layer covering the electronic components. The moisture-proof coating layer is constituted from a polymer material coating having at least two layers of a lower layer and an upper layer, and the polymer material forming the lower layer has higher swelling property and/or solubility to a repairing solvent that is selected from among hydrocarbon-based solvents than the polymer material forming the upper layer.
US08344265B2
An electronic component achieves reduced variations in the mounting positions of elements even with variations in the size of solder bumps and easily supports finer pitches of the bumps. The electronic component includes a common substrate, at least two elements mounted on a first main surface of the common substrate, a conductive pattern provided on the first main surface of the common substrate so as to extend in a direction along which the at least two elements are disposed adjacent to each other and including a plurality of lands arranged at positions corresponding to terminals of the elements insulating films provided at least on the conductive pattern so as to be spaced apart from both side edges of the lands in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a land extending direction and adjacent to both ends of the lands in the land extending direction, and solder bumps that are disposed on the lands and are arranged to connect the lands and the terminals of the elements.
US08344262B2
An epoxy resin composition for printed wiring board, characterized by containing (A) an epoxy resin component containing an epoxy resin (A-1) having nitrogen and bromine atoms in the same molecule, (B) a phenolic curing agent component containing a phenol resin (B-1), and (C) a curing accelerator component containing an imidazole-silane compound (C-1).
US08344248B2
An electrical box may include a top side and a bottom side that are connected to one another by panels. Each of the top side and bottom side may include a front portion with a side edge, a front edge and a back edge, a back portion with a side edge, a front edge and a back edge, and an angled portion connecting the front portion to the back portion, the back portion being offset with respect to the front portion. The angled portion may include a transition edge that joins the back edge of the front portion to the back edge of the back portion. The transition edge may provide for space for maneuvering the electrical box aligned to a wall stud in a wall assembly out of the wall assembly through a hole in a drywall of the wall assembly.
US08344245B2
A thin film solar cell module of see-through type having cells connected in series and disposed on an opaque substrate with holes is provided. The thin film solar cell module includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the opaque substrate and is composed of a first comb electrode and block-like first electrodes. The second electrode is disposed above the first electrode and is composed of a second comb electrode and block-like second electrodes. A portion of the block-like first electrodes, a portion of the opaque substrate, and the holes are exposed between the second comb electrode and the block-like second electrodes. The second comb electrode and the first comb electrode are disposed symmetrically, and the block-like first electrodes and the block-like second electrodes are disposed by parallel displacement.
US08344243B2
A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method provides a transparent substrate including a surface region. A first electrode layer overlies the surface region. A copper layer is formed overlying the first electrode layer and an indium layer is formed overlying the copper layer to form a multi-layered structure. At least the multi-layered structure is subjected to a thermal treatment process in an environment containing a sulfur bearing species to forming a bulk copper indium disulfide. The bulk copper indium disulfide material has a surface region characterized by a copper poor surface region having a copper to indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1 and n-type impurity characteristics. The bulk copper indium disulfide material excluding the copper poor surface region forms an absorber region and the copper poor surface region forms at least a portion of a window region for the thin film photovoltaic device. The method optionally forms a high resistivity transparent material having an intrinsic semiconductor characteristic overlying the copper poor surface region. A second electrode layer overlies the high resistivity transparent layer.
US08344241B1
Nanostructures and photovoltaic structures are disclosed. A nanostructure according to one embodiment includes an array of nanocables extending from a substrate, the nanocables in the array being characterized as having a spacing and surface texture defined by inner surfaces of voids of a template; an electrically insulating layer extending along the substrate; and at least one layer overlaying the nanocables. A nanostructure according to another embodiment includes a substrate; a portion of a template extending along the substrate, the template being electrically insulative; an array of nanocables extending from the template, portions of the nanocables protruding from the template being characterized as having a spacing, shape and surface texture defined by previously-present inner surfaces of voids of the template; and at least one layer overlaying the nanocables.
US08344239B2
A mounting system is provided for solar modules with a compressable retention structure for solar modules. The retention structure may interleave a upper and lower rail that provides a shelf or other support structure in order to hold a solar module or panel in an operative position. The upper and lower rails may be compressed towards one another in order to cause the support structure to retain the solar modules or panels.
US08344229B2
New plants were created from a new and efficient method of intergeneric hybridization between the genus Argyranthemum as a female parent and a plant from I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The plants were created by rescuing an embryo from the cross-pollination of a tetraploid or aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum female parent with a plant from the group I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The new plants often exhibited the perennial and multi-branched habit of the female Argyranthemum parent, with large capitula size and different ray floret colors, many not previously seen in Argyranthemum. When compared to Argyranthemum, the new plants possessed improved tolerance to high growing temperatures. In addition to providing the intergeneric hybrid plants and parts thereof, the invention provides methods for making such plants and methods for creating intergeneric hybrid plants.
US08344227B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH590373. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH590373, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH590373 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH590373.
US08344219B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH105639. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH105639, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH105639 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH105639.
US08344218B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH607207. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH607207, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH607207 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH607207.
US08344213B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB14Y10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB14Y10, cells from soybean variety XB14Y10, plants of soybean XB14Y10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB14Y10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB14Y10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB14Y10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB14Y10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB14Y10 are further provided.
US08344210B2
Methods and materials for modulating (e.g., increasing or decreasing) low light tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding polypeptides that confer plants with tolerance to low light are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low light tolerance and plant products produced from plants having increased low light tolerance.
US08344203B2
Three-dimensional formed films particularly useful as transfer layers in absorbent articles comprise a base plane having land areas defining a plurality of protuberances having sidewalls and a bottom wall, a plurality of the protuberances having an aperture in substantially at least one sidewall. In preferred embodiment, the film further comprises a plurality of capillaries, which can originate in the base plane or in a secondary plane spaced from the base plane. In preferred embodiments, the capillaries terminate in a common plane with the bottom surfaces of the protrusions.
US08344195B2
A process for producing fuel by cracking a plastics-derived liquid, which is obtained from a pyrolysis process, using a dolomite catalyst. The plastics-derived liquid is produced by the pyrolysis of plastic waste, such as of one or more of polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene. The plastic-derived liquid is first subjected to a semi-batch catalytic cracking reaction over a very low cost dolomite catalyst to obtain high quality oil for fuel, which comprises mainly light and heavy naphtha. Moreover, the catalytic cracking reaction is conducted at operating temperatures lower than 320° C.
US08344187B2
Esters and lactones can be respectively reduced to alcohols and diols in the presence of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, base and hydrogen gas (H2). An extremely practical reduction method can be provided by preferable combinations of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, the base, a used amount of the base, a pressure of hydrogen gas and a reaction temperature. This method is used in place of hydride reduction and is a useful method by which design of highly active catalysts can be relatively easily made while a high productivity can be expected.
US08344184B2
Improved methods of introducing promoters to catalysts are described. The present invention provides a convenient method of uniformly distributing a catalyst promoter, to provide for intimate contact between the promoter and the active catalyst sites. This intimate contact can enhance the activity and/or product selectivity of the promoted catalyst. In some embodiments, the method includes reacting an alkali metal with an alcohol in a non-aqueous medium, contacting the resulting solution with a starting catalyst, and depositing the alkali metal onto the starting catalyst to form an alkali-promoted catalyst.
US08344181B2
the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein Z represents O, S, NR6, SO or SO2; R1 represents hydrogen, cyano, hydroxy, or C1-4alkyl optionally substituted with halo, R2 represents hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, or C1-4alkyloxy-; R3 represents hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxy- or R3 combined with R2 form together a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of —O—CH2— (a), —NR7—CH2— (b), —(CR8R9)m- (c) and —CR10═ (d) wherein m represents 1 or 2 and R7, R8, R9 and R10 are each independently selected from hydrogen or C1-4alkyl; R4 represents hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, cyano, amino, NR11R12, C1-4alkyloxy- optionally substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents selected from hydroxy and halo or R4 represents C1-4alkyl optionally substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents selected from hydroxy and halo; R5 represents hydrogen, halo, cyano, amino, phenyl, hydroxy, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR13R14 or C1-4alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxycarbonyl, phenyl, C1-4alkyloxy or NR15R16; R6 represents hydrogen; R11 and R12 each independently represent hydrogen, C1-4alkyl or C1-4alkylcarbonyl-; R13 and R14 each independently represent hydrogen, C1-4alkyl or C1-4alkylcarbonyl-; R15 and R16 each independently represent hydrogen, C1-4alkyl or C1-4alkylcarbonyl-; R17 and R18 each independently represent hydrogen, C1-4alkyl or C1-4alkylcarbonyl-.
US08344152B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a pyridylethylthio compound which is improved in yield of the pyridylethylthio compound. In a process for producing a pyridylethylthio compound by reacting vinyl pyridine with a sulfur-containing compound, vinyl pyridine used contains a compound represented by the general formula (1): (wherein R1 and R2 are any of combination of isopropenyl group and a hydrogen atom, combination of 1-propenyl group and a hydrogen atom, combination of 2-propenyl group and a hydrogen atom, and combination of methyl group and vinyl group), in an amount of not more than 4% by weight.
US08344150B2
The present invention provides pyrrole end-capped bipyridine derivative having a general formula (1) useful for the detection of zinc ions in solution. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of pyrrole end-capped bipyridine derivative having a general formula (1). The present invention further provides a dipstick device by coating the assay powder of formula (1) in alumina over a thermoplastic or a glass solid support. The detection event can be monitored by noting the color change and the intense fluorescence change on the surface of the dipstick. For zinc ions, in addition to the color change an intense fluorescence change from greenish-yellow to red is observed. Detection event by means of fluorescence change is selective for Zn2+ ions when compared with all other biologically important metal ions like Na+, K+, Ca2+; Mg2+, Cu2+. The present dipstick is reusable, and can conduct the analysis of different samples using same stick.
US08344145B2
The invention relates to salts of 2-substituted quinolines, the manufacturing method for same, and use of the same for the production of drugs. Said salts are advantageous in that the same can be obtained in crystalline form, which facilitates their implementation in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions.
US08344135B2
The present invention provides a heterocyclic compound having a strong Raf inhibitory activity, which is represented by the following formula wherein each substituent is as defined in the present specification, or a salt thereof.
US08344121B2
The disclosure provides probes for one or more target molecules. In particular examples, the probes include a molecular linker and first and second functional groups linked and spaced by the molecular linker, wherein the functional groups are capable of interacting with one another or with the target biomolecule in a predetermined reaction, and wherein the molecular linker maintains the first and second functional groups sufficiently spaced from one another such that the functional groups do not substantially interact in an absence of the target biomolecule. In the presence of the target biomolecule the functional groups interact (with each other, with the target biomolecule, or both), and in some examples a detectable signal is produced. In some examples, the functional groups can detect or modify a target molecule. Also provided are methods of using the probes, for example to detect or modify a target molecule.
US08344119B2
A process for the production of natural ferulic acid, coniferyl alcohol and/or vanillin, includes the bio-conversion of eugenol by a bacteria belonging to the Streptomyces genes including at least one nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8 or any nucleotide sequence having at least 70%, preferably 80% and very preferably 90%, identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8.
US08344110B2
The present invention provides Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Receptor (TSLPR) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides selective binding agents, vectors, host cells, and methods for producing TSLPR polypeptides. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with TSLPR polypeptides.
US08344098B2
Processes for producing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof are provided wherein, by condensing and recycling at least a portion of the vapor phase produced as the reaction progresses, the yield loss and polymer color are reduced.
US08344097B2
Disclosed is a cationically polymerizable composition which shows improved storage stability and whose polymerization initiation temperature or curing temperature is controlled. In the case where the composition is thermosetting, it yields a cured product of three-dimensional structure excellent in mechanical properties, electrical properties, adhesive properties, heat resistance, moisture resistance, chemical resistance, and the like. The cationically polymerizable composition comprises a cationically polymerizable compound selected from vinyl compounds, lactones, cyclic ethers, and the like, a heteropolyacid selected from phosphotungstic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, silicotungstic acid, silicomolybdic acid, and the like as a cationic polymerization initiator, and a stabilizer selected from heteropolyacid salts as an inhibitor of cationic polymerization.
US08344090B2
Methods for preparing functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidones with polymerizable functions. Also, amphipathic polydimethylsiloxane-PVP block copolymers, such as and (meth)acrylated and (meth)acrylamide-functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidone compounds, such as The block copolymers are useful as biomaterial components in biomedical devices. They provide improved wettability, lubricity, and material compatibility to the biomedical device, e.g., ophthalmic lenses.
US08344089B2
The present invention relates to branched polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers, to a process for preparing them and to their use as anti-misting additives in silicone release coatings.
US08344077B2
This invention is related to the field of olefin polymerisation in double loop reactors and especially to the polymerisation of olefins with very active catalyst systems. It discloses a method for reducing blockage when transferring polymer product from the first loop to the second loop of a double loop reactor.
US08344064B2
There is provided a thermoplastic resin composition which comprises a modified rubber having excellent low-temperature durability dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix in order to improve the low-temperature durability or repeated fatigue resistance of the polyamide resin and which maintains its flowability and can be formed into a film even at a high content of the modified rubber, and has excellent low-temperature durability. The thermoplastic resin composition comprises a modified polyamide resin (A) obtained by melt blending 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin (A1) and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of a compound (A2) capable of binding to a terminal amino group of the polyamide resin, at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the polyamide resin (A1), and a modified rubber (B) having an acid anhydride group, an epoxy group, or a carboxyl group or a derivative thereof. The compound (A2) is preferably a monofunctional epoxy compound. The film of the thermoplastic resin composition is suitably used for the manufacture of tires and hoses.
US08344055B1
An ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant is combined with a fluoropolymer and/or a penetrating barrier, borate-containing formulation having resistance to water damage with protective properties coming from materials such as used in food packaging and cosmetics and/or a medium-to-long chain polar carboxyl substance, and/or a medium-to-long chain polar carboxyl substance without borate, so as to make a composition. The composition can be aqueous. It can be a liquid of light to moderate viscosity, or may be a concentrated or dried version, which may contain a neutral ammonium phosphate and perhaps other ingredient(s) such as a mold inhibitor, an insecticide, a stain protector, and so forth and the like. The mold inhibitor can have especial activity against toxic black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum). The insecticide may be a termiticide. Such a composition can be made by contacting the fire retardant and other necessary ingredient(s) under conditions sufficient to form the composition; it can be used by contacting it with a substrate, which beneficially is otherwise flammable. A process for incorporation of an ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant into wood includes contacting the wood with a liquid at an effective pH above the pH of the wood, where the liquid embraces a combination in proximity or time of an amine oxide and a buffering agent, as well as the ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant, under conditions such that the ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant is incorporated into the wood. Another aspect is the composition or its residue in combination with the substrate.
US08344054B2
Nanocomposites and method of making same are provided using nanoplatelets. A nanocomposite is provided, and the nanocomposite includes nanoparticles, inorganic platelets, and a polymer material. A method is provided for dispersing nanoparticles into a polymeric material by using inorganic nanoplatelets.
US08344052B2
Disclosed are hot melt adhesive compositions comprising a metathesized unsaturated polyol ester wax. Typically, the metathesized unsaturated polyol ester wax is derived from renewable starting materials such as vegetable oils or animal fats. The metathesized unsaturated polyol ester wax typically replaces a portion or all of a petroleum-derived wax or synthetic wax in various hot melt adhesive compositions. The hot melt adhesives may be conventional hot melt adhesives or hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesives.
US08344045B2
An ink composition is provided that includes (A) a polymerizable silicone compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group and a silicone chain, (B) tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, and (C) a radical polymerization initiator. There are also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging onto a recording medium the ink composition and (b1) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation, a printed material obtained by the inkjet recording method, and a process for producing a formed printed material that includes (a2) a step of forming an image on a support by discharging the ink composition by an inkjet method, (b2) a step of obtaining a printed material having a cured image on the support by irradiating the obtained image with actinic radiation so as to cure the ink composition, and (c2) a step of molding the printed material.
US08344041B2
A novel monomer, 1,1,1-tri-[4-(methacryloxyethylaminocarbonyloxy)-phenyl]ethane (MPE) can be used in preparing dental compositions The MPE monomer can be combined into a dental adhesive with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and BisGMA (bisphenol A dimethacrylate). The MPE polymer can be polymerized with a photoinitiator system, such as a system that includes an iodonium salt. The iodonium salt can be diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate.
US08344034B2
The present invention concerns shape memory materials comprising polyelectrolyte segments. These segments can be used for fixing a permanent shape and/or such segments can also be employed as switching segments responsible for the fixation and release of the temporary shape.
US08344031B2
The present invention features a method of treating at least one sign of aging on the skin selected from the group consisting of enhancing the elasticity of said skin, enhancing the firmness of said skin, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles or cellulite on the skin, by administering to skin in need of such treatment a composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I or formula II: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof.
US08344025B2
The present invention relates to specific oxalic acid derivatives and to corresponding mixtures and to uses thereof as physiological cooling active ingredients.
US08344016B2
A compound of formula (I): and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof wherein the variable groups are defined within; their use in the inhibition of 11βHSD1, processes for making them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.
US08344006B2
Stable liquid formulations of bendamustine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and polar aprotic solvents, are described.
US08343999B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I thiazolyl compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents and for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US08343984B2
Polymorphic forms of 4-methyl-N-[3-(4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-3-(4-pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-benzamide free base and salts thereof are prepared by various processes.
US08343983B2
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08343981B2
The invention relates to heterocyclyl-substituted dihydroquinazolines of formula (I), to processes for their preparation, to medicaments containing them, and to methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular, for use as anti-viral agents, in particular, against cytomegaloviruses.
US08343980B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels and calcium channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US08343978B2
The present invention provides orodispersable tablets and methods of using the same. The tablets and methods are useful, for example, for reducing first pass metabolism of orally administered active agents, enhancing bioavailability of active agents, and/or reducing the time it takes for an active agent to achieve maximal effect in a subject. The tablets, when taken orally, disintegrate or dissolve rapidly such that active agent included in the tablets is absorbed in the buccal cavity. The invention further provides methods of manufacturing any of the tablets disclosed herein and containers that include any of the tablets disclosed herein.
US08343973B2
Phenoxymethyl compounds that inhibit at least one phosphodiesterase 10 are described as are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds an methods for treating various CNS disorders by administering such compounds to a patient in need thereof.
US08343971B2
This application relates to pharmacologically-active vanilloid compounds which are useful for the treatment of various anti-inflammatory states characterized by inhibition of FAAH, such as, Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, depression, pain, rheumatoid arthritis, pathophysiology of mood disorders, multiple sclerosis, and inflammation, or antagonism of TRPV1, such as, for example, Huntington's disease, hypertension, arthritis, allergic airway inflammation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and neuropathic pain.
US08343967B2
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases during which is expressed anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein.
US08343955B2
Benzoxazepin compounds of Formula I, including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, solvates, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: Z1 is CR1 or N; Z2 is CR2 or N; Z3 is CR3 or N; Z4 is CR4 or N; and B is a pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, or triazolyl ring fused to the benzoxepin ring, are useful for inhibiting lipid kinases including p110 alpha and other isoforms of PI3K, and for treating disorders such as cancer mediated by lipid kinases. Methods of using compounds of Formula I for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US08343943B2
Disclosed herein is a cancer sensitizer comprising glucosamine, a glucosamine derivative, or a salt thereof. When administered to patients with cancer, the cancer sensitizer functions to sensitize cancer cells to anticancer agents without producing side effects, thereby increasing the therapeutic efficiency of chemotherapy.
US08343939B2
The present inventors discovered that PKCε is necessary for VEGF signaling through PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways and is involved in MAPK-dependent pathways, thus regulating eNOS activity and DNA synthesis, respectively. Thus differential manipulation of PKCε activity can be used to modify VEGF effects in conditions in which modulation of angiogenesis is desirable (e.g., for treatment of diabetic proliferative retinopathy or to enhance angiogenesis for treatment of peripheral and myocardial ischemia).
US08343936B2
Described herein are novel macrolides, the preparation of novel macrolides, the use of novel macrolides for preventing, treating, or ameliorating various conditions, and the use of novel macrolides as antibacterial agents.
US08343928B2
Auristatin peptide analogs of MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF) are provided having C-terminal phenylalanine residue side chain replacements or modifications which are provided alone or attached to ligands through various linkers. The related conjugates can target specific cell types to provide therapeutic benefit.
US08343897B2
Provided is a method for inhibiting scale formation within a hydrocarbon producing system, said method comprising contacting said system with a polymer formed from a diallyl ammonium salt, a monomer comprising one carboxylate group and a monomer comprising at least two carboxylate groups or an anhydride group. Also provided are hydrocarbon well treatment compositions and polymers for use in connection with the provided methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08343895B2
Additives for reducing the loss of drilling fluid into the formation surrounding a wellbore during the drilling process as well as drilling fluids comprising the additives and methods of using such additives. The additive includes elastomeric, polymeric, and acrylate, non-agglomerated microspheres.
US08343888B2
Precursor cations of A and B elements of an ABO3 perovskite in aqueous solution are formed as an ionic complex gel with citric acid or other suitable polybasic carboxylic acid. The aqueous gel is coated onto a desired catalyst substrate and calcined to form, in-situ, particles of the crystalline perovskite as, for example, an oxidation catalyst on the substrate. In one embodiment, a perovskite catalyst such as LaCoO3 is formed on catalyst supporting cell walls of an extruded ceramic monolith for oxidation of NO in the exhaust gas of a lean burn vehicle engine.
US08343872B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating that includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate structure on the substrate; performing an implantation process to form a doped region in the substrate; forming spacers on sidewalls of the gate structure; performing an first etching to form a recess in the substrate, where the first etching removes a portion of the doped region; performing a second etching to expand the recess in the substrate, where the second etching includes an etchant and a catalyst that enhances an etching rate at a remaining portion of the doped region; and filling the recess with a semiconductor material.
US08343854B2
A method of reducing memory effects during an epitaxial growth process is provided in which a gas mixture comprising hydrogen gas and a halogen-containing gas is used to flush the CVD reaction chamber between growth steps.
US08343845B2
A capacitor structure includes a plurality of lower electrodes on a substrate, the lower electrodes having planar top surfaces and being arranged in a first direction to define a lower electrode column, a plurality of lower electrode columns being arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to define a lower electrode matrix, a plurality of supports on upper sidewalls of at least two adjacent lower electrodes, a dielectric layer on the lower electrodes and the supports, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer.
US08343834B2
A semiconductor device with a charge carrier compensation structure in a semiconductor body and to a method for its production. The semiconductor body includes drift zones of a first conduction type and charge compensation zones of a second conduction type complementing the first conduction type. The drift zones include a semiconductor material applied in epitaxial growth zones, wherein the epitaxial growth zones include an epitaxially grown semiconductor material which is non-doped to lightly doped. Towards the substrate, the epitaxial growth zones are provided with a first conduction type incorporated by ion implantation over the entire surface and with selectively introduced doping material zones of a second, complementary conduction type. Towards the front side, the epitaxial growth zones are provided with a second, complementary conduction type incorporated by ion implantation over the entire surface and with selectively introduced doping material zones of the first conduction type.
US08343817B2
To provide a method by which a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with excellent electric characteristics and high reliability is manufactured with a small number of steps. After a channel protective layer is formed over an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn, a film having n-type conductivity and a conductive film are formed, and a resist mask is formed over the conductive film. The conductive film, the film having n-type conductivity, and the oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn are etched using the channel protective layer and gate insulating films as etching stoppers with the resist mask, so that source and drain electrode layers, a buffer layer, and a semiconductor layer are formed.
US08343807B2
Apparatus including a chip substrate having a first chip surface facing away from a second chip surface; an array of microelectronic elements on the first chip surface; and an array of conductors each in communication with one of the microelectronic elements, the conductors passing through the chip substrate and fully spanning a distance between the first and second chip surfaces. Process including: providing an apparatus including a chip substrate having a first chip surface facing away from a second chip surface, an array of microelectronic elements being on the first chip surface, an array of conductors each being in communication with one of the microelectronic elements and partially spanning an average distance between the first and second chip surfaces; bonding a temporary support carrier onto the array of microelectronic elements; removing a portion of the chip substrate, thereby reducing the average distance between the first and second chip surfaces; and forming an under bump metallization pad at the second chip surface in electrical communication with a conductor.
US08343805B1
A method and structure for uncovering captive devices in a bonded wafer assembly comprising a top wafer and a bottom wafer. One embodiment method includes forming a plurality of cuts in the top wafer and removing a segment of the top wafer defined by the plurality of cuts. The bottom wafer remains unsingulated after the removal of the segment.
US08343802B2
A method of processing a flexible encapsulation scheme to encapsulate a flexible device, such as a display device in order to provide structural support for the display module. An upper transparent encapsulation layer covers and protects the media and active area of the device. A lower encapsulation layer is deposited over the under side of the display to complete the encapsulation and the two protective encapsulation layers are sealed. A driver housing may be positioned at the opposite end of the device to the overlap region of the encapsulation layers in order to protect the driver electronics.
US08343800B2
The invention provides a thin film transistor comprising an active layer, the active layer comprising an IGZO-based oxide material, the IGZO-based oxide material being represented by a composition formula of In2-xGaxZnO4-δ, where 0.75
US08343795B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a method to break and assemble solar cells to make solar panel. The present disclosure provides a method to produce solar pieces from solar cell, as well as assemble them together. The present disclosure device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the present disclosure provides a high speed method to break scribed cells into pieces. A method of forming a string of solar cells includes providing a scribe line on a solar cell and placing a first ribbon on the solar cell. The method then includes placing the solar cell on a supporter and then breaking the solar cell into a plurality of solar cell pieces. The method then has the step of placing a second ribbon on the solar cell pieces and soldering the first and second ribbons and the solar cell pieces and then assembling the solar cell pieces into a string of solar cells.
US08343789B2
The present disclosure provides a system of fabricating a microstructure device with an improved anchor. A method of fabricating a microstructure device with an improved anchor includes providing a substrate and forming an oxide layer on the substrate. Then, a cavity is etched in the oxide layer, such that the cavity includes a sidewall in the oxide layer. A microstructure device layer is then bonded to the oxide layer over the cavity. Forming a microstructure device, a trench is etched in the device layer to define an outer boundary of the microstructure device. In an embodiment, the outer boundary is substantially outside of the sidewall of the cavity. Then, the sidewall of the cavity is etched away through the trench in the device layer, to thereby suspend the microstructure device over the cavity.
US08343788B2
A method of fabricating a light emitting device comprising: providing a substrate; forming an epitaxial stack on the substrate wherein the epitaxial stack comprising a first conductivity semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity semiconductor layer; forming a mesa on the epitaxial stack to expose partial of the first conductivity semiconductor layer; and etching the surface of the first conductivity semiconductor layer and forming a least one rough structure on the surface of the first conductivity semiconductor layer wherein the first conductivity semiconductor layer is sandwiched by the substrate and the active layer.
US08343786B2
The described technology relates generally to an OLED display and manufacturing method thereof. The OLED display includes a substrate, a thin film transistor on the substrate and including a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, and an organic light emitting element coupled to the thin film transistor and including a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer, and a common electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer is formed of a polycrystalline silicon layer, and remnants and contaminants at a surface of the polycrystalline silicon layer are reduced or eliminated through an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. The semiconductor layer is formed of a polycrystalline silicon layer where remnants and contaminants at the surface thereof are reduced or eliminated through an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.
US08343781B2
An apparatus and method for electrical mask inspection is disclosed. A scan chain is formed amongst two metal layers and a via layer. One of the three layers is a functional layer under test, and the other two layers are test layers. A resistance measurement of the scan chain is used to determine if a potential defect exists within one of the vias or metal segments comprising the scan chain.
US08343777B2
Detection of magnetic beads at temperature below room temperature can increase the signal level significantly as compared to the same detection when performed at room temperature. Additional improvement is obtained if the beads are below 30 nm in size and if deviations of bead size from the median are small. A preferred format for the beads is a suspension of super-paramagnetic particles in a non-magnetic medium.
US08343773B2
The invention provides a microcapsule array comprising a plurality of microcapsules immobilized on a surface, optionally in microwells in said surface. Each of the microcapsules comprises an outer layer or shell defining a microcapsule interior, said outer layer having a permeability towards a nanoscale species which is dependent on an environmental condition to which said array is exposed.
US08343769B2
An immersion solution for a microscope, the immersion solution including a metal-halogeno complex anion containing bromine or iodine and one or more types of metal elements M selected from Sn, In, Bi, Sb, Zn and Al, and an imidazolium cation, a pyridinium cation, a pyrrolidinium cation or an ammonium cation. The immersion solution includes an ionic liquid that transmits light having a predetermined wavelength, has a refractive index of no less than 1.60 and is used for a fluorescence microscope.
US08343754B2
The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.
US08343746B2
Compositions that include DNA polymerases having increased residence times for nucleotide analogues, particularly modified recombinant Φ29-type DNA polymerases with such increased residence times, are provided. Methods of making the polymerases and of using the polymerases in sequencing and DNA amplification are also provided. Compositions including α-thiophosphate nucleotide analogues with four or more phosphate groups are described, as are methods for determining the sequence of nucleic acid molecules using such analogues.
US08343742B2
This invention relates to a method for the encapsulation of cells in biologic compatible three dimensional scaffolds and the use of such cells encapsulated in a scaffold. The cells are embedded in a charged polymer that is complex coacervating with an oppositely charged polymer within biologic compatible scaffolds. The polymer complex embedding the cells is forming an ultra thin membrane on the surface of the three dimensional scaffold.
US08343738B2
The invention relates to an assay for determining a health state of a subject using a combination of detecting the presence of a virus and detecting the presence of a genomic target or marker indicative of a health state.
US08343733B2
A method of staining or pre-staining at least one cell is provided. The method comprising contacting the at least one cell with a staining agent selected from the group consisting of an extract of a Ficus elastica plant, a C23H44O4 and a proanthocyanidin, thereby staining or pre-staining the at least one cell. Also provided are methods of detecting cells of different differentiation stages and methods of diagnosing cancer and metabolic diseases.
US08343726B2
The present invention provides assays and devices for detection of substances in liquid samples. The assays and devices utilize passive diffusion between a porous material and a porous membrane containing a specific binding pair member to enable detection of the substance of interest.
US08343719B2
The present invention relates to the discovery of certain microRNAs that correlate with certain information regarding cancer. The microRNAs of the invention are selected from the group consisting of hsa-miR-15b, hsa-miR-181b, hsa-miR-191, hsa-miR-200c, and hsa-let-7g. If the expression of these microRNAs is increase, then the increased expression of these microRNAs is diagnostic for cancer, characterizes the cancer, prognosticates an expected response to cancer treatments, and/or prognosticates an expected survival of a patient. Embodiments of this discovery include a method, composition, kit and isolated nucleic acid.
US08343703B2
An electrostatic image developing toner, includes: a block copolymer that contains: a block A that has a glass transition temperature of about 60° C. or more; and a crystalline block B that has a melting point of about 25° C. or more derived from an ethylenically unsaturated compound, wherein the block copolymer satisfies the following equations (1) to (3): 30° C.≦[T(0.5 MPa)−T(30 MPa)]≦80° C. (1) 60° C.≦T(0.5 MPa) (2) T(30 MPa)≦80° C. (3) wherein T(0.5 MPa) represents a temperature at which a viscosity of the block copolymer is 104 Pa·s when a pressure applied by a flow tester is 0.5 MPa; and T(30 MPa) represents a temperature at which a viscosity of the block copolymer is 104 Pa·s when a pressure applied by a flow tester is 30 MPa.
US08343698B2
A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a surface layer located overlying the photosensitive layer, the surface layer including a cross-linked material of a radical polymerizable monomer having at least 3 functional groups with no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure, the surface layer having a sulfur concentration of 50 ppmw or lower.
US08343697B2
An electrophotographic photoconductor containing at least a charge generation material and a charge transport material on a conductive support, the electrophotographic photoconductor comprising a diamine compound represented by the formula (1), and also a polyarylate resin having a structural unit represented by the following formula (I).
US08343693B2
A focus test reticle for measuring focus information includes an outer pattern. The outer pattern has a line pattern composed of a light shielding film extending in the Y direction, a phase shift portion provided on a side in the +X direction of the line pattern and formed to have a line width narrower than the line pattern, a transmitting portion provided on a side in the −X direction of the line pattern and formed to have a line width narrower than the line pattern, a transmitting portion provided on a side in the +X direction of the phase shift portion, and a phase shift portion provided on a side in the −X direction of the transmitting portion. Focus information of a projection optical system is measured at a high measuring reproducibility and a high measuring efficiency.
US08343682B2
A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising the steps of: i) selecting a fluid transport layer sheet material; ii) selecting a target level of compression Ct % for use of said fluid transport layer sheet material in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; iii) measuring the pressure Pt for which the fluid transport layer sheet material achieves compression of Ct %; iv) positioning between the platens of a press a membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) an anode catalyst material; c) a cathode catalyst material; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; and e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; v) depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane; vi) compressing the membrane electrode assembly to a pressing pressure Pp which is between 90% and 110% of Pt; and vii) substantially fixing the gasket material so as to form a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly. An MEA is provided comprising the layers listed above wherein the average thickness of each gasket Tg under its contact face is between 110% and 90% of {Tf×(100%−Ct %)}, where Tf is the average thickness of the respective same-side fluid transport layer.
US08343681B2
Bipolar plates and a fuel cell stack having the bipolar plates. The fuel cell stack includes membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), and first and second bipolar plates sequentially stacked between the MEAs. The bipolar plates include: flow channels formed on opposing surfaces thereof; four manifolds connected to the flow channels; and through holes to connect to the manifolds of the bipolar plates adjacent thereto.
US08343677B2
A method of starting a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack by rapidly increasing its temperature. The PEMFC stack includes: a first flow line connected to cooling plates; a second flow line connected to the cooling plates; a coolant reservoir; a heat exchanger; a by-pass line; a heating element; a first valve installed between the first flow line and the heat exchanger; and a second valve that selectively connects the coolant reservoir, the second flow line, and the by-pass line. The method of starting a PEMFC stack includes: closing the first valve and controlling the second valve so that the second flow line and the by-pass line are connected to each other, and the coolant in the coolant reservoir is not connected to the second flow line and the by-pass line; and heating the coolant in the by-pass line.
US08343676B2
A fuel cell vehicle has a fuel cell for generating electric power by being supplied with a reactive gas, an electric storage device, a first power supply line connected to the fuel cell, a second power supply line connected to the electric storage device, and a main DC-to-DC converter for performing bidirectional voltage conversion between the first power supply line and the second power supply line, an electric motor to propel the vehicle and a first electric accessory connected to the first power supply line, a second electric accessory having at least a portion connected to the second power supply line.
US08343673B2
A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell, a system power source, an inverter system and a fuel gas supply device for supplying the fuel cell with fuel gas of a regulated quantity, wherein when the system power source falls in a power failure during the power use by the external loads, at least one of the power use by the internal loads (resistances) and the supply quantity of the fuel gas supply device is altered in dependence on the output power from the fuel cell or the power use by the external loads.
US08343664B2
A subject for the invention is to provide a positive-electrode material, which has high capacity and high output and is inhibited from suffering a decrease in output with repetitions of charge and use. The invention provides a positive-electrode material for lithium secondary battery, which comprises a secondary particle of a lithium/transition metal composite oxide containing boron and/or bismuth, and wherein the atomic ratio of the sum of boron and bismuth to the sum of the metallic elements other than lithium, boron, and bismuth in a surface part of the secondary particle is from 5 times to 70 times the atomic ratio in the whole secondary particle.
US08343661B2
A cathode composition and a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising same are disclosed. The cathode composition is described as comprising (i) particles including a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, V, and combinations thereof; (ii) alkali halometallate; (iii) alkali halide; (iv) source of Zn; and (v) source of chalcogenide. Also described is a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising the composition. The source of Zn and source of chalcogenide in the cathode composition of a cell may be effective to improve the extractable capacity of cells, and decrease the cell resistance, relative to their absence.
US08343652B2
Disclosed herein is a battery cell including an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a receiving part of a battery case (cell case). The cell case is provided, at a predetermined region of the cell case corresponding to the upper end interface of the electrode assembly while the electrode assembly is mounted in the receiving part, with a small groove for pressing against the upper end of the electrode assembly to prevent the upward movement of the electrode assembly. The small groove is continuously formed in parallel with the upper end of the electrode assembly.
US08343647B2
Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells electrically connected with each other, wherein the battery pack is constructed in a structure in which a heat transfer medium flows through gaps defined between the unit cells for controlling the overall temperature of the battery pack to be within a predetermined temperature range for the optimum operation of the battery pack, and each unit cell is provided at the outer surface thereof, at which the heat transfer medium is brought into contact with each unit cell, with a layer containing a phase transformation material (‘phase transformation layer’) for minimizing individual temperature difference between the unit cells. The present invention has the effect of controlling the overall temperature of the battery pack and individual controlling the temperatures of unit cells constituting the battery pack. Also, the present invention has the effect of restraining the abrupt change in temperature of the unit cells, when the battery pack is not in operation or when the external environment abruptly changes, thereby preventing the degradation of the unit cells. Furthermore, the present invention has the effect of minimizing damage to the unit cells due to foreign matter when the foreign matter is brought into contact with the unit cells. In addition, the present invention has the effect of reducing the overall temperature difference of the battery pack and manufacturing a middle- or large-sized battery pack having a compact structure.
US08343646B1
An energy storage system according to the present disclosure includes a cell having an electrode and a deposition facilitating structure proximate the electrode for facilitating deposition of material on the electrode. The deposition facilitating structure includes first and second outer layers and an intermediate support arrangement positioned between the outer layers and connected to the outer layers.
US08343645B2
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a base body, a battery cover, and an operating member. The base body forms two hooks. The operating member is rotatably attached to the battery cover. The operating member includes two arms latching with the hooks. When the operating member is rotated, the arms are moved to separate from the hooks to allow the battery cover to releasably latch to the base body.
US08343642B2
A modular battery includes a housing, a first battery cell having a first electrode surface, a second battery cell having a second electrode surface, and a pressurizable bladder forcing the first battery cell against the second battery cell.
US08343641B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, second electrode plate and separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate wound such that the separator defines an inner circumference of the electrode assembly. A can is provided for receiving the electrode assembly through a can opening and a cap assembly is provided for covering the can opening. An electrically conductive plate is on the inner circumference of the electrode assembly.
US08343633B2
A method of modifying light is disclosed and includes: providing an optical element having an oriented polymer network of a silicone(meth)acrylate copolymer and exhibiting a first phase and a second phase, the first phase and the second phase being chemically connected and having different refractive indices, the first phase being continuous, and the second phase comprising a plurality of structures dispersed within the first phase; illuminating the optical element with light from a light source; and detecting polarized or directionally diffused light transmitted by the optical element. Optical elements including the polymer network and a variety of additional layers are also disclosed, as are optical devices such as prisms, display panels, lenses, and the like.
US08343632B2
The present invention relates to curable alkenyl based silicone release coating compositions having improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates. Furthermore the present invention relates to the process for making a silicone release coating with improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates.
US08343631B2
Low-gloss, two-component clear coats include a base resin including a urethane resin, an isocyanate resin that combines with the base resin immediately prior to application of the low -gloss, two-component clear coat to form a two-component base resin mixture, wherein the two-component base resin mixture comprises from about 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent urethane resin and from about 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent isocyanate resin, and a silica-based flattener, wherein the silica-based flattener comprises from about 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the two-component base resin mixture to about 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the two-component base resin mixture, wherein the low-gloss, two-component clear coat has a 60° gloss finish from 22 gloss units to 34 gloss units when cured.
US08343628B2
A hard coat film includes a transparent plastic film substrate; and a hard coat layer, wherein the hard coat layer is formed of a composition for forming a hard coat layer, the composition containing the following component (A), component (B), and an organic solvent: Component (A): a polyrotaxane, Component (B): a monomer having two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups.
US08343626B2
A method of dry coating oxidizable particles with activating particles. The method includes accreting at least portions of the activating particles onto surfaces of the oxidizable particles by mechanically induced juxtapositions to form composite particles; and abrading the composite particles to more evenly distribute the activating component over surfaces of the activating particles.
US08343619B2
An optical waveguide film is provided having a cross-sectional structure wherein claddings composed of a thermoplastic resin B and dispersions (cores) composed of a thermoplastic resin A extend in the machine direction of the film and are arrayed in the transverse direction of the film, the optical waveguide film comprising not less than 3 cores, diameters (We1, We2) of cores located at the both ends in the transverse direction of the film and diameter (Wc) of a core in the central portion in the transverse direction of the film satisfying the following Formulae (1) and (2), the optical waveguide film comprising a continuous cladding layer at at least one side thereof, the thicknesses of the cladding layers (Te1, Te2) at the both ends thereof in the transverse direction of the film and the thickness (Tc) of the cladding layer in the central portion in the transverse direction of the film satisfying the following Formulae (3) and (4): 0.8≦We1/Wc≦1.2 Formula (1) 0.8≦We2/Wc≦1.2 Formula (2) 0.8≦Te1/Tc≦1.2 Formula (3) 0.8≦Te2/Tc≦1.2 Formula (4).
US08343613B2
Disclosed in one aspect is an anti-skid sheet comprising at least one contact layer selected from the group consisting of dynamically vulcanized alloys, propylene-α-olefin copolymers, and blends thereof; and at least one substrate layer comprising polyethylene having a density of from greater than 0.935 g/cm3. In one embodiment, the dynamically vulcanized alloy comprises a blend of one or more polyolefins and an at least partially vulcanized rubber. Disclosed in another aspect is a method of forming the anti-skid sheet comprising providing a melt-blending extruder for each of the sheet layers, at least one substrate layer as disclosed herein and at least one contact layer as disclosed herein, and co-extruding a melt of each component to form a co-extruded sheet. In a particular embodiment, the anti-skid sheet is thermoformed to form an article.
US08343610B2
A vehicle deck board 1 is molded in such a manner that a lower die 21 and an upper die 22 are clamped together in a state where foamed resins 13 and reinforcements 20 are interposed between a back surface side sheet material 16 and a front surface side sheet material 15, whereby the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet material 15 are welded to each other to thereby form a laminated member 26 with height-increasing bridge members included therein, compressed air is injected into an inside of the laminated member 26 with the height-increasing bridge members included therein, which is formed by welding the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet 15, while individually vacuum-sucking the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet material 15 to the lower die 21 and the upper die 22, and the laminated member 26 concerned is subjected to blow molding.
US08343604B2
A container made of synthetic resin which does not cause whitening or clouding in an unstretched portion even after long-period storage and which has excellent barrier properties. A PET bottle comprising a substrate layer made of PET and a barrier layer having a gas permeability lower than that of the substrate layer, wherein the barrier layer is made of a barrier material prepared by incorporating a polyamide containing m-xylene groups with an amorphous polyamide comprising both m-xylene isophthalamide structures and hexamethylene isophthalamide structures. A copolyamide composed of both a copolymer of m-xylenediamine and isophthalic acid and a copolymer of hexamethylenediamine and isophthalic acid is used as the amorphous polyamide. The content of the amorphous polyamide in the barrier layer is adjusted to 15 to 25 wt %.
US08343600B2
Disclosed is a case module for a portable terminal using a thermal adhesive tape. The portable terminal using a thermal adhesive tape includes: a case and a LCD cover of a portable terminal disposed so as to face with each other; a heated sheet made of a conductor and disposed between the case and the LCD cover; a first melting sheet adhered to a face of the heated sheet facing to the case; and a second melting sheet adhered to the other face of the heated sheet facing to the LCD cover, wherein the first sheet is melted to couple the heated sheet and the case to each other and the second sheet is melted to couple the heated sheet and the LCD cover to each other when the heated sheet is heated by a high frequency induction.
US08343592B2
RF power is coupled to one or more RF drive points (50-56) on an electrode (20-28) of a plasma chamber such that the level of RF power coupled to the RF drive points (51-52, 55-56) on the half (61) of the electrode that is closer to the workpiece passageway (12) exceeds the level of RF power coupled to the RF drive points (53-54), if any, on the other half (62) of the electrode. Alternatively, RF power is coupled to one or more RF drive points on an electrode of a plasma chamber such that the weighted mean of the drive point positions is between the center (60) of the electrode and the workpiece passageway. The weighted mean is based on weighting each drive point position by the time-averaged level of RF power coupled to that drive point position. The invention offsets an increase in plasma density that otherwise would exist adjacent the end of the electrode closest to the passageway.
US08343591B2
A method for use with a coating process includes depositing a ceramic coating on a substrate within a coating chamber. Prior to depositing the ceramic coating, an electron beam source is used to heat a ceramic material. The ceramic material radiates heat to heat a substrate to an oxidation temperature to form an oxide layer on the substrate. A desired evaporation rate of the ceramic material is established during the heating to thereby provide an improved ceramic coating.
US08343588B2
To provide a slide curtain coating apparatus and method for depositing a curtain of coating liquid onto a running web, the apparatus and method capable of preventing the curtain from being condensed at its center region and preventing the resulting coating from having greater thickness at its edge regions. The coating apparatus includes: a slit for discharging the coating liquid; a slide on which the curtain flows down; and, a slide edge guide along which the curtain flows and which is provided at both edges on the slide and each having auxiliary liquid supply means at the surface facing the curtain; and auxiliary liquid supply means for discharging the auxiliary liquid from all over the surface thereof which touches the curtain at the edge guide. The coating method includes discharging the auxiliary liquid from all over the surface of the auxiliary supply means coating apparatus.
US08343587B2
A method for providing a component with protection against sand related distress comprises the steps of: providing a substrate; and forming a thermal barrier coating system by depositing at least one layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of a zirconate, a hafnate, a titanate, and mixtures thereof, which first material has been mixed with at least one oxide so that each layer contains from about 25 to 99 wt% of at least one oxide.
US08343586B2
The present invention relates to a conductive polishing pad and a method for making the same. The conductive polishing pad includes a bottom layer, a conductive film and a polishing layer. The bottom layer includes a first high polymer and a fiber base. The first high polymer covers the fiber base, and has a plurality of first holes. The conductive film is disposed on the bottom layer. The polishing layer is disposed on the conductive film, and includes a second high polymer. The second high polymer has a plurality of second holes. Even though the bottom layer and the polishing layer are poor conductors, the conductivity thereof is raised by the conductive film, so that the polishing pad has good conductivity. Further, the polishing pad has a flexible surface, which prevents a surface of a workpiece to be polished from being scratched during polishing.
US08343574B2
A method of transferring a dye to a composite material comprising applying the dye to a transfer media to create a colored transfer media, placing the colored transfer media into contact with the composite material, and applying, using an autoclave, at least one of heat, external pressure, vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the composite material to create a colored composite material.
US08343571B2
A laminated glass element is described, preferably a laminated safety glass element with integrated electroluminescence (EL) light structure, a method for producing a laminated glass element according to the invention, an insulating glass element containing at least one laminated glass element according to the invention and the use of a laminated glass element according to the invention as a decorative element and/or light element in interior spaces or for external use, preferably on external claddings of buildings, in or on items of equipment, in or on land or water vehicles or aircraft or in the advertising sector.
US08343570B2
The present invention relates to thermosetting powder coating compositions comprising of at least one bismuth-containing inorganic pigment, at least one organic phosphorous stabilizer, at least one thermally polymerizable thermosetting powder coating resin and at least one crosslinker. The inventive thermosetting powder coating compositions are advantageously used where there is a need for heat resistant coatings and where only minor surface modifications during over bake conditions are acceptable. The invention also relates to the use of the inventive thermosetting powder coating compositions for the preparation of powdered paints and varnishes for the making of coatings and to coatings obtained therewith.
US08343569B2
A laser markable security laser transfer film includes a carrier web formed from a laser light-transmissive material and a taggant-containing film disposed on the carrier web. The taggant-containing film is formulated from an energy sensitive taggant capable of withstanding temperatures of at least about 1800° F. to about 2200° F. The taggant absorbs energy at a first predetermined wavelength and, in response, emits energy at a second predetermined wavelength that is different from the first wavelength. The taggant-containing film further includes a polymeric resin. The taggant-containing film is disposed on the object to be marked with the taggant-containing film adjacent the object, and laser light is directed through the film to fuse the taggant-containing film onto the object to form a taggant-containing marking on the object. When the taggant-containing marking is subjected to energy at the first predetermined wavelength, the taggant-containing marking on the object is excited and in response emits energy at the second predetermined wavelength.
US08343567B2
A method of treating the surface of a medical device with a biomolecule comprising the steps of: providing a polyolefin substrate forming a medical device; cleaning the polyolefin substrate; exposing the polyolefin substrate to a reactive gas containing acrylic acid and to plasma energy to yield a plasma-deposited polyacrylic acid coating on the polyolefin substrate; and attaching a biomolecule, such as heparin, to the polyolefin substrate following formation of the plasma-deposited polyacrylic acid coating on the polyolefin substrate.
US08343562B2
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for aqueous extraction of chemical compounds from solid material in which the solid material is entrained in an extraction liquid phase that flowed around immersed sonotrodes emitting radial or focused high energy ultrasonic waves. A significant increase in extracted material and decreases in extraction time is observed.
US08343547B2
Provided are a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the dispersion comprising: a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 μm and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 μm and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g and serving as a disintegrant and granulating the resultant; and drying.
US08343541B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ that is reduced in the presence of lipoic acid and, optionally a fatty acid and/or optionally in a monoterpene. The compositions that include the reduced CoQ can be formulated in soft gel capsules.
US08343539B2
The present invention provides biologically active compounds that bind an α5β1 integrin. Also included in the present invention are methods for using such biologically active compounds.
US08343537B2
A hemostatic device for promoting the dotting of blood includes a gauze substrate, a clay material disposed on the gauze substrate, and also a polyol such as glycerol or the like disposed on the gauze substrate to bind the clay material. When the device is used to treat a bleeding wound, at least a portion of the clay material comes into contact with blood emanating from the wound to cause the clotting. A bandage that can be applied to a bleeding wound to promote the clotting of blood includes a flexible substrate and a gauze substrate mounted thereon. The gauze substrate includes a clay material and a polyol. A hemostatic sponge also includes a gauze substrate and a dispersion of hemostatic material and a polyol on a first surface of the substrate.
US08343526B2
Disclosed are methods for conducting assays of samples, such as whole blood, that may contain cells or other particulate matter. Also disclosed are systems, devices, equipment, kits and reagents for use in such methods. One advantage of certain disclosed methods and systems is the ability to rapidly measure the concentration of an analyte of interest in blood plasma from a whole blood sample without blood separation and hematocrit correction.
US08343525B2
An antiseptic cleaning agent, generally, comprising chlorhexidine acetate and a solvent, such as an alcohol and/or water. The chlorhexidine acetate acts as a highly effective biocide. Additionally, the chlorhexidine acetate allows the cleaning agent to dry without leaving a tacky residue. Where the cleaning agent comprises one or more alcohols, the alcohols may comprise any suitable alcohols, including lower alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as ethanol and isopropanol. Where the ratio of ethanol to isopropanol may be from between about 1:1000 to about 1000:1. In addition to chlorhexidine acetate, the cleaning agent optionally comprises another non-alcohol biocide, such as triclosan. The cleaning agent can be used in any suitable manner. For instance, the cleaning agent may be impregnated in an absorbent material, such as a towelette, swabstick, or gauze. Additionally, the absorbent material may comprise a positively charged or a non-ionic substance, such as polypropylene or polyester.
US08343517B1
A novel dietary supplement is featured which can benefit individuals suffering from various conditions such as nutritional deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, aging, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
US08343514B2
The invention is related to a sol-gel nanostructured titania reservoir and its synthesis which is biocompatible with brain tissue. The pore size distribution, crystallite size and the extent of the crystalline phase distribution of anatase, brookite and rutile can be fully controlled. This device may be used to contain neurological drugs. It may be inserted directly into brain tissue for the purpose of the controlled time release of drugs over a period of from 6 months to three years.
US08343509B2
Described herein are methods for detecting a bacteria in a subject and methods for detecting, imaging or diagnosing a site, disease, disorder or condition in a subject using bacteria. The methods can be used in conjunction with methods for treating a disease, disorder or condition. Such sites, diseases and disorders include sites of cellular proliferation, such as tumors, tumor tissues, metastases, areas of inflammation, immunoprivileged sites or tissues, wounds and infections. Further described are bacteria for use in the methods and compositions, combinations and kits, including diagnostic and pharmaceutical compositions, containing a bacterium. Bacteria described herein include those that bind, sequester or accumulate radiolabeled compounds by expression of an endogenous gene product that binds to the radiolabeled compound. Additional imaging and therapeutic agents and methods also are described.
US08343507B2
A derivative of a 55 kDa extracellular protein from Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida is the basis for a vaccine against Photobacterium infection, and thereby protects fish from pasteurellosis.
US08343500B2
There is provided a method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide by selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing. There is also provided a peptide selected by such a method and its use in a pharmaceutical composition and a method to treat and/or prevent a disease. The present invention also relates to a composition which comprises the following myelin basic protein (MBP) peptides: MBP 30-44; MBP 83-99; MBP 131-145; and MBP 140-154. The composition may be used to treat a disease, in particular multiple sclerosis and/or optical neuritis and the invention also relates to such uses and methods.
US08343494B2
Lipoprotein Lipase like polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, antisense sequences, and antibodies to said polypeptides are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for the preparation of said polypeptides in a recombinant system and for the use of said polypeptides to screen for agonists and or antagonists of said polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of disorders of lipid metabolism.
US08343489B2
Disclosed herein is the use of three-dimensional structure information to guide the process of modifying antibodies with amino acids from one or more templates or surrogates such that the antigen binding properties of the parent antibody are maintained and the immunogenicity potential is reduced when administered as a therapeutic in humans.
US08343486B2
A method for treating a patient suffering from a wound, ulcer, or inflammation includes providing a topical formulation comprising a carrier and a combination of active ingredients that includes at least one retinoid and at least one blood vessel dilator, and applying the topical formulation to the skin of the patient to cause healing, accelerated healing or prevention of the wound, ulcer or inflammation. Additional active ingredients may include a promoter of mitochondrial function or an antioxidant.
US08343477B2
Macrocyclic peptides are disclosed having the general formula: wherein R3, R′3, R4, R6, R′, X, Q and W are described. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds to inhibit HCV are also disclosed.
US08343475B2
The present invention relates generally to peptides and more specifically to antimicrobial and immunomodulatory host defense peptides.
US08343467B2
Glycopyrronium bromide, derivatives and/or isomers thereof in combination with one or more active substances selected from a list of substances as recited in the claims and/or in the form of a W/Si emulsion, an O/W gel, a soap gel stick, and/or a surfactant-containing cleansing formula, and corresponding cosmetic preparations, in particular deodorant/antiperspirant preparations.
US08343464B2
A method of treating Eustachian tube dysfunction in a person includes placing the person's body in a position substantially lying on one of the person's left or right sides. The side on which the person is lying is the side affected by Eustachian tube dysfunction. A composition of simethicone in a concentration of about 0.05% to 0.65% wt/vol diluted in an aqueous carrier is introduced through the nasal cavity of the same side on which the person is lying. The simethicone composition is then allowed to coat the person's pharynx on the side of which the person is lying.
US08343461B2
The present invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for detecting, diagnosing and treating cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme.
US08343455B2
The invention provides flaky titanic acid having polymerizable functional groups, a suspension of the same, titanic acid coating films excellent in tight adhesion, and resin bases with titanic acid coating films, namely, flaky titanic acid obtained by treating a layered titanate with an acid and then making an organic basic compound act on the obtained product to conduct interlaminar swelling or delamination, characterized in that at least part of the organic basic compound is one having a polymerizable functional group such as acryl or methacryl and, preferably, in that the layered titanate is one represented by the general formula: AxMy□zTi2-(y+z)O4 [wherein A and M are different from each other and are each a mono- to tri-valent metal; □ represents a Ti-defective site; x is a positive real number satisfying the relationship: 0
US08343447B2
A hydrometallurgical process for a nickel oxide ore comprising obtaining an aqueous solution of crude nickel sulfate by high pressure acid leaching of a nickel oxide ore; obtaining a zinc free final solution by sulfurization of the solution; obtaining a waste solution; and scrubbing hydrogen sulfide gas from an exhaust gas. The process is characterized by at least one of the following operations: Adjusting the total volume (m3) of a sulfurization reactor to a ratio of 0.2-0.9 (m3/kg/h) relative to the input mass (kg/h) of the nickel to be introduced to the reactor; and/or subjecting the waste solution and the exhaust gas to countercurrent contact, then introducing the exhaust gas back to the scrubber and charging the waste solution from the scrubber into the sulfurization reactor.
US08343433B2
Apparatus, methods, and processes are provided for a tube reactor including multiple, substantially parallel reaction tubes arranged within a tube reactor shell, the reaction tubes spaced apart such that a thermal fluid can flow between the tubes and transfer heat between the tubes and the thermal fluid during operation; an inlet head defining an inlet head space, where the inlet head space is in fluid communication with an inlet end of the reaction tubes, and an outlet head including an outlet head shell and at least one insert positioned within an outlet head space defined by the outlet head, where the insert defines a reduced volume outlet head space relative to that defined by the outlet head, and where the reduced volume outlet head space is in fluid communication with an outlet end of the reaction tubes and in fluid communication with a reactor outlet.
US08343428B2
A microchip including a first substrate with a groove formed on a substrate surface or a pass-through hole passing in a thickness direction of the substrate, and one or more second substrates laminated on a surface of the first substrate; the microchip including an optical measurement cuvette consisting of a space configured by the groove or the pass-through hole, and a substrate surface of the second substrate; wherein a side wall surface of the second substrate is positioned on an inner side than a side wall surface of the first substrate in at least one part of a side wall surface of the microchip, and a method of using the same are provided.
US08343427B2
An inexpensive biosensor is provided that can realize an electrochemical analysis and perform measurement with high accuracy or convenience. The biosensor is an immunological sensor that enables measurement anywhere at anytime by anyone while keeping convenience. The biosensor includes: an electrode sensor unit 4 in which an electric conductive layer 2 is provided on an electrode-unit forming substrate 1 having an insulating property and an electrode portion 3 for detecting an electrochemical signal is formed on the electrode-unit forming substrate 1; and a chromatographic sensor unit 10 in which an extended layer 7 including a porous film for extending a specimen solution is provided on an extended-portion forming substrate 6, wherein the electrode sensor unit 4 and the chromatographic sensor unit 10 are stacked with the extended-portion forming substrate 6 interposed between the electrode sensor unit 4 and the chromatographic sensor unit 10.
US08343423B2
A diluted sample is reused to remeasure a sample whose measurement has been completed, which is to be manually performed. An automatic analyzer can set hold and discard conditions and manage the elapsed time after a diluted sample is pipetted. It is possible to check, before measurement is performed, whether or not each requested measurement item can be measured, and the length of time it takes before measurement of all samples is completed. The automatic analyzer has functions of: setting diluted sample hold and discard conditions; allowing an operator to specify a kind of sample, for example, to select between a parent sample and a diluted sample; separately executing pipetting or measurement; and displaying each requested measurement item for which a sample or a reagent is insufficient, and displaying the length of time it takes until measurement of all samples is completed.
US08343420B2
Shock waves are applied to clean and sterilize fluids in containers and conveyances. Shock waves destroy pathogens and pollutants in blood, water, food liquids and other fluids.
US08343417B2
An oxygen strand cutting machine for flame-cutting cast cold and hot slugs, steel blocks and slabs in and after continuous steel casting units comprising: a crane tower; and a boom erected perpendicularly to the continuous casting direction, whereon one or two torch carriages with flame cutters are perpendicularly movable with respect to the cast strand, wherein the crane tower is permanently fixed to the cast strand and includes an articulated arm horizontally pivoting in a set angular sector, on which the boom is rotatably and horizontally mounted, wherein the boom is movably connected to a lifting carriage movable along the articulating arm or the boom and the boom is fitted with roller bearings around which the boom is pivotable to be situated perpendicularly to the continuous casting direction during flame cutting via digital programming, and wherein the articulated arm simultaneously houses driving means, a cooling water supply, and power and control cables as a common line.
US08343415B2
Processes for forming ceramic particulate material. The ceramic particulate material includes alumina particles, the particles having a specific surface area (SSA) not less than 15 m2/g and not greater than 75 m2/g and a sphericity quantified by at least one of (i) a mean roundness not less than 0.710 as measured by Roundness Correlation Image Analysis, and (ii) a concavity less than 20%, wherein concavity is the percent of alumina particles based on a sample of at least 100 particles, which have a concave outer peripheral portion that extends along a distance not less than 10% of d50 by TEM inspection, the concave outer peripheral portion having a negative radius of curvature as viewed from an interior of the particle.
US08343414B2
A process and apparatus for multi-shot, liquid-resin-molding of continuous-fiber composite articles is disclosed. The process involves the step-wise fabrication of an article wherein continuity of the fibers is maintained between the multiple workpieces of the finished composite article.
US08343409B2
In one embodiment, a molding system for creating a molded-in-color panel has a first mold member with a first forming surface for forming a portion of a panel with an exposed surface. The molding system has a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel. One of the first and second mold members is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated molded-in-color resin to form the panel. The molding system has an injector for injecting molded-in-color resin into the mold. The second forming surface is sufficiently smooth so that the exposed surface of the panel is free of visible flow lines.
US08343408B2
A mold (form) in which an endotracheal tube, having a stylette therein, is received so as to form the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube is disclosed. The mold has a recess in the surface thereof to receive the endotracheal tube with a stylette therein. The recess has a curve therein adjacent one end of the mold to receive the distal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the opposite end of the mold has a bend therein to receive the proximal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the intermediate portion of the mold is substantially straight and interconnects the curved end and the oppositely disposed bent end of the recess. The stylette is fabricated from a thin metallic malleable rod which is bendable, and thus configurable, to retain the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube after being formed and removed from the mold. The stylette is withdrawn from the endotracheal tube after the distal end thereof has been inserted through the vocal cords and just into the trachea of the patient being intubated. Due to the configuration of the endotracheal tube, withdrawal of the stylette causes the distal end of the tube to advance further into the trachea of the patient being intubated.
US08343406B2
The invention is directed to a process for making a golf ball having a multi-layered cover including a very thin outermost cover layer, the process comprising for example: forming first and second substantially hemispherical half shells having a thickness and comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shell further having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming an hemispherical cavity; securing the first half shell in a golf ball mold; securing a core subassembly in a subassembly holder; dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; inserting a first half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layer having a thickness; disengaging the core subassembly from the subassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to a point of rigidity; securing the second half shell in a golf ball mold; dispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell; inserting a second half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layer having a thickness and thereby mating the first and second half shells; and curing the thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball from the golf ball mold.
US08343404B2
A system and a method for the production of cellular materials are described. In particular, a system and a method for the production of cellular materials with several geometries such as honeycomb geometry, chiral geometry and auxetic geometry are described. The innovative concept of the present invention concerns the pre-formation of the cellular structure by penetration of a reinforcement fabric by means of punches properly structured. The employment of punches housed on one of the matrices of the device allows obtaining several geometries without need of complex fabric pre-formation operations or of manual placement of the fabric in the interstices of the mold.
US08343402B1
In one embodiment method to form a composite part from a metallic composite powder, comprises positioning a metallic composite powder preform in a mold cavity formed by a first susceptor and a second susceptor, heating the mold cavity to a first processing temperature, applying a pressure to the mold cavity, and applying a thermal oscillation cycle to the mold cavity, wherein the thermal oscillation cycle oscillates the temperature of the mold cavity between a first temperature in which the metallic composite powder is in a first phase and a second temperature in which the metallic composite powder is in a second phase, different from the first phase.
US08343396B2
A pipe insulating section includes a generally cylindrical hollow phenolic foam body of substantially uniform cross section with an inner facing web and an outer facing web. The phenolic foam body is slit longitudinally to provide section halves which can be opened to facilitate wrapping around a pipe to insulate the pipe. The section halves are linked by the outer web at one side and facing ends of the section halves at the other end are faced with the inner facing web. The inner web may be of paper and the other web may be of an aluminum foil. An apparatus used in manufacturing the elongate shaped phenolic section includes an outer mold for forming the outer facing into a cylindrical shape and an inner mandrel for forming the inner facing into a cylindrical shape, which is of smaller diameter than that of the cylinder defined by the outer facing. The facings define a hollow core therebetween into which liquid foam reactants are injected through an injector.
US08343383B2
An anisotropic conductive material contains low melting point electrically conductive particles in a thermosetting resin. The low melting point particles have a solidus temperature of at least 125° C., a peak temperature of at most 200° C., and a temperature difference between the solidus temperature and the peak temperature of at least 15° C. The maximum particle diameter of the low melting point particles is smaller than ¼ of the spacing between adjoining conductors atop which the anisotropic conductive material is to be disposed.
US08343381B1
There is provided a hole transport composition having (i) a first hole transport polymer having crosslinkable groups, and (ii) a second hole transport polymer having substantially no crosslinkable groups. There is also provided a crosslinked hole transport layer and an electronic device containing the crosslinked hole transport layer.
US08343377B2
There is provided a method of making an active material with satisfactory cycle characteristics. The method of making an active material according to the invention comprises contacting an aqueous solution containing a metal-fluoro complex and lithium salt with lithium-containing metal oxide particles.
US08343369B2
A method of producing a MEMS device removes the bottom side of a device wafer after its movable structure is formed. To that end, the method provides the device wafer, which has an initial bottom side. Next, the method forms the movable structure on the device wafer, and then removes substantially the entire initial bottom side of the device wafer. Removal of the entire initial bottom side effectively forms a final bottom side.
US08343358B2
A three-hulled oil combatting vessel (500) has a separating structure (100), which pushes ice blocks (J1), which move between the middle hull (SH1) and side hulls (SH2, SH3) from the prow to the stern, underneath the water surface (WL1). The separating structure (100) may be a grate in the longitudinal direction of the vessel (500). The density of the oil (B4) or oil refining product to be collected is smaller than that of the water, so the oil (B3), which has been separated from the ice blocks (J1) that were pushed down, tends to rise through the separating structure (100) to the water surface. The separating structure (100) separates the oil (B3) from the ice blocks (J1) for easier collection into a container. The separated (B4) oil can thus be collected from the relatively ice-free water surface (WL1) with an oil collecting device (200), which may have a brush skimmer.
US08343357B2
A device and method for filtering storm water entering a street curb inlet drain using a series of expandable brackets to deploy and seal a filter medium completely inside a street curb inlet drain.
US08343356B2
Installation for treating a biological liquid, including a circulation pump (5), a filter element (9), a container for collecting treated liquid, a first circuit section connecting a source of said biological liquid to an inlet orifice of said filter element (9), including a circuit element adapted to cooperate with said circulation pump (5); a second circuit section, connecting an outlet orifice of said filter element (9) to said treated liquid collecting container; characterized in that said treated liquid collecting container, said first circuit section and said second circuit section are disposable and said installation further includes a first cart (1) carrying said pump (5) and a second cart (2) including a housing (14) for said collecting container, separable from the first cart (1) and adapted to be at least partly nested in said first cart (1).
US08343351B2
The invention comprises a membrane and device and method for removing proteases from fluids, particularly from biological fluids and pharmaceutical solutions, which uses a microporous membrane body, whereby inhibitors that selectively bind proteases are coupled to the membrane body by chemically activated groups.
US08343345B1
A fluid filter is adapted for operatively mounting within a circuit of moving fluid in a machine. The fluid filter comprises a filter housing, and defines a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filtration medium disposed within the filter housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A temporary closure is designed for attachment at the fluid outlet of the fluid filter after the fluid filter is used and removed from the machine. The temporary closure functions to substantially contain residual fluid within the filter housing prior to subsequent processing of the used fluid filter.
US08343335B2
In a method of forming a shaped body, a mixture is formed comprising a particulate silica-rich material, water and a potassium base or basic salt, wherein the total solids content of the mixture is from about 20 to about 90 weight percent. The mixture is extruded into extrudates and the extrudates are dried and heated to a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 800° C. to form the shaped body.
US08343333B2
An electrode substrate including an electrode and a membrane provided on the electrode and having a thickness with which a carrier is exchanged between the electrode and the membrane.
US08343332B2
An electrochemical test sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a sample. The electrochemical test sensor comprises a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample having a counter electrode and a working electrode on its surface in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current. The electrochemical test sensor further includes a reagent layer directly located on the surface of the working electrode. The reagent layer includes an enzyme that is adapted to react with the analyte. The electrochemical test sensor further comprises a lid adapted to mate with the base and to assist in forming a capillary space with an opening for the introduction of the sample thereto. The capillary space is formed with a three-dimensional portion of the lid.
US08343322B2
A ceramic gas sensor for measuring a gas component in a gas mixture, which includes a sensor element, which has at least one first electrode exposed to the gas mixture to be determined, and at least one further electrode. Only one shared electrical contact is provided for the first electrode and for the additional electrode, an electrical resistor, which is situated inside the gas sensor, being preconnected to the first electrode and/or the additional electrode.
US08343310B2
A vessel-based system and method for disposing of wastewater including bilge water from a bilge of the vessel. The system including a treatment unit for receiving and treating the wastewater to produce a substantially oil-free treated water and, an evaporator for receiving the treated water from the treatment unit. In an embodiment, the evaporator having an evaporation element for transferring heat to the treated water to evaporate the treated water.
US08343309B2
A substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a reaction space to generate plasma in which a target substrate is located, a low frequency antenna unit located outside the reaction space to generate plasma in the reaction space, a low frequency power supply to apply low frequency power to the low frequency antenna unit, a high frequency antenna unit located outside the reaction space to generate plasma in the reaction space, and a high frequency power supply to apply high frequency power to the high frequency antenna unit. The apparatus allows the ignition of plasma to be performed efficiently via the high frequency antenna unit, and improves efficiency of inductive coupling between plasma and a low frequency antenna via the low frequency antenna unit, thereby improving plasma generation efficiency.
US08343291B1
Important features and improvements of a commercial coil batch laminating production line are disclosed for a successful, commercial, and economical operation. This invention addresses important processing sequences, operating parameters, control systems, designs, operating methods, and other novel features. This invention provides for a competitive cost structure meeting the needs of commercialization.
US08343288B2
Provided are the following cold-rolled steel sheets: 1) a cold-rolled steel sheet having higher stretch flangeability than conventional steels; 2) a cold-rolled steel sheet having a higher balance between elongation and stretch flangeability than conventional steels; and 3) a cold-rolled steel sheet heightened in all of yield stress, elongation, and stretch flangeability. The cold-rolled steel sheets are characterized by containing 0.03-0.30 mass % carbon, up to 3.0 mass % (including 0 mass %) silicon, 0.1-5.0 mass % manganese, up to 0.1 mass % phosphorus, less than 0.01 mass % sulfur, up to 0.01 mass % nitrogen, and 0.01-1.00 mass % aluminum and having a structure which comprises tempered martensite in an amount of 50% or more (including 100%) in terms of areal proportion and in which the remainder is ferrite. The steel sheets are further characterized in that at least one of the following structural factors has been regulated: the proportions of cementite particles and of the ferrite grains in the tempered martensite and the dislocation density in all structures.
US08343280B2
A method and system for multi-zone control of temperature for a substrate is described. The temperature control system comprises a heat exchanger coupled to two or more fluid channels in a substrate holder configured to support the substrate. The heat exchanger is configured to adjust the temperature of a heat transfer fluid flowing through the two or more fluid channels. The temperature control system further comprises a heat transfer unit having an inlet that is configured to receive heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger at a bulk fluid temperature. Additionally, the heat transfer unit comprises a first outlet configured to couple a portion of the heat transfer fluid at a first temperature less than the bulk temperature to a first fluid channel of the two or more fluid channels, and a second outlet configured to couple a remaining portion of the heat transfer fluid at a second temperature greater than the bulk fluid temperature to a second fluid channel of the two or more fluid channels.
US08343272B2
A lightweight construction material, a method of fabricating building panels utilizing said material and device therefore. The formulation utilizes silicone-treated expanded perlite in combination with cement, alpha gypsum, polyvinyl alcohol fibers and powder, and water. Building panels are formed utilizing fiber mesh to reinforce them while minimizing their weight. The building panel may be formed with one layer or two layers of different formulations.
US08343261B2
The present invention relates to the use of a porous metal organic framework comprising at least a first organic compound and, if appropriate, a second organic compound, in which at least the first organic compound is at least partially coordinated in a bidentate fashion to at least one metal ion, where the at least one metal ion is Mg(II) and the first organic compound is derived from formic acid and the second organic compound is derived from acetic acid, for storing or isolating methane. Furthermore, the invention relates to a porous metal organic framework based on magnesium formate and acetate and also its preparation.
US08343258B2
A device for providing a constant mass flow rate to a downstream column system of a gas chromatograph includes a small full scale mass flow controller that controls carrier gas to flow at a first mass flow rate and a flow resistance element, including an inlet port connected to a sample inlet, an outlet port connected to the downstream column system, and a pressure sensing port in fluid communication with the outlet port and the mass flow controller. A sample inlet pressure controller controls the sample inlet at a first pressure, and a pressure sensor measures a second pressure of the carrier gas at the pressure sensing port. A set point of the first pressure is determined as a function of the second pressure, flow resistance of the flow resistance element, and a second mass flow rate from the inlet port to the outlet port of the flow resistance element.
US08343243B2
A method may include preparing a coke slurry, preparing a lignite slurry separate from the coke slurry, and combining the coke slurry with the lignite slurry to form a coke/lignite slurry.
US08343242B2
A method of controlling an apparatus for generating electric power and apparatus for use in said method, the apparatus comprising a gasifier for biomass material, such as waste, wood chips, straw, etc., said gasifier being of the shaft and updraft fixed bed type, which from the top is charged with the raw material for gasification and into the bottom of which gasifying agent is introduced, and a gas engine driving an electrical generator for producing electrical power, said gas engine being driven by the fuel gas from the gasifier. By supplying the produced fuel gas directly from the gasifier to the gas engine and controlling the production of the fuel gas in the gasifier in order to maintain a constant electrical output power, the necessity of using a gas holder between the gasifier and the gas engine is avoided.
US08343240B2
In a vacuum container (2), a bag-shaped laminate film (12) containing a battery element (11) and having an opening (12a) is pinched at positions corresponding to two principal surfaces (11a) of the battery element (11), the battery element (11) having a positive layer and a negative layer stacked via a separator. Pressure in the vacuum container (2) is reduced. An electrolytic solution (20) is poured from an electrolytic-solution supply line (4) into the bag-shaped laminate film (12) through the opening (12a) with pressure in the vacuum container (2) kept reduced until the entire battery element (11) is immersed in the electrolytic solution (20). The reduced pressure in the vacuum container (2) is increased to make the battery element (11) absorb the electrolytic solution (20) by the difference in pressure.
US08343238B1
A process for altering the appearance of hair, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a composition for dyeing and reducing curl and/or frizziness of hair, said composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier: (i) at least one non-hydroxide base; (ii) at least one protein denaturant different from (a)(i); (iii) at least one dye chosen from oxidative dye precursors; (iv) at least one thickening agent; (v) optionally, at least one alkoxysilane comprising at least one solubilizing functional group; and (vi) optionally, at least one fatty substance; (b) contacting the hair with the composition in (a) to form treated hair; (c) smoothing the treated hair using a combination of heat and means for physically smoothing hair to form smoothed hair; (d) optionally, shampooing the smoothed hair; and (e) rinsing the smoothed hair.
US08343227B2
A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component that engages a femur and at least one bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component thereon. Also, the assembly includes a tibial tray that engages a tibia and that supports the bearing. A ligament link coupling component is included on the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link coupling component is operable to couple to a ligament link to couple the ligament link to the femoral component or the tibial tray. Moreover, the assembly includes an opening included on the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link is received in the opening to bypass the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray to operably couple to the respective one of the femur or the tibia.
US08343221B2
Described are methods for therapeutically treating the spine that involve the implantation of a medical device, such as a fusion cage, disc nucleus implant, or artificial disc, that transmits loads to a volume of bone tissue of the spine, and the reinforcement of that volume of bone tissue to decrease the risk of fracture or other injury resultant of the transmitted loads.
US08343210B2
A stent has an engagement member (9). A stent retrieval system has a tubular member (13) and a retrieval member (14) with an engagement means (15). The engagement member is attached to an end row of cells of the tubular stent body (1). The cells in one annular row of cells are interconnected with the subsequent row of similarly oriented cells (2a) at areas of interconnection (7) which in the subsequent annular row of cells are circumferentially offset with respect to the connections (8) between the cells in said subsequent annular row of cells.
US08343209B2
An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen for treating an area of vulnerable plaque. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. A central section is positioned between distal and proximal sections and is aligned with the area of vulnerable plaque to enhance growth of endothelial cells over the fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque to reinforce the area and reduce the likelihood of rupture.
US08343205B2
A stent delivery system includes a stent formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape and compressed toward its center axis when inserted in vivo, with the stent being capable of restoring its pre-compression shape through outward expansion when left indwelling in vivo. The stent delivery system also includes an inner tube possessing a guide wire lumen, and a stent accommodating tube having a distal portion accommodating the stent. The stent is disposed as to cover a distal portion of the inner tube, and the stent is adapted to be exposed by moving the stent accommodating tube toward the proximal side relative to the inner tube.
US08343204B2
A composite prosthesis (19, 99, 199) and method are disclosed herein. This endoluminal prosthesis is constructed by separately deploying a first prosthesis (9, 201) and a second prosthesis (14, 208), wherein the first prosthesis is deployed and secured to the interior surface of a body lumen (260). In a subsequent step, the second prosthesis is deployed substantially within and secured to the first prosthesis. Although additional prostheses may be deployed within the second prosthesis, in a preferred configuration the first and second prostheses combine to provide all of the necessary attributes associated with a functioning endoluminal prosthesis. Thus, one of the first and second prostheses is permeable to blood and exerts sufficient radial force to cause the composite prosthesis to securely engage an interior surface of the body lumen at one or both of the composite prosthesis's proximal and distal ends, while the other of the first and second prostheses is impermeable to blood flow.
US08343203B2
A steam-generating warming device includes a holder including a first surface adapted to face the skin of a wearer and an opposite second surface adapted to face outward and a moist heat generating member held in the holder. The moist heat generating member is configured to generate heat as a result of oxidation of an oxidizable metal, generate steam by making use of the heat, and release the steam through the first surface. The steam-generating warming device further includes a water-impregnated, water-retaining sheet adjoining the moist heating member. The water-retaining sheet is preferably disposed between the moist heat generating member and the second surface.
US08343197B2
The present invention is comprised generally of a curved assembly for use in reattaching bone segments created by fracture or for mating bone fragments in other reconstructive procedures. The present invention further comprises a curved drill to create the hole into which the curved screw is attached. Preferably, the curved screw and drill of the present invention are designed such that they can be used singularly or in combination with a bone plate to support bone fragments and prevent them from moving with respect to the plate.
US08343185B2
A surgical stapling device an elongated body portion having proximal and distal portions, and a head portion positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated body portion. The head portion includes a shell assembly and an anvil assembly movable relative to the shell assembly between un-approximated and approximated positions. The anvil assembly includes a center rod and an anvil head connected to the center rod. The center rod includes at least one aperture extending transversely therethrough and configured and dimensioned to receive a flexible member such that the flexible member extends transversely through the center rod.
US08343184B2
A surgical fastening system is disclosed, comprising a plurality of surgical fasteners, an energy source, and an indicating unit. Each surgical fastener includes a backspan, a pair of legs, and a contact pad. The backspan and pair of legs are at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, and the contact pad has a portion formed from an electrically conductive material. The energy source is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners and generates a current, and the indicating unit is electrically connected to the contact pad of at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners. Upon contact of at least one of the pair of legs with the portion of the contact pad that is formed from an electrically conductive material, the indicating unit generates a signal indicating the formation of at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners.
US08343178B2
A surgical method utilizes a cutting blade having a thickness along a cutting edge of between about 0.0005 inch and about 0.020 inch and preferably between about 0.001 inch and 0.010 inch. The blade is moved in contact with relatively hardly tissues which are disposed adjacent to softer tissues at a surgical site in a patient. The blade is ultrasonically vibrated during the moving of the blade, whereby the hard tissue is cut with a modicum of damage being inflicted on the soft tissue.
US08343174B2
Devices and methods are provided for tissue approximation and repair. Fixation devices comprise a pair of elements each having a first end, a free end opposite the first end, and an engagement surface therebetween for engaging the tissue, the first ends being moveable between an open position wherein the free ends are spaced apart and a closed position wherein the free ends are closer together with the engagement surfaces generally facing each other. The fixation devices include a locking mechanism coupled to the elements for locking the elements in place. The devices and methods find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions. The invention is particularly useful in procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site.
US08343170B2
A device for extracting objects from the body, such as urinary stones, using a low pressure inflatable toroidal balloon that serves to engulf the object during extraction while dilating and protecting the passageway. The balloon loads onto an ureteroscope prior to insertion, rather than through the ureteroscope as do existing balloons. The toroidal balloon is a simple and unique device that may be applied external to the extracting telescope and does not interfere with existing methods for stone manipulation such as laser lithotripsy, irrigation and basket extraction in the case of urinary stone manipulation.
US08343152B2
A bone fixation system and method are provided. The system includes a dual prong pin and a bone screw. The pin is especially configured and contoured to fixate fractures of the proximal phalanx, especially hyperextension fractures. Fracture of other long bones of the hand, foot or elsewhere may be managed with this bone fixation system.
US08343141B2
An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus produce a fully functional articulated surgical instrument of minimum size.
US08343129B2
A container (10) comprising a plurality of compartments (A, B, C) separated by compartment dividers (6), and an inlet connector (3) for receiving a liquid via a connection tube (2). The compartment dividers rupture when a sufficient pressure is applied by a liquid or gas introduced into the container (10) through the inlet connector (3). Some of the compartments comprise powder, which dissolves at the introduction of liquid into the container. A system, process and use in the field of dialysis are also disclosed.
US08343105B2
The present invention relates to a multi-size catheter for use in biliary endoscopic procedures. The multi-size catheter comprises an outer diameter defined by a plurality of superimposed peelable layers. The peelable layers allow the multi-size catheter to function as a single operator exchange catheter without the need, and additional expense, of an endoscope sheath. Before positioning the multi-size catheter within the working channel of an endoscope, the peelable layers may be selectively removed in order to obtain an outer diameter for the catheter that is less than, but approximate to, the inner diameter of the working channel of the endoscope. The resulting fit eliminates the potential for a guidewire to slip out of the guidewire channel and become pinched between the catheter and the endoscope working channel. With an incorrect fit, a pinched guidewire would restrict the desired movements of both the guidewire and the catheter.
US08343104B2
A catheter assembly (10) having an outer catheter (12) and an inner catheter (14) extending coaxially through the outer catheter, and a hub (16). The inner catheter (14) is axially movable within and with respect to the outer catheter (14) by use of an actuator assembly (130) such that the catheter assembly has an opened condition permitting fluid communication with vasculature of a patient, and a closed condition preventing fluid communication with the vasculature of the patient. The opened condition permits the intended use of the catheter assembly such as for hemodialysis of the patient. In the closed condition, locking solution may be maintained in the catheter assembly and later removed therefrom, with essentially no locking solution leaving the catheter assembly or entering the patient. The actuator assembly (130) is secured to a proximal end portion (128) of the inner catheter (14) as it protrudes proximally from the hub (16), where it is accessible to the practitioner. The actuator assembly (130) may comprise an adapter sleeve (90) fixed to the inner catheter (14), and a swivel sleeve (92) which is rotatable with respect to both the adapter sleeve (90) and the hub (16).
US08343100B2
A surgical system having a console that receives a cassette with a rigid fluid channel formed into a rigid plastic component or housing. The housing serves as a substrate for an elastomeric acoustic coupling that can be formed on the housing outside of the fluid channel. The acoustic transducer is elastically mounted within the console, such as on a spring, so as to provide a relatively constant force between the transducer and the acoustic coupling when the cassette is installed in the console.
US08343098B2
A method of removing air from a flow path of a medical fluid injection system is described. An exemplary method performed by the medical fluid injection device includes delivering a first amount of fluid to a fluid flow path, isolating fluid flow along the flow path, forming a vacuum condition upstream of the fluid isolation, re-establishing fluid communications along the flow path, and delivering a second amount of fluid to the flow path.
US08343096B2
A robotic catheter system including one or more robotic catheter manipulator assemblies supported on a manipulator support structure. The robotic catheter manipulator assembly may include one or more removably mounted robotic catheter device cartridges and robotic sheath device cartridges, with each cartridge being generally linearly movable relative to the robotic catheter manipulator assembly. An input control system may be provided for controlling operation of the robotic catheter manipulator assembly. A visualization system may include one or more display monitors for displaying a position of a catheter and/or a sheath respectively attached to the robotic catheter and sheath device cartridges.
US08343093B2
A micro fluid delivery device is particularly useful in medical applications. The device may be worn or carried by the user and may deliver drugs or other medicaments to the user or patient. The device has a control system that accepts input from the user and controls all aspects of operation of the device. The control system measures the output of the pump and adjusts the output of the pump to achieve the desired dosage rate and size. This eliminates differences from pump to pump that result from inevitable variations in the manufacturing of such small scale affordable devices.
US08343088B2
A device and method for treating an occluded infection collection along the digestive tract with a stent delivered to an appendix, diverticulum or other anatomical structure of the digestive tract. A device and method to remove an obstruction from an occluded infection collection along the digestive tract with an obstruction removal device delivered to an appendix, diverticulum or other anatomical structure of the digestive tract.
US08343085B2
The present invention relates to a blood purification apparatus for extracorporeally circulating the blood of a patient so as to purify the blood for medical treatment incorporating a dialyzer and a method for priming the blood purification apparatus, wherein the present invention provides a blood purification apparatus and its priming method which can simply and easily automate the priming operation and also can surely and smoothly perform the bubble purging of the dialyzer.
US08343083B1
An auto-flex knee brace that employs an extension spring defined as a flexible hinge, which determines different modes of configuration to alleviate medial and lateral compartmental osteoarthritis of a knee of a patient is disclosed. The auto-flex knee brace comprises an upper thigh cuff, a lower thigh cuff, a flexible strap arrangement and at least one spring column assembly. The upper thigh cuff is positioned substantially above knee for encircling an upper part of leg of a user and the lower thigh cuff is positioned substantially below the knee for encircling a lower part of the leg of the user. The flexible strap arrangement includes a first strap means and a second strap means that securely tied around the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff. The at least one spring column assembly is adaptable for releasably coupling the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff.
US08343072B2
An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.
US08343066B1
Neural responses to a repeated stimulus typically diminish, an effect known as repetition suppression. When a single visual stimulus (e.g., letter of the alphabet, word, object, face) is serially flashed in different locations of a display, several stimuli appear to be present simultaneously due to an effect known as persistence of vision. Normal human observers' estimates of how many stimuli they perceived at any instant of time are significantly lower when the same stimulus is flashed repeatedly than when a different stimulus is used for each flash. This is a result of the brain's diminishing response (repetition suppression) to the repeated stimuli. The present invention generally relates to methods for assessing the normality of neural performance, particularly as relates to the integrity of cortical inhibition, visual persistence, proliferation effect, and repetition suppression. Deficits in repetition suppression serve as early and confirmatory measures of cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia.
US08343063B2
A vital sign measurement device includes a sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system, and an output unit. The sensor fixation device is adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery. The optical sensing system includes an optical source device and an optical detector, both of which are held by the sensor fixation device and move with movement of the sensor fixation device. The optical source device is configured to produce a speckle pattern output. The optical detector is positioned to detect at least a portion of the speckle pattern output and generate therefrom the detected portion of the speckle pattern output. The optical sensing system can sense an arterial pulse from the movement, bending, or compression of at least one portion of the optical sensing system relative to other portions of the optical sensing system resulting in a change in the optical signal received within the detected portion of the speckle pattern output. The output unit generates a measure of the vital sign using a signal indicative of the optical signal received within the detected portion of the speckle pattern output.
US08343042B2
An endoscopic coupler by which the rotary and/or linear motion of an external ring is transferred via magnetic interaction of specially configured continuous plastic magnets to a lens resident in a hermetically sealed housing to effect focusing and/or zooming action of the lens without mechanically breaching the integrity of the hermetic seal thereby making the coupler particularly suitable for withstanding the rigors of autoclaving.
US08343029B2
A transseptal cannula assembly for directing blood from the heart of a patient and a minimally invasive method of implanting the same. The transseptal cannula assembly includes a flexible cannula body having proximal and distal portions with a lumen therebetween, a tip coupled to the distal portion of the flexible cannula body, and first and second anchors coupled to the tip. The anchors can be configured to be deployed from a contracted state to an expanded state and are configured to engage opposite sides of the heart tissue when in the expanded state. The anchors resist movement of the cannula assembly along a lengthwise central axis of the flexible cannula body.
US08343026B2
This invention provides methods for treating cold extremities using localized electromagnetic radiation directed at excitable tissues, including nerves, muscles and blood vessels. By controlling the wavelength, the wavelength bandpass, pulse duration, intensity, pulse frequency, and/or variations of those characteristics over time, and by selecting sites of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, improvements in the function of different tissues and organs can be provided. Responses can be monitored by measuring physiological variables including temperature and blood flow.
US08343025B2
A centrifugal concentrator in which there is a common shaft for the drive motor and concentrator bowl. The cost of bearing assemblies is thereby minimized. The bowl is driven and suspended from above to keep the motor out of the slurry area and maximize the simplicity of the design. A fluidizing fluid is delivered through the common shaft.
US08343022B1
A training apparatus for use by flyers in a cheerleading squad includes a stable base assembly, a balancing assembly, and a fixed or adjustable column located between the stable base assembly and the balancing assembly. The balancing assembly includes a deflectably resilient member and a standing surface that promotes proper alignment and mimics the feel that a flyer experiences when being supported by a base cheerleader. The deflectably resilient member provides two degrees of freedom of movement to the standing surface when the standing surface is under an external load. The standing surface preferably provides about the same standing area as that typically provided by a base cheerleader. The column may be a fluid-activated cylinder that moves between a first and second vertical position and simulates a flyer being raised by the base.
US08343020B2
A method for exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation includes providing an elastic member having a tension indicator, securing one end of the elastic member, and stretching the elastic member using a part of the body until the tension indicator indicates that a predetermined tension level has been attained. Upon reaching the predetermined tension level, the elastic member is returned to its relaxed state. The tension indicator on the elastic member may be a printed image of recognizable image that distorts to another recognizable image at the predetermined tension level, a printed non-recognizable image that distorts to a recognizable pattern or image at the predetermined tension level, or an electronic indicator that provides audio and/or visual cues at the predetermined tension level.
US08343017B2
Some embodiments include a strike training machine that provides bidirectional resistance. The machine replicates the full and natural trajectory of the striking motion and provides resistance throughout extension and contraction of the striking motion. In this manner, the machine trains all muscles involved in a particular strike. The trajectory of the machine is user adjustable to accommodate different striking motions which include punches, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and throwing motions. In some embodiments, the machine applies a user specifiable amount of resistance. By adjusting the amount of resistance, the actor is able to overload train the muscle groups associated with the striking motions by gradually increasing resistance during training.
US08343006B2
A transmission includes an input shaft (IP), an output shaft (OP), a single planetary gearset (SP), a compound planetary gearset (CP), shifting elements. The single planetary gearset is arranged before the compound planetary gearset, and the shifting elements comprise at least two brakes (B1,B2), the first clutch (C1), the second clutch (C2), the third clutch (C3), and all the shifting elements are positioned between the single planetary gearset and the compound planetary gearset, which has compact arrangements, and can reduce the power transmission length. The transmission also includes an one-way clutch (OWC) acted on the compound planetary gearset. When the transmission shifts to the first speed stage, the first clutch (C1) and the one-way clutch are operated, and the power is transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the single planetary gearset and the compound planetary gearset, and when the first speed stage is shifted to the second speed stage, only the first brake (B1) should be operated to engage, thereby it can reduce the frequency of operating the shifting elements and the shifting time in low speed stage.
US08342988B1
A weight member is removably attachable to a racquet for use during warm-up. The device is a skeletal structure that has a laterally expandable mouth, a throat, and a pair of heads that resiliently converge toward one another. The skeletal structure is formed of a metal bar member of a gauge to match the desired device weight and is coated with a protective outer layer. At least one resilient member can bridge a gap at the mouth and throat. The device is symmetrical in both the X-plane and the Y-plane.
US08342986B2
A multi-purpose spring-loaded divot repair tool comprising, in one embodiment, a forked end containing two prongs, a round ball marker, a concave recession, a handle, and a belt clip. The two prongs extend from one end of the handle and are used to repair divots. The round ball marker is located on the handle and is distally positioned to the forked end. Furthermore, the concave recession is proximally located to the round ball marker and distally located to the forked end, such that the concave recession faces upward when the forked end is inserted into the ground. The tool is manufactured from high quality materials. In a further embodiment, a dual acting spring loaded actuation system including spring action in both the deployment and return directions for actuating the forked end.
US08342980B2
Embodiments of golf club heads with loft-based weights and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08342977B2
The amplitude of a swing powered by an electric motor is controlled by detecting a peak voltage induced in the motor coil by the swing motion when the motor is not being powered and comparing the detected voltage with a one of a set of pre-measured reference values of peak voltages obtained at corresponding amplitude settings to provide a signal to a motor controller which adjusts the power supplied to the motor to bring the swing amplitude to. The motor controller supplies a PWM signal voltage to power the motor and adjusts the voltage on-time to bring or restore the swing to the selected amplitude.
US08342969B2
A tripod-type constant-velocity universal joint has a journal raw profile with reduced weight and a reduced number of manufacturing steps. A leading end corner portion of the journal raw profile is held with use of a die and forged. By the forging, at the part including an elliptically longitudinal side relatively on a leading end portion side of an outer peripheral surface of each of journals, edge portions reducing a lateral sectional area of each of the journals toward a leading end side thereof are formed, and tapered surfaces are formed on the leading end side of the edge portions. Centering on each of the journals is performed by causing two points on an elliptically longitudinal side of the edge portions to abut against a centering jig.
US08342968B2
A method of conveying a command to a user using a practice system is provided. The method includes detecting movement of the user using a sensor; selecting a command from a list of pre-determined commands; and conveying the command to the user using a signaler.
US08342956B2
The present invention is a method and a gaming system for operating a progressive game that is accessible at a plurality of gaming machines. The progressive game has a plurality of progressive jackpots. The method and system involve collecting wager-input data at the plurality of gaming machines that corresponds to wager inputs made at the plurality of gaming machines, and crediting a portion of the wager inputs to a first group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a first distribution set. In response to the wager-input data meeting a predetermined criteria, the method and system include crediting a portion of subsequent wager inputs to a second group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a second distribution set. The first group directs funds to at least one progressive jackpot in an amount that is different from the second group.
US08342943B1
A method for providing personalized rewards to slot machine players may involve defining multiple player categories. The method may also involve providing player category rules. The method may also involve assigning slot machine players to the player categories based on the player category rules. During a gaming session on a slot machine, the method may involve identifying a current player on the slot machine and identifying a player category to which the current player is assigned. In response to detecting a triggering event involving the current player's activity on the slot machine, bonus credits may be awarded to the current player based on the player category that is assigned to the current player.
US08342938B2
A gaming machine reel having a motor capable of rotating the reel operatively coupled to a controller to control a reel rotation speed, a support mechanism coupled to the motor having an outer circumferential region, a rotatable display mounted on the outer circumferential region operable to rotate about an axis of the reel. The rotatable display may be used to display game play indicia utilized in a wager-based game of chance. A game controller coupled to the rotatable display may be configured to determine a portion of the rotatable display that is visible through a viewing window on the gaming machine at a particular, determine pixel locations associated with the visible portions and map visual content to the visible portions as a function of time while the rotatable display is rotating.
US08342934B2
A gaming machine, at the beginning of a game, determines static symbols for each of the video reels and executes variable display. Then, in a case where the static symbols do not form a winning combination and where the static symbols include symbols constituting a winning combination, video reels displaying symbols not constituting the winning combination are statically displayed after other video reels.
US08342929B2
A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant's performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.
US08342916B2
An improved processing assembly having a meat emulsion pump connected to a stuffing horn. The stuffing horn positioned to fill casings with meat emulsion which form a strand of processed meat that is received by a twister, then a linker, and subsequently deposited on a conveyor.
US08342910B2
An abrasive tool including a CMP pad conditioner having a substrate including a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a side surface extending between the first major surface and the second major, wherein a first layer of abrasive grains is attached to the first major surface and a second layer of abrasive grains is attached to the second major surface. The conditioner further includes a first sealing member extending in a peripheral direction along a portion of the side surface of the substrate.
US08342907B2
A polishing state monitoring apparatus measures characteristic values of a surface, being polished, of a workpiece to determine the timing of a polishing end point. The polishing state monitoring apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for applying light from a light source to a surface of a workpiece being polished, a light-receiving unit for receiving reflected light from the surface of the workpiece, a spectroscope unit for dividing the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit into a plurality of light rays having respective wavelengths, and light-receiving elements for accumulating the detected light rays as electrical information. The polishing state monitoring apparatus further includes a spectral data generator for reading the electrical information accumulated by the light-receiving elements and generating spectral data of the reflected light, and a processor for calculating a predetermined characteristic value on the surface of the workpiece based on the spectral data generated by the spectral data generator.
US08342906B2
A system method and apparatus to monitor a frictional coefficient of a substrate undergoing polishing is described. A polishing pad assembly includes a polishing layer including a polishing surface, and a substrate contacting member flexibly coupled to the polishing layer having a top surface to contact an exposed surface of a substrate. At least a portion of the top surface is substantially coplanar with the polishing surface. A sensor is provided to measure a lateral displacement of the substrate contacting member. Some embodiments may provide accurate endpoint detection during chemical mechanical polishing to indicate the exposure of an underlying layer.
US08342902B2
A deer call includes a cylindrical mouthpiece in which a reed assembly is mounted for oscillatory movement creating a sound replicating that of a deer and a sound attenuating tube secured to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is composed of a rigid tubular member and an elastic skin secured about the tubular member. The rigid tubular member includes a central cut-out section exposing the elastic skin to an interior of the mouthpiece thereby defining the elastic skin resonance control surface, wherein the elastic skin in the area of the elastic skin resonance control surface includes a sound control aperture allowing the user to control air pressure within the mouthpiece and thereby control amplitude of sound generated by the deer call.
US08342900B2
A glitter circulation device includes a housing defining a chamber configured to receive a doll. A tray is coupled to the housing and configured to hold a plurality of glitter particles. A fan is coupled to housing and in communication with the tray and the chamber. The fan is configured to draw the glitter particles from the tray and expel the glitter particles into the chamber.
US08342898B2
A bonding agent sheet (30) including removed bonding agent portions (31) corresponding to terminal portions (102) is bonded to a mother sealing substrate (400). Further, a mother element substrate (100) including display regions (101) and the terminal portions (102) is bonded to the bonding agent sheet (30) to form a mother panel (200). Then, the mother panel (200) is separated into individual organic EL display panels to form organic EL display devices.
US08342893B2
An electrical terminal operable to facilitate electrical connectivity between the terminal and an electrical connector. The electrical terminal may include a conducting element, such as but not limited to a coil spring, within a open end used to connect to an electrically conducting connector. The conducting element may facilitate electrical connectivity between the inserted connector and the terminal.
US08342892B2
The high conductivity energy-saving clamping device comprises a clamp and a cable fixed upon the clamp. Inside the cable, the conductive material protrudes and is set on the juncture of the clamp and the external conductor. When the clamp is connected to the external conductor, the conductive material and the external conductor contact and meet. This invention possesses the following advantages: it simplifies the production technology, lessens raw materials needed for production and hence saves resources and cost by the direct contact of the conductive material and the external conductor; moreover, due to the increase of conductive contact area, it enhances the electrical conductivity by 10% to 15% compared to those common clamps which use tooth-like conductive parts to connect the external conductor. Meanwhile, the invention greatly decreases environmental pollution by omitting the plating process of tooth-like conductive parts.
US08342887B2
An electrical connector and assembly having a body arranged and disposed to receive an interconnector of a guide wire at a first end and an interface cable at a second end, and a contact module in the body, the contact module comprising a contact housing and a plurality of contacts, disposed in the contact housing, the plurality of contacts being configured for electrical connection with the interface cable and the guide wire, is disclosed.
US08342886B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing defining an uninterrupted tongue portion with opposite first surface and second surface and a plurality of contacts loaded in the tongue portion. The first surface defines at least one rib. The plurality of contacts includes a first group of contacts with contacting portions loaded in the first surface at one side of the at least one rib, a second group of contacts with contacting portions loaded in the first surface at another side of the rib and a third group of contacts with contacting portions loaded in the second surface opposite to the at least one rib. Each of the second and third group of contacts is composed of signal contacts and grounding contacts. The grounding contacts of each group unitarily connect with each other by a connecting bar at front distal ends thereof.
US08342881B2
A shield is provided for use with a connector assembly that includes for sides that form an enclosure, one of the sides being a baseplate. The shield can include a plurality of guides positioned on the baseplate and the plurality of guides can be arranged in a pattern. Each guide can be formed by making two slits in the bottom plate so as to define a body portion of the guide and the body portion can be extended in the enclosure. Each guide can be supported by the baseplate at opposite ends of the body portion.
US08342880B2
A connector includes a terminal electrically connected to an end of an electric wire, and a connector housing which accommodates the terminal and the electric wire. The terminal is capable of being fastened to an opposite member by means of a fastening member so that the terminal is electrically connected to the opposite member. The connector housing includes a housing arm which supports the terminal so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the fastening member is fastened to the opposite member.
US08342873B2
An electrical socket used to connecting an IC package to a printed circuit board comprises an insulative housing (2) and a plurality of contacts (1) received therein, the insulative housing (2) comprises a top surface (21), a bottom surface (22) opposite to the top surface (21) and a plurality of passageways (211) penetrated the top surface (21) and the bottom surface (22), the contact (1) comprises a body portion (10), a connecting portion (11) extending upwardly from the body portion (10) and a spring portion (12) extending horizontally from the connecting portion (11), the spring portion (12) comprises a supporting portion (120) at the end thereof touching with the insulative housing (2).
US08342870B2
A socket connector (100) comprises a socket body (5), a plurality of contacts (3) received in the socket body (5), a lid (1) movably mounted on the socket body (5) and moving up and down along a vertical direction, a moving plate (4) movably mounted upon the socket body (5) and moving along a horizontal direction and an operating lever (2) located between the lid (1) and the moving plate (4), the operating lever (2) comprises a press member (22), the press member (22) presses on the top surface of the moving plate (4) to prevent the floating of the moving plate (4) in the vertical direction.
US08342866B2
A connector assembly having a connector body that includes a support structure and a mating side and has an adjustable cavity therebetween. The mating side has a mating array of terminals thereon that is configured to face a communication component. The mating side is moveable relative to the support structure. The connector assembly also includes an elastic container having a reservoir that holds a working fluid. The elastic container is positioned within the adjustable cavity between the support structure and the mating side. The elastic container changes between first and second shapes to move the mating side toward and away from the communication component.
US08342862B2
A power connector comprises a slidably positionable earth pin. The earth pin is able to be positioned in a travel, or small form factor and in an operational form factor. The housing of the connector comprises a member having a slot that defines a sliding path for the earth pin. The member also has two sets of grooves for receiving a set of spring loaded protrusions on the earth pin. The protrusions come to rest in one of the sets of grooves thereby defining a small form factor and an operational form factor.
US08342852B2
A system for simulating one or more hemorrhages in order to provide a more dynamic and realistic hemorrhage simulation in order to train medical personnel and other critical care givers, such as first responders, medics, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on treating hemorrhages. The system includes a reservoir, a flow controller, and at least one conduit connected to at least one simulated wound site wherein the system supplies fluid to the simulated wound site in order to simulate a hemorrhage. The system may further include a plurality of wound sites that have their respective fluid flows controlled by the fluid flow controller. In at least one embodiment, the reservoir and the flow controller are housed within a bag. In at least one embodiment, the system further includes an audio system for providing audio cues to the simulation participants to enhance the realism of the simulation.
US08342837B2
There are provided a first mold 2 and a second mold 1 that can be brought into and released from contact with the first mold 2. A substrate 70 provided in both the molds 1, 2 and mounted with electronic components is subjected to resin sealing and molding by filling with resin of cavities formed by both the molds 1, 2. The second mold 1 is placed on a base plate 9 so as to be capable of horizontally reciprocating, and has a cavity block 7 that can be brought into and released from contact with the first mold 2 and a mold clamping mechanism 16 that supports the cavity block 7 and that brings and releases the cavity block 7 into and from contact with the first mold 2 so as to perform mold clamping. On the base plate 9 is provided a horizontal actuation mechanism 11 for moving the second mold 1 to a facing position where the second mold 1 faces the first mold 2 and to a non-facing position where the second mold 1 has been moved sideways from the facing position.
US08342833B2
A three-dimensional object forming apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object includes: a base platform; a transmission portion; a detachable construction tank; a movable powder supplying tank provided for driving to supply construction powder above the detachable construction tank; a print module including at least a print cartridge with at least a nozzle; a heating portion; an lifting portion arranged below the detachable construction tank; a nozzle cleaning module; a nozzle sealing module having a holder, at least a sealing portion and a moisture portion; and a stretchable dust-proof cover connected to a side of the powder supplying tank, which is provided for moving together with the powder supplying tank to cover the construction powder in the construction tank.
US08342831B2
An electrospinning apparatus for spinning polymer fibers from a fluid delivered by a jet supply device, which apparatus comprises at least one collector of a plurality of collectors in electrical communication with an electrode of the jet supply device. Collectors are insulated from each other. At least one collector comprises a stretcher adapted to stretch polymer fibers. The stretcher is an integral part of at least one collector. A controller controls sequence and time duration at which collectors are in electrical communication with the electrode of the jet supply device creating a non-woven polymer fabric or weaving polymer fibers into a fabric. The electrospinning apparatus comprises a rotator adapted to rotate the stretcher.
US08342830B2
A metal mold of improved durability and enhanced ventilation efficiency during vulcanization of a tire, including a plug for a vent hole of the mold and a tire manufactured by using the metal mold. The metal mold is one in which vent holes pass through toward an outer portion of the mold from an inner surface of the mold, and in which a plug body is detachably fitted into each of the vent holes. The plug body is configured by a cylinder and a valve. The cylinder includes a large-diameter head portion at an upper portion of the cylinder, and a tubular cylindrical portion with a ventilation hole formed in the center of the cylinder. The valve is inserted into the ventilation hole of the cylinder with an interstice having a predetermined size interposed therebetween. Through-holes communicating with the interstice are formed on the side surface of the cylinder.
US08342822B2
A suction device for dental, medical and industrial purposes with a radial fan with a suction side and a delivery side. An air outlet of a centrifugal separator is connected to the suction side of the fan. At least one drive motor controlled by a control unit, and in the form of a rotating electric motor, drives the fan and the separator. A fan drive motor and a separator drive motor are arranged, uncoupled in terms of rotation, one behind the other on a common shaft fixed to the housing. The respective stators are supported by the common shaft. The rotating parts of the fan are connected to the rotor of the fan drive motor, and the rotating parts of the separator are connected to the rotor of the separator drive motor and are mounted to rotate coaxially with respect to the shaft fixed to the housing.
US08342818B2
An apparatus is disclosed for an improved float type wave powered pump that uses the continuous rising and falling wave action in a body of water to pump a fluid. The pump includes piston and cylinder assemblies that are configured for relative reciprocal movement therebetween. One of the assemblies is anchored to the floor of the body of water and the other is vertically moveable in response to a drive float riding on a wave. The pump selectively includes a tide compensating device to reduce the ratio of vertical travel of the drive float to vertical travel of the moveable assembly. The pump also selectively includes a fluid inlet check valve incorporating a support plate of the piston assembly with openings therein and a cover for the same. The pump further selectively includes a directional pressure-activated seal at the point of sliding connection between the piston rod and the cylinder.
US08342802B1
A large and highly tapered and twisted turbine rotor blade for a large frame and heavy duty industrial gas turbine engine, where the blade includes a main spar with multiple impingement chambers extending along the chordwise direction of the blade, and with a thin thermal skin bonded to the main spar to form an airfoil section for the blade. The chordwise impingement channels are separated by ribs to form multiple chambers in the spanwise direction from the root to the blade tip. These compartmented impingement channels formed along the airfoil spanwise direction can be used for tailoring the gas side pressure variation in the spanwise direction, and individual impingement channels can be designed based on the airfoil local external heat load to achieve a desired local metal temperature. With this cooling circuit, the usage of cooling air is maximized for a given airfoil inlet gas temperature and pressure profile.
US08342800B2
A plastic compressor housing, in particular a radial flow compressor housing, preferably for a turbocharger, has at least one thermosetting plastic body for providing an intake pipe, a compressor duct, and an outlet pipe, and a thermoplastic at least partially covering the thermosetting plastic body in a hood-like fashion. The thermosetting plastic body is formed as a basic body and the thermoplastic is injection molded on the basic body. At least a first anchoring element is embodied on at least a first surface of the thermosetting plastic body and at least a second surface of the first anchoring element is substantially completely covered with the thermoplastic. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing a plastic compressor housing.
US08342798B2
A system includes a turbine casing including a first hook configured to mate with a second hook to support a turbine shroud about a plurality of turbine blades. The turbine casing includes a coolant circuit configured to adjust clearance between the turbine shroud and the turbine blades based on coolant flow through the coolant circuit. The coolant circuit includes a first plurality of radial coolant passages extending into the first hook.
US08342796B2
Damping systems and engines including the damping systems are provided. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the damping system includes a rotor, a bearing assembly mounted to the rotor, a spring cage disposed around the bearing assembly, an axially-extending housing surrounding the spring cage, a first squeeze film damper formed between the bearing assembly and the spring cage, and a second squeeze film damper formed between the spring cage and the axially-extending housing.
US08342786B2
A container according the present application includes a container auto-lock system. The container auto-lock system is integrated into the outboard apertures of the lower castings of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system includes a locking mechanism which is configured to recess when the container is lowered onto a surface lacking an acceptable receiving aperture. The locking mechanism is also configured to automatically lock when placed on top of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system is configured to be compatible with international sized container by allowing the inboard apertures on each lower casting to be available for attaching the domestic container on top of an international container with a conventional locking device.
US08342784B2
A collapsible intermodal transport platform and methods for its operation are disclosed. The invention comprises structural ribbings that rotate about an axle disposed beneath the loading surface of the platform. The ribbings are positioned along the platform so as to provide lifting and stacking fitments at the standard overhead crane lifting points when in a lift configuration. The ribbings may be rotated inboard down to the loading surface, thereby presenting stacking blocks at the crane lifting points for stacking several platforms together. Alternatively, the ribbings may be rotated outboard to accommodate full size loading of cargo. The ribbings are rotated under electric or hydraulic power, according to the various embodiments disclosed. Other features and aspects disclosed lend to the invention's low weight and high carrying capacity, as well as its unique load securing features.
US08342781B2
A drill body for chip removing machining, including a rotationally symmetrical envelope surface and front and rear ends between which a center axis extends, around which the envelope surface is rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A head is formed in the front end that includes two cutting edges, each one of which includes a first part edge and a second part edge. The first part edge is included in a central tip part having a front end portion situated along the center axis. The second part edge extends between a peripheral end point positioned along the envelope surface and a radially inner end point where the second part edge transforms into the first part edge. The two first part edges converge at a positive nose angle (α) in an axially forward direction, and the two second part edges diverge at a negative angle (β) in the axially forward direction. Each cutting edge is delimited between a chip surface adjacent to a chip flute countersunk in the envelope surface, and a primary clearance surface that transforms into a secondary clearance surface situated rotationally behind the primary clearance surface. Each primary clearance surface includes two part surfaces which mutually form an obtuse angle (χ), and which meet each other in a first chute bottom that runs rotationally rearward from the inner end point of the second part edge. A second chute bottom extends in the extension of the first chute bottom and separates two second part surfaces included in the secondary clearance surface.
US08342779B2
In a cutting insert of the invention, a protruded portion formed on an upper surface lying more inward than a breaker groove along a corner comprises a breaker projection adjacentmost to the corner; a breaker wall face formed connectedly with the breaker projection so as to project more upward than the breaker projection; and a breaker side face formed connectedly with the breaker wall face. The breaker wall face is formed to have a smaller width toward the projecting direction of the breaker wall face, and inclined to have a higher position as it departs from the corner. The breaker side face is formed to have a larger width as it departs from the corner. The height of the breaker projection is not more than half of the height of the top of the breaker wall face, and is lower than the height of the cutting edge along the corner. A cutting method using a cutting tool comprising the cutting insert is also provided.
US08342774B2
A conveying system for conveying material having a tendency to stick, in particular a mobile conveying system for paving material used for constructing road mats has at least one conveying element which is accommodated in a conveying channel. The conveying element is directly or indirectly driven by at least one combustion engine. The conveying system has a primary heating device predominantly for the conveying element and/or the conveying system. Furthermore, the conveying system has at least one secondary heating device for at least partially relieving the primary heating device. The secondary heating device is operated with direct or indirect exit heat of the combustion engine. Alternatively, a combination of a primary heating device and at least one secondary heating device is provided, which secondary heating device is operated with exit heat originating from the combustion engine in order to at least partially relieve the primary heating device.
US08342771B2
A reinforced connector assembly for a tubular grab railing has an upper tubing support that is aligned with the grab railing during use and a lower base portion bolted directly to the tubing support fastened to a wall or floor. The tubing support has an opening that divides it into upper and lower halves with a reinforcing plate hidden between them to form a three layer sandwich structure with at least one boss confined during use within the tubing. The connector assembly is a composite formed from an outer plastic resinous connector element and the hidden reinforcing plate which can be formed from steel. The reinforcing plate which provides reinforcement for the plastic components can include exposed ears on each side that frictionally engage and distend the tubing to prevent it from rotating during use. An adjustable connector assembly has two pivotally related portions to permit angular adjustment on site. A corner elbow, an end connector and an end extension are provided.
US08342762B2
Information indicating whether or not a printhead of a printer has been replaced or detached is obtained. Before the start of printing on the printer, a message is displayed prompting for print position adjustment of the printer if it is determined, based on the obtained information, that the printhead has been replaced or detached. The information indicating whether or not a printhead has been replaced or detached is initialized based on a response to the displayed message.
US08342730B2
There is provided an illumination device equipped with a light guide plate having a light emission face and a light incident face, a printed substrate having a first plane and a second plane opposite to the first plane, a plurality of point like light sources for supplying light to the light guide plate, a housing disposed at a opposite side of the light emission face of the light guide plate, and a light source holding member for holding the printed substrate. The light source holding member has a bend portion, and a edge of the bend portion is inserted in between the light guide plate and the housing.
US08342725B2
A light bar may include a light head with chip-on-board (COB) light emitting diode (LED) and an optic component mounted adjacent to the COB LED. The light bar may comprise short and long center modules. The light bar may include a plurality of housing modules where each housing module includes a light head and a lens cover having a top portion that is substantially impervious to ultraviolet radiation, and a lens portion extending downward from the top portion in generally opposing relationship with the light head. The light bar may include a circuit board including a wire-to-board connector, and a light head including a wire-to-board connector mated with the wire-to-board connector on the circuit board to electrically connect the light head to the circuit board. The light head may include a holographic diffuser.
US08342722B1
A light system for mounting adjacent to a wall is provided which includes an opaque panel disposed adjacent to and offset from the wall. The panel has a wall side and a lower side (facing the room in which the light system is mounted). The panel has a perimeter edge. Lights are mounted within the perimeter edge on the wall side of the panel, between the wall and the panel, such that the lights are generally not visible, but light emanating from the lights is visible to form a halo on the wall around the panel, generally conforming to the perimeter edge of the panel. An upper releasable mounting bracket and a lower releasable mounting bracket are provided where the upper releasable mounting bracket is disposed on the wall and the lower releasable mounting bracket disposed on the wall side of the panel.
US08342720B2
A vehicle light and a road illumination device can include a semiconductor light emitting device capable of forming a luminance distribution where the light with a maximum value can be arranged at or near a light distribution cutoff line, thereby improving its light utilization efficiency. The vehicle light can include a semiconductor light emitting device including a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength conversion layer having a thickness-decreased portion that is formed substantially at a center line of the semiconductor light emitting element and extending to one end thereof so that the thickness is reduced from the center portion toward the one end. A projection optical system for forming a cutoff line can be configured to project a plurality of light source images each including an image portion corresponding to the thickness-decreased portion at its upper area, and to arrange the image portions in at least one of a horizontal direction and an oblique direction.
US08342715B2
A lens arrangement for telescopic illuminator includes a reflector. The reflector has a cavity defined therein. An inner periphery of the cavity is annularly formed with a conical surface. The conical surface is inwardly inclined. A convex lens is disposed in the cavity and positioned in a middle part of the reflector. A tapered portion is annularly disposed on an outer periphery of the reflector and inclined toward the inner end of the reflector. A flat surface is formed on the inner end of the reflector. The flat surface has a receiving hole centrally defined therein and passing therethrough. A lamp movably is disposed adjacent to the reflector. The lamp is born by an aluminum board.
US08342709B2
LED module, arrays of LED modules, luminaires incorporating such arrays, and methods of illumination where the configuration of respective components facilitates any one or more of desired angle, location and shape of illumination provided by the LEDs. LED modules are selectively disposed on a carrier plate. Each of the LED modules includes a substantially planar LED circuit board with LED chips disposed thereon, a heat sink formed of heat transmitting material and having a mounting surface for accommodating an LED circuit board to dissipate heat from the LED chips, and a reflector with its reflective surface disposed with respect to the LED chips to direct the emitted light toward an axis of illumination extending away from and substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the planar LED circuit board. The heat sink, the LED circuit board and the reflector are arranged such that the axis of illumination is not perpendicular to a plane containing the surface illuminated by the light emitted from the LED chips.
US08342703B2
A light emitting apparatus including a circuit board (10), at least one light emitting chip (20), an integrated optical cover (30) and a fluorescent layer (40). The light emitting chip (20) is arranged on the circuit board (10). The integrated optical cover (30) has a peripheral wall (31), a top wall (32) and a light guiding post (33). The peripheral wall (31) is arranged around the circuit board (10). The top wall (32) is arranged on the peripheral wall (31). The light guiding post (33) extends from the top wall (32) toward the light emitting chip (20). The light guiding post (33) includes a recess portion (332). The light emitting chip (20) is accommodated in the recess portion (332). The fluorescent layer (40) is arranged between the recess portion (332) and the light emitting chip (20). By using the recess portion (332) and the light emitting chip (20) cooperatively to confine the fluorescent layer (40), the thickness thereof can be controlled to be consistent.
US08342699B2
An electronic device includes a body, a rotatable member, a projecting unit configured for projecting an image, a sensing unit and a processing unit. The body includes a connecting end, and a plurality of conductive contacts is formed at the connecting end. The rotatable member is rotatably connected to the connecting end. The rotating member includes a conductive ball configured for being electrically connected to one of the plurality of the conductive contacts, and the plurality of conductive contacts are formed along a displacement path of the conductive ball. The sensing unit is configured for sensing interactions at specific locations corresponding to the projected image. The processing unit stores a plurality of images, and is configured for controlling the projecting unit to project a corresponding image according to the conductive contact which is electrically connected to the conductive ball.
US08342691B2
An information technology system includes a micro projector display for displaying status, operating, troubleshooting, and location information. An image output from the micro projector display is viewable from outside the enclosure, for example on a cabinet door, an optional retractable projection screen included with the enclosure, or a floor, wall, or ceiling of a room, or other external surface. In some embodiments of the invention, a micro display projector is adapted for removable electrical and mechanical connection to one or more docking ports on the information technology system. In some embodiments of the invention, a projection direction for the micro projector display is selectable.
US08342688B1
A multifocal capable ophthalmic aberrometer has an afocal relay defining an optical axis, an object plane, and an image plane. The image plane is conjugated to the object plane. A probe beam is projected along the optical axis and is propagated toward the object plane. Reflection of the probe beam from a subject eye located at the object plane generates a wavefront emerging from the object plane. A Hartmann-Shack sensor positioned at the image plane and produces an image of Hartmann-Shack spots of the wavefront. A control electronics acquires the images of the Hartmann-Shack spots in a single measurement. A processing electronics calculates an optical power map of the subject eye with respect to a center of the wavefront and averages the optical power map over the images.
US08342682B2
Disclosed is a process for molding plastic optical articles with a hard coated film, comprising steps of coating one side of an optical film with a hard coating, pre-curing the hard coating to a tack free state while still maintaining the coating flexibility, making an insert from the coated film for the desired optical article, molding the plastic resin onto the insert through insert injection molding, and post-curing the molded article. The utilization of the pre-curing and post-curing steps have been found to eliminate hard coating cracks during the insert making and the molding step, while providing a hard coating with desired properties. Such an optical article possesses a hard coating integrated on its surface, thus, eliminating the need to further coat the optical article.
US08342680B2
A lens that covers the front side of an eye, includes: a high light-transmissive region including an eyepoint; and a low light-transmissive region surrounding the entire circumference of the high light-transmissive region, a light blocking ratio in the low light-transmissive region being higher than the light blocking ratio in the high light-transmissive region, wherein the low light-transmissive region has a region where the light blocking ratio changes toward the periphery.
US08342672B2
A recording apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member; an image forming composition layer formation unit that supplies an image forming composition to the intermediate transfer member, the image forming composition containing a curable material that cures upon application of an external stimulus; an ink application unit that applies ink to the image forming composition layer that has been formed on the intermediate transfer member; a transfer unit that transfers the image forming composition layer from the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium by contacting the image forming composition layer onto which the ink has been applied with the recording medium; and a first stimulus application unit that applies a stimulus to the image forming composition layer that cures the image forming composition layer, the stimulus being applied at least one of immediately before the image forming composition layer comes into contact with the recording medium, or during the contact.
US08342654B2
An electric wiring board 120 of a liquid injection recording head has a base film 123 formed with an opening, a first wiring member 122 formed on a first surface that is a rear surface of the base film 123 as seen from a supporting member 140, a second wiring member 129 formed at a position closer to the opening than the first wiring member 122 on the first surface, and connected to a wire 170, a cover film 124 which covers the first wiring member 122 and has an end 150 between the first wiring member 122 and the second wiring member 129, an adhesive 127 which bonds together the first wiring member 122 and the cover film 124, a third wiring member 125 formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the base film 123, a first through hole 160, and a second through hole 161.
US08342653B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes at least one liquid ejecting head having a nozzle surface formed with a nozzle array which is operable to eject liquid toward a target medium and extends in a first direction, a reference surface perpendicular to the nozzle surface, and two correctors arranged side by side with a predetermined distance and brought into contact with the reference surface.
US08342643B2
A printhead integrated circuit includes one or more nozzle rows extending along a longitudinal axis thereof. The printhead IC has first and second ends for butting engagement with other printhead ICs so as to define a pagewidth printhead. Each nozzle has an associated primary dot position, wherein a first nozzle positioned at the first end is configured to fire some ink droplets skewed towards the first end in addition to firing some ink droplets at its own primary dot position.
US08342641B2
Ink separators are described herein. One example ink separator is described, which includes an ink receptacle to receive ink aerosol particles, a surface within the ink receptacle to change a direction of an airflow entraining the ink aerosol particles and cause at least a portion of the ink aerosol particles to combine to form ink droplets on the surface, and a chamber adjacent the surface to receive the airflow including the ink droplets and at least some of the ink aerosol particles, wherein the chamber includes at least two flow paths to separate the airflow and the ink aerosol particles from the ink droplets by directing the airflow and the ink aerosol particles to an aerosol collection port and the ink droplets to an ink droplet collection port.
US08342635B2
Inkjet recording apparatus and recording medium conveyance method for the inkjet recording apparatus
There is provided an apparatus capable of obtaining an image with good quality even if platen suction pressure for reducing sheet floatation is different. The apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium, a platen configured to hold the recording medium at a position facing the recording head, a generation unit configured to generate power to attract the recording medium on the platen, and a control unit configured to correct a drive amount of the conveyance unit based on the generated power.
US08342634B2
A printing apparatus includes: a first printing unit group, a second printing unit group, a turnover unit and a control unit controlling the path change unit. The control unit controls the path change unit so that a difference is as small as possible between the length of the path along which the printing medium is transported from at least one printing unit of the first printing unit group to several printing units of the second printing unit group via the turnover unit and the length of the path along which the printing medium is transported from another printing unit of the first printing unit group to several printing units of the second printing unit group via the turnover unit.
US08342629B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus executes a collective multiple liquid ejecting process of ejecting a liquid so as to superimpose the predetermined number of unit images on basic images formed on a target. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an ejection executing unit which ejects the liquid onto the target from an ejecting head; a position acquiring unit which acquires arrangement positions of the predetermined number of two or more basic images, at which an arrangement image in which the predetermined number of two or more unit images are arranged among the plurality of basic images formed on the target is superimposed; an image adjusting unit which detects an error between the acquired arrangement positions of the basic images and arrangement positions of the predetermined number of two or more unit images, and adjusts the arrangement positions of the unit images by allocating the detected error to each unit image.
US08342623B2
Methods of adjusting ink ejection characteristics of an inkjet printing apparatus and driving the inkjet printing apparatus are provided. A method of adjusting ink ejection characteristics of an inkjet printing apparatus may include adjusting at least one of a voltage and an application duration of a driving signal applied to a plurality of piezoelectric actuators that provide ejection pressures to a plurality of nozzles so that volumes of a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles are uniform, and displacing an application starting time of the driving signal applied to the plurality of piezoelectric actuators so that the plurality of ink droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles reach a printing medium at a same time.
US08342618B2
An electric motor is coupled to driving wheels 2, 2. When a slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2 is detected, the electric motor 5 produces a regenerative torque to suppress the slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2. The regenerative torque is controlled in a variable manner according to an index parameter that indicates a road surface condition. Thus, when the slippage of the driving wheels occurs, the slippage of the driving wheels is suppressed according to the road surface condition by a regenerative operation of the electric motor coupled to the driving wheels.
US08342616B2
An object of the invention is to reduce an influence of deviation in pressure increasing performance, which would be caused by individual differences of pressure increase valves, so that a desired braking force may be obtained. A moderate pressure increasing operation is carried out for wheel cylinder pressure of a wheel, which is on a high μ-road, wherein a demand differential pressure for a pressure increase valve is set at a first target pressure for a first time period and then switched to a second target pressure for a second time period. The influence of the deviation may be absorbed during the moderate pressure increasing operation, so that a difference of wheel cylinder pressure between front left and front right wheels may be reduced.
US08342610B2
A green concrete saw that allows for precise adjustment of a height of a circular saw blade is provided. The saw provides for the circular saw blade to be secured to a front end of a mainframe mounted on an undercarriage. A major height adjustment is performed by adjusting the height of the mainframe relative to the undercarriage. Further, the undercarriage supports wheels for the saw, and a fine height adjustment is performed by adjusting the height of a front end of the undercarriage relative to the ground through the use of an eccentric front axle.
US08342607B2
A seat cushion for the production of a vehicle seat has a foam body and a carrier element. The carrier element is disposed on the back side of the foam body and provides mechanical support to the foam body on the back side thereof. At least one bubble element is disposed between the foam body and the carrier element and can be supplied with compressed air via an air inlet. The carrier element features an air-impermeable barrier layer on the side facing towards the foam body. The bubble element is composed of two bubble halves that are connected to one another by means of an airtight sealing joint, and wherein the bubble half facing away from the foam body is formed by a surface section of the barrier layer of the carrier element, and wherein the second bubble half facing towards the foam body is fastened at the assigned surface section of the barrier layer while forming the airtight sealing joint.
US08342605B2
A vehicle seat lock device is provided. The vehicle seat lock device includes a seat lock housing, a striker, a hook member and a blocking member. The seat lock housing is configured to be fixed to one of a seat back and a vehicle body. The striker is configured to be fixed to the other of the seat back and the vehicle body. The hook member is rotatably mounted on the seat lock housing to latch and unlatch the striker by engaging and disengaging the striker, respectively. The blocking member is pivotally mounted on the seat lock housing. The blocking member pivots and contacts with the hook member to prevent the hook member from rotating and to maintain engagement between the hook member and the striker when a load that is higher than a predetermined amount is inputted to the vehicle body.
US08342604B2
A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and a movable headrest mounted on the seat. The seat includes a base, a back, and a child-restraint harness coupled to the base and to the movable headrest. The child-restraint harness includes shoulder belts arranged to pass through openings formed in the seat back and the movable headrest.
US08342590B1
A pickup truck bed having a tailgate operable to slidably stow underneath the floor of the pickup truck bed. The pickup truck bed further includes a first channel and a second channel integrally formed into the bed to facilitate the positioning of the tailgate such that the tailgate can be stowed underneath the floor of the bed. The tailgate further includes a plurality of wheels operable to engage the first channel and the second channel so as to slidably move the tailgate such that the tailgate is substantially underneath the floor of the pickup truck bed. The tailgate further includes a first attachment pin and a second attachment pin that are operable to pivotally transition the tailgate from a closed position to an open position. The first attachment pin and second attachment pin are further configured to be retractable so as to facilitate the tailgate being slidably transitioned such that the tailgate is underneath the floor of the pickup truck bed.
US08342584B1
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing single and multi-core lifting slings, the method comprising: aligning a plurality of core fibers to form a sling body; applying a coating along length of the sling body, wherein an initial layer of the coating seals the plurality of core fibers from exposure to contaminates; and applying additional layers of the coating in areas of the sling body subject to high crush and shear forces. Other exemplary embodiments include tensioning the plurality of core fibers and forming a multi-core lifting sling by applying a seaming coat of the coating material to the sling body and at least to one of a second sling body. In an exemplary embodiment, the coating can be at least an isocyanate mixed with an amine forming polyurea.
US08342558B1
A fifth wheel glider hitch is disclosed having a pair of sliding rails that support a fifth wheel assembly, the fifth wheel assembly sliding on the rails over first and second brackets that include a locking hole. The sliding rails each have apertures defining a forward position and a rear position, and the glider includes handle with a locking mechanism that traps the assembly in a forward or aft position.
US08342542B2
A suspension device includes a wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support a wheel. Two links respectively link the wheel supporting member and a vehicle-body side member and are disposed substantially in parallel in a vehicle width direction. At least one projecting portion extends from at least one of the two links towards the other link, and an elastic linking portion links the projecting portion of one of the links to at least one of the other link and the projecting portion of the other link. A toe angle adjusting device is configured to input a force in a direction oriented backward in the vehicle forward-backward direction to the wheel supporting member to adjust a toe-in angle of the wheel.
US08342541B2
The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle component moveable in an oscillating manner with respect to a first vehicle component, and a first measuring means for measuring at least one acceleration measuring value of said first vehicle component with respect to a ground surface, wherein a calculating means is provided for determining an optimum acceleration value of said second vehicle component to be applied at the moment of the presence of the acceleration measuring value, and at least one actuator arranged between the first and second vehicle components, with control and closed-loop control units, for minimizing a deviation of a real acceleration value of said second vehicle component from the optimum acceleration value by using at least one available spring path.
US08342536B2
A sealing device that hermetically seals a gap between a first member and a second member that is reciprocally movable with respect to the first member. The sealing device seals liquid supplied into a pressurizing chamber surrounded by the first member and the second member. The sealing device includes a seal member that is attached to the second member. The seal member slides relative to the first member while being in contact with the first member. The seal member includes a base portion and a protruding portion. The protruding portion protrudes from the base portion toward the first member to separate the first member from the base portion. After the liquid is supplied into the pressurizing chamber to fill the pressurizing chamber with the liquid, the protruding portion elastically deforms to bring the base portion into close contact with the first member.
US08342533B2
An inventory sensor is positioned and configured to identify playing cards stored in compartments of one or more playing card receivers. The inventory sensor allows the identity of a playing card stored in the playing card receiving compartment to be checked or otherwise verified with respect to an identity of a playing card expected to be stored in the playing card receiving compartment. Anomalies may be identified and appropriate messages provides and/or actions taken, for example removing the anomalous playing card from use.
US08342523B2
A pair of conveyor rollers arranged in an image forming apparatus to convey a recording sheet is configured to be shiftable relative to the body between a first position and a second position. A first holding member is configured to support one of the conveyor rollers so that the supported conveyor roller is swingable around a pivot to allow the pair of conveyor rollers to be shifted between the first position and the second position. The first holding member including a sheet guide portion which provides a variable-position guideway extending from a position located upstream along the sheet conveyance path toward a peripheral surface of the supported conveyor roller, where the sheet guide portion moves to a position suitable to guide the recording sheet to be nipped by the pair of conveyor rollers at least when the pair of conveyor rollers is shifted to the first position.
US08342510B2
Provided are an apparatus for feeding sheets, booklets or the like having a wider adjustable range according to the thickness of the object than the conventional apparatus, and a system for sorting forwarding documents with the foregoing feeding apparatus. In the feeding apparatus, a moving shaft is supported by a fixed sleeve so as to be movable upward and downward. A main compression coil spring is located between the moving shaft and the fixed base and imparts a main spring force to the moving shaft in order that an overlap feed limiting member is pressed against a conveying belt. A sub compression coil spring imparts an oppositely directed sub spring force to the moving shaft. A position of a pressing washer is displaced downward by a threading engagement of an upper end adjusting bolt, so that even when the spring force of the main compression coil spring is increased, an increased amount is cancelled by an increase in the spring force of the sub compression coil spring.
US08342508B2
A system for transporting an object between stations, for example, from a magazine to a conveyor is provided having a rotary apparatus having two arms, wherein a first arm rocks back and forth between two positions and a second arm rotates about an axis on the first arm. The second arm can be fixedly connected to a holder having one or more suction heads for grasping the object. Preferably, the holder is arranged parallel to the object and moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the object as the object is removed from the magazine. Additionally, the holder is preferably displaced above the conveyor and positioned to be parallel to the conveyor, after which the holder is moved toward the conveyor in a path that is perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor. Therefore, the lateral force, shearing force, and friction exerted on the object during removal from the magazine and deposition onto the conveyor can be minimized.
US08342505B2
An improved apparatus and method for accumulating sheets having a horizontal transport deck. Inserts are fed from an insert feeder positioned above the deck. Driven accumulator nip rollers are positioned to receive accumulations of sheets transported on the horizontal deck, and they are also positioned close enough to the insert feeder to receive inserts fed from the insert feeder. A recessed accumulation deck is positioned immediately downstream of the accumulator nip rollers. When a first sheet rests in the recessed accumulation deck, a subsequent second sheet will be placed on top of the first sheet when it enters the recessed deck. The process is controlled whereby insert sheets are released by the insert feeder prior to arrival of an accumulation on the deck. The released insert is driven by the accumulator nip rollers onto the recessed accumulator deck. Then when the accumulation arrives, it is deposited on top of the insert resting there.
US08342503B2
An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
US08342502B2
An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
US08342488B2
An improvement to damping cylinders in which the damping fluid needs to be separated from a gas is disclosed. In particular, an annular bladder is used. An annular bladder allows for a control shaft to extend at least a portion of the length of the damping cylinder. This configuration effectively and simply reduces most issues that result from when an IFP is used for the same purpose.
US08342485B2
A fence post assembly for mounting to a substructure with a single point of attachment. The post assembly has an outer sleeve surrounding a support member and an attachment rod extending through the support member. The post assembly is mounted to the substructure by securing one end of the attachment rod in the substructure and securing the support member between a compression plate and the substructure by tensioning the upper end of the attachment rod. Attachment points for securing additional fence components to the post are provided by inserting an adapter into a receiving channel defined along a longitudinal length of the support member.
US08342482B2
This invention relates to hand tools and more specifically to tools designed for removing deck boards or the like from floor joists to which they are attached. The embodiment is more particularly a pry bar, having a long handle, a center block coupled to the long handle and having a transverse bore therethrough, two pry arms, one attached on each side of the center block, a bore through each of the pry arms, and a shaft rotatably coupling each of the pry arms to the tool through the center block bore.
US08342481B2
Coupler bodies with pivot rings for use in bottom loading couplers and bottom loading couplers comprising the same are disclosed. The coupler body for a bottom loading coupler may include a body sidewall having a fluid channel extending between an adapter end and a supply end. A plurality of slots may extend through the body sidewall of the coupler body. A pivot ring may extend substantially around the outer circumference of the coupler body. A plurality of interlocks may be positioned in corresponding slots in the body sidewall and pivotally engaged with the pivot ring. The interlocks are pivotable about the pivot ring between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
US08342479B2
A solenoid controlled valve includes a housing engaged into a receptacle and having a tubular member and having an outer peripheral space for receiving a coil, and having a peripheral compartment for receiving two magnetic conductive members, a solenoid controlled device includes two prongs connected to the coil, the housing includes an inlet mouth, and an outlet mouth communicative with the tubular member, and includes a valve seat formed between the outer end portion of the tubular member and the outlet mouth, and one or more reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the tubular member to resist a greater pressure, and the solenoid controlled device includes a plunger for engaging with the valve seat of the housing.
US08342473B2
Mounting of gas turbine engines in aircraft requires use of thrust struts associated with mountings. It is important should there be failure that a load path is maintained. Furthermore, on a wing or in-situ inspection is highly desirable with respect to reducing maintenance costs. Of particular concern is failure as a result of cracking both sideways and vertical which may result in loss of all load paths through the mounting. By provision of independent cranks which are associated through crank pivots in apertures of the cranks and then articulation about central pivots provided in apertures and a central element along with pivot association of the struts through pivots created about apertures in the cranks load paths are maintained. By independent provision of the cranks sideways and vertical cracking cannot cause failure in both load paths to the arrangement from the struts. Furthermore, gaps between the cranks and the mounting and in particular snubber surface can be monitored to indicate component failure.
US08342452B2
A covering structural element is adapted to close an elongate gap provided on an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft. Such an element has a strip-shaped body made of metal material, including a fixing portion, adapted to be fixed along one of the longitudinal borders of the elongate gap; a sliding portion adapted to urge in a sliding manner on the other of the longitudinal borders of the strip-shaped gap; and a connection portion, connecting the sliding portion to the fixing portion, the thickness of which is so sized as to allow, in use, a controlled elastic bending of the structural covering element. The covering structural element has a profile so sized as to be tapered at the transition from the fixing portion to the connection portion and from the sliding portion to the connection portion, the covering structural element having a smooth surface on the side intended to face away from the elongate gap.
US08342449B2
A vertically movable passageway for a space in the ceiling region in an aircraft cabin. The passageway comprises a passageway floor and a displacement device, wherein the displacement device is designed to variably set the height (h1) of the passageway floor.
US08342434B2
A cutting wheel for a grinder pump includes in one embodiment a monolithic disc-shaped base portion having a bottom surface having a plurality of integrally formed spaced-apart, downwardly-depending cutting elements disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc-shaped based portion. In another embodiment, a cutting wheel for a grinder pump includes a monolithic disc-shaped base portion having a bottom surface having a plurality of integrally formed spaced-apart, downwardly-depending cutting elements disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc-shaped based portion, and a plurality of integrally formed downwardly-depending paddle elements spaced-apart from the cutting elements.
US08342427B1
A fertilizing device for installing in a water system comprising a first half housing removably attached to a second half housing; an intake pipe disposed on a first side and an outlet pipe disposed on a second side of the first half housing, the intake pipe and outlet pipe are both fluidly connected to the inner cavity of the first half housing; a box with apertures disposed in the first and second half housings for holding a chemical bar with fertilizer; wherein the intake pipe is connected to a first portion of a pipe of the water system, the outlet pipe is connected to a second portion of the pipe of the water system; wherein water from the water system can enter the intake pipe, mix with the chemical bar, and exit via the outlet pipe.
US08342426B2
A method for adjusting telescopic water pipe and its structure comprise assembling an internal pipe and an external pipe to form a first water passage and a second external water passage, and an independent second internal water passage. A water passage control switch is disposed to an end of the external pipe and has a channel seal cap that divided into a first channel and a first through hole to connect the first water passage. A water stop plug ring is fit to the first through hole. A second and third through holes corresponding to a second and third channels can be connected to the second internal water passage. A rotary switch is connected to the channel seal cap. A penetration hole is disposed to a partition attached to the channel seal cap. An interconnection groove and an arc plane are disposed to the partition.
US08342413B2
The present invention relates to a method of enhancing document security for documents of the type each comprising a print medium on which is printed personalizing information, this printed medium being laminated between two laminates that are at least partially transparent, this method rendering any forging of these documents by ungluing the laminates ineffective, and it is characterized in that at least one additional phantom personalizing image is printed on at least one of the laminates.
US08342403B2
A method and optical reader system for label-independent detection as defined herein. The reader system includes: a launch beam; a first lens; a receptacle for receiving at least one optical biosensor article, the article having a mask on one face, and the mask having at least one aperture there through for receiving and transmitting radiation from the collimated launch beam; an angular separator; and an imager to record the image of the optical biosensor article.
US08342392B2
A system for providing secure document distribution is disclosed. The system includes an application configured to: allow an author to create a document, allow the author to secure the document using an access code, wherein the access code is needed to gain access to the document, encrypt the access code, and forward a message to a recipient, wherein the message includes the document and the encrypted access code, a terminal configured to: allow the recipient to open the message, and generate an image, the image having information embedded therein, the embedded information including the encrypted access code, and a portable device configured to: allow the recipient to capture the image, store predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information is usable to decrypt the encrypted access code, capture input information from the recipient, the input information to be used to ensure that the recipient is authorized to use the portable device, extract the information embedded in the image, decrypt the encrypted access code using the predetermined information, and generate an output, the output including the access code. The terminal is further configured to receive the output generated by the portable device and evaluate the output to determine if the correct access code needed for access to the document is provided.
US08342387B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of making solder balls having a uniform size. More particularly, the disclosure relates to improved solder ball formation processes that prevent or reduce bridging/merging of two or more solder balls during reflow. The processes of the instant disclosure are desirable because they do not require a sifting step to obtain uniformly-sized solder balls.
US08342384B2
The invention relates to a novel process for producing a metal ceramic substrate, especially a copper-ceramic substrate, in which at least one metal foil at a time is applied to the surface sides of a ceramic layer or a ceramic substrate using a high temperature bonding process and the metal foil is structured on at least one surface side for forming conductive tracks, contact surfaces, and the like.
US08342382B2
A method of determining the quality of a friction weld between two components, the method comprising joining two components together using a friction welding process, measuring the loss of length of the components as a function of time during the friction welding process, determining the double differential with respect to time of the loss in length of the components as a function of time, determining the quality of the friction weld by calculating the R2 value of the linear fit to the loss in length of the components as a function of time over a defined time period, determining the end of the defined time period by identifying the start of the final positive peak of the double differential with respect to time of the loss of length of the components as a function of time, calculating R2 from the least square difference of the linear fit over the defined time period of the loss of length of the components as a function of time and comparing the calculated value of R2 with acceptable values of R2 to determine if the quality of the friction weld is acceptable.
US08342378B2
The present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument, which includes a handle assembly and an elongate member having two jaw members. The second jaw member is movable in relation to the first jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member is supported by the elongate body and contains a plurality of fasteners. The elongate member extends distally from the handle assembly and defines both a longitudinal axis and a distal portion. A switch is placed about the handle assembly to allow the handle assembly to operate in multiple modes.
US08342364B2
A fluid dispenser and method of operating the same. The fluid dispenser can include a wheel driven by diluent passing along a flow path in the fluid dispenser. The wheel can be connected to a pump to pump fluid from a reservoir for dispense into the diluent. In some embodiments, the ratio of wheel rotations to pump cycles is selected to provide a desired and repeatable dilution ratio of concentrated fluid to diluent. The fluid dispenser can be portable and/or disposable, and in some embodiments is adapted for installation on an upper rim of a reservoir wall. Also, the fluid dispenser can be provided with a baffle limiting the velocity and impact of incoming diluent to the wheel driving the pump, thereby improving dosing accuracy of the dispenser in some embodiments.
US08342363B2
An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.
US08342361B2
The Novel Modular Vending Machine for Packaged Goods allows consumers to purchase packaged goods without an attendant present. The invention uses two or more conveyor assemblies to store and transfer packaged goods and primarily uses gravity to transfer the packaged goods from the storage location to the customer. When a vend is initiated, a dispensing drum rotates and places a packaged item on a delivery system for transportation to the customer. The remaining packaged goods move into position for the next vend. When the lower conveyor assembly is empty, an upper conveyor assembly is lowered into position to transfer the remaining packaged goods to the dispensing drum. The apparatus may be configured in a system comprised of multiple modular units controlled by a single user interface.
US08342359B2
A container for holding a dipping condiment or sauce and allowing a user to wipe a food item to remove excess condiment or sauce. The container has a base and a side wall having one portion higher than an opposing portion, the wall including at least one ridge, groove or other fluid retention device. The wall also includes a pair of opposing inwardly curved gripping surfaces for facilitating gripping by a user's fingers, the gripping surfaces including ribs or grooves. The container may also include a lid which snap fits onto the lip of the container.
US08342358B2
A fuel tank includes a first fuel chamber for receiving liquid fuel; a communication chamber communicated with the first fuel chamber and having a bottom higher than a bottom of the first fuel chamber; and a second fuel chamber communicated with the communication chamber, the second fuel chamber having a bottom lower than the bottom of the communication chamber. The fuel tank also includes a sleeve member having a lower end opening toward the bottom of the communication chamber, and configured so that fuel evaporative emissions are discharged while liquid fuel is supplied to the first fuel chamber. The first fuel chamber, the communication chamber, and the second fuel chamber are all molded integrally by resin blow molding. The communication chamber is provided with a protrusion which is convex when viewed from inside the communication chamber, and a depression which is concave when viewed from outside of the communication chamber.
US08342355B2
An on-demand drinking adapter for use with a beverage container is disclosed. The adapter includes a base with an upper surface and generally cylindrical sides which extend below the upper surface. The cylindrical sides are adapted for temporarily fastening the adapter to a mouth of a beverage container. The adapter also includes a spout with a vertically extending surface, a second surface, and an on-demand drinking aperture. The spout extends above the upper surface and the vertically extending surface is curved and coextensive with a portion of the cylindrical sides.
US08342352B2
Disks configured to float on the surface of a body of liquid, including a top member configured to float substantially above the surface of the body of liquid, a bottom member spaced from the top member and configured to float substantially below the surface of the body of liquid, a sidewall extending between the top member and the bottom member along the periphery of the top member and along the periphery of the bottom member, wherein the top member, the bottom member, and the sidewall collectively define a cavity, a chamber mounted within the cavity, the chamber enclosing a predetermined volume of a gas, and a port defined in the sidewall to allow liquid from the body of liquid to enter the cavity, wherein the predetermined volume of gas enclosed in the chamber is selected to impart a buoyancy force sufficient to maintain the disk afloat on the body of liquid with the bottom member a predetermined depth below the member of the body of liquid.
US08342349B2
A container assembly for storing and transporting consumable products. The container assembly includes two or more containers, each having a container coupling portion configured to facilitate the coupling of one container to another container. The container assembly also includes one or more adaptor lids operative to seal a cavity of a container by threaded engagement therewith, and to selectively couple two containers together. In some embodiments, two containers may be coupled to each other by placing a first container on top of a second container and rotating the two containers relative to each other. The container assembly may be operative to permit multiple quantities and sizes of containers to be selectively coupled together to provide flexibility for a user to store and transport a variety of consumable products. The container assembly may also include a lid having a handle to allow a user to easily transport the container assembly.
US08342341B2
A utensil storage stand, which comprises a base, a column extending away from the base, a distal end on the column, and utensil engaging means rotatably mounted on the column. The utensil engaging means is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the column by a ball bearing arrangement comprising plastic races cooperating with plastic or ceramic bearings interposed between the races. The utensil engagement means comprises a first set of radially extending spokes with enlarged perforations through the spokes and a second set of radially extending spokes providing utensil support hooks extending from the spokes. The utensil engagement means is rotatably mounted with respect to column having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. The open body of the utensil engagement means creates a canister for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top acting as the floor or bottom of the canister.
US08342339B2
Aspects of the invention include a sport accessory support stand. In some aspects, the sport accessory support stand is configured for retaining a sport accessory. In certain embodiments, the sport accessory support stand includes a base member and a support member wherein the support member is configured for being associated with the base member. In certain embodiments, the support member includes a plurality of post elements which extend away from the base member, wherein each of the post elements are positioned relative to one another so as to form a receptacle there between for receiving a portion of a sport accessory. In certain embodiments, the receptacle comprises a first width and a second width. For instance, in certain embodiments, the receptacle comprises a first width that is configured for receiving a portion of a bicycle, e.g., a front wheel portion, and the receptacle comprises a second width that is configured for receiving a portion of a scooter, e.g., a front portion of an inline foot scooter. In certain embodiments, the support stand is collapsible. Methods of assembling and using the support stand for supporting and/or storing one or more sports accessories are also provided herein.
US08342336B2
In a device and a method for extracting non-magnetic ores from a pulp comprising non-magnetic ore particles and having a solid fraction of at least 30 mass percent, the pulp flows continuously through a reactor in the direction of flow and magnetic or magnetizable magnet particles that form ore magnetic particle agglomerations with the non-magnetic ore particles are added to said pulp. The ore magnetic particle agglomerations are moved by a magnetic field into an accumulation range of the reactor, and are then discharged out of reactor range and separated into ore and magnetic particles. In a device and a method, the separated magnetic particles are treated, in particular hydrophobized, such that during a new interaction with non-magnetic ore particles, new ore magnetic particle agglomerations are formed. Accordingly, a high yield of ores can be obtained and the mine can be operated in an economical and environmentally friendly manner.
US08342331B2
A pharmaceutical product supply is disclosed in the form of a container, a pharmaceutical product receiver, pharmaceutical product, an adhesive, and at least one release liner. The pharmaceutical product receiver includes a plurality of receptacles for pharmaceutical product. The container is initially disposed in a first configuration where all of the pharmaceutical product receiver receptacles may be accessible. The container is thereafter disposable in a second configuration where no covering for any of the pharmaceutical product receiver receptacles is accessible through any openable access incorporated by the container. One or more release liners may be moved to expose adhesive for disposing and retaining the container in its second configuration. The noted second configuration of the container facilitates disposal of the pharmaceutical product supply (e.g., now being in a form that should reduce the potential for gaining access to any remaining pharmaceutical product still enclosed within the pharmaceutical product receiver).
US08342311B2
A store-feeding device including a feeding conveyer with a belt catch that can be positioned in an infinitely variable fashion in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. The belt catch can be controlled by a controller such that products can be conveyed from a production station directly to the packaging station by a conveyer. If the packaging station is fully utilized or stopped, the belt catch can be positioned such that the products can be placed in the store. A further conveyer can be loaded with rejected or faulty series of products. For this purpose, the belt catch can be retracted and lowered.
US08342308B2
A clutch unit with a clutch hub mounted non-rotatably on a shaft. The clutch unit includes at least two clutch elements that can be brought into frictional engagement with one another for torque transmission when the clutch unit is actuated by a mechanical actuation device with the help of cable-pull. The mechanical actuation device is attached to and held on the clutch unit.
US08342299B2
A bicycle disk brake pad comprises a backing plate and a friction member. A first joined area of the friction member is welded to the backing plate, and a second joined area of the friction member is adhesively joined to the backing plate.
US08342286B2
In a normally-open type clutch structure operatively connected to a vehicle which includes an engine, a drive wheel driven by the engine, and an automatic transmission arranged between the engine and the drive wheel. A clutch operating mechanism is provided having an actuator for engaging or disengaging a clutch connected to the automatic transmission. The clutch operating mechanism performs a control so as to bring the clutch into an engaged state when the actuator is operated, and clutch operating mechanism operates the clutch so as to bring the clutch into a disengaged state when the actuator is not operated.
US08342273B2
Over rotation limitation control is performed to control an engine rotation speed so that a rotation speed of a pinion gear of a planetary gear set will not exceed a limit value, when a travel mode is changed to a limp-home travel mode in response to an abnormality in an inverter for a first motor generator. With this over rotation limitation control, a difference between rotation speeds of a ring gear coupled to a wheel side and a carrier coupled to an engine side. Thus, when the limp-home travel mode is performed due to the abnormality in the inverter for the first motor generator, a secondary failure, in which the pinion gear burns out and the planetary gear set fails, is prevented.
US08342269B1
A polycrystalline diamond compact useful for wear, cutting, drilling, drawing and like applications is provided with a first diamond region remote from the working surface which has a metallic catalyzing material and a second diamond region adjacent to or including the working surface containing a non-metallic catalyst and the method of making such a compact is provided. This compact is particularly useful in high temperature operations, such as hard rock drilling because of the improved thermal stability at the working surface.
US08342262B2
A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.
US08342251B2
Provided is a shoe for wellbore lining tubing and to a method of locating wellbore lining tubing in a wellbore. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a shoe for wellbore tubing having an improved fluid flow diverter assembly for controlling circulation of fluid in the wellbore.
US08342241B2
Delivery of a substance to a subterranean location is achieved by suspending the substance as nanoparticles in a carrier fluid in which the substance is insoluble. First a dispersible powder composition, is formed by dissolving the substance in a solvent, emulsifying the resulting solution as the dispersed phase of an emulsion, and freeze-drying the emulsion to a powder. On mixing the powder with a fluid in which the substance is insoluble, the insoluble substance becomes a dispersion of nanoparticles which is pumped to the subterranean location. At the subterranean location a tracer dispersed as nanoparticles may migrate from injected water into hydrocarbon in a hydrocarbon reservoir. Another possibility is that the carrier fluid contains polymer and the dispersed nanoparticles comprise an agent which participates in cross-linking and consequent viscosification of the polymer at the subterranean location.
US08342237B1
An apparatus for containing leaks from a stuffing box on a wellhead production assembly is provided. The apparatus comprises a containment vessel consisting of two half shells that are joined below the stuffing box. The apparatus further comprises a seal subassembly. The components of the seal subassembly are positioned one the nipple and pumping tee below the stuffing box. The half shells are positioned about and joined to the seal subassembly in a manner that provides a liquid tight seal. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a transparent topper having an upper opening to receive a polished rod extending from the stuffing box. The topper is secured to the containment vessel in a liquid tight manner such that the stuffing box is substantially isolated from the environment. As such, any leaks originating from the stuffing box will be contained in the apparatus.
US08342232B2
A speed synchronization system in an aluminum alloy slab continuous casting and rolling line having a twin-belt casting machine and skin pass rolling machine which suitably controls a belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine so as to obtain a sound aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab and a production facility and method of production of an aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab using the same. These (1) compare an actually measured value of a slab speed during advance from a twin-belt casting machine to a skin pass rolling machine with a line speed setting to control a roll speed of a skin pass rolling machine by proportional/integrated control and simultaneously (2) control a belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine based on the line speed setting and a solidification shrinkage rate of the aluminum alloy to be cast so as to synchronize the belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and the roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine.
