US08378906B2
An electrical connection structure including: a first terminal attached to an edge portion of a circuit board, and composed of a first nipping portion, a connecting portion, a second nipping portion and a leaf spring portion each formed integrally in order as a single member, wherein the connecting portion exists along a side face of the edge portion, the first and second nipping portion and the connecting portion hold the edge portion therebetween and the leaf spring portion extends from an opposite side to the side of the connecting portion of the second nipping portion so that an interior angle formed by the second nipping portion and the leaf spring portion to be an acute; and a second terminal to be electrically connected to the leaf spring portion, wherein the second terminal is pressed to the leaf spring portion into a direction of widening the interior angle.
US08378895B2
A nanoscale electron shuttle with two elastically mounted conductors positioned within a gap between conductors produces asymmetrical electron conduction between the conductors when the conductors receive an AC signal to provide for rectification, detection and/or power harvesting.
US08378894B2
A planar antenna device includes a dielectric layer and two conductor layers vertically sandwiching the dielectric layer. The lower conductor layer is used as a ground, and the upper conductor layer forms a radiating element having a structure in which four or more radiating element pieces of different sizes are connected to a feeder line.
US08378882B2
A method for operating a radar, having the following steps: determining first and second differential signals from a first and second transmitted frequency-modulated signal and received components of the first and second transmitted frequency-modulated signal reflected by a plurality of objects; determining in each case one first and one second chirp signal for each first and the second differential signal, the first chirp signal corresponding to the double differentiation of the phase of the first and the second differential signal with respect to time; assigning one of the first differential signals to one of the second differential signals, based on a correspondence of the first chirp signal, that is assigned to the one first differential signal, to the second chirp signal that is assigned to the one second differential signal; and determining the separation distance and/or the relative speed of one of the objects, based on the one first differential signal and the one second differential signal assigned to the first differential signal.
US08378881B2
Systems and methods for collision avoidance in unmanned aerial vehicles are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for collision avoidance system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method including scanning for objects within a preselected range of the UAV using a plurality of phased array radar sensors, receiving scan information from each of the plurality of phased array radar sensors, wherein the scan information includes information indicative of objects detected within the preselected range of the UAV, determining maneuver information including whether to change a flight path of the UAV based on the scan information, and sending the maneuver information to a flight control circuitry of the UAV.
US08378878B2
A new approach to radar imaging is described herein, in which radar pulses are transmitted wi th an uneven sampling scheme and subsequently processed with novel algorithms to produce images of equivalent resolution and quality as standard images produced using standard synthetic aperture radar (SAR) waveforms and processing techniques. The radar data collected with these waveforms can be used to create many other useful products such as moving target indication (MTI) and high resolution terrain information (HRTI). The waveform and the correction algorithms described herein allow the algorithms of these other radar products to take advantage of the quality Doppler resolution.
US08378874B2
An analog to digital converter for operating at high speeds can be implemented with a micro-comparator/sampler, an encoder, and a selector. The micro-comparator includes an input from an antenna of a receiver/transceiver system; a transistor pair; reset transistor; cascaded inverters; an inverter circuit; a buffer; and a D flip flop circuit. Depending on the number of micro-comparator/samplers placed in parallel, a number of bits can be generated. For example, 15 bits from 15 different micro-comparator/samplers can be inserted into a 15 to 4 bit encoder to generate 4 bits.
US08378872B2
A process variable transmitter is used to measure a process variable, and, in doing so, dynamically changes the resolution of the A/D converter based upon the measured value of the analog input signal. This can be done by automatically adjusting the configurable resolution gain adjustment based on the value of the analog signal being measured, by normalizing the input signal being measured so that it is centered in an optimal resolution window of the A/D converter, or by adjusting a voltage reference provided to the A/D converter.
US08378870B1
The present invention provides a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) capable of generating a transfer function having a notch for reducing an error signal level in a desired frequency band.The DAC of the present invention includes a switch bank to which at least two reference signals are inputted and which selects any of these signals and outputs the selected signal through a plurality of paths, and an amplitude-phase control section which controls a reference signal selection operation of the switch bank on the basis of an input signal.
US08378847B2
A pit mount interface device includes a body having a head and an elongate stem extending from a bottom surface of the head. The elongate stem is sized and configured to be received in and extend through a hole formed in a cover of a pit. A nut defines a central aperture that is sized and configured to receive the elongate stem of the body. A passive radiator is disposed within the body and configured receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an automatic meter reading (AMR) device located below the cover through inductive coupling and to radiate the RF signal from a position located above the cover of the pit.
US08378846B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a metering site transceiver (12 or 15) with the ability to operate in a mobile back-up network (26) to signal utility consumption data that would otherwise be transmitted to a fixed receiver (30) in a fixed network AMR system. A mobile collection back-up capability allows a vehicle collection system (26, 27) to be used to read the remote meters (11, 14) in the fixed network, when a gateway (30) is detected as not communicating with the site transceiver (12 or 15).
US08378844B2
An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a non-volatile memory and an RF transceiver. The non-volatile memory has a first and a second port, the first port configured to obtain commodity consumption data. The radio frequency (RF) transceiver is configured to receive an RF signal from an external source and obtain energy from the RF signal and provide the energy to a bias voltage input of the non-volatile memory. The RF transceiver is further operable to perform a data transfer operation responsive to the received RF signal, the data transfer operation including a transfer of meter-related data between the non-volatile memory and the RF transceiver using the second port of the non-volatile memory.
US08378843B2
A telematics system in an asset network is provided. The telematics system includes one or more sensors configured to acquire data from multiple assets at different locations in the asset network. The telematics system also includes a transceiver configured to receive the data acquired from the one or more sensors. The telematics system further includes a data analysis system. The data analysis system includes a central data server configured to receive the data transmitted from the transceiver. The data analysis system also includes a processing circuitry configured to combine data, analyze combined data to detect trends, generate value added services based on the detected trends and distribute the value added services to multiple end users.
US08378837B2
A method of monitoring pressure inside a fluid line and a system for implementing the method. The method is applicable to syringe pump systems. The method includes the steps of measuring a force value caused by a pressure inside the fluid line; collecting the measured force values during at least two consecutive moving time windows; calculating a slope of a best-fit line within each time window; calculating a slope difference of the slopes of the best-fit lines; comparing the slope difference with a pre-determined threshold gradient value; defining a baseline force as the detected force value when the slope difference is equal to the threshold gradient value; determining a relative force value by subtracting the baseline force from the detected force value; and, triggering an alarm if the relative force is greater than a pre-defined threshold force.
US08378833B2
A system for monitoring a level of product in a tank to detect one of a delivery and a drain operation is provided. The system comprises a monitor and a data center. The monitor is operably coupled to the tank and adapted to detect the level of product in the tank at a first rate and at a second rate. The data center is in communication with the monitor and adapted to receive a user inputtable threshold level of change. The monitor detects the level of product in the tank at the first rate until the threshold level of change is detected. Thereafter, the monitor detects the level of product in the tank at the second rate. The data center generates an alarm signal to indicate that one of the delivery and the drain has occurred.
US08378829B2
The invention relates to a method for monitoring and/or controlling a transport device (10) wherein a plurality of similar products (17), in particular printed products, such as newspapers, magazines or similar are held in a detachable manner by means of individual clamps (12) that are arranged in a row, one behind the other, and are transported in sequence along a transport path (19). Improved operational reliability and controllability is characterized in that a contract-free read-in or read-out tag (T1-T5, Tn) is provided on the clamps (12), and that a reading-in/reading-out device (30) is disposed in the vicinity of the respective clamp for reading-in or reading-out data in the tags of a clamp (12), and is displaced with the respective clamp (12) over a selected section of the transport path (19).
US08378826B2
Exemplary systems, methods and other means for providing a key device that may be used with a monitoring system are discussed herein. The key device may be configured to communicate with one or more other devices, silence an alarm, commission a tag, decommission a tag, unlock a tag from an item, among other things. The key device may include rules that permit particular functionality based on, for example, time and/or location.
US08378822B2
There is a cable theft monitoring system and method configured to protect electrical cables from theft during non-operation hours. The system includes a power circuit configured to provide power. The system also includes a motor coil configured to receive and utilize power. The system further includes a power supply line configured to facilitate power conduction through the motor coil. The system includes a sensor module configured to monitor a characteristic of the power supply line. The sensor module is configured to send an electrical current through the power supply line to the motor coil to detect electrical connection thereto. The system additionally includes an onsite control module configured to provide onsite controls to the cable theft monitoring system. The system also includes an isolation module configured to isolate the sensor module from strong power sources. Furthermore, the system includes a communication module configured to transmit information.
US08378819B2
A main electrode is located in a vehicle seat. A guard electrode is located between a grounded vehicle body and the main electrode. A detection unit selectively applies an alternating voltage signal to the main electrode and the guard electrode, sets the main electrode and the guard electrode to be in an open state or a grounded state, detects an electric current of one of the main electrode and the guard electrode, converts the selected electric current into a voltage value, and detects an overcurrent in the main electrode and the guard electrode. A control unit determines the main electrode and the guard electrode to be an open failure, a power supply short failure, a grounded failure, or a short failure with the guard electrode, according to one or a combination of the voltage value and detection or non-detection of an overcurrent.
US08378818B2
A device for the detection of the passage of objects, people or animals bearing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, including at least one mobile support which, when at rest, forms a barrier to the passage of the objects, people or animals and which, when in contact with the latter, is capable of moving towards a withdrawn position, this mobile support bearing an antenna connected electrically to an RFID tag reader.
US08378811B2
A wearable sensor may be provided. The wearable sensor may include a timing mechanism; a plurality of sensor pairs coupled to the timing mechanism wherein each sensor pair comprises an emitter and a detector; and a microcontroller coupled in communication to the timing mechanism and the plurality of sensor pairs.
US08378810B2
In a signal shaper circuit provided between a VICS antenna, which receives a VICS signal and outputs reception input data signal, and a navigation CPU for signal processing, a low pass filter of a resistor and a capacitor is provided. The cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set to pass light modulation noise included in the input data signal but cut off the input data signal, which is higher in frequency than the light modulation noise. The input data signal is compared with the filter-processed signal used as a reference signal by a comparator. As a result, a final output data signal is outputted in a waveform-shaped form and without loss of data.
US08378809B2
The invention relates to a network with a number of terminals connected by lines. Data and a supply voltage for power supply of the terminals may be transmitted via said lines. At least one switching control unit and at least one switch device with a switch means are provided therefor. The switch means of the switch device may be activated or deactivated by means of operating the switch control unit. With activated switch means a terminal allocated to the switch device is switched on by being connected to a network voltage. With deactivated switch means a terminal allocated to the switch device is switched off by being disconnected from the network voltage.
US08378804B2
An active acoustic control apparatus includes an alert sound signal generator configured to generate an alert sound signal. An alert sound output device is configured to output an alert sound to an outside of a vehicle. A cancellation sound signal generator is configured to generate a cancellation sound signal representing a cancellation sound to cancel the alert sound, which has been transferred from the outside of the vehicle to an inside of the vehicle, at a sound cancellation target position inside the vehicle. A cancellation sound output device is configured to output the cancellation sound to the sound cancellation target position. The cancellation sound signal generator is configured to detect change of a transfer characteristic from the alert sound output device to the sound cancellation target position and to vary an output characteristic of the cancellation sound depending on the change of the transfer characteristic.
US08378800B2
A security system is disclosed with a digital processor-based wireless remote controller that sends command to perform system operations and receive confirmation of various aspects of the system. The security system monitors environmental and vehicle system parameters and automatically provides commands or prohibits issuance of commands to operate vehicles systems based on preset environmental and vehicle system conditions. The system reports command and response status to users through the remote controller.
US08378799B2
Symbols in information are encoded as a codeword using a differential orthogonal code. The codeword is stored in a substrate. A moving sensor acquires an image of the codeword in the substrate and decodes the codeword using a balanced differential decoder. The codeword can be painted as lane markings on a road surface.
US08378793B1
Improvements to existing diving tanks and dive computers are achieved through the use of an electronic device which employs audible, verbal, simulated, humanlike words or phrases to inform a user while underwater of dive information, including, but not limited to, gas volumes present in the tank, ascent rates, water temperature, depth levels, remaining time in the water, etc. In one embodiment a microcontroller can be used to facilitate the different settings and information that the talking tank or dive computer supplies. The electronic assembly of the present invention can be in communication with the existing pressure gauges, sensors, and valves associated with the talking tank or dive computer.
US08378787B2
The present invention discloses a data tag device (100) which initially operates in either an active mode or a semi-active mode (604). The data tag device includes tag circuitry including a interface element (104), a controller element (102), and a memory (106) in which tag data (116) is stored. A battery is provided which is initially coupled to the tag circuitry. A decoupling feature (402) is used to destructively decouple the battery from the tag circuitry when it is desired to disable the data tag device and reduce the ability of third parties to obtain the tag data. The data tag device is configured to detect the destructive decoupling (606, 608), and disable the data tag in response.
US08378783B1
A system that allows a user to install a remote control transmitter to transmit a control signal in response to the driver flashing the high-beam headlights in a vehicle without cutting and splicing wires in the vehicle electrical system. Pluggable light system components such as the light bulb housing, the light bulb socket, and/or the headlight fuse are structured and arranged to contain a radio frequency transmitter that draws power from the existing electrical circuits. A method of use is also disclosed.
US08378782B2
The disclosure relates to a system and method for unlocking and unlocking access to a device. The system comprises: a graphical user interface (GUI) module providing instructions to a microprocessor operating on the electronic device and an access management module providing instructions to the microprocessor. The GUI module provides instructions to generate on a display of the electronic device an interface for entry and modification of a tap pattern used to change an access state of the electronic device; and process inputs from an input device through the interface that select described levels of movement and described locations for expected tap signals for the tap pattern. The access management module provides instructions to receive signals from a monitoring circuit in the electronic device that processes a tap signal received from an accelerometer in the electronic device; and determine whether the tap signal completes a match for the tap pattern.
US08378780B2
The present invention provides a connected sensor system which can be easily used by the user and which can give an external input to each sensor unit without making the wiring complicated, and also provides a network unit and a sensor unit used for the connected sensor system. A cyclic communication memory of a network unit is arranged with an external input request region, and an external input signal is stored to a corresponding memory in a host control apparatus. By performing cyclic communication between the network unit and the host control apparatus, the external input signal is stored to the cyclic communication memory of the network unit. Accordingly, the external input signal is transmitted to each sensor unit connected to the network unit, and each sensor unit executes the external input function.
US08378779B2
An apparatus communicating with a gateway apparatus on a control system network for facility equipment, via an information system network, includes a unit which stores not less than one piece of virtual point information defining a virtual point combined with not less than one piece of facility equipment, a user authentication unit which performs user authentication for a user associated with a client, a unit which receives a request for control on one virtual point from the client, a unit which creates a remote control command for the facility equipment associated with the request based on the virtual point information when the request has been received and the user authentication has succeeded, and a unit which transmit the remote control command to the gateway via the information system network when tenant authentication for a tenant associated with the agent apparatus which is performed by the gateway has succeeded.
US08378778B2
An exemplary varistor is disclosed which includes at least two poles; a non-linear block; a conductive plate arranged on a main face of the block and having a protruding portion forming one of the poles; and an electrically insulating coating applied to the main face of the block. The part forming the connection pole emerges from the electrically insulating coating and has a braze surface extending above the electrically insulating coating; and the protruding part forming the connection pole is connected to the rest of the plate over at least half of the perimeter thereof.
US08378776B1
A galvanic die has signal structures and a transformer structure that provide galvanically-isolated signal and power paths for a high-voltage die and a low-voltage die, which are both physically supported by the galvanic die and electrically connected to the signal and transformer structures of the galvanic die.
US08378762B2
An electromagnetic band gap (EGB) structure includes a substrate made of an isolating material. A plurality of identical planar transmission line segments are formed one under another in conductor layers embedded in the substrate. Vertical transitions connect one by one the plurality of planar transmission line segments. Adjacent ones of the vertical transitions are equally spaced on a predetermined distance in a direction parallel to the transmission line segments, thereby the vertical transitions serve as periodical inclusions forming the EBG structure.
US08378753B2
An oscillator circuit includes a circuit loop and multiple current sources. The circuit loop includes an output having the oscillating signal. The multiple current sources are turned on independently of a phase of the oscillating signal. The current sources control magnitudes of both charging current and discharging current at nodes of the circuit loop, including the output. Relative magnitudes of different current sources determine a frequency of the oscillating signal.
US08378752B2
An oscillator circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a filter capacitor that generates an oscillating frequency control voltage according to a charge amount accumulated based on an oscillating frequency setting current, an oscillator that changes a frequency of an oscillation signal to be output according to the oscillating frequency control voltage, a control circuit that generates a timing control signal, a frequency detection circuit that generates a frequency detection voltage based on the timing control signal, a voltage level of the frequency detection voltage being changed according to a length of the period of the oscillation signal, and a differential amplifier that continuously changes the oscillating frequency setting current according to a voltage difference between the frequency detection voltage and a reference voltage, and outputs the resultant oscillating frequency setting current to the filter capacitor.
US08378749B1
Systems and methods may include an amplifier having at least a first input port, where the amplifier includes a first capacitance associated with the first input port; a first bias circuit, where the first bias circuit comprises a series connection of a first charging circuit and a first discharging circuit, wherein a first node between the first charging circuit and the first discharging circuit is connected to the first input port, wherein responsive to an RF input signal having at least a first predetermined level being received at the first input port, the first charging circuit charges the first capacitance associated with the first input port during a first portion of a cycle of the RF input signal, and discharges the first capacitance associated with the first input port during a second portion of the cycle, thereby controlling a DC bias voltage level available at the first input port.
US08378747B2
A differential amplifier circuit includes a differential input stage comprising first and second transistors whose sources are connected with each other, a constant current source connected between the sources of the first and second transistors and a ground, a current mirror circuit comprising third and fourth transistors whose sources are connected with a power supply source, a fifth transistor of a same conductive type as that of the first transistor, connected at a drain to a drain of the third transistor, connected at a source to a drain of the first transistor and connected at a gate to a reference voltage source; and a sixth transistor of a same conductive type as that of the second transistor, connected at a drain to a drain of the fourth transistor, connected at a source to a drain of the second transistor, and connected at a gate to the reference voltage source.
US08378744B2
There is provided a multi-mode power amplifier operable in a low power mode having a preset power range and in a high power mode having a power range higher than the power range of the low power mode. The multi-mode power amplifier includes: a high power amplifying unit including at least one cascode amplifier to amplify an input signal to a high power level having a preset power range; a low power amplifying unit sharing a common source node of the at least one cascode amplifier to amplify the input signal to a low power level having a power range lower than the high power level; and a coupling unit coupling a transfer path of a signal output from the high power amplifying unit and a transfer path of a signal output from the low power amplifying unit to each other.
US08378739B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor chip which is insusceptible to noise and whose consumption current is small. In a semiconductor chip, an internal power supply voltage for an internal circuit block is generated by a regulator having small current drive capability and a regulator having large current drive capability. A voltage buffer is provided between a reference voltage generating circuit and the regulator having large current drive capability. In a low-speed operation mode, the voltage buffer and the regulator having large current drive capability are made inactive. Therefore, noise in reference voltage is suppressed, and consumption current can be reduced.
US08378735B2
A die temperature sensor circuit (200) includes an amplifier (203) that has first and second stages of amplification and that has bipolar transistors (201 and 202) as an input differential pair. The bipolar transistors have different current densities. A difference between base-emitter voltages of the bipolar transistors is proportional to absolute temperature of the bipolar transistors. The bipolar transistors also provide amplification for the first stage of amplification. Multiple feedback loops maintain a same ratio between the current densities of the bipolar transistors over temperature by changing collector currents that bias the bipolar transistors. A feedback loop includes a second stage of amplification and such feedback loop cancels effect that base currents of the bipolar transistors have on an output signal of the die temperature sensor circuit.
US08378734B2
A method for reducing an off-current of a field effect transistor in which two electrodes of the field effect transistor have fixed voltage values and the rest electrode has an alternating voltage value by an AC voltage pulse generator to form an off-stress near source and drain junctions in turn.
US08378731B1
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an amplifier configured to receive an asymmetric signal. A first resistance is coupled between an input node and an output node of the amplifier. A second resistance is coupled to the input node of the amplifier. A first switch is configured to be controlled during a first interval to couple the second resistance to a positive resistance to increase a gain of the amplifier to correct the asymmetric signal. The gain is a function of the first resistance and a combination of the second resistance and the positive resistance. A second switch is configured to be controlled during a second interval to couple the second resistance to a negative resistance to decrease the gain of the amplifier to correct the asymmetric signal. The gain is a function of the first resistance and a combination of the second resistance and the negative resistance.
US08378729B2
A signal control device controls the period of a three-phase signal used to control a three-phase high-voltage converter. An arithmetic unit of the signal control device determines a timing for changing the period for each phase so that the period of the signal for a V phase or a W phase is changed at the point when the phase difference between a U phase and the V or W phase reaches a prescribed phase difference after the period of the signal for the U phase has been changed. A control unit performs control such that the signal period for each phase is changed at the timing determined by the arithmetic unit.
US08378724B2
An apparatus includes a frequency locked loop and a controller. The controller stores a state of the frequency locked loop at which an output signal of the frequency locked loop is locked onto a reference signal and subsequently initializes the frequency locked loop with the stored state to cause the frequency locked loop to relock the output signal to the reference signal.
US08378722B2
There is provided a clock generator for generating a modulation waveform which is high in the effect of suppressing a spectrum and making a circuit scale smaller than a modulation system using the Hershey-kiss waveform. More specifically, a modulation waveform generation unit generates a tangent waveform or a tangent+triangular waveform as an SSCG modulation waveform and provides an oscillator with a signal in which the SSCG modulation waveform is combined with the output of a low pass filter of a PLL loop.
US08378717B1
A high-speed BiCMOS double sampling track-and-hold amplifier circuit, comprising an input buffer, two front-end switches, two sampling capacitors, two intermediate buffers, two feedback buffers, two back-end switches and an output buffer. The present invention forms a hold circuit featuring BiCMOS double sampling through the aforementioned components so as to reduce complexities in designing the sampling circuit and the output buffer within the BiCMOS track-and-hold amplifier circuit by means of double sampling, thereby increasing the effective sampling rate to two times. Additionally, the high-speed BiCMOS double sampling track-and-hold amplifier circuit according to the present invention further employs the linearization technology to enhance the linearity of the input buffer in the BiCMOS double sampling track-and-hold amplifier circuit in order to improve the dynamic response of the integral BiCMOS double sampling track-and-hold amplifier circuit.
US08378716B2
A bulk-driven current-sense amplifier and an amplifier operating method are disclosed. The bulk-driven current-sense amplifier includes a differential amplifier, a first driver, and a second driver. The first driver is coupled to the differential amplifier, and a first node is formed at a connectivity segment of the first driver. The second drive is coupled to the differential amplifier, and a second node is formed at a connectivity segment of the second driver. When a first switch of the first driver and a second switch of the second driver are turned on, the differential amplifier charges the first node and the second node. When the charging is completed, the first node and the second node respectively have a different stabilized potential according to currents separately flowing through a first memory unit of the first driver and a second memory unit of the second drive, and the differential amplifier generates a voltage.
US08378713B2
According to one embodiment, a digital filter circuit includes an EXOR circuit, a clock gating circuit, a reset control circuit, a counter, a filter time setting circuit, a comparator, and a decoder. The clock gating circuit outputs a clock gating signal. The reset control circuit generates a first signal. The counter generates a count signal. The filter time setting circuit latches the count signal when the first signal is in the enable state, and outputs a latched count value as a second signal. The comparator receives the count signal and the second signal, and outputs a third signal of the enable state when the value of the count signal and the value of the second signal match each other.
US08378710B1
Various embodiments relate to an anti-tampering circuit for a secure device including: a signal delay detector; a clock delay detector; a clock duty cycle detector; and a protection unit that receives an error indication from the signal delay detector, clock delay detector, and the clock duty cycle detector, wherein the protection unit indicates tampering to a secure device upon receiving the error indication.
US08378707B2
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating an output signal of a Device Under Test, wherein said Device Under Test outputs said output signal in response to an input signal provided by an Automated Test Equipment, said method including the steps of: generating a difference signal representing the difference between said output signal of said Device Under Test and a reference signal, integrating said difference signal during a clock period respectively, resulting in an integrated difference signal, and evaluating said integrated difference signal with regard to a bit level to be assigned to said output signal of said Device Under Test during the respective clock period.
US08378705B2
A wiring substrate that allows wiring at a fine pitch and has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicone, and a probe card that includes the wiring substrate are provided. To this end, there are provided a wiring substrate that includes a ceramic substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion of 3×10−6 to 5×10−6/° C. and one or more thin-film wiring sheets stacked on one surface of the ceramic substrate, and a probe head on which a plurality of conductive proves are arranged in accordance with wiring on the thin-film wiring sheet, which holds individual probes while preventing the probes from coming off and allowing both ends of each probe to be exposed, and which is stacked on the wiring substrate while one end of each probe is brought into contact with the thin-film wiring sheet.
US08378703B2
The present invention restrains adverse effects caused by refraction of a terahertz wave by a device under test when the terahertz wave is fed to the device under test for measurement. A container 10 contains at least part of a device under test 1 to be measured by a terahertz wave measurement device. The container 10 includes a gap portion 11 that internally arranges at least a part of the device under test 1, and an enclosure portion 12 that includes a first curved surface portion S1, and a second curved surface portion S2, and arranges the gap portion 11 between the first curved surface portion S1 and the second curved surface portion S2, thereby enclosing the gap portion 11. Moreover, a relationship n1
US08378700B2
Provided is a test wafer unit for testing a plurality of semiconductor chips formed on a semiconductor wafer, the test wafer unit including: a test wafer having a shape corresponding to a shape of the semiconductor wafer; and a plurality of test circuits formed on the test wafer, each test circuit provided to correspond to two or more of the plurality of semiconductor chips and testing the two or more semiconductor chips. The test wafer unit may include a plurality of connection terminals formed on the test wafer in one to one relation with test terminals of the plurality of semiconductor chips, where each of the plurality of connection terminals is connected to a corresponding one of the test terminals.
US08378697B2
A method for aligning a probe relative to a supporting substrate defining a first planar surface, an edge, and a first crystal plane includes the steps of masking the surface of the substrate to define an exposed area on the first surface at the edge; and etching, using an etch reagent, a recess in the exposed area, the recess defining first and second opposed sidewalls, an end wall remote from the edge, and a bottom wall. The method further includes the step of providing a probe substrate defining a second planar surface and a second crystal plane identical to the first crystal plane, and positioning the probe substrate so that the first and the second crystal planes are positioned identically when forming a probe from the probe substrate using the etch reagent, wherein the probe defines congruent surfaces to the first and second sidewalls.
US08378694B2
Applicant discloses a sensing element for sensing an organic chemical analyte, comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and a microporous, hydrophobic, analyte-responsive dielectric material disposed at least in proximity to the first and second electrodes. The analyte-responsive dielectric material may be an amorphous random covalent network comprising a mean pore size of less than about 10 nm and a porosity of at least about 20%. An electrical property of the sensing element, such as capacitance, can be monitored in order to sense an organic chemical analyte.
US08378684B2
A method for determining a formation type within a wellbore includes forming the wellbore such that the wellbore intersects fractures within a formation. Hydrocarbons are produced from the formation. An induction tool is disposed into the wellbore after producing the hydrocarbons. A resistivity of a portion of the formation is measured with the induction tool. The resistivity of the portion of the formation is compared with a known formation type. The formation type of the portion of the formation is determined based on the resistivity. A characteristic of the formation type is output.
US08378673B2
A derailleur cable detecting assembly for an electric-auxiliary bicycle has a body and a detecting device. The body is mounted on a frame of the electric-auxiliary bicycle, is connected to a derailleur cable and has a casing and a cover. The casing has a chamber and a through hole. The cover is detachably mounted on the casing to mount a cable wire of the derailleur cable in the body. The detecting device is mounted in the body, is connected to the derailleur cable and has a circuit board and a magnetic element. The circuit board is mounted in the chamber of the casing, faces the cable wire and has an electric wire and multiple magnetic sensors. The magnetic sensors are mounted on the circuit board at intervals. The magnetic element is mounted on the cable wire between the casing and the cover, facing the magnetic sensors of the circuit board.
US08378672B2
A semiconductor component on a semiconductor chip comprises at least one sensor element for measuring a physical quantity and an evaluator. The semiconductor component can be switched between a first and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the sensor element is sensitive to the physical quantity to be measured and a measurement signal output of the sensor element is connected to an input connection of the evaluator. In the second operating mode, the sensor element is not sensitive to the physical quantity to be measured and/or the signal path between the measurement signal output and the input connection is interrupted. A test signal source for generating a test signal simulating the measurement signal of the sensor element is arranged on the semiconductor chip. In the second operating mode, the test signal source is connected or capable of being connected to the input connection of the evaluator.
US08378659B2
A method for monitoring the structural health of a structure of interest by coupling one or more electroactive polymer fibers to the structure and monitoring the electroactive responses of the polymer fiber(s). Load changes that are experienced by the structure cause changes in the baseline responses of the polymer fiber(s). A system for monitoring the structural health of the structure is also provided.
US08378658B2
A semiconductor device, circuit, and AC and DC load switch for maintaining a small input-output differential voltage and providing a defined response. The load switch can include a pass element coupled to an input terminal and an output terminal. The pass element can include a control terminal, with the control terminal controlling a response of the pass element. The load switch can include a first loop coupled to the control terminal configured to control a voltage drop between the input terminal and the output terminal while maintaining high impedance with the pass element. The load switch can include a second loop coupled to the control terminal configured to provide a defined filter response from the input terminal. The defined response can be a low pass response, high pass response, or a band pass response. The passband and/or stopband of the response can be programmed.
US08378649B2
A voltage regulator includes an upper switching transistor connected between an input voltage node and a phase node. A lower switching transistor is connected between the phase node and ground. An output filter is connected between the phase node and an output voltage node. A PWM control circuit generates an PWM control signal responsive to a feedback voltage. An upper gate control circuit controls operation of the upper switching transistor responsive to the PWM control signal. A lower gate control circuit controls operation of the lower switching transistor responsive to the PWM control signal and a ramp voltage signal. The lower gate control circuit linearly increases a lower gate control signal from 0 to (1-D), where D=the duty cycle, to transition the voltage regulator for diode emulation mode of operation to synchronous mode of operation responsive to a first pulse in the PWM control signal.
US08378646B2
Disclosed is a small-size, high-efficiency, isolated, bidirectional DC-DC converter. The bidirectional DC-DC converter includes a transformer in which windings are magnetically coupled, switching circuits, a diode which is connected in parallel with a switch, smoothing capacitors, and a control section. First and second DC power supplies, which are connected in parallel with the smoothing capacitors, respectively, provide bidirectional electrical power transfer. When electrical power is to be transferred from the first DC power supply to the second DC power supply, the switch is maintained in the ON state. When, on the other hand, electrical power is to be transferred from the second DC power supply to the first DC power supply, the switch is maintained in the OFF state to prevent a reverse electrical power flow from the first DC power supply.
US08378641B2
A method of startup of an electric start electrical power generating system (EPGS) is provided. The EPGS includes a generator configured to power a direct current (DC) load via a DC bus. The method includes: disconnecting the DC load from the DC bus; connecting a battery to a boost converter, the boost converter being connected to the generator; powering the generator using the battery via the boost converter; when the generator reaches a minimum speed: disconnecting the battery from the boost converter; deactivating the boost converter; and activating a synchronous active filter, the synchronous active filter being connected to the DC bus; bringing up a voltage on the DC bus by the generator; and when the voltage on the DC bus reaches a predetermined level, connecting the DC load to the DC bus.
US08378638B2
A battery status detecting method for detecting a battery status of a secondary battery is disclosed. The method includes: an open circuit voltage correcting step of obtaining a temperature-corrected value of the open circuit voltage of the secondary battery according to the temperature of the secondary battery, based on first open circuit voltage characteristics indicating the relationship between the open circuit voltage and the temperature of the secondary battery; and a charge rate correcting step of obtaining a temperature-corrected value of the charge rate of the secondary battery according to the temperature-corrected value of the open circuit voltage obtained in the open circuit voltage correcting step, based on second open circuit voltage characteristics indicating the relationship between the open circuit voltage and the charge rate of the secondary battery.
US08378634B2
The present invention discloses a power management circuit, including: a first voltage regulator, which converts an input voltage to an output voltage; a second voltage regulator coupled between the output voltage and a battery; and a voltage difference control circuit, which receives the output voltage and a voltage of the battery, and outputs a voltage difference control signal to control the first voltage regulator. The voltage difference control circuit includes: a battery reference voltage determination circuit, which generates a battery reference voltage related to the battery voltage, and an error amplifier, which receives the output voltage and the battery reference voltage and generates the voltage difference control signal.
US08378621B2
An energy farm system that harnesses energy from the environment has an integrated energy collector that harnesses solar light radiation, solar heat radiation, and harnesses wind energy. Some embodiments of the collector may be used for powering lights on a pole, communication equipment outdoors, and be suitable for powering homes and buildings. The collector harnesses wind energy by a horizontal axis rotation wind mill, harnesses solar light radiation by using a system of lenses that focus light to the center to the photovoltaic cells, and harnesses solar heat radiation by using a system of lenses that focus heat to the center to a heat exchanger. The collector mounted on a pole receives solar energy from the sun rays, as the sun travels from east to west. The lens elements focus light and heat radiation towards the center of the collector to a solar cell array and a solar energy collector.
US08378617B2
Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the current of a high-speed Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) using an inverter circuit including a first switching element, a second switching element, a first diode, a second diode and a reactor, wherein the first switching element and the first diode, the second diode and the second switching element are connected to a bridge circuit, and one end of the reactor is connected to the junction of the first switching element and the first diode, and the remaining end of the reactor is connected to the junction of the second diode and the second switching element; and excitation mode, free-wheeling mode-1, the excitation mode, and free-wheeling mode-2 are sequentially performed in a unit period T, and, when the control is terminated, demagnetization is performed.
US08378615B2
There are provided: a plurality of notch filters which are arranged inside a control system for feedback-controlling a moving operation of a moving section of a motor and attenuate signal components having near frequencies with a notch frequency at a center in an input signal; a plurality of oscillation extracting filters which are set with different frequency bands as being corresponded to the respective notch filters and extract oscillating components in the set frequency bands from a speed detection signal; and a plurality of notch controlling sections which are arranged with respect to the respective oscillation extracting filters and control the notch frequencies of the corresponding notch filters so as to decrease amplitudes of the oscillating components extracted by the oscillation extracting filters.
US08378614B2
A fan control circuit includes a first switch element, a second switch element, and a fan connector. A first control terminal of the first switch element is connected to a fan control terminal to receive a pulse width modulation signal. A first terminal of the first switch element is connected to a first voltage source. A second control terminal of the second switch element is connected to the first terminal of the first switch element. A fourth terminal of the second switch is connected to a second voltage source via a NTC resistor. A first pin of the fan connector is connected to ground. A second pin of the fan connector is connected to a third terminal of the second switch element. A third pin of the fan connector is connected to a signal receiving terminal. The third pin is configured to receive a feedback signal indicating a rotating speeding of the fan.
US08378601B2
A control apparatus for a permanent magnet synchronous motor capable of performing highly accurate torque control not only during low-speed operation and medium-speed operation but also during high-speed operation without increasing a burden on a product CPU irrespective of whether the permanent magnet synchronous motor is an SPM motor or an IPM motor. The control apparatus includes a torque correction circuit that generate a torque correction command from a current phase of current correction commands on a d-axis and a q-axis and a torque command and supplies the torque correction command to a d/q-axis current command generator instead of the torque command.
US08378596B2
This invention relates to assemblies used as night lights and contains certain embodiments that improve, add features, and/or lower the cost of the type of momentary night light defined by U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,570. The words ‘momentary night light assembly’ as used in this invention means a light that remains lit for only a short fixed period of time following a transition from light to dark of the local ambient light. It then turns itself off after a short time period until another light to dark transition occurs. The words ‘night light’ as used herein means a light that remains on while the local ambient light is dark following a light to dark transition.
US08378570B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element with a low driving voltage. In a light emitting element, a first electrode; and a first composite layer, a second composite layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, an electron injecting layer, and a second electrode, which are stacked over the first electrode, are included. The first composite layer and the second composite layer each include metal oxide and an organic compound. A concentration of metal oxide in the first composite layer is higher than a concentration of metal oxide in the second composite layer, whereby a light emitting element with a low driving voltage can be obtained. Further, the composite layer is not limited to a two-layer structure. A multi-layer structure can be employed. However, a concentration of metal oxide in the composite layer is gradually higher from the light emitting layer to first electrode side.
US08378562B2
A lamp assembly provides both instant light through use of an incandescent/halogen lamp source and an energy saving type light provided by a compact fluorescent lamp source. Both light sources are fixed within the assembly by a fixing mechanism that spaces the lights sources from each other such that heat from one source does not negatively affect the second light source or any other portion of the assembly.
US08378558B2
A thermoelectric generator including, between first and second walls delimiting a tightly closed space, a layer of a piezoelectric material connected to output terminals; a plurality of openings crossing the piezoelectric layer and emerging into first and second cavities close to the first and second walls; and in the tight space, drops of a liquid, the first wall being capable of being in contact with a hot source having a temperature greater than the evaporation temperature of the liquid and the second wall being capable of being in contact with a cold source having a temperature smaller than the evaporation temperature of the liquid.
US08378555B2
An electromechanical conversion element having high connection reliability and an actuator equipped with the electromechanical conversion element. The electromechanical conversion element includes: a displacement part capable of expanding and contracting by application of voltage and having electrode forming faces and an adhesion face which are disposed adjacent to each other; and external electrodes on the electrode forming faces, in which lead electrodes for applying voltage to the displacement part are bonded to bonding regions provided in the external electrodes, and a driven member capable of being driven by the expansion and contraction of the displacement part is bonded to the adhesion face by an adhesive. The electromechanical conversion element further includes bleed flow blocking parts on the electrode forming faces at points closer to the adhesion face than ends of the bonding regions located on the same side as the adhesion face.
US08378553B1
A SAW resonator with improved temperature characteristics includes a single crystal piezoelectric substrate of symmetry 3 m, providing propagation of leaky waves with quasi-shear horizontal polarization and squared electromechanical coupling coefficient exceeding 5%. A SiOx overlay having a flattened surface covers the electrode pattern. Electrode thicknesses range from about 0.1% to about 10% of an acoustic wavelength and the SiOx thickness ranges between zero and 30% of an acoustic wavelength of a surface acoustic wave excited on the surface of the substrate. The piezoelectric substrate has an orientation defined by Euler angles (0±3°, μ, 0±3°), with angle μ=90°−μ′ and rotation angle μ′, which depends on material of a piezoelectric substrate and thicknesses of electrodes and SiOx overlay. Such orientations simultaneously combined with optimized thicknesses of electrodes and SiOx overlay provide for improved performance in RF applications with improved temperature characteristics.
US08378551B2
Provided is an actuator which has high degree of integration and can reduce a difference of the developed force depending on a direction of displacement, and obtain a substantially uniform developed force over all directions. The actuator including a laminate which includes: a pair of electrode layers; an ion-conducting layer that is held between the pair of electrode layers; and an insulating layer that is disposed on one of the pair of electrode layers, in which the laminate forms a multilayer structure that is spirally wound around a conductive shaft, and multiple notches are formed in at least a partial region of the multilayer structure.
US08378550B2
An electric machine including a housing, and a stator mounted relative to the housing. The stator includes a body including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion and a plurality of stator windings that extend between the first and second end portions. A sleeve member is mounted to the stator and covers a portion of the stator windings at one of the first and second end portions. The sleeve member is configured and disposed to guide a coolant over the portion of the stator windings to remove heat from the stator.
US08378545B2
An electrical rotary machine is provided comprising a first stator core section being substantially circular and including a plurality of teeth, a second stator core section being substantially circular and including a plurality of teeth, a coil arranged between the first and second circular stator core sections, and a rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets. The first stator core section, the second stator core section, the coil and the rotor are encircling a common geometric axis, and the plurality of teeth of the first stator core section and the second stator core section are arranged to protrude towards the rotor. Additionally, the teeth of the second stator core section are circumferentially displaced in relation to the teeth of the first stator core section, and the permanent magnets in the rotor are separated in the circumferential direction from each other by axially extending pole sections made from soft magnetic material.
US08378543B2
An electromagnetic actuator generates electromagnetic forces across large radial gaps to support a body. The actuator has an actuator target having a rotational axis, and a target magnetic element arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis that has inner and outer magnetic poles. A cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole is magnetically coupled to the outer cylindrical magnetic pole of the target magnetic element. An actuator base includes radial poles arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced apart from the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole. The radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole are magnetically coupled and define a plurality of magnetic control circuits. Control coils around the radial poles are configured to produce magnetic fluxes in the magnetic control circuits. The target magnetic element, the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, and the radial poles are magnetically coupled and define a magnetic bias circuit, the magnetic element producing magnetic flux in the magnetic bias circuit.
US08378537B2
A superconducting electrical machine includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a stator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending teeth and a plurality of superconducting electric coils. Each superconducting electric coil is positioned around a respective one of the teeth. A thermally conducting member surrounds and contacts the stator. A cooler is arranged to cool the thermally conducting member. A vacuum enclosure encloses the thermally conducting member, the stator and the superconducting electric coils and a pump is arranged to evacuate the vacuum enclosure. The superconducting electrical coils include magnesium diboride.
US08378535B2
A filter system is provided for a hydrogen cooled dynamoelectric machine, and includes a float trap fluidly connected to a component of the dynamoelectric machine via a first conduit, a filter fluidly connected to the float trap via a second conduit, and a flow switch fluidly connected to the filter via a third conduit. The third conduit is fluidly connected to a hydrogen control assembly.
US08378532B2
Actuator apparatus having a drive element (26) which can tilt and/or pivot in a predetermined manner in response to electrical activation and which is formed such that it can be contacted by an output partner in order to transmit mechanical drive energy, wherein the drive element, as a connection element, is operatively connected to two expansion units (10, 12; 40, 42), which are formed by means of magnetic shape-memory alloy material, such that the connection element executes a tilting and/or pivoting movement in response to an expansion or contraction movement of one of the expansion units, expansion or contraction movement being produced by the electrical activation and also a magnetic field which is generated by said electrical activation.
US08378525B2
A power transfer apparatus includes: a magnetic resonance coil for transferring magnetic energy by magnetically resonating with an external coil; a power receiving unit for picking up, as electrical power, the magnetic energy that the magnetic resonance coil receives from the external coil; and a magnetic body arranged on a side of the magnetic resonance coil opposite a transfer side of the magnetic energy of the magnetic resonance coil.
US08378515B2
A network disturbance module for a control device of a wind energy installation having a generator driven by a wind rotor and a converter for producing electrical power fed into a network. The module includes a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the network, a detector configured to identify a network disturbance and output a switching signal, and a reference generator configured to produce a substitute reference vector for the converter based on the at least one electrical parameter. The module also includes a fault management unit comprising a fault classifier, the unit being configured to interact with the measurement device, detector, and reference generator such that, in the event of an undervoltage during island operation, a quick-action frequency regulator is activated. The regulator acts on the converter to vary a real-power feed P in the event of a discrepancy in a network frequency.
US08378504B2
A microelectronic package is provided. The microelectronic package includes a substrate having a plurality of solder bumps disposed on a top side of the substrate and a die disposed adjacent to the top side of the substrate. The die includes a plurality of glassy metal bumps disposed on a bottom side of the die wherein the plurality of glassy metal bumps are to melt the plurality of solder bumps to form a liquid solder layer. The liquid solder layer is to attach the die with the substrate.
US08378502B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: an integrated circuit die including an image sensor system having interconnects connected thereto; and a transparent encapsulant on the integrated circuit die with portions of the interconnects exposed and with only the transparent encapsulant over the image sensor system to comprise an image sensor device.
US08378500B2
A stacked semiconductor device and a method of forming a serial path of the stacked semiconductor device are provided. The stacked semiconductor device includes a plurality of chips each having a first internal circuit for receiving an input signal, performing a designated operation and outputting an output signal. Each of the chips includes a serial bump disposed at the same position on one surface of each of the chips, receiving the input signal and transferring the input signal to the first internal circuit, and a serial through-silicon via (TSV) disposed at a position symmetrical to the serial bump with respect to a center of the chip to penetrate the chip, and receiving and transferring the output signal. Here, the chips are alternately rotated and stacked, so that the serial TSV and the serial bumps of adjacent chips contact each other. According to the stacked semiconductor device and method, a plurality of chips having the same pattern are rotated about the center of the chips and stacked, so that a parallel path and a serial path can be formed.
US08378499B2
A semiconductor storage device with active regions formed in the shape of a band in a substrate; a plurality of word lines arranged at equal intervals that intersect the active regions; cell contacts that includes first cell contacts in the active regions in the center portions in a longitudinal direction, and second cell contacts at both ends in the longitudinal direction; bit line contacts on the first cell contacts; bit lines that pass over the bit line contacts; storage node contacts on the second cell contacts; storage node contact pads on the storage node contacts; and storage capacitors on the storage node contact pads. The center positions of the storage node contacts are offset from the center positions of the second cell contacts. The center positions of the storage node contact pads are offset from the center positions of the storage node contacts.
US08378495B2
An IC includes a substrate having a semiconductor top surface, a plurality of metal interconnect levels having inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers therebetween on the top surface, and a bottom surface. A plurality of through substrate vias (TSVs) extend from a TSV terminating metal interconnect level downward to the bottom surface. The plurality of TSVs include an electrically conductive filler material surrounded by a dielectric liner that define a projected volume. The projected volume includes a projected area over the electrically conductive filler material and a projected height extending upwards from the TSV terminating metal interconnect level to a metal interconnect level above, and a projected sidewall surface along sidewalls of the projected volume. A crack suppression structure (CSS) protects TSVs and includes a lateral CSS portion that is positioned lateral to the projected volume and encloses at least 80% of the projected sidewall surface.
US08378484B2
In order to connect a semiconductor device including an integrated circuit to an external circuit typified by an antenna, the shape of the contact electrode to be formed in the semiconductor device is devised, so that bad connection between the external circuit and the contact electrode is not easily caused and the contact electrode with high reliability is provided. The contact electrode is formed by a screen printing method using a squeegee having a chamfered corner or having a wedge shape. The contact electrode has a peripheral portion and a central portion. The peripheral portion has a tapered portion with its film thickness gradually decreasing from the central portion toward the end portion, and the central portion has a projection portion that continues from the tapered portion.
US08378473B2
In inlets used for ID tags and the like, a defective connection between an integrated circuit part and an antenna is suppressed by improvement of tolerance for a bending or a pressing pressure. The integrated circuit part includes a semiconductor chip and a multilayer substrate having a concave portion. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the bottom of the concave portion. The multilayer substrate includes a connection electrode at the top surface and a connection electrode connected to the semiconductor chip on the bottom of the concave portion. The connection electrode on the bottom of the concave portion is connected to the connection electrode at the top surface by a penetration electrode inside a multilayer substrate. By such a configuration, the semiconductor chip is connected to the antenna.
US08378467B2
Retaining regions 310a and 310b are added to a pad shaped portion 303a of leads and a die pad 302 that are electrically connected via a conductive ribbon 309, so that during the bonding of the ribbon, strong ultrasonic waves can be applied in a state in which the retaining regions 310a and 310b are pressed and fixed. It is therefore possible to reduce a resistance at a joint while firmly bonding the conductive ribbon 309. Further, the bonding strength of the conductive ribbon 309 increases and thus it is possible to eliminate the need for stacking the conductive ribbons 309 and easily reduce a stress caused by ultrasonic waves on a semiconductor chip 306.
US08378463B2
A microelectronic assembly in which a semiconductor device structure is directionally positioned on an off-axis substrate. In an illustrative implementation, a laser diode is oriented on a GaN substrate wherein the GaN substrate includes a GaN (0001) surface off-cut from the <0001>direction predominantly towards either the <11 20> or the <1 100> family of directions. For a <11 20> off-cut substrate, a laser diode cavity may be oriented along the <1 100> direction parallel to lattice surface steps of the substrate in order to have a cleaved laser facet that is orthogonal to the surface lattice steps. For a <1 100> off-cut substrate, the laser diode cavity may be oriented along the <1 100> direction orthogonal to lattice surface steps of the substrate in order to provide a cleaved laser facet that is aligned with the surface lattice steps.
US08378461B2
A light-emitting device comprises a substrate that has a contact plug extending therethrough between first and second opposing surfaces. An active region is on the first surface, a first electrical contact is on the active region, and a second electrical contact is adjacent to the second surface of the substrate. The contact plug couples the second electrical contact to the active region. Such a configuration may allow electrical contacts to be on opposing sides of a chip, which may increase the number of devices that may be formed on a wafer.
US08378460B2
Multiple wafers that each has multiple high-precision circuits and corresponding trim control circuits are batch trimmed in a process where each wafer is formed to include openings that expose trimmable circuit elements that are internal to the circuitry of the high-precision circuits. The high-precision circuits and trim control circuits are electrically activated during the trimming phase by metal traces that run along the saw streets. The method attaches a wafer contact structure to each wafer to electrically activate the metal traces. The method places the wafers with the wafer contact structures into a solution where the exposed trimmable circuit elements are electroplated or anodized when the actual output voltage of a high-precision circuit does not match the predicted output voltage of the high-precision circuit.
US08378443B2
An area sensor of the present invention has a function of displaying an image in a sensor portion by using light-emitting elements and a reading function using photoelectric conversion devices. Therefore, an image read in the sensor portion can be displayed thereon without separately providing an electronic display on the area sensor. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion layer of a photodiode according to the present invention is made of an amorphous silicon film and an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer are made of a polycrystalline silicon film. The amorphous silicon film is formed to be thicker than the polycrystalline silicon film. As a result, the photodiode according to the present invention can receive more light.
US08378442B2
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition for optical semiconductor light-receiving element encapsulation, the epoxy resin composition including the following components (A) to (D): (A) an epoxy resin; (B) a curing agent; (C) a curing accelerator; and (D) a yellow colorant, in which the component (D) is contained in a ratio of 0.01% by weight or more based on the whole of the epoxy resin composition.
US08378440B2
A backside-illuminated image sensor includes photoelectric converters disposed in a front-side of a substrate and arranged to define pixels, back-side interlayer dielectric patterns disposed on the back-side of the substrate over the photoelectric converters, color filters arranged over the back-side interlayer dielectric patterns, and micro-lenses arranged over the color filters, wherein adjacent back-side interlayer dielectric patterns are separated by an intervening gap region having a refractive index less than that of the back-side interlayer dielectric patterns.
US08378434B2
An electromechanical tilting device including a first and a second electrode structures, shaped, positioned and oriented to define at least partially interdigitated electrodes, and a suspension defining a tilt-containing motion path for the second structure with respect to the first structure. The motion path is selected to cause changes in overlapping regions and overlapping regions' gaps of the interdigitated electrodes. The device is configured such that an increase in one or more voltage bias applied to interdigitated driving electrodes makes a decrease in a total area of overlapping regions of the driving electrodes electrically energetically favorable.
US08378433B2
A semiconductor device includes a first cap wafer having a first opening extending through the first cap wafer, and a second cap wafer bonded to the first cap wafer, wherein the second cap wafer has a second opening extending through the second cap wafer, and wherein the first opening is misaligned with respect to the second opening. The second cap wafer is bonded to a device wafer, wherein a cavity is formed between the device wafer and the second cap wafer, and wherein the device wafer comprises at least one semiconductor device in the cavity. A vacuum sealing layer is formed over the first cap wafer, wherein the sealing layer vacuum seals the first opening.
US08378407B2
A non-volatile memory (NVM) cell and array includes a control capacitor, tunneling capacitor, CMOS inverter and output circuit. The CMOS inverter includes PMOS and NMOS inverter transistors. The control capacitor, tunneling capacitor and PMOS and NMOS inverter transistors share a common floating gate, which is programmed/erased by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. The output circuit includes PMOS and NMOS select transistors. The PMOS inverter and select transistors share a common source/drain region. Similarly, the NMOS inverter and select transistors share a common source/drain region. This configuration minimizes the required layout area of the non-volatile memory cell and allows design of arrays with smaller footprints. Alternately, the tunneling capacitor may be excluded, further reducing the required layout area of the NVM cell. In this case, the NMOS inverter transistor functions as a tunneling capacitor for programming and erasing the cell, and the PMOS inverter transistor functions as a tunneling capacitor for erasing the cell.
US08378398B2
Shallow trench isolation regions are disposed in an n-type silicon semiconductor layer laterally adjacent to a collection region of a photodetector and laterally adjacent to a charge-to-voltage conversion region. The shallow trench isolation regions each include a trench disposed in the silicon semiconductor layer and a first dielectric structure disposed along an interior bottom and sidewalls of each trench. A second dielectric structure is disposed over the pinning layer. The dielectric structures include a silicon nitride layer disposed over an oxide layer. An n-type isolation layer is disposed along only a portion of the exterior bottom of the trench and the exterior sidewall of the trench immediately adjacent to the photodetector. The n-type isolation layer is not disposed along the remaining portion of the bottom or the opposing exterior sidewall of the trench.
US08378396B2
A photoelectric conversion device has pixel comprised of a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed in the first semiconductor region. A first diffusion region of the first conductivity type is held at a predetermined potential, covers entirely the first semiconductor region, and covers only a part of an upper portion of the second semiconductor region. A second diffusion region of the second conductivity type covers a part of the upper portion of the second semiconductor region except for the part of the upper portion of the second semiconductor region covered by the first diffusion region. A thick oxide film covers entirely the first diffusion region and covers the upper portion of the second semiconductor region except for the part of the upper portion of the second semiconductor region covered by the second diffusion region.
US08378393B2
An electrode formed using a transparent conductive oxide is likely to be crystallized by heat treatment performed in the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device. In the case of a thin film element using an electrode having a significantly uneven surface due to crystallization, a short circuit is likely to occur and thus reliability of the element is degraded. An object is to provide a light-transmitting conductive oxynitride which is not crystallized even if subjected to heat treatment and a manufacturing method thereof. It is found that an oxynitride containing indium, gallium, and zinc, to which hydrogen atoms are added as impurities, is a light-transmitting conductive film which is not crystallized even if heated at 350° C. and the object is achieved.
US08378386B2
Provided is an epitaxial substrate capable of achieving a semiconductor device that has excellent ohmic contact characteristics as well as satisfactory device characteristics. On a base substrate, a channel layer formed of a first group III nitride that contains at least Al and Ga and has a composition of Inx1Aly1Gaz1N (x1+y1+z1=1) is formed. On the channel layer, a barrier layer formed of a second group III nitride that contains at least In and Al and has a composition of Inx2Aly2Gaz2N (x2+y2+z2=1) is formed such that an In composition ratio of a near-surface portion is larger than an In composition ratio of a portion other than the near-surface portion.
US08378385B2
There is disclosed methods of making photosensitive devices, such as flexible photovoltaic (PV) devices, through the use of epitaxial liftoff. Also described herein are methods of preparing flexible PV devices comprising a structure having a growth substrate, wherein the selective etching of protective layers yields a smooth growth substrate that us suitable for reuse.
US08378384B2
A wafer includes a wafer frontside surface and a region adjacent to the wafer frontside surface. The region includes oxygen precipitates and the wafer frontside includes a predetermined surface structure to form thereon a device with a desired property.
US08378380B2
Provided are a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of improving light emitting efficiency by forming a reflection layer on a lateral side of an LED chip. An embodiment provides a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a light-emitting device chip and a reflection layer. The reflection layer is formed on a lateral side of the light-emitting device chip.
US08378378B2
A light emitting diode package includes a base having a first surface, an electrode portion attached to the base, a pair of inner electrodes disposed on the first surface, a pair of outer electrodes, a pair of conductive pillars, a light emitting diode die, and a cap layer. Each outer electrode includes an end surface section and a side surface section. The end surface sections are disposed, corresponding to the inner electrodes, on the second surface. Each side surface section extends onto the side surface of the electrode portion. The conductive pillar penetrates between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. The light emitting diode die is on the first surface, electrically connecting the inner electrode. The cap layer covers the light emitting diode die.
US08378369B2
A light emitting unit (60) is provided with a resin container (61) in which a recessed portion (61a) is formed, an anode lead portion (62) and a cathode lead portion (63) which are provided so as to be exposed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion (61a), a semiconductor light emitting element (64) attached to the cathode lead portion (63) on the bottom surface (70) of the recessed portion (61a), and a sealing resin (65) provided so as to cover the recessed portion (61a). The resin container (61) is produced from a white resin containing titania as a coloring agent. The anode lead portion (62) and the cathode lead portion (63) are each configured by forming a silver-plated layer with the gloss level set in the range of 0.3-1.0 inclusive on a metal plate based on a copper alloy or the like. Thus, the efficiency of extraction of light outputted from the light emitting unit is improved.
US08378359B2
Provided are a light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting device comprises a first conductive type substrate, first to fourth metal electrodes, and a light emitting diode. The first conductive type substrate comprises P-N junction first to fourth diodes. The first metal electrode is connected to the first diode and the fourth diode. The second metal electrode is connected to the third diode and the second diode. The third metal electrode is connected to the first diode and the third diode. The fourth metal electrode is connected to the second diode and the fourth diode. The light emitting diode is electrically connected to the third metal electrode and the fourth metal electrode.
US08378349B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same. The display apparatus includes first, second, and third sub-pixels formed on a substrate. The first sub-pixel includes a first pixel electrode, a first transmissive conductive layer formed on the first pixel electrode, a second transmissive conductive layer formed on the first transmissive conductive layer, a first organic light emitting layer formed on the second transmissive conductive layer, and a counter electrode formed on the first organic light emitting layer. The second sub-pixel includes a second pixel electrode, the first transmissive conductive layer formed on the second pixel electrode, a first protector covering an edge of the first transmissive conductive layer, a second organic light emitting layer electrically connected to the first transmissive conductive layer, and the counter electrode formed on the second organic light emitting layer. The third sub-pixel includes a third pixel electrode, a second protector covering an outer edge of the third pixel electrode, a third protector formed on the second protector, a third organic light emitting layer electrically connected to the third pixel electrode, and the counter electrode formed on the third organic light emitting layer.
US08378348B2
A semiconductor device 101 includes: a substrate 1; an active layer 4 provided on the substrate 1 and including a channel region 4c, and a first region 4a and a second region 4b that are respectively located on opposite sides of the channel region 4c; first and second contact layers 6a and 6b respectively in contact with the first and second regions 4a and 4b of the active layer 4; a first electrode 7 electrically coupled to the first region 4a via the first contact layer 6a; a second electrode 8 electrically coupled to the second region 4b via the second contact layer 6b; and a gate electrode 2 provided such that a gate insulating layer 3 is interposed between the gate electrode 2 and the active layer 4, the gate electrode 2 being configured to control a conductivity of the channel region 4c. The active layer 4 contains silicon. The semiconductor device further includes an oxygen-containing silicon layer 5 between the active layer 4 and the first and second contact layers 6a, 6b. The layer 5 contains oxygen at a concentration higher than the active layer 4 and the first and second contact layers 6a, 6b.
US08378347B2
According to one embodiment, an LED package includes first and second lead frames spaced from each other, and an LED chip. Each of the first and second lead frames includes a base portion and a plurality of extending portions extending from the base portion. A part of a lower surface of the base portion, side surfaces of the base portion, lower surfaces of the extending portions and side surfaces of the extending portions are covered by resin. A remaining part of the lower surface of the base portion and tip surfaces of the extending portions are not covered by resin. The part of the lower surface of the base portion includes a first edge of the first lead frame and a second edge of the second lead frame. The first edge and the second edge are opposed each other.
US08378342B2
Provided are an oxide semiconductor and an oxide thin film transistor including the oxide semiconductor. The oxide semiconductor may be formed of an indium (In)-zinc (Zn) oxide in which hafnium (Hf) is contained, wherein In, Zn, and Hf are contained in predetermined or given composition ratios.
US08378339B2
A photoelectric conversion device comprising a transparent electrically conductive film, a photoelectric conversion film and an electrically conductive film in this order, wherein the photoelectric conversion film comprises a photoelectric conversion layer, and an electron blocking layer, wherein the electron blocking layer contains a compound represented by the specific formula.
US08378337B2
A flexible optoelectronic device having inverted electrode structure is disclosed. The flexible optoelectronic device having inverted electrode structure includes a flexible plastic substrate having a cathode structure, an n-type oxide semiconductor layer, an organic layer, and an anode. The n-type oxide semiconductor layer is disposed on the cathode structure. The organic layer is disposed on the n-type oxide semiconductor layer. The anode is electrically connected with the organic layer.
US08378332B2
An apparatus and a method of manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus includes a main nanowire and branch nanowires emanating from the main nanowire. The main nanowire may have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may have a first carrier concentration and the second portion may have a second carrier concentration, different to the first carrier concentration. Each branch nanowire may emanate from the first portion of the main nanowire. Each branch nanowire may emanate from the main nanowire at a substantially fixed distance along a length of the main nanowire.
US08378331B2
This nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including memory cells arranged therein. Each of the memory cells is located at respective intersections between first wirings and second wirings and includes a variable resistance element. The variable resistance element comprises a thin film including carbon (C). The thin film includes a side surface along a direction of a current flowing in the memory cell. The side surface includes carbon nitride (CNx).
US08378317B1
An apparatus and a method of ion implantation using a rotary scan assembly having an axis of rotation and a periphery. A plurality of substrate holders is distributed about the periphery, and the substrate holders are arranged to hold respective planar substrates. Each planar substrate has a respective geometric center on the periphery. A beam line assembly provides a beam of ions for implantation in the planar substrates on the holders. The beam line assembly is arranged to direct said beam along a final beam path.
US08378314B2
A device for the evanescent illumination of a sample, including an optical illumination element with an optical corrective element and an objective arranged downstream from the corrective element, to evanescently illuminate the sample with a supplied ray beam containing optical radiation with at least two different wavelengths. The corrective optical element has a transverse chromatic aberration which, during the illumination, leads to the optical radiation penetrating the pupil of the objective at different heights relative to the optical axis varying according to the wavelength. The corrective optical element is selected in such a way that the wavelength-related difference of the penetration depths of the radiation into the sample is reduced during the evanescent illumination.
US08378298B2
Methods for improved separation of ions from an ion trap employing a combination of low pressure and low amplitude ion excitation, including methods for removing, from an ion trap ion population, ions having a m/z value neighboring that of an ion of interest, mass spectrometry methods providing improved resolution of ion detection, and programmable apparatus programmed with instructions therefor.
US08378292B1
A neutron porosity measurement device adapted to receive a neutron source configured to emit neutrons having a first energy includes a segmented semiconductor detector located at a predetermined distance from the neutron source. The segmented semiconductor detector includes a plurality of semiconductor neutron detection cells configured to detect neutrons having a second energy smaller than the first energy. The cells are arranged in subsets located between a first distance and a second distance from the neutron source, each subset including semiconductor neutron detection cells surrounding an axis and being disposed in opposite sectors defined relative to the axis at substantially same distance from the neutron source. One or more of the neutron detection cells are configured to acquire data related to detected neutrons independently from one or more other of the neutron detected cells. A method of manufacturing the neutron porosity measurement device is also provided.
US08378289B2
Provided is an optical receiver module capable of suppressing an increase, which is caused by tolerance of angle occurring at a time of manufacturing, in an amount of reflected return light that enters into an optical fiber while ensuring light-receiving efficiency. The light-receiving element (10) is arranged so that directions of the lines, which extend along the edges contained in a surface of the light-receiving element (10) on a side of the light-receiving-element support member (11), and which intersect with the region surrounded by a straight line corresponding to the incident direction of the light, a straight line corresponding to a direction of the optical axis of the optical fiber (3), and a supporting surface of the light-receiving-element support member (11) for supporting the light-receiving element (10), correspond to the directions different from the directions orthogonal to the incident direction of the light.
US08378281B2
Terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic arrays that may include a modular design that is sized and weighted to facilitate installation with a small amount of manpower. The array may further be adapted to be adjusted during or after installation to accommodate the necessary power requirements. The terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array may include a torque tube that may be constructed of discrete sections. A drive may be connected to the torque tube to rotate the torque tube. A number of solar cell modules may be connected to the torque tube. The modules may be positioned at offsetting angular orientations depending upon their distance away from the drive. This offset positioning compensates for twisting distortion of the torque tube caused by the drive rotating the torque tube. At one point of rotation, each of the solar cell modules may be substantially aligned in a common plane.
US08378278B2
A foldable deployable panel device (12) attached to a body (16) of an object is disclosed. The device includes a panel pivotally attached to the body by a first pivot element (40/42) at a first pivot position and a second pivot element (29) at a second pivot position. The first pivot element (40/42) is disengageable from the first pivot position, when the panel (12) is aligned in a predetermined orientation. The second pivot element (29) is fixed at the second pivot position, when the first pivot element (40/42) is engaged at the first pivot position. The panel (12) is urged by an energy storing element (28), when the first pivot element (40/42) is disengaged from the first pivot position, to move into a deployed position.
US08378276B2
A method and apparatus for guiding a vehicle to intercept a target is described. The method iteratively estimates a time-to-go until target intercept and modifies an acceleration command based upon the revised time-to-go estimate. The time-to-go estimate depends upon the position, the velocity, and the actual or real time acceleration of both the vehicle and the target. By more accurately estimating the time-to-go, the method is especially useful for applications employing a warhead designed to detonate in close proximity to the target. The method may also be used in vehicle accident avoidance and vehicle guidance applications.
US08378275B2
The invention described herein generally pertains to coupling microwave energy into a tuned multi-section WR-975 waveguide assembly, connected to a waveguide containing a ceramic cylindrical applicator, terminated in a dummy load, for pre-heating fuels to improve vaporization, combustion efficiency, and soot reduction in combustion chamber(s). Designed primarily for processing liquid byproducts produced during biodiesel fuel manufacturing, this invention establishes a charge density in a cross-coupled applicator, according to the applicator's volume, dielectric characteristics of the materials being processed, applied frequency, and voltage. This invention may also be used for preheating or polarization of solids within a pipe-conveyed slurry, such as biosolids, bituminous coal, crude oil sludge, paper pulp or shale oil rock. Finally, this invention may serve as an integral part of a coal gasification process, employing both microwave drying and reduction methods, to produce syngas, hydrogen, and/or liquid fuels.
US08378273B2
A ceramic heater (12) includes a substrate (60) and a resistor element (30) buried in the substrate (60). The resistor element (30) includes a heat-generating portion (33), lead portions (31), and intermediate portions (40) located between the heat-generating portions (33) and the lead portions (31). The intermediate portions (40) are formed such that, when cross sections at arbitrary two points P1 and P2 along the axis XA direction are compared, both the diameter CL of an imaginary circumscribed circle CG containing cross sections of the resistor element 30 and the total cross sectional area HS of the cross sections become small in the front end side cross section as compared with those in the rear end side cross section.
US08378271B2
A method and system for inducing augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system is then reliably initialized by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure. Once the component is operational, the component's temperature is maintained above the minimum operating threshold via continued self-heating, continued augmentation of the applied DC voltage, or both, as is required.
US08378270B2
A ceramic hob includes a cooking surface for positioning a cooking pot, a housing, an electronic circuit carrier mounted in the housing beneath the cooking surface, and a positioning element on a lower side of the cooking element engaging a recess of the electronic circuit carrier.
US08378255B2
[Problems]A laser beam irradiation apparatus which can accurately perform a linear welding with a uniform width on an irradiation portion even if the overlap ratio is lowered is provided.[Means for Solving the Problems]A laser beam irradiation apparatus includes laser beam generation means for emitting a laser beam, an optical fiber for transmitting the laser beam incident on an input side face to an output side face, an incident optical unit for introducing the laser beam emitted from the laser beam generation means to the input side face of the optical fiber, and an emission optical unit for applying the laser beam emitted from the output side face of the optical fiber to an irradiation portion, wherein the core cross section of the optical fiber is formed to be rectangular, preferably oblong, throughout the optical fiber or in a range at a predetermined distance from the output side face, and the length of the range where the core cross section is rectangular is preferably set to 3 m or above.
US08378250B2
A bevel head attachment comprises a rotation axis normal to a cutting plane and a rotary assembly having cylindrical inner and outer barrels and a bevel arm. The bevel arm carries a tilt arm having a torch clamp. The tilt arm rotates about a tilt axis forming an acute angle with the rotation axis. A rotation drive motor operable to rotate the bevel arm about the rotation axis and a tilt drive motor operable to rotate the tilt arm about the tilt axis are located remotely from the torch clamp. The tilt drive motor is connected to the tilt arm through the outer barrel. The motors are commanded according to only two transformation equations to rotate a torch held by the tilt arm about the rotation and tilt axes to achieve planer tilt adjustment. The lightweight attachment provides unlimited rotation, and locates sensitive electronic elements away from the torch.
US08378249B2
A system and method for automatically controlling gas pressure for a plasma cutter includes a plasma torch, a gas supply system to provide a pressurized gas to the plasma torch, and a proportional valve configured to regulate the pressurized gas. The proportional valve includes a body, a valve seat positioned therein and defining a valve orifice, and a plunger having a mating surface on one end that mates with the valve seat and the orifice and a pressure receiving surface on an opposite end. The proportional valve also includes an inlet to receive the pressurized gas and distribute the pressurized gas to the valve orifice and the pressure receiving surface of the plunger, an electrical solenoid having a chamber to electro-magnetically translate the plunger therein, and a bias urging the plunger toward the valve orifice in conjunction with the pressurized gas when electrical power is reduced to the electrical solenoid.
US08378247B2
The invention relates to a wire (1) which comprises a copper or pinchbeck core (2) surrounded by a pinchbeck coating consisting of a continuous pinchbeck sub-layer (3) in phase β and a superficial layer (4) with a fractured pinchbeck structure in phase ? enabling the appearance of pinchbeck in phase β in the fractures (5a). In this way, the electrical discharge machining speed is essentially increased.
US08378246B2
An electrically conducting structure of a press switch includes a flexible flat cable connector provided in a base and connected to a circuit board supported on a movable seat. By pressing a housing of the electrically conducting structure, an electrically conducting element located in a bottom portion of the movable seat is brought into contact with electrically conducting terminals in the base to establish electrical conduction. As the flat cable of the flexible flat cable connector is flexible, it does not add to the load experienced by the user when pressing the housing.
US08378244B2
An exemplary portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover detachably mounted on the housing, a circuit board mounted inside the housing, a switch assembly electrically connected with the circuit board, and a key assembly secured with the cover and aligned with the switch assembly. The key assembly can be pressed by an external force to operate the switch assembly, and rebounds when released.
US08378240B2
A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.
US08378237B2
A method for fabricating a multi-piece board includes: preparing a board main portion having a first coupling member and multiple piece portions connected to the first coupling member, the first coupling member forming a part of a coupling member of a multi-piece board, each of the piece portions having a printed wiring board; preparing a second coupling member which forms the coupling member together with the first coupling member; and adhering the second coupling member to the first coupling member of the board main portion, thereby yielding the multi-piece board.
US08378233B2
An aircraft interior bushing assembly is disclosed comprising interoperating bushings, each bushing comprising a recessing portion, a radially inner surface operably configured to contact a surface defining a void in a panel, a perimeter portion wherein the perimeter portion is substantially larger than the recessing portion, a support arm receiver, and a support arm coupled to each bushing. Each support arm comprises a first end coupled to the bushing, and a second end comprising a conduit receiver. In one form, the bushing assembly is operably configured to support a conduit at a distance from the radially inner surface of the interoperating bushings to substantially prohibit contact between the conduit and the bushing assembly once the conduit is installed and fixed to the conduit receiver.
US08378231B2
A semiconductor device includes wiring boards each having an insulating board, conductor circuits and through-holes, the insulating board having top and bottom surfaces, the conductor circuits formed on the top and bottom surfaces, the through holes penetrating the insulating board and electrically connecting the conductor circuits of the top and bottom surfaces; conductor posts each having flange, head and leg portions, the flange portion having first and second surfaces and having an external diameter larger than that of the through-hole, the head portion protruding from the first surface, the leg portion protruding from the second surface; and electronic components each having an electrode formed on one or more surfaces and connected to the leg portion. The head portion is inserted until the first surface of the flange portion comes into contact with the bottom surface of the wiring board and electrically connected at an inner wall of the through-hole.
US08378228B2
A microelectronic assembly, a surface mount component and a method of providing the surface mount component. The assembly comprises: a substrate having bonding pads disposed on a mounting surface thereof, the bonding pads including a ferromagnetic material therein; solidified solder disposed on the bonding pads; and a surface mount component bonded to the substrate by way of the solidified solder and including a magnetic layer disposed on a substrate side thereof, the magnetic layer being adapted to cooperate with the ferromagnetic material in the bonding pads to establish a magnetic force of a sufficient magnitude to hold the surface mount component on the substrate before and during soldering.
US08378219B2
A bus assembly and bus assembly connector include one or more insulated members that have axial sleeves that fit within one another during assembly to form a nesting arrangement. The nesting arrangement of the axial sleeves allow reduction of the overall size of the bus assembly connector while satisfying power rating standards and dielectric clearances as well as allowing bolting of the bus assembly to thereby clamp and secure the bus assembly. The axial sleeves can be distinctively designed such that the phase members must be assembled in a predetermined order, with no components being omitted, to form the bus assembly connector or clamp the bus assembly.
US08378214B2
A harness connection member has a cover member. In fitting a cover member to a holder, a split slit is opened with use of a slit, and wires are inserted into the holder. Thereafter, the cover member is moved to the holder, then moved over one projected annular part of the holder, and fitted into the projected ring parts. A concaved strip part is fitted to a convexed strip part to complete the installation, whereby the cover member cannot be moved relative to the holder in both longitudinal and circumferential directions.
US08378213B1
A support bracket article for enabling the adjustable positioning of an electrical box enclosure relative to the bottom of a framing member, and the supporting thereof in an interior wall section of a wall system under construction. The article is able to guide the adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure. It is also able to accommodate the supporting and adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure in a variety of framing studs and wall systems.
US08378210B2
A waterproof case for an electronic device includes a case portion configured to house an electronic device including a touch panel display, and an operation mechanism provided to the case portion and configured to operate the touch panel display of the electronic device, which is housed in the case portion, from an outside of the case portion. In the waterproof case, the operation mechanism includes a push button, a return spring configured to energize the push button toward the outside of the case portion, a moving lever configured to move in a pressing direction when the push button is pressed toward an inside of the case portion, and an operation lever configured to rotate in a direction approximately orthogonal to the pressing direction so as to bring a contact portion into contact with a predetermined region of the touch panel display when being pressed by the moving lever.
US08378202B2
An instrument-playing portable communication device is provided. The device includes an instrument-playing key unit having one or more keys, provided on a body of the instrument-playing portable communication device. When a user selects a chord of a selected instrument by pressing at least one of the one or more keys, the instrument-playing key unit converts the at least one key press into a first signal. The device also includes a sensor unit mounted in the body, for sensing a motion of a user. When the user presses the at least one of the one or more keys and moves in a location near the sensor unit, the sensor unit senses a motion of the user and converts the motion into a second signal. The device further includes a controller for receiving the first signal from the instrument-playing key unit and the second signal from the sensor unit, generating a tone frequency of the selected instrument based on the received signals, and converting the tone frequency into a tone. The device additionally includes an amplifier for amplifying the tone output from the controller, and outputting the amplified tone through a speaker mounted in the body.
US08378192B1
A portable travel guitar that can be readily disassembled to fit into a compact custom guitar case. The top and bottom sections of the guitar body are detached from the main body of the guitar which streamlines it's size. The bottom section which comprises a typical cut out that accommodates resting a standard guitar on a performers leg or knee, can be moved forward or rearward and secured into position. The assembly and disassembly as well as the leg rest adjustments requires no tools.
US08378187B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH711877. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH711877, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH711877 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 CH711877.
US08378183B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023750. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023750. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023750 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023750 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08378182B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023748. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023748. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023748 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023748 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08378181B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023729. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023729. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023729 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023729 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08378174B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated 08560906. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line 08560906, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line 08560906 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line 08560906, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US08378173B2
The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide capable of giving a plant tolerance to drought and/or salt stress, which comprises a polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, and to a promoter capable of giving a plant tolerance to drought and/or salt stress. The present invention also relates to an expression vector comprising the said polynucleotide and/or the said promoter, and to a host cell transformed or transfected by the said expression vector. The present invention further relates to a use of the said polynucleotide or promoter sequence in improvement of plant tolerance to drought and/or salt stress.
US08378167B2
A wetness sensing system includes a first wetness sensing article; a first signaling device producing a first signal upon sensing wetness in the first wetness sensing article, wherein the first signaling device is compatible with the first wetness sensing article; and a second signaling device producing a second signal upon sensing wetness in the first wetness sensing article, wherein the second signaling device is compatible with the first wetness sensing article. Also, a method for enhancing a wetness sensing system includes producing a wetness sensing absorbent article compatible with at least one component of the wetness sensing system, wherein the wetness sensing system includes as components a wetness sensing article and a first signaling device compatible with the wetness sensing article.
US08378166B2
An absorbent article including features facilitating toilet training of a wearer is provided. The article includes at least a first appearing graphic that changes from an initial, less visible state to a subsequent, more visible state in the absence of wetness, thereby to provide positive encouragement to a child during toilet training. The appearing graphic becomes less visible if subjected to liquid. A wetness sensation member may also be provided to give tactile, negative sensation to the child, thereby giving feedback received by at least two different senses. Additionally or alternatively, a second appearing graphic, different from the first appearing graphic, may be provided to increase a child's interest in the toilet training process. The first and second appearing graphics may become visible at different times, thereby providing a sequential or spaced reveal of the image.
US08378160B2
The present invention is directed to renewable compositions derived from fermentation of biomass, and integrated methods of preparing such compositions.
US08378155B2
Methods and systems for hydrogenating an aldehyde or a ketone, including introducing a gas stream comprising hydrogen into a high shear device comprising a rotor and a stator; introducing a liquid stream comprising an aldehyde or ketone into the high shear device; forming a dispersion of the gas stream and the liquid stream in the high shear device; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the aldehyde or ketone in the dispersion.
US08378152B2
Propylene glycol is produced by a method of producing propylene glycol, the method including: obtaining propylene glycol by performing catalytic hydrogenation of glycerol in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst containing zinc oxide and at least one of copper and copper oxide, and the catalyst, after being reduced at 180° C. to 230° C. in the presence of hydrogen, showing a half width of from 0.4 to 1.1 of a peak having a peak top at a position at which a diffraction angle (2θ±0.2°) is 43.1° in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained using CuKα as a radiation source.
US08378143B2
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of Efavirenz. A compound of Formula 1: may be prepared by a process comprising cyclizing, in the presence of a first base, a compound of Formula 5 with a haloformate of Formula 6. Other processes are also provided as well as novel compounds prepared by and used in such processes.
US08378139B2
A process for oligomerizing isocyanates includes a step of continuous conversion of an isocyanate monomer into polyisocyanate containing carbamate and/or allophanate groups, in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the conversion step is carried out in a reactor having a specific heat exchange coefficient of greater than or equal to approximately 200 kW/m3/° C.
US08378137B2
Methods for synthesis of 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamates, particularly, the synthesis of 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamate prodrugs of primary or secondary amine-containing drugs are described. Also described are methods for synthesis of 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbonates which are useful intermediates in the synthesis of 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamates are also described.
US08378133B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester, including step 1 of adding at least one surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants and water to a crude fatty acid alkyl ester and stirring to obtain a mixture containing aggregates, and step 2 of separating the aggregates from the mixture from step 1 so that the removal rate of steryl glucoside is 60% or more.
US08378129B2
The invention relates to an improved process for producing a catalyst useful for the epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide. In forming the catalyst, a silver-impregnated support is subjected to two calcinations. The support is subjected to a first calcination in a first atmosphere comprising air. Next the support is subjected to a second calcination in a second atmosphere which is substantially entirely comprised of inert gas, and which second atmosphere is substantially absent of hydrogen. This two-stage calcination produces an improved catalyst which contains fewer organics left over under standard conditions of air calcination alone, while costing less than calcination in an inert gas alone.
US08378122B2
The present invention is a process for the preparation of chymase modulators, useful in the treatment of inflammatory and serine protease mediated disorders.
US08378117B2
This invention is directed to a hexahydro-cycloheptapyrazole cannabinoid modulator compound of formula (I): and a method for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing a cannabinoid receptor mediated syndrome, disorder or disease.
US08378113B2
The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of the diamine of formula (1) an important intermediate in the synthesis of dabiagtran etexilate.
US08378111B2
(R,S)-Nicotine was resolved through diastereomeric salt formation using dibenzoyl-d-tartaric acid and dibenzoyl-l-tartaric acid to obtain enantiomerically pure (S)-nicotine and (R)-nicotine.
US08378107B2
Described herein are heteroaryl compounds that are antagonists of PGD2 receptors. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments that include the heteroaryl compounds described. Also described herein are methods of using such antagonists of PGD2 receptors, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other PGD2-dependent or PGD2-mediated conditions or diseases.
US08378105B2
Novel crystalline polymorphic forms, Forms A, B, C, D, and E of a compound of Formula I, which has been found to be a potent inhibitor of LFA-1, are disclosed. Methods of preparation and uses thereof in the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases are also disclosed in this invention.
US08378103B2
The invention is directed to improved processes for preparing Tiotropium bromide.
US08378102B2
Thiazolo[4,5-c]ring compounds, (e.g. thiazolopyridine, thiazoloquinoline, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydrothiazoloquinoline, thiazolonaphthyridine, and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydrothiazolonaphthyridine compounds) having an oxime or hydroxylamine substituent at the 2-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of making and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for modulating cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
US08378099B2
Disclosed herein is a method for reducing the rate of degradation of proteins in an animal, comprising contacting cells of the animal with certain boronic ester and acid compounds. Also disclosed herein are novel boronic ester and acid compounds, their synthesis and uses.
US08378098B2
Imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline compounds for the treatment of cancers as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include these compounds and their uses in therapy.The compound of general formula (I):
US08378093B2
The present invention relates to a porphyrinogen based sensor having selective binding affinity for an explosive chemical. Upon binding of the target molecule, the porphyrinogen derivative undergoes a detectable adsorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation.
US08378088B2
In one aspect, the invention generally relates to compositions comprising miR-34 and siRNAs functionally and structurally related to miR-34 for the treatment of cancer.
US08378085B2
This invention provides an isolated mutant atpE protein and departing from said mutant atpE protein the identification of an ATPase binding domain. This invention also provides related nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture. This invention further provides methods for determining whether a test compound interacts with an atpE protein, i.e. with the ATPase binding domain of the present invention, as well as pharmaceuticals compositions comprising said test compound, in particular as antimicrobials, more particular as antimycobacterial agent, even more particular for treating tuberculosis in a subject.
US08378079B2
Antibodies that which specifically bind to mammalian cytokine-like polypeptide, called Zcyto10, are described. The antibodies include monoclonal antibodies and those that where the antibody is an antigen-binding fragment. Zcyto10 is useful for promoting the healing of wounds and for stimulating the proliferation of platelets.
US08378076B2
The present invention relates to fusion proteins. The invention specifically relates to compositions and methods of Tf-based fusion proteins that demonstrate a high-level expression of transferrin (Tf)-based fusion proteins by inserting a helical linker between two protein domains.
US08378073B2
The present invention provides a process for attaching one or more effector molecules to one or more cysteines in a protein comprising: a) activating one or more cysteines in the protein by diafiltering the protein against a monothiol reducing agent or a multi-thiol reducing agent which is incapable of forming intramolecular disulphide bonds and b) reacting the treated protein with an effector molecule.
US08378070B2
A method of selecting an agent comprising a neuroprotecting activity is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) introducing a plurality of agents into a plurality of cells; and (b) analyzing Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) transcription in the cells; and (c) identifying an agent of the plurality of agents capable of up-regulating DJ-1-dependent VMAT2 transcription in the cells, thereby selecting the agent comprising the neuroprotectingactivity.
US08378064B2
The present invention provides new biopolymers which mimic the properties of natural polysaccharides found in vivo. The inventive polysaccharides can be used as viscosupplements, viscoelastics, tissue space fillers, and/or anti-adhesive agents. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inventive polymers and methods of using them including, for example, in the treatment of arthritic and sport-injured knee joints; in reconstruction or cosmetic procedures, intervertebral disc repair, treatment of vocal cord problems, treatment of urinary incontinence, and prevention of adhesion formation following abdominal or gynecological surgery.
US08378062B2
A bis-terpyridine monomer includes a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the first terpyridyl substituent (A) and the second terpyridyl substituent (B). The bis-terpyridine monomer is represented by the following formula (10): where X1 is a halogen; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an aryl group or an alkyl group.
US08378057B2
To provide a polyether ester block copolymer which has surface hardness suitable to be applied to a structural member and excellent in sound deadening quality and tribological property, a polyether ester block copolymer of the present invention comprises (a) aromatic dicarboxylic acid unit, (b) 1,3-propanediol and/or 1,4-butanediol unit and (c) long chain diol unit mainly including polyoxytrimethylene glycol, wherein the durometer hardness (type D), measured according to the principle of the method described in JIS K6253, is 40 or larger and 78 or smaller.
US08378054B2
A process for preparing polyaryl ethers in which a polycondensation of the monomer building blocks is carried out using microwave irradiation leads to thermoplastic molding compositions having improved color properties.
US08378053B2
An aliphatic polyisocyanate prepolymer obtained by reacting an aliphatic isocyanurate group-containing polyisocyanate with a short-chain diol, having a urethane bond content of 3.0% by weight or more based on the weight of the prepolymer and a solubility parameter of 11.8 or more.
US08378037B2
A moisture-curable, optionally cured, silylated polyurea possessing an average of from 80 to 100 equivalent percent of urea linkages based on the total equivalents of urea and urethane linkages therein is the reaction product of organofunctional silane (a) possessing hydrolyzable functionality and at least one polyurea (b) possessing amine termination or isocyanate termination, polyurea (b) being obtained from the reaction of at least one polyamine (c) and at least one polyisocyanate (d) in the substantial absence of silane (a).
US08378036B2
A method for drying a material such as a polymer hydrogel which passes through a cohesive phase as it dries is disclosed. The method comprises agitating a composition while removing liquid until the solids content of the composition reaches a level at which the composition enters a cohesive phase, halting agitation, removing liquid from the composition in the absence of agitation, and resuming agitation. Practice of the present invention can eliminate the problems associated with adhesion of a material to itself and to process equipment during the cohesive phase.
US08378035B2
An object of the present invention is, in a thermoplastic elastomer composition in which a modified rubber is filled and dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix in order to improve the low-temperature durability of the polyamide resin, to reduce the extrusion load during extrusion molding thereof into a film without deteriorating the low-temperature durability. The present invention is a thermoplastic elastomer composition (E) comprising a modified polyamide resin (C) and a modified rubber (D) dispersed in the modified polyamide resin (C), the modified polyamide resin (C) being a resin obtained by melt-blending an polyamide resin (A) and a compound (B) capable of reacting with a terminal amino group of a polyamide resin, wherein the modified rubber (D) has an acid anhydride group or epoxy group and is dynamically cross-linked by a compound (F) having at least one disulfide bond and at least two amino groups. This thermoplastic elastomer composition can be suitably used in the production of an inner liner of a pneumatic tire.
US08378030B2
A process is provided for improving the MIT flex life of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer, said perfluoroalkyl containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, comprising incorporating melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene into said copolymer and thereafter heat treating the resultant composition at a temperature of at least 280° C., the amount of said polytetrafluoroethylene and said heat treatment being effective to increase the flex life of said composition by at least 2× the flex life of both said copolymer and said composition prior to said heat treatment and to thermally transform the composition in the solid state, which is epitaxial co-crystallization of the polymer components of the composition.
US08378028B2
Polyolefin composition, comprising in percent by weight: 1) 75-85% of a copolymer of propylene, said copolymer containing up to 15% by weight, of ethylene and/or C4-C10 α-olefin(s) and having a fraction soluble in Xilene at room temperature lower than 6% by weight, and 2) 15-25% of a copolymer of ethylene with one or more C4-C10 α-olefin(s) containing from 10 to 25% by weight of said C4-C10 α-olefin(s); said composition having the value of MFR, measured at 230° C., 2.16 kg, of less than 2.5 g/10 min, the total content of ethylene of from 14 to 22% by weight, the total content of C4-C10 α-olefin(s) of less than 4.5% by weight, the ratio of the total content of ethylene to the total content of C4-C10 α-olefin(s) equal to or higher than 4, the value of the intrinsic viscosity of the total fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature equal to or less than 1.5 dl/g, and the ratio of the amount of component 2) and the amount of C4-C10 α-olefin(s) in component 2) equal to or higher than 0.80.
US08378025B2
Disclosed is an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition comprises from 30 wt % to 65 wt % of a polyolefin, 15 wt % to 65 wt % of a conjugated diene-based elastomer, 0.5 wt % to 15 wt % of an olefin elastomer, and 0.5 wt % to 25 wt % of a maleated polyolefin. The weight ratio of olefin elastomer to conjugated diene-based elastomer is within the range of 0.04 to 1. The adhesive of the invention has improved adhesion to styrenic polymer layer, barrier layer, and polyolefin layer. It is suitable for extruded multilayer films, sheets, and many other related applications.
US08378021B2
The invention relates to subduedly colored (brown, gray, black, green), infrared reflecting PMMA compounds which can be applied to other plastic compounds as an IR barrier layer.
US08378015B2
Hot melt adhesive compositions containing hyper-branched SBS block copolymers and end use applications thereof. The hyper-branched SBS is characterized in having a ratio between light-scattering molecular weight (of non-di-block polymer) and GPC molecular weight (of non-di-block polymer) greater than 1.4 and having ratio between light scattering molecular weight molecular weight (of non-di-block polymer) and light scattering molecular weight molecular weight (of di-block polymer) greater than 5. The ratio between light scattering molecular weight MW (of non-di-block polymer) and light scattering molecular weight MW (of di-block polymer) also defines the number of arms for the hyper branched structure. The weight average molecular weight of each arm of the hyper-branched SBS block copolymer is less than about 100,000. These are multipurpose adhesives finding utility as packaging, labeling, construction and positioning adhesives, and are particularly well suited for use as elastic attachment adhesives in the manufacture of elastic-containing products, such as disposable absorbent elastic articles.
US08378013B2
The present invention relates to hybrid impact modifiers prepared by: either spray drying, coagulation, freeze coagulation or other known recovery methods of a mixture of a latex or slurry of standard impact modifiers and a slurry of a mineral filler, or simultaneous drying (by spray-drying, coagulation other known recovery possible methods) of (i) a latex or slurry of standard impact modifiers and of (ii) a slurry of a mineral filler, further to the coagulation or freeze coagulation, if any, there is a filtration and drying step to recover these hybrid impact modifiers as a powder. The present invention also relates to the use of said hybrid impact modifiers in thermoplastic polymers, and a thermoplastic polymer containing said hybrid impact modifiers. The hybrid impact modifiers may exhibit improved powder properties (flowability, lumping/caking resistance, segregation between the organic and the mineral parts) and better dispersion homogeneities.
US08378006B2
The present invention is a method which erase information printed on a recording medium if necessary and thus reuse the recording medium, and includes 1) decolorable ink compositions which are not erased during the use but erased by a dye readily decolorable by a decolorant, 2) a decolorant composition including a thermal initiator or photoinitiator, and 3) a method for coating the decolorant and applying heat or irradiating UV to erase the dye. According to the present invention, it is possible to prepare various writing inks, and particularly, when applied to recording medium with a magnetic stripe as well as the general purpose papers, it is possible to reduce the production cost significantly, obtain a large import substitution effect of the magnetic ink all of which are imported, and largely reduce the environmental pollution.
US08378003B2
Provided are substantially flat membranes that include a block or graft co-polymer and a water transport protein, such as Aquaporin-Z, or a synthetic mimic of such proteins. Also provided are methods of removing contaminants from a liquid, by contacting the liquid with a substantially flat membrane that includes a block or graft co-polymer and a water transport protein or synthetic mimic thereof. Also provided are methods of making such membranes. Further provided are compositions that include at least one active ingredient and vesicles surrounding the active ingredient, where the vesicles include a block or graft copolymer and a water transport protein or synthetic mimic surrounding the active ingredient. Also provided are methods that include administering such compositions to patients.
US08377999B2
A porous structured organic film including a plurality of segments and a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework, wherein at a macroscopic level the covalent organic framework is a film and contains a plurality of sites accessible to one or more entity.
US08377990B2
A novel use of conjugates of psychotropic drugs (e.g., antidepressants or anti-epileptic drugs) and organic acids such as GABA in the treatment of pain is disclosed. A novel GABA conjugate and uses thereof is also disclosed.
US08377989B2
The present invention provides stable non-crystalline aspirin that does not crystallize at room temperature during storage for prolonged periods of time and processes for obtaining the stable non-crystalline aspirin.
US08377980B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US08377979B2
The present invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical formulation comprising phenytoin sodium, a high amount of magnesium stearate, and a low level of a hydrophilic polymer such as a methocel, and a method of preparing the same by blending.
US08377962B2
Provided herein are macrocyclic serine protease inhibitor compounds, for example, of Formula Ia or Ib, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and processes of preparation thereof. Also provided are methods of their use for the treatment of an HCV infection in a host in need thereof.
US08377960B2
Compounds of formula I: wherein c, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of HIV replication.
US08377957B2
1H-Imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amines with a hydroxy, alkoxy, hydroxyalkoxy, or alkoxyalkoxy substituent at the 2-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, methods of making the compounds, intermediates, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08377955B2
The present invention is directed to novel branched 3- and 6-substituted quinoline derivatives which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US08377954B2
The present invention is directed to bicyclic spiropiperidine compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US08377953B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 or R4 are as defined in claim 1 or a salt or N-oxide thereof and their use in methods for the control and/or prevention of fungal infection, particularly in plants. The compounds claimed are isothiazole and pyrazole derivatives.
US08377941B2
The present invention relates to modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) by a compound of List A or a salt thereof, which may be represented, but is not limited to the compound N-[(2-Trifluoromethyl-1H-indol-5-yl)methyl]-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5-pyrimidinecarboxamide.
US08377940B2
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1 and Q are as described in the specification, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, methods of making, pharmaceutical compositions containing and methods for using the same.
US08377938B2
The invention provides acid addition salts of the compounds represented by formula (1) or (2), or crystals thereof, and processes for preparing the same. The salts or crystals have HGFR inhibitory activity and excellent physical properties (solubility, safety, etc.) and are therefore useful as anti-tumor agents, angiogenesis inhibitors and inhibitors for metastasis for a various types of tumor.
US08377929B2
Novel crystalline form of perphenazine 4-aminobutyrate trimesylate and a process of producing the same are disclosed. The novel crystalline form is characterized by a unique XRPD pattern and a DSC that exhibits an endothermic peak at a relatively high temperature (e.g., higher than 209° C.). Also disclosed are a process of preparing perphenazine 4-aminobutyrate trimesylate by in situ deprotection and salification, in a single-step synthesis, and a highly pure perphenazine 4-aminobutyrate trimesylate obtained thereby. Uses of any of the described perphenazine 4-aminobutyrate trimesylate are also disclosed.
US08377926B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08377921B2
The invention provides novel pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such compounds. For example, the pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives of the invention may be used to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition which responds to inhibition of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) activity, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R), or a combination thereof.
US08377917B2
A cascade carrier linked prodrug is described which comprises a biologically active moiety and a masking group having at least one nucleophile and being distinct from the carrier.
US08377907B1
Compositions for treating alcohol hangover and methods of their use in treating or preventing hangover are described. The compositions include glycerophospholipids. Methods of use include administration or ingestion of the compositions after an episode of alcohol consumption. The compositions can be effective at preventing, eliminating, or reducing alcohol hangover when taken following an episode of alcohol consumption. In some embodiments, the glycerophospholipids are ingested with water or aqueous preparation, and some embodiments include B vitamins or other adjuvants.
US08377895B2
The present invention provides a series of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (Cdks) inhibitors, Scutellaria flavonoid organic amine derivatives, synthesis and use thereof. The preparation method is as follows: taking Baicalein (or Wogonin) from Scutellaria baicalensis as lead compound, mixting it with formaldehyde solution and organic amine compounds based on the molar ratio of 1:1-1.2:1-1.2, adding methanol of duplicate weight than baicalein and reacting at 50-70° C., filtering the sediment and washing and then drying so as to get the product with a content of not less than 97% (weight). Similar to Flavopiridol and P276-00, the activity of baicalein organic amine derivatives inhibiting Cdks has an increase of 50 times compared with that of Baicalin. It can selectively induce apoptosis of the proliferative phase cancer cells, which has scarcely any influence to the normal structure, and it belongs to anticancer drugs of cell cycle inhibitor kind. The product has a rich source of raw materials and has simple process, high purity, low cost, clear metabolic mechanism, high efficiency and low toxicity, which can be made into oral preparations or injections together with acid salts and is expected to become high efficient and low toxicity anti-cancer and AIDS drugs.
US08377893B2
The invention provides compositions containing a highly purified antiendotoxin compound and methods of preparing and using such compositions.
US08377889B2
Methods are disclosed of treating diabetes, abnormal adipocyte activity, and insulin resistance using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1. Methods of causing the secretion of insulin in healthy and diabetic patients using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1 are also disclosed. In addition, methods are disclosed of increasing the insulin levels in healthy patients using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1. In addition, methods of treating abnormal adipocyte activity, treating metabolic syndrome, causing insulin secretion, increasing insulin levels, inhibiting insulin degradation enzyme, treating Alzheimer's disease, treating cardiovascular disease associated with adiponectin levels, inhibiting ADAM-17 enzyme, treating a condition associated with TNF-alpha, and treating a condition associated with HER2-neu are disclosed. Compositions, dosage forms, and kits are also disclosed.
US08377884B2
The present invention provides variants of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) comprising one or more deletions; additions of and/or substitutions with natural amino acids, unnatural amino acids and/or peptidomimetics (including peptide bond isosteres); amino acid extensions; and/or other chemical moieties such as, e.g., poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic acids. The CNP variants are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases responsive to CNP, including but not limited to bone-related disorders such as, e.g., skeletal dysplasias and achondroplasia, and vascular smooth muscle disorders such as, e.g., restenosis and arteriosclerosis.
US08377866B2
The present invention relates to a novel antimicrobial protein derived from bacteriophage having killing activity specific to Staphylococcus aureus, more precisely an antimicrobial protein originated from Podoviridae bacteriophage having killing activity specific to Staphylococcus aureus which is the causing agent of infectious disease in human and animals, a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of infectious disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic and a disinfectant containing the bacteriophage-originated antimicrobial protein as an active ingredient.
US08377858B2
The invention provides a grease composition for constant velocity joint containing the components (a) to (g) below and a constant velocity joint containing said composition.(a) a diurea thickening agent having the following formula (1): R1NH—CO—NH—C6H4-p-CH2—C6H4-p-NH—CO—NHR2 (1) wherein R1 and R2 may be the same or different and represent C8-C20 alkyl groups, (b) an ester synthetic oil, (c) a mineral oil and/or a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, (d) a molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate, (e) molybdenum disulfide, (f) a polytetrafluoroethylene, and (g) a zinc dithiophosphate compound. The grease composition of the invention reduces variations in rotational resistance of the constant velocity joint at a low temperature.
US08377857B2
A method of lubricating a cylinder liner and a crankcase in a marine diesel crosshead engine with the same lubricating oil composition. The lubricating oil composition has a TBN, as measured using ASTM D 2896-98, of 10 to 55 mg KOH/g. The lubricating oil composition comprises: at least 40 mass % of an oil of lubricating viscosity; at least one detergent; at least one dispersant; and at least one anti-wear additive.
US08377835B2
The present invention relates to an optical glass containing, in terms of mass % on the basis of oxides, B2O3: 10 to 20%, SiO2: 0.5 to 12%, ZnO: 5 to 19%, Ta2O5: 2.5 to 17%, Li2O: 0.2 to 3%, ZrO2: 0.6 to 4.9%, WO3: 1 to 20%, La2O3: 25 to 50%, Gd2O3: 0 to 13%, and Y2O3: 0.2 to 20%, provided that La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3 is 35 to 60%, in which the optical glass does not substantially contain Nb2O5, and has a refractive index (nd) of 1.82 to 1.86, an Abbe's number (νd) of 37 to 44 and a glass transition point (Tg) of 630° C. or lower.
US08377833B2
Disclosed is a polymer film, preferably a polyamide polymer film, which comprises at least one first layer and a second layer and is laminated onto a fabric. The material of the first layer has a glass transition temperature of less than −10° C. while the material of the second layer has a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. Preferably, the polymeric materials contain portions of polyamide blocks. The inventive fabric-polymer film laminate is suitable as a laminated material especially for an airbag.
US08377831B2
A method for size selection of nanostructures comprising utilizing a gas-expanded liquids (GEL) and controlled pressure to precipitate desired size populations of nanostructures, e.g., monodisperse. The GEL can comprise CO2 antisolvent and an organic solvent. The method can be carried out in an apparatus comprising a first open vessel configured to allow movement of a liquid/particle solution to specific desired locations within the vessel, a second pressure vessel, a location controller for controlling location of the particles and solution within the first vessel, a inlet for addition of antisolvent to the first vessel, and a device for measuring the amount of antisolvent added. Also disclosed is a method for forming nanoparticle thin films comprising utilizing a GEL containing a substrate, pressurizing the solution to precipitate and deposit nanoparticles onto the substrate, removing the solvent thereby leaving a thin nanoparticle film, removing the solvent and antisolvent, and drying the film.
US08377827B2
A method for forming a gate, which can improve the etching uniformity of the sidewalls of the gate, includes the following steps: forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on the dielectric layer; etching the polysilicon layer; performing an isotropic plasma etching process on the etched polysilicon layer by using a mixed gases containing a fluorine-based gas and oxygen gas; and cleaning the semiconductor substrate subjected to the isotropic plasma etching process, thereby forming a gate. The present invention further provides a method for forming a shallow trench isolation region, which can improve the filling quality of a subsequent spacer and the electrical properties of the resultant shallow trench isolation region, and a method for planarizing an etched surface of silicon substrate, which can improve the etching uniformity of the surface of silicon substrate.
US08377825B2
Methods and apparatus for reducing damage of a semiconductor donor wafer include the steps of: (a) rotating a polishing pad, rotating the semiconductor donor wafer, applying a polishing slurry to the polishing pad, and pressing the semiconductor donor wafer and the polishing pad together; and (b) rotating the polishing pad and the semiconductor donor wafer, discontinuing the application of the polishing slurry, applying a rinsing fluid to the polishing pad, and pressing the semiconductor donor wafer and the polishing pad together, wherein step (a) followed by step (b) is carried out in sequence at least two times, and at least one of the following are reduced in at least two successive intervals of step (a): (i) a pressure at which the semiconductor donor wafer and the polishing pad are pressed together, (ii) a mean particle size of an abrasive within the polishing slurry, and (iii) a concentration of the slurry in water and stabilizers.
US08377821B2
The invention discloses a method for forming a contact hole structure, including: providing a substrate, the substrate having a surface where a metal layer is formed; forming on the surface of the substrate a dielectric layer covering the metal layer; etching the dielectric layer to form a contact hole exposing the metal layer; forming a barrier layer on sidewalls of the contact hole and an exposed surface of the metal layer; removing the barrier layer on the surface of the metal layer by sputtering, and performing sputtering on the metal layer; and, filling the contact hole with an electrically conductive material. The invention protects the dielectric layer from being damaged and improves the quality of the formation of the contact hole, and the sputtering performed on the metal layer and the subsequent filling of the contact hole with the electrically conductive material may use the same apparatus, which reduces processing steps and improves efficiency.
US08377818B2
The present invention is an aftertreatment method further applied to an amorphous carbon film to which a treatment including heating is performed after the film has been formed on a substrate. The treatment of preventing oxidation of the amorphous carbon film is performed immediately after the treatment including heating.
US08377813B2
A method for forming a buried split word line structure is provided. The method comprises the following steps. At first, a substrate having a trench therein is provided. Two liners are formed to a first thickness on sidewalls of the trench. Then, the trench is filled with a first insulating layer to a first height. The two liners are removed. Finally, a conductive material is deposited to a second height between and adjacent to the first insulating layer and the trench. Here, the first height is greater than the second height.
US08377799B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an SOI substrate including a semiconductor layer which is efficiently planarized. A method for manufacturing an SOI substrate includes a step of irradiating a bond substrate with an accelerated ion to form an embrittlement region; a step of bonding the bond substrate and the base substrate with an insulating layer positioned therebetween; a step of splitting the bond substrate at the embrittlement region to leave a semiconductor layer bonded to the base substrate; a step of disposing the semiconductor layer in front of a semiconductor target containing the same semiconductor material as the semiconductor layer; and a step of alternately irradiating the surface of the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor target with a rare gas ion, so that the surface of the semiconductor layer is planarized.
US08377796B2
A method of forming a circuit structure includes providing a substrate; forming recesses in the substrate; forming a mask layer over the substrate, wherein the mask layer covers non-recessed portions of the substrate, with the recesses exposed through openings in the mask layer; forming a buffer/nucleation layer on exposed portions of the substrate in the recesses; and growing a group-III group-V (III-V) compound semiconductor material from the recesses until portions of the III-V compound semiconductor material grown from the recesses join each other to form a continuous III-V compound semiconductor layer.
US08377790B2
A method includes providing a substrate having insulating layers thereon; forming a first trench in a first region of the substrate and a second trench in a second region of the substrate; thermally growing layers of oxide along the sides of the trenches; filling the first trench and the second trench with a polysilicon material, planarizing the polysilicon material, and creating a shallow trench isolation between the first region and the second region, wherein the step f) of creating the shallow trench isolation is performed only after the steps of d) filling and e) planarizing.
US08377787B2
A semiconductor device is provided. In an embodiment, the device includes a substrate and a transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate. The transistor may include a gate structure, a source region, and a drain region. The drain region includes an alternating-doping profile region. The alternating-doping profile region may include alternating regions of high and low concentrations of a dopant. In an embodiment, the transistor is a high voltage transistor.
US08377786B2
Embodiments of methods for fabricating the semiconductor devices are provided. The method includes forming a layer of spacer material over a semiconductor region that includes a first gate electrode structure and a second gate electrode structure. Carbon is introduced into a portion of the layer covering the semiconductor region about the first gate electrode structure or the second gate electrode structure. The layer is etched to form a first sidewall spacer about the first gate electrode structure and a second sidewall spacer about the second gate electrode structure.
US08377782B2
A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device with asymmetric source/drain junctions, wherein a gate stack is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and impurity ions are implanted at a predetermined angle to form a source/drain junction in the semiconductor substrate. Thermal treatment of the semiconductor substrate forms an asymmetrically disposed source/drain junction between adjacent gate stacks.
US08377781B2
The present invention is directed to a transistor with an asymmetric silicon germanium source region, and various methods of making same. In one illustrative embodiment, the transistor includes a gate electrode formed above a semiconducting substrate comprised of silicon, a doped source region comprising a region of epitaxially grown silicon that is doped with germanium formed in the semiconducting substrate and a doped drain region formed in the semiconducting substrate.
US08377771B2
A transistor gate comprises a substrate having a pair of spacers disposed on a surface, a high-k dielectric conformally deposited on the substrate between the spacers, a recessed workfunction metal conformally deposited on the high-k dielectric and along a portion of the spacer sidewalls, a second workfunction metal conformally deposited on the recessed workfunction metal, and an electrode metal deposited on the second workfunction metal. The transistor gate may be formed by conformally depositing the high-k dielectric into a trench between the spacers on the substrate, conformally depositing a workfunction metal atop the high-k dielectric, depositing a sacrificial mask atop the workfunction metal, etching a portion of the sacrificial mask to expose a portion of the workfunction metal, and etching the exposed portion of the workfunction metal to form the recessed workfunction metal. The second workfunction metal and the electrode metal may be deposited atop the recessed workfunction metal.
US08377770B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor formed thereon, forming a stressed layer that covers the transistors, and selectively removing the stressed layer on the PMOS transistor. The method further includes annealing the substrate, removing the remaining stressed layer, forming a dielectric layer structure on the transistors; and performing a first planarization process on the dielectric layer structure. The method also includes forming a corrosion-resistant insulating structure on a rear surface of the substrate, and performing a second planarization process on the dielectric layer structure. The semiconductor device thus formed can withstand high voltages while maintaining gate oxide integrity.
US08377760B2
A TFT including a gate, a gate insulation layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, a translucent layer, a source, and a drain. The gate insulation layer covers the gate. The oxide semiconductor layer is disposed on the gate insulation layer and located above the gate. The oxide semiconductor layer includes an oxide channel layer and two ohmic contact layers. The ohmic contact layers are respectively located beside the oxide channel layer and connected with the oxide channel layer. The translucent layer is located above the oxide channel layer. The source and the drain are disposed on the gate insulation layer and the ohmic contact layers. The source and the drain are electrically insulated from each other.
US08377743B2
A method of annealing a metal oxide on a temperature sensitive substrate formation includes the steps of providing a temperature sensitive substrate formation and forming a spacer layer on a surface of the substrate formation. A metal oxide semiconductor device is formed on the spacer layer, the device includes at least a layer of amorphous metal oxide semiconductor material, an interface of the amorphous metal oxide layer with a dielectric layer, and a gate metal layer adjacent the layer of amorphous metal oxide semiconductor material and the interface. The method then includes the step of at least partially annealing the layer of metal oxide semiconductor material by heating the adjacent gate metal layer with pulses of infra red radiation to improve the mobility and operating stability of the amorphous metal oxide semiconductor material while retaining at least the amorphous metal oxide semiconductor material adjacent the gate metal layer amorphous.
US08377742B2
In a manufacturing method for thin film transistors, the following procedure is taken: a sacrifice layer comprised of a metal oxide semiconductor is formed over a conductive layer comprised of a metal oxide semiconductor; a metal film is formed over the sacrifice layer; the metal film is processed by dry etching; and the portion of the sacrifice layer exposed by this dry etching is subjected to wet etching.
US08377741B2
A method for manufacturing a phase change memory includes forming a phase change memory cell by forming a phase change layer between two switching layers. The phase change layer is separated from thermal heat sinks, such as the bitline or wordline, by the switching layers.
US08377736B2
The present invention provides methods for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates having a copper and indium composite structure, and including a peripheral region, the peripheral region including a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings including at least a first opening and a second opening. The method includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the furnace including a holding apparatus. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film on each of the substrates.
US08377718B2
A method of forming a crystalline Pr1-xCaxMnO3 (PCMO) material includes forming an amorphous PCMO material, crystallizing the amorphous PCMO material, and removing a portion of the crystalline PCMO material. A semiconductor structure including the crystalline PCMO material is also disclosed where the crystalline PCMO material has a thickness of less than about 50 nm. A method of forming a semiconductor device structure is also disclosed.
US08377715B2
The invention provides pipette tip extraction columns for the purification of a DNA vector from un-clarified cell lysate containing cell debris as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the pipette tip column, above a bottom frit and with an optional top frit.
US08377714B2
Novel conjugates of nanoparticles are provided and have particular utility in the detection of latent fingerprints by their ability to bind to a fingerprint residue. The conjugate comprises a nanoparticle attached to a linker group having a terminal reactive moiety, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a core of a first semiconductor material having a first luminescence and a shell of a second material which at least partially surrounds the core. The conjugated nanoparticle can bind to the fingerprint residue and can be detected using fluorescence.
US08377712B2
Compositions for detection of chemical warfare agents that comprise oximate anion reactive sites and fluorophore cores. Methods for detecting a chemical warfare agents that comprise providing a detector molecule comprising an oximate anion reactive site and a fluorophore core and detecting fluorescence from the detector molecule. Methods for enhancing the reactivity of an oximate nucleophile that comprise introducing an oxime into an aprotic solvent and deprotonating the oxime to form the oximate nucleophile with a base that creates noncoordinating anions.
US08377704B2
Provided herein are methods of detecting anions in solution. In particular, the methods can be used to detect trace anions in solution. For example, the anions can be present in an amount of between about 500 femtomoles to about 10 millimoles.
US08377692B2
A process for the manufacture of human mononuclear phagocytic leukocytes comprises incubating monocytes isolated from a blood sample of an individual and skin segments from the same individual, removing the dermis segments from the incubation mixture and sedimenting the obtained activated mononuclear phagocytic leukocytes by centrifugation, washing and resuspending the activated phagocytic leukocytes in the medium, and evaluating the culture for its suitability for human administration. Cellular therapy products are made from the obtained cultures and are useful for promoting axonal regeneration in the CNS, wound healing and treatment of myocardial infarction.
US08377689B2
The invention relates to the discovery of a selective cell surface marker that permits the selection of a unique subset of pancreatic stem cells having a high propensity to differentiate into insulin-producing cells or into insulin-producing cell aggregates.
US08377677B2
The invention relates to a novel 3D structure encoding a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an amended temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants of amended properties.
US08377673B2
Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
US08377660B2
A method for producing an optically active compound includes reacting a nucleophile with a mixture of R- and S-stereoisomers of an azolide substrate by enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution so as to produce the optically active compound, wherein the azolide substrate contains an azole group used as a leaving group and an acyl group directly bonded to a nitrogen atom of the azole group.
US08377659B2
Disclosed are variants of Humicola grisea Cel7A (CBH1.1), H. jecorina CBH1 variant or S. thermophilium CBH1, nucleic acids encoding the same and methods for producing the same. The variant cellulases have the amino acid sequence of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 7A wherein one or more amino acid residues are substituted.
US08377650B2
The present invention provides a method of enhancing chitin degradation or weakening the structure of a chitin substrate comprising exposing chitin to a non-hydrolytic chitin binding protein (CBP). The invention further provides a method of enhancing chitin degradation comprising exposing chitin to a non-hydrolytic CBP and a chitin hydrolase. Compositions, including fungicides, comprising non-hydrolytic CBPs and transgenic plants comprising exogenous nucleic acid molecules encoding a non-hydrolytic CBP are also provided.
US08377639B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting RNA binding proteins (e.g., MEX-3, MEX-5 and POS-1), as well as methods for treating and preventing disorders associated with parasitic infections and inflammatory disorders.
US08377632B2
The present invention provides a method of reducing microloading effect by using a photoresist layer as a buffer. The method includes: providing a substrate defined with a dense region and an isolated region. Then, a dense feature pattern and an isolated feature pattern are formed on the dense region and the isolated region respectively. After that, a photoresist layer is formed to cover the isolated region. Finally, the substrate and the photoresist layer are etched by taking the dense feature pattern and the isolated feature pattern as a mask.
US08377631B2
Molecular glass based planarizing compositions for lithographic processing are disclosed. The processes generally include casting the planarizing composition onto a surface comprised of lithographic features, the planarizing composition comprising at least one molecular glass and at least one solvent; and heating the planarizing composition to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the at least one molecular glass. Exemplary molecular glasses include polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane derivatives, calixarenes, cyclodextrin derivatives, and other non-polymeric large molecules.
US08377627B2
A compound shown by the following formula (1).
US08377621B2
A process for preparing a toner comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the binder resin comprises a polyester resin having an acid value greater than 5 mg KOH/g, the process comprising: providing an aqueous dispersion of polyester resin particles stabilized by an ionic surfactant and then associating the polyester resin particles.
US08377619B2
Disclosed is a toner comprising at least a resin and a coloring agent, wherein the resin comprises toner particles in which a polyester resin unit is cross-linked by a diatomic cross-linking group expressed by a following general formula (1): —X1Y1X1— [wherein in the formula, X1 denotes a linking group; and Y1 denotes a radical polymer unit having a number average molecular weight Mn ranging from 5000 or more to 50000 or less, and a ratio Mw/Mn ranging from 1.0 or more to 1.2 or less, wherein Mw denotes a weight average molecular weight, and Mn denotes the number average molecular weight].
US08377614B2
In a method of manufacturing a display substrate and a method of manufacturing a display panel, the display substrate includes a color filter layer disposed on a base substrate within a pixel area, a first organic insulating pattern disposed on a first boundary area between adjacent pixel areas, a pixel electrode disposed on the color filter layer, and a first blocking pattern disposed on the first organic insulating pattern. Accordingly, an organic insulating layer corresponding to the pixel area is removed so that deterioration of the display quality by impurities generated from the organic insulating layer may be minimized. In addition, a stepped portion of a blocking pattern disposed between a pixel area and a boundary area of a plurality of the pixel areas is reduced so that motion blurring of a liquid crystal may be prevented.
US08377610B2
A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode facing each other and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode includes a conductive electrode substrate and a catalyst layer formed thereon, and the catalyst layer includes a first catalyst layer including a first metal catalyst that grows from the polymer electrolyte membrane toward the electrode substrate and a second catalyst layer including a second metal catalyst covering the first catalyst layer.
US08377608B2
A fuel filling port is inclined at a predetermined angle in a vertical direction such that a filling nozzle is inserted slantwise from above when a body is supported in an upright posture by a center stand to prevent a motorcycle from falling over even if a filling nozzle is pressingly inserted into the fuel filling port.
US08377590B2
Disclosed are composite particles comprising: (a) conductive polymer particles; and (b) conductive inorganic nanoparticles having a higher conductivity as compared to the conductive polymer, wherein the conductive inorganic nanoparticles are distributed onto the surface of the conductive polymer particles and/or inside the conductive polymer particles. An electrode comprising the composite particles and an electrochemical device including the electrode are also disclosed. When the composite particles comprising a conductive polymer and conductive inorganic nanoparticles uniformly distributed in the conductive polymer are used for forming an electrode, the amount of electrode active material contributing to the capacity of an electrochemical device increases. Thus, the electrochemical device can provide high capacity and improved lifespan characteristics.
US08377588B2
A cell electrode plate is constituted by band-like core member made of metal foil and a plurality of sheets of electrode active material applied discontinuously on and longitudinally of at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the core member, the mutually adjacent sheets of the electrode active material having mutually different end positions widthwise of the core member. Thereby, an increase in worn amount of surfaces of press rolls is prevented when the cell electrode plate is pressed by a roll press machine with the press rolls so as to prolong the service life of the press rolls. Thus, the number and/or amount of grinding the press rolls is reduced to reduce the roll maintenance cost and enhance production efficiency.
US08377583B2
A separator includes a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer; and a dot pattern layer formed on a surface of the porous coating layer and having a plurality of dots made of polymer and arranged at predetermined intervals. The separator may control short-circuit between positive and negative electrodes though an electrochemical device is overheated. Also, a united force to an electrode is enhanced due to the polymer dot pattern layer, thereby preventing the electrode and the separator from being separated. Accordingly, inorganic particles of the porous coating layer formed on the porous substrate are not separated, thereby improving stability of an electrochemical device.
US08377578B2
An infrared radiation reflecting transparent layer system on a transparent substrate and a method for producing same is provided. The infrared radiation reflecting layer system comprises an infrared radiation reflecting layer sequence which includes a selective function usually consisting of a noble metal, mostly silver, or an alloy thereof and having a good selective reflectivity in the infrared range. The layer sequence is supplemented by at least one transparent dielectric layer of an oxynitride of a metal, a semiconductor or a semiconductor alloy having a low to moderate refractive index arranged directly on the substrate or above the infrared radiation reflecting layer sequence.
US08377573B2
Provided is a compound having a substituted pyridyl group and a pyridoindole ring structure linked through a phenylene group, having formula (1), and an organic EL device with a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer interposed between the electrodes, wherein the at least one organic layer having the compound:
US08377569B2
A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate, a bonding layer formed on the substrate, a plurality of nickel-chromium-nitrogen layers and a plurality of copper-silver-cerium alloy layers formed on the bonding layer. The bonding layer is a nickel-chromium layer. Each nickel-chromium-nitrogen layer interleaves with one copper-silver-cerium alloy layer. One of the nickel-chromium-nitrogen layers is directly formed on the bonding layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.
US08377568B2
A coated article includes a substrate, a catalyst layer and a self-cleaning layer. The catalyst layer made of nickel is formed on the substrate. The self-cleaning layer is formed on the catalyst layer, including titanium, nickel, nickel oxide and titanium dioxide.
US08377566B2
Precision-folded, high strength, fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet therefore are disclosed. To form the structures, methods for precision bending of a sheet of material along a bend line and a sheet of material formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or grooves, are disclosed. Methods include steps of designing and then separately forming longitudinally extending slits or grooves through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet when bent along the bend line. The bending straps have a configuration and orientation which increases their strength and fatigue resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are used which causes edges to be engaged and supported on faces of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits or arcs. The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend line. Several slit embodiments suitable for producing edge-to-face engagement support and precise bending are disclosed. With these teachings, forming numerous three-dimensional load-bearing structures from a two dimensional sheet are enabled. Examples of straight and curved beams, chassis, and exoskeletons are disclosed.
US08377565B2
A filling material includes a support base member and a metal layer, the metal layer including a first metal layer and a second metal layer and being disposed on one side of the support base member, the first metal layer being an aggregate of nano metal particles and having a film thickness enabling melting at a temperature lower than a melting point, the second metal layer being an aggregate of metal particles having a lower melting point than the first metal layer.
US08377562B2
Multilayer structures having layers of a styrene polymer, polyethylene, propylene polymer, and common tie layers of a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer-containing adhesive.
US08377558B2
Optical compensation films (positive C-plate) with disk anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that have high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<λ<800 nm are provided. The optical compensation films may be processed by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. Such optical compensation films are suitable for use as a positive C-plate in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.
US08377556B2
Systems and methods for creating carbon nanotubes are disclosed that comprise a growing a nanotube on a tri-layer material. This tri-layer material may comprise a catalyst and at least one layer of Ti. This tri-layer material may be exposed to a technique that is used to grow a nanotube on a material such as a deposition technique.
US08377552B2
The present invention relates to a support including a supporting substrate and a cured silicone resin layer having a peelable surface and being disposed on one surface of the supporting substrate, for laminating a glass substrate on a surface of the cured silicone resin layer, in which a cured silicone resin of the cured silicone resin layer is a cured material of a curable silicone resin composition containing the specific linear organopolysiloxane (a) and the specific linear organopolysiloxane (b), and the cured silicone resin layer is a cured silicone resin layer formed by curing the curable silicone resin composition on a surface of the supporting substrate.
US08377545B2
Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for bonded articles using dendrimers for facilitating adhesion between an adhesive and a substrate with low surface free energy.
US08377540B2
A transfer film including a protection layer and a substrate is provided. The substrate has a first surface with a first three-dimensional pattern and a second surface. The first three-dimensional pattern has at least one protrusion portion or at least one recess portion. The protection layer is disposed on the substrate and has a third surface and a fourth surface. The third surface contacts the first surface and has a second three-dimensional pattern complementary to the first three-dimensional pattern. The second three-dimensional pattern of the third surface is formed by covering the first three-dimensional pattern of the first surface. The protection layer and the substrate are separated after transfer, so as to expose the second three-dimensional pattern.
US08377537B2
The recordable optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, a data layer and a first and a second protection layer for the data layer, wherein the data layer comprises a semiconductor layer and a dopant layer with a doping material usable for doping the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer is in particular an intrinsic or essentially intrinsic semiconductor layer having a low reflectivity and the doping material of the dopant layer is selected such, that the reflectivity of the semiconductor layer is increased, when doping material of the dopant layer is diffused into the semiconductor layer.
US08377533B2
A bioabsorbable stent and method of forming the same including a stent scaffolding formed from polymer layers with different degradation rates is disclosed. The polymer layers include an abluminal layer, a luminal layer, and optionally one or more middle layers. A degradation rate of the layers increases from the luminal layer to the abluminal layer.
US08377525B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to VIG units having large pump-out ports, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. First and second spaced-apart glass substrates are provided, and a gap is provided between the spaced-apart substrates. A pump-out port has a size (e.g., diameter) of at least about 30 mm. A cover seals the pump-out port. A getter is in communication with the gap. The pump-out port is sealed using the cover, in making the vacuum insulating glass unit, via a sealing material provided proximate to the cover and/or proximate to the pump-out port.
US08377524B2
In certain example embodiments of this invention, a window unit may include a vacuum IG (VIG) unit as an inboard lite and a monolithic lite (e.g., with an optional low-E coating thereon) as an outboard lite. A dead air space may separate the inboard and outboard lites. A highly insulated frame may be used to support the inner and outer lites. The VIG unit may be partially embedded or supported in the insulative frame, so that the insulating frame separates the VIG unit inboard lite from the outboard lite thereby reducing conductivity around the edges of the window unit so that R-value can be increased (and U-value decreased). In certain example embodiments, the total R-value of the window unit is at least about R-8, and more preferably at least about R-10 (compared to the much lower R-values of conventional IG units).
US08377516B2
This invention relates to a radiation-curable ink-jet ink having a viscosity of 30 mPas or less at 25° C., the ink comprising: at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers which comprise a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate; a monofunctional monomer selected from an N-vinyl amide, an N-acryloyl amine or a mixture thereof; a multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer; a polymerisable (meth)acrylate oligomer; a radical photoinitiator; and a colouring agent. The ink is preferably used in reel-to-reel printing and in printing where the substrates are stacked.
US08377512B2
An armor system and method involves providing a core material and a stream of atomized coating material that comprises a liquid fraction and a solid fraction. An initial layer is deposited on the core material by positioning the core material in the stream of atomized coating material wherein the solid fraction of the stream of atomized coating material is less than the liquid fraction of the stream of atomized coating material on a weight basis. An outer layer is then deposited on the initial layer by positioning the core material in the stream of atomized coating material wherein the solid fraction of the stream of atomized coating material is greater than the liquid fraction of the stream of atomized coating material on a weight basis.
US08377506B2
A substrate structure is provided. The substrate structure includes a substrate, a first insulation layer, a conductive part, a second insulation layer, a seed layer and a conductive layer. The substrate has a first circuit pattern layer and a second circuit pattern layer, which are located on two opposite surfaces of the substrate respectively. The first insulation layer formed on the first circuit pattern layer has a first insulation hole, which exposes a first opening in the outer surface of the first insulation layer. The conductive part formed on the first insulation hole for electrically connecting with a chip is enclosed by the edge of the first opening. The second insulation layer formed on the second circuit pattern layer has a second insulation hole in which the seed layer is formed. The conductive layer is formed on the seed layer for electrically connecting with a circuit board.
US08377502B2
A method for installing function monitoring means in a flow machine installation, wherein the function monitoring means are formed by at least one thermochromic paint, and wherein the method comprises: selecting at least one component of the flow machine installation whose function is to be monitored; selecting a predetermined thermochromic paint for the component whose function is to be monitored; applying the thermochromic paint on the component whose function is to be monitored; and wherein the thermochromic paint is applied to at least one component of the flow machine installation, which component is to be monitored with respect to the through-flow of process fluid therein.
US08377500B2
A process for making a dental restoration includes forming an image which represents a natural oral cavity characteristic. The image may be formed on a computer by an artist or by capturing a photograph of an oral cavity. The computer-based image may be modified with a computer-aided software program. Thereafter, the image is printed as a decal and attached to the dental restoration base. The decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned by a high intensity light or by being fired together in an oven in order to create a finished dental restoration having the desired oral cavity color and characteristics.
US08377494B2
The invention relates to the processing of substances that are not soluble, or soluble with difficulty, in water, in such a manner that, introduced into water or oil, these substances can yield a clear solution and can be easily integrated with finest homogeneous distribution into foodstuff, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutrient solutions. To achieve that, the invention provides a concentrate, consisting of an active substance from the group, which includes an algae oil, an essential oil, a terpene, phosphatidylserine, an ω 3 fatty acid, lanolin, a linoleic acid triglyceride, citral or tea tree oil, and a surplus amount of a polysorbate with at least two and half times the weight of the active substance.
US08377493B2
A method for making a cooked rolled snack food from a starch based dough. The starch based dough is admixed with a small average particle size monoglyceride. The dough is then rolled and cooked in hot oil. The fatty acid chain is disposed within the helical amylose molecules in the starch-based dough and provides structural support within the helix. This support helps control inward expansion of the rolled dough snack during frying.
US08377491B2
The present invention relates generally to functional sweetener compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different functional sweetener compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and at least one functional ingredient, such as a vitamin. The present invention also relates to functional sweetener compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the functional sweetener compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like flavor profile.
US08377489B2
There is provided a method for treating bananas comprising contacting said bananas with a liquid composition comprising a cyclopropene molecular encapsulation agent complex, wherein the duration of said contacting is from 1 second to 4 minutes.
US08377481B2
This relates to a method to generate a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide gas and a Carrier gas, consisting in passing a dry Carrier gas through a solution of Hydrogen Peroxide.
US08377479B2
Described herein are compositions comprising particles of poorly soluble drugs encapsulated by stabilizers. Further described are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such encapsulated compositions. Also described are methods of making such encapsulated particle compositions, and methods of making the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions. The encapsulated particle compositions described herein allow poorly soluble drugs to be administered with good bioavailability by routes that are non-invasive to patients, such as by oral administration.
US08377466B2
A method of tissue repair is provided using a biocompatible nonimmunogenic adhesive composition. The adhesive composition comprises collagen and a plurality of crosslinkable components having reactive functional groups thereon, with the functional groups selected so as to enable inter-reaction between the components, i.e., crosslinking. Kits for use in carrying out the method of the invention are also provided, as are pretreated surgically acceptable patches that have been coated with the aforementioned adhesive composition.
US08377461B2
The invention provides medical articles that include more than one biocompatibility-promoting function. In one aspect, the invention provides a medical articles that include a polymeric matrix including more than one biocompatible agent, wherein each biocompatible agent is provided at a distinct portion of the medical article surface. Methods of making medical articles, as well as methods of using the same, are also described.
US08377459B2
The present invention describes an oil-in-water emulsion composition for wet-wipes delivering an improved body cleansing performance while providing a gentle and smooth feeling to the user.
US08377454B2
A profertility composition for administration to infertile men with sperm oxidative stress is disclosed. The composition comprises a unique combination of a pharmaceutically acceptable vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, folic acid, lycopene and at least one carnitine source.
US08377451B2
Immunogenic polysaccharide-protein conjugates having a polysaccharide antigen (or its oligosaccharide fragment representing one or more antigenic epitopes) derived from a nosocomial pathogen conjugated to a staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein are used in immunogenic compositions to elicit antibody responses to both the polysaccharide antigen and the staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein. Such immunogenic compositions are used to immunize against diseases caused by Staphylococcal aureus, Staphylococcal epidermidis or other nosocomial pathogens.
US08377449B2
An herbal cleanse formulation comprising five different herbal teas: a parasite tea, an intestinal tea, a detoxifying tea, a tonifying tea, and a relaxing tea. The parasite tea comprises areca seed, black plum, Sichuan pepper, and daikon radish. The intestinal tea comprises mountain hawthorn berry, magnolia bark, senna leaf, aloe, prunus, bitter orange, rhubarb, and licorice. The detoxifying tea comprises cyperus, Chinese angelica, trichosanthes, honeysuckle, forsythia, burdock fruit, dandelion, gardenia, coptis, and mustard seed. The tonifying tea comprises goji berries, red reishi, rehmannia, polygonum, astragalus, ginseng, codonopsis, and schizandra. The relaxing tea comprises ginger, lily bulbs, mimosa tree bark, acorus, sour jujube seeds, yuan zhi, and mint. The herbal cleanse formulation are to be taken at specific times of the day for a determined number of days in a specific protocol in conjunction with a vegan alkalinizing diet and incorporating Kundalini yoga.
US08377440B2
The invention features antibodies, e.g., chimeric and humanized antibodies, that recognize (i.e., bind) P-selectin. The P-selectin antibodies prevent P-selectin from binding to its cognate receptor. The P-selectin antibodies can be used to treat inflammatory and thrombotic conditions, e.g., sickle cell disease, pain crisis associated with sickle cell disease, deep vein thrombosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ischemia reperfusion injury in a patient in need thereof.
US08377438B2
Use of antagonists to IL-31 are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08377431B2
The present invention relates to compositions for removing a biofilm formed by Staphylococcus aureus, comprising a bacteriophage, such as Myoviridae family T4-like phage genus bacteriophage (Accession No: KCTC 11153BP, SAP-1) or Podoviridae family φ29-like virus genus bacteriophage (Accession No: KCTC11154BP, SAP-2), and lytic protein derived therefrom, that destroys the biofilm. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus capable of forming biofilm.
US08377423B2
A non-cytotoxic chlorine dioxide composition and a mixed agent bleaching composition for tooth whitening are disclosed. Methods of use are also provided.
US08377418B2
The invention relates to a thermosensitive (poly(ethylene oxide) poly(propylene oxide))-acetal derivative, which can be used to functionalize chitosan, and to the process for the preparation thereof. The invention therefore also relates to a process for functionalizing chitosan by grafting this thermosensitive copolymer and optionally another thermosensitive polymer, poly(ethylene oxide). A subject of the invention is also a chitosan-(poly(ethylene oxide) poly(propylene oxide))-poly(ethylene oxide) derivative which has the advantage of being water-soluble at physiological pH. The invention therefore also relates to the aqueous compositions comprising this derivative and to the use of this composition for the manufacture of gel by heating.
US08377414B2
This disclosure provides a process for preparing mesoporous amorphous hydrous oxide of titanium, comprising formation of a precipitate comprising an ionic porogen and a hydrolyzed compound comprising titanium from an aqueous mixture in the pH range of 5 to 10; and removing the ionic porogen from the precipitate to recover a mesoporous hydrous oxide of titanium, the ionic porogen being in sufficient amount and the conditions of precipitating being effective for producing a mesoporous hydrous oxide of titanium having a surface area of at least about 400 m2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g.
US08377411B2
The present invention provides a convenient process for making lithium sulfide involving heating one or more lithium-containing compounds and sulphur, wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of 600 to 1500° C.
US08377407B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a carbonate crystal, which has oriented birefringence, is needle- or rod-like, and is able to negate the birefringence without sacrificing the light transmittance of a transparent polymeric resin when it exists in the transparent resin; a manufacturing method of the carbonate crystal; and a transparent optical resin composition comprising the carbonate resin. The carbonate crystal has an aspect ratio of two or greater, the average major axis length of 400 nm or shorter, and the variation coefficient expressed in Formula (1) below is 0.40 or less: 1 r × { 1 n - 1 ∑ i = 1 n ( r i - r ) 2 } 1 2 Formula ( 1 ) wherein r denotes an average major axis length, n denotes the number of particles used for the measurement of the major axis length, and n denotes the major axis length of the ith particle measured.
US08377405B2
A process for production of a borohydride compound. The process comprises combining a compound comprising boron and oxygen with an adduct of alane.
US08377399B2
Process for increasing the capacity of an existing urea plant comprising a high-pressure urea synthesis section and one or more recovery sections, wherein next to the existing urea plant a urea production unit, comprising a high-pressure urea synthesis section and a medium-pressure recovery section, is installed, wherein a urea-containing stream is produced from ammonia and carbon dioxide and the urea-containing stream is sent to the existing urea plant where the urea-containing stream is further purified in the low-pressure recovery section.
US08377389B2
A fabrication method of a microfluidic circuit is provided, dispensable of mask registration, absent of deviation in mask positioning, and inexpensive in fabrication cost. The fabrication method of a microfluidic circuit has a light transmissive substrate stacked on a light absorptive substrate, and the light transmissive substrate welded with the light absorptive substrate for bonding by directing light through the light transmissive substrate. The microfluidic circuit includes a microchannel at the bottom face of the light transmissive substrate and/or at the top face of the light absorptive substrate. The method includes the step of forming, at the light transmissive substrate, a light attenuation region attenuating transmittance of light towards the microchannel when light is directed through the light transmissive substrate.
US08377384B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of hydrogen peroxide from an electrochemical (EC) cell arrangement. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises an EC cell having anode and cathode electrodes with a cation exchange membrane disposed between them to form anode and cathode compartments. An aqueous salt solution is supplied to the anode compartment and water and oxygen are supplied to the cathode compartment. An electric potential applied across the anode and cathode electrodes initiates an electrochemical process that results in the formation of an acid anolyte solution in the anode compartment and an alkaline catholyte solution in the cathode compartment. The anolyte solution and the catholyte solution are combined in a neutralizing chamber to form a neutral aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, salt, and water. The hydrogen peroxide is separated from the neutral aqueous solution by conventional means.
US08377381B2
An optical waveguiding optical format enables consistent optical analysis of small sample volumes. The optical format is comprised of an illumination light guide, a read window upon which a sample is placed, a sample collection needle or capillary, and a detection guide. Light redirecting facets are provided within the format itself such that the format serves as a unitary component for accepting light, directing light through a sample, and emitting light for detection.
US08377373B1
Disclosing herein is a method for manufacturing nickel-titanium compositions. The method includes disposing a powdered composition in a mold; the powdered composition comprising nickel and titanium; the titanium being present in an amount of about 38 to about 42 wt % and the nickel being present in an amount of about 58 to about 62 wt %; sintering the powdered composition to produce a sintered preform; compacting the preform; machining the preform to form an article; heat treating the article; the annealing being conducted at a temperature of about 1650° F. to about 1900° F. at a pressure of about 3 Torr to about 5 Kg-f/cm2 for a time period of about 10 minutes to about 5 hours; and quenching the article.
US08377356B2
Methods relating to polymer-bioceramic composite implantable medical devices are disclosed.
US08377352B2
A medical catheter tube containing a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which has a wall thickness of 0.1 mm or below and exhibits a tensile strength (S1) at 1.0 mm displacement of 5.0 N/mm or above; and a process for the production of medical catheter tubes, characterized by molding a composition both a tetrafluoroethylene polymer and a lubricant having high affinity for the polymer by paste extrusion. The invention provides thin-wall medical catheter tubes excellent in elongation resistance, kink resistance and internal cavity lubricity.
US08377350B2
A method for controlling temperatures in hot runners of a multi-cavity injection mold, a warning method, and a control system based on those methods are provided, in which a temperature sensor is positioned at the same location as each of the cavities of the mold, one of the cavities is chosen as a standard cavity, and a standard filling time is defined. Besides, in every injection cycle, a calculating and controlling module is to calculate the differences between the standard filling time and the filling times of the cavities, and according to the differences, the temperatures in the hot runners may be adjusted by a temperature-adjusting device and a warning device may be started. So, the volumetric filling of the cavities can be balanced very quickly, the process can avoid fluctuations of external environment so as to reduce the time for product development, and the quality of production can be maintained.
US08377345B2
A method of manufacturing an optical member by mixing isocyanate terminal prepolymer component (A) and aromatic diamine component (B), and immediately after mixing, casting a mixture into a casting mold to obtain a molded article. A method of manufacturing a plastic lens by mixing said components (A) and (B), immediately after mixing, casting a mixture into a casting mold and polymerizing it to obtain a molded article. A gasket for molding plastic lenses comprised of a cylindrical member. A casting mold for molding plastic lenses using this gasket and a monomer casting jig.
US08377325B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a metal wiring etchant. A metal wiring etchant according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes ammonium persulfate, an organic acid, an ammonium salt, a fluorine-containing compound, a glycol-based compound, and an azole-based compound.
US08377315B2
A method for manufacturing porous microstructures in a silicon semiconductor substrate, porous microstructures manufactured according to this method, and the use thereof.
US08377312B2
The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material in an amount of from 0.001 to 1.0% by weight, based on the total mixture, and at least one second material, which comprises at least the following steps: (A) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material with at least one surface-active substance, if appropriate in the presence of at least one dispersion medium, with the surface-active substance binding to the at least one first material, (B) if appropriate, addition of at least one dispersion medium to the mixture obtained in step (A) in order to obtain a dispersion, (C) treatment of the dispersion from step (A) or (B) with at least one hydrophobic magnetic particle so that the at least one first material to which the at least one surface-active substance is bound and the at least one magnetic particle agglomerate, (D) separation of the agglomerate from step (C) from the mixture by application of a magnetic field, (E) if appropriate, dissociation of the agglomerate separated off in step (D) in order to obtain the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle separately.
US08377291B2
A water recycling system that can be used for reclaiming and recycling water, waste water, or grey water, for providing landscape irrigation, or for recycling uses such as for sanitary facilities, as well as for pre-heating clean water to save energy. A water recycling system may include a sealable tank, an influx pipe, a self-clearing filter disposed within the tank, a pump, and an effluent pipe.
US08377286B2
An integrated process for producing diesel fuel from feedstocks, including diesel fuel production under sour conditions, is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. In addition to the benefits in sour service, the process also returns to clean service activity levels more quickly.
US08377276B2
A long-term, reliable high pressure reference electrode for high temperature applications was disclosed. This reference electrode has inner and an outer liquid junction plugs. The inner plug provides the function of restraining the outflow of the internal reference electrolyte. The outer plug is chemically and mechanically robust in the external fluid where the reference electrode is used and protects the inner plug from the mechanical and chemical attacks by the harsh external fluid. Therefore, the inner plug can be selected from many of the well-characterized liquid junction plugs used in regular low temperature reference electrodes, without the need for the inner plug to be chemically and mechanically stable in the external fluid, as long as it has the thermal stability.A method for preventing the formation of gas bubbles inside a high pressure reference electrode in the electrolyte-filled section, and thus eliminating the gas bobble effect on the electrical continuity, was also disclosed. One or more thin solid rods or tubes are inserted into the internal electrolyte-housing tube and the thin rods or tubes alter the surface tension of the gas bubbles so that the bubbles are unstable in the middle of the liquid electrolyte. Compared with the fiber wicks or porous powder used by previous researchers to ensure the electrical continuity, the thin tubes or rods are easier to handle and easier to clean. This method may also be used in other systems that contain a liquid-filled tube (e.g., a pH electrode) to prevent the formation of gas bubbles in the liquid-filled section of the tube.
US08377260B2
A method of manufacturing a newsprint paper for offset printing, includes: selecting a filler or fillers having an average grain size of 0.5 to 5 μm and a zeta potential of 0 mV or above; providing a pulp slurry for making a base paper; adding the filler or fillers to the pulp slurry in an amount of more than 15 percent by weight but less than 40 percent by weight as ash relative to the dry weight of the base paper; and subjecting the resultant slurry to a papermaking machine to obtain the base paper.
US08377257B2
A total evaporator for fluids, including a cold chamber to prevent pre-evaporation, an evaporation region connected thereto having narrow flow cross-section for fast evaporation of the fluid, and a subsequent vapor chamber for pulsation damping and the controlled superheating of the vapor, the evaporation region being formed by a gap between concentrically nested cylindrical and/or conical tube sections and heat required for the evaporation and superheating processes is supplied by electric heating and/or by hot fluid and/or by catalytic or homogeneous combustion via the wall of the concentric tubes.
US08377253B2
In an apparatus and method of vapor etching, a sample (S) to be etched is located in a main chamber 107 from which the atmosphere inside is evacuated. Etching gas is input into the main chamber 107 for a first period of time. Thereafter, the etching gas is evacuated from the main chamber 107 and cooling/purging gas is input into the main chamber for a second interval of time. Thereafter, the cooling/purging gas is evacuated from the main chamber 107. Desirably, the steps of inputting the etching gas into the main chamber 107 for the first period of time, evacuating the etching gas from the main chamber, inputting the cooling/purging gas into the main chamber 107 for the second period of time, and evacuating the cooling/purging gas from the main chamber are repeated until samples have been etched to a desired extent.
US08377227B2
A utensil holder for use in a dishwasher includes a basket including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls, as well as an upper opening. The rear wall has a height greater than the front wall. A lid member, having a support surface across which are arrayed a plurality of openings, is secured across the upper opening. The plurality of openings receive and arrange utensils to be exposed to a washing operation. A handle member, including first and second upstanding portions interconnected through a cross bar portion, extends from the basket. The cross bar portion includes angled sections that enable a gripping section to be offset. The utensil holder is designed to mount in various configurations to an inner liner of a dishwasher door, or alternatively be supported on a rack in the dishwasher.
US08377221B1
A system for cleaning and maintaining a vault includes a vault that may have equipment submerged in water. The vault includes a floor, at least one wall, and a cover that collectively define a vault interior. In some versions there is contaminated water in the vault that is at least one foot above the lowest point on the vault floor. In some versions, the water may be 12 to 14 feet above the lowest point on the floor. A portion of the floor may slope toward a vacuum head that is indirectly coupled with a source of suction. In some versions, at least the vault floor is lined with a liner that has a low coefficient of friction and is corrosive resistant. The source of suction may be a vacuum hose of a vacuum truck.
US08377217B2
Systems and methods for charging a cleaning solution used for cleaning integrated circuit substrates
Inventive methods, systems and compositions of cleaning integrated circuit (“IC”) substrates are described. The cleaning methods of the present invention include: charging a solution, which contains at least a solute selected to promote cleaning of the IC substrate, to produce a charged solution, such that at least a portion of the solute is present as clusters in the charged solution; and conveying the charged solution for cleaning the IC substrate.The cleaning systems of the present invention include: a charging chamber for holding a solution, which contains at least a solute selected to promote cleaning of the integrated circuit substrate; and a first acoustic energy source capable of vibrating the solution in the charging chamber to produce a charged solution such that at least a portion of the solute is present as clusters in the charged solution.The cleaning compositions of the present invention include: a solvent; and a solute selected to promote cleaning of the IC substrate, wherein at least a portion of the solute is present in cluster form in the solution and the solute and solvent are present in a volumetric ratio that is between about 3×10−5:1 and about 1×10−24:1.
US08377212B2
A chamber for annealing a semi-conductor material of II-VI type having a first area for storing an element of group II of the periodic table and a second area designed to receive the semi-conductor material of II-VI type. The chamber s equipped with a separating partition at the level of an intermediate area. This separating partition is provided with a passage aperture equipped with gas anti-reverse flow means to ensure one-way passage of the element of group II of the periodic table, in vapor phase, from the first area to the second area. This chamber is heated by heating means enabling the two areas to be heated independently.
US08377207B2
In a purge gas assembly provided: in an outer circumference portion of a substrate stage, with a shoulder portion offset downward below a substrate mounting surface on an upper end of the substrate stage; a purge ring enclosing a stepped circumferential surface between the substrate mounting surface and the shoulder portion; and an annular gas ejection passage for ejecting the purge gas, the gas ejecting passage being defined between the stepped circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface of the purge ring, an arrangement is made such that the purge gas can be ejected uniformly from the gas ejection passage over the entire circumference thereof and that the deposition of a film on an upper surface of the purge ring can also be restricted, and further that the construction is simplified. The purge ring has formed therein an annular groove which recesses from a lower surface thereof upward.
US08377201B2
Hydraulic cements, such as Portland cements and other cements that include substantial quantities of tricalcium silicate (C3S), dicalcium silicate (C2S), tricalcium aluminate (C3A), and/or tetracalcalcium alumino-ferrite (C4AF), are particle size optimized to have increased reactivity compared to cements of similar chemistry and/or decreased water demand compared to cements of similar fineness. Increasing hydraulic cement reactivity increases early strength development and release of reactive calcium hydroxide, both of which enhance SCM replacement and 1-28 day strengths compared to blends of conventional Portland cement and one or more SCMs, such as coal ash, slag or natural pozzolan. Decreasing the water demand can improve strength by decreasing the water-to-cement ratio for a given workability. The narrow PSD cements are well suited for making blended cements, including binary, ternary and quaternary blends.
US08377193B2
Aqueous dispersion which comprises hydrophobized silicon dioxide particles and in each case one or more dispersing additives, a basic composition, and which is free of color pigments, inactive fillers and binders, in which the hydrophobized silicon dioxide particles have a methanol wettability of 30 to 60 and are present in the dispersion with a proportion of 0.1 to 50% by weight,—the proportion of water is 30 to 90% by weight based on the dispersion,—the dispersing additive is at least one phosphate ester of an ethoxylated alcohol having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, the proportion of which is 3 to 25% by weight based on the proportion of the hydrophobized silicon dioxide particles,—the basic composition comprises or consists of one or more amines of the general formula RNH2, R2NH and R3N, where R is an alkyl group or a hydroxyl-substituted alkyl group having in each case 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and is present with a proportion of 5 to 30% by weight based on the proportion of hydrophobized silicon dioxide particles,—the dispersion further comprises one or more polyols having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, the proportion of which is 1 to 10% by weight based on the proportion of hydrophobized silicon dioxide particles,—the pH of the dispersion being 9 to 11.
US08377180B2
The present invention provides an apparatus which stably provides highly concentrated oxygen to a patient, regardless of an environmental temperature and/or a highly concentrated oxygen gas flow rate. The present invention is an oxygen concentrator characterized in that an oxygen concentration sensor detecting a concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator, a temperature sensor measuring an environmental temperature and/or a flow rate sensor are provided, a control increasing/decreasing a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a detected oxygen concentration detected value to maintain an oxygen concentration at a predetermined concentration is performed, and a control device is switched based on a value measured by the temperature sensor and/or flow rate sensor of the apparatus.
US08377162B2
An air cleaner for a vehicle includes a body accommodating a filter element, a cover that covers the top of the body, and clamping units clamping the body and the cover. The clamping units include i) at least one first clamp that clamps sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a first spring and functions as a hinge point allowing the cover to rotate with respect to the body and ii) at least one second clamp that clamps the other sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a second spring and locks and unlocks the body and the cover by means of rotation of a key.
US08377151B2
The present invention describes a method for production of a renewable, combustible liquid fuel that may be used; in internal combustion engines, as a fuel source for electricity generation including turbines and fuel cells, or as a burnable heat source. This fuel is derived from set of biomolecules that are produced under nutrient limitation conditions as those found at a waste water treatment plant. More specifically this invention envisions the use of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), especially those with monomeric residues ranging in size from C4 to C10, as a feed stream for production of a biofuel.
US08377144B2
A low profile prosthetic foot comprises a foot member extending at an incline from an anterior portion to a posterior portion thereof and configured to flex during motion, and an adapter mounted solely at a posterior section thereof to the posterior portion of the foot member so that the adapter's anterior section can move relative to the foot member and “roll-up” onto the foot member during motion.
US08377139B2
An implantable assembly includes an anchor member and a spacer. The anchor member has a hub portion and a shank portion. The spacer includes a central opening to receive bone fusion material and at least one passage for receiving the anchor member. In one embodiment, the passage includes first and second means for locking the anchor member in the passage against backout. The second means for locking the anchor member in the passage against backout includes means for centering the anchor member in the passage and means for stabilizing the anchor member in the passage. In addition, the second means for locking the anchor member in the passage against backout provides a mechanical advantage to assist in driving the screw into bone and mechanical advantage to assist in reversing the screw out of the spacer.
US08377137B2
This implant includes two elongated elements (1, 2) of reduced width, defining, at their edges, two longitudinal surfaces opposite each other. These elements (1, 2) being intended to be positioned between the vertebral plates (101) of the vertebrae, apart from each other, with their longitudinal surfaces in contact with the vertebral plates (101. Elements (1, 2) have curved shapes, having substantially the same curvature from one element (1, 2) to the other, and one of the elements (2) has a length smaller than that of the other element (1), the element (2) with the smaller length being intended to be placed in the anterior position on a vertebral plate (101) while the element (1) with the larger length is intended to be placed in the posterior position on this same vertebral plate (101).
US08377131B2
A medical implant includes a flexible container having two layers of flexible surrounding walls, each surrounding wall being provided with a plurality of through holes; a tubular fitting being connected to an open end of the flexible container for inserting or infusing a medical filling material into the flexible container through the tubular fitting; and a thrust part connected to the flexible surrounding walls of the flexible container and at a distal end of the flexible container. The thrust part has a receiving seat and a ring, the receiving seat having a central bore and an annular groove surrounding the central bore and opposite to the central bore, wherein a tubular surrounding wall is inserted into the ring and is folded so that the two layers of flexible surrounding walls are formed with the ring imbedded between the two layers of flexible surrounding walls, and the ring with the two layers of flexible surrounding walls are received in the annular groove and detained therein due to friction.
US08377126B2
Disclosed are biomedical devices having a hydrophilic coating on a portion of a surface thereof, the biomedical device comprising: (a) a biomedical device obtained from a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising (i) a polymerizable monomer containing a boronic acid moiety and an electron withdrawing moiety; and (ii) a biomedical device-forming comonomer; and (b) a hydrophilic reactive polymer having complementary reactive functionalities along the polymer chain, wherein the complementary reactive functionalities along the polymer chain of the hydrophilic reactive polymer of (b) bind with the boronic acid moieties of the biomedical device of (a), thereby producing a biocompatible coating which can be removed and re-applied to restore the surface properties of the biomedical device to substantially as-new condition. Methods for treating the biomedical device are also disclosed.
US08377123B2
A method is provided for implanting an accommodating intraocular lens system in a capsular bag of an eye. The method includes providing the accommodating intraocular lens having an anterior viewing element and a posterior viewing element. The anterior viewing element has a width in a range between approximately 4.5 millimeters and approximately 6.5 millimeters. The method further includes forming an opening in an anterior portion of the capsular bag. The opening has a minimum width not less than approximately 4 millimeters and has a maximum width not greater than approximately 6.0 millimeters. The method further includes placing the accommodating intraocular lens system within the capsular bag. The capsular bag overlaps at least a portion of the anterior viewing element and defines an overlap region with a width in a range between approximately 0.1 millimeters and approximately 0.75 millimeters.
US08377116B2
The present invention provides an implantable medical device coating that has improved stability, a medical device coated with such coating, and a method of increasing the stability of an implantable medical device coating, wherein the coating comprises a stereocomplex f poly(D-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactice acid).
US08377114B2
Described herein are partitioning devices for reducing ventricular volume that may be secured within a ventricle and separate it into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The partitioning devices described herein may include a reinforced membrane and may be secured within the heart chamber by sealing them to the wall of the heart chamber, for example, by inflating an inflatable element on the periphery of the device. All or a region of the non-productive portion formed by these devices may be enclosed within a container or bag. The non-productive portion may be filled with a material, including occlusive materials (e.g., vasoclusive coils). Sealing and/or filling the non-productive portion formed by the devices described herein may help prevent leakage from the non-productive region. Also described herein are systems including these devices and methods of using them, which may be suitable for treating patients with heart disease, particularly congestive heart failure.
US08377112B2
A sacrificial anode stent system comprises a stent having at least one sacrificial anode portion and a vaso-occlusive device. The vaso-occlusive device has at least one portion with a potential different from that of the sacrificial anode portion of the stent.
US08377108B2
A catheter assembly and related methods directed to stent delivery systems that include a stent and a catheter assembly having first and second balloons. The stent includes a side branch aperture and expandable structure defining the side branch aperture. The expandable structure is configured to move into a radial outward orientation relative to a sidewall of the stent. The portions of the first and second balloons are positioned within the stent in a generally coaxial arrangement with the first balloon extending distally from the distal open end of the stent and the second balloon extending proximally from the proximal open end of the stent. The expandable structure of the stent is moved towards the radial outward orientation by advancing the second balloon at least partially distally through the side branch aperture. In some arrangements, the second balloon is at least partially inflated when advanced through the side branch aperture.
US08377093B2
A method of removing an implanted vessel filter by a femoral approach comprising the steps of providing a catheter, inserting a curved device into the catheter to a position proximal of the tip, advancing the catheter tip through the femoral vein and past a cranial end of the filter, inserting the curved device into the catheter tip to move the catheter tip to a more curved position, and inserting a filter grasping device though the curved device and catheter tip to exit a distal portion to grasp the filter.
US08377089B2
A medical assembly includes a cannula and a scaling cap releasably coupled to the cannula. The cap includes a body and a sealing member integrally molded with the body to form a fluid-tight seal between the cap and cannula. The cap includes a member defining an opening for passage of a medical instrument therethrough in a fluid-tight manner. The member includes a first portion surrounding the opening and being thickened to limit tearing of the first portion, and a second portion surrounding the first portion being tapered down in thickness toward the first portion to increase flexibility of the member. The assembly includes a shaft receivable in a lumen defined by an inner surface of the cannula. The shaft includes a protrusion and the inner surface further defines a protrusion receiving formation.
US08377085B2
An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly having a shell and an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit housed within the shell, an ultrasonic transducer having a proximal end and an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end, an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end for receiving ultrasonic movement thereat, and a handle body having a waveguide attachment dock operable to accept the waveguide therein, an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly dock operable to selectively removably secure the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly thereto, and a transducer attachment dock operable to substantially simultaneously selectively removably and rotatably freely couple the ultrasonic transducer to the handle body rotationally independent of the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly and axially align the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end opposite the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide when the ultrasonic waveguide is disposed within the waveguide attachment dock.
US08377078B2
An epilator having at least two interchangeable attachments each having a different skin contact surface which defines the position of the skin relative to the epilating member when the attachment is mounted onto the epilator. According to the present system, each attachment has a coupling by which the attachment can be coupled to a driver of the epilator for vibrating the attachment.
US08377072B2
Devices for implanting a prosthetic device, such as an artificial spinal implant, are provided. The installation tool can include a body, a pair of opposed levers, an optional implant holder disposed between the levers, a drive rod at least partially disposed within the body and able to be coupled to the implant holder and/or implant, and a female threaded member associated with the body and selectively engageable with the drive rod. As the drive rod translates along a longitudinal axis of the installation tool, the implant holder and/or implant separates the levers and distracts adjacent vertebral bodies to position a prosthetic device therebetween. The implant holder and/or implant can be longitudinally advanced in rotation and/or translation modes.
US08377069B2
A system for forming keel openings in tibial bone includes a plurality of templates having different sizes, each template having a top surface, a bottom surface and a central opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The system includes a bone cutting instrument for forming the keel openings and a guide having a leading end that is adapted to be coupled with the templates so that the leading end of the guide is aligned with the central openings in the templates. The guide includes a plurality of slots extending toward the leading end thereof for guiding advancement of the bone cutting instrument through the central openings in the templates. Each slot is associated for use with one of the differently sized templates.
US08377068B2
A number of orthopaedic surgical instruments are also disclosed. A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating such instruments are also disclosed.
US08377063B2
A method for use in a vertebral spine to prepare a space between adjacent vertebral bodies to receive an implant. The method is performed using a bone removal device including a shaft and a mounting member at one end of the shaft. A working end is mounted on the mounting member and is coupled to a drive mechanism adjacent to the working end. The drive mechanism is operable to move the upper and lower cutters of the working end to create surfaces having predetermined contours in the end plate region of the adjacent vertebral bodies. A guard provides protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies for the working end of the bone removal device through a passageway.
US08377062B2
The present invention discloses a system for releasing one or more therapeutic agents contained within a capsule onto or into an implant. At least one capsule is inserted in a recess preferably located along a longitudinal axis of the implant. The at least one adhesive capsule may be inserted in the recess and held in place therein by a holder. A plurality of adhesive capsules and holders may be inserted in one or more recesses located substantially along the longitudinal axis of the implant. The at least one capsule preferably has a casing housing one or more therapeutic agents, wherein the capsule is configured to be pierced by the at least one fastener to release the one or more therapeutic agents. The casing of the capsule may form an annular passageway to receive a guide wire for aiding the insertion of the capsule in an implant having a longitudinal bore along at least a portion thereof.
US08377059B2
A cordless surgical device includes a modular battery, a radio-frequency signal generating assembly, a surgical handle and an interchangeable circuit casing. The RF signal generating assembly includes RF-signal-generating circuitry, a voltage-control circuit and an external output. The voltage circuit is configured to control an output of the RF-signal-generating circuitry. The handle is configured to support a bipolar end effector having jaws with bipolar contacts and a cutting blade disposed between the jaws. The handle includes leads operable to receive RF signals from the external output and defines an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment configured to hold the battery. The circuit casing is configured to house the RF signal generating assembly and includes a securing connection adapted to couple the external output of the RF signal generating assembly to the leads. The external output is operable to impart RF signals to the handle when the circuit casing connects to the handle.
US08377056B2
A method of treating a patient is provided. The method comprises delivering an electrically conductive material within a vascular network, wherein the electrically conductive material embolizes in a region of the vascular network to form a vascular electrode array that assumes a geometry of the embolized region of the vascular network. The method may optionally comprise delivering a containment agent within the vascular network proximal to the delivered electrically conductive material to stabilize the vascular electrode array. The method further comprises applying electrical energy (e.g., radio frequency (RF) energy) to the vascular electrode array to therapeutically conduct electrical energy into a region of the targeted tissue adjacent the embolized region of the vascular network.
US08377049B2
Provided is a surgical instrument which can provide a field of view over a surgical site by sucking blood from a bleeding site during surgery on body tissue of a patient and monitoring a dark and deep surgical site, which an operator cannot see with his or her naked eye, with a small camera. The surgical instrument has substantially the same shape as a pair of scissors and includes a first body, a second body having a shape symmetrical to that of the first body, a hinge to which the first and second bodies cross and are rotatably coupled, and a photographing unit provided in the hinge to photograph a surgical site between front ends of the first and second bodies. The photographing unit may include a camera mounted in the hinge such that lens of the camera can be exposed through the center of the front surface of the hinge and configured to transmit a photographed image data to a monitor.
US08377048B2
A system and method for minimizing adverse visual effects that may be introduced during laser refractive surgery, requires making laser incisions into stromal tissue in a predetermined manner. Specifically, a plurality of irregular incisions are statistically distributed in the stroma in a manner that causes them to be visually elusive, and thereby minimize their adverse visual effects. The incisions must, however, still accomplish their intended surgical purpose of weakening the stroma in a predetermined manner. To do this, each irregular incision has a width of arc length dθm, a length dzl and a characteristic radial distance drn from the visual axis of the eye. Values for dθm, dzl and drn are established using a random number generator.
US08377045B2
Extendable suction surface for bracing medial devices during robotically assisted medical procedures
Medical devices robotically manipulated by a medical robotic system for performing a medical procedure on a patient are bundled together as a bundled unit and inserted into the patient through a single entry port. Bracing of the bundled unit at a surgical site is performed by extending a suction surface disposed at a distal end of the bundled unit towards a bracing surface at the surgical site and applying a suction force between the suction surface and the bracing surface. The suction surface is ring-shaped with holes distributed about the ring so that controllably extendable and retractable tubes coupled at distal ends to the holes provide suction to the suction surface when coupled at proximal ends to a vacuum source.
US08377043B2
A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as, antibiotics, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from the device reservoir which is provided in the form of a novel bellows type assembly. The fluid dispenser includes a unique stored energy mechanism which takes the form of a constant force spring member of novel design that provides the force necessary to continuously and substantially uniformly expel fluid from the device reservoir. The device also includes novel adjustable flow rate control assembly that is disposed intermediate the fluid reservoir outlet and the outlet port of the device for precisely controlling the rate of fluid flow from the outlet port toward the patient.
US08377030B2
Systems include integrally sealed medicinal storage containers, including one or more segments of an ultra efficient insulation material, the one or more segments having one or more surface regions, the one or more segments principally defining at least one storage region, and one or more regions of substantially thermally sealed connections between at least one of the one or more surface regions of the one or more segments wherein the one or more regions of substantially thermally sealed connections and the one or more segments form an integrally thermally sealed medicinal storage region.
US08377028B2
A process for making a pant-like disposable absorbent garment comprising: providing a front panel and back panels and an absorbent insert which extends between the front and back panels; printing a front waistband graphic on the front panel such that the front waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the front panel width; printing a back waistband graphic on the back panel such that the back waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the back panel width; and joining the first and second front side edges to the first and second back side edges, such that the garment assumes a pull-on configuration, and such that the front waistband graphic is in at least substantial alignment with the back waistband graphic. A garment made by the process is also disclosed.
US08377021B2
Winkles are prevented from being generated in the flap portion to reduce an uncomfortable feeling and friction. In a sanitary napkin including an absorber interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a flap portion surrounding the absorber without including the absorber, the flap portions at least in a front area and a back area of the sanitary napkin each have an outer shape of a wave-like line composed of convex curves and concave curves in which the direction of a line tangent to the outline of the flap portion is continuously changed; the width of the absorber gradually narrows in each of the front side area and the back side area in such a manner that lines incline toward each other to form a convex curve; and the wave-like line is formed along each of the inclining lines.
US08377019B2
The collecting bag is intended for human body wastes and has a bag member (1) and a discharge portion (8) including a discharge opening (9). A first plate member (21) is positioned on a first film blank (2) forming part of the bag and a second plate member (22) is positioned on an extension (3e) of a second film blank (3) forming part of the bag. At least one of the edges (21b, 22a) of the plate members (21, 22) is provided with a fillet or chamfer (21c, 22c).
US08377016B2
A tissue treatment apparatus and method are provided for treating tissue by the application of the time-varying sub-atmospheric pressure. The apparatus includes a cover adapted to cover a wound and adapted to maintain sub-atmospheric pressure the site of the wound. The apparatus further includes a source of suction configured to generate a time-varying sub-atmospheric pressure having a periodic waveform comprising a gradual change in pressure. The suction source cooperates with the cover to supply the time-varying sub-atmospheric pressure under the cover to the wound. The time-varying sub-atmospheric pressure may vary between a first pressure value below the inherent tissue tension of the wound tissue and a second pressure value above the inherent tissue tension of the wound tissue.
US08377011B2
A pressure actuated valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a medical device, the valve comprises a housing including a lumen extending therethrough and a flow control membrane extending across the lumen to control the flow of fluid through the lumen. The membrane includes a plurality of slits extending therethrough so that, when the membrane is acted upon by a pressure of at least a threshold magnitude, the slits open to permit flow through the lumen and, when not acted upon by a pressure of at least the predetermined magnitude, the slits are maintained closed by a biasing force applied thereto by the membrane to prevent flow through the lumen. Each of the slits extends between end portions thereof along a curve wherein a distance between a first end portion of a first one of the slits and a first end portion of a second one of the slits is a minimum distance between the first and second slits.
US08377003B2
Various embodiments of syringe plunger driver or ram retraction protocols for a power injector are disclosed. In a first ram retraction protocol (184a), a first ram may be partially retracted (232), followed by a full retraction of a second ram (234), followed by a completion of the retraction of the first ram (238). In a second ram retraction protocol (184b), a first ram may be partially retracted (252), followed by a partial retraction of a second ram (254), and sometime thereafter each of the first and second rams may be completely retracted (260, 262). In a third ram retraction protocol (184c), the first and second rams are simultaneously and partially retracted (272), and sometime thereafter each of the first and second rams are completely retracted (276). In a fourth ram retraction protocol (184d), the first and second rams are simultaneously and fully retracted (292) based upon a programmed input or the like.
US08377002B2
A medical device system may include a set of housing portions, which includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a third housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. Each of one or more fluid conduits may provide a fluid path between a user and one or more reservoirs, for containing fluidic media, supported by at least one of the third housing portion and a selected one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. A drive device supported by the third housing portion may be configured to transfer fluidic media between one of the one or more reservoirs and the user via the fluid conduit in a case where the third housing portion is operatively engaged with one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
US08377001B2
A feeding set for a peristaltic pump system includes a cassette configured for releasable connection thereto. A deflectable lumen priming actuator is formed integrally with the cassette for conjoint connection to and disconnection from the pump system with the cassette as a single unit. The priming actuator includes an actuation pad and is moveable from a rest position to a deflected position. A substantially flexible lumen is coupled to the cassette. The lumen has an inlet, an outlet, and an extensible peristalsis loop. An inline valve is received within the lumen. The inline valve is arranged to obstruct fluid flow through the lumen. The actuation pad of the priming actuator is located proximate the inline valve in the rest position and is adapted to contact and apply a force to the lumen adjacent the inline valve when the priming actuator is moved to the deflected position. The force applied to the lumen is sufficient to establish at least one flow channel between the inline valve and the lumen.
US08376999B2
A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a hardware unit including a piston having a contact surface, a pneumatic source for supplying a negative pressure, a stepper motor, a controller including a processor and memory programmed to control the pneumatic source and the stepper motor, and a video monitor operating with a touch screen for sending and receiving information to and from the controller; and a disposable unit including a moveable membrane positioned adjacent to the contact surface, the programmed processor and memory operable to (i) cause the pneumatic source to apply the negative pressure to the membrane so that the negative pressure moves the membrane to conform to a shape of the contact surface and (ii) control the stepper motor so that the membrane follows the piston as the piston is moved away from the disposable unit and moves with the piston as the piston is moved into the disposable unit.
US08376985B2
A medication delivery device includes a housing, a door coupled to the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The door permits insertion of a medication container, containing liquid medication, into the housing in the open position. A door opening mechanism is coupled to the door. A push member is axially moveable between a retracted position and a non-retracted position and located external to the medication container. The push member enters the medication container and pushes the liquid medication out of the medication container. A lock mechanism is coupled to the door opening mechanism and prevents opening of the door when the push member is in the non-retracted position inside the medication container, wherein the lock mechanism automatically unlocks the door opening mechanism when the push member is in the retracted position.
US08376983B2
Irrigation fluid is aspirated from an eye and through an aspiration instrument by operating a vacuum pump, including moving first and second plungers between respective suction strokes and discharge strokes. Vacuum pressure at an input side of the pump is maintained at a desired vacuum pressure setting by controlling speeds and directions of the plungers, and controlling positions of input and output valves communicating with cylinders in which the plungers move. Controlling is based on the pressure setting and measured pressures in the cylinders. Vacuum pressure is maintained while transitioning from the suction stroke of the first plunger to the suction stroke of the second plunger, by synchronizing respective positions of the plungers and the valves, such that initiation of the suction stroke of the second plunger during the transitioning is delayed until a vacuum pressure in the second cylinder is equal to a vacuum pressure in the first cylinder.
US08376982B2
An extraction method and apparatus is provided for obtaining quick, safe and highly sensitive testing of a variety of body fluids including saliva, blood, urine or other fluids for drugs of abuse or other analytes. The apparatus includes a latchable extraction wand for obtaining body fluid samples from a subject which is adapted to maximize the portion of the body fluid sample that will go into a graduated bottle containing a buffer solution, and a testing device wherein the sample will be received and into which test strips can be inserted to determine levels of drugs of abuse or other analyte in the sample. In one of the methods of the invention, energy is imparted to the sample and buffer solution, such as by shaking, and this facilitates reduction of sample viscosity, such as by promoting the breakdown of mucins when the sample is saliva.
US08376958B2
A cap for a container is described that is configured to retain a gynecological sample collected with a sampling device. The cap includes a peripheral wall extending between a base and a flange opposite the base, and a diaphragm extending from the base of the peripheral wall. The flange projects beyond the peripheral wall and is configured to seat against a rim of the container. The diaphragm defines a first open area communicating with a second open area that is smaller than the first open area and includes a boundary spaced from the peripheral wall that is configured to detach the distally located sampler from the sampling device.
US08376955B2
According to various embodiments, a medical system and method for determining tissue temperature may include a spectroscopic sensor. The spectroscopic sensors may be configured to provide information about changes in water absorption profiles at one or more absorption peaks. Such sensors may be incorporated into ablation systems for tissue ablation. Temperature information may be used to determine the scope, volume, and/or depth of the ablation.
US08376951B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention including a storage unit that stores reference three-dimensional volume data of an examinee obtained by an image pickup device, an ultrasonic probe that is inserted in a body cavity of the examinee and can perform ultrasonic scanning in a radial direction, an ultrasonic image generating unit that generates an ultrasonic tomographic image on the basis of a reflection echo signal from the ultrasonic probe, a position detector that detects a position and a posture of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a sensor attached to the ultrasonic probe, an image generating unit that generates a scanning position mark representing an ultrasonic scanning position on a tomographic plane parallel to a travel direction of the ultrasonic probe from the reference three-dimensional volume data of the storage unit on the basis of an output of the position detector, and a display unit that displays the ultrasonic tomographic image and the scanning position mark.
US08376950B2
An ultrasonic endoscope having a small size and a slight temperature rise of an insertion part even when the transmission output of an ultrasonic transducer part is increased or an imaging device is attached thereto. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part having plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a flexing part for flexibly supporting the ultrasonic transducer part; a coupling part for coupling the flexing part to an operation part; a covering material for covering at least the flexing part and the coupling part; and a heat-conducting member provided inside of the covering material and coupled to the ultrasonic transducer part, for transferring heat generated in the ultrasonic transducer part to the operation part.
US08376945B2
Method and apparatus for providing calibration of analyte sensor including applying a control signal, detecting a measured response to the control signal, determining a variance in the detected measured response, and estimating a sensor sensitivity based on the variance in the detected measured response is provided.
US08376944B2
A caloric consumption measuring device measures a caloric consumption of a user during an activity. The caloric consumption measuring device includes a first personal data creating component, a second personal data creating component, a heart rate input component, and a caloric consumption calculating component. The first personal data creating component sets at least one personal physical condition of the user and creates first personal data based on the set personal physical condition. The second personal data creating component sets at least one environmental condition of the user and creates second personal data based on the environmental condition. The heart rate input component receives data indicative of a detected heart rate. The caloric consumption calculating component calculates the caloric consumption based on the detected heart rate that was received and the first and second personal data created by the first and second personal data creating components.
US08376940B2
A device, system and method for orthopedic spine surgery using a screw-based retractor, are disclosed herein and allows for access to the spine through a minimally or less invasive approach. The retractor device is designed to be coupled to a pedicle screw and then to have opposed arms of the retractor spread apart to open the wound proximally. The retractor is removed by separating the opposed blades to allow the retractor portions to be pulled out of the wound. The retractor is intended to be made of a flexible metal material, sterile packaged and disposable after one use. A system and method for using the retractor and performing a minimally invasive spine surgical procedure are also disclosed.
US08376933B2
A tool feeding module for an endoscopic apparatus is disclosed. The module includes a housing removably connected to the endoscopic apparatus. A channel is formed within the housing, the channel having an inlet, an outlet, and discrete sections between the inlet and outlet, the channel configured to receive a tool therethrough. An insertion length selection switch is configured to select a length of the tool fed through the channel. A feed mechanism is aligned with and positioned between the discrete sections, the feed mechanism configured to advance and retract the tool through the channel. A tool advancement switch is formed proximate the inlet, contact with the tool advancement switch by the tool automatically activating an advance of the tool into the channel via the feed mechanism. Actuation of the manual retraction switch mounted on the housing of the device activates retraction of the tool out of the channel via the feed mechanism.
US08376932B2
Medical systems, devices and methods are disclosed for suturing a perforation in tissue, that may be employed endoscopically and/or laparoscopically, and that offer simple, reliable and controllable placement of suture around a perforation for complete closure thereof. One embodiment of the medical device generally includes an endcap for use with an endoscope to suture an opening in tissue using a tissue anchor. The endcap has a tubular shape defined by an annular sidewall, and the sidewall defines an interior space. A side port is further defined by the annular sidewall and is in communication with the interior space. The side port is sized to receive and locate the tissue within the interior space for suturing. A support rib is positioned within the interior space and distal to the side port. The support rib and sidewall define a piercing aperture therebetween that supports the tissue being sutured.
US08376924B2
A shuttle valve (30) is provided in the axial bore (19) of a stationary spindle (11) through which fluid is supplied to a rotor (12) of a centrifugal separator to close off the fluid outlets (23, 24) to the rotor (12) automatically upon removal of the cap (27) or cover assembly (20) in the event that fluid supply has not been switched off.
US08376917B2
The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment and more specifically, to an isometric exercise apparatus and a storage rack therefor. The isometric exercise apparatus includes a frame which has a base and a sidewall joined to the base. The base has an exercise platform for supporting a user's body. Also provided is a restraint arm assembly connected to the frame. The arm restraint assembly includes a swing arm pivotally connected to the base, a restraint arm carried by the swing arm and positionable above the exercise platform to inhibit movement of a portion of the user's body so as to allow the user to perform isometric exercises. An indexing assembly is provided to fix the swing arm in a predetermined angular position selected from a set of discrete angular positions relative to the base. At least one limb restraint accessory is positionable at predetermined locations along the base for inhibiting movement of the user's limb so as to allow the user to perform isometric exercises. The apparatus can rapidly be adapted or configured to target a plurality of joint angles to work different muscle groups (or different muscles within the same muscle group) for an enhanced isometric workout.
US08376916B2
A heavy bag for use by martial arts practitioners to practice the martial arts, the heavy bag adapted to receive a sheath about its circumferential periphery, the sheath having a plurality of vertically longitudinal sleeves or pockets for the slidable receipt of semi-rigid tubes, rods, or pellets which would therefore be disposed about the circumference of the heavy bag and when struck by a martial arts practitioner with a select anatomical body part would toughen and desensitize the particular anatomical body part. In the preferred embodiment, the sheathing would be in two parts, a lower sheathing secured about the lower portion of the heavy bag by means of hook and loop fastener means, and an upper sheathing which would depend from the four point linkage used for hanging the heavy bag, the lower portion of the upper sheathing being secured by hook and loop fasteners about the circumference of the heavy bag. Alternatively, the sheath may be permanently attached to the heavy bag and sold and used as only a body conditioner bag.
US08376909B1
A therapy evaluation machine used for measuring range of motion during the rehabilitation of an injury to a patient's wrist, hand or fingers. The machine includes a horizontal machine base with first and second frame members. A torque bar is mounted on the frame members and adapted for gripping by the patient's healthy and injured hand. A range of motion scale is mounted on the torque bar for visually measuring range of motion in degrees by the healthy and injured hand or fingers and to measure progress as the injured hand or fingers begin to heal. Also, the machine includes a strain gauge mounted on the torque bar and connected to a computer with digital display. The strain gauge is used for originating resistance on the torque bar and measuring torque applied thereto.
US08376905B2
A vehicle drive device that includes a speed change mechanism; a fluid transmission device provided closer to an engine attachment side than the speed change mechanism is and including a lock-up clutch; an electric motor having a rotor and a stator and connecting the rotor to an input portion of the fluid transmission device; and an engine power cut-off clutch that transmits or cuts off a driving force of an engine to or from the fluid transmission device.
US08376901B2
A gear mechanism with at least a flange for the adaptation of the gear mechanism to a drive component and with at least one ring gear, which is firmly connected on the gear side to the flange. The flange presents at least a radial flange bore, the ring gear presents at least a radial ring gear bore, and a pin is led through a pair consisting of such a radial flange bore and such a radial ring gear bore, and in the process the flange and the ring gear are braced firmly against each other. The flange bore and the ring gear bore may be arranged with partial overlap in the axial direction and simultaneously partial mutual offset by an offset difference.
US08376897B2
An internally geared hub is provided with a hub axle, a hub shell, a driver, a planetary gear mechanism and a gear changing mechanism. The hub shell rotates freely about the hub axle. The driver rotates freely relative to both the hub axle and the hub shell. The planetary gear mechanism is operatively connected between the hub shell and the driver. The planetary gear mechanism includes a plurality of driver rotation transmission paths that transmits rotation of the driver in a prescribed operating direction to the hub shell, and a hub shell rotation transmission path that transmits rotation of the hub shell in the prescribed operating direction to the driver. The gear changing mechanism is operatively connected the planetary gear mechanism for selectively establishing one of the driver rotation transmission paths or the hub shell rotation transmission path.
US08376896B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The planetary gear sets include first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include two clutches and two brakes.
US08376895B2
An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, an output member, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, and an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism includes first to sixth engagement assemblies. Each of a plurality of gear ratios is provided by setting three of the first to sixth engagement assemblies in a engagement state.
US08376880B1
A first lacrosse head constructed from a first material having first properties or a second lacrosse head constructed from a second material having second properties is selectively used in lacrosse activities, based on environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and/or solar activity, to provide generally consistent head performance as perceived by a lacrosse player across a range of environmental conditions. The first and second heads can be identical in structure, but constructed from different materials. For example, the first head can include a polyamide, optionally, Nylon 6,6 polyamide, and the second head can include a high performance polyamide resin, optionally a polypthalamide. An environmental indicator that provides visual and/or audible output with regard to environmental conditions can be included with at least one of the first head, the second head and a shaft to which the heads can be joined. Related methods of use are also provided.
US08376874B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08376873B2
A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that's greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface; defined as an area of the frontal striking surface having at least 99% of the maximum characteristic time between about 239 microseconds to about 257 microseconds.
US08376872B1
A golf glove having a finger retaining component. The finger retaining component may be affixed to the glove of one hand at or near the index finger to receive and secure a finger or fingers from the other hand.
US08376870B2
A game table has a game playing surface and a railing extending around the perimeter of the game playing surface. The railing extends at least slightly above the game playing surface to prevent escape of a game playing piece from the game playing surface and has a top surface. The game table includes a score display unit having a display screen, the display unit being at least partially mounted within the railing. The display screen is moveable between a first flat or hidden position and a second observable display position. At the display position, at least part of the display screen is projected above the top surface of the railing.
US08376862B2
A motorized spindle drive for an actuator, particularly for an aerodynamically effective surface of an aircraft, may have a spindle and a motor that comprises a mechanical transmission element engaging the spindle in order to drive said spindle and causing a relative movement in the axial direction between the spindle and the motor and that is connected to an element that is fixed in place relative to the motion of the spindle, said element absorbing the torque of the motor. According to the invention, the bearing absorbing the torque of the motor comprises a detachable coupling that detaches upon a predetermined torque being exceeded and releases the motor in the sense of a free movement in the axial direction of the spindle relative to the fixed element.
US08376852B2
An electronic sensing device includes a blanket, at least a sensor unit, and a display unit. The blanket has a circuit unit thereon and a plurality of couplers electrically connected to the circuit unit. The sensor unit is detachably fastened to the blanket and electrically connected to the couplers. The sensor unit has an impact surface. The display unit is electrically connected to the circuit unit of the blanket to show a message when the impact surface of the sensor unit receives an external force.
US08376851B2
A game apparatus includes an input device with which it is possible to specify a position on a screen of a display device. The game apparatus displays a game image representing a virtual game space on the display device. The movement of a first object in the game image is controlled based on an input made on the game image by using the input device. The game apparatus detects a path inputted on the game image by using the input device. The game apparatus moves a second object in the game image along the path.
US08376848B2
A gaming machine displays a bet start instructional image on a dealer used display, displays a bet end instructional image in response to a predetermined lapse of time after receiving a bet start instruction signal from a touch panel, and controls an oscillation motor to cause a playing board to oscillate after receiving a bet end instruction signal from the touch panel.
US08376842B2
This description describes wagering game systems that include docking stations. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a presentation unit configured to present a wagering game and a docking controller configured to detect when the apparatus is docked with a docking station and to detect when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. The apparatus can also include a docking port, the docking port including at least one of a dock power unit configured to receive power via the docking station and a dock communication unit configured to receive wagering game content associated with the wagering game, the dock communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the apparatus is docked with the docking station. The apparatus can also include a wireless communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the docking controller when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station.
US08376839B2
A gaming machine includes a cabinet frame, a display, and an emotive lighting area. The cabinet frame has a cabinet surface visible to and facing a player position in front of the gaming machine. The display is mounted to the cabinet frame and is configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game. The emotive lighting area is integrated with the cabinet frame on the cabinet surface, proximate the display, and is separate from the display. The emotive lighting area includes a light source and a reflective surface, each of the light source and the reflective surface being concealed within the cabinet frame such that they are not viewable from the player position, the reflective surface configured to receive light directly from the light source and to reflect the light to a viewable area.
US08376835B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine that a second resource is available to be shared in place of a first resource located in a first wagering game machine operable to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The second resource may be located apart from the first wagering game, perhaps in a second wagering game machine, or in a wagering game server.
US08376833B1
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving, via user input, values for variables related to a wagering game contest and detecting data for gaming activity that occurred, during a past time period. The operations can further include computing an expected value based on the values for the variables and the data for the gaming activity. The expected value represents a theoretical projected amount of money that would be accumulated via a portion of game wagers over a future time period based on the values for the variables and the data for the gaming activity that occurred during the past time period. The operations can further include funding the wagering game contest with a contest prize equivalent to the expected value, where the funding is from a source of money other than from the portion of the game wagers.
US08376830B2
A method of gaming comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of first symbols; (b) displaying a plurality of second symbols; (c) matching at least one of the first symbols to at least one of the second symbols; (d) removing each first symbol which is matched with the second symbols; and (e) replacing each removed first symbol with an additional first symbol to thereby display a modified plurality of first symbols.
US08376829B2
A slot machine game that allows the player to respin a selected reel. Before the selected reel is respun, the game displays to the player which paylines can potentially win awards, as well as what particular combinations are available to the player to win. In this manner, a player may be encouraged to make a respin. The player will also find this information helpful in determining whether to purchase a respin.
US08376823B2
A plurality of players participate in a primary video poker game. Anytime a player is dealt a natural Three-of-a-Kind, the player's on screen counter will be incremented by one unit. Whenever any player achieves an on screen counter that has reached three units (meaning that player has experienced three dealt Three-of-a-Kinds), then the bonus round occurs, which is three separate stud poker hands. The player who achieved the three Three-of-a-Kinds that triggered the bonus round plays all three of the bonus round hands. Any other player who has a counter of two when the bonus round is triggered, gets two of the bonus round hands, Hand One and Hand Two. Any other player who has a counter of one when the bonus round is triggered, gets one of the bonus round hands, Hand One. Any player whose counter is still at zero does not play in that bonus round.
US08376815B1
A method of tenderizing meat on a poultry carcass includes defeathering the poultry carcass, and subsequently applying a pulsed electrical voltage across the poultry carcass. The electrical voltage can be sufficient to impart an electrical current across the poultry carcass that is at least about 350 milliamps. An apparatus for tenderizing meat on a poultry carcass is also discussed.
US08376814B2
In an automatic deboning apparatus, an X-ray irradiation unit is provided on the upstream side of a meat cutting unit in a direction of transport of the work. In the X-ray irradiation unit, an X-ray r is irradiated to a work w from an X-ray irradiation device, an image of the X-ray transmitted through the work is subjected to image processing in an image analysis process unit, and two-dimensional position coordinates of a bone part are thereby obtained. In the meat cutting unit, three robot arms are provided with cutting blades. A storage unit of a controller stores three-dimensional position coordinates of a target operation course of each of the cutting blades. The target operation course is corrected on the basis of the two-dimensional position coordinates of the bone part obtained for each work in the image analysis process unit.
US08376809B2
A cylindrical grinder is disclosed that includes a support unit including an upper support device and a lower support device, in which an ingot of silicon single crystal is interposed in a direction of axis line between the upper support device and the lower support device and is clampingly held to be rotated around the axis line, and a grinding unit that relatively moves along the direction of axis line of the ingot to traverse grind an outer circumference of the ingot. The upper support device is placed at an upper position and the lower support device is placed at a lower position, so that the support unit clampingly holds the ingot in a state in which the direction of the axis line of the ingot is disposed along a vertical direction.
US08376807B2
A toy, such as a teddy bear, pair of hand puppets, or other amusement device wherein an electrical circuit is actuated through the connection of two separate halves of a wired shape, such as a heart, moon, star, light bulb or other form, causing said shape to glow via lights, with aforementioned halves held together via a set of neodymium magnets. When the halves are separated, at least one pair of electrical contacts is disconnected, and therefore, the electrical circuit is incomplete such that the toy does not glow. When the halves are mated or otherwise joined, the at least one pair of electrical contacts come into connection with one another and the electrical circuit is completed, causing the lights within the wired shape to glow.
US08376806B2
A toy including a housing and at least one view port disposed within the housing and adapted to permit a user to view objects through the at least one view port.
US08376805B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a composite sheet for creating a customized design. The composite sheet includes a first fabric portion, a second fabric portion, and a membrane portion disposed between the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion, where the first fabric portion is sewn with stitching to the second fabric portion. One advantage of the composite sheet and related systems and methods is that users can create customized designs conveniently on their own home printer.
US08376799B2
A rescue device for marooned victims consists of a pair of holding arms (10, 10′) for holding the victims and a pair of seating arms (11, 11′) for providing seating facility to the victim. A motor (20) mounted on top of holding arms (10, 10′) moves arms (10, 10′) and (11, 11′) in a direction opposite to each other. The two pair of arms (10, 10′) and (11, 11′) rotate co-axially around main holding bar (40) in directions opposite to each other whenever motor (20) is activated without destabilizing the suspension above, wherein the holding arms (10, 10′) are closed in for holding the victims body by the arc or V shaped structures (30, 30′) when the seating arms (11, 11′) are closed in for providing a seating facility (16) through electrical means (50) and lock (51).
US08376793B2
A surface drive for a watercraft with at least two drive units that is operated in different speed-dependent driving modes. The trim angles (τ—1, τ—2) of the drive units (140, 140) are adjusted automatically and independently of one another, in order to reach a defined rotational speed (n—40) at which the maximum speed (v—40) is reached, during the driving mode in which the maximum speed of the watercraft is reached.
US08376792B2
A method of controlling a watercraft having a drive which can be pivoted about a control angle. A maximum adjustable control angle is automatically reduced by a defined gradient with an increasing speed. The drive is configured as a surface drive comprising at least two drive units, and the drive units are adjusted in the vertical direction about a trim angle (T) in a pre-adjustable automatic operating mode (301). During a driving mode in which the maximum speed is reached, once the control angle (σ) exceeds a first threshold angle (σ—41) which is smaller than the maximum adjustable control angle σ_L), the adjustment of trim angle (T) exits the automatic operating mode (301) and enters a stand-by operating mode (300) in which the trim angle (T) is manually adjusted until the control angle (σ) falls below a second threshold control angle (σ—42) and the automatic operating mode (301) is re-activated.
US08376790B2
A wave-powered water vehicle includes a surface float, a submerged swimmer, and a tether which connects the float and the swimmer, so that the swimmer moves up and down as a result of wave motion. The swimmer includes one or more fins which interact with the water as the swimmer moves up and down, and generate forces which propel the vehicle forward. The vehicle, which need not be manned, can carry communication and control equipment so that it can follow a course directed by signals sent to it, and so that it can record or transmit data from sensors on the vehicle.
US08376785B2
An electrical connector having an insulative housing, a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of second terminals. The first terminals are disposed in the insulative housing. Each of the first terminals has a first contact portion, a first solder portion, and a first connection portion between the first contact portion and the first solder portion. The plurality of second terminals are also disposed in the insulative housing. Each of the second terminals has a second contact portion, a second solder portion, and a second connection portion between the second contact portion and the second solder portion. The first solder portions of the first terminals and the second solder portions of the second terminals are arranged in two rows in a lateral direction, respectively. The row of the first solder portions is separated from the row of the second solder portions by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction.
US08376775B2
Polarity indicating apparatus for a battery jumper cable assembly includes a first wire having a first end thereof secured in electrical connection directly to a negative battery terminal clamp and having a second end thereof disposed within a positive battery terminal clamp. A second wire has a first end thereof secured in electrical connection directly to a cable-less handle portion of the positive battery terminal clamp. A light source is positioned in close proximity to a free end of the cable-less handle portion of the positive battery terminal clamp and is secured in electrical connection directly to opposite ends of each of the first and second wires. The light source is operable to emit light only when the positive battery terminal clamp is connected to a positive terminal of a battery and when the negative battery terminal clamp is connected to a negative terminal of a battery.
US08376774B2
A structure is provided. The structure includes a signal retrieval circuit formed within a disk located within a coaxial cable connector. The signal retrieval circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector. The signal retrieval circuit is configured to extract an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector. The energy signal is configured to apply power to an electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector. The structure may additionally form a sensing circuit with a status output component. The sensor circuit may be configured to sense physical parameters such as those related to a condition of the electrical signal flowing through the connector or a presence of moisture within the connector.
US08376769B2
A male F-Type coaxial cable connector has an improved RF shield including a bridge located between and electrically interconnecting a connector fastening nut and a connector body portion.
US08376759B2
A connector for an e-textile that has conductors that define a conductive layer of the e-textile includes a terminal subassembly that has terminals configured to be electrically connected to corresponding conductors of the e-textile. The terminal subassembly has an insulator holding the terminals. The terminals have mating interfaces. A shell holds the terminal subassembly. The shell has a front and a rear. The rear is configured to receive the e-textile. The shell has a bottom and a top. The top is open sided to provide access to the mating interfaces of the terminals for mating with a mating connector.
US08376754B2
A training aid for a dental injection, including a human-like head model, a first apparatus for alerting when the dental injection is properly positioned in the human-like head model, and a second apparatus for alerting when the dental injection is not properly positioned in the human-like head model. The interior structure of the human-like head includes for targeting purposes the maxilla with appropriate arteries and nerves being clearly visible, the mandible with appropriate arteries and nerves being clearly visible, and the buccal gingiva over the mandibular canal being clearly visible. The first apparatus and the second apparatus are so positioned within the human-like head model to allow for training for the dental injection including a V2 block including infiltration, posterior superior alveolar, middle superior alveolar anterior superior, infraorbital, greater palatine, and nasopalatine, and V3 blocks including inferior alveolar, buccal nerve, and mental block.
US08376753B2
The invention relates to a method and device for learning and training dental treatment techniques, according to which a force is applied to a tooth (2) preferably by means of tools (4) in order to examine or treat this tooth. A mandible (1) or the tooth (2) is coupled to a force measuring device (3) in a manner that enables the forces applied to the tooth (2) to be represented in the form of electric measurement signals (5) that are fed to a data processing device (6). Said data processing device has a data memory (7) in which a multitude of reference force/time courses of different force/time-determined tooth treatment steps can be stored in a manner that enables them to be retrieved, whereby the forces applied to the tooth (2) and their temporal course are compared with a reference force/time course.
US08376748B2
A portable apparatus for visualizing or practicing a paint color, finish, technique, or texture includes a substrate having a primed first surface and a second surface having means for securing the substrate to a mounting surface, such as a wall. A method for visualizing and practicing a paint color, finish, technique, or texture includes the steps of (a) applying a paint color, finish, technique, or texture to a first surface of the substrate; (b) textually identifying onto the substrate the paint color, finish, technique, or texture applied thereto; (c) securing the substrate to a first portion of the mounting surface; (d) removing the substrate from the mounting surface; and (e) securing the substrate to a second portion of the mounting surface.
US08376743B1
The oral retractor is provided for retracting at least a portion of a patient's mouth. The oral retractor is formed from single, continuous closed-loop strand of stainless steel wire. The oral retractor includes a superior lip-engaging portion for retracting the patient's upper lip away from the upper teeth and gums, and an inferior lip-engaging portion for retracting the patient's lower lip away from the patient's lower teeth and gums. Bilateral arcuate cheek-engaging portions extend posteriorly from the lip-engaging portions for retracting the patient's cheeks away from the teeth and gums. The lip-engaging portions are formed from linear portions defining tented arches that extend anteriorly, and the superior lip-engaging portion may be canted upward, while the inferior lip-engaging portion may be canted downward. The cheek-engaging portions may be substantially parabolic. The retractor may be substantially symmetrical about planes bisecting the retractor vertically and horizontally.
US08376740B2
An Orthodontic bracket wherein an opened channel receiving an orthodontic wire, includes covering element to cover the opened channel, the covering element can be opened to allow a fast and easy insertion of the orthodontic wire into the channel and can be closed and blocked to avoid that the wire goes out from the channel.
US08376736B2
The invention relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods of the invention include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
US08376735B2
Contact lens curing systems and methods are described. A contact lens curing system includes an oven that has a plurality of curing zones, a mold advancement system for moving contact lens mold assemblies between the plurality of zones, and a controlled atmosphere in the curing zones that provides a substantially chemically inert environment in which contact lens precursor materials can be polymerized in contact mold assemblies located in the curing zones. Methods of producing contact lenses include curing contact lens precursor materials in contact lens mold assemblies in the lens curing system.
US08376731B2
The invention relates to a device for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material in which web- or strip-type preforms of plasticized plastics material are shaped in a multi-part tool which forms a mold nest, with two outer molds and a central mold which perform opening and closing movements with respect to one another. The central mold is provided with at least one device for receiving and manipulating components to be fastened in the interior of the hollow body by means of a material and/or form-fitting joint. Prior to the fastening of the components to the inner wall of the hollow body to be produced, the components are heated by means of a radiant heating device. The radiant heating device is advantageously integrated in the central mold of the tool.
US08376724B2
An oil pump includes a drive gear, which rotates with a drive shaft, a driven gear, which meshes with the drive gear and is supported rotatable on a driven shaft, and a casing having a pump chamber, which accommodates the drive gear and the driven gear. The casing of the gear pump is provided with an intake port and a discharge port, which are in fluid communication with the pump chamber, so that oil is sucked through the intake port and discharged through the discharge port. A gear holder is provided in the casing such that the gear holder supports the driven gear rotatable and holds both sides of the driven gear while the gear holder itself is being supported axially movable by the driven shaft. The gear holder holding the driven gear moves axially by receiving a biasing force and also a pressing force acting against the biasing force.
US08376717B2
A multi-stage compressor (1) for compressing gases with a low-pressure region (2) and a high-pressure region (5), wherein at least one rotary compressor (3) is provided in the low-pressure region (2), and at least one reciprocating piston compressor (6) with two cylinders (7) is provided in the high-pressure region (5), and wherein a common engine (4) is provided for driving the rotary compressor (3) and the reciprocating piston compressor (6), wherein the cylinders (7) are arranged to be rotated relative to each other by 180° in the high-pressure region (5).
US08376711B2
Provided is a dual rotor wind turbine having two rotor assemblies. In the dual rotor wind turbine, an inlet guide vane is placed at a lower location in front of each rotor assembly and a rotor shaft of the rotor assemblies is placed in back of a vertical shaft, so that the rotor shaft is offset from the vertical shaft. Thus, the gravity center of the wind turbine is located in a lower portion of the wind turbine, so that a stable balance of the wind turbine can be realized and the vertical shaft can be smoothly rotated relative to a fixed shaft.
US08376703B2
A blade extension for a rotor blade and a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a blade extension including a first panel and an opposed second panel. Each of the first panel and the second panel includes an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the first panel and the second panel is spaced apart from the rotor blade in a generally chord-wise direction in a standard operation position.
US08376701B2
With the multi-stage centrifugal pump assembly, the connection between the motor shaft (7) and the pump shaft (9) is effected by way of a thread (26, 27), which joins the fits (31, 34) lying therebehind, between a pocket hole bore (24) in the pump-side end of the motor shaft (7) and the motor-side end of the pump shaft (9). Thereby, a transition fit (32) is provided in the region of the bearing (11), and a press fit 34 in the free region therebehind.
US08376697B2
A gas turbine includes forward and aft rows of rotatable blades, a row of stationary vanes between the forward and aft rows of rotatable blades, an annular intermediate disc, and a seal housing apparatus. The forward and aft rows of rotatable blades are coupled to respective first and second portions of a disc/rotor assembly. The annular intermediate disc is coupled to the disc/rotor assembly so as to be rotatable with the disc/rotor assembly during operation of the gas turbine. The annular intermediate disc includes a forward side coupled to the first portion of the disc/rotor assembly and an aft side coupled to the second portion of the disc/rotor assembly. The seal housing apparatus is coupled to the annular intermediate disc so as to be rotatable with the annular intermediate disc and the disc/rotor assembly during operation of the gas turbine.
US08376689B2
A turbine is provided and includes a spacer having an annular body formed with opposing outward and inward surfaces and an orifice extending through the body from the outward to the inward surface, an assembly to secure the spacer around a rotor axially between sequential buckets of a forward turbine stage and an aft turbine stage, the spacer forming an annular passage around the rotor into which a fluid flows through the orifice and a circuit fluidly coupled to the annular passage to deliver the fluid from between the sequential buckets of the forward turbine stage and the aft turbine stage to an axial location forward of the forward turbine stage.
US08376688B2
A power-generation system is provided. The system includes a plurality of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). Each VAWT includes an upstanding support structure, a central shaft positioned along a central axis of the VAWT, a plurality of struts extending from the central shaft, and a plurality of blades, each blade positioned at an end of a corresponding strut and oriented substantially vertically. The VAWTs are grouped in sets that are arranged in rows, and are separated from each adjacent VAWT by a distance of approximately one rotor diameter.
US08376682B2
A method for clearing obstructions in a silo having a reciprocating frame uses an obstruction clearance mode. The method includes driving at least one frame in a reciprocal motion across a silo floor until sensing an indication that at least one frame has encountered an obstruction. Upon sensing the indication of obstruction, an obstruction clearance mode is initiated in an attempt to clear the obstruction.
US08376670B2
A spindle head device (10) includes a spindle (12) and a tool retaining mechanism (16) detachably retaining a tool holder (14) on the spindle. The tool retaining mechanism includes a tool support member (52) having a receiving recess (50) detachably receiving the shank (46) of the tool holder, a tool clamp member (54) disposed to be displaceable with respect to the tool support member between an operative position and an inoperative position, and a mounting member (56) detachably mounting the tool support member and the tool clamp member to the spindle. The tool clamp member grips the shank of the tool holder and fixedly holds the shank to the receiving recess of the tool support member at an operative position, and, at an inoperative position, releases the shank to allow the tool holder to be attached or detached to or from the receiving recess.
US08376652B2
A modular-type expansion joint system for bridging a gap that is located between spaced-apart structural members. The expansion joint system may be utilized, for example, in bridges, highways, and tunnel constructions where gaps are formed between spaced-apart, adjacent concrete sections. The expansion joint system includes vehicular load bearing members and support members. Seals are located between the vehicular load bearing members. The expansion joint system includes zones of differing movement capabilities in response to displacement events.
US08376649B2
A coupling device is provided for transmitting a torque between a drive element and a clutch, for example of a motor vehicle. The coupling device includes a first shaft and a second shaft being coupled together in a positive fit. The device is equipped with an elastic element which in the positive-fit connection generates a pre-tension to suppress rattling noises.
US08376638B2
A keyboard includes a main body, a rotation detecting module, and a swivel hinge. The main body is disposed with a plurality of keys. The rotation detecting module is used for detecting the rotation of the main body. The swivel hinge is detachably connected to the main body. The swivel hinge includes an extending arm being rotatable with respect to the main body; and a supporting member pivotally engaging with the extending arm for supporting the main body.
US08376624B2
An outer ring, an inner ring and a ball that are a rolling contact member formed of sintered β sialon inexpensive and capable of reliably ensuring sufficient durability, is constituted of a sintered body containing β sialon as a main component and having a remainder formed of an impurity, and the outer ring, the inner ring and the ball have raceway/rolling contact surfaces, i.e., an outer ring raceway surface, an inner ring raceway surface and a ball rolling contact surface included in a portion having an outer ring high density layer, an inner ring high density layer and a ball high density layer higher in density than an inner portion.
US08376623B2
A bearing lubricating structure for a rotating shaft includes: a pair of bearings that are disposed spaced-apart in an axial direction within a support case, for rotatably supporting the predetermined rotating shaft around an axis thereof; and an oil supply port that is disposed on the support case, for supplying lubricating oil for lubricating the pair of bearings to between the pair of bearings, between the pair of bearings and between the oil supply port and the rotating shaft, a separator being disposed in the axial direction, for receiving the lubricating oil supplied from the oil supply port to prevent the lubricating oil from directly adhering to the rotating shaft, the separator being integrally fixed to the support case, and the separator having at its axially opposite ends thereof a pair of sidewalls confronting the pair of bearings and projecting from the opposite ends toward an inner circumferential surface of the support case to be in intimate contact with the inner circumferential surface, and the pair of sidewalls each including a communication hole that permits the lubricating oil supplied from the oil supply port to flow toward the pair of bearings at a predetermined flow rate.
US08376621B2
A washer, including a central axial hole, a first oil retainer, a second oil retainer, and a transition groove. The central axial hole allows a motor shaft to pass therethrough. The first oil retainer and the second oil retainer are formed on the washer. The transition groove is disposed between the first oil retainer and the second oil retainer.
US08376619B2
Grease for a slide bearing, which can suppress unusual noise attributable to a slip caused between a shaft and a bearing when a machine is stopped. In slide bearing grease 24 supplied to between a slide bearing 16 formed of a porous sintered alloy-made bushing having pores 30 impregnated with lubricating oil 31 and a shaft 22 inserted in the slide bearing 16 and supported to be slidingly rotatable in the circumferential direction, the slide bearing grease 24 employs base oil having dynamic viscosity of 10-70 mm2/s at 40° C. and exuding under a load of the shaft 22 to form an oil film 35 between the slide bearing 16 and the shaft 22.
US08376616B2
In a downhole motor bearing section having a cylindrical mandrel rotatably disposed within a cylindrical housing, a bi-directional thrust bearing is disposed within a four-shouldered annular containment chamber formed partially into the inner cylindrical wall of the housing and partially into the outer cylindrical wall of the mandrel. Under on-bottom loading conditions, thrust loads are transferred through the thrust bearing by the upper shoulder of the housing and the lower shoulder of the mandrel. The radial widths of these two shoulders are both symmetrical about the centerline of the thrust bearing such that on-bottom thrust loads are transferred non-eccentrically to the thrust bearing, thereby avoiding twisting loads on the thrust bearing races, increasing the effective on-bottom load capacity of the thrust bearing and extending its service life.
US08376609B2
The disposable agitator for mixed food products has an elongated stem, which has, at a longitudinal end, an agitator blade having the shape of a spoon, and can be removably fixed to the rotary shaft of a mixer, so that the consumer can subsequently use the agitator as a utensil for eating the product previously mixed; the agitator has at least one longitudinal rib, projecting transversally from the stem and/or from the agitator blade and at the same time acting as an agitator stiffening element and an active element in the mixing action.
US08376607B2
A process for continuously performing polymerization processes, wherein monomer(s), catalysts, and initiators are added continuously to a backmixed mixing kneader (1-1.3) with a length/diameter ratio of 0.5-3.5 and backmixed therein with already reacted product, and the reacted product is simultaneously drawn off continuously from the mixing kneader (1-1.3).
US08376606B2
Disclosed is a waterproof lamp assembly that allows easy replacement of LED elements to be replaced. The electrical wires providing power to the light string are molded together with a lamp holder and covered with a lamp cover to create a watertight seal. The entire lamp assembly is waterproof and the LED elements are replaceable. No soldering is required in the assembly process.
US08376605B2
A lamp holding apparatus includes a mounting plate having a pair of locking portions protruding to a base side. The locking portion is inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and capable of being locked to a peripheral edge on its back side. Abutting portions, which protrude to the base side and abut the base at the time of mounting, are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting plate that is an opposing surface to the base. The abutting portions are provided at three spots with one of the locking portions interposed therebetween. At the time of mounting, the abutting portions abut the base, and the mounting plate is elastically deformed to be warped, whereby the locking surface of the locking portion is kept locked to a peripheral edge of a back side of the mounting hole by its elastic force.
US08376604B2
A frame structure of a backlight module includes a body and a mold frame. A side wall surrounds a bearing surface of the body, and the side wall has at least one stopper and at least one positioning hole. A side edge of the mold frame has at least one positioning post. When the mold frame is disposed on the side wall, the side edge of the mold frame leans against the stopper, and the positioning post of the mold frame is embedded in the positioning hole.
US08376601B2
A backlight unit (3) provided with a LED package (light source) (11) and a light guide plate (14) includes a light-emitting portion (12) that is provided on the light guide plate side of the LED package (11) so as to be opposed to an incident surface (14a) of the light guide plate (14) and outputs light from the LED package (11) toward the light guide plate (14). A dimension on the incident surface side of the light-emitting portion (12) in a thickness direction of the light guide plate (14) is not more than a dimension at the incident surface (14a) of the light guide plate (14) in its thickness direction, and the light-emitting portion (12) uses a two-dimensional photonic crystal (12a).
US08376592B2
Exposed fixture means and associated mounting features constituting a broad range of structural, aesthetic, and/or functional enhancements to existing recessed fixtures. Embodiments are generally configured to couple at a structural surface at and/or surrounding a recessed fixture. A mounting ring provides secure attachment at the structural surface, a ring cover typically engages with the mounting ring in a twist-lock engagement. An exposed fixture means (EFM) may be coupled at a side of the ring cover opposite the mounting ring. A system of correspondingly configured latch members of each of the ring cover and mounting ring enables relatively universal coupling of different EFMs at an already installed mounting ring. EFMs include a wide variety of aesthetic, functional, and/or structural embodiments.
US08376591B2
The described systems 200 provides a simplified slide system for longitudinal movement of optical light modulators 102 for automated luminaires 12 employing expansion and contractions slots 125, 126 which allow for precise smooth movement over a range of temperatures.
US08376589B2
A layered dimmer formed of different layers. The front layer may be a scattering layer, and the back layer may be a reflective layer. The light beam is scattered prior to reflecting, to avoid reflection back to form hotspots.
US08376581B2
A large size display is transportable, being construed of multiple rigid segments containing light emitting diodes (LED's). The rigid segments are linked by hinges or cables so the display is flexible and can be rolled up for storage and transport. The display can be unrolled upward or downwards such as from a protective container, such as a canister or truss. The weight of the display on the linked hinges or the tensioned cables provides sufficient rigidity. Such cables, like a signal and power distribution bus, are connected to the rear of each rigid element. The display can be repaired by removing and replacing selected rigid segments from the front thereof.
US08376580B2
A lighting system comprises at least one excitation source (5), preferably an LED, operable to generate and radiate excitation radiation of a first wavelength (λ1); a shade (4) configured to at least in part surround the at least one source (5) and remotely located thereto; and at least one phosphor (16) provided in or on at least a part of the shade (4), wherein the phosphor (16) emits radiation of a different wavelength in response to incident excitation radiation. The phosphor can be provided on a part of an outer or inner surface of the shade. Alternatively, or in addition, the phosphor is incorporated within the shade. The lighting system finds particular application as a hanging, a desk, a floor standing, a wall mountable, a spot, an outdoor or an accent lighting fixture.
US08376574B2
A lighting device in the form of a handheld flashlight includes a plurality of light sources, a housing, a three-position switch, and a second switch. The plurality of light sources may include a visible light source and a non-visible light source. The three-position switch selects one of a plurality of modes, for example, a visible light enabled mode, an infrared mode, and a lockout mode. The second switch is operative to control one of the plurality of light sources based on the selected operating mode.
US08376564B2
A fashion apparel accessory, such as a garment, having one or more concealed light sources positioned so as to illuminate the skin of the wearer, as opposed to focusing attention on the light sources themselves. A particular embodiment includes concealed light sources proximate to a low-cut neckline of a female's garment, such as brassiere, shirt, or item of lingerie, with the light sources being oriented so as direct illumination across the wearer's chest area in an alluring way, potentially offering multiple color, intensity, direction/control options as well as multiple deployment techniques/devices. A portable power supply is integrated with the garment or accessory and electrically connected to the light sources.
US08376555B2
A projector includes a casing, a light source disposed in the casing and capable of providing an illumination beam, a light valve disposed in the casing and capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam, a lens disposed in the casing and adapted to project the image beam, and the lens collar module. The lens collar module includes a fitting part and a lens collar. The fitting part is formed on the casing, and has a fitting opening and a first bump. The lens collar has a fitting periphery and a second bump. The fitting periphery is fitted to the fitting opening, the lens collar is adapted to be rotated and translated relative to the casing along an axial direction. Engagement of the first bump and the second bump limits rotation and translation of the lens collar relative to the casing along the axial direction.
US08376541B2
A method of ejecting ink from a thermal inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: (i) supplying an ink to at least one nozzle chamber of the printhead; and (ii) actuating a heater element in the nozzle chamber and heating the ink to a temperature sufficient to form a bubble therein, thereby causing the ink to be ejected from a nozzle opening associated with the nozzle chamber. The ink is a solvent-based ink composition including: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (A); wherein: R1 is C1-6 alkyl; and each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from H, C1-6 alkyl, halogen, OH, and C1-6 alkoxy; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.
US08376533B2
A cradle unit for receiving a printer cartridge unit includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a print engine controller for controlling a printhead of the printer cartridge unit is provided, the PCB having a row of electrical contacts; a cover assembly movable between a closed position where the printer cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit, and an opened position where removal of the printer cartridge unit from the cradle unit is facilitated; a pair of arms for supporting the PCB therebetween, each of the pair of arms having a grooved portion; and a pair of tension springs, one end of each tension spring being engaged with the grooved portion of respective arms, and another end of each tension spring being engaged with the cover assembly. The cover assembly, pair of arms, and tension springs are configured to bias the row of electrical contacts into electrical contact with the printer cartridge when the cover assembly is moved from the opened position to the closed position.
US08376519B2
A printhead is provided having an assembly of printhead modules. Each printhead module has a support defining fluid chambers, a fluid distributor on the support, and an integrated circuit on the distributor so that fluid in the chambers is distributed to the fluid ejection nozzles of the integrated circuit by the distributor. The support and distributor of each printhead module are shaped to define complementary formations on opposite sides of that printhead module so that the printhead modules are mated together in an angled fashion with the integrated circuits of the mated printhead modules abutting together and diagonally overlapping to define at least one row of fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead.
US08376516B2
A method enables changes in the operation of a web printing system in response to web dimensional changes being detected. The method includes identifying a cross-process dimensional change in a web moving through a printing system, comparing the identified cross-process dimensional change to a predetermined threshold, and changing operation of a component in the web printing system in response to the cross-process dimensional change exceeding the predetermined threshold.
US08376514B2
A printhead module assembly includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) assembly having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged to form staggered rows, and defining a plurality of ink channels for supplying ink to the ink ejection nozzles; a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to supply both power and data to the IC assembly; a support sheet defining a plurality of ink holes and to which the IC assembly is bonded so that the ink channels are aligned with the ink holes; and a channel layer mounted to the support sheet adjacent to the IC assembly, the channel layer defining a plurality of slots aligned with respective air holes defined in the support sheet.
US08376507B2
In one embodiment, a non-contact print head cleaning device includes an elongated cavity underlying a print head and a vacuum port connected to the elongated cavity and generating a low pressure in the elongated cavity. A slot in a wall of the elongated cavity has a geometry that varies along its length to produce an airflow with a substantially uniform velocity into the slot. The airflow sucks contaminants off the print head into the slot. A method for non-contact print head cleaning is also provided.
US08376494B2
An image forming device, including a toner bearer including plural linear electrodes located at a first regular pitch in a crosswise direction thereof, flying a toner on the surface thereof between the plural linear electrodes with a pulse voltage thereto to form a floating toner layer; and a substrate including plural hole-electrode combinations arranged in a longitudinal direction of the linear electrodes, each formed of a through-hole and a hole-adjacent electrode located close to the through-hole, wherein the floating toner layer is formed in an area facing the through-hole, and a toner passes through only the through-holes facing a desired image from the floating toner layer with a record on or off voltage, and the plural hole-electrode combinations are lined at a second regular pitch in a crosswise direction of the toner bearer, and the second regular pitch is an integral multiple of the first regular pitch.
US08376492B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head which includes a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and a pressure generating element causing variation in a pressure of a liquid in the pressure generating chamber and which ejects the liquid from the nozzle opening by an operation of the pressure generating element; and a driving signal generating unit which generates a series of driving signals containing a driving pulse used to drive the pressure generating element. The driving pulse generated by the driving signal generating unit contains a plurality of expansion components expanding the pressure generating chamber and drawing a meniscus and an ejection component varying a voltage so as to contract the expanded pressure generating chamber and ejecting a liquid droplet. The expansion component includes a first expansion component and a second expansion component drawing the meniscus at a voltage variation ratio different from that of the first expansion component.
US08376491B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes at least two independent recording heads; restoring units; counting units; a restoring control unit; and a storage unit. The restoring control unit conducts a restoring operation for all of recording heads when the cumulative number of print sheets of either of the recording heads reaches the first setting value or above when the cumulative number of print sheets for all of the recording heads is less than the second setting value at the time of starting printing.
US08376488B2
An image recording device for recording an image by an interlace system of scanning a specified region repeatedly with use of an ink-jet head having a configuration of a plurality of nozzle heads arranged in a sub-scanning direction, the nozzle head including multiple ink discharged discharge nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction.
US08376482B2
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, and a shelf assembly provided in the storage compartment to be vertically adjustable, wherein the shelf assembly includes a support unit provided to be movable obliquely, and a shelf unit which is mounted on the support unit to move up and down according to an oblique movement of the support unit. The refrigerator has a simple structure capable of lifting a shelf up and down, thereby facilitating the manufacture and reducing manufacturing costs.
US08376481B2
Provided is a rail assembly of a refrigerator. The rail assembly includes a pair of extendable rails, a rack, pinions, and restricting units. The rails are disposed at left and right sides of an inner wall of a storage space. The rack is disposed under the rails. The rack includes teeth continuously formed in a length direction of the rails and a flat alignment part disposed at a front side of the rack. The pinions are respectively disposed at the rails and movable in mesh with the teeth of the rack. The restricting units are disposed at sides of the rails for restricting a movement of the rails when the rails are extended, so as to prevent the pinions from departing from the rack. When the rails are maximally extended, the pinions are placed at the alignment part.
US08376478B2
A container is described. The container includes a receptacle, lid, and fastener. The receptacle includes a latch. The lid is coupled to the receptacle and moves between an open and a closed position. The fastener is coupled to the lid and fastens the lid to the receptacle. The fastener includes first, second, third, and fourth portions. The first portion is coupled to the lid and extends along a first axis that is perpendicular to a plane of the lid when the lid is in the closed position. The second portion is coupled to the first portion and extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The third portion is coupled to the second portion and extends along an axis that is parallel to the first axis. The fourth portion is coupled to the third portion and includes a contact member that couples to the latch.
US08376477B2
A storage unit is provided for placement between upright studs of a wall. The unit may be unitary or be made into two telescoping box portions. Storage shelves are removably positioned in the interior area of the unit. For the two-piece unit, the storage shelves are made of two half shelves, with each half shelf having a terminal loop portion through which the other half shelf slides.
US08376476B2
A brake system in an electric drive dump truck. The electric drive dump truck has a generator 11 driven by an engine 10 and traveling motors 13L, 13R driven with electric power generated by the generator 11. Hydraulic brakes 20L, 20R, 21L, 20R are operated by brake pedal 18. An oil pressure sensor 22 detects hydraulic fluid pressure produced in accordance with the amount of depression of the brake pedal 18 and a control unit 14 controls the traveling motors 13L, 13R so as to operate them as generator-type retarders when the hydraulic fluid pressure P detected by the oil pressure sensor 22 is not smaller than a predetermined value P1.
US08376467B2
A method for automatically producing a defined face opening in a longwall mining operation in underground coal mining, using a face conveyor, at least one plow, as an extraction machine, guided on the face conveyor, and respective hydraulic shield support frames having, as main components, a floor skid arrangement, a gob shield, a top canopy and support connection rods. Inclination sensors are disposed on at least three of the floor skid arrangements, the gob shield, the support connection rods and a gob-side region of the top canopy. From the sensors, an inclination relative to a horizontal is ascertained. From the inclination data, by comparison with base data defining a geometrical orientation of the components and movement thereof during a stepping process, a respective shield height of the shield support frames perpendicular to a bed thereof is calculated and is compared with a machine-dependent fixed cutting height of the plow to establish if deviations exist. By means of a boom controller disposed between the shield support frame and the face conveyor, a height control of the plow is initiated to correct established deviations and is maintained, in the sense of a location-synchronized evaluation, until the shield support frame, which trails the plow with a time delay, has reached the position at which the plow was located at the point in time when the height control of the plow was initiated.
US08376460B2
The problem to be solved is to provide a seat track assembly which is simple, easy to operate seat track assembly where locking is simplex and intact and which renders a smooth sliding of seat and the problem is solved by providing a seat track assembly with a lower channel, upper channel, latch bracket, latch pin, lever and sliding assemblies wherein sliding assemblies provide a streamlined sliding to the upper channel and at the desirable position latch pin engages with the lower channel to lock the seat track mechanism from moving further forward or rearward.
US08376459B2
When a tilt-down function is performed, a rotationally-preventing condition of a reclining device connecting a base member and an intermediate member is released, so that a seat back is tiltably rotated forwardly integrally with the intermediate member and a seat cushion is pushed by a boomerang link capable of moving with the intermediate member so as to be sunk downwardly while tiltably rotating a front link. However, when a walk-in function is performed, a rotationally-preventing condition of a memory device connecting the seat back and the intermediate member is released, so that the seat back can be tiltably rotated to a forwardly inclined position independently of the intermediate member that is maintained in a condition in which the intermediate member is integrated with the base member.
US08376458B2
A chair having an adjustable seat pan that can be moved from an angled to a flat position is disclosed. The chair includes a seat frame having a front end and a rear end with a seat back attached to the rear end of the seat frame. A seat articulator that includes a ramp bar that has a first end connected to the seat back and an upper edge with a second end displaced downward from the upper edge is adjacent to the seat frame. The seat pan is pivotally connected to the seat frame and a drop down link is pivotally attached to the seat pan. A cam roller is attached to the drop down link where it is positioned on the upper edge of the ramp bar in contact with the seat pan.
US08376457B2
An aircraft includes interchangeable, wirelessly controllable electrical or electronic functional units provided for use by passengers and associated with a seat or group of seats. The aircraft further includes installation sites for the functional units, each installation site being associated with one seat or a group of seats. The functional units are removable such that they can be installed and uninstalled in the installation sites or replaced during maintenance work without forfeiting the operational approval of the aircraft. Each functional unit includes an RFID reader operating in a contactless manner to identify the installation site of the functional unit and a device for the wireless transmission of the identified installation site to a database of the aircraft. An RFID tag is associated with each installation site and contains information readable by the RFID reader to identify the associated seat or group of seats.
US08376454B2
A rear underbody is provided for a vehicle with a rear frame structure, a floor structure forming the floor for the footwell of the vehicle and with a termination structure delimiting the footwell to the rear. It is provided that the rear frame structure extends at least partially forward and beyond the termination structure.
US08376452B2
A three-dimensional structure for armoring a motor vehicle is made of a steel plate and has a substantial hemispherical shape. The structure is reinforced by bending edges having an X-shaped configuration extending over the entire surface of the structure. Arranged between the legs of the X-shaped portion are sections which have surface areas between the legs of the X-shaped portion. The surface area of the X-shaped portion has a generally concave curvature, whereas the surface areas of the sections 11 have convex configurations in relation to the concave surface area of the X-shaped portion.
US08376451B2
An automotive energy dissipation device includes a bladder disposed adjacent to an interior surface of a body panel of an automobile. A protective liner is disposed between the bladder and the body panel. A valve for inflating the bladder is associated with the bladder. Additionally, a pressure relief valve is associated with the bladder. The automotive energy dissipation device functions when pressure within the bladder exceeding a preset limit attributable to compression during an impact is released through the pressure relief valve. As air exits the pressure relief valve it dissipates energy. This in turn reduces the damage and severity of a crash thereby better protecting the occupants from injury.
US08376439B2
A deck assembly for use with a transporter vehicle is provided. The deck assembly includes a fastener, a first deck panel including an upper support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall defining at least one first opening, the second side wall defining at least one second opening and a second deck panel coupled to the first deck panel, the second deck panel including an upper support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall defining at least one first opening, the second side wall defining at least one second opening. The second side wall of the first deck panel is supported adjacent to the first side wall of the second deck panel such that the at least one first opening of the first deck panel is at least partially aligned with the at least one second opening of the second deck panel to define a through hole for the fastener. The fastener is received within the through hole and secures the first deck panel to the second deck panel.
US08376427B2
An energy absorber for a bumper assembly of a vehicle and a method for the manufacture thereof are described. The absorber includes a tubular body (1) aligned with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with a first end (1a) for being joined to the body of the vehicle and a second end (1b) for being joined to a transversely arranged bumper cross-member. The tubular body (1) is made of a single piece of bent sheet metal with two end edges (11, 12) defining the first and second ends (1a, 1b) and two adjacent side edges (13, 14) joined together defining a longitudinal seam (2) extending between the first and second ends (1a, 1b). The method includes providing sheet metal provided with opposite side edges (13, 14) and bending it until the side edges (13, 14) are adjacent to form a tubular body (1) with first and second ends (1a, 1b) defined by the end edges (11, 12) and joining the adjacent side edges (13, 14) together defining a longitudinal seam (2).
US08376421B2
A magnetic gate latch device to secure a gate in a locked position to a fence or other barrier to close or block a portal formed therein comprising a latch assembly including a lower latch pin coupled to an upper latch pin actuator by an intermediate interconnecting element mounted to the fence or other barrier adjacent the portal wherein the lower latch pin is normally biased in upper or unlocked position and a keeper assembly including a keeper base affixed to the gate and a keeper arm extending outwardly therefrom having a latch pin recess formed therein with a latch pin positioner comprising a vertically disposed magnet disposed adjacent the latch pin recess such that when the gate is closed the vertically disposed magnet of the latch pin positioner moves the lower latch pin, intermediate interconnecting element and upper latch pin from the normally biased upper or unlocked position to a lower or locked position drawing the latch pin into the latch pin recess against the force of the bias and when as the upper latch pin actuator is moved upwardly the intermediate interconnecting element and the lower latch pin are moved upwardly withdrawing the lower latch pin from the latch pin recess to permit the gate to be opened as the bias maintains the lower latch pin in upper or unlocked position.
US08376419B2
A vehicle door latch device, comprising: a housing provided in a vehicle door; a latch rotatably supported by the housing, wherein a striker provided in the vehicle body can be fitted to the latch; a pawl having a shaft portion rotatably supported by the housing, wherein the pawl is engageable with the latch to restrict rotation of the latch; a helical torsion spring having a helical portion through which the shaft portion is passed, first and second engaging legs extending radially outward in relation to the helical portion, wherein the first engaging leg is engaged with the pawl, and the second engaging leg is engaged with the housing, the helical torsion spring always urging the pawl to rotate to an engagement position where the pawl can be engaged with the latch; and a projecting wall formed in the housing, the projecting wall contacting an outer circumferential surface of the helical portion.
US08376418B2
A latch for an appliance or the like provides a floating bolt assembly spring biasing a door against a sealing gasket in different positions depending on gasket compliance. A lock provides a stop that may adjustably bridge a distance between the latch frame and the floating bolt assembly as the gasket ages thereby providing positive locking of the door over the life of the appliance.
US08376407B2
A seat belt system for a vehicle has a shoulder-belt extending diagonally across the seat. A belt tensioner applies tension to the belt in response to detection/prediction of a potentially unsafe situation by a safety sensor/control system. A support arm has an upper end mounted to the vehicle structure above an upper outboard portion of the seat. The support arm extends downwardly and a guide member is attached to the lower end of the support arm and engages the belt. The lower end of the support arm is movable relative to the upper end/mounting point such that when the tensioner is activated, the belt urges the guide member from a comfort position relatively far from the neck and/or upper shoulder of a seat occupant to a safety position closer to the seat.
US08376404B2
A steering column assembly includes a rake bracket, a steering column pivotably attached to the rake bracket and a rake lock mechanism. The rake lock mechanism includes a plurality of rake teeth located at the rake bracket and a plurality of jacket teeth engageable with the plurality of rake teeth and located at the steering column at a teeth distance from the plurality of rake teeth. A retainer is insertable through the rake bracket and into the steering column to maintain the teeth distance. When a predetermined force is applied to the steering column, a portion of the retainer is detached to allow the plurality of jacket teeth to approach the plurality of rake teeth and engage therewith.
