US08415835B2
A plug-in power line conditioner is configured to receive an AC voltage from a circuit and insert a correction signal onto the circuit.
US08415834B2
A power feeding system includes: a power feeder including a mount, a primary coil, a moving means, a query output means outputting a query, a receiving means receiving notification information, a primary coil direct-current driving control means controlling the primary coil to be driven with a direct current, a query control means allowing the query output means to output a query, and a primary coil alternating-current driving control means controlling the primary coil to be driven with an alternating current; and a power-receiving equipment including a secondary coil, a sensing means disposed at a position where the sensing means can sense the query, a secondary coil direct-current driving control means controlling the secondary coil to be driven with a direct current, a notification information output means, and a secondary coil alternating-current driving control means controlling the secondary coil so that electromotive force induced by the primary coil is exerted.
US08415832B2
This invention generally relates to cable compensation, and is particularly applicable to cable compensation for an AC-DC voltage converter. In one embodiment, a cable compensation apparatus for compensating voltage drop of a cable connected between an electrical power supply and an electrical device comprises: a first capacitor; a timer circuit to time a predetermined time period; a current source to supply to said first capacitor during substantially said predetermined time period a first current substantially proportional to an output current outputted by the power supply to the cable; and a control circuit to adjust an output voltage outputted by said power supply to said cable dependent on a voltage on said first capacitor. The compensation in some embodiments is programmable by means of a discrete capacitor component.
US08415831B1
A High-Density Cabinet (HDC) that houses standard rack-mountable electronic equipment in a high-density configuration that also protects the equipment from transient electrical-supply problems. The standard HDC configuration provides up to 7,200 Watts of power at 110V or 220V AC with a backup supply lasting 30 minutes. The rack used for the HDC is approximately 2′5″ wide, 7′4″ high and approximately 3′2″ deep. The batteries in the HDC are located in the base of the HDC; the UPSs are located at the bottom of the HDC on a hinged-tray. This equipment takes up the bottom six RUs of the HDC; leaving 36 RUs available for production electronic equipment. The HDC also uses DIN-Rail blocks, which allow the safe, accessible, and unobtrusive connection of approximately 72 AC power cords into 36 sets of DIN-Rail blocks, in a space about 18″ high by 4″ wide and 2″ deep.
US08415829B2
A transportable modular multi-appliance device comprises a container, a primary power source for producing AC power, a plurality of AC-powered functional modules, AC outlets, sensors, and a controller. The primary power source is inside the container, and the functional modules are removably mounted inside the container and removably electrically coupled to the primary power source to receive AC power therefrom. The AC outlets are also electrically coupled to the primary power source. The sensors detect conditions inside the container and associated with the functional modules, and the controller is coupled to the primary power source and to the sensors and configured to automatically control the primary power source and allocate the AC power among the functional modules and the AC outlets in response to inputs from the sensors.
US08415824B2
According to the disclosure, a power sub-assembly (3) for a micro-hybrid system (1) in an automobile includes an AC-DC converter (8) with a transistor bridge (13), an energy storage device (10) and a power bus (9) including at least two cylindrical conductors (22, 22′). According to the disclosure, conductors (22, 22′) include respective coaxial cylindrical surfaces (23, 23′). The power bus integrated in the power subassembly allows for a parasitic inductance that is by far lower than that of the standard cables in power subassemblies of the prior art, particularly in order to avoid overvoltage at the terminals of the transistors in the AC-DC converter.
US08415809B2
An integrated circuit (IC) package having a packaging substrate, an IC disposed onto the packaging substrate, and a rigid support member attached to the substrate layer through an adhesive spacer is provided. The packaging substrate includes multiple decoupling capacitors positioned thereon around the IC. A heat sink is placed over the IC. The rigid support member provides enhanced structural support for the IC packaging and there is ample space between a bottom surface of the rigid support member and the packaging substrate to allow the placement of the decoupling capacitors underneath the rigid support member.
US08415801B2
There is provided a semiconductor device including: a circuit board formed by bonding a first and a second metal plates to both surfaces of an insulating substrate respectively, at least one semiconductor element to be bonded to an external surface of the first metal plate through a first solder, and a radiating base plate to be bonded to an external surface of the second metal plate through a second solder, wherein the first and the second solders are constituted by solder materials of the same type, and a ratio of a sum of thicknesses of the first and the second metal plates to a thickness of the insulating substrate is set in a predetermined range to ensure an endurance to a temperature stress of each of the first and the second solders.
US08415800B2
A method of closely interconnecting integrated circuits contained within a semiconductor wafer to electrical circuits surrounding the semiconductor wafer. Electrical interconnects are held to a minimum in length by making efficient use of polyimide or polymer as an inter-metal dielectric thus enabling the integration of very small integrated circuits within a larger circuit environment at a minimum cost in electrical circuit performance.
US08415785B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a substrate layer, a metal ring structure disposed on the substrate layer, the metal ring structure having an opening defined therein, and a solder mask layer coupled to (i) the metal ring structure and (ii) the substrate layer through the opening defined in the metal ring structure, the solder mask layer having a solder mask opening defined therein, wherein an edge of solder mask material defining the solder mask opening overlaps a portion of the opening defined in the metal ring structure. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08415783B1
A packaged integrated circuit (“IC”) has a daughter IC die stacked on a backside of a parent IC die. Backside fill material is applied to the backside of the parent IC die to provide a planarized surface.
US08415769B2
Integrated circuits (1) on a wafer comprise a wafer substrate (2) and a structure applied on a surface (4) of the wafer substrate (2). The structure forms a plurality of integrated circuits (1) formed on the wafer substrate (2) and the integrated circuits (1) are separated by saw lines (6, 7). The structure comprises a plurality of superposed layers (9a-9e) formed on the wafer substrate (2) and a top layer (10) formed on the superposed layers (9a-9e). The integrated circuit (1) on the wafer further comprise a plurality of alignment marks (3) intended for aligning a separating device (18) for separating the integrated circuits (1) on the wafer into individual integrated circuits (1) during a separation process, wherein the alignment marks (3) are formed from at least one of the superposed layers (9a-9e).
US08415768B1
A compliant monopolar micro device transfer head array and method of forming a compliant monopolar micro device transfer array from an SOI substrate are described. In an embodiment, the micro device transfer head array including a base substrate and a patterned silicon layer over the base substrate. The patterned silicon layer may include a silicon interconnect and an array of silicon electrodes electrically connected with the silicon interconnect. Each silicon electrode includes a mesa structure protruding above the silicon interconnect, and each silicon electrode is deflectable into a cavity between the base substrate and the silicon electrode. A dielectric layer covers a top surface of each mesa structure.
US08415764B2
An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; at least one insulation region extending from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of base contacts of a first conductivity type electrically interconnected to each other; and a plurality of emitters and a plurality of collectors of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. Each of the plurality of emitters, the plurality of collectors, and the plurality of base contacts is laterally spaced apart from each other by the at least one insulation region. The integrated circuit device further includes a buried layer of the second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the buried layer has an upper surface adjoining bottom surfaces of the plurality of collectors.
US08415757B2
A photosensitive optoelectronic device having an improved hybrid planar bulk heterojunction includes a plurality of photoconductive materials disposed between the anode and the cathode. The photoconductive materials include a first continuous layer of donor material and a second continuous layer of acceptor material. A first network of donor material or materials extends from the first continuous layer toward the second continuous layer, providing continuous pathways for conduction of holes to the first continuous layer. A second network of acceptor material or materials extends from the second continuous layer toward the first continuous layer, providing continuous pathways for conduction of electrons to the second continuous layer. The first network and the second network are interlaced with each other. At least one other photoconductive material is interspersed between the interlaced networks. This other photoconductive material or materials has an absorption spectra different from the donor and acceptor materials.
US08415756B2
There are provided a semiconductor device in which short circuit failures in magnetic resistor elements and the like are reduced, and a method of manufacturing the same. An interlayer insulating film in which memory cells are formed is formed such that the upper surface of the portion of the interlayer insulating film located in a memory cell region where the magnetic resistor elements are formed is at a position lower than that of the upper surface of the portion of the interlayer insulating film located in a peripheral region. Another interlayer insulating film is formed so as to cover the magnetic resistor elements. In the another interlayer insulating film, formed are bit lines electrically coupled to the magnetic resistor elements. Immediately below the magnetic resistor elements, formed are digit lines.
US08415744B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for reducing the threshold voltage difference between an n-type field effect transistor (n-FET) and a p-type field effect transistor (p-FET) in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuit located on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Specifically, a substrate bias voltage is applied to the CMOS circuit for differentially adjusting the threshold voltages of the n-FET and the p-FET. For example, a positive substrate bias voltage can be used to reduce the threshold voltage of the n-FET but increase that of the p-FET, while a negative substrate bias voltage can be used to increase the threshold voltage of the n-FET but reduce that of the p-FET. Further, two or more substrate bias voltages of different magnitudes and/or directions can be used for differentially adjusting the n-FET and p-FET threshold voltages in two or more different CMOS circuits or groups of CMOS circuits.
US08415742B2
Semiconductor memory devices and methods of forming semiconductor memory devices are provided. The methods may include forming insulation layers and cell gate layers that are alternately stacked on a substrate, forming an opening by successively patterning through the cell gate layers and the insulation layers, and forming selectively conductive barriers on sidewalls of the cell gate layers in the opening.
US08415740B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, that buried gate electrodes are formed in a pair of trenches in a substrate, so as to be recessed from the level of the top end of the trenches, a base region is formed between a predetermined region located between the pair of trenches, and a source region is formed over the base region.
US08415739B2
A semiconductor component that includes an edge termination structure and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor component. A semiconductor material has a semiconductor device region and an edge termination region. One or more device trenches may be formed in the semiconductor device region and one or more termination trenches is formed in the edge termination region. A source electrode is formed in a portion of a termination trench adjacent its floor and a floating electrode termination structure is formed in the portion of the termination trench adjacent its mouth. A second termination trench may be formed in the edge termination region and a non-floating electrode may be formed in the second termination trench. Alternatively, the second termination trench may be omitted and a trench-less non-floating electrode may be formed in the edge termination region.
US08415736B2
A MONOS type non-volatile semiconductor memory device which is capable of electrically writing, erasing, reading and retaining data, the memory device including source/drain regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first charge trapping layer formed on the first gate insulating layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the first charge trapping layer, and a controlling electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer. The first charge trapping layer includes an insulating film containing Al and O as major elements and having a defect pair formed of a complex of an interstitial O atom and a tetravalent cationic atom substituting for an Al atom, the insulating film also having electron unoccupied levels within the range of 2 eV-6 eV as measured from the valence band maximum of Al2O3.
US08415725B2
A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a light-receiving part; a second-conductivity-type isolation layer; a detection transistor; and a reset transistor.
US08415722B2
A memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral devices. At least some of the individual memory cells include carbonated portions that contain SiC. At least some of the peripheral devices do not include any carbonated portions. A transistor includes a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a channel including a carbonated portion of a semiconductive substrate that contains SiC between the first and second sources/drains and a gate operationally associated with opposing sides of the channel.
US08415711B2
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first trench being provided in an N+ substrate. An N layer, an N− layer, a P layer, and an N+ layer are formed in a stacked manner to cover the first trench. The semiconductor device includes second and third trenches. The P+ layer is formed to cover the second trench. The trench gates are formed to cover the third trenches.
US08415708B2
Disclosed herein is a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device. The nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device comprises an n-type clad layer made of n-type Alx1Iny1Ga(1-x1-y1)N (where 0≦x1≦1, 0≦y1≦1, and 0≦x1+y1≦1), a multiple quantum well-structured active layer made of undoped InAGa1-AN (where 0
US08415707B2
A Group III nitride semiconductor device has a semiconductor region, a metal electrode, and a transition layer. The semiconductor region has a surface comprised of a Group III nitride crystal. The semiconductor region is doped with a p-type dopant. The surface is one of a semipolar surface and a nonpolar surface. The metal electrode is provided on the surface. The transition layer is formed between the Group III nitride crystal of the semiconductor region and the metal electrode. The transition layer is made by interdiffusion of a metal of the metal electrode and a Group III nitride of the semiconductor region.
US08415696B2
There are provided a light emitting device package and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes: a plurality of barriers provided above a metal circuit board; a plurality of light emitting devices placed in a space between the barriers; and a lens unit provided at an upper side of the barrier. Accordingly, the plurality of light emitting devices can be conveniently seated as a module format, and a luminance can be increased. Also, an efficiency of heat sink can be increase.
US08415693B2
The light emitting device has a substrate, metallization including silver established on the surface of the substrate, a light emitting element mounted on the substrate, conducting wire that electrically connects the metallization and the light emitting element, light reflective resin provided on the substrate to reflect light from the light emitting element, and insulating material that covers at least part of the metallization surfaces. The insulating material is established to come in contact with the side of the light emitting element. This arrangement can suppress the leakage of light emitting element light from the substrate, and can achieve a light emitting device with high light extraction efficiency.
US08415688B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a first electrode and a second electrode, an organic emissive layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first selective reflection layer disposed to receive light from the organic emissive layer, and a third transparent electrode, the first selective reflection layer being between the third transparent electrode and the organic emissive layer.
US08415679B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a peeling method that causes no damage to a layer to be peeled and to allow not only a layer to be peeled with a small surface area but also a layer to be peeled with a large surface area to be peeled entirely. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to bond a layer to be peeled to various base materials to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. Particularly, it is an object to bond various elements typified by a TFT, (a thin film diode, a photoelectric conversion element comprising a PIN junction of silicon, or a silicon resistance element) to a flexible film to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof.
US08415678B2
A semiconductor device of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor and a thin film diode. A semiconductor layer (113) of the thin film transistor and a semiconductor layer (114) of the thin film diode are both crystalline semiconductor layers. The semiconductor layer (113) of the thin film transistor and the semiconductor layer (114) of the thin film diode respectively include portions formed by crystallizing the same amorphous semiconductor film. The thickness of the semiconductor layer (114) of the thin film diode is greater than the thickness of the semiconductor layer (113) of the thin film transistor. The difference between the thickness of the semiconductor layer (113) of the thin film transistor and the thickness of the semiconductor layer (114) of the thin film diode is greater than 25 nm. The surface roughness of the semiconductor layer (114) of the thin film diode is larger than the surface roughness of the semiconductor layer (113) of the thin film transistor. As a result, the thin film transistor and the thin film diode achieve respective required characteristics.
US08415673B2
A semiconductor layer (100) according to the present invention includes a top surface (100o), a bottom surface (100u) and a side surface (100s). In a portion of the side surface (100s) which is in the vicinity of a border with the top surface (100o), a tangential line (T1) to the portion is inclined with respect to the normal to the bottom surface (100u). In a certain portion of the side surface (100s) which is farther from the top surface (100o) than the portion in the vicinity of the border, an angle made by a tangential line (T2) to the certain portion and a plane defined by the bottom surface (100u) is larger than an angle made by the tangential line (T1) to the portion in the vicinity of the border and the plane defined by the bottom surface (100u).
US08415671B2
Semiconductor switching devices include a first wide band-gap semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type. First and second wide band-gap well regions that have a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type are provided on the first wide band-gap semiconductor layer. A non-wide band-gap semiconductor layer having the second conductivity type is provided on the first wide band-gap semiconductor layer. First and second wide band-gap source/drain regions that have the first conductivity type are provided on the first wide band-gap well region. A gate insulation layer is provided on the non-wide band-gap semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode is provided on the gate insulation layer.
US08415669B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor display device having an interlayer insulating film which can obtain planarity of a surface while controlling film formation time, can control treatment time of heating treatment with an object of removing moisture, and can prevent moisture in the interlayer insulating film from being discharged to a film or an electrode adjacent to the interlayer insulating film. An inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover a TFT. Next, an organic resin film containing photosensitive acrylic resin is applied to the organic insulating film, and the organic resin film is partially exposed to light to be opened. Thereafter, an inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover the opened organic resin film. Then, in the opening part of the organic resin film, a gate insulating film and the two layer inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen are opened partially by etching to expose an active layer of the TFT.
US08415667B2
One object is to provide a p-channel transistor including an oxide semiconductor. Another object is to provide a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure of an n-channel transistor including an oxide semiconductor and a p-channel transistor including an oxide semiconductor. A p-channel transistor including an oxide semiconductor includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, and a source and drain electrode layers in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer. When the electron affinity and the band gap of an oxide semiconductor used for the oxide semiconductor layer in the semiconductor device, respectively, are χ (eV) and Eg (eV), the work function (φm) of the conductor used for the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer satisfies φm>χ+Eg/2 and the barrier for holes (φBp) represented by (χ+Eg−φm) is less than 0.25 eV.
US08415664B2
Techniques are provided for obtaining a photoelectric conversion device having a favorable spectral sensitivity characteristic and reduced variation in output current without a contamination substance mixed into a photoelectric conversion layer or a transistor, and for obtaining a highly reliable semiconductor device including a photoelectric conversion device. A semiconductor device may include, over an insulating surface, a first electrode; a second electrode; a color filter between the first electrode and the second electrode; an overcoat layer covering the color filter; and a photoelectric conversion layer over the overcoat layer, where one end portion of the photoelectric conversion layer is in contact with the first electrode, and where an end portion of the color filter lies inside the other end portion of the photoelectric conversion layer.
US08415662B2
An X-ray detector 1 includes: an X-ray conversion layer 17 which is made of amorphous selenium and absorbs incident radiation and generates charges; a common electrode 23 provided on a surface on the side on which radiation is made incident of the X-ray conversion layer 17; and a signal readout substrate 2 on which a plurality of pixel electrodes 7 for collecting charges generated by the X-ray conversion layer 17 are arrayed, and further includes: an electric field relaxation layer 13 provided between the X-ray conversion layer 17 and the signal readout substrate 2 and containing arsenic and lithium fluoride; a crystallization suppressing layer 11 provided between the electric field relaxation layer 13 and the signal readout substrate 2 and containing arsenic; and a first thermal property enhancement layer 15 provided between the electric field relaxation layer 13 and the X-ray conversion layer 17 and containing arsenic.
US08415656B2
A device includes a semiconductor structure comprising a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A bottom contact disposed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor structure is electrically connected to one of the n-type region and the p-type region. A top contact disposed on a top surface of the semiconductor structure is electrically connected to the other of the n-type region and the p-type region. A mirror is aligned with the top contact. The mirror includes a trench formed in the semiconductor structure and a reflective material disposed in the trench, wherein the trench extends through the light emitting layer.
US08415650B2
A resistive random access memory cell is formed on a semiconductor substrate. First and second diffused regions are disposed in the semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon gate is disposed above the first and second diffused regions. A first contact connects the first diffused region with a region of a first metal layer. A first interlayer dielectric layer is formed over the first metal layer and includes first and second vias, each including conductive plugs connected to the region of the first metal layer. First and second resistive random access memory devices formed over the first interlayer dielectric layer have first and second terminals, and include a dielectric layer and an ion source layer. The first terminals of the first and second resistive random access memory devices are coupled to the first metal layer by the first and second conductive plugs.
US08415647B2
The invention relates to a radiation device that includes a housing, a light-emitting unit and a light-absorbing unit which is provided with an inlet opening and a reflector element. The reflector element extends across the entire distance between the light-emitting unit and the inlet opening of the light-absorbing unit.
US08415646B2
A proton beam guidance apparatus and a method of providing proton beams having sub-micron beam width and MeV energies. The apparatus is a structure having an enclosed channel that can reflect or guide protons by grazing incidence interactions. The enclosed channel is in some embodiments an annular channel. The enclosed channel is shaped to provide a helical path for each proton in the beam. Protons are provided to an input port of the channel, and after multiple grazing incidence interactions with the walls of the channel, are provided as an output beam having dimensions comparable to the cross sectional dimensions of the channel. The channels can have cross sectional dimensions of tens of nanometers or less. No externally applied electromagnetic fields are needed to guide the proton beam. Contemplated applications include use of the exit proton beams to provide medical treatment to patients.
US08415643B2
The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration and/or extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
US08415639B2
A quantum efficiency measurement method includes the steps of: disposing a sample at a predetermined position in an integrator having an integrating space; applying excitation light to the sample and measuring a spectrum in the integrating space as a first spectrum through a second window; configuring an excitation light incident portion so that excitation light after having passed through the sample is not reflected in the integrating space; applying the excitation light to the sample and measuring a spectrum in the integrating space as a second spectrum through the second window; and calculating a quantum efficiency of the sample based on a component constituting a part of the first spectrum and corresponding to a wavelength range of the excitation light, and a component constituting a part of the second spectrum and corresponding to a wavelength range of light generated by the sample from the received excitation light.
US08415635B2
A particle-counting apparatus is described, which reduces a resulting width of pulses when a charge pulse is received from a particle detector, thereby reducing pile-up problems with pulses. Pulse shortening is obtained by resetting the pulse shortly after it exceeds its peak level at the apparatus output. The apparatus includes a charge-sensitive amplifier and a shaper which generates an output for subsequent discrimination circuits. A reset generator monitors the shaper output and generates a reset signal to the shaper when a peak has been detected.
US08415633B2
The method and the device are used to monitor the intensity of an electron beam. In order to detect changes in intensity of the electron beam, electromagnetic radiation directly or indirectly emitted by the electron beam is detected and evaluated. This particularly refers to the evaluation of ultraviolet radiation and/or radiation in the range of visible light.
US08415629B2
A radiation-sensitive detector includes a photosensor layer with one or more photosensor dixels and a composite scintillator layer with one or more scintillator dixels optically coupled to the photosensor layer. The composite scintillator layer is formed from a mixture including a scintillator material having a first refractive index corresponding to a first wavelength and a photo-resist used in micro-electromechanical systems production, having a second refractive index corresponding to the first wavelength. The first and second refractive indices are substantially matched, and the composite scintillator layer produces light having the first wavelength and that is indicative of x-radiation detected thereby.
US08415627B2
Fluorescence detection device employed in a flow site meter emits laser light intensity-modulated by a modulation signal and acquires the fluorescence signal of fluorescence emitted from a measurement object passing through a measurement point of the laser light. The device generates the reference signal, separately from the modulation signal, the reference signal having a frequency different from the frequency of the modulation signal and having a phase synchronized with a phase of the modulation. The device determines fluorescence relaxation time of the measurement object from the fluorescence signal using the reference signal.
US08415621B2
A method for line width measurement, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein a raised line pattern is formed on a surface of the substrate, and the line pattern has a width; forming a first measurement structure and a second measurement structure on opposite sidewalls of the line pattern in the width direction of the line pattern; removing the line pattern; and measuring the spacing between the first measurement structure and the second measurement structure, and obtaining the width of the line pattern by subtracting a predetermined offset from the spacing. The present invention facilitates to reduce the uncertainty associated with the measuring process and to improve the measurement precision.
US08415618B2
An ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed wherein the potential difference between the exit region of an ion trap arranged upstream of the ion mobility spectrometer and the entrance region to the ion mobility spectrometer is varied temporally with time in order to optimise the transmission of ions from the ion trap into the ion mobility spectrometer so as to avoid fragmentation of the ions.
US08415617B2
A two-dimensional radial-ejection ion trap is constructed from four apertured electrodes having inwardly facing hyperbolic surfaces, with each electrode being spaced from the centerline by a distance r that is greater than the hyperbolic radius r0 defined by the hyperbolic surfaces. This geometry produces a balanced symmetrical trapping field that has a negligible octopole field component and a relatively large dodecapole or icosapolar field component. In one specific implementation, the ion trap is selectably operable as a quadrupole mass filter by applying a filtering DC voltage to the electrodes.
US08415606B2
A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern.
US08415602B2
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a pixel part configured to include a plurality of light receiving regions corresponding to different wavelengths; and an element isolator configured to separate the plurality of light receiving regions from each other in such a way that each of the light receiving regions in the pixel part has a size suited to an energy profile of light irradiation with a wavelength handled by the light receiving region.
US08415595B2
An apparatus includes one or more magnetic cores collectively having an inner leg located between two outer legs. The legs are coupled to one or more connecting portions. The apparatus also includes one or more conductive coils wound around the inner leg. The one or more magnetic cores and the one or more conductive coils are configured to generate substantially balanced magnetic fluxes when the conductive coil is energized. Also, the one or more magnetic cores and the one or more conductive coils are configured so that heat created by currents induced in the roll by the magnetic fluxes produces a steady state thermal profile on a surface of the roll. The steady state thermal profile has one peak that falls within a control zone associated with the roll. The one or more magnetic cores could include a single magnetic core or multiple magnetic cores.
US08415593B2
A micro-heater according to example embodiments may include a metal line formed on a substrate. A deforming portion may be integrally formed as part of the metal line. A support may be positioned between the metal line and the substrate. The support may secure the metal line to the substrate while spacing the metal line apart from the substrate. When the metal line is expanded or compressed by the heating or cooling that occurs during the operation of the micro-heater, the deforming portion of the metal line may deform so as to help absorb the resulting tensile stress. As a result, the amount of tensile stress experienced by the metal line may be decreased. Accordingly, the possibility of breakage of the metal line may be reduced or prevented.
US08415582B2
A method of monitoring and maintaining a weld cap which is executing successive resistance welds on a plurality of workpieces includes measuring a first weld indentation formed during a first resistance weld and measuring a second weld indentation formed during a second resistance weld. The measured first and second weld indentations are compared with a severe threshold. If either of the measured first or second weld indentations is greater than the severe threshold, an abnormal condition is signaled. The method may include tip dressing the weld cap based upon the signaled abnormal condition. The method may further include determining a degradation rate between the first resistance weld and the second resistance weld. The degradation rate is the time differential between the measured first and second weld indentations, and either a first or a second tip dressing schedule is chosen based upon the determined degradation rate.
US08415566B2
The present invention discloses an electrode of a biosensor, a manufacturing method thereof, and a biosensor thereof. The electrode of the biosensor comprises a flexible insulation layer, a resin layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer and a fourth metal layer. The resin layer is disposed between the flexible insulating layer and the first metal layer. The second metal layer is disposed between the first metal layer and the third metal layer, and the fourth metal layer is disposed on the third metal layer. The material of the first metal layer comprises copper foil. The material of the second metal layer comprises palladium. The material of the third metal layer comprises nickel, and the material of the fourth metal layer comprises gold or palladium. The electrode further comprises a biological active substance immobilized on the surface of the plurality of metal layers.
US08415565B2
A multilayer circuit substrate includes: a laminated circuit portion in which conductive layers and resin insulating layers are alternately laminated; and a metal substrate portion, wherein the laminated circuit portion is fixed to the metal substrate portion so that at least part of a lower surface of the laminated circuit portion is in contact with at least part of an upper surface of the metal substrate portion. An electronic component is mounted on the metal substrate portion.
US08415552B2
A solar cell having an open loop voltage that approaches a critical voltage range when exposed to light. A circuit, connected to the solar cell, is configured to load the solar cell when the open loop voltage of the solar cell reaches a threshold within a predetermined range of the critical voltage range.
US08415548B2
It is disclosed a device for dampening vibrations that ma propagate from a percussion instrument to percussion instrument stands comprising a mounting holder (3) for the percussion instrument, sad mounting holder (3) being anchored in an elastic/resilient and vibration-dampening material (2), said elastic/resilient and vibration-dampening material (2) being carried by a casing/sheath (4), said casing/sheath (4) being connected to or being attachable to a stand.
US08415547B1
The present invention is drawn to a percussion instrument or drum, having an “elbow” shaped tubular body which curves through an approximate 90 degree angle with the head of the drum.
US08415544B1
A novel maize variety designated PHNDE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHNDE with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHNDE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHNDE or a locus conversion of PHNDE with another maize variety.
US08415542B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH956667. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH956667, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH956667 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 CH956667.
US08415537B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS11423700 and the parent lines thereof, such as pepper line HPA 114-1047. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS11423700 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08415530B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024626. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024626. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024626 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024626 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08415522B2
Presented herein are compositions including a linear tenso-active surfactant which, upon contact and mechanical stirring of a hydrocarbon body, induces emulsification, resulting in oxidation of fatty acid aliphatic bodies. The compositions solve the problem of hydrocarbon pollution. The hydrocarbon decomposer and its by-products dissolve hydrocarbons present in polluted bodies such as clays, soils, water and sand. Methods of the invention create a residue that is a fertilizer, at room temperature and with no need for high pressure.
US08415519B2
The invention involves a process for converting an oxygenate-containing feed into an olefin-containing product comprising: (a) providing a co-catalyst oxide of a metal from Groups 2-4 of the Periodic Table of Elements, Lanthanides, Actinides, and combinations thereof, (b) contacting the metal oxide with nitromethane under conditions sufficient for the nitromethane to adsorb onto the metal oxide; (c) analyzing the nitromethane-adsorbed metal oxide using NMR to determine a basic site density of the metal oxide; (d) providing a catalyst system comprising a primary catalyst comprising aluminosilicates, aluminophosphates, silicoaluminophosphates, and metal-containing derivatives and combinations thereof, and the co-catalyst metal oxide whose basic site density is ≧0.085 mmol/g and whose BET surface area is ≧20 m2/g; (e) contacting the oxygenate-containing feedstock with the catalyst system under conditions sufficient to form an olefin-containing product; and (f) separating the olefin-containing product into at least ethylene and/or propylene.
US08415503B2
Disclosed is a method for preparation of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (DADNE) through the hydrolysis of 4,6-dihydroxy-5,5-dinitro-2-(dinitromethylene)-2,5-dihydropyrimidine (DHDNDP) obtained by the nitration of 4,6-dihydroxy-2-methylpyrimidine (DHMP), which can avoid eruption or sudden frothing of a reaction solution on a lab scale and even a large scale preparation as well as reduce the reaction time.
US08415502B2
A reaction column (12) to which a raw material mixture (11) containing a mono-lower-alkylamine (AA: raw material I) and an alkylene oxide (AO: raw material II) is supplied, an unreacted raw material distillation column (14) that separates an unreacted raw material (15) from a reaction product (13a) (containing the unreacted raw material (15), a target reaction product (monomer) (17), and a by-product (dimer) (18)), and a flash drum (16) to which a reaction product (13b) (containing the target reaction product (monomer) (17) and the by-product (dimer) (18)) is supplied, the flash drum (16) separating a mono-lower-alkyl monoalkanolamine (monomer, the target reaction product 17) in a gas state, are provided.
US08415493B2
The subject invention pertains to metal organic frameworks (MOF) having zeolite-net-like topology, their methods of use, and their modes of synthesis. The ZMOFs are produced by combining predesigned tetrahedral building, generated in situ using heterochelation, with polyfunctional ligands that have the commensurate angle and the required donor groups for the chelation. Each molecular building block is contrasted of a single metal ion and ligands with both heterochelation functionality and bridging functionality. Advantageously, zeolite-net-like MOFs of the subject invention are porous and contain large functional cavities, which is useful for encapsulating large molecules.
US08415486B2
The present invention describes compounds, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in therapy.
US08415485B2
Methods for preparation of isoindolin-1-one compounds are described.
US08415480B2
The present invention is related to thiazolidine carboxamide derivatives of formula (II) for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of preterm labor, premature birth, dysmenorrhea and for stopping labor prior to cesarean delivery.
US08415475B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted quinoline derivatives according to the general Formula (Ia) or Formula (Ib): including any stereochemically isomeric form thereof, a N-oxide thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof. The claimed compounds are useful for the treatment of a bacterial infection. Also claimed is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of the claimed compounds, the use of the claimed compounds or compositions for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a bacterial infection and a process for preparing the claimed compounds.
US08415473B2
A class of luminescent gold(III) compounds containing a tridentate ligand with one strong σ-donating group having the chemical structure depicted by generic formula (I): wherein: (a) X is selected from nitrogen; (b) Y and Z selected from carbon; (c) A is cyclic structure derivative of pyridine group; (d) B and C are cyclic structure derivative of phenyl groups; (e) R1 is an optionally substituted carbon donor ligand attached to the gold atom; (f) n is zero, a positive integer or a negative integer.
US08415467B2
Nucleic acid material can be effectively separated from a fluid by first contacting the fluid with a positively charged polymer which binds the nucleic acid material. Thereafter, the polymer, having the nucleic acid material bonded thereto, is contacted with a releasing agent which comprises a solution of an alkaline material and a glycol. The solution has a pH of no more than 12 and operates to release the nucleic acid material from the polymer under relatively low temperature conditions, typically no more than 50° C., and in particular instances, no more than 40° C. The glycol material may comprise a monomeric glycol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or the like, or it may comprise a polymeric glycol such as polyethylene glycol. Also disclosed is a novel positively charged polymer which may be employed in the separation process. This polymer comprises an acidified polyamine, such as polyethyleneimine which has been reacted with a nonacidified polyethyleneimine in a coupling reaction. The acidified polyethyleneimine may be a coarboxylated and/or sulfonated polyethyleneimine.
US08415466B2
Disclosed are methods of enhancing functionality of duplex oligonucleotides and compositions made by the methods. The duplex oligonucleotides include siRNAs, miRNA mimics, and piRNA mimics which contain modified nucleotides and mismatches between the two strands of the molecule at specific nucleotide positions.
US08415456B2
The invention provides IL-15 amino acid sequences with amino acid substitutions that reduce or eliminate deamidation of IL-15 and degradation by-products. The invention also provides DNA sequences that encode the substituted amino acid sequences, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the substituted IL-15 amino acid sequence and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method of treating a condition in a mammalian host comprising administering to the host the substituted IL-15 amino acid sequence or the pharmaceutical composition including the substituted IL-15 amino acid sequence in an amount effective to treat the condition in the host.
US08415455B2
This invention relates to a novel target for production of immune and non-immune based therapeutics and for disease diagnosis. More particularly, the invention provides therapeutic antibodies against VSIG1, ILDR1, LOC253012, AI216611, C1ORF32 or FXYD3 antigens, which are predicted co-stimulatory family members and which are differentially expressed in cancers including, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer, and diagnostic and therapeutic usages. The use of these antibodies for modulating B7 costimulation and related therapies such as the treatment of autoimmunity are also provided. This invention further relates to the discovery of extracellular domains of VSIG1 and its variants, FXYD3 and its variants, ILDR1 and its variants, LOC253012 and its variants, AI216611 and its variants, and C1ORF32 and its variants which are suitable targets for immunotherapy, cancer therapy, and drug development.
US08415454B2
A process for manufacturing a cyclic peptide which comprises providing a cyclic peptide bonded to a Merrifield-type resin and cleaving the cyclic peptide from the Merrifield type resin by transesterification.
US08415445B2
Novel polysiloxanes grafted with at least one polyhydroxylated amino compound, method for preparing same and uses thereof.
US08415443B2
Disclosed herein are metal-terpyridine complexes and their use in hydrosilylation reactions.
US08415440B2
The invention relates to a plasticization modifying agent for polyvinyl chloride processing and preparation method and use thereof, and it belongs to the field of modifying agent for polyvinyl chloride processing. Said modifying agent is a polymer obtained from monomer composition consisting of 60 to 100 parts by weight of alkyl methacrylate and 0 to 40 parts by weight of alkyl acrylate with total weight of 100 parts, the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer is higher than 7.5. The invention also provides the preparation method of said high viscosity coefficient modifying agent. The invention breaks through the localization and misapprehension in the art, said plasticization modifying agent can effectively improve finish degree of polyvinyl chloride rheological block, enhance plasticization property of polyvinyl chloride. The polymer can be widely used for modification of polyvinyl chloride or composite material containing polyvinyl chloride.
US08415428B2
The present invention provides a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by dynamically crosslinking, under a melting condition, 100 parts by mass of a block copolymer (I), 1 to 1,000 parts by mass of a polar resin (II), 1 to 500 parts by mass of a modified polymer (III), and 0.01 to 50 parts by mass of a crosslinking agent (IV), wherein the block copolymer (I) comprises at least one polymer block (A) comprising as a main component an alkylene unit, and/or at least one copolymer block (B) comprising as main components an alkylene unit (b-1) and a vinyl aromatic monomer unit (b-2), and comprises at least one unsaturated block (C) comprising as a main component a conjugated diene monomer unit having 5 or more carbon atoms at an end.
US08415427B2
A stable caulk or sealant composition containing as principal ingredients styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene copolymer and Diethyl ether is disclosed. The composition is generally employed in a canister pressurized with a propellant to expel a stream of water-impervious sealant to fill cracks, crevices and gaps to water damage. When desired, the sealant is removable from the application area.
US08415414B2
The invention relates to a flame retardant composition, which comprises a) At least one ester of a phosphorus containing oxo acid selected from the group consisting of phosphonous and phosphorous acid; b) At least one flame retardant component based on a nitrogen compound; particularly melamine cyanurate, and c) A polyurethane polymer base.
US08415401B2
Abuse-resistant oral dosage forms suitable for administration of pharmacologically active agents are provided.
US08415399B2
An infection inhibitor of retrovirus, particularly human immunodeficiency virus, comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the formula (I) (GGA) or a salt thereof, a compound represented by the formula (II) (NIK-333) or a salt thereof, and derivatives thereof.
US08415393B2
The present invention provides methods for the design and identification of novel antimicrobial compounds, and provides antimicrobial compounds identified using these methods. These antimicrobial compounds inhibit the binding of a prokaryotic single-stranded DNA binding protein to a polypeptide that binds to the prokaryotic single-stranded DNA binding protein. In some examples, the prokaryotic single-stranded DNA binding protein is prokaryotic Exonuclease I. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial compound has the structure wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of CH2, O, and NH, R1 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, and I, R2 is selected from the group consisting of H and CF3, R3 is selected from the group consisting of H and CO2H, R4 is selected from the group consisting of H and OH, and R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkoxy, and NO2.
US08415390B2
Administration of Oxybutynin directly to a patient's lungs for treating urinary incontinence, respiratory disease or IBD.
US08415386B2
The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I wherein all of the variables are defined herein.
US08415374B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to antiviral compounds, and more specifically directed to combinations of compounds which can inhibit Hepatitis C virus (HCV), compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating Hepatitis C using such combinations.
US08415369B2
A compound of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in the claims, is useful as a pesticide.
US08415368B2
The present invention provides a compound having a superior acid secretion inhibitory effect and showing an antiulcer activity and the like. The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R1 is a nitrogen-containing monocyclic heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle, the nitrogen-containing monocyclic heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle optionally has substituent(s), R2 is an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group, an optionally substituted thienyl group or an optionally substituted pyridyl group, R3 and R4 are each a hydrogen atom, or one of R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an acyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a nitro group, and R5 is an alkyl group or a salt thereof.
US08415366B2
2-Aminopyrimidine compounds are described, which are useful as H4 receptor modulators. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by H4 receptor activity, such as allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and pruritis.
US08415361B2
This disclosure concerns antimicrobial compositions and methods for immunoenhancement, for example methods of increasing production of a type I interferon (IFN) in response to pathogen infection, by administration of a TAM receptor inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the disclosure concerns methods of using a TAM receptor inhibitor to treat a viral or bacterial infection in a subject.
US08415354B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme and their use in treatment of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, central nervous system disorders, and diseases and conditions that are related to excessive glucocorticoids.
US08415352B2
The present invention relates to quinoxalinone derivatives of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein, as insulin secretion stimulators. Specific such quinoxaline compounds are also an aspect of the invention. The invention also relates to the preparation and use of these quinoxalinone derivatives for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diabetes and pathologies associated.
US08415343B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic use. In particular, the present invention provides benzodiazepine derivatives and methods of using benzodiazepine derivatives as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with the faulty regulation of the processes of programmed cell death, autoimmunity, inflammation, and hyperproliferation, and the like.
US08415340B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents.
US08415339B2
Pharmaceutical compositions containing a carbapenem of the structural formula I and epicillin are strongly bactericidal against MRSA and MRSE. Equivalently, compositions of conventional carbapenem antibiotics and epicillin are highly synergistic in eradicating said bacteria.
US08415337B1
The present invention provides an improved ibuprofen lysine pharmaceutical composition and a process for preparing the same.
US08415296B2
The present invention provides Oxyntomodulin peptide analogues useful in the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity.
US08415272B2
Compounds of the general Formula (1) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are useful as fungicides.
US08415270B2
A heat-sensitive recording material comprises a support, a heat-sensitive recording layer including a leuco dye and a developer, and a protective layer comprising a pigment and a binder. The heat-sensitive recording layer is located between the support and the protective layer. The pigment in the protective layer comprises secondary particles with an average particle diameter of about 30 to 900 nm formed preferably by aggregation of amorphous silica primary particles with a particle diameter of about 3 to 70 nm. The secondary particles are present in a proportion of about 5 to 35 mass % relative to total solids of the protective layer. The colloidal silica is present in a proportion of about 1 to 25 mass % relative to total solids of the protective layer.
US08415264B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a process for regenerating catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Generally, the process includes providing a feed to a riser of a reaction vessel, and providing a stream to a distributor positioned within a void proximate to an inlet receiving unregenerated catalyst in a regenerator. The feed can include at least one of a gas oil, a vacuum gas oil, an atmospheric gas oil, a coker gas oil, a hydrotreated gas oil, a hydrocracker unconverted oil, and an atmospheric residue.
US08415255B2
A micellar solution is used to seal pores exposed at the bottom and sidewall surfaces of a structure etched in or through a porous low dielectric constant material. The micellar solution is also effective to clean away etch residues from the etched structure.
US08415254B2
A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes removing a silicon material from a gate structure located on a substrate through a cycle including: etching the silicon material to remove a portion thereof, where the substrate is spun at a spin rate, applying a cleaning agent to the substrate, and drying the substrate; and repeating the cycle, where a subsequent cycle includes a subsequent spin rate for spinning the substrate during the etching and where the subsequent spin rate does not exceed the spin rate of the previous cycle.
US08415253B2
Low-temperature in-situ techniques are provided for the removal of oxide from a silicon surface during CMOS epitaxial processing. Oxide is removed from a semiconductor wafer having a silicon surface, by depositing a SiGe layer on the silicon surface; etching the SiGe layer from the silicon surface at a temperature below 700 C (and above, for example, approximately 450 C); and repeating the depositing and etching steps a number of times until a contaminant is substantially removed from the silicon surface. In one variation, the deposited layer comprises a group IV semiconductor material and/or an alloy thereof.
US08415252B2
A metal interconnect structure provides high adhesive strength between copper atoms in a copper-containing structure and a self-aligned copper encapsulation layer, which is selectively deposited only on exposed copper surfaces. A lower level metal interconnect structure comprises a first dielectric material layer and a copper-containing structure embedded in a lower metallic liner. After a planarization process that forms the copper-containing structure, a material that forms Cu—S bonds with exposed surfaces of the copper-containing structure is applied to the surface of the copper-containing structure. The material is selectively deposited only on exposed Cu surfaces, thereby forming a self-aligned copper encapsulation layer, and provides a high adhesion strength to the copper surface underneath. A dielectric cap layer and an upper level metal interconnect structure can be subsequently formed on the copper encapsulation layer.
US08415250B2
A structure and method for fabricating silicide contacts for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the structure and method involves utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and annealing to form silicide contacts of different shapes, selectively on regions of a semiconductor field effect transistor (FET), such as on source and drain regions. The shape of silicide contacts is a critical factor that can be manipulated to reduce contact resistance. Thus, the structure and method provide silicide contacts of different shapes with low contact resistance, wherein the silicide contacts also mitigate leakage current to enhance the utility and performance of FETs in low power applications.
US08415233B2
Methods, devices, and systems for wafer processing are described herein. One method of wafer processing includes modifying a peripheral edge of a wafer to create a number of edge surfaces substantially perpendicular to a number of dicing paths and dicing the wafer along the number of dicing paths. In one or more embodiments, the method includes modifying the peripheral edge of the wafer with a first tool and dicing the wafer with a second tool different from the first tool.
US08415232B2
A wafer is divided into individual devices along division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The devices are respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by the division lines. A protective member is provided on the front of the wafer, and the back of the wafer is ground to a predetermined thickness. A laser beam is applied to the wafer from the back side of the wafer along the division lines with the focal point of the laser beam set inside the wafer at a position corresponding to each division line, thereby forming a plurality of modified layers inside the wafer along the division lines. The wafer is divided along the modified layers into the individual devices, and the back side of the wafer is ground to remove the modified layers and reduce the thickness of each device to the finished thickness.
US08415217B2
A capacitor and an NVM cell are formed in an integrated fashion so that the etching of the capacitor is useful in end point detection of an etch of the NVM cell. This is achieved using two conductive layers over an NVM region and over a capacitor region. The first conductive layer is patterned in preparation for a subsequent patterning step which includes a step of patterning both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer in both the NVM region and the capacitor region. The subsequent etch provides for an important alignment of a floating gate to the overlying control gate by having both conductive layers etched using the same mask. During this subsequent etch, the fact that first conductive material is being etched in the capacitor region helps end point detection of the etch of the first conductive layer in the NVM region.
US08415214B2
Transistor devices are formed with a nitride cap over STI regions during FEOL processing. Embodiments include forming a pad oxide layer on a substrate, forming an STI region in the substrate so that the top surface is level with the top surface of the pad oxide, forming a nitride cap on the STI region and on a portion of the pad oxide layer on each side of the STI region, implanting a dopant into the substrate, deglazing the nitride cap and pad oxide layer, removing the nitride cap, and removing the pad oxide layer. Embodiments include forming a silicon germanium channel (c-SiGe) in the substrate prior to deglazing the pad oxide layer. The nitride cap protects the STI regions and immediately adjacent area during processes that tend to degrade the STI oxide, thereby providing a substantially divot free substrate and an STI region with a zero step height for the subsequently deposited high-k dielectric and metal electrode.
US08415209B2
Method of manufacturing a complementary nanowire tunnel field effect transistor semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing at least one nanowire Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (TFET) semiconductor device. The method comprises providing a stack comprising a layer of channel material with on top thereof a layer of sacrificial material, removing material from the stack so as to form at least one nanowire from the layer of channel material and the layer of sacrificial material, and replacing the sacrificial material in the at least one nanowire by heterojunction material. A method according to embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageous as it enables easy manufacturing of complementary TFETs.
US08415208B2
The present invention provides a peeling off method without giving damage to the peeled off layer, and aims at being capable of peeling off not only a peeled off layer having a small area but also a peeled off layer having a large area over the entire surface at excellent yield ratio. The metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided on the substrate, and further, the oxide layer 12 being contact with the foregoing metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided, and furthermore, if the lamination film formation or the heat processing of 500° C. or more in temperature is carried out, it can be easily and clearly separated in the layer or on the interface with the oxide layer 12 by the physical means.
US08415204B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a package substrate; mounting an integrated circuit die on the package substrate; and attaching a heat spreader assembly, having a thermal adhesive layer formed therein, to the package substrate and the integrated circuit die.
US08415197B2
A phase change memory device having an improved word line resistance and a fabrication method of making the same are presented. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a word line, an interlayer insulation film, a strapping line, a plurality of current paths, a switching element, and a phase change variable resistor. The word line is formed in a cell area of the semiconductor substrate. The interlayer insulation film formed on the word line. The strapping line is formed on the interlayer insulation film such that the strapping line overlaps on top of the word line. The current paths electrically connect together the word line with the strapping line. The switching element is electrically connected to the strapping line. The phase change variable resistor is electrically connected to the switching element.
US08415192B2
A composite material is described. The composite material comprises semiconductor nanocrystals, and organic molecules that passivate the surfaces of the semiconductor nanocrystals. One or more properties of the organic molecules facilitate the transfer of charge between the semiconductor nanocrystals. A semiconductor material is described that comprises p-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of electrons in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of holes. A semiconductor material is described that comprises n-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of holes in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of electrons.
US08415185B2
In a process for fabrication of an optical slot waveguide on silicon, a thin single-crystal silicon film is deposited on a substrate covered with an insulating buried layer; a local thermal oxidation is carried out over the entire depth of the thin single-crystal silicon film in order to form an insulating oxidized strip extending along the desired path of the waveguide; an insulating or semi-insulating layer is deposited on the silicon film; two openings having vertical sidewalls are excavated over the entire thickness of this insulating or semi-insulating layer, said openings being separated by a narrow gap constituting an insulating or semi-insulating vertical wall that will be the material of the slot; single-crystal silicon is grown in the openings and right to the edges of the insulating or semi-insulating wall; and then the upper part of the silicon is etched in order to complete the geometry of the waveguide.
US08415183B2
Provided is a method of fabricating a light-emitting diode (LED) device. The method includes providing a wafer. The wafer has light-emitting diode (LED) devices formed thereon. The method includes immersing the wafer into a polymer solution that has a surface tension lower than that of acetic acid. The polymer solution contains a liquid polymer and phosphor particles. The method includes lifting the wafer out of the polymer solution at a substantially constant speed. The method includes drying the wafer. The above processes form a conformal coating layer at least partially around the LED devices. The coating layer includes the phosphor particles. The coating layer also has a substantially uniform thickness.
US08415174B2
In a light-emitting element provided with a thick layer of a plurality of EL layers which are partitioned by a charge generation layer between a pair of electrodes, a portion which a conductive foreign substance enters between the pair of electrodes emits stronger light at a voltage lower than a voltage required when a normal portion starts emitting light. In a light-emitting element provided with a plurality of EL layers which are partitioned by a charge generation layer between a pair of electrodes, a voltage may be applied thereto in the forward direction. Then, an abnormal light-emission portion may be detected because the portion emits light at a luminance of 1 (cd/m2) or higher when the applied voltage is lower than a voltage required when a normal portion starts emitting light. The portion may be irradiated with laser light so as to be insulated.
US08415169B2
A tube and float system for use in separation and axial expansion of the buffy coat includes a transparent or semi-transparent, flexible sample tube and a rigid separator float having a specific gravity intermediate that of red blood cells and plasma. The float includes a main body portion of reduced diameter to provide a clearance gap between the inner wall of the sample tube and the float. One or more protrusions on the main body portion serve to support the flexible tube. During centrifugation, the centrifugal force causes the diameter of the flexible tube to expand and permit density-based axial movement of the float in the tube. The float further includes a pressure relief system to alleviate pressure build up in the trapped red blood cell blood fraction below the float, thereby preventing red blood cells from being forced into the annular gap containing the buffy coat layers.
US08415168B2
An apparatus for capillary ion chromatography comprising a suppressor comprising flow-through ion exchange packing in a housing and capillary tubing formed of a permselective ion exchange membrane, and at least partially disposed in said ion exchange packing. Also, a recycle conduit for aqueous liquid from the detector to the packing. Further, the capillary tubing may have weakly acidic or weakly basic functional groups. Also, a method for using the apparatus.
US08415164B2
A method for authenticating and verifying an item to be genuine is described. The method for authenticating the item comprises applying a particular nucleic acid material associated with a particular sequence of nucleic acid bases to ink within an ink cartridge or a toner compound within a toner housing. The method also comprises collecting a sample of either the ink or toner compound and verifying the ink or toner is genuine by detecting the particular nucleic acid material.
US08415148B2
The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for expression of polypeptides or delivery of interfering RNAs in various cell types.
US08415145B2
A cell processing apparatus 29 of the present invention includes a storage container 57 that can contain liquid L including a biological sample; a filter 60 that prevents a first cell C1 in the biological sample from passing therethrough and that allows a second cell C2 having a smaller diameter than that of the first cell C1 to pass therethrough; and a filtration cylinder 58 for separating, in the storage container 57 and via the filter 60, the liquid L into a first liquid L1 mainly including the first cell C1 and a second liquid L2 mainly including the second cell C2. A measurement target cell discriminated by the filter from the other cells can be easily collected.
US08415130B2
Disclosed are isolated polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus sp. having acid endoglucanase or acid cellulase activity.
US08415129B2
This invention provides for an improved generation of novel nucleic acid modifying enzymes. The improvement is the fusion of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the ability of the enzyme to bind and catalytically modify the nucleic acid.
US08415128B2
Compositions, devices, systems and methods for reducing and/or preventing photodamage of one or more reactants in illuminated analytical reactions by one or more of incorporating photodamage mitigating agents within the reaction mixture and/or interrogating different observation regions of the reaction mixture for a period that is less than a photodamage threshold period.
US08415124B2
A method for producing an immobilized enzyme which includes the steps of immobilizing an enzyme used for hydrolyzing fats and oils on a immobilization carrier by adsorption, bringing the immobilized enzyme into contact with an organic solvent in which fat-soluble fatty acids or the derivatives thereof have been dissolved, and adjusting the moisture content of the immobilized enzyme from 1 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the carrier.
US08415117B2
A method for assessing prognosis in an individual suffering from liver failure, which method comprises detecting endotoxin in the individual, for example by determining the neutrophil function in the individual. The method can be used to determine whether there is an increased risk of infection in the individual, an increased risk of organ failure in the individual, an increased risk of mortality in the individual and/or an increased risk that the individual will not respond positively to treatment with an immunosuppressive agent, a steroid or an antibiotic.
US08415115B2
A reaction medium for detecting and/or identifying Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, comprising a predetermined combination of two antibiotics, a first antibiotic which belongs to the cephalosporin family and a second antibiotic, said first and second antibiotics each being at a sub-inhibitory concentration.
US08415107B2
The invention relates to thrombospondin fragments found in plasma, their use or use of portions thereof in diagnostic methods, as method calibrators, method indicators, and as immunogens, and as analytes for methods with substantial clinical utility; and their detection in plasma or other bodily fluids for purpose of diagnostic methods, especially for cancer.
US08415105B2
The invention relates to a method of detecting pathogenic Legionella pneumophila strains by hybridizing genomic DNA of a sample suspected to contain Legionella to two or five specific sequence markers, as identified by MARKER NO. 1 through MARKER NO. 5 or homologues thereof. The invention further relates to a kit of parts comprising an array and reference materials for performing a method of the invention.
US08415104B2
Methods and systems for polymerase chain reactions (PCR) that are capable of detecting amplified DNA during or after the PCR process. The methods and systems may utilize DSC or DTA analysis techniques.
US08415101B2
An apparatus and method for catalyzing a reaction on a substrate (24) comprising, a light source (12), a micromirror (16) positioned to redirect light (14) from the light source (12) toward a substrate (24) wherein the redirected light (14) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24), is disclosed. A computer (18) is connected to, and controls, the positioning of mirrors within the micromirror (16) to specifically redirect light to specific portions of a substrate. The substrate (24) can be placed in a reaction chamber (50), wherein the light (14) that is redirected by the micromirror (16) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24).
US08415097B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of novel human tumor suppressors, antibodies to such tumor suppressors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and proteins, methods of screening for modulators of tumor suppressors, and methods of diagnosing and treating tumors with such nucleic acids and proteins.
US08415096B2
MicroRNAs are shown to be up- and/or down-regulated in inflammation and immune cells using a mouse model of asthma and regulatory T cells as source of RNA, respectively. Modulating the expression of these microRNAs can be effective in redirecting inflammation and immunity and hence, can be beneficial as biomarkers or as therapeutic agents against diverse human immunologic and inflammatory diseases.
US08415090B2
A production method of an optical waveguide for a connector is provided, which reduces an optical coupling loss. Cores are formed in a crossing pattern, a branched pattern or a linear pattern, and then an over-cladding layer formation photosensitive resin layer is formed over the cores. In turn, a heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 70° C. to 130° C. to properly form mixed layers in interfaces between the cores and the photosensitive resin layer. By thus forming the mixed layers, the connector optical waveguide can be produced as having a reduced optical coupling loss.
US08415082B2
A resist composition including a base material component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1-1) shown below: wherein RX represents a hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom; R1 represents a divalent linking group; Y1 represents an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a fluorinated alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and Z represents an organic cation (exclusive of an amine ion and a quaternary ammonium ion) having a valence of n.
US08415075B2
Disclosed is a Ni—Al alloy anode for molten carbonate fuel cell made by in-situ sintering the Ni—Al alloy. Further, disclosed is a method for preparing the same comprising steps of preparing a sheet with Ni—Al alloy powders (S1); and installing the sheet in a fuel cell without any heat treatment for sintering the Ni—Al alloy in the sheet and then in-situ sintering the Ni—Al alloy in the sheet during a pretreatment process of the cell with the sheet (S2), wherein a reaction activity of the Ni—Al alloy anode can be maintained, the method is simple and economic, and a mass production of the Ni—Al alloy anode and a scale-up in the method are easy.
US08415072B2
A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell provides a current collector adjacent to an electrode catalyst layer. Since electrons passing between the current collector and the electrode catalyst layer do not pass through a diffusion layer or a supporting layer, the diffusion layer or supporting layer may be non-conductive. Thus, various materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, porous, hydrous, or the like can be used for the diffusion layer and the supporting layer, thereby improving the performance of the fuel cell. In addition, manufacturing costs of the membrane electrode assembly can be decreased since the membrane electrode assembly can be manufactured quickly with low energy.
US08415066B2
A pressure regulating valve has a first pressure deformation portion connected to and receiving a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and receiving a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage communicating the first and second flow passages to each other. A valve member has a connecting portion connecting the first and second pressure deformation portions together, and has a valve element provided at the connecting portion and configured to close the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion. When the pressure on the fuel demand side is lower than a predetermined value, the valve element does not close the communication passage, but when the pressure on the fuel demand side is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the valve element closes the communication passage.
US08415059B2
Bioanodes, biocathodes, and biofuel cells comprising an electron conductor, at least one anode enzyme or cathode enzyme, and an enzyme immobilization material. The anode enzyme is capable of reacting with a fuel fluid to produce an oxidized form of the fuel fluid, and capable of releasing electrons to the electron conductor. The cathode enzyme is capable of reacting with an oxidant to produce water, and capable of gaining electrons from the electron conductor. The enzyme immobilization material for both the anode enzyme and the cathode enzyme is capable of immobilizing and stabilizing the enzyme, and is permeable to the fuel fluid and/or the oxidant.
US08415055B2
An electrolyte composition and catalyst ink, a solid electrolyte membrane formed by printing the electrolyte composition and catalyst ink, and a secondary battery including the solid electrolyte membrane. An electrolyte composition includes a solvent; a lithium salt dissolved in the solvent; and a cycloolefin-based monomer dissolved or dispersed in the solvent and a catalyst ink includes a catalyst that promotes the ring-opening and polymerization reactions of the cycloolefin monomers of the electrolyte composition.
US08415046B2
A battery housing portion S includes regulating members 30 adapted to fit grooves of a battery pack having a T-shape cross section, so that the battery pack can be housed in the battery housing portion S in the state that the both regulating members 30 fit the grooves. The regulating members 30 regulate housing orientation of the battery pack 20, so that misjudgment about orientation of the battery pack 20 is prevented. In addition, if the orientation has been misjudged, an operator can notice such misjudgment immediately, thereby improving the operability during mounting the battery pack 20.
US08415036B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a mixture of a sulfonate group-containing compound denoted by general formula (1) with a protonic acid: wherein, in general formula (1), X denotes a divalent linking group; each of R1 and R2 independently denotes an alkyl group comprising at least one hydroxyl group and equal to or more than three carbon atoms or an aralkyl group comprising at least one hydroxyl group and equal to or more than eight carbon atoms; and M denotes a cation.
US08415035B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on a substrate; and at least one soft magnetic under-layer formed between the substrate and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, wherein the soft magnetic under-layer is made from an alloy of a non-magnetic material and a magnetic material which exists in the form of granular nanoparticles in matrix of the non-magnetic material, and at least two of the magnetic nanoparticles are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance so as to mutually make an anti-ferromagnetic coupling.
US08415033B2
A cutting tool is disclosed. The cutting tool comprises a substrate and a coating layer on the substrate. The coating layer consists of nitride or carbonitride containing Ti and Al, and has a thickness of 3 to 9 μm on a flank face. A first intensity ratio I(400)/I(311) of the coating layer on an outer surface is larger than the first intensity ratio of the coating layer on the substrate side.
US08415030B2
The present invention provides a series of phosphorescent transition metal complexes having a facially arranged, carbon-phosphorus-carbon (C^P^C) tridentate chelate, alone with one monoanionic bidentate chromophoric chelate (either C^N or A^N) and one arbitrary charge neutral chelate (L), or with one charge neutral bidentate chromophoric chelate (N^N) and one arbitrary anionic ligand (X); all of them can be used to generate high efficiency photo-induced phosphorescence at room temperature, as well as bright electroluminescence upon employment of these materials in the fabrication of organic light-emitting devices.
US08415029B2
A monomer for use in manufacturing a conjugated polymer, the monomer having a structure as shown formula (2): Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are independently selected from optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl, X1 and X3 both independently comprise a leaving group capable of participating in polymerisation and Z represents a direct bond or an optionally substituted bridging atom.
US08415028B2
A method of producing a clad sheet formed by joining a clad layer at least containing nickel, chromium, silicon, and phosphorus to a base material made of a stainless steel or a nickel-based alloy. A step of forming the clad layer includes contact-bonding a mixed powder to the base material, wherein an alloy powder that contains at least one selected from chromium, silicon, and phosphorus as components, and a nickel powder that functions as a binder to have the alloy powder be contact bonded to the base material are mixed in the mixed powder.
US08415023B2
A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate, a combining layer formed on the substrate, a plurality of chromium nitride layers and a plurality of copper-titanium alloy layers formed on the combining layer. The combining layer is a chromium layer. Each chromium nitride layer interleaves with one copper-titanium alloy layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.
US08415021B2
Disclosed is a composition comprising an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester consisting essentially of a dicarboxylic acid component that includes a terephthalic acid component and a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid component; and a glycol component consisting essentially of a linear aliphatic glycol component and 0 to 4 mole percent based on 100 mole percent total glycol component of a dialkylene glycol component; starch; optionally water; and polyol plasticizer. Also disclosed are shaped articles such as films which exhibit greater than expected tear strength and methods for preparing the films.
US08415018B2
The present invention relates to an article having antisoiling properties and intended to be employed in aquatic uses, in particular marine uses, and also to a method for delaying the growth of aquatic organisms on submersible or semi-submersible structures.
US08415015B2
The present invention is directed to a matting agent for reducing gloss of a coating. The matting agent comprises: a) a silica component; b) a polytrimethylene ether diol; c) one or more solvents; and d) optionally, one or more polymers. This invention is further directed to a matting agent comprising components derived from renewable resources.
US08415010B2
A nano-imprint lithography stack includes a nano-imprint lithography substrate, a non-silicon-containing layer solidified from a first polymerizable, non-silicon-containing composition, and a silicon-containing layer solidified from a polymerizable silicon-containing composition adhered to a surface of the non-silicon-containing layer. The non-silicon-containing layer is adhered directly or through one or more intervening layers to the nano-imprint lithography substrate. The silicon-containing layer includes a silsesquioxane with a general formula (R′(4-2z)SiOz)x(HOSiO1.5)y, wherein R′ is a hydrocarbon group or two or more different hydrocarbon groups other than methyl, 1
US08415004B2
A method for manufacturing a low thermal-impedance insulated metal substrate has steps of providing an electrical-conductive metal layer; forming a first thermal-conductive polymeric composite layer on the electrical-conductive metal layer; forming a second thermal-conductive polymeric composite layer on the first thermal-conductive polymeric composite layer; and adhere a thermal-conductive metal layer on the second thermal-conductive polymeric composite layer by hot-pressing process. Therefore, the low thermal-impedance insulated metal substrate of the present invention has lower thermal-impedance, lower coefficient of thermal expansion and higher electrical reliability.
US08414999B2
A suction sheet (1) to be attached onto a suction surface (4a) of a suction apparatus (4) that holds an object by vacuum suction is provided with a substrate (2) and a porous body (3). The substrate (2) has one surface (2a) and the other surface (2b), and the one surface (2a) is brought into contact with the suction surface (4a). Further, a plurality of through holes (21) are provided in the substrate (2). The porous body (3) has a thickness of 1.4 mm or less, and is adhered onto the other surface (2b) of the substrate (2) so as to cover the through holes (21).
US08414990B2
An in particular frustoconical hollow body (1) which can be stabilized by positive air pressure and which can be anchored to a base support (30) by way of bracing means is composed of a plurality of flexible material webs (4 to 12) which each extend in the peripheral direction of the hollow body (1). The mass in relation to surface area of the material webs (4 to 12) varies over the length of the hollow body (1).
US08414970B2
Certain example embodiments relate to a method of forming a coating on a glass substrate using combustion deposition. A glass substrate having at least one surface to be coated is provided. An organosiloxane inclusive precursor having a ring- or cage-like structure to be combusted is introduced. Using at least one flame, at least a portion of the precursor is combusted to form a combusted material, the combusted material including non-vaporized material. The glass substrate is provided in an area so that the glass substrate is heated sufficiently to allow the combusted material to form the coating, directly or indirectly, on the glass substrate. In certain example embodiments, the precursor is a cyclic siloxane based and/or polyhedral silsesquioxane (POSS) based precursor, which advantageously may affect the coating's transmission and/or reflection properties compared to conventionally used silicon precursors. For example, a single-layer anti-reflective coating including silicon oxide may increase visible transmission of the uncoated substrate by at least about 2.0 %.
US08414957B2
The present invention relates to treating of reflective surfaces to prevent fouling. The present invention also relates to reflective materials treated to prevent fouling, as well as methods of using such reflective materials.
US08414941B2
Chemically leavened dough compositions and related methods, involving low temperature inactive yeast
Described are dough compositions and methods of making dough compositions, the dough compositions being chemically leavened and being prepared from ingredients that include a low temperature inactive yeast and a yeast inhibitor; the methods include inactivating the low temperature inactive yeast to inhibit the metabolic activity of the yeast as desired; the compositions and methods can be used, e.g., to prepare refrigerated dough products.
US08414936B2
The present invention relates to a method for inhibition of xanthine oxidase comprising administrating an effective amount of the extracts from Acacia spp.
US08414933B2
This invention relates to an orchid extract of the Brassocattleya marcella Koss variety, as well as the use thereof in compositions such as cosmetic compositions, intended to depigment the skin, in particular to lighten the complexion or to improve the uniformity of the skin coloring, or to correct or attenuate skin spots or hyperpigmented skin areas.
US08414910B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent, an antioxidant, and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In some embodiments, the additive is a liquid. In other embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has one or more hydroxyl, amino, carbonyl, carboxyl, acid, amide or ester groups.
US08414909B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. The additive has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part and the therapeutic agent is not enclosed in micelles or encapsulated in particles or controlled release carriers.
US08414901B2
The present invention provides a vaccine for canine Lyme disease and methods of making and using the vaccine alone, or in combinations with other protective agents.
US08414894B2
Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human tumor necrosis factor α (hTNFα) are disclosed. These antibodies have high affinity for hTNFα (e.g., Kd=10−8 M or less), a slow off rate for hTNFα dissociation (e.g., Koff=10−3 sec−1 or less) and neutralize hTNFα activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hTNFα and for inhibiting hTNFα activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hTNFα activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.
US08414892B2
This invention provides a composition comprising an effective amount of monoclonal antibody 8H9 or a derivative thereof and a suitable carrier. This invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of monoclonal antibody 8H9 or a derivative thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides an antibody other than the monoclonal antibody 8H9 comprising the complementary determining regions of monoclonal antibody 8H9 or a derivative thereof, capable of binding to the same antigen as the monoclonal antibody 8H9. This invention provides a substance capable of competitively inhibiting the binding of monoclonal antibody 8H9. This invention also provides an isolated scFv of monoclonal antibody 8H9 or a derivative thereof. This invention also provides the 8H9 antigen. This invention also provides different uses of the monoclonal antibody 8H9 or its derivative.
US08414888B2
The present invention relates to compositions containing IgG and methods for the promotion of nerve regeneration or prevention or inhibition of neuronal degeneration by IgG to ameliorate the effects of injury, disorder or disease of the nervous system.
US08414885B2
The invention relates to a method of treating cancer, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a HSV-2 virus, wherein the virus lacks protein kinase activity of ICP10. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising HSV-2 virus, wherein the virus lacks protein kinase activity of ICP10.
US08414883B2
Described is a pharmaceutical composition containing (a) a parvovirus and (b) a chemotherapeutic agent, preferably as separate entities. The parvovirus might be based on parvovirus H1, LuIII, Mouse minute virus (MMV), Mouse parvovirus (MPV), Rat minute virus (RMV), Rat parvovirus (RPV), Rat virus (RV), vectors based on the foregoing viral species, and/or cells capable of actively producing the foregoing viral species. The pharmaceutical composition is beneficial for the treatment of a tumor. Tumors for which a parvovirus or the adjunction of the invention has particular utility include glioma, medulloblastoma, meningioma and pancreatic cancer. Preferred chemotherapeutic agents are gemcitabine and Temozolodine.
US08414878B2
A bioengineering, in particular to develop novel probiotic preparations based on Bacillus-strain bacteria, which can be used for preventing and treating infectious diseases and disbiosis of a human being, farm animals and birds. The novel strains of B. subtilis 07 (VKPM No. B-8611) and B. licheniformis 09 (VKPM No. B-8610) exhibit a broad spectrum of antagonistic activity, high proteolytic and amylase activity and a distinct ability in terms of a lysozim production. Such strains do not compete with each other but enter into synergistic relations in the form of an increased antagonistic action of the biopreparation. The inventive biopreparation comprises the B. subtilis 07 VKPM No. B-8611 and B. licheniformis 09 VKPM No. B-8610 strains and a protective medium. Such biopreparation can also contain a solvent and/or filler and exhibits an increased antagonistic activity with respect to a wide range of pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms and a resistance to quite a number of antibiotics.
US08414871B2
Topical compositions are provided in which active compounds for topical delivery through the stratum corneum are complexed with nanospheres of a triblock copolymer having an A-B-A structure wherein each A end block is a water-soluble, hydrophilic and non-toxic polymer or oligomer; and the hydrophobic middle B block is a hydrophobic polymer or oligomer with the same or different repeating units having the structure according to formula:(I) wherein X is —C—R—C— or —C—; Z is between 2 and about 100, inclusive; R1 is CH═CH or (CH2), wherein n is from 0 to 18, inclusive; R2 is selected from hydrogen and straight and branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylaryl and alkoxyaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and R is selected from a bond or straight and branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylaryl and alkoxyaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
US08414869B2
The invention provides sunless tanning compositions for application to skin comprising an effective amount of at least one dopamine precursor, an effective amount of curcumin and a dermatologically acceptable carrier. Methods for preparation of said compositions are disclosed. When applied to the skin, the compositions may be used darken skin.
US08414865B2
Use of Mycobacterium bovis BCG killed by Extended Freeze Drying (EFD) for preventing or treating atherosclerosis.
US08414864B2
New and improved compounds for use in radiodiagnostic imaging or radiotherapy having the formula M-N—O—P-G, wherein M is the metal chelator (in the form complexed with a metal radionuclide or not), N—O—P is the linker, and G is the GRP receptor targeting peptide. Methods for imaging a patient and/or providing radiotherapy to a patient using the compounds of the invention are also provided. A method for preparing a diagnostic imaging agent from the compound is further provided. A method for preparing a radiotherapeutic agent is further provided.
US08414863B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing hydrogen. According to the invention, monosilane or polysilane is converted to hydrogen at an elevated temperature with steam or oxygen.
US08414853B2
A solvent based flue gas processing system for removing CO2 from a flue gas stream is described. A catalyst is provided to increase the efficiency of the solvent in capturing CO2 from the flue gas stream or in regenerating the solvent.
US08414848B2
A substrate including a channel part having a chamber in which a liquid can be fed stepwise from a chamber to another chamber at the channel part formed in the substrate, depending on the rotational speed of the substrate. A first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a channel interconnecting them are formed at the channel part formed in the substrate. Furthermore, the width and/or the depth of the first chamber is set smaller than the width and/or the depth of the second chamber. Consequently, the volume of solution subjected to centrifugal force in the first chamber is larger than the volume of solution subjected to centrifugal force in the second chamber.
US08414840B2
Isothermal vertical reactor (1) for a chemical reaction, comprising a shell (2) with internal gas-permeable walls (16, 18) defining an inlet distribution chamber (17) and a product collecting chamber (19), an open-top catalytic bed between said gas-permeable walls, and a tube heat exchanger (5) embedded in said catalytic bed, the tube heat exchanger (5) comprising a bundle of U-tubes, where an inlet (14) is disposed to direct a fresh charge in an upper chamber (21) over the catalytic bed and the U-shaped top portion of the tube bundle; a portion (F1) of the fresh charge passes through the catalytic bed with a mixed axial-transversal flow, and another portion (F2) of the fresh charge enters the inlet gas-distribution chamber (17) and passes through the catalytic bed with a substantially transversal flow.
US08414838B2
A honeycomb filter includes cell walls. The cell walls extend along a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb filter to define a plurality of cells each of which has one end and another end opposite to the one end along the longitudinal direction. A majority of the plurality of cells are sealed cells sealed at either the one end or the another end. A part of the plurality of cells are open cells open at both of the one end and the another end. A number of the open cells is from about 0.1% to about 4.9% of a number of the plurality of cells.
US08414836B2
An exhaust system may include an exhaust line through which exhaust gas that is formed in an engine is exhausted, a nitrogen oxide purification catalyst that is disposed on the exhaust line to reduce nitrogen oxide that is included in the exhaust gas, an injector to additionally inject fuel into the exhaust line or a cylinder, and a fuel cracking catalyst that is disposed between the injector and the nitrogen oxide purification catalyst to crack the fuel that is injected through the injector, to transform the injected fuel into a high efficiency reducing agent, and to raise the temperature of the latter part thereof through an oxidation reaction.
US08414833B2
Apparatus and method for increasing the concentration of a chemical substance in a fluid comprise a micro-fluidic elongated channel formed in a substrate, with the channel being in fluid-flow communication with an ambient region along its elongated dimension. In general, the fluid includes first and second chemical substances having different vapor pressures. The apparatus includes an evaporation controller for increasing the evaporation rate of the fluid from the channel into the ambient region, thereby increasing the concentration of the lower vapor pressure (LVP) substance in the portion of the fluid remaining in the channel and increasing the concentration of the higher vapor pressure (HVP) substance in the portion of the fluid evaporated into the ambient region.
US08414812B2
The invention relates to a method for the injection molding of a body having at least one wall portion covered on the outside by a label, that comprises: a) using a molding assembly (50) including two mobile parts, one of which at least includes a cavity for making said wall portion; b) using a pick-up means (10), a transfer means (20) and a deposition means (29) for the labels; c) actuating said transfer means so that the label is brought to the cavity and depositing said label in said cavity; d) removing said transfer means, and closing the molding assembly in order to proceed with molding; characterized in that it comprises using a machine including: A) a rotary platen (60) for supplying a plurality of work stations, and on which the molding assembly is mounted; B) an injection press provided at a work station, the molding assembly arriving in a closed and locked configuration at the station and being pressed against said injection press in order to fill the chamber; C) said transfer means (20) at an upstream station.
US08414810B1
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing sheet material. In one representative embodiment, a sheet of fabric material is positioned across a patterning template that has a number of openings; and the sheet of fabric material and the patterning template are fed through an extrusion device in which extrusion material coats the fabric material and forces the fabric material into the openings in the patterning template, thereby producing a composite sheet material.
US08414801B2
The conductive polymer solution of the present invention contains a π-conjugated conductive polymer, a solubilizable polymer, a phase transfer catalyst, and an organic solvent. The method for preparing a conductive polymer solution of the present invention comprises adding a phase transfer catalyst adding an organic solvent to an aqueous polymer solution prepared by dissolving the π-conjugated conductive polymer and a solubilizable polymer in water.
US08414797B2
Compositions and solvent mixtures include at least one organic solvent and at least one terpene. In some embodiments, the terpene is a monoterpene. In some embodiments, the terpene is pure gum turpentine, oil of turpentine, a component of turpentine, or a combination of these. In some embodiments, the organic solvent is acetone or a green solvent. Addition of a minimal amount of terpene to the organic solvent or organic solution raises the flash point of the mixture, preferably to a predetermined value. The predetermined value is preferably in the range of 110 to 120° F. The amount of terpene is preferably in the range about 0.05 to about 5 percent by total weight of the mixture. In some embodiments, the compositions are used as coatings, such as paints or adhesives. In some embodiments, at least one terpene is added to a lubrication formulation.
US08414796B2
Disclosed herein are cerium doped, garnet phosphors emitting in the yellow region of the spectrum, and having the general formula (Y,A)3(Al,B)5(O,C)12:Ce3+, where A is Tb, Gd, Sm, La, Sr, Ba, Ca, and/or Mg, and substitutes for Y, B is Si, Ge, B, P, and/or Ga, and substitutes for Al, and C is F, Cl, N, and/or S, where C substitutes for O. Relative to a solid-state-reaction method, the instant co-precipitation methods provide a more homogeneous mixing environment to enhance the distribution of the Ce3+ activator in the YAG matrix. Such a uniform distribution has the benefit of an increased emission intensity. The primary particle size of the as-prepared phosphor is about 200 nm, with a narrow distribution.
US08414794B2
A blue phase liquid crystal composition includes a chiral dopant, a positive liquid crystal component and a negative liquid crystal component. The positive liquid crystal component includes at least one positive liquid crystal material, has a positive dielectric anisotropy and has no blue phase properties with respect to the chiral dopant. In addition, the negative liquid crystal component includes at least one negative liquid crystal material, has a negative dielectric anisotropy and has no blue phase properties with respect to the chiral dopant, so that the blue phase liquid crystal composition has a dielectric anisotropy between 0.5 and 14 and a blue phase temperature range larger than 3° C.
US08414791B2
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic sintered body has a microstructure in which a matrix phase and an additional material phase having different compositions coexist and the additional material phase is dispersed in the matrix phase. A residual strain ratio of the additional material phase alone is larger than a residual strain ratio of the matrix phase alone. The matrix phase and the additional material phase have a composition in which a Mn compound containing Mn atoms of 0 parts by mole or more and 3 parts by mole or less and a Ba compound containing Ba atoms of 0 parts by mole or more and 1 part by mole or less are contained in a composite of 100 parts by mole represented by a general formula {Liy(Na1-xKx)1-y}a(Nb1-z-wTazSbw)O3, where a, x, y, z and w satisfy 0.9≦a≦1.2, 0.2≦x≦0.8, 0.0≦y≦0.2, 0≦z≦0.5 and 0≦w≦0.1, respectively.
US08414790B2
The various embodiments described in the specification provide improved mechanisms of removal of unwanted deposits on the bevel edge to improve process yield. The embodiments provide apparatus and methods of treating the bevel edge of a copper plated substrate to convert the copper at the bevel edge to a copper compound that can be wet etched with a fluid at a high etch selectivity in comparison to copper. In one embodiment, the wet etch of the copper compound at high selectivity to copper allows the removal of the non-volatile copper at substrate bevel edge in a wet etch processing chamber. The plasma treatment at bevel edge allows the copper at bevel edge to be removed at precise spatial control to about 2 mm or below, such as about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm or about 0.25 mm, to the very edge of substrate. In addition, the apparatus and methods described above for bevel edge copper removal do not have the problems of copper etching fluid being splashed on the device regions to cause defects and thinning of copper films. Therefore, device yield can be greatly improved.
US08414780B2
With a method for removing slag, particularly slag that occurs during synthesis gas extraction, from a slag bath situated in a pressurized container, into a collection container for the slag, below the slag bath in the direction of gravity, a device for breaking up the slag is provided below the slag bath, and a sluice valve is provided between the containers. A space filled with a gas bubble, which space stands in contact with the liquid in the containers, particularly a ring space or a separate container, is provided, in which the pressure of the gas bubble is regulated by supplying gas. At least a part of the water situated in the slag sluice/collection space flows through the slag bath valve when the latter is opened, in the direction of the slag bath, counter to the direction of gravity.
US08414772B2
A method and a device for differentiation of substances in a body fluid, such as blood, plasma or used peritoneal dialysis fluid, for example for hemodialysis. The device has a compartment having several inlets for entering a body fluid, a transition fluid and a diffusion fluid for flowing parallel with each other in laminar flow layers with substantially equal flow velocities. The transition fluid layer is interposed between the body fluid layer and the diffusion fluid layer. The compartment further has a first outlet for removing the body fluid and the transition fluid and a second outlet for removing the diffusion fluid. Pumps are arranged for controlling the flow velocities so that a marker substance, such as albumin, will not diffuse from the body fluid layer across the transition layer, during the passage of the body fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the compartment.
US08414762B2
Devices and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample of liquid are provided.
US08414759B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for analyte detection.
US08414753B2
This invention concerns a method for forming a coating film on a metallic substrate by a multistage energization method at no less than two stages using an electrodeposition bath which comprises a water-based film-forming agent comprising zirconium compound and, as the base resin, an amino group-containing modified epoxy resin which is obtained through reaction of an epoxy resin with an amino group-containing compound, said epoxy resin having been obtained through reaction of a diepoxide compound, a bisphenol epoxy resin and bisphenols; whereby coated articles excelling in corrosion resistance are offered.
US08414750B2
A small diameter flexible electrode designed for subcutaneous in vivo amperometric monitoring of glucose is described. The electrode is designed to allow “one-point” in vivo calibration, i.e., to have zero output current at zero glucose concentration, even in the presence of other electroreactive species of serum or blood. The electrode is preferably layered, with the layers serially deposited within a recess upon the tip of a polyamide insulated gold wire. A first glucose concentration-to-current transducing layer can be overcoated with an electrically insulating and glucose flux limiting layer (second layer) on which, optionally, an immobilized interference-eliminating horseradish peroxidase based film is deposited. An outer layer is preferably biocompatible.
US08414744B2
The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing racemic or optically active menthol in pure or enriched form by distillatively separating menthol from substance mixtures which comprise essentially menthol and diastereomers thereof. This distillatiive separation is performed in a dividing wall column with 50 to 300 theoretical plates and one or more side draw points at an absolute operating pressure of 5 to 500 mbar.
US08414739B2
There is provided a filled paper containing a coated filler obtained by coating a filler with a acrylamide copolymer (composite PAM) comprising (A) an anionic polysaccharide and (B) a cationic and/or an amphoteric acrylamide copolymer. The composite PAM is obtained, for example, by mixing the component (A) and the component (B). Since the filler is treated with a combination of the components (A) and (B) different from each other in charge properties and structure, suitable coagulation effect can be attained and the coated filler has excellent affinity for pulp slurry. Therefore, even in the case of a highly filled paper, a large paper strengthening effect can be attained by using a small amount of the chemical agent.
US08414732B2
Mattresses and methods for manufacturing mattresses that have a flame resistant panel, such as a flame resistant border panel. The systems and methods include mattresses that have a flame resistant panel that, in certain embodiments, includes a fire barrier layer made of a batting material and being disposed over a thermoplastic fire barrier layer. The first and second fire barrier layers provide a fire barrier that reduces the transfer of oxygen to the mattress core, thereby reducing the presence of oxygen, which is needed to support combustion of the padding material. Additionally, the invention encompasses methods for manufacturing mattresses.
US08414729B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite preform from tape material, including feeding a tape section into a tape section guide that suspends the tape across a tooling surface, moving at least one of the tape section guide and the tooling surface relative to each other to position the tape section at a desired location and orientation relative to the tooling surface, moving the tape section toward a pre-existing tape section disposed on the tooling surface, and tacking the tape section to the pre-existing tape section. A corresponding apparatus for manufacturing composite preforms is also disclosed.
US08414721B2
Described is a method and a device for applying a coating film (63) on a face (108) of an optical element (100), including placing the coating on the face of the lens with an adhesive interface (46) placed between the coating and the lens, and inflating a membrane (62) towards the lens in order to press the coating against the lens. Provision is made to adjust the position of the lens relative to the membrane, the adjustment being distinct from the inflation of the membrane.
US08414714B2
Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.
US08414700B2
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.
US08414695B2
A thermal ink jet ink composition includes one or more volatile organic solvents, one or more humectants, one or more binder resins, one or more dyes, and one or both of a surfactant and a plasticizer. The one or more volatile organic solvents are selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C3-C6 ketones, C4-C8 ethers, C3-C6 esters, and mixtures thereof. The one or more humectants are present in an amount not more than 30% by weight of the ink jet ink composition. The ink jet ink composition optionally includes water up to 10% by weight of the ink jet ink composition.
US08414686B2
The present invention is directed to degassing devices for dialysate circuits. One embodiment has a first housing and a second housing positioned within the first housing in an annular relationship. A second embodiment comprises a dialysate regeneration system with urease, a dialyzer, and a housing with an external wall, where the external wall is exposed to atmosphere and comprises a material that passes gas but does not pass liquid and where the housing is positioned between the urease and dialyzer.
US08414678B2
A method for generating metallic nanomaterials using acetylenic-bridged metal-carbonyl complexes as a precursor allows control of nanoparticle properties. The novel method produced metallic nanomaterials resistant to oxidation.
US08414671B2
Devices, methods and systems for creating a zone of filtered air proximate a head of a user including an air filtration device including a blower being configured to be disposed within, below, or affixed to a bedding structure, an air plenum in flow communication with the blower and in support of the head of the user and having an air delivery surface configured to distribute the air flow to the zone of filtered air, and a filter disposed within the device for filtering the air flow before it is distributed to the zone of filtered air.
US08414663B2
The invention relates to a microporous membrane. The membrane can have an average thickness of 23 ?m or more, an air permeability in a range of about 20 sec/100 cm3 to 100 sec/100 cm3, a pin puncture strength of 2,450 mN or more, and a heat shrinkage ratio of 12% or less at 105° C. The membrane can be produced from a polyolefin solution made by combining a membrane-forming solvent and at least one polyolefin resin containing polyethylene having a viscoelastic angular frequency ??0#191 of at least about 0.01 rad/sec.
US08414662B2
This invention relates to apparatus for a method of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface through airborne brine droplet crystallization, controlled moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. Water is evaporated while the sprayed brine is in the air or on the surface where capillary action brings it up to the surface for the water component to be evaporated by net heat gained from the environment resulting in salt crystallization. The evaporation of sprayed brine is enhanced by smaller droplet size, residence time due the spray height and wind machines to reduce humidity and increase natural thermal input. The salt layer thus formed further grows by capillary action of the soil and the crystalline salt to a depth suitable for standard mechanical harvesting. Instrumentation is included to optimize the method through the measurement of evaporation and moisture content of the lower boundary of the capillary zone of the soil and or crystalline salt as well as atomizing heads and a cleaning system.
US08414660B2
The subject invention pertains to a novel purified polypeptide having laccase activity and the nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide. The disclosed polypeptide works at moderately high temperatures from below 20° C. to about 70° C., both acidic and alkaline pH conditions, high salt concentrations and in the presence of organo solvents. The high stability of the enzyme enables its wide applications under even extreme conditions. The invention also provides methods of producing the laccase enzyme.
US08414653B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a knee prosthesis system with at least a first tibial portion element (a tibial insert or a tibial insert trial) and a second tibial portion element (a tibial insert or a tibial insert trial), wherein each of the first tibial portion element and the second tibial portion element has a different slope. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of implanting a knee prosthesis, wherein the method utilizes at least a first tibial portion element (a tibial insert or a tibial insert trial) and a second tibial portion element (a tibial insert or a tibial insert trial), wherein each of the first tibial portion element and the second tibial portion element has a different slope.
US08414644B2
A compacted vascular implant can be delivered to a target location within a delivery device. During delivery, the implant can be partially released from the delivery device before full deployment. The delivery device can include an elongated support tube, a locking mechanism, and a sheath. The locking mechanism can be provided on the support tube. The sheath can be configured to slide over the elongated support tube and can be configured to cover the locking mechanism and to restrain at least a portion of the implant.
US08414641B2
A valve for use in a body lumen, where the valve includes a valve leaflet with delayed leaflet deployment relative an in vivo implant time. The valve includes a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame. The valve leaflet includes a commissure that can reversibly seal for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve, and a biodegradable adhesive between the valve leaflet and the valve frame to hold at least the commissure of the valve leaflet in a static relationship relative the valve frame for a predetermined time once implanted in vivo.
US08414631B2
A system and method of providing a temperature controlled gaseous medium for dermatological applications is described. The gaseous medium may be cooled and applied to an area such as a skin area to provide an analgesic effect thereon. The system and method also include an automated defrost cycle for minimizing the effects of decreased hydraulic diameter due to freezing.
US08414626B2
A method and device are provided for reducing abnormal vertebral orientation using a fixation plate that is used in conjunction with a positioning tool to reduce spinal deviation and properly position and secure adjacent vertebrae for fusion of the spine. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laterally performed anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis.
US08414617B2
This invention relates to interconnection assemblies for use with spinal fixation systems to treat spinal defects. The interconnection assemblies can include various spinal rod connecting members and interconnecting elements to secure the spinal rod connecting members to each other in variable orientations and lengths. The interconnection assemblies can be adjusted to minimize interference with the spinal column, bony processes, and associated neural, muscular, and ligament components of the spine all the while exhibiting a low profile. The interconnecting elements and related components can be provided as a completely assembled unit that does not inadvertently become disassembled prior to or during implantation.
US08414615B2
A spinal dynamic stabilization device is provided, including at least a main portion, at least a supporting structure, and a sliding bar. The main portion includes a guiding groove. The supporting structure includes two wing portions. The wing portions pivot on the main portion. The sliding bar connects to the supporting structure and moves in the guiding groove. When the sliding bar moves in the guiding groove, the wing portions expand rotatably toward the adjacent vertebrae of the spine of the patient by the sliding bar.
US08414610B2
A surgical instrument is provided with a gripping part arranged in a stationary manner on a tubular guide housing having a guide hole and with an actuating lever, which is pivotably mounted thereon and which is in functional connection via a lever arm with a plunger. The plunger is axially shiftable in a mounting housing, via which a tool can be actuated. The plunger has, in its end area located adjacent to the lever arm, a circumferential, radially expanded pushbutton, via which the plunger is guided axially adjustably against the spring force of an axial compression spring in the guide hole of the guide housing. The mounting housing is provided with a ring shoulder for axial fixation in the guide hole of the guide housing.
US08414609B2
A lancet device for generating a puncture wound in a skin surface, comprising a housing, in which a lancet can be moved on a puncturing path, a lancet drive with a drive rotor that can be driven by a drive spring, a lancet coupling mechanism that transforms a rotational motion of the drive rotor into a puncturing and returning motion of the lancet during a working cycle of the lancet drive, a reference element that is mobile relative to the lancet and relative to the housing and is fixed in a defined position relative to the lancet drive during the puncturing and rests against the surface of the skin with a contact surface thereof such that a puncture wound with a reproducible puncturing depth is generated by the puncturing motion, and a reference element coupling mechanism that is coupled to the lancet drive in order to move the reference element. The invention further relates to a suitable lancet drive assembly for a lancet device of this type.
US08414608B2
A lancet is pressed against a puncture needle cartridge while fitting a puncture needle loading inlet of the lancet to the axis of a puncture needle on the puncture needle cartridge. In order to facilitate the operation, one of plural puncture needles, arranged in parallel, is tilted up from its initial position at a predetermined angle, and the puncture needle is guided into a puncture needle holding rod of the lancet. Simultaneously, the puncture needle is pressed up to a position where the rear end part of the needle pushes the bottom surface of a puncture needle loading chamber of the puncture needle holding rod, whereby the puncture needle is loaded. When discarding a used puncture needle, the puncture needle is inserted into a lancet guide member of the puncture needle cartridge, whereby the puncture needle is reliably captured to be discarded.
US08414602B2
An improved method for marking a breast cyst or a breast biopsy site, using the steps of: inserting a first needle into the breast cyst or the breast biopsy site; removing fluid from the breast cyst or tissue from the breast biopsy site; inserting a second needle into the cyst or the breast biopsy site that includes a clip; pushing an actuator and a driver of the second needle along an inside portion of the second needle so that the clip travels down the inside portion of the second needle; and expelling the clip along a ramp that is in alignment with a hole in the first needle and the second needle resulting in the insertion of the clip into the breast cyst or the breast biopsy site to mark the same.
US08414599B1
A surgical tensioning device for dynamically holding two tissue portions in contact with one another comprises a resilient member having a plurality of extending portions which are spaced from one another and are capable of resiliently moving toward and away from one another. A plurality of attachment points are provided on the resilient member, for attaching a securing member, such as suture or a surgical screw, thereto. A spacer member is placeable between the plurality of extending portions to retain the extending portions at a fixed distance from one another, and is removable from between the plurality of extending portions after the securing members are in place so that said tension is transferred from the spring to the suture or other securing members. The result is an ability to hold two tissues in a state of compression beyond that which is commonly and consistently achieved with the hand tying of sutures.
US08414592B2
A method and device for determining an optimal size of an intervertebral implant to be inserted within an intervertebral space between two vertebrae in a patient, comprising inserting a distractor into the intervertebral space. The vertebral endplate depth is measured by moving a posterior rod on the distractor longitudinally to a position at the posterior margin of the vertebral endplate and moving an anterior rod on the distractor to a position at the anterior margin of the vertebral endplate. The force applied during distraction is measured using at least one transducer mounted on the distractor and the intervertebral space is distracted by rotating the posterior and anterior rods on the distractor until the measured force reaches a predetermined value. The posterior height of the intervertebral space is measured based on the amount that the posterior rod is rotated and the anterior height of the intervertebral space is measured based on the amount that the anterior rod is rotated. The intervertebral angle is measured based on the angular orientation of two pivotally connected handles on the distractor.
US08414577B2
A surgical instrument comprises a first portion encapsulated by a membrane and a second portion comprising a surgical instrument body and a cavity in the surgical instrument body. The cavity is configured to receive the first portion. The second portion comprises a first region comprising an opening in communication with the cavity, and a closure member movable between a first position and a second position. The closure member is in sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the first position and is at least partially free from sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the second position. One or more electrical contacts on the first portion or the second portion are configured to penetrate the membrane to allow a connection to be made between the first portion and the second portion when the closure member moves from the second position into the first position.
US08414576B2
A swivel device for connection to an ESU pencil, an exhaust port of an ESU pencil with an integrated smoke evacuation system, or an exhaust port of an ESU pencil smoke evacuation shroud attachment includes a fixed member attached to a rotating member. The rotating member allows an electrical cord and/or vacuum tube to twist and coil freely during operation of an ESU pencil with or without the smoke evacuation system.
US08414574B2
There is provided a treatment instrument, which is provided with a flexible sheath configured such that at least a part thereof is formed of a flexible tube, an operation wire inserted into the flexible sheath to be movable in an axial direction of the flexible sheath, a front-end treatment member connected to a leading end of the operation wire so that the front-end treatment member is allowed to protrude from a front end of the flexible sheath and retracts into the front end of the flexible sheath in accordance with movement of the operation wire, and an at least one elastic member that has elasticity and is located in a front end portion of the flexible sheath in a condition where the at least one elastic member is elastically deformed between an inner surface of the flexible sheath and an outer circumferential surface of the operation wire.
US08414572B2
Electrosurgery method and apparatus. In the method, tissue is cut or coagulated, with an electrically low conductive liquid providing cooling. In another method, skin is cut by electrosurgery in a dry field using a low duty cycle signal energizing the cutting electrode, minimizing tissue charring. A combination coagulation and cutting electrode performs both functions. The cutting is performed by a blade edge generating a local plasma adapted for cutting. Superimposed on the blade edge is an electrode of greater surface area electrically insulated from the cutting electrode, for coagulation. In another version, a single component cutting/coagulation blade (electrode) has a cutting and a flat partially insulated portion defining through holes in the insulation for coagulation. Also provided is an electrical circuit whereby each electrode is isolated by a filter from cross talk and feedback of the RF signal from the other electrode, minimizing arcing.
US08414570B2
A microwave applicator for insertion into living body tissue for use in microwave coagulation and ablation treatments includes a microwave transmission line extending between an attachment end of the applicator and an antenna toward an insertion end of the applicator with an outer conductive sleeve forming an enclosed cooling fluid space around the transmission line. Circulation of cooling fluid is guided in the cooling fluid space by a guide sleeve. A temperature sensor senses the approximate temperature of cooling fluid to indicate cooling fluid is circulating. A multiplexing and power splitting circuit provides outputs tuned for one or for more than one applicator to be attached and detects the number of applicators and correct connection. A cadence sound generator can be used in conjunction with depth markings on the applicator to provide substantially constant withdrawal of the applicator from the treated tissue after treatment to provide track ablation.
US08414569B2
Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.
US08414567B2
A method for controlling a device for the treatment or refractive correction of the human eye using an electronic data processing system provides a simple overview of the influence of all of the parameters. To this end, once the operating parameters have been determined, a graphical simulation of the operating procedure is carried out in the form of a graphical visualization.
US08414564B2
Optical imaging techniques and systems provide high-fidelity optical imaging based on optical coherence tomographic imaging and can be used for optical imaging in ophthalmic surgery and imaging-guided surgery. One method for imaging an eye includes positioning the eye relative to a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system, the eye having a first and a second structure, and imaging the eye with the SD-OCT imaging system by selecting one of a direct image and a mirror image of the first eye-structure and generating a first image-portion corresponding to the selected image of the first eye-structure, selecting one of a direct image and a mirror image of the second eye-structure and generating a first image-portion corresponding to the selected image of the second eye-structure, and suppressing the non-selected images of the first and second structures.
US08414563B2
A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reusable housing assembly, and a disposable housing assembly including a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid. The wearable infusion pump assembly also includes a releasable engagement assembly configured to allow the reusable housing assembly to releasably engage the disposable housing assembly. A switch assembly of the wearable infusion pump assembly is configured to effectuate a functionality of the infusion pump assembly.
US08414562B2
An indwelling urinary catheter assembly is disclosed having an indwelling catheter and a sheath enclosing an insertable portion of the indwelling catheter.
US08414561B2
When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.
US08414554B2
A medicament transport system includes a syringe adapter assembly; and a vial adapter assembly including a base defining an opening having a seal member disposed therewithin, a stem extending from the base and defining a lumen therethrough and an opening through a wall thereof, a needle shuttle valve slidably disposed within the lumen of the stem and supporting a transfer needle and a vacuum needle; and a vacuum cup slidably supported on the stem, wherein a vacuum chamber is defined in the space between the base, the stem and the vacuum cup. The medicament transport system includes a condition where the transfer needle and the vacuum needles penetrate the seal member of the vial adapter assembly, and the vacuum cup is moved to draw a vacuum through the vacuum needle. An automation system is provided that utilizes a medicament transport system for forming a medicament solution from a liquid/non-liquid solution.
US08414545B2
A clamp guard for securing to flexible tubing such as catheters and their extension tubes and about a clamp therealong for housing the clamp at least when the clamp is in a tubing-clamping state, to prevent inadvertent contact of the clamp by a foreign body and undesirable unclamping of the clamp. The clamp guard is removable from around the clamp when desired.
US08414538B2
The present invention provides a syringe device including a needle, a syringe body, and a syringe adaptor between the needle and the syringe body. This syringe adaptor includes a reservoir and a plunger configured to move into and out of the reservoir in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle. The position and direction of travel of the plunger in the syringe adaptor allows a user of the syringe of the present invention to safely and accurately operate the syringe with one hand.
US08414536B2
An infusion pump assembly includes an enclosure assembly. A reservoir assembly is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to contain an infusible fluid. A pump assembly is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to effectuate the dispensing of the infusible fluid contained within the reservoir assembly. Processing logic is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to control the pump assembly. A removable cover assembly is configured to releasably engage the enclosure assembly. A combination of the removable cover assembly and at least a portion of the enclosure assembly defines a power supply cavity configured to prevent a removable power supply assembly from being reverse-polarity electrically coupled to the processing logic.
US08414526B2
The invention relates to a coated medical device for rapid delivery of a therapeutic agent to a tissue in seconds to minutes. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent, at least one of an oil, a fatty acid, and a lipid, and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by charge, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound. In further embodiments, the chemical compound is water-soluble.
US08414524B2
The long nose manipulatable catheter includes a main lumen, a wire lumen with a push-pull wire therethrough, and a flexible joint region. The catheter section includes a control including a handle and a wire control member engaging the push-pull wire for manipulating the flexible joint region. The push-pull wire may be tapered, having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a smaller diameter distal portion. A coil may be placed around the smaller diameter to prevent buckling of the smaller diameter portion. A strapping coil may also disposed around the outside of the catheter, and an outer covering may be disposed around the strapping coil. An outer covering of a mesh may also be disposed around the distal tip of the catheter.
US08414522B2
A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an output. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.
US08414516B2
One disclosed embodiment comprises a method for treating lesions in the carotid artery of a mammalian body. The method comprises transcervical access and blocking of blood flow through the common carotid artery (with or without blocking of blood flow through the external carotid artery), shunting blood from the internal carotid artery and treating the lesion in the carotid artery.
US08414512B2
A shoulder orthosis is provided having an arm support and an optional arm spacer connected to the arm support. The arm support includes an arm retainer and a supportive strapping system. One optional arm spacer includes a pair of individual pillows which are attachably combinable with one another at a first face of the first individual pillow and a face of the second individual pillow to form one combined pillow having a first shape. The individual pillows are alternately attachably combinable with one another at a second face of the first individual pillow and the face of the second individual pillow to form another combined pillow having a second shape different from the first shape.
US08414494B2
An ultrasound therapy probe including a thin-profile therapy head for implementing therapeutic procedures in confined spaces. The thin-profile is achieved by incorporating a cooling fluid channel about a periphery of at least a portion of the housing. A therapy transducer is disposed in an inner volume of the housing, and fluid circulated through the peripheral cooling channel can be used to remove heat generated by the therapy transducer, without requiring bulky external cooling devices, such as balloons. The housing can include an acoustic lens portion, to enable the housing to be used with flat transducers and can also be configured to be used with concave transducers, and so that an acoustic lens is not required. Electrical connections can be made with conductors that extend through an elongate hollow handle.
US08414492B2
An intracardiac catheter for ultrasound guided ablation and EP mapping. Ablation and mapping electrodes 34, 36, 38, 39 are carried on the surface of an outer catheter 30 and an ultrasound array is mounted inside an inner catheter 20. Backloading the inner catheter into the outer catheter provides the ultrasound array in position to image tissue near the surface electrodes. An acoustic coupling fluid is provided between the catheters and a number of the electrodes 34, 38 are positioned directly within the image field of the array.
US08414484B2
A percutaneous tube assembly is provided for performing minimally invasive surgery, the system comprising a percutaneous tube comprising a translucent main body; an external attachment fixture attached to the main body; an access channel longitudinally bored through the main body; an internal attachment channel longitudinally bored through the main body, wherein the internal attachment channel comprises a partially smooth inner surface adjacent to a partially rough inner surface; and an internal attachment, mating with the internal attachment channel.
US08414476B2
A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning.
US08414473B2
A device for dilating an ostium of a paranasal sinus of a human or animal subject may include: a handle; an elongate shaft having a proximal end coupled with the handle and extending to a distal end; a guidewire disposed through at least a portion of the shaft lumen; a dilator having a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and a slide member coupled with at least one of the guidewire or the dilator through the longitudinal opening of the shaft for advancing the guidewire and/or the dilator relative to the shaft.
US08414467B2
An eyelid plaque and a method of using the plaque to treat eye cancers. The eyelid plaque is placed on the eyelid such that it defines an enclosure within which the radiation source resides. The enclosure defines a radiation shield that reduces radiation entering other organs and structures proximate the cancer being treated.
US08414462B2
A novel method and apparatus is provided for forming a pressed paper end which minimizes or eliminates deformations in the chuck wall. The method involves using a novel die press apparatus in which, at the very end of the compression stroke, the paper is held tightly by the opposing dies on either side of the chuck wall forming area, and the chuck wall forming area is held in substantial confinement between the dies.
US08414458B2
A strength training control device comprises: a torque source (including a base frame, a motor and a gear reduction box); and a link mechanism (including a gearbox arm, a first link rod, a second link rod, and an operating rod arm), wherein a S-type load cell is coupled to the first link rod and the second link rod to sense a load value. The control device further comprises: an operating rod, an electronic meter for setting a torque value, and a servo controller for comparing a load value of S-type load cell with a set value of the electronic meter. After the difference value is adjusted, an electric current is outputted to drive the motor, and the motor torque is amplified by the gear reduction box and transmitted through the link mechanism to the operating rod, and users can obtain a torque value equal to the setting of the electronic meter.
US08414451B2
A driving device with an input member connected to an engine, an output member connected to wheels, first and second rotating electrical machines, a differential gear unit including at least three rotational elements, and a control device. The control device includes a differential rotation reducing control, an engagement control, and a start up control that changes the rotation speed of the first rotating electrical machine, which allows the internal combustion engine to have a rotation speed at which starting is possible, made as a target value, when in direct engagement. The differential rotation reducing control changes the rotation speed of the first rotating electrical machine with the upper limit and the lower limit of a starting torque output range, which is a rotation speed range in which the torque necessary for starting the internal combustion engine may be output by the first rotating electrical machine, made as limits.
US08414444B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicles may include an input shaft adapted to receive torque of an engine, an output gear adapted to output changed torque, a first planetary gear set having a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear as rotation elements, a second planetary gear set having a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear as rotation elements, a third planetary gear set having a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear as rotation elements, seven rotation shafts connected or selectively connected to one or more rotation elements, other rotation shafts, or a transmission housing, and six friction members interposed selectively at connecting portions of the rotation shafts.
US08414442B2
Disclosed herein is a gear train of a multi-step transmission for a vehicle, which can shift gears among nine forward speeds and one reverse speed. The gear train realizes a desired level of multi-step change gear ratios and has a reduced number of sets of planetary gears to reduce the volume and length of the transmission, thus realizing a compact structure, thereby facilitating the installation of the transmission in the vehicle.
US08414438B2
A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.
US08414434B2
A transmission device for a cycle, such as a bicycle, which includes a bottom bracket fixed relative to the remainder of the cycle frame. The device includes a cylindrical main body centered about a first axis and a secondary body centered about a second axis, the second axis being parallel to, but not merged with, the first axis; a crankset rotationally mounted along the first axis relative to the main body and including a pair of cranks, a first circular toothed element and a second circular toothed element, both being centered on the first axis; a chainwheel rotationally mounted along the second axis relative to the secondary body and including a third circular toothed element and a fourth circular toothed element, both being centered on the second axis; the first and third toothed elements and the second and fourth toothed elements constituting a first gear train and a second gear train, respectively; a disengageable blocking device provided to block, selectively, the rotation of the first toothed element relative to the crankset or the rotation of the third toothed element relative to the chainwheel, on the one hand, and the rotation of the second toothed element relative to the crankset or the rotation of the fourth toothed element relative to the chainwheel, on the other hand.
US08414433B2
A continuously variable transmission is provided with i) a primary pulley that is formed by a driving-side fixed sheave that is fixed to a drive shaft, a driving-side movable sheave, and a driving-side cylinder member, and has a driving-side cylinder, ii) a secondary pulley that is formed by a driven-side fixed sheave that is fixed to a driven shaft, a driven-side movable sheave, and a driven-side cylinder member, and has a driven-side cylinder, and iii) a drive belt. The drive shaft has a drive shaft internal fluid passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to the driving-side cylinder. A driving-side communicating fluid passage that communicates the drive shaft internal fluid passage with the driving-side cylinder is formed between the driving-side cylinder member and the driving-side movable sheave.
US08414428B2
A golf ball mold having a non-planar parting surface formed by superimposing a base waveform with a least one shorter secondary waveform. The base waveform is defined by a series of concentric arcs wherein adjacent arcs are connected with a straight line segment that is tangent to the arcs and creates an acute angle. The length of the straight line segment being critical to the accuracy and predictability of the parting line.
US08414422B2
The present invention relates to a golf club head with external weights that allows for weight modification after the manufacturing process. The golf club head comprises a face component and an aft-body. A plurality of recessed cavities are located on the aft-body. A weight component is disposed within the recessed cavities. A timesert is located at the bottom center of each of the recessed cavities. The timesert is comolded to the aft-body. The weight component is fastened to the timesert by use of a bolt. The recessed cavities are preferably circular in shape.
US08414421B2
A golf club head with reinforced crown is described herein. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
US08414416B1
A golf accessory system having a main shaft, a divot repair tool, and a beveled or pointed cover removably attached. A shaft extension is removably attached to the first end, and a ball retriever component is disposed on the first end of the extension. A divot-pressing component is on the top end of the ball retriever. The system also features first and second scooper shafts, wherein the first ends are pivotally attached to the main shaft via a hinge and the second ends are curved towards the first end of the main shaft. The scooper shafts can pivot between at least a vertical and horizontal position. Scoops on the second end of the scooper shaft which are half-pipe in shape with an apex, wherein the apex is attached to the second end of the scooper shafts.
US08414413B2
Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g/cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g/cm2, or even at least 12,000 g/cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g/cm2, or even at least 25,000 g/cm2 or at least 28,000 g/cm2.
US08414411B2
An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.
US08414407B2
Swingbuddies are a device with a fastening mechanism for placement around swing chains. The preferred embodiments of the invention consist of a fabric panel with padding inside, a character head attached to the top of the fabric panel with two tie ribbons attached to the character head. The fabric panel's fastening mechanism is six male and six female snaps located on the back of the panel and spaced evenly down the length of the panel. The fabric panel also consists of two character arms on the front of the panel and two character feet on the bottom of the panel. To use the preferred embodiments of the invention, a person will simply tie the two tie ribbons to a link on a swing chain; fasten the male to the female snaps to enclose the swing chain. The device is now in place for a child to sit on the swing and hold. Since the device is made to be used in pairs, a child using this device will have one swing chain cover in each hand while swinging on a swing. This device will prevent the child from getting hands, arms, and fingers pinched from the chain and also keep hair from getting tangled in the chain. The device also prevents germs at public play areas, covers hot swing chains, and most of all provides comfort and companionship to a child while swinging.
US08414406B2
A constant velocity joint assembly and a method of securing a shaft to the assembly are described. The assembly may have an outer race with a first portion having a plurality of grooves and a second portion that extends from the first portion and is substantially parallel to the shaft. The method of securing the shaft to the assembly includes the step of magnetically pulse welding the shaft to the outer race.
US08414400B2
A method and article of manufacture for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system is disclosed. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by first receiving an identifier selected from a group of identifiers including a user identifier relating to the user (i.e., player) of the network gaming system, a game identifier relating to a particular game played by the user of the network gaming system, and a site identifier relating to the location (i.e., web site) from which the game is being played. The network gaming system then alters the computer-implemented game played by the user in a manner based upon the selected identifier. The foregoing technique may also be applied to a prize redemption system.
US08414399B2
Mechanisms for transferring a value associated with a representation of a user in a first virtual world environment instance to a second virtual world environment instance are provided. With these mechanisms, a request to transport a first representation of the user from the first virtual world environment instance to the second virtual world environment instance is received. One or more data objects associated with a first representation of the user in the first virtual world environment instance are quantized into at least one quantized value. The at least one quantized value is transported to the second virtual world environment instance and is converted into a second representation of the user in the second virtual world environment instance, the second representation of the user being different from the first representation of the user in the first virtual world environment. The at least one quantized value may not maintain a correspondence between the at least one quantized value and the one or more data objects such that the one or more data objects cannot be automatically generated based on the at least one quantized value.
US08414387B1
A system includes a third party game server, a plurality of third party game instances and a transactional server. The third party game server provides data related to a third party game. Each of the third party game instances is in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server. Additionally, each third party game instances includes a peer-wagering module to receive a wager amount from a player associated with the corresponding third party game instance. Each third party game instance is associated with an online gaming competition and each player is participating in the online gaming competition. The transactional server receives the wager amount from each peer-wagering module. The transactional server secures previously deposited funds associated with each of the associated corresponding players. The fund amount is equal to the respective wager amount. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
US08414380B2
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
US08414360B2
A double side polishing apparatus comprises an upper polishing plate and a lower polishing plate for polishing both sides of a wafer; a plurality of carriers, each including a center plate and a circumferential plate, the center plate having a mounting hole where the wafer is mounted, the circumferential plate having a fitting hole where the center plate is fitted and a gear part formed along the outer periphery thereof, the center of the mounting hole being eccentric from the center of the center plate, the center of the fitting hole being eccentric from the center of the circumferential plate; and a sun gear and an internal gear engaged with the gear part to transmit a rotational force to the plurality of carriers, wherein a fitting direction of a center plate into a fitting hole is adjustable for at least two carriers among the plurality of carriers.
US08414335B2
The present invention provides a USB port comprising a support pad for the support pad's both first surface and second surface compatible to the data transfer interface of the USB Series A male connector and plugged into a female socket for fewer costs spent in purchasing any device attributed to any damaged USB port or female socket in the past and a USB port plugged along a restricted direction.
US08414333B2
A memory card structure includes a memory card body dimensioned to house a memory and a controller, and the memory card body has an edge connector portion having a thickness that complies with a memory card specification. The memory card body includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive an external plug. The memory card structure also includes an electrical connector that is coupleable to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug and that is electrically coupled to at least one of the memory and the controller. The electrical connector extends from the recessed portion of the memory card body.
US08414328B2
A coaxial connector to be attached to a coaxial change-over switch includes an insulated connector housing; an outer connector conductor provided outside the insulated connector housing and capable of connecting to an outer conductor of a coaxial cable; and a contact provided in the insulated connector housing to be movable for connecting to a center conductor of the coaxial cable. The contact has a first portion including a distal end portion and a second portion connected to the first portion via a bent section. The contact is mounted on a mounting section of the insulated connector housing, and is supported in a cantilever state at the second portion. The distal end portion is elastically displaced in a direction opposite to an attaching direction of the coaxial change-over switch when the distal end portion contacts with the coaxial change-over switch.
US08414324B2
A connector utilizes a latching assembly that has a structure that connects horizontal movement of an actuator to vertical movement of a latching arm. A latching member is provided that grips the exterior of the connector and has a cantilevered latching arm that extends from the member over a mating portion for connection. In its simplest form the latching member includes a continuous retaining collar that fits over the exterior of the connector and exerts a clamping force on the connector so as to retain the latching member in place.
US08414323B2
A power connector, adapted for electrically connecting a cable with a complementary connector, includes an insulative housing defining a number of passageways and a number of power contacts received in corresponding passageway. Each contact has a base section, a first contact section and a second contact section. The base section includes a bottom wall and a first side wall and a second side wall extending perpendicularly from the bottom wall. The first contact section includes a first contact arm and a second contact arm parallel to the first contact arm. The second contact section includes a third contact arm and a fourth contact arm parallel to the third contact arm.
US08414322B2
A novel, reliable, easy-to-install terminator device assembly for cable ports is provided. Such a terminator device includes the necessary sufficiently high resistance element to prevent reflectance of signals through a cable system as well as means to permit push-on (axial) installation on a threaded cable port. Additionally, the novel terminator device includes a metal contact basket with internal extensions that allow for such axial installation but are aligned in such a manner as to contact with the port threads to prevent removal through axial movement. Such internal extensions are also aligned uniformly around the subject port such that the ends of each internal extension exhibit flanges that will follow the helical edge of the threaded port when turned. In this manner, terminators may be provided that are easy to install and can withstand vibrational forces and other detrimental actions that could permit movement and/or removal of the terminator assembly from the subject port. A method of providing a suitable port termination for improved cable system signal strength is also encompassed within this invention.
US08414319B2
A patch cord for an intelligent patching system is provided. The patch cord is a ten-wire patch cord having a patch panel plug and a switch plug. The patch panel plug contains ninth and tenth wire contacts that interface with ninth and tenth wire contacts of an intelligent patch panel port. The switch plug is provided with a plunger-style switch that enables the intelligent patch panel to determine when the switch plug is plugged into a switch port. The switch plug is also provided with LED's and circuitry that controls the LED's.
US08414318B1
A power adapter with a rotatable plug module has a body, a circuit module and a plug module. The body has multiple fasteners and multiple clasps. The fasteners are arranged in a ring shape. Each of the clasps is formed on one side of each fastener and extends from the fasteners in the same orientation. The circuit module has a circuit board mounted in the body. The plus module has multiple conducting blades and multiple holes. The holes are engaged with the fasteners of the substrate when the plug module is rotated to correspond to the fasteners. The conducting blades are electrically connected to the circuit board. Because the plug module is rotatable and can be removed from the body, the power adapter with suitable conducting pins is available to various sockets.
US08414314B1
A single-use Universal Serial Bus port protector having a top piece and a tongued planar surface, where the top piece includes a rectangular surface, a rectangular planar surface, a slotted planar surface, and at least one lever breakably attached to the slotted planar surface, and where the tongued planar surface includes two rails and two projections, where the top piece and the tongued planar surface are slideably insertable into a Universal Serial Bus port to ensure that no electrical connection is made to the Universal Serial Bus port when the top piece and the tongued planar surface are so inserted, where the at least one lever engages with at least one of the rails of the tongued planar surface upon insertion, and where the at least one lever breaks off when the Universal Serial Bus port protector is removed from the Universal Serial Bus port.
US08414310B2
A connector assembly includes a receptacle and a plug. The receptacle includes a receptacle housing and a plurality of receptacle contacts received in the housing. The housing includes a mating cavity and a mating face defined on an inner bottom of the mating cavity. Each receptacle contact includes a plate contacting section embedded on the mating face. The plug includes a plug housing inserted in the mating cavity of the receptacle and a plurality of plug contacts received in the plug housing. The housing includes a mating face confronting with mating face of the receptacle. Each plug contact includes an elastic contacting section projecting beyond the mating face of the plug to touch with the receptacle contact.
US08414308B1
Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules having flexible connectors and methods of interconnecting thereof. According to various embodiments, a BIP module includes one or more photovoltaic cells positioned on a support sheet and two or more electrical connectors attached to the support sheet. At least two conductive elements of these connectors are electrically coupled to the photovoltaic cells. One connector includes a connector body and an arm, which allows the connector body to move with respect to the support sheet at least in a direction perpendicular to the support sheet. This flexibility may be used to electrically interconnect modules as well as other purposes. Another connector also has a connector body, which may be flexibly or rigidly attached to the same support sheet. Positioning two connectors on opposite edges of the module allows forming a row of electrically interconnected modules.
US08414307B2
The present invention relates to a technology field of a printed circuit board, and more particularly to a connection structure of a printed circuit board and a connection method thereof. The connection structure of the printed circuit board of the present invention comprises a first and second printed circuit boards. One end of the first printed circuit board disposes a receiving portion. One end of the second printed circuit board disposes a protruding portion. The shape of the protruding portion is corresponding to that of the receiving portion. When connecting the first and second printed circuit boards, the protruding portion is engaged with the receiving portion so that realizing a physical connection. The connection structure and the connection method may reduce the product cost. Moreover, the printed circuit boards connected by the solution of the present invention can be conveniently mounted and dismounted to simplify the operation.
US08414305B2
A connector assembly includes a peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) connector and a fixing member. A groove is defined in the PCI-E connector and extends through an end of the PCI-E connector. The fixing member is fixed to the end of the PCI-E connector. A receiving slot is defined in the fixing member communicating with the groove of the PCI-E connector. The fixing member cooperates with the PCI-E connector to receive and protect a PCI-E card which has a length greater than the length of the PCI-E connector.
US08414302B2
A modular educational device includes primary and secondary modular boundary segments each having an outer shell extending to terminate at two socket ends, a plurality of modular plug-ended connectors each having two plug ends configured to mate with the corresponding ones of primary and secondary socket ends so as to enable the primary and secondary outer shell to form a loop-shaped structure that encircles an enclosed space of a certain geometric shape, and a modular support stand having a base and a pair of jaws which extend uprightly from the base and which are spaced apart from each other by a fitting space for accommodating a gripped region of the primary modular boundary segment so as to enable the loop-shaped structure to be stood on a surface.
US08414296B2
A surgical guide to be placed in a patient's mouth. The patient's mouth is scanned to obtain surgical-region scan data at a region where an implant is to be located. The patient's mouth is also scanned in the opened position to acquire dental conditions opposite from the surgical region so as to obtain opposing-condition scan data. A virtual model is developed using the surgical-region scan data and the opposing-condition scan data. Using the virtual model, a surgical plan is developed that includes the location of the implant to be installed in the patient. A virtual surgical guide is also developed based on the surgical plan. The dimensions of instrumentation to be used with the surgical guide are checked to ensure they will fit within the mouth by use of the opposing-condition scan data. After checking, final surgical-guide manufacturing information is obtained for manufacturing the surgical guide.
US08414294B2
The present application discloses a method and apparatus for disguising a dental probe from a patient for use, for example, in the field of pediatric dentistry, or special needs dentistry, the apparatus and method of using the apparatus having a first section and a second section. In a preferred embodiment, the first section is a hard probe that is configured for probing a patient's teeth for carious lesions.
US08414292B2
A self ligating orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket, a slidable ligating member and at least one wedge locking ramp. The bracket includes an archwire slot defined therein, which is configured to receive an archwire therein. The ligating member slides along a slide path defined on the bracket and which extends transverse relative to the archwire slot. The wedge locking ramp is disposed on the slide path, wherein the wedge locking ramp is configured to deflect the ligating member vertically upward and away from an upper surface of the slide path, and over the wedge locking ramp when the ligating member travels along the slide path from an unlocked position to a locked position. The archwire is securely retained in the archwire slot when the ligating member is in the locked position.
US08414289B2
A whirlwind-type oxidation combustion apparatus for processing semiconductor fabrication exhaust gas is disclosed. An inlet head is set on the top of an exhaust gas processing tank. An exhaust gas passage is set inside the inlet head and connected to an external exhaust gas supply terminal and the exhaust gas processing tank, for guiding the exhaust gas into the exhaust gas processing tank. An ignition chamber is formed between two partitions outside the exhaust gas passage. The two partitions have multiple inclined holes interconnecting an external combustion gas supply terminal, the ignition chamber, and the exhaust gas processing tank. The inclined holes guide a combustion gas to swirl into the exhaust gas processing tank through the ignition chamber. An igniter in the ignition chamber ignites the combustion gas to form a vortex flame which burns the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is further caused to swirl onto a water screen.
US08414276B2
The invention relates to a piston pump for a vehicle braking system, with a housing section and a piston, which is guided in the housing section in a slidable manner. An accommodating member for accommodating an intake valve is provided in the housing section, and a sealing element adjoins the accommodating member to seal the piston against the housing section. A piston rod adjoins the sealing element which is embodied in one piece with the accommodating member.
US08414271B2
An air-conditioning compressor comprises a shaft rotationally assembled through a casing. A pulley is attached to the compressor by a roller bearing. A torque-transmitting member engages the pulley and the shaft together. Openings are formed between arms of an external torque transmitting part and a bore of an inner ring has a radius such to enable insertion of a crimping tool into the torque-transmitting subassembly to reshape local plastic features for assembly of the torque-transmitting subassembly. The local plastic deformations of the casing interfere with a transverse face of the inner ring, wherein the local plastic deformations are positioned in axial alignment with the empty spaces in at least one relative angular position between the torque-transmitting member and the inner ring.
US08414269B2
A method of restoring a gas turbine engine component includes depositing a filler material onto a sulphidation section of an underside of a turbine engine platform and laser consolidating the filler material to produce a restored surface on the underside. The sulphidation section includes sulphidation pit portions that are filled during the laser consolidating to produce the restored surface. An eroded trailing edge of a turbine airfoil is laser cladded to produce a restored trailing edge thickness.
US08414263B1
A turbine stator vane has different micro sized radial extending cooling channels for each of four regions around the airfoil to provide adequate cooling depending on the external airfoil heat loads. The vane includes collector cavities to supply cooling air to the leading edge region cooling channels and to trailing edge exit holes. The radial cooling channels along the pressure and suction side walls are supplied with cooling air than flows through the endwalls first and then discharges into the collector cavities. The radial cooling channels in the hotter sections of the airfoil include film cooling holes while the radial cooling channels downstream of the airfoil throat have only convection cooling.
US08414261B2
A rotor blade assembly and a method for reducing the noise of a rotor blade for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade has surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on a surface of the rotor blade, the noise reducer including a plurality of noise reduction features. Each of the plurality of noise reduction features includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a first portion mounted to one of the pressure side or the suction side and a second portion configured to interact with wind flowing past the other of the pressure side or the suction side. The second surface interrupts an aerodynamic contour of the one of the pressure side or the suction side.
US08414259B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a turbomachine rectifier comprising an outer ring (5) and a plurality of stator vanes (2), said vanes comprising a platform (9) and a blade (12), wherein said method comprises at least the following steps: a) first folds (7) are draped over a core comprising perforations and having the shape of the aerodynamic flow; b) optionally, the first folds (7) are cut along incisions (8) placed opposite the perforations of the core; c) the blades (12) of the vanes or, alternatively, the blades (12) of the vane preforms, are inserted through the incisions (8) of the first folds (7) and through the perforations of the core; d) last folds (10) are draped over the platforms (9) thus forming a rectifier preform; e) a resin is injected into a closed mold with the preform and the resin-impregnated preform is polymerized; f) a molded piece, essentially having the shape and dimensions of said rectifier, is retrieved from the mold.
US08414247B2
A method for reloading workpieces includes providing a manipulator having a connecting base and a plurality of grasping assemblies arranged on the connecting base, providing a plurality of original workpieces and a plurality of machined workpieces positioned in a plurality of machining positions, grasping the original workpieces by at least one grasping assembly, with at least one grasping assembly vacant, grasping one machined workpiece by one vacant grasping assembly, rotating the connecting base, so that one original workpiece is placed in one machining position by one grasping assembly, further rotating the connecting base until another vacant grasping assembly is opposite to another machining position, and repeating grasping the machined workpieces from the machining positions and placing the original workpieces on the machining positions until a last original workpiece is placed on one machining position. The manipulator used in the present method for reloading workpieces is also provided.
US08414246B2
An intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system is usable with mobile robots, and is applicable to stationary industrial arms. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system provides a large work envelope and a controlled and directed rotational movement for a flexible snake robot arm. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system has the ability to change end effector tools and sensors. The platform computers have the ability to interact with other subsystems for coordinated as well as independent tasks. The flexibly snake robot arm can be covered with a flexible sensor network, or “skin”. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system can manage its energy use, stores the arm in a compact shape and uses a central support tube offering unobstructed arm access to all sectors of its working envelope.
US08414241B2
The present disclosure relates to a device for lifting and lowering a load in water, including a hoisting gear with a first hoisting rope and a storage drum with a second hoisting rope, which preferably are arranged on a floating unit. In accordance with the present disclosure, a hoisting gear frame is fastened to the first hoisting rope, whose buoyancy in water is variably adjustable. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method for lifting and lowering a load in water by using such a device.
US08414240B2
The invention is directed to a push over arm assembly and retro-fit kit for hay bale accumulators. In one embodiment, the push over arm kit includes a piston arm configured to be movably secured to a push over arm structure, such as that from a Hoelscher™ bale accumulator. An inclined plane is secured to a baler end of the piston arm and extends in a direction away from the piston arm forming an acute angle (Θ). And, a bias element, e.g., a spring, is configured to cooperate with the piston arm to bias the piston arm along its length. The spring controlled piston arm prevents or minimizes the occasional halting of a hay baling operation caused by jamming of the leading hay bale as it collides with a baler end of the piston arm.
US08414236B2
An apparatus for securing cargo to a vehicle, and to tie-downs or sliders receivable in rails mounted to a bed, load deck, or other storage area of a vehicle, such as a pickup, sport utility vehicle, or trailer is described. A user may easily change, adjust or customize the tie-down locations to suit a desired application. The cargo securing system has a rail with a generally C-shaped cross section, the open end of the C-shape defining a slot which may run along the entire length of the rail. The C-shaped rail also defines a channel which may run along the entire length of the rail. A slider member may reside in the channel and include a foot or base portion and an integral elongate portion which may protrude through the slot in the rail. The slider member may include an integral tie-down location on the elongate portion.
US08414235B2
A single point release system provides a single point for efficiently, concurrently releasing multiple cargo retaining latches of an aerial delivery system. A release module is mounted to the platform and connects via a cable and is actuable to a release mode to concurrently release each of the latches.
US08414231B2
Machining method, program, machining-program generating program and machining apparatus of press die
A machining method of a press die having a pierce cutter and a secondary relief-clearance area recessed inward relative to a profile of the pierce cutter. A plunge cutting tool has an edge portion protruding from an outer circumference of a tool body and can carve while rotating and moving in an axial direction of the tool body. While rotating the plunge cutting tool with an axis of the tool body being approximately parallel to a surface of the pierce cutter, the plunge cutting tool is relatively moved along the profile of the pierce cutter. The plunge cutting tool is also relatively moved in the axial direction of the tool body along the shape of the pierce cutter and the secondary relief-clearance area in a piercing direction each time the plunge cutting tool is relatively moved by a predetermined pitch.
US08414225B2
A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable.
US08414224B2
A pipe-laying apparatus for laying or raising a pipeline from a vessel. The apparatus includes a first pipe gripping assembly disposed on a pipe laying path along which pipeline passes during laying, a second pipe gripping assembly disposed on the pipe-laying path, and a drive unit for causing relative movement in a direction along the pipe-laying path between the first pipe gripping assembly and the second pipe gripping assembly. The first pipe gripping assembly includes both a pipe gripping arrangement for gripping a pipe during pipe-laying and a cable gripping arrangement for gripping a cable during an operation when a cable is connected to a length of pipeline.
US08414221B2
Disclosed herein is a tamper device. The tamper device includes a housing, a drive, a tamper, and a wobble connection. The drive is connected the housing. The tamper is adapted to reciprocate relative to the housing and apply pressure to a surface. The wobble connection is between the drive and the tamper, wherein the wobble connection includes a wobble plate. A first end portion of the tamper is at a side of the wobble plate.
US08414217B2
A modular flooring system is disclosed which is designed to support heavy loads while providing stability and ground protection. The invention contemplates a modular mat having an integral main body with offset mounting and assembly flanges and a lattice interior. The mat is constructed from a unitary piece of high strength plastic. Each flange edge contains an outward radiused edge, while each non-flange edge contains an inward radiused edge. Each flange engages with a corresponding flange on an adjacent tile, allowing the outward radiused and inward radiused edges to properly mate. One or more metal cam locks located along the upper flange edges are secured into corresponding cam receptacles located along the lower flange edge. The mats may utilize optional top covers to prevent water and debris from entering the mats. The modular flooring system provides increased strength and stability and protection of the subsurface in heavy industrial applications.
US08414208B1
A finger grip for a writing instrument such as a pen or pencil, which has an external concave depression for receiving the ball of a middle finger, and a longitudinal bore through its center which is threaded to screw upon the barrel of any handwriting instrument which has been externally threaded to accommodate it. The depression provides stability and comfort while using only the thumb and middle finger to write. The passive exclusion of the index finger from the process of gripping and moving the instrument provides a simpler dexterous hand coordination which can result in improved and faster handwriting.
US08414206B2
The invention describes a sheet conveying device having a feed tray for storing sheets, a first conveying path for conveying a first sheet in a first direction, a feed roller that feeds the sheets in the feed tray to the first conveying path, a second conveying path that connects the first conveying path and the feed tray, and conveys the first sheet in a direction opposite the first direction, and a multiple feed guide in the second conveying path, which has a guide for guiding the first sheet between the feed roller and the feed tray, and an overlying portion which overlies the feed tray on one side of the feed roller. The feed roller feeds the first sheet that was fed to the first conveying path, and was guided by the multiple feed guide, back to the first conveying path. A duplex printer incorporates this sheet conveying device.
US08414187B2
A temperature sensor includes first and second lower electrodes, a ferroelectric layer having polarization, a semiconductor layer; and first to third upper electrodes. The second upper electrode is interposed between the first upper electrode and the third upper electrode in a plan view. The semiconductor layer includes a first channel disposed between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode, and a second channel disposed between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode. The ferroelectric layer includes a first ferroelectric part disposed below the first channel and a second ferroelectric part disposed below the second channel. A polarization direction of the first ferroelectric part is opposite to a polarization direction of the second first ferroelectric part. The temperature is calculated based on the output voltage from the second upper electrode and the voltage applied to the first upper electrode.
US08414180B1
A fluid mixing apparatus for mixing a fluid in a circular container includes a circular lid for engaging the open top container. A shaft is rotatably positioned through the lid and is rotatable about a shaft axis. A mixer is attached to the shaft adjacent one end for rotating with the shaft in a plane perpendicular to the shaft axis. The mixer receives the shaft. The mixer has a fixed portion and a hinged portion hingedly connected to the fixed portion. An agitator is mounted to the shaft for agitating a fluid when the apparatus is mounted in a container.
US08414171B2
A periphery of a projecting lens is heated due to radiation heat exerted by light emitted from a light source, like peripheries of the light source and a reflector. However, a lens holder holding the projecting lens is integrally molded with a heat sink member, so that a heat at the periphery of the projecting lens is well transmitted to the heat sink member by means of the lens holder, and is efficiently radiated by means of the heat sink member.
US08414161B2
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs.
US08414144B2
Method, apparatus and systems for a quick change lamp ballast assembly for newly manufactured lamp fixtures having the quick change ballast or a retrofit for an existing lamp fixture. The quick change ballast assembly includes a ballast mounting fixture 110 for housing the ballast 300, a wire connector fixture 130 and a mounting plate 120 for mounting the ballast mounting fixture 110. The ballast assembly allows for replacement of a non operating ballast to reduce replacement time and labor costs. In a new lamp fixture, the quick change ballast is thermally isolated from the lamp fixture, which reduces the effects of the waste heat from the ballast, and increase overall building efficiency by reducing the cooling load.
US08414137B2
An inside rearview mirror bracket for a windscreen includes a pad portion configured to attach to an interior of the windscreen. A bridge portion is formed as a single piece with the pad portion, and a tunnel is defined by the bridge portion and the pad portion. The mirror bracket includes a mirror receptacle formed as a single piece with the bridge portion opposite the tunnel. The mirror receptacle is configured to receive a rearview mirror. A sensor member may be configured to substantially fill the tunnel, such that the sensor member is disposed intermediate the bridge portion and the windscreen.
US08414135B2
A reflector for a vehicle can include a plurality of retroreflective elements configured to retroreflect incident light incident parallel to a horizontally-arranged reference axis, obliquely upward at a prescribed angle with respect to the reference axis. The plurality of retroreflective elements can each include: a first reflection surface inclined at an angle ANG1 to the reference axis; a second reflection surface inclined at an angle ANG2 to the reference axis, and formed in a position reached after the second reflection surface is rotated from the first reflection surface through an angle ROT1 around the reference axis as a center; and a third reflection surface inclined at an angle ANG3 to the reference axis and formed in a position reached after the third reflection surface is rotated from the first reflection surface through an angle ROT2 around the reference axis as a center in a direction opposite to the second reflection surface, the first to third reflection surfaces arranged so as to form corners of a substantial cube, wherein a condition of following expressions is satisfied: ANG2>ANG3; ANG2>ANG1; and ROT1>ROT2>120 degrees.
US08414129B2
An optical system is provided. The optical system includes a luminous system which comprises a plurality of light source devices and an image unit; and a projection system which receives light having an image through the luminous system, and enlarges and projects the light, wherein the plurality of light source devices comprise a reflection member which reflects light beam emitted from the light source devices, and are disposed so that the light beam emitted from the light source devices is reflected by the reflection member one time and enters to the image unit.
US08414127B2
Methods of fabricating and prescribing lenses suitable for color blindness and dyslexia correction are disclosed. The corrective lens may be formed of an optically transparent base material, which is tinted to a desired color for correction by immersion in a colorant dye. The color tinted lens is then tinted by a neutral tint dye to render the lens observable as a regular corrective lens. Prescription of such lenses may be based on a dynamically balanced, or haploscopic, fashion of prescription that comprises selecting a first visual filter from a set of sixteen filters and a second visual filter from the remaining set of fifteen filters, the first for the dominant eye and the second for non-dominant eye.
US08414124B2
In order to measure a cornea with the aid of a projection (S11) of a two-dimensional reference pattern onto the cornea and of a detection (S12) of the reflection pattern reflected by the cornea by virtue of the reference pattern, a plurality of different reflection images of one or more reflection patterns reflected by the cornea are stored (S13). For points on the cornea a phase value of the reflection pattern is respectively calculated on the basis of intensities respectively measured in the stored reflection images at a pixel corresponding to the relevant point. At least one measured geometrical value of the cornea is calculated (S2) on the basis of the calculated phase value. The measurement of the cornea on the basis of a plurality of different reflection images of one or more reflection patterns reflected by the cornea enables a continuous measurement of the cornea in which corresponding pixels are acquired and evaluated for each point on the cornea.
US08414121B2
An optical and mechanical design of a sealed, non-round fluid-filled lens capable of providing variation of optical power. The fluid lens includes at least three optical components: at least one mostly rigid optical disc, at least one mostly flexible optical membrane and a layer of a transparent fluid that is in communication via a fluid channel with a reservoir of excess fluid contained in a reservoir that can be accessed to augment the fluid volume inside the fluid lens to change the power of the fluid lens. The fluid lens is capable of providing correction of spherical and astigmatic errors, and utilizes contoured membranes to minimize image aberrations.
US08414117B2
According to the present invention, the size of a droplet ejected to a target area is minimized to obtain high printing resolution, and effects of attraction and adhesive forces acting between a nozzle and air resistance can be minimized so that the target area is finely controlled to obtain high printing precision. An inkjet printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an ejecting device ejecting a droplet of a solution to a target area; and a light irradiating device irradiating light onto the droplet at an acute angle with respect to a line going through the ejecting device and the target area to heat and evaporate a part of the droplet before the ejected droplet reaches the target area, so that the droplet is accelerated along the line.
US08414106B2
A system is disclosed. The system includes a print engine having one or more ink jet print heads and ink lines coupled to provide ink to each of the print heads. The system also includes a fluid change manifold coupled to the ink lines to remove fluid from the print engine via the ink lines.
US08414102B2
A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density.
US08414101B2
A printing apparatus includes a motor that drives an object to be driven; a detection unit that detects the speed of the object to be driven; and a control unit that controls driving of the motor based on a speed profile including an acceleration range, a constant-speed range, and a deceleration range, and determines that the speed of the object to be driven is abnormal when the difference between the detection speed of the detection unit and the speed of the speed profile exceeds a threshold value, wherein a first threshold value is set in the constant-speed range, and a second threshold value, which is higher than the first threshold value, is set in at least a portion of the acceleration range and the deceleration range.
US08414099B2
A printer enables setting roll paper in a center-referenced position based on received paper width information, and printing correctly to the printing area of the paper set to the centered position. When the paper width of the paper used for printing is not contained in the received data, the printer sets the paper width of the paper for printing to the maximum paper width. The distance L from the edge of the transportation path to the start printing position of the inkjet head is also set to L=Lm (where Lm is the size of the margin on the paper). When the paper width is contained in the received data, the position where the paper is set is the center reference, and the received paper width is set as the paper width of the paper used for printing.
US08414094B2
A self-closing drawer slide system includes first and second slide members and a self-closing mechanism which, in turn, includes a housing coupled to the first slide member, a carriage slidably coupled to the housing, and a spring coupled between the housing and the carriage. The carriage has an engagement area that selectively receives a cam/tab extending from the second slide member. As the drawer is pulled open, the carriage disengages from the cam/tab as it rotates and is locked in place. As the drawer returns, the carriage again engages the cam/tab, unlocks, and is pulled toward a drawer-closed position by the spring. The system may also include an intermediate member, with respective sets of three balls disposed between the intermediate and first and second slide members such that respective centers of the balls define corners of an obtuse triangle. The self-closing mechanism may also include a damper.
US08414090B2
An assistance-limit recognizing device for recognizing a limit of assistance made by a vacuum booster that is configured to assist an operating force applied to a brake operating member. A communication between a variable pressure chamber and a negative pressure chamber of the vacuum booster is established, when the operating force is not applied to the brake operating member. A communication between the variable pressure chamber and the atmosphere is established while the communication between the variable pressure chamber and the negative pressure chamber is cut off, when the operating force is applied to the brake operating member, whereby the operating force applied to the brake operating member is assisted based on a pressure difference between a pressure in the negative pressure chamber and a pressure in the variable pressure chamber. The assistance-limit recognizing device is configured, upon reduction of the variable-pressure chamber pressure in process of change of the variable-pressure chamber pressure toward the atmospheric pressure with application of the operating force to the brake operating member, to recognize the limit of the assistance made by the vacuum booster.
US08414089B2
An externally actuable electrohydraulic vehicle brake system including an externally actuable electrohydraulic vehicle system with slip control. In order to make available a brake system which permits highly dynamic pressure build-up processes without throttling effects in the suction path, in particular through a master cylinder, being adversely affected, it is proposed that the hydraulic pump be assigned means which permit the hydraulic pump additionally to drive a hydraulic charging device which is connected to an inlet of the hydraulic pump.
US08414086B2
A vehicle wheel weight has a mass portion of nonlead material having a first side for juxtaposition against a wheel rim and an opposite second side defining a clip groove. The weight further includes a clip having an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim. The clip further has an attachment portion seated in the clip groove such that the clip is fixed to the mass portion.
US08414081B2
A vehicle seating apparatus is provided with a seat assembly and a seat belt buckle assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is foldable between a seating configuration and a non-seating configuration in which the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a seat belt buckle bracket and a buckle head. The seat belt buckle bracket has a first end movably coupled to a lateral side of the seat bottom. The buckle head is movably arranged with respect to the seat assembly between a usage position and a stowed position. The buckle head is arranged with respect to the seat assembly such that movement of the seat back from the seating configuration to the non-seating configuration does not contact the buckle head while the buckle head is in the stowed position.
US08414076B2
The present invention provides an aircraft passenger seat assembly that includes: (a) first and second seats selectively movable between upright and reclined positions and adapted for being positioned beside and at inwardly-facing angles relative to each other; (b) a center console having a relatively wide aft end and a relatively narrow forward end for being positioned between the first and second seats; and © the relatively wide aft end of the center console including first and second foot wells therein adapted to permit the feet of a passenger seated in an aft-positioned first or second seat to extend therein when the aft-positioned first or second seat is in the recline position.
US08414075B2
A chair adjustment structure includes a base member, a top cover pivotally connected to the base member, a spring member connected between the base member and the top cover, and a back bracket pivotally connected to the base member and the top cover. Therefore, when the user sits on the seat pad of the chair, the back bracket is forced to pivot the top cover to provide the user with sitting comfort.
US08414072B2
Disclosed herein is a collapsible hanging chair which may be transported easily into remote areas and attached to any substantially vertical support, such as a tree or a telephone pole. The collapsible hanging chair of the present invention may be attached to a swivel for 360° rotation and visibility. A series of cords connected to the seat support springs provide for suspension of the collapsible hanging chair and combine with the springs to provide shock absorption and balancing as the user sits and rotates in the chair.
US08414071B2
Seat covers for protecting furniture such as upholstered chairs and methods of their use are disclosed in the present application. In some instances, the seat covers are designed to provide resistance to water and other liquids, while providing an attractive, binding, protective cover that is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. The seat covers can include a liquid-resistant, soft to the touch, fabric and straps oriented at corners with connectors for allowing the straps to connect with one another without the need to tie straps to one another or to a chair leg. The length of the straps and the shape of the fabric area can also be configured to provide additional functionalities which are advantageous relative to previous seat covers. Methods of using seat covers are also disclosed.
US08414069B1
A vehicle lamp housing includes a main body, a first projection and a retaining structure. The main body has laterally spaced apart inboard and outboard ends. The first projection extends away from the outboard end, is received in a mounting aperture defined by a body panel and engages a peripheral edge of the mounting aperture. The retaining structure is formed at the inboard end and includes a mounting flange and a second projection that extends away from an underside of the mounting flange. The second projection contacts a mounting surface defined by a bumper fascia retainer that is laterally spaced apart from the body panel and the mounting surface faces away from the vehicle lamp housing such that the first and second projections maintain the vehicle lamp housing in a cantilevered self-supported position when the vehicle lamp housing is installed to the body panel and the bumper fascia retainer.
US08414064B2
The present invention is directed to a device for reducing drag on a vehicle. The device comprises a sheet of material and a plurality of depressions/elevations. The sheet of material having a base portion and an apex extending from the base portion.
US08414061B1
A cover for a grain hopper for shielding the opening of a hopper opening to shed rain, snow, and debris from entering the hopper opening. The cover generally includes a flexible and water-impervious sheet body adapted to be removably secured over an opening of a grain hopper leading to an auger, wherein the sheet body has a resilient cord extending within a peripheral cavity for wrapping around the outside peripheral edge of the hopper and including multiple bow members for forming an arcuate sheet body over the hopper, wherein the bow members are located along an interior surface of the sheet body and removably engage the inside peripheral edge of the hopper. A flap including fastening material may also be used to extend over the covering of the inlet of the auger. The flap extends from the forward end of the sheet body.
US08414059B2
A vehicle rear windshield structure includes a first rear windshield, a second rear windshield, and a light shielding wall. The first rear windshield is to secure rearward visibility from an inside of a vehicle body. The second rear windshield is provided below the first rear windshield to secure rearward visibility from the inside of the vehicle body. The light shielding wall is provided between the first rear windshield and the second rear windshield to reduce light coming from an outside of the vehicle body through the second rear windshield to the first rear windshield.
US08414053B2
A seat back assembly including a frame formed of a low density material such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) and a reinforcement structure encapsulated within the frame is provided. The reinforcement structure includes a load transferring surface extending between opposite ends of the seat back. Each end of the reinforcement structure is secured to a vehicle body structure. The reinforcement structure transfers a load placed upon the seat back assembly throughout the frame so as to maintain the structural integrity of the frame under a predetermined load. Specifically, the load transferring surface of the reinforcement structure is in contact with the frame and transfers the load across a predetermined area of the frame and to the vehicle body.
US08414047B2
A reconfigurable console reinforcement bracket includes a first frame and first and second extension arms. In a first configuration, the first extension arm is connected to a first lateral side of the first frame at a first longitudinal end of the first frame and the second extension arm is connected to a second lateral side of the first frame at the first longitudinal end of the first frame such that the first and second extension arms extend beyond the first longitudinal end. In a second configuration, the first extension arm is connected to the first lateral side of the first frame at the second longitudinal end of the first frame and the second extension arm is connected to the second lateral side of the first frame at the second longitudinal end of the first frame such that the first and second extension arms extend beyond the second longitudinal end.
US08414044B2
A product gripper for the taking up of a product, has two vane blades; has a driving means to move the vane blades between a first position, in which the vane blades can be placed onto a support for the product to be taken up at oppositely disposed sides of the product to be taken up, and a second position, in which the vane blades are located at least partly beneath the product to be taken up; and has a downholder for the fixing of the product to be taken up while the vane blades are moved beneath it, with the downholder being arranged above a vane blade plane defined by the vane blades.
US08414043B2
An end effector for a mobile, remotely controlled robot includes first and second fingers; each finger fixed to a gear segment for rotation therewith; and a drive subsystem driving the gear segments and the associated fingers between open and closed positions.
US08414038B2
A vehicle door latch structure is basically provided with a door latch mechanism and a door latch engagement bracket. The door latch mechanism includes a latch release lever that is movably arranged between a rest position and a release position. The door latch engagement bracket defines an opening that is aligned with the latch release lever while the latch release lever is in the rest position such that the latch release lever extends through the opening upon movement of the door latch engagement bracket toward the latch mechanism while the latch release lever is in the rest position, and such that the door latch engagement bracket prevents movement of the latch release lever from the rest position to the release position while the latch release lever is extending through the opening in the door latch engagement bracket.
US08414037B2
A push-push type latch mechanism is disclosed, which includes a platform, a slide hook with an incline disposed on the platform, a spring disposed on the platform and connected to the slide hook, and at least one damping component disposed on the platform and touching the slide hook. An electronic device with the push-push type latch mechanism is also disclosed.
US08414021B2
A head-protecting airbag apparatus mountable on a vehicle having a window is disclosed. The airbag apparatus includes an airbag adapted to be secured to a member of a vehicle body structure by an upper edge thereof in an upper edge of the window and housed in the upper edge of the window in a folded-up configuration. The airbag includes an inflatable shielding section that covers an inboard side of the window at full airbag deployment, a supporting inflatable region that is in gas communication with the shielding section and deployable between an outboard side of a vicinity of an upper end of the shielding section and the member of the vehicle body structure in an upper area of the window, and delaying means that delays inflation of the supporting inflatable region relative to the shielding section. The supporting inflatable region inflates after the shielding section does between the shielding section and the member of the vehicle body structure, and supports the outboard side of the vicinity of the upper end of the shielding section.
US08414019B2
The airbag of an airbag apparatus is provided with a slip member that is disposed on the outer surface of an occupant protection area of an airbag main body and can suppress load to an occupant by allowing the airbag main body to slide when the airbag comes in contact with the occupant while being developed and inflated. The slip member is connected to the airbag main body at both left and right edges and a rear-lower edge. In the slip member, a left connecting portion and a right connecting portion for connecting both left and right edges to the airbag main body are connected at a position before and above the center of the occupant protection area, and the rear connecting portion for connecting the rear-lower edge to the airbag main body is connected at a position rear-lower the center of the occupant protection area.
US08414013B2
A housing structure for an in-vehicle electronic device is provided. A case body includes a top panel and a side wall continuously and integrally formed at a side edge of the top panel. The case body is configured to accommodate a control board therein. A plurality of brackets outwardly projects and extends from the side wall of the case body. The brackets are fixed to an attachment portion of a vehicle body. A plurality of reinforcement ribs are integrally formed between the brackets and the side wall of the case body at a position lower than the control board in a state where the case body is mounted on the vehicle body.
US08414011B2
A hitch assembly for attachment to a bumper beam that is concealed with a bumper fascia. In one embodiment, the hitch assembly includes a body extending through the bumper fascia and has a receiver dimensioned to receive a drawbar. To secure the drawbar to the hitch assembly, at least one pin may be provided that can move between an engaged position that secures the drawbar to the hitch assembly and a disengaged position that allows the drawbar to be released from the hitch assembly. The hitch assembly may also include a handle extending from the bumper fascia and adapted to move the pin between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
US08414006B2
A bicycle device with an internal drivetrain that eliminates any external mechanical drivetrain components. An internal drive gear is driven by user pedal input, which provides torque and rotation to a plurality of gear rods, connecting rods and disk gears. Gear ratio and speed choice is controlled by the drive gear and a first disk gear, which incorporate a variable gear pitch moving radially outward for which to mate with the gear rods. The drivetrain terminates at a hubless rear wheel, which rotates a tire tread around a stationary hub. Controls for the bicycle are provided in a handle bar stem device that manipulate the position of the gear rods and brake calipers. The front and rear wheel are separable from the central frame of the device for storage and transport. Overall, the present invention provides a sleek, modern upgrade to the traditional bicycle device, and incorporates several features that improve its design.
US08413993B2
A sealing ring for turbo engines is provided. The sealing ring includes individual sealing segments, between which springs are mounted. Locking elements are provided on the parting joint of the turbo engine to retain the sealing segments. In order to ensure that the sealing elements can be securely closed on the parting joint, the sealing segments are positively interconnected on the parting joint.
US08413983B2
An image forming apparatus, including: a conveyor mechanism; a motor driver; and a controller for implementing a sheet-conveyance related control by execution of motor control processing in which a control input for a motor is calculated, wherein the controller implements the motor control processing in each sheet conveyance operation such that the control input is repeatedly calculated for conveying the sheet to a target stop position and for keeping the sheet located at the position, and wherein, in the motor control processing, the controller calculates the control input such that, after the sheet has reached the target stop position, the control input is equal to a hold control input required for keeping the sheet located at the position and such that, at a start point of the processing, the control input is not smaller than the hold control input in the processing in a previous sheet conveyance operation.
US08413980B2
In one example, a printer sheet holding system includes: a support for printable substrate sheets in a support area; and a movable indicator to indicate the presence in the support area of a second sheet stack on top of a first sheet stack. The indicator being movable between a first position in which the indicator extends over the support area where it can rest on top of the first stack when a first stack is supported in the support area and a second position in which the indicator is withdrawn from the support area. In another example, a method includes sensing the presence of a second stack of printable substrate sheets on top of a first stack of printable substrate sheets and, in response to sensing the presence of the second stack on the first stack, configuring the printer to print on sheets of the second substrate.
US08413979B2
A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes a recording medium stacking member; a first binding member that moves to an inside of a stacked area, binds the recording media by deforming the recording media, and moves to an outside of the stacked area after binding the recording media; and a guiding member disposed between the first binding member and the recording media and fixed to the first binding member, the guiding member guiding the recording media so that a gap between the recording media and the first binding member is maintained when the first binding member moves around the inside of the stacked area, wherein the guiding member has an opening that surrounds an area in which the first binding member operates to deform the recording media, and a part of the opening is narrowed in a moving direction of the first binding member.
US08413971B2
A device for removing particles from a connecting rod includes a clamp for fixing a rod of a connecting rod disposed on a base plate, a vibration cylinder disposed to the clamp and a driving unit connected to the vibration cylinder for reciprocating a cap of the connecting rod according to driving of the vibration cylinder.
US08413967B2
An improved wet scrubber tray provides increased resistance to vibration-induced cracking. The tray is self supporting to eliminate wastage of raw material, and additional internal stiffeners added to the tray make multiple intermediate stiffeners. The connection of the intermediate stiffeners to the perforated bottom plate is changed to eliminate the shop weld in the bottom plate. The holes in the perforated bottom plate are repositioned so that they are moved away from the boundaries of the tray to reduce their influence on boundary conditions. The thickness of the tray material may be increased to lower the vibratory stresses. The mechanism for holding the trays themselves within the spray absorber tower is changed so that the trays are now held down by plate material that is attached to the support grid, but not to the trays. Three field welds are applied to the sides of each tray to hold the trays in place relative to each other and are strategically placed to allow adjacent side stiffeners to act together as a composite section, thus increasing their strength. Elastomeric material such as neoprene is used at the tray-to-grid attachments to increase the damping of the system. Formed features in the trays such as single or multiple ribs, bosses, domes or dimples may also be provided to increase tray stiffness or influence wet scrubber performance.
US08413964B2
An optical fiber installation device may include a housing having a drop receiving channel extending therethrough. A drive wheel may be rotatably positioned in the housing and configured to rotatably engage a fiber optic drop provided in the drop receiving channel. The housing may include an air pathway for applying a first flow of pressurized air from an air source to the drive wheel. The first flow of pressurized air may cause the drive wheel to rotate and propel the fiber optic drop through the drop receiving channel.
US08413963B2
A dirtbike maintenance apparatus (DMA) (10) having a dirtbike ramp (12); a dirtbike support assembly (42) with a lower horizontal member (44), a right vertical telescoping member (54), a left vertical telescoping member (78), an frame engagement plate (98); and an assembly attachment member (128); a front tire engagement assembly (134) with a hingedly attached tire plate (138); a right telescoping member (164) and a left telescoping member (194). The DMA (10) is placed on a level surface and a dirtbike (240) is directed onto and along the ramp (12). Once the dirtbike's front tire (242) contacts the tire plate (138), the engagement assembly (134) pivots forward, thereby pulling forward the right and left telescoping members (164,194). At the opposite end the telescoping members (164,194) are attached to the dirtbike support assembly (42). The support assembly (42) is pivotally attached so that as it is pulled forward, the frame engagement plate (98) is forced upwards and interfaces with the lower section of the dirtbike's frame (248), thereby elevating the middle and rear sections of the dirtbike (240).
US08413962B2
In a method and a device for moving a working means in the ground, a coupling means rotatable about an axis of rotation for establishing a drive connection between a push-pull unit and a rod assembly having at least one projection and/or at least one recess is engaged with the projection and/or the recess of the rod assembly such that via a first contact area of the coupling means a first feed force is transmitted from the push-pull unit to the rod assembly. By the counter force opposite to the first feed force a torque acting on the coupling means is generated, which torque presses a second contact area of the coupling means against the rod assembly with a contact force. By the contact force, a non-positive connection is established between the push-pull unit and the rod assembly. Via this non-positive connection, a second feed force is transmitted to the rod assembly. By at least a part of the first and second feed force acting on the rod assembly a linear movement of the rod assembly is caused.
US08413952B2
A method and a computer program product controls the water supply in a sanitary installation having a cold water supply line and a hot water supply line, a valve battery, which is connected to a power supply, and a sensor unit connected to the power supply. At least one trigger means outputs an action signal to an electronic controller when activated by a user by tapping on the trigger means that is embodied as a switch or by at least partially penetrating into the detection area of a trigger means that is embodied as a proximity sensor.
US08413950B2
An actuating solenoid and a non-stick disk by means of which adhesion of an armature of an actuating solenoid to a pole core can be prevented. The non-stick disk is provided with at least one oil channel through which oil can be fed into the contact area between the non-stick disk and the armature or the pole core.
US08413947B2
A positioning device includes a battery box having a first connection base and a second connection base on two ends thereof. The first connection base has two first positioning members on two sides thereof. A first fixing base includes a first reception space for receiving the first connection base and the first fixing base is pivotable relative to the first fixing base. A second fixing base is connected to the second positioning portion. The positioning recess guides the positioning members on the first connection base to slide and pivot. The second connection base is connected to the second fixing base. The battery box is easily taken out and installed.
US08413945B2
A mounting apparatus includes a mounting tray configured for securing an expansion card, a first securing member, a second securing member, a first rotating member and a second rotating member. The first securing member is attached to a first edge of the mounting tray, and a first stopper portion is disposed on the first securing member. The second securing member is attached to a second opposite edge of the mounting tray, and a second stopper portion is disposed on the second securing member. The first and second rotating members are rotatably secured to the mounting tray. A first and second hooks respectively extend from the first and second rotating members. The first hook is engaged with the first stopper portion, and the second hook engaged with the second stopper portion.
US08413924B2
A startup assistance apparatus for a fine pitch Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is provided and includes a generator to provide motive power to the RAT when operating in a first mode and to generate electricity from RAT operation when operating in a second mode and a control unit, including a speed sensing unit configured to sense an operating condition of the generator and a controller operably coupled to the generator and configured to control the generator to operate in the first or the second mode based on the sensed operating condition.
US08413920B2
An apparatus and method for unwinding a roll of web material are disclosed herein. The web material is unwound from the roll and the machine direction of motion of the web is altered without creating a problematic span of web material. A value analogous to the tension of the web material is determined. The speed of the web is adjusted according to the analog of the tension of the web. The apparatus can comprise an unwind stand to rotate the roll, and a means for altering the direction of travel of the web material. The apparatus further comprises a means to determine an analog of the web material tension and a means of controlling the speed of the web according to the analog of the web tension. The web material is routed to a downstream process.
US08413915B2
Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.
US08413907B2
A wireless IC device that is miniaturized, allows simple and low-cost mounting of a wireless IC, and eliminates the possibility of damage occurring to the wireless IC due to static electricity, and an electronic apparatus equipped with the wireless IC device, includes a wireless IC chip that processes transmission and reception signals, and a feeder circuit substrate that includes a resonant circuit having an inductance element. Feeder electrodes are provided on a surface of the feeder circuit substrate and are electromagnetically coupled to the resonant circuit. The feeder electrodes and are electromagnetically coupled to radiation plates and provided for a printed wiring board. The wireless IC chip is activated by a signal received by the radiation plates and a response signal from the wireless IC chip is radiated outward from the radiation plates.
US08413906B2
The present disclosure introduces a new technique for hiding sensitive information in smart cards. A smartcard system relying on stegnography rather than cryptography may act as a countermeasure to prevent extraction of cryptographic information such as passwords. In one embodiment, the smart card system of the present disclosure may be used to authenticate a smart card user. A password may be stored within a hidden memory location of a smart card. A smart card may interface with an external device. Data representing the hidden memory location of the stored password may be transmitted to an external device. Access to the hidden memory location of the smart card by the external device may be allowed. The password stored within the smart card memory is compared to input data entered into the external device. If the input data matches the password stored within the smart card, a user may be authenticated.
US08413903B1
Various algorithms are presented that enable an image of a barcode, captured by a camera of an electronic device, to be decoded on the device without need to upload the image information to a server for processing. The algorithms can account for variations in focus of the image, as may result in blur due to move movement or auto-focus features. The approaches can handle multiple barcode formats, and can handle barcodes on curved surfaces, barcodes with damaged areas, or barcodes that are otherwise uneven. Such algorithms are highly accurate while being fast and lightweight enough to execute on portable electronic devices, such as tablet computers and smart phones.
US08413901B2
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to enable an individual to complete a financial transaction by swiping a magnetic stripe card through a card reader connected to a mobile device. The size of the card reader is miniaturized to be portable for connection with the mobile device. The card reader is configured to reliably read data encoded in a magnetic strip of the card with minimum error in a single swipe and provide a signal that corresponds to the data read to the mobile device, which then decodes the incoming signal from the card reader and acts as a point-of-sale device to complete the financial transaction. Such an approach enables a person to become either a micro-merchant (payee) or a buyer/customer (payer) without having to purchase expensive card reader devices or software.
US08413900B2
A method for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including printing a bar code on each shipment to be tracked, wherein the bar code includes at least one part for identification of the shipper of the shipment, which is invariable for each shipper, and a shipment rank identification part of each shipment, which is variable for each shipment; and a device for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including at least one database having at least one user data table listing bar codes of the shipper and address information, and a data table of shipments being tracked listing each shipment by shipper.
US08413898B2
A computer-implemented method of providing search results responsive to a web enquiry made using an Internet user's wireless communication device. The geographical location of the Internet user's wireless communication device is determined wirelessly. That geographical location is associated with a computer signature of that same Internet user's wireless communication device. Receiving a web enquiry from the Internet user's wireless communication device and replying with geographically relevant information based on the Internet user's location, as determined by reference to the Internet user's computer signature. The location may be cached.
US08413897B2
The present invention concerns a device for securing an enclosed space by identifying the persons authorized to access, including: (i) at least one “human detection system” (3) whose issue(s) activate the entry(ies) (8b) of one or several comparator modules (8); (ii) identification units (i) of the aforesaid types able to communicate with the identification receiver(s) (2) in order to activate the entry(ies) (8a) of one or several comparator modules (8); and (iii) at least one, better several comparator modules (8) characterized by the fact that its (their) issue (8c) will be activated only if the entry (8b) of this same module has been activated, and the other entry (8a) has not been activated alter an adjustable delay. This device is characterized by the fact that an authorized person wears an identifying device which automatically allows the inhibition of the alarm system, which has been previously activated by human detectors.
US08413894B2
A card for use in secure transactions includes a card body having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface having a combination of a plurality of symbols disposed thereon. The card body has a plurality of LEDs disposed in connection with the plurality of preprinted symbols, individual ones of LEDs being disposed to identify respective individual ones of the plurality of symbols when illuminated. An LED controller is coupled to the plurality of LEDs and operable upon actuation to selectively illuminate individual ones of the plurality of LEDs to identify a sub-combination of the plurality of symbols, thereby providing an illuminated one-time code for use in a secure transaction.
US08413866B2
A device for dispensing individual plastic fasteners from a continuous supply of 0.1875 inch pitch ladder stock includes a head assembly that is designed to receive the supply of ladder stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply ladder stock and eject the individual fastener during a single stroke of its actuation cycle. The device also includes a stepper motor for driving the head assembly through its actuation cycle, a DC power switching supply for regulating the power supplied to the stepper motor from an AC input power source, and a controller for collecting historical data relating to usage of the device and for regulating operation of the stepper motor. The controller is programmed to enable certain operational characteristics, such as stroke speed and mode, to be regulated through a user interface which includes a screen display and a plurality of control buttons.
US08413848B2
A hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material metering system has different output assemblies interchangeably mounted thereon in a modular manner. In this manner, if it is desired to effectively convert a particular metering system from one type of metering system to another type of metering system, a particular output assembly can be exchanged for a different output assembly. In addition, if a particular output assembly needs to be replaced or repaired, the particular output assembly can be simply removed and a new similar output assembly can be simply installed.
US08413839B2
Carrying aids may be used with containers that include a wire bail pivotably attached to the container. The carrying aids may include a body configured to engage the bail and be grasped by a grasping hand to suspend the container in a first position. The body may be configured to transfer a torque from a grasping hand to the bail. The torque may pivot the bail relative to the container while lifting the container relative to a grasping hand from the first position to a second position above the first position. In some examples, the bail, with the body mounted thereon, may be pivoted down proximate the sidewall of the container such that the body engages a thumb of a grasping hand and presses the hand against the sidewall to stabilize and support the container relative to the grasping hand.
US08413830B2
A closure is provided and comprises a body and an inset. The closure has a drainage system for allowing fluid applied to the closure to pass between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body to allow removal thereof.
US08413827B2
A cable management frame assembly comprising a collapsible frame chassis and a plurality of positionally configurable cable management fixtures that can be affixed to the frame chassis without the use of tools or additional hardware such screws, nuts or bolts. A panel mount allows patch panels and equipment to be mounted to the frame chassis without the use of tools or additional hardware.
US08413825B2
Retrofitting shelves attachable to a shelving system, shelving systems, and methods of displaying items on a shelving system. In one form, the retrofitting shelf includes a supporting unit, pivoting mechanisms attachable to the supporting unit, and a continuously adjustable device for dividing items on the shelving system which is attachable to the supporting unit. In another form, the shelving system includes a base, vertical members attached to the base, and a retrofitting shelf attached to the vertical members. In yet another form, the method for displaying items on a shelving system includes attaching a retrofitting shelf to the shelving system and placing items on the supporting unit of the retrofitting shelf.
US08413822B2
A rack for holding and displaying cookbooks. The rack is generally comprised of a shelf unit, a swivel arm, a slide and a tray. The swivel arm is pivotally attached to the base of shelf. The slide fits over the swivel arm and is able to slide the length of the swivel arm. The tray is attached to the slide and can display a cookbook or fold up into the shelf unit for easy storage.
US08413821B2
Some embodiments of an apparatus for displaying media content products may provide consumers with the convenience of browsing front and rear faces of the sample media content products while all of the media content products (including the sample packages) can be secured in a manner that hinders theft. In particular embodiments, the media content products can be secured without requiring the store workers to insert each and every media content product into a security box or security tether system.
US08413818B1
A filter unit includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having a proximal end and a distal end. First and second recessed engagement surfaces traverse at least part of the body portion. The first and second engagement surfaces include a first segment that extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the body portion. A second segment extends at an angle between 50 degrees and 60 degrees from the direction of the first segment. A third segment extends substantially orthogonal to the first segment. A laterally extending key member is disposed on the body portion between the first recessed engagement surface and the second recessed engagement surface. An engagement protrusion extends from the proximal end and has a sidewall with a water inlet and a concave engagement wall with a water outlet. The engagement wall includes a first portion that angles inward to the water outlet at a first angle. A second portion angles inward to the water outlet at a second angle different than the first angle. A periphery of the engagement wall at the first portion includes a first radius of curvature. The periphery of the engagement wall at the second portion includes a second radius of curvature that is larger than the first radius of curvature. First and second seals are disposed about the sidewall. The water inlet is disposed between the first and second seals.
US08413808B1
Receiving spacer layer for mobile electronic device and bag combined with the receiving spacer layer
The present invention relates to a receiving spacer layer for a mobile electronic device and a bag combined with the receiving spaced layer. The receiving spacer layer includes a protection pad which is made of a soft foam material and has a first accommodation space to receive a first electronic device, and a bag fabric is connected to the first accommodation space to receive the first electronic device. The receiving spacer layer is combined with the inside of the bag. The bag has a second accommodation space to receive a second electronic device, such as a notebook computer. The first and accommodation spaces are able to accommodate two mobile electronic devices. The present invention is convenient for use and can be carried with ease.
US08413803B2
A multi-functional bottle contains two separate compartments, a first compartment for water or liquid storage, and a second compartment or holding chamber, for storage of a powdered formula. The doubled-walled holding chamber is comprised of a flexible, food-grade polymer. The holding chamber has a closed bottom-end, forming the bottle's base, and an open, sealable top-end for addition of the powdered formula, and for release of the powdered formula for mixing when so desired. Sealable top-end forms an airtight seal with an agitator cap. The agitator cap can easily be released by firmly pressing (depressing) the bottom-end of the holding chamber (and bottle), allowing the user to now mix the powdered formula with the water with a single hand.
US08413795B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a variable phase step feeder including a fixed set of stairs and a moving set of stairs. The fixed set of stairs may include a first fixed step, a second fixed step, and a third fixed step. The moving set of stairs may be interposed between the fixed set of stairs, and include a first moving step adapted to transport a workpiece from the first fixed step to the second fixed step and a second moving step adapted to transport the workpiece from the second fixed step to the third fixed step. The variable phase step feeder may further include a control mechanism for adjusting a phase relationship of the first moving step relative to the second moving step.
US08413785B2
A banknote storage includes a memory unit that stores therein number-of-sheets information for banknotes stored in the banknote storage by denomination being a kind of the banknotes and by category being a classification based on a feature amount of the banknotes. Categories represent classifications when the banknotes are classified by their features. In five classifications defined by ECB, the banknote is classified into two depending on whether the banknote is genuine or counterfeit, and the former is called a genuine note and the latter is called a rejected note. The genuine note is further classified into two depending on how the genuine note is damaged, and one of them without any trouble in its usage is called a fit note and the other one with any trouble assumed in its usage because of being largely damaged is called an unfit note.
US08413771B2
A disc brake system for a disc brake having a pair of brake pad backing plates adapted to be movably positioned on opposite sides of a brake disc. A brake pad is attached to each of the backing plates so that the brake pads face the brake disc on opposite sides of the brake disc. At least one of the brake pad backing plates is constructed of a thermally conductive material and includes a portion which extends outwardly from its attached brake pad and includes at least one elongated slot to improve brake cooling.
US08413767B2
There is provided an elevator operation control device in which for an elevator provided with a destination floor reservation device in an elevator hall, disadvantages can be overcome reliably that a user who observes a predetermined riding rule cannot ride on the elevator because of a user who does not observe the riding rule and that the operation efficiency of elevator is lowered. For this purpose, the destination floor reservation device is provided in an elevator hall so that a user registers his/her own destination floor using the destination floor reservation device. Also, when a car stops at the elevator hall, a non-reservation user riding on the car without registering the destination floor using the destination floor reservation device is detected based on the information on the user having registered the destination floor using the destination floor reservation device and the information on the user in the car. Further, when the non-reservation user is detected, the car is inhibited from starting from the elevator hall, and the car is stopped at the elevator hall.
US08413766B2
A method of allocating calls of a lift installation with at least one lift and at least one car per lift to move passengers in a journey from at least one input floor to at least one destination floor, a system for executing the method and a computer readable memory with instructions for executing the method. The method includes receiving input calls from passengers travelling from an input floor to a destination floor, each call identifying at least one floor as an input floor or a destination floor. A start zone with identified input floors and a destination zone with identified destination floors are determined from the input calls and destination calls. Each identified floor within a corresponding zone is considered using at least one selection criterion and a stopping floor is selected which satisfies the criterion. The car is caused to stop at fewer than all the identified input floors and identified destination floors during the journey.
US08413764B1
A ladder safety device, systems and methods of arresting falls from ladders are provided. The ladder safety device includes a safety guide that extends along the length of an extension ladder. The length of the guide along the length of the ladder extends and contracts in unison with the extension and retraction of the extension ladder, and a tension is maintained on the guide to maintain a load during use of the ladder for climbing.
US08413763B2
A rescue line apparatus is configured as a horizontal tether for being readily connected between a door and a portion of the door jamb or other entry location and extending a line as the user moves within the structure. The device allows the user to readily locate their way back for egressing the structure, and can be readily disengaged by the user, which activates a braking system that prevents unit “run-away”. A multi-attach anchor head couples the far end of the line to any desired structure, and has a beacon assembly which outputs a light pattern of sufficient brightness to be seen by the user when visually locating their attachment point within the structure. A multi-element visual indicator is configured for indicating line extension distance, and displaying tether line status. Many options promote safety and a fully cooperative environment.
US08413758B2
The vehicle body frame is configured in a manner that an upper tension pipe is removed from a first cross portion and a second cross portion. When mounting the engine in the vehicle body frame, the vehicle mounted component that is relatively heavy can be lowered into the vehicle body frame from above by removing the upper tension pipe. The vehicle body frame simplifies the removal and installation of the vehicle-mounted components.
US08413757B2
A motorcycle is provided that includes intake system parts connected to a front side of a cylinder of an engine, and exhaust system parts connected to the rear side of the cylinder. The cylinder is inclined rearward, and the intake system parts are disposed forward and upward of the cylinder. A cylinder axial line C of the cylinder passes rearward of the motorcycle with respect to a lowermost portion of a seating face of a seat, as viewed in a side elevation of the motorcycle.
US08413754B2
A straddle vehicle includes an engine; an air cleaner including an air cleaner box forming a passage through which air is supplied to the engine and an air filter for cleaning the air flowing through the passage; and a first electric component positioned laterally relative to the air cleaner box.
US08413753B2
A foldable seat mounting rack of a foldable motorized vehicle includes a pair of symmetric foldable seat mounting support. Each symmetric foldable seat mounting supports comprises: an upper mounting base, a lower mounting base, a pinion, a locking lever, a main connecting plate, a first and a second auxiliary connecting plates. The main connecting plate is pivoted on both upper and lower mounting bases. The pinion is pivoted at a middle portion on an inner side of the main connecting plate. Side surfaces at one end of the both auxiliary connecting plates are formed with racks engaging with the pinion. The first auxiliary connecting plate is pivoted on the lower mounting base and the second auxiliary connecting plate is pivoted on the upper mounting base. One end of the locking lever is pivoted on the upper end of the main connecting plate, and the other end presses against the pinion.
US08413752B2
A robotic vehicle includes a chassis supported on right and left driven tracks, right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis, and a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs. The battery unit holder includes a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position and a connector mount having locating features and communication features. The locating features receive corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit. The communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the guide to aid alignment of the communication features for establishment of an electrical connection therebetween when the battery unit is in its connected position.
US08413746B2
A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.
US08413741B2
The invention relates to a hydraulic rotary percussive device of the drill type, intended for drilling boreholes, comprising: a striking mechanism equipped with a piston which is able to move translationally along a striking axis and is intended to strike a tool; a hydraulic motor which rotates the tool about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the motor being substantially coincident with the striking axis of the piston, wherein it comprises a support-forming casing, the striking mechanism being hydraulic and having a longitudinal body rotatably mounted in the casing about the axis of the body, the body being rotated directly by the motor and coupled to the tool.
US08413740B2
A washer holding device for temporarily retaining nonmagnetic washers being applied to a building material surface with a fastener gun comprises an arm for affixing the washer holding device to a fastener gun and a washer receptacle joined to the arm. The washer receptacle includes a contacting end, a washer receiving cavity, and a central aperture, with the contacting end defining a distal end of the washer holding device and the cavity sized to receive a nonmagnetic washer such that the washer is temporarily retained within the cavity via a friction fit. An embodiment may include a shoulder, such as an annular flange, recessed from the contacting end, with the shoulder adapted to contact the surface of a deformable building material to limit the depression of the washer receptacle into the building material. The arm may be of various configurations for use with different style fastener guns.
US08413733B2
A new bi-directional horizontal spraying aerosol fire-extinguishing apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a shell structure, an aerosol generator including an aerosol generating agent and disposed inside the shell structure, and a control unit for initiating the aerosol generator. The bi-directional horizontal spraying aerosol fire-extinguishing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that both ends of the shell structure or of the aerosol generator are respectively provided with an aerosol exhaust passage. The advantages of the present apparatus are in that it can reduce the spraying time of the aerosol extinguishing agent in the case of ensuring the fire-suppression efficiency, and increase the charge capacity of the fire-extinguishing apparatus, so that the capacity efficiency of the present apparatus is totally increased, and the present apparatus is easy and safe to be installed and does not occupy the useful space.
US08413729B2
An apparatus and method for the creation of an impermeable pile in the vicinity of a dysfunctional oil well are provided. The impermeable pile is sealed and impervious to sea water and of sufficient strength to sustain the oil pressure to prevent oil leakage into the sea. The impermeable pile is configured for receiving oil from the well and discharging oil through a pipe leading to the surface.
US08413728B2
A break-out assembly includes a slide wrench assembly, and a slide wrench rotator assembly which rotates the slide wrench assembly in response to actuating first and second rotator assembly cylinders. The first and second rotator assembly cylinders are actuated in opposed directions. The break-out assembly includes a clamp assembly having opposed arm assemblies which are rotatable about separate pivot points.
US08413725B2
The present application is directed to a subsea separator. The subsea separator suitably comprises (a) a housing having an inlet for receiving a fluid mixture, a non-gaseous fluid outlet located along the housing at a point lower than the inlet, and a gas outlet located along the housing at a point higher than the inlet; (b) a deflector means located within the housing for acting on fluid entering the housing; and (c) a sealing means in communication with the gas outlet for preventing non-gaseous fluid from exiting the housing through the gas outlet, the sealing means being operationally configured to open and seal the gas outlet based on the volume of non-gaseous fluid within the separator; wherein the separator is operationally configured to operate under a differential pressure including a greater external hydrostatic pressure than internal pressure and vice versa.
US08413722B2
A method for removing a fluid influx from a subsea wellbore drilled using a pump to return fluid from the wellbore to the surface. The method includes detecting the influx when a rate of the return pump increases. Flow from the wellbore is diverted from the return pump to a choke line when the influx reaches the wellhead. A choke in the choke line is operated so that a rate of fluid pumped into the wellbore is substantially equal to a flow rate through the choke line. Fluid flow from the wellbore is redirected to the return pump inlet when the influx has substantially left the well.
US08413720B2
Methods comprising providing a treatment fluid that comprises using an aqueous base fluid, a synthetic cationic gelling agent, a plurality of particulates, and an organic acid. The treatment fluid is then introduced into at least a portion of a subterranean formation having a temperature of above about 275° F. wherein the particulates are deposited into the subterranean and the treatment fluid form at least one void in the subterranean formation itself. The viscosity of the treatment fluid in the subterranean formation is greater than about 20 cP for at least 20 minutes at temperatures higher than about 275° F.
US08413713B2
A heat sink includes a base member having stepped channels spaced on the surface thereof in a parallel manner and first and second ribs protruding from the surface and respectively extending along two opposite lateral sides of each of the stepped channels, and radiation fins respectively mounted in the channels of the metal base member and supported on the second ribs vertically, each radiation fin having a Z-shaped foot portion that is inserted into one respective stepped channel of the base member and secured thereto by the associated first and second rib that are stamped to clamp on the Z-shaped foot portion of the associated radiation fin after its insertion into the respective stepped channel.
US08413710B2
A casting furnace for manufacturing a metal casting comprises an interior chamber and a secondary chamber through which the metal casting passes from the interior chamber into external atmosphere. A seal along the secondary chamber surrounds and seals against the metal casting to separate the interior chamber from the external atmosphere in a manner which allows for an extended period of continuous casting. A force producing mechanism typically forces the seal against the metal casting. Multiple seals may be used sequentially to increase the duration of the sealing capability and the continuous casting process.
US08413703B2
A tape applicator has a handle, a pair of upright plates on the handle, and an accommodation space formed between the pair of upright plates. The handle is coaxially provided with a press member and an operation member. The operation member has a protruding holding plate. The holding plate holds the press member. The user can operate the operation member to turn the press member simultaneously. When the operation member is turned to its extremity, the user can further pull the press rod for the press rod to be further away from the accommodation space. Thus, the distance from the press member to the accommodation space is increased to enhance the use range of the tape applicator for different sizes of tapes.
US08413698B2
A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcement elements, which are crossed from one ply to the other, forming angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction, which itself is topped radially by a tread, said tread being joined to two beads by means of two sidewalls and the axially widest working crown layer being radially internal to the other working crown layers. The tire additionally comprises in each shoulder at least one layer of reinforcement elements which are parallel to each other in the layer and are oriented radially relative to the reinforcement elements of the working layer radially adjacent to said additional layer, the axially inner end of said additional layer being radially adjacent to the edge of the radially outer working crown layer, and at least part of said additional layer being radially and/or axially adjacent to the edge of the axially widest working crown layer, the ratio of the elasticity modulus of a layer P to the elasticity modulus of the calendering layer of the working layer adjacent to the additional layer being of between 0.5 and 1, said layer P being arranged between at least part of the working crown layers, the axially outer end of said layer P being axially between the ends of the axially least wide and widest working crown layers.
US08413694B2
Disclosed are portable fluid treating and dispensing devices, systems, articles, and methods particularly adapted for use in treating potable liquids, such as drinking water, and dispensing it into a plurality of portable potable liquid containers, such as water bottles.
US08413693B2
A curtain nozzle is located above an opening portion in a FIMS. A gas curtain formed of inert gas for closing the opening portion is formed. A cover is so provided as to cover a part of the curtain nozzle so as to prevent peripheral gas around an opening of the curtain nozzle from being involved in the gas curtain of the inert gas emitted from the curtain nozzle.
US08413688B2
A device (100, 200, 200bis, 300, 300bis) for controlling a pilot pressure signal of hydraulic valves (3), for controlling the handling of gravitational loads (M), operating between two pilot lines (108, 109, 208, 209, 308, 309) between the valve (3) and a cylinder (1) adapted to sustain the load (M). The device (100, 200, 200bis, 300, 300bis) is a two-way and two-position valve for the communication between the cylinder stem-side pilot line (5) and the valve-side line (3) and is a valve which can take an open position and a partialized position, or anyway it never takes a closed position. The device (100, 200, 200bis, 300, 300bis) can take a position so that the fluid passage between the pilot lines (108, 109, 208, 209, 308, 309) is never completely closed.
US08413687B1
An insulated sewer vent cover designed to passively prevent ice blockage, comprises a sealed annular insulating space comprising either entrapped air or an appropriate insulation material. The vent cover further comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged and chemically bonded plastic plumbing components which include a pair of bushings, a pair of couplers, and a pair of tubing sections of different diameters. These components are designed to be installed and chemically bonded onto an existing roof-mounted sewer vent pipe.
US08413683B2
A pneumatic control valve device for systems for arbitrarily lifting and lowering the vehicle body of air-suspended vehicles, with a control device having at least one mechanical control element for the positions lift, lower, drive and stop, and with a spring device for returning the control element after it has been released, in which the spring device returns the control element after it has been released into the drive position, a position securing device is provided, the position securing device mechanically locking the control element, the position securing device, in the locked state, preventing the control element from returning under the spring force of the spring device into the drive position, but permitting this in the unlocked state, however always permitting the control element to be manually adjusted, the position securing device can be changed from the locked state into the unlocked state by an electric signal.
US08413679B2
A modular control device (1) is proposed, containing a support module arrangement (3) equipped with a control module arrangement (15). Additionally provided information-carrying modules (42) make it possible to make information regarding the control modules (16) available. They respectively contain a fastening section (43) fixed in place on the support module arrangement (3) and an information-carrying section (45), which is pivotably seated on hinge means (44). The information-carrying section is embodied in an L-shape and can be selectively positioned in a working position, in which it extends over the control module arrangement (15), or in a release position, in which it makes the control module arrangement (15) accessible.
US08413676B2
A hose looping supporter (21) is provided on an upper surface (13A) of a lid (13) of a tank body (12) constituting an operating oil tank (11). This hose looping supporter (21) is constituted by a mounting member (22) mounted on the lid (13) and four retaining arms (23) each bent in a substantially J-shape. A suction hose (19) has its midway portion adapted to be looped annularly, and this looped hose portion (19B) is mounted by being held looped by each revolving frame (23). Meanwhile, in the case of replenishing a fuel tank (15) with fuel, the suction hose (19) can be easily removed from each retaining arm (23) of the hose looping supporter (21) by reducing the diameter of the looped hose portion (19B) of the suction hose (19).
US08413674B2
The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a valve housing defining an opening through which fluid can be provided to the inflatable device, a flexible diaphragm assembly that is configured to self-seal the opening with sufficient fluid pressure in the inflatable device and to open under sufficient fluid pressure from a fluid moving device, to provide fluid through the opening to and seal the inflatable device. The assembly further comprises an electromechanical device including an actuating arm, having a first position in which the actuating arm urges open the self-sealing valve and a second position in which the actuating arm does not act upon the self-sealing valve, so as to regulate an amount of fluid within the inflatable device. With this arrangement, a small, low power, low duty cycle electromechanical device can be used.
US08413670B1
An animal umbrella that includes a thoracic vest having a releasably fastenable front seam, a neck hole, a first foreleg hole, a second foreleg hole, and a base unit centrally disposed atop a dorsal portion, with an umbrella unit having an elongated dome-shaped covering, the covering having a mount support centrally disposed in an arched top portion, wherein a hoop stand removably inserts through the mount support to releasably attach to the base unit and a lock member slidingly secures the canopy at a desired height above the base unit to shield a quadruped from inclement weather and, alternately, shade the quadruped from intense sunlight, as desired.
US08413668B2
To quickly apply a mascara to cilia without unevenness, a state capable of applying a mascara (L) is more quickly achieved in comparison with a conventional art by constructing a guide path (34d) guiding the mascara (L) extruded from an accommodating portion (1a) as a straight linear route, and by opening an opening (4c) flowing out the mascara (L) to the external on the linear route, and the mascara (L) is more evenly distributed between adjacent arch type applying portions (4e, 4e) in comparison with the conventional art by opening the opening (4c) on the linear route as mentioned above, and by structuring an applying body (4x) for applying the mascara (L) to cilia as a plurality of arch type applying portions (4e) which are arranged in line along the opening (4c) while straddling the opening (4c) from an outer side and have an arch shape.
US08413657B2
A patient mask assembly for positive pressure ventilation includes a brace which clips to the mask and provides attachment locations for headgear straps in alternative positions to those attachment locations which may be provided by the mask. The brace may also provide a mask stabilizing portion.
US08413651B2
A device, system and method is provided for dispersing an aerosol formulation comprising a medicament. The device may be useful in administering inhaleable vaccines and the like. The device designed for low cost and applicability to a multitude of patient populations. The device has a spacer (10) is suitable for use with a wide range of aerosolized formulations, particularly powders. The spacer (10) may be an expandable volume spacer (10). The spacer (10) may also be used with other inhalation aids (80). The spacer (10) may include a multi-purpose outlet (40) for use with different groups within the target patient population.
US08413648B2
A barbecue having a manual operating mode and an automatic operating mode. In the manual operating mode a user is required to act affirmatively on the burner or burners of the barbecue in order to light them. In the automatic operating mode, a controller operably controls an igniter and/or a pilot to automatically light the burner or burners without the need for a user to affirmatively act on the burners themselves.
US08413643B2
Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for adjusting relative delivery of liquid and gaseous fuel to a cylinder of the engine to effect rapid changes in cylinder air charge via changes in the displacement of fresh air by the gaseous fuel. In one particular approach, turbocharger lag is addressed by decreasing gaseous fuel injection while increasing liquid fuel injection to increase cylinder fresh air over and above any changes to fresh air via the throttle, wastegate, and/or turbocharger.
US08413624B2
A valve timing control apparatus for a valve timing adjusting unit that adjusts valve timing of an engine. The control apparatus learns a reference position. The control apparatus computes an actual phase based on the learned reference position. The control apparatus computes a target phase based on an engine operational state. The control apparatus controls a hydraulic actuator to perform a phase control based on a difference between the target phase and the actual phase. The control apparatus determines whether the lock mechanism is under an abnormal state. When the control apparatus determines that the lock mechanism is under the abnormal state, the control apparatus is prohibited from performing the phase control that uses the reference position.
US08413622B2
There are provided first and second extending oil passages supplying operational oil to intake-side and exhaust-side lash adjustors, a first connection oil passage interconnecting one end portions of the oil passages, and an oil-pressure control valve selecting a first state in which the first extending oil passage does not connect to a drain oil passage or a second state in which the first extending oil passage connects to the drain oil passage. An orifice is provided in an oil passage which is located on the side of the first connection oil passage relative to a supply portion of the operational oil supplied to the lash adjustor and located on the side of the first connection oil passage relative to another supply portion of the operational oil supplied to the lash adjustor.
US08413616B2
An arrangement for cleaning of intake air for an air-cooled internal combustion engine of a motor-driven tool, such as a chain saw. The arrangement includes an air conductor surrounding a fan wheel arranged to propel intake air around an axis of the fan wheel. An inner wall of the air conductor is arranged for guiding air propelled by the fan wheel. An air nozzle for cleaning of intake air is arranged on the inner wall of the air conductor radially close to said fan wheel. The air nozzle serves as a passage way for providing cleaned intake air from the fan wheel to the engine of the motor-driven tool, wherein the air nozzle and the air conductor are manufactured in one piece.
US08413615B2
A hot water supply apparatus including: a hot-water supply pipe for guiding hot water generated by a hot-water generator to a hot-water supplying terminal; two hot-water supply temperature sensors for detecting water temperature in the hot-water supply pipe; a temperature control unit for adjusting a temperature of the hot water supplied to the hot-water supplying terminal; a sensor abnormality determining unit for determining sensor abnormality when a difference between temperatures detected by the two hot-water supply temperature sensors is larger than a predetermined permissible error; a sensor selector for selectively setting one hot-water supply temperature sensor detecting a higher temperature as a hot-water supply temperature sensor for temperature control; and a hot-water supply temperature controller for controlling the temperature control unit so that a temperature detected by the hot-water supply temperature sensor for temperature control selected from the two hot-water supply temperature sensors is matched with a set temperature.
US08413614B2
A protective bird apron includes a main body area with a length and a width and a pair of opposing lateral sections attached to the main body area at corresponding opposing edges thereof, each lateral section having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend beneath respective wings of the bird. At least one securing strap is coupled to an upper portion of the main body area and to an upper portion of at least one of the lateral sections, the main body area, the at least one of the lateral sections, and the at least one securing strap defining at least one shoulder securing area. A shoulder protector is coupled to the main body area of the back covering, disposed to protect shoulders of the bird while leaving the wings of the bird substantially unrestricted in wing-flapping movement, and has a width substantially the same or greater than an overall width of the back covering. Visible warning indicia are provided on the back covering and/or the shoulder protector.
US08413612B2
A dog toy comprised of a plurality of resilient balls, relatively snugly joined in a linear configuration via an interior connecting member. The connecting member protected from wear by the pressure holding two adjacent balls together resisting the penetration of the teeth of an animal playing with the toy. The toy appearance describable as a ball log.
US08413611B2
An animal chew toy and a method for making such that comprises a fabric having a plurality of fibers and a polymeric material that contacts the fabric wherein the polymer material engages with the plurality of fibers.
US08413594B2
Presented is an improved latching mechanism for table legs. While maintaining the benefits of standard folding mechanisms, the mechanism also achieves many benefits including improved table rigidity, an intuitively operable release mechanism, an easily constructed mechanism with as little as three molded pieces and a spring, a single release action to release the mechanism from both a “use” and “folded” configuration, and four spatially separated latching points for each of the “use” and “folded” configurations. Additionally the mechanism meets or exceeds government and industry standards while having a refined appearance.
US08413593B2
Presented is a table with a pivotable table top that is mounted rotatably and lockably about an axis of rotation extending in a longitudinal direction. The table has a pivoting mechanism on a table frame in the upper region of two lateral table legs. The table can be folded out or folded between a horizontal use position and a storage position. A pivoting movement of the table top is achieved, while combining secure operation and simple handling. The pivoting mechanism includes at least one pair of inter-engaging, mutually complementary tooth portions that are arranged concentrically about the axis of rotation. The tooth portions can be moved apart relative to one another by at least the tooth depth in the direction of the axis of rotation in order to enable the pivoting movement. In each pair, one tooth portion is mounted fixedly in terms of rotation with respect to the table leg and the other tooth portion is mounted fixedly in terms of rotation with respect to the table top.
US08413591B2
An improved door assembly has a single movable door and may have a separate movable high platform threshold. The door assembly is formed of an upper door section and a lower door section which is fixed to the upper door section. A support member may be integral with or slidably engaged with the door assembly, disposed as an angle iron fixed to the door assembly, or disposed on the side of a stairwell of a rail passenger car.
US08413590B2
A center bowl liner provided for use between a center plate of a railroad car and a center bowl surface on a truck bolster. The center bowl liner includes a disc-shaped element having top and bottom surfaces and a central opening for receiving a center pin. A conductive washer is attached to the disc-shaped element, the conductive washer having a profile wherein portions of the conductive washer are exposed at the top and bottom surfaces of the disc-shaped element and create an electrical connection between the railroad car center plate and the center bowl on the truck bolster. The disc-shaped element acts as a load-bearing element supporting the railroad car center plate. The conductive washer, since it may have spring-like properties, will also undertake to bear a limited amount of the load of the railroad car center plate in addition to providing electrical connection between the car and truck.
US08413586B2
A modified 40 mm grenade round designed to breach doors without throwing a substantial amount of shrapnel into a building's interior. The modified round includes a standoff device located on its forward end. The standoff device detonates the explosive charge within the projectile before the nose of the projectile actually strikes the target. This early detonation throws a pressure wave again the door's exterior, forcing the door inward. Shrapnel produced by the detonation remains primarily outside the door. Thus, the modified projectile is able to blow open a door without throwing a significant amount of shrapnel into a building's interior.
US08413582B1
The present invention relates generally to the field of escapement mechanisms for providing mechanical control of motion based on desired timing criteria and more particularly to micro-scale and millimeter scale escapement mechanisms, and even more particularly to such mechanisms produced in whole or in part using multi-layer, multi-material electrochemical fabrication methods. In some embodiments, such escapement mechanisms are used in safing and arming applications for munitions or other explosive devices where two or more accelerations are present at appropriate times where after an arming delay occurs.
US08413581B2
An apparatus and a method is provided for handling printing plates which are provided in the form of a printing plate stack on at least one storage plane. If printing plates having a particularly large format are required to set images on them in an exposer, loading cassettes for a magazine of cassettes is at least problematic. Therefore, a tray is moved out of a storage device via an adjacent lifting device into the lower region of the storage device, and is fed there to a drawer which can be moved out of the storage device. If the tray is situated on the drawer, the latter can be moved by an operator in a second horizontal direction out of the handling apparatus, in particular out of the storage device. In this position, the tray can then be loaded in an ergonomically favorable manner.
US08413578B2
Disclosed herein is a modular printing system for printing viscous material on electronic substrates. The modular printing system comprises a first stencil printer including a substrate support assembly including a support configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a first system configured to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the first support of the first substrate support assembly, the first system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track, and at least one second stencil printer including a second substrate support assembly including a support configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a system configured to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the support of the second substrate support assembly, the system including a at least one upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track.
US08413574B2
A strapping machine that includes a strap chute defining an arch through which loads are conveyed, the arch having an entrance and an exit, infeed and outfeed conveyors positioned at the arch entrance and exit, respectively, the conveyors defining a work surface, and a strapping head disposed at about the arch for conveying the strap around the loads, tensioning the strap, and securing the strap. The machine further includes a sensor disposed above the work surface and a controller. During operation in a back-to-back mode, the infeed and outfeed conveyors are actuated to move a first, strapped load, and a second, to be strapped load, through the arch, wherein the outfeed conveyor is driven at a faster speed than the infeed conveyor to create a gap between the first and second loads. The sensor senses the gap between the first and second loads and the infeed and outfeed conveyors are stopped when the second load is properly positioned within the arch, wherein the controller determines that the second load is properly positioned within the arch based on the sensing of the gap. The controller initiates a strapping operation for the second load during which the strap is pulled from the strap chute onto the second load, the strap is tensioned on the second load, and the strap is secured.
US08413572B1
A hydraulic system is disclosed that utilizes a switching block to selectively allow pressurized fluid to be stolen from a master or lift cylinder and directed to a single acting cylinder to perform a function, such as securing an implement to a vehicle. The system utilizes the highly pressurized hydraulic fluid from an extended lift cylinder to maintain a secondary cylinder in an extended position. To withdraw the secondary cylinder, a one-way valve directs fluid to the opposite chamber of the secondary cylinder. The secondary cylinder, however will only retract if the master cylinder is retracted and not under pressure, thus providing a significant safety benefit in certain applications. This system provides many cost efficiencies and may be utilized by work vehicles to perform secondary functions such as attaching and removing an implement from a vehicle such as, for example, a loader from a tractor.
US08413569B1
A gun mount is provided that includes a first linear actuator, a second linear actuator, and a gimbal. Each of the first linear actuator and second linear actuator is terminated by a ball joint at either end thereof. One ball joint associated with each linear actuator is coupled to a location on a gun where the two locations are proximate to one another. The remaining ball joint associated with each linear actuator is coupled to a support base. An angular relationship is defined between the two linear actuators. The gimbal is one that provides two-degree-of-freedom movement, and is coupled to the gun forward of the ball joint attachment locations. The gimbal further is coupled to the support base so that the gun is supported by the gimbal and the linear actuators.
US08413568B2
A utility vehicle with underfloor structure giving protection from mine explosions. There is a wedge at the edge of the driver compartment which splits the detonation blast from a mine buried in the track of a front wheel. There is a multilayer stack, inboard of the wedge, which crushes upward to reduce the detonation wave from a mine buried under the vehicle. The stack comprises panels to catch the detonation wave and separated by spacers. Spacers are longitudinal stringers stacked above each other and welded, forming deep beams joined to bulkheads, making the vehicle's frame. The wedge also bolts to bulkheads, augmenting the frame. In cross section, the stack is curved, tapering off at each end to merge with the “V” of a wedge. The wedge crushes sideways under the detonation wave, providing protection at the edge of the driver compartment where stack material has run out.
US08413567B2
The disclosed vehicle armor includes a first layer forming an interior bottom surface of the cabin and comprised of a high-strength metal material, a second layer forming an exterior bottom surface of the cabin and comprised of a high-strength metal material, and, a middle layer sandwiched between the first and second layers and comprised of a polymer material. The underbelly device is configured having a plurality of high areas and low areas creating deflection faces and separation distances between an interior of the cabin and an exterior threat. A second, multi-layer composite structure, forming an interior floor of the cabin, may be incorporated as a fragmentation penetration barrier.
US08413566B2
The invention relates to an armored door (5) for the crew compartment of a vehicle or fixed shelter, such door intended to block an opening (10) into the compartment and incorporating a structure (7) to the exterior of which at least one armor plate (12) is fastened.The armor plate (12) is fixed at a distance from the structure (7) and is separate from said structure by first deformable intermediate means (14) able to absorb part of the energy of a shock, the armor plate (12) having, furthermore, dimensions that are greater than those of the structure (7), and second deformable intermediate means (15) positioned between the rim (R) of the armor plate (12) and a wall (8) of the compartment surrounding the opening (10).
US08413564B1
A portable protective shield for an IED or other suspected explosive devices includes a plurality of toroidal rings clamped between a lid and a base of the shield. The device is capable of withstanding high-pressure blast waves, thermal release and/or high-velocity fragments.
US08413552B2
A socket assembly is provided for receiving and retaining a head of a fastener. The socket assembly includes a socket body having a longitudinal interior chamber defined by interior walls. The interior chamber extends axially within the socket body to a receiving end of the socket body. The interior walls of the interior chamber are configured to a shape of the head of a fastener for receiving the head of the fastener at the receiving end. A magnet is disposed within the interior of the socket body. The magnet is selectively movable in an axial direction within the interior chamber of the of the socket body. A fastening member is radially engaged to the socket body. The fastening member is configured to releasably secure the magnet within the socket body at a selected axial position in relation to the head of the fastener inserted within the receiving end.
US08413548B2
A grasping device comprising a grasping assembly coupled to a shaft adapted to fit into a drill chuck is described. Embodiments of the grasping device are capable of grasping objects such as a screw head, a bolt head, a hex nut, a wing nut, a hook, or other irregularly shaped objects, so that such objects can be turned by an electric drill, lathe, or similar machine tool.
US08413541B2
A clamp assembly secures a fixed portion of a steering column assembly to a movable portion of a steering column. It comprises a rack of teeth carried by the moving portion and a rack of teeth carried by the fixed portion and an inner hollow toothed block nested inside an outer hollow toothed block, each carrying at least one rack of teeth with the rack of teeth on the inner block facing the rack of teeth on the moving portion and the rack of teeth on the outer block facing the rack of teeth on the fixed portion. A retaining clip provides a lost motion coupling between the retaining clip and the inner toothed block and an independent lost motion coupling between the retaining clip and the inner toothed block and an independent motion coupling between the retaining clip and the outer toothed block. First, second and third springs bias the teeth of the blocks into and out of engagement with the racks when locked and unlocked. The assembly helps prevent damage to the teeth with the springs permitting the damage force on the blocks to be independently absorbed.
US08413535B2
A tool adapted to prevent a shifter shaft from moving relative to a shifter housing includes an elongated member having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, and a third side disposed between the first and second sides, wherein the elongated member is disposed at least partially parallel to the shifter shaft and is adapted to be secured to the shifter housing. A first side member is disposed on the first side of the elongated member, a second side member is disposed on the second side of the elongated member, and a collar is disposed on the third side of the elongated member, wherein the collar is adapted to secure to the shifter shaft. The first side member and second side member prevent the shifter shaft from moving in a first direction and the elongated member prevents the shifter shaft from moving in a second direction.
US08413529B2
A blood transfer assembly comprises of a standard Luer lock style syringe that has a needle and a protective cap in place. The assembly further comprises a blood transfer guide housing that contains a first optional set of barbs that holds the cylindrical end of the syringe. A second set of barbs rigidly hold the needle and prevent the needle being withdrawn from the guide. As the syringe is inserted into the guide the protective cap will pass through the first and second set of barbs until the syringe and the guide come in mechanical contact with each other forming a single assembly.
US08413525B1
A portable torque measurement and notification system, including a torque applying device to apply torque to an object, the torque applying device having a handle and a gripping end, the torque applying device including one or more strain gages disposed on the handle to produce one or more strain measurements of the handle during the application of the torque; an electronic circuit disposed about the handle to receive the one or more strain measurements, to convert the strain measurements to one or more torque measurements, and to transmit the one or more torque measurements by a wireless communications standard; a power unit to power the strain gages and electronic circuit; and a wireless device operable to communicate with the torque applying device, the wireless device having a database to store a target torque value and to receive the transmitted one or more torque measurements, and to produce a notifier.
US08413518B2
A pressure or force sensor has a sensor housing, a measuring element in the housing, and a sensor membrane. The membrane is delimited by an inner edge and an outer edge, which is connected in a pressure-resistant manner to the sensor housing. The inner edge transitions in a pressure-resistant manner into a movable plunger, the travel of which can be detected by the measuring element. The membrane has one or more elastic regions between the outer edge and the inner edge, each region having a thinnest point, wherein the material thickness inside the elastic region increases steadily on both sides of this thinnest point. The cross-section of the membrane has an arched shape in each elastic region, and the arched shape has a convex outer and concave inner contour relative to the arch orientation.
US08413515B2
There is provided an ultrasonic inspection apparatus which detects various deviations with respect to an ideal scanning position and achieves, with high accuracy, an ultrasound flaw inspection by autonomously adjusting the deviations. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an integrated type ultrasound transducer including an ultrasonic transducer, an integral type ultrasound transducer control unit, an actuator for distance adjustment, an actuator for tilt control, and a distance measuring sensor. The integrated type ultrasound transducer calculates a deviation between a scanning position based on a preliminarily generated scanning path information and an ideal scanning position, and performs a deviation correction processing by autonomously controlling a distance and a tilt between an opening surface of the ultrasound transducer and an inspection region of an object to be inspected in accordance with this deviation.
US08413510B2
An acceleration sensor includes first and second opposed electrode units. The first opposed electrode unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced away from and facing the first electrode, and provides a first capacitance. The second opposed electrode unit includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode spaced away from and facing the third electrode, and provides a second capacitance. The first and third electrodes are arranged along a first direction. A component of acceleration along the first direction applied to the object is detected based on the first and second capacitances. A control voltage is applied to the first and second opposed electrode units. The control voltage is changed when both of the first capacitance and the second capacitance simultaneously increase or decrease. This acceleration sensor detects the acceleration accurately.
US08413499B2
Partial Stroke Testing (PST) equipment and methodologies provide PST data for an electromechanical valve, wherein power is withheld from the valve to trigger the vale to move away from a fully open position and power is subsequently applied to reinstate the fully open position immediately following detecting that the test valve has moved away from the fully open position. These operations are performed and monitored to determine whether they are completed within a prescribed period of time and associated data is generated that indicates a health of the valve subjected to the PST.
US08413492B1
A cylinder sleeve surface measurement assembly for measuring a surface roughness of a cylinder sleeve, especially a cylinder sleeve formed in an engine block. The assembly includes a fixture that holds a surface profiling device. The surface profiling device is provided with a stylus that perpendicularly projects from a measuring arm, and the fixture holds the surface profiling device such that the stylus remains in perpendicular contact with the surface of the cylinder sleeve. To ensure perpendicular contact, the fixture is provided with an arcuate surface that defines an arc matching that of a portion of the cylinder sleeve. Accordingly, the arcuate surface allows the measuring arm to remain parallel to a surface of the cylinder sleeve, thereby ensuring that the stylus remains perpendicular thereto.
US08413478B2
A method of drawing and ironing a resin film laminated metal sheet for forming a can body having a bottom portion, a can wall portion and a flange-forming portion by drawing the resin film laminated metal sheet obtained by laminating at least one surface of a metal sheet with an organic resin film, followed by ironing by using a punch and a plurality of dies neighboring each other. The can wall is effectively prevented from being broken by a decrease in the thickness of the can wall, and drawn and ironed cans are efficiently formed having a thickness which is decreased as designed.
US08413469B2
A cut protection glove, made of a textile material having a cut resistant fibre, characterized in that the textile material has a bamboo fibre.
US08413464B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a glass substrate for a magnetic disk in which the occurrence of micro-waviness on the glass substrate is prevented in a cooling step after a chemically strengthening step so that the glass substrate has a significantly smooth principal surface, and provides a method for producing a magnetic disk in which head crash, thermal asperity failures, and the like are prevented, the flying height of a magnetic head can be decreased, and high-density recording is enabled.In a method for producing a glass substrate for a magnetic disk including a chemically strengthening step in which a glass substrate is immersed in a heated chemically strengthening salt solution prepared by dissolving a chemically strengthening salt under heating, and metal ions in the glass substrate are ion-exchanged with metal ions in the chemically strengthening salt, wherein the chemically strengthening step is carried out using a chemically strengthening salt solution in which the dissolved chemically strengthening salt does not solidify until the temperature decreases to a temperature that provides hardness at which the surface shape of the glass substrate is not deformed by a force applied to the glass substrate when the chemically strengthening salt having adhered onto the glass substrate solidifies.
US08413454B2
An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system is provided that comprises a thermostat for initiating the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode of operation or at least one reduced capacity mode of operation, and a controller for an outside condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, the controller being capable of operating the compressor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode. The system also comprises a controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, the controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode. The system further includes a communication means for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and at least the indoor blower controller, where the information relates to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit. The indoor blower controller responsively controls the operation of the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode or a reduced capacity mode based on the information received from the outdoor unit controller, and the outdoor unit controller responsively controls the operation of the compressor in a full capacity mode or a reduced capacity mode based on the information received from the indoor blower controller.
US08413452B2
A cryogenic refrigerator has a refrigeration cylinder and at least two displacers. Each displacer reciprocates in the refrigeration cylinder and moves refrigeration gas through the refrigeration cylinder. A regenerator cools the refrigeration gas, and gas control valves admit high pressure gas into the refrigeration cylinder and exhaust gas from the refrigeration cylinder. The refrigerator also has linear motors operatively connected to displacers, and the linear motors drive the displacers in reciprocating movement. A position sensor is provided to determine a parameter of the displacers during reciprocation. A controller is operatively connected to the linear motors to control the linear motors. The controller controls a parameter of the two displacers during reciprocation. The parameter can be stroke length, stroke speed, stroke phase or another parameter of the displacer for temperature control of the cryogenic refrigerator. The cryogenic refrigerator may also include a device to remove vibration.
US08413449B2
A thermal machine includes a hot gas channel; a shell bounding the hot gas channel; a cooling shirt surrounding the shell; and a cooling channel disposed between the shell and the cooling shirt and configured to convection cool the hot gas channel with a cooling medium, wherein the cooling shirt includes at least one local divergence in the guidance of the cooling medium so as to compensate for non-uniformities in at least one of a thermal load on the shell and a flow of the cooling medium in the cooling channel.
US08413438B2
Intake air heating and exhaust cooling is provided by a double wall exhaust system serving as an exhaust-to-air heat exchanger, sourcing hot air to the intake manifold for intake stroke pumping benefit and cooling the exhaust system during high load operation by routing excess boost air through an interstitial space of the double wall.
US08413430B2
The invention relates to a device for metering a liquid reducing agent into an exhaust gas system for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust gas. The device comprises a metering valve and an adapter to be mounted on an exhaust gas pipe. The metering valve is connected to the adapter by a connector element, which has at least one metal sound absorber.
US08413426B2
An exhaust cleaning method and exhaust cleaning apparatus for an internal combustion engine (1) in which a fuel is fed and burned under periodical rich/lean combustion conditions. In a fuel reformer (18) disposed independently of an exhaust channel (11) in the engine (1), the fuel for the internal combustion engine (1) is reformed to produce a reformed gas containing carbon monoxide. The reformed gas is supplied to the exhaust to be introduced into an exhaust converter (17) having, disposed therein, a catalyst which adsorbs and reduces nitrogen oxides. The nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas are adsorbed and reduced. Thus, the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust are removed at a high efficiency.
US08413421B2
Two different flows for air-fuel mixture are formed by two different variational amounts for changing the air-fuel ratio of the mixture. Response delay times for different exhaust gas flows are measured as time periods from a first time point at which the air-fuel ratio of the mixture is changed to a second time point at which an output of an oxygen sensor is changed. The oxygen sensor is provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine at a downstream side of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst. A difference between the two response delay times is compared with a predetermined threshold value to carry out the diagnosis for the catalyst deterioration.
US08413419B2
The fluid and heat transfer theory for regenerative cooling of a rocket combustion chamber with a porous media coolant jacket is presented. This model is used to design a regeneratively cooled rocket or other high temperature engine cooling jacket. Cooling jackets comprising impermeable inner and outer walls, and porous media channels are disclosed. Also disclosed are porous media coolant jackets with additional structures designed to transfer heat directly from the inner wall to the outer wall, and structures designed to direct movement of the coolant fluid from the inner wall to the outer wall. Methods of making such jackets are also disclosed.
US08413412B2
A horse boot (10) includes a shell (12) and a gaiter (22). The shell has a sole (14) and an upper (16) with a vertical slit (18). The gaiter (22) is releasably attached to the heel of the upper and is wrapped around the pastern (P) above the hoof's hairline (C) and below the fetlock to anchor the shell to the pastern and function as a barrier against debris. The gaiter includes a portion of two-way stretch material (60) that makes it possible to fold it out of the way for ease of installation. The process is further facilitated by the slit (18) that allows spreading of the shell. By shaping the upper (16) so that it presses against the hoof (H), the boot is advantageously held in place using only the gaiter anchored to the heel of the boot and strapped to the pastern of the horse.
US08413407B2
A system to produce rolls of web material includes: a production machine (1) to produce the web material; a winder (3) to form reels (B) of web material coming from the production machine; an unwinder (20) to unwind single reels of web material produced by the winder; a group of tools for longitudinal cutting of the web material to divide the web material into strips, including members to position the tools in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of feed of the web material; a rewinder (22) to rewind the single strips into rolls; a line for packaging (9) the rolls (R); at least one shuttle (11) to transfer groups of rolls formed by the rewinder towards the packaging line; and an information system for integrated management of the system.
US08413400B2
A recess former (30) is disclosed for use with anchors (35) which are to be cast into a concrete slab (61). The recess former (30) preferably includes a removable plug (36) and preferably rectangular lugs (57) which engage with corresponding apertures in the attachment head (34) of the lifting anchor and prevent the ingress of cement during casting of the slab (61). In addition, flaps (51) are preferably provided on the recess former to prevent the sides of the attachment head (34) from being encased in the concrete. Preferably the former is pivoted between open and closed positions and has a slightly V-shaped base which when abutted against a mold or formwork, urges the recess former into the closed position. Furthermore, a recess former (60-60I) is disclosed which stays behind after the casting and remains embedded in the concrete in order to provide a waterproof membrane between the recess (62) and adjacent reinforcing rods (58, 59, 71) thereby preventing corrosion of the reinforcing rods.
US08413383B2
An adjustable door sill assembly can include a threshold. A threshold cap can be on the threshold and have at least one opening formed therein. A carriage can be beneath the threshold cap and positioned proximate the at least one opening. At least one adjustment element on the carriage is capable of causing the threshold cap to move vertically with respect to the threshold. The adjustment element can be accessible through the opening on the threshold cap. A cap plug can cover the opening, the cap plug being removably attachable with the carriage.
US08413377B2
A liquid ejection head including: a channel member including: a ejection openings; a liquid channel communicated with the ejection openings; and a liquid-supply opening for supplying liquid to the liquid channel; an ejection-energy applying portion configured to apply an ejection energy to the liquid in the liquid channel; an electronic part connected to the ejection-energy applying portion; a cover member defining an accommodating space with the channel member, the accommodating space accommodating the electronic part and at least a part of a liquid-supply pipe connected to the liquid-supply opening; and a liquid absorbing member disposed in the accommodating space so as to cover at least a part of a surface of the liquid-supply pipe; wherein the cover member has a through hole formed therein for communicating the accommodating space with an outside of the cover member; and wherein a part of the liquid absorbing member is exposed to the outside of the cover member from an entirety the through hole.
US08413367B1
A dodger type type trolling attractor which imparts a start and stop motion to a lure or bait attached thereto during trolling. The dodger has a starboard side edge, a port side edge, a blunt leading edge, a rounded trailing edge, and a longitudinal centerline. A concave portion is located adjacent the trailing edge. A plurality of leading attachment openings are located adjacent the leading edge on the starboard side and port side of said longitudinal centerline, the leading attachment openings adapted to be attached to the outer end of a fishing line. A trailing attachment opening is located adjacent the trailing edge and is adapted to be attached to the outer end of a trailing leader line attached to a lure or bated hook. A mechanism to generate periodic noise during trolling is located adjacent the trailing edge.
US08413359B2
An exemplary system comprises a power regulator and an emitting apparatus. The emitting apparatus is typically attached to or integrated with a display object, such as a merchandise package or container. A support structure, such as a point of purchase display, typically contains or supports one or more power regulators and display objects. The power regulator comprises a controller and a primary inductor, and the controller is adapted to provide a voltage or current to the primary inductor to generate a first primary inductor voltage. The emitting apparatus comprises an illumination source and a secondary inductor coupled to the illumination source. The illumination source is adapted to emit visible light when the power regulator is in an on state and when the secondary inductor is within a predetermined distance of the primary inductor. In exemplary embodiments, the first and second inductors are substantially planar.
US08413358B2
An electric fire is described. The fire provides one or more three dimensional flame effects to simulate the effects of a burning fire. A fuel bed for use in an electric fire is also described.
US08413357B1
Implementations of pet tags and related protective and alignment features. A pet tag may comprise a raised edge of a concave design, a recessed design or a bordered design. Single or multiple piece implementations may be used to protect an image to be marked on one or both sides of a pet tag. Implementations may comprise multiple pet tags pre-assembled or assembled after marking to further protect one or more images marked on the tags. Other implementations may comprise removable brackets to adapt the pet tags to particular marking kiosks. Still other implementations may comprise crystals embedded in the marking substrate with an additional substrate coupled to a rear side of the marking substrate.
US08413347B2
A drain cleaning machine with an electronic cable monitoring system is disclosed which comprises a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning cable which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into and out from the drum, and the frame supports a cable feeding device through which the cable extends and by which the cable is displaced into and out of the drum. An electronic cable monitoring system is configured to assess an amount of cable payed out from and retracted into the drum. A process determines an amount and direction of relative movement between a rotatable drum and a cable follower member and generates a signal representative of an amount of cable payed out or retracted into the drum.
US08413333B2
The present invention is a method of making a backerboard having a fiberglass mesh on one side, and an impervious reinforcement membrane on the other side. The backerboard incorporates a low density, high compressive strength concrete core having an upper principal surface and a lower principal surface. The upper principal surface of the core is covered by a fiberglass mesh reinforcement layer, itself covered and bonded to the core by a thin layer of Portland cement. The lower principal surface of the backerboard is covered with a high tensile strength, impervious reinforcement membrane.
US08413321B2
A module substrate includes a multilayer substrate that includes a plurality of layers, a bottommost of the layers being a ceramic layer. Solderable contacts, which include fired pads composed of a conductive paste, are applied to the bottommost ceramic layer. A covering layer overlies the pads. The covering layer covers all outer edges of the pads. A window is cut out of the covering layer. A metallic coating is applied to each pad exclusively within the window.
US08413314B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a stator for an electric rotating machine. The method includes the steps of: (1) forming a plurality of planar electric wires, each of the planar electric wires including a plurality of in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and a plurality of turn portions to be located outside of the slots to connect the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires through plastic deformation into a spiral or circular-arc shape; (3) forming a hollow cylindrical stator coil by assembling the rolled electric wires through operations of making relative axial movement therebetween; and (4) assembling the stator core and the stator coil together to form the stator.
US08413310B2
A method of assembling pushbuttons for a liquid dispensing system, in which each pushbutton comprises an actuation body and at least one other component assembled with said body in a given position, said method making provision for using bodies on which a positioning cavity is formed, and continuously supplying a station for assembling the bodies and the other components by means of a path for conveying said bodies, said path having a complementary profile intended to cooperate with the cavities in order to carry out the positioning of said bodies in said conveying path, so as to carry out the assembly of the other components on the bodies thus positioned during their conveying to the assembly station. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing this method, and a pushbutton assembled by implementing said method.
US08413308B2
In a board placement method and system, a PCB panel having multiple interconnected PCB units and a vacant space is placed on a work surface of a reference platform. The work surface has an opening corresponding to the vacant space. The reference platform has a micro-adjusting unit, which includes a support seat disposed in the opening and movable along three directions. The support seat is used for placement of a good PCB unit. The current positions of the PCB panel and the good PCB unit are measured so as to calculate a target position of the good PCB unit and an error between the target position and the current position of the good PCB unit. The micro-adjusting unit can drive the support seat to move so as to move the good PCB unit to the target position. The good PCB unit is then fixed in the vacant space.
US08413303B2
A hinge mechanism includes: a bracket 2 having a rotation shaft portion insertion hole 2a for inserting through a marginal rotating shaft portion 3b thereof, and one engaging concavo-convex section 2b; a plate 5 having a mounting shaft portion insertion hole 5a; and a leaf spring 4 having a mounting shaft portion insertion hole 4a and the other engaging concavo-convex section 4c, and located between the bracket 2 and plate 5 and mounted to the rotation shaft 3, wherein the hole 5a is formed larger than the hole 4a such that the spring 4 is caulked and fixed to the end face of the shaft portion by entering of the outer wall side part of a mounting shaft portion 3c formed on the end face of the portion 3b that is collapsed by caulking into a gap 5c formed between the portion 3c and insertion hole 5a.
US08413295B2
A caster wheel system comprising an axle assembly, wheel fork assembly and pivot block assembly. The axle assembly operationally couples the system to a vehicle, the wheel fork assembly includes a wheel rotatably coupled to a wheel fork member, the pivot block provides a coupling interface between the axle assembly and the wheel fork assembly, the pivot block assembly also has a bumper which acts to inhibit flutter and allow the wheel fork assembly to pivot slightly backwards when sufficient weight is applied to inhibit tipping where only three wheels of a four wheel system contact the ground, thereby allowing all wheels to contact the ground during operation.
US08413291B2
The prevent invention discloses a boneless wiper blade, which mainly consists of a pivot socket, two end ferrules, spring steel sheet and rubber strip, wherein the spring steel sheet is used to support and fix the rubber strip, and the pivot socket, on which the connecting adaptors are installed to connect with wiper arms, is mounted on the center of the spring steel sheet and the rubber strip, with end ferrules mounted at both ends of them. The upper part of the wind-pressure sheathes featuring specially curved surface is designed to prevent the wiper blade from lifting off from the surface of the windshield at highway speeds. The said spring steel sheet is so parabolically designed that the rubber strip can firmly and closely contact the various windshield glasses. Both connecting structures between the connecting adaptor and the pivot socket, and the pivot socket and the spring steel sheet and rubber strip are removable, it is same with the connecting structure between end ferrule and spring steel sheet and rubber strip. In this way, it is easy to assemble, dismount and replace them, and even facilitate use of them. The wiper blade has strong compatibility in that the pivot socket can be mounted with various kinds of connecting adaptors to be compatible with multiple wiper arm configurations.
US08413288B2
Paint roller cover supports include axially spaced substantially rigid portions for supporting roller covers thereon and elastomeric material interposed between the substantially rigid portions that is compressed during axial movement of the substantially rigid portions toward one another to cause the elastomeric material to expand radially outward into frictional engagement with the inner diameter of a surrounding roller cover. In one form of the invention, the substantially rigid portions are comprised of a plurality of substantially rigid plastic rings and the elastomeric material comprises elastomeric rings interposed between the substantially rigid rings. In another form of the invention, the substantially rigid portions are formed by a helix of substantially rigid plastic material having a helical groove along the length of the helix containing the elastomeric material.
US08413276B2
A mattress cover and bed bug barrier combination formed of a fabric mattress cover having walls that define an enclosure with an elongated opening extending in at least one of the walls, a zipper attached to the cover for closing the elongated opening, the cover having seal regions laterally adjacent the distal portion of the zipper, a seal element secured to each of the seal regions, an external barrier flap having a first part fixed to the cover, and a second part foldable from an open position where it is spaced apart from the seal elements to a closed position where it is folded down to overlie and seal against the seal elements, and thereby provide a barrier to travel of bed bugs inwardly or outwardly of the cover through the distal portion of the zipper when the zipper in its closed state.
US08413274B2
A bed having a frame and a deck is disclosed. The deck has at least a horizontal position and a chair position. The deck has an adjustable-length foot section.
US08418258B2
A system transfers applications and datasets (files) from a server to a client device and assigns to each file a lease key that will expire at a specified time. A file cannot be accessed unless its lease key is validated. Upon expiration of a lease key, the client device will connect to the server to determine if the lease key may be renewed. If the lease key may be renewed, a new lease key is created and access to the associated application or dataset is restored. If the lease key may not be renewed, the file may be deleted or rendered inaccessible. If rendered inaccessible, the file may be restored in the future without having to re-transmit it from the server to the client device. The server may also revoke a lease key before it expires.
US08418249B1
A method for profiling network traffic of a network. The method includes obtaining a signature library comprising a plurality of signatures corresponding to a plurality of behavioral models, generating, based on a first pre-determined criterion, a group behavioral model associated with the signature library, wherein the group behavioral model represents a common behavior of a plurality of historical flows identified from the network traffic, wherein each of the plurality of signatures correlates to a subset of the plurality of historical flows, selecting a flow in the network traffic for including in a target flow set, wherein the flow matches the group behavioral model without matching any of the plurality of behavioral models, analyzing the target flow set to generate a new signature, and adding the new signature to the signature library. Further, each behavioral model is generated from a kernel constructed using boosting of decision tree learning methods.
US08418248B2
Method for recognizing attacks to at least one interface of a computer system, in particular an automated self-service machine, comprising: monitoring the interface in order to determine changes at the interface; if changes occur, the change is used to determine the probability that an unallowed attack is occurring at the interface; if the probability is beyond a defined threshold, defensive maneuvers are introduced.
US08418240B2
A computer implemented method of reducing central processing unit (CPU) usage of a firewall by safe reordering a current firewall's rule-base exhibiting N rules. The method comprising: receiving rule usage statistics exhibiting usage frequency of each rule on the current firewall's rule-base; calculating a rules matched per packet (RMPP) parameter, being a summation of products of each rule identifier and the corresponding usage frequency for all the N rules; determining an alternative order of the rule base by repositioning rules, wherein the repositioned rules perform the same action on the firewall, or wherein the repositioned rules act on disjoint sets of network connections, and wherein the repositioning results in a reduction of the RMPP of the reordered rule base, thereby reducing the CPU usage of the firewall in implementing the alternative order of rules.
US08418239B2
Authentication processing is easily performed on a device used as a node in a network. Upon the authentication of a terminal used as the node in the network, when the terminal can communicate with another terminal, the terminal sends an electronic certificate of the terminal per se to the other terminal and requests the other terminal to perform an authentication process of the terminal per se. Conversely, when the terminal cannot communicate with any other terminal, the terminal outputs the electronic certificate of the terminal per se to an authentication device and requests the authentication device to perform authentication of the terminal per se. The authentication device performs authentication of the terminal based on the outputted electronic certificate.
US08418233B1
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing access to a resource using rule-based deep packet extractions of a credential. A network device, such as a traffic management device, is situated between a client device and a server device. When the client device sends a request for a resource, the request is intercepted by the network device. The network device may employ a multi-layer deep packet extraction of the credential from the request. The network device may then use the credential to determine whether the request enabled to access the resource. Based, in part, on a variety of rules, the network device may deny access, enable access, route the request to a different server, or the like. In one embodiment, the network device may receive a rule from another device that directs the network device to request a different credential.
US08418223B1
A computer-implemented method may include establishing, within a parental-control software system, an academic-performance policy that defines how academic performance of a student affects at least one parental-control setting enforced on a computing system accessible to the student. The computer-implemented method may also include receiving, via an electronic communication from a school of the student, grade information that indicates the student's academic performance. The computer-implemented method may further include applying the academic-performance policy by updating the parental-control setting commensurate with the student's academic performance. In addition, the computer-implemented method may include detecting an attempt by the student to access a resource of the computing system and applying the updated parental-control setting to control the student's access to the resource of the computing system.
US08418222B2
A representational state transfer-based model for a computing environment uses models resources with links between them. Security principals are resources which can be independently authenticated. Each resource may be associated with an authorization policy that determines level of access, protocol supported. Successfully presenting security credentials at a security principal allows use of an instance of the security principal (i.e. application) as well as generation of an authentication token that can be presented across the computing environment to resources subscribing to the same authorization policy. As security principals with different security policies are authenticated, the appropriate tokens may be combined to allow broader access without undue re-authentication for resources subscribing to the same security policy. Authorization requirements (policies) may be attached to links to resources so that an application instance can dynamically discover authentication rules for that resource by inspecting the link.
US08418217B2
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content provider and a media content processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the media content provider by a network. The media content processing subsystem is configured to receive a first media content instance from the media content provider, and receive a second media content instance from at least one other media content processing subsystem connected to the network. At least a portion of the second media content instance is received concurrently with the receipt of the first media content instance. In certain embodiments, the media content processing subsystem is configured to receive the second media content instance without using a tuner.
US08418214B2
A method and apparatus for identifying an appropriate video signal path is provided for delivery of video-on-demand (VOD) data to a subscriber in a VOD system. The signal path may be a portion of an hybrid fiber optic and cable (HFC) network so that other signal paths in the HFC network may service subscribers in other areas. Because each path need not service every area, the total bandwidth provided by the VOD server need not be provided to every area so that the bandwidth provided to each area can be commensurate with the needs of that area. When a subscriber requests VOD programming, the identification received by the subscriber's terminal from the VOD server is returned to the server along with the request. From the identification, the VOD server may determine the area in which the requesting subscriber is located and the VOD server may then transmit the requested programming to the area in which the subscriber is located for reception by the subscriber.
