US08598994B2
A method for controlling appliances includes a wearing step, a swinging step and a controlling step. The control device is attached to a movable part of a user's body and the user swings the movable part to generate and send a control signal to the appliance so as to activate and control the appliance. The method is also helpful for rehabilitation to disable people.
US08598993B2
The present invention provides a method for controlling lighting fixtures over a wireless network that includes connecting a junction box to a power source, connecting a lighting fixture to the junction box, establishing a connection over a wireless network between the junction box and a controller, and controlling a function of the lighting fixture by transmitting a signal from the controller to the junction box over the wireless network.
US08598983B2
A transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver includes: a circuit board; a receiving antenna mounted to the circuit board; and a transmitting antenna mounted to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna includes: a supporter; a coil antenna having a coil wound around the supporter; a first terminal arranged on the supporter and connected with the coil antenna; and a second terminals arranged on the supporter. The transmitting antenna includes: a horizontal part extending in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the circuit board; and a vertical part extending in the thickness direction of the circuit board. The vertical part is connected with the horizontal part and the second terminal.
US08598982B2
Described herein are systems and methods for commissioning access control devices. In overview, a carrier substrate such as a smartcard is used to commission a plurality of access control devices. Measures are implemented such that the individual access control devices are uniquely commissioned. That is, no two devices apply identical commissioning data, hi some embodiments this is achieved by, as part of the commissioning process at a given access control device, modifying one or more aspects of the data carried by the carrier substrate.
US08598981B2
A key fob includes a biometric sensor including a fingerprint area sensor having a surface for receiving a finger, and a controller includes at least one processor configured to authenticate a user of the key fob based on biometric information obtained with the biometric sensor and stored biometric information for an individual. The key fob includes a RF transmitter for communicating stored transaction information to a reader upon authentication of the user and a housing. The housing includes a base for supporting the biometric sensor and a cover sleeve slidably engaged with the base to allow for extension from and retraction into the sleeve by the base, thereby permitting selective exposure of the fingerprint area sensor under user actuation.
US08598979B2
A keyboard includes a fingerprint input unit, a storage unit, a switch unit, and a control unit. The fingerprint input unit receives fingerprint information of a user. The storage unit stores a fingerprint model. The control unit is connected to the fingerprint input unit, the storage unit, and the switch unit. The control unit receives the fingerprint information of the user from the fingerprint input unit and compares the received fingerprint information with the fingerprint model stored in the storage unit. If the received fingerprint information is consistent with the fingerprint model, the control unit controls the switch unit to be turned on, to output a control signal to power on a computer connected to the keyboard.
US08598978B2
A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater.
US08598976B2
The invention relates to an electronic component (1), in particular a low-ohm current-sense resistor, comprising at least one plate-shaped section (2, 3) and at least one terminal (7, 8) to electrically contact the plate-shaped section (2, 3). According to the invention, the terminals (7, 8) for measuring the voltage drop created by the current flow are formed by means of stamping and thread-shaping in the plate-shaped sections (2, 3).
US08598967B2
A tunable delay line for radiofrequency or microwave frequency applications consists of at least one ridge waveguide in which the ridge is movable in the waveguide body so as to vary the width of an air gap defined between the longitudinal end surface of the ridge and a confronting member of the waveguide. The ridge is moved by an actuator external to the waveguide body.
US08598963B2
A device interconnects two circuit boards each comprising electrical connection pads, and which are respectively placed in two cavities. The device includes intercavity microwave screening means. The device also comprises several electrical conductors that pass through the device from end to end and that are not soldered, the two ends of which conductors are respectively intended to make direct contact with the connection pads of the two circuit boards; and mechanical means for holding the two circuit boards against the device, at either end of the latter. The screening means are provided by a microwave absorber in contact with each conductor and surrounding it over all or some of its length.
US08598958B1
An apparatus comprising a transconductance control circuit, a boost control circuit, a current computation circuit and an oscillator circuit. The transconductance control circuit may be configured to generate a current control signal in response to (i) a voltage control signal and (ii) a plurality of range control signals. The boost control circuit may be configured to generate a current boost signal in response to a reference current signal and an enable signal. The current computation circuit may be configured to generate a first control signal and a second control signal in response to the current boost signal and the current control signal. The oscillator circuit may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a particular frequency in response to the first control signal and the second control signal.
US08598953B2
A system for pre-charging a current mirror includes a controller configured to provide a first current and an additional current to a current mirror to rapidly charge a capacitance associated with the current mirror based on a reference voltage or control signals. A power amplifier module includes at least one current minor and a controller. A capacitor is coupled to the current minor. The controller provides a bias current in an amount proportional to an input to a voltage-to-current converter. The controller receives a control signal that directs the controller to apply one of a pre-charge voltage and a nominal voltage to the voltage-to-current converter.
US08598947B2
An electric device and a control method of the same, the electric device including a load terminal, a constant voltage output unit to generate an output voltage to the load terminal, a feedback circuit having a plurality of feedback circuit elements to generate a feedback signal to the constant voltage output unit to adjust the output voltage, and a controller to set a power mode of the electric device and to generate a control signal according to an enable signal and the set power mode such that the control signal corresponds to one or more of the feedback circuit elements to adjust the feedback signal, wherein the enable signal corresponds to a level of the output voltage.
US08598946B2
A method of operating a programmable charge pump includes configuring each of a plurality of cascaded charge pump stages to be in a first set of charge pump stages or in a second set of charge pump stages based on an indicator of a target output voltage level. The first set of charge pump stages is configured to level-shift a first voltage level to a second voltage level. Each charge pump stage of the second set of charge pump stages has a disabled pump circuit portion. The second set of charge pump stages is configured to pass a version of the second voltage level to an output node of the programmable charge pump.
US08598945B2
A high voltage charge-pump includes a plurality of voltage boosting stages, a low voltage input, and at least one clock input. A sensing charge-pump having a voltage detector output has at least one voltage sensing stage that is communicably coupled to at least one of the plurality of voltage boosting stages. A loop filter in a feedback control loop includes a voltage detector input coupled to the voltage detector output, a voltage reference input, and a voltage error output. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with a variable frequency output has a voltage error input coupled to the voltage error output. The feedback control loop also includes at least one driver having a variable frequency input coupled to the variable frequency output and at least one clock output coupled to the at least one clock input.
US08598943B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a fuse set; a terminal assigned to be applied with a first external signal in a normal operation; and a control unit configured to receive a second external signal through the terminal and apply the received second external signal to the fuse set in a fuse control operation.
US08598934B2
A level shifter circuit includes a first voltage conversion circuit and a second voltage conversion circuit. The first voltage conversion circuit receives an input signal having an amplitude ranging between a power supply potential (GND) and a power supply potential (VDDL), a power supply potential (VDDH) which is higher than the power supply potential (VDDL) is supplied. Further, a current limiting circuit is provided that limits a current supplied from a power supply line of the power supply potential (VDDH), and outputs a voltage signal with a larger amplitude than that of the input signal according to the input signal. The second voltage conversion circuit is supplied with the power supply potential (VDDH, and outputs an output signal with an amplitude ranging between the power supply potential GND and the power supply potential (VDDH).
US08598933B2
A power converter operable to draw an input current that is in phase with an input voltage of the power converter and proportional to a voltage of the input voltage of the power converter includes a drive switch, a waveform generator, and a current shaping circuit. The drive switch is connected between an input inductor and ground and draws current through the input inductor when turned on. The current shaping circuit provides an on-time of the drive switch for a next cycle of the drive switch as a function of an input current decay time, a switching period of the waveform generator, and an output voltage of the power converter. The waveform generator is responsive to the on-time provided by the current shaping circuit for selectively turning the drive switch on and off to cycle the drive switch as a function of the received on-time.
US08598929B1
The disclosed invention relates to a digital phase locked loop having a switchable digital loop filter configured to selectively operate at different levels of resolution. The digital phase locked loop has a phase frequency detector that determines a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal and to convert the phase difference to a digital word. A digital loop filter filters the digital word to generate a control word. A bit shift network modifies the digital word in a manner that switches the resolution of the digital loop filter between two or more distinct resolution states that comprise a bit sequence located at different positions in the digital word. The two or more distinct resolution states allow the digital loop filter to provide a low resolution (high amplitude) for a settling state of operation and a high resolution (low amplitude) for a locked state of operation.
US08598924B2
An apparatus includes a first oscillator configured to generate a reference signal and a second oscillator configured to generate an output signal having a controllable frequency. The apparatus also includes a frequency difference detector configured to generate a difference signal having a frequency based on a frequency difference between the reference signal and the output signal. The apparatus further includes a discriminator configured to modify the frequency of the output signal based on the difference signal. The frequency difference detector can be configured to generate the difference signal having multiple pulses. The discriminator can be configured to count a number of pulses in the difference signal during a specified time period and to modify the frequency of the output signal based on the counted number of pulses. The specified time period can be adjustable.
US08598921B2
A driving circuit for driving a power semiconductor switch wherein at least one semiconductor device being provided which is implemented in such a way that it is operated in breakdown in response to the exceeding of a specific collector-emitter voltage of the power semiconductor switch, an output of the at least one semiconductor device being connected via a conductive interconnect to a terminal between the resistors of the resistor series circuit or to the resistor-series-circuit output which is connected to the signal processing unit, and the breakdown voltage of the at least one semiconductor device being selected in such a way that the potential at the output of the at least one semiconductor device is greater than the potential at the gate of the power semiconductor switch in its ON state. The invention further relates to a method for driving a power semiconductor switch.
US08598920B2
A gate driving circuit for driving a voltage-driven switching device is provided with a current limiting circuit for limiting a gate current ig that flows into a gate terminal through a gate resistor at turn-on to a current limit value IL which defines an upper limit value. The current limit value IL is set at a value which is larger than a gate current value I2 at turn-on of the switching device during a period when the Miller effect occurs but is smaller than a gate current value I1 at a point in time when a main current begins to flow at turn-on in a case where the gate current ig is not limited by the current limiting circuit. This arrangement makes a variation in a collector current of the switching device moderate at turn-on thereof when the collector current begins to flow, thereby reducing high-frequency noise.
US08598919B2
A MOSFET at an input side controls the operation of a current mirror circuit in accordance with a level change of a PWM signal applied to its gate. When the current mirror circuit operates, a current generated by a current source flows as a mirror current so that a current flows to discharge electricity charged in a capacitance between a gate and a source through a gate of a MOSFET at an output side. When the current mirror circuit stops its operation, a current flowing from the current mirror circuit through the current source is supplied to the gate of the MOSFET at the output side.
US08598915B1
The CMOS programmable non-linear function synthesizer utilizes CMOS current-mode electronics to provide synthesis of arbitrary analog functions. The circuit approximates a seventh-order Taylor series expansion to synthesize an arbitrary nonlinear function. Each term of the Taylor series expansion is realized using a current-mode basic building block, and the output weighted currents of these basic building blocks are algebraically added in addition to a DC current, if needed. The CMOS current mode electronic circuit can be easily integrated, extended to include higher order terms of the Taylor series, and programmed to generate arbitrary nonlinear functions.
US08598911B2
The present invention relates a pulse width filter generating a modulation signal that is increased in synchronization with one of an increasing edge and a decreasing edge of the input signal and is decreased in synchronization with the other of the increasing edge and the decreasing edge, and transmitting the input signal of the modulation signal. The input signal passed through the filter unit is inverted thereby being an output signal. The pulse width filter controls the increasing and the decreasing of the modulation signal according to the output signal and the input signal passed through the filter unit, and the modulation signal is a signal to determined whether the pulse width of the input signal is more than the predetermined cut-off pulse width.
US08598910B1
In described embodiments, a timestamp generator includes a fixed clock domain driven by a fixed frequency clock, a core clock domain, coupled to the fixed clock domain, which is driven by a core clock whose frequency is adjustable during an operation of the timestamp generator. A timestamp logic operating in the core clock domain generates a timestamping output of the timestamp generator. A rate generator operating in both the fixed clock domain and the core clock domain generates per clock cycle increments in the fixed clock domain and transfers carry units from the fixed clock domain into the core clock domain, and a timestamp increment generation of the timestamp logic is clocked by the fixed frequency clock provided by the rate generator. A method for enabling timestamp in an ASIC to be accurate with system clock changes is also described.
US08598908B1
A method and apparatus to provide random access to a programmable logic register. A processing device in a programmable logic system retrieves data from a memory of the programmable logic system. The data is loaded into a configuration register configured to store configuration data for a programmable logic function over a system bus. The processing device programs a programmable logic block to implement the programmable logic function based on the configuration data, where the processing device is configured to access a first configuration register in the configuration register set, the first configuration register corresponding to a first programmable logic block in the programmable logic system, without affecting a second configuration register corresponding to a second programmable logic block.
US08598896B2
An electrostatic capacitance-type input device includes: a plurality of first electrodes, which detect an input position, extending in a first direction in an input area on a substrate; a plurality of second electrodes, which detect an input POSITION, extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction in the input area; a plurality of signal wirings that extend from one-side end portions of the first electrodes and one-side end portions of the second electrodes on the substrate; a test electrode that faces the other-side end portions of at least one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes through an insulating film on the substrate; and a test wiring that is electrically connected to the test electrode.
US08598895B2
A method and system to predict dielectric behavior in a wide frequency range in a wellbore. The method comprising: deploying a tool in a wellbore, measuring the permittivity and conductivity at more than one frequency of a formation with the tool, and predicting the dielectric behavior of saline water in a wide band frequency range and temperature.
US08598886B2
Apparatus for detecting faults in the delivery of electrical power to electrical loads, includes a plurality of load electrical connections arranged to deliver electrical power from an electrical power source to each of a plurality of electrical loads, a plurality of electrical switches, each connected to an associated one of the load connections, and a diagnostic device operable to detect a short circuit fault in the apparatus, wherein the diagnostic device is operable to apply a diagnostic procedure to detect a short circuit connection between at least two of the load electrical connections and includes a control logic unit operable to apply to each of the electrical switches in turn a test control signal causing operation of the switch to apply a test electrical signal to each of the load electrical connections in turn; and detector means connected to the load electrical connections and operable, while the test electrical signal is applied in turn to each load electrical connection, to detect whether a corresponding electrical output is produced in response on any of the other load electrical connections. Also described is a method of operation in the apparatus.
US08598883B2
The present invention relates to a measuring device (10) of the electric properties of solid or liquid geological samples, such as, for example, rocks, preferably from oil or gas reservoirs, and saturation fluids of the same, comprising a hollow body (11, 12) consisting of a first upper half-shell (11) and a second lower half-shell (12), the upper and lower half-shells (11, 12) coaxially sliding one inside the other, inside the body (11, 12) there being a housing seat (23) for a substantially cylindrical sample, two pairs of electrodes (13, 14) being envisaged facing the housing seat (23) for the injection of current into a sample and for the measurement of the voltage at the ends of the sample, characterized in that the pairs of electrodes (13, 14) are pairs of coplanar electrodes, each situated at one end of the housing seat (23).
US08598867B2
A circuit to detect a movement of an object provides a threshold selection module that uses one or more threshold signals identified prior to a present cycle of magnetic field signal in order to establish a threshold signal used for a present cycle of the magnetic field signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
US08598866B2
A zero bias power detector comprising a zero bias diode and an output boost circuit is provided. The output boost circuit comprises a zero bias transistor. The zero bias diode is not biased but outputs a rectifying signal according to a wireless signal. The zero bias transistor, not biased but coupled to the zero bias diode, is used for enhancing the rectifying signal.
US08598865B2
A measuring device with at least one control unit and an electrical current controller. The measuring- and operating electronics is connected to a current loop and the control unit is connected with the electrical current controller and provides the electrical current controller a reference input. The reference input corresponds to a desired value of the measurement signal current and the electrical current controller is suppliable with a primary feedback signal. The primary feedback signal corresponds to an actual value of the measurement signal current set in the current loop. The electrical current controller outputs a control signal formed from a control error signal, wherein at least one evaluation unit is provided, which compares at least one value of the control signal output by the electrical current controller with at least one reference value. The comparison indicates whether the value of the control signal exceeds or subceeds the reference value.
US08598863B2
The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting the motion characteristics of particles in a flow channel. The apparatus includes first and second electrode groups, each having a pair of electrodes, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a flow channel. The pair of electrodes function as both a drive electrode and a sensing electrode for directly applying voltage and measuring impedance between the electrodes. An operation control unit measures variation in electrical pulses generated in the first and second electrode groups, thus detecting motion characteristics of the particles. The present invention is advantageous in that it does not require complicated optical measuring instruments or analyzing instruments, and in that it can be used to easily detect the motion characteristics of particles in a flow channel merely by analyzing variation in electrical pulses without requiring preliminary information.
US08598860B2
A transient recovery circuit for switching devices. The transient recovery circuit includes a detecting circuit for detecting a rapid transient in an output voltage of a switching device by detecting a rate of the output voltage transient; an auxiliary controlling circuit in a feedback loop of the switching device for correcting the output voltage by changing a bandwidth of the feedback loop if the rapid transient is detected; and an initializing circuit for initializing the feedback loop to expected operating points in a continuous conduction mode after correcting the output voltage.
US08598858B2
The first sampling measurement value compares whether to exceed a prescribed threshold and judges the control part at the sampling time. The control part compares whether the first sampling measurement value exceeds a prescribed threshold. When the actual measurement value doesn't exceed a prescribed threshold, the control part predict the first sampling value at the next sampling time. [1] When the first sampling the predicting value doesn't exceed the threshold value, the status of the switch is maintained, [2] When the first sampling the predicting value exceeds the threshold value, the time when the movement of the switch should be changed is calculated and the status of the switch is changed at time concerned.
US08598855B2
A monitoring and control circuit comprises a sense block, a first and a second comparators, and a control module. The current sense block is coupled to a switch for generating a monitoring signal indicative of a current flowing through the switch. The first comparator coupled to the sense block is operable for comparing the monitoring signal to a first threshold and for providing a first signal according to a first comparison result between the monitoring signal and the first threshold. The second comparator coupled to the sense block is operable for comparing the monitoring signal to a second threshold and for providing a second signal according to a second comparison result between the monitoring signal and the second threshold. The control module coupled to the first comparator and the second comparator provides a control signal for controlling the switch according to the first signal and the second signal so as to adjust the current.
US08598843B2
An object is to reliably conduct cell balancing operation while suppressing deterioration of batteries and maintaining operating efficiency. When the cell balance control by the cell balancing circuit 3 is started, the system control device 30 sets an on/off device corresponding to the arm where the cell balance control is conducted to the open state; and when the cell balance control is completed, and the difference between the terminal voltage of a battery pack of the arm where the cell balance control has been conducted and the terminal voltages of the battery packs of the other arms falls within a preset allowable range, sets the on/off device, which has been in the open state, to the closed state.
US08598842B2
A power socket with charging interface is provided, wherein the power socket comprises at least one power hole, at least one charging interface and a holding arm, which holding arm being slidably disposed on the main body of the power socket, and one fixed end of the holding arm and one side of the power socket together constituting a containing slot for accommodating a portable electronic device, in which the holding arm may inwardly or outwardly slide so as to adjust the position of the fixed end. Since the width of the containing slot is adjustable, the power socket is allowable for placement of portable electronic devices of various sizes and specifications.
US08598839B2
A remaining battery level of each individual sodium-sulfur battery constituting a plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries is managed, a remaining battery level target value common to all sodium-sulfur batteries is set, and input/output power distributed to each individual sodium-sulfur battery is controlled based on a difference between the target value and the remaining battery level of the sodium-sulfur battery. This enables a uniform remaining battery level among the sodium-sulfur batteries to be attained.
US08598838B2
This invention concerns a vehicle with four wheels, automobile type, non polluting, propelled by electric engine, fed by batteries which take energy to recharge mainly from photovoltaic panels, passive wind rotors which work together with an aerodynamic accelerator (in air at a faster speed in compare to the speed of the wind in atmosphere also when the vehicle is still), and small hydroelectric rotors.
US08598835B2
It is presented a protection circuit for a drive circuit of a permanent magnet motor being powered by a main DC source. The protection circuit comprises a protection circuit DC source; a changeover switch being arranged to select an input to a gate of a main drive switch of the drive circuit, the input being selectable between an output of the protection circuit DC source and a second control signal; and a changeover control device connected to control the changeover switch, which changeover control device is arranged to ensure that the changeover switch is connected to the output of the second side of the protection circuit DC source when an overvoltage is detected.
US08598832B2
A control system of multi-shaft servo motor comprises a position loop module (400) for receiving a position loop given value and a position feedback value of respective shelves and figuring out a velocity loop given value; a velocity loop module (500) for receiving the velocity loop given value and a velocity feedback value of respective shelves and figuring out a current loop given value; a current loop module (200) for receiving the current loop given value and a current feedback value of respective shelves and outputting a current loop output value; a PWM signal generation module (300) for receiving the current loop output value from the current loop module (200) and generating a PWM signal for controlling respective shelves of the servo motor; and a multi-shaft time sequence control module (700).
US08598827B2
A control system of a milling machine is disclosed. The milling machine has an overarm, a spindle connected to a cutter, a spindle motor, and an X-axis motor, a Y-axis motor and a Z-axis motor. The control system includes a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration level of the spindle. The control system also includes a central control unit configured to adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the X-axis motor, the Y-axis motor, and the Z-axis motor to bring a load current of at least one of the motors to be within a corresponding current range, and configured to adjust a rotation speed of the spindle motor to bring the vibration level to be within a vibration range.
US08598826B2
There is provided a control system for an electric motor to which electric power is supplied from a DC power supply via a multi-phase inverter, the multi-phase inverter including switch units respectively provided on a positive side and a negative side of arms corresponding to respective phases, each switch unit including a switching element and a reflux diode connected in parallel thereto. The control system comprises a phase current detection unit for detecting phase currents which flow between the inverter and the electric motor, a DC component acquiring unit for acquiring DC components of the respective phase currents, and a short-circuiting determination unit for determining that a short-circuit failure occurs in the inverter when at least one of the DC components of the phase currents acquired by the DC component acquiring unit exceeds a threshold. Consequently, the short-circuit failure of the inverter can be detected even though the control of the electric motor is stopped.
US08598822B2
An inverter device, a motor driving device, a refrigerating air conditioner, and a power generation system, which can reduce the recovery loss thereof, are obtained. A plurality of arms that can conduct and block current are provided. At least one of the plurality of arms includes: a plurality of switching elements each having a parasitic diode and being connected in series with each other; and a reverse current diode connected in parallel with the plurality of switching elements.
US08598821B2
The present invention has an object to detect a three-phase AC motor current with high accuracy only with DC input current measuring means to a three-phase PWM inverter, and reduce resonance of a DC power supply by a ripple current in driving an AC motor with a DC current via a three-phase PWM inverter. A carrier wave Cry_e earlier than that of a V phase is used to sample a U phase and a carrier wave Cry_l always later than that of the V phase is used to sample a W phase. Thus, a sampling time sufficiently longer than an interval Ts of the carrier waves Cry_e, Cry_m and Cry_l can be ensured, and the current can be easily detected.
US08598813B2
Circuitry is presented for use in the pulse-forming lines of compact linear accelerators of charged particles. This presents devices that can provide high-voltage radio-frequency pulses in the range of from a few volts to megavolts for charged particle accelerators. The devices can use as input an external charge voltage and an optical pulse to create output RF pulses with a peak voltage that is increased over the input voltage. The exemplary embodiment presents a circuit of pulse forming lines for compact linear accelerator that includes an opto-switch and RF transmission lines that form a pulse shaper and a ladder-like pulse multiplier unit, with or without an output shaper.
US08598811B2
A projection-type display device according to an embodiment of the invention modulates light emitted from a solid-state light source array and projects the modulated light on a screen. The projection-type display device includes a power source device that generates power used for driving the solid-state light source array using power supplied from a power source, an instant interruption detecting circuit that detects an instant interruption of the power source, and a control device that, in a case where the instant interruption of the power source is detected by the instant interruption detecting circuit, performs control of extinguishing the solid-state light source array during at least a part of an instant interruption period until recovery after the detection of the instant interruption of the power source.
US08598802B2
The present technology is generally related to Triac dimmer compatible driving circuits and methods thereof. The present technology also provides an electronic transformer that is integrated in the Traic dimmer compatible driving circuit. In one embodiment, the electronic transformer detects the conduction angles of an output AC voltage from the Triac dimmer and converts said output AC voltage into a PWM DC voltage having a duty cycle regulated by said conduction angles. Said PWM DC voltage is then applied to a WLED driver for driving a WLED.
US08598801B2
An electric supply device for a high-pressure discharge lamp comprising: an electric supply device control unit, having a function of switching between a steady lighting mode and a low power lighting mode in which electric power lower than the electric power in the steady lighting mode is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp. While in the low power lighting mode, predetermined base current is continuously supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp and a current supply command signal is sent so that boost current obtained by superimposing current having a predetermined magnitude on the base current, is periodically supplied thereto, and a luminance control signal for adjusting the luminance of a video signal of a liquid crystal projector apparatus according to a magnitude of the electric power of the high pressure discharge lamp, which is operated responding to the supply of the boost current, is sent.
US08598797B2
A driver device for driving an LED lighting device includes at least one power switch adapted to operate at a switching frequency of greater than 500 KHz and adapted to control the driving current provided to the LED lighting device. Operating the power switch at such a high frequency allows a substantial reduction in passive devices such as inductors and capacitors.
US08598790B2
Electron accelerator of the re-circulating type, having a resonant coaxial cavity presenting an outer cylindrical conductor of axis A and a coaxial inner cylindrical conductor, an electron gun for injecting electrons into the cavity following a radial direction and into a median plane of the cavity, an RF system capable of accelerating the injected electrons following a trajectory into the median plane which has the shape of a flower centered on the axis A, deflecting magnets disposed into the median plane externally to the cavity for redirecting electrons back towards the axis A. The RF system includes final power amplifiers, each amplifier being directly coupled to the cavity through its own individual inductive loop and each two of these loops being physically spaced apart from each other by an angle alpha, such that alpha is not an integer multiple of 90 degrees.
US08598786B1
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; a first electrode on the substrate; an organic emission layer on the first electrode; a second electrode on the organic emission layer; and a sealing layer including a capping film, a first inorganic film, a first organic film, a second inorganic film and a hydroxyquinoline-based blocking film between the second electrode and the first organic film that are sequentially stacked on the second electrode, the hydroxyquinoline-based blocking film comprising a hydroxyquinoline-based compound.
US08598784B2
An organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a substantially hexagonally-shaped structure, each of the sub-pixels including a corresponding one of a plurality of organic light emitting devices, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels includes a plurality of first sub-pixels for emitting light of a first color, a plurality of second sub-pixels for emitting light of a second color, and a plurality of third sub-pixels for emitting light of a third color, and wherein centers of adjacent ones of the first, second, and third sub-pixels form a triangle having one of three sides that is shorter than the other two of the sides.
US08598783B2
A deposition mask and a display unit and method of manufacturing same are provided. A red continuous organic layer, a green continuous organic layer, and a blue continuous organic layer are provided over two or more lines of a matrix configuration of organic light emitting devices in common. A film thickness distribution in the extensional direction of the red, green and blue continuous organic layer is dissolved, and an aperture ratio can be improved by just that much.
US08598782B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels is disposed on a support substrate, each pixel having an electroluminescent element in which at least a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode layer are laminated in that order at an upper layer side of an insulating film; a first conductive pattern portion provided at a lower layer side of the insulating film for applying a potential to the second electrode layer; and a second conductive pattern portion which is composed of a conductive film having a sheet resistance lower than that of the second electrode layer and which is provided at the upper layer side of the insulating film to connect the second electrode layer to the first conductive pattern portion. In this organic EL device, the second conductive pattern portion has a third conductive pattern portion which is provided on an upper surface of the first conductive pattern portion at a contact portion composed of a non-forming region of the insulating film and which is in contact with the first pattern portion.
US08598769B2
A perovskite oxide material containing: BiFeO3 as a first component; a second component containing at least one perovskite oxide which is constituted by A-site atoms having an average ionic valence of two and has a tendency to form a tetragonal structure; and a third component containing at least one perovskite oxide which has a tendency to form one of monoclinic, triclinic, and orthorhombic structures; where each perovskite oxide in the first component, the second component, and the third component contains A-site atoms, B-site atoms, and oxygen atoms substantially in a molar ratio of 1:1:3, and the molar ratio can deviate from 1:1:3 within a range.
US08598768B2
Disclosed is a piezoelectric micro energy harvester and manufacturing method thereof, the method including: forming an insulation film on a substrate; patterning the insulation film and forming an electrode pad pattern, a center electrode pattern, and a side electrode pattern; forming an open cavity at an inside of the substrate for suspension of the center electrode pattern and the side electrode pattern; disposing a conductive film on the electrode pad pattern, the center electrode pattern, and the side electrode pattern and forming electrode pads, a center electrode, and a side electrode; and forming a piezoelectric film so as to cover a space between the center electrode and the side electrode and upper surfaces of the center electrode and the side electrode.
US08598735B2
A controller controls an illumination device of a motor vehicle including at least one light source. The controller includes at least one first stage that provides electric energy for supplying power to the illumination device. At least one second stage forwards the electric energy to the light source. The first stage includes intelligence for controlling the illuminating device, a first supplier for supplying the illumination device with control signals, a generator for generating a constant intermediate voltage, and a second supplier for supplying the second stage with the intermediate voltage. The second stage includes a converter for conversion of the intermediate voltage into a supply voltage suitable for supplying the power to the light source, a third supplier for supplying the light source with the supply voltage, and a mechanism for controlling the light source in dependency on the control signals. Also, an illumination device for a motor vehicle includes the controller.
US08598727B2
Methods for controlling a wind turbine connected to the utility grid by detecting status of the utility grid, and controlling one or more rotor blades and/or emitted power to the grid in returning to the operational wind turbine settings of normal grid mode, as well as wind turbines and wind parks comprising at least two wind turbines.
US08598724B2
A wind-driven electric plant includes a mast with a windwheel and a generator in a nacelle and a shielding chamber with a base, walls, and a cover. The mast is coupled to the nacelle and mounted in the shielding chamber. The mast may comprise a set of sections pivotally connected to each other such that the mast has the capability of folding and spreading, or the mast may comprise a set of telescoping or folding and spreading sections. A mast transfer mechanism is configured to move the mast between an operating position with the windwheel outside the chamber and a stored position with the windwheel inside the chamber.
US08598717B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a connection electrode including a first land electrode electrically coupled with the semiconductor chip, and a through electrode formed on an upper surface of the first land electrode to be electrically coupled with the first land electrode using a stud bump, and a sealing resin, through which the connection electrode passes, for sealing the semiconductor chip.
US08598715B2
A package component includes a metal trace on a top surface of the package component, and an anchor via underlying and in contact with the metal trace. The anchor via is configured not to conduct currents flowing through the metal trace.
US08598712B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor layout includes providing a first layout having a plurality of line patterns and a second layout having a plurality of connection patterns, defining at least a first to-be-split pattern overlapping with the connection pattern among the line patterns, splitting the first to-be-split pattern at where the first to-be-split pattern overlapping with the connection pattern, decomposing the first layout to form a third layout and a fourth layout, and outputting the third layout and the further layout to a first mask and a second mask respectively.
US08598711B2
The semiconductor device comprises a metal line configured to be buried in an interlayer insulation layer formed over a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating pattern configured to be formed over the interlayer insulating layer and the first metal line so that the first metal line is exposed, a second insulating pattern configured to be buried between the first insulating patterns so that the first metal line is exposed, and a third insulating pattern configured to be formed over the first insulating pattern and the second insulating pattern so that the first metal line is exposed, thereby reducing the resistance of a contact plug, such that it operates at high speed and requires low power consumption.
US08598710B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a core region adjacent to the cell region, active regions in the cell region and the core region, an interlayer insulating layer covering the active regions, upper cell contacts penetrating the interlayer insulating layer in the cell region, the upper cell contacts being adjacent to each other along a first direction and being electrically connected to the active regions, and core contacts penetrating the interlayer insulating layer in the active regions of the core region, the core contacts being adjacent to each other along the first direction and including upper connection core contacts electrically connected to the active regions, and dummy contacts adjacent to the upper connection core contacts, the dummy contacts being insulated from the active regions.
US08598705B2
A composite substrate for a semiconductor chip includes a first covering layer containing a semiconductor material, a second covering layer, and a core layer arranged between the first covering layer and the second covering layer, wherein the core layer has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the covering layers.
US08598699B2
In one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device that includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer on the substrate; a first ground metal layer embedded in the dielectric layer and having a first DC potential, the first ground metal layer having a first hole therethrough; a first ground patch disposed in the first hole; a second ground metal layer embedded in the dielectric layer such that the dielectric layer is interposed between the first and second ground metal layers in a thickness direction of the dielectric layer, the second ground metal layer having a second DC potential and having a second hole therethrough; a second ground patch disposed in the second hole; a first via which electrically connects the first ground metal layer and the second ground patch; and a second via which electrically connects the second ground metal layer and the first ground patch.
US08598693B2
A rear surface opposite to one plane of a die pad is formed to be exposed from one plane of a sealing resin. In addition, a concave portion disposed to be parallel with at least a first side of an outermost edge of a central structure and a second side adjacent to the first side, respectively, is formed in the one plane of the sealing resin. Here, a depth of the concave portion is equal to or greater than a height of the outermost edge of the central structure.
US08598692B2
A semiconductor device includes (i) a tape base material, (ii) a wiring pattern, (iii) a semiconductor element which is electrically connected with the wiring pattern, (iv) a top-side insulating protective film which covers a top surface of the tape base material and has an top-side opening section provided in a region where the top-side insulating protective film faces the semiconductor element, and (v) a reverse-side insulating protective film which covers a reverse surface of the tape base material and has a reverse-side opening section provided on a reverse side below the top-side opening section. The top-side insulating protective film has a protruding opening section extending outwardly from the region. An opening of the reverse-side opening section is 1.00 time to 8.50 times larger in an area than the region.
US08598684B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of preparing a structure including a semiconductor substrate, an element formed therein, a through hole formed to penetrate the semiconductor substrate, and an insulating layer formed on both surface sides of the semiconductor substrate and an inner surface of the through hole, and covering the element, forming a penetrating electrode in the through hole, forming a first barrier metal pattern layer covering the penetrating electrode, forming a contact hole reaching a connection portion of the element in the insulating layer, removing a natural oxide film on the connection portion of the element in the contact hole, and forming a wiring layer connected to the first barrier metal pattern layer and connected to the element through the contact hole.
US08598682B2
A resistor structure incorporated into a resistive switching memory cell or device to form memory devices with improved device performance and lifetime is provided. The resistor structure may be a two-terminal structure designed to reduce the maximum current flowing through a memory device. A method is also provided for making such memory device. The method includes depositing a resistor structure and depositing a variable resistance layer of a resistive switching memory cell of the memory device, where the resistor structure is disposed in series with the variable resistance layer to limit the switching current of the memory device. The incorporation of the resistor structure is very useful in obtaining desirable levels of device switching currents that meet the switching specification of various types of memory devices. The memory devices may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices.
US08598679B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a transistor including a substrate, a source, a drain, and a gate, and a fuse stacked over the transistor. The fuse includes an anode contact coupled to the drain of the transistor, a cathode contact, and a resistor coupled to the cathode contact and the anode contact via a first Schottky diode and a second Schottky diode, respectively. A method of fabricating such semiconductor devices is also provided.
US08598668B2
A standard cell has gate patterns extending in Y direction and arranged at an equal pitch in X direction. End portions of the gate patterns are located at the same position in Y direction, and have an equal width in X direction. A diode cell is located next to the standard cell in Y direction, and includes a plurality of opposite end portions formed of gate patterns that are opposed to the end portions, in addition to a diffusion layer which functions as a diode.
US08598665B2
A field effect transistor fabrication method includes defining a gate structure on a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer on the gate structure, depositing a first metal layer on the dielectric layer, removing a portion of the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer, annealing the first and second metal layers, and defining a carbon based device on the dielectric layer and the gate structure.
US08598660B2
A lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS transistor) employs a stress layer that enhances carrier mobility (i.e., on-current) while also maintaining a high breakdown voltage for the device. High breakdown voltage is maintained, because an increase in doping concentration of the drift region is minimized. A well region and a drift region are formed in the substrate adjacent to one another. A first shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed on and adjacent to the well region, and a second STI region is formed on and adjacent to the drift region. A stress layer is deposited over the LDMOS transistor and in the second STI region, which propagates compressive or tensile stress into the drift region, depending on the polarity of the stress layer. A portion of the stress layer can be removed over the gate to change the polarity of stress in the inversion region below the gate.
US08598658B2
A high voltage lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS) comprises a substrate; an epitaxy layer on the substrate; a drift region on the epitaxy layer; and a drain region and a source region at two ends. At least one pair of n-type and p-type semiconductor regions is arranged alternately above the interface of the substrate and the epitaxy layer and firmly attached to a lower surface of the drifting region; the n-type and p-type semiconductor regions are firmly closed to each other and arranged to form a lateral PN junction; and the p-type semiconductor region and the drifting region form a vertical PN junction. The n-type and p-type semiconductor regions are also totally called “a reduced surface field (RESURF) layer in body”, and the LDMOS device with a RESURF layer in body effectively solves conflict between raising reverse withstand voltage and reducing forward on-resistance of the current LDMOS devices.
US08598657B2
Investigation of problems of the device structure of a power MOSFET and mass production of it in relation to high breakdown voltage and low ON resistance when an epitaxy trench filling system is employed has revealed that it has the following problem, that is, a high breakdown voltage as expected cannot be achieved because a P-column region does not have an ideal rectangular parallelepipedal shape but has an inverted trapezoidal shape narrower at the bottom thereof and at the same time, has a concentration distribution lower at the bottom. In order to overcome the problem, the present invention provides a semiconductor device including a power MOSFET portion equipped, in an active cell region thereof, a super junction structure formed by a trench filling system, wherein a base epitaxial layer has a multistage structure with the upper portion having a higher impurity concentration.
US08598648B2
A semiconductor device is formed using a material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of a transistor; for example, an oxide semiconductor material, which is a wide-gap semiconductor, is used. When a semiconductor material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of a transistor is used, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long time. Transistors each including an oxide semiconductor in memory cells of the semiconductor device are connected in series; thus, a source electrode of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor in the memory cell and a drain electrode of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor in the adjacent memory cell can be connected to each other. Therefore, the area occupied by the memory cells can be reduced.
US08598642B2
An asymmetric non-volatile memory bitcell is described. The bitcell comprises source and drain regions comprising carriers of the same conductivity type. A floating gate rests on top of the well, and extends over a channel region, and at least a portion of the source and drain regions. The drain region comprises additional carriers of a second conductivity type, allowing band to band tunneling. The source region comprises additional carriers of a first conductivity type, thereby increasing source-gate capacitance. Thus, the bitcell incorporates a select device, thereby decreasing the overall size of the bitcell. The bitcell may be created without any additional CMOS process steps, or through the addition of a single extra mask step.
US08598632B2
An integrated circuit having differently-sized features wherein the smaller features have a pitch multiplied relationship with the larger features, which are of such size as to be formed by conventional lithography.
US08598631B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit chip mounted on a substrate by flip chip bonding includes: a plurality of electrode pads; a corner portion of a flat periphery of an inner layer; a first linear region adjoining one side of the corner portion; a second linear region adjoining another side of the corner portion; and a third linear region adjoining a side of the first linear region opposite to the side adjoining the corner portion. A circuit core placeable region is provided in at least part of the corner portion and the first linear region. A plurality of IO cells connected to the electrode pads are arranged in the second and third linear regions. The IO cells in the second linear region are connected to the electrode pads arranged inwardly in n rows×n columns from a corner of the chip above the corner portion.
US08598629B2
A high-frequency device having a switching circuit includes a compound semiconductor substrate; a first high-frequency input/output terminal; a second high-frequency input/output terminal; a control signal input terminal; a power terminal; a ground terminal; an insulating portion disposed on one main surface of the compound semiconductor substrate; and a voltage-applying electrode for applying a predetermined positive voltage from the power electrode to the compound semiconductor substrate, wherein the switching circuit includes a field-effect transistor disposed on the other main surface of the active region of the compound semiconductor substrate.
US08598625B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type; a first heavily doped region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the HVW region; and a doped region of the first conductivity type contacting the first heavily doped region and the HVW region. The doped region is under the first heavily doped region and over the HVW region. The doped region has a first impurity concentration higher than a second impurity concentration of the HVW region and lower than a third impurity concentration of the first heavily doped region. The ESD device further includes a second heavily doped region of the second conductivity type over the HVW region; and a third heavily doped region of the first conductivity type over and contacting the HVW region.
US08598624B2
A hybrid IGBT device having a VIGBT and LDMOS structures comprises at least a drain trenched contact filled with a conductive plug penetrating through an epitaxial layer, and extending into a substrate; a vertical drain region surrounding at least sidewalls of the drain trenched contact, extending from top surface of the epitaxial layer to the substrate, wherein the vertical drain region having a higher doping concentration than the epitaxial layer.
US08598618B2
A white light emitting device includes a blue light emitting diode chip that emits blue light in a specific wavelength band, a first resin layer that seals the blue light emitting diode chip and includes a cured product of silicone resin, and a second resin layer that covers the first resin layer and includes phosphor powder, which absorbs the blue light and emits light in a specific wavelength band, and a cured product of transparent resin. The phosphor powder has a composition represented by the following Formula (1): (Sr1-x-yBaxEuy)2SiO4 (1) (in Formula (1), x and y satisfy a condition that 0.05
US08598612B2
Several embodiments of light emitting diode packaging configurations including a substrate with a cavity are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a cavity is formed on a substrate to contain an LED and phosphor layer. The substrate has a channel separating the substrate into a first portion containing the cavity and a second portion. A filler of encapsulant material or other electrically insulating material is molded in the channel. The first portion can serve as a cathode for the LED and the second portion can serve as the anode.
US08598611B2
Solid-state transducers (“SSTs”) and SST arrays having backside contacts are disclosed herein. An SST in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a transducer structure having a first semiconductor material at a first side of the transducer structure, and a second semiconductor material at a second side of the transducer structure. The SST can further include a first contact at the first side and electrically coupled to the first semiconductor material, and a second contact extending from the first side to the second semiconductor material and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material. A carrier substrate having conductive material can be bonded to the first and second contacts.
US08598609B2
A high efficiency light emitting diode with a composite high reflectivity layer integral to said LED to improve emission efficiency. One embodiment of a light emitting diode (LED) chip comprises an LED and a composite high reflectivity layer integral to the LED to reflect light emitted from the active region. The composite layer comprises a first layer, and alternating plurality of second and third layers on the first layer, and a reflective layer on the topmost of said plurality of second and third layers. The second and third layers have a different index of refraction, and the first layer is at least three times thicker than the thickest of the second and third layers. For composite layers internal to the LED chip, conductive vias can be included through the composite layer to allow an electrical signal to pass through the composite layer to the LED.
US08598607B2
A light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The light emitting device includes a buffer layer formed on a substrate, a nitride semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, which are sequentially stacked on the buffer layer, a portion of the first semiconductor layer being exposed to the outside by performing mesa etching from the second semiconductor layer to the portion of the first semiconductor layer, and at least one nanocone formed on the second semiconductor layer.
US08598605B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a first conductivity type first semiconductor layer containing a nitride semiconductor crystal and having a tensile stress in a (0001) surface; a second conductivity type second semiconductor layer containing a nitride semiconductor crystal and having a tensile stress in the (0001) surface; a light emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, containing a nitride semiconductor crystal, and having an average lattice constant larger than the lattice constant of the first semiconductor layer; and a first stress application layer provided on a side opposite to the light emitting layer of the first semiconductor layer and applying a compressive stress to the first semiconductor layer.
US08598602B2
Packages containing one or more light emitting devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), are disclosed. In one embodiment, LED package can include a thermal element having improved solder reliability to improve heat dissipation capacity of the LED package. LED package can include a molded plastic body having one or more LEDs attached to one or more electrical elements. The LEDs can be connected to an upper surface of the thermal element. The thermal element can include a bottom surface which can extend further away in distance from a body of the LED package than a bottom surface of the electrical element. This configuration can result in an improved connection between the LED package and an external circuitry source, thereby increasing heat transfer ability of the LED package.
US08598601B2
The present invention discloses a light emitting package, including: a base; a light emitting device on the base; an electrical circuit layer electrically connected to the light emitting device; a screen member having an opening and disposed on the base adjacent to the light emitting device; and a lens covering the light emitting device, wherein a width of a cross-sectional shape of the screen member is larger than a height of the cross sectional shape of the screen member, wherein the lens is disposed on the screen member, and wherein the lens is connected to an uppermost surface of the screen member.
US08598598B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device having vertically stacked light emitting diodes. It comprises a lower semiconductor layer of a first conductive type positioned on a substrate, a semiconductor layer of a second conductive type on the lower semiconductor layer of a first conductive type, and an upper semiconductor layer of a first conductive type on the semiconductor layer of a second conductive type. Furthermore, a lower active layer is interposed between the lower semiconductor layer of a first conductive type and the semiconductor layer of a second conductive type, and an upper active layer is interposed between the semiconductor layer of a second conductive type and the upper semiconductor layer of a first conductive type. Accordingly, there is provided a light emitting device having a structure in which a lower light emitting diode comprising the lower active layer and an upper light emitting diode comprising the upper active layer are vertically stacked. Therefore, light output per unit area of the light emitting device is enhanced as compared with a conventional light emitting device, and thus, a chip area of the light emitting device needed to obtain the same light output as the conventional light emitting device can be reduced.
US08598594B2
In a semiconductor device including a stack structure having heterojunction units formed by alternately stacking GaN (gallium nitride) films and barrier films which are different in forbidden band width, a first electrode formed in a Schottky barrier contact with one sidewall of the stack structure, and a second electrode formed in contact with the other sidewall, an oxide film is interposed between the first electrode and the barrier films. Therefore, the reverse leakage current is prevented from flowing through defects remaining in the barrier films due to processing of the barrier films, so that a reverse leakage current of a Schottky barrier diode is reduced.
US08598588B2
In some embodiments, a method of processing a film is provided, the method comprising defining a plurality of spaced-apart regions to be pre-crystallized within the film, the film being disposed on a substrate and capable of laser-induced melting; generating a laser beam having a fluence that is selected to form a mixture of solid and liquid in the film and where a fraction of the film is molten throughout its thickness in an irradiated region; positioning the film relative to the laser beam in preparation for at least partially pre-crystallizing a first region of said plurality of spaced-apart regions; directing the laser beam onto a moving at least partially reflective optical element in the path of the laser beam, the moving optical element redirecting the beam so as to scan a first portion of the first region with the beam in a first direction at a first velocity, wherein the first velocity is selected such that the beam irradiates and forms the mixture of solid and liquid in the first portion of the first region, wherein said first portion of the first region upon cooling forms crystalline grains having predominantly the same crystallographic orientation in at least a single direction; and crystallizing at least the first portion of the first region using laser-induced melting.
US08598580B2
Disclosed is a wiring structure that attains excellent low-contact resistance even if eliminating a barrier metal layer that normally is disposed between a Cu alloy wiring film and a semiconductor layer, and wiring structure with excellent adhesion. The wiring structure is provided with a semiconductor layer, and a Cu alloy layer, on a substrate in this order from the substrate side. A laminated structure is included between the semiconductor layer, and the Cu alloy layer. The laminated structure is composed of a (N, C, F, O) layer which contains at least one element selected from among a group composed of nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, and oxygen, and a Cu—Si diffusion layer which includes Cu and Si, in this order from the substrate side. At least one element selected from among the group composed of nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, and oxygen that composes the (N, C, F, O) layer is bonded to Si in the semiconductor layer. The Cu alloy layer is a laminated structure containing a Cu—X alloy layer (a first layer) and a second layer.
US08598566B2
The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for controlled quantum dot growth as well as a quantum dot structures. In some examples, a method is described that includes one or more of providing a substrate, forming a defect on the substrate, depositing a layer on the substrate and forming quantum dots along the defect.
US08598556B2
A substrate positioning device includes: a supporting unit for supporting a substrate in place; a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit respectively arranged at major surface sides of the substrate to face each other; a light emission control unit configured to control a light emission quantity of the light emitting unit pursuant to a control value; and a detecting unit for detecting a light reception quantity received by the light receiving unit. The substrate positioning device further includes an adjusting unit for controlling the control value pursuant to the light reception quantity while the substrate is not supported by the supporting unit.
US08598546B2
A method of generating a data set defining a plurality of target points in a target volume in a body at which a particle beam is to be directed in a continuous or discontinuous process includes directing a particle beam to each of the target points so as to provide a spatial dose distribution in an area around the respective target point. The target points include a first target point having z-spacing, measured in a direction of the particle beam in a homogenous body equivalent to the body, from an adjacent second target point at a higher or lower particle energy. The method also includes defining the target points in the data set by at least one of the z-spacing and the spatial dose distribution in dependence upon a particle energy of the respective target point.
US08598545B2
The invention relates to a multiple beam charged particle optical system, comprising an electrostatic lens structure with at least one electrode, provided with apertures, wherein the effective size of a lens field effected by said electrode at a said aperture is made ultimately small. The system may comprise a diverging charged particle beam part, in which the lens structure is included. The physical dimension of the lens is made ultimately small, in particular smaller than one mm, more in particular less than a few tens of microns. In further elaboration, a lens is combined with a current limiting aperture, aligned such relative to a lens of said structure, that a virtual aperture effected by said current limiting aperture in said lens is situated in an optimum position with respect to minimizing aberrations total.
US08598531B2
According to one embodiment, a radiation therapy apparatus includes a radiation irradiation device, a detector included in a PET scanner, a control unit, and a PET image reconstruction unit. The radiation irradiation device emits a therapeutic radiation. The detector counts light derived from gamma rays, and is provided with a gap portion through which the therapeutic radiation passes on a plane of rotation about the body axis of a subject. The control unit controls the radiation irradiation device and the detector so as to rotate in synchronization with each other in a state capable of emitting the therapeutic radiation to the gap portion. The PET image reconstruction unit reconstructs a PET image based on position information at the time of counting of the detector that nearly coincidentally counts pair annihilation gamma rays in a state where the control unit performs rotation control.
US08598523B2
A process (and apparatus for performing the process) for layer manufacturing a three-dimensional work piece comprising the steps of: feeding raw material in a solid state to a first predetermined location; exposing the raw material to an electron beam to liquefy the raw material; depositing the raw material onto a substrate as a molten pool deposit, the deposit having a forward edge region in an x-y plane with a forward edge region width and a trailing edge region in the x-y plane with a trailing edge region width, under at least one first processing condition; monitoring the molten pool deposit for at least one preselected condition using detecting of scatter from a scanning electron beam contemporaneously with the depositing step; solidifying the molten pool deposit; automatically altering the first processing condition to a different processing condition based upon information obtained from the comparing step; and repeating steps at one or more second locations for building up layer by layer, generally along a z-axis that is orthogonal to the x-y plane, a three-dimensional work piece.
US08598508B2
An imaging device including an electronic shutter and a pixel array with color pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged. The pixel array part has at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics for red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak for blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak for green. The clear pixel has a high transmittance arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. An electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
US08598504B2
A digital camera includes a plurality of channels and a processing component operatively coupled to the plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels includes an optics component and a sensor that includes an array of photo-detectors. The processing component is configured to separately control an integration time of each channel, where a first integration time of a first channel is less than a second integration time of a second channel. The processing component is also configured to combine data from the plurality of channels to generate an image.
US08598498B2
Provided are a cooker and a method for controlling the same. Levels driven by a plurality of heat sources are controlled by input driving levels of all the heat sources received by an input unit. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that foods are more swiftly cooked by the plurality of heat sources.
US08598496B2
The invention relates to a method for testing the operation of an electric heating element which is used for heating activated carbon of an activated carbon filter and/or air which is guided through the activated carbon for the regeneration thereof. The heating element has a PTC-characteristic (positive temperature coefficient characteristic). The strength of a current flow through the heating element in a heating phase selected for the operational testing is measured at a point in time or over a time period and is used for the operational testing, in that at least one measured current flow value is compared with a corresponding current flow value to be anticipated during defect-free operation of the heating element, and the heating element is considered to be defective in the event of a deviation which exceeds a predetermined measurement.
US08598491B2
An improvement in a welder including a power source for performing a TIG welding process across an electrode and a workpiece where the power source has a first output lead connected to the electrode and a second output lead connected to the workpiece with a controller for creating a waveform across the power leads. The waveform has a profile alternating between a first current section and a second current section at a given overall frequency and the sections each have a peak current in either the positive or negative direction and a duration. The improvement comprises at least one of the current sections being pulsed between a high current level equal to its peak current and a low current level in the opposite direction of the peak current at a pulsing frequency greater than the given overall frequency.
US08598490B2
Tailored laser pulse shapes are used for processing workpieces. Laser dicing of semiconductor device wafers on die-attach film (DAF), for example, may use different tailored laser pulse shapes for scribing device layers down to a semiconductor substrate, dicing the semiconductor substrate, cutting the underlying DAF, and/or post processing of the upper die edges to increase die break strength. Different mono-shape laser pulse trains may be used for respective recipe steps or passes of a laser beam over a scribe line. In another embodiment, scribing a semiconductor device wafer includes only a single pass of a laser beam along a scribe line using a mixed-shape laser pulse train that includes at least two laser pulses that are different than one another. In addition, or in other embodiments, one or more tailored pulse shapes may be selected and provided to the workpiece on-the-fly. The selection may be based on sensor feedback.
US08598481B2
A switch includes an insulative housing, a pair of first and second contacts fixed in the insulative housing and a dome-shaped moveable contact. The insulative housing includes a receiving space and a first peripheral wall located outside of the receiving space. The first and the second contacts include first and second contacting sections, respectively. The first and the second contacting sections are separated a distance from each other and exposed in the receiving space. The dome-shaped moveable contact is mounted in the receiving space under condition that the moveable contact is constantly in contact with the second contacting section while the moveable contact is alternatively driven to engage with the first contacting section so as to establish electrical connection between the first contact and the second contact. The first peripheral wall defines a sinuated air-passageway communicating the receiving space to outside.
US08598476B2
A keypad assembly, and an associated method, is constructed in a manner to permit application of a finish, such as a decoration or painting, to any desired portion of the keys of the assembly, including at interstitial portions between adjacent keys. The keypad assembly includes a carrier membrane upon which keys forming a keypad array and key membrane pieces are supported. The carrier membrane is wrapped about a cylindrical fixture to position all portions of the keys in orientations to permit application of the finish thereto.
US08598475B2
A switch assembly for the lift-and-slide roof of a vehicle that includes a housing, an actuating element, a first pair of movable electrical switching contacts, and a second pair of movable electrical switching contacts. Each longitudinal wall of the housing comprises a cross-shaped groove including a cross-shaped guiding track. The cross shaped groove receives a projecting member of the actuating element. The guiding track receives a pressure piece carried by the actuating element. The cross shaped groove has end surfaces which form abutment surfaces for the corresponding surfaces of the projecting member.
US08598469B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a first cover, a second cover located below the first cover, and a bracket for receiving a disk drive. The second cover defining a hole and comprising a shielding panel covering the hole. The shielding panel is deformable to expose the hole, for the disk drive inserting into or being removed out of the bracket.
US08598467B2
A process for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly is provided. The process includes (a) providing a substrate at least one area of which comprises a plurality of vias area(s) having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the substrate to form a conformal coating thereon; (c) removing the dielectric coating in a predetermined pattern to expose sections of the substrate; (d) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces to form metallized vias through and/or to the electrically conductive core; (e) applying a resist to the metal layer to form a photosensitive layer thereon; (f) imaging resist in predetermined locations; (g) developing resist to uncover selected areas of the metal layer; and (h) etching uncovered areas of metal to form an electrical circuit pattern connected by the metallized vias.
US08598462B2
A cable management apparatus includes a securing board and a cable management element. The securing board defines a first slot and a second slot. An extending direction of the first slot is substantially perpendicular to an extending direction of the second slot. The cable management includes a base panel, a connecting portion, a positioning tab corresponding to the first slot, a resilient tab corresponding to the second slot, and a securing panel extending from the base panel. The securing panel includes a panel body and a securing portion. The connecting portion includes a first connecting panel and a second connecting panel. A receiving space is defined between the panel body and the first connecting panel. The second connecting panel has a free end. The second connecting panel is capable of moving relative to the first connecting panel to enable the free end to be engaged in the securing portion.
US08598458B2
An electronic device includes an electronic component, a joining member to be mechanically joined with the electronic component, and a metal conductor located between the electronic component and the joining member to mechanically join the electronic component and the joining member. The metal conductor is made of porous noble metal to have pores, and includes an end surface without being covered by the electronic component and the joining member. Furthermore, a reinforcing resin is impregnated from the end surface of the metal conductor to the pores inside of the metal conductor, so as to mechanically reinforce the metal conductor.
US08598456B2
A cover assembly includes a base, a cover and a hinge coupling the cover to the hinge. The hinge includes a body coupled to a rear face of the base and extends outwardly from a side edge of the base. The hinge has a leg oriented to contact an edge of the cover when the cover is pivoted to the open position. The edge frictionally engages the leg of the hinge to hold the cover in an open position and limit rotation of the cover.
US08598455B2
Methods and assemblies are provided for protecting a terminal of a conductor assembly with an open face and a closed face. The protection assembly includes a housing configured to at least partially cover the open face; and a strap coupled to the housing and configured to extend around the closed face such that the housing is detachably secured to the terminal device.
US08598453B2
A power strip hanging device and structure are provided. The hanging device includes a hanger element and a positioning seat. The hanger element has a pulling portion for being pulled by a user and a shoulder extended outward from the periphery of one end thereof. The positioning seat has an upper opening on one side and a lower opening on the opposite side communicating with the upper opening to form a receiving space therein, and is positioned firmly in an installation hole of a table, so that the hanging element can pass through the upper opening and be received in the receiving space with the shoulder resting on the rim of the upper opening. Thus, the hanging element is supported by the positioning seat, and the power strip can pass through the positioning seat and be secured under the table without occupying the space on a top of the table.
US08598450B2
Disclosed are certain polymeric compounds and their use as organic semiconductors in organic and hybrid optical, optoelectronic, and/or electronic devices such as photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, light emitting transistors, field effect transistors, and photodetectors. The disclosed compounds can provide improved device performance, for example, as measured by power conversion efficiency, fill factor, open circuit voltage, field-effect mobility, on/off current ratios, and/or air stability when used in photovoltaic cells or transistors. The disclosed compounds can have good solubility in common solvents enabling device fabrication via solution processes.
US08598443B2
Drum hardware and drum secured thereon are preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier having a plurality of separate parts removable from each other and formed of a rigid light material such as plastic or a light metal such as magnesium, aluminum or titanium. The carrier has a vest or belly plate, shoulder supports, and back bar and the shoulder supports are removable and/or adjustable. The supporting elements are of rod, tube, pipe or tubular construction. Special padding may be included on the shoulder supports, belly plate portion and other parts where cushioning is needed. The hardware may be universally adjustable.
US08598440B1
A wheat variety designated W010098F2, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W010098F2, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W010098F2 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W010098F2 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W010098F2. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W010098F2 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US08598436B1
A novel maize variety designated PH18KW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18KW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18KW 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 PH18KW or a locus conversion of PH18KW with another maize variety.
US08598390B2
A method of controlling an in-series, multiple, e.g., two, reaction zone, hydroformylation process for producing normal (N) and iso (I) aldehydes at a N:I ratio, the process comprising contacting an olefinically unsaturated compound with synthesis gas and a catalyst comprising (A) a transition metal, e.g., rhodium, (B) an organobisphosphite ligand, and (C) an organomonophosphite ligand, the contacting conducted in first and subsequent reaction zone(s) and at hydroformylation conditions comprising a transition metal concentration in each zone, the method comprising decreasing the transition metal concentration in the first reaction zone to decrease the N:I ratio or increasing the transition metal concentration in the first reaction zone to increase the N:I ratio.
US08598389B2
A method of controlling a hydroformylation process for producing normal (N) and iso (I) aldehydes at a N:I ratio, the process comprising contacting an olefinically unsaturated compound, e.g., propylene, with synthesis gas and a catalyst comprising a transition metal, e.g., rhodium, and an organopolyphosphite and an organomonophosphite ligand, the contacting conducted at hydroformylation conditions comprising a synthesis gas partial pressure, the method comprising increasing the synthesis gas partial pressure in the first reaction zone to decrease the N:I ratio or decreasing the synthesis gas partial pressure in the first reaction zone to increase the N:I ratio.
US08598387B2
Disclosed herein is novel process for preparation of atovaquone, which process includes reacting 1H-2-benzopyran-1,4(3H)-dione with 4-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclohexanecarbaldehyde. The invention further discloses novel intermediates useful in the preparation of atovaquone.
US08598385B2
Process for the preparation of N-vinylcarboxamides by pyrolysis of a compound of the formula CH3—CH(CN)—N(R)—CO—R1 (I), in which R and R1 are H or C1- to C6-alkyl, in the presence of solids which are doped with alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ions, under reduced pressure at a temperature of from 330 to 750° C. with elimination of hydrogen cyanide, cooling, separation and isolation of the reaction products, a solid arranged in a tubular reactor being treated at a temperature in the range from 0 to 250° C. with a solution of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal base, the solution being discharged, the remaining solvent which adheres to the catalyst thus obtainable being evaporated and said catalyst then being heated to a temperature of at least 380° C. for activation.
US08598382B2
A sterically hindered phenol and phosphite based compound represented by the following formula: and its use as an antioxidant in a wide range of materials including, but not limited to, food, plastics, elastomers, composites and petroleum based products is disclosed herein.
US08598374B2
GPR120 agonists are provided. These compounds are useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases, including Type II diabetes and diseases associated with poor glycemic control.
US08598364B2
The invention provides protease inhibitors that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from the protease inhibitors not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.
US08598363B2
The present disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing 2-[(3,5-difluoro-3′-methoxy-1,1′biphenyl-4-yl)amino]nicotinic acid.
US08598356B2
Certain heteroaryl-substituted piperidinyl and piperazinyl urea compounds are described, which are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity, such as anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, insulin resistance, diabetes, osteoporosis, and movement disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis).
US08598337B2
This invention relates to improved methods for purifying polysaccharides from cellular components, such as a cell wall. The method relates to hydrolyzing and separating the polysaccharides, thereby resulting in purified polysaccharides useful for producing antigens, antibodies, and vaccines comprising the polysaccharides alone or conjugated to carrier molecules. This method is simple, rapid, efficient, scalable, and reproducible.
US08598336B2
A cellulose derivative and a resin composition having good thermoplasticity, strength, and elongation at break and therefore suited to molding processing are provided. The cellulose derivative is derived by replacing at least part of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups of cellulose with a hydrocarbon group and an aliphatic or aromatic oxycarbonyl group.
US08598332B1
Methods and means are provided for reducing the phenotypic expression of a nucleic acid of interest in eucaryotic cells, particularly in plant cells, by introducing chimeric genes encoding sense and antisense RNA molecules directed towards the target nucleic acid, which are capable of forming a double stranded RNA region by base-pairing between the regions with sense and antisense nucleotide sequence or by introducing the RNA molecules themselves. Preferably, the RNA molecules comprises simultaneously both sense and antisense nucleotide sequence.
US08598325B2
There is described a coated solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber for use in direct immersion SPME of a food matrix that includes carbohydrates. The coated SPME fiber includes a SPME fiber for absorbing a small molecule from the food matrix; and a protective coating which has a surface that is substantially uniform and substantially smooth, the protective coating reducing adsorption of the carbohydrates onto the SPME fiber and allowing the SPME fiber to extract the small molecule from the food matrix. A process for producing the coated SPME fiber and a method of performing solid phase microextraction are also described.
US08598316B2
The present invention provides a conjugate that contains a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of pre-malignant dysplastic skin and which includes the amino acid sequence SRPRR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The present invention further provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of malignant skin and which includes the amino acid sequence CGKRK (SEQ ID NO: 6) or the amino acid sequence CDTRL (SEQ ID NO: 7), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic of one of these sequences.
US08598304B2
Poly(5,5′-bis(thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene) comprising as repeating units the group of the formula (I) wherein R is independently selected from a) a C1-20 alkyl group, b) a C2-20 alkenyl group, c) a C2-20 alkynyl group, d) a C1-20 alkoxy group, e) a —Y—C3-10 cycloalkyl group, f) a —Y—C6-14 aryl group, g) a —Y-3-12 membered cycloheteroalkyl group, or h) a —Y-5-14 membered heteroaryl group, wherein each of the C1-20 alkyl group, the C2-20 alkenyl group, the C2-20 alkynyl group, the C3-10 cycloalkyl group, the C6-14 aryl group, the 3-12 membered cycloheteroalkyl group, and the 5-14 membered heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with 1-4 R1 groups, R1 is independently selected from a) a S(O)m—C1-20 alkyl group, b) a S(O)m—OC1-20 alkyl group, c) a S(O)m—OC6-14 aryl group, d) a C(O)—OC1-20 alkyl group, e) a C(O)—OC6-14 aryl group, f) a C1-20 alkyl group, g) a C2-20 alkenyl group, h) a C2-20 alkynyl group, i) a C1-20 alkoxy group, j) a C3-10 cycloalkyl group, k) a C6-14 aryl group, l) a 3-12 membered cycloheteroalkyl group, or m) a 5-14 membered heteroaryl group, Y is independently selected from a divalent C1-6 alkyl group, or a covalent bond; and m is independently selected from 0, 1, or 2, and having a number average molecular weight Mn in the range of from 5,000 to 200,000 g/mol.
US08598298B2
Halogen-free, flame-retardant thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE-E) compositions that include at least one thermoplastic polyester elastomer, at least one low-melting, phosphorus-based flame retardant having a melting temperature no higher than 150° C., and a blend of solid intumescent flame retardants comprising a phosphorus-based, organic salt flame retardant and a nitrogen-based organic flame retardant are provided. The presence of the low-melting, phosphorus-based flame retardant renders the compositions more resistant to scratch-whitening.
US08598297B2
Prepolymers are prepared by a reaction of a polyisocyanate and a hydroxylmethyl containing polyester polyol derived from a fatty acid. The prepolymers can be prepared having isocyanate, hydroxyl, or a variety of other reactive functional groups. The prepolymers are useful in making polyurethanes and other polymers, or a crosslinking agents.
US08598288B2
A catalyst for a polymerization of norbornene monomers includes a transition metal complex represented by a formula (1). A method for producing a norbornene copolymer includes copolymerizing first norbornene monomers corresponding to a first monomer unit represented by a formula (2) and second norbornene monomers corresponding to a second monomer unit represented by a formula (3) in a presence of the catalyst. The transition metal complex is preferably (π-allyl) {2-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) iminomethyl]phenolate}palladium, (π-allyl) {2-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethyl]-4-fluorophenolate}palladium, (π-allyl)[2-(N-phenyliminomethyl) phenolate]palladium or (π-allyl){2-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) iminomethyl]-6-methylphenolate}palladium.
US08598282B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a silicone resin composition for encapsulating an optical semiconductor element which has strong adhesiveness to a substrate and provide an optical semiconductor element which has high reliability. The present invention provides a silicone resin composition comprising an organopolysiloxane (A) having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a liner organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B-1) which has hydrogen atoms each bonded to a silicon atom at the both terminals and a liner organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B-2) which has a hydrogen atom bonded to a silicon atom at one terminal and a hydroxyl or alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom at the other terminal, a branched organohydrogenpolysiloxane (C) having at least three hydrosilyl groups per molecule, a catalytic (D), and a condensation catalyst (E). The present invention also provides an optical semiconductor device provided with a cured product thereof.
US08598279B2
The present invention relates to novel polymer-bound adducts useful as cure components for anaerobic curable compositions. The compositions are particularly useful as adhesives and sealants.
US08598272B2
A blend polymer composition includes a styrene-based polymer, a non-styrene-based polymer, and a compatibilizer having a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes: a first block including a first monomer unit having an epoxy group, and a second monomer unit selected from an acrylate-based monomer unit, a methacrylate-based monomer unit, and a combination thereof; and a second block including a styrene-based monomer unit. The block copolymer has an epoxy equivalent ranging from 1000 g/eq to 20000 g/eq and a molecular weight distribution index ranging from 1.0 to 2.0.
US08598269B2
The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.
US08598262B2
The present invention provides methods, admixture compositions for treating clay-bearing aggregates used for construction purposes, and aggregate compositions for construction purposes. The clay-bearing aggregates are treated with a cationic copolymer made from two and preferably three different monomer components. Cementitious compositions containing the treated aggregates are also described.
US08598256B2
Biocomposite compositions and compositions, which include dried distillers solubles, and which can be used in making biocomposite compositions are described. Methods for preparing the compositions are also described.
US08598251B2
A kit is provided based on two pastes designed to produce bone cement with high initial stability and therefore low post-cure. The kit includes a paste A and a paste B, wherein paste A contains (a1) a polymerizable monomer having a pH in water in the range of 5-9, (a2) a filling agent insoluble in (a1), and (a3) a barbituric acid derivative selected from the group consisting of 1,5-disubstituted barbiturates, 1,3,5-trisubstituted barbiturates, and 1,3,5-tetrasubstituted barbiturates, and paste B contains (b1) a polymerizable monomer having a pH in water in the range of 5-9, (b2) a filling agent insoluble in (b1), (b3) a peroxide soluble in (b1), (b4) a heavy metal compound insoluble in (b1) and selected from the group consisting of heavy metal salts and heavy metal complexes, and wherein at least one of the pastes A and B contains a halide salt.
US08598247B2
A process is disclosed for preparing a elastomer by contacting under reaction conditions: a) an isocyanate component comprising an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer having an isocyanate (NCO) content of 10 to 30 weight percent where the prepolymer is the reaction product of a stoichiometric excess of one or more di- or poly-isocyanate compounds, collectively referred to hereinafter as isocyanate component, with a first polyol component; b) a second polyol component; and c) an effective amount of a blowing agent to provide a polyurethane elastomer with a density of from 200 to 1200 kg/m3; wherein a) and b) are used at an isocyanate index of from 85 to 115, and at least one of the first polyol composition and the second polyol composition contains at least one hydroxymethyl-containing polyester polyol.
US08598245B2
Methods of forming an insulating material comprising combining a polysilazane, a cross-linking compound, and a gas-generating compound to form a reaction mixture, and curing the reaction mixture to form a modified polysilazane. The gas-generating compound may be water, an alcohol, an amine, or combinations thereof. The cross-linking compound may be an isocyanate, an epoxy resin, or combinations thereof. The insulating material may include a matrix comprising one of a reaction product of a polysilazane and an isocyanate and a reaction product of a polysilazane and an epoxy resin. The matrix also comprises a plurality of interconnected pores produced from one of reaction of the polysilazane and the isocyanate and from reaction of the polysilazane and the epoxy resin. A precursor formulation that comprises a polysilazane, a cross-linking compound, and a gas-generating compound is also disclosed.
US08598243B2
Polymer foams comprising macropores, the macropores having average cross sections of above 500 nm, are obtainable by reacting one or more epoxy resins with one or more amphiphilic epoxy resin hardeners in water in a phase inversion polymerization, where, during the phase inversion polymerization, but after phase inversion has taken place, a volume increase of the internal voids which form initially, and which are present predominantly as micropores having average cross sections of below 500 nm, is induced such that the fraction of the macropores—relative to the entirety of micropores and macropores present in the polymer foam—at the end of the phase inversion polymerization is above 50% by volume. Polymer foams of the present invention are suitable for use as acoustic insulation materials in means of transport and in industrial and plant construction.
US08598230B2
The subject invention concerns methods for inhibition of STAT biological functions using platinum complexes.
US08598225B2
The present invention discloses the use of L-butylphthalide of formula (I) in the manufacture of medicaments for the prevention and treatment of cerebral infarct, especially induced by focal cerebral ischemia.
US08598220B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I) wherein variables X1, X2, Y, R1a, R1b, R2a, R2b, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are as defined in the description, and methods of use to treat pain, neuropathic pain, allodynia, pain associated with inflammation or an inflammatory disease, inflammatory hyperalgesia, bladder overactivity, and urinary incontinence.
US08598218B2
The present invention relates to shelf-stable liquid formulations of palonosetron for reducing chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced emesis with palonosetron. The formulations are particularly useful in the preparation of intravenous and oral liquid medicaments.
US08598216B1
The invention relates to ritonavir bis-hydrochloride, processes for the preparation of the ritonavir bis-hydrochloride, pharmaceutical compositions containing the ritonavir bis-hydrochloride and made from it, and methods of using the ritonavir bis-hydrochloride to inhibit HIV protease or enhance the pharmacokinetics of compounds which are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4.
US08598209B2
The subject invention relates to novel P2X3 receptor antagonists that play a critical role in treating disease states associated with pain, in particular peripheral pain, inflammatory pain, or tissue injury pain that can be treated using a P2X3 receptor subunit modulator.
US08598205B2
The present invention relates to modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”), compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using modulators of CFTR.
US08598204B2
The present invention relates to novel 1,2-dihydro-2-oxoquinoline compounds of the formula (I), and their derivatives, prodrugs, tautomers, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, metabolites, N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of above said novel compounds, and their derivatives, prodrugs, tautomers, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, metabolites, N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions containing them.The compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment/prevention of various disorders that are mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity.
US08598201B2
The present invention relates to new crystalline polymorphs of 6-(Piperidin-4-yloxy)-2H-isoquinolin-1-one hydrochloride, processes for their preparation and their use, in particular for the preparation of medicaments.
US08598183B2
This invention relates to novel sodium salt forms of the following Compound (1), and methods for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their use in the treatment of Hepatitis C Viral (HCV) infection:
US08598179B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, wherein R1; R2; Z; A; B; D; Q; J; V; G and M have the meanings indicated in the claims. The compounds of the formula I are valuable pharmacologically active compounds. They exhibit a strong anti-aggregating effect on platelets and thus an anti-thrombotic effect and are suitable, e.g., for the therapy and prophylaxis of cardio-vascular disorders like thromboembolic diseases or restenoses. They are reversible antagonists of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12, and can in general be applied in conditions in which an undesired activation of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 is present or for the cure or prevention of which an inhibition of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 is intended. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of the formula I, their use, in particular as active ingredients in pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical preparations comprising them.
US08598168B2
The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.
US08598167B1
The present invention relates to substituted 6,5-fused bicyclic heteroaryl compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods of treating cancer by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08598165B2
A method of inhibiting formation of cancerous metabolites, of inhibiting cytochrome P450 2A13 from forming carcinogen metabolites, and/or inhibiting formation of cancerous lung cells in a subject can include: providing a morpholine compound that selectively interacts with cytochrome P450 2A13 over cytochrome P450 2A6; administering a therapeutically effective amount of the morpholine compound or derivative to the subject. The morpholine compound or derivative can be substantially more selective for interacting with the cytochrome P450 2A13 over the cytochrome P450 2A6. The morpholine compound or derivative can also be substantially non-interactive with other physiological components. The morpholine compound or derivative can include a structure that selectively interacts with cytochrome P450 2A13 over cytochrome P450 2A6, such as Compounds 1-34 of Formulas A-D.
US08598160B2
This invention relates to novel compounds of the Formula (I), any of the formulas I1-I26 1a1-3-1j1-3 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful for the therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the modulation or inhibition of 11β-HSD1 in mammals. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions of the novel compounds and methods for their use in the reduction or control of the production of cortisol in a cell or the inhibition of the conversion of cortisone to cortisol in a cell.
US08598159B2
The invention provides a novel chemical series of formula I, as well as methods of use thereof for binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and modulating GABAA, and use of the compound of formula I for the treatment of GABAA receptor associated disorders. The general structure of formula I is shown below and can exist in tautomeric forms: The invention further provides a method of modulation of one or more GABAA subtypes in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I).
US08598151B2
The present invention relates to solid solution inducing layer for the preparation of weak epitaxial films of non-planar phthalocyanine and the thin film of non-planar phthalocyanine generated from the weak epitaxial growth on the solid solution inducing layer and organic thin film transistor based on the weak rpitaxy growth thin film of non-planar phthalocyanine. The solid solution inducing layer is prepared at certain substrate temperature by vapor co-deposition of any two inducing layer molecules presented by Formula I and Formula II. The solid solution inducing layer has uniformed structure, of which the lattice parameter and electronic structure can be controlled by adjusting the component proportion, the solid solution inducing layer can epitaxially grow a high quality thin film of non-planar phthalocyanine and fabricate high performance transistor device based on such epitaxial thin film.
US08598150B1
A composition including an effective amount of a compound including manganese [III] tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP), derivatives or analogs thereof to induce a reduction in body weight of a mammal or to improve insulin sensitivity of an obese mammal. A method including introducing an effective amount of a compound including manganese [III] tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP), derivatives or analogs thereof to a mammal to induce a reduction in body weight or to induce an increase in metabolism or insulin sensitivity of the mammal.
US08598141B2
This disclosure relates to uridine diphosphate (UDP) derivatives, compositions comprising therapeutically effective amounts of those UDP derivatives and methods of using those derivatives or compositions in treating disorders that are responsive to ligands, such as agonists, of P2Y6 receptor, e.g., neuronal disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and traumatic CNS injury, as well as pain.
US08598139B2
This invention relates to composition and methods using lipid formulated siRNA targeted to a PCSK9 gene.
US08598129B2
Dermatological conditions/afflictions such as rosacea, common acne, seborrheic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, acneform rashes, transient acantholytic dermatosis, and acne necrotica milliaris, most notably rosacea, are treated by topically applying onto the affected skin area of an individual in need of such treatment, a topical pharmaceutical composition which comprises a thus effective amount of ivermectin.
US08598124B2
The present invention relates to peptides derived from human HMG-CoA reductase of general formula (I): R1-(AA)n-X1-Gly-Lys-X2-(AA)p-R2, And of sequence SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 10. The present invention also relates to a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one peptide of general formula (I), in a physiologically suitable medium.The present invention further relates to the use of this novel peptide as an active principle that activates human HMG-CoA reductase in a cosmetic composition intended to strengthen the barrier function of the skin and to stimulate epidermal differentiation. The invention further applies to a cosmetic treatment method intended to prevent and/or combat the external stresses and signs of cutaneous aging.
US08598123B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the substituents are as described herein, and their use in medicine, in particular as opioid agonists.
US08598120B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds having a function of a peptide in the amylin family, related nucleic acids, expression constructs, host cells, and processes production of the compounds. The compounds of the invention include one or more amino acid sequence modifications. In addition, methods and compositions are disclosed to treat and prevent metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and increased cardiovascular risk.
US08598119B2
Use of particular substituted heterocycle fused gamma-carboline compounds as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them for the treatment of one or more disorders involving the 5-HT2A, SERT and/or dopamine D2 pathways are disclosed. In addition, the compounds may be combined with other therapeutic agents for the treatment of one or more sleep disorders, depression, psychosis, dyskinesias, and/or Parkinson's disease or any combinations.
US08598118B2
Small molecule, peptidic hepatocyte growth factors mimics, which act as both mimetics and antagonists, have been generated. These molecules have been shown or predicted to have therapeutic potential for numerous pathologies including dementia, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, cancer, and defective wound healing.
US08598116B2
The present invention provides methods for the treatment of an ongoing influenza infection by administering a polypeptide to a subject suffering from an influenza infection. The polypeptide consists of SEQ ID NO: 4. The present invention also provides a method of interfering with fusion of an influenza virus envelope with a host cell membrane by contacting the host cell with a polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4.
US08598104B2
A detergent composition comprises a hydrophobic polymer, a sulphonated polyacrylate, a pyrrolidone derivative and an anionic surfactant. The compositions find particular application in dishwashing applications and exhibit reduced tendency for spotting on the articles to be cleaned.
US08598101B2
The invention relates to dispersions comprising I) at least one polymer that is effective for mineral oils as a cold extrusion improver and is soluble in oil, II) at least one organic solvent that cannot be mixed with water, III) water, IV) at least one alkanolamine salt of a polycyclic carboxylic acid as a dispersing agent, and V) possibly at least one organic solvent that can be mixed with water.
US08598099B2
The present invention relates to a lubricating composition containing a corrosion inhibitor compound and a mixture of two or more dispersants, wherein 0 mole % to less than 50 mole % of the second dispersant molecules contain a carbocyclic ring. The invention further provides a method for lubricating a mechanical device using the lubricating composition.
US08598094B2
Methods and compositions useful to prevent scale formation and/or diageneous reactivity on mineral surfaces residing or to be placed in subterranean formations, are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing an anionic polymer and a cationic surfactant; contacting a mineral surface with the anionic polymer and the cationic surfactant; and allowing the anionic polymer and the cationic surfactant to interact with each other, whereby a film is formed on at least a portion of the mineral surface.
US08598093B2
Methods and compositions are provided that may comprise cement, a nano-particle, latex, and water. An embodiment of the present invention includes a method of cementing in a subterranean formation. The method may include introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises cement, a nano-particle, latex, and water. The method further may include allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Another embodiment of the present invention include a cement composition. The cement composition may comprise cement, a nano-particle, latex, and water.
US08598092B2
Methods for producing degradable particulates and slurries thereof, and methods related to the use of such degradable particulates and slurries in subterranean applications. Among the many methods provided are methods comprising: providing a degradable material mixture that comprises a degradable material and a first solvent; providing a fluid that comprises a second solvent and a surfactant, wherein the first and second solvents are immiscible in each other; combining the degradable material mixture and the fluid with sufficient shear to form an emulsion that comprises a discontinuous phase and a continuous phase, the discontinuous phase comprising the degradable material mixture and the continuous phase comprising the second solvent; removing at least a portion of the first solvent from the discontinuous phase; and forming a plurality of degradable particulates. Other methods are also provided.
US08598091B2
A cement retarder composition, method, kit and system are herein disclosed. Seeds are added to cement to delay the setting of cement. Cement retarders are added to cement to delay the setting of the cement until it is pumped to the desired position.
US08598087B2
Disclosed is a solid form of 4-[5-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-3-isoxazolyl]-N-[2-oxo-2-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)amino]ethyl]-1-naphthalenecarboxamide (Compound 1). Also disclosed are compositions containing a solid form of Compound 1 and methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a solid form of Compound 1 or a composition containing a solid form of Compound 1.
US08598086B2
3-Halo-6-(aryl)-4-iminotetrahydropicolinic acids having mono-, di- tri- and tetra-substituted aryl substituents in the 6-position, and their acid derivatives, are herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US08598080B2
A novel rice cultivar, designated ‘CL131,’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of rice cultivar ‘CL131,’ to the plants of rice ‘CL131,’ and to methods for producing a rice plant produced by crossing the cultivar ‘CL131’ with itself or another rice variety, and to single gene conversions of such plants. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar ‘CL131’ with another rice cultivar. The invention further relates to other derivatives of the cultivar ‘CL131.’
US08598067B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to the processing of hydrocarbon-containing feedstreams in the presence of an interstitial metal hydride containing catalyst comprising a surface, and a Group VI/Group VIII metal sulfide coated onto the surface of the interstitial metal hydride. The catalysts and processes of the present invention can improve overall hydrogenation, product conversion, as well as sulfur reduction in hydrocarbon feedstreams.
US08598062B2
Zero valent metal composite, manufacturing thereof, using thereof, and system including thereof, for (in-situ or ex-situ) catalytically treating contaminated water, such as sub-surface water, surface water, above-surface water, water vapor, or/and gaseous water. Composite includes powdered diatomite matrix incorporated with nanometer (1-1000 nm) sized particles of a zero valent (transition) metal (iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, palladium, platinum, or/and gold) and at least one electron transfer mediator (catalyst) from porphyrinogenic organometallic complexes (e.g., metalloporphyrins (chlorophylls, hemes, cytochromes) or metallocorrins (e.g., vitamin B12), and optionally, includes vermiculite. System includes composite and in-situ or/and ex-situ unit containing the composite, enabling exposure of contaminated water thereto. Applicable to in-situ sub-surface permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). Treatable water contaminants are organics (halogenated organic compounds), or/and inorganics (metal elements, metal element containing inorganic species, nonmetal elements, and nonmetal element containing inorganic species). Applicable to non-aqueous fluids (liquids, vapors, gases), for removing contaminants therefrom.
US08598059B2
The present invention relates to a process for sulfurizing a hydrocarbon treatment catalyst, comprising: at least a first step of depositing, on the surface of the catalyst, one or more sulfurization auxiliaries of formula (I): and at least a second step, carried out after the first step, of placing the catalyst in contact with a sulfur-containing gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and a sulfur compound. This process does not comprise the deposit of any carbon sources other than the auxiliary of formula (I).
US08598046B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the synthesis of nanostructures using at least one solution providing at least one chemical element appropriate for the type of nanostructure, the method comprising the steps of: a) adding (admixing) a reducing agent to the at least one solution, b) bringing a suitable substrate into contact with the at least one solution before or after step a), c) forming nucleation growth sites on the substrate and d) maintaining the temperature at a suitable level for the growth of the nanostructures, characterized by the further steps of e) providing at least one space having at least one dimension in the micron range, e.g. in the range from 1 μm to 500 μm, adjacent a surface of the substrate, f) growing said nanostructures in said at least one space, g) periodically separating said nanostructures from the substrate and removing them.
US08598045B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including, forming a first insulating film above a silicon substrate, forming an impurity layer in the first insulating film by ion-implanting impurities into a predetermined depth of the first insulating film, and modifying the impurity layer to a barrier insulating film by annealing the first insulating film after the impurity layer is formed, is provided.
US08598039B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus by integrating semiconductor manufacturing processes of stress free electrochemical copper polishing (SFP), removal of the Tantalum oxide or Titanium oxide formed during SFP process and XeF2 gas phase etching barrier layer Ta/TaN or Ti/TiN process. Firstly, at least portion of plated copper film is polished by SFP. Secondly the barrier metal oxide film formed during SFP process is etched away by etchant. Finally, the barrier layer Ta/TaN or Ta/TiN is removed with XeF2 gas phase etching. The apparatus accordingly consists of three sub systems: stress free copper electropolishing system, barrier layer oxide film removal system and barrier layer Ta/TaN or Ti/TiN gas phase etching system.
US08598024B2
A method of fabricating a metal silicide layer includes forming a metal layer on a substrate, and forming a pre-metal silicide layer by reacting the substrate with the metal layer by performing a first annealing process on the substrate. The method also includes implanting silicon into the substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) process, and changing the pre-metal silicide layer into a metal silicide layer by performing a second annealing process on the substrate.
US08598020B2
In a method of depositing a crystalline germanium layer on a substrate, a substrate is placed in the process zone comprising a pair of process electrodes. In a deposition stage, a crystalline germanium layer is deposited on the substrate by introducing a deposition gas comprising a germanium-containing gas into the process zone, and forming a capacitively coupled plasma of the deposition gas by coupling energy to the process electrodes. In a subsequent treatment stage, the deposited crystalline germanium layer is treated by exposing the crystalline germanium layer to an energized treatment gas or by annealing the layer.
US08598019B2
Methods which can be applied during the epitaxial growth of semiconductor structures and layers of III-nitride materials so that the qualities of successive layers are successively improved. An intermediate epitaxial layer is grown on an initial surface so that growth pits form at surface dislocations present in the initial surface. A following layer is then grown on the intermediate layer according to the known phenomena of epitaxial lateral overgrowth so it extends laterally and encloses at least the agglomerations of intersecting growth pits. Preferably, prior to growing the following layer, a discontinuous film of a dielectric material is deposited so that the dielectric material deposits discontinuously so as to reduce the number of dislocations in the laterally growing material. The methods of the invention can be performed multiple times to the same structure. Also, semiconductor structures fabricated by these methods.
US08598018B2
The present invention provides a method of forming an electrode having reduced corrosion and water decomposition on a surface thereof. A conductive layer is deposited on a substrate. The conductive layer is partially oxidized by an oxygen plasma process to convert a portion thereof to an oxide layer thereby forming the electrode. The oxide layer is free of surface defects and the thickness of the oxide layer is from about 0.09 nm to about 10 nm and ranges therebetween, controllable with 0.2 nm precision.
US08598009B2
A low energy surface is formed by a high temperature anneal of the surfaces of trenches on each side of a gate stack. The material of the semiconductor layer reflows during the high temperature anneal such that the low energy surface is a crystallographic surface that is at a non-orthogonal angle with the surface normal of the semiconductor layer. A lattice mismatched semiconductor material is selectively grown on the semiconductor layer to fill the trenches, thereby forming embedded lattice mismatched semiconductor material portions in source and drain regions of a transistor. The embedded lattice mismatched semiconductor material portions can be in-situ doped without increasing punch-through. Alternately, a combination of intrinsic selective epitaxy and ion implantation can be employed to form deep source and drain regions.
US08598008B2
An integrated circuit containing a stacked bipolar transistor which includes two bipolar transistors connected in series is disclosed. Each bipolar transistor includes a breakdown inducing feature. The breakdown inducing features have reflection symmetry with respect to each other. A process for forming an integrated circuit containing a stacked bipolar transistor which includes two bipolar transistors connected in series, with breakdown inducing features having reflection symmetry, is also disclosed.
US08598007B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein involves forming first and second gate structures that include a cap layer for a first transistor device and a second transistor device, respectively, wherein the first and second transistors are oriented transverse to one another, performing a first halo ion implant process to form first halo implant regions for the first transistor with the cap layer in position in the first gate structure of the first transistor, removing the cap layer from at least the second gate structure of the second transistor and, after removing the cap layer, performing a second halo ion implant process to form second halo implant regions for the second transistor, wherein the first and second halo implant processes are performed at transverse angles relative to the substrate.
US08598002B2
A method for manufacturing a metal gate stack structure in gate-first process comprises the following steps after making conventional LOCOS and STI isolations: growing an untra-thin interface layer of oxide or oxynitride on a semiconductor substrate by rapid thermal oxidation or chemical process; depositing a high dielectric constant (K) gate dielectric on the untra-thin interface oxide layer and then performing rapid thermal annealing; depositing a TiN metal gate; depositing a barrier layer of AlN or TaN; depositing a poly-silicon film and a hard mask, and performing photo-lithography and the etching of the hard mask; after photo-resist removing, etching the poly-silicon film/metal gate/high-K gate dielectric sequentially to form the metal gate stack structure. The manufacturing method of the present invention is suitable for integration of high-K dielectric/metal gate in nano-scale CMOS devices, and removes obstacles of implementing high-K/metal gate integration.
US08598001B2
A method and system for forming a non-volatile memory structure. The method provides a semiconductor substrate and forms a gate dielectric layer overlying a surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon gate structure is formed overlying the gate dielectric layer. The method subjects the polysilicon gate structure to an oxidizing environment to cause formation of a first silicon oxide layer overlying the polysilicon gate structure and formation of a second silicon oxide layer overlying a surface region of the substrate. A hafnium oxide material is formed overlying the first and second silicon oxide layers and filling the undercut region. The hafnium oxide material has a nanocrystalline silicon material sandwiched between a first hafnium oxide layer and a second hafnium oxide layer. The hafnium oxide material is selectively etched while a portion of it is maintained in an insert region in a portion of the undercut region.
US08597996B1
Manufacturing methods for the formation of positive electrodes and the balancing of Coulombic capacities of positive and negative electrodes for use in a heterogeneous electrochemical capacitor (HES) having a PbO2|H2SO4|C system. Exemplary methods make it possible to manufacture capacitors with both non-formed and pre-formed positive electrodes. Capacitors produced by the exemplary methods may be used, for example, as secondary power sources to level loads of power networks, power electric vehicles, cellular and mobile communications, emergency lighting systems, telecommunications, and solar and wind energy storage devices.
US08597994B2
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a first inverter having a first p-channel FinFET and a first n-channel FinFET each coupled to a first shared contact forming a first cell node and having a first common gate. A second inverter is included having a second p-channel FinFET and a second n-channel FINFET each coupled to a second shared contact forming a second cell node and having a second common gate aligned with the first shared contact of the first inverter forming a latch circuit. Additionally, a pair of FinFET passgates are included each having a drain contact respectively coupled the first and second cell nodes and a source contact connected to one of a complementary bit line. Finally, a word line is connected to a gate contact of each of the pair of FinFET passgates to provide a static random access memory cell.
US08597993B2
A structure and method of fabricating electrostatic discharge (EDS) circuitry in an integrated circuit chip by integrating a lateral bipolar, either a p-n-p with a NMOSFET or a n-p-n with a PMOSFET within a triple well. The lateral bipolar preferably includes diodes at the I/O and/or the VDDs of the circuitry.
US08597988B2
System for flash-free overmolding of LED array substrates. In an aspect, a method is provided for molding encapsulations onto an LED array substrate. The method includes attaching a protective tape onto a substrate surface of the substrate so that openings in the protective tape align with LED devices of the substrate and applying molding material onto a molding surface of a molding tool and to portions of the substrate exposed through the openings in the protective tape. The method also includes pressing the molding surface and the substrate surface together at a selected pressure and a selected temperature so that encapsulations are formed on the portions of the substrate exposed through the openings in the protective tape, separating the molding surface from the substrate surface, and removing the protective tape so that molding material flash is removed from the substrate leaving a clean molded substrate.
US08597986B2
An assembly has at least one integrated circuit (IC) die fixed in a medium. The assembly has a redistribution layer over the IC die. The redistribution layer has conductors connecting first pads on active faces of the IC die to second pads at an exposed surface of the assembly. A die unit is provided over the IC die. The die unit has a bottom die interconnected to a package substrate. Respective portions of the redistribution layer corresponding to each of the at least one IC die partially underlie the bottom die, and extend beyond the bottom die. The package substrate has contacts connected to the ones of the second pads corresponding to the at least one IC die.
US08597981B2
Microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microelectronic device includes a microelectronic die, a plurality of electrical couplers projecting from the die, and a flowable material disposed on the die. The die includes an integrated circuit and a plurality of terminals operably coupled to the integrated circuit. The electrical couplers are attached to corresponding terminals on the die. The flowable material includes a plurality of spacer elements sized to space the die apart from another component. The flowable material may be a no-flow underfill, a flux compound, or other suitable material.
US08597975B2
A method is provided for fabricating a microelectronic device with programmable memory that includes: i) depositing an intermediate layer of a material having a chalcogenide on a first electrode; ii) irradiating the intermediate layer of step i with ultraviolet radiation; iii) depositing an ionizable metallic layer on the intermediate layer obtained in step ii; iv) diffusing the metal ions originating from the ionizable metallic layer of step iii into the intermediate layer to form a chalcogenide material containing metal ions; and v) depositing a second electrode on the layer of chalcogenide material containing metal ions obtained in step iv to form the microelectronic device.
US08597974B2
Methods, devices, and systems associated with resistance variable memory device structures are described herein. In one or more embodiments, a method of forming a confined resistance variable memory cell structure includes forming a resistance variable material such that a first unmodified portion of the resistance variable material contacts a bottom electrode and a second unmodified portion of the resistance variable material contacts a top electrode.
US08597967B1
The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor techniques. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for efficiently dicing substrates containing gallium and nitrogen material. Additionally the present disclosure provide techniques resulting in a optical device comprising a substrate having three or more corners, where at least one of the corners is defined by a dislocation bundle characterized by a diameter of less than 100 microns, the gallium and nitrogen containing substrate having a predefined portion free from dislocation bundle centers, an active region containing one or more active layers, the active region being positioned within the predefined region; and a conductive region formed within the predefined region.
US08597954B2
The present invention relates to a stool sample processing method and stool sample processing container the a stool sample processing container provided with a stool collection tool, a suspending solution holding portion and a processing solution holding portion, wherein stool sample preparation solutions consisting of a suspending solution and a stool sample processing solution are respectively housed in a suspending solution holding container and a processing solution holding container, after first mixing a stool sample with the suspending solution and suspending therein, a sealant is released into the suspending solution holding container by pressing on the lower portion of the processing solution holding container, and the resulting stool suspension mixes with the stool sample processing solution that stabilizes the nuclide acid.
US08597953B2
A set of volatile organic compounds is provided, comprising at least butylated hydroxy toluene or 4,6-di (1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methyl-phenol for breath analysis. Methods of use thereof in diagnosing, monitoring or prognosing lung cancer are also disclosed.
US08597943B2
The present invention relates to methods for the cultivation of a population of cells in a serum free cell culture medium, wherein the population of cells has a cell concentration of less than 100 cells/ml, wherein a serum free cell culture medium containing recombinant albumin and recombinant transferrin is used.
US08597936B2
An automatically operating apparatus designed as a table-top apparatus for the reproducible production of cell or tissue samples to be examined and arranged on specimen slides comprises, located its center, a rotatably supported, advance device having arranged on its periphery a plurality of modular processing stations at a distance from the advance device. Receiving devices provided in the peripheral region of the advance device are disposed to receive specimen slides on which automatically segmented cell and tissue segments can be positioned in a reproducible and correctly aligned manner. The cell and tissue segments are durably fixed in position on the specimen slides with the use of a curable adhesive, and the specimen slides, after being delivered, are subjected to further treatment processes in a further treatment device.
US08597935B2
A method and an apparatus using acridine orange for sorting particles to precisely carry out the measurement of cells in the blood are provided. The cells in the blood is sorted by the steps of staining cells in the blood with acridine orange, irradiating light on the cells in the blood, determining staining behavior using platelets as a staining indicator, and sorting the cells in the blood.
US08597932B2
The invention involves developing and stabilizing cultivating droplets within a matrix of a porous medium. A cultivation medium may be selected, prepared and mixed with a surfactant. Where cells are desired to be cultured in droplets, cells may be added. The mixture may be converted into cultivating droplets. The cultivating droplets may be stabilized by introducing them to a porous medium. The porous medium may contain hydrophobic particles. Stabilized, cultivating droplets having one or more cells may form an aseptic microenvironment for the concentrated growth of cells.
US08597931B2
The subject of the present invention is a novel mutant yeast strain, particularly a Yarrowia lipolytica strain, capable of accumulate a large quantity of lipids. The said strain does not express the GUT2 gene. According to one variant, the invention relates to mutant yeast strains, particularly Yarrowia lipolytica strains, which do not express the GUT2 gene and which furthermore do not carry out the β-oxidation of lipids. Preferably, the mutant strains which do not express the GUT2 gene and which furthermore do not carry out β-oxidation of lipids do not express the POX 2 through POX 5 genes, most preferably the POX 1 through 6 genes. The subject of the invention is also a method for producing the strains according to the invention and the use of the said strains in the production of lipids.
US08597921B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08597918B2
A process of isolating 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth includes separating a liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said liquid fraction, removing salts from said liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism includes a microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway enzyme and/or one or more gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.
US08597915B2
The present invention relates to a novel enzymatically catalyzed method for the production of asymmetric aromatic aldehydes in an aqueous reaction medium containing certain organic co-solvents.
US08597911B2
Focusing on the fact that antibody molecules with one H chain are not secreted when using the “knobs-into-holes” method, the present inventors revealed that desired bispecific antibodies can be preferentially formed by first expressing the H and L chains of one arm, and then suppressing their expression, followed by expressing the H and L chains of the other arm so that first desired HL molecules (HaLa and HbLb) are constructed, and then the H chains are paired with each other (H2L2). The present invention was thus completed.
US08597909B2
The present invention refers to the area of cell culture technology and relates to methods for multiplying/cloning cells, preferably cell lines, which are important to the production of biopharmaceuticals. The invention further relates to methods for manufacturing proteins and to the use of cells extracted and multiplied through single cell sorting and to media compositions that enable a multiplication of single cells. Through the use of albumin-producing, preferably HSA-producing, cells as feeder cells for the conditioning of medium or as host cells, the recloning efficiency and thereby the quantity of clones obtained can be significantly increased. A combination of these approaches is also possible. Through the use of albumin-producing, preferably HSA-producing, cells, an increase in the recloning efficiency can be achieved in serum-free and/or insulin-free medium as well, and in different cell types.
US08597901B2
Described herein are novel nucleic acids, proteins and methods that can be used to provide new catalysts with desirable traits for industrial processes. In particular, novel reductases isolated from the environment using PCR methods are described.
US08597894B2
Provided is a method for determining immunoglobulins in a neonatal ungulate. The method entails obtaining a sample of oral secretions from the neonatal ungulate and measuring an amount of immunoglobulins in the sample of oral secretions. The method is faster and more convenient than previously available methods for determining immunglobulins in neonatal ungulates, such as neonatal horses and cattle.
US08597890B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a target nucleotide sequence. This method involves forming a ligation product on a target nucleotide sequence in a ligation detection reaction mixture, amplifying the ligation product to form an amplified ligation product in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture, detecting the amplified ligation product, and identifying the target nucleotide sequence. Such coupling of the ligase detection reaction and the polymerase chain reaction permits multiplex detection of nucleic acid sequence difference.
US08597888B2
This invention provides novel compositions and processes for analyte detection, quantification and amplification. Nucleic acid arrays and libraries of analytes are usefully incorporated into such compositions and processes. Universal detection elements, signaling entities and the like are employed to detect and if necessary or desirable, to quantify analytes. Amplification of target analytes are also provided by the compositions and processes of this invention.
US08597884B2
A full process control for use with a molecular assay and a method of determine the efficacy of the molecular assay. A full process control can include a fixed cell, and specifically can include a fixed vegetative cell. A method of determining the efficacy of a molecular assay can include providing an internal control, mixing the internal control with a sample, lysing the internal control and the sample, and detecting the lysis product. The full process control and/or the internal control can be Bacillus subtilis cells.
US08597880B2
Methods and compositions for identifying increased risk of developing fragile X-associated disorders
The present invention provides compositions and methods of identifying a subject as having an increased risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor and ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) or identifying a subject having an increased risk of developing fragile X syndrome (FXS), comprising analyzing messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts and/or translation products of the antisense gene ASFMR1.
US08597871B2
A method of creating a region of index change in a photopolymer includes providing a photopolymer having a photosensitivity to light of a particular wavelength and creating a region of index change in the photopolymer by applying direct write lithography to expose the photopolymer of the region to light that includes the particular wavelength.
US08597868B2
A negative resist composition comprises a base polymer comprising recurring units having an alkylthio group and having a Mw of 1000-2500, an acid generator, and a basic component, typically an amine compound containing a carboxyl group, but not active hydrogen. A 45-nm line-and-space pattern with a low value of LER can be formed.
US08597858B2
A bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first electroformed unipolar plate disposed adjacent a second electroformed unipolar plate. The first and second unipolar plates are bonded by a plurality of localized electrically and thermally conductive plugs by electroplated material deposited within apertures formed in the substrates onto which the unipolar plates are electroformed. A method for forming the bipolar plate assembly is also described.
US08597856B2
A direct methanol fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer; an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer; a first fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has pores; a second fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has larger pores than the those of the first fuel control layer; a third fuel control layer that is water-repellent and conductive and that has smaller porous than those of the first fuel control layer and those of the second fuel control layer; and an anode GDL layer that is water-repellent and conductive, wherein the membrane and the layers above are arranged in the above order.
US08597851B2
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes: a membrane-electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes; a first separator having one main surface on which a first reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend; and a second separator having one main surface on which a second reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend. The first reactant gas channel is formed such that a first particular portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller in width than each of a portion located upstream of the first particular portion and a portion located downstream of the first particular portion, the first particular portion being within a region of the electrode and including a portion where the first reactant gas channel extending from an upstream end thereof first separates from the second reactant gas channel.
US08597849B2
A shut-off valve for opening and closing a cryogenic tank that has particular application for a hydrogen consuming system, such as a fuel cell system or an internal combustion engine. The shut-off valve is positioned in a supply line coupled to the cryogenic tank, and is opened by a control valve. When the control valve is actuated, hydrogen pressure from the supply line is used to open the shut-off valve. The control valve is coupled to the output line either upstream or downstream of the shut-off valve. An output of the control valve can be vented to a cathode input, an anode input or a cathode exhaust of a fuel cell stack, to an air input of an internal combustion engine or to ambient, depending on the particular application.
US08597848B2
There is disclosed a fuel cell system or the like capable of sufficiently reducing an exhaust hydrogen concentration even in a case where a fuel cell is operated in a state of a low power generation efficiency. A bypass valve is arranged between an oxidation gas supply path and a cathode-off gas channel. In a state in which supply of an oxidation gas to a cathode falls short, pumping hydrogen is included in a cathode-off gas. Therefore, a valve open degree of the bypass valve is regulated, and a flow rate of bypass air is regulated to control the exhaust hydrogen concentration.
US08597845B2
A fuel cell system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fuel cell system includes: i) a fuel tank that contains a fuel in at least a partially liquefied state, ii) a heat-generating unit that generates heat, iii) a heat-transfer unit that is connected between the heat-generating unit and the fuel tank to transport the heat to the fuel tank, and iv) a temperature-regulating unit that regulates a temperature of the fuel tank.
US08597839B2
A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell for supplying generated electric power to external power loads connected to a system power source, a reforming apparatus for supplying fuel gas generated by reforming unreformed fuel to the fuel cell, and a controller for controlling the operations of the fuel cell and the reforming apparatus. When having been unable to normally stop the fuel cell system due to the system power source falling in a power failure, the controller automatically executes a recovery operation so that the fuel cell system is brought into a restartable state, and upon completion of the recovery operation, brings the fuel cell system into a standby state. Thus, a normal restart subsequent to a power failure becomes possible without the need for human labor.
US08597837B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a lithium-ion secondary battery with excellent high-temperature storage characteristics. The method for producing the lithium-ion secondary battery provided by the present invention includes a step of assembling a lithium-ion secondary battery using positive and negative electrodes, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing in an organic solvent a lithium salt as a supporting salt, at least one type of substance selected from carboxylic acid anhydrides and dicarboxylic acids as additive A, and at least one type of substance selected from vinylene carbonate, vinylethylene carbonate, ethylene sulfite, and fluoroethylene carbonate as additive B; a step of carrying out initial charging of the assembled battery to a predetermined voltage; and a step of carrying out an aging treatment by keeping the battery at a temperature of 35° C. or higher for 6 hours or longer.
US08597834B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a negative electrode containing a graphite material as the negative active material, a positive electrode containing lithium cobalt oxide as a main component of the positive active material and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution, the battery being characterized in that the lithium cobalt oxide contains a group IVA element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr and Hf and a group IIA element of the periodic table, the nonaqueous electrolyte solution contains 0.2-1.5% by weight of a sulfonyl-containing compound and preferably further contains 0.5-4% by weight of vinylene carbonate.
US08597830B2
An object is to provide a power storage device with high discharge capacity and high energy density. The power storage device includes a positive electrode in which a positive electrode active material is formed over a positive electrode current collector; and a negative electrode which faces the positive electrode with an electrolyte interposed therebetween. The positive electrode active material includes a film-form first region which includes a compound containing lithium and nickel; and a film-form second region which includes a compound containing lithium and one or more of iron, manganese, and cobalt, but not containing nickel. The first region is covered with the second region. Since a superficial portion of the positive electrode active material does not contain nickel, nickel is not in contact with an electrolyte solution; thus, generation of a catalyst effect of nickel can be suppressed, and a high discharge potential of nickel can be utilized.
US08597824B2
A lithium secondary battery includes a supporting sealing member between a safety vent and a gasket to enhance a safety of the lithium secondary battery by preventing a gas or an electrolyte from leaking.
US08597822B2
A battery pack including a cell having a surface including a coupling groove, a circuit board electrically connected to the cell, a coupling member coupled to the cell, having one end coupled to the circuit board and another end having a coupling hole corresponding to the one coupling groove, a cover surrounding the circuit board, mounted on one surface of the cell, and having a through-hole, a screw coupled to the coupling groove through the through-hole, and an elastic supporting member disposed between a head part of the screw and the coupling member.
US08597814B2
A connection terminal of a secondary battery and a secondary battery using the same, and more particularly, to a connection terminal and a secondary battery using the same that have the anti-press function and the support function of a protection circuit board as well as the function of electrically connecting a bare cell with the protection circuit board.A connection terminal is installed between one side of a bare cell and a protective circuit board and includes a connection part that is connected with one electric terminal of the protective circuit board and a support part, and the support part has a horizontal support part that is fixed to one side of the bare cell and a vertical support part that connects the horizontal support part with the connection part.
US08597813B2
An NaS battery module includes a container, a plurality of cells for an NaS battery and sand. The side walls of the container partition the inside and outside of the container in a direction in which the arrangement plane of the cells extends. An upper wall and a lower wall of the container partition the inside and outside of the container in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the arrangement plane of the cells extends. The lower wall and the side walls are high heat insulating walls whereas the upper wall is a solid low heat insulating wall having a heat insulating property lower than that of the high heat insulating wall. The cells and the sand are housed inside of the container. A variable louver is disposed outside of the upper wall so as to cover the outer surface of the upper wall.
US08597811B2
A rechargeable battery has a plurality of rechargeable battery cells which are situated in an interspaced manner in a rechargeable battery housing filled at least partially with a filler material which encloses the rechargeable battery cells, with a first rechargeable battery cell including a first casing, and a second rechargeable battery cell including a second casing, such that the first casing and the second casing having different wall thicknesses, at least in sections.
US08597803B2
A light emitting composition includes a light-emitting lumophore-functionalized nanoparticle, such as an organic-inorganic light-emitting lumophore-functionalized nanoparticle. A light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and a layer containing such a light-emitting composition. In an embodiment, the light emitting device can emit white light.
US08597793B2
A decorative sheet for insert molding prepared by laminating at least a surface protective layer on a support that includes an ABS resin, wherein the support has a flexural modulus of 1500 to 3000 MPa, and a thickness of 100 to 500 μm; the surface protective layer is obtained by cross-linking and curing an ionizing radiation curable resin composition; and the ionizing radiation curable resin composition has a tensile modulus of more than 100 MPa to less than 1000 MPa and a static frictional coefficient of 1.0 or less on a surface. The decorative sheet for insert molding includes at least a picture layer, a low glossy picture ink layer provided partially and the surface protective layer in this order on the support. The surface protective layer has a thickness of 1 to 30 μm.
US08597792B2
The invention relates to film laminates, formed from at least three layers A, B and C, each layer containing at least one plasticizer and at least one polyvinyl acetal, wherein, at least one of the layers A, B or C contains at least one polyvinyl (iso)acetal having a mean degree of polymerization of less than 3000, 10 to 25% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol groups and a proportion 50 to 80% by weight of polyvinyl (iso)acetal groups, and wherein layer B has a plasticizer content of less than 32% by weight. The film laminates can be used for the production of glass/film laminate/glass composites for motor vehicles, aircraft, ships, architectural glazings, façade components, or for the production of photovoltaic modules.
US08597791B2
A sensor of an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. The sensor includes: at least one substrate, which is composed of a substrate material; at least one sensitive layer, which is applied on the substrate and which produces at least one measured variable dependent on the process variable and/or on a change of the process variable; and at least one passivating layer, which is applied on the sensitive layer. The invention provides that the passivating layer consists at least partially of the substrate material.
US08597784B2
The disclose provides pressure-sensitive adhesives and adhesive sealants prepared from modified, crosslinked isobutylene copolymers, and tape articles prepared therefrom.
US08597783B2
A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—O layer. Then, La ions are implanted in the Al—O layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of O in the Al—O gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—O gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—O gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.
US08597780B2
A hard coat film excellent in abrasion resistance and saponification resistance. A hard coat layer includes a cured product of a curable resin composition containing a reactive inorganic fine particle having an average particle diameter of 5 nm to 30 nm, and has a skin layer, wherein the reactive inorganic fine particles are localized, in its surface region being an interface and its vicinity on a side opposite to a transparent substrate film side of the hard coat layer. Alternatively, the reactive inorganic fine particle has an average particle diameter of 30 nm to 100 nm, and has density distribution in a thickness direction of the hard coat layer lowest at an interface on a side opposite to a transparent substrate film side of the hard coat layer while the density is highest at an interface and its vicinity on the transparent substrate film side of the hard coat layer.
US08597776B2
A ceramic material mainly contains magnesium, aluminum, oxygen, and nitrogen, in which the ceramic material has a magnesium-aluminum oxynitride phase serving as a main phase, wherein XRD peaks of the magnesium-aluminum oxynitride phase measured with CuKα radiation appear at at least 2θ=47 to 50°.
US08597773B2
A preformed decorative element, which can be injection-overmolded with a plastic material and comprises a transparent plastic foil, on which a decoration is printed. The foil is provided, at least partially on both sides, with a non-surface-covering decoration, the decoration on the inner side being printed with a surface-covering color coating layer.
US08597772B2
In one example, a method includes mixing a plurality of carbon fibers in a liquid carrier to form a mixture, depositing the carbon fiber mixture in a layer, forming a plurality of corrugations in the carbon fiber layer, and rigidifying the corrugated carbon fiber layer to form a corrugated carbon fiber preform. In another example, a method includes substantially aligning a first ridge on a first surface of a first corrugated carbon fiber preform and a first groove on a first surface of a second corrugated carbon fiber preform, bringing the first surface of the first corrugated carbon fiber preform into contact with the first surface of the second corrugated carbon fiber preform, and densifying the first corrugated carbon fiber preform and the second carbon fiber preform to bond the first corrugated carbon fiber preform and the second carbon fiber preform.
US08597770B2
Composite material part (11) with stringer (31) on ramp, manufactured from a stack of fabrics, which comprises at least one zone (13) with two sectors (17, 19) having a greater thickness than that of the surrounding zones and with the stringer (31) situated on an edge (21) of said zone (13) in which: a) each group of fabrics (27, 27′ . . . ; 29, 29′, . . . ) of said sectors (17, 19) has the dimensions to form on said edge (21) a ramp with an acceptable gradient 1/p so that the stringer (31) remains situated on the ramp; b) the stacking of the zone (13) is carried out firstly by placing the fabrics (27, 27′, . . . ) of the first sector (17) and on these the fabrics (29, 29′, . . . ) of the second sector (19) in such a way that in the coinciding section (35) of said edge (21) the gradient of the resulting ramp is 1/(p/2).
US08597767B2
To provide an optical element having excellent adhesion to a lamination film, a roller nanoimprint apparatus, and a production method of a mold roller are disclosed. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an optical element includes a nanostructure film including recesses and protrusions in nanometer size formed continuously on a surface of the nanostructure film and a lamination film laminated on the nanostructure film. The nanostructure film includes a nanostructure-free region free from the recesses and protrusions in nanometer size in both ends along a longitudinal direction of the nanostructure film.
US08597758B2
A steam permeable pad for a steam appliance, such as a steam mop or garment press. The pad includes an outer fabric layer and an internal steam management layer which may include a terry fabric. The pad may further include a laminate of jerry fabric, cushioning knit, and open mesh. An attachment feature allows the pad to be mounted to a head or frame of the steam appliance.
US08597751B2
The invention relates to a splittable adhesive tape (1) with a left-hand (l) and a right-hand (r) delimiting edge, wherein at least one of these two edges (l, r) is unstraight. The unstraight edge (l) has projections (V), which are rounded at their furthest projecting points (v).
US08597740B2
A thermal transfer method for selectively transferring a red organic light material of a transfer layer from a donor substrate to a recipient substrate to form a red organic light emitting element. The donor substrate has a reflecting layer in a planned formation region of the transfer layer and an absorbing layer in a region other than the planned formation region of the transfer layer. The transfer layer is formed on an area on the front face side of the base. The transfer layer in the region where the absorbing layer is formed is selectively removed. the donor substrate and the other substrate are placed in opposition. The transfer layer on the reflecting layer is transferred to the recipient substrate.
US08597724B2
Methods for repairing gas turbine components damaged by corrosion that not only restores the components back to their original dimensions to ensure proper engine operations, but also have the added benefit of mitigating future corrosion attacks thereby extending the useful life of the components.
US08597717B2
Techniques for the production of flow-oriented collagen gels using hydrodynamics to influence the assembly of collagen fibers. Highly concentrated monomeric solutions of collagen are subjected to shear and extensional flow as they are drawn onto a substrate to induce fibrillogenesis under a high Ph buffer. The produced gel captures the flow induced ordering of molecular collagen upon fibril formation. The depositing or the induction of fibrillogenosis occurs without the application of a magnetic field to the concentration of collagen. These highly oriented 3D scaffolds are capable inducing contact guidance and guiding mammalian cell growth. The collagen fibers mimic the construction of in vivo fibers with the characteristic D-periodicity and the integrin receptors on the fibroblasts respond to this organization. The industrial applications of three-dimensional collagen gels as a biomaterial are widespread from drug delivery to burn repair or tissue engineering system.
US08597711B2
A method for enriching rice, comprising the steps of: providing an amount of rice grains; providing an amount of vegetable germs, for instance germs of rice, wheat and/or maize; mixing said rice grains and said germs so as to make at least part of said germs adhere to and/or become at least partially incorporated into said rice grains. The invention also concerns a rice mixture enriched with vegetable germs, at least part of said germs being at least partially incorporated into the rice grains.
US08597708B2
A food composition comprising gas bubbles is provided. It contains based on the food composition at least 10 wt. % of water, optionally fat, wherein the amount of fat and water taken together is at least 60 wt. % and less than 99 wt. %, at least 1 vol. % and less than 70 vol. % of gas, fiber particles and surface active particles. The volume weighted mean diameter of the surface active particles (d2) is smaller than the length of the fiber particles (L). Also a process is provided to prepare the product. The process includes the steps of incorporating surface active particles and fiber particles in a liquid food composition, incorporating gas in said liquid composition and packing the food composition.
US08597704B2
High fiber-containing pastry products are described. The high fiber-containing pastry products typically comprise about 5-10 grams of fiber in a 54 gram serving of the pastry. The high fiber-containing pastry products comprise a fried laminated dough piece prepared from a developed dough that comprises, inter alia, wheat flour, resistant wheat starch, and vital wheat gluten. The use of a reduced amount of wheat flour along with the addition of resistant wheat starch and vital wheat gluten enables the production of a dough composition that has a high fiber content while retaining desirable organoleptic and processing characteristics.
US08597701B2
Disclosed herein is a method for treating an androgen-stimulated disease in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject a composition containing an effective amount of an inhibitor of IκB kinase subunit α activity. The composition can also be administered to a subject at high risk for prostate cancer as a method for reducing the subject's risk thereof. A further method relates to identifying a modulator of transcriptional activity regulated by IκB kinase subunit α. Still another method relates to determining the IκB kinase subunit α-regulated transcriptional activity regulated by in a non-human mammalian test subject.
US08597700B2
A method for treating osteoporosis in a subject in need of such treatment includes administering orally to the subject an effective amount of an extract product of a Dioscorea species capable of promoting proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells in the subject. Particularly, the Dioscorea species is Dioscorea alata L. cv. Phyto, characterized by a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprint including 14 DNA bands ranging from 428 bp, 452 bp, 537 bp, 602 bp, 723 bp, 817 bp, 934 bp, 1140 bp, 1242 bp, 1478 bp, 1641 bp, 1904 bp, 2151 bp and 2918 bp, respectively, when genomic DNA of the Dioscorea species is amplified with a primer of SEQ ID NO:9, and the extract product is prepared by a process including: (a) extracting a tuber of the Dioscorea species using an alcohol-based solvent in the presence of acetic acid; (b) subjecting the resultant product obtained in (a) to a separating treatment to obtain a soluble fraction; and (c) removing solvent from the soluble fraction obtained in (b) to extract fractions of Dioscorea sp.
US08597695B1
A method and medicine for treating melanoma, BCC (basal cyr carcinoma) or psoriasis or other inflammatory skin disease, or a combination thereof, comprising applying or injecting to an infected skin area of a patient diagnosed with melanoma, BCC (basal cyr carcinoma) or psoriasis or other inflammatory skin disease, or a combination thereof, a treatment regimen that includes periodic doses of a molecular combination of emodin and digoxin and/or an herbal combination of Da Huang and Sheng Di Huang.
US08597694B2
The physical stability of oleosomes is preserved in a composition by introducing a multihydric alcohol and an acid that can reduce the pH of the composition of less than 6. The resultant composition can be useful in the manufacture of cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical products, among others.
US08597692B2
A cocoa extract obtainable by the extraction of non-defatted cocoa beans which have not been fermented or have been allowed to ferment for no more than three days, having a polyphenol content of more than 25% by weight, may be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of a condition selected from dysphoria, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, gastric motility disorders, sexual dysfunction, brain trauma, memory loss, appetite disorders, bulimia, substance abuse, alcoholism, tobacco addiction, obsessive-compulsive disease, panic disorder, premenstrual syndrome, and migraine.
US08597689B2
Particular embodiments disclosed herein relate to gas-enriched fluids, methods of making the same, systems for making the same and/or methods of treatment utilizing the gas-enriched fluids for wound care related conditions and/or diseases. In certain embodiments, the gas-enriched fluid is oxygen-enriched water. Certain embodiments relate to cosmetic and/or therapeutic fluids and/or methods of treatment utilizing the fluids in order to treat a cosmetic and/or therapeutic symptom of wound care and/or increase proper wound healing.
US08597688B2
The present invention relates to pesticidal mixtures comprising as active components 1) at least one isoxazoline compound I of the formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A are defined as in the description; and 2) at least one fungicidal compounds II selected from azoles, strobilurins, carboxamides, carbamates, heterocyclic and various other compounds as defined in the description, in synergistically effective amounts. The invention relates further to methods and use of these mixtures for combating insects, arachnids or nematodes and harmful fungis in and on plants, and for protecting such plants being infested with pests, especially also for protecting seeds.
US08597685B2
The invention relates to a method for producing particles with a length-width ratio of less than about 1.4 from a pharmaceutical substance, which method includes the following stages, that is: (a) provision of a melt of the pharmaceutical substance; (b) production of droplets of the melt by spraying into a processing chamber; (c) repeated guiding of solid particles past sprayed droplets in the processing chamber with the aid of a process gas jet which is guided in a defined way and whose temperature is fixed, depending on the solidification point of the melt, so that at least some of the droplets come into contact with particles and solidify thereon; (d) removal of particles from the processing chamber as a function of the particle size. The invention further relates to particles of pharmaceutical substances and the use thereof.
US08597678B2
Nanolipidic Particles (NLPs) having average mean diameters of 1 nm to 20 nm are made from a precursor solution. NLPs can be loaded with a desired passenger molecule. Assemblies of these particles, called NLP assemblies, result in a vehicle population of a desired size. Single application or multifunction NLP assemblies are made from the loaded NLPs and range in size from about 30 to about 200 nm. A method of using preloaded NLPs to make larger carrier vehicles or a mixed population provides increased encapsulation efficiency. NLPs have application in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries.
US08597676B2
The present invention is based on that local administration of lithium ions in bone tissue has been found to improve the bone formation and bone mass upon implantation of a bone tissue implant in said bone tissue. In particular, the invention relates to a bone tissue implant having an implant surface covered by an oxide layer comprising lithium ions and a method for the manufacture thereof. A blasting powder comprising lithium ions, a method for locally increasing bone formation, and the use of lithium ions or a salt thereof for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for locally increasing bone formation are also provided by the present invention.
US08597674B2
Treatment of aneurysmal blood vessels with local delivery of therapeutic agents thereby reduces or lessens the severity of an aneurysm, and, where used in conjunction with the placement of an excluding device, provides for more rapid recovery of the blood vessel from any disturbance occurring during placement of the excluding device. Therapeutic agents are placed in the aneurysmal site in a time-release carrier medium, such that the therapeutic agent is released into the aneurysmal site over a period of time without the need to provide systemic introduction of the therapeutic agent. The carrier may be introduced through the patient's dermis, such as with the use of a laparoscope, or intravascularly, through the use of a catheter. The carrier may be in a solid matrix, viscous liquid or liquid form.
US08597673B2
A coating of fast absorption or fast dissolution on an implantable device and methods of making and using of the coating are provided.
US08597670B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for imparting a long-wearing color to keratin fibers, including hair. More specifically, the invention relates to cosmetic compositions and methods for improving retention of particulate materials, such as pigments, on hair to artificially color the hair and/or to impart other aesthetic benefits to the hair. The compositions comprise at least one aminosilicone polymer having at least one diamino functional group, and a functional group equivalent weight (FGEW) from about 1,000 to about 2,000 g/mol and a non-spherical particulate material, preferably a pigment or a lake.
US08597666B2
A pharmaceutical formulation of compounds with low aqueous solubility and method of manufacture thereof. The formulation may include a pharmacologically active compound having low aqueous solubility and starch in the amount of greater than about 25 weight percent. A manufacturing method may include blending the active compound and starch, compressing the blend into a solid, comminuting the solid into granules, wetting the granules, drying the granules, and tabletting the dried granules to make a solid pharmaceutical formulation.
US08597647B1
The present disclosure provides humanized antibodies specific to human interleukin 20 (IL-20) and uses thereof in treating diseases associated with the IL-20 signaling pathway, e.g., osteoporosis, inflammatory disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cancer, stroke, and renal failure.
US08597645B2
The present invention relates to therapeutic protocols and pharmaceutical compositions designed to treat and prevent cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel method of treating cancer using antagonists to the endothelin B receptor (ETB) or inactive mimic forms of endothelin-1. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are capable of selectively inhibiting the early events associated with the development of cancer. The present invention further relates to screening assays to identify compounds which inhibit ETB activation.
US08597635B2
The present invention relates to interferon-α2b modified with Y-shaped branched polyethylene glycol (PEG) at a single Lys residue and the preparation thereof. The peglated IFN-α2b can be used for the preparation of a medicament for treating a disease, e.g. viral infections such as Hepatitis C.
US08597634B2
The present invention relates to interferon (IFN)-α2a modified at a specific Lys residue with Y-shaped branched polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative and the preparation thereof, as well as the use of the prepared IFN-α2a modified by PEG at a single amino acid residue in medicines.
US08597624B2
This invention relates to aqueous emulsions comprising a polyorganosiloxane and a wax, and to methods of production of such emulsions. The emulsions are of the type oil-in-water. An organopolysiloxane is polymerized in admixture with a molten wax, thereby forming a blend of the wax with an organopolysiloxane of increased molecular weight, and the said blend of polymer and molten wax is emulsified in water in the presence of a surfactant. The emulsions are useful in personal care applications such as on hair, skin, mucous membrane or teeth. The emulsions are also useful in applications such as paints, water based coatings, textile fiber treatment, leather lubrication, fabric softening, fabric care in laundry applications, homecare, release agents and oil drag reduction.
US08597621B2
The present invention is directed to emulsion composition, in solid form, capable of imparting shine, hydration and/or moisturization onto lips containing: a) at least one polyamine; (b) at least one oil-soluble high carbon polar modified polymer; (c) water; (d) at least one non-volatile solvent; (e) at least one wax having a high melting point; and (e) optionally, at least one colorant.
US08597618B1
Disclosed is a dentifrice composition comprising an orally acceptable vehicle, an abrasive particulate and a surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant comprising a C8-C16 fatty acid glutamate salt and a nonionic surfactant comprising a C8-C16 alkyl glucoside.
US08597616B2
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and formulations for the pulmonary administration of one or more therapeutic agents, in dry powder form, in a single, large dose quantity. These formulations, methods, and systems are useful in the treatment of patients suffering from toxic or harmful gas exposure, such as nerve gas exposure, as well as in the treatment of patients suffering from diseases of the pulmonary system, including tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
US08597608B2
The present invention is directed to a manganese tetrathiotungstate composition.
US08597602B2
A system and method scrub a vapor. In one embodiment, a vacuum truck scrubber system includes a liquid vat. The liquid vat comprises liquid. The system also includes a first carbon canister. The liquid vat is connected to the first carbon canister. The first carbon canister contains carbon. In addition, the system includes a second carbon canister. The first carbon canister is connected to the second carbon canister. The second carbon canister contains carbon. In addition, the system includes a third carbon canister. Moreover, the system includes that a vapor comprising contaminants is fed to the liquid vat and is introduced from the liquid vat to the first carbon canister wherein a portion of the contaminants are removed from the vapor. The vapor is introduced from the first carbon canister to the second carbon canister wherein another portion of the contaminants are removed from the vapor.
US08597601B2
A process to use ferric sulphate equilibrium to reduce overall acid consumption and iron extraction, the process comprising the steps of: (i) sulphating; (ii) selective pyrolysis and (iii) selective dissolution.
US08597598B2
A sample presentation device for radiation-based analytical equipment comprising a mounting base, a carrier carried by, and adjustable in position, relative to the mounting base, and an arm extending from the carrier and having at its opposite end a terminal member; Each of the carrier and terminal member has a coaxial connector for receiving two opposite end regions of a capillary tube that forms, in use, a reaction cell; A radiant heater, typically an infrared heater, is radially offset from the axis of the coaxial connectors for heating, in use, a capillary tube mounted by way of the coaxial connectors; The carrier and terminal member preferably have heaters associated therewith for heating the flow passages through them; The terminal member preferably has a passage generally coaxial with the connector for receiving a communications conductor carrying a temperature sensor at its end that is operatively located generally centrally within a capillary.
US08597596B2
A plunger for mixing a biological sample with a reagent in a tube is moved up and down reciprocally to agitate the biological sample and the reagent for subsequent extraction of the material from the mixture to be analyzed. The plunger's agitation facilitates the concentration of the extracted material to reach an extent where a correct analysis is possible. The plunger of the present invention has a shape of a hollow cylinder with an aperture at the bottom, a plurality of slots formed on the cylindrical surface, and an opening formed at the top. The plunger allows a pipette to draw the extracted material in the test tube out from the opening at the top of the plunger without removing the plunger, and prevents drawing out the fragments of the sample after the biological sample and the reagent have been sufficiently mixed.
US08597593B2
A bottle top dispenser for handling liquids having a piston-cylinder arrangement in an outside housing. At least one actuating button (49) that can be pressed downwards is arranged on the upper side of the outside housing. The outside housing (2) can be provided with ventilation openings (48) that can be hidden beneath the actuating button (49). The bottle arrangement is also characterized by a specific arrangement of a sensor system (65) in relation to a measuring strip (64) on a piston rod (28). The path measuring signal can be evaluated by means of a magnetoresistive sensor system, especially such a system based on the AMR effect. The arrangement of the measuring strip (64) in relation to the longitudinal central axis of the piston rod (28) is of considerable importance.
US08597588B1
Apparatus and method for sanitizing headsets during a period of non-use by placing the headsets on a support construct in the form of a rack within which there is a source of ultraviolet radiation. The headsets are mounted straddling the rack, resiliently gripping the rack to be secured in place, and the rack with mounted headsets is enclosed within a case. The source is activated to pass ultraviolet radiation through the rack to impinge upon the headsets, during a timed duration of operation, with the case automatically locked closed for that duration, thereby sanitizing the headsets. Reflective surfaces within the case serve effectively to immerse the headsets within ultraviolet radiation for the duration of operation, and air is circulated within the case, passing through the rack, during the sanitizing operation to assure complete sanitization of the headsets.
US08597584B2
This gas purifying process removes trace constituents from a mixed gas that includes a rare gas and nitrogen as main components, and at least one from among hydrogen, nitrogen and hydrogen reaction products, and water vapor as the trace constituent. This process sequentially carries out an adsorbing step for removing water vapor and nitrogen and hydrogen reaction products; a hydrogen oxidation step for converting the hydrogen into water vapor by means of a hydrogen oxidation catalytic reaction in the presence of oxygen; and a drying step for removing water vapor generated in the hydrogen oxidation step. When nitrogen oxides are included as a trace constituent, then a denitration step is carried out prior to the adsorbing step, to convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water vapor by means of a catalytic denitration reaction in the presence of a reducing substance.
US08597580B2
A handheld, small but accurate and reliable device for diagnostic NO measurements using a NO sensor, where the parameters governing the taking of the sample are different from the parameters optimal for the accuracy of said NO sensor I described. By temporarily storing a portion of the exhaled air, and feeding this to the sensor at a flow rate adapted to the NO sensor, the accuracy and sensitivity of a system/method involving NO sensors, in particular electrochemical NO sensors, can be increased. The method for diagnostic NO measurements comprises steps for controlling the inhalation of NO free air, as well as the exhalation, both by built-in means and by audible and/or visual feedback to the patient.
US08597572B2
Provided are an automatic analyzing method and apparatus for a microfludic system. The apparatus includes means for recognizing a disc or chip in the microfludic system, performs an operation and detection by automatically loading a DB according to a recognized type, and perform quantization of a test.
US08597556B2
Disclosed is a method for producing long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin pellets, comprising pultruding a plurality of reinforced fiber bundles in a molten thermoplastic resin while twisting the plurality reinforced fiber bundles to form a strand in which the reinforced fibers are coated with the thermoplastic resin, and cutting the strand to a predetermined length to form pellets, wherein the strand is pultruded under the conditions that the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic resin is adjusted such that the melt flow rate is 500 to 1500 g/10 min, and the twisting angle θ of the reinforced fiber bundles with respect to the pultruding direction of the strand is set as follows: 0°<θ≦50°. As a result of this configuration, according to the method for producing long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin pellets, pellets in which reinforced fibers are easily untwisted when the pellets are melted so that the reinforced fibers can be uniformly dispersed in molded articles can be produced with high productivity.
US08597553B1
A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 1.5 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.
US08597537B2
A perovskite oxide, which includes a first component represented by General Formula (P1) given below and a second component represented by General Formula (P2) given below. (Bix1, Xx2) (Fez1, Mnz2)O3 (P1) (Ay1, Yy2)BO3 (P2) (where, Bi is an A-site element and X is an A-site element with an average ion valence of not less than four. A is one kind or a plurality of kinds of A site elements other than Pb with an average ion valence of two, Y is a one kind or a plurality of kinds of A-site elements with an average valence of not less than three. Fe and Mn are B-site elements, and B is one kind or plurality of kinds of B-site elements with an average ion valence of four.) 0.6≦x1<1.0, 0≦x2≦0.4, 0.65≦y1<1.0, 0≦y2≦0.4, x2+y2>0, 0.6≦z1<1.0, 0≦z2≦0.4.
US08597530B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a mask pattern over an etch target layer, forming an ion implantation region in the mask pattern through an ion implantation process, and forming an ion non-implantation region within the mask pattern, removing the ion implantation region on a top surface of the ion non-implantation region, removing the ion non-implantation region, and patterning the etch target layer by using spacers that comprise the ion implantation region as an etch mask.
US08597528B1
A method and system for fabricating a magnetic transducer is described. A magnetic junction is defined from the magnetoresistive stack. The magnetic junction has a top and a plurality of sides. The step of defining the magnetic junction redeposits a portion of the magnetoresistive stack and forms fencing adjacent to the top of the magnetic junction. At least one hard bias structure is provided after the magnetic junction is defined. A first portion of the at least one hard bias structure is substantially adjacent to the magnetoresistive junction in a track-width direction. The magnetic junction is ion beam planarized, thereby substantially removing the fencing.
US08597516B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for using a very large pore hemofilter to treat IMRD, hepatic failure, exogenous intoxication and other conditions associated with toxins in a patient's blood. One treatment includes the use of a very large pore hemofilter to remove target complex molecules and/or target molecules from a patient's blood and to infuse a replacement fluid into the patient's blood to maintain a prescribed albumin concentration in the patient's blood.
US08597510B2
Present invention relates to a device magnetically separating a sample. The preferred material for the device is plastic. The device is a cuboid plate, which consists of one or two bottom sides and at least two lateral sides. The bottom side has wells on it to accommodate magnetic elements, and the magnetic element which is suitable to be accommodated into the wells comprising column shape, half-column shape, or half circular column shape magnetic elements. The magnetic element comprises permanent magnet or electromagnet, and the permanent magnet is selected from the group consisting of alnico, samarium cobalt, neodymium iron boron, or magnetic ceramic materials. The magnetic elements can adsorb the magnetic samples in the micro plate.
US08597507B2
The super oxidation, coagulation and flocculation system is applicable to water and wastewater chemical treatment in which oxidation, coagulation and flocculation processes take place in a single vessel.The apparatus and process can be used for treatment of domestic and industrial water and wastewater for removal of organic and inorganic contaminants.The oxidation process can be provided by several oxidizing chemicals such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, chlorine and Ultra Violet Lights, and the coagulation process can be accomplished with several coagulants such as aluminum sulphide, ferric chloride, ferric sulphate.Selection of the chemicals depends on the quality of the water or wastewater to be treated and the treated water quality required, and it covers a wide range of impurities to be removed and specifically difficult to oxidize hydrocarbons and chlorinated organics, and iron, manganese, uranium, arsenic, cyanide, hydrogen sulphide.The apparatus and the process are economical and have a small installation footprint as several processes take place in a single vessel.
US08597506B2
A large diameter subsea gravity separator for ultra deep water conditions of 2000 to more than 4000 m includes a vessel having a shell which defines a cylindrical tubular portion and closure portions at axially both ends of the tubular portion. The shell is a sandwich shell which is dimensioned to provide for a predetermined collapse resistance of at least MPa and includes an inner steel layer, an outer steel layer and a concrete layer completely filling the space between the inner steel layer and the outer steel layer.
US08597495B2
The described invention discloses an innovative solvent deasphalter and hydroconversion-processing configuration for converting bitumen or heavy oils to produce a transportable synthetic crude oil (SCO). The innovative processing scheme disclosed herein maximizes the synthetic crude oil yield at a minimal investment compared to currently known methods.
US08597494B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing ultra-clean gasoline. The invention provides a method of hydro-upgrading inferior gasoline through deep desulfurization and octane number recovery, which comprises the following steps: cutting inferior full-range gasoline into the light and heavy fraction gasolines; contacting the light fraction gasoline successively with a catalyst for selective diene removal and a catalyst for desulfurization and hydrocarbon aromatization/single-branched-chain hydroisomerization; contacting the heavy fraction gasoline with a catalyst for selective hydrodesulfurization, and contacting the reaction effluent with a catalyst for supplemental desulfurization and hydrocarbon multi-branched-chain hydroisomerization; and blending the treated light and heavy fraction gasolines to obtain the ultra-clean gasoline product. The method of the invention is suitable for hydro-upgrading inferior gasoline, especially for hydro-upgrading inferior FCC gasoline with ultra-high sulfur content and high olefin content to obtain excellent hydro-upgrading effects.
US08597493B2
The invention relates to a Fischer-Tropsch derived aviation fuel, which fuel is used either as a fuel on its own or as a component in an aviation fuel blend, said fuel having an iso:n paraffins mass ratio above 3, at least 0.1 mass % naphthenes, <0.01 mass % polyaromatics, and <0.5 mass % aromatics.
US08597491B2
The invention at hand relates to a method for processing and repairing a metal component with at least one finished or nearly finished partial component surface and at least one working surface to be further processed by means of an electrochemical treatment process and abutting the at least one finished or nearly finished partial component surface, with the process comprising the following steps: a) application of an electrically conductive layer on at least one area of the at least one finished or nearly finished partial component surface abutting the working surface to be processed, with the layer containing a metal or a metal alloy that has a similar or the same as, or a desiredly different electrochemical erosion behavior than the metal component; and b) electrochemical treatment of the working surface and of the layer, with the layer being completely or nearly completely eroded. The invention moreover relates to a component of a gas turbine or of a high or low pressure compressor.
US08597483B2
In a method for making a wave-absorbing sheet, first emulsified mixture is provided by mixing wave-absorbing particles with graphene solution so that the graphene solution absorbs the wave-absorbing particles. Secondly, second emulsified mixture is provided by adding and blending resin solution in the first emulsified mixture. Thirdly, third emulsified mixture is provided by adding and blending interface modifier in the second emulsified mixture. Then, two conductive substrates are submerged in the third emulsified mixture, and voltage is provided to the third emulsified mixture so that the wave-absorbing particles, the resin solution and the graphene solution are evenly coated on the conductive substrates. Then, a wave-absorbing sheet is provided by eroding and removing the conductive substrates. Finally, the wave-absorbing sheet is washed and dried. The wave-absorbing sheet is thin, light and flexible, and exhibits a wide absorption frequency band and a high absorption rate.
US08597480B2
Devices and methods are provided for determining the concentration of a reduced form of a redox species. For example, a device can include a working electrode and a counter electrode spaced by a predetermined distance so that reaction produces from the counter electrode arrive at the working electrode. An electric potential difference can be applied between the electrodes, and the potential of the working electrode can be selected such that the rate of electro-oxidation of the reduced form of the species is diffusion controlled. Current as a function of time can be determined, the magnitude of the steady state current can be estimated, and a value indicative of the diffusion coefficient and/or of the concentration of the reduced form of the species can be obtained from the change in current with time and the magnitude of the steady state current. Other embodiments of apparatuses, devices, and methods are also provided.
US08597474B2
Titanium and aluminum cathode targets are disclosed for sputtering absorbing coatings of titanium and aluminum-containing materials in atmospheres comprising inert gas, reactive gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and mixtures thereof, which can further comprise inert gas, such as argon, to form nitrides, oxides, and oxynitrides, as well as metallic films. The titanium and aluminum-containing coatings can be utilized as an outer coat or as one or more coating layers of a coating stack.
US08597470B2
Systems and methods for extracting recoverable materials from source materials are provided. According to one embodiment, a plasma furnace includes an open-faced tray, a pair of arc rods, Faraday coils and a smooth interior surface. The open-faced tray carries tar sands from one end of the plasma furnace to another. The arc rods are disposed above the open-faced tray and are operable to generate a plasma energy field for vaporizing bitumen contained within the tar sands. The Faraday coils are positioned underneath the open-faced tray to create a magnetic field proximate to the tar sands and cause the plasma energy field to penetrate and heat the tar sands to a temperature sufficient to release a bond between the bitumen and the tar sands by focusing and drawing the plasma energy field through the tar sands. Vaporized bitumen condenses on the smooth interior surface from which it is collected.
US08597467B2
A cationic copolymer is obtained by the Hofmann rearrangement (also referred to as the Hofmann degradation reaction) in aqueous solution in the presence of an alkaline-earth and/or alkali hydroxide and an alkaline-earth and/or alkaline hypohalide, on a base copolymer comprising at least one nonionic monomer selected from the group comprising acrylamide (and/or methacrylamide), N,N-dimethylacrylamide and/or acrylonitrile The copolymer is branched after the Hofmann rearrangement, in the presence of at least one polyfunctional branching agent, and is soluble in water.
US08597462B2
A movable symmetric chamber liner in a plasma reaction chamber, for protecting the plasma reaction chamber, enhancing the plasma density and uniformity, and reducing process gas consumption, comprising a cylindrical wall, a bottom wall with a plurality of openings, a raised inner rim with an embedded heater, heater contacts, and RF ground return contacts. The chamber liner is moved by actuators between an upper position at which substrates can be transferred into and out of the chamber, and a lower position at which substrate are processed in the chamber. The actuators also provide electrical connection to the heater and RF ground return contacts.
US08597455B1
A manufacturing process, and related products, for fabricating translucent articles in the form of tiles is disclosed. The manufacturing process includes holding together a stack of corrugated cardboard pieces and saturating the cardboard pieces with an impregnating agent. Additional steps may include machining the cardboard pieces to define a block of a desired shape, slicing the block into tile components, and/or coating one or more tile components with a coating material to produce the article. Articles include translucent tiles made of corrugated cardboard pieces saturated with an impregnating agent. The tiles may be arranged to define a surface, such as a floor, a wall, a roof, a lighting installation, an architectural construction element, an architectural aesthetic element, or a solar panel.
US08597454B2
A catheter tip assembly (50) is provided with a catheter tip (56) and an inner catheter (54). The catheter tip (56) has a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end. The inner catheter (54) includes a narrow proximal portion, a narrow elongate center portion (66), and a wide distal end (68). The catheter tip (56) is disposed within the wide distal end (68) of the inner catheter (54). One advantage of the catheter tip assembly is that no proximal-facing edge is formed at the transition between the narrow elongate center portion of the inner catheter and the catheter tip, which may help reduce the risk of the catheter tip snagging on a stent during use.
US08597452B2
Methods for stretching nonwoven substrate material to reduce the basis weight of the material while maintaining or increasing thickness is disclosed. Additionally, the stretched substrate materials provide the same or improved strength as compared to conventional nonwoven materials and provide a softer feel to the user's skin.
US08597449B2
A method for recovering uncured rubber from unused electron beam pre-cured rubber stock used in the manufacture of pneumatic tires. A first layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having cured rubber is skived with a band knife cutter blade from a second layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having uncured rubber. The band knife cutter blade is lubricated so as to avoid adhesion of the uncured rubber to a leading cutting edge of the cutter blade. After the first layer of cured rubber is removed from the pre-cured rubber stock, the uncured rubber in the second layer is reworked into at least one tire component.
US08597445B2
A priming mixture is provided having a primary explosive and an oxidizer system containing bismuth oxide. The priming mixture generally is applicable to any application or device that employs ignition of a propellant or fuel, including, but not limited to, air bag gas generator systems, signaling devices, ejection seats, small or large arms ammunition primers, and the like.
US08597442B2
A method of forming an article from an α−β titanium including, in weight percentages, from about 2.9 to about 5.0 aluminum, from about 2.0 to about 3.0 vanadium, from about 0.4 to about 2.0 iron, from about 0.2 to about 0.3 oxygen, from about 0.005 to about 0.3 carbon, from about 0.001 to about 0.02 nitrogen, and less than about 0.5 of other elements. The method comprises cold working the α−β titanium alloy.
US08597426B2
A panel is provided that includes stucco, water and a dispersant component having dispersing properties and comprising a comb-branched polymer with polyether side chains, naphthalene sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate or melamine sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate. A polycondensation component is also included in the slurry that includes three repeating units. A method of making the gypsum panel includes combining stucco, water and a first dosage of a first dispersant to form a slurry, the first. A second dosage of a second dispersant is added to the slurry. Properties of the gypsum slurry are tested and it is formed into a product. The product sets and properties of the product are identified. The first dosage or the second dosage is changed based on the properties of the slurry or product.
US08597425B2
The present invention relates to highly disperse precipitated silicas which exhibit an extremely high level of reinforcement of rubber vulcanizates, to a process for their preparation, and to their use as filler for rubber mixtures.
US08597416B2
The present invention relates to the use of corrosion, temperature and spark resistant electrically conductive components in wet electrostatic precipitator systems (WESPs). In particular, the present invention is directed to using a conductive composite material in the fabrication of wet electrostatic precipitator system components.
US08597411B2
An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine-composite. The present composite may comprise a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %; a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %; and a third component comprising a cross-linking agent, and/or a coupling agent at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt %.
US08597409B2
Compressor installation including a compressor and a dryer which are mutually connected via a pressure pipe. The dryer includes a housing with a drying zone and a regeneration zone, and a rotating drum with a drying agent. The regeneration zone includes a first subzone and a second subzone. Two regeneration conducts connect to the pressure pipe, respectively a first regeneration conduit which connects to an inlet of the first subzone and through which compressed gas having a first temperature is guided, and a second regeneration conduit which connects to an inlet of the second subzone. The second regeneration conduit has a heating element for heating compressed gas flowing through the second regeneration conduit to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature.
US08597405B2
An illustrative filter includes an electret material, which has a long-lasting electric charge, that is at least partially coated or covered with a conductive layer. An optional insulation layer may be disposed over at least part of the conductive layer. If the electret material has a positive charge, then the filter attracts particles with a negative charge, and vice versa. The filter adsorbs the attracted particles until it becomes saturated with particles, at which point the conductive layer is charged to have a polarity that is opposite the built-in polarity of the electret and that matches the polarity of the adsorbed particles. The charged conduction layer repels the adsorbed particles from the filter, cleaning the filter for continued use.
US08597404B2
The present invention is directed to low emission power plant. A compressible feed stream is provided that is derived from a power production unit, where the compressible feed stream contains at least one target compressible component and at least one non-target compressible component, is mixed in a substantially co-current flow with an incompressible fluid stream comprising an incompressible fluid in which the target component(s) is/are capable of being preferentially absorbed. Rotational velocity is imparted to the mixed streams, separating an incompressible fluid in which at least a portion of the target component is absorbed from a compressible product stream containing the non-target compressible component(s). The compressible feed stream may be provided at a stream velocity having a Mach number of at least 0.1.
US08597394B2
This invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for treating organic-containing sludges and converting such sludges to high value fertilizers containing both inorganic and organic fertilizer components, which creates an inorganically-augmented bioorganic fertilizer. The invention describes methods to create a thixotrophic or paste-like material via the application of mixing energy to the organic sludge followed by an alkaline treatment and a subsequent ammoniation. The invention further describes a method to increase the plant nutrient content in the organic containing product to a level which permits the finished granular fertilizer product to compete in the commercial agricultural fertilizer marketplace. Further, the invention reduces odors associated with said organic-containing sludges.
US08597388B2
In one embodiment, a system for making a dental restoration is provided. The system includes a machine unit for processing a dental material to form the dental restoration, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the machine unit. An air channel for discharging a process-originated material from the machine unit provides an air connection between the machine unit and the control unit. Certain embodiments of invention are advantageous in that they help to increase the reliability of the machining operation.
US08597386B2
A method of continuously providing a pressurized slurry of a solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method comprises mixing particles of the solid material and particles of solid carbon dioxide in a mixing container and feeding the mixture of the solid material and the solid carbon dioxide to a pump to form a slurry of the solid material and liquified carbon dioxide. Within the pump, the solid carbon dioxide sublimates, forming a gaseous carbon dioxide that subsequently liquefies due to an increase in pressure. The liquid carbon dioxide and the solid material then mix to form the slurry of the solid material and the liquid carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the pressurized slurry may be used for pipeline transportation of the solid material. A system of producing a continuous pressurized slurry of solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is also disclosed. A method of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.
US08597384B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a gasification cooling system having an annular seal with a bellows. For example, the gasification cooling system may include a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and an interior between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the interior has a throat adjacent the inlet, and the throat expands in a flow direction from the inlet toward the outlet. The annular seal may be disposed in the throat of the housing, wherein the annular seal includes the bellows.
US08597375B2
A liquid separator system having a gas phase zone, an aqueous phase zone and a denser liquid zone is used to separate mixtures of fluids. The separator can be used for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet. The interface control structure is adjusted to optimally alter the vertical height of the interface level within the vessel so that the residence time of the molten sulfur in the vessel does not decrease as the sulfur production throughput decreases, and so that the interface area of the molten sulfur and the redox solution is reduced as the sulfur throughput decreases. A pressure controller monitors the pressure in the vessel and adds or removes gas from a gas phase zone in the vessel to maintain a predetermined pressure regardless of the vertical height of the interface.
US08597374B2
Compositions are provided for spray dyeing of a cellulosic, such as cotton, fabric or garment. The compositions include a reactive dye, a wetter, an alkali, and water. The present compositions are made by first mixing the reactive dye, the wetter, and the water to form a solution, and thereafter adding the alkali to the solution.
US08597373B2
The invention relates to a process for dyeing keratin fibers, in which said fibers are treated: ▪ with a composition (A) comprising i) one or more indole or indoline compounds; ii) one or more metal salts; iii) hydrogen peroxide or one or more systems that generate hydrogen peroxide; and then ▪ with a composition (B) comprising iv) one or more basifying agents. The invention also relates to a hair dyeing process for obtaining better colorations, which are more uniform, chromatic and remanent and which do not impair the cosmetic properties of keratin fibers.
US08597365B2
A pelvic implant includes a first surface including a recess configured for receiving a portion of a flange of an acetabular cage and a patient-specific second surface opposite to the first surface. The patient-specific second surface is preoperatively configured from a three-dimensional digital image of a pelvis of a patient to mate and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the pelvis under the flange in only one position.
US08597364B2
A trial implant kit includes a plurality of intermediate components and a plurality of inner components. Each of the plurality of intermediate components has a uniform inner surface, although at least two of the plurality of intermediate components having distinct outer surfaces. Each of the distinct outer surfaces is configured to engage one of a plurality of acetabular shell component geometries. Each of the plurality of inner components has a uniform outer surface portion and a bearing surface, the uniform outer surface portion configured to be received by the uniform inner surface of any of plurality of intermediate components. The bearing surface is configured to engage a femoral head. At least two of plurality of inner components having distinct bearing surface configurations.
US08597356B2
A vertebral implant for fusing adjacent vertebrae or for replacing vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant is a biocompatible metal resorbable or radiolucent implant conforming substantially in size and shape with an end plate of a vertebra. The implant preferably has a wedge-shaped profile to restore disc height and the natural curvature of the spine. The top and bottom surfaces of the implant have areas with a plurality of teeth to resist expulsion and provide initial stability and areas devoid of any protrusions to receive implantation instrumentation. The implant also has a stackability feature. The implant provides initial stability needed for fusion without stress shielding.
US08597353B2
A medical device comprising a non-enclosed housing configured to fit between two adjacent vertebrae; one or more housing fasteners extending at least partially through the housing, one or more driving mechanisms operationally positioned in relationship to at least one housing fastener, such that activation of at least one driving mechanism engages and drives at least one housing fastener to compress into at least one adjacent vertebrae and one or more plates removably coupled to the housing.
US08597351B2
The invention relates to a holding device for an intraocular lens, characterized in that the holding device has an elongated support member open to the bottom, on which an elongated holding rail for holding the lens is disposed. The invention also relates to an injector device for an intraocular lens as well as to a packaging and transport device for the intraocular lens. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for packaging an intraocular lens as well as to a method for loading an intraocular lens into an injector device.
US08597347B2
A regurgitation implant may comprise a conduit or straw which may be coupled to a shaft. The shaft may be coupled to at least one anchor portion configured to couple the regurgitation implant to native coronary tissue. At least a portion of the conduit may be configured to be disposed proximate a mitral valve such that the regurgitation implant may interact and/or cooperate with at least a portion of the native mitral valve to induce a controlled amount of regurgitation through the conduit and therefore through the mitral valve. The regurgitation through the conduit and the mitral valve may cause the heart to dilute in a manner that is generally consistent with advanced disease of the heart. The amount of regurgitation may therefore be adjusted depending on the desired condition of the heart.
US08597345B2
An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a body section having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner edge circumferentially arranged around at least a portion of an open area. The apparatus also includes a tool extending from the body section into the open area for holding a graft vessel. The lower surface of the body section opposes a receiving vessel when the tool is positioned to transfer the graft vessel to the receiving vessel, such that the graft vessel is axially accessible through the open area to be attached to the receiving vessel. In more specific embodiments, the body section has first and second opposing ends defining a gap sized to permit the vessel to pass through.
US08597328B2
Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a cannulated suture anchor is provided and it includes a suture-engaging member formed therein and configured to receive a suture therearound such that trailing ends of the suture can extend through the suture anchor. The present invention also provides exemplary sutures and drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.
US08597322B2
A seamless, self-expanding implantable device having a low profile is disclosed along with methods of making and using the same. The implantable device includes a frame cut out of a single piece of material that is formed into a three-dimensional shape. The implantable device may comprise an embolic filter, stent, or other implantable structure. The present invention also allows complicated frame structures to be easily formed from planar sheets of starting material, such as through laser cutting, stamping, photo-etching, or other cutting techniques.
US08597319B2
A method for acupuncture reflexotherapy is disclosed. The method may include introducing a needle rod having a head formed at a first end into one or more auricular acupuncture points of a patient. The needle may be secured to the patient with a detachable retainer at a second end of the needle rod. Additionally, the retainer may be non-detachable from the needle rod and may be formed by a bended free end of the needle rod. The method may further include varying one or more parameters of the needle rod, head, or retainer to alter a stimulating effect on the auricular acupuncture points and induce weight loss.
US08597312B2
A device for occluding a blood vessel, comprises a blunt dissection needle and a first occlusion clip releasably mounted to a distal end of the blunt dissection needle, the first occlusion clip being biased to assume a clamped configuration in combination with a retaining element which, in a first configuration, retains the first occlusion clip in an insertion position against an outer surface of the blunt dissection needle and, in a second configuration, releases the first occlusion clip to assume the clamped configuration.
US08597310B2
An anastomosis normally closed clip comprising a first side including at least one first suture guide, the first suture guide being disposed on a top of the clip, the first end portion and the first suture guide defining a first suture space open toward the top of the clip, the first side further including a first carrier slot on the bottom of the clip; and a second side which is the mirror image of the first side. An introducer device is used to open the clip and introduce it into a patient over two organ segments to be sutured together and allow the clip to close. The suture spaces allow for continuous suturing of the organ segments. The introducer device is used to remove the clip from the patient after the suture procedure.
US08597308B2
A laparoscopic tool for surgery on an internal body tissue of a patient. The laparoscopic tool comprises a main body to which is affixed an attachment. The main body has a main aperture for fixing a compatible anchor. The attachment has a support member connected to the main body, and a needle portion connected to the support member. The needle portion has an interlocking mechanism to interlock with the support member. The attachment is deployable from a first position aligned with the main body, for insertion through a laparoscopic port, to a second position unaligned with the main body, for insertion into a tissue and for anchoring the tool to the tissue. A method of performing a laparoscopic surgery using the laparoscopic tool, the use of the laparoscopic tool for laparoscopic surgery, and kits for laparoscopic surgery comprising the laparoscopic tool and the compatible anchor are also disclosed.
US08597307B2
A suture cutting device is provided, the device suitable for cutting high strength suture materials used in arthroscopic surgeries. The device includes a distal blade portion movable within a distal suture guide, the distal suture guide including a lateral suture guide slot. The distal blade portion includes a dorsal recess that, in combination with an upper wall of an enclosed blade guide slot, controls an amount of dorsal movement of a cutting edge during a longitudinal movement of the cutting edge. The combined dorsal movement and longitudinal movement of the cutting edge creating a sliding/slicing movement of the cutting edge against a suture in the suture guide slot. At least a proximal blade portion and an extension blade portion are made of a single blade, those portions defining a spring, contacting a trigger, and effectuating a movement from a first position to a second position.
US08597301B2
The present invention generally provides a cannula system that is readily maneuverable in an operating room setting, can be used to expose different instrumentalities to a target site, and has directional capabilities to allow the user to treat multiple quadrants or areas of a target site. The present invention provides cannula systems including these different instrumentalities as well as methods of operating these cannula systems and methods of treating orthopedic conditions using these cannula systems.
US08597299B2
A system for accessing a spine from a curved postero-lateral approach may include a curved cannula positioned along a curved path from an opening in the skin to a location proximate the spine. A targeting post may be inserted adjacent the spine to determine the location. A peritoneal retractor and a guide member may be first inserted to establish the path between the tissues and fascia, and one or more intermediate cannulas may be temporarily inserted over the guide member to dilate the tissues prior to insertion of the main cannula. An interbody device may be implanted in an intervertebral space through the cannula. An endoscope may be inserted through the targeting post or the cannula. The system may include instruments with shafts which are flexible or are curved to match the curve of the curved cannula, including a rongeur, curette, rasp, distractor, trial implant, probe, tamp, and implant inserter.
US08597297B2
An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue is provided. The assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces extending along a length thereof. Each tissue sealing surface is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to effect a tissue seal. An insulator is disposed adjacent to the at least one the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. The jaw members include an electrically conductive cutting element which effectively cuts tissue within pre-defined cutting zone between the jaw members. The polarity of the cutting element and electrically conductive sealing surfaces may be manipulated depending upon whether tissue sealing or tissue cutting is desired.
US08597296B2
An endoscopic forceps for treating tissue includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto which has first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes an actuator for moving jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue. The forceps also includes a monopolar element housed within the first jaw member which is selectively movable from a first position within the first jaw member to a second position distal to the first jaw member. The monopolar element is connected to the source of electrosurgical energy and is selectively activateable independent of the bipolar mode.
US08597295B2
A surgical instrument includes a reusable base component including a handle and an electrically activatable modular component removably coupled to the base component. The modular component includes an end effector operable from the handle to treat tissue. The end effector is responsive to manipulation of the handle. A first energy storage component is disposed onboard the base component and is electrically coupled to a source of electricity. A second energy storage component is disposed onboard the modular component and is electrically insulated from the first energy storage component. The second energy storage component is arranged such that a current may be selectively induced in the modular component by delivery of electrical energy to the first energy storage component.
US08597290B2
A sphincter tissue region is treated using a support structure sized for advancement into the anal canal. At least one electrode is carried by the structure. A mechanism is coupled to the electrode to move the electrode between a first position retracted in the support structure and a second position extended from the support structure through surface tissue to penetrate a subsurface tissue region at or near a sphincter in the anal canal. A cable is coupled to the electrode to conduct energy for application by the electrode to form a lesion in the subsurface tissue region.
US08597289B2
A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a seal coupled to the support structure, the seal having a surface for abutting against tissue next to the cervical opening, wherein the seal is tiltable relative to the support structure. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a member coupled to the support structure, wherein the member is inflatable to create a seal for abutting against cervical tissue. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a seal having a surface for contacting tissue next to the cervical opening, an opening formed on the surface of the seal, and a vacuum port, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the vacuum port.
US08597287B2
An electrosurgical system is capable of selectively varying the power applied to an electrosurgical probe, without interruption or discontinuity, in a variable mode or providing a constant coagulation power value to the probe. In a fixed mode, power to the electrosurgical probe must be discontinued to change the power level output by the probe. A single controller is capable of operating the probe in the variable mode and the fixed mode. The controller includes an actuator for stopping the cutting operation and then switching to a constant coagulation output during either of the variable mode or the fixed mode. The controller of the system may selectively control a separate surgical tool.
US08597286B2
Devices, systems and methods for in-vivo cauterization. An autonomous in-vivo device may include a heating mechanism to cauterize in-vivo tissue. A system may include an autonomous in-vivo heating device having a heating mechanism to cauterize in-vivo tissue, and an in-vivo imaging device to acquire in-vivo images.
US08597277B2
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration and expanded using a radial dilatation device. In an exemplary application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as ureteroscopy, cardiac electrophysiology, gastroenterology, and spinal access.
US08597276B2
A medical implant delivery system maintains an orientation between a guidewire lumen of an inner member of the system and a rapid-exchange port in an outer member. The medical device is disposed intermediate the inner and outer members and in friction or pressure-fit contact with the outer member. Once the guidewire lumen of the inner member and the rapid exchange port of the outer member are oriented, the friction or pressure-fit operates to maintain the orientation until deployment of the medical implant. Orientation is further maintained by a telescoping coupling of the guide wire lumen with the rapid exchange port.
US08597271B2
An IV bag/line safety device including a tag set and a bag attacher removably connected to the tag set. The tag set includes a plurality of tags printed with the name of an IV solution. The bag attacher is configured to attach the safety device to an IV bag containing the IV solution printed on the tags. After attachment, the safety device provides visual cues to a user inviting the user to disconnect the tags from the safety device. After disconnecting one or more of the tags, the user may attach those tags to an IV tubing line connected to the IV bag through which the IV solution contained in the IV bag flows from the IV bag into a patient. This enables the user to quickly identify a given IV tubing line having at least one tag attached thereto as containing a particular IV solution.
US08597267B2
A tampon having at least one physical discontinuity is provided. The physical discontinuity, or physical discontinuities, are located in the compressed absorbent member and may be made in the tampon pledget before the pledget is compressed into the absorbent member. The physical discontinuities partially isolate a portion, or portions, of the tampon from the rest of the tampon. The partial isolation of a portion of the tampon reduces the amount of menses absorbed by that portion, which could be transported to the rest of the tampon through wicking. The concentration of menses absorption in a portion allows that portion have a higher level of expansion than the rest of the tampon to prevent menses from leaking out of the vaginal opening.
US08597262B2
A uterine fibroid treatment device providing for localized delivery of one or more treatment drugs for treating various uterine conditions including, for example, uterine fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic adhesions and endometriosis. Generally, the uterine treatment device comprises a physical positioning element that can be inserted, positioned and maintained in close proximity to the uterine tissue to be treated. The treatment drugs delivered to the treatment location can include various combinations of anti-proliferative agents and angiogenesis inhibitors to provide different treatments concurrently. In some embodiments, the physical element can also serve the dual purpose of delivering the treatment drugs while simultaneously cutting off blood flow to a mature fibroid to initiate hypoxic/ischemic conditions within the mature fibroid.
US08597259B2
A device for controlling the rate of flow of a liquid in a flexible tube comprising two opposed surfaces between which the tube is received in use wherein the surfaces are elongated in the direction of flow of the liquid in the tube and are either parallel to one another or arranged so that in use the included angle does not exceed 40°, and means for varying the distance between the surfaces so as to compress the tube between them by the desired amount.
US08597258B2
A valved catheter is provided which includes a slit that opens readily in both directions either when a fluid is caused to flow from the interior to the exterior thereof or when a fluid is caused to flow from the exterior to the interior thereof, and that prevents inadvertent closure thereof from the opened state. The valve includes an openable slit that penetrates from the inner surface to the outer surface of a distal end section of a valved catheter with a closed distal end, and edge portions on the two sides of the slit are formed along the direction in which the valved catheter extends. The slit includes a linear shape in the cross-section of the distal end section of the valved catheter that extends in a position away from a center line “c” that passes through the center of the valved catheter in parallel with this center line “c” whereupon, either one of the edge portions deforms more readily than either one of the other edge portions.
US08597256B2
A seal member is configured to seal a chamber of a drug delivery device which is suitable to contain a drug, wherein the seal member comprises a diaphragm.
US08597250B2
A stability assembly for a trocar cannula includes a conical stability member, a base, and a cannula retention member. The base has a passage defining an inner surface, and a constriction in the passage. The cannula retention member is rotatable within the passage, and advancement of the cannula retention member over the constriction reduces the inner diameter of the passage to restrain a cannula in the passage. Various latch mechanisms including interface surfaces on the base and the cannula retention member can be used in the stability assembly to secure the stability assembly around a cannula. Various conical stability members can be used in the stability assembly.
US08597248B2
Devices and methods for tissue transfer are described where a cannula may be inserted into the breast of a subject at one of several points of entry. Insertion of the cannula into the breast may be accomplished by using a guidance system to distinguish between tissue types. Once desirably positioned, the cannula may be withdrawn from the breast while automatically (or manually) injecting the fat in multiple deposits of adipose tissue or fat such that the deposited fat remains within the tract formed by the withdrawn cannula. Multiple tracts of the deposited fat may be injected within the breast until the breast has been desirably remodeled and/or augmented.
US08597247B2
A bracket is provided. In an embodiment, the bracket comprises a first seat and a second seat. The first seat is sized to retain a first fluid implement. The second seat is sized to retain a second fluid implement from the bracket. The second seat includes a top opening, a side opening and a front concave portion. The second seat is configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the second fluid implement from the bracket. A fluid delivery apparatus including the bracket, as well as a method for delivering fluid, such as medical fluids including nutritional fluids, and industrial fluids through the delivery apparatus is also provided.
US08597243B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to limiting a presence of air bubbles in a fluidic medium expelled from a reservoir. In various embodiments, a reservoir is shaped so as to limit a presence of air bubbles in a fluidic medium expelled from the reservoir. Also, in various embodiments, a plunger head within a reservoir is shaped so as to limit a presence of air bubbles in a fluidic medium expelled from the reservoir. In some embodiments, both a reservoir and a plunger head within the reservoir are shaped so as to limit a presence of air bubbles in a fluidic medium expelled from the reservoir.
US08597241B2
A retained needle structure of a comprises a syringe needle with one or more fastening portion, a catheter with a cannula having a flexible tube, as well as a syringe cover with an aperture and gliding portion. The syringe needle has an inserting portion which is axially operated by users to enhance safety practice in clinical use. First design is the sliding slot has a deflected slant portion at the distal end. When the fastening portion is at the rear end of sliding slot, the injection needle is already inside of syringe cover. At the same point, body of the syringe needle is deflected laterally from the center of the syringe cover.The second design is used the levering effect from gravity of syringe cover. When the fastening portion is at the rear end of sliding slot, the syringe cover is vertically rotated from the original center of the syringe cover.
US08597237B2
An attachment arrangement has a housing and a needle located within the housing. The arrangement allows administration ports of different sizes to be inserted into and secured within the housing. In certain embodiments, compliant retainers secure the administration port within the housing. In certain other embodiments, the administration port is secured within the housing when the housing is compressed against the administration port by a housing compression element. Once the administration port is secured within the housing, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the attachment device and the administration port.
US08597234B2
A presently preferred embodiment of the invention includes a breast shield for use on a human breast including a breast-receiving portion, which is sized and shaped to receive a nipple and at least some surrounding breast. One or more sensors are connected to the breast-receiving portion and capable of sensing changes in the breast. Alternate embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include a sensor being one or more, for example, of an optical sensor, an electrode, a thermal sensor and an acoustic sensor. The optical sensor may be adapted to detect changes in light reflected from the breast. The electrode may be a pair of electrode parts, a first of which is used to apply an output voltage to the breast and a second of which is used to receive current conducted from the first of the pair of electrode parts. The acoustic sensor may be adapted to detect changes in breast tissue.
US08597228B2
Surgical fluid management systems and methods of operating surgical fluid management systems which may provide one or more functions associated with suction, irrigation, distention, deficit monitoring, infusion, fluid warming, and the like. Some example embodiments may include infra-red lamps arranged to heat fluid flowing through a disposable cartridge. Some example embodiments may provide a three-dimensional fluid path through the cartridge and/or multi-stage heating capabilities. Some example fluid management systems may be selectable between pressure control and flow control modes.
US08597223B2
A container for use in dialysis, containing a certain amount of a salt concentrate in the form of a powder, granules or tablets or mixtures thereof, having an inlet for the water and an outlet that is connectable to a dialysis machine. Both the inlet and the outlet are situated on one side of the container, and each includes a filter therein to prevent any undissolved salt concentrate from leaving the container.
US08597217B2
A therapy wrap for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body having improved kink resistance. The therapy wrap may be selectively reinforced for improved kink resistance in only a portion of the wrap. The reinforcement may decrease the kink radius. The wrap may include a kink reducer in all or only a selected kink-prone region. The kink reducer may be selectively configured attachment points or spot welds. The therapy wrap may include a reinforcement layer of one or more discrete reinforcement members. The wrap may be formed by pre-tensioning the material layers while forming the fluid bladder and/or gas pressure bladder. The therapy wrap may be adapted to compensate for conditions that normally cause kinking of the wrap or buckling of the fluidic channels. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the wrap and methods of administering a temperature-controlled treatment to an anatomical body part.
US08597212B2
A wrist assisting apparatus can smoothly bend and stretch a joint even if a turning shaft of a joint and a rotation shaft of a wearing tool are deviated from each other. Also, an excessive load is not applied to a user. The wrist assisting apparatus of the present invention includes a palm support member for supporting a hand, angle changing members connected to sides of the palm support member, a front arm wearing tool disposed along the front arm, and joint members for forming a rotation shaft of the angle changing member with respect to the front arm wearing tool, wherein the angle changing members are provided on both sides of the palm support member, the joint members are provided on the angle changing members, respectively, and the joint members are located on both sides of a wrist.
US08597203B2
A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08597202B2
A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08597197B2
A system comprises an implantable medical device (IMD) including an implantable heart sound sensor circuit configured to produce an electrical heart sound signal representative of a heart sound of a subject and a processor circuit. The processor circuit is coupled to the heart sound sensor circuit and includes a detection circuit, a heart sound feature circuit and a trending circuit. The detection circuit configured to detect a physiologic perturbation and the heart sound feature circuit is configured to identify a heart sound feature in the electrical signal. The processor circuit is configured to trigger the heart sound feature circuit in relation to a detected physiologic perturbation. The trending circuit is configured to trend the heart sound feature in relation to a recurrence of the physiologic perturbation. The processor circuit is configured to declare a change in a physiologic condition of the patient according to the trending.
US08597192B2
Ultrasonic devices and methods are provided that diagnose one or more pain generators. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic devices and methods are utilized to map one or more pain generators at or near the spine so that appropriate diagnostic and treatment methods can be performed.
US08597186B2
Pharmaceutical delivery systems for delivering dosages according to the present invention include a carrier component and a cap configured to seal an internal volume of the carrier component, wherein the cap includes a device that produces a unique current signature. Dosages prepared to be delivered according to embodiments of the invention find use in a variety of different applications, including clinical trials.
US08597183B2
A system and method allows diagnosis of a patient for physiological abnormality such as a neurological deficiency. An involuntary reflex cough event is induced within the patient that activates the nucleus ambiguus and medial motor cell column of the patient and stimulates involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles in the pelvis of the patient. An electromyogram (EMG) is obtained from the involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles while inducing involuntary reflex cough and determining its duration. The intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is determined and the IAP is correlated with the EMG duration of the involuntary cough event within a processing device to diagnose a physiological abnormality such as a neurological deficiency within the patient.
US08597180B2
A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue including an outer member positionable outside a patient and defining an opening therein to receive a surgical instrument. The outer member has a first portion and a second portion wherein at least one of the first and second portions is movable with respect to the other portion. The assembly also includes an inner member positionable within a patient and a flexible member extending between the inner member and outer member, wherein movement of one of the first and second portions of the outer member adjusts tension on the flexible member to retract tissue. A locking mechanism locks the outer member in a plurality of select expanded positions. The locking mechanism includes first engagement structure on the first portion engageable with the second portion and a slidable member movable to a locking position to retain the first and second portions in the select expanded position.
US08597178B2
An active drive type medical apparatus includes: an active mechanism having a rotatable joint provided near the distal end of a long member; an active mechanism driving section; a position/attitude detecting section configured to detect a position/attitude of the active mechanism; an instruction input section for performing instruction input of the position/attitude of the active mechanism; and a force calculating section configured to calculate, on the basis of the instruction input of the position/attitude, a force corresponding to a net external force acting on the active mechanism, by subtracting an estimated driving force estimated in the case where the active mechanism in a no-load state is driven, from a driving force required in the case where the active mechanism is actually driven by the active mechanism driving section from the position/attitude before the instruction input to the instructed and inputted position/attitude.
US08597177B2
A probe shape detection apparatus includes a magnetic field sensing section for sensing a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil in a flexible probe, a movement speed calculation section for calculating a movement speed of the coil, a coordinate computation section for calculating three-dimensional coordinates of the coil based on the sensed magnetic field, a moving average coordinate calculation section for calculating moving average coordinates of the coil, a comparison section for comparing the calculated movement speed with a predetermined threshold, a coil coordinate setting section for setting one of the moving average coordinates and the three-dimensional coordinates calculated by the coordinate computation section as the three-dimensional coordinates of the coil, based on a comparison result of the calculated moving speed, and a signal processing section for generating a video signal to display a shape of the probe, based on the set three-dimensional coordinates of the coil.
US08597164B2
A personal exercise device comprising a first arm pivotally coupled to a second arm wherein each arm includes a handle removably nesting in a sleeve. The personal exercise device further includes two tension members wherein one end each tension member is operably coupled to a handle of each arm and the other end of each tension member is coupled to the sleeve opposing the handle. A resistance element is operably connected to both the first arm and the second arm and configured to provide resistance between the relative rotational motion of the first arm and the second arm. The resistance element may be configured to be operably connected to other resistance elements to allow a user to customize, increase or decrease the resistance. The configuration of the personal exercise device provides a user the ability to seamlessly encounter resistance when applying force in at least two opposing directions.
US08597163B2
A gyration type exercising device includes a gyration unit (10), a damper (20) and a drive handle (30). The gyration unit includes a mounting frame (11) and a rotation wheel (12) rotatably mounted on the mounting frame and driven by the drive handle. The rotation wheel is provided with a rotation shaft (121). The drive handle has a first end pivotally connected with the rotation wheel and a second end provided with a holding bar (31). Thus, when the user's two hands hold the holding bar to move the drive handle in a gyration manner, the user's body has to move forward and backward and has to exert a force on the drive handle successively to rotate the rotation wheel reciprocally so as to exercise the user's body completely.
US08597160B2
An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
US08597159B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including a selectively shut-down engine, a torque converter and a torque converter lock-up clutch. One example method comprises, during an idle-stop engine shut-down, restricting flow of transmission fluid out of the torque converter, and adjusting engagement of the torque converter lock-up clutch to adjust a drag torque on the engine to stop the engine.
US08597157B2
This reduction gear of an electric actuator (1) for driving a home screen, the reduction gear comprises a reduction stage having a sun gear (42) meshing with at least one planet gear (46, 46′) rotating about a respective shaft (47) and positioned in a drum (45), the planet gear meshing with a stationary ring (48) to drive the drum (45) in rotation about an axis of rotation (X4). The reduction gear further comprises first guide means (43) serving both to guide the sun gear (42) in rotation and to guide the drum (45) in rotation about the axis of rotation (X4).
US08597145B2
An axle assembly comprises a power transmission device including a housing having a cylindrically shaped sidewall. The power transmission device selectively communicates rotatable motion from an input member to an output member. A frictional clutch is disposed in the housing and includes a drum. A first and a second axle shaft selectively drive a first and a second drive wheel, respectively. A differential selectively transfers drive torque from the output member to at least one of the first and second axle shafts. An electric motor comprising a coil and a plurality of magnets is provided on the axle assembly. In one example, the coil is disposed on the housing and the magnets are disposed on the drum. The coil is configured to selectively energize to provide one of a positive or negative torque input to the output member.
US08597136B1
A golf putter having a shaft and a putting head connected to the shaft, where the putting head is configured with one or more flat faces to emit different sounds depending on whether the golfer has hit the sweet spot of the putter. In addition, the putter may have concave faces as an alternative means for training the golfer to hit the sweet spot of the putter.
US08597135B2
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US08597127B2
In some implementations, a local gaming machine is in communication with a remote gaming machine over a data network. A player input requesting a game application is received at the local gaming machine. The requested game application may be located at the remote gamine machine. It is determined whether the requested game application is available for execution on the remote gaming machine. In some instances, determining availability of the requested game application includes determining compliance with interface specifications, licensing specifications and/or jurisdictional specifications. When the requested game application is available for execution, an instance of the requested game application is reserved on the remote gaming machine. When the instance is executed on the remote gaming machine, output data is sent to the local gaming machine over the data network. In some instances, one or more game parameters can be captured from the received output data.
US08597124B2
The Fair-Ordering Service delivers action messages to the server as soon as it is feasible. Because action messages from different players exhibit different reaction times with respect to an update message, the Fair-Ordering Service executed at the server dynamically enforces a sufficient waiting period on each action message to guarantee the fair processing of all action messages. The Fair-Ordering Service takes into consideration delayed and out-of-order action messages. When action messages corresponding to multiple update messages are interleaved, the Fair-Ordering Service matches the action message to the appropriate update message by maintaining a window of update messages and using the reaction times for an action message for each of the update messages in the window. This enables state changes at the game server to be performed with fairness to all the players. The Fair-Ordering Service is based on a framework that uses a proxy architecture.
US08597123B2
Players input their messages in their video game apparatuses and the messages are once collected at a server apparatus, thereafter they are distributed to all video game apparatuses from the game server apparatus. In a display screen of each video game apparatus, a chat window is displayed in order to display messages exchanged between the players on a game screen including a field and characters of the game. The chat window is sequentially enlarged up to a preset maximum number of lines when a new message is received from the game server apparatus. The chat window is sequentially reduced to the preset minimum number of lines when a predetermined time passes without any reception of new message or when the player performs a specific operation.
US08597120B2
A game apparatus includes a CPU, and in this game apparatus, a proceeding direction of a player object in a switched scene is detected when the scene is switched. Regarding the proceeding direction, in a case of a drainpipe, and etc., having an exit in the switched scene with a directionality, its direction of the exit is detected, and in a case of a door, and etc., having the exit without directionality, the proceeding direction of the player object in the scene yet to be switched is detected, for example. Furthermore, a screen display position of a display screen is adjusted in such a manner that a display area on a proceeding direction side in the switched scene is rendered as large as possible, for example. Therefore, the display screen, on which the proceeding direction in the switched scene is reflected, is generated and displayed.
US08597118B2
A method, device and system are set forth for controlling a video switching device (VSD) configured to display video from multiple video streams at a video display. Where video signals are received which are unrecognized by the VSD a tuner is coupled to the VSD to control the same to extract video primitives adjust the configuration data so that the video stream will be properly displayed at the video display. In another embodiment the tuner may command the VSD to display a diagnostic dashboard for the gaming machine and its components and network connections.
US08597116B2
Various gaming-related services are provided, including but not limited to security services, harm minimization services, player identification services, bonusing/progressive services, accounting services, financial/banking services, network tunneling services, cheating detection services, etc. Such services may be provided, at least in part, by software agents that can be configured for different platforms and/or operating systems. Some software-based player tracking methods of the invention can aggregate data from multiple devices used by a player for gaming.
US08597115B2
Some embodiments are associated with wagering game devices and/or portable wagering mediums. Some portable wagering mediums are capable of outputting various indications related to one or more potential or current statuses of the portable wagering mediums. Some wagering game devices are operable to (i) determine a status of a portable wagering medium and (ii) cause, based on the determining, an outputting of an indication of the status via an output device coupled to the portable wagering medium. In some embodiments, a central server or other device conducts the determining of the status and/or the causing of the outputting. The status of a portable wagering medium may be based on one or more of many different factors or metrics.
US08597113B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to selectively combine base games and bonus games. This modular approach allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to mix and match base games and bonus games as needed. In some embodiments, players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers may also select different game features to employ in the bonus and/or base games. Such an arrangement allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to configure each base game and/or bonus game according to their preferences.
US08597103B2
In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a multi-player wheel game. The game includes a wheel having a plurality of sections. Each of the sections is associated with an award symbol. Each of the sections is also associated with a characteristic independent of the award symbol, such as a color. The gaming system enables each of a plurality of active players to select at least one of the characteristics associated with the wheel. The gaming system activates the wheel and indicates at least one section of the wheel. The gaming system and at the gaming devices associated with the gaming system provide an award associated with the award symbol of the indicated section. For each active player that selected the characteristic associated with the indicated section, the gaming system and the gaming devices associated with the gaming system provide a modified award.
US08597095B2
A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance.
US08597090B2
A coin apparatus (100) includes a central housing (102) with a coin holding interior (104). An upper funnel/distributor section (114) facilitates removal of excess coins when said interior is being filled with a predetermined number of coins. The coin apparatus (100) also includes coinage selectors (121), each having an allocation slot (122). Extending inwardly towards the center of the allocation slot (122) is a resilient arm (124) having a button (126) at the end thereof. Each button (126) has an inner edge (127) which is capable of securely abutting edges (128) of one or more of the coins (126) when forces are exerted by the user.
US08597087B2
A universal abrasive sheet is provided for a sanding or polishing machine and includes segments defined by weakened regions that allow portions of the universal abrasive sheet to be removed in order to adapt the abrasive sheet to alternative platent configurations. Each of the different configurations of the universal abrasive sheet can be provided with an individualized tip portion which can be separated from a body portion and either repositioned or replaced in order to change the working point of the tip portion when it becomes worn out.
US08597078B2
A method for creating a concave section of glass from a glass substrate having flat surfaces includes the use of a grinding wheel and a turntable. The method includes the steps of securing the glass substrates to the turntable. The turntable is then spun to create a turntable axis of rotation. The grinding wheel is rotated about a wheel axis of rotation such that the wheel axis of rotation is perpendicular to the turntable axis of rotation. The grinding wheel and the turntable move relative to each other along the turntable axis of rotation. The glass substrate is ground by the grinding wheel contacting the glass substrate to create the concave section of glass while the glass substrate is rotating about the wheel axis of rotation and moving relative to the turntable.
US08597075B2
The present invention provides a method of detecting and preventing grind burn from developing on a gear. The method includes performing acoustic emission testing while the gear is being ground during a grinding operation. The grinding wheel is evaluated during an eddy current test to detect material buildup on the grinding wheel which could cause grind burn. In addition, the method includes collecting swarf from the gear during the grinding operation and inspecting the swarf for an indication of grind burn.
US08597070B2
A plant imitating device includes a body having a compartment and an opening in communication with the compartment. A driving unit is mounted in the compartment and includes a transmission member. A plant imitating unit is mounted in the compartment and includes an end facing the opening of the body. The plant imitating unit is engaged with the transmission member by a mounting portion. The plant imitating unit is movable relative to the transmission member. A control unit is electrically connected to the driving unit. The control unit controls the driving unit to cause the end of the plant imitating unit to move beyond the body via the opening. Thus, the end of the plant imitating unit gradually extends beyond the opening to imitate the growth of a plant.
US08597046B2
A clip (60) is mounted in a housing (11) of a charging connector (10). The clip (60) includes a box-shaped main body (61) formed by assembling two half members (62, 62). The main body (61) is prevented from moving in longitudinal and circumferential directions of a wire (W) relative to the housing (11) by the surface contact of the outer surface of the main body (61) with the inner surface of the housing (11). Wire insertion holes (67) are formed in the main body (61) by assembling the half members (62, 62) so that pairs of curved portions (66, 66) face each other. The wire (W) is held in the main body (61) by being tightly held by the curved portions (66, 66).
US08597044B2
Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles that have a reduced tendency to scratch and otherwise mar connector inserts, have an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, and have an improved tactile response when inserts are inserted. Various examples reduce scratches and wear by utilizing domes, cylinders, balls, or other structures as finger contacts in a connector receptacle. Another example provides aesthetically-pleasing connector receptacle enclosures by forming receptacle enclosures using the same type of material, or material having the same or similar color or texture, as is used for enclosing the electronic device that includes the receptacle. Another example provides an aesthetically-pleasing receptacle enclosure by forming receptacle enclosures that are, in part or in whole, contiguous or formed with the housing.
US08597042B2
A connector (500) for operably coupling a medical lead to an implantable medical device includes first and second pivotably coupled elongate members (510, 520). Each of the first and second elongate members has (i) a proximal end portion (512, 522), and (ii) a distal end portion (514, 524) for engaging the lead. The lead has a proximal end portion having a shoulder. The first and second elongate members are pivotably coupled such that the distal end portions of the first and second elongate members are moveable to allow insertion of the lead proximally past the distal end portions of the elongate members and to allow the distal end portions to engage the lead distal the shoulder.
US08597041B2
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body; a post engageable with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange; a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein a second end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the second end of the nut to the side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut at a point nearest the second end of the nut, and a first end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the first end of the nut to the same point nearest the second end of the nut of the same side of the lip facing the first end of the nut; and a continuity member disposed within the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut is provided.
US08597033B2
A receptacle connector includes an insulating housing with a plurality of openings apart opened in a front face thereof. A terminal group includes a ground terminal embedded in the insulating housing. The terminal group has a plurality of contact slices molded in the insulating housing and exposed through the openings respectively, and a plurality of touching arms elastically stretching outside the insulating housing. At least one connecting member is molded in the insulating housing to electrically connect with the ground terminal, and has a connecting slice exposed outside and abreast with the front face of the insulating housing. A metal shell is mounted to the front face of the insulating housing and point welded with the connecting slice. A window is opened in the metal shell and located to face the openings for further exposing the contact slices therethrough. A waterproof washer is sealed around the metal shell.
US08597028B2
A system and method for facilitating personal development using a computing device. The method includes generating a machine-readable foundation profile by performing sub-steps including querying a user through a user interface module and providing a user access to an education module and a discovery module. The sub-steps include storing answers to queries in association with a user. The method also includes guiding a user through a process of issue resolution by querying a user in regards to a specific situation and teaching a user in regards to taking responsibility for their feelings and/or behavior. The sub-steps include teaching a user about having an intent to learn and managing an inner guidance dialogue within the user. The method further includes facilitating a user taking action by displaying an intended action from the action profile, and teaching the user how to productively take action and facilitating self-evaluation by the user.
US08597025B2
A celestial weapons orientation measuring system. The system includes a miniature celestial direction detection device. The device includes an inclinometer, a camera for imaging at least one celestial object and a processor programmed with a celestial catalog providing known positions at specific times of at least one celestial object and algorithms for automatically calculating target direction information based on the inclination of the system as measured by the inclinometer and the known positions of the celestial object as provided by the celestial catalog and as imaged by the camera. Similar to the training technique discussed in the background section, the pretend enemy wears a GPS detector and transmitter, and a computer system is preferably provided which determines when a trigger-pull results in a “casualty”. Preferred embodiments also include an inertial navigation sensor including a magnetic compass and a memory-based optical navigation system that permits continued operation on cloudy days and even in certain in-door environments.
US08597023B2
Disclosed herein is a dental implant with a post part which can be introduced into a jaw bone and with a mounting part on which a dental prosthesis piece can be mounted. The dental implant allows a dental technician to choose a particularly favorable orientation for further assembling of the components, and at the same time to make it possible for the person performing the treatment to make use of the advantages of an indexing without using auxiliary tools.
US08597018B2
A weldless-type injection mold apparatus is provided. The weldless-type injection mold apparatus includes an upper mold, a lower mold engaged to the upper mold to form a cavity for injection-molding of products, a heating unit formed on one side of the cavity of at least one of the lower and upper molds to heat a resin injected into the cavity, a first cooling unit formed at the at least one of the lower and upper molds to prevent the injection mold from being over-heated, and a second cooling unit installed between the heating unit to cool an area surrounding the cavity and an injection-molded product.
US08597013B2
The invention describes a tensioning rail (3) for a membrane (2) of a membrane press. To allow a simpler and more rapid assembly and disassembly of the membrane (2) than in known devices, the tensioning rail includes a support rail (8), in which at least one tensioning strip (13) is mounted detachably, whereby the tensioning strip (13) is designed for securely clamping onto the edge of the membrane (2). In this way it is possible to equip a new replacement membrane (2) with tensioning strips (13) independently and outside of the membrane press, which then only need to be attached to the support rail (8). In this case the support rail does not need to be disassembled, but remains on the membrane press the whole time. A further essential advantage is that the tensioning rail (3) can also be installed into existing membrane presses, for example as a replacement for an existing securing device for the membrane.
US08597006B2
In one aspect, there is described a rotor of a Wankel engine including a plurality of apex seal members each biased by a respective spring, each spring including an axial action portion and a radial action portion, the axial action portion including at least two radially extending band sections with adjacent ones of the band sections being connected by a fold, one of the band sections contacting a radially extending surface of the apex seal member and another of the band sections contacting a radially extending element of the rotor body, and the radial action portion forming a major part of a length of the spring, contacting an axially extending surface of the apex seal member in two spaced apart locations, and contacting the rotor body between the two spaced apart locations.
US08597003B2
A lubrication system for a power transmission device includes a variable displacement vane pump including a moveable control ring for varying the displacement of the pump. A linear actuator directly acts on the control ring for moving the control ring between maximum and minimum pump displacement positions. The linear actuator includes an electric motor for rotating a drive member. The drive member engages a driven actuator shaft to cause linear translation of the actuator shaft in response to rotation of the drive member. A control system includes a controller for signaling the actuator to extend or retract the actuator shaft to vary the pump displacement.
US08597002B2
A hydraulic pump or motor includes a body having a chamber and a rotor rotatably mounted within the chamber. The chamber and rotor are shaped to define one or more rise regions, fall regions, major dwell regions and minor dwell regions between walls of the chamber and the rotor. The rotor has a plurality of slots and vanes located in each slot. Each vane is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the vanes are unable to work the hydraulic fluid introduced into the chamber whereas they are able to work the hydraulic fluid introduced into the chamber in the extended position. A vane retaining member that is selectively actuable enables the vanes to be retained in the retracted position.
US08597001B2
An electric machine comprising a stator having a stator winding, a housing accommodating the stator, a rotor, and an air gap having a generally cylindrical configuration. A plurality of circumferentially distributed, radial, first cooling gas ducts are provided in a stator core. Jets of cooling gas are directed to regions of an end winding which are relatively distant from the stator core, in order to achieve impingement cooling thereof. Flows of cooling gas are directed to portions of the end winding which are between the impingement cooled regions of the end winding and the respective front face of the stator core.
US08597000B2
The present invention discloses structure improvement of a canned motor pump, and more particular to a canned motor pump which is a plastic pump or a pump with plastic lining to transfer chemical liquids, wherein a support structure of a rotor system is improved to provide a high-rigidity cantilever stationary shaft to satisfy all kinds of requirements. The high-rigidity cantilever stationary shaft of the present invention comprises a metal shaft, which is locked tightly at a motor rear casing with a nut to compress a ceramic shaft sleeve and the motor rear casing to form a complex cantilever stationary shaft; a ceramic shaft sleeve, which provides hydraulic bearing and an axial thrust bearing functions; a motor rear casing, which enhances the stiffness of the stationary shaft for supporting rotation of the motor rotor; a containment shell, which provides a sealing function to the ceramic sleeve, in addition, the containment shell is provided with a central hole allowing the metal shaft to pass through, and an inner space is used to hold the motor rotor and to provide a sealing function to a motor stator winding.
US08596993B2
A dual-supply fluid distribution system includes a first pump having an inlet and an outlet. The first pump is configured to supply a first fluid flow. A second pump has an inlet and an outlet, and is configured to supply a second fluid flow. A check valve is coupled between the first and second pump outlets. The check valve is configured to combine the second fluid flow with the first fluid. A bypass valve is coupled to the outlet of the first pump. The bypass valve has an integral pilot valve and is configured to permit fluid flow from the pump outlets in excess of the fluid demand to recirculate back to the first and second pump inlets. The bypass valve and integral pilot valve are configured to cause the check valve to open when the flow of fluid through the bypass valve is below a threshold amount.
US08596984B2
There is provided a resin fan capable of enhancing the mechanical strength in a weld part in view of the direction of reinforcing fiber. On the outer peripheral surface 16a of a cylindrical rib 16, convex parts 30 are formed in the middle portions between the portions in which radial ribs 18 adjoining each other are connected to the cylindrical rib 16. The cylindrical rib 16 is formed so that the thickness T in the radial direction thereof is decreased gradually from the base part 16c thereof toward the tip end part 16d. Further, the height H1 of the cylindrical rib 16 is set so as to be larger than the height H2 of the radial rib 18. Thereby, at the time of molding, the resin flows in the portions of the cylindrical rib 16 and the convex parts 30 are complicated, and thereby the orientation of glass fiber mixed in the resin is complicated.
US08596981B2
An annulus filler for mounting to a rotor disc of a gas turbine engine is provided to bridge the gap between adjacent blades. A first part is connectable to the rotor disc between adjacent blades. There is a separate second part that engages with the first part after connecting the rotor blades to the rotor disc. When installed, the filler is spaced from each blade by a respective clearance gap (G), and an operational configuration in which it contacts each of said blades. Engagement of the second part with the first part is effective to urge the first part from said installation configuration to said operational configuration and thus into blade contact. The first part may have a mounting region for connection to the rotor disc and allow, in said first step of said procedure, the mounting region to remain visible from a radially outer viewpoint.
US08596978B2
A wind turbine is disclosed. Various embodiments of the wind turbine have a turbine rotator assembly that, when rotated by the wind, provides a rotational input motion to a power generation unit. The turbine rotator assembly may include a central rotator bearing and an outer ring. A plurality of flexible fins are mounted in tension between the outer ring and the central rotator bearing such that the fins are able to flex when contacted by wind at certain wind speeds. The fins may be mounted at an angle and at a twisted configuration to facilitate flexing of the turbine rotator assembly in a direction that is opposite to the direction in which the wind is blowing. Various embodiments employ electrical generator units and other embodiments employ hydraulic pump and motor arrangements that are coupled to an electrical generator.
US08596974B2
A helicopter includes an airframe, and a rotor system mounted to the airframe. The rotor system includes a plurality of rotor blades. Each of the plurality of rotor blades includes a root portion that extends to a tip portion through an airfoil portion. The airfoil portion includes first and second surfaces. An effector is mounted within the airfoil portion of at least one of the plurality of rotor blades. The effector includes a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an intermediate portion, and a flap arranged at the second end portion. The effector is selectively actuated to shift from a first, stowed, position wherein the flap is positioned within the at least one rotor blade to a second, deployed, position, wherein flap projects through at least one of the first and second surfaces of the at least one rotor blade.
US08596966B1
A turbine stator vane with a cooling circuit that improves the cooling effectiveness of the airfoil as well as collects any dirt particles before passing the clean cooling air through the cooling circuit. The airfoil includes a 3-pass aft flowing serpentine circuit with a first leg located along the airfoil leading edge and connected to a showerhead arrangement for film cooling discharge. A cooling air supply channel is located between the first leg and the second leg of the serpentine flow circuit, and the cooling supply channel includes ribs arranged to produce a vortex flow within the cooling air that collects the dirt particles within a center of the vortex flow and deposits the dirt particles at the bottom of the channel. The vortex flow cooling air flows through impingement holes to produce impingement cooling on the backside wall of the leading edge with clean cooling air. The vortex flow pattern produces higher flow velocities at the outer periphery of the vortex which produces a higher impingement jet velocity of the cooling air to improve convection and impingement cooling capability.
US08596964B2
In a hydroelectric turbine having a rotor disposed within a housing, the rotor having an annular outer rim received by a channel in the housing, the improvement comprising providing at least one debris release chute in said housing such that debris captured between the rotor and the housing is released through the debris release chute.
US08596961B2
Within aerofoils, and in particular nozzle guide vane aerofoils in gas turbine engines problems can occur with regard to coolant flows from respective inlets at opposite ends of a cavity within the aerofoil. The cavity generally defines a hollow core and unless care is taken coolant flow can pass directly across the internal cavity. Previously baffle plates were inserted within the cavity to prevent such direct jetting across the cavity. Such baffle plates are subject to additional costs as well as potential unreliability problems. Baffles formed integrally with a wall within the aerofoil allow more reliability with regard to positioning as well as consistency of performance. The baffles can be perpendicular, upward or downwardly orientated or have a compound angle.
US08596957B2
A radial fan, in particular for a gas burner, for premixing air and gas, comprising a housing with a radial fan wheel disposed therein, and a regulation valve for regulating a gas volume, which comprises a valve seat, wherein the valve seat of the regulation valve is formed by a portion of the housing.
US08596955B2
A bi-directional flow impulse type turbine arrangement (120) for use with a bi-directional reversing flow (F, F1, F2), and in particular for use with an oscillating water column power plant (110). The turbine arrangement (120) has a rotor (120), and first and second sets of guide vanes (140, 142) located on an opposite axial sides of the rotor (132) for directing the bi-directional reversing flow (F, F1, F2) to and from the rotor (132). The guide vanes (140, 142) are disposed at a greater radius and radially offset from the rotor blades (136). The turbine arrangement further comprises first and second annular ducts disposed respectively between the first and second sets of guide vanes (140, 142) and the rotor (132) for directing fluid from the guide vanes (140, 142) to the rotor blades (136). In addition, and in other aspects of the invention, the vanes (140,142) and rotor blades (136) have a novel profile, with in particular the vanes (144) having a profile to maintain a constant flow passage between the vanes over a turning section of the vanes, and the rotor blades of the rotor (132) having a higher turning angle (2alpha), and producing a non-axial outlet downstream flow. The turbine (120) may also in another aspect incorporate vanes with a slot and a boundary layer blowing arrangement to re-energise and improve the reverse flow over the vanes.
US08596954B2
A compressor is disclosed having a shaft seal assembly and system that allows a high-pressure compressor to settle-out at a lower pressure level during shutdown. The seal assembly may be disposed about a portion of the shaft and define a blow-down seal chamber, the seal assembly including one or more gas seals in fluid communication with the blow-down seal chamber. A blow-down line is communicably coupled to the blow-down seal chamber to reference the blow-down seal chamber to a low pressure reference, such as a separate centrifugal compressor, or the like. Referencing the blow-down seal chamber to the low pressure reference reduces the required sealing pressure of the one or more gas seals. A valve may be disposed in the blow-down line and configured to regulate a flow of process gas leakage through the blow-down line.
US08596952B2
The invention relates to a method and a transport device (207) for positioning loading aids (208) prior to the transfer thereof into a shelf compartment (209) on storage spaces (211a to 211d) arranged behind one another using a transport device (207). The loading aids (208) are positioned against one another, behind one another against a first stop device (243 to 247) of the transport device (207) in the transfer direction (210), then a separating device (256, 257) is adjusted in the movement path (251) between the loading aids (208) and the front loading aid (208) in the transfer direction (210) is positioned against the separating device (256, 257) and the rear loading aid (208) in the transfer direction (210) is positioned against a second stop device (243 to 247) of the transport (207) in the transfer direction (210). Afterwards a third stop device (243 to 247) is adjusted between the separated loading aids (208).
US08596942B2
A screw including a sealing washer assembly and a shank which defines a screw axis and has a thread in at least a portion thereof and whose one end is provided with a head. The sealing washer assembly is disposed on the shank and includes at least one sealing washer and a reinforcing washer, said reinforcing washer having a thickness, and the sealing washer assembly having a cumulative thickness is disclosed. The sealing washer assembly is spaced, along the screw axis, at a distance from an underside of the head facing the shank, said distance being greater than the thickness of the reinforcing washer and smaller than the cumulative thickness of the sealing washer assembly.
US08596932B2
Provided herein are systems and methods for use in controlling a translocation process of a pneumatic tube system in order to reduce the amount of energy transferred from the tube system to a pneumatic carrier and, hence, its contents. Generally, these utilities entail identifying and/or reducing forces applied to a pneumatic carrier traveling through a travel path within a pneumatic tube system. The systems and method disposed herein allow for varying the velocity of a pneumatic carrier as it passes through a travel path of the pneumatic system. Such varying of the velocity allows for reducing the total forces applied to the pneumatic carrier during passage through the system. In one arrangement, the power output of a power source connected to a compressor device is altered to vary the velocity of pneumatic carries in the system.
US08596927B2
Barriers for flood defense and other purposes are often constructed using sand bags. The strength of these barriers is limited and the invention seeks to address this problem. The invention provides a tie formed as a single injection moulded item placed between layers of sandbags to help to hold them together. The tie has two rigid triangular end plates (4) and (5) linked by a flexible arm (11). The end plates are formed with protruding spikes (6) shaped with a barb so that they will easily penetrate the fabric of a sandbag but are difficult to pull out. In use, each tie is placed between layers of sandbags so that spikes of respective plates (4) and (5) become anchored to adjoining bags. The bags of the barrier are thus held together and any irregularities in it are accommodated by the flexibility of the arm (11). Slots (14) and lugs (15) allow a plurality of ties to be linked together as may be required when oversize sandbags are employed.
US08596926B2
The present invention relates to a gabion comprising at least one individual compartment for receiving, a fill material, the each individual compartment of the gabion being bounded by at least one wall, the wall material forming at least one closed panel around the each individual compartment effective for retaining the fill material, the wall material having sufficient flexibility to allow the gabion to be folded and/or rolled in a first pre-deployment configuration, wherein the pre-deployed gabion is restrained in its first configuration by a form of restraining means, the wall material having sufficient resilience such that when the gabion is released from its restraining means, it tends to unfold and/or unroll from its first configuration towards or to a second deployment configuration.
US08596921B2
A ballast system is provided for use with least partially buried pre-formed chamber, the system having at least one ring formed of a plurality of interlocking ballast block ring segments; each ring segment being configured with at least one male interconnect and at least one female interconnect, each said female interconnect being configured to receive a corresponding male interconnect, each ring segment comprising a containment form shell and cast mass; and corrosion resistant locking pins whereby each female interconnect is secured to a corresponding male interconnect.
US08596917B2
A method for repairing and strengthening pipes by creating a structural reinforced composite liner within the existing pipe. The liner is created by helically winding a tensile reinforcement material on the inside wall of a pipe and encapsulating it in a hardening matrix material. The reinforcement material is helically wound around the inside wall of the pipe by an installation device. The installation device is configured to relieve and/or prevent the development of torsional stress in the reinforcement material that is created by the act of helically winding it onto the inside wall of a pipe, allowing the reinforcement material to lay flat against the pipe wall without twisting or buckling. The structural reinforced composite can be configured to supplement the strength of the existing pipe or to function as a stand-alone pipe within the existing pipe.
US08596916B2
Apparatus for forming an underground passageway and simultaneously laying therein a conduit or other elongate components comprises a rotary drill member coupled to a rotary and axially movable drill stem. The coupling is one which virtually automatically enables the drill stem to be coupled to and uncoupled from the drill member and comprises as one embodiment interlocking driving lugs carried by the drill stem and the drill member. The driving lugs are sandwiched between telescoped portions of the drill member and the drill stem and thereby are reinforced by such portions of the drill stem and the drill member in such manner as to preclude movement of the driving lugs in both radially inward and radially outward directions. Other couplings can be used.
US08596915B2
A pipe is installed between a pointed front section and a rear section of a tool, and the rear section is subjected to a drive force in the longitudinal direction, so that the pointed section and the pipe is pushed into loosely packed materials. In response to an inadvertent hindrance in the loosely packed materials, the tool and the pipe connected thereto is pulled back by exerting a tractive force on a line connected to the pointed front section and running through the pipe and rear section.
US08596914B2
Apparatus and methods for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile thereon, and covering the tile with dirt from the trench. One apparatus includes a housing, a hook, a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing, a sloping support wall inside the housing for directing tile from a top side of the housing to an exit at a rear side of the housing, a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the exit, a grip extending above the housing and the pipe insertion frame, and a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench. The blade extends beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from the trench. The hook and the grip are configured to engage a machine bucket.
US08596909B2
A retention basin enclosure includes a plurality of prefabricated concrete vertical wall segments, a baffle unit and at least one steel connecting dowel. Each wall segment includes a horizontal top end that defines a notch and two vertical edges that define at least one cylindrical bore. The baffle segment includes a vertical edge surface that defines a plurality of cylindrical bores and a horizontal planar member from which a plurality of protrusions extend upwardly therefrom so that the baffle segment reduces water flow velocity. Two baffle vertical wall members each have a planar vertical surface that defines a plurality of cylindrical bores disposed so that at least one of the cylindrical bores defined by concrete baffle segment can be placed in alignment with at least one of the cylindrical bores defined by the planar vertical surface.
US08596908B2
A method of use comprises providing an inline pipe grate component and at least partially burying the inline pipe grate component. The inline pipe grate component has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
US08596901B1
A universal attachment device for attaching accessories to machinery featuring a center bar having a beveled first end; a base platform attached to the second end of the center bar, the base platform being generally perpendicular to the center bar; side braces disposed on each the first side of the center bar, the second side of the center bar, and the top side of the center bar, the braces are also attached to the front surface of the base platform; a generally hollow and generally trapezoidal attachment sleeve for removably attaching to the center bar via an attachment means, wherein a first slot is disposed in the back adapted to receive the first end of the center bar; brace platforms disposed on the back surface of the base platform near the first and second sides; and one or more lug components disposed on the front surface of the base platform.
US08596895B2
A pencil comprising a lead, a protective cap and a device for shaping the lead in the protective cap. The shaping device is displaceable axially with respect to the lead when the protective cap is fitted.
US08596894B2
A first movable blade and a second movable blade cooperate as part of a cutter drive mechanism to cut roll paper in conjunction with a fixed blade. A gear train 132 has a first gear 141 that rotates when drive power from the cutter motor 131 is input thereto, and a second gear 142 to which rotation of the first gear 141 is transferred, causing the second gear 142 to turn. A first eccentric pin 151 engaging the first movable blade 81 is disposed at an eccentric position to the first gear 141, and a second eccentric pin 152 engaging the second movable blade 82 is disposed at an eccentric position to the second gear 142. The first movable blade 81 has a first guide channel 115 regulating the cutting operation of the first movable blade 81 on the first blade point 114 side, and the first guide channel 115 and the first eccentric pin 151 together render a first opposing cam 161. The second movable blade 82 has a second guide channel 125 regulating the cutting operation of the second movable blade 82 on the second blade point 124 side, and the second guide channel 125 and the second eccentric pin 152 together render a second opposing cam 162.
US08596893B2
When a blade drive spring has been overcharged when a second cam gear has caused a drive lever to move to a position beyond a position of attraction of an armature by a yoke, a blade lever does not contact the drive lever even if the blade lever has been driven in a direction of opening an aperture by a first blade and a second blade with an urging force of a blade return spring. When the second cam gear has moved to the attraction position form the overcharged position, the blade lever contacts the drive lever before the yoke starts attracting the armature by the attractive force.
US08596890B2
Provided is a pan-tilt apparatus for a surveillance camera, including an image capturing unit 100 including a camera 2 and a camera holder 4 for supporting the camera 2; a motion converter 150 including a driving shaft 10, a shaft 20 connected to a connector 14 inserted into the driving shaft 10, a base member 30 inserted into one side of the driving shaft 10 and of which both ends are inserted in the shaft 20 by including a bearing 24, a bearing 32 installed in a lower portion of the base member 30 to smoothen an operation of the base member 30, and first and second worms 50 and 52 inserted into the base member 30 and mutually connected with first and second worm gears 40 and 42 to rotate; and a driving unit 250 including first and second motors 80 and 82 being connected to first and second motor shafts 60 and 62 to be inserted into the first and second worm gears 40 and 42.
US08596883B2
An optical connector plug incorporates a coil spring to bias a shutter holding member to the front side of an axial direction with respect to a plug frame and minimizes the entire length. The plug has a housing that includes a grip member and a shutter holding member that move relatively in the axial direction and the plug frame has an extension state in which the grip member moves to the rear side of the axial direction of the shutter holding member and a reduction state in which the grip member moves to the front side of the axial direction of the shutter holding member. A biasing member that biases the shutter holding member to the front side of the axial direction with respect to the plug frame and a biasing member receiving member that is connected to the plug frame are provided.
US08596876B2
A roller bearing comprises at least two rows of rollers disposed between an inner ring and an outer ring. At least two tracks guide the respective rows of roller and are defined in the axial direction of the inner ring or the outer ring. At least one flange abuts axial ends of axially-adjacent rows of rollers and extends radially from a radially outer side or a radially inner side of the inner ring or the outer ring. At least one recess is defined on the side of the inner ring or the outer ring that is opposite of the radially outer side or the radially inner side of the inner ring or the outer ring, from which the at least one flange radially extends. The at least one recess at least partially overlaps the at least one flange in the axial direction.
US08596872B2
A bearing assembly is presented having a novel bearing seal design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The seal is held perpendicularly to the sealing surface, and in one embodiment, substantially divides the sealing forces equally between the lubricant seal portion and the dust seal portion of the seal by virtue of the symmetry of the seal geometry and the application of the resisting force substantially along the seal body's centerline. The seal departs from the cantilever geometry of prior art seal designs, and in one embodiment, provides an inherently stiffer seal.
US08596868B2
The motion guide device includes: a track rail including insertion holes for fixing bolts; and a moving block assembled to the track rail through intermediation of a large number of rolling elements. The moving block includes an adhering matter path provided at a position opposed to the insertion holes of the track rail, the adhering matter path allowing matters adhering on the track rail to pass from one end to another end of the moving block. A pair of path forming members are fixed to both ends of the moving block in a moving direction thereof. The path forming members each include: a pair of end seal portions which traverse rolling-element rolling surfaces of the track rail and abut against a surface of the track rail; and a path opening portion which is provided between the end seal portions and forms an entrance of the adhering matter path.
US08596864B2
A temperature sensor generates a digital output signal representative of the absolute temperature of the sensor. The sensor includes a first circuit configured to generate a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage signal and a second circuit configured to generate a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current signal. A comparator receives the CTAT and PTAT signals and generates a comparison signal based on a comparison between the signals. A converter circuit receives the comparison signal and generates a digital output signal based on the comparison signal. The digital output signal is representative of the temperature of the sensor.
US08596863B2
A cooking vessel sidewall cover is provided with an opening therein and a screen is placed over the opening, with the screen including a layered structured between the cover opening and the vessel to include a non-opaque substrate, a layer of thermochromic colorant that changes from a opaque color to a non-opaque color when exposed to a predetermined temperature, and a layer of indicia material which is visible from an outer side of the substrate opening when the thermochromic ink changes to a non-opaque color. The cover may also include protective transparent or translucent window members on either side of the opening, and the substrate may be attached by way of an adhesive.
US08596861B2
The present invention relates generally to thermal imaging systems and methods and uses therefor, and in a particular though non-limiting embodiment, to a method of detecting corrosion under insulation, as well as corrosion-related material data associated therewith. The system utilizes advanced infrared imaging video cameras to detect characteristic signatures of wet thermal traits on process equipment. Various embodiments of the invention integrate equipment, automation, and algorithms to form a method for identifying wet thermal insulation by scanning multiple locations along insulated piping, tanks, or other manufacturing equipment. Such scans can occur individually, sequentially, or simultaneously, with the results then being stored and comparatively analyzed. Further embodiments comprise tracking the approximate time of exposure to moisture, prediction of the corrosion rates for underlying insulated metal substrates, and measuring wall thicknesses along either predetermined random portions of the metal substrate.
US08596851B2
A lamp socket with a decreased number of elements is presented according to one or more embodiments. The lamp socket in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply member. The power supply member includes a first lamp connecting terminal, a second lamp connecting terminal facing the first lamp connecting terminal and an inverter connecting terminal disposed below the first and second lamp connecting terminals. Upper end portions of the first and second lamp connecting terminals are bent in opposite directions and the first lamp connecting terminal includes a fixing protrusion protruding from an inner surface thereof facing the second lamp connecting terminal.
US08596843B2
An object of the present invention is to control light distribution so that light is distributed to a predetermined point while a light distribution pattern for overhead is transversely spread. The present invention includes a discharge lamp, a reflector, a projection lens, a shade, and a reflection member. At a window portion of the shade, edges, are provided for forming cutoff lines CL1, CL2, and CL3. The reflection member is disposed between the projection lens and the shade. At the reflection member, recessed reflection surfaces are provided for transversely spreading a light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign. As a result, the present invention is capable of controlling light distribution so that light is distributed to a predetermined point in a state in which the light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign is transversely spread.
US08596836B2
The present invention relates to a moving head light fixture, which moving head light fixture comprises a light generating head, which head is carried in a yoke, which head is rotatable to the yoke, which yoke is rotatable to a base, which head comprises at least one electronic circuit for LED control, where the moving head comprises a first cooling plate comprising a number of LEDs; a second cooling plate comprising said at least one electronic circuit for LED control; and an air flow passage running from at least one end of said moving head, through at least said first cooling plate and/or said second cooling plate and between said first cooling plate and said second cooling plate. The present invention relates also to a cooling module for a moving head.
US08596833B1
An exemplary interchangeable lamp shade kit may comprise a lamp base, a spider element and a shade element with at least flat and deployed confirmations. The shade element includes opposing first and second ends with respective securement elements generally formed thereat and adapted to engage one another for releasably retaining the shade element in its cylindrical deployed configuration. A plurality of detent apertures in the shade element are adapted to receive respective detent elements radially distributed about the spider element. An exemplary system and method for displaying lamp shade kits may comprise a display element supportingly presenting a multiplicity of lamp bases, a plurality of spider elements, and an assortment of shade elements. The shade elements may be releasably suspended in their flat configurations in a linear or curved array for convenient review and selection by consumers positioned on a consumer pathway adjacent the display element.
US08596832B2
The present invention is directed toward a cover for an illumination device including a composite image including selectively visible design elements. The exterior surface of the cover may include a design element viewable regardless of whether the light source is extinguished or illuminated. The interior surface of the cover may further include a design element that is viewable on the exterior surface only when the light source is illuminated. Thus, when a viewer views the exterior of the lamp generally in elevation, the cover selectively displays different designs to the viewer depending on the illumination state of the device.
US08596823B2
In optical apparatus for illuminating a mask-plane with a line of light, a light source includes four fast-axis stacks of laser diode bars. One optical arrangement collects light beams from all of the diode-laser bar stacks, homogenizes and expands the beams in the fast-axis direction of the diode-laser bar stacks and partially overlaps the homogenized and expanded beams in the fast-axis direction. Another optical arrangement homogenizes the sum of the partially overlapped beams and images the sum of the beams as a line of light having a length in the fast-axis-direction and a width in the slow-axis direction.
US08596811B2
A lighting device, comprising a housing and at least one mounting clip. The housing comprises an electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle. The mounting clip is pivotable from a first position, where an end region of the mounting clip does not extend beyond a periphery of the housing, to a second position, where the end region extends beyond the housing periphery. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a trim element and at least one mounting clip. The mounting clip is pivotable, such that if the mounting clip is in a second position and then the trim element is rotated, the mounting clip will pivot to a third position, where the mounting clip engages the housing such that the trim element is biased toward a ceiling or other structure in which the lighting device is mounted. Also, methods of installing housings and/or trim elements.
US08596805B2
A light-collecting accessory for an electronic device includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface. The housing can form an opening adapted to receive the electronic device. A light guide is communicatively coupled to the housing. The light guide can have a first end and a second end. The first end can be communicatively coupled to the outer surface of the housing. The second end can be communicatively coupled to the inner surface of the housing. In the event the electronic device resides in the opening of the housing, light emitted from the electronic device passes from the second end of the light guide to the first end of the light guide.
US08596797B2
In one embodiment, a light source device comprises a container with a duct unit disposed above an arc tube and extends along the center axis of light reflected by a reflection surface such that cooling air can flow in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of light reflected by the reflection surface. The duct unit includes a first opening disposed at a position shifted toward the traveling direction side from an opening end of the first reflection mirror, a wall portion which forms the edge of the first opening on the side opposite to the traveling direction side as a final end of the duct unit, and an inclined portion disposed in the vicinity of the edge of the first opening on the traveling direction side to bend the flowing direction of the cooling air toward an upper surface opposite to the surface having the first opening.
US08596788B2
A device (20) and methods for concurrently taking multiple partially overlapping still or video images (60) of the iridocorneal angle (12) of an eye (1). Device (20) typically comprises a single chassis (100) with an outer surface (101) that approximately matches the curvature of the ocular surface (4). Multiple discrete optical imaging systems (200) are aimed through the cornea (3) and the anterior chamber (17), producing non-coplanar optical paths (21) directed towards corresponding partially overlapping zones (11) of the iridocorneal angle (12). Each system (200) may comprise one or more optical lenses (210, 211), with either fixed or variable position, and a corresponding digital sensor (220) or portion of a larger common shared digital sensor (221).
US08596783B1
A light control system including a lens may also include a first portion carried by the lens to filter a first polarized light, and a first central region within the first portion. The light control system may further include a second portion carried by the lens to filter a second polarized light, and a second central region within the second portion. The first portion may not substantially be in series with the second portion, and the first central region may not be substantially in series with the second central region.
US08596782B2
An embodiment of the invention is a basket for holding ophthalmic lenses. A basket of the present invention has a lattice structure having a lens contacting side and an opposite lens non-contacting side, wherein the lens-contacting side of the lattice has a very sharp edge structure and the lens non-contacting side can be a normal solid surface to maintain the mechanical strength of the basket. A tray that comprises a plurality of baskets is another embodiment of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a stack assembly that comprises a plurality of trays each of which comprises a plurality of baskets.
US08596780B2
Provided is an eyeglasses structure essentially including a frame body and two temples connected to two ends of the frame body, respectively. Two engagement portions are disposed at the two ends of the frame body, respectively. The two engagement portions are engaged with two decoration elements corresponding in position thereto, respectively. The decoration elements come in different color patterns to allow the eyeglasses structure to change color. Furthermore, the decoration elements pivotally connected to the frame body renders it easy to change the lenses. Hence, the eyeglasses structure is advantageously characterized by ease of assembly and disassembly and diverse patterns.
US08596771B2
A print liquid cartridge comprising a print liquid chamber, print liquid supply portion, a stopper, and a release member. The print liquid supply portion establishes a communication between an interior of the print liquid chamber and an exterior of the print liquid chamber. The stopper prevents the printing-liquid cartridge from moving in a direction opposite to the liquid communication direction. The release member releases the stopper, such that the printing-liquid cartridge is permitted to move in a direction opposite to the fluid outflow direction. The stopper is aligned with the release member in a height direction orthogonal to the liquid communication direction and a width direction.
US08596767B2
A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.
US08596763B2
A liquid transport apparatus includes a substrate, liquid transport channels disposed on a surface of the substrate in which a conductive liquid is transported, electrodes disposed in regions in corresponding ones of the liquid transport channels, and wiring portions coupled to corresponding electrodes and extending along the surface of the substrate between adjacent liquid transport channels. Also, the apparatus includes an insulating layer which is disposed so as to cover the electrodes. The insulating layer has a surface in which the liquid repellency changes according to an electrical potential difference between the conductive liquid and the electrodes. The apparatus also has a potential applying unit which applies an electric potential to each of the electrodes through terminals at the ends of the wiring portions.
US08596754B2
A liquid ejection apparatus including: a liquid ejection head that ejects ink through liquid ejection openings in a liquid ejection surface of the head, a cap device that establishes a sealing state, such that an ejection space opposed to the liquid ejection surface is sealed from an exterior space by the cap device, an air introduction opening and an air discharge opening that are located in the cap device, and a humidifier that supplies an humidified air into the ejection space through the air introduction opening and that discharges an air from the ejection space through the air discharge opening. The air discharge opening opens in an area other than a liquid discharge area onto which the ejected liquid is to be discharged. The apparatus further includes a flow restrainer that restrains the liquid discharged onto the liquid discharge area, from flowing to the air discharge opening.
US08596751B2
A head cap may comprise a cap body comprising a circular projection which is configured to surround a liquid droplet ejection area formed on an ejection surface of a liquid droplet ejection head by contacting with the ejection surface, and a bottom plate portion which is configured to define a depressed portion in cooperation with the circular projection and to which the circular projection is connected. The head cap may also comprise a holder which is configured to hold the bottom plate portion. The head cap may further comprise a fixing member which is configured to fix the cap body to the holder by being fitted to the holder via the bottom plate portion and disposed on a bottom surface of the depressed portion. The fixing member and the holder may clamp the bottom plate portion in the direction intersecting the direction of projection of the circular oroiection.
US08596743B2
The circuit board holding section between the first and second holding members is sealed by an adhesive in an area other than an area where a connection wiring is connected to the circuit board, the first and second holding members are fixed to each other by engaging engaging claws, which are provided in two or more side surfaces at the outer circumference of one of the first and second holding members, with the other holding member, and the first and second holding members are fixed to each other by screw members.
US08596742B2
An inkjet printhead, printing system and a method of inkjet printing employ a boundary layer control apparatus to control a boundary layer of air flow surrounding a nozzle opening of an inkjet pen. The printhead includes the pen supported by a housing that is configured so that the nozzle opening both faces a substrate and is spaced from the substrate by a gap. The apparatus is a structure adjacent to the nozzle opening and supported at a leading edge of the housing ahead of the nozzle opening relative to a direction of movement of the substrate. The structure is configured to extend into the gap. The printing system further includes the substrate. The method includes moving the substrate below the printhead, controlling the boundary layer, and depositing an ink onto the moving substrate.
US08596739B2
A printing method and a printer for implementing the printing method are disclosed. When a printhead including a first end and a second end sequentially prints a first area and a second area which are adjacent to each other, the method comprises performing printing by means of the printer by relatively moving locations of the printhead and a print object in such a way that a surface printed by the second end in the first area and a surface printed by the second end in the second area face each other. The printhead rotates around a rotational axis comprising at least one point on the printhead, one end of the printhead, a center of the printhead, or both ends of the printhead.
US08596737B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus including a carriage carrying a recording head for ejecting ink droplets, a support portion for supporting the carriage such that the carriage is reciprocally movable in a predetermined direction, a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive force from a drive power source to the carriage, and a vibration damping device disposed on the support portion, and wherein the vibration damping device has mutually different resonance frequency values at respective at least two different positions in the predetermined direction.
US08596736B2
In an image forming apparatus, a liquid supply control processor controls to detect and store a difference amount corresponding to a displacement amount of a displacing member between a position detected by a first sensor and another position detected by a second sensor; measure a consumed liquid amount; start the liquid supply upon the consumed liquid amount reaching a predetermined threshold so as to supply the difference amount after the first sensor has detected the displacing member; and stop the liquid supply when the first sensor does not detect the displacing member before a preset predetermined time has passed. The control processor controls the image forming apparatus such that, when the liquid supply is performed without using the second sensor, using a first and second predetermined threshold times and the first threshold time is set longer than the second threshold time.
US08596735B2
Ejection of ink is prohibited when a count value of an amount of ink supplied from an ink tank to an ejection head reaches a value limit. An image is displayed to prompt an operator of the printing apparatus to confirm the amount of ink in the ink tank. When the ink remains, the count value of the amount of ink is returned only by a given amount by the selection of the operator. Thus, since the ink in the ink tank is sufficiently consumed and then the ink can be supplemented, all of the ink in an ink bottle can be supplemented. As a consequence, it is possible to prevent the ink remaining in the ink bottle from deteriorating and prevent the remaining ink from being supplemented.
US08596728B2
A cabinet comprising a holder for attachment of a device comprising a display screen, such as a television device, wherein the cabinet at least comprises a horizontal panel. The cabinet comprises an arrangement for moving the display screen device between two positions, wherein in a first position, called storage position, the display screen is stored below the horizontal panel with the display screen in a lying position and in a second position, called operating position, the display screen is situated externally of the cabinet above the horizontal panel with the screen in standing, essentially vertical position.
US08596723B2
A cushion-less passenger seat. The passenger seat includes spaced left and right spreaders, each having a front and rear leg with top and bottom ends and a seating surface fanned from a flexible bottom diaphragm attached to and extending between the left and right spreaders. The passenger seat also includes a lumbar support having lower and upper sections and front and back sides formed from a flexible diaphragm. The lower section of the lumbar support is attached to and between the left and right spreaders. The lumbar support upper section extends upwardly above the seat's rear legs and seating surface.
US08596722B2
The present invention relates to a machine operator seat of a construction machine having a seat surface, a backrest, which is situated opposite to the front seat edge in the longitudinal direction of the seat surface, and at least one armrest situated laterally to the seat surface, comprising a base part, an arm support, and at least one operating element, the arm support being situated in the rear area in the longitudinal direction and the at least one operating element being situated in the front area of the armrest in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a construction machine, in particular a road miller, recycler, stabilizer, or a road roller, in particular a tandem roller, having such a machine operator seat.
US08596716B1
A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface to another support surface, and/or to the ground plane.
US08596713B1
An apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle, including a single-type bracket may have a horizontal assembly surface at an upper end portion thereof, and an assembly end having a fender panel assembly aperture at a lower end portion thereof extending from the horizontal assembly surface toward a front side of the vehicle, wherein the assembly end of the single-type bracket may be mounted on a front end portion of a fender panel located between a front end module and a bumper cover, and wherein the horizontal assembly surface may be fixed to a lower end portion of a fender apron upper member.
US08596710B2
A system may include a door track, a guide mechanism, and a sequencing mechanism. The door track is mounted to a door. The guide mechanism connects the door to a vehicle body. The guide mechanism may include a first member connected to the door track and a second member connected to the first member for rotation relative to the door track. The first member is movable relative to the door track. The second member may engage a body track in the vehicle body and may be movable relative thereto between a first and second ends of the body track. The sequencing mechanism may include a third member locking the first member relative to the door track when the door is between the intermediate and closed positions and a fourth member locking the second member relative to the body track when the door is between the intermediate and fully open positions.
US08596707B2
The present disclosure provides a roof assembly for covering a region adjacent a structure. The roof assembly comprises a plurality of roof assembly portions, each roof assembly portion comprising a layer portion and a support portion for supporting the layer portion. The roof assembly portions comprise first and second side roof assembly portions, and a corner roof assembly portion that is positioned between the first and second side roof assembly portions. The roof assembly portions are moveable between a retracted and an expanded configuration wherein the side roof assembly portions and the corner roof assembly portion move together between the configurations.
US08596703B2
A cargo shade or cover for a vehicle includes a thin flexible member that winds onto an elongated roller. The elongated roller may be mounted on a movable vehicle component such as a liftgate of an SUV. An elongated rod assembly is attached to the thin flexible member, and includes extending and retracting end portions that can be received in cavities or other connectors of the vehicle interior to retain the cover in an extended position. The rod assembly may include center housing and a pulley that can be rotated to generate tension on cables that pull the opposite ends of the rod inwardly whereby the rod assembly can be positioned between vehicle interior components when the cover assembly is in the retracted position.
US08596701B2
A hoist ring assembly with expansion anchor includes an anchor subassembly and a rotatable and pivotable lifting loop. The anchor subassembly includes a bushing element, an engagement element and a retainer element. The bushing element has an anchor shaft extending along a major axis. The engagement element has a threaded bore extending long a bore axis which is approximately parallel to the major axis when the assembly is in assembled state. The threaded bore is adapted to threadably receive a threaded portion of the retainer element. The bore axis may be forced out of alignment with the major axis by way of a tightening rotation of the threaded portion with respect to the threaded bore, thus expanding the effective diameter of the combined anchor shaft and engagement element. The assembly is thereby releasably anchorable to a pre-drilled hole in a load to be lifted.
US08596699B2
A gripping device comprising holders which exhibit a two-directional elasticity for picking up products with large dimensional tolerances. The gripping device may comprise two grippers disposed in opposed relationship with one another. At least one of the grippers may be movable towards the other. Each of the grippers may include a holder and a gripping jaw attached to the holder. The holder may be a C-shaped portion that exhibits a two-directional elasticity to allow horizontal as well as a vertical movement of the gripping jaw. At least one of the holders may be coupled to a linear actuator to move the gripper in at least a substantially horizontal direction.
US08596687B2
A fitting for a pipe, has a base body and a connecting body, each having a passage for a fluid. Both bodies include contact surfaces that can be slid into each other, including at least one pair of opposing recesses forming a receiving chamber. The fitting has a flexible, substantially incompressible locking element that can be inserted into the receiving chamber for fixing the two bodies together. At least one of the two bodies includes an access chamber extending between an outer surface of the associated body and the receiving chamber. The access chamber connects to and is an extension of the receiving chamber. The locking element includes a stop protrusion at one of its opposite ends for stopping the locking element externally at least one of the two bodies in order to prevent the locking element from unintentionally slipping out of the receiving chamber.
US08596678B2
An inflatable side airbag has an inflatable duct for the delivery of inflation gas. The inflatable duct of the inflatable side airbag provides for rapid deployment of a multi-chamber air bag while controlling the rate of inflation and the relative pressure of the chambers. The inflatable duct allows a single inflator to inflate a high pressure pelvis chamber and a lower pressure thorax chamber while preventing fluid communication between the two chambers upon completion of inflation.
