US08670124B2
An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus includes at least one interferometer where the at least one interferometer is configured to cause interference of an electromagnetic input signal; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to receive at least one sensor input signal from at least one sensor such that the sensor input signal controls the interference of the electromagnetic input signal by the at least one interferometer; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to provide a plurality of outputs where each of the plurality of outputs is provided by the at least one interferometer responding to the at least one sensor input signal with a different sensitivity; and at least one detector configured to detect the plurality of outputs of the at least one interferometer and provide a digital output signal indicative of the at least one sensor input signal.
US08670120B2
Device for analyzing a polyphase mixture via a light beam backscattered by said mixture, comprising: a vertical cell capable of containing the polyphase mixture; means for emitting a light beam in the direction of the cell, in such a way that the light beam lies in a vertical plane (PV) covering at least the height (hc) of the cell containing the polyphase mixture; means for receiving a light beam backscattered by the polyphase mixture, covering the height of the backscattered light beam, extending over the height (hc) of the cell containing the polyphase mixture; optical conjugation means placed between the cell and the means for receiving the backscattered beam, the receiving means comprising a matrix center forming a surface for receiving the backscattered beam, lying in vertical and horizontal directions; and means for analyzing the backscattered beam received by the matrix sensor, the light beam emitted in the direction of the cell, adopting, at its interface between the internal surface of the wall of the cell and the polyphase mixture, the form of a vertical line the width of which is shorter, preferably very much shorter, than the free transport path of the polyphase mixture.
US08670117B2
An inspection apparatus includes a work stage part, an optical module, and an optical module moving part. The work stage part receives a board. The work stage part includes work stages disposed in parallel. The optical module includes a projecting part disposed over the board, an image capturing part disposed at a side portion of the projecting part to receive the grating pattern light and capture a reflection image, and an optical path changing part changing a path of the grating pattern light and guiding the grating pattern light to the image capturing part so that the grating pattern light is downwardly incident into the image capturing part. The optical module moving part is disposed over and coupled to the optical module to move the optical module. Thus, time may be reduced and a space may be secured, required for inspecting a board.
US08670112B2
Disclosed is a method for operating a test apparatus for an LED lamp. The method includes: forming a self-holding circuit by switching on a first switching means such that an up and down shifter provided in the test apparatus for the LED lamp moves down; moving down and stopping the up and down shifter from a determined initial position to a measurement position; measuring the quality of the LED lamp equipped with the test apparatus for the LED lamp; releasing the self-holding circuit by switching on the second switching means such that the up and down shifter moves up; and moving up and down shifter from the measurement position to the determined initial position.
US08670110B2
A system, apparatus and method for testing optical fiber systems by providing a near-end and far-end harness that loops the set of fibers in the fiber system together. The near-end harness has an interface to connect to the tester. The tester then effects testing on the entire set of fibers, which are looped together by the configuration of the two harnesses creating a single optical path that traverses the entire set or subset of fibers in the network, so a launched test signal propagates through the entire set of looped fibers, providing measurement results for the fibers.
US08670107B2
Disclosed herein is a mask-less exposure apparatus to enlarge or reduce an exposure area in a scan direction and a control method thereof. The mask-less exposure apparatus includes a light source unit configured to supply light, a spatial light modulation unit configured to selectively transmit the light to a substrate, a drive pulse generation unit configured to generate a drive pulse signal and adjust an operation beginning time of the spatial light modulation unit, a substrate shape measurement unit configured to measure a scan-direction length of the substrate, and a drive pulse correction unit configured to correct a drive pulse signal interval so as to enlarge or reduce an exposure area of the substrate according to the scan-direction length of the substrate.
US08670100B2
A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display module includes a substrate, a driving chip, a plurality of circuit lines connected to the driving chip, and a dummy pattern disposed outside the circuit lines parallel thereto. The liquid crystal display module includes a display panel, and a driving circuit. The display panel includes an effective pixel region, a non-effective pixel region, a display device displaying an image in the effective pixel region, and signal lines connected to the display device and extending to the non-effective pixel region. The driving circuit includes a substrate, a driving chip, circuit lines, and a dummy pattern disposed outside the circuit lines parallel thereto. The circuit lines each have one end connected to the driving chip and the other end connected to the signal lines. Accordingly, the dummy pattern can reduce defective images caused by the circuit lines damaged by mechanical impact.
US08670099B2
A TFT-LCD assembly substrate comprises an array structure layer, comprising a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines. Adjacent first signal lines and adjacent second signal lines cross each other to define a plurality of combination pixel regions, and each of the combination pixel regions comprises two pixel regions juxtaposed along a direction of the first signal line, and there are a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode formed in one pixel region of the two pixel regions and there is a common electrode formed in the other pixel region.
US08670097B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels at intersections of a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines, wherein each pixel includes a switching transistor, and pixel and common electrodes that induce an in-plane electric field; a plurality of gate lines each connected to the pixels on each row line; a plurality of data lines each connected to the pixels on each column line; and a plurality of common lines each connected to the common electrodes of the pixels alternately located on neighboring two row lines per one column line.
US08670095B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display device (100), including a pixel electrode (Px) and a common electrode (CT) which are stacked via an insulating layer, one of the pixel electrode (Px) and the common electrode (CT) including slits (SL) formed therein, for aligning liquid crystal molecules by an electric field generated by the pixel electrode (Px) and the common electrode (CT), in which the insulating layer is formed so as to increase in thickness from a vicinity of ends (13a, 13b) in a longitudinal direction of the slits (SL) toward the ends (13a, 13b). Thus, the transmittance of the liquid crystal display device is improved.
US08670093B2
Disclosed is an LCD device which facilitates to realize a high aesthetic sense by obtaining a colorful and entirely-unified color screen under the circumstance that an image is not displayed in a turning-off state, wherein the LCD device comprises: a liquid crystal module which comprises a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image; a set cover which supports the liquid crystal module; and a color realization film which selectively transmits light with a predetermined wavelength when the liquid crystal module is turned-off, wherein the color realization film comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer (CLC), a quarter wave plate (QWP), and a first adhesive layer formed between the cholesteric liquid crystal layer (CLC) and the quarter wave plate (QWP).
US08670090B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of improving display qualities in a frame region and a production method thereof. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including: first and second substrates facing each other; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first and second substrates; first and second alignment films arranged on liquid crystal layer side-surfaces of the first and second substrates, respectively; and first and second polarization plates, the first polarization plate being arranged on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate, the second polarization plate being arranged on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer side of the second substrate, wherein the first alignment film has an alignment portion in a frame region, an alignment direction of the alignment portion being in accordance with a polarization axis direction of the first polarization plate, and the second alignment film has a non-alignment portion for which an alignment treatment is not provided, the non-alignment portion of the second alignment film is positioned in a region corresponding to the alignment portion of the first alignment film.
US08670084B2
A liquid crystal display device including a first liquid crystal display panel disposed between a first cover and a second cover, a second liquid crystal display panel disposed between the first cover and the second cover, wherein a rear face of the second liquid crystal display panel faces a rear face of the first liquid crystal display panel, a main frame disposed between the first and second liquid crystal display panels, and a plate to connect the second liquid crystal display panel to the main frame.
US08670075B2
Methods of image interpolation disclosed herein include a method of irregular-grid expanded-block weighted motion compensation (IEWMC) and a method of block-wise directional hole interpolation (BDHI). The IEWMC can be used with unidirectional motion or disparity trajectories. The IEWMC can be applied in both forward and backward directions, and the interpolated images resulting from IEWMC application can be superimposed, or averaged, to reduce the blocking artifacts and handle the holes and overlaps. The BDHI takes into account the orientation of local edges and textures when filling the holes, which results in a sharper interpolated image.
US08670058B2
The present invention reduces differences in the influence of electric charge leakage from a non-read out region into multiple read out regions adjacent to a non-read out region. Reset scanning of that row in the non-read out region which adjoins the first or second read out region is started before read out scanning of the first and second read out regions.
US08670054B2
A solid-state image pickup device is provided which includes a plurality of pixels provided in a semiconductor substrate, the pixels including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and MOS transistors which selectively read out signals therefrom, at least one organic photoelectric conversion film on the photoelectric conversion portions, and an isolation region provided in the organic photoelectric conversion film at a position corresponding to between the pixels to perform optical and electrical isolation.
US08670046B2
A user enters an input for selecting an image-capturing mode. The user then captures the image of a target with a desired zoon factor as a target image. An image-capturing device determines a zoom factor for an image to be captured starting from the target image and then captures an image while zooming out to the determined zoom factor. A process of changing the zoom factor and capturing an image is repeated until the smallest zoom factor among determined zoom factors is used. When image capturing of an image of the smallest zoom factor is completed, metadata is created that includes the respective zoom factors of images and relative position information of the images, and the metadata is stored in a memory unit in relation with the data of the captured images.
US08670044B2
A photometric device includes a storage-type photometric sensor, a first control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon an average value of an output of the photometric sensor, a second control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon a maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor, and an accumulation control means that controls the second control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor on which the accumulation control is performed by the first control means exceeds a saturation output level of the photometric sensor, and controls the first control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor does not exceed the saturation output level of the photometric sensor.
US08670034B2
An image processor outputs an image containing relatively much information of a central area in the horizontal direction. A mask composed of an upper mask and a lower mask is superimposed on the image. The upper mask is concave on the lower side thereof and disposed along the upper side of the image. The lower mask is concave on the upper side thereof and disposed along the lower side of the image. When the image is masked with this mask, the peripheral portion of the image that is prone to be distorted becomes invisible. Therefore, discomfort a user feels because of distortion can be reduced. In addition, the user can view the image with the much information of the central area of the image in the horizontal direction.
US08670031B2
An optical inspection system is provided for inspecting a workpiece including a feature to be inspected. The system includes a workpiece transport configured to transport the workpiece in a nonstop manner. An illuminator is configured to provide a first strobed illumination field type and a second strobed illumination field type. The illuminator includes a light pipe having a first end proximate the feature, and a second end opposite the first end and spaced from the first end. The light pipe also has at least one reflective sidewall. The first end has an exit aperture and the second end has at least one second end aperture to provide a view of the feature therethrough. An array of cameras is configured to digitally image the feature. The array of cameras is configured to generate a first plurality of images of the feature with the first illumination field and a second plurality of images of the feature with the second illumination field. A processing device is operably coupled to the illuminator and the array of cameras, the processing device is configured to store at least some of the first and second plurality of images and provide the first and second pluralities to an other device.
US08670024B2
A camera objective for a camera includes a mask having a plurality of masking sections which are permeable for radiation of a first spectral range and are impermeable for radiation of a second spectral range different from the first spectral range. A camera system includes a digital camera for taking images. The camera system includes such a camera objective and an optoelectronic sensor arrangement having a plurality of sensor elements for generating exposure-dependent received signals which form a respective image. The plurality of sensor elements includes a first group of sensor elements for generating received signals in dependence only on radiation of the first spectral range and a second group of sensor elements for generating received signals in dependence on radiation of the second spectral range.
US08670021B2
This invention addresses remote inspection of target in monitored space. A three dimensional (3D) microwave image of the space is obtained using at least two emitters. The data undergoes coherent processing to obtain maximum intensity of the objects in the area. This image is combined with a 3D video image obtained using two or more video cameras synchronized with the microwave emitters. The images are converted into digital format and transferred into one coordinate system. The distance l is determined between the microwave and the video image. If l
US08670010B2
A method for controlling a printing speed of a thermal head having a plurality of heater elements arranged in a line includes: dividing a set of printing data into blocks each comprising one or more printing lines aligned in a main scanning direction, in which the dividing is in a sub scanning direction, and in which a block including a first predetermined number of printing lines is regarded as a unit block; calculating the number of the heater elements to be driven for each of printing lines included in a block as the number of on-dots, and comparing the numbers of on-dots for the block to obtain a maximum number of on-dots for the block; and setting a printing speed for one block to be slower than a printing speed for another block with smaller maximum number of on-dots than maximum number of on-dots for the one block.
US08670007B2
A control section divides a display screen into small regions, evaluates the relative brightness of each of the small regions in accordance with color data to be inputted as color data by which each pixel is displayed, and determines whether or not the display screen has a first small region that is brighter than the other small regions by a predetermined degree. Furthermore, the control section causes a first generating means to generate gradation data for use in the first small region, and causes a second generating means to generate gradation data for use in the other small regions. Even if the second generating section receives the same color data as the first generating section does, the second generating section limits the luminance of a W sub-pixel as compared to the first generating section. With this, the first small region can be displayed more strikingly brightly, so that a clearer, more realistic, and more appealing image can be displayed. This makes it possible to realize a display apparatus capable of displaying a clearer, more realistic, and more appealing image.
US08670004B2
In an embodiment, a pixel driving circuit comprises: one or more source drivers for enabling a first subpixel of a subpixel pair to receive first data and a second subpixel of the subpixel pair to receive second data; one or more source drivers for driving the first data to the first subpixel and the second data to the second subpixel, wherein the first data is different than the second data.
US08670003B2
A method and apparatus for displaying a screen of a mobile terminal with a touch screen are provided. The method for displaying an edit screen of a mobile terminal with a touch screen, includes: displaying at least one item having the same size on an idle screen in an idle mode; receiving edit mode entry input for editing the at least one item; and setting sizes of respective items to different ones according to location of the items within the touch screen during an edit mode for display.
US08669985B2
An assessment results viewer displays the results of assessments that quantify the performance of an aspect of a computing device. The viewer presents both an overview of the collected data and mechanisms for displaying ever-increasing details, including raw data itself. The viewer further provides actionable information to the user that can offer the user guidance, or otherwise suggest potential courses of action. The viewer automatically aggregates multiple iterations of the same assessment to generate derivative overview data, and automatically aligns data collected by the same assessment across multiple job files. Such aggregation and alignment is performed by reference to metadata, including identifying information. Data can be presented in tabular form, and users can pivot along different axis to focus on groupings of data.
US08669983B2
A method with acts for representing a buffer about a feature represented on an ellipsoid or round-object model. The method includes accessing a definition of a buffer stored on one or more computer readable medium in a format readable by a computer application. The definition of the buffer includes a number of arcs around a feature on an ellipsoid or round-object model. Each of the arcs is defined using three points defined using geodetic coordinates. The three points includes two endpoints of a given arc and a point on the arc between the two endpoints. The method further includes rendering the buffer by rendering the plurality of arcs. The method further includes displaying the rendered buffer to a user at a computing system display.
US08669979B2
A multi-core processor system may support 3D image rendering on an autostereoscopic display. The 3D image rendering includes pre-processing of depth map and 3D image wrapping tasks. The pre-processing of depth map may include a foreground prior depth image smoothing technique, which may perform a depth gradient detection and a smoothing task. The depth gradient detection task may detect areas with large depth gradient and the smoothing task may transform the large depth gradient into a linearly changing shape using low-strength, low-pass filtering techniques. The 3D image wrapping may include vectorizing the code for 3D image wrapping of row pixels using an efficient single instruction multiple data (SIMD) technique. After vectorizing, an API such as OpenMP may be used to parallelize the 3D image wrapping procedure. The 3D image wrapping using OpenMP may be performed on rows of the 3D image and on images of the multiple view images.
US08669975B2
A driving circuit of an electro-optical device, a capacitance-line-driving circuit shifting voltage of a capacitance line to one voltage of two-value voltage, and the capacitance-line-driving circuit includes a unit control circuit provided correspondingly to the capacitance line at both end portions of the capacitance line, and the unit control circuit corresponding to one capacitance line includes, a latch circuit maintaining a logic level at one level for at least a period of the scanning line corresponding to the one capacitance line being selected, a switch provided between the capacitance line and a signal line supplying a capacitance signal in which the two-value voltage is switched over at a predetermined cycle, the switch being electrically connected when the logic level is one level and electrically disconnected when the logic level is the other level.
US08669968B2
The present invention relates to a method of displaying a color video image in a sequential color display panel. The video frame is divided into a plurality of consecutive time segments each assigned to a given color component, and the video level of the pixels of the image is displayed by modulating the display time of the corresponding cells. The invention aims to propose a display method that reduces the blurring effect without causing color break-up. According to the invention, at least one reference time segment is defined in said plurality of time segments, and the image is displayed giving priority to lighting the cells during the reference time segment and the time segments closest to the reference time segment.
US08669964B2
A method of manufacturing a piezoresistive device includes the steps of: producing a polymer structure with an elastically deformable upper surface by processing a polymer material; applying a carbon nanotube solution on the upper surface of the polymer structure in conformity with a predetermined pattern; and drying the carbon nanotube solution to form a carbon nanotube pattern on the upper surface of the polymer structure. A piezoresistive device manufactured by the above method and a piezoresistive-type touch panel provided with the piezoresistive device are also provided.
US08669953B2
A mobile terminal may display a first one of a plurality of wallpapers on a touch screen, display an item on the screen, recognize a request to arrange the item, change the wallpaper displayed on the touch screen based on a determined motion of the mobile terminal, and display the item on a selected wallpaper.
US08669948B2
A mobile terminal includes a front housing made of a light-transmitting material and provided with edge parts, at least one of which is rounded or bent to be inclined which causes optical illusions so as to provide visual mystique. A display unit is provided under the front housing. A circuit substrate is provided under the display unit. A rear housing is provided to accommodate the display unit and the circuit substrate together with the front housing. A middle housing is provided between the front housing and the rear housing. The middle housing includes a receipt part to accommodate the display unit, and boundary parts connecting the receipt part and edge parts of the middle housing and disposed under the edge parts of the front housing. The edge part of the middle housing is protruded from the boundary part of the middle housing in a horizontal direction.
US08669942B2
An operation unit has an operation surface for accepting an input operation. In a plan view, the operation surface has a rectangular contour including a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner portions. When each point at which extensions of adjacent two of the plural sides cross each other is defined as a virtual intersection, and when an intersection at which respective diagonals linking the virtual intersections cross each other is defined as a virtual center, the contour of the corner portion crosses the diagonal that passes through the virtual intersection and the virtual center, at a point between the virtual intersection in the vicinity of the corner portion and the virtual center. The corner portions is a specific corner portion having an intersection with the diagonal at a position closer to the virtual center than the adjacent two corner portions.
US08669937B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first acceptance unit, a second acceptance unit and a coordinate determination unit. The first acceptance unit accepts first inclinations or first accelerations of a portable information processing apparatus having a display screen in a first state. The second acceptance unit accepts second inclinations or second accelerations of the information processing apparatus in a second state. The coordinate determination unit determines coordinates of a mark for pointing to a position on the display screen in the second state based on the first inclinations accepted by the first acceptance unit and the second inclinations accepted by the second acceptance unit or based on the first accelerations accepted by the first acceptance unit and the second accelerations accepted by the second acceptance unit.
US08669935B2
To provide an operation device for use by a user by holding in one hand, comprising a thumb operating area defined on a surface of the enclosure of the operation device, where an operation member to be operated by the user, using his/her thumb, while holding the operation device is provided; an inclination operation member including a stick part projecting from the thumb operating area, for being operated by the user by inclining the stick part, using the thumb; and an operation button provided on the surface of the enclosure in a position opposed to the thumb operating area, being capable of being pressed by the user, using another finger, in a direction intersecting a direction toward the inclination operation member.
US08669932B2
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal panel; a gate driver; a data driver; a timing controller supplying a control signal of the gate driver and a control signal of the data driver and supplying a brightness variable signal depending on an average of gray levels of image data; and a backlight unit adjusting a brightness level of the lamp in response to a plurality of brightness variable signals, wherein the timing controller divides the liquid crystal panel into a first division area, which displays image data, equal to or smaller than an average of reference gray levels and dispersion of reference gray levels and a second division area comprising areas other than the first division area by calculating an average and dispersion of gray levels of the image data with a line unit, and supplies a first brightness variable signal adjusting a brightness level of the first division area and a second brightness variable signal adjusting a brightness level of the second division area.
US08669931B2
A driving method for an LCD panel includes generating a sequence, generating a plurality of gate driving signals, determining a gate-on sequence of the plurality of gate driving signals according to the sequence, and driving pixels of the LCD panel using the plurality of gate driving signals according to the gate-on sequence for displaying images.
US08669921B2
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode that are positioned parallel to each other and a driver. The driver allows a change amount of a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in a reset period of a subfield over time in a pattern hold mode in which a pattern of input video data remains in a previous pattern to be different from a change amount of a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in a reset period of a subfield over time in a pattern change mode in which the pattern of the video data changes.
US08669917B1
Here are described apparatus and methods for construction and operation of transmitters and receivers for sending and receiving signals. The signals are often low velocity and matter penetrating. The application describes a method of sending information by means of applying electrical signals to salt solution filled wood or other plant matrices. Receivers and transmitters utilize similar along the grain (as in the direction of a tree trunk) matrices. Trees or other plants with ordinary sap also are receivers and possible transmitters with the proper manipulation. Perhaps the chief advantages of the described transmitters and receivers are the matter penetrating qualities of the signals involved. These permit transmission of information through space, matter, and even mountains as found by the inventor.
US08669911B2
An antenna transmission line for feeding multiple items includes a first conductor member, a second conductor member, and a dielectric material positioned between the first and second conductor members, which prevents water from accumulating between the first and second conductive members. Means are provided to connect multiple elements to the transmission line at connection terminals. An insulator may be provided adjacent to each of the connection terminals, the insulator being generally non-conductive. A plurality of holes provided in the insulator on either side of the conductor members allows the elements to be weaved therethrough to provide a more stable connection.
US08669906B2
An antenna system may include a first antenna having a helical shaped portion, and configured to receive signals over a first frequency range. A second antenna may be positioned in proximate distance from the first antenna, and be configured to receive signals over a second frequency range. A splitter may be configured for separating signals received from radio and remote keyless entry antennas and may include a first branch including a first filter to filter AM band signals from communications signals received from an antenna, a second branch including a second filter to filter FM band signals from communications signals received from the antenna, a third branch including a third filter to filter remote keyless entry signals from communications signals received from the antenna, and an amplifier to amplify the remote keyless entry signals. The filters may be passive filters. The antenna may be a whip antenna or roof antenna.
US08669902B2
In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, an apparatus comprising an interface and location determination logic coupled with the interface. The location determination logic receives data representative of measured signal strengths for a wireless device from a plurality of receiving devices at known locations via the interface. The location determination logic determines an estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and a first transmit power for the wireless device. The location determination logic determines a revised transmit power for the wireless device based on the measured signal strengths from the plurality of devices at known locations and the estimated location. The location determination logic determines a revised estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and the revised transmit power for the wireless device.
US08669901B2
A method for jointly determining the azimuth angle θ and the elevation angle Δ of the wave vectors of P waves in a system comprising an array of sensors, a number of waves out of the P waves being propagated along coherent or substantially coherent paths between a source and said sensors, includes at least the following steps: selecting a subset of sensors from said sensors to form a linear subarray of sensors; applying, to the signals from the chosen subarray, an algorithm according to a single dimension to decorrelate the sources of the P waves; determining a first component w of said wave vectors by applying, to the signals observed on the sensors of the chosen subarray, a goniometry algorithm according to the single dimension w; determining a second component u of said wave vectors by applying a goniometry algorithm according to the single dimension u to the signals from the entire array of sensors; determining θ and Δ from w and u.
US08669897B1
An asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter includes a clock generator, a logic control unit, a sample and hold circuit, a digital-to-analog converter and a comparator. The clock generator is used to generate a clock signal. The logic control unit is for generating a sample and hold clock according to the clock signal. The sample and hold circuit is for sampling an analog signal according to the sample and hold clock to obtain and hold a sampling signal. The digital-to-analog converter is for generating a reference value according to a digital value transmitted from the logic control unit. The comparator is for generating a comparison value according to the sampling signal and the reference value.
US08669895B2
Various embodiments of an analog-to-digital (A/D) device are described herein, with the A/D device using at least a comparison unit, a comparative operation control circuit, a delay circuit, and a successive operation control circuit arranged so as, it may, among other things, mitigate conversion errors that may be due to differences in properties of circuit elements therein. And the A/D device may be implemented in, among other things, a signal processing device.
US08669893B2
A multiplier circuit to multiply a first signal with a second signal includes an analog-to-digital converter that has a first input and a second input. The first input is to receive the first signal. The multiplier circuit also has an inverting circuit having an input to receive the second signal, and an output connected to the second input of the analog-to-digital converter. An output value produced by a combination of the analog-to-digital converter and the inverting circuit is approximately a multiplication of the first signal and the second signal.
US08669880B2
A computer implemented method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a computer comprising sensing a disengagement action for the computer, detecting a power setting associated with the disengagement action, and performing, when the power setting is detected to be set to a preset mode, at least one of alerting the user regarding the power setting and forcing the computer into a low power state.
US08669876B2
An above-water system provides automatic alerting for possible drowning victims in swimming pools or the like. One or more electro-optical sensors are placed above the pool surface. Sequences of images are digitized and analyzed electronically to determine whether there are humans within the image, and whether such humans are moving in a manner that would suggest drowning. Effects due to glint, refraction, and variations in light, are offset automatically by the system. If a potential drowning incident is detected, the system produces an alarm sound, and/or a warning display, so that an operator can determine whether action must be taken.
US08669869B2
A device and methods are provided for monitoring and reporting activity including providing an alert based on detected activity. In one embodiment, a method includes is monitoring activity relative to a device based on activity detected by the device, determining a baseline activity level for the device, and detecting a change in the baseline activity level. The method may further include transmitting an electronic message via a network connection based on the change in baseline line activity, the electronic message providing an alert based on the change in baseline activity level. The device and methods may advantageously allow for providing alerts based on inactivity.
US08669865B2
An automatically provisioned passenger safety and locator device is described. In one aspect, the locator device includes a microcontroller with a processor coupled to the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor that, responsive to activation, detects a seat number for the seat of a plurality of seats coupled to a transportation vehicle. The seat is in proximity to and in association with the tracking apparatus. Additionally, the computer program instructions generate and communicate a signal to a search and rescue center. The signal includes the seat number and location coordinates of the tracking apparatus. The seat number is utilized by the search rescue team to facilitate respective operations by determining personal information associated with any passenger assigned to the seat.
US08669862B2
A device includes a processing module and a radio section. The processing module obtains location information regarding the device and converts it into a location signal. The radio section converts the location signal into a location wireless signal and transmits it within a local coverage area. A handheld device may use the location wireless signal to determine its location within a building.
US08669860B1
A monitoring system and method for monitoring electrical, mechanical, and telecommunications equipment including air conditioning components of a facility is provided. The monitoring system can include door sensors, pressure sensors, and power phase loss monitors, which can be centrally connected to a transmitter for communication over a network for notifying client devices and activating alarms. The alarms can be provided when voltage drops, pressure drops, or a door has been opened.
US08669857B2
A system for aiding a user when travelling in a vehicle with a portable, handheld electronic device includes a sensor that detects an object outside the vehicle and that detects a condition regarding movement of the vehicle with respect to the object outside the vehicle. The sensor is supported in the vehicle for travel with the vehicle. The system also includes a communication system that allows the vehicle and the electronic device to communicate a signal therebetween. The signal relates to the condition detected by the sensor. Furthermore, the system includes an output device included on at least one of the vehicle and the electronic device. The output device is operable to output an alarm based on the signal communicated between the vehicle and the electronic device.
US08669846B2
The present invention provides one or more powered wireless transceivers and/or one or more passive wireless transceivers, a reader and interrogator with variable power, one or more antennas connected to a human or robotic hand and/or foot, a method for making same and the method of using these devices for process automation and verification involving one or more items in addition to locating, tracking and identifying these items in a supply chain. In one embodiment, a proximity sensing wireless system is provided which can be used to step the handler or operator through the step of a process and verify that each step in the process has been completed.
US08669843B2
A fingerprint detection device and method and an associated touch control device with fingerprint detection are disclosed. The fingerprint detection device includes special detecting units for upgrading the accuracy of fingerprint detection. The fingerprint detection device comprises a plurality of detecting units, a driving circuit and a reading circuit. Each detecting unit includes a fingerprint electrode and a storage capacitor coupled to the fingerprint electrode. A sense capacitor can be formed between the fingerprint electrode and a finger, where the sense capacitor is parallel connected to the storage capacitor. The driving circuit is coupled to the detecting units and provides a charging signal to charge an equivalent capacitor of each detecting unit, where the capacitance of the equivalent capacitor is determined according to whether the sense capacitor is formed within the detecting unit. The reading circuit is coupled to the detecting units and reads the voltage of the storage capacitor after the equivalent capacitor is charged, so as to determine whether the detecting unit detects a portion of fingerprint and the detected portion is a furrow or ridge.
US08669837B2
A laminate stack having individual soft magnetic sheets. The individual sheets are involutely curved in the laminate stack. Each individual sheet has a first long side, a second long side opposite the first long side, a first short side and a second short side opposite the first short side. The first long side has a recess, said recess being rectangular and equidistant from the first short side, the second short side and the second long side when the individual sheet is in its uncurved state.
US08669832B2
An acoustic wave device includes an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode and a separate electrode facing the IDT electrode. The IDT electrode includes first and second comb-shaped electrode facing each other. The first comb-shaped electrode includes a first bus bar, first interdigitated electrode fingers, and first dummy electrode fingers. The second comb-shaped electrode includes a second bus bar second interdigitated electrode fingers interdigitated with the first interdigitated electrode fingers, second dummy electrode fingers facing the first interdigitated electrode fingers, weighted parts, and a non-weighted part. The weighted parts have electrodes at spaces between the second interdigitated electrode fingers and the second dummy electrode fingers. In the non-weighted part, there is no electrode at a space out of the spaces which is closest to the separate electrode in the non-interdigitated region. This acoustic wave device prevents short circuits between the IDT electrode and the separate electrode, and provides excellent characteristics of suppressing unwanted waves.
US08669831B2
MEMS resonators containing a first material and a second material to tailor the resonator's temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF). The first material has a different Young's modulus temperature coefficient than the second material. In one embodiment, the first material has a negative Young's modulus temperature coefficient and the second material has a positive Young's modulus temperature coefficient. In one such embodiment, the first material is a semiconductor and the second material is a dielectric. In a further embodiment, the quantity and location of the second material in the resonator is tailored to meet the resonator TCF specifications for a particular application. In an embodiment, the second material is isolated to a region of the resonator proximate to a point of maximum stress within the resonator. In a particular embodiment, the resonator includes a first material with a trench containing the second material.
US08669823B1
An ovenized micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator including: a substantially thermally isolated mechanical resonator cavity; a mechanical oscillator coupled to the mechanical resonator cavity; and a heating element formed on the mechanical resonator cavity.
US08669821B2
Provided is a piezoelectric oscillator to attain high-frequency performance and frequency stabilization with the use of reflection characteristics of a reflective element. A piezoelectric oscillator is configured such that: a resonant circuit is connected to a gate of a field effect transistor; an output terminal is connected to a drain and a power supply voltage V is applied to the drain; a piezoelectric resonator is connected to a source, as a reflective element; and a resonance frequency of the resonant circuit and an oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric resonator as a reflective element are set to substantially the same frequency, and further, the piezoelectric oscillator may be configured such that a first matching circuit is provided between the resonant circuit and the gate, a second matching circuit is provided between the drain and the output terminal, and a third matching circuit is provided between the source and the reflective element.
US08669819B2
An electronic component package sealing member that can be used as a first sealing member in an electronic component package in which an electrode of an electronic component element is hermetically sealed with the first sealing member and a second sealing member arranged so as to oppose each other, includes: a through hole that passes through a substrate of the electronic component package sealing member; an internal electrode that is formed on a face of the substrate opposing the second sealing member; an external electrode that is formed on a face of the substrate opposite the opposing face; and a through electrode that is formed on an inner side face of the through hole electrically connecting the internal electrode and the external electrode. In the electronic component package sealing member, at least one open face of the through hole is sealed with a resin material.
US08669814B2
The invention relates to a device for neutralizing a signal obtained by modulating, on to a high frequency carrier, a useful signal delivered by a system comprising a parasitic capacitance Cp that varies over time, the device comprising a neutralizing capacitance Cn, means for providing an adjustable gain G, said means being equipped with a JFET field-effect transistor (J1) equipped with a gate first electrode and drain and source second electrodes, and a control loop for providing gain G so that G×Cn permanently equals Cp by controlling the voltage on the gate first electrode of the transistor (J1). The neutralizing capacitance Cn comprises a first capacitor Cneutro1 and a second capacitor Cneutro2 placed in parallel at the output of said means for providing gain G.
US08669800B2
A method and circuits for implementing power saving self powering down latch operation, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A master slave latch includes a virtual power supply connection. At least one connection control device is coupled between the virtual power supply connection and a voltage supply rail. A driver gate applies a power down signal driving the at least one connection control device to control the at least one connection control device during a self power down mode. The driver gate combines a self power down input signal and a latch data output signal to generate the power down signal.
US08669799B1
A circuit includes a duty cycle calibration circuit, a duty cycle detection circuit, and a feedback control circuit. The duty cycle calibration circuit is operable to generate a first clock signal based on a second clock signal using an inverter and a first transistor. The first transistor is coupled in parallel with a second transistor in the inverter. The duty cycle detection circuit is operable to generate a voltage signal that varies based on changes in a duty cycle of the first clock signal. The feedback control circuit is operable to generate a control signal based on the voltage signal. The duty cycle calibration circuit is operable to control the duty cycle of the first clock signal based on the control signal controlling a current through the first transistor.
US08669791B2
The transistor suffers the variation caused in threshold voltage or mobility due to gathering of the factors of the variation in gate insulator film resulting from a difference in manufacture process or substrate used and of the variation in channel-region crystal state. The present invention provides an electric circuit having an arrangement such that both electrodes of a capacitance element can hold a gate-to-source voltage of a particular transistor. The invention provides an electric circuit having a function capable of setting a potential difference at between the both electrodes of the capacitance element by the use of a constant-current source.
US08669789B2
A semiconductor device (11) having a switching function of being turned on or off according to a voltage (Vge) of a driving signal supplied to a gate thereof is driven by generating a feedback voltage (VFE) based on a time change (dI/dt) of a collector current (Ic) of the semiconductor device (11) and applying the feedback voltage (VFE) as part of the voltage (Vge) of the driving signal when the semiconductor device (11) is switched from on to off.
US08669788B2
The present document relates to a method and system for determining the voltage level of an input signal compared to a reference voltage, providing a plurality of level indications regarding an input voltage with respect to a reference voltage. The multi-level comparator comprises an input stage converting the input voltage into a first current and converting the reference voltage into a second current; and a plurality of comparator stages, each comprising a first current amplification unit amplifying the first current with a first gain, a second current amplification unit amplifying the second current with a second gain, and an output port providing an indication whether the first comparator current is smaller or larger than the second comparator current; wherein respective ratios of the first gain and the second gain of the plurality of comparator stages are different.
US08669774B2
The probe pin includes a plunger formed of a sheet metal, and a coil spring unit formed of a metal wire and configured to hold the plunger thereon. In a developed state, the plunger includes first and second portions each of which has an upper contact strip, a wide portion, and a lower contact strip, and which are connected to each other via the wide portions formed in the first and second portions. The plunger is formed in a united manner by folding together the first and second portions along a boundary of the wide portions formed therein to thereby bring at least the wide portions into tight contact with each other.
US08669771B2
A system and method for providing electromagnetic imaging through electroquasistatic sensing contains an electromagnetic sensor for imaging a sample. The electromagnetic sensor contains drive/sense electronics and a pixelated sensor array having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes that source electric fields that interact with the sample, and wherein the electrodes are individually drivable by the drive/sense electronics in a coordinated manner to establish a desired temporal and spatial pattern in which electrical properties of the electrodes are used to generate an image. Other components of the system include a precision motion controller, sensor head and associated electronics, and a computer for performing data acquisition and signal inversion.
US08669769B2
An apparatus for detecting deterioration of a lightning arrester includes: a high-frequency power supply; a pair of detecting terminals 12 connected to the high-frequency power supply via a resistance for measurement and touched to the terminals of the arrester; a voltage detecting circuit for obtaining a terminal voltage of the resistance for measurement when the detecting terminals touch the terminals of the arrester; and a determining circuit for comparing the detected voltage with a reference value to determine whether the detected voltage is good or bad. A voltage having a frequency sufficiently higher than the operation frequency of a power line is generated by the high-frequency power supply and applied to the arrester, and change in electrical characteristics due to deterioration of zinc oxide elements is detected as change in current including capacitive current, and then it is determined whether the detected change is good or bad.
US08669767B1
Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a cable tester that tests a cable to determine the cable length. The cable tester can include a clock generator that generates a clock that has clock period that is a multiple of the data symbol period and a signal generator that injects the training signal, which can be synchronous with the clock, into the cable. The cable tester can also include a receiver that samples the returned signal from the cable and adaptively filters the returned signal based on the training signal and a controller that determines the cable length from the adaptive filter tap coefficients.
US08669765B2
An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest of an earth formation. An apparatus includes an elongated support member; a primary transmitter on the elongated support member; and a receiver toroid on the elongated support member, the receiver toroid being positioned transversely on the elongated support member and including a single coil antenna. Methods include positioning a logging tool in a borehole in the earth formation; using a transverse receiver toroid on an elongated support member on the logging tool, wherein the transverse receiver toroid includes a single coil antenna; and producing a signal responsive to an electrical signal produced by a primary transmitter.
US08669741B2
A battery management system (BMS) manages a battery for a hybrid vehicle including an engine control unit and a motor generator controlled by the engine control unit and connected to a battery including at least one battery pack, each pack including a plurality of battery cells. The BMS includes a sensor and an MCU unit. The sensor detects temperature, current, and open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery. The MCU receives the detected temperature, current, and OCV, calculates a key-off time period which is a period between a time point when a battery key-on state ends and a time point when a subsequent battery key-on state begins, calculates an OCV error range corresponding to an SOC error range detected at the key-off time point, and infers an initial SOC of the battery.
US08669734B2
A control device divides 360° corresponding to one cycle of a resolver angle into N zones, and determines whether or not a resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border. When determined that resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border, the control device calculates a time difference ΔT[n] between a calculation time T[n] in the immediately preceding resolver cycle and a calculation time T in the current cycle. The control device also calculates a resolver angle variation Δθ[n] with time difference ΔT[n] by adding 360° to the difference between resolver angle θ obtained in the current cycle and a resolver angle θ[n] obtained in the immediately preceding resolver cycle. The control device then calculates a rotation speed NM by multiplying, by a coefficient K, a value obtained by dividing Δθ[n] by ΔT[n].
US08669730B2
A ventilating system that can make an air flow rate variable includes a DC motor that drives blades and a control circuit that controls the DC motor. The control circuit includes a first current detecting unit that detects a current flowing in the DC motor, a rotating speed detecting unit that detects a rotating speed of the DC motor, and a control unit that controls the DC motor based on a rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting unit and a current detected by the first current detecting unit. The current detecting unit includes a plurality of low-resistance resistors, detects a motor current by using divided voltages of the low-resistance resistors, and calculates a ventilation air flow rate based on the rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting unit and the current detected by the first current detecting unit.
US08669727B2
A detection device for detecting a magnetic pole position of a synchronous motor includes a generating unit for generating a magnetic pole correction value based on the difference between a forward rotation d-phase voltage command and a reverse rotation d-phase voltage command, the d-phase voltage commands being used for rotating the synchronous motor and generated when the synchronous motor is driven in forward and reverse directions, respectively, by applying a prescribed d-phase current command after detecting a magnetic pole initial position at power-on of the synchronous motor, and a correcting unit for correcting the magnetic pole initial position based on the magnetic pole correction value and on a sensor reference position which defines a reference position of a sensor attached to the synchronous motor, and a control apparatus equipped with the detection device controls the rotation of the synchronous motor based on the corrected magnetic pole initial position.
US08669716B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that employ a control component integrated in a light bulb to control the light bulb wirelessly. The wireless light bulb can include a light source, a control component that manages operation of the light source, an input component that wirelessly obtains input signals that can be utilized by the control component, and a power source. For instance, the light source can be one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/or the power source can be one or more batteries. Moreover, the input component can receive the input signals (e.g., radio frequency, infrared, . . . ) from a remote control, a sensor, a differing wireless light bulb, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, etc. Further, the wireless light bulb can be mechanically coupled to a lighting fixture, where the lighting fixture may or may not be electrically coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source.
US08669714B2
The invention concerns a process to dim a light emitting diode device of a motor vehicle. In order to keep changes of the light intensity from being noticeable, they must be appropriately small. Electronic dimmers with pulse width modulation have historically required a microcontroller with a pulse width modulation generator with at least 10 bits. In order to use cheaper controllers, the invention proposes that the pulse width signal be modulated as a function of a variable on-period and a simultaneously variable period length.
US08669710B2
The present invention provides an LED module and an LED light string using the same. The LED module has an input terminal, an output terminal, a primary LED, a spare LED and a switching module. The switching module controls the spare LED to be switched off while the primary LED is switched on; and controls the spare LED to be switched on while the primary LED is burned out. Hence, the present invention extends a service life of the LED light string using the LED modules in the backlight module.
US08669705B2
A surface wave plasma (SWP) source is described. The SWP source comprises an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of the EM wave launcher adjacent the plasma. The EM wave launcher comprises a slot antenna having at least one slot. The SWP source further comprises a first recess configuration and a second recess configuration formed in the plasma surface, wherein at least one first recess of the first recess configuration differs in size and/or shape from at least one second recess of the second recess configurations. A power coupling system is coupled to the EM wave launcher and configured to provide the EM energy to the EM wave launcher for forming the plasma.
US08669704B2
A LED light source comprises: a first rectifier with a first and a second input terminal for connection to an AC supply voltage source and a first and a second output terminal connected by a first LED-string, a second rectifier having a first and a second input terminal and output terminals, said first input terminal of said second rectifier being coupled to the first input terminal of the first rectifier and the second input terminal of the second rectifier being coupled to the second input terminal of the first rectifier, and the output terminals being connected by a second LED-string, and means for causing a phase shift between the voltages that are present during operation at the output terminals of the first rectifier and the output terminals of the second rectifier respectively. The LED strings are driven by very simple circuitry that can be supplied by mains supply voltage. Due to the phase shift stroboscopic effects are suppressed.
US08669701B2
An organic EL element array is provided which can more easily be produced with a high aperture ratio and a high definition and in which light-emitting layers of organic EL elements adjacent to each other in an interpixel region mutually overlap in the interpixel region.
US08669700B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a substrate main body, a thin film transistor formed on the substrate main body, and an OLED formed on the substrate main body. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer disposed on the gate electrode in an insulated manner, and source and drain electrodes respectively contacting the oxide semiconductor layer. Parts of the source and drain electrodes contacting the oxide semiconductor layer are separated from the gate electrode in a direction that is parallel with the substrate main body by a predetermined distance.
US08669694B2
A multi-layer electronic component that can be repetitively operated under high voltage, high temperature and high humidity is provided.The multi-layer electronic component comprises a plurality of dielectric material layers made of a sintered material having perovskite structure that includes Pb; and a plurality of internal electrodes, the dielectric material layers and the internal electrodes being stacked alternately one on another, wherein lead compound that remains in the crystal grain boundaries of the dielectric material layers is controlled so that the number of grains of the lead compound not smaller than 0.01 μm are 2 or less per 100 μm2 on average.
US08669691B2
A micro-scale, smart material actuator having an overall length smaller than 10 mm comprising a multilayer piezoelectric stack housed in a mechanical amplifier made up of a fixed supporting member, a movable supporting member connected to compliant links attached to one or more actuating arms such that, when a suitable electric current is applied to the piezoelectric stack, the resulting expansion is translated through the movable supporting member, thereby causing movement in the actuating arms A method of generating electricity from motion using such an actuator is also disclosed in which the actuating arms are connected to a source of mechanical motion and the piezoelectric stack is connected to an electrical load, whereby the mechanical motion causes the piezoelectric stack to generate electrical charge that is then discharged into the load.
US08669689B2
A smart material actuator comprising a mechanical amplifier with a fixed supporting member, at least one mountable actuating arm, and mechanical web having at least one compliant member attached to the mountable arm and a movable supporting member. A piezoelectric stack is affixed between a first mounting surface on the fixed supporting member and a second mounting surface on the movable supporting member. With the fixed supporting member being substantially rigid, and the piezoelectric stack being affixed between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface, which are substantially parallel, applying an appropriate electric potential to the piezoelectric stack will cause it to expand substantially without angular movement. The expansion urges the second mounting surface away from the first, thereby causing the compliant members of the mechanical web to flex, thereby moving the mountable actuating arm. The configuration of the web and the length of the mountable arm cause the actuating end of the arm to move across a distance greater than the expansion of the piezoelectric stack. In this way, the expansion of the stack is effectively amplified by the mechanical amplifier. Actuators of this type may be used both to create mechanical motion from electrical energy and to harvest electrical energy from mechanical motion, or sense the degree of such motion. A number of arm designs and means of attachment to external components are disclosed, in addition to methods of generating electricity from mechanical motion and generating vibration using such actuators and methods of tuning the resonant frequency and increasing the efficiency of energy harvesting through resonant operation.
US08669685B2
An electric generator of a wind power turbine has a stator having a cylindrical shell; a number of segments arranged, along the inner face of the cylindrical shell, in a circumferential configuration; and a number of adjustable locking devices located between the segments to press the segments together circumferentially and lock the segments in a given position.
US08669677B2
A wireless power feeder which performs power feed to a wireless power receiver having a power receive resonance circuit including a power receive coil and a power receive capacitor, this wireless power feeder including: a power feed coil; a resonance current detector; and a control circuit; wherein the power feed coil does not substantially constitute a resonance circuit; the current detector has a detection resonance circuit including a detection coil and a detection capacitor, and detects a resonance current of the power receive resonance circuit; the winding region of the detection coil in the current detector is smaller than the winding region of the power feed coil; and the detection coil in the current detector is disposed such that the central winding axis thereof forms an angle of not less than 80° and not more than 100° with respect to magnetic field vectors generated by the power feed coil.
US08669676B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method and system comprising a first resonator coupled to an energy source generating a field having magnetic material, and a second resonator located a variable distance from the source resonator having magnetic material and not connected by any wire or shared magnetic material to the first resonator, where the source resonator and the second resonator are coupled to provide near-field wireless energy transfer among the source resonator and the second resonator, and where the field of at least one of the source resonator and the second resonator is shaped using magnetic materials to increase the coupling factor among the resonators.
US08669673B2
A power supply control section calculates a target charge/discharge current of a secondary power supply apparatus based on an actual charged amount and a target charged amount of the secondary power supply apparatus, and feedback-controls the stepped-up voltage of a step-up circuit such that an actual charge/discharge current detected by a secondary current sensor coincides with a target charge/discharge current. When the actual charged amount (1) is equal to or greater than the target charged amount, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero to prevent overcharging, and (2) is less than the target charged amount, a target charge current corresponding to a capacity margin of the step-up circuit is set to quickly charge the secondary power supply apparatus. When the output of the step-up circuit has no margin, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero.
US08669664B2
A stacked die package for an electromechanical resonator system includes an electromechanical resonator die bonded or fixed to a control IC die for the electromechanical resonator by, for example, a thermally and/or electrically conductive epoxy. In various embodiments, the electromechanical resonator can be a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) resonator or a nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) resonator. Certain packaging configurations that may include the chip that contains the electromechanical resonator and the control chip include chip-on-lead (COL), chip-on-paddle (COP), and chip-on-tape (COT) packages. The stacked die package may provide small package footprint and/or low package thickness, and low thermal resistance and a robust conductive path between the dice.
US08669659B2
A semiconductor device includes plural electrode pads arranged in an active region of a semiconductor chip, and wiring layers provided below the plural electrode pads wherein occupation rates of wirings arranged within the regions of the electrode pads are, respectively, made uniform for every wiring layer. To this end, in a region where an occupation rate of wiring is smaller than those in other regions, a dummy wiring is provided. On the contrary, when the occupation rate of wiring is larger than in other regions, slits are formed in the wiring to control the wiring occupation rate. In the respective wirings layers, the shapes, sizes and intervals of wirings below the respective electrode pads are made similar or equal to one another.
US08669658B2
A structure, a system, and a method for manufacture of crosstalk-free wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) structure for high frequency applications is provided. An illustrative embodiment comprises a substrate on which various layers and structures form circuitry, a signal pin formed on the substrate and coupled with the circuitry, a ground ring encircling the signal pin, and a grounded solder bump coupled to the ground ring.
US08669657B2
Stacked semiconductor devices and assemblies including attached lead frames are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor assembly includes forming a plurality of first side trenches to a first intermediate depth in a molded portion of a molded wafer having a plurality of dies arranged in rows and columns. The method also includes forming a plurality of lateral contacts at sidewall portions of the trenches and electrically connecting first side bond-sites of the dies with corresponding lateral contacts of the trenches. The method further includes forming a plurality of second side channels to a second intermediate depth in the molded portion such that the channels intersect the trenches. The method also includes singulating and stacking the first and second dies with the channels associated with the first die aligned with channels associated with the second die.
US08669641B2
The present disclosure provides a method of making an integrated circuit (IC) device. The method includes forming a first IC feature and a second IC feature in a semiconductor substrate, the first and second IC features being spaced from each other and separated by a scribe region; forming, in the semiconductor substrate, a doped routing feature at least partially within the scribe region and configured to connect the first and second IC features; forming a multilayer interconnect (MLI) structure and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the MLI is configured to be absent within the scribe region; and etching the ILD and the semiconductor substrate within the scribe region to form a scribe-line trench.
US08669628B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes the following configuration. First nonmagnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer (storage layer) and the second magnetic layer (reference layer). Third magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the storage layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. Fourth magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the reference layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. The third and fourth magnetic layers have a magnetization antiparallel to the magnetization of the storage layer. Second nonmagnetic layer is located between the storage and third magnetic layers. Third nonmagnetic layer is located between the reference and fourth magnetic layers. The thickness of the fourth magnetic layer is smaller than that of the third magnetic layer.
US08669627B2
An acceleration sensor is formed using an etched layer sandwiched between first and second substrates. In this case, a structure including a movable portion which is displaceable in the thickness direction of the substrates, and a support frame are formed in the etched layer. In addition, first and second fixed electrodes are formed on the first and second substrates, respectively, at a position facing the movable portion. Further, a remaining sacrificial layer is provided on the substrate by leaving a portion of a second sacrificial layer when a first sacrificial layer is entirely etched away. Therefore, when the first sacrificial layer is etched away, corrosion of the structure and the support beams is prevented because the second sacrificial layer is preferentially corroded as compared to the structure.
US08669624B2
Provided are a semiconductor device which enables reduction of diffusion of Si in the manufacturing process of an MIPS element and suppression of an increase in EOT, and a method of manufacturing the same. An embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor having a gate insulating film provided on a silicon substrate and a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode is a stack-type electrode including a conductive layer containing at least Ti, N, and O (oxygen) and a silicon layer provided on the conductive layer, and the concentration of oxygen in the conductive layer is highest in the side of the silicon layer.
US08669620B2
A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a circuit including a first MOS transistor having a gate connected to a first signal line, a second MOS transistor having a gate connected to a second signal line, and the circuit outputting an output signal according to a difference in potential between the first signal line and the second signal line, wherein channel regions of the first and second MOS transistors include no maximum impurity concentration at an area, which is shallower than a depth indicating a maximum concentration of one conduction type impurity that forms source and drain regions of the MOS transistors.
US08669617B2
Provided are devices having at least three and at least four different types of transistors wherein the transistors are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions. Methods for making devices having three and at least four different types of transistors that are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions are also provided.
US08669614B2
A monolithic metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)-Schottky diode device including a chip, a MOSFET, a Schottky diode and a termination structure is provided. The chip is divided into a transistor region, a diode region and a termination region. The MOSFET is disposed on the transistor region. The Schottky diode is disposed on the diode region. The termination structure is disposed on the termination region. The transistor region and the diode region are divided by the termination region. The MOSFET and Schottky diode share the termination structure.
US08669613B2
A semiconductor die with integrated MOSFET and diode-connected enhancement mode JFET is disclosed. The MOSFET-JFET die includes common semiconductor substrate region (CSSR) of type-1 conductivity. A MOSFET device and a diode-connected enhancement mode JFET (DCE-JFET) device are located upon CSSR. The DCE-JFET device has the CSSR as its DCE-JFET drain. At least two DCE-JFET gate regions of type-2 conductivity located upon the DCE-JFET drain and laterally separated from each other with a DCE-JFET gate spacing. At least a DCE-JFET source of type-1 conductivity located upon the CSSR and between the DCE-JFET gates. A top DCE-JFET electrode, located atop and in contact with the DCE-JFET gate regions and DCE-JFET source regions. When properly configured, the DCE-JFET simultaneously exhibits a forward voltage Vf substantially lower than that of a PN junction diode while the reverse leakage current can be made comparable to that of a PN junction diode.
US08669609B2
A first dielectric is formed over a semiconductor layer, a first gate layer over the first dielectric, a second dielectric over the first gate layer, and a third dielectric over the second dielectric. An etch is performed to form a first sidewall of the first gate layer. A second etch is performed to remove portions of the first dielectric between the semiconductor layer and the first gate layer to expose a bottom corner of the first gate layer and to remove portions of the second dielectric between the first gate layer and the third dielectric layer to expose a top corner of the first gate layer. An oxide is grown on the first sidewall and around the top and bottom corners to round the corners. The oxide is then removed. A charge storage layer and second gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and overlapping the first sidewall.
US08669608B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes; forming a first and a second stacked bodies; forming a through hole penetrating through the first stacked body, a second portion communicating with the first portion and penetrating through a select gate, and a third portion communicating with the second portion and penetrating through a second insulating layer; forming a memory film, a gate insulating film, and a channel body; forming a third insulating layer inside the channel body; forming a first embedded portion above a boundary portion inside the third portion; exposing the channel body by removing part of the first embedded portion and part of the third insulating layer in the third portion; and embedding a second embedded portion including silicon having higher impurity concentration than the first embedded portion above the first embedded portion inside the third portion.
US08669602B2
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a laminated semiconductor chip configured to be obtained by bonding two or more semiconductor chip sections to each other and be obtained by bonding at least a first semiconductor chip section in which a pixel array and a multilayer wiring layer are formed and a second semiconductor chip section in which a logic circuit and a multilayer wiring layer are formed to each other in such a manner that the multilayer wiring layers are opposed to each other and are electrically connected to each other; and a light blocking layer configured to be formed by an electrically-conductive film of the same layer as a layer of a connected interconnect of one or both of the first and second semiconductor chip sections near bonding between the first and second semiconductor chip sections. The solid-state imaging device is a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device.
US08669595B2
A semiconductor device includes conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS, second PMOS, first NMOS, and second NMOS transistor devices respectively extend along different gate electrode tracks. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device.
US08669578B2
A wavelength conversion particle 7 used for a wavelength conversion member 70 is provided with a moth-eye structure section 74 having a fine concavo-convex structure in the side of a surface of a fluorescent particle 71, and the fine concavo-convex structure is formed in fluorescent particle 71 itself. Wavelength conversion member 70 is formed by dispersing wave-length conversion particle(s) 7 into a translucent medium 73 having a smaller refraction index than fluorescent particle 71 of wavelength conver-sion particle 7. Wavelength conversion member 70 is further provided with an antireflection section 76 in the side of the surface of fluorescent particle 71. Antireflection section 76 comprises moth-eye structure section 74 and translucent medium 73 entered between taper-shaped fine projections 75 of moth-eye structure section 74. In a light emitting device 1, wavelength conversion member 70 is used as a color conversion member converting a part of light emitted from a LED chip 10 into light having a longer wave-length than the light emitted from LED chip 10 and emitting the converted light.
US08669577B2
A light emitting diode is disclosed. The disclosed light emitting diode includes a light emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first and second semiconductor layers, a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer, a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer, and a first reflection layer disposed on the second semiconductor layer. The first reflection layer includes at least a first layer having a first index of refraction and a second layer having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. The first reflection layer is further disposed on a side surface of the second electrode and a portion of an upper surface of the second electrode.
US08669574B2
The device according to the invention comprises a nanostructured LED with a first group of nanowires protruding from a first area of a substrate and a contacting means in a second area of the substrate. Each nanowire of the first group of nanowires comprises a p-i-n junction and a top portion of each nanowire or at least one selection of nanowires is covered with a light-reflecting contact layer. The contacting means of the second area is in electrical contact with the bottom of the nanowires, the light-reflecting contact layer being in electrical contact with the contacting means of the second area via the p-i-n junction. Thus when a voltage is applied between the contacting means of the second area and the light-reflecting contact layer, light is generated within the nanowire. On top of the light-reflecting contact layer, a first group of contact pads for flip-chip bonding can be provided, distributed and separated to equalize the voltage across the layer to reduce the average serial resistance.
US08669572B2
Adhesive-free assembly of the substrate and reflector components of a semiconductor die package is achieved by injection molding the reflector onto a surface of the substrate or by molding the reflector separate from the substrate and securing it in place on the substrate through deformation of a portion of the reflector. The reflector may be made reflective either by molding the reflector using a light scattering material or through the addition of a reflective element, such as a piece of foil material that is secured to the reflector. A variety of interchangeable reflective elements having different surface shapes, and thus different light reflecting properties, may be made.
US08669569B2
A method for fabricating light emitting diode packages includes: providing a light emitting diode wafer which has a plurality of light emitting diode chips, each of the light emitting diode chips including a semiconductor unit that has p-type and n-type electrode regions, and two electrodes; forming a light-transmissive insulating layer on the light emitting diode chips; forming a reflective metal layer on a portion of the light-transmissive insulating layer; forming a layer of insulating material on the light-transmissive insulating layer and the reflective metal layer, and performing exposing and developing treatments to form the layer of insulating material into a plurality of protective insulating structures; forming a conductor-receiving insulating layer on the light-transmissive insulating layer and the protective insulating structures; and performing a cutting process to obtain a plurality of light emitting diode packages each having at least one of the light emitting diode chips.
US08669567B2
A light-emitting device is disclosed. More particularly, the light-emitting device comprises a first substrate; a light-emitting element over the first substrate; a second substrate over the light-emitting element, wherein the second substrate contains a concave portion; a sealant between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a material having a water absorbing property is formed in the concave portion, wherein the material having the water absorbing property is provided so as not to overlap the light-emitting element, and so as to be spaced from the sealant.
US08669554B2
A fast recovery rectifier structure with the combination of Schottky structure to relieve the minority carriers during the forward bias condition for the further reduction of the reverse recovery time during switching in addition to the lifetime killer such as Pt, Au, and/or irradiation. This fast recovery rectifier uses unpolished substrates and thick impurity diffusion for low cost production. A reduced p-n junction structure with a heavily p-type doped thin film is provided to terminate and shorten the p-n junction space charge region. This reduced p-n junction with less total charge in the p-n junction to further improve the reverse recovery time. This reduced p-n junction can be used alone, with the traditional lifetime killer method, with the Schottky structure and/or with the epitaxial substrate.
US08669548B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and including an unevenness portion, a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, a pixel electrode on the third insulating layer, an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an organic emission layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, and source/drain electrodes connected to the active layer, the first insulating layer being between the active layer and the gate electrode and the second insulating layer being between the gate electrode, and the source/drain electrodes; and a capacitor including a lower electrode on a same layer as the gate electrode, a dielectric layer of a same material as the third insulating layer, and an upper electrode on a same layer as the pixel electrode.
US08669547B2
There is provided an organic light-emitting diode luminaire. The luminaire includes a patterned first electrode, a second electrode, and an electroluminescent layer therebetween. The electroluminescent layer includes: a host material capable of electroluminescence having an emission color that is blue; a first electroluminescent dopant having an emission color that is green; and a second electroluminescent dopant having an emission color that is in the red/orange region. The additive mixing of all the emitted colors results in an overall emission of white light.
US08669528B2
A flat panel radiation detector is disclosed, comprising a scintillator panel provided on a support with a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals and a protective layer sequentially in this order, and the scintillator panel being coupled with a planar light receiving element having plural picture elements which are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the difference between to average void fraction of an edge portion of the phosphor layer and the average void fraction of a base portion is not less than 5% and not more than 25%, and the void fraction decreases from the base portion to the edge portion. There is provided a flat panel radiation detector with a phosphor layer which exhibits enhanced physical resistance to shock and is superior in sharpness and emission efficiency.
US08669527B2
Provided is a scintillator used for detecting radiation in an X-ray CT scanner or the like, the scintillator having a unidirectional phase separation structure having an optical waveguide function, which eliminates the need of formation of partition walls for preventing crosstalks. The scintillator has the phase separation structure including: a first crystal phase including multiple columnar crystals having unidirectionality; and a second crystal phase filling space on the side of the first crystal phase. The second crystal phase includes a material represented by Cs3Cu2[XaY1-a]5, where X and Y are elements which are different from each other and which are selected from the group consisting of I, Br, and Cl, and 0≦a≦1 is satisfied.
US08669524B2
Method and apparatus are provided for generating an enhanced image of an object. The method includes obtaining images of an area of an object generated using a probe of having a probe size greater than or equal to a minimum probe area size. An enhanced image of the area of the object is generated by accurately computing the emission intensities emitted from pixel areas smaller than the minimum probe size and within the area of the object. This is repeated for other areas of the object to form other enhanced images. The enhanced images are combined to form an accurate enhanced image of the object.
US08669522B2
According to one embodiment, a mask inspection apparatus includes a decompression chamber, a holder, a light irradiation unit, a detection unit, an electrode, and a control unit. The holder is provided in the decompression chamber and holds a mask. The light irradiation unit irradiates a major surface of the mask held by the holder with a light. The detection unit is provided in the decompression chamber to detect electrons generated when the major surface of the mask is irradiated with the light. The electrode is provided between the holder and the detection unit and guides the electrons in a direction from the holder toward the detection unit. The control unit compares a detection result of the electrons detected by the detection unit with a reference value.
US08669518B2
An object of the present invention is to provide means for solving troubles. Examples of the troubles include sensitivity degradation and resolution degradation of a mass spectrometer, which are caused by an axis deviation of a component, particularly at least one orifice located between an ion source and a detector, to decrease the number of ions reaching the detector, and a variation in performance caused by exchange of components such as the orifice.For example, the invention has the following configuration in order to solve the troubles. A mass spectrometer includes: an ion source; a detector that detects an ion; an orifice and a mass separator that are disposed between the ion source and the detector; and an axis adjusting mechanism that adjusts axis positions of the orifice and/or the mass separator such that an opening of the orifice and/or an incident port of the mass separator is disposed on a line connecting the ion source and an incident port of the detector.
US08669510B2
An imaging device may be formed in a semiconductor substrate including a matrix array of photosites extending in a first direction and a second direction. The imaging device may include a transfer module configured to transfer charge in the first direction and an extraction module configured to extract charge in the second direction.
US08669506B2
Apparatus and method are provided for controlling a vehicle in motion through a fluid medium. A manipulable flare assembly is mounted to a load bearing structure, the structure being configured for mounting to the vehicle. An actuating mechanism has a rotational member operably associated with the flare assembly, the actuating mechanism being configured for selectively providing relative rotation between the rotational member and the load bearing structure. The actuating mechanism is configured for manipulating the flare assembly responsive to selective relative rotation between the rotational member and the load bearing structure. A vehicle is also provided incorporating the apparatus.
US08669499B2
A domestic apparatus, such as a cooking appliance, uses hydrogen and, optionally electrical heating, to cook food. The cooking appliance may have a cooking surface (e.g. a grilling surface) so as to result in an indoor barbeque, which may be used with no venting or reduced venting requirements.
US08669496B2
An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating device which contains an assembly linear lamps for emitting light energy onto a wafer. The linear lamps can be placed in various configurations. In accordance with the present invention, tuning devices which are used to adjust the overall irradiance distribution of the light energy sources are included in the heating device. The tuning devices can be, for instance, are lamps or lasers.
US08669487B2
A device for joining by a laser beam two components along a ring-shaped contact zone, where a first of the two components is transmissive for the laser beam and a second of the two components is absorptive for the laser beam. The device includes a receptacle configured to affix the absorptive component and an internal clamping chuck configured for placement on the transmissive component within an open inside area of the contact zone. The device also includes a pressure element with an open inside area that is larger than an extension of the contact zone, a laser source configured to emit the laser beam, and a rotatable holding wheel. The pressure element is connected to the internal clamping chuck via an external axial bearing, the holding wheel and an internal axial bearing so as to transmit to the internal clamping chuck contact pressure exerted on the pressure element.
US08669486B2
A device for sorting out individual address mail from a presorted route order mail stack including a device with a mail receiving receptacle, a conveyor for transferring mail through the machine, a reader and control for reading the bar code and mail address, and a mail delivery receptacle. When mail is added to the mail receiving receptacle the machine conveys only the mail for one address to the mail delivery receptacle and then stops until the mail delivery receptacle is clear. The machine uses the mail bar code and displays the address to the mail carrier for confirmation of the matching addresses for all of the mail to be delivered.
US08669483B2
A flexible cable is provided in which a transmission characteristic can be ensured in a high frequency band, and electromagnetic noises can be suppressed. A flexible cable 11 includes a sheet-like base member (dielectric substance) 1; an adhesive (dielectric substance) 2 which bonds the base member 1 to a cover member (dielectric substance) 3; a shield member 4 which covers the cover member 3 and is bonded or printed to the cover member 3 to suppress electromagnetic noises to be radiated; and a top coating member 5 which covers the shield member 4 to protect the shield member 4. The flexible cable 11 has a differential signal wire group 7 including differential signal wires 6 through which differential signals pass and guard ground wires 9a which prevent the interference from other differential signals; a low-speed signal wire 8 through which a low-speed signal passes; a ground wire 9 used as a ground; and a shield ground wire 10 which is adapted to allow the electric potential of the shield member 4 to be identical to the electric potential of the ground, all of which are provided in the adhesive 2. The differential signal wires 6 are not covered with the shield member 4.
US08669479B2
A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer formed with a first opening and a second opening, a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer and including a terminal overlapping the first opening, and a wire having a part thereof overlapping the second opening and continued to the terminal, a metal pedestal portion formed under the insulating layer and disposed around the first opening so as to overlap the second opening and support an electronic element, and a conductive portion filling the second opening to provide electrical conduction between the wire and the metal pedestal portion.
US08669470B2
A metal sheet tape including magnesium as a major component thereof having high electro-magnetic shield performance, high vibration absorption performance as well as high heat conductivity being wound spirally on an outer circumference of the electric cable may provide a high performance shield layer. Furthermore in an AV cable, original sounds may be recovered by forming a shield layer with winding spirally the metal sheet tape, which includes magnesium as a major component and is wound in the counter clockwise direction in the direction viewed from an IN end to an OUT end of an AV cable.
US08669469B2
A high voltage bushing including an electrical conductor configured to be electrically connected to a high voltage device and configured to be connected to an external fluid cooling system, and an insulating body surrounding the electrical conductor. A method includes cooling the high voltage bushing by connecting the electrical conductor to an external fluid cooling system.
US08669468B2
A photoelectric conversion module including a first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate in a first direction; a plurality of photoelectric cells between the first and second substrates, each including an electrolyte; and a sealing member between the first and second substrates, the sealing member surrounding the plurality of photoelectric cells and extending between adjacent photoelectric cells of the plurality of photoelectric cells, wherein the sealing member has at least one electrolyte injecting portion for receiving the electrolyte into the photoelectric cells.
US08669459B2
The sound-processing apparatus of the present invention generates plural frequency data by decoding plural encoded sound data and applying inverse quantization. Each of the frequency data are subjected to sound-processing and then synthesized into one single frequency data. Transformation processing from frequency domain to time domain is applied to the synthesized single frequency data so as to generate sound data in time domain so as to reduce computation amounts of decoding process.
US08669457B2
A system can receive and/or otherwise access information about items of content (e.g., audio tracks, video tracks, images and/or other items), information about a playlist to be generated, information about the past behavior of the target entity for the playlist and/or information about the past behavior of other entities. Examples of information about the items of content include genre, artist, album, time period, etc. Examples of information about a playlist include tempo curve, event type, playlist duration, etc. Based on all or a subset of the above-described information, the system automatically generates a playlist that identifies items of content. The playlist is presented to the target entity so that the target entity can acquire the playlist and/or the items of content identified in the playlist. In some embodiments, the target entity is also provided with an opportunity to edit the playlist.
US08669455B2
A method and apparatus for composing and teaching of music while learning to read music is provided that involves a user following a supported sequence of tasks that guide creativity of the user to construct a musical composition. The musical composition is constructed by assigning alphabetical characters to colors and musical notes to form a chart, forming words and phrases using the alphabetical characters, and cross-referencing the words and phrases to the chart. Various interactive components and computer software facilitate use of the method and process.
US08669454B1
A foldable musical instrument pedal device having a positioning element hung at a base board. The positioning element is drooped when the base board stays in air, and a first stop portion is swung downwardly with a support frame and across a second stop portion from an external side of the base board to an internal side of the base board. When the base board is placed on a ground, each second stop portion is propped out from the base board to block the first stop portion in an upward swinging direction of the support frame, so as to fix the support frame to the fixed base.
US08669451B2
An ergonomic marching bass drum having an angled shell constructed in such a way as to allow the batter (playing) head to be positioned parallel to the shoulders of the performer, rather than perpendicular to them, as is the case with the conventional marching bass drum. In addition, the angled shape and orientation of the shell puts the batter head in a position which is ergonomically comfortable for the performer to play on, since it make possible the use of the conventional matched grip percussion stroke used on virtually all percussion instruments.
US08669443B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV142634. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV142634, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV142634 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV142634 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV142634.
US08669434B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026708. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026708. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026708 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026708 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669431B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D2011907. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D2011907. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D2011907 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D2011907 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669425B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB45K12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB45K12, cells from soybean variety XB45K12, plants of soybean XB45K12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB45K12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB45K12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB45K12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB45K12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB45K12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB45K12 are further provided.
US08669422B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated CL166102H. Also included are seeds of canola CL166102H, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola CL166102H and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola CL166102H with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola CL166102H.
US08669419B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules useful for conferring broad and durable resistance to grapevine fanleaf virus in plants. The invention also relates to methods of enhancing resistance to plant pathogens and plants or plant components (such as grape plants) expressing such nucleic acid molecules. In addition, the invention relates to products (e.g., foodstuffs including beverages such as wine or juice) derived from grape plants transformed with such nucleic acids.
US08669408B2
A preformed wound shield includes a frame formed of one or more layers of suitable material and any suitable covering. Exudate absorbing or transporting material may also be one of two or more layers of material forming the frame.
US08669395B2
Provided is a new crystal A of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which is far better in stability, and a process for producing the crystal and a process for producing the crystal A comprising a step of heating the following crystal B in water having a pH of 3 to 9: crystal A: a crystal of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which has diffraction peaks within the range of a diffraction angle 2θ of 8.7 to 9.4°, within that of 2θ of 12.2 to 12.8°, and within that of 2θ of 24.8 to 25.4° in a powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the crystal by use of the Cu—Kα wavelength; and crystal B: a crystal of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which has diffraction peaks within the range of a diffraction angle 2θ of 20.8 to 21.4°, within that of 2θ of 26.7 to 27.3°, and within that of 2θ of 29.7 to 30.3° in a powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the crystal by use of the Cu—Kα wavelength.
US08669391B2
Disclosed are a silicon-containing compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same compound, and a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer prepared from the liquid crystal composition. The silicon-containing compound, which forms the liquid crystal composition, has low viscosity and high positive dielectric anisotropy. Therefore, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device, which has a fast response time and can be driven at a low voltage.
US08669389B2
The invention relates to sulfur silane coupling agents containing multiple blocked mercapto groups which are in a state of reduced activity until activated. The coupling agents are advantageously used in rubber formulations, for example, for fabricating tires with low rolling resistance.
US08669387B2
There is described a process for preparing silylamines in and particularly trisilylamine (TSA) in high yields in a tubular laminar flow, plug flow reactor, from ammonia gas and a monohalosilane gas. The apparatus can be a tubular flow reactor comprising a first portion of the reactor defining a gas entry zone, a second portion of the reactor defining a reaction zone and a third portion of the reactor defining a separation zone, the reaction zone providing a reactant contacting region. Trisilylamine can be recovered in the separation zone in a cold trap collection vessel.
US08669384B2
A process for preparing a divinylarene dioxide including (a) reacting at least one divinylarene with hypochlorous acid to form a chlorohydrin; and (b) treating the chlorohydrin formed in step (a) with at least one base, under conditions to form a divinylarene dioxide product.
US08669380B2
Compounds of Formula (A) and (B) are described herein and the uses thereof for the treatment of diseases, conditions and/or disorders mediated by sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors (in particular, SGLT2 inhibitors).
US08669377B2
What is disclosed in the invention is a preparation method of a supercritical Cinnamomum subavenium extract, which is made from the material, the dried stem of C. subavenium. The extract is obtained by extracting C. subavenium which is pulverized as particles with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid. The C. subavenium extract or its active ingredient, subamolide A, can be used to inhibit the growth of human urothelial carcinoma cell lines. In addition, the C. subavenium extract (or subamolide A) is able to synergistically inhibit the growth of human urothelial carcinoma cell lines with cisplatin (CDDP) or gemcitabine (Gem). Therefore, the C. subavenium extract (or subamolide A) can be an anticancer drug alone, or forms a pharmaceutical composition with CDDP (or Gem) to treat with cancers in respect of urinary system.
US08669376B2
The present invention concerns groups of compounds derived from tunicates of the Synoicum species, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and uses thereof. Extracts from tunicates show selective toxicity against several different cancer cell lines in the NCI 60 cell line panel. These compounds are useful in the effective treatment of cancers, particularly malignant melanomas, colon cancer, and renal cancer cell lines.
US08669375B2
PROBLEMTo provide an environmentally-friendly method for producing industrially an ester compound.SOLUTIONThe present invention is a method for producing an ester compound which comprises subjecting a carboxylic acid and an alcohol to dehydration-condensation reaction using an involatile acid catalyst and then removing the residual acid catalyst by bringing a weak basic substance into contact with the residual acid catalyst.
US08669373B2
To provide a method for producing a wide variety of carbazole derivatives which have a simple and uncomplicated process and in which variations in the yield, purity, etc. of a desired substance which are caused by an aryl group introduced is reduced as much as possible. A method for producing a carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided, in which 9-[4-(10-phenyl-9-anthryl)phenyl]-9H-carbazole having an active site at the 3-position of the carbazole skeleton and an aromatic compound having an active site are coupled. In the formula, Ar1 represents an aryl group with 6 to 13 carbon atoms in a ring, and Ar1 may have a substituent.
US08669368B2
The disclosure generally relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of formula I, including synthetic intermediates which are useful in the process.
US08669364B2
A platinum (II) complex of general formula (II), in which Ar1 is a 1,2-diazole ring, Ar2 is a pyridine ring, and Ar3 is a phenyl ring. Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 together form a tridentate ligand coordinated to the platinum through atoms X, Y, and Z, respectively, and X, Y, and Z are independently carbon or nitrogen. V represents O, S, N, C, P, or Si, and W is an anion. In some cases, Ar3 is an anion and Ar1 and Ar2 are neutral; in other cases, Ar1 and Ar3 are neutral and Ar2 is an anion. The complexes emit in the UV to near IR range and are useful as emitters for organic light emitting devices.
US08669355B2
The present invention is concerned with the development of a vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila for use especially in fish. The invention provides an immunogenic S-layer protein of approximately 50 kDa of A. hydrophila for use in the development of a vaccine, as well as the nucleic acid encoding said protein and vaccines comprising said protein or nucleic acid encoding said protein.
US08669354B2
Method for removal of endotoxin from protein preparations using core-shell nanoparticles, which have the ability to selectively adsorb endotoxin molecules in a protein mixture. The method comprises the steps of (a) preparing a plurality of core-shell nanoparticles; (b) adding the core-shell nanoparticles into a protein preparation containing endotoxin; (c) incubating the core-shell nanoparticles with the protein preparation for a period of time; and (d) separating nanoparticles from the protein preparation.
US08669335B2
A design, synthesis and use of templated chemical routes are disclosed for the synthesis of interlocked macromolecular structures and orderly entanglements that are dubbed “Knotty Polymers” using combined supramolecularly assembled macroinitiators and living polymerization.
US08669331B2
Described herein are substantially linear copolymeric compositions having at least two azide groups and at least two non-activated acetylene groups. The azide groups and the non-activated acetylene groups are reacted to cure the substantially linear copolymer composition. Also, described are methods of making and using such substantially linear copolymeric compositions.
US08669329B2
A thermoplastic elastomer is provided that includes a propylene-based resin and an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubber, and has a crystallization time at 130° C. measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) of from 250 to 1,000 sec. There are also provided a method for producing a molded body, the method including a step of preparing the thermoplastic elastomer composition and a step of injection molding the thermoplastic elastomer composition, and a molded body produced by the method.
US08669321B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tire rubber composition and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition, which improve mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, rolling resistance, wet grip performance, and dry grip performance in good balance. The present invention relates to a tire rubber composition comprising: a rubber component that contains a modified diene rubber; and a silica component that contains a silica surface-treated with a silane coupling agent, wherein the amount of the modified diene rubber in 100% by mass of the rubber component is 15% by mass or more, and the dispersion ratio of the silica component is 70% or higher.
US08669320B1
A sprayable adhesive composition may be made from the blend of a low Tg acrylic resin, water, and one or more water miscible organic solvents disposed in a container with one or more hydrocarbon propellants. The adhesive is stable in the presence of the hydrocarbon propellants. An adhesive delivery system for storing and discharging the adhesive compositions of the present invention are also taught.
US08669319B2
A polymer is provided comprising a first pendant group selected from at least one of a perfluorinated ether group or a perfluoroalkanesulfonamido group, a second pendant group comprising an ammonium group, wherein the second pendant group is free of silicon, and a third pendant group comprising an ammonium group and a reactive silicon-containing group. A composition comprising the polymer is provided. The polymer and composition are useful for protecting a substrate, for example, to render the substrate oil repellent, water repellent, or both, or to provide stain repellency to the substrate.
US08669315B2
This disclosure relates generally to polycarbonate compositions whose hydrolysis products and residual monomer content, if any, exhibit little or no estradiol binding activity. Also disclosed are methods for making the disclosed polycarbonates and articles of manufacture comprising the disclosed polycarbonates.
US08669306B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a curable composition which provides a cured product excellent in low warpage properties and long-term electrical insulation reliability and causes little bleeding during screen printing. The present invention is a curable composition comprising the following components (a) to (e): a component (a): polyurethane having a functional group capable of curing reaction and a carbonate bond, a component (b): γ-butyrolactone, a component (c): diethylene glycol diethyl ether, a component (d): inorganic fine particles and/or organic fine particles, and a component (e): a compound having two or more epoxy groups in one molecule.
US08669299B2
An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.
US08669297B2
Backings for carpet and carpet tiles are formed from various post-consumer and/or post-industrial polymeric waste materials, for example, post-consumer textile waste material (e.g., carpet and carpet tiles), post-industrial textile waste material (e.g., carpet and/or carpet tiles), and/or other post-consumer and/or post-industrial polymeric materials.
US08669296B2
A process for preparing a polyazole with an inherent viscosity, measured in at least 96% sulfuric acid at 25° C., greater than 2.9 dl/g, comprising the steps of i) mixing one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof which comprise at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, or mixing one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution and/or dispersion ii) heating the mixture from step i) under inert gas to temperatures in the range from 120° C. to 350° C. to form the polyazole, wherein in step ii), a mixture having a concentration of polyphosphoric acid, calculated as P2O5 (by acidimetric means), based on the total amount of H3PO4, polyphosphoric acid and water in the mixture, greater than 78.22%, is heated, the amounts of the components are selected in step i) such that the proportion by weight of the tetraamino compounds and of the aromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof which comprise at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, or of the diaminocarboxylic acids of the mixture in step ii), based on the total weight of the mixture, is less than 11.0% by weight, the reaction mixture is heated in step ii) to greater than 220° C.
US08669288B2
The present invention is directed to a novel lysine salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by PPAR delta. The present invention is further directed to a novel process for the preparation of said lysine salts.
US08669285B2
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.
US08669267B2
There is provided a pharmaceutical agent, food, or beverage for treating or preventing a disease or condition that can be ameliorated by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, comprising a clinically-effective amount of (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid.
US08669265B2
The present invention provides a novel and stable hydrated form of erlotinib free base, and a process for its preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a process for preparation of erlotinib hydrochloride crystalline polymorph a substantially free of polymorph B. The present invention further relates to erlotinib hydrochloride crystalline particles having mean particle size (D50) ranging from about 4 μm to 15 μm and 90 volume-% of the particles (D90) ranging from about 14 μm to 30 μm, to the methods for the manufacture of said crystalline particles, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said crystalline particles.
US08669260B2
The application discloses ketoconazole derivatives that are antagonists of the human pregnane X receptor (PXR), methods of preparing the derivatives, uses of the derivatives with drug therapy, and methods of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and multidrug resistance using inhibitors of PXR.
US08669259B2
The present invention relates to heterocyclic amide derivatives of Formula (I): Formula (I) wherein the variables are as defined in the specification. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising said heterocyclic amide derivatives of formula (I) and methods for using said heterocyclic amide derivatives of formula (I) for treating or preventing a disease or disorder related to the activity of a protein kinase, in particular, a proliferative disease, an anti-proliferative disorder, inflammation, arthritis, a neurological or neurodegenerative disease, a cardiovascular disease, alopecia, a neuronal disease, an ischemic injury, a viral disease or a fungal infection.
US08669253B2
Inhibition of geranylgeranylation of Rho GTPases and heterotrimeric G-proteins in the aqueous outflow pathway increases aqueous humor outflow, possibly through the tissue relaxation, and through altered cell adhesive interactions and actin cytoskeletal organization in cells of the outflow pathway. In addition, such inhibition is useful for treating age-related macular degeneration. The GGTase-I enzyme is a molecular target for lowering increased ocular pressure in glaucoma patients.
US08669250B2
The present invention concerns compounds of general formula (1) (I) wherein R1 is: —a hydrogen atom, or a halogen, —a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl group or a C1-C3 fluoroalkyl group, —a straight or branched C1-C6 alcoxy group, a carbamyl group, N-substituted or not by one or two, straight or branched C1-C3 alkyl groups, or —a cyano group (CN) R2 is: —a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl group, HaI1, Hal2 and Hal3 are: —a halogen their addition salts and the hydrates of addition salts with pharmaceutically acceptable mineral acids or organic acids, and their enantiomer forms.
US08669248B1
In general, the present invention relates to small molecule inhibitors of the heat shock protein 90 family of chaperone proteins. The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions and kits that include the compounds and compositions of the invention. The invention further relates to the medical use of these compounds and compositions for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
US08669242B2
The invention relates to the field of male and/or female sexual dysfunction. The invention specifically relates to the use of testosterone and a 5-HT1A agonist.
US08669234B2
The invention is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08669229B2
The present invention provides a benzazepine compound that can maintain for a long period of time the blood level of tolvaptan enabling to provide the desired pharmaceutical effects. The benzazepine compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (1) wherein R1 represents a —CO—(CH2)n—COR2 group (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R2 is (2-1) a hydroxy group; (2-2) a lower alkoxy group optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, a lower alkanoyl group, a lower alkanoyloxy group, a lower alkoxycarbonyloxy group, a cycloalkyloxycarbonyloxy group, or 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxo-4-yl; or (2-3) an amino group optionally substituted with a hydroxy-lower alkyl group), or the like.
US08669228B2
Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having improved solubility while retaining glucagon agonist activity. The glycogen peptides have been modified by substitution of native amino acids with, and/or addition of, charged amino acids to the carboxy terminus of the peptide. The modified glucagon agonists can be further modified by pegylation, or the addition of a carboxy terminal peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, or both to further enhance the solubility of the glucagon agonist analogs.
US08669223B2
A stability enhancement agent for use in a solid detergent and solid detergent compositions is described. Stability enhancement is provided by a hydratable salt, water and a polyepoxysuccinic acid or polyepoxysuccinic acid metal salt binding agent forming a dimensionally stable composition. Preferred polyepoxysuccinic acid or polyepoxysuccinic acid metal salts have a molecular weight of between about 400 and about 1,500 g/mol. The stability enhancement composition for use in a solid detergent and solid detergent compositions are preferably biodegradable and substantially free of phosphorus and NTA.
US08669220B2
A method of forming a water soluble container, comprising an injection moulded water soluble polymer, in which is present a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition, by injection moulding a thermoplastic material into a mould, wherein before or during the injection moulding process the mould is actively heated, the mould being at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of the thermoplastic material, throughout the injection moulding process.
US08669218B2
An adherent gelled or pasty composition for cleaning and/or scenting a toilet, wherein the composition is applied internally onto the toilet ceramic and is rinsed off only after several flushing operations, the composition comprising: a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylpolyglycosides, amphoacetates, amphodiacetates, betaines, fatty alcohol ethercarboxylic acids, fatty acid sarcosinates, cocamidopropylamine oxide, aminopropionates, and biosurfactants; perfume; and water; wherein the composition comprises, as an adhesion promoter, an ester of polyisobutene succinic acid, and wherein the composition is free of further adhesion promoters and surfactants.
US08669211B2
A method to measure enhancement in the quality of life of an animal fed a super senior pet food composition comprising quantitating the gene expression levels of one or more genes in said animal and comparing said levels in the animal to levels in the animal prior to administration of said super senior pet food composition. A method to enhance the quality of life of an animal by modulating the expression level of one or more genes in said animal in order to mimic the pattern of expression seen in vivo after administration of a super senior pet food composition.
US08669210B2
This invention relates to a high-strength, aqueous herbicidal concentrate containing the clopyralid dimethylamine salt. The formulation is stable to storage and exhibits lower viscosity than other clopyralid amine salt formulations.
US08669204B2
A composition for a protection layer for a thermal transfer ribbon which is free of solvents and which contains an acrylate oligomer or polymer having a functionality lower than or equal to 3, a di- or triacrylate monomer and a slip agent which are UV-crosslinkable in the presence of a photoinitiator, capable of forming, after coating on a backing film and after UV crosslinking, a protection layer having a thickness lower than 1 μm. The layer has a good adhesiveness and a low friction coefficient. The composition can particularly be used for the back (5) of a thermal transfer ribbon (1) applied on a surface of the backing film (2), the other surface of the film receiving at least one ink layer (3), while imparting flexibility and thermal and mechanical resistance to the ribbon (1).
US08669187B2
A porous lift off layer facilitates removal of films from surfaces, such as semiconductors. A layer, with porosities typically larger than the film thickness is provided where no film is desired. The film is applied over the porous layer and also where it is desired. The porous material and the film are then removed from areas where film is not intended. The porous layer can be provided as a slurry, dried to open porosities, or fugitive particles within a field, which disassociate upon the application of heat or solvent. The film can be removed by etchant that enters through porosities that have arisen due to the film not bridging the spaces between solid portions. Etchant attacks both film surfaces. Particles may have diameters of four to ten times the film thickness. Particles may be silica, alumina and ceramics. Porous layers can be used in depressions or on flat surfaces.
US08669184B2
Described is a method for improving the flatness of a layer deposited on a doped polycrystalline layer, which includes reducing the grain size of the polycrystalline layer to decrease the out-diffusion amount of the dopant from the polycrystalline layer, and/or reducing the amount of the out-diffusing dopant on the surface of the polycrystalline layer.
US08669171B2
A method is provided for eliminating catalyst residues that are present on the surface of solid structures. The solid structures are made from a first material and are obtained by catalytic growth from a substrate. The method includes the following steps: catalytically growing, from the catalyst residues, solid structures made from a second material; and selectively eliminating the solid structures made from the second material, thereby eliminating the catalyst residues.
US08669169B2
Methods for selectively diffusing dopants into a substrate wafer are provided. A liquid precursor is doped with dopants. The liquid precursor is selected from a group comprising monomers, polymers, and oligomers of silicon and hydrogen. The doped liquid precursor is deposited on a surface of the substrate wafer to create a doped film. The doped film is heated on the substrate wafer for diffusing the dopants from the doped film into the substrate wafer at different diffusion rates to create a heavily diffused region and a lightly diffused region in the substrate wafer. The method disclosed herein further comprises selective curing of the doped film on the surface of the substrate wafer. The selectively cured doped film acts as a diffusion source for selectively diffusing the dopants into the substrate wafer.
US08669164B2
Microelectronic structures and devices, and method of fabricating a three-dimensional microelectronic structure is provided, comprising passing a first precursor material for a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure into a reaction chamber at temperatures sufficient to maintain said precursor material in a predominantly gaseous state; maintaining said reaction chamber under sufficient pressures to enhance formation of a first portion of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure; applying an electric field between an electrode and said microelectronic structure at a desired point under conditions whereat said first portion of a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure is formed from said first precursor material; positionally adjusting either said formed three-dimensional microelectronic structure or said electrode whereby further controlled growth of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure occurs; passing a second precursor material for a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure into a reaction chamber at temperatures sufficient to maintain said precursor material in a predominantly gaseous state; maintaining said reaction chamber under sufficient pressures whereby a second portion of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure formation is enhanced; applying an electric field between an electrode and said microelectronic structure at a desired point under conditions whereat said second portion of a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure is formed from said second precursor material; and, positionally adjusting either said formed three-dimensional microelectronic structure or said electrode whereby further controlled growth of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure occurs.
US08669160B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a dummy gate structure and a spacer surrounding the dummy gate structure on the semiconductor substrate; forming source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure within the semiconductor substrate using the dummy gate structure and the spacer as a mask; forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the upper surface of the interlayer dielectric layer being flush with the upper surface of the dummy gate structure; removing at least a part of the dummy gate structure so as to form a trench surrounded by the spacer; performing tilt angle ion implantation into the semiconductor substrate using the interlayer dielectric layer and spacer as a mask so as to form an asymmetric Halo implantation region; sequentially forming a gate dielectric layer and a metal gate in the trench.
US08669158B2
A method of forming an NVM cell and a logic transistor uses a semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon select gate of the NVM cell is formed over a first thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer in an NVM region and a polysilicon dummy gate is formed over a second thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer in a logic region. Source/drains, a sidewall spacer, and silicided regions of the logic transistor are formed after the first and second thermally-grown oxygen-containing layers are formed. The second thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer and the dummy gate are replaced by a metal gate and a high-k dielectric. The logic transistor is protected while the NVM cell is then formed including forming a charge storage layer.
US08669157B2
The number of times that a non-volatile memory (NVM) can be programmed and erased is substantially increased by utilizing a localized heating element that anneals the oxide that is damaged by tunneling charge carriers when the NVM is programmed and erased. The program and erase voltages are also reduced when heat from the heating element is applied prior to programming and erasing.
US08669144B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. A stack of semiconductor material plates may be patterned to subdivide the plates into pieces. Electrically conductive tiers may be formed along sidewall edges of the pieces. The pieces may then be patterned into an array of wires, with the array having vertical columns and horizontal rows. Individual wires may have first ends joining to the electrically conductive tiers, may have second ends in opposing relation to the first ends, and may have intermediate regions between the first and second ends. Gate material may be formed along the intermediate regions. Memory cell structures may be formed at the second ends of the wires. A plurality of vertically-extending electrical interconnects may be connected to the wires through the memory cell structures, with individual vertically-extending electrical interconnects being along individual columns of the array. Some embodiments include memory arrays incorporated into integrated circuitry.
US08669137B2
A method comprises forming semiconductor flip chip interconnects where the flip chip comprises a wafer and a substrate having electrical connecting pads and electrically conductive posts operatively associated with the pads and extending away from the pads to terminate in distal ends. Solder bumping the distal ends by injection molding solder onto the distal ends produces a solder bumped substrate. Another embodiment comprises providing the substrate having the posts on the pads with a mask having a plurality of through hole reservoirs and aligning the reservoirs in the mask to be substantially concentric with the distal ends. This is followed by injecting liquid solder into the reservoirs to provide a volume of liquid solder on the distal ends, cooling the liquid solder in the reservoirs to solidify the solder, removing the mask to expose the solidified solder after the cooling and thereby provide a solder bumped substrate. This is followed by positioning the solder bumped substrate on a wafer in a manner that leaves a gap between the wafer and the substrate. The wafer has electrically conductive sites on the surface for soldering to the posts. Abutting the sites and the solder bumped posts followed by heating the solder to its liquidus temperature joins the wafer and substrate, after which, the gap is optionally filled with a material comprising an underfill.
US08669135B2
A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition.
US08669134B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device including: forming a first pattern having an independent island shape configured by an optical filter material on some of photoelectric conversion units among a plurality of photoelectric conversion units arranged on the surface of a substrate; forming a mixed color prevention layer on a side wall of the first pattern; and forming a second pattern having an independent island shape configured by an optical filter material on the rest of the photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units while the mixed color prevention layer is closely disposed between the first pattern and the second pattern.
US08669133B2
The present disclosure provides an image sensor semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first type of dopant; a semiconductor layer having a second type of dopant different from the first type of dopant and disposed on the semiconductor substrate; and an image sensor formed in the semiconductor layer.
US08669132B2
A separation type unit pixel of an image sensor, which can control light that incidents onto a photodiode at various angles, and be suitable for a zoom function in a compact camera module by securing an incident angle margin, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The unit pixel of an image sensor includes: a first wafer including a photodiode containing impurities having an impurity type opposite to that of a semiconductor material and a pad for transmitting photoelectric charge of the photodiode to outside; a second wafer including a pixel array region in which transistors except the photodiode are arranged regularly, a peripheral circuit region having an image sensor structure except the pixel array, and a pad for connecting pixels with one another; and a connecting means connecting the pad of the first wafer and the pad of the second wafer.
US08669109B2
A new method for selecting clones and recloning mammalian cells which are of importance for the production of biopharmaceuticals, preferably hamster or mouse myeloma cells, with a high degree of automation and throughput. The invention relates to methods of depositing and replicating single cell clones of the cells in question. The invention also relates to methods of preparing proteins using cells which have been obtained and replicated by single cell deposition as well as compositions which allow the replication of single cells.
US08669106B2
The invention provides, among other things, methods and systems for expanding CD133+ cells. The invention further provides methods and systems for increasing the blood flow to an ischemic tissue in a subject in need thereof, such as to ischemic myocardium. The invention further provides methods and systems for directing differentiation of expanded CD133+ cells. The invention further provides methods and systems for treating a subject with differentiated cells in a subject in need thereof.
US08669098B2
For the purpose of improving the accuracy of a variety analyses using a bio-microarray, it is a main object of the invention to provide a bio-microarray capable of producing relatively high signal intensity from a fluorescent molecule and capable of having improved quantification performance and to provide a substrate for bio-microarray.In order to achieve the object, the invention provides a substrate for bio-microarray characterized by having a reflection-suppressing function.
US08669097B2
An apparatus for measuring bacteria that includes a sampling device for processing fluorescently stained bacteria, a detector for detecting size information from the bacteria in the sample, and a detector for detecting fluorescence information expressing intensity of fluorescent light emitted by the bacteria. The apparatus further includes a processor and memory that includes programs for creating a scattergram representing a distribution of the bacteria based on the size information and the fluorescence information detected, analyzing the distribution of the bacteria in the scattergram, and determining whether the bacteria in the sample is bacillus or coccus based on a result of the analysis.
US08669094B2
A high flux in conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate was achieved in yeast through expression of acetolactate synthase in the cytosol in conjunction with reduction in pyruvate decarboxylase activity. Additional manipulations to improve flux to acetolactate are reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and reduced glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Production of compounds having acetolactate as an upstream intermediate benefit from the increased conversion of pruvate to acetolactate in the described strains.
US08669092B2
A search of the public human genome database identified a human EST, GenBank accession number AW293249, which has high homology to known pufferfish urocortin sequences. The full length sequence was amplified from human genomic DNA and sequenced. Sequence homology comparisons of the novel sequence with human urocortin I and urocortin II revealed that the sequence encoded a novel human urocortin, which was designated urocortin III (UcnIII). While urocortin III does not have high affinity for either CRF-R1 or CRF-R2, the affinity for CRF-R2 is greater than the affinity for CRF-R1. Urocortin III is capable stimulating cyclic AMP production in cells expressing CRF-R2α or β. Thus, the affinity is high enough that urocortin III could act as a native agonist of CRF-R2. However, it is also likely that urocortin III is a stronger agonist of a yet to be identified receptor.
US08669090B2
Methods for production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms, including the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium, using low levels of chloride ion are disclosed. Specifically, methods of increasing production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms while growing in low chloride media by manipulating sodium ion and potassium ion levels. The invention also relates to methods of production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine organisms at low pH levels, and includes methods for generation of low pH tolerant strains.
US08669088B2
An object of the present invention is to provide enzymes associated with equol synthesis, genes coding such enzymes, and a process for producing equol and its intermediates using the enzymes and genes.The present invention provides a dihydrodaidzein synthesizing enzyme, tetrahydrodaidzein synthesizing enzyme, equol synthesizing enzyme, and genes coding these enzymes. The present invention also provides a process for synthesizing dihydrodaidzein, tetrahydrodaidzein, and/or equol using these enzymes.
US08669084B2
The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.
US08669082B1
The present invention relates to the production of biofuels by utilizing efficient biomass digestion and fermentation by a new thermophilic microorganism generated after fusion of two different bacteria Clostridium thermocellum and C. acetobutylicum and properly mutating the fused bacteria to produce biofuels and other economically important chemicals in a single vessel from lignocellulosic derived renewable biomass. All the necessary biochemical digestions and fermentation are carried out by this single thermophilic microorganism in one single vessel eliminating the need for multiple step digestion and fermentation processes, requiring multiple chambers. It also significantly reduces the rate limiting steps where increasing accumulation of alcohol, butanol and other substances become toxic to the very bacteria that produce these biofuels. The single vessel is incubated at high temperatures (45° C. or above) to eliminate the need for periodic stoppage and restarting of the process.
US08669078B2
Disclosed herein are ammonia-specific 5′-XMP aminase mutants and a method for preparing the same. A mutation is introduced into the active site of glutamine-dependent catalysis in 5′-XMP aminase. The resulting 5′-XMP aminase mutant is devoid of the glutamine-dependent activity and specifically reacts with external ammonia in converting 5′-XMP into 5′-GMP. Thus, the ammonia-specific 5′-XMP aminase mutant is stabler within cells compared to the wild type, and can be useful in the industrial conversion of 5′-XMP into 5′-GMP.
US08669074B2
A chimeric phosphorylation indicator (CPI) as provided herein can contain a donor molecule, a phosphorylatable domain, a phosphoaminoacid binding domain (PAABD), and an acceptor molecule. Where the phosphorylatable domain is phosphorylatable by protein kinase C (PKC), the CPI is a c-kinase activity reporter (CKAR). Donor and acceptor molecules may be, independently, fluorescent proteins such as non-oligomerizing fluorescent proteins. A CPI can contain a phosphorylatable polypeptide and a fluorescent protein; the phosphorylatable polypeptide may be contained within the sequence of the fluorescent protein, or the fluorescent protein may be contained within the sequence of the phosphorylatable polypeptide. The spatiotemporal properties of the PKC signal pathway may be tested with CKAR, calcium-sensing fluorophores and FRET-based translocation assays. Polynucleotides encoding such CPIs, and kits containing the indicators and/or the polynucleotides, are provided. A method of using the chimeric phosphorylation indicators to detect a kinase or phosphatase in a sample is provided.
US08669072B2
The present invention relates to non-steroidal ligands for use in nuclear receptor-based inducible gene expression system, and a method to modulate exogenous gene expression in which an ecdysone receptor complex comprising: a DNA binding domain; a ligand binding domain; a transactivation domain; and a ligand is contacted with a DNA construct comprising: the exogenous gene and a response element; wherein the exogenous gene is under the control of the response element and binding of the DNA binding domain to the response element in the presence of the ligand results in activation or suppression of the gene.
US08669070B2
There is disclosed a method of procuring allograft tissue. In an embodiment, the method includes inserting an allograft through an opening into a procurement extraction container, sealing the opening, adding extraction fluid through a second opening, agitating the fluid, collecting the fluid for detection of contamination, and sealing the second opening. There is disclosed a procurement extraction container. In one embodiment, the container includes a wall defining an interior to receive the allograft, an opening into the interior, sized to receive the allograft, a closure device for the opening, the closure device providing a hermetic seal, a second opening providing a second passageway into the interior, the second opening having a connector interface and a second closure device providing a hermetic seal so as to provide, with the first closure and the at least one wall, a sterile barrier. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08669067B2
Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. To date no specific marker is available for gastric cancer screening. The expression profile of 37 proteins was identified to be consistently different between the plasma of normal and gastric cancer subjects. The expression of complement component C9 protein was validated to be significantly higher in the plasma of gastric cancer compared to normal subjects. This was independent of the gastritis and H. pylori status of the patients. We also observed a statistically significant difference (p<0.04) in the expression level of C9 between patients with intestinal and diffuse types of cancer. Two independent blind test studies showed a high sensitivity and specificity to detect gastric cancer. The C9 protein is a biomarker for screening gastric cancer.
US08669063B2
The present invention relates to methods for predicting the effect of an immunotherapy against cancer in a patient based on new biomarkers. The present invention furthermore relates to a prognosis regarding the outcome based on said biomarkers. The present invention furthermore relates to panels of biomarkers for use in the above methods.
US08669060B2
Methods are provided for detection of cancers associated with methylation of hMLH1 promoter DNA in a subject. The method comprise assaying for the presence of methylated hMLH1 promoter DNA in a bodily fluid from a subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises reacting DNA from the sample with a chemical compound that converts non-methylated cytosine bases but not methylated cytosine bases, to a different nucleotide base. The compound-converted DNA is then amplified using a methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (MSP) employing primers that amplify the compound-converted DNA template. The present invention also provides nucleotide primer sequences for use in the methylation-sensitive PCR assay.
US08669052B2
Point-of-care binding assays include at least one target nucleic acid binding in a multiplex structure with at least one sequence in a partner nucleic acid associated with a label, due to complementary base pairings between at least one sequence in the target nucleic acid and at least one sequence in the partner nucleic acid. The assays overcome the inherent deficiencies of antibody-protein antigen assays. In a preferred embodiment, color tagged nucleic acid sequences are used to bind a complementary target nucleic acid. The tagged nucleic acid sequences are preferably made from deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, or peptide nucleotides.
US08669043B2
A method for perfusion of a porous implant which achieves efficient interpenetration of desired factors into and removal of undesirable factors from the pores of the implant, cleaning of the implant, efficient passivation of the implant, and the implant produced by such treatment. A system wherein the rate of pressure cycling, the fact of pressure cycling, and the amplitude of pressure cycling, results in highly cleaned tissues and other implants. Goals include between about a one to twelve log reduction in bacterial contamination, between about a one to fifteen log reduction in enveloped virus contamination, up to about a five log reduction in non-enveloped virus contamination, between about a two to tenfold reduction in endotoxin, maintenance of implant or graft biologic and biomechanical properties, absence of tissue toxicity due to cleaning solutions used, and reduced implant antigenicity.
US08669042B2
A resist pattern-forming method includes applying a resist underlayer film-forming composition to a substrate to form a resist underlayer film. The resist underlayer film-forming composition includes (A) a polysiloxane. A radiation-sensitive resin composition is applied to the resist underlayer film to form a resist film. The radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (a1) a polymer that changes in polarity and decreases in solubility in an organic solvent due to an acid. The resist film is exposed. The exposed resist film is developed using a developer that includes an organic solvent.
US08669040B2
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a relief printing plate having at least engraving an area which is in a relief forming layer of a relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving and is to be exposed by scanning exposure using a fiber-coupled semiconductor laser which emits laser beam with a wavelength of 700 nm to 1,300 nm. The relief printing plate precursor has at least a relief forming layer provided over a support, and the relief forming layer contains at least a binder polymer and a photo-thermal conversion agent. The invention further provides a relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving which can be used in the method of manufacturing a relief printing plate.
US08669036B2
Disclosed is a producing method of a decolorizable toner, comprising dispersing a mixed composition containing encapsulated colorant particles which are particles containing a color developable compound and a color developing agent and coated with an outer shell, a polymerizable monomer, and a release agent in an aqueous medium, and subjecting the polymerizable monomer to suspension polymerization in the aqueous medium.
US08669034B2
Toner compositions, treated fluoropolymer particles, methods of making treated fluoropolymer particles, and the like, are disclosed.
US08669033B2
Provided is a toner containing toner particles containing a polyester resin which has a structure part represented by Formula (1): wherein, “A” represents a polyester structure unit having at least one linking group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a chlorine atom; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, or a methoxy group; and “L” represents a divalent organic group.
US08669017B2
A stack (10) of fuel cells (11) is to be tested for tightness of the fuel cell membranes. For this purpose, a tracer gas is introduced into the fuel feed channel (15) of the stack (10). The fuel discharge channel (16) is either open or it is closed. A carrier gas is fed to the feed air channel. (17) and led through the exhaust air channel (18) to a gas sensor (28) where a determination is made whether the carrier gas contains amounts of tracer gas. A defective fuel cell (11) can be located by introducing a lance comprising a sniffing probe into the corresponding channel (18) and determining the position of the probe.
US08669016B2
A fuel cell manifold holding pressurized cooling fluid is attached to a plurality of cells. A swirl chamber communicating cooling fluid from the manifold to the cells slows the speed of the cooling fluid and lowers its pressure as it enters a fuel cell cooling path.
US08669010B2
A nonaqueous secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is provided with a current collector composed of a film-like or fibrous resin layer having a conductive layer on both sides, and the separator has a higher thermal deformation temperature than the resin layer.
US08669009B2
As a positive electrode active material, a material which is represented by the general formula Li(2-x)M1yM2zSiO4 and satisfies the conditions (I) to (IV) is used: (I) x is a value which changes due to insertion and extraction of a lithium ion during charging and discharging, and satisfies 0≦x<2; (II) M1 is one or more transition metal atoms selected from iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and cobalt (Co); (III) M2 is a metal atom that is titanium (Ti), scandium (Sc), or magnesium (Mg); and (IV) The formulae y+z=1, 0
US08669003B2
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery having an electrode assembly constructed in a structure in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked, while separators are disposed respectively between the electrodes, and electrode taps of the electrodes are connected with each other, the electrode assembly being mounted in a battery case, wherein regions where the electrode taps are coupled to electrode leads (electrode tap-electrode lead coupling regions) are located at an upper-end contact region of the battery case, and the contact region is bent in the thickness direction of the battery, whereby the electrode assembly is separated from an inner space of the battery case.
US08669002B2
To provide a thermoplastic resin microporous film being difficult in longitudinal tearing and excellent in tear resistance; a microporous film comprising a thermoplastic resin, wherein a melt flow rate of the thermoplastic resin in the microporous film is in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 g/10 min, tensile strength in a cross-machine direction is in the range of 5 to 10 MPa and tensile elongation in the cross-machine direction is 300% or more.
US08669000B2
A battery pack including a plurality of battery modules, each battery module including a plurality of stacked unit battery cells; a frame supporting the plurality of battery modules; and a plurality of elastic coupling members for elastically connecting at least one battery module to another battery module or for elastically connecting at least one of the battery modules to the frame; wherein elastic coupling members connected to one of the battery modules have a different elastic coefficient from elastic coupling members connected to the other battery module.
US08668998B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing an opening in the case, and electrode terminals extending through the cap plate at opposite ends of the cap plate. The cap plate includes a recessed portion extending in one direction between the electrode terminals.
US08668988B2
Building panels are ubiquitous in the building industry and are used to form walls, doors or other partitions, either of a structural or non-structural nature. Polyurethane can be formed into a panel which is rigid and can function in the same manner as conventional panels formed from wood and other material. The panel is able to be cut, screwed, drilled, painted, laminated or veneered. While laminating or veneering polyurethane panels with, for example, melamine or plywood, improves strength and rigidity, this is at a cost to flexibility and, consequently, the applicability of panels. The invention defined herein therefore relates to an improved polyurethane panel which overcomes the disadvantages of those which have gone before. The panel of the invention finds particular use, although not exclusive use, in building and construction.
US08668985B2
An aluminum alloy material having an excellent sea water corrosion resistance comprises an aluminum alloy substrate whose ten-points average surface roughness Rz, which is the average of five greatest peak-to-valley separations on the surface, is controlled at 0.3 μm or over, an organic phosphonic primer film formed on a surface of the aluminum alloy substrate, and a fluorine resin paint film formed on the primer film and having a dry average thickness of 1 to 100 μm. A plate heat exchanger having an excellent sea water corrosion resistance is also provided wherein the aluminum alloy material is used as a heat transfer unit using sea water as cooling water.
US08668982B2
A coated cutting insert for removing material from a workpiece that includes a substrate is disclosed. A wear-resistant coating on the substrate that includes an alumina layer and a Zr- or Hf-carbonitride outer layer deposited on the alumina layer. The Zr- or Hf-carbonitride outer layer is subjected to a post-coat wet blasting treatment. The wet blasting changes the stress condition of the exposed alumina coating layer from an initial tensile stress condition to a compressive stress condition.
US08668979B2
Tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images are provided that are low in cost. These film products include a relatively high temperature film that is made by continuous extrusion of the film resin onto a master film having pre-etched holographic-type imaging in order to provide a high-temperature primary film with conforming holographic imaging. This primary film provides a tough holographic-type image that is readily secured to any number of products to impart a holographic character to them. For example, this primary film is suitable for use on the surface of recreational sportsboards. When desired, sublimation printing can be used to impart indicia, text, images and colors, alone or in combination, to the primary film.
US08668976B2
There is described an intermediate transfer member comprising a seamless layer comprising a polyphenylsulfone and a polysiloxane having dispersed therein carbon black particles. The composition used to manufacture the seamless intermediate transfer member is also described.
US08668974B2
A system and method for primarily erecting curvilinear buildings using a plurality of interconnected structural tubes/sandwich panels is provided. Fabricating a structural tubing comprises: connecting a fibrous and flexible lining to an inner surface of a flexible outer membrane, wherein the lining is saturated in a curable material that forms into a solid foam material when cured; and curing the curable material. Fabricating a sandwich panel comprises: connecting a first fibrous and flexible lining to an inner surface of a first flexible outer membrane, wherein the first lining is saturated in a curable material that forms into a solid foam when cured; connecting a second fibrous and flexible lining to an inner surface of a second flexible outer membrane, wherein the second lining is saturated in a curable material that forms into a solid foam when cured; and curing the curable material of the first lining and second linings.
US08668972B2
Medical articles with coatings are disclosed herein, as well as methods and systems for depositing these coatings onto medical articles. Surfaces of such articles may be coated. The coating(s) may serve as lubricants for reducing stiction between such surfaces or between a coated surface and another surface.
US08668971B2
A package with multiple chambers, wherein the inside of the package is partitioned into multiple chambers by a weak seal part(s) formed by sealing one sheet having a heat seal layer in at least one surface thereof and the other sheet having a heat seal layer in at least one surface thereof with the heat seal layers facing each other and sealing the peripheral edge parts thereof, and heat-pressing, from the outside of the package, a part of the inner surfaces of the walls of the package with the heat seal layers. The package is characterized in that both of two heat seal layers forming the inner surfaces of the walls include only a cyclic polyolefin resin as a resin ingredient.
US08668968B2
This invention relates to a composition for plug in a base-isolated structure capable of providing a plug for base-isolated structure having sufficient damping performance, displacement following property and the like, and more particularly to a composition for plug in a base-isolated structure characterized by including powder and an elastomer composition formed by compounding an elastomer component with a reinforcing filler.
US08668967B2
An embellishment transfer delivery system (ETDS) uses an embellishment, such as glitter, and combines it into a transfer adhesive that is combined with a carrier sheet and finally transferred to a sticky substrate, such as a double sided tape. The result is the clean, particle-free, non-tacky, dry transfer of the embellishment to cover an object with precise, complete and detailed coverage. The ETDS is a clean and fully transferrable system of holding, containing and transferring glitter or other embellishments to a double sided tape that allows for detailed coverage and no residual mess or airborne particles. The embellishment is suspended in an adhesive which is then coated onto a pressure sensitive carrier sheet to create the ETDS. The embellishment transfers from the ETDS and bonds to the application in a way that allows for a clean, detailed finished product without any of the mess, stickiness or wait time traditional delivery systems would entail.
US08668964B2
A novel dioxolane compound represented by the general formula (G1) is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 and R2 separately represent any of hydrogen, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and an alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and a phenyl group as a substituent; a1 and a2 separately represent any of an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a single bond; Ar1 and Ar2 separately represent an aryl group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms; and R3 to R38 separately represent any of hydrogen, an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
US08668948B2
Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing semi-moist meatballs. An illustrative embodiment provides a method of manufacturing generally spherical pet treats comprising: (a) providing a ground mix of proteinaceous material, flavor enhancers and preservatives to a portioning device that divides said mix into smaller portions of roughly uniform volume, (b) placing said portions on a first belt of a first conveyor moving at a first speed in a longitudinal direction, (c) periodically pressing said portions with a second belt of a second conveyor, where said second belt operates in a plane at a height above, and substantially parallel to, said first belt, said second belt moving at a second speed in substantially the same longitudinal direction as said first belt, while also oscillating back and forth in a lateral direction that is at an angle to said longitudinal direction, such that said portions are transformed into generally spherical shapes.
US08668939B2
The present invention is directed to bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions derived from membrane and cell serum fractions of plant cell juice. The present invention also relates to the methods for preparing these bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions and the uses of these compositions in various cosmetic formulations and as topical skin cosmetic applications.
US08668938B2
This invention discloses composition and manufacturing processes of a toxicity free botanical drug formulation for curative treatment of chronic diseases. It is manufactured from plants Crinum asiaticum and Crocus sativus. This drug was administered to human volunteers by oral and intranasal routes in effective amount for an effective time period. Effective amount and effective time of administration varies from one human volunteer to another depending upon age, body weight, length of disease, severity of disease, type of the disease. In vitro experiments show that this botanical drug causes proliferation and differentiation of stem cells.
US08668928B2
A capsule for a powder has a body which is provided with an internal chamber to hold the powder and first and second openings to an exterior environment. The body is adapted to be displaced from a filling state, in which the first and second openings are placed in fluid communication with one another through the internal chamber thereby enabling an airflow to be created through the body from the second opening to the first opening which is able to entrain powder in the exterior environment into the internal chamber for filling thereof, to a sealing state in which the internal chamber is sealed from the exterior environment so as to retain the powder held therein.
US08668927B2
This invention relates generally to the treatment of cathepsin or dynamin mediated diseases, such as proteinuria, cancer, and cognitive disease and related products. Diagnostic and other assays are also provided, as well as methods for podocyte cell gene transfer.
US08668926B1
Disclosed are methods of treating subjects having conditions related to angiogenesis including administering an effective amount of a polymeric Nanoparticle form of thyroid hormone agonist, partial agonist or an antagonist thereof, to promote or inhibit angiogenesis in the subject. Compositions of the polymeric forms of thyroid hormone, or thyroid hormone analogs, are also disclosed.
US08668924B2
This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe 5 bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof, The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional 10 pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of 15 blood out of the wound site.
US08668910B2
The present disclosure relates to an antibody or an epitope-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to an EphA2 receptor. It further relates to a conjugate comprising a cytotoxic agent which is covalently bound to the antibody and a method for preparing such a conjugate.
US08668906B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one of the strains selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7528, and Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7529, These new strains have good probiotic features and are useful for the prevention and/or the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.
US08668905B2
The present invention relates to immunotherapy methods for treating hyperproliferative disease in humans, particularly to hyperproliferative disease that is refractory to therapy. More specifically, the invention is directed, in one embodiment, to methods for treating a subject with a hyperproliferative disease in which the expression of a self gene is upregulated in therapy-resistant hyperproliferative cells. In another embodiment, an adenoviral expression construct comprising a self gene under the control of a promoter operable in eukaryotic cells is administered to the therapy-resistant hyperproliferative cells. The present invention thus provides immunotherapies for treating therapy-resistant hyperproliferative disease by attenuating the natural immune system's CTL response against hyperproliferative cells or overexpressing mutant p53 antigens, for example.
US08668896B2
The present invention relates to a method for making a twisted carbon nanotube wire. Two opposite ends of the at least one carbon nanotube film is clamped by two clamps. The two clamps is pulled along two reversed directions to stretch the at least one carbon nanotube film. The at least one carbon nanotube film is twisted by rotating the two clamps while the at least one carbon nanotube film is in a straightening state.
US08668894B2
The present invention relates to a method for processing a sulfur-containing gas and a hydrogenation catalyst used therefor. The method comprises introducing the sulfur-containing gas into the tail gas hydrogenation unit of a sulfur recovery device, processing it with the hydrogenation catalyst of the present invention, and absorbing the hydrogenated tail gas with a solvent. The hydrogenation catalyst comprises from 0.5 to 3 wt. % of an active component nickel oxide, from 1 to 4 wt. % of an active component cobalt oxide, from 8 to 20 wt. % of an active component molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide, from 1 to 5 wt. % of a deoxidation auxiliary agent, from 10 to 40 wt. % of TiO2, the balance being γ-Al2O3, based on the weight of the catalyst.
US08668886B2
A bioreactor that combines the steps of recombinant expression and separation of a biological product by binding the secreted biological product with a resin, discarding the nutrient medium and eluting the biological product as a concentrated solution, eliminating the steps of sterile filtration and volume reduction. The method also allows loading of resin for column-purification, eliminating all steps of perfusion process and maintaining a sink condition of a toxic product in nutrient medium to optimize productivity of host cells. The instant invention also allows harvesting of solubilized inclusion bodies after the cells have been lysed and refolding of proteins inside the bioreactor.
US08668881B2
A decontamination enclosure, comprised of a plurality of preformed panels joined together to form a structure defining a totally enclosed chamber. A door is formed in at least one of the panels, the door being movable between an opened position and a closed position to allow access to the chamber. A circulation system is attached to the structure for circulating vaporized hydrogen peroxide through the chamber. A controller is provided for controlling the amount of vaporized hydrogen peroxide introduced into the chamber.
US08668880B2
The present invention provides an apparatus that inhibits microbial viability on a medical instrument. The apparatus has a sterilization chamber for receiving the medical instrument. A circulation system is fluidly connected to the sterilization chamber to circulate a fluid through the sterilization chamber. A well is provided to receive a chemistry container that includes a removable base portion. A device is provided to detach the removable base portion from the chemistry container. The device includes a mounting end that is mountable within the well such that the device extends into a lower portion of the well. An elongated intermediate section extends from the mounting end at a first angle. A free end extends from the elongated intermediate section at a second angle. The free end is dimensioned to matingly engage and apply a force to a mating feature on the chemistry container or on the removable base portion as the chemistry container is inserted into the well.
US08668875B2
A stirring device and an analyzing device for stirring a liquid retained in a vessel with sound wave. The Stirring device (20) comprises: a surface acoustic wave element (24) having sound generation section (24b, 24c) located on a piezoelectric substrate (24a) wherein the sound generation sections are electrically connected in parallel, and center frequencies of respective fundamental waves of the sound generation sections differ from each other, respective resonant frequency bands of the sound generation section are partially overlapped with each other, and origins of acoustic stream caused by sound wave radiated to the vessel from different sound generation section are located alternately; and a drive control section (21) for controlling a frequency of drive signal input to the surface acoustic wave element so that at least two sound generation sections of the plurality of sound generation sections generate sound wave simultaneously.
US08668867B2
A method for making an antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of positioning an antimicrobial agent source within a package comprising an inner surface, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; positioning a medical device within the package; and subjecting the package, the antimicrobial agent source and the medical device to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the medical device, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the medical device.
US08668864B2
Processes for fabricating polymer composite materials that contain a polymer matrix, reinforcement fabrics, and particles of a filler material. The processes include spraying the particles of the filler material on at least two articles that each comprise at least one of the reinforcement fabrics to form particle-laden articles. The particle-laden articles are stacked to form a stacked structure, and a resin present within the stacked structure is then cured to form a laminate polymer composite material. The process can be employed in the fabrication of at least a portion of an aircraft engine nacelle, for example, the inlet lip of a fan nacelle.
US08668862B2
Flow gates 5 capable of protruding and retracting are provided in a cavity 9 of a die 2 to control a resin filling path. The generation of welds or orientation lines in a resin flow pattern is allowed only in an area containing uneven portions outside a design surface but is not allowed in other areas. The area containing welds or orientation lines in a resin flow pattern is covered with a separate component having a design surface, thereby achieving a desired metallic appearance.
US08668861B1
Protective edging for a cathode of an electroplating system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments a cathodes of an electroplating system, the cathodes including a sheet of metallic material that defines a front, a back and an edge, a plurality of apertures through the metallic material proximate to a portion of the edge and a plastic material that envelops the portion of the edge and the plurality of apertures. The plastic material extends through the apertures and is adhered to the metallic material.
US08668860B2
An in-mold-decoration method for plastic articles is provided. An uninterrupted film is provided and transported into a mold. A predetermined area of the film attaches to an inner surface of a cavity of a female mold of the mold. The predetermined area of the film is cut from the uninterrupted film during closing the mold.
US08668856B2
A method for forming a composite structure, using a mandrel that is later removed from the composite structure, involves production of a mandrel by depositing a particulate mixture, including an aggregate and a binder, into a mold and removing the mandrel from the mold. The mandrel may be treated while still in the mold by heating, curing with an agent, microwave energy, or by some combination thereof. Once finished, the mandrel can be used in manufacturing polymer and/or composite components. The mandrel can also include materials that can be easily removed from the finished composite structure by water, shakeout, chemically dissolving, or by some combination thereof.
US08668844B2
The invention relates to a Gd2O2S:Nd fluorescent material and the use of Nd3+ as emitter in suitable materials.
US08668824B2
This invention relates to process for producing a reformate or gasoline product. The process involves a rapid cycle of reacting hydrocarbon feedstock to form the product and then regenerating the catalyst used in the reaction. The process can be carried out at relatively high liquid hourly space velocities and preferably at relatively low hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratios to produce a reformed product having relatively high liquid yield and hydrogen content.
US08668819B2
A biosensor with an underfill recognition system assesses whether to analyze a sample for one or more analytes in response to the volume of the sample. The underfill recognition system applies polling and test excitation signals to the sample. The polling signals generate one or more polling output signals, which maybe used to detect when a sample is present and to determine whether the sample has sufficient volume for analysis. The test excitation signal generates one or more test output signals, which may be used to determine one or more analyte concentrations in the sample.
US08668818B2
This invention is directed to a new method of mass-transfer/fabrication of micro-sized features/structures onto the inner diameter (ID) surface of a stent. This new approach is provided by technique of through mask electrical micro-machining. One embodiment discloses an application of electrical micro-machining to the ID of a stent using a customized electrode configured specifically for machining micro-sized features/structures.
US08668812B2
Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a first vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The first vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus simplifying maintenance of the apparatus.
US08668800B2
A method for manufacturing complex hollow composite parts with at least one internal structure formed in situ by laying laminated layers around a removable mandrel assembled inside the part's inner cavity. The inner mandrel is made up of two jig plate assemblies aligned in a parallel manner and space apart where the internal structure is to manufactured. Each jig plate assembly is made up of at least three jig plates stacked in an edge-to-edge manner Located on opposite sides of each jig plate assembly is an elastic envelope filled with spherical objects. When evacuated, the envelope collapses and relaxes and composite material may then laid up inside the inner cavity and around the envelopes. When exposed to a heat, the envelopes expand and in situ and form internal structures inside surface of the cavity. Each envelope and each jig plate assemblies can be easily dissembled and reused.
US08668792B2
A method for producing a magnetic sheet wherein a magnetic sheet composition is applied onto a substrate. The magnetic sheet composition contains: a binder; magnetic powder; and a curing agent, wherein the binder contains a thermosetting organic resin, and the curing agent contains a sulfonium borate complex expressed by General Formula 1: where R1 is an aralkyl group, R2 is a lower alkyl group, X is a halogen atom, and n is an integer of 0 to 3.
US08668786B2
Formed alloy strips including zirconium alloy strips that demonstrate improved formability are disclosed. The strips of the present disclosure have a purity and crystalline microstructure suitable for improved formability, for example, in the manufacture of certain articles such as panels for plate exchangers and high performance tower packing components.
US08668777B2
Mixtures containing concentrated sulfuric acid used for stripping photoresist from semiconductor wafer, such as SOM and SPM mixtures, are more quickly removed from a wafer surface using another liquid also containing high concentration of sulfuric acid, with the second liquid furthermore containing controlled small amounts of fluoride ion. The second liquid renders the wafer surface hydrophobic, which permits easy removal of the sulfuric acid therefrom by spinning and/or rinsing.
US08668774B2
A method for synthesizing ZnO, comprising continuously circulating a growth solution that is saturated with ZnO between a warmer deposition zone, which contains a substrate or seed, and a cooler dissolution zone, which is contains ZnO source material.
US08668770B2
Disclosed is a dental cement composition made up of ingredients comprising the nanoparticles of dicalcium and tricalcium silicate, bismuth oxide, gypsum, zeolite and strontium carbonate. The dental cement can also be used as bone cement, pulpotomy agent, pulp capping material, dental implant material, perforation repair material, and root-end filling material.
US08668764B2
MOF nanocrystals having a narrow size distribution, as well as methods of making and using same are disclosed.
US08668763B2
A liquid degassing apparatus is arranged to prevent pervaporated solvent cross-contamination by counteracting liquid vapor pervaporation flow. Liquid vapor pervaporation cross-contamination among a plurality of degassing modules is counteracted with specifically configured volumes and bleed inlet flow to conduits fluidly coupling permeate sides of said plurality of degassing chambers.
US08668762B2
The present invention relates to a desulfurizing agent of improved oxidation resistance, ignition resistance and productivity, and a method for manufacturing the desulfurizing agent. The desulfurizing agent may include a plurality of magnesium-aluminum alloy grains with grain boundaries, and a compound of one selected from consisting of magnesium and aluminum and one selected from consisting of alkaline metal and alkaline earth metal, the compound exists in the grain boundaries and is not inside but outside of the magnesium-aluminum alloy grains.
US08668761B2
A process for processing metallurgic residue that is obtained from electric steelworks dust, ESD, essentially containing iron and zinc in the form of zinc oxide and zinc ferrites, as well as a processing of the blast-furnace slags, BFS, and a combination with a synergy effect.
US08668760B2
A method for the production of a γ-TiAl base alloy by vacuum arc remelting, which γ-TiAl base alloy solidifies via the β-phase (β-γ-TiAl base alloy), includes the following method steps of forming a basic melting electrode by melting, in at least one vacuum arc remelting step, of a conventional γ-TiAl primary alloy containing a lack of titanium and/or of at least one β-stabilizing element compared to the β-γ-TiAl base alloy to be produced; allocating an amount of titanium and/or β-stabilizing element to the basic melting electrode, which amount corresponds to the reduced amount of titanium and/or β-stabilizing element, in an even distribution across the length and periphery of the basic melting electrode; and adding the allocated amount of titanium and/or β-stabilizing element to the basic melting electrode so as to form the homogeneous β-γ-TiAl base alloy in a final vacuum arc remelting step.
US08668755B2
A filter for an electronics cooling unit of a telecommunications base station, the electronics cooling unit adapted to receive fresh air into a housing of the cooling unit through an opening communicating with the external environment. The filter includes a structural support configured to be mounted to said housing, a gasket sealingly engaging the structural support and adapted to engage the housing; and a filter media supported by the structural support, the filter media being free of a membrane type layer and including a fiber entanglement selected to prevent ingress of water sufficient to pass a salt fog test consistent with GR-487-CORE and in accordance with ASTM B 117.
US08668751B2
A system includes a first cross-flow filter configured to remove at least a first portion of a liquid from a fuel slurry to increase a concentration of a solid fuel in the fuel slurry. The system also includes a gasifier configured to generate a syngas from the fuel slurry.
US08668749B2
A diesel fuel additive composition, a fuel containing the fuel additive, a method for improving diesel engine performance using the additive. The diesel fuel additive includes a reaction product of (a) a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (b) a reactant selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing compound, a hydroxyl-containing compound, and water that provides a reaction product selected from the group consisting (1) a mono-amide/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof, (2) a diacid or metal free diacid salt thereof, and (3) mono-ester/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof. The reaction product includes at least about 10 molar percent acid groups based on total moles of the reaction product.
US08668745B2
The invention provides an agent for lightening keratinic fibers, the agent containing in a cosmetic carrier (i) at least one acyl pyridinium derivative of formula (I), (ii) at least one alkalizing agent selected from triethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-ol, 2-amino-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol, lysine, ornithine and/or an alkalizing agent mixture comprising at least one basic amino acid and at least one alkanolamine, and (iii) at least hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent.
US08668744B2
A vacuum-assisted suspension device for a lower limb prosthesis secures the prosthesis to a residual body portion. Sandwiched between the residual body portion and an impermeable socket is a flexible liner made of an impermeable material that is porous to allow the transport of air and fluid directly away from the residual body portion to the outer surface of the liner. A fabric distribution layer is located over the liner and between the liner and the socket to allow transmission of such extracted air and fluid laterally over the liner to an evacuation port in the socket. The evacuation port has an associated one-way valve. During use, loading of the socket compresses the flexible liner and air is expelled via the evacuation port. When the load is removed, a vacuum is created directly between the residual body portion and the socket, the vacuum being maintained by the one-way valve.
US08668738B2
A method and apparatus for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using sockets in bone created by retrograde cutting. A retrograde rotary cutter, inserted onto an insertion post of a tibial guide, is inserted through an anteromedial portal and the rotary cutter placed on the anatomical origin of an ACL tibial insertion. A retrograde drill pin, guided by a drill guide, is drilled through the tibia until it contacts the rotary cutter. Once the cutter is disengaged from the guide and securely engaged in the retrograde drill pin, the retrograde drill pin is retracted for retrograde cutting of a socket of desired depth in the tibia.
US08668737B2
An implant for marking an area within a living body includes a matrix material and a marking material. The implant is formable to fit the shape and size of a cavity in the human body. The implant is configured to support tissue surrounding the cavity and to allow in-growth of fibrous tissue into and replace at least a portion of the matrix material.
US08668725B2
A bone screw is provided for securing a medical device to bone. The bone screw can engage with a bone screw hole in a medical device, such as an anterior cervical plate or sternal closure plate. Embodiments of the bone screw can include a screw head, a smooth cylindrical shaft region, a first and a second cylindrical shaft region with external threading, a tapered shaft region with external threading and one or more recessed flutes, and a sharp tip without threading or fluting. The external threading in the first and the second cylindrical shaft regions can have different pitches and crests. The external threading on the tapered shaft region can be tapered.
US08668723B2
An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The cervical plate includes a retention ring with a deflectable flange that is upwardly spaced from the top surface of the ring and configured to prevent an inserted bone fastener from backing out of the plate. The plate includes a locking pin having a camming surface and a blocking surface. When the camming surface is moved into position adjacent to the flange, the flange is free to flex out of the way of a bone screw being inserted into or removed from the plate. When the blocking surface is positioned adjacent to the flange, outward deflection of the flange is prevented to retain the bone screw inside the plate. The locking pin is rotated through a camming surface to bring a blocking surface against the flange deflecting the flange onto the head of the bone screw.
US08668722B2
A bone screw (1) is used for locking an articular facet between the superior and inferior articular processes of two vertebral bodies and is provided with a threaded shaft (2), a screw head (3) and a central axis (4). The screw head (3) is further provided with a number of grooves (5) on the periphery of the screw head (3) which run essentially parallel to said central axis (4).
US08668719B2
A method for improving shear loading capacity of a spinal segment having a superior vertebra, an inferior vertebra or sacrum, and a facet joint, includes providing a constraint device having an upper portion, a lower portion and a compliance member coupled therebetween. The constraint device is coupled with the spinal segment such that the upper portion of the constraint device is coupled with the superior vertebra and the lower portion of the constraint device is coupled with the inferior vertebra or a sacrum. The constraint device provides a force resistant to flexion of the spinal segment. Also, length or tension in the constraint device is adjusted so as to increase engagement between an upper portion of the facet joint and a lower portion of the facet joint, thereby increasing capacity of the spinal segment to resist shear loading.
US08668717B2
A modification to allow delivery of a two port medical flow restrictor over a guidewire, and a means to mechanically collapse the new device. A thin walled, foil-like shell, is compacted for delivery. The invention includes the device, delivery assemblies, and methods of placing, and using, the device. A device with an aneurysm lobe and an artery lobe self-aligns its waist at the neck of an aneurysm as the device shell is pressure expanded. Mechanical force collapses both the aneurysm lobe and the artery lobe, captivating the neck of the aneurysm and securing the device. The device works for aneurysms at bifurcations and aneurysms near side-branch arteries. The device, unlike endovascular coiling, excludes the weak neck of the aneurysm from circulation, while leaving the aneurysm relatively empty. Unlike stent-based exclusion, the device does not block perforator arteries. This exclusion device can also limit flow through body lumens or orifices.
US08668714B2
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.
US08668706B2
Tissue management methods can include inserting a clamping device into a vessel and clamping a vessel wall via the clamping device. Tissue can be dilated about the clamping device and an anastomotic device provided to the vessel.
US08668701B2
An apparatus and methods for delivery of reinforcing materials to a weakened or fractured bone is disclosed. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a bone including a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen capable of allowing a bone reinforcing mixture to pass therethrough; a balloon engaging the tube wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon.
US08668693B2
A bone fixation device includes a rod including a first portion extending from a proximal side of the rod, and a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the rod is inserted into a medullary canal of an ulna bone, the first portion includes a plurality of longitudinally displaced screw holes, having axes whereby at least two screws inserted into the screw holes extend in discrete directions into a metaphyseal portion of the ulna. The bone fixation device also includes a curved extension portion extending from the proximal side of the rod to capture an olecranon of the ulna. The device provides the benefits of an intramedullary nail and proximal tension band type fixation in a single device. The fixation device permits a minimally invasive treatment of proximal ulna fractures that may otherwise be under treated.
US08668685B2
When a treatment instrument is connected to the corresponding device (electric scalpel device or ultrasonic wave generation device), the device (electric scalpel device or ultrasonic wave generation device) transmits information related to the type, mode, and setting of the treatment instrument to a system controller. Accordingly, if a new treatment instrument is used, the system controller can perform display information related to the new treatment instrument and control the new treatment instrument. Even when the system controller is used in combination with newly-developed electric cautery knife and other treatment instruments, the system controller can obtain fixed information related to the respective medical instruments, thus increasing the operationality. Even if wrong setting is performed outside the ratings of the instruments in the system controller, the instruments can be prevented from damage such as dielectric breakdown on the basis of the obtained fixed information.
US08668683B2
The present invention relates to a urinary catheter collection system comprising a urinary catheter, a collection bag neck, and a collection bag body. The invention particularly relates to a urinary catheter collection system having a detachable bag body, which allows a user the option to detach the collection bag body from the collection bag neck so that urine may drain from the catheter into a suitable container, such as a toilet, preventing the user from having to empty or dispose of a used urine collection bag body.
US08668681B2
A multi-chamber container of two liquid mixing type, aiming for obtaining an increased reliability for preventing an administration from being practiced under a non separated condition of a weak seal.The medical bag 10 has an outer peripheral strong seal 14 and a weak seal 18 for separating the space inside the medical bag into two partitions 20 and 22. At the tip end of an outlet port 12, a flap 28 as a valve member is provided, which usually closes the outlet port 12 to the space inside the medical bag. The flap 28 is connected to the opposite surface of the medical bag, so that the flap 28 is displaced in cooperation with an expansion deformation of the medical bag as obtained when the weak seal 18 is opened, resulting in opening of the outlet port 12. The flap is formed with a small hole 44 for limiting a liquid flow amount to a small value. When an infusion operation being started under the non-opened state of the weak seal, the liquid flow amount to the outlet port is restricted to a small amount by the small hole 44, thereby notifying the non-opened state of the weak seal and warning that the weak seal should be opened.
US08668679B2
The present disclosure includes an embodiment wherein a disposable wearable absorbent article comprises an anchoring subsystem configured to at least assist in holding the article in place on a wearer.
US08668677B2
An apparatus (2) for carrying on the body of a user to generate a vacuum for medical applications, in particular, for the vacuum therapy of wounds on the human or animal body, has a vacuum-producing device and a vessel (10) that is disposable after use for receiving body fluids, in particular, wound exudates suctioned out of a wound, and with a connection (12) for a suction tube leading to the body for this purpose, wherein the vacuum-producing device is disposed in or on a first housing part (4) of the apparatus and the vessel (10) forms a second housing part (8) of the apparatus or is disposed in or on the second housing part (8), and the housing parts (4, 8) are separably fixed one against the other. The apparatus (2) has fastening means so that it can be worn and carried on the body of the user. The device is characterized in that the first housing part (4) is provided facing away from the body when the apparatus is carried on the body of the user (mobile operation) and the second housing part (8) is facing the body with both housing parts (4, 8) being essentially disk-shaped and lying one against the other in an essentially vertically oriented separation plane (14).
US08668676B2
Apparatus and methods for implanting ocular implants in eyes are provided which include a bent cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and being configured to receive an ocular implant. The ocular implant is made up of a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles, preferably a plurality of uniformly sized microspheres, arranged in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for delivering the implant through the distal end of the lumen and into the eye, preferably without the use of a liquid or gel carrier medium located in the lumen along with the implant.
US08668669B2
This invention relates to a method that comprises the introduction of a catheter via left subclavian vein, advancing into the right atrium and then positioning it in the inferior vena cava, just at the cava-diaphragm junction, where it is anchored at its extreme; and thereafter an external inflation of a balloon positioned in said catheter takes place through a physiological solution to reach a diameter corresponding to half the diameter of the inferior vena cava, resulting in hemi-occlusion in the expiration phase (breath-out) and total occlusion for a short period during the inspiration phase (breath-in), regulating (normalizing) the venous return and decreasing the cardiac volume overload, as a treatment for heart failure. The invention also comprises hydromechanics devices to normalize the venous return in the circulatory system. Said venous return is increased in 90% of patients with heart failure. In particular, it refers to a combined catheter with an inflatable balloon, producing said balloon a cyclical occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). The said balloon is adaptable to the area of its location in the inferior vena cava, proximal to the right atrium (RA), which comprises of means for its fixation within said vein, as well as the capacity of modifying the volume in response to the requirements of the patient. This device is implanted for an extended period of more than three months. The final objective is to treat and stop the progression of heart failure.
US08668668B2
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, small 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 sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the femoral arteries and the iliac arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. In an exemplary application, the sheath includes a supported proximal end, a supported distal end, and a collapsible center section. Certain configurations of the sheath are capable of being inserted in a first, small cross-sectional configuration, being expanded diametrically to a second, larger cross-sectional configuration, and then being reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.
US08668660B2
The interproximal cleaning appliance includes a housing (12) and a spray applicator (16) extending therefrom for directing a spray of fluid droplets to the interproximal area. Within the housing is a spray-generating assembly (14) which includes a chamber, a movable piston (26) mounted therein, one-way inlets (42, 40) for gas and fluid and an outlet (44). A system (54) for moving the piston, such as a motor, operatively compresses a spring (32) which creates a partial vacuum in the chamber, allowing gas to flow into the chamber through the gas inlet. Release of the spring produces a stream of fluid droplets which flows out of the chamber through the applicator to the interproximal area.
US08668658B2
Methods of derating a nonlinear ultrasound field and associated systems are disclosed herein. A method of derating a nonlinear ultrasound field in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, calibrating an ultrasound source to a first source voltage (Vw) and generating a nonlinear acoustic wave from the ultrasound source into water. The method can further include measuring a focal waveform of the nonlinear acoustic wave and determining a second source voltage (Vt) of the ultrasound source that generates the same focal waveform in tissue.
US08668657B2
A method of manufacturing a guidewire having a discrete length. The method includes the steps of feeding a first end of a corewire into an extrusion device, gripping the first end of the corewire with a gripping apparatus, and extruding a first extrusion material onto an outer surface of the corewire while the gripping apparatus pulls the corewire through the extrusion device to form an extrusion jacket on the outer surface of the corewire. The corewire has a predetermined length corresponding to a length of the guidewire.
US08668655B2
The invention relates to a device for collecting a tissue sample from an animal, comprising: a collection means having at least one cutting element (21) for cutting a tissue sample from the animal, and a means for storing said sample. According to the invention, the collection means also includes a push element (23) which can move in relation to the cutting element (21) in order to push the sample into the storage means after the sample has been cut with said cutting element (21).
US08668654B1
A system for gathering biological material in a biological cavity comprising a catheter having a first lumen, a balloon, and a second lumen in fluid communication with said balloon. The balloon has a textured outer surface for collecting biological material. At least one device for sampling a bodily tissue, such as a needle, optic or forceps, is disposed in the first lumen. A fluid source in fluid communication with the balloon supplies fluid to the second lumen to inflate the balloon such that the textured outer surface collects additional biological material. The system is particularly useful for collecting samples in the lungs or bronchial airways, such as at a bronchial junction.
US08668650B2
A pressure sensing device is provided that can monitor and measure pressure at two points in a vessel or artery without moving the outer sheath or catheter of the device. The outer sheath or catheter includes two spaced apart openings that may be positioned in a vessel or artery on opposing sides of an occlusion. The device also includes an inner elongated tube with at least one opening. The inner elongated tube is slidable with respect to the outer sheath or catheter thereby permitting the opening of the elongated tube to be moved into selective registration with one of the openings of the outer sheath. A pressure measurement may be taken through one of the openings in the outer sheath by aligning the opening of the elongated tube with said opening and, then, a second pressure reading may be taken by sliding the elongated tube within the outer sheath so that the opening of the elongated tube is in registry with the other opening of the tubular sheath. As a result, pressure measurements at two points in a vessel or artery may be taken without moving the outer sheath or catheter.
US08668646B2
A sensing assemblage (1) for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a medium is disclosed to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing assemblage (1) comprises a transducer (2) and a waveguide (3). The transducer (2) is coupled to the waveguide (3) at a first location. A second transducer (11) can be coupled to the waveguide (3) at a second location. An interface material that is transmissive to acoustic energy waves can be placed between transducers (402, 404) and a waveguide (414) to improve transfer. The interface material (408, 410) can affix the transducers (402, 404) to the waveguide (414). Alternatively, a reflecting feature (5) can be placed at a second location of the waveguide (3) to reflect acoustic waves back to the transducer (2) where transducer (2) emits energy waves into the medium and detects propagated energy waves.
US08668642B2
A surgical apparatus includes a housing member having leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. One or more ports longitudinally extend between the leading and trailing ends, and are configured and adapted to receive a surgical instrument therein in a substantially sealed relation. At least one cleaning port longitudinally extends between the leading and trailing ends, and is configured and adapted to receive a cleaning device therein. The cleaning device is configured and adapted to clean surgical instruments positioned within the one or more ports without necessitating removal of the surgical instruments from the one or more ports.
US08668641B2
A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed, including an access member, a tissue engaging member, a sleeve extending from a portion of the membrane, and a fastening member to couple the access member and the sleeve. The access member includes proximal and distal ends, at least one lumen disposed therethrough, and defines a longitudinal axis. The tissue engaging member includes a membrane having proximal and distal ends with opposing openings, and a passage therethrough for receiving the access member. A length of the tissue engaging member may be selectively adjustable by a user so as to provide a retraction force. The sleeve extends proximally from a portion of the membrane. The sleeve has a proximal end and a distal end with opposing openings, the distal end of the sleeve defined by a portion of the membrane. A fastening member couples the access member and the sleeve.
US08668640B2
Endoscopes and other viewing devices that control the light that contacts a sample and/or that is detected emanating from a sample. The viewing devices are particularly well suited for in vivo imaging, although other uses are also included. The viewing devices, and methods related thereto, comprise a spatial light modulator in the illumination and/or detection light path so that light transmitted to the target via a bundle of light guides or optical system is transmitted substantially only into the cores of the light guide bundle and not into the cladding surrounding the light guides, filler between the light guides in the bundle, or undesired light guides. Also, methods and apparatus for mapping the pixels of the spatial light modulator to the cores of the light guides in the bundle (preferably at least 3 pixels (e.g., at least 3 mirrors for a digital micromirror device) for each core), as well as for mapping the light guides of one light guide bundle to another.
US08668636B2
Illumination light projected into a body cavity includes first to third narrowband rays of different wavelength ranges, at least one of these narrowband rays has a central wavelength of not more than 450 nm. Under these narrowband rays, first to third narrowband image signals are respectively obtained through an endoscope. Based on the first to third narrowband image signals, vascular areas containing blood vessels are determined, and a first luminance ratio between the first and third narrowband signals and a second luminance ratio between the second and third narrowband signals are calculated at every pixel of the vascular areas. From the calculated first and second luminance ratios, information about both the depth and oxygen saturation of the blood vessels is acquired with reference to correlation data that correlates the first and second luminance ratios to the vessel depth and the oxygen saturation.
US08668634B2
Methods for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, apply a centrifuge to process a solids-enriched output of a fluids/solid separation device. The centrifuge may be a horizontal decanter-type centrifuge. The output may be heated. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. The fluids/solids separation device may comprise a shale shaker and/or a main centrifuge for example. The output material may have a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more.
US08668630B2
An add-on weight kit for a selectorized dumbbell comprises a second set of nested weights that are similar in shape and structure to a first set of nested weights originally provided on the dumbbell. The second set of weights has a plurality of overlying rails that will underlie an array of similar rails carried on the first set of nested weights. The kit includes a second handle having vertically spaced openings with the second handle being used in place of a first handle originally provided on the dumbbell. The openings on the second handle are arranged relative to the rails on the second set of weights such that the same connecting pin as used on the dumbbell to couple the first set of weights to the first handle can be used to additionally couple a selected number of the add-on weights to the second handle.
US08668627B2
The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet where the pedal stride length is determined by the movements of an operator. Crank arms are positioned on the framework rearward the operator. Easy starting occurs in the default mode.
US08668618B2
The invention relates to rotary units and rotary mechanisms that are suitable for use in numerous applications. Rotary units typically include rotational components that are configured to rotate. In some embodiments, for example, multiple rotary units are assembled in rotary mechanisms such that neighboring pairs of rotational components counter-rotate or contra-rotate relative to one another during operation of the rotary mechanisms. Rotational components generally include one or more implements that are structured to perform or effect one or more types of work as the rotational components rotate relative to one another in a given rotary mechanism. In certain embodiments, implements are configured to rotate and/or to effect the movement of other components as rotational components rotate.
US08668617B2
A transmission system having an input shaft for receiving/imparting rotation into the transmission system and an output shaft for delivering rotation from the transmission system, a flywheel component which has a ring gear portion and planet gear portion, wherein rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the flywheel component, a first transmission shaft and a first transmission component, wherein rotation and/or orbital motion of the flywheel component is affected by the rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission shaft and by the rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission component, a second transmission shaft, wherein the first transmission component rotates if the second transmission shaft rotates, a second transmission component which rotates if the second transmission shaft rotates, wherein rotation or non-rotation of the second transmission component and rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission shaft affect the overall/net output shaft rotation, at least one modulator shaft the rotation or non-rotation of which is linked with the rotation or non-rotation of one of the transmission shafts, wherein a continuously variable accelerating or retarding torque can be applied to the modulator to accelerate or retard the rotation of the transmission shaft with which the modulator is linked, whereby this continuously variable acceleration or retarding of the rotation of the transmission shaft enables continuous variation of the speed and/or direction of the output rotation relative to the input rotation.
US08668614B2
Disclosed is high torque traction drive. The high torque traction drive utilizes planet gears that engage the inner mesh of a ring gear. The planet gears are mounted in rollers that have inner traction surfaces that engage sloped ring traction surfaces on traction rings that are attached to the ring gear. The sloped traction interface causes the rollers to move inwardly when forced toward the traction rings. The inward force on the rollers creates a shaft traction interface between a shaft and outer traction surfaces on the roller, so that rotational mechanical energy is effectively transferred between the rollers, the shaft and the ring gear. High rotational speeds can be achieved with a high degree of torque. Speed reduction ratios of at least 10:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.
US08668607B2
The driving pulley has a fully clutched mode of operation where a drivebelt and a driveshaft are coupled together in a torque transmitting engagement and also has an unclutched mode of operation where there is substantially no torque transmitting engagement between the drive belt and the driveshaft. The driving pulley comprises at least one transitional clutch spring that is in a first position when the driving pulley is in the unclutched mode of operation and that is in a second position when the driving pulley is in the fully clutched mode of operation. The at least one transitional clutch spring remains substantially in its second position regardless of the relative axial distance between the sheaves when the driving pulley is in the fully clutched mode of operation. A method of operating a driving pulley is also disclosed. The proposed concept provides a smoother engagement during the transition from the unclutched mode to the fully clutched mode.
US08668605B1
An arrow outsert preferably includes a first end and a second end. An arrow point bore is formed in the first end of the arrow outsert to receive a cylindrical portion of an arrow point. An arrow shaft bore is formed in the second end of the arrow outsert to receive an arrow shaft. An outer surface of the arrow outsert is preferably tapered starting at the second end. A female thread is formed through a middle of the arrow outsert to threadably engage a threaded stud of the arrow point. A plurality of axial slots are formed in an outer perimeter of the arrow outsert. The arrow outsert is secured to an end of an arrow shaft by applying glue, adhesive or the like, before insertion into the arrow shaft bore. The threaded stud of the arrow point is threaded into the female thread to complete assembly.
US08668602B1
A method for training a user to swing a member at a moving target. The method comprises receiving in an area proximate the member a target object projected along a free space path toward the area. The method also comprises striking, by the user, the target object with the member. In the method, the target object comprises a target member having a majority of its length along the free space path.
US08668601B1
A golf club head composed of a face component and an aft body composed of a long fiber material. The aft body is composed of a compression molded material. The compression molded aft-body is composed of two pieces which are bonded to a metal face component.
US08668599B1
A golf club iron having a head center of gravity that is low and forward enough to provide a better swing, good striking and swinging feel, and improved ball flight is disclosed. The iron has a recess in a leading edge region and a high density insert disposed within the recess to achieve the desired center of gravity location.
US08668597B2
A golf club 2 is provided with a head 4, a shaft 6, a tip member 8, and a screw member 10. The shaft 6 is inserted into a shaft hole of the tip member 8, and a tip part of the shaft 6 is fixed to the shaft hole. An axis line s1 of the shaft 6 is inclined with respect to an axis line z1 of the tip member 8. The head 4 has a head hole into which the tip member is inserted, a head side engaging part capable of being engaged with the tip member 8 inserted into the head hole, and a through hole into which the screw member 10 can be inserted. The tip member 8 has a shaft side engaging part 38 capable of being engaged with the head side engaging part. Circumferential relative positions A in which the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part can be engaged with each other are M kinds. The circumferential relative positions A can equalize adjustment distance of a loft angle, a lie angle, or a hook angle as compared with circumferential relative positions B in being equally divided into M pieces in a circumferential direction.
US08668594B1
A device allows a golfer to hit full swing golf shots with a real ball in a limited area while still providing the golfer with trajectory information about their shot and realistic feel of an actual golf ball. The device tethers a golf ball to the ground. When the golfer swings, the ball flies about 20 yards and drops to the ground. The device is easy to use and affordable. The device is made from two different cord materials, one being more elastic than the other, allowing the golfer to hit a ball without having the ball spring back to hit the golfer. The golf ball can be attached to the cord with a lightweight screw eye screwed into the ball.
US08668592B2
A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay with a character in a game environment. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. The player's geographic location is detected and stored. In response to the detected geographic location, a storyline is retrieved for the character to interact with. The retrieved storyline is related to the geographic location of the player.
US08668591B2
Disclosed are various embodiments enabling users to identify themselves to a computing device and then be provided access to the entitlement locker of applications and/or data to which the user is entitled.
US08668582B1
Disclosed systems and methods facilitate a server-based gaming environment. In one implementation, a method includes transmitting a video stream of a gaming environment and a region definition for an object in the gaming environment to a client device. A result of a comparison of a location of a selection input in the gaming environment to the region definition is received from a client device. The result indicates that the location of the selection input identifies an area within the region definition. The object is selected based on the selection input corresponding to the region definition.
US08668569B2
A redraw round and feature round are provided to supplement a game of chance. The game of chance may be implemented on a gaming machine or in a traditional manner as described. The game of chance is based on matching player selected spot numbers or player card numbers to randomly generated numbers. The redraw round is triggered if a predetermined number of redraw trigger numbers are generated and displayed as drawn numbers. In the redraw round the gaming machine generates redraw numbers which supplement the draw numbers. A comparison between the combined set of draw and redraw numbers to the player spot numbers occurs and if a predetermined number of matches occur the player is provided an award. A feature round occurs if a predetermined number of feature trigger numbers are drawn. The feature round provides one or more random award to the player.
US08668546B2
A hand held remote controlled toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a motor that can be activated by a wireless signal. The motor is coupled to a drive wheel by a drive gear assembly. Activation of the motor turns the drive wheel and propels the vehicle. The drive gear assembly can be de-coupled from the drive wheel so that the toy vehicle can be manually propelled in a free-wheeling mode.
US08668541B2
A method for manufacturing an image display element including: a front panel; a back panel facing the front panel; plural pixels arranged in a matrix between the panels, and to be selected to be in a display or non-display state; and plural electrodes for controlling the pixels, the panels being bonded with the pixels and the electrodes interposed therebetween, and the electrodes being connected to a driving control circuit via metal wires, includes a first step of performing dicing from the back side of the opposing surface from the front panel, and forming a groove part such that electrode terminals connected to the electrodes are exposed between adjacent plural pixel lines, with the back panel bonded thereto, and a second step of forming the metal wires so as to be connected to the electrode terminals exposed at the groove part.
US08668540B1
An apparatus for separating a panel from a cathode ray tube may include a trough, at least one chipping element mounted in the trough; and a vibrator connected to the trough and configured such that actuation of the vibrator causes the chipping element to vibrate at a frequency and at a throw angle selected to cause the chipping element to throw a cathode ray tube placed in contact therewith upward, then move upward subsequently to contact a downwardly moving cathode ray tube with sufficient force to chip away funnel and frit therefrom. A method for separating a panel from a cathode ray tube may include contacting a funnel of the cathode ray tube with at least one chipping element, and vibrating the chipping element with sufficient force to chip at least the funnel from the cathode ray tube, leaving at least the panel.
US08668539B2
An amphibious protection apparatus including wall members, an occupancy space, and an access region is provided. Each of the wall members is foldably and detachably connected to the other wall members. Each of the wall members has an enclosed space that is inflatable by a fluid injected into the enclosed space. The inflation of each of the detachably connected wall members forms a buoyant enclosure of a predefined configuration, which bounces on land and floats on water. The occupancy space is defined by the detachably connected wall members and accommodates the users. The access region defined by opening one of the detachably connected wall members provides access to the occupancy space. The amphibious protection apparatus inflated to form the buoyant enclosure protects the users accommodated within the occupancy space from impacts from different directions on land and water and provides safety to the accommodated users on land and water.
US08668530B2
The invention relates to a plug connector system for a plug connection between electrical conductors, wherein the plug connector system accommodates plug modules with electrical contacts contained therein, wherein said plug modules are first inserted laterally into a region of a holding frame, wherein a plug insert is arranged in the same and locked in place, and then subsequently slid 90° sideways in the holding frame and held in place. The housing frame is designed as a self-supporting part of the plug connector system, for the purpose of accommodating the plug modules, and can provide protection from external influences by means of a surrounding housing.In addition, in contrast to conventional arrangements used to date in plug connectors, the plug modules can be inserted into the holding frames from both sides, meaning in the direction in which the connection is made, or also in the opposite direction, and can be removed again.
US08668517B2
A plug apparatus has a first holding portion holding a stack connecting conductive wire, a second holding portion separated from the first holding portion and holding a stack connecting conductive wire, and a fixing portion to which the first and second holding portions and are removably fixed, wherein the first and second holding portions and are fixed to the fixing portion and the stack connecting conductive wires and are electrically connected to each other in a first state in which a plug grip is mounted, and the first and second holding portions and are allowed to separate from the fixing portion and the electrical connection between the stack connecting conductive wires and is broken in a second state in which the plug grip is dismounted.
US08668516B2
An identifiable plug and a plug assembly having the same are disclosed. The identifiable plug includes a power input port, a power output port, a storage unit, a signal transmission unit and a processing unit. The power output port is configured to insert into a plug of electronic equipment. The power input port is connected with the power output port. The processing unit is configured to transmit an identification information stored in the storage unit via the signal transmission unit. When the identifiable plug is assembled with an electric socket, the electric socket is capable to read the identification information.
US08668511B2
A hermaphroditic electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector (10a) and an identical second connector (10) to mate with each other, each connector comprising: an insulating housing (20) having a base portion (21), a pair of fixing arms (24) molded two side of the base portion and locating two ends of the diagonal of the base portion separately. and several terminal slots (22) on the base portion; and a number of terminals (5) retained in the terminal slots of the insulating housing; the fixing arms of the first connector engaging with same side fixing arms of the second connector.
US08668504B2
A threadless light socket assembly allows a light bulb to be changed by pushing or pulling the light bulb into or out of the socket provides an outer insulator housing and an insulator cap which carrying a ground socket in a medial channel that grounds a light bulb base to a power supply. Plural spring biased thread locks protrude into center of the ground socket and are staggered in height to align with threads defined in a light bulb base. A positive contact is in the socket assembly supplies positive power from a power supply to the light bulb base. The threadless light socket has interchangeable components to allow installation in new and existing light fixtures.
US08668503B2
A mechanical device for electrically connecting a first flexible assembly to a second flexible assembly comprises a wafer and a housing. The wafer has an insulator core and a plurality of wafer electrical connectors. The core has a first base side and an opposed second base side. The wafer electrical connectors include a first set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the first base side and a second set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the second base side. The wafer electrical connector contacts are adapted to electrically connect with each of the flexible assembly electrical contacts. The housing retains the wafer, the first flexible assembly terminal, and the second flexible assembly terminal in such a way that each of the first flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to one of the wafer electrical connector contacts.
US08668492B2
A removable, candle wick for its ability to be removed from a body of meltable wax and replaced on the same body of meltable wax or placed on a different body of wax. Being anchored on a metal wick tab allows wick to be placed on top of a flat wax surface with stem portion being ignited with a flame. As wax melts the wick tab sinks into the wax and can be extinguished and removed from wax before wax hardens and then placed in a container and reused as desired. The wick will burn wax completely and evenly, and after burning a body of wax, entirely extinguished and placed on a new body of wax to start a new burning. The wick will burn as long as it comes in contact with a meltable body of wax.
US08668491B2
Regulating device for gas burners for providing a gas/air mixture, with a mixing device for mixing a gas flow with a combustion air flow to provide the gas/air mixture, wherein at least one gas valve is positioned in a gas line which conducts the gas flow, which is adjusted in dependence upon a measurement signal of an electric or electronic sensor, wherein the sensor determines the differential pressure between the gas line and a reference pressure. The mixing device may be formed as a Venturi nozzle, in which the gas flow and the combustion air flow are mixed, wherein the reference pressure for the sensor is a device in which the reference pressure prevails, and the device is connected via a connecting line to the Venturi nozzle downstream of the mixing region of the Venturi nozzle.
US08668468B2
A hydraulic pump system for an automatic transmission has the advantages of preventing excessive power loss and durability deterioration. The hydraulic pump system may include a first hydraulic pump that generates a first hydraulic pressure to supply a low pressure portion with the first hydraulic pump, a second hydraulic pump that receives the first hydraulic pressure to generate a second hydraulic pressure higher than the first hydraulic pressure and supplies a high pressure portion with the second hydraulic pressure, and a drive portion that rotates a drive shaft that integrally connects the first hydraulic pump with the second hydraulic pump.
US08668458B2
A fan including a hub part, a blade part and a vibration-absorbing boss, all constituent elements of which are injection molded, thereby reducing production costs. The fan has a minimized contact area between the vibration-absorbing boss and the hub part to prevent the vibration-absorbing boss from being deformed by high-temperature heat during insert injection molding of the hub part and the blade part while assuring sufficient strength of the hub part.
US08668449B2
An exhaust diffuser system and method for a turbine engine. The outer boundary may include a region in which the outer boundary extends radially inwardly toward the hub structure and may direct at least a portion of an exhaust flow in the diffuser toward the hub structure. At least one gas jet is provided including a jet exit located on the outer boundary. The jet exit may discharge a flow of gas downstream substantially parallel to an inner surface of the outer boundary to direct a portion of the exhaust flow in the diffuser toward the outer boundary to effect a radially outward flow of at least a portion of the exhaust gas flow toward the outer boundary to balance an aerodynamic load between the outer and inner boundaries.
US08668448B2
An example airfoil retention arrangement includes a retention assembly having a first retention segment and a second retention segment. Each of the retention segments is separately moveable to an installed position relative to an airfoil assembly and a support structure. The retention segments each have a portion position between a lip of the airfoil assembly and a collar of the support structure when the retention segments are in the installed position. The retention assembly is configured to limit radial movement of an airfoil relative to the support structure when in the installed position.
US08668442B2
A turbine nozzle is provided and includes a first ring having a first microstructure, a vane extending from the first ring, a first porous zone between the first ring and the vane that is more porous than the first microstructure to attenuate thermo-mechanical fatigue cracking between the vane and the first ring. Methods of manufacturing the turbine nozzle are also provided.
US08668440B2
A platform segment for supporting a nozzle guide vane for a gas turbine is provided. The platform segment includes a gas passage surface arranged to be in contact with a streaming gas exhausted from a combustor, wherein the streaming gas streams along the gas passage surface in a streaming direction, a cooling surface, opposite to and thermally connected to the gas passage surface and arranged to be in contact with a cooling fluid, a wall protruding from the cooling surface and extending at least partially in the streaming direction, wherein the wall is arranged circumferentially between positions, at which adjacent guide vanes are to be provided, such that cooling fluid is channeled by the wall for cooling a downstream portion of the cooling surface, and a further wall protruding from the cooling surface and extending at least partially in the streaming direction.
US08668439B2
In one embodiment, an insert for a turbine cooling circuit includes: a radial cooling passage for receiving downstream fluid; an axial passage extending from the radial cooling passage within a lower portion of the insert; and a plurality of radial passages extending from the axial passage, each radial passage extending to a bottom of a partially circumferential dovetail slot of the insert. In another embodiment, an insert for a turbine cooling includes: a plurality of radial passages, each radial passage extending from a bottom of a partially circumferential dovetail slot of the insert; an axial passage extending from the plurality of radial passages within a lower portion of the insert; and an exhaust passage extending from the axial passage.
US08668436B2
A turbomolecular pump has multiple stages of alternately arranged rotors and stators. Each of the rotors has blades radially extending from a rotating body. Each of the stators has blades radially extending toward the rotating shaft of the rotating body. The blades provided on at least either of a rotor and a stator are formed in a twisted shape having a blade angle set by an expression in which the radial distance from the rotating shaft is a variable. The expression of the blade angle is composed of a first expression which provides the optimum angle of each blade on the outer side of a predetermined radius of the blade and also composed of a second expression which provides the blade angle suppressing, on the inner side of the predetermined radius, reverse flow of gas molecules.
US08668431B2
A method for controlling turbine blade tip seal clearance on a non-cowled gas turbine engine includes the step of directing a flow of relatively hot, pressurized air in contact with an exterior surface of the engine core casing circumscribing the turbine. The flow of relatively hot, pressurized air may be selectively directed in contact with the exterior surface of the engine core casing circumscribing the turbine when it is desired to expand the turbine shroud radially outward, such as during transient operation of the gas turbine engine.
US08668425B2
Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for use thereof for loading bulk material into freight containers. One apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a ram. The ram comprises a plate and a driver configured to move the plate from a back end of the hopper to an open end of the hopper to expel material into a container. Another apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a reciprocating conveyor floor system. Optionally, a chute can be employed in combination with a loader vehicle to quickly and efficiently load bulk material into a container.
US08668421B2
In the field of manufacturing container bodies by means of resistance seam welding machines, at least a disturbance variable is collected, particularly errors in cutting the metal sheet. Because of this collection of disturbance variables, at least a control variable is automatically changed in order to compensate or to diminish the influence of the disturbance variable on the welding seam quality.
US08668417B2
A cargo restraint system is provided. The system includes a fixed-hook assembly including a frame and a hook extending from the frame. The system also includes a fabric strap including a first end and a second end and a tensioner assembly configured to receive and maintain the second end of the fabric strap therein when in a locked configuration, wherein the tensioner assembly is configured to reduce in length when placed in the locked configuration. At least a portion of the fabric strap is received within the fixed-hook assembly.
US08668414B2
In a machine tool, a column base (12) is supported on a bed (11) movably in a horizontal direction, and a column (13) is installed vertically on the column base (12). A saddle (14) is supported on a side of the column (13) movably in a vertical direction, and a ram stock (15) is supported on the saddle (14) movably in a horizontal direction. A main spindle (16) is rotatably supported by the ram stock (15). A weight (22) is supported in the column (13) movably in a direction parallel to the ram stock (15), so that the weight (22) can be moved horizontally by a servo motor (23). An NC device (25) moves the weight (22) by the servo motor (23) synchronously with a movement of the ram stock (15), to adjust balance of the column (13), thereby enabling to reduce the size of an apparatus and realize space saving.
US08668412B2
A minimum five-axis machine tool (11) has first to third linear feed axes orthogonal to each other as well as first and second rotational feed axes orthogonal to each other, wherein a rotational axis line of the first rotational feed axis C is parallel to the first linear feed axis Z. While a tool T and a work W are moved relatively through the second and third linear feed axes X, Y to perform machining of the work W by means of the tool T, the machine tool controls the first rotational feed axis C such that a rotational axis line of the second rotational feed axis A is perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the tool T to the work W, and controls a power supplied to a motor for the second rotational feed axis A when a torque around the second rotational feed axis A exceeds a specified threshold.
US08668410B1
In an advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a housing associated with a machine, a shaft, a sleeve, and a biasing system. The shaft is associated with the housing, and the shaft has an end configured to receive a tool. The shaft is configured to be rotated by the machine about an axis of rotation extending through the shaft. The sleeve is associated with the housing, and the sleeve has a channel that is configured to receive the shaft. The biasing system is associated with the housing and configured to move the sleeve along the axis of rotation against a workpiece on which a drilling operation is performed during which a sleeve end presses against the workpiece with a force while the shaft with the tool is rotated by the machine.
US08668409B2
A twist drill includes a drill body having a chip flute extending a distance along the drill body. The chip flute has a leading edge and a run-out edge running along the chip flute. The run-out edge is disposed behind the leading edge in a direction of rotation of the twist drill. The chip flute, viewed cross-sectionally in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The first wall portion extends along a curve between the run-out edge and the second wall portion. The second wall portion extends in a straight line from between the leading edge and the first wall portion. The first wall portion and the second wall portion are disposed adjoining one another and together define a J-shaped cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
US08668406B2
The invention facilitates provision of a point-to-point cable connection between first and second points separated by an extended span of water including a first region of shallow water and a second region of relatively deep water. A plurality of ducts are provided from the first point through the first region of the extended span to an offshore termination point between the first and second points. Preferably, the ducts are buried in the seabed to prevent damage. At least one first cable is placed in one of the plurality of ducts to provide a connection between the first point and the offshore termination point. A second cable from the second point is received at the offshore termination point. The first cable is connected to the second cable at the offshore termination point to create the point-to-point cable connection. In one embodiment, the offshore termination point is located on the continental shelf near the transition to deep water. Cable can be installed between the first point and the offshore termination point with relative ease by passing the cable through an available conduit. This eliminates the need for the time consuming and expensive permitting process typically associated with near-shore cable installation.
US08668401B2
A cost effective device for storing a fluid material, and controlling the amount of fluid material that will be provided on an applicator for application to a particular surface is disclosed. The device is comprised of few parts including an outer housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, a fluid insert, an applicator, and an adjustment mechanism. This makes the device cheaper to manufacture, and easy to assemble. The embodiments disclosed can be provided in a pre-assembled form to cosmetic companies and the like seeking to fill a dispenser with their fluid cosmetic products.
US08668395B2
A material imaging apparatus includes a base, support pillar and imaging camera divided into a camera base and a camera neck. The camera is mounted via a first shaft on the pillar so as to be pivotable between a right horizontal position where an imaging lens is located on a base right side and a left horizontal position where the lens is located on base left side. The camera neck is mounted via a second shaft on the camera base so as to be rotatable between a downwardly vertical position where when the camera assumes the right or left horizontal position, the lens is directed to the base placement surface side and lens optical axis is substantially vertical to the base placement surface, and an upwardly vertical position where the lens is directed to a side opposite the base placement surface and the optical axis assumes a substantially vertical position.
US08668389B2
A thrust bearing assembly includes a single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange having a generally cylindrical body portion, a frustoconical body portion and a bore extending through the cylindrical body portion and the frustoconical body portion. The bore defines a first bore section and a second bore section. A lip extends between the first and second bore sections. The first bore section, the second bore section and the lip are configured to receive a thrust shaft and axial thrust forces transmitted therefrom. The thrust bearing assembly also includes a bearing assembly in operable communication with the single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange. The bearing assembly supports rotation of the thrust shaft and includes a plurality of first rolling elements. The bearing assembly includes a bearing cage to retain the first rolling elements and a plurality of second rolling elements disposed between the bearing cage and the thrust shaft.
US08668388B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies including one or more superhard bearing elements having one or more grooves formed in a bearing surface thereof, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements includes a bearing surface. At least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements includes one or more grooves formed in the bearing surface thereof. The bearing assembly also includes a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements.
US08668379B2
Watch display assembly including a watch support element (2), characterized in that the support element (2) is arranged to rotate on two perpendicular axes (X-X; Y-Y).
US08668378B2
A regulating organ adapted to be integrated into a mechanical watch, comprising a first balance and a first spiral fastened to an axle, and-at least one second balance, wherein the second balance is fastened on the axle of said first balance.
US08668376B2
An appliance for conditioning a liquid made of or based on milk, in particular for preparing heated liquid or a cold or heated frothed liquid. The appliance includes a tank for receiving the liquid that is to be conditioned; a closed compartment secured to the tank; and an electric device located therein for imparting a conditioning effect to the liquid. The compartment is made water impervious and washable under running water without infiltration thereof into the compartment containing the electric device.
US08668375B2
A container for bone cement includes a first member defining a chamber, which contains a first ingredient. The chamber also includes a second member movably coupled to the first member. The second member includes a mixing device that is movably disposed within the first chamber, and the second member defines a second chamber containing a second ingredient. The container additional includes an opening device that selectively opens the second chamber and allows the second ingredient to enter from the second chamber into the first chamber. The mixing device is movable within the first chamber to promote mixing of the first ingredient and the second ingredient to prepare the bone cement. A corresponding method of preparing bone cement is also disclosed.
US08668369B2
The invention relates to a lighting device for vehicles, having a housing, a translucent diffusing screen covering a light exit opening of the housing, and a reflector. The translucent diffusing screen and the reflector may be fastened to the housing. A rapidly curing connection means may be applied to at least one interface between the housing and the diffusing screen to facilitate positioning.
US08668354B2
The present disclosure is directed to inventive methods and apparatus for a low-glare LED-based lighting unit (110). The low-glare LED-based lighting unit (110) may have vertically extending LED support structure (120) and an array of individually aimed LEDs (133) coupled to the vertically extending LED support structure (120). At least one vertically extending translucent inner lens (150/260) may be provided adjacent a plurality of the LEDs (133) and intersect the LED light output axis (A) of a plurality of the LEDs (133).
US08668352B2
There is provided a light emitting module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of light emitting diode chips disposed at a distance from one another on a conductive pattern formed on a top of the printed circuit board; and a connector formed on a bottom of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diode chips. The light emitting diode chips and the connector are optimally arranged to ensure that the light emitting module is suitably utilized as a high-density linear light source including a great number of light emitting diode chips and emits light outward with minimum loss.
US08668351B2
A lighting device includes a housing having an open end and a geometrical axis and at least one light source disposed along an optical axis. The lighting device further includes an outer optical element having a focal point and closing the open end of the housing, the optical element comprising a converging outer surface and a diverging inner surface that cooperates with the light coming from the inner optical element. Additionally, the lighting device includes an inner optical element between the light source and the outer optical element, the inner optical element redirecting light from a light source that is offset from the focal point toward the outer optical element.
US08668345B2
Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.
US08668343B2
Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.
US08668342B2
Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.
US08668338B2
Systems and methods for providing variable refractive correction in a visual field testing device are presented. One embodiment of the variable refractive correction involves two or more aligned transmissive plates arranged to produce changes in refractive power by translation or rotation of the plates relative to each other. Several alternative designs for providing variable refractive correction are described. The refractive correction can be set manually or automatically based on knowledge of the refractive error of a specific patient and spherical and cylindrical refractive correction are possible. Additional lens systems can be used to extend the range of refractive correction to accommodate a larger patient population.
US08668328B2
A printer includes an array of rollers, an array of printing elements, and a positioning structure. The array of rollers is arranged in a first arc configuration to rollingly support a media web in a first orientation. The array of printing elements is arranged in a second arc configuration along the first orientation and movable relative to the array of rollers to selectively modify a space there between. Each respective printing element is aligned directly above one of the respective rollers to define a printing unit. A positioning structure is configured to releasably secure each printing unit at one position of a plurality of positions along the respective first and second arc configurations.
US08668323B2
Disclosed herein is a printing device including: a plurality of heads configured to discharge inks cured by light irradiation and arranged in a transport direction of a medium; a plurality of pre-curing light sources provided in correspondence with the plurality of heads and configured to irradiate pre-curing light to dots formed on the medium by the heads; and a completely-curing light source configured to irradiate completely-curing light to the dots to which the light from the plurality of pre-curing light sources is irradiated, wherein a first printing mode in which a background ink is discharged from a head of an upstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging color inks and a second printing mode in which the background ink is discharged from a head of a downstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging the color inks are present.
US08668320B2
A treatment liquid for ink jet recording, containing a polyvalent metal ion and water. A dissolved carbon dioxide concentration in the treatment liquid is 4 mg/l or lower.
US08668309B2
An apparatus includes: a first nozzles for ejecting first fluid are lined up in a predetermined direction; a second nozzles for ejecting second fluid are lined up in a movement direction; and a control unit which sets a first method of when formation of a main image with the first fluid and formation of a background image with the second fluid are performed to overlap the main image and the background image with each other on the medium, in a case where one of the nozzle group of the part of the first nozzles and the nozzle group of the part of the second nozzles is positioned closer to the other direction side of the predetermined direction than the other nozzle group to perform the image formation on a predetermined area of the medium in advance of the other nozzle group.
US08668305B2
In a print group for an inkjet printing apparatus a printing unit is provided comprising a housing with print bars having print heads. A transport unit is provided for a printing substrate. Drive and guidance units are arranged per print bar which move the print bars independently of one another in a perpendicular direction from a printing position into a transport position and back. In a park unit racks are provided for protective cap bars. A protective cap bar is provided per print bar which when coupled to said print bar seals it. Print bars in an operating position not provided for printing are in the transport position and are coupled with associated protective cap bars. Print bars in said operating position for printing are in the printing position and their associated protective cap bars are arranged in the park unit racks.
US08668301B2
A cavity is provided between a supply port which supplies the liquid which is received in the liquid reception unit to the outside and the liquid reception unit, with a variable portion which is deformed between the supply port and the liquid reception unit. The variable portion is urged using an urging member from the inside of the cavity through a pressure reception member. In addition, a change in a position of the pressure reception member can be detected using a detection unit. Further, a notch is provided at a surface where the pressure reception member comes into close contact with the urging member, in which the notch extends to the outside from the inside of the contact surface.
US08668298B2
In a method to improve print quality of an ink printer, ink droplets of predetermined size are ejected by an ink print head via a nozzle. A time duration is determined since a last ejection of an ink droplet. The size of a next ink droplet to be ejected is controlled depending on the determined time duration.
US08668294B2
A method for operating an inkjet printer to form images that include both high density and low density segments has been developed. The method includes operating one printhead to eject ink drops with a large size to form high density segments of the image, and operating a second printhead to eject ink drops with a small size to form low density segments of the image. The large ink drops provide high coverage in the high density segments, and the small ink drops provide improved image quality in the low density segments of the image.
US08668287B2
A rail system for drawers includes a body rail to be fastened to a furniture body and at least one drawer rail that can be moved relative to the body rail, and includes at least one gear rack/gear wheel arrangement, characterized in that a limiting device is provided, which limits the immersion depth of the gear wheel relative to the gear rack, the teeth of the gear wheel meshing only partially in the corresponding tooth spaces of the gear rack.
US08668285B2
A system for a slide-out platform in a rack mount case includes a slide-out platform configured to secure electronic equipment. The platform is slideably attached to the rack mount case using a first rail and a second rail. The first and second rail have a series of indexing holes in order to allow a dagger pin to secure the platform in place.
US08668278B2
A rim (5) for a bicycle wheel having a body (20) with a substantially annular extension with a radially outer portion (22) shaped for coupling with a tire is disclosed. The radially outer portion (22) has a hole (39) for an inflation valve. The radially outer portion (22) also includes, at the hole (39) and/or in an area proximal to the hole (39), at least one cross section having a different shape from that at an area distal from the hole, so as to form at least one second surface discontinuity (35) along the annular extension of the radially outer portion (22). The second discontinuity (35) makes it easier to assemble to wheel and allows an optimal coupling to be made between the rim (5), inflation valve, and tire, in the case of a tubeless wheel, and between rim (5), air chamber and tire, in the case of a wheel with an air chamber.
US08668277B2
An adjustable and expandable shield for a variety of uses and for the rim and the hub of a wheel, to protect them and keep them clean during the detailing process for the tires. Without this shield, the rims and hub which have already been cleaned during the general cleaning of the car become dirty when tire dressing is applied to the tires and would therefore need to be cleaned a second time to remove the tire dressing that sprayed onto the rim and hub. This device covers the rim and hub so that when tire dressing is applied, the rim and hub are shielded from the spray and will not get dirty.
US08668275B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a pick assembly is configured to reduce aggregate drag that is formed during a degradation process. The pick assembly is configured to redirect the flow of the aggregate to conserve energy and maintain efficiency during the degradation process.
US08668266B2
A seat having a trim carrier. A flexible region includes a base portion integrally connected with the trim carrier and a distal portion. A connector includes a first end connected to the distal portion and a second end connected to a motor. Actuation of the motor draws the connector and consequently the distal portion downward toward the base portion, thereby arcing the flexible region.
US08668260B2
A bicycle seat assembly for use in conjunction with a bicycle having a frame, a front and rear wheel, and a seat post extending generally vertically upwardly in the frame between the front and rear wheel. The bicycle seat assembly includes a seat having at least one elongated strut extending between the seat and the bicycle frame around the rear wheel axis of the vehicle. A second elongated strut extends between the seat post and the seat so that the seat is positioned generally vertically above the rear wheel axle.
US08668257B2
A foldable bracket of a chair contains a positioning rod, a first rotating rod, a connector, a second rotating rod, and a supporting plate. The positioning rod is connected with the chair. The first rotating rod is rotatably coupled with the positioning rod. The connector is joined with the first rotating rod. The second rotating rod is rotatably coupled with the connector, and the supporting plate is connected to the second rotating rod.
US08668256B2
The application discloses a panel assembly for use in a open roof construction for a vehicle. The panel assembly comprises a panel main body, and at least one reinforcement member positioned in the vicinity of at least a part of the edges of said panel main body, and firmly connected thereto by means of a part molded in a molding process to said panel main body and said reinforcement member. A provision is made for locally at least reducing adherence of the moldable material to said reinforcement member and/or said panel main body during molding. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing the panel assembly.
US08668255B1
A stamped roof panel for the cab of a utility vehicle includes a base portion having a periphery, a protrusion extending upwardly around the periphery of the base portion, and a plurality of drainage gaps in the protrusion. The protrusion has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a first leg extending from the base portion, a bight portion, and a second leg extending downwardly from the bight portion. The second leg of the protrusion may extend downwardly beyond the base portion and the top edge of the wall panels of the cab. The roof panel may further include a raised panel spaced upwardly from the base portion.
US08668251B2
A front pillar for an automobile includes a hollow member, an outer panel, and an inner panel. The inner panel has a restricting concave section receiving therein a part of the hollow member to restrict relative displacement of the hollow member in a vehicle width direction relative to the inner panel.
US08668245B2
A front underfloor structure of a vehicle (EV) includes a protruding member protruding downward from a front underfloor surface of the vehicle, and redirects a flow of traveling air that flows around a front underfloor while traveling. The protruding member is configured as a protruding member with curved surface (31) disposed at a position closer to the vehicle front than front tires (1L, 1R) and in a central portion of the front underfloor straddling a vehicle center line (CL). The protruding member with curved surface (31) has a circumference of protrusion in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is longest at the position of the vehicle center line (CL), and the circumference of protrusion in the vehicle longitudinal direction becomes gradually shorter with increasing distance from the vehicle center line (CL) on both sides in a vehicle width direction.
US08668241B2
A locking device is provided for a sliding-roof arrangement of a motor vehicle with two guide rails which can be arranged so as to be spaced apart in vehicle transverse direction, on which guide rails a slide connectable with a sliding roof is movably mounted. At least one of the slides comprises lock for steplessly locking the slide at random positions of the respective guide rail.
US08668236B1
A utility vehicle includes a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed provided in order from the front side. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward into the riding space and a non-expanded state in which the cargo bed is not expanded. Lock devices for fixing the front wall to a vehicle body at a position in the expanded state and at a position in the non-expanded state are provided on the left and right sides of the front wall. The lock devices are displaceable between a fixing position where the lock devices are placed on the outer side of the cargo bed for fixing the front wall, and a non-fixing position where the lock devices are placed on the inner side of the cargo bed.
US08668231B1
The pipe repair coupling includes a sleeve and two seal retainers that clip to the ends of the sleeve to retain corresponding seals therein. The repair coupling is installed about a damaged section of PVC or other hard plastic pipe without the need for substantial displacement of either portion of the broken pipe or the need to dress or otherwise modify the broken ends of the pipe. A seal retainer and a seal are placed over each portion of the broken pipe, and the sleeve is slipped over one of the broken pipe portions. The two pipe portions are aligned with one another, and the sleeve is generally centered over the break. The two seal retainers are then snapped into place on the ends of the sleeve, capturing the seals between the seal retainers and corresponding seats and distending the seals to bear against the broken pipe therein.
US08668221B2
A device for coupling a vehicle to a trailer is provided. The device includes a base having a channel and a pair of side walls. The channel includes a mouth leading into a stop. The side walls are spaced apart from each other and the channel runs generally between the side walls. A catch is pivotally mounted between the side walls. The catch includes a mounting end, a catch end, and a contact surface. The catch end is pivotable between a first position, wherein the catch end abuts against the base; and a second position wherein the catch end is displaced from the base. The tow pin engages the contact surface of the catch and pivots the catch end towards the second position. The catch end returns to the first position so as to secure the tow pin between the catch end and the stop when the tow pin abuts against the stop.
US08668214B2
A mounting arrangement for a V-rod in a vehicle suspension includes an axle housing having a mounting cavity formed thereon and a joint member installed in the mounting cavity so that a joint coupling extends outward from the axle housing. The joint member may include a ball joint mounted on a post mountable in the mounting cavity. The mounting cavity may be formed in a boss provided on the axle housing.
US08668211B2
A high strength plastic furniture dolly employs a combination of structural features and high strength material to eliminate the need for metal or wood reinforcing elements. The dolly includes first and second longitudinal side members, first and second transverse end members, and caster wheel assemblies mounted longitudinally inward from the transverse end members. The longitudinal side members include a plurality of longitudinally extending parabolic ribs in a central portion and a plurality of non-parabolic ribs in end portions of each side member. The transverse end members include a plurality of transversely extending ribs which may be parabolic.
US08668204B2
The invention relates to a seal (160) for sealing two opposite contact surfaces along a closed contour, comprising an elastic sealing element (210), which has two opposite sealing surfaces (240) to bear against the contact surfaces in the region of the contour, two spring elements (220, 230), each of which is associated with one of the sealing surfaces, and a supporting element (250) arranged between the spring elements, wherein each spring element comprises two limbs (260, 270), one limb pressing the sealing surface associated with the spring element against one of the contact surfaces and the other limb being supported on the supporting element.
US08668196B2
A device and a method for the stacking of sheets in a printing press are disclosed. The device and correspondingly the method have at least two laterally spaced sheet transport roll pairs to transport the sheets in a transport plane. A stacking tray is furthermore provided to accommodate the sheets transported out of the printing press. A sheet contacting unit is arranged in the direction of transport behind the sheet transport roll pairs such that it deflects at least a partial region of the sheet out of the transport plane at least in a first direction, wherein the sheet undergoes a deformation transversely to the direction of transport, and wherein the at least two sheet transport roll pairs and the sheet contacting unit are arranged in a projection onto the transport plane in a triangular arrangement.
US08668192B2
An insertion system includes a folding device to perform either single-sheet folding to fold a single sheet at a time or batch folding to fold multiple sheets together at a time, an insertion device to insert into an envelope the sheet folded by the folding device, and a batch setting unit to designate either the single-sheet folding or the batch folding from a folding and insertion menu for multiple sheets at a time when the multiple sheets are processed by the folding device and the insertion device.
US08668190B1
An impact-absorbing structure includes a vertical hollow column that telescopically receives a post. A coil spring surmounts a centrally apertured support plate that receives and is secured to the hollow column. A coil spring stands atop the support plate and the upper end of the coil spring is secured to a top plate that surmounts the post. A centrally apertured spacer plate is parallel to the top plate and is downwardly spaced apart from it. A plurality of bolts interconnects the top plate and spacer plate. The post retracts within the hollow column and the coil spring is compressed when a downwardly directed force is applied to the top plate. The coil spring unloads and restores the top plate and the spacer plate to their respective positions of repose when the downwardly directed force is removed. Each bolt is engaged by an eye loop at the end of a cable.
US08668189B2
A spring is formed of a relatively thin sheet of spring material which is constricted and held in place at each end forming a bell curve being located between two substantially planar members. As additional compressive force is applied in the vertical direction, the curve then compresses and starts to form sine waves. The greater the force, progressively higher the wave frequency with lower amplitude would form. When the force is removed, the flexible material returns to its original shape. The force needed to shift the curve (increase the number of waveform) increases at an exponential rate, as opposed to the linear rate of most normal springs. The maintenance force of new stable state is considerable less than the threshold force. Such a relatively flat spring with an exponential spring rate and self dampening through phase change has a number of useful applications for automotive and industrial use.
US08668188B2
A vibration damping device adapted to receive an electronic component and reduce vibration is provided. The vibration damping device includes a spring body extending along an axis, one or more slots formed in the spring body, and a shaft extending substantially coaxially within the spring body. The shaft may include an internal bore configured to extend substantially coaxially through the spring body and shaft. The vibration damping device further includes a damping mechanism configured to be positioned between the spring body and the shaft, wherein the one or more slots provides flexible movement of the spring body and the damping mechanism provides the damping of motion within the internal bore.
US08668186B1
A dumpster screen comprising a fenced enclosure around one (1) or more trash dumpsters commonly found by commercial establishments. The fence material is made of an outdoor weather-proof textile material supported on its vertical sides using fence posts and along its horizontal edges using cables. A front portion of the enclosure, typically accessed by trucks to empty the dumpsters, comprises a gate portion. This enables the incoming truck to lower its forks across the reinforced top of said gate and continue lowering it until it can remove the dumpster in the normal manner. After emptying, the dumpster is replaced in the same manner and the front barrier automatically returns to position.
US08668173B2
A bracket arrangement for securing fertilizer hoses, such as those for carrying anhydrous ammonia, to the frame of a fertilizer applicator or similar implement is made of a corrosion resistant material and is thus resistant to damage caused by thermal changes, sunlight, and inclement weather. The bracket arrangement is designed to be removably attached to the implement frame to allow flexibility in where along the frame the hoses, or bundles of hoses, are retained. The bracket arrangement includes a bracket having an elongated and generally planar body with an eyelet formed in the planar body. The eyelet is configured to pass a length of hose and restrict movement of the hose in a direction orthogonal to its length.
US08668161B2
An illustrative airship system for long endurance stratospheric operations includes an upper airship and a first end of a tether attached to the upper airship. A lower airship is attached to a second end of the tether and a payload airship is reversibly mated to the lower airship. The airship system is free flying and configured to maintain long duration station keeping. Illustrative methods for long endurance stratospheric operations are also provided.
US08668151B2
A wireless IC device improves radiation characteristics or directivity of signals and reliably communicates with a reader/writer. The wireless IC device includes an electromagnetically coupled module includes a wireless IC device and a feed circuit substrate, a protective layer, a first radiation plate, and a second radiation plate. The feed circuit substrate includes a feed circuit including inductance elements. The feed circuit is electrically connected to the wireless IC chip and coupled to the radiation plates. Signals received by the radiation plates are provided to the wireless IC chip via the feed circuit. Signals from the wireless IC chip are provided to the radiation plates via the feed circuit and then radiated to the outside.
US08668147B2
The present invention is a headset holder coupled with indicia of stored value. The indicia of stored value may be printed or painted on, or otherwise permanently coupled to, the holder itself, or may be included in a stored value or gift card that is attached to the holder. The headset holder and the stored value card may be constructed from a single sheet of plastic; in such embodiments, separation of the stored value card from the headset holder may be supported by a scoreline in the plastic material. The headset holder may have a spool and two grips. One grip may be configured to secure earphones and the other grip may be configured to secure a jack of the headset. The spool may be configured for winding headset wire. The holder may be configured to hold primarily an earbud headset. The grips may extend or protrude from a central portion, or body of the holder. The spool may also extend from the body. The holder may display an image, such as the image of a creature or plant. The image may depict the grips as hands of a displayed creature. The image may depict the spool as the head of the creature.
US08668144B2
Apparatuses, systems and methods that operate to customize content or other information indicated by symbolic marks (such as, for example, QR codes and other types of barcodes).
US08668132B2
The storage box is formed from a sheet provided with a plurality of folding lines defining a parallelepiped provided with six faces, one of said face being a hinged lid (2), and it is characterized in that the opposed face to said hinged lid comprises a first sector (1a) provided with an oblique folding line (7a) that defines a first joining zone (8a); a second sector (1b) also provided with an oblique folding line (7b) that is joined to said first sector (1a) in said first joining zone (8a); a third sector (1c) provided with an oblique folding line (7c) that defines a second joining zone (8c); and a fourth sector (1d) that is joined to said third sector (1c) in said second joining zone (8c).It permits to obtain a box that can be mounted by itself.
US08668127B2
A backpack is positioned to rest in an essentially flat configuration between the shoulder blades, so as to mitigate backpack pain or stress. The pack is worn tightly across the individual to eliminate the downward forces of the weight included in a pocket having a rhombus shape. Stretchable material of the pack conforms to the contents of the pack. Effectively, the weight of the pack is distributed across the chest and back of an individual to provide a “weightless effect”.
US08668119B2
A container for containing and dispensing viscous comestibles, such as ice cream, is disclosed. The container includes a container body with a nozzle and a container cap movably coupled to the container body. The container cap moves between at least two positions, a first position where the container cap covers the nozzle, and a second position where a portion of the nozzle extends through a container cap opening. In some embodiments a straw portion of the nozzle extends through the container cap opening. A method of containing viscous comestibles is disclosed which includes attaching a container cap to a container body such that the container cap has at least two positions, testing that the container cap moves to each of its at least two positions, inserting viscous comestibles into the container body through a nozzle opening in the container body nozzle, and locking the container cap in the first position.
US08668113B2
A protective bag for a portable electronic device with a first body and a second body is provided. The first body may be carried on a carrying surface. The second body may be folded relative to the first body to cover the first body or unfolded relative to the first body to stand on the carrying surface. The protective bag comprises a first covering plate for covering a bottom surface of the first body, a second covering plate for covering a rear surface of the second body and at least a connecting component connected between the first covering plate and the second covering plate. When the bottom surface is carried on the carrying surface via the first covering plate and the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the second covering plate stands on the carrying surface with a support provided by the connecting component.
US08668111B2
A bail handle and containment case assembly, including a tray and closing lid, the bail handle including a portion that serves part of a latching function when in a first position over the lid and then serves part of a lifting function when pivoted off of the lid and moved into a second position.
US08668108B2
A pressure vessel has a composite shell; a boss defining a port in the composite shell and having a neck; and an interface element disposed between the composite shell and the boss. The interface element is neither bonded to the composite shell nor to the boss, thereby allowing for movement between the interface element and the composite shell and allowing for movement between the interface element and the boss. The interface element further includes a neck disposed adjacent the neck of the boss.
US08668107B2
A modular recycling unit comprises a support for supporting a first container. The first container is tiltable between a first position where the interior of the container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the container is inaccessible. The first container is freely removable from the support. A second container is supported on the support such that it is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container. The second container is freely removable from the support.
US08668103B2
A self-locking package comprising a sleeve having a self-initializing locking tab and a slidable insert. The sleeve comprises a plurality of panels forming a substantially quadrilateral cross section. The locking tab extends between a top panel and a bottom panel and is offset from corners of the quadrilateral. An insert for retaining an item is at least partially insertable within an opening of the sleeve and includes a notch formed in at least one portion of the perimeter of the insert, such that when the insert is properly inserted into the sleeve, the locking tab seats within the notch to substantially prevent relative movement between the insert and the sleeve.
US08668102B2
A shipping container liner system for use in the shipping of bulk flowable products is described. The system comprises a specially adapted shipping container liner that is self-supporting without the need of rear-mounted rigid supportive bars to retain the liner within the shipping container during filling and discharge. The system comprises an arrangement of interior support baffles operating in conjunction with a plurality of exterior anchor straps adapted to distribute the cargo load throughout the length of the liner. A specialized hopper for unloading the bulk material is also disclosed.
US08668100B2
This disclosure is generally directed toward bottles with improved top loading resistance and does so by, among other things, utilizing walls, shoulder, and/or other structural features of a particular size, taper, angle, and/or material. The bottle includes a mouth, a barrel connected to a base, and a shoulder extending between the mouth and barrel. The shoulder may include upper, intermediate, and lower sections, in which the intermediate section may be relatively thicker than the upper section. The barrel may also include upper, intermediate, and lower sections, in which the intermediate section may be relatively thicker than the lower section.
US08668099B2
The present invention concerns a compact closure for containers with a neck and mouth, comprising a threaded pourer (14) which has a drip-stop lip (19) and a threaded cap (3) designed to screw-engage with the threaded pourer, the pourer body comprising a part which has a cross-section substantially in the form of an upside-down “U” and the drip-stop lip being formed on the substantially annular upper portion (18) of the part with a cross-section in the form of an upside-down “U”.
US08668097B2
A covering member (1) for mounting on a fastener ring (2), the ring and the covering member co-operating with each other to form a fastener device for fastening a dispenser system (3) on a receptacle neck (40). The covering member is substantially cylindrical and includes an outside wall (14) and an inside wall (15) for coming into clamping contact around the ring (2). The inside wall forms at least one elongate groove (16) hollowed out in a base zone (151). The groove is formed by a plurality of groove segments (17) that are separated by non-groove zones in such a manner as to form a groove that is interrupted locally.
US08668094B2
A carbon membrane structure includes: a cylindrical porous support body provided with a plurality of cells extending from one end face to the other end face and functioning as fluid passages, and a carbon membrane disposed on the surface side of the cells formed in the porous support body. The plurality of cells are formed so that a distance from one cell to another cell adjacent to the one cell in a cross section perpendicular to a cell extension direction of the porous support body 1 is 0.60 mm or more. The carbon membrane structure shows very excellent separation performance by the carbon membrane.
US08668093B2
Versions of the invention include compositions and methods for making them that include a polymeric porous membrane with one or more atmospheric pressure microwave plasma modified surfaces. The modified porous membrane is stable, non-dewetting, and retains its mechanical strength.
US08668092B2
A system and method for uniformly distributing fluids (e.g., washing and in-service) through a filter bed of a filter. The system and method of the present invention can be used with any type of filter that uses media to remove impurities from a fluid. The filter bed can include one or more layers of media. The media can be natural (e.g., sand, gravel, anthracite, etc.) or can be fabricated (e.g., plastic). The filter media can be supported by one or more layers of gravel. Alternatively, the filter media can be supported by a porous plate or other support designed to replace the gravel layers. The present invention includes a system having one or more distribution members configured to uniformly distribute a fluid through a filter bed of a filter. Preferably, the one or more distribution members can be readily installed by relatively unskilled labor in both existing filters and new filters. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more distribution members are configured to extend into at least a portion of an underdrain from above the underdrain. In retrofit applications, the preferred design of the one or more distribution members is such that no significant alteration of the distribution chamber, underdrain or fluid velocity is necessary.
US08668088B2
A sanitary cake cover with a removable candle deck, which protects the contents of the cake from contamination during blowing out of celebratory candles. The transparent cake cover includes a removable candle deck for at least one candle, which does not pierce the cake or cover being decorated by lighted celebratory candles. The cake cover can be used without the candle deck. The sanitary cake cover is impervious to assault by normal airborne contaminants, such as dust and dirt as well from contaminated expelled breath during the act of blowing out candles. The separate removable candle deck is removable to enable the container to be used for other food items without the obstruction of candle recesses. The flat top of the cover has a peripheral top ridge forming a flat central depression of dimensions to fit the flat candle deck.
US08668085B1
A paint brush cover has a bottom opening; a stretchable, breathable, moisture-wicking fabric body with an internal volume less than a volume of an inserted paint brush head; and a top opening narrower than the fabric body and the paint brush head and sized to freely admit the brush handle. A paint brush is inserted handle-first through the bottom opening until the wider brush head registers in a fully covered position with the brush head stretching the fabric body into moisture-wicking contact against the bristles, and with the bristle ends spaced above the bottom opening. The bottom opening may be stiffened with a flexible stiffener that flexes open when a brush head is inserted, or with a closure flap.
US08668083B1
A flexible storage device is particularly well suited for use in dugouts, for holding equipment used in sports, such as baseball and softball is disclosed. An example of the device includes central pocket between front and back surfaces to use for storage, or for use in decorating. The device is flexible to allow it to be rolled up for quick and simple transport, and includes an elastic device for retaining bats. Additionally an arrangement that allows weight balance of items being held, bats on the sides, helmet, mitt and sunglasses pocket in center, which obviates the need for rigid structure is also disclosed.
US08668073B2
The conveyor installation makes it possible to control the speed of items of the bottle (1) type dispatched in several trains distributed across various paths in the form of single-file lanes (11). The lanes are delimited by a pair of walls (16, 17) which are arranged in an omega shape over a base plate made up of several juxtaposed conveyors (13, 14, 15). Each lane (11) may comprise a fixed wall (16) acting as a reference, and a moving wall (17) that can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the items that are to be conveyed.
US08668062B2
The invention relates to a damper (1, 1′) for furniture, especially hinges, comprising a housing (2, 2′) in which a piston (8, 8′) is connected to a piston rod (3, 3′) and can be displaced. A fluid flows through at least one flow channel (11, 11′) on or in the piston (8, 8′) during a movement of the piston (8, 8′) inside the housing (2, 2′), the movement of the piston (8, 8′) resulting in a different damping power in different directions. The cross-section of the flow channel can be modified in some sections on at least one groove (20, 20′) by moving a plate (12, 12′) relative to the piston (8, 8′). On the at least one groove (20, 20′), a substantially funnel-shaped outlet (22, 22′) and/or the groove (20′) have a section which is arranged at an angle to the radial direction to avoid cavitation.
US08668059B2
An improved unit guide wear plate for brake beams, which provides a brake beam centering force and aligns the movement of a brake beam end guide within the side frame of a railroad car truck so that the brake shoes can provide the maximum amount of force against the wheels when stopping the railroad car, and which is less prone to fracture than current unit guide wear plates.
US08668058B2
A ventilated brake rotor (24) includes vent holes (42) between inboard (32) and outboard (34) friction plates. The vent holes (42) are separated by ribs (40) spaced in regular circumferential increments about the rotor (24). The rib pattern (40) is divided into two or more sectors (48) of equal angular measure. Within each sector (48), an attenuation region (50) interrupts two or more ribs (40) by replacing the ribs (40) with a cluster of individual pins (54) which may be arranged in radial and circumferential rows. Each attenuation region (50) spans a territory within each sector (48) that is preferably at least 20% and less than 55% of the sector (48) real estate. The rotor (24) completely or at least substantially eliminates vibration modes in objectionable, audible frequencies without adversely affecting the structural integrity, cooling capabilities or functional attributes of the disc brake assembly (22).
US08668053B2
Ground conveyor with a drive part with a frame, a load part, which is attached to the frame of the drive part and the height of which is operated on the, if applicable, one load pickup means that can be actuated by a lifting device, furthermore with parallelly distanced wheel arms, which are attached with their rear ends on the frame or the load part and each support a load-bearing wheel with means for changing the distance of the wheel arms (wheel-arm width), wherein a bearing arm is fastened on the rear end of the wheel arms, which extends almost perpendicular to the wheel arm and is received fittingly and moveably in at least one bearing opening of the frame or the load part and fixing means are provided on the frame or load part, with which the axial and pivot position of the bearing arms can be releasably retained.
US08668050B2
A lubrication-condition detector detects a lubricant shortage of a target portion that repeats a predetermined operation at a predetermined cycle. The lubrication-condition detector includes: a physical-quantity measuring unit for continuously measuring a physical quantity related to the target portion; and a computer for determining a presence of a lubricant shortage based on the physical quantity. The computer includes: a cycle extractor for extracting a cycle datum per an operational cycle from continuous data including the physical quantity and its measuring time; a representative-value calculator for calculating a representative value for each of plural cycle data; and determining unit for determining a presence of a lubricant shortage based on the plural representative values.
US08668043B2
The invention relates to a self-propelled electric mower. The self-propelled electric mower comprises a cutter arranged on the machine body (1), an electric motor for driving the cutter to operate, and road wheels (2) arranged on the machine body. A driving device (3) for driving the machine body to walk is arranged on the machine body and comprises a transmission system (4) for driving the road wheels to move and a power source (5) for driving the transmission system to work. The transmission system comprises belt transmissions (4-1) connected with the power source, external gear transmissions (4-2) connected with the belt transmissions, and internal gear transmissions (4-3) connected with the external gear transmissions and in meshing connection with the road wheels. The self-propelled electric mower provided by the invention obtains higher transmission ratio by using multi-stage transmission, so that the output torque of the driving motor is reduced, the volume and the cost of the driving motor are decreased, the self-propelled walking function is realized, noise is lowered, and energy is saved.
US08668042B2
A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic pump configured to be coupled to a prime mover, a hydraulic motor configured to be coupled to an output shaft, and fluid lines coupling the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor to provide a fluid circuit providing flow communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, such that operation of the hydraulic pump provides fluid flow to the hydraulic motor, and the hydraulic motor supplies torque to the output shaft. A controller is configured to control operation of the hydraulic transmission. The controller is configured to receive signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit and reduce an output of the hydraulic pump when the pressure in the fluid circuit reaches a pressure level, and a rate of response of the reduction of the output of the hydraulic pump is varied based on a temperature of fluid in the fluid circuit.
US08668037B2
In an electrically-operated vehicle including rear wheels on right and left sides of a rear portion of a vehicle body, the electrically-operated vehicle includes a motor that drives the rear wheels, a battery 51 that is arranged above the motor, and a lower battery that is placed between the right and left rear wheels. The lower battery and the motor are arranged in a distributed manner over an axle of the rear wheels between a vehicle front side of the axle of the rear wheels and a vehicle rear side of the axle of the rear wheels. An upper end portion of a rear cushion is supported on a vehicle body frame, and the battery and the motor are supported on a lower end of the rear cushion.
US08668031B2
A drill bit comprises a bit body connectable to a drill string at an first end, which bit body is provided with a longitudinal passageway extending from an opening at the first end to a port at a second end. The drill bit further comprises a closure element for closing the passageway, and when the closure element is in a closing position, the closure element is removable. Further, the closure element comprises a first and a second member that are movable relative to each other between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, in which collapsed configuration, the closure element is retractable through the passageway to the first end.
US08668027B2
A power tool with a drive motor and a drive belt guided about a drive pulley and an output pulley has a tool driven by the drive motor through the drive belt. A tensioning device is provided that changes a spacing between the drive pulley and the output pulley and has at least one tensioning position and at least one release position. In the at least one tensioning position, the drive pulley and the output pulley have a first spacing relative to one another and in the at least one release position have a second spacing to one another that is smaller than the first spacing. The drive belt is an elast belt and the tensioning device, as a result of inherent tension of the elast belt, is secured in the at least one tensioning position.
US08668025B2
A hand-guided work apparatus includes a combustion engine to drive a work tool. The combustion engine includes a crankcase (14) in which a crankshaft (16) is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (44). A pressure sensor (27) and a temperature sensor (26) are arranged on the crankcase (14). The pressure sensor (27) and the temperature sensor (26) are arranged in a common sensor housing (31). In the typical put-down position (8) of the work apparatus, the pressure sensor (27) and the temperature sensor (26) are arranged below a plane (45) which is parallel to the horizontal storage surface (7) and contains the rotational axis (44) of the crankshaft (16). A connecting channel (25) is formed in the sensor housing (31). The connecting channel (25) connects the pressure sensor (27) to the crankcase interior (20) and the base (35) of the connecting channel (25) slopes down toward the crankcase interior (20) in the typical put-down position (8) of the work apparatus.
US08668024B2
A system for correcting skewing in an agricultural implement where the implement includes a plurality of ground engaging tools laterally spaced across a width of the implement and operative to selectively engage the ground to perform a desired operation on a field surface has a skew detecting device operative to sense when the implement is travelling in a skewed orientation and send a correction signal indicating the skewed orientation to a correction mechanism. A drag force is exerted on the ground engaging tools by engagement with the ground when performing the desired operation on the field surface, and the correction mechanism is operative to change the drag forces exerted on at least some ground engaging tools on one side of the implement to correct the skewed orientation.
US08668023B2
Systems, methods and aspect thereof for a fire protection system including a releasing control panel. In one aspect a fire protection system for a residential unit as defined in the 2002 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 13, 13D and 13R having at least one dwelling is provided. The fire protection system preferably includes a liquid supply source along a main line and a network of pipes in communication with the dwelling. The system includes at least one sprinkler in the network to discharge a fluid within about fifteen seconds of sprinkler activation. In addition, the system includes at least one fire control panel disposed between the main line and the pipe network to control release of a fire fighting fluid under various control modes. The system further include at least one fire detector disposed in the at least one dwelling and in communication with the at least one fire control panel. In one aspect of the preferred system is sectional control to the first and at least a second dwelling.
US08668016B2
Disclosed herein is a wellbore servicing system, comprising a tubular string, a first sleeve system incorporated within the tubular string, the first sleeve system comprising a first sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a first ported case, the first sleeve system being selectively restricted from movement relative to the first ported case by a first restrictor while the first restrictor is enabled, and a first delay system configured to selectively restrict movement of the first sliding sleeve relative to the first ported case while the first restrictor is disabled; a second sleeve system incorporated within the tubular string, the second sleeve system comprising a second sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a second ported case, the second sleeve system being selectively restricted from movement relative to the second ported case by a second restrictor while the second restrictor is enabled.
US08668015B2
A check valve comprising a section of a drill string, a flapper valve positioned within and concentric to the section of the drill string, and a piston valve positioned within and concentric to the section of the drill string. The flapper valve allows fluid flow in a first direction through an inner portion of a cross-section of the section of the drill string and not allowing fluid flow in a second direction, and the piston check valve allowing fluid flow in the first direction through an outer portion of the cross-section of the section of the drill string and not allowing fluid flow in the second direction, where the first portion and the second portion of the cross-section of the section of the drill string are mutually exclusive.
US08668001B2
Movable partitions and systems are provided and may include accordion-style folding doors or partitions having sheets of folding panels. In one embodiment, the movable partition may include at least two hinge panels indirectly connecting adjacent folding panels. The hinge panels may have laterally spaced apart the adjacent folding panels from one another such that a compartment is formed upon retraction or folding of the sheets of folding panels. One or more control devices, such as an actuation device or a display panel, may be mounted on at least one of the hinge panels, or on the panel disposed between hinge panels such that, when the movable partition is in a retracted or folded state, the actuation devices are housed within the compartment.
US08667998B1
A wallet (110) for holding a plurality of rectangular cards (C) has a sleeve (112) that is flattened into a rectangular profile. The sleeve is maintained in the rectangular profile by a shaping element (130) that is secured to an interior surface of the sleeve. The rectangular profile has a length and a width that are substantially the same as that of the cards intended on be held, the length being the larger of the dimensions. The sleeve is open along the width edges (20, 22) and closed along the length edges. Optionally, a strap (140) that passes across an exterior surface of the sleeve from one of the width edges to the other width edge, with its ends secured inside the sleeve, is useful for retaining folded paper currency and the like. The strap ends are secured to at least the shaping element.
US08667986B2
A pressure-regulating valve for regulating the pressure in a high-pressure fuel accumulator of an internal combustion engine, in particular in common-rail injection systems, with a valve piston (3) which is guided in an axially displaceable manner in a bore (1), is acted upon in the opening direction by the compressive force of a spring (2) and, when a magnet coil (4) is energized, undergoes an axial displacement in the direction of a first valve seat (5) counter to the compressive force of the spring (2) and counter to the pressure prevailing in the high-pressure fuel accumulator, wherein the valve piston acts on a valve-sealing element (6) which interacts with the valve seat (5).
US08667976B2
A height self-adjustable walking aid includes two oppositely arranged U-shaped stands which are connected by a front stand. The two ends of each U-shaped stand are sleeved with two outer pipes respectively, and each outer pipe is mounted with a height adjusting apparatus and a control apparatus for height adjusting. The walking aid is adjustable in height according to the heights of users, so as to satisfy the requirement of allowing patients or elders with different heights to use a same equipment, thus providing great convenience for users. The heights of the two ends of each U-shaped stand could be adjustable respectively to generate a height difference between the front end and rear end of the walking end, thus enabling patients or elders to walk up and down the stairs with it.
US08667974B2
A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
US08667973B2
A method of minimally invasively reducing a volume of a hyper-inflated target section of diseased lung comprising the steps of introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and equilibrating air within the target section with atmospheric air to at least partially deflate the target lung section; injecting an inflammation-causing substance into the target section to precipitate adhesion of the walls within the target lung section, preventing substantial re-inflation of the target section by occluding an airway upstream of the target section for a period of time, and removing the airway occlusion after the target section has substantially permanently been reduced in volume. The injected substance can be autologous blood or a constituent thereof.
US08667966B2
An intubating attachment apparatus for use with endotracheal intubation devices comprising an elongated, generally cylindrical support module configured to accommodate a fiber optic intubation scope and at least one of an endotracheal tube or an endotracheal tube exchanger. The invention obviates the need for an attending medical professional to utilize more than one hand when advancing an endotracheal tube and/or endotracheal tube exchanger along with the fiber optic bundle of a bronchoscope into a patient.
US08667960B2
A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) includes a radial blower. The radial blower includes at least an impeller and a scroll having an upper outer surface and a lower outer surface. In one embodiment, a cross section of an air passageway of the scroll includes sides corresponding to the upper outer surface and the lower outer surface, the sides having parallel slanted segments. In another embodiment, the sides may be substantially parallel and may be curved. In yet another embodiment an upper outer surface of the scroll is concave and a lower outer surface of the scroll is convex. In that embodiment, the PAPR further includes an inlet, and the inlet is disposed at the lower outer surface.
US08667958B2
An appliance includes a cooktop, a gas burner assembly disposed in the cooktop, the gas burner assembly having a burner head portion and a burner base portion, and a light disc disposed beneath the burner head portion.
US08667953B2
A system includes a fuel cutoff module and a cylinder deactivation module. The fuel cutoff module generates a fuel cutoff signal when a deceleration fuel cutoff condition occurs, wherein fueling to M cylinders of an engine is disabled based on the fuel cutoff signal, and wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one. The cylinder deactivation module deactivates the M cylinders in response to the fuel cutoff signal.
US08667942B2
The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.
US08667937B2
A first target wheel has an opening and rotates about an axis of rotation to move the opening along a generally circular path. A second target wheel adjacent the first target wheel has a second projection projecting into the opening of the first target wheel with the second projection being movable along the generally circular path. A single sensor is positioned adjacent the generally circular path and senses movement of the opening and the second projection past the sensor. An electronic controller may be used to process signals from the sensor to determine the relative angular difference between the first target wheel and the second target wheel.
US08667936B2
A valve control apparatus includes a drive shaft; a control shaft including a control shaft main body configured to be rotationally controlled according to a state of engine, and a control eccentric shaft located eccentrically relative to a rotation center of the control shaft main body; a rocker arm swingably supported by the control eccentric shaft and configured to convert a rotational motion of the drive shaft to a swinging motion; and a swing cam configured to open/close an engine valve according to the swinging motion of rocker arm. Both ends of the control eccentric shaft are formed with fixing holes extending in a radial direction of the control eccentric shaft. The control shaft main body is formed with insertion holes passing through the control shaft main body in a radial direction of the control shaft main body. The insertion holes respectively face the fixing holes. The control eccentric shaft is fixed to the control shaft main body by bolts. The bolts pass respectively through the pair of insertion holes and are screwed respectively into the fixing holes.
US08667931B2
A method of controlling a vehicle engine compartment cooling system by cooperatively controlling both a variable grille opening and engine cooling fan based on a number of vehicle inputs. Maximum component cooling demand, vehicle speed, and ambient temperature are inputs to lookup tables that issue grille opening demand and engine cooling fan demand. Additionally, vehicle overall power consumption is considered in the development of the lookup tables. A vehicle computing unit selects grille opening settings and cooling fan speeds that correspond to demands from lookup tables. A control signal is sent to an adjustable grille actuator and to a fan motor. Further, vehicle deceleration events are used to trigger a full open grille opening setting, allowing increased cooling at little or no loss to vehicle efficiency. A benefit of the disclosed method is optimal settings to minimize the grille opening for aerodynamic performance while providing required engine component cooling.
US08667929B2
An animal self-care device including a base, at least one base rubbing surface disposed on the base for contact by an animal, and at least one arm having first and second ends. The second end of the arm is pivotally attached to the base to pivot among a stored position and a deployed position. At least one arm rubbing surface is disposed on the arm for contact by an animal.
US08667928B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include semiconductor processing methods and systems. One method includes forming a material layer on a semiconductor substrate by exposing a deposition surface of the substrate to at least a first and a second reactant sequentially introduced into a reaction chamber having an associated process temperature. The method includes removing residual first reactant from the chamber after introduction of the first reactant, removing residual second reactant from the chamber after introduction of the second reactant, and establishing a temperature differential substantially between an edge of the substrate and a center of the substrate via a purge process.
US08667921B2
A coupling for coupling a fall (26) to a lifeboat (1) comprising locking portions and a receiving portion constituting a hollow (10) having a open end and an upwardly facing aperture (15). The locking portion (25), hollow (10) and aperture (15) having a form preventing the locking portion (25) from passing through the aperture (15). The coupling further comprises actuators (30, 35, 39) controlled by a controller (40). A string (27) may be provided for easy retrieval of the locking portions upon the retrieval of the lifeboat (1).
US08667914B2
A process and related apparatus for the treatment of hazardous waste and an initially separate waste stream, the process comprising gasifying the waste stream in a gasification unit to produce an offgas and a char material; and plasma treating the offgas, and optionally the char material, in a plasma treatment unit to produce a syngas; and blending hazardous waste with the waste stream at a point in the process determined by the relative chemical and/or physical properties of the hazardous waste and the waste stream.
US08667912B2
In a burner for highly caking coal in which a solid fuel channel that is attached penetrating through a surrounding wall of a gasifier for gasifying a highly caking solid fuel that has been pulverized into particles and that supplies the solid fuel into the gasifier by gas flow transportation, and a gasifying agent channel that supplies a gasifying agent into the gasifier are provided, a blockage detection unit that detects a blockage situation of the solid fuel channel is provided, and a process for reducing the temperature of the solid fuel is performed when the blockage detection unit detects a predetermined blockage situation.
US08667910B2
A table furniture mainly comprises a table plate, four leg units mounted at four end corners of the table plate, two couplers and a central beam. Each leg unit has a leg rod and a side bracket connected with the leg rod, an engaging portion being provided at its free end. The coupler has at least three insertion slots with shrunk openings among which two opposing insertion slots are for engagement with the engaging portions of both adjacent leg units. The central beam also has an engaging portion provided at each end for engagement with one insertion slot of the couplers adjacent to the two opposing insertion slots. In this manner, the structure can facilitate assembling and disassembling of the whole table.
US08667908B2
A furniture assembly comprising a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension and a storage unit forming an opening defined by an opening rim including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension, wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least upper portions of the first and second frame members through the opening so that the first and second opposed bearing surfaces contact the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces at the first height.
US08667902B2
A railway wagon for transport of for example a semi-trailer comprises—carried by two bogies or the like—a main portion, pivotally connected to a rearward bogie, and a wagon end, connected to a forward bogie, the main portion and the wagon end being releasably connected to each other. A beam is to be connected to or is connected to the wagon end for horizontally guiding the main portion at its pivoting out from the wagon end. Means are provided for vertically displacing the main portion or a part thereof in relation to the wagon end.
US08667900B2
A vehicle body tilting device for railway vehicle is arranged to control the tilt of a vehicle body by exchanging compressed air between a pair of left and right air springs. This device includes: a control valve for tilt operation, connected between the air springs; a pump for tilt operation, connected between the air springs through the control valve; and a control device for controlling both the control valve and the pump. The control valve forms a circulation flow path for allowing compressed air, delivered by the pump, to circulate therethrough. Before controlling the tilt of the vehicle body, the control device drives in advance the pump to circulate the compressed air through the circulation flow path to provide a delivery standby state, changes over at predetermined timing the position of the control valve, and delivers the compressed air from one of the air springs to the other.
US08667893B2
The patent of invention is provides with a side door switching mechanism for a toaster, which includes two side doors, a side door open lock catch, a side door closing lifting device and a timing electromagnetic controller. The side door can be closed automatically when the lifting board presses the side door shaft. The side door is opened by press the open push rod with the lock catch lifts up by the gear effect of the gear lever. The patent of invention presents the user hurt by directly contacting the side door.
US08667891B2
A beverage maker having a liquid director configured to channel liquid toward a lowermost surface thereof, into and though an opening in the beverage maker, and to a fluid container of the beverage maker. The liquid director can be engaged with a lid of the beverage maker and/or at least one side wall of the container. The lid can be moved between a first position where the lid at least partially covers the opening and a second position where the lid does not cover at least a portion of the opening. The liquid director can be in a deployed, fluid receiving position when the lid is in the first position and can be in an undeployed position when the lid is in the second position.
US08667889B2
A machine for the preparation of beverages by infusion using cartridges; the machine includes an infusion assembly; characterized in that the infusion assembly includes: a slide for introduction of a single cartridge; a lever for operation of a piston; the piston suitable to move rectilinearly along a direction and having a first resting position and a second working position; a chamber suitable for receiving the cartridge; the slide being positioned in an intermediate position between the first resting position and the second working position; the slide having a predefined resting position so that the capsule is positioned resting on an edge of the chamber.
US08667887B2
An actuator for a rotary function element, having a housing with at least one pressure means supply and being closed at both sides by a cover, in which housing a piston is guided to reciprocate in a sealing manner, the piston containing diametrically opposed, convolution-like connecting links for a transverse axis of an actuator shaft rotatably mounted in one cover, and having two guide rods firmly anchored in the housing only at one end and engaging into guides in the piston, with the one guide rod anchored in one cover, whereas the other guide rod is anchored in the other cover, and the two guides end blind in the piston in opposite directions.
US08667886B2
Methods and apparatuses of generating a dynamic variable average flow applied by a hydraulic system of a vehicle.
US08667885B2
An actuating device for a shift element of a transmission which is acted upon by a hydraulic actuating pressure (p_B1) and comprises a valve device. To vary the actuating pressure (p_B1), the valve device is acted upon by a control pressure (p_EDS) in an area of active surfaces (A18, A19) of at least a first and a second valve slides. An active surface (A38) of the first valve slide (A8) is acted upon by a hydraulic pressure (p_B2) which is equivalent to the actuating pressure (p_B1), acts in opposition to the control pressure (p_EDS) and can be adjusted as a function of the control pressure (p_EDS) applied, such that a smaller variation of the actuating pressure (p_B1) results from a change of the control pressure (p_EDS) within a first pressure range of the control pressure (p_EDS) than within a second pressure range of the control pressure (p_EDS).
US08667882B1
A firearm having a gas piston system includes a bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston block located forward on the firearm and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod arrangement, all of which is housed and contained in a top rail that runs the length of the firearm and that maintains the alignment of these firearm components. The firearm further includes components that provide full auto firing capability. These components include a specially designed auto bracket that cooperates with a modified bolt carrier and a modified upper receiver.
US08667879B2
A multilayer backing composite for armor plate systems. One embodiment provides a ceramic layer and a bonded multilayer backing layer bonded to the ceramic layer. The backing layer can be formed from at least two layers each of alternating elastomeric interstitial layers and UHMWPE layers having an areal density in the range of about 125 to 400 g/m2. The areal density of the stack can be in the range of about 4 to 15 lbs/ft2, and specifically about 6.98 lbs/ft2. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least two UHMWPE layers nearer to the ceramic layer of the stack can have a lower areal density than at least one layer further from the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer can be SiC and 0.280″ thick; each rubber layer can be about 0.01″; and each UHMWPE layer can be about 0.15″.
US08667873B2
The present invention is related to an open-end wrench including a first jaw and a second jaw and a throat section connected between rear ends of the two jaws. A toothed section is disposed on the inner side of the first jaw. The toothed section has multiple sharp teeth and a wide tooth positioned behind the sharp teeth. The wide tooth has a largest width among all the teeth. The bottommost point of the throat section is spaced from a front end of the first jaw by a first length. The bottommost point of the throat section is spaced from the tooth crest of the wide tooth by a second length, which ranges from ⅓ to ½ the first length. The toothed section has a length, which is about ⅖ the first length. The width of the wide tooth is 0.325 to 0.375 the length of the toothed section.
US08667871B2
A telescoping extension tool for use in combination with a socket wrench is disclosed herein. Embodiments of the telescoping extension tool are installed onto the socket wrench to extend the reach of the socket used in combination with the socket wrench. Because the extension tool is telescoping, the reach of the telescoping extension tool is infinitely adjustable between the shortest extension and the longest extension of the telescoping tool. Additionally, the external surfaces of certain components of embodiments of the present invention allow the use of other tools designed to grip hexagonal shapes to supply the rotation and torque necessary to loosen or tighten fasteners.
US08667868B2
A water heater wrench adapter that comprises a rotating adapter and receiver. The rotating adapter is disposed within a receiver in light interference fit, wherein the rotating adapter is frictionally engaged by the receiver to permit rotation of the rotating adapter within the receiver. The water heater wrench adapter is utilized by frictionally engaging the insulator profile with the rotating adapter, thereby securing the water heater element within the rotating adapter. The hex nut of the water heater element and the hex extension of the receiver are aligned and the hex end of a water heater wrench is disposed to engage the combined hex nut and hex extension. Thus, the water heater wrench can then be utilized to either hold the water heater element in position for installation in a water heater or remove and retain the water heater element from the water heater.
US08667866B2
A blank for use in forming a machining tool having a body with at least one end face and at least two recesses formed in the end face including a first recess wherein the first recess extends from the end face at an angle of about 15° to about 60° and a second recess continuing from the first recess extending from the end face at an angle of about 40° to about 90°.
US08667864B2
In order to avoid competition with other components for a space, to thereby improve the degree of designing freedom, the power transmission apparatus includes a transfer case housing and supporting a ring gear and a pinion gear that orthogonally mesh with each other and form an orthogonal gear set, the transfer case is divided into a first case part and a second case part along a division plane that extends along an axis of rotation of the ring gear, and the first and second case parts and are fixed together along the division plane with bolts.
US08667863B2
A foot cradle apparatus of a muscle training device is provided, having a foot cradle with a tread and a side wall at least partially limiting the tread, and a fixation unit for fixing a human foot in the foot cradle. A foot fixation unit that is simple to handle and has small dimensions and a low weight is created in that the fixation unit is formed as a lockable, pivotable bracket, whose pivot bearing has a pivot axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot cradle and is provided in a compact bearing unit which is connected fixedly at least indirectly to the foot cradle and which is attached to an inner side wall, close to the inner side of a patient's foot, of the foot cradle and is connected fixedly to the tread via the inner side wall.
US08667861B2
A shifter is fixed on a handle of a bicycle and connected with a rear speed changer of a cable and contains: a body, a first bar, and a speed changing mechanism, the body including the first bar, a chamber to receive the speed changing mechanism, and two tabs, and each tab including a first hole, and the body including a first aperture arranged on a top end thereof and communicating with the chamber to insert the cable into the chamber via the first aperture so as to connect with a first seat, the body including a first retaining ring, the chamber including a first positioning pillar, an axial shaft, a second aperture, and a first returning spring, the first positioning pillar being provided to fix a first fixing piece in the chamber, and the axial shaft being used to axially position a first hook in the chamber.
US08667860B2
An active gripper for a haptic device including a parallel kinematics structure providing at least three degrees of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, wherein the gripper comprises a first contact surface being adapted for contact by a first portion of a hand of a user, a second contact surface being adapted for contact by a second portion of the user's hand, which hand's second portion being moveable in relation to the hand's first portion, and a moveable member arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and being adapted to actively move the first contact surface and the second contact surface in relation to each other.
US08667849B2
A pressure sensor includes: a container; a pressure receiving member which forms apart of the container; a pressure sensitive element which has a pressure sensing portion and a pair of base portions connected to both ends of the pressure sensing portion, and which has a detection axis parallel to a line connecting the base portions, and in which the detection axis is parallel to a displacement direction of the pressure receiving member, and which detects pressure based on displacement of the pressure receiving member; and a gate-shaped frame which includes a pair of shock absorbing portions that interposes the pressure sensitive element and is connected to a side of the pressure receiving member close to the peripheral portion or a side of the container close to the pressure receiving member and a beam portion that connects distal ends of the shock absorbing portions.
US08667843B2
A resonance testing apparatus has a plurality of arms for supporting a workpiece. At least one of said arms incorporates an articulation assembly having: a strut, a joint element which is movable in response to movement of the strut, and a clamp arrangement for clamping the joint element. The assembly has a first condition in which the joint element is movable and a second condition in which the clamp arrangement acts on the joint element to damp or restrict movement of the strut. The assembly includes a seating for the joint element, and a biasing arrangement for the seating. The assembly has a first condition in which the joint element is arranged on the seating and is movable on the seating and a second condition in which the biasing arrangement acts on the seating to damp or restrict movement of the joint element on the seating.
US08667841B1
A glovebox air intake emergency safety shutoff system includes a glovebox; a first manual valve operatively connected to the glovebox, wherein the first manual valve articulates between an open position and a closed position; an automatic valve operatively connected to the manual valve, wherein the automatic valve articulates between an open position and a closed position; an air intake component that inputs air into the glovebox; an air exhaust component that discharges air from the glovebox; and a pressure monitor that detects a level of pressure in the glovebox. The pressure monitor includes a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the glovebox and transmits a signal associated with the measured pressure; and a pressure controller that receives the signal and responds according to the measured pressure. The pressure controller operatively closes the automatic valve upon the measured pressure increasing above a predetermined limit.
US08667839B2
A heat conduction-type sensor corrects (calibrate) effects of a temperature of a measurement target fluid and a type of the fluid on a measurement value in measurement of a flow velocity, a mass flow, or an atmospheric pressure. Also provided is a thermal flow sensor and a thermal barometric sensor with this correcting function, high sensitivity, simple configuration, and low cost. At least two thin films that are thermally separated from a substrate through the same cavity are provided, one thin film comprises a heater and a temperature sensor, and the other thin film comprises at least one temperature sensor, the temperature sensors being thin-film thermocouples. The thin film is arranged in proximity so that it is heated only through the measurement target fluid by heating of the heater. A calibration circuit calculates and compares quantities concerning heat transfer coefficients of a standard fluid and the unknown measurement target fluid.
US08667836B2
An anti-interference antenna of a wireless tire pressure receiver has an insulating cable having a main casing and a sub-casing connected side by side with the main casing. The main casing has a power cable longitudinally mounted through the main casing. The sub-casing has an antenna longitudinally mounted through the sub-casing. As the antenna is individually sleeved by the insulating sub-casing, the antenna and the power cables are isolated to prevent from interfering with each other. Besides, the insulating cable further has at least one air channel longitudinally formed through the corresponding cable and mounted with a metal layer on an inner wall of the air channel, around the power cable, around each of power wires in the power cable, or around the power cable and the air channel, and filled with an EMI-shielding matter to further isolate the antenna and the power cables.
US08667830B2
Methods and apparatus utilize a rate of drop in pressure upstream of a gas flow controller (GFC) to accurately measure a rate of flow through the GFC. Measurement of the gas flow through the many gas flow controllers in production use today is enabled, without requiring any special or sophisticated pressure regulators or other special components. Various provisions ensure that none of the changes in pressure that occur during or after the measurement perturb the constant flow of gas through the GFC under test.
US08667824B2
An electrode assembly for electro-hydraulic forming tool in which the insulation sleeve is assembled over an electrode rod. The insulation sleeve has a deflection surface that is beveled or oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the electrode rod. The electrode assembly may include a replaceable conical receptacle that facilitates placement of an electrode tip an insulation sleeve tip. An electrode tip profile that is shaped to minimize erosion caused by discharge of the electro-hydraulic forming machine.
US08667823B2
Apparatus and method using reduced volume electro-hydraulic chambers for trimming and joining panels
A tool for modifying a workpiece by either trimming or joining the workpiece. The tool is an electro-hydraulic tool that uses a pulse transmitted through a liquid to trim a workpiece or to join two thicknesses of metal together. A method of trimming the workpiece includes the steps of providing a high voltage discharge in a liquid that drives a workpiece into engagement with a cutting edge of a tool steel insert. A method of joining two or more thicknesses of metal together includes the step of creating a high voltage discharge through an electrode that accelerates one panel or thickness of metal into a second panel that is held stationary by a backing plate while the first thickness of metal is accelerated into the second thickness of metal.
