US08717339B2

An image display apparatus includes: a display unit having a main display area for displaying an image of a main channel and a sub display area for displaying images of channels which can be interchanged with the image of the main channel in the main display area; a replacement unit for replacing the images of the channels displayed in the sub display area with images of other channels not displayed in the sub display area; and a control unit which, after an operation to interchange images of channels in the main and sub display areas is performed with the image of the channel displayed in the main display area as an interchange source, controls to prevent the image of the interchange source channel previously displayed in the main display area which after the interchange is displayed in the sub display area from being a replacing target of the replacement unit.
US08717335B2

An active photosensing pixel is disclosed, in which a two-terminal photosensing transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first node, a second terminal coupled to a selection line and a control terminal connected to the first terminal. A driving transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage, a second terminal coupled to an output line and a control terminal connected to the first node.
US08717329B2

A touch panel includes n first line electrodes (n is an integer of 2 or greater) to which pulses are applied, m second line electrodes (m is an integer of 2 or greater) for use in detection, the second line electrodes being arranged to cross the first line electrodes, and a pulse generating circuit configured to apply pulses, in a selected order, to n1 first line electrodes (n1 is an integer of at least 1 and not greater than n) selected from among the n first line electrodes. A touched position on the touch panel is detected by detecting a change in capacitance between one of the first line electrodes and one of the second line electrodes.
US08717324B2

Methods (1000), apparatuses (100), and computer readable storage mediums for interfacing with a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) are disclosed. A visual object is displayed (1010) on a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304). The position of a first input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1020). At least the displayed visual object is selected (1030) based on the position of the first input. The position of a second input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1040) contemporaneously with the first input. A separation line across the visual object is determined (1050) so as to define a first portion and a second portion of the visual object. A change in the position of the second input is identified (1060). A change in a display characteristic of the first portion relative to the second portion is controlled (1070) in accordance with the identified change in the position of the second input.
US08717323B2

A multi-touch driver handling user inputs or touches on a multi-touch input device. The method includes receiving touch data associated with a touch detected by the multi touch input device. The multi-touch driver determines a target user interface (UI) component for the touch by processing the touch data and then determines whether the target handles touch events. If so, the driver sends the touch data to the target for handling as a touch event, thereby saving a touch-to-mouse conversion for later touches. The touch may be a first touch received in a particular input region of a GUI displayed on a touch surface. The driver receives touch data for a second touch input later than the first touch but while the first touch is still active. The driver determines a target UI component for the second touch and passes the second touch data to the second target as a mouse event.
US08717322B2

A touch panel includes a substrate, a shield conductor formed on a surface of the substrate, an insulation film formed on the shield conductor, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in the second direction. Each of the plurality of first electrodes includes a first portion formed on the surface of the substrate and a second portion formed in a separated manner from the second electrode on the insulation film, the first portion being connected to the second portion via a contact hole formed in the insulation film. The shield conductor has a plurality of opening portions which include first opening portions in which the first portions are formed and second opening portions in which the first portions are not formed.
US08717319B2

An input device for a tablet computer is provided. The input device includes a base and a touch switch member. The touch switch member includes a touch element and a power switch. The touch element is pivotally coupled with the base and exposed to a top surface of the base. When the tablet computer is placed on the base, the touch element is moved from an initial position to a triggered position through the tablet computer. Consequently, the power switch is pressed down and turned on.
US08717313B2

A touch panel, operated by a magnetic stylus, including: a display panel, having a display plane and an interface plane, the interface plane underlying the display plane; and a sensing assembly, underlying the display panel, having a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a plurality of insulating spacers, the first conductive layer underlying the interface plane, and the insulating spacers being placed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer to divide the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer into a plurality of first conductive segments and a plurality of second conductive segments respectively, wherein one of the second conductive segments will be bent upward by a magnetic force to electrically connect with one of the first conductive segments when the magnetic stylus is applied thereto.
US08717311B2

A method of controlling a portable electronic device includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display, adjusting a first threshold based on detected conditions during the touch, comparing a value related to the touch on the touch-sensitive display to the first threshold, and when the value related to touch meets the first threshold, turning off the display.
US08717308B2

A display device with a touch screen includes: first sensing units, each first sensing unit comprising first optical sensors connected in series, each first sensing unit comprising a first terminal for receiving a first voltage, each first sensing unit extending in a first direction; second sensing units, each second sensing unit comprising second optical sensors connected in series, each second sensing unit comprising a first terminal for receiving a second voltage, each second sensing unit extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a reset unit for applying a reset voltage to a second terminal of each of the first and second sensing units; and a read-out unit for sensing a touch position based on voltage changes at the second terminals of the first and second sensing units.
US08717304B2

A multi-touch decision apparatus, method, and medium are provided. The apparatus includes a sensor to sense an object contacting a specific position corresponding to one among a plurality of sensing channels arranged in a predetermined array, a detector to detect at least one of information about signal strength of the sensing channel in which the object is sensed and information about the number of sensing channels having a signal strength exceeding a first threshold, and a controller to determine whether a single touch or a multi touch has been sensed based on the detected information.
US08717302B1

An apparatus and method for recognizing a gesture based on detected presences of first and second conductive objects on a sensing device. The apparatus may include a sensing device having a plurality of sensor elements to detect presences of first and second conductive objects, and a processing device, coupled to the sensing device, to recognize a gesture based on the presences of the first and second conductive objects. The recognized gesture may be scroll gestures or click-and-drag gestures.
US08717298B2

Methods, apparatuses, and articles for receiving one or more input factors associated with scrolling behavior of a user are described herein. Based on the received one or more input factors, at least one of (1) a tunable scrolling algorithm and (2) one or more non-linear scrolling algorithms of a plurality of non-linear scrolling algorithms may be selected for use in evaluating the scrolling behavior of the user.
US08717294B2

Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating an interactive space, viewable through at least a first and a second handheld devices, are presented. The method includes an operation for taking an image with a camera in the first device. In addition, the method includes an operation for determining a relative position of the second device with reference to the first device, based on image analysis of the taken image to identify a geometry of the second device. Furthermore, the method includes operations for identifying a reference point in a three-dimensional (3D) space based on the relative position, and for generating views of an interactive scene in corresponding displays of the first device and the second device. The interactive scene is tied to the reference point and includes virtual objects, and each view shows all or part of the interactive scene as observed from a current location of the corresponding device.
US08717280B2

A lookup table provides voltage waveforms for transitions between a plurality of discrete pixel states forming a set that can be ordered in consecutive states according to a reflectivity of the pixel. An image controller repeatedly executes, in a consecutive drive phase, the steps of retrieving an initial state and update state, matching, when the initial and update states are different, in the ordered set of pixel states of the lookup table, a consecutive state and a corresponding consecutive waveform, the consecutive state forming a path, according to the consecutive drive phase, from the initial state to the update state in the set of pixel states, storing the consecutive state in the memory as new initial state; and controlling a voltage driver to drive the pixel from the initial state to the consecutive state using said consecutive waveform.
US08717278B2

Method and apparatus are provided for determining and adjusting drive values for a display comprising a light source modulation layer such as a backlight array of LED and a display modulation layer such as an LCD panel. Image regions for which any of the display modulation layer drive values are above a predetermined threshold maximum value or below a predetermined threshold minimum value are flagged. The light source modulation layer control values determined for a subsequent frame of image data may be adjusted based on the flagged image regions. The adjustments to the light source modulation layer control values may reduce artifacts in the displayed image and increase the efficiency of the display.
US08717273B2

A memory-type liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel including memory circuits, and conducts a refresh operation more than once during a display holding period after rewriting of a screen. The memory-type liquid crystal display device increases at least one of (i) a frequency at which the screen is rewritten and (ii) a frequency at which the refresh operation is conducted during the display holding period as an intensity of light received by the liquid crystal panel increases. This allows the memory-type liquid crystal display device to reduce power consumption while keeping its display quality.
US08717270B2

The liquid crystal display device inverts the polarity of the data signal once in the first one of n iterations (n is an integer of 2 or more) of the horizontal blanking period. Then, in each of the remaining n−1 iterations of the horizontal blanking period, the polarity of the data signal is inverted twice. A plurality of data lines are short-circuited together when inverting the polarity of the data signal, and a scan line is selected in a write period during which the data signal is applied to a picture element forming portion. Moreover, a scan line is selected in synchronism with a timing for short-circuiting the data lines before the once-selected scan line is selected again in a write period.
US08717267B2

A liquid crystal display includes an array of pixels. Each pixel is divided into a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, and different data voltages are separately applied to (or evolved at) the two sub-pixels, thereby enhancing the lateral side visibility. Each sub-pixel includes a sub-pixel electrode (connected to the drain electrode of a sub-pixel's switching element) overlapped with the sub-pixel's storage electrode. A first predetermined voltage is applied to the first sub-pixel and second predetermined voltage is applied the second sub-pixel, and thus the first sub-pixel electrode may receive a voltage lower than the voltage of the second sub-pixel electrode. The first sub-pixel electrode may be larger in area than the second sub-pixel electrode. The overlapping area between the first drain electrode and the storage electrode of a first sub-pixel may be larger than the overlapping area between the drain electrode and the storage electrode of a second sub-pixel. Thus the kickback voltage of the first sub-pixel may be substantially the same as the kickback voltage of the second sub-pixel.
US08717263B2

The present invention is to provide an LCD unit, an LCD apparatus, and a method of setting a drive voltage of the LCD unit with a simple operation. The LCD unit includes a label pasted on a place of the LCD unit, wherein the label includes an information code, which is information-coded from a data of a drive voltage for achieving the best contrast in optical characteristics of the LCD unit. The best drive voltage to drive the LCD unit with the best contrast is thereby easily set.
US08717262B2

An inexpensive display device, as well as an electrical apparatus employing the same, can be provided. In the display device in which a pixel section and a driver circuit are included on one and the same insulating surface, the driver circuit includes a decoder 100 and a buffer section 101. The decoder 100 includes a plurality of NAND circuits each including p-channel TFTs 104 to 106 connected to each other in parallel and other p-channel TFTs 107 to 109 connected to each other in series. The buffer section 101 includes a plurality of buffers each including three p-channel TFTs 114 to 116.
US08717248B2

An electronic device for processing radio frequency signals includes an antenna, an RF circuit, and a matching circuit. The matching circuit provides variable impedance between the antenna and the RF circuit. The antenna is capable of operating in a first frequency band or a second frequency band according to the variable impedance The matching circuit includes a first element; a second element; a first tuning cell connected to the first element and the second element, and comprising a first tuning element, a second tuning element and a first control element, the first control element determining whether to make a first node connected between the first and second tuning elements couple to a voltage level according to a first control signal; and a selecting circuit coupled to the first control element and configured to generate the first control signal so as to adjust the variable impedance.
US08717239B2

A multi-band antenna is disclosed and comprises a substrate and an electro-conductive layer. The electro-conductive layer comprises: a feed-in terminal; a ground terminal; a connecting portion extended forward from the feed-in terminal; a first high frequency portion extended leftward from the connecting portion for controlling a third frequency band; a low frequency portion bent and extended leftward from the connecting portion for controlling a first frequency band and a second frequency band; and a second high frequency portion extended rightward from the connecting portion for controlling a fourth frequency band. Furthermore, the second high frequency portion is connected with the ground terminal and wider than the first high frequency portion; and harmonic oscillations are generated between the second and first high frequency portions to control a fifth frequency band. Hence, the multi-band antenna of the present invention can meet the requirement of various communication standards.
US08717238B2

A RFID tag or label comprises a RFID tag module (comprising an electronic identification circuit and a coupling means) and an antenna structure coupled to the coupling means. The RFID tag module is separate from, separable or arranged to be severable from, the antenna structure. The tag module can be placed in or on an object and the antenna structure in or on packaging material for use with the object. A patch antenna type RFID tag antenna structure has a ground plane spaced from the patch antenna so as to increase the range of the tag. The ground plane is not substantially larger than, and electrically insulated from, the patch antenna. The ground plane is flexible, so the RFID tag structure can be worn by a human, and can be incorporated into a piece of clothing. A RFID antenna structure for use with a tag reader is made flat and robust so that it can be mounted on the ground to be walked upon or driven over. A bi-directional YAGI type RFID tag antenna structure has director elements on two opposite sides so that the YAGI antenna radiates in two opposite directions. An object includes a gain increasing metallic structure for increasing the gain of a RFID tag when placed near the object so as to form a RFID tag antenna structure.
US08717232B2

A handheld GNSS device includes a housing, handgrips integral to the housing for enabling a user to hold the device, and a display screen integral with the housing. The device has a GNSS antenna and a communication antenna, both integral with the housing. The GNSS antenna receives position data from GNSS satellites. The communication antenna receives positioning assistance data from a base station. The GNSS antenna has a first antenna pattern, and the communication antenna has a second antenna pattern. The first and second antenna patterns are substantially separated. Coupled to the GNSS antenna, within the housing, is at least one receiver. Further, the device includes, within the housing, orientation circuitry for generating orientation data, imaging circuitry for obtaining image data, and positioning circuitry for determining a position for the point of interest based on the position data, the positioning assistance data, the orientation data, and the image data.
US08717228B2

This disclosure provides a method of detecting a target object by receiving reflection echoes of detection signals transmitted sequentially from a revolving antenna, and by detecting a target object based on detection data resulted from sampling reception signals at a predetermined time interval. The method comprises temporarily storing the detection data within a predetermined geographical range, and identifying the type of the reflection echo based on a change between values of the detection data at physically-close locations within the predetermined geographical range.
US08717225B2

An object detection device for a vehicle includes a transmission and reception unit that transmits an electromagnetic wave and receives a reflected wave, a reflecting point computation unit that computes a position of a reflecting point of the electromagnetic wave on the object, a distance computation unit that computes a distance from the subject vehicle to the object, an end point detection unit that detects at least one of an end point on the right side of the object and an end point on the left side thereof, a shielding determination unit that determines whether the end point of the object is shielded by another object when viewed from the subject vehicle, and an end point movement speed computation unit that computes a lateral movement speed of the end point of the object determined as not being shielded.
US08717223B2

The classification system represents a detected object with a feature vector derived from the return signals acquired by an array of N transceivers operating in multistatic mode. The classification system generates the feature vector by transforming the real-valued return signals into complex-valued spectra, using, for example, a Fast Fourier Transform. The classification system then generates a feature vector of singular values for each user-designated spectral sub-band by applying a singular value decomposition (SVD) to the N×N square complex-valued matrix formed from sub-band samples associated with all possible transmitter-receiver pairs. The resulting feature vector of singular values may be transformed into a feature vector of singular value likelihoods and then subjected to a multi-category linear or neural network classifier for object classification.
US08717220B2

Methods for reading a data location coupled to an electrical conductor. A counter receives a signal from an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the electrical conductor. The counter produces two or more counts, and in some embodiments, the counts are based in part on a variable reference voltage. An interfuser may be coupled to an output of the counter. The interfuser receives the two or more counts from the counter and reads data conveyed by the data location based on the two or more counts.
US08717219B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit is configured to convert a difference between a first analog voltage and a second analog voltage into a digital signal. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes m (m is an integer greater than or equal to 2) first capacitors and second capacitors. Each of the m capacitors has a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first electrodes are connected to each other. Each of the m second capacitors has a third electrode and a fourth electrode, and the third electrodes are connected to each other. The semiconductor integrated circuits further includes: a comparator configured to compare a voltage of the first electrode and a voltage of the third electrode; and a logic circuit configured to generate the digital signal based on a comparison result of the comparator.
US08717212B2

An improved quadrature bandpass-sampling delta-sigma analog-to-digital demodulator is provided, which includes a loop filter, an A/D responsive to the loop filter, and a first feedback D/A responsive to the A/D up-converted in frequency by a first multiplier and a clock. A first summing circuit is responsive to the first D/A and an RF input for providing an input to the loop filter. A plurality of feedback D/As is responsive to the A/D up-converted in different frequencies by a plurality of multipliers and a plurality of clocks for providing feedback inputs to the loop filter. The loop filter comprises a plurality of resonators arranged in cascade configuration, a plurality of analog mixers to provide frequency shifting of the error signals propagating through the resonators, and a plurality of summing circuits responsive to the feedback D/As.
US08717205B2

A first differential encoding circuit is configured to perform a differential encoding on n-lines parallel input data to generate n-lines parallel output data. A second differential encoding circuit is configured to perform a differential encoding on n-lines parallel input data to generate n-lines parallel output data. A multiplexing circuit is configured to alternately multiplex the generated parallel output data from the first differential encoding circuit and the second differential encoding circuit, and configured to output the multiplexed data.
US08717199B2

Configurable buttons for electronic devices such as portable electronic devices are provided. A configurable button may have a button member that moves relative to a device housing when it is desired to activate a switch. The button may have an associated touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect when a user's finger touches a particular portion of the button member. Contact with only this portion of the button member is generally inadvertent, so an actuator may be used to prevent or otherwise restrict motion of the button relative to a device housing. This prevents inadvertent activation of the button when a user is manipulating portions of an electronic device such as clip or lid, but does not intend to depress the button.
US08717198B2

A vehicle communication connecting apparatus capable of displaying representative images of one or more communication-supported mobile terminals, detected as being present within a vehicle, to allow the mobile terminals to be easily distinguishable, and an operation method thereof. A vehicle communication connecting apparatus, which is connected to one or more communication-supported mobile terminals present within a vehicle so as to be capable of simultaneously or selectively displaying execution results of applications, which are being executed in the respective connected mobile terminals, and an operation method thereof.
US08717196B2

A display apparatus for a vehicle includes: a shooting element for shooting a predetermined area around the vehicle to obtain a shot image around the vehicle; an image conversion element for converting coordinates of the shot image to generate a mirror conversion image, wherein the mirror conversion image provides a first image of a first area around the vehicle reflected on an in-vehicle mirror, the first image being viewed from a passenger of the vehicle, and wherein the passenger sits down on a predetermined seat of the vehicle; and a display element for displaying the mirror conversion image.
US08717194B2

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and adjusting light output of one or more light sources thereof to correct for one or more degradation factors are provided. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and generating an indication if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, where end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and entering the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode if a fault is detected with the one or more operating parameters.
US08717181B2

A hospital bed has a bed exit alarm system including an audible alarm that sounds when an alert condition is detected, such as when a patient exits the bed or moves toward exiting the bed. The bed exit alarm system includes at least one user input that is used to enable the bed exit alarm system and a bed exit alarm silence input that stops the audible alarm from sounding or that prevents the alarm from sounding. The bed exit alarm system is configured such that after the bed exit alarm silence input is used, the bed exit alarm system is re-enabled automatically without any action by a caregiver in response to one or more sensors sensing that the patient is, once again, supported on the bed.
US08717171B2

A reliability extracting section extracts the reliability of positioning at a person's position calculator on the basis of an image captured from an imaging section. A section that creates a possibly-existing area determines a possibly-existing area on the basis of the result of positioning obtained by the person's position calculator and reliability (precision of positioning) obtained by the reliability extracting section. An entry determining section determines entering and/or leaving to/from a targeted monitored area on the basis of the overlapping of the possibly-existing area with the monitored area.
US08717168B2

The present invention is an ASIC-controlled alarm unit. The ASIC circuit performs all the necessary control functions to provide audible and visual signaling when used with external horn and strobe circuits.
US08717147B2

Disclosed are a passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system and method capable of recognizing a great deal of tags at a high speed. A reader of a passive RFID system, including: a processor dividing slots and subchannels to configure a round, recognizing subchannels that are not involved in a collision and interference by the slots, and changing the subchannels that are not involved in a collision and interference, into a sleep state; a transmission unit encoding a command generated through the processor, performing an amplitude jitter modulation on the encoded command, and transmitting the modulated command; and a reception unit acquiring and demodulating tag signals received through a plurality of subchannels by the slots, and providing the demodulated tag signals to the processor.
US08717146B2

An integrated interrogator for a RFID sensor is provided. The integrated interrogator comprises a digital reader in communication with the RFID sensor, an impedance reader in communication with the RFID sensor, and one or more controllers that coordinate actions of the digital reader and the impedance reader.
US08717140B2

A thermally responsive switch includes an airtight container including a metal housing and a header plate, conductive terminal pins airtightly fixed to the header plate, a fixed contact fixed to the conductive terminal pin, a thermally responsive plate one end of which is conductively connected to and fixed to the inner surface of the airtight container and the bending direction of which is reversed at a predetermined temperature, and a movable contact fixed to the other end of the thermally responsive plate. In the thermally responsive switch, the movable contact and the fixed contact are composed of a silver tin oxide based contact and gas containing 50% or more and 95% or less of helium is encapsulated in the airtight container in such a manner that gas pressure is equal to or more than 0.35 and equal to or less than 0.7 at ordinary temperature.
US08717131B2

An improved panel system for covering a glass or plastic surface is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US08717122B2

A cavity filter includes a housing, a plurality of resonators received in the housing, a cover covering the opening, a sliding plate, and a plurality of tuning posts. The housing defines an opening and comprises at least one pair of positioning portions. The plurality of tuning posts are fixed in the cover corresponding to the plurality of resonators. The sliding plate is disposed between the cover and the plurality of resonators, and is slidably positioned at the at least one pair of positioning portions. The sliding plate comprises a plurality of tuning cells and at least one elastic arm. The plurality of tuning cells is coated with a metallic layer and corresponds to the plurality of resonators. The at least one elastic arm extends from the sliding plate and elastically resists the cover.
US08717115B2

A resonator circuit enabling temperature compensation includes an inductor coupled between a first node and a second node of the resonator circuit; a capacitor circuit coupled between the first node and the second node; and a temperature compensation circuit coupled between the first node and the second node. The temperature compensation circuit comprises a varactor coupled to receive a temperature control signal that sets the capacitance of the varactor. A method of generating a resonating output is also disclosed.
US08717106B2

The invention provides an amplifier circuit. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a first class-AB amplifier and a second class-AB amplifier. The first class-AB amplifier amplifies an input signal to generate the first output signal. The second class-AB amplifier amplifies the first output signal to generate a final output signal on an output node. When the power of the input signal is greater than a threshold level, the second class-AB amplifier is in a turned-off state during a turned-on duration period of the first class-AB amplifier, and the first class-AB amplifier is in a turned-off state during a turned-on duration period of the second-class AB amplifier.
US08717097B2

An amplifier with improved noise reduction is disclosed. In one implementation, an amplifier is provided that includes a main output stage configured to output an amplified signal at a main output terminal, a secondary output stage configured to output a copy of the amplified signal at a secondary output terminal, and a signal coupler configured to provide a variable resistance coupling between the secondary output terminal and the main output terminal to reduce noise at the main output terminal.
US08717096B2

The invention further provides a switching amplifier system. In one embodiment, the switching amplifier system comprises a noise shaper, a corrector, and a pulse width logic. The noise shaper receives a first signal, performs a noise shaping process to process the first signal according to a feedback signal to generate a second signal sliced into a plurality of frames. The corrector adds a plurality of correction pulses respectively to the frames of the second signal to obtain a third signal in such a way that the correction pulse added to the second signal in a target frame selected from the frames has a polarity inverse to that of an original waveform of the second signal in the target frame. The pulse width logic then converts the third signal to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.
US08717093B2

There is provided a semiconductor package configured for externally controlled power management. Instead of integrating voltage regulation on-chip as done conventionally, power regulation is moved externally to the PCB level, providing numerous package advantages including size, simplicity, power efficiency, integration flexibility, and thermal dissipation. In particular, the use of flip-chip package configurations provides ready access to power supply bumps, which also allows the use of a universal receiving PCB and power supply through simple reconfiguring of voltage traces. As a result, flexible power management can be implemented, and portions of semiconductor packages may be managed for performance or thermal considerations, which may be of particular use for applications such as multi-core processors.
US08717081B2

A non-overlapping clock generator including an enabling module and N pulse-generating modules connected as a ring is provided. When the ith input node has a high voltage level, the enabling module enables the ith pulse-generating module so as to trigger the ith pulse-generating module to discharge the ith input node. After the ith input node has been discharged to a low voltage level, the ith pulse-generating module charges the ith output node to the high voltage level.
US08717078B2

A latching device includes input and output latching elements to receive and output data values wherein the input and output elements are configured to receive a first and second clocks, respectively. The clocks have the same frequency but are inverted. The elements are transparent and transmit data between an input and an output in response to the first value of a received clock and are opaque and hold the data value in response to a second value of the received clock, such that in response to the first and second clocks the input data value is clocked through the input and output elements to the output. The device includes a device for selecting an operational data value or a diagnostic data value for input to the input element in response to a value of a diagnostic enable signal indicating a functional mode or a diagnostic mode.
US08717074B2

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a phase difference between a reference clock and a feedback clock in even and odd cycles for a phase lock loop (PLL). The even and odd cycles are alternating clock periods. A delta value based on the phase difference is determined. The method then adjusts a division value used by a divider to generate the feedback clock during the even cycle based on the delta value where the delta value is of a first polarity. Also, the method adjusts the division value used by the divider to generate the feedback clock during the odd cycle based on the delta value where the delta value is of a second polarity.
US08717050B2

A device for panel reliability testing and method thereof are proposed. The device includes a connection module, for connecting the panel and an aging module; a reliability chamber control module for sending a voltage regulation command to a bias module and/or a switch control command to the aging module; the bias module, for regulating voltage and transmitting information about voltage regulation to the aging module; and the aging module, for performing an aging operation on the panel depending on the switch control command sent from the reliability chamber control module and the information about voltage regulation transmitted from the bias module. Compared with the prior art, LCD panels undergo the aging testing before being packaged, thereby shortening a time period of manufacturing LCD panels and enhancing production efficiency.
US08717044B2

An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter may have a connector with a pair of power supply contacts and a pair of data contacts. An electronic device may be connected to the connector of the power converter. The power converter may supply DC power to the electronic device using the power supply contacts. The power converter may include control circuitry that has a resistor coupled across the data contacts. When the electronic device and the power converter are connected to each other, each may advertize to the other that capabilities are present that exceed industry standards. At the same time, standard-compliant discovery operations may be performed to probe the value of the resistance of the resistor that is coupled across the data contacts. When extended capabilities are discovered, extended functions may be performed including accelerated charging functions and data communications functions.
US08717043B2

An apparatus for determining a thickness change of thermal interface material (TIM) disposed between first and second elements is provided. The apparatus includes a first part movable with the first element in a movement direction along which the TIM thickness is to be determined, a second part movable with the second element in the movement direction and a sensor to measure a distance between the first and second parts in the movement direction, the measured distance being related to the TIM thickness change.
US08717041B2

The present invention relates to a sensor device for determining an absolute angle of a prosthetic joint, and which is resistant to environmental elements and has a reduced power draw. The sensor device includes an inductive sensor and a rotatable member including a metal material. The metal material can include a non-ferrous metal material. The inductive sensor detects an amount of the metal material in a proximate location to the inductive sensor. Rotation of the rotatable member increases or decreases an amount of metal material in the proximate location of the inductive sensor. The amount of metal material in the proximate location corresponds to an angle of the rotatable member and the prosthetic joint based on a monotonic function. Thus, the inductive sensor detects the amount of metal material in the proximate location to determine the angle of the rotatable member and subsequently the angle of the prosthetic device.
US08717038B2

A wiring testing device configured to test the wiring correctness of an inverter is disclosed. The inverter is configured to be connected to a low-voltage three-phase system with a neutral conductor serving as a reference point for grid-side conductor voltages. The wiring testing device includes a test circuit configured to measure the grid-side conductor voltages and determine an average value from the sum of the instantaneous values of the grid-side conductor voltages, and a display unit configured to display an error message if the average value exceeds a threshold voltage for a defined time period. The wiring testing device further includes a capacitor connected between a phase of the three-phase system and the neutral conductor configured to generate a voltage imbalance if the neutral conductor connection is missing, wherein the test circuit is configured to measure the conductor voltages and determine the voltage imbalance.
US08717033B2

Integrated MOSFET current sensing for fuel-gauging. A 1st MOSFET through which the current is to be sensed is coupled to a 2nd MOSFET of the same type, the 2nd MOSFET being biased to have the same resistance as the 1st MOSFET. The 2nd MOSFET has a much smaller area than the 1st MOSFET, and is coupled to a current source representing a maximum current through the 1st MOSFET. The voltage across the 1st MOSFET relative to the voltage across the 2nd MOSFET provides a measure of the current through the 1st MOSFET. Various embodiments are disclosed, including embodiments in battery packs to eliminate the need for additional and expensive external components.
US08717031B2

Controlling electromagnetic (‘EM’) radiation in a data center having a number EM sections, including: receiving, by an EM controller, a specification of preferred EM radiation characteristics for the data center; and setting, by the EM controller, a state of each EM section in accordance with the specification, where the state of each EM section may be one of: an absorption state in which the EM section absorbs EM radiation or a reflection state in which the EM section reflects EM radiation.
US08717027B2

Apparatuses, methods, and other embodiments associated with determining organ viability are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes logic configured to apply nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) energy to a kidney positioned in a hypothermic pulsative perfusion (HPP) apparatus. The NMR energy is produced according to an MRS 31P specific pulse sequence. The HPP apparatus has an integrated RF coil. The HPP may also have an integrated magnet. The RF coil is positioned and oriented to facilitate optimizing 31P MRS of the kidney. The apparatus also includes logic configured to receive spectrum data from the kidney. The spectrum data is produced in response to applying the NMR energy to the kidney. The apparatus also includes logic configured to provide objective, quantitative kidney viability data (e.g., PME/Pi, ATP/ADP) from the spectrum data. More generally, MRI/MRS compatible HPP apparatuses are configured to interact with dedicated NMR spectroscopy apparatuses.
US08717025B2

In a method and system for echo planar imaging, after having applied a radiofrequency pulse and a slice selection gradient, continuous readout gradients alternating between positive and negative are applied and a phase encoding gradient is applied before starting each readout gradient. A slice selection gradient is applied at the same time as applying the phase encoding gradient. Scanning signals are collected during the duration of the readout gradients. Image reconstruction is implemented based on the scanning signals to obtain a scanned image.
US08717024B2

A method for generating a magnetic resonance image includes acquiring a first k-space data set from each of a plurality of RF coils. The first k-space data set includes calibration data and randomly undersampled data. For each RF coil, a fully randomly sampled k-space data set is generated by removing a portion of the calibration data. A compressed sensing reconstruction technique is applied to the fully randomly sampled k-space data set to generate an aliased image, which is used to generate a uniformly undersampled k-space data set. A second k-space data set is generated by inserting the portion of the calibration data and a parallel imaging reconstruction technique is applied to the second k-space data set to synthesize unacquired data. The second k-space data set and the synthesized data are combined to generate a complete k-space data set for the RF coil.
US08717017B2

There has been a problem that a bridge circuit using magneto-resistive elements or transducer elements could output a signal including an offset voltage, which could result in lower measurement accuracy. In order to solve such a problem, half-bridges each having magneto-resistive elements or transducer elements are excited with different excitation voltages so that the offset voltage is eliminated and the measurement accuracy is improved.
US08716995B2

An error amplifier generates an error signal VERR that corresponds to the difference between a feedback signal VFB and a predetermined reference voltage VREF. A first oscillator generates a first cyclic signal VOSC1 having a sloping segment and a first frequency. A second oscillator generates a second cyclic signal VOSC2 having a sloping segment and a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency. A first pulse modulator generates a first pulse signal having a pulse width that corresponds to the error signal VERR, and clamps its pulse width such that it does not become smaller than a first minimum pulse width. A second pulse modulator generates a second pulse signal having a pulse width that corresponds to the error signal VERR. A synthesizing unit combines the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal so as to generate a driving pulse signal.
US08716990B2

According to one embodiment, a DC-to-DC converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, a high-side controller, and a low-side controller. The low-side switch is connected to the high-side switch in series. The high-side controller is configured to control the high-side switch. The low-side controller includes a first detector and an offset canceller. The first detector is configured to detect a current of the low-side switch. The offset canceller is configured to hold an output of the first detector as an offset voltage when the low-side switch is off and compensate an output of the first detector by the offset voltage when the low-side switch is on. The low-side controller is configured to compare a compensated output of the first detector with a reference voltage and turn off the low-side switch.
US08716987B2

A power supply arrangement is specified in which a capacitor with a low internal resistance, in particular a supercap (3), is connected via a means for charging (4) to an input (1) and via a load current regulator (9) to a connecting means (7) for an electrical load (8). Together with a feedback path, a control loop is formed for the load current through the electrical load (8). It is therefore possible to allow flash operation in applications such as mobile telephones with rechargeable batteries with a high internal resistance, with provision for high energy utilization from the capacitor, with controlled discharging with a regulated current.
US08716985B2

A power factor correction device comprises a power stage circuit converting input alternating current voltage into input current according to a pulse width modulation signal and outputs the input current to a load generating output voltage on the load, and sampling the input current outputting a correcting current; a current compensating circuit receiving and comparing the correcting current with a reference current signal generating a compensating current signal; a voltage compensating circuit receiving and comparing the output voltage with a reference voltage generating a compensating voltage signal; a multiplication amplifier receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating an updated reference current signal by multiplying the compensating current signal with the compensating voltage signal; and a pulse width modulation converter receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating the pulse width modulation signal to synchronize phase of alternating current voltage and input current.
US08716981B2

A system and a method for cooling and cycling a battery pack is provided. The system includes an air supplying device that outputs pressurized air. The system further includes a vortex tube that receives the pressurized air and outputs cooled air at a first temperature level utilizing the pressurized air. The system further includes at least one heat exchanger disposed in the battery pack that receives the cooled air from the vortex tube and cools the battery pack. The system further includes a battery cycling device configured to charge and discharge the battery pack when the battery pack is being cooled.
US08716958B2

A microwave device for accelerating electrons includes an electron gun providing an electron beam along an axis in a microwave structure for accelerating the electrons of the beam, an input for the electron beam, an output for accelerated electrons, and a series of coupled cavities along said axis, of central resonant frequency, an input for a microwave signal for excitation of the microwave structure by one of the cavities, a radiofrequency generator providing the excitation microwave signal to the acceleration microwave structure, and a central unit controlling the variation of energy of the electrons at the output of the microwave structure. The radiofrequency generator comprises a frequency control input for changing the frequency of the excitation microwave signal around the central resonant frequency, the change producing a variation of the energy of the accelerated electrons of the beam at the output of the microwave structure.
US08716956B2

Apparatus and associated methods reduce harmonic distortion of a excitation current by diverting the excitation current substantially away from a number of LEDs arranged in a series circuit until the current or its associated periodic excitation voltage reaches a predetermined threshold level, and ceasing the current diversion while the excitation current or voltage is substantially above the predetermined threshold level. In an illustrative embodiment, a rectifier may receive an AC (e.g., sinusoidal) voltage and deliver unidirectional current to a string of series-connected LEDs. An effective turn-on threshold voltage of the diode string may be reduced by diverting current around at least one of the diodes in the string while the AC voltage is below a predetermined level. In various examples, selective current diversion within the LED string may extend the input current conduction angle and thereby substantially reduce harmonic distortion for AC LED lighting systems.
US08716949B2

A lighting device for lighting a solid-state light source includes: a DC power circuit unit for converting a power of an input DC power source using a switching element and flowing a current through a solid-state light source; and a control unit for performing a first switching control in which the switching element is turned on/off at a first high frequency and a second switching control in which an ON/OFF operation of the switching element is intermittently stopped at a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first switching control. When the current flowing through the solid-state light source is changed, the second frequency is varied.
US08716945B2

A light tube for illumination by a power supply circuit includes a bulb portion and at least one end cap disposed on the bulb portion. A plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed inside the bulb portion for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit. The light emitting diodes are arranged in spaced-apart groupings.
US08716941B2

A terminal and a brightness control method thereof are provided. The terminal includes an illumination sensor for measuring peripheral illumination of the terminal, a proximity sensor for detecting an object within a preset distance, a memory for storing a brightness table including data for controlling brightness of a display unit corresponding to the measured illumination, the display unit for displaying and for changing a brightness of the display unit under control of a controller, and the controller for controlling the display unit to change the brightness according to the measured illumination and the brightness table when the object is not detected. The terminal and brightness control method thereof provide a more suitable screen to a user.
US08716932B2

An electronic device may be provided with a display having a flexible substrate with bent edges. The flexible substrate may have a planar active region that includes an array of light-emitting elements such as organic light-emitting diodes with associated control lines. The flexible substrate may also have inactive regions that lie outside of the active region. The bent edges may be formed from portions of the flexible substrate in the inactive regions. Traces for distributing control signals to the control lines in the active region may be formed in the inactive regions. Corner openings may be formed at the corners of the flexible substrate to accommodate bending of the flexible substrate in the inactive regions. A jumper or a portion of the flexible substrate that lies outside of a corner opening may be used to convey signals between traces on adjoining inactive regions.
US08716928B2

Provided is an organic light emitting device including an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the cathode has a structure including a first metal layer and a second metal layer, or a structure including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and one selected from the group consisting of an oxide layer, a nitride layer, and a nitric oxide layer, and wherein the cathode has low resistance.
US08716918B2

In order for keeping the amplitude of the excitation current of a vibrator constant irrespective not only of the temperature variation but also of the manufacturing variation and the variation in frequency, a comparison control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the drive signal for exciting the vibrator includes a comparative voltage supply circuit for supplying the comparative voltage, and the comparative voltage supply circuit generates the comparative voltage with a constant current source and a second resistor made of a material the same as a material of a first resistor included in a current-voltage conversion circuit.
US08716916B2

A vibration power generator including a first substrate; first electrodes disposed over one surface of the first substrate; a second substrate spaced from the first substrate and opposed to the one surface of the first substrate; and second electrodes disposed over one surface of the second substrate so as to be opposed to the first electrodes, wherein one of the first and second electrodes includes a film holding a charge; one of the first and second substrates is a vibratory substrate; and an overlapped area between the first and second electrodes becomes minimum and then maximum, or becomes maximum and minimum, and an electrostatic capacity Cp formed between the first and second electrodes when the overlapped area becomes maximum changes, and the change of Cp comprises an increase of Cp, while the vibratory substrate is displaced from the vibration center to the vibration end.
US08716911B2

Provided is a motor device in which the entire length of a motor can be shortened as much as possible while the positional deviation of a shaft in a thrust direction is prevented and a shaft length sufficient to suppress the inclination of the shaft can be ensured. A motor device provided with a shaft with a rotor fixed on the outer surface thereof, and a thrust pressurization unit that supports an end opposite the output side of the shaft while pressurizing the end in an axial direction may be configured so that the thrust pressurization unit may be provided with a coil spring that pressurizes the end opposite the output side of the shaft in the axial direction and the thrust pressurization unit may be disposed inside the rotor.
US08716903B2

Described herein are improved configurations for providing a stranded printed circuit board trace comprising, a plurality of conductor layers, a plurality of individual conductor traces on each of the said conductor layers, and a plurality of vias for connecting individual conductor traces on different said conductor layers, the vias located on the outside edges of the stranded trace. The individual conductor traces of each layer may be routed from vias on one side of the stranded printed circuit board trace to vias on the other side in a substantially diagonal direction with respect to the axis of the stranded printed circuit board trace. In embodiments, the stranded printed circuit board trace configuration may be applied to a wireless power transfer system.
US08716892B2

An energy storage system and a method of controlling the energy storage system, the energy storage system including a power converting unit for converting a voltage output from the power generating system into a direct current (DC) link voltage, a bidirectional converter enabled to perform mutual conversion between an output voltage of the battery and the DC link voltage, a DC link unit for constantly maintaining a level of the DC link voltage, a bidirectional inverter for converting the DC link voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage appropriate for the grid, and for converting an AC voltage of the grid into the DC link voltage, and an integrated controller for controlling the power converting unit, the bidirectional converter, and the bidirectional inverter, and for controlling operation modes of the energy storage system. In particular, the integrated controller may control operation modes in accordance with the DC link voltage.
US08716877B2

A method for harvesting energy from ankle motion includes coupling a generator module across an ankle joint, the generator module including a generator and an elastic member. The generator is affixed to the leg shank and at least one of the generator and the elastic member is continuously coupled to the foot across the ankle joint. Energy may be harvested in the elastic member while generating electricity with the generator from motion of the ankle joint. Alternatively, or in addition, electricity may be generated with the generator from energy harvested in the elastic member after the energy is harvested.
US08716873B2

A device is disclosed. The device includes a carrier substrate having first and second major surfaces. The first surface includes a die region and contact pads and the second surface includes package contacts. The carrier substrate includes a patterned lead frame which defines a line level with conductive traces and a via level with via contacts. The patterned lead frame provides interconnections between the contact pads and package contacts. The carrier substrate further includes a dielectric layer isolating the conductive traces and via contacts. The device includes a die mounted on the die region of the first surface.
US08716872B2

A stacked semiconductor package has a first semiconductor package including a first package substrate and a first semiconductor chip mounted on the first package substrate, a second semiconductor package including a second package substrate and a second semiconductor chip mounted on the second package substrate, and a plurality of connections electrically connecting the first and second semiconductor packages. The connections are disposed on an outer region of the first package substrate outside the first semiconductor chip. The connections are disposed along opposite first longer sides and opposite shorter second sides of the first package substrate. The heights of those connections disposed along each longer first side gradually vary from a central to an outer region (i.e., the ends) of the longer first side.
US08716861B2

A semiconductor package having electrical connecting structures includes: a conductive layer having a die pad and traces surrounding the die pad; a chip; bonding wires; an encapsulant with a plurality of cavities having a depth greater than the thickness of the die pad and traces for embedding the die pad and the traces therein, and the cavities exposing the die pad and the traces; a solder mask layer formed in the cavities and having a plurality of openings for exposing the trace ends and a portion of the die pad; and solder balls formed in the openings and electrically connected to the trace ends. Engaging the solder mask layer with the encapsulant enhances adhesion strength of the solder mask layer so as to prolong the moisture permeation path and enhance package reliability.
US08716857B2

A semiconductor fabrication technique cuts loops formed in a spacer pattern. The spacer pattern is a split loop pattern which generally includes a symmetric arrangement of one or more loops in each of four quadrants which are defines with respect to a reference point. The loops can be peaks or trenches. Each quadrant can include one loop, or multiple nested loops. Further, the space pattern includes a single cross, or multiple nested crosses, which extend between the loops. A cut out area is defined which extends outward from the reference point to closed ends of the loops, also encompassing a central portion of the cross. When a metal wiring layer pattern is formed using the spacer pattern with the cut out area, metal wiring is excluded from the cut out area. The loop ends in the metal wiring layer are broken and can be used as independent active lines.
US08716845B2

A lead frame strip includes an array of sites arranged in at least one row connected to two exterior side rails which traverse the lead frame strip on two opposite sides. Each of the sites is further connected to the two exterior side rails by subrails which extend between the two exterior side rails. Interior side rails extend between the subrails having a length dimension oriented along a first direction. The interior side rails include at least one punch degating aperture having an aperture length oriented along the first direction, wherein a total of the aperture length along the interior side rails is greater than or equal to the die pad length.
US08716837B2

Methods for fabricating bipolar junction transistors, bipolar junction transistors made by the methods, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. The bipolar junction transistor includes a dielectric layer on an intrinsic base and an extrinsic base at least partially separated from the intrinsic base by the dielectric layer. An emitter opening extends through the extrinsic base and the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is recessed laterally relative to the emitter opening to define a cavity between the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base. The cavity is filled with a semiconductor layer that physically links the extrinsic base and the intrinsic base together.
US08716835B2

A bipolar transistor is provided with an emitter layer, a base layer and a collector layer. The emitter layer is formed above a substrate and is an n-type conductive layer including a first nitride semiconductor. The base layer is formed on the emitter layer and is a p-type conductive including a second nitride semiconductor. The collector layer is formed on the base layer and includes a third nitride semiconductor. The collector layer, the base layer and the emitter layer are formed such that a crystal growth direction to the substrate surface is parallel to a substrate direction of [000-1]. The third nitride semiconductor contains InycAlxcGa1-xc-ycN (0•xc•1, 0•yc•1, 0
US08716833B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including forming on a substrate an insulating interlayer through which a capacitor contact is interposed; forming on the insulating interlayer a first upper electrode having an opening through which the capacitor contact is exposed; forming a first dielectric layer pattern on a lateral wall of the opening; forming a lower electrode on the first dielectric layer pattern formed in the opening and the capacitor contact; forming a second dielectric layer pattern on the lower electrode formed in the opening and the first dielectric layer pattern; and forming on the second dielectric layer pattern a second upper electrode so as to fill the opening and to contact the first upper electrode. The semiconductor device may prevent a lower electrode of a capacitor from collapsing.
US08716827B2

Integrated circuits and manufacturing methods are presented for creating diffusion resistors (101, 103) in which the diffusion resistor well is spaced from oppositely doped wells to mitigate diffusion resistor well depletion under high biasing so as to provide reduced voltage coefficient of resistivity and increased breakdown voltage for high-voltage applications.
US08716826B2

In a semiconductor device having a pn-junction diode structure that includes anode diffusion region including edge area, anode electrode on anode diffusion region, and insulator film on edge area of anode diffusion region, the area of anode electrode above anode diffusion region with insulator film interposed between anode electrode and anode diffusion region is narrower than the area of insulator film on edge area of anode diffusion region.
US08716818B2

According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes a storage layer having a variable and perpendicular magnetization, a tunnel barrier layer on the storage layer, a reference layer having an invariable and perpendicular magnetization on the tunnel barrier layer, a hard mask layer on the reference layer, and a sidewall spacer layer on sidewalls of the reference layer and the hard mask layer. An in-plane size of the reference layer is smaller than an in-plane size of the storage layer. A difference between the in-plane sizes of the storage layer and the reference layer is 2 nm or less. The sidewall spacer layer includes a material selected from a group of a diamond, DLC, BN, SiC, B4C, Al2O3 and AlN.
US08716802B2

A semiconductor device structure including a substrate, a resistor, and a first gate structure is provided. The substrate includes a resistor region and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor region. The resistor is disposed on the substrate within the resistor region. The resistor includes a first dielectric layer, a metal layer, a second dielectric layer, and a semiconductor layer sequentially stacked on the substrate. The first gate structure is disposed on the substrate within the MOS transistor region. The first gate structure includes the first dielectric layer, the metal layer, and the semiconductor layer sequentially stacked on the substrate.
US08716800B2

Semiconductor structure and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device is formed on an SOI substrate comprising an SOI layer, a buried insulating layer, a buried semiconductor layer and a semiconductor substrate from top to bottom, and comprises: source/drain regions formed in the SOI layer; a gate formed on the SOI layer, wherein the source/drain regions are located at both sides of the gate; a back gate region formed by a portion of the buried semiconductor layer which is subjected to resistance reduction; and a first isolation structure and a second isolation structure which are located at both sides of the source/drain regions and extend into the SOI substrate; wherein the first isolation structure and the second isolation structure laterally adjoin the SOI layer at a first side surface and a second side surface respectively; the first isolation structure laterally adjoins the buried semiconductor layer at a third side surface; and the third side surface is located between the first side surface and the second side surface.
US08716791B1

Semiconductor devices, such as LDMOS devices, are described that include a plurality of trench regions formed in an extended drain region of the devices. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having an extended drain region, a source region, and a drain region, all of the first conductivity type, formed proximate to a surface of the substrate. A gate is positioned over the surface and between the source region and the drain region. The gate is configured to receive a voltage so that a conduction region may be formed at least partially below the gate to allow charge carriers (e.g., majority carriers) to travel between the source region and the drain region. A plurality of trench regions are formed within the extended drain region that are configured to increase resistivity within the extended drain region when charge carriers travel between the source region and the drain region.
US08716790B2

A transistor advantageously embodied in a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device having a gate located over a channel region recessed into a semiconductor substrate and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device includes a source/drain having a lightly doped region located adjacent the channel region and a heavily doped region located adjacent the lightly doped region. The laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device further includes an oppositely doped well located under and within the channel region, and a doped region, located between the heavily doped region and the oppositely doped well, having a doping concentration profile less than a doping concentration profile of the heavily doped region.
US08716788B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device including a drift region of a first doping type, a junction between the drift region and a device region, and at least one field electrode structure in the drift region. The field electrode structure includes a field electrode, a field electrode dielectric adjoining the field electrode and arranged between the field electrode and the drift region, and having an opening, at least one of a field stop region and a generation region.
US08716767B2

A compliant bipolar micro device transfer head array and method of forming a compliant bipolar micro device transfer array from an SOI substrate are described. In an embodiment, a compliant bipolar micro device transfer head array includes a base substrate and a patterned silicon layer over the base substrate. The patterned silicon layer may include first and second silicon interconnects, and first and second arrays of silicon electrodes electrically connected with the first and second silicon interconnects and deflectable into one or more cavities between the base substrate and the silicon electrodes.
US08716755B2

Compression strains are generated at an interface between the cap layer and the barrier layer and an interface between the channel layer and the buffer layer and a tensile strain is generated at an interface between the barrier layer and the channel layer. Therefore, negative charge is higher than positive charge at the interface between the cap layer and the barrier layer and the interface between the channel layer and the buffer layer, while positive charge is higher than negative charge at the interface between the barrier layer and the channel. The channel layer has a stacked layer structure of a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer has a higher electron affinity than those of the first layer and the third layer.
US08716754B2

The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor device One aspect of the present invention provides a nitride semiconductor device including: a nitride semiconductor layer having a 2DEG channel; a source electrode in ohmic contact with the nitride semiconductor layer; a drain electrode in ohmic contact with the nitride semiconductor layer; a p-type nitride layer formed on the nitride semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes; an n-type nitride layer formed on the p-type nitride layer; and a gate electrode formed between the source and drain electrodes to be close to the source electrode and in contact with the n-type nitride layer so that a source-side sidewall thereof is aligned with source-side sidewalls of the p-type and n-type nitride layers.
US08716753B2

The nitride semiconductor material according to the present invention includes a group III nitride semiconductor and a group IV nitride formed on the group III nitride semiconductor, where an interface between the group III nitride semiconductor and the group IV nitride has a regular atomic arrangement. Moreover, an arrangement of nitrogen atoms of the group IV nitride in the interface and an arrangement of group III atoms of the group III nitride semiconductor in the interface may be substantially identical.
US08716740B1

An electrode structure for an LED includes a plurality of blind holes and a plurality of N-type metal electrodes. The LED comprises, in this order by stacking, an intrinsic semiconductor layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, a mirror layer, a buffer layer, a bonding layer, a permanent substrate and a P-type electrode. The blind holes are distributed in a pattern and run through the intrinsic semiconductor layer to reach the N-type semiconductor layer. The N-type metal electrodes respectively run through the blind holes to connect the N-type semiconductor layer. Through a 3D contact interface formed by the blind hole, not only contact impedance between the N-type metal electrode and the N-type semiconductor layer can be reduced, the N-type metal electrode also can be firmly held in the blind hole without peeling off.
US08716739B2

A package includes a substrate with an attached emitting IC chip and receiving IC chip. The emitting IC chip includes an optical emitter, and the receiving IC chip includes a main optical sensor and a secondary optical sensor. A case is provided with a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion to cover the IC chips, wherein the edge of the peripheral wall portion is mounted to the substrate. The bottom portion of the case includes a main opening above the main optical sensor and a secondary opening above the optical emitter. An opaque material is interposed between the case and the receiving IC chip to isolate the main optical sensor from the secondary optical sensor and delimiting a chamber containing the secondary optical sensor and the optical emitter. The chamber is optically isolated from the main optical sensor and main opening, and may be filled with a transparent material.
US08716735B2

A light-emitting diode has a metal structure, a light-emitting chip, and a bowl structure. The metal structure has a platform and a heat sink. The platform has a top face, a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side. A first reflector and a second reflector respectively extend from the first side and the second side. The heat sink extends below the top face and has a drop from the bottom surfaces of the first reflector and the second reflector. The light-emitting chip is disposed on the top face. The bowl structure covers the outer surface of the metal structure and shields the bottom surfaces of the first reflector and the second reflector. A thermal dispassion surface of the heat sink is exposed from the bowl structure. An inner surface of bowl wall has a plurality of reflection structures to promote the light extraction efficiency.
US08716727B2

Disclosed is an AC light emitting device having photonic crystal structures and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting cells and metallic wirings electrically connecting the light emitting cells with one another. Further, each of the light emitting cells includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer disposed on one region of the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first and second conductive type semiconductor layers. In addition, a photonic crystal structure is formed in the second conductive type semiconductor layer. The photonic crystal structure prevents light emitted from the active layer from laterally propagating by means of a periodic array, such that light extraction efficiency of the light emitting device can be improved. Furthermore, the metallic wirings electrically connect a plurality of light emitting cells with one another such that an AC light emitting device can be provided.
US08716725B2

Substrates and packages for LED-based light devices can significantly improve thermal performance and provide separate electrical and thermal paths through the substrate. One substrate includes multiple electrically insulating base layers. On a top one of these layers are disposed top-side electrical contacts, including light device pads to accommodate a plurality of light devices. External electrical contacts are disposed on an exterior surface of the substrate. Electrical paths connect the top-side electrical contacts to the external electrical contacts. At least portions of some of the electrical paths are disposed between the electrically insulating base layers. The electrical paths can be arranged such that different subsets of the light device pads are addressable independently of each other. A heat dissipation plate can be formed on the bottom surface of a bottom one of the base layers.
US08716723B2

A system and method for manufacturing a light-generating device is described. A preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of LEDs formed on a substrate. Each LED preferably has spacers along the sidewalls of the LED, and a reflective surface is formed on the substrate between the LEDs. The reflective surface is preferably located lower than the active layer of the individual LEDs.
US08716715B2

A thin film transistor substrate including a thin film transistor having a drain electrode with an electrode portion, which overlaps with a semiconductor layer, and an extended portion, which extends from the electrode portion and has a portion overlapping with a storage electrode or storage electrode line. A passivation layer is arranged on the drain electrode, and it has a contact hole that partially exposes the extended portion of the drain electrode without exposing a step in the extended portion caused by the storage electrode or storage electrode line. A pixel electrode is arranged on the passivation layer and is electrically connected with the extended portion of the drain electrode through the contact hole.
US08716698B2

An organic electroluminescent device comprising at least an anode electrode, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer and a cathode electrode in this order, wherein the hole injection layer comprises an arylamine compound having at least three triphenylamine structures in the molecule, the hole transport layer comprises an arylamine compound having two triphenylamine structures in the molecule, and the electron transport layer comprises a substituted bipyridyl compound represented by the following general formula (1):
US08716697B2

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices comprising at least one layer comprising novel cross-linkable polymers. The compounds can function as monomers, and copolymers can be formed from such monomers, such copolymers comprising, as polymerized units, a plurality of units of the compounds. The compositions are especially useful when incorporated into charge transport layers and light-emitting layers of a wide variety of electronic devices.
US08716692B2

The disclosed light emitting diode includes a substrate provided, at a surface thereof, with protrusions, a buffer layer formed over the entirety of the surface of the substrate, a first semiconductor layer formed over the buffer layer, an active layer formed on a portion of the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer formed over the active layer, a first electrode pad formed on another portion of the first semiconductor layer, except for the portion where the active layer is formed, and a second electrode pad formed on the second semiconductor layer. Each protrusion has a side surface inclined from the surface of the substrate at a first angle, and another side surface inclined from the surface of the substrate at a second angle different from the first angle.
US08716689B2

A thermal diode comprising a superlyophobic surface, and a lyophilic surface separated from the superlyophobic surface defining a chamber. A liquid is disposed in the chamber, the liquid capable of phase changing during operation of the thermal diode. Methods of cooling and insulating bodies and rectifying heat transfer using the thermal diode.
US08716682B2

An ion implantation system may comprise a plasma source for providing a plasma and a workpiece holder arranged to receive a bias with respect to the plasma to attract ions across a plasma sheath toward the substrate. The system may also include an extraction plate arrangement comprising a multiplicity of different apertures each arranged to provide an ion beam having ions distributed over a range of angles of incidence on the workpiece, wherein a first ion beam extracted from a first aperture has a first beam profile that differs from a second ion beam extracted from a second aperture.
US08716667B2

The present invention relates to a switching apparatus, a switching method, and an electronic device with which it is possible to detect whether or not a proximal object is a human skin.
US08716665B2

Various embodiments of a compact optical proximity sensor with a ball grid array and windowed or apertured substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical proximity sensor comprises a printed circuit board (“PCB”) substrate comprising an aperture and a lower surface having electrical contacts disposed thereon, an infrared light emitter and an infrared light detector mounted on an upper surface of the substrate, an integrated circuit located at least partially within the aperture, a molding compound being disposed between portions of the integrated circuit and substrate, an ambient light detector mounted on an upper surface of the integrated circuit, first and second molded infrared light pass components disposed over and covering the infrared light emitter and the infrared light detector, respectively, and a molded infrared light cut component disposed between and over portions of the first and second infrared light pass components.
US08716663B2

The present invention relates to a device and method for monitoring and verification of the quality of a radiation treatment beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMPT (Intensity Modulated Particle Therapy) applications. The device comprises a 2D electronic detector measuring 2D responses to the delivered treatment beam. These 2D responses are compared with predicted 2D responses and differences in responses are signalled. Based on the measured 2D responses the effectively delivered 3D dose distribution in the target can be reconstructed.
US08716658B2

The invention provides a mass spectrometer system (10) comprising a mass spectrometer (12) comprising a plurality of mass spectrometer stages (16, 18, 20, 44) in fluid communication from a low vacuum stage (16) to a higher vacuum stage (44). A split flow multi-stage pump (14) evacuates the mass spectrometer stages. The pump comprises a pump envelope (28) in which a plurality of pumping stages (20, 32, 34) are supported for rotation about an axis X generally parallel to the direction of flow in the mass spectrometer stages for pumping fluid from a main pump inlet (36) to a main pump outlet (38). At least part of a higher vacuum stage (44) is located within the pump envelope at the main pump inlet.
US08716650B2

Nuclear gauges, their components and method for assembly and adjustment of the same are provided. The nuclear gauges are used in measuring the density and/or moisture of construction-related materials. The nuclear gauge can include a gauge housing having a vertical cavity therethrough and at least one radiation detector located within the housing. The nuclear gauge can include a vertically moveable source rod and a radiation source operatively positioned within a distal end of the source rod.
US08716637B2

Systems for heat treating materials are presented. The systems typically involve a fluidized bed that contains granulated heat treating material. In some embodiments a fluid, such as an inert gas, is flowed through the granulated heat treating medium, which homogenizes the temperature of the heat treating medium. In some embodiments the fluid may be heated in a heating vessel and flowed into the process chamber where the fluid is then flowed through the granulated heat treating medium. In some embodiments the heat treating material may be liquid or granulated heat treating material and the heat treating material may be circulated through a heating vessel into a process chamber where the heat treating material contacts the material to be heat treated. Microwave energy may be used to provide the source of heat for heat treating systems.
US08716631B2

An oven door comprises a structure with internal glass plates, the external glass plate being bigger than the internal glass plates. The door further comprises a housing of polymeric material for electrical and/or electronic components of an user interface integral with the door, the housing being shell-shaped and being mounted on an internal face of the external glass plate, above the internal glass plates.
US08716629B2

This invention relates to a temperature sensor for body temperature measurements. The temperature sensor is made of several layers, where a first layer has a central heater embedded therein, a second layer which is attached to the first layer has at least one first thermistor embedded therein for measuring a first temperature value, a third layer has at one ore second thermistor embedded therein separated from the first thermistor for measuring at least one second temperature value, but this third layer is adapted to be in contact to the skin of the surface of the body for conducting the heat escaping from the body through the layers. The difference between the first and the second temperature values indicates the heat flux from the body. The heat emitted from central heater is tuned oppositely to the heat flux until a zero heat flux is reached, where the temperature at the at least one second thermistor at zero heat flux indicates the body temperature. These layers are fabric layers.
US08716628B2

A household appliance for washing and/or drying clothes comprises an outer casing provided with a worktop and a front panel carrying operational input controls, an opening for loading and unloading clothes, a door for closing the opening, a rotational drum supported inside the casing. The worktop comprises a heating unit to dry garments disposed on the worktop.
US08716622B2

A laser welding apparatus and method reproduces a welding state substantially identical to an actual operation of a robot at a manufacturing site even when an operating speed of the robot is changed. When a moving speed of the robot is, for example, 50% of an override ratio, a welding point speed, which is a resultant speed of a focus moving speed of the laser beam by movement of the robot having a scanner head and the focus moving speed of the laser beam by rotation of the laser scanning mirror, becomes identical to that when an override ratio is 100%. This is achieved by increasing a rotating speed of a laser scanning mirror within the scanner head.
US08716619B2

A MEMS switch in which at least first, second and third signal lines are provided over the substrate, which each terminate at a connection region. A lower actuation electrode arrangement is over the substrate. A movable contact electrode is suspended over the connection regions for making or breaking electrical contact between at least two of the three connection regions and an upper actuation electrode provided over the lower actuation electrode. The use of three of more signal lines enables a symmetrical actuation force to be achieved or enables multiple switch functions to be implemented by the single movable electrode, or both.
US08716616B2

A main switch for electrical systems of vehicles, comprising an outer casing projecting from which is a plurality of electrical contacts that are to be connected to cables of the electrical system, wherein the casing has a base that is to rest on a supporting plate of the vehicle, said base being fixed by means of screws to the supporting plate, wherein the base is provided with two pairs of fixing elements having respective holes that are to be engaged by said screws, said fixing elements being insertable in the respective seats of the base in two different positions to which there correspond different distances between the centers of the fixing elements of each pair.
US08716615B2

A conduction breaking device includes a movable member accommodated in an accommodation chamber of a case. A cutter portion projects from an advancing side of the movable member in the moving direction. A gas generator is arranged on the trailing side of the movable member in the moving direction. A conduction member extends to connect a pair of external connection portions and includes a pair of base portions and a breakable portion. The base portions are located in the side wall of the case and extend along the moving direction of the movable member. The breakable portion is shaped to connect the base portions to each other and to block the advancing side of the movable member in the moving direction. Step portions are formed in the breakable portion. Engaging portions that are engageable with the step portions are formed in the case.
US08716607B2

A liquid-proof structure for wires includes a wire frame and a blocker. The wire frame has an accommodating space, at least one limiting slot and a second hole. The wire frame is disposed on the first hole and the wire frame provides a connection between an interior of the casing and outside through the second hole. The limiting slot is used for limiting a position of the wire. The blocker has at least one wire slot. The blocker is disposed in the accommodating space of the wire frame, and the wire slot is used for limiting a position of the wire. The wire is limited and fixed by the wire slot of the blocker. The wire is wrapped by the wire slot, so that liquid is prevented from going through the liquid-proof structure by an elasticity and a liquid-resistance of the blocker.
US08716606B2

A conformal electro-magnetic (EM) shield and a method of applying such a shield are provided herein as well as variations thereof. Variations include, but are not limited to, frequency-selective shielding, shields containing active and/or passive electronic components, and strippable shields that can easily be applied to and removed from underlying components. Variations of a shield structure include at least an insulating layer between the underling component and the shield, and shielding and/or capping layers disposed over the insulating layer.
US08716604B2

An electric junction box including a metal core wiring board having a high heat-releasing property is provided. The electric junction box includes a case and a metal core wiring board received inside the case. The metal core wiring board includes a base plate and a plurality of relays. The base plate is constituted of a pair of insulation sheets sandwiching respective body portions of two conductive plates and body portions of a plurality of conductive plates. The each conductive plate has a terminal portion formed continuously from the body portion and arranged to project from edge of the insulation sheet. The conductive plates are made of copper alloy including copper and at least one of iron, nickel, tin and zirconium.
US08716600B2

A cable connection assembly includes an electrically conductive cable, an electrically conductive connector, and a flowable sealant. The electrical cable includes a conductor. The connector includes a connector body having an outer surface and a lengthwise connector axis. The connector body defines a conductor cavity receiving the conductor of the electrical cable. The connector further includes a sealant flow blocking wall on the connector body and extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the connector body. The flowable sealant surrounds a portion of the connector body. The sealant flow blocking wall is configured to inhibit flow of the sealant on the outer surface along the lengthwise connector axis.
US08716599B2

Provided herein is a connecting strap or spanning strap that is adapted for use in interconnecting adjacent insulated and/or electrically isolated pipeline sections to provide electrical continuity. Various aspects of the spanning strap are based on the realization that different attachment mechanisms may benefit from differing geometries of the spanning strap. Specifically, it's been determined that the geometry of an attachment aperture extending through the connection strap for use in welding or soldering strapped an underlying surface may be advantageously designed.
US08716598B2

A case for housing and protecting an electronic device against moisture damage and contaminants is disclosed. The case includes a first member having a first plainer section and a first perimetric wall formed thereon, and a second member having a second planer section and a second perimetric wall formed thereon. The first perimetric wall and the second perimetric wall are engaged forming an overlap and a sealing structure for a watertight seal. The sealing structure includes a mated ring and a ridge-to-groove interlock. The case further includes a plurality interface feature accesses, including an optical access, an audio access, a button, and at least one open access for electrical connection. The case provides a cover with a plug adapted to cover up the open electrical connection access to form a watertight seal.
US08716592B2

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thin film photovoltaic panels (TFPP). Instead of utilizing a conventional EVA based adhesive layer, material, the present invention uses an adhesive layer that may be applied in a liquid form and cures rapidly to form the TFFP. In one embodiment, the method provides for applying an adhesive layer in a liquid form along at least a portion of the exposed photovoltaic layer and substrate. In another embodiment, the method provides for applying a first layer adhesive in liquid form along at least one edge of the substrate and second layer of adhesive in liquid form generally bound by the first layer of adhesive. After application of the adhesive layer(s), a force may then be applied to adhere the front panel (or substrate), photovoltaic material layer, adhesive layer and backing panel and the adhesive layer transforms from a liquid to a solid.
US08716591B2

A process of forming an array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells from a stack of thin film layers formed on an insulating substrate includes forming at least one cell isolation scribe in the stack of thin film layers. A second electrical contact layer isolation scribe is formed for each cell isolation scribe adjacent to a respective cell isolation scribe. A via scribe is formed in the stack of thin film layers between each cell isolation scribe and its respective second electrical contact layer isolation scribe. Insulating ink is disposed in each cell isolation scribe, and conductive ink is disposed in each via scribe to form a via. Conductive ink is also disposed along the top surface of the stack of thin film layers to form at least one conductive grid.
US08716584B1

A method, apparatus and system to enable a user to find and act-upon an audio-containing composition in a group of compositions. A sound-segment (recognition-segment) intended to prompt a user's memory, may be associated with each composition in a group of compositions. A recognition-segment may contain one or more highly recognizable portion(s) of a composition. When the user is trying to locate or select a particular composition, the recognition-segments are navigated and played-back to the user, based upon a user-device context/mode. When a user recognizes the desired composition from its recognition-segment, the user may initiate a control action to playback; arrange; and/or act-upon, the composition that is associated with the currently playing recognition-segment.
US08716581B1

An improved pick holder device made from a single length of memory retentive material and having a helical coil (20) and u-shaped arm assemblies (30) with cleats (24) provides convenient insertion, retention, extraction, and storage of a plurality of variously sized stringed musical instrument picks (25). Removable attachment to an unmodified musical instrument strap (26) or microphone stand (33) is both firm and non-damaging. Pick holder manufacturing is accomplished on standard equipment using no special tooling.
US08716580B2

A string-replacement assembly may be installed within an inner cavity of a body of a guitar or non-fretted string instrument. The assembly includes at least one cartridge configured to contain a supply of replacement string therein, corresponding to a particular string gauge for the guitar. Each supply of replacement string is rotatably mounted within a cartridge. A free end of each supply of the replacement string can be threaded through an exit opening in the body of the guitar for installation on a topside of the guitar or non-fretted string instrument. When a string needs to be replaced, a portion of the supply of the replacement string may be readily advanced from a corresponding cartridge to a desired length, and installed in a playing position on the topside of the guitar or non-fretted string instrument, to replace a removed portion of the string.
US08716573B1

A novel maize variety designated X130733 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X130733 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X130733 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X130733, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X130733. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X130733.
US08716572B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV589900. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV589900, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV589900 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 CV589900 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 CV589900.
US08716571B2

The present invention discloses genetically modified tobacco plants, and tobacco products derived from such plants, comprising a decrease in at least one amino acid such that upon heating and/or burning, the tobacco plant or a portion thereof generates reduced levels of a compound derived from the at least one amino acid as compared to an unmodified parent tobacco plant or a portion thereof. In an embodiment, the tobacco generates reduced levels of acrylamide and/or acrylonitrile upon heating and/or burning of the tobacco as compared to an unmodified parent tobacco line. These plants are useful for improving tobacco products.
US08716568B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035869. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035869. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035869 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035869 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08716567B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety NE2412487 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety NE2412487 and its progeny, and methods of making NE2412487.
US08716566B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety SJ0912741 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety SJ0912741 and its progeny, and methods of making SJ0912741.
US08716562B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 06RM936409 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 06RM936409 and its progeny, and methods of making 06RM936409.
US08716559B2

Preparation and use of isolated nucleic acids useful in altering the oil phenotype in plants. Isolated nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides that alter alpha- and beta-tocotrienol content in seeds and oil obtained from the seeds. Expression cassettes, host cells and transformed plants containing the foregoing nucleic acids.
US08716557B2

Methods for altering the N-glycosylation pattern of proteins in higher plants are provided. The methods comprise introducing into the plant a recombinant RNAi construct that provides for the inhibition of expression of α1,3-fucosyltransferase (FucT) and β1,2-xylosyltransferase (XylT) in a plant. Use of these RNAi constructs to inhibit or suppress expression of both of these enzymes, and isoforms thereof, advantageously provides for the production of endogenous and heterologous proteins having a “humanized” N-glycosylation pattern without impacting plant growth and development. Stably transformed higher plants having this protein N-glycosylation pattern are provided. Glycoprotein compositions, including monoclonal antibody compositions, having substantially homogeneous glycosylation profiles, and which are substantially homogeneous for the G0 glycoform, are also provided.
US08716546B2

A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.
US08716543B2

A process to make propylene can include providing a reaction zone containing a catalyst and introducing a feedstock into the reaction zone. The catalyst can be an acid. The feedstock can include ethylene, dimethyl ether or methanol and dimethyl ether with at least 1000 wppm of dimethyl ether, and optionally steam. The feedstock can be contacted with the catalyst at temperature and pressure conditions to produce an effluent, including propylene, hydrocarbons, steam, optionally unconverted methanol and/or unconverted dimethyl ether and optionally unconverted ethylene. The temperature at the inlet of the reaction zone can be under 280° C., such as from 50 to 280° C. The effluent can be sent to a fractionation zone to recover propylene, optionally methanol, dimethyl ether and optionally ethylene. At least a part of methanol, dimethyl ether, and ethylene can be recycled to the reaction zone at step b).
US08716537B2

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08716536B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of directly compressible mannitol having a content of the δ modification of greater than 90%.
US08716529B2

Provided are amine derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treating ophthalmic diseases and disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's Disease, using said compounds and compositions.
US08716507B2

New hexa-coordinate iron (II) complexes comprising compounds of formula (I) are described. These compounds comprise a tetradentate ligand with donor atoms comprising nitrogen and phosphorus. These complexes are shown for the first time to be useful catalysts for the hydrogenation of ketones, aldehydes, or imines to produce alcohols or amines, and the asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones or imines to produce non-racemic alcohols or amines. The source of the hydrogen can be hydrogen gas or a hydrogen-donating molecule such as isopropanol or hydrogen-donating mixture such as formic acid and an amine depending on the structure of the catalyst. In certain embodiments, the axial ligands on the catalyst comprise organonitrile ligands, carbonyl ligands, isonitrile ligands, or combinations thereof. The catalysts and the preparation thereof are disclosed. A reaction using phosphine and diamine precursors that is templated by the iron ion is the preferred route to the catalysts.
US08716506B2

This patent application has as purpose the application/utilization of esters and ethers derived from xylitol, obtained by organic synthesis, as alternative emollient, moisturizing, emulsifier and co-emulsifier and preservatives for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and veterinarian products. The molecules required in this invention patent are mainly xylitol esters and ethers associated to the chains of fatty acids and alcohols (FIGS. 1 and 2), applied isolated or in association with other molecules of known preserving and/or moisturizing/emollient actions, such as phenoxyethanol, butylene glycol, glycerin, caprylyl glycol, ethyl hexyl glycerin, phenetyl alcohol, nisin, lactoferrin, among others, as well as in association with other emollient/moisturizing and preservatives for application in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and veterinarian formulations. Some of these associations and isolated applications present important antimicrobial action, such as for example, inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergilus niger and Candida albicans. Also, the present co-emulsifier, emollient, solving and moisturizing properties.
US08716502B2

A process for preparing a divinylarene oxide including (a) reacting (i) at least one divinylarene; (ii) at least one peroxycarboximidic acid; (iii) at least one solvent; and (iv) at least one basic compound, under reaction conditions to form a reaction effluent containing a divinylarene oxide product; and then (b) evaporating the reaction effluent of step (a) to form a concentrate containing the divinylarene oxide product; and wherein the concentrate separates into two liquid phases.
US08716501B2

[Problem] There is provided a method for producing an oxygen-containing compound safely and with improved reaction efficiency, in which an undesired peroxide is unlikely to be produced, and efficient heat exchange of the ozonization can be achieved.[Mean for solving the Problem] The method comprises an ozonization reaction step of continuously supplying, together with an organic compound, ozone having an oxygen content of less than 10% in a dissolved state in high-pressure carbon dioxide to an ozonization reaction section having a thin tubular shape, and reacting the ozone and the organic compound under conditions that suppress generation of oxygen due to thermal decomposition of the ozone, thereby continuously producing an ozonide; and a decomposition reaction step of continuously supplying the ozonide produced in the ozonization reaction step to a decomposition reaction section having a thin tubular shape, thereby continuously producing an oxygen-containing compound, the decomposition reaction step being provided in a manner continuous with the ozonization reaction step.
US08716500B2

The present invention provides a method that allows production of stereospecific and asymmetrical five-membered ring-containing compounds serving as synthetic intermediates for formation of five-membered rings of prostaglandins and the like, with high yield and excellent stereoselectivity in terms of diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity in a short process without requiring troublesome procedures such as optical resolution. The method for producing a five-membered ring-containing compound includes a cyclization step of condensing and cyclizing an α,β-unsaturated nitro compound represented by the following chemical formula (I) with a 1,4-butanedione compound, in the presence of a catalyst formed by a compound having a pyrrolidine ring and an optically active α-carbon relative to the nitrogen on the ring, in a water-insoluble organic solvent and/or a non-oxygen atom-containing water-soluble organic solvent so as to produce the five-membered ring-containing compound represented by the following chemical formula (II).
US08716494B2

Pyrrolidinone carboxamide compounds are provided that are useful for inhibiting the binding of ligands to the ChemR23 receptor.
US08716493B2

The present invention is directed to novel multicyclic molecules that mediate enzymatic activity. In particular, the compounds may be effective in the treatment of diseases or disease states related to the activity of PARP, VEGFR2, and MLK3 enzymes, including, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, ischemia, and cancer.
US08716492B2

The present invention provides a method for treating a thrombotic or an inflammatory disorder administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I) or Formula (V): or a stereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the variables A, L, Z, R3, R4, R6, R11, X1, X2, and X3 are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors. This invention also provides compounds within the scope of Formula I and relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
US08716491B2

The present invention is directed toward benzimidazolium dye compounds of formula (I) as follows: wherein, n is an integer from 2-10, m is an integer from 2-10, X1 and X2 are independently a halogen, Q is H or a resin, and R is (aromatic)o-(linker)p-with the linker being saturated or unsaturated C1-C5 hydrocarbons, each aromatic independently being a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic, o being 1 or 2, and p being 0 or 1. Methods of making and using these compounds are also disclosed.
US08716487B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-hydroxypyridines of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings defined in the description.
US08716485B2

The invention describes a novel process for synthesizing pyrazoles by means of oxidative conversion of enamines with suitable N-containing carboxylic acid derivatives.
US08716480B2

The present invention relates to novel triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine derivatives of Formula (I) wherein all radicals are as defined in the claims. The compounds according to the invention are positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 (“mGluR2”), which are useful for the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which the mGluR2 subtype of metabotropic receptors is involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, to processes to prepare such compounds and compositions, and to the use of such compounds for the prevention or treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which mGluR2 is involved.
US08716478B2

Compounds, pharmaceutical formulations, and methods of treating anti-inflammatory conditions and/or helminth-associated diseases are disclosed.
US08716460B2

One aspect of the present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding avirulence proteins or polypeptides of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae DC 3000, or nucleic acid molecules which are complementary thereto. Expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants which include the DNA molecules of the present invention are also disclosed. Another aspect relates to the isolated proteins or polypeptides and compositions containing the same. The various nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention can be used to impart disease resistance to a plant, make a plant hypersusceptible to colonization by nonpathogenic bacteria, modify a metabolic pathway in a cell, cause eukaryotic cell death and treat a cancerous condition, as well as inhibit programmed cell death.
US08716456B2

The present invention relates to per-substituted pentalene compounds, including permethylpentalene and precursors thereof. In particular, the invention provides substituted pentalene compounds and methods of preparing substituted pentalene compounds; complexes of metals with substituted pentalene compounds and methods for their production; and the use of complexes of metals with substituted pentalene compounds in catalysis.
US08716453B2

Proteins respectively having the amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 17 and 32; structural genes respectively encoding the proteins, preferably respectively having the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 2, 18 and 33; an antibody capable of specifically binding to feline-derived cystatin C, feline-derived β2 microglobulin or feline-derived α1 microglobulin; a kit for diagnosing feline nephropathy, containing the antibody of the present invention; and a method for diagnosing feline nephropathy using the antibody of the present invention.
US08716452B2

Fully human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that bind to human 4-1BB and that allow binding of human 4-1BB to a human 4-1BB ligand. In one aspect, the antibody is an IgG4 antibody. Also provided is a method for treating a disease in a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to said subject.
US08716451B2

It is intended to provide highly stable variants of human antibody IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses. The present invention provides an IgG heavy chain comprising the constant region of a human IgG2 heavy chain having at least a substitution of Y for F at the 300th position, L for V at the 309th position, or A for T at the 339th position designated by the EU index of Kabat et al. and an IgG heavy chain comprising the constant region of a human IgG3 heavy chain having at least a substitution of K for N at the 392nd position or V for M at the 397th position designated by the EU index of Kabat et al. The present invention also provides monoclonal antibodies comprising these heavy chains.
US08716450B2

The present invention relates to engineered multivalent and multispecific binding proteins, methods of making, and specifically to their uses in the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of disease.
US08716440B2

A novel method capable of liberating a peptide from a complex of peptide and albumin and the associated method of recovering the peptide are provided. When a liquid sample containing a complex of peptide and albumin undergoes heat treatment, a self-aggregate of albumin formed in the liquid sample. The peptide is simultaneously liberated from the complex and recovered by removing the self-aggregate from the liquid sample.
US08716438B2

Chemoattractant polypeptide compounds for progenitor cells and compositions and drug products comprising the compounds are provided herein. Methods for attracting progenitor cells to a location in or on a patient also are provided along with methods of growing and repairing bone.
US08716434B2

The invention concerns polymer comprising 2-(4-amino phenyl)-5 (6) amino benzimidazole (DAPBI), PPD, and terephthaloyl dichloride, the polymer having a IPC peak block ratio of 1.52 to 1.56 and an inherent viscosity of greater than 2 dl/g.
US08716426B2

A process for the preparation of an allophanate of one or more identical or different isocyanates, compositions obtained by the process, and uses of the compositions are disclosed. The process comprises reacting an isocyanate with at least one monoalcohol comprising an ether or polyether functional group in the presence of a bismuth-comprising catalyst and a metal compound as co-catalyst.
US08716423B2

A novel polyethylene is devised which polyethylene is particularly advantageous for manufacturing rotomoulded articles.
US08716418B2

A process for producing a syndiotactic α-olefin polymer having high racemic diad fraction and high molecular weight with excellent polymerization activity through a method permitting high-temperature polymerization. The production process comprises polymerizing a monomer that comprises at least one C3-10 α-olefin and a small amount of ethylene, in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising a transition metal compound (A) represented by the general formula [1], at least one compound (B) selected from an organoaluminum oxy-compound (b-1), a compound (b-2) that reacts with the transition metal compound (A) to form an ion pair and an organoaluminum compound (b-3), which process for producing a syndiotactic α-olefin polymer satisfies the relationship: 0.001≦PE/PO≦0.030, provided that the molar amounts of ethylene and an α-olefin having 3 to 10 carbon atoms that are fed into a polymerization reactor under a polymerization temperature of not lower than 25° C. are PE and PO, respectively.
US08716416B2

The present invention relates to a magnesium compound-supported nonmetallocene catalyst, which is produced by directly contacting a catalytically active metallic compound with a nonmetallocene ligand-containing magnesium compound, or by directly contacting a nonmetallocene ligand with a catalytically active metal-containing magnesium compound, through an in-situ supporting process. The process is simple and flexible. In the process, there are many variables in response for adjusting the polymerization activity of the catalyst, and the margin for adjusting the catalyst load or the catalyst polymerization activity is broad. The magnesium compound-supported nonmetallocene catalyst according to this invention can be used for olefin homopolymerization/copolymerization, in combination with a comparatively less amount of the co-catalyst, to achieve a comparatively high polymerization activity. Further, the polymer product obtained therewith boasts high bulk density and adjustable molecular weight distribution.
US08716415B2

The present invention provides a method for preparing a supported metallocene catalyst, a supported metallocene catalyst prepared by the method, and a method for preparing a polyolefin using the supported metallocene catalyst. The supported metallocene catalyst according to the present invention contains catalyst components uniformly distributed deep into the whole porous carrier particles to secure a high catalytic activity and facilitates polymerization of polyolefins with high bulk density.
US08716413B2

A method for the preparation of a photocurable resin by a reaction comprising the following steps i) reacting a mixture of a novolak type epoxy resin (A) and a dicyclopentadiene-phenol glycidylether resin (B) with ii) an advancement component (C) containing at least 2 phenolic hydroxyl groups per molecule; iii) reacting with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid (D); and iv) esterification of the unsaturated group containing resin obtained from the steps of i) to iii) with a polycarboxylic acid anhydride or a carboxylic acid anhydride (E) is disclosed.
US08716412B2

A silicone resin composition includes a cage octasilsesquioxane; a polysiloxane containing alkenyl groups at both ends containing an alkenyl group having the number of moles smaller than the number of moles of the hydrosilyl group of the cage octasilsesquioxane; a hydrosilylation catalyst; a hydroxyl group-containing polysiloxane, organohydrogenpolysiloxane, or a polysiloxane containing alkenyl groups at side chain.
US08716410B2

The present invention relates to a biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer having the general formula A-B-A wherein each A is an amorphous polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg)>40° C. or a semi-crystalline polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) and/or melting temperature (Tm)>40° C.; B is a copolymer of -caprolactone (CL) and at least one additional monomer selected from the group consisting of L-lactic acid (LLA), trimethyl carbonate (TMC), and glycolic acid (GA), or B is different to A and is lactic-co-glycolic acid (LGA); and wherein the molar ratio of CL to the at least one additional monomer in the copolymer B is in the range between about 1:0.09 to about 1:1.
US08716405B2

The present invention provides a resin composition including (1) at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers and ionomers thereof, which have a melt flow rate of from 0.5 g/10 min to 6 g/10 min, (2) at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers and ionomers thereof, which have a melt flow rate of from 10 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min, and (3) at least one selected from the group consisting of propylene homopolymers and copolymers obtained by copolymerization using propylene and one or more α-olefins excluding propylene, in which a structural unit derived from an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester is substantially not contained in the total amount of the ethylene-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers and the ionomers thereof.
US08716399B2

The present invention discloses a gene carrier and the preparation method thereof. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is reacted with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to form chrondroitin sulfate-methacrylate (CSMA), which is further covalently bound with polyethylenimine (PEI) via the Michael addition to produce a CSMA-PEI gene carrier. The CSMA-PEI gene carrier can effectively reduce the cytotoxicity of PEI and enhance the transfection efficiency of PEI.
US08716398B2

The present invention relates to methods for preparing biodegradable polymer stereocomplexes using a supercritical fluid-organic solvent system and polymer stereocomplexes prepared by such methods. The method of the present invention involves introducing two types of homopolymers having different stereostructures and a small amount of organic solvent into a reactor, adding a supercritical fluid thereto, followed by applying a specific temperature and pressure to form a polymer stereocomplex having a crystalline structure. According to the method of the present invention, biodegradable polymer stereocomplexes in the form of powder or porous foam having excellent thermal and mechanical stabilities can be prepared in a simple, economical and environmentally-friendly manner in a single process.
US08716388B2

Polycarbonate nanocomposites comprising a polycarbonate matrix having non-oxidized metal nanoparticles dispersed therein are disclosed. The polycarbonate nanocomposite is produced by a process comprising forming a reaction mixture comprising a dihydroxy compound, an activated carbonate, a metal precursor, and a solvent; and in-situ polymerizing the reaction mixture to form a nanocomposite comprising a polycarbonate matrix and metal nanoparticles dispersed therein. The metal precursor comprises a metal selected from a specified group. The nanocomposites have improved mechanical, optical, electrical and/or magnetic properties. Also disclosed are articles formed from such polycarbonate nanocomposites.
US08716386B2

A method for producing polymeric balls or polymeric beads doped with at least one metal element is provided. The method may comprise the following steps: a) a step for forming polymeric balls or beads by polymerization, in an organic phase comprising a polymerization initiator, of at least one ethylenic monomer comprising at least one chelating ligand of at least one metal element; and b) a step for putting said polymeric balls or beads in contact with a solution comprising at least one metal element.
US08716381B2

The present invention relates to the use of a molding composition for producing a feed container consisting essentially of a copolymer composed of (A) from 5 to 60% by weight of units of the formula (I) (B) from 40 to 95% by weight of units of the formula (II) where the total of the proportions by weight is 100% by weight, based on the copolymer, and where the demolding force of the molding composition is from 1800 to 2800 N.
US08716380B2

The invention relates to a polycarbonate composition having reduced subsequent yellowing of the mouldings produced therefrom on heat ageing and having good optical properties of the polycarbonate composition on processing.
US08716372B2

Fluid activatable adhesive compositions and activating fluid(s) for activating the adhesive composition are described herein. The adhesive compositions contain at least two polymers with different hydrophilicities. The hydrophilic polymer has quick tack when exposed to a hydrophilic solvent, such as water or other aqueous solvent, while the hydrophobic polymer provides strong adhesion to a paper or polymeric substrate. The adhesive composition may contain particulate fillers which enable fast exhaustion of the activation fluid out of the adhesive when applied to a substrate, thereby allowing the hydrophobic polymers of the adhesive composition to achieve strong adhesion of the liner-free label to the paper or polymeric substrate. The particulate fillers may also function as anti-blocking agents when liner-free label media are tightly wound in a roll. The adhesive compositions described herein may be used not only on paper, cardboard, and metal, but also on glass and plastics commonly used in commercial applications.
US08716370B2

A roof sloping compound for creating an auxiliary slope over a wide variety of roof membranes and substrates. The compound includes a dry mixture of aggregate, cement and a redispersible dry polymer adapted to be mixed with water to define a substantially self-leveling consistency enabling the compound to be readily screeded into place in a desired thickness. The aggregate comprises dolomite or limestone and the redispersible dry polymer can comprise a binder based on a copolymer of ethylene vinyl acetate. In a lightweight embodiment of the compound, the aggregate includes lightweight fillers comprising perlite and low density glass granules and a superplasticizer is added to the dry mixture to reduce water demand.
US08716369B2

A reinforced composite material based on aluminous cement and tabular alumina or corundum, reinforced with glass-fibres, method of preparing the same, its use for preparing manufactured products, as well as manufactured products formed in this way and their use.
US08716367B2

The present invention provides coating powders that enable improved filiform corrosion resistance in clear or tinted clear coating comprising an epoxy functional acrylic copolymer component having a Tg of from 40° C. to 90° C. and chosen from a copolymer or copolymer mixture that comprises, based on the total weight of copolymerized monomers in the epoxy functional acrylic copolymer component, i) from 10 to 40 wt. % of one or more epoxy functional unsaturated monomer, e.g. glycidyl (meth)acrylate; ii) from 2.0 wt. % to 13 wt. %, preferably 12 wt. % or less, or, more preferably, 6 wt. % or less, of one or more hydrophobic acrylic monomer that has a mass solubility in water of 3.5 g/L or less and which would itself form a homopolymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 50° C. to 175° C., e.g. a bicycloalkyl(meth)acrylate, and iii) the remainder of one or more nonionic comonomer that is not a hydrophobic acrylic monomer ii), e.g. methyl methacrylate; one or more crosslinker for the thermosetting acrylic copolymer; and, optionally, one or more adhesion promoter, e.g. epoxy resin, a light stabilizer, an ultraviolet (UV) absorber, and/or a hydrophobic submicron particle.
US08716364B2

Provided is a surface-coated reinforcing material which, when used in a fluid composition for reaction injection molding, causes substantially no increase in the viscosity of said fluid composition and can be well dispersed therein, and can improve the rigidity of an article obtained by reaction injection molding the same. The surface-coated reinforcing material is provided, on the surface of a reinforcing material, with laminated coating layers consisting of one or more coating layers (A), which comprise a silane coupling agent (I) having at least one hydrocarbon group having a norbornene structure, and one or more coating layers (B), which comprise a coupling agent other than the silane coupling agent (I) and/or a fatty acid.
US08716360B2

A curing-type coating-agent composition according to the present invention contains: Component (A) including a urethane adduct compound exhibiting weatherability in an amount of from 99 to 65 parts by mass; Component (B) comprising a reaction product between a colloidal silica and an alkoxysilane compound having a maleimide group in an amount of from 1 to 35 parts by mass; a radical-polymerization initiator serving as Component (C) in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 parts by mass; an ultraviolet absorber serving as Component (D) in an amount of from 1 to 12 parts by mass; and an organic solvent serving as Component (E) in an amount of from 10 to 1,000 parts by mass; with respect to a sum of Component (A) and Component (B) being taken as 100 parts by mass.The composition according to the present invention demonstrates excellent wear resistance and weatherability as a coating agent for plastic substrate, or the like, which is employed outside.
US08716358B2

There is provided an anion exchange membrane comprising, as a main element, a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block and a cationic-group containing polymer block as components and which is subjected to a crosslinking treatment. An anion exchange membrane is produced by heating a film obtained from a solution of the block copolymer at a temperature of 100° C. or more, crosslinking the film with a dialdehyde compound in water, an alcohol or a mixture of these under an acidic condition and then washing the film with water. Thus, there can be provided an anion exchange membrane in which organic fouling can be prevented and which exhibiting excellent basic properties such as a membrane resistance and an ionic transport number and excellent membrane strength.
US08716342B2

A method for preparing molecular complexes between Adapalene and cyclodextrins using the technology of dense fluids under pressure, especially that of CO2 is described.
US08716339B2

The present disclosure is drawn to a disinfectant system which can be used to disinfect surfaces. The system includes a first chamber containing a first solution and a second chamber containing a second solution. The first solution can include an alcohol, an organic carboxylic acid, and from 0.01 ppm, to 1,000 ppm by weight of a transition metal or alloy thereof based on the first solution weight content. The second solution can include hydrogen peroxide. The system further includes a dispenser through which the system is configured to mix and dispense the first solution and the second solution immediately before being dispensed. A peracid composition is formed upon mixing of the first and second solutions.
US08716336B2

A smooth, dry-feeling, less-greasy, substantially-odorless, ecotoxicologically-safe, wax-based composition with a melting point above 25° C., comprising one or more wax components selected from dialkyl carbonates, dialkylene carbonates, and mixtures of two or more thereof; less than 10%, by weight, of water; and (c) optionally, one or more components selected from the group consisting of one or more wax or oil components selected from the group consisting of dialkyl ethers, dialkylene ethers, dicarboxylic acids, hydroxyfatty alcohols, and mixtures of two or more thereof, as well as one or more wax-like lipid components, other than those in previously listed, one or more other oil components, liquid at 20° C. and immiscible with water at 25° C., other than those previously listed, one or more emulsifiers, one or more zwitterionic, amphoteric, cationic or anionic surfactants, one or more other auxiliaries and/or additives, and one or more physiologically-active components, which compositions are useful in a cosmetic, personal hygiene and/or body-care preparation.
US08716322B2

Peptide-based compounds including heteroatom-containing, three-membered rings efficiently and selectively inhibit specific activities of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases associated with the proteasome. The peptide-based compounds include an epoxide or aziridine, and functionalization at the N-terminus. Among other therapeutic utilities, the peptide-based compounds are expected to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of cell proliferation. Oral administration of these peptide-based proteasome inhibitors is possible due to their bioavailability profiles.
US08716320B2

The present invention provides novel heterocyclic urea compounds having useful antibacterial activity, pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of these compounds, methods of making the same, and methods of using the same.
US08716314B2

Provided herein are thalidomide, which is enriched with isotopes such as deuterium. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isotopes-enriched compounds, and methods of using such compounds are also provided.
US08716309B2

A pyridone derivative compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, isomer, solvate or hydrate thereof, and a preventive or therapeutic pharmaceutical composition for cognitive disorders that includes the pyridone derivative compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, isomer, solvate or hydrate thereof.
US08716308B2

Substituted pyridoindoles for incorporation in pharmaceutical compositions employed in the treatment of various diseases correspond to formula (I) wherein R1 is H or optionally substituted alkyl; R2, R3, R4 are each independently selected from H, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, alkyl, halo, —CF3, and —CN; G is —CR12R13—NR5— or —NR5—CR12R13; R5; is H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted heterocycle, —C(═O)—R6, —C(═O)—O—R7, or —C(═O)—NR19R20; R6 and R7 are each optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted heterocycle; R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R19 and R20 are each independently selected from H or optionally substituted alkyl; R14 and R15 are each independently H or halogen; L is —CH2—O—, —CH2CH2—, —CH═CH— or a bond; and B is aryl or heteroaryl or cycloalkyl; with the proviso that, when L is a direct bond, B cannot be unsubstituted heteroaryl or heteroaryl monosubstituted with fluorine.
US08716305B2

A novel solid form of Rosuvastatin comprises as the active ingredient a salt of bis[(E)-7-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-isopropyl-2-[methyl(methylsulfonyl)-amino]pyrimidin-5-yl]-(3R,5S)-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoic acid] and vanillin or vanillin derivatives. The crystal comprising the two components, and minor amounts of water, shows improved properties such as crystallization behavior stability and decreased hydroscopic behavior.
US08716300B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a coordination complex, comprising a first biologically active moiety, a second biologically active moiety, and a metal, wherein the first biologically active moiety and second biologically active moiety are bound to the metal by covalent coordination bonds, and wherein the first biologically active moiety and second biologically active moiety are different. These complexes may enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of biologically active moieties.
US08716289B2

Compound corresponding to general formula (I): in which R2 is a hydrogen or fluorine atom or a hydroxyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, C1-6-alkyl, C1-6-alkoxy or NR8R9 group; n is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3 and m is an integer equal to 1 or 2; A is a covalent bond or a C1-8-alkylene group; R1 is a phenyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, cinnolinyl or naphthyridinyl group, this group being optionally substituted; R3 is a hydrogen or fluorine atom, a C1-6-alkyl group or a tritluoromethyl group; R4 is a group selected from furanyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, imidazole, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, oxazolone, oxazolidinone, isoxazolone, isoxazolidinone, isothiazolone, isothiazolidinone, imidazolone, imidazolidinone, pyrazolone, pyrazolidinone, oxadiazolone, thiadiazolone and triazolone, this group being optionally substituted; in the form of a base or of an addition salt with an acid. Therapeutic use.
US08716281B2

The present invention describes pyrimidine compounds of Formula I that are useful as anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08716265B2

The present invention relates to substituted 4-qinolinemethanols and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating of malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.
US08716262B2

A nucleoside compound having activity against hepatitis C virus is disclosed.
US08716245B2

Provided herein are tissue protective peptides derived from or sharing consensus sequences with portions of cytokine receptor ligands, including Erythropoietin (EPO), that are generally located on or within the region of the cytokine receptor ligand that faces away from a receptor complex while the ligand is bound to the receptor. Also provide herein are fragments, chimeras, as well as peptides designed to mimic the spatial localization of key amino acid residues within the tissue protective receptor ligands, e.g., EPO; methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder using tissue protective peptides; and methods for enhancing excitable tissue function using tissue protective peptides.
US08716237B2

The present invention relates to a method for treatment or prevention of a hemorrhagic condition in a patient by administering plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (“PAI-1”) and/or an inhibitor of deubiquitinating enzyme CYLD (“CYLD”) to a patient. Pharmaceutical compositions that include one or both of PAI-1 and an inhibitor of CYLD are also disclosed.
US08716232B2

C-terminal endostatin polypeptides are disclosed herein. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide, host cells transformed with the polynucleotides, and methods of using these polypeptides and polynucleotides are disclosed. Uses of these polypeptide, polynucleotides and expression vectors include the treatment of fibrosis in a subject. Thus, methods are provided for treating fibrosis, including fibrosis of the skin and/or the lung.
US08716230B2

The inventors examined the role of MK in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which is a human model for multiple sclerosis. As a result, they discovered that MK has the effect of inhibiting regulatory T cells, and that the autoimmune mechanism induced by type 1 helper T cells can be suppressed by inhibiting MK expression or its activity, thereby increasing the number of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, it was found that diseases associated with the functional disorder of regulatory T cells can be treated with the administration of an inhibitor that inhibits MK expression or activity.
US08716229B2

Methods for treating neurodegeneration, e.g., sensorineural hearing loss, or a demyelinating disease, using bisphosphonates, ERK kinase inhibitors, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) proteins or nucleic acids.
US08716223B2

A synthetic peptide sequence demonstrating neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory functions is disclosed. Methods of use for the synthetic peptide are also provided.
US08716220B2

The present disclosure provides compositions containing a leptin product and methods of clinical therapy and diagnostic methods for progressive cognitive disorders. According to one aspect, the described invention provides a method for treating a progressive cognitive disorder. According to another aspect, the described invention provides a method for improving resilience of cognitive function in a subject in need thereof. According to another aspect, the described invention provides a method for identifying an effective therapeutic agent for treating a progressive cognitive dysfunction disease or disorder that results from at least one of accumulation of Aβ, hyperphosphorylation of tau, or accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles.
US08716218B2

Hyper-inflammatory responses can lead to a variety of diseases including sepsis. It is now shown that extracellular histones released in response to inflammatory challenge are mediators contributing to endothelial dysfunction, organ failure and death during sepsis. As such, they can be targeted pharmacologically by inhibitors, as well as used as biomarkers for prognosis of sepsis and other diseases.
US08716215B2

A method of treatment for treating, preventing, inhibiting or reducing tissue deterioration, injury or damage due to a neuro-, muscular- or neuro-muscular-degenerative disease, or for restoring tissue adversely affected by said disease, in a subject, includes administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a composition including a peptide agent including amino acid sequence LKKTET or LKKTNT, a conservative variant thereof, or a peptide agent that stimulates production of an LKKTET or LKKTNT peptide, or a conservative variant thereof, in the tissue.
US08716209B2

The invention provides an agent for post-etch treating a silicon dielectric film, including: at least one nitrogen-containing substance selected from the group consisting of ammonium bases and amine compounds; an acid; and at least one silicon-containing compound containing silicon, carbon and hydrogen. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in the dielectric constant of a silicon dielectric film caused by etching.
US08716207B2

A solid cleaning composition including an ionic liquid and a hardening agent is provided. The compositions are substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates, including nonyl phenol ethoxylates. The solid cleaning compositions remain solid at room temperature despite the inclusion of ionic liquids, providing an effective, biorenewable, environmentally friendly alternative to nonyl phenol ethoxylate cleaning compositions.
US08716205B2

An improved lubricant for use with a conveyor in a meat packing plant meeting the requirements of (1) adequate lubricity, (2) “drip-resistance,” (3) safety, (4) rust resistance, (5) economy of manufacture and use, and (6) the ability to be removed by cleaning methods is provided by preparing a mixture of mineral oil, a fatty acid, a silicone oil, and a polybutene, each being acceptable for incidental contact with food, in certain minimum amounts and increasing the amounts of one or more of said components such that the improved lubricant has a viscosity of 20-160 centipoise. A method of improving a lubricant for use on a conveyor in a meat packing plant and a method of lubricating the conveyor are also disclosed.
US08716203B2

Disclosed is a water-soluble colonoscopy lubricant essentially comprising Polyethylene Glycol 400; Propylene Glycol; and Glycerin. Distilled water may be added as needed to achieve a desired viscosity. Additional ingredients such as a preservative and a pH adjuster may also be added to the colonoscopy lubricant.
US08716185B2

A stabilized herbicidal composition comprising fenoxaprop ester herbicide in combination with pyrasulfotole. The present disclosure also provides for a method of stabilizing herbicidal compositions.
US08716180B2

The present invention provides a method of reducing mycotoxin contamination of a plant and/or harvested plant material, said method comprising treating plant propagation material with one or more fungicides, germinating or growing said plant propagation material to produce a plant, and harvesting plant material from said plant.
US08716176B2

A gel composition including a low ester pectin in an amount from about 1.0 to about 2.5 percent by weight of the gel composition, acetic acid in an amount such that the gel composition has a pH from about 2.4 to about 3.5, and having a gel strength from about 5 grains to about 250 grams. A method for making the gel is also disclosed. The method includes dissolving a low ester pectin in an acetic acid solution, heating the mixture to a temperature from about 80° C. to about 100° C., and cooling the mixture.
US08716170B2

An eggshell catalyst useful for a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis or other reactions comprises a homogeneously dispersed transition metal and a promoter situated in an active phase in a precisely selected outer region of a catalyst pellet. The active phase region is controlled to a specific depth, which permits the control of the catalysts selectivity, for example, the size of the hydrocarbon chains formed in the FT process. A method of preparing these eggshell catalysts involves a non-aqueous synthesis where polar and non-polar solvents of relatively low vapor pressure are employed to define the depth of penetration of metal species in a refractory oxide substrate, which is followed by fixing and activating metallic catalytic species in the structure by calcination of the catalyst particles.
US08716167B2

[Problem] To provide a catalyst which has high oxygen reduction activity, also has excellent durability, and is inexpensive and excellent in electric power generation cost as compared with noble metal catalysts such as platinum.[Solution to problem] A catalyst for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, including a graphitized carbon powder and a niobium oxycarbonitride or a titanium oxycarbonitride as an active substance, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the catalyst.
US08716158B2

A method for regenerating a solid filter containing iodine in the form of silver iodide and/or iodate and possibly molecular iodine physisorbed, in a solid filter containing silver in the form of nitrate. The iodine is extracted from the filter by putting the filter into contact with a basic aqueous solution containing a reducing agent. The extraction is achieved at room temperature, and then the filter is separated from this basic aqueous solution. Next, silver is extracted from the filter by putting the filter into contact with an acid aqueous solution. The filter is then separated from the acid aqueous solution. Finally, the filter is impregnated with silver by putting the filter into contact with a silver nitrate solution and then drying the filter. This method can be used in nuclear installations, notably factories for reprocessing used nuclear fuels.
US08716156B1

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a mandrel structure above a semiconductor substrate, performing an oxidation process to oxidize at least a portion of the mandrel structure so as to thereby define oxidized regions on the mandrel structure, removing the oxidized regions to thereby defined a reduced thickness mandrel structure, forming a plurality of fins on the reduced thickness mandrel structure and performing an etching process to selectively remove at least a portion of the reduced thickness mandrel structure so as to thereby expose at least a portion of each of the fins.
US08716151B2

The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating semiconductor devices. In the method provided by the present invention, by filling with diblock copolymer a recess of an interlayer dielectric layer naturally formed between two gate lines and then performing a self-assembly process of the diblock copolymer, a small-sized contact hole precisely aligned with an doped area can be formed, and thus misalignment between the contact hole and the doped area can be eliminated or alleviated.
US08716150B1

Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. The methods include, for example, forming a low-k dielectric having a continuous planar surface, and, after forming the low-k dielectric, subjecting the continuous planar surface of the low-k dielectric to an ethylene plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) treatment.
US08716148B2

A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming an insulation film containing silicon, oxygen and carbon over a semiconductor substrate by chemical vapor deposition; making UV cure on the insulation film being heated at a temperature of 350° C. or below after the forming the insulation film; and making helium plasma processing on the insulation film after the UV cure.
US08716136B1

A method disclosed herein includes providing a semiconductor structure comprising a transistor, the transistor comprising a gate electrode and a silicon nitride sidewall spacer formed at the gate electrode. A wet etch process is performed. The wet etch process removes at least a portion of the silicon nitride sidewall spacer. The wet etch process comprises applying an etchant comprising at least one of hydrofluoric acid and phosphoric acid.
US08716134B2

A metallic liner stack including at least a Group VIIIB element layer and a CuMn alloy layer is deposited within a trench in a dielectric layer. Copper is deposited on the metallic liner stack and planarized to form a conductive interconnect structure, which can be a metal line, a metal via, or a combination thereof. The deposited copper and the metallic liner stack are annealed before or after planarization. The Mn atoms are gettered by the Group VIIIB element layer to form a metallic alloy liner including Mn and at least one of Group VIIIB elements. Mn within the metallic alloy liner combines with oxygen during the anneal to form MnO, which acts as a strong barrier to oxygen diffusion, thereby enhancing the reliability of the conductive interconnect structure.
US08716131B2

A system and method for forming under bump metallization layers that reduces the overall footprint of UBMs, through silicon vias, and trace lines is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises forming an under bump metallization layer over a plurality of through silicon vias, whereas the UBM is connected to only a portion of the total number of through silicon vias over which it is located. The trace lines connected to the through silicon vias may additionally be formed beneath the UBM to save even more space on the surface of the die.
US08716130B2

The method includes forming a hole penetrating from one surface of a substrate to an electrode formed on the other surface of the substrate; forming an organic insulating film in the hole; removing at least a part of the organic insulating film formed in a bottom portion of the hole and not the organic insulating film formed on a side wall portion of the hole, to expose the electrode; cleaning an exposed surface of the electrode by using plasma of an inert gas; filling a conductive metal in the hole; removing at least a part of a surface of the organic insulating film by the reaction of oxygen plasma; and annealing the substrate in a dysoxidative atmosphere.
US08716119B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.
US08716112B2

Provided is a method of crystallizing an amorphous silicon thin film transistor and a method of fabricating a polycrystalline thin film transistor using the same, in which the polycrystalline thin film transistor indicating leakage current characteristics of a level that is applicable for active matrix organic light emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs) can be manufactured by using a silicide seed induced lateral crystallization (SILC) method. The amorphous silicon thin film transistor crystallizing method includes the steps of: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; forming an active region by patterning the amorphous silicon layer; forming a crystallization induced metal layer in both a source region and a drain region that are placed on both side ends of the active region; forming a number of dot-shaped metal silicide seeds on the surfaces of the source region and the drain region made of amorphous silicon by removing the crystallization induced metal layer; and crystallizing the active region formed of the amorphous silicon layer by heat-treating the substrate by using the metal silicide seeds as crystallization seeds.
US08716101B2

A structure for reducing electromigration cracking and extrusion effects in semiconductor devices includes a first metal line formed in a first dielectric layer; a cap layer formed over the first metal line and first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer formed over the cap layer; and a void formed in the second dielectric layer, stopping on the cap layer, wherein the void is located in a manner so as to isolate structural damage due to electromigration effects of the first metal line, the effects including one or more of extrusions of metal material from the first metal line and cracks from delamination of the cap layer with respect to the first dielectric layer.
US08716097B2

A Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor includes a substrate having a topside semiconductor surface doped with a first dopant type having a baseline doping level. A well is formed in the semiconductor surface doped with a second doping type. The well forms a well-substrate junction having a well depletion region. A retrograde doped region is below the well-substrate junction doped with the first dopant type having a peak first dopant concentration of between five (5) and one hundred (100) times above the baseline doping level at a location of the peak first dopant concentration, wherein with zero bias across the well-substrate junction at least (>) ninety (90) % of a total dose of the retrograde doped region is below the bottom of the well depletion region. A gate structure is on the well. Source and drain regions are on opposing sides of the gate structure.
US08716085B2

A method of fabricating a high-voltage semiconductor device includes the following steps: providing a semiconductor layer; forming a plurality of trenches in the semiconductor layer to define a plurality of pillars of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor layer between adjacent trenches, wherein the trenches extend from a top surface of the semiconductor layer toward a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer; forming a charge compensation layer of a second conductivity type over at least sidewalls of each trench to a predetermined thickness thereby forming a groove in each trench; and substantially filling each groove with a charge compensation plug of the first conductivity type.
US08716081B2

A method and structure for a memory device, such as a 1T-SRAM, having a capacitor top plate directly over a doped bottom plate region. An example device comprises the following. An isolation film formed as to surround an active area on a substrate. A gate dielectric and gate electrode formed over a portion of the active area. A source element and a drain element in the substrate adjacent to the gate electrode. The drain element is comprised of a drain region and a bottom plate region. The drain region is between the bottom plate region and the gate structure. A capacitor dielectric and a capacitor top plate are over at least portions of the bottom plate region.
US08716077B2

An eDRAM is fabricated including high performance logic transistor technology and ultra low leakage DRAM transistor technology. Embodiments include forming a recessed channel in a substrate, forming a first gate oxide to a first thickness lining the channel and a second gate oxide to a second thickness over a portion of an upper surface of the substrate, forming a first polysilicon gate in the recessed channel and overlying the recessed channel, forming a second polysilicon gate on the second gate oxide, forming spacers on opposite sides of each of the first and second polysilicon gates, removing the first and second polysilicon gates forming first and second cavities, forming a high-k dielectric layer on the first and second gate oxides, and forming first and second metal gates in the first and second cavities, respectively.
US08716071B2

An electrically reprogrammable fuse comprising an interconnect disposed in a dielectric material, a sensing wire disposed at a first end of the interconnect, a first programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, and a second programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, wherein the fuse is operative to form a surface void at the interface between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a first directional electron current is applied from the first programming wire through the interconnect to the second programming wire, and wherein, the fuse is further operative to heal the surface void between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a second directional electron current is applied from the second programming wire through the interconnect to the first programming wire.
US08716070B2

A fabrication method of a package structure having at least an MEMS element is provided, including: preparing a wafer having electrical connection pads and the at least an MEMS element; disposing lids for covering the at least an MEMS element, the lids having a metal layer formed thereon; electrically connecting the electrical connection pads and the metal layer with bonding wires; forming an encapsulant for covering the lids, bonding wires, electrical connection pads and metal layer; removing portions of the encapsulant to separate the bonding wires each into first and second sub-bonding wires, wherein top ends of the first and second sub-bonding wires are exposed, the first sub-bonding wires electrically connecting to the electrical connection pads, and the second sub-bonding wires electrically connecting to the metal layer; forming metallic traces on the encapsulant for electrically connecting to the first sub-bonding wires; forming bumps on the metallic traces; and performing a singulation process.
US08716069B2

A semiconductor device comprises an aluminum alloy lead-frame with a passivation layer covering an exposed portion of the aluminum alloy lead-frame. Since aluminum alloy is a low-cost material, and its hardness and flexibility are suitable for deformation process, such as punching, bending, molding and the like, aluminum alloy lead frame is suitable for mass production; furthermore, since its weight is much lower than copper or iron-nickel material, aluminum alloy lead frame is very convenient for the production of semiconductor devices.
US08716066B2

A method of forming a packaged semiconductor device includes loading an array of package sites in position for saw singulation, saw singulating the array of package sites, and performing a non-electrolytic plating operation on exposed lead tips of individual packages from the array of package sites as the array of package sites is saw singulated.
US08716023B2

The present invention relates to methods for reducing or eliminating the expression of a target gene in a filamentous fungal strain, comprising: (a) inserting into the genome of the filamentous fungal strain a double-stranded transcribable nucleic acid construct comprising a first nucleotide sequence comprising a promoter operably linked to a homologous coding region of the target gene and a second nucleotide sequence comprising the homologous coding region, or a portion thereof, of the target gene, wherein the first and second nucleotide sequences are complementary to each other and the second nucleotide sequence is in reverse orientation relative to the first nucleotide sequence; and (b) inducing production of an interfering RNA encoded by the double-stranded transcribable nucleic acid construct by cultivating the filamentous fungal strain under conditions conducive for production of the interfering RNA; wherein the interfering RNA interacts with RNA transcripts of the target gene to reduce or eliminate expression of the target gene. The present invention also relates to the filamentous fungal strains and to methods of producing a biological substance of interest in such filamentous fungal strains.
US08716022B2

The invention provides methods of modifying the level of expression or functional activity of factors such as enzymes or other catalytic proteins or structural proteins, alone or in concert, to modify the frequency of meiotic homologous recombination involving the exchange of genetic information between non-sister chromatids from homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes. The steps at which modulation may occur include: homologous chromosome pairing, double-strand break formation; resection; strand invasion; branch migration; and resolution. Methods of plant and animal breeding are also provided that utilize the modulation of meiotic homologous recombination.
US08716009B2

Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified.
US08716002B2

The invention provides recombinant bacteria, which comprise a full complement of heterologous ethanol production genes. Expression of the full complement of heterologous ethanol production genes causes the recombinant bacteria to produce ethanol as the primary fermentation product when grown in mineral salts medium, without the addition of complex nutrients. Methods for producing the recombinant bacteria and methods for producing ethanol using the recombinant bacteria are also disclosed.
US08715993B2

A thermostable glycosidase enzymes derived from various Thermococcus, Staphylothermus and Pyrococcus organisms is disclosed. The enzymes are produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be utilized in the food processing industry, pharmaceutical industry and in the textile industry, detergent industry and in the baking industry.
US08715992B2

Method of preparing I-CreI meganuclease variants having a modified cleavage specificity, variants obtainable by said method and their applications either for cleaving new DNA target or for genetic engineering and genome engineering for non-therapeutic purposes. Nucleic acids encoding said variants, expression cassettes comprising said nucleic acids, vectors comprising said expression cassettes, cells or organisms, plants or animals except humans, transformed by said vectors.
US08715990B2

A glucose dehydrogenase, having high substrate specificity, can be produced at a low cost, is not affected by oxygen dissolved in a measurement sample and, in particular, has superior thermal stability is obtained by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Burkholderia, particularly Burkholderia cepacia. The glucose dehydrogenase produced by the microorganism is collected from the medium and/or from the cells of the microorganism.
US08715989B2

A glucose dehydrogenase, having high substrate specificity, can be produced at a low cost, is not affected by oxygen dissolved in a measurement sample and, in particular, has superior thermal stability is obtained by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Burkholderia, particularly Burkholderia cepacia. The glucose dehydrogenase produced by the microorganism is collected from the medium and/or from the cells of the microorganism.
US08715980B2

Described are methods of cultivating autotrophic microorganisms, particularly microalgae or diatoms, in a bioreactor by entraining a culture of the microorganisms in a tenuous, gelated, thixotrophic carrier medium having nutrients therefor and moving the medium along a passage at a sufficiently slow speed to enable laminar flow which in cross section is closed and which has transparent walls through which the culture is irradiated to enable photosynthesis. The method includes effecting convective turnover of the culture and medium as they flow along the passage by differentially heating the medium laterally relative to the flow direction so as to produce a generally helical flow of the culture and medium. Also described are processing methods, both physical and chemical, performed underground e.g. in drillholes, to utilize decavitation energy under ambient elevated pressures, including processes to implement lysis of the micro-organisms, producing methanol, syngas synthesis, Haber ammonia synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch reactions, supercritical reactions, dimethyl ether synthesis, and nitric acid synthesis.
US08715973B1

Organic acid-tolerant microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-tolerant microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP), acrylic acid, and propionic acid. Further modifications to the microorganisms such as increasing expression of malonyl-CoA reductase and/or acetyl-CoA carboxylase provide or increase the ability of the microorganisms to produce 3HP. Methods of generating an organic acid with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers include replacing acsA or homologs thereof in cells with genes of interest and selecting for the cells comprising the genes of interest with amounts of organic acids effective to inhibit growth of cells harboring acsA or the homologs.
US08715972B2

Provided is a lactic acid bacterium capable of homolactic fermentation using a pentose as a substrate, the lactic acid bacterium utilizing a pentose, and in which a phosphoketolase pathway is blocked and a pentose phosphate pathway is activated. Also provided is a method for producing lactic acid from a pentose using the lactic acid bacterium and a method for preparing the lactic acid bacterium.
US08715966B2

The invention relates to methods of generating templates for a nucleic acid sequencing reaction which comprise: providing at least one double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, wherein both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule are attached to a solid support at the 5′ end, cleaving one or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, and subjecting the cleaved strand(s) to denaturing conditions to remove the portion of the cleaved strand(s) not attached to the solid support, thereby generating a partially or substantially single-stranded template for a nucleic acid sequencing reaction.
US08715965B2

A method of amplifying nucleic acid from blood, the method including performing an electrodialysis on a blood sample to reduce the ionic strength of the sample, and performing a Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) using the blood sample on which the electrodialysis is performed as a template.
US08715958B2

Methods are provided for the utilization of bacterial cell-free extracts in the synthesis of polypeptides containing unnatural amino acids at one or more specified residues of the polypeptide.
US08715952B2

In general, the present invention provides a reliable assay for the quantitative determination of p-aminophenol in an aqueous sample. More particularly, the present invention provides a rapid enzyme-based assay for the quantitative determination of acetaminophen in a sample. The assay employs a xylenol chromophore and a catalyst that is preferably a weak oxidizer. The assay provides reliable results in the presence or absence of N-acetylcystiene (NAC) and can therefore be used to monitor acetaminophen levels during NAC treatment. Methods and kits for determining acetaminophen concentration in an aqueous sample are also provided.
US08715939B2

The disclosed invention is related to methods, compositions, kits and isolated nucleic acid sequences for targeting Adenovirus nucleic acid. Compositions include amplification oligomers and/or detection probe oligomers. Kits and methods comprise at least one of these oligomers.
US08715932B2

Nucleic acid sequencing using concatemers of DNA is provided. Optionally, amplified reaction products from the repeated incorporation and excision of a nucleoside complementary to a nucleoside of the DNA to be sequenced onto primer molecules hybridized to the concatemers of DNA are detected. Nucleic acid sequencing using concatemers of DNA and non-natural oligonucleotides is also provided. Nucleic acid sequencing reactions are detected electronically and or optically using arrays of detectors.
US08715927B2

Disclosed herein is the identification of human DNA polymerase κ (pol κ) as the polymerase that mediates repair of DNA containing interstrand cros slinks (ICLs). The mechanism of action of a number of chemotherapeutic and antimicrobial agents is the induction of ICLs. Thus, provided herein is a method of enhancing the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic or antimicrobial agent in a subject, including selecting a subject in need of treatment with an ICL -inducing agent and administering to the subject an ICL-inducing agent and a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of pol κ. Also provided is a composition for treating a hyperproliferative disease, an autoimmune disease or an infectious disease, comprising an ICL-inducing agent and an amount of an inhibitor of pol κ sufficient to enhance the efficacy of the ICL-inducing agent. Further provided is a method of identifying a DNA polymerase inhibitor.
US08715926B2

A method of detecting the presence of specific human papilloma virus and host cell biomarkers associated with head and neck tumors in biological samples, like saliva, blood or biopsy tissue, obtained from a subject.
US08715923B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting analytes using detectably labeled fluorescent protein scaffolds. In certain embodiments of the invention, the scaffolds are viral particles in which the capsid viral structure provides a scaffold to attach detectably labeled fluorescent dyes and capture moieties that can be utilized to determine the presence of a desired analyte in a sample using any suitable method. The protein scaffold can contain amino acids carrying reactive groups (e.g., amines and thiols) that are spatially distributed on it with large enough separation to enable the attachment of a greater number of fluorescent label molecules without quenching.
US08715918B2

Thick film photoresist compositions are disclosed.
US08715912B2

In one disclosed embodiment, a method for producing a high resolution resist pattern on a semiconductor wafer comprises depositing a blanket layer of material on a semiconductor wafer, forming a resist interaction substrate on the blanket layer of material, forming a resist layer of a pre-determined thickness on the resist interaction substrate, exposing the resist layer to a patterned radiation, and developing the resulting high resolution resist pattern. In one embodiment, patterned radiation is provided by an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source. In other embodiments, patterned radiation may be provided by an electron beam, or ion beam, for example. In one embodiment, the resist layer comprises a chemically amplified resist utilizing a photogenerated acid (PGA), and having a sublayer. In other embodiments, the resist layer includes an additive, for example, fullerite. One disclosed embodiment involves use of an ultra-thin resist layer in combination with a gold resist interaction substrate.
US08715911B2

Provided are a coating composition for deep ultraviolet (DUV) filtering during an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure, the coating composition including about 100 parts by weight of a solvent including a first solvent (the first solvent being an alcoholic solvent); and about 0.05 parts by weight to about 5 parts by weight of a coating polymer having a degree of absorption of about 50%/μm or greater with respect to 193-nm incident light.
US08715909B2

Multi-beam lithography systems and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices using the same are disclosed. For example, the method utilizes non-coincidence of boundaries of electrical fields emanating from chrome on glass or phase shifted mask features distributed over two masks for the optimization of lithographic process windows, side lobe suppression, or pattern orientation dependent process window optimization employing one mask with polarization rotating film on the backside.
US08715908B2

The invention relates to an imaging element and a method of using the imaging element to form a recording element. The imaging element includes a composition sensitive to actinic radiation from a source of radiation having a range of wavelengths and a photoluminescent tag that is responsive to at least one wavelength from the source of radiation. The photoluminescent tag can be used to authenticate the identity of the element, provide information about the element, and/or to establish one or more conditions in a device used to prepare the recording element from the imaging element.
US08715904B2

A low surface energy photoresist composition is described that comprises a silicone-polyether block copolymer, wherein the silicone block comprises 35 wt. % or more of said copolymer. When compounded with a photoresist composition, the composition enables the release of a phototool from the photoresist layer.
US08715901B2

A resin composition which, in forming a fine pattern by a heat treatment of a resist pattern formed by using a photoresist, can be applied onto the resist pattern, can cause the resist pattern to smoothly shrink by heat treatment, and can be easily washed away by a treatment with an alkaline aqueous solution, and a method for efficiently forming a fine resist pattern using the resin composition are provided. The resin composition comprises a resin containing a hydroxyl group, a crosslinking component, and an alcohol solvent containing water in an amount of 10 wt % or less for the total solvent, wherein the alcohol in the alcohol solvent is a monovalent alcohol having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
US08715895B2

Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter that includes (A) a binder resin including phenol-based resin represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; (B) a photopolymerizable monomer; (C) a photopolymerization initiator; (D) a colorant; and (E) a solvent, and a color filter using the same. In Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description.
US08715887B2

A method of making a hologram includes recording a first hologram in a holographic recording medium at a first deformation ratio; changing the first deformation ratio to a second deformation ratio that is different from the first deformation ratio; and recording a second hologram in the holographic recording medium at the second deformation ratio to form a recorded holographic medium.
US08715884B2

The present invention pertains to a fuel cell with a storage unit (4) for storing hydrogen (Hx), with a proton conductive layer, which covers a surface of the storage unit (4), and with a cathode (7) on a side of the proton conductive layer, which side is located opposite, wherein the storage unit (4) is directly coupled with an anode and/or the storage unit (4) is incorporated in a substrate (1) of a semiconductor. The storage unit (4) is preferably connected to the substrate (1) at least via a stress compensation layer (3).
US08715883B2

There is provided a fuel cell power generation system in which power loss in a power line electrically connecting a stack and a power conversion circuit, thereby attaining high power generation efficiency. A reformer and the stack are disposed in a main body package. Stack output terminals 31 are provided in both ends in a stacking direction of the stack. A power conversion circuit is disposed in the main body package and arranged in the proximity to the stack. Power conversion circuit input terminals are provided on the power conversion circuit and arrayed in a direction parallel to the stacking direction of the stack. Stack output lines electrically connect the stack output terminals and the power conversion circuit input terminals.
US08715874B2

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween. An oxidant gas supplying device supplies oxidant gas to the cathode, an oxidant gas backpressure regulating device regulates the pressure of the oxidant gas at the cathode according to a valve opening, and a pressure detecting device detects the oxidant gas pressure at the cathode. During a start-up fuel gas disposal process, a controller controls the oxidant gas supplying device to supply the oxidant gas at a standard oxidant gas flow, controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a first valve opening, and controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a second valve opening which is greater than the first valve opening when the oxidant gas pressure detected by the pressure detecting device reaches an elevation target pressure.
US08715866B2

An electrolyte includes an eutectic mixture composed of (a) a hetero cyclic compound having a predetermined chemistry figure, and (b) an ionizable lithium salt. An electrochemical device having the electrolyte. The eutectic mixture included in the electrolyte exhibits inherent characteristics of an eutectic mixture such as excellent thermal stability and excellent chemical stability, thereby improving the problems such as evaporation, ignition and side reaction of an electrolyte caused by the usage of existing organic solvents.
US08715865B2

Non-aqueous electrolyte solutions capable of protecting negative electrode materials such as lithium metal and carbonaceous materials in energy storage electrochemical cells (e.g., lithium metal batteries, lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors) include an electrolyte salt, a non-aqueous electrolyte solvent mixture, an unsaturated organic compound 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-2-one or 4,5-dimethylene-1,3-dioxolan-2-one, and other optional additives. The 1,3-dioxolan-2-ones help to form a good solid electrolyte interface on the negative electrode surface.
US08715857B2

The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material including an Si—Sn—Fe—Cu based alloy, in which an Si phase has an area ratio in a range of from 35 to 80% in the entire negative electrode active material, the Si phase is dispersed in a matrix phase, the matrix phase contains an Si—Fe compound phase crystallized around the Si phase and further contains an Sn—Cu compound phase crystallized to surround the Si phase and the Si—Fe compound phase, the Si—Fe compound phase is crystallized in a ratio of from 35 to 90% in terms of an area ratio in the entire matrix phase, and the matrix phase further contains an Sn phase unavoidably crystallized in the matrix phase in a ratio of 15% or less in terms of an area ratio in the entire matrix phase.
US08715852B2

An electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same are provided. The electrolyte includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, lithium salt, and an additive that is either a dicarboxylic acid anhydride and a halogenated ethylene carbonate or a diglycolic acid anhydride and a halogenated ethylene carbonate.
US08715846B1

A slow-burn thermal battery includes a cathode, an anode, and a meltable electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode. The slow-burn thermal battery further includes a burnable fuse operably associated with the meltable electrolyte for melting the electrolyte.
US08715845B2

A battery cover device for a portable terminal is provided. The battery cover device includes a battery recess formed on a surface of the terminal, a cover plate adapted to attach to and detach from a surface of the terminal to cover the battery recess, and a push rod adapted to protract to and retract from a surface of the terminal. The push rod receives elastic force to protrude from a surface of the terminal and release the cover plate from the terminal. The battery cover device is advantageous in that the cover plate can be easily released by using the push rod or elastic piece, and a battery pack can be easily mounted on a slim terminal.
US08715844B2

An electronic apparatus which uses a battery as a power source includes a battery storage unit configured to store the battery which can be inserted and removed, a locking member configured to move between a position at which the battery stored in the battery storage unit is locked and a position at which the lock of the battery is released by rotating in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the battery is inserted to and removed from the battery storage unit, a drive member which is movably supported in the insertion and removal direction of the battery with respect to the battery storage unit, and on which a claw abutting on the locking member is formed, and an urging member configured to urge the drive member in a direction that the battery is ejected, to attach the claw to the locking member.
US08715843B2

A vent cap includes a main body configured to be received within an opening in a cover of a battery cell, the main body including a fluid flow path formed therethrough to facilitate a flow of a fluid to be added to the battery cell, a valve moveably disposed within the flow path to selectively open and close the fluid flow path, and a float coupled to the valve and positioned to float adjacent a surface of a fluid disposed within the battery cell, the float causing the valve to open the fluid flow path at a pre-determined fluid level within the battery cell to permit the fluid to be added to the battery cell to flow through the fluid flow path, wherein the fluid flow path is configured to minimize an impinging on the float by the fluid to be added to the battery cell.
US08715832B2

The invention relates to a method for implementing layered construction of plastic models, whereby a first material is applied to a building platform and thereupon a second material is selectively applied and these two application steps are respectively repeated layer after layer until the desired model is obtained. The two materials form a solid body when a suitable mixture ratio is used. The first material includes a particle material and the second material is applied via a print head and contains N-vinylformamide.
US08715831B2

A one-component moisture curing adhesive for use in a vehicle lighting appliance including: 100 parts by weight of a bifunctional polyether polyol (A) having a molecular weight of not less than 3,000; from 80 to 40 parts by weight of a crystalline polyester polyol (B); from 20 to 60 parts by weight of a non-crystalline polyester polyol (C); a polyisocyanate (D); and a curing catalyst (E), wherein a content of the polyisocyanate (D) is such that a number of isocyanate groups included in the polyisocyanate (D) with respect to a total number of hydroxy groups included in the bifunctional polyether polyol (A), the crystalline polyester polyol (B), and the non-crystalline polyester polyol (C) satisfies NCO/OH=1.2 to 1.5; and a vehicle lighting appliance formed by adhering a lens and a housing the one-component moisture curing adhesive for use in a vehicle lighting appliance.
US08715825B2

A two-piece tabbed seal and liner as well as a method of manufacture is provided for sealing containers such as bottles, jars and the like. The two-piece tabbed seal is formed with a lower sheet-like structure having a non-foam, heat-distributing layer thereon.
US08715820B2

Odor-absorbing sheet-like structure comprising vegetable and/or manmade fibers, in particular a sheet-like structure having an air permeability suitable for filters and vacuum cleaner bags, which sheet-like structure has zinc ricinoleate in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the sheet-like structure, in finely divided solid form on at least a part of the free fiber surface, and method for its production by treatment of a sheet-like structure with a dispersion of fine zinc ricinoleate particles or by spraying on a mist of a melt or solution of zinc ricinoleate.
US08715819B2

A waterproof roofing laminate comprises a cellular plastic support layer, an insulation layer located thereon, and a cover layer that reflects radiant energy such as infrared light, visible sunlight, and ultraviolet light. The cellular support layer contains a plurality of cavities therein that can be open or closed cell. The support layer can also have a solid continuous top and/or bottom surface layer. The insulation layer is located on the support layer and can be formed of numerous materials including natural or synthetic fibers, organic or inorganic material, and is free of cement and styrofoam. The waterproof cover layer is located on the insulation layer and is capable of reflecting radiant energy by being of a light color and/or containing radiant reflective materials therein.
US08715811B2

The present invention relates to a vanadium oxide thin film pattern which is fabricated by using APTS (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, H2NC3H5Si(OCH3)3) or the like to prepare an APTS-SAM or the like on the surface of a substrate, irradiating this APTS-SAM with vacuum ultraviolet light through a photomask to thereby modify amino-terminal silanes into silanol groups in the exposed area, and then depositing vanadium oxide in a liquid phase using a patterned self-assembled monolayer having the amino-terminated silane surface and silanol group surface as a template for patterning the vanadium oxide, to a method of fabricating the same, and to a vanadium oxide device.
US08715805B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a recordable recording medium that suppresses increase in terminal noise and does not generate a BCA signal read error. The present invention provides a recordable optical recording medium comprising a substrate as well as at least a reflection layer, recording layer and light transmission layer provided on the substrate, wherein the recording layer of said optical recording medium contains (a) an azo metal complex dye and (b) another dye whose DSC decomposition heat value is 50 cal/g to 200 cal/g and λmax in TFP solution is 250 to 400 nm.
US08715804B2

The present invention is directed to a method for producing a data storage medium on a surface of a substrate for storing data in the form of topographic features. The method comprises a first step wherein a crosslinking agent containing at least three alkyne groups is deposited on the surface of the substrate. In a second step the deposited cross linking agent is cured so as to obtain the data storage medium in the form of a crosslinked polymeric layer on the surface of the substrate. The invention is further directed to a data storage medium obtained by this method and a data storage device comprising this data storage medium.
US08715803B2

A method of producing a ceramic weld, including identifying a ceramic first surface and a ceramic second surface to be bonded together, maintaining a non-oxidizing atmosphere over the first and second surfaces, and engaging the first and second surfaces to define a joint. An arc is generated between an electrode and the joint to create a liquid phase, and the liquid phase is cooled to yield a solid fusion layer, wherein the first and second surfaces are joined in the fusion layer.
US08715800B2

A liner assembly and method for lining a damaged pipe junction between a main and lateral pipe is provided. The liner assembly includes a main liner member and a lateral liner tube. A collar disposed near the juncture between the main liner member and lateral liner tube is impregnated with a liquid hydrophobic or hydrophilic material capable of curing in a flexible or rigid state with the material expanding in the presence of water. The hydrophobic or hydrophilic material can also be applied without the use of the collar. When the liner assembly is pressed against the main and lateral pipes, a portion of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic material is forced into the damaged pipe junction.
US08715797B2

Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) composition is disclosed comprising: a) 25 to 50% of a blend of SBS and SB styrene block copolymers; b) 45 to 75% of compatible tackifying resins having a softening temperature of between 80 to 150° C.; and c) 0.5 to 5.5% of fatty acids, the hydrocarbon chain of which comprises 10 to 22 carbon atoms. Also disclosed are a multilayer system comprising an HMPSA layer, a printable support layer and an adjacent protective layer. A self-adhesive label and process for recycling a labeled article with debonding of said label by immersing the article in a hot basic aqueous solution are also disclosed.
US08715792B2

A liquid-crystal display device comprising first and second polarizing elements, and a liquid-crystal cell disposed between the first and second polarizing elements, wherein the liquid-crystal cell comprises first and second substrates (provided that the first substrate is disposed closer to the first polarizing element, and the second substrate is disposed closer to the second polarizing element), a liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, a color filter layer disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate, and an in-cell polarizing layer disposed between the color filter layer and the liquid-crystal layer, the absorption axis of the first polarizing element and the absorption axis of the in-cell polarizing layer are parallel to each other, and the sum total of the absolute values of Re of all the layers disposed between the in-cell polarizing layer and the first polarizing element is equal to or less than 10 nm, and the sum total of the absolute values of Rth thereof is equal to or less than 15 nm.
US08715788B1

Methods and apparatus for improving mechanical properties of a dielectric film on a substrate are provided. In some embodiments, the dielectric film is a carbon-doped oxide (CDO). The methods involve the use of modulated ultraviolet radiation to increase the mechanical strength while limiting shrinkage and limiting any increases in the dielectric constant of the film. Methods improve film hardness, modulus and cohesive strength, which provide better integration capability and improved performance in the subsequent device fabrication procedures such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and packaging.
US08715785B2

The invention relates to: 1) a process for the mass production of hollow glass articles which, when positioned beside one another with the same orientation in one and the same plane, are liable to come into mutual contact along a surface of revolution, characterized in that after they have left the annealing lehr, they are rotated through one turn at least along the axis of said surface of revolution, this surface then being coated, by a process without any solid contact, with an additional layer which reduces the coefficient of friction; 2) a hollow glass article as obtained by this process; and 3) a packaging assembly of such articles.
US08715766B2

The disclosure is directed to a process for the manufacture of roasted cocoa nibs. It is further directed to processes of producing cocoa liquor and cocoa powder from the roasted cocoa nibs.
US08715763B2

The present invention is directed to monolayer, bilayer, and multilayer films made from fruit, vegetable or a combination thereof, which films have the thinness, strength, flexibility, and crispness to serve as alternates or substitutes for seaweed-based films such as nori, while providing the nutrition and flavor of fruits and vegetables. The films are useful for wrapping around a multiplicity of foods, and can be used to provide wrapped foods, including for example fruit and vegetable wrapped sushi and onigiri.
US08715762B2

This invention provides a substitute meat material that has no particular taste and can be readily controlled in terms of the protein amount and energy, and is therefore appropriate for use in food for kidney disease patients.This invention relates to a food composition, which is prepared with a mixture containing a konjac raw material in a hydrated and swollen state, water-insoluble dietary fibers in an amount corresponding to 4 to 40 parts by weight (dry weight base) relative to 1 part by weight (dry weight base) of glucomannan in the konjac raw material, and an alkaline coagulant.
US08715761B2

A method of providing a range of flavors to an orally-receivable or ingestible product, the method including adding at least one compound, including salts thereof, of the formula: wherein R1 may be H, OH, O(CH2)2OH, OCH2OCH3 or R2 may be selected from a range of 5- and 6-membered heterocyclic rings, and wherein R3 may be H or OH. The compounds give rise to a wide range of flavors, and some are useful as sweetness enhancers, this allowing sweetener content to be reduced while maintaining sweetness. Also disclosed are orally-receivable or ingestible products including the compounds.
US08715759B2

An antimicrobial intervention for the production of ground meats by treating the exterior of the meat trimmings with an antimicrobial agent before grinding. An apparatus for applying an antibacterial agent to meat trimmings includes a closed or essentially closed chamber for limiting the escape of the antimicrobial agent to the environment during antimicrobial treatment of the trimmings, an entrance system for introducing trimmings into the closed chamber while preventing or significantly limiting the antimicrobial agent from escaping into the environment, an application system for applying an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent to exposed surfaces of the trimmings in the closed chamber; and an exit system for removing the treated trimmings from the closed container while preventing or significantly limiting the escape of antimicrobial agent into the environment.
US08715753B1

A formulation for eliminating bedbugs containing mustard powder and water and optionally flour or a starch such as cornstarch. The ratio of mustard powder to water may be about 2 grams mustard powder to about 10 mL water. The ratio of flour to water is about 3 grams flour to about 10 mL water.
US08715748B2

A method of treating prostate cancer by administering a pharmaceutically-acceptable amount of a crude extract of the indigenous Jamaican plant Ball Moss (Tillandsia Recurvata) comprising one or more cycloartane isolates, and the isolates used in the method for eliciting thereby a kinase inhibitory response of prostate cancer cells by selectively inhibiting MRCKα kinase and angiogenesis of (growth of new blood vessels) to reduce the viability of prostate cancer cells. The method and compounds holds promise as a chemopreventive agent, without causing excessive damage to normal cells.
US08715741B2

Polymeric nanoparticles with a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell are formed from: 1) N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM), at a molar ratio of about 50% to about 90%, and preferably 60% for specific delivery routes such as oral or parenteral; either water-soluble vinyl derivatives like vinylpryolidone (VP) or vinyl acetate (VA), or water insoluble vinyl derivatives like methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (ST), at a molar ratio of about 10% to about 30%; and acrylic acid (AA), at a molar ration of about 10% to about 30%.
US08715736B2

Methods and formulations for treating a condition of the skin by delivering therapeutic formulations to the skin that translocates active substances across the stratum corneum barrier to a targeted skin tissue. The methods and formulations comprise active substances encapsulated within surface modified nanostructured lipid carrier nanoparticles.
US08715726B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of active principles. More specifically: a stable pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of tramadol and ketoprofen. Furthermore, a combination in solid form in which the active principles are vehicled in pharmaceutical forms and/or products that prevent contact between them. Complementarily, the present invention also relates to the combined use of ketoprofen and tramadol in the preparation of an oral medicine useful for relieving pain as well as a method for relieving pain with an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of tramadol and ketoprofen.
US08715713B2

The present invention provides a sustained release latanoprost implant in the form of a thin film comprising latanoprost incorporated in a biodegradable polymer matrix. Preferably, said implant is an intraocular implant comprising a thin film comprising latanoprost incorporated in a biodegradable polymer matrix wherein said implant is configured as a disc or a rolled film that can be inserted into the eye and unrolls to provide a film having a high surface area to volume ratio.
US08715707B2

Methods are disclosed for controlling the morphology and the release-rate of active agent from a coating layer for medical devices comprising a polymer matrix and one or more active agents. The methods comprise exposing a wet or dry coating to a freeze-thaw cycle. The coating layer can be used for controlled delivery of an active agent or a combination of active agents.
US08715704B2

The invention relates to a lure for attracting, and in some circumstances, killing dust mites, especially house dust mites. The lure comprises neryl formate and/or limonene and is usually arranged in powder form to allow it to be shaken over an area containing the mites. What about liquid that dries.
US08715696B2

Provided are a full genome DNA of a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain JHC isolated from Korean patients and open reading frames (ORFs) thereof and, more particularly, UL1, UL119 and RL6.
US08715695B2

The present invention relates to polypeptide(s) comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No. 1 of hepatitis E virus ORF 2 or its fragment, which is in the form of n-polymeric polypeptide, wherein n is an integer from 1-180; to a chimeric protein consisting of a polypeptide of the present invention and a conserved fragment of hemagglutin antigen from influenza virus; to a polypeptide of the present invention bound to a polypeptide containing epitope from hepatitis E virus ORF3 or an immunogenic fragment thereof; to a recombinant expression vector comprising the DNA molecule encoding the above polypeptides and the host cell transformed with said recombinant expression vector which is able to express polypeptide of the present invention. The present invention further relates to a vaccine composition against hepatitis E virus which comprises the above-mentioned polypeptide, or diagnostic kit for hepatitis E virus infection comprising the above-mentioned polypeptide, which includes IgG, IgM, or total antibody diagnostic kit for hepatitis E virus, and to the use of vaccine composition and diagnostic kit for prophylaxis, diagnosis and/or treatment of hepatitis E virus infection.
US08715683B2

Described herein are cell lines and methods for preparing antibodies that bind RANKL, including cell lines that produce blocking antibodies to human RANKL.
US08715680B2

The invention provides polypeptides derived from a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA), such as HLA-A2, and derivatives or analogues thereof. The polypeptides, derivatives and analogues can be used to treat or prevent allosensitisation, such as the treatment or prevention of allograft rejection.
US08715674B2

We provide an antibody capable of binding to an intracellular PRL-1 or PRL-3 polypeptide, in which the antibody is capable of binding to an epitope bound by antibody 269, antibody 223 or antibody 318. Such anti-PRL antibodies may be capable of binding to intracellular PRL-1 or PRL-3. They may be suitable for use as therapies against cancer or metastasis thereof, or in clinical diagnosis to identify PRL-3 or PRL-1 positive patients.
US08715672B2

The present invention relates to the use of at least one antibody and/or one inhibitor for inhibiting factor XII and for preventing the formation and/or the stabilization of three dimensional thrombi. It also relates to a pharmaceutical formulation and the use of factor XII as an anti-thrombotic target.
US08715659B2

A phage-displayed library of llama single heavy domain antibodies (sdAbs) was enriched for species that selectively bind to and are internalized by human cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells (HCEC). From the enriched library, two sdAbs were selected, sequenced, subcloned, and expressed as fusion proteins with c-myc-His5 tags (His5 is SEQ ID NO:101). Similarly as phage-displayed sdAbs, these soluble tagged sdAbs were shown to selectively bind to HCEC and to transmigrate across in vitro human blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. In contrast to an unrelated llama sdAb, these sdAbs were also detected in the brain after i.v. injection into mice. These small (˜13 kDa) antibody fragments have essential characteristics of brain-specific delivery vectors and can be used to facilitate drug transport across the BBB.
US08715658B2

The present invention is directed to a method of treating a subject at risk for or having a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade comprising administering to the subject an amount of a GAPDH inhibitor effective to treat the subject at risk for or having a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade.
US08715653B2

Herein is described the methods and compositions for modulation of Rhamm, also known as CD 186, and its effects on wound repair, muscle differentiation, bone density and adipogeneisis through its ability to regulate mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Compositions and methods are provided for blocking Rhamm function for selectively increasing subcutaneous, but not, visceral fat. Compositions and methods for modulating Rhamm in wound repair are also described.
US08715642B2

This invention relates to viral vector particles, including capsid proteins with an attachment site for the specific chemical modification of the vector particles. Furthermore, the invention relates to procedures for the production of these viral vector particles. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of these viral vector particles as a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic means in humans and primates as well as other vertebrates like cattle, pigs, birds, fish, or rodents.
US08715639B2

The present invention relates to the field of bacteriology. In particular, the invention relates to compositions of probiotic microbes and methods for making and using such compositions, e.g. in the treatment and prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infections.
US08715632B2

Compositions for treating hair are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions for treating hair are also disclosed.
US08715617B2

A hydrogen production process wherein steam and a hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a prereformer, the prereformed intermediate is further reacted in an oxygen-based reformer, the reformate is shifted and then separated by a pressure swing adsorber to form a H2 product stream and a tail gas, a first portion of the tail gas is recycled to the prereformer and/or the oxygen-based reformer, and a second portion of the tail gas is recycled to the pressure swing adsorber.
US08715616B2

There is provided herein a method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising: sorbing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel to a gasification catalyst to form a sorbed hydrocarbon fuel; heating said sorbed hydrocarbon fuel to a first temperature for a first period of time sufficient to form coke; and gasifying said coke at a second temperature at a pressure for a second period of time in the presence of water and/or oxygen, so as to produce hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide and to regenerate said catalyst. In particular, the hydrocarbon fuel can be a liquid biomass, such pyrolysis oil, and the method can be CO2 neutral.
US08715614B2

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of fine barium titanate (BaTiO3) powders. The process comprises introducing an aqueous solution (I) containing salts of barium and titanium, and an aqueous basic solution (II) containing an inorganic or organic base separately and simultaneously into a high-gravity reactor with the high-gravity level of 1.25G to 12,500G and performing the reaction of the solution (I) with the solution (II) at a temperature of from 60 to 100° C. The solution (I) is preheated to a temperature ranging from 60° C. to 65° C. and the solution (II) is preheated to a temperature ranging from 60° C. to 100° C. respectively prior to the reaction, in which the Ba/Ti molar ratio in the solution (I) is more than 1 and the concentration of the base in the solution (II) is such that the reaction mixture is maintained at a constant OH− concentration, preferably a pH value of about 14. The reaction product is separated by filtering and washed with deionized water to remove the impurity ions and excessive barium ions, and then dried to obtain BaTiO3 powders. Said powders consist essentially of crystalline, primary particles having a uniform particle size ranging from 5 to 200 nm, an approximately spherical morphology and a high sintering activity.
US08715605B2

A process for the combustion of a carbon-containing fuel, wherein the flue gases are filtered so as to achieve a solid particle concentration of less than 1 mg/m3 before compression, purification and sequestration or transport is presented.
US08715602B2

A method of reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) in a flowing combustion exhaust gas to N2, which method comprising oxidizing nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen dioxide on a transition metal/elite catalyst at catalyst bed temperatures below 50° C. and reducing NOx with the catalyst using an hydrocarbon (HC) reductant at catalyst bed temperatures below 150° C.
US08715601B2

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing emissions of particulates from diesel engines. Exhaust is passed through a diesel particular filter having at least two stages comprised of (a) a catalyst section having a platinum group metal catalyst on contact surfaces within the catalyst section and (b) a filter section comprised of passages effective to remove particulates from a moving stream of combustion gases generated by combusting the fuel in the engine and holding them therein to permit their oxidation. Carbon removal is enhanced by utilizing levels of platinum group metal composition, cerium compositions, fuels and/or optional chemical enhancers to generate NO2 in the catalyst section in amounts sufficient to form cerium nitrates in the filter section. The cerium oxide is associated with and maintains dispersion of the platinum in the filter section, and the cerium nitrates are available at the surface and within the soot particles to provide enhanced soot oxidation at a lower balance point.
US08715600B1

A circulating dry scrubber flue gas desulfurization system is disclosed. Hydrated lime is injected into the flue gas upstream of the CDS vessel. The flue gas then passes through a baghouse, where solids are captured. At least a portion of the solids are recycled. The recycle path runs from the baghouse to a splitter, where the solids are divided between the injection points. No distribution box is needed, which permits lowering the height and/or restructuring the location of many components of the system, reducing costs as well as improving or maintaining removal of combustion byproducts from the flue gas.
US08715598B2

The invention is directed to a method for the purification of Radium, in particular 226Ra, for target preparation for an essentially pure 225Ac production from available radioactive sources, using an extraction chromatography in order to separate chemically similar elements such as Ba, Sr, and Pb from the desired Ra; wherein said extraction chromatography has an extractant system on the basis of a crown ether. The invention is related to a method for recycling of 226Ra, for target preparation for 225Ac production from radium sources irradiated with accelerated protons (p,2n), after separation of the produced 225Ac. In this method a combination of the above extraction chromatography and a cation exchange chromatography is used. The obtained 226Ra is essentially free of the following chemical contaminants consisting of Ag, Al, As, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn, and Ba.
US08715594B2

A histology tissue embedding apparatus having an outlet for embedding medium and a generally horizontal working area beneath the outlet for supporting a cassette. The working area includes a generally horizontal trimming surface having corrugations and being substantially flush with the remainder of the working area.
US08715592B2

An integrated electronic-micro fluidic device an integrated electronic-micro fluidic device, comprising a semiconductor substrate on a first support, an electronic circuit on a first semiconductor-substrate side of the semiconductor substrate, and a signal interface structure to an external device. A micro fluidic structure is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and is configured to confine a fluid and to allow a flow of the fluid to and from the microfluidic structure only on a second semiconductor-substrate side that is opposite to the first semiconductor-substrate side and faces away from the first support.
US08715586B2

An electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of a vehicle is described. The system includes a wheeled platform sized to fit inside the vehicle, at least one tank operable to contain one or more decontaminant agents, the tanks supported by said wheeled platform, a plurality of nozzles affixed to the wheeled platform, wherein each nozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction, an electrostatic charging system connected to each of the nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge to the decontaminant agents as the agents are dispersed, and at least one compressor in communication with the tanks for pressurizing the decontaminant agents. The one or more compressors are capable of providing a pressure sufficient to provide a constant distribution of the decontaminant agents through the electrostatic nozzles.
US08715581B2

The invention relates to a grid-connected power plant, having the following systems which are adjusted in their capacitance to each other: a) a wind power plant, water power plant, solar-thermal system and/or photovoltaic system for the production of electrical energy for operating the systems b) through f); b) a CO2 absorption system for the absorption of atmospheric CO2; c) a CO2 desorption system for the desorption of the CO2 gained in b); d) an electrochemical or solar-thermal H2 synthesis system for the operating system e); e) a synthesis system selected from the group catalytic methanol synthesis, catalytic DME synthesis, catalytic methane synthesis; f) a storage system selected from the group methanol storage system, DME storage system, methane storage system. The invention also relates to the use of such a power plant and methods for the operation of such a power plant.
US08715578B2

An exhaust gas purifying apparatus has a first housing including a DOC converter and DPF, and a second housing including an SCR converter, the housings disposed in parallel on the outer side of a frame such that the exhaust upstream ends thereof are positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. An outlet port of the first housing and an inlet port of the second housing are communicatively connected through a communication pipe. The first housing is dividable into a first casing accommodating the DOC converter and a second casing accommodating the DPF, the two casings separably fastened by bolts. The inlet port of the first casing housing is bent inwardly in the width direction and detachably fastened to an exhaust pipe, the distal end of which opens outwardly in the width direction, through bolts. The second casing and housing are fixed to the frame through two brackets.
US08715577B2

A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.
US08715572B2

Systems and methods for the detection, analysis, and collection of rare cellular events, wherein rare cellular events are defined by events comprising less than 5% of a total number of cells in a sample. The systems and methods generally include: (1) a flow cell dimensioned so as to permit a flow of a sample through the flow cell at a flow rate greater than 300,000 cells per second; (2) a laser positioned to emit a laser beam directed to the flow cell; (3) one or more deflector components disposed between the laser and the flow cell, wherein the deflector component is configured to affect a position of the laser beam relative to the sample flow; (4) one or more fluorescence emission detectors; and (5) one or more processor configured to detect rare cellular events based on fluorescence emission from cell-binding surface markers introduced into the sample prior to the sample being flowed through the flow cell.
US08715569B2

Methods are disclosed for chemically stabilizing a polymer stent after sterilization. The stent is exposed to a temperature above ambient for a period of time after radiation sterilization. The exposure reduces the concentration of free radicals generated by the radiation.
US08715564B2

Methods and systems for manufacturing an implantable medical device, such as a stent, from a tube with desirable mechanical properties, such as improved circumferential strength and rigidity, are described herein. Improved circumferential strength and rigidity may be obtained by inducing molecular orientation in materials for use in manufacturing an implantable medical device. Methods of inducing circumferential molecular orientation by inducing circumferential flow in a molten polymer are disclosed.
US08715556B2

A gas turbine engine blade for aircraft which has a 3-dimensional blade surface shape twisted around a center line at an angle of 45 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, wherein the aforementioned blade is provided with multiple composite material prepregs which contain reinforced fiber and which are integrally molded after being laminated in the thickness direction, and the aforementioned reinforced fiber runs continuously without interruption within each layer of the aforementioned composite material prepregs.
US08715553B2

The present invention provides a method and a device for treating a surface of a fiber composite material which contains fibers of a specific hardness, the surface of the fiber composite material being removed abrasively by an abrasion means, the hardness of which is less than the hardness of the fibers contained in the fiber composite material and is greater than the hardness of a plastics material in which the fibers of the fiber composite material are embedded.
US08715544B2

A process of forming a population of microcapsules is described comprising a liquid hydrophilic core material and a wall material at least partially surrounding the core material. The liquid hydrophilic core material can be anionic, cationic, or neutral but polar. The microcapsule population is formed by providing liquid hydrophilic core material; providing an oil continuous phase which is low boiling and preferably nonflammable, the oil continuous phase comprising preferably one or more organic oil materials such as esters with chain length up to about 42 carbons. A mixture is formed by dispersing the liquid hydrophilic material in the oil continuous phase. Either an oil soluble or dispersible monofunctional amine acrylate or monofunctional amine methacrylate, along with acid; or alternatively monofunctional acid acrylate or monofunctional acid methacrylate along with base; or alternatively, monofunctional amine acrylate or monofunctional amine methacrylate along with acid acrylate or methacrylate; is added. A multifunctional acrylate or methacrylate monomer or oligomer is provided along with an initiator. Optionally a surfactant is also added to form the mixture. Emulsification is achieved by subjecting the mixture to high shear agitation and heating the mixture for a time sufficient to enable forming a prepolymer which migrates to the liquid hydrophilic material, thereby forming prepolymers adhered to the hydrophilic core materials. Heating is carried out or light exposure or both for a time and temperature sufficient to crosslink the prepolymers.
US08715535B2

According to an example embodiment, a conductive paste includes a conductive powder, a metallic glass having a supercooled liquid region, and an organic vehicle. The metallic glass may include an alloy having a disordered atomic structure that includes at least two metals. An electronic device and/or solar cell may include an electrode formed using the conductive paste. An electrode formed using a conductive paste according to example embodiments may have lower contact resistance than an electrode formed using a conductive paste that includes glass frits instead of a metallic glass.
US08715534B2

The invention discloses an injection molding method for manufacture of a metal-resin composite member; wherein the resin composition used in the method includes a plurality of metal particles having one or more metal melting points between about 200° C. and 400° C.; the resin composition is heated to a temperature higher than the resin melting point and higher than one or more metal melting points to provide a heated resin composition; and wherein injecting the heated resin into a mold results in contact of the heated resin with one or more disposed heated metal member(s) to provide a composite member.
US08715523B2

There is provided a heat storage material capable of recovering/storing thermal energy such as exhaust heat energy or sunlight, and a heat utilization system using the same. The heat storage material of the present invention comprises a complex compound of the formula (I), wherein, R, R′, A, B, C, D, A′, B′, C′ and D′ are as defined herein.
US08715520B2

There is provided a substrate processing method capable of etching a layer containing, at least, platinum without using a halogen gas. When etching the platinum-manganese layer on a wafer W by using a tantalum (Ta) layer 38 having a certain pattern shape, a processing gas containing, at least, a carbon monoxide gas, a hydrogen gas, and a rare gas is used, and a ratio of a gas flow rate of the hydrogen gas to a total gas flow rate of the carbon monoxide gas and the hydrogen gas is in a range of from about 50% to about 75%.
US08715516B2

An optical element having a three-dimensional structure which can function in a visible range and can improve adherence at a structural interface of the element, and a method of manufacturing the optical element. The optical element includes a substrate, and at least a first layer and a second layer on the substrate are manufactured such that each of the first layer and the second layer has a repetition structure of spaces and structural parts at a pitch equal to or less than a wavelength of visible light, and at an interface between the first layer and the second layer, overlapped structures are provided in which the repetition structure of the first layer and the repetition structure of the second layer overlap in a stack direction of the layers.
US08715513B2

Disclosed is a compact liquid-liquid separation device useful for the separation of oil and water in hydrocarbon production operations, as well as systems and methods for use thereof. The device includes a separator body of generally vertical pipe having an upper portion and a lower portion, and an inlet to the separator body of generally horizontal pipe in fluid communication with the separator body and attached to the separator body between the upper section and the lower section. The inlet has a round cross-section portion and a reducing area nozzle portion in which the horizontal width of the inlet decreases symmetrically with proximity to the separator body. The vertical interface between the inlet and the separator body has a generally rectangular cross-section.
US08715512B2

An apparatus and method for separating components of a fluid mixture. The apparatus includes a vortex generation zone shaped as an inverse truncated cone, a solids collection zone, a separation zone, one or more fluid inlets, one or more gas inlets, one or more fluid outlets, and one or more gas outlets. Gas is introduced into fluid in the vortex separation zone to facilitate the separation of components of the fluid mixture.
US08715508B2

A printing and dyeing wastewater treatment and reuse apparatus includes a coarse filter, a regulation pool, a hydraulic sieve, a desulfurization pool, a nanocatalytic electrolyzer, a flocculation pool, a flocculation tank, a settling pool, a flotation device, a biochemical pool, a secondary settling pool, a secondary nanocatalytic electrolyzer, a fine filter, a compressor, a nanomembrane assembly, and a recycling pool. Also provided is a printing and dyeing wastewater treatment and reuse method including steps of desulfurization, nanocatalytic electrolysis, flocculation, biochemical treatment, secondary catalytic electrolysis, filtration, and separation by membrane. The invention allows high CODCr removal rate, reduced chemical agent consumption, reduced sludge formation, thorough treatment, and high water reuse rate.
US08715492B2

An apparatus for use in a septic system such as an aerobic wastewater treatment plant connected to a drip irrigation system for dispensing wastewater from the septic system. The apparatus includes a pump having a pump outlet for a pumping treated wastewater from the septic system, a filter connected to the pump outlet, the filter having a first output for directing filtered water to the drip irrigation system and a second outlet for disposal of backwash water used to clean the filter. There is an accumulator or canister having a predetermined volume for receiving water from at least one of the drip irrigation systems and the second output of the filter. The accumulator has an outlet connected to a pressure actuated normally open flush valve, which closes in response to pressure from water in the accumulator and which moves to the normally open position when the pump is deactivated.
US08715491B2

A storm water catch basin filter having a sampling port such that a real-time sample can be taken of water flowing through the filter without the need to remove the filter, the sampling port being an opening preferably covered by a removable closure member or a self-sealing valve.
US08715486B2

The invention relates to a process for producing a new type of high-quality hydrocarbon base oil of biological origin. The process of the invention comprises ketonization, hydrodeoxygenation, and isomerization steps. Fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters based on a biological raw material are preferably used as the feedstock.
US08715481B2

A processed product is continuously partially plated without being covered. Electroplating is carried out on a portion other than a head of a processed product also having a lower part and a constricted part between the head and the lower part. A pair of rails has an opening between the rails narrower than the head and broader than the constricted part, and electrodes are arranged thereon. A plating bath is positioned below the rails, and electrode plates are arranged in a plating solution. The constricted part of the processed product is positioned at the opening between the rails, and a pushing element extending from above the rails through the opening contacts the processed product at a position lower than the center of gravity at the lower part. The pushing element is displaced along the rails to plate a portion of the processed products positioned below the rails.
US08715471B2

To be able to realize a relatively wide magnetron sputter cathode, it is proposed that on the vacuum side of a carrier (2) is disposed the sputter target (4) with a backing plate (3), which maintains a gap (14) from the carrier (2). The backing plate (3) is developed as a cooling plate. In it are located cooling means channels (15), which, via an inlet (16) through the carrier (2), are supplied with cooling fluid, which can flow out again via an outlet (17) through the carrier (2). On the atmospheric side is located a magnet configuration (5).
US08715470B2

Anode and cathode separator plates are suitable for use in ion pumps for converting an input stream such as reformate into a pressurized and purified hydrogen-rich gas stream. The plates may include a single cathode outlet opening forming a portion of cathode output gas manifold, an anode inlet opening forming a portion of an inlet gas stream manifold and being sized larger than inlet cathode outlet opening, the distance of the anode inlet opening to an edge of the plate being less than the distance of the cathode outlet opening from an edge of the plate, and the size of the fluid flow channel of the anode separator plate being smaller than the size of the fluid flow channel of the cathode separator plate. Methods for forming the plates and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.
US08715463B2

A particle or particles of cellulosic wood pulp fibers having a top and bottom face and a hexagonal perimeter, and methods of using it.
US08715461B1

A system and method for preparation of meat flavorants, and flavorants, having increased flavor and aromatic intensity and which more closely resemble the natural flavor and aroma of cooked meat. Preheated edible, food grade oils and fats are exposed to temperatures between 290° C. and 475° C. under vacuum, in the presence of oxygen. The developing flavor vapors are immediately and completely removed from the heated oils and fats. The mixture of air-purge/flavor-vapor is immediately carried away from the heat transfer surface of the edible oil or fat. An evaporator, preferably a spinning disc, spinning band or thin film evaporator, without a condenser is used as process equipment. The air-purged flavor-vapors are diffused and absorbed in an absorption device into suitable food-grade liquids.
US08715452B2

A sleeve for a protective garment, such as a medical gown, includes a knit, woven, or non-woven layer and a seamless layer that are laminated together. The knit, woven, or non-woven layer can be a circularly knit seamless layer, or alternatively can have seams. The seamless layer can be water or vapor impermeable or resistant so as to prevent microorganisms, pathogens, liquids, or other substances from passing through the sleeve.
US08715449B2

A container is formed to include and interior region and a mouth opening into the interior region. The container includes a floor, a side wall coupled to the floor to define the interior region between the floor and the side wall, and artwork on the side wall.
US08715440B2

One possible embodiment of the invention could be a methodology of preventing an existing crack or break in the vehicle windshield from becoming larger comprising of the steps, providing a laminate with a UV light-permeable barrier film having least one side to which UV light curable adhesive is applied to it, a peel-able cover reversibly applied over the adhesive; providing a windshield with at least a small crack or chip in its surface; removing the peel-able cover from the adhesive; applying the barrier film to the windshield in a manner to cover the crack or chip so that the adhesive comes in contact with the windshield; and transmitting UV light through the film to the adhesive to cure it into a rigid substrate connection between the barrier film and the windshield that resists various forces acting upon the windshield that would otherwise increase the size of crack or chip.
US08715424B2

A method of removing material such as surface treatments, metal coatings, and other material layers from an edge region of a metal work piece where they could potentially contaminate a nearby weld. According to one embodiment, a scraper tool includes a body having a base portion and a tab portion, and several scraping elements attached to the base portion. During operation, the scraping elements scrape one or more surfaces of the edge region so that the depth to which the scraping element engage the metal work piece is generally affected by the amount of rotation of the scraper tool about a pivot axis.
US08715423B2

A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising a cylindrical housing with annular seals circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for sealing engagement between the pipeline and the housing. An internal flow cavity passes through the housing, with a gate positioned within the internal flow cavity, initially obstructing flow through the cavity. A locking device, connected to the gate, prevents the gate opening. A sensing device is capable of receiving a signal and is connected to an unlocking device. The sensing device receives a signal activating the unlocking device, thereby removing the locking device, permitting the gate to open and flow to pass through the cavity.
US08715414B2

There are provided a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate that achieves high crystallinity and low costs, an epitaxial wafer, and manufacturing methods thereof.A method for manufacturing a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a different type of substrate 11 and growing a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv layer having a main surface on the different type of substrate 11. The component ratio x+v at the main surface of the Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv layer is 0
US08715411B2

A method for producing a clinker for cement, comprising grinding a raw flour comprising, especially, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and SO3 in contents such that the formula for calculating SO3 content of=0.261×Al2O3−0.638×Fe2O3+k, where 2.5
US08715397B2

A CO2 amine scrubbing process uses an absorbent mixture combination of an amine CO2 sorbent in combination with a non-nucleophilic, relatively stronger, typically nitrogenous, base. The weaker base(s) are nucleophilic and have the ability to react directly with the CO2 in the gas stream while the relatively stronger bases act as non-nucleophilic promoters for the reaction between the CO2 and the weaker base. The sorption and desorption temperatures can be varied by selection of the amine/base combination, permitting effective sorption temperatures of 70 to 90° C., favorable to scrubbing flue gas.
US08715396B1

A method for providing superadsorption of polar organic compounds using a material system is provided. The method can comprise enhancing adsorption by means of using high surface area and mass transfer rates and decreased reactivity at surface sites attractive to the polar compounds; and employing consequence management by maintaining a high rate of adsorptivity combined with high fidelity and accuracy of the material system. A modified superadsorbent material for air sampling applications comprising a superadsorbent material treated with a solution, thereby forming a treated superadsorbent material, wherein the treated superadsorbent material is substantially hydrophobic and is capable of adsorbing polar compounds.
US08715394B2

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for capturing or otherwise decreasing the amount of CO2 in an exhaust stream. The separation process for removing CO2 from a waste stream preferably operates substantially at atmospheric pressure and at a preselected temperature, and without the need of thermal swing regeneration. This novel elimination of the heat up and cool down periods allows the inventive cycle herein to be run faster, and more efficiently than in previously known systems. Further, in some examples herein, the heat of adsorption is used to provide the heat of regeneration.
US08715391B2

A high temperature filter containing a membrane, a support substrate, and a porous adhesive layer. The porous adhesive layer is adjacent the inner surface of the membrane and the inner surface of the support substrate such that the membrane and the support substrate sandwich the porous adhesive layer. The porous adhesive layer comprises an adhesive having an adhesive operating temperature of at least about 450° F. The support substrate is a woven textile, a non-woven textile, a knit textile, or a film, and has a support operating temperature of at least about 500° F.
US08715385B2

A bearing material and a method for the manufacture of a bearing having a lining of the bearing material is described, the bearing material comprising: in wt %: 4-12 tin; 0.1-2 nickel; 1-6 bismuth; 0.01-less than 0.10 alumina; balance copper apart from incidental impurities.
US08715384B2

The present application provides an inlet air pulse filtration system. The inlet air pulse filtration system may include an inlet filter house and a number of pulse filters positioned therein. One or more of the pulse filters may include a conical section, a transitional section, and a tapered section.
US08715383B2

A filter clip for holding a filter media over a supply/return/exhaust of an HVAC system includes a hook portion that secures to a grid of a suspended ceiling system and a filter holding portion that is connected to the hook portion such that the filter holding portion is biased towards the grid and/or a grille. An air filter placed between the filter holding portion and the grid and/or grille is held against the grid and/or grill until, for example, until construction is complete or the filter needs to be changed or removed, thereby covering the supply/return and reducing contamination of the HVAC system from construction dirt/debris.
US08715376B2

A fuel composition is provided that contains a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of at least one p-alkoxy-N-alkyl aromatic amine and at least one dicyclopentadiene. Use of such additive compound in a combustion engine is also provided.
US08715371B2

A domestic heating fuel composition, comprising (a) a paraffinic hydrocarbon composition comprising at least 90 wt % normal paraffins and/or iso-paraffins comprising from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the weight ratio of iso-paraffins to normal-paraffins is below 6 to 1, and (b) at least one compound having a C/H molar ratio of above 0.8 and soluble in component (a) at ambient conditions, wherein the component (b) is present in the fuel composition in an amount effective to increase the responsiveness of a yellow/red flame detector to a required threshold level.
US08715370B2

The present invention is directed to the fabrication of thin aluminum anode batteries using a highly reproducible process that enables high volume manufacturing of the galvanic cells. A method of fabricating a thin aluminum anode galvanic cell is provided, the method comprising, forming a recess in the silicon wafer, the recess having no more than three sidewalls, depositing a catalytic metal layer on a bottom surface of the recess, positioning a double-side sticky tape layer having a bottom side positioned to contact the no more than three sidewalls of the recess and positioning an aluminum foil layer to contact a top side of the double-side sticky tape layer and in overlying relation to the recess, thereby forming the galvanic cell.
US08715365B1

The invention discloses a surgical technique and apparatus for minimally invasive replacement of a fractured femoral head in hip arthroscopy. The fractured femoral head is first removed from the patient, and an incision made on the patient on a lateral aspect of the operative thigh. A hole is then drilled into the cortex of the operative femur of the patient through the incision. The femoral neck and femoral canal of the operative femur are reamed by inserting a reamer through the drilled hole. A hip prosthesis is then inserted into the wound and injected with molding. The hip prosthesis includes a femoral component having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end inserted and anchored in the reamed femoral canal, and a femoral head component with smooth surface. The femoral head component contains a deflated balloon that, when inflated with molding, is similar to a neo-femoral head.
US08715361B2

Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a knee prosthesis that includes a femoral component for replacing at least a portion of a distal end of a femur. In some cases, the femoral component has a posterior condyle that is configured to articulate against a tibial articular surface. In such cases, an articular surface at a proximal portion of the posterior condyle is sized and shaped to extend at least half of an antero-posterior distance between a most posterior portion of the posterior condyle and a plane that is a continuation of a distal one fourth to one third of a posterior cortex of a femoral shaft of the femur. Other implementations are also discussed.
US08715360B2

Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a tibial component that has an asymmetrical articular plateau that includes a medial tibial condylar surface and a lateral tibial condylar surface. In some cases, at least one of the medial condylar surface and the lateral condylar surface includes a concave articulation surface having a lowest point that disposed from a posterior edge of the tibial component by between about 18% and less than about 35% of a total anteroposterior dimension of the tibial component. Other implementations are also discussed.
US08715358B2

A new class of total knee replacement includes a posterior cruciate ligament retaining anterior cruciate ligament substituting apparatus and method. Particular design considerations include: 1) a specific extension surface separate from the flexion surface, 2) rotational control in full extension to create the so-called screw-home mechanism, 3) translation restraints that will substitute for ACL function including a CAM-post or other abutment mechanism while allowing normal PCL function which should improve natural proprioception, 4) a modified femoral component with separate radii of curvature for the flexion and extension arcs of at least one condyle, and 5) a tibial component with slope built into the posterior aspect of its bone contacting surface on both sides of the PCL.
US08715357B2

Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a modular component, wherein the modular component is configured to attach to a femoral component, and wherein the femoral component is configured to attach to a distal portion of a femur. In some cases, the modular component includes an articular surface that is configured to increase a surface area of an articulation surface of a proximal portion of a posterior condyle of the femoral component. Other implementations are also discussed.
US08715351B1

An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior plates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of expansion members or wafers in interlocking engagement. The superior and inferior plates have openings therethrough in communication with aligned holes through the wafers for receipt and containment of bone graft to promote fusion between opposing vertebral bodies. One of said superior and inferior endplates has a multi-contoured opening extending therethrough.
US08715343B2

An apparatus is provided for delivering an implantable medical device to a diseased cardiac valve includes an elongated shank, a brace member, and a locking mechanism. The shank has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The first end portion includes a rotatable annular lower support and a fixing member. The lower support includes an annular ring having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces and a plane extending radially between the upper and lower surfaces. The brace member includes a barrel portion operably connected to a drive system. The barrel portion includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The drive system includes a housing operably connected to an actuating handle. The locking mechanism is operably connected to the housing and the elongated shank.
US08715339B2

A bioerodible endoprosthesis erodes by galvanic erosion that can provide, e.g., improved endothelialization and therapeutic effects.
US08715331B2

A catheter assembly and related methods directed to stent edge protection for an edge of a stent. One example stent edge protect member is positioned with a distal end portion of the stent edge protect member arranged proximal of and adjacent to a proximal end of the stent. The stent edge protect member defines an outer surface that transitions from an outer surface of the stent at the proximal end of the stent to an outer surface of the catheter branch on which the stent edge protect member is positioned. The stent edge protect member can be positioned on a single catheter branch or multiple catheter branches.
US08715330B2

A controlled temperature therapy system has a pump, a reservoir, and a therapy component. The reservoir has an inlet in communication with the therapy component and an outlet in communication with the pump. The reservoir may also include a baffle adjacent the outlet. The inlet may be a movable inlet, a nozzle or include a flow directing surface.
US08715328B2

A monocular light source positioning device includes a support member which held on the head of a user to hold an elongated readily bendable but self supporting element having a light source effective to stimulate a photo-endocrine response attached at a free end thereof positioned over or in front of only one eye of the person to provide a method of stimulating a photoendocrine response without interfering with the principal field of view of the user.
US08715324B2

A fixation plate with a base section including apertures for fixation to one bone segment and a leg section extending from the base section and including apertures for fixation to another bone segment. The expanse of the base section tapers gradually to smoothly cojoin with the leg section.
US08715323B2

A connector is provided for linear implants such as spinal rods which are disposed within the coronal plane of a body. The connector includes a first portion having a first cavity for disposal therethrough of a first spinal rod. A second portion has a second cavity for the disposal therethrough of a second spinal rod. The second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion. Methods of use are disclosed.
US08715319B2

A collapsible medical device for occluding an aperture in a body, e.g., a patent foramen ovale (PFO), is disclosed. The device includes a distal end and a distal portion for contacting the distal side of tissue, a proximal end and a proximal portion for contacting the proximal side tissue, a center joint for extending through the aperture and being hollow in the center. The center joint engages the distal and proximal portions and has a variable length to accommodate tissues of different thickness. The device also includes a catch system for holding the collapsible medical device in an expanded configuration. The catch system includes a distal threaded catch portion engaging the distal end and a proximal threaded catch portion engaging the proximate end. The threaded portions rotate relative to one another and cooperate through the center joint to vary a distance between the distal and proximal ends.
US08715317B1

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.
US08715314B1

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.
US08715305B2

A magnetic coupling for connecting a cannula to the apex of a ventricle comprising a first member having a first orifice, a first magnetic material attached to the first member, a means for attaching a cannula to the first member, a second member having a second orifice, a second magnetic material attached to the second member, a means for attaching the second member to a ventricle, so that when the first magnet is placed in proximity to the second magnet the first member and second member are held substantially concentric by magnetic force to allow for the communication of fluid between the first and second orifices.
US08715304B2

The present disclosure is directed to devices for approximating body vessels and method for performing the same. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the device includes an inner member having a first expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof, an outer member having a second expandable anchor, and a sleeve disposed about at least a portion of the inner member and the outer member.
US08715301B2

A system and method for repairing soft tissue comprises introducing an instrument having a shaft into an operative site, such as a human shoulder. Then, a flexible grasper is advanced from the instrument to capture a portion of soft tissue. The flexible grasper is then retracted so that the captured tissue lies in a pathway for a needle in the instrument. The needle is advanced along the pathway through the captured tissue, and then a portion of suture is captured with the needle, distally of the captured tissue. The needle is retracted proximally through the captured tissue, to thereby pass the suture therethrough and plicate the tissue. The plicated tissue is then released from the grasper.
US08715296B2

The invention relates to a medical tracking reference, comprising a fastening arm and a reference array holding arm to which a reference array is or can be attached, and comprising a joint between the arms which can be fixed using a fixing array, wherein the fixing array of the joint comprises a bonding connection which can be fixed using a curable bonding agent. It also relates to a method for setting the alignment of a medical tracking reference.
US08715292B2

A device for applying a medical element has a housing defining a longitudinal axis with a channel disposed therethrough. The housing has a proximal and a distal opening. The device also has at least one sensing device positioned adjacent to the distal opening. The device also has a signaling device disposed adjacent the housing. The at least one sensing device interrogates a bone location for one or more variables of the bone location as the device is moved over the bone location. The at least one sensing devices outputs a signal to the device and the signaling device signals an identification of a homogenous bone region. The medical element is applied to the homogenous bone location coaxially from the proximal opening through the channel and through the distal opening without removal of the device from the homogenous bone region.
US08715287B2

An apparatus and method for penetrating the bone marrow is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a penetrator assembly, operable to penetrate the bone marrow, a connector operable to releasably attach the penetrator assembly to a drill shaft, the drill shaft operable to connect the penetrator assembly to a gear assembly, a gear assembly operable to engage and rotate the drill shaft, a motor operable to engage the reduction gear assembly and drive the penetrator into the bone marrow by rotation of the drill shaft, and a power supply and associated circuitry operable to power the motor. The apparatus and method may be adapted to insert a probe through the skull and into the brain.
US08715268B2

According to one embodiment, an administration device for subcutaneous administration of a liquid drug over an extended period of time is provided. The administration device may include an administration unit, a housing, and a controller unit. The administration unit may include a drug reservoir and a pump unit. The housing may include the administration unit and may be adapted to be carried by a patient over an extend period of time. The controller unit may include a bolus administration profile controller. The bolus administration profile controller receives a bolus volume of a bolus to be administered and determines based, at least in part, on the bolus volume a bolus administration profile such that a depot volume of a depot is limited.
US08715265B2

A method including introducing a treatment agent at a treatment site within a mammalian host; and introducing a bioerodable gel material at the treatment site. An apparatus including a first annular member having a first lumen disposed about a length of the first annular member and a first entry port at a proximal end of the first annular member, and a second annular member coupled to the first annular member having a second lumen disposed about a length of the second annular member and a second entry port at a proximal end of the second annular member, wherein the first annular member and the second annular member are positioned to allow a combining of treatment agents introduced through each annular member at the treatment site.
US08715259B2

A casing for an injection device of the type having a safety device which prevents operation of the device, incorporating an actuator means by which the safety means of the device can be actuated to allow operation of the device. Also a casing for a medicament container having an opening closed prior to use by a break-off tip, having relatively movable first and second casing parts, which on relative movement apply a breaking force to the break-off tip. A preferred embodiment includes both such features.
US08715247B2

A collapsible valve comprising a first portion with at least one dimple in a side thereof, and a second portion, the second portion being narrower than the first portion and arranged along an axial dimension of the first portion, the second portion including a cut therein.
US08715244B2

An internal bolster for use securing a medical device, such as a feeding tube, within a body of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, a feeding tube includes an internal bolster, comprising one or more bolster arms that each include a first end hingedly connected to a distal end of the medical device and a free second end. The bolster arms are selectively deployable between a first position wherein the bolster arms are substantially in-line with an axis of feeding tube, and a second position wherein the bolster arms are substantially deflected from the axis of the feeding tube to enable securement of the feeding tube within a stoma or other opening defined in the body. Various means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions are disclosed. Related methods of use are also disclosed.
US08715239B2

Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
US08715234B2

A device for locating a cavity within two walls including a syringe including a syringe piston slideable in a first syringe barrel for discharging air or fluid contained in the first syringe barrel on forward movement of the syringe piston into the cavity, the first syringe barrel being attached to a hub of a needle cannula; and a frame which at least in part encases the syringe and which is solely connected to the back of the syringe piston.
US08715226B2

A method for guiding a surgical cannula having a plurality of overlapping flexible tubes includes determining a desired cannula path; selecting the plurality of flexible tubes, wherein each of the flexible tubes within the plurality has a pre-formed curvature and a flexibility; determining a final overlap configuration of the plurality of flexible tubes such that a resulting curvature of the overlap configuration substantially corresponds to the desired cannula path; and determining a plurality of intermediate overlap configurations of the plurality of flexible tubes. Each of the intermediate configurations correspond to the desired cannula path.
US08715224B2

An infusion pump system is disclosed. The system includes a syringe having a plunger within the syringe barrel, the syringe having an exit end, at least one temperature determination device adjacent to the syringe, at least one device to determine the distance the plunger has moved with respect to the syringe barrel, and a pump processor in communication with the at least one temperature determination device and the at least one optical sensor, wherein when the controller determines a change in temperature and a corresponding plunger movement, the controller increases or decreases a preprogrammed basal rate of the infusion pump by a predetermined amount for a predetermined time.
US08715222B2

A fluid control device for directing fluid flow comprising a needleless access device for transferring fluids and methods of directing fluid flow. The fluid control device may have a first port, a second port, a third port and a connecting portion joining the first, second and third ports. A first valve element may be positioned within the first port and a fluid director may be positioned within the connecting portion. The first valve element may move between an opening position, where fluid may flow past the first valve element, and a closed position, where fluid may be prevented from flowing past the first valve element. The fluid director may have at least one passageway for connecting at least two of the first, second and third ports such that fluid may flow therebetween. An actuation mechanism may be used to orient the fluid director and, consequently, the at least one passageway within the connecting portion.
US08715219B2

Systems for insufflation and recirculation of insufflation fluid in a surgical procedure include a control unit having a fluid pump, a supply conduit, a return fluid conduit and a pressure-controlled valve. The pressure-controlled valve is in fluid communication with an insufflation gas supply, the supply conduit and the return conduit and is adapted and configured to respond to pressure control signals to adjust position and thereby system flow parameters, to reduce entrainment of air from the surrounding environment, and to increase the concentration of insufflation gas in an operative space, and/or to reduce an overpressure condition in the operative space.
US08715198B2

Disclosed is a sphygmomanometer exhaust valve having a valve that functions as a lever, and in which a solenoid moves the point of force of the valve to urge a valve membrane formed at the point of action against a ventilation port. A support member supports the valve while fixing its fulcrum. When no electric current is supplied to the solenoid, the support member holds the valve in a predetermined position in which the ventilation port is open.
US08715197B2

A blood pressure information measurement device instantaneously changes cuff pressure in a specified pressure section in order to detect a control target value in artery volume constant control. An artery volume signal is detected in that period, and an inflection point of the detected artery volume signal is detected by performing differentiation processing or the like. The inflection point of the detected artery volume signal is fixed as the control target value.
US08715191B2

A new approach to processing and displaying received Doppler signals is disclosed. This approach starts with a set of N power spectra corresponding to each of N times. Those power spectra are then used to create of set of pixels for display with respect to an X axis and a Y axis so that the X coordinate of each pixel in the set corresponds to a time and the Y coordinate of each pixel in the set corresponds to a quantized power level. An attribute (e.g., color or intensity) of each pixel in the set is set to represent the highest velocity for the time-and-quantized-power-level combination that corresponds to the X and Y coordinates of each pixel in the set.
US08715188B2

Real-time scanning and display of images is synchronized for ultrasound imaging. The scanning rate requirements for obtaining a frame of ultrasound data are determined. The video rate for imaging is adjusted as a function of the scanning rate.
US08715187B2

A system for providing non-invasive ultrasound based treatment to a region of interest is provided. The system comprises an imaging unit for imaging one or more tissue types in the region of interest, an image processing unit that is configured to identify the one or more tissue types in the region of interest, an ultrasound transducer that is configured to focus an ultrasound beam to ablate at least a portion of the identified tissues, and a controller unit that controls a delivery of the ultrasound beam to the region of interest.
US08715184B2

Path visualization for medical procedures is provided. Different paths are presented to the user. The paths may be ranked, such as determining a cost associated with using each path. The cost may be determined from different sources of data, such as from elasticity and flow ultrasound data. The user may view the options and make an informed choice for the path to use for biopsy or other procedure.
US08715181B2

Feedback systems and methods communicate implanted sensor-based feedback signals to promote behavior modifications that ameliorate obesity and other eating disorders. The system and methods described may also be applicable to any treatment in which presenting feedback regarding patients' eating and exercise habits is desired. The present invention provides a method and system for treating a patient by collecting ingestion and exercise information about the patient from an implanted sensor and communicating the collected information to the patient, his or her physician and/or other health care providers. In some embodiments, stimulation of the patient's stomach is also provided to reduce caloric intake. In some embodiments, the collected data is transmitted to a central server. Further embodiments may provide access to additional information in conjunction with the collected patient information, such as a calorie database, an exercise planner, and so forth, with the data optionally being used within a social networking system.
US08715172B1

An improved double-bladed laryngoscope for recording and locally displaying an area of interest of a patient via a readily interchangeable and sterilizable visual image recorder and being of the type having a stationary handle, a stationary blade affixed to the stationary handle, a movable tip pivotally attached to the stationary blade, a movable tip arm pivotally attached to movable tip and movable handle, a movable blade pivotally attached to the stationary blade and affixed to movable handle by movable blade arm. When the movable tip at valleculla of a patient and the movable handle is moved towards the stationary handle will bend the movable tip lifting the epiglottis to uncover laryngeal opening (glottis). Simultaneously a movable blade pivotally attached to stationary blade and affixed to movable handle so as to allow movable blade to pivot away from stationary blade spreading posterior pharyngeal tissues and allowing space for intubating tube. A lock locks the movable blade in a desired positioned by locking the movable handle affixed thereto, and a camera arrangement for recording and locally displaying the area of interest of the patient. The improvement includes the camera arrangement running readily replaceably and interchangeably through the movable blade so as to be readily removable therefrom for sterilization without compromising the structural integrity of the movable blade.
US08715169B2

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.
US08715168B2

A method of examining a hollow body cavity using an endoscope to achieve receiving two images in two opposite directions inside the hollow cavity is provided. The endoscope comprises a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, having distal and proximal ends, and defining a hollow channel therethrough, and a first lens positioned adjacent to the distal end for receiving a first image in a first direction along the longitudinal axis. The method comprises interposing the shaft within the hollow cavity, inserting a catheter into the hollow channel, extending the catheter inside the hollow channel to advance a distal section thereof and a coupled second lens to a position adjacent to the distal end, actuating a bending section thereof to achieve retroflexion of the distal section such that the second lens is positioned to receive a second image in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction.
US08715167B2

Robotic, telerobotic, and/or telesurgical devices, systems, and methods take advantage of robotic structures and data to calculate changes in the focus of an image capture device in response to movement of the image capture device, a robotic end effector, or the like. As the size of an image of an object shown in the display device varies with changes in a separation distance between that object and the image capture device used to capture the image, a scale factor between a movement command input may be changed in response to moving an input device or a corresponding master/slave robotic movement command of the system. This may enhance the perceived correlation between the input commands and the robotic movements as they appear in the image presented to the system operator.
US08715166B2

A surgical instrument includes a hollow member having a sidewall provided with a window and a closure member movably connected to the hollow member for alternately covering and uncovering the window. The hollow member has a first clamping surface along an edge of the window, while the closure member has a second clamping surface opposing the first clamping surface and disposable substantially adjacent thereto in a clamping or closure configuration of the instrument. The instrument additionally comprises a tissue occlusion component mounted to at least one of the hollow member and the closure member for acting on tissues gripped between the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface, to couple the tissues to each other.
US08715162B2

Disclosed is a method for complex phalloplasty for widening a penis, using a circumcised foreskin as an autologous graft. In the method, a foreskin cut off by circumcision, conventionally discarded as waste, is implanted as an autograft in phalloplasty, whereby the penis can be widened.
US08715155B2

An embryo that is transferred into the uterus of a recipient female is protected from toxic effects of prostaglandin F2α by exposing the embryo, or an oocyte from which the embryo is produced, to a prostaglandin antagonist.
US08715148B2

Problems concerning adhesion strength and aging time are eliminated in plastic-bag production in which a strip sheet is bonded with an adhesive and a handle is formed from the strip sheet on an outer surface of a plastic bag. Provided is a bag-making machine in which a strip sheet (17) and a web material are disposed so as to face each other and are pressed, with a high-adhesion adhesive (21) and another adhesive (25) interposed therebetween. The strip sheet (17) is provisionally fixed to the web material with the latter adhesive (25). This web material after the provisional fixing is wound on a roll, and a plastic bag is produced after lapse of an aging time for the high-adhesion adhesive (21). In this machine, the web material is supplied from the roll, and a plastic bag is produced from the web material.
US08715147B2

An attachment for exercise equipment is disclosed. The attachment is a handle assembly with a compressible rotating grip mechanism. The grip mechanism includes a swivel grip rotatably attached to the handle, and a floating grip coupled to the swivel grip by one or more pins. The grip mechanism includes one or more springs between the swivel grip and the floating grip.
US08715138B2

In a hydraulic control device, when a solenoid pressure from a linear solenoid valve is not supplied to a brake, which is normally not engaged at the same time as a brake, not to engage the brake, a switching valve is supplied with a line pressure as a signal pressure for establishing a blocked/discharge state in which supply of the solenoid pressure to the brake is blocked and a hydraulic pressure can be discharged from the brake. When the solenoid pressure is supplied to the brake to engage the brake, the switching valve is supplied with a modulator pressure, which is lower than the line pressure, as a signal pressure for establishing a communicated state in which the solenoid pressure can be supplied to the brake.
US08715137B2

A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle in which a hold gear function is activated by a driver request and deactivated depending on a return condition. The method comprises the step of (a) determining the return condition by a change in operating state, and (b) deactivating the hold gear function if a temporary operating state, for which the hold function is requested, ends and a change takes place between one of uphill driving and downhill driving and between driving one of up and down a hill and driving on a same plane.
US08715129B1

A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08715112B2

Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition, a layer formed from an additional thermoplastic composition, and an outermost layer formed from a thermoset rubber.
US08715111B2

The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core. The inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core and a specific gravity less than or equal to the outer core specific gravity. Overall the inner core compression and outer core are formulated to provide a combined overall core compression of greater than about 50, preferably greater than about 70. A cover layer is provided to surround and to cover the outer core layer.
US08715090B2

An information processing device configured to control a game in which a plurality of teams competes in a game field including a plurality of unit areas for occupation of the unit area, the information processing device includes: an occupant team determination unit configured to determine a team to occupy the unit area; a point providing unit configured to provide a point set to the unit area to a team to occupy the unit area; a storage unit configured to store an acquired point of each of the teams; a comparison unit configured to compare the acquired points of the teams; and a special area setting unit configured to set a special area that provides a special point in the unit area at a position where a team having a few acquired points more easily occupies the special area than a team having many acquired points from among the plurality of unit areas in accordance with the compared acquired points of the teams.
US08715086B2

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for reviewing and evaluating performance. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for reviewing and evaluating performances of an official or group of officials at an event or events. Even more specifically, according to embodiments of the present invention, the system and method can involve reviewing and evaluating a referee's performance during a football game or games.
US08715080B2

A first game controller that can be used by both a first game apparatus and a second game apparatus transmits its operation data by using a data format having a first data region including a header, a second data region including key data, and a third data region including data of an extended controller. A second game controller that can be used by the first game apparatus also uses a data format having similar three data regions, but the second data region is merely secured as a region, while all operation information is included in the third data region and transmitted.
US08715071B2

A system and method is disclosed for running an automated campaign for progressive games. The system automatically awards a maximum amount of progressive prizes set by the casino during a progressive prize time to multiple progressive winners.
US08715067B2

In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium or otherwise provided to a player. The player may either view the outcomes via a traditional gaming device interface (e.g., via a representation of slot reels) and as discreet outcomes, or view a video that depicts a continuous event, as determined by the discreet outcomes.
US08715063B2

A wagering game having a primary game and a secondary game. In one embodiment, an intermediate game outcome for the primary game is first determined. The intermediate game outcome provides the player with an indication of the probability of receiving a winning primary game outcome. The player may then use this indication for determining whether to play the secondary game. The optional secondary game, if won, modifies the play of the primary game to the advantage of the player. Consequently, the intermediate game outcome is resolved to determine the primary game outcome in accordance with the modified primary game. If the secondary game outcome is lost, the immediate game outcome is resolved to determine the primary game outcome without modifying the primary game.
US08715061B1

A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.
US08715060B2

A secondary game is played continuously over a series of reel-type main games on a video gaming device, where the successful outcome of the secondary game is the initiation of a bonus game. Therefore, the player is enticed to keep playing due to the player's investment in the secondary game and the expectation of playing the bonus game. At the beginning of a playing session, a visual indicator, such as a colored tile, is located at each of the symbol positions. The virtual reels are then spun and randomly stopped to display random symbols. If there is a winning combination of symbols, such as three of a kind, the indicators at those symbol positions are changed, such as being extinguished. The player keeps playing the main games until there are no more indicators. When all indicators are extinguished, a bonus game is initiated.
US08715058B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for displaying game related information on gaming machines. The gaming machines include two or more game presentation devices such as rotating reels, video display screens, touch screens, etc. One or more of these game presentation devices can be moved into and out of position with respect to other game presentation devices. This may allow, among other things, flexibility in presenting different types of games or different game features within a single game.
US08715056B2

Systems and methods of conducting a player interactive lottery are described. In an implementation, winning of a player is decided for a lottery ticket the moment the player purchases the lottery ticket. A set of player objects is identified by incorporating at least one interactive game to be played by the player for the lottery ticket, wherein the set of player objects is identified based on skill of the player to play the interactive game. A set of winning objects can be disclosed to the player for the lottery ticket through the interactive game. The set of winning objects can be disclosed based on the set of player objects, the decided winning of the player for the lottery ticket, and winning criteria. The decided winning can be disclosed to the player based on the set of player objects, the set of winning objects, and the winning criteria.
US08715043B2

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by at least one closure means. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube having a first end, a second end and a central axis, the first end of the filing tube is directed in the feeding direction and the second end can pivotally be coupled to a filler device. The clipping machine further comprises a coverage device for covering a gap between the first end of the filling tube and a casing brake assembly including brake means for applying tension to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing when being filled, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device having a clipping tool assembly.
US08715041B2

A sharpening tool includes a main base (10) having a mounting seat (12) provided with a first receiving recess (121) and a second receiving recess (122), two first grinding blades (13) mounted in the first receiving recess, an attachment device (11) mounted on the main base, a grinding unit (20) mounted on the mounting seat, and a cover (30) mounted on the mounting seat. The grinding unit includes a second grinding blade (21) mounted in the second receiving recess and having a grinding face (211), and a catch plate (23) mounted on the second receiving recess and having an abutting portion (231) facing the grinding face of the second grinding blade. The first grinding blades provide a double-side grinding function, and the second grinding blade provides a one-side grinding function.
US08715033B2

An animatronic eye with fluid suspension, electromagnetic drive, and video capability. The eye assembly includes a spherical, hollow outer shell that contains a suspension liquid. An inner sphere is positioned in the outer shell in the suspension liquid to be centrally floated at a distance away from the shell wall. The inner sphere includes painted portions providing a sclera and iris and includes an unpainted rear portion and front portion or pupil. The shell, liquid, and inner sphere are have matching indices of refraction such that interfaces between the components are not readily observed. A camera is provided adjacent a rear portion of the outer shell to receive light passing through the shell, liquid, and inner sphere. A drive assembly is provided including permanent magnets on the inner sphere that are driven by electromagnetic coils on the outer shell to provide frictionless yaw and pitch movements simulating eye movements.
US08715029B2

This invention generally relates to a set of parallelepipedal bodies (generally, cubes) capable of matingly compatible engagement for interconnection with substantially similar cubes. When a number of cubes are assembled into a cubic array, there can be slab movement, row movement or solo cube movement. Each cube is constructed from six plates with an interior physical configuration adapted for connective assembly and the strategic placement of electrostatic or electromagnetic motors or motor halves therein.
US08715019B2

An electrical connection device comprises a first connector and a second connector which are mated with each other. The first connector comprises a first insulative housing and a first terminal group. Two terminals of the first terminal group are first protruding terminals, and one other terminal of the first terminal group is a first non-protruding terminal. The second connector comprises a second insulative housing and a second terminal group. At least one terminal of the second terminal group is second protruding terminal and two other terminals of the second terminal group are second non-protruding terminals so that the number of the second protruding terminal is less than the number of the first protruding terminals. The second protruding terminal mates with one of the first protruding terminals and one of the first protruding terminals mates with a second non-protruding terminal.
US08715009B2

An edge connector for transmitting signals at a high frequency, for example in a system environment with a frequency higher than 2.0 GHz or 3.0 GHz, is provided. The connector includes a housing and at least a first and a second conductors disposed in the housing. Each conductor has a contact portion and a terminal portion, and each contact portion form a contact surface. The at least first and second conductors are disposed in the housing in such a manner that, both the contact surfaces face a first direction, the terminal portion of the first conductor is offset from the contact portion of the first conductor along the first direction, and the terminal portion of the second conductor is offset from the contact portion of the second conductor along a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
US08714992B2

A receptacle connector having a base part, which has at least one insulation displacement contact for making electrical contact with an electrical conductor, and having a top part, which has at least one conductor infeed opening for in each case one electrical conductor with which contact is to be made, and at least one contact accommodation opening, which in each case opens out into an associated conductor infeed opening, for accommodating an insulation displacement contact of the base part when the top part is fitted onto the base part. The receptacle connector is designed for fitting into a housing. For this purpose, the base part and/or the top part have sealing lips with a contour which is matched to an associated housing wall in order to fit the base part and/or the top part into a housing wall in a sealed manner.
US08714988B1

A connector has a housing with an aperture formed therein having one portion larger than the other portion. The housing is mounted on the device under test with the housing positioned over a plurality of electrical contacts. An electrical load is positioned within the larger aperture of the housing and has a plurality of resistors disposed adjacent to an electrical contact assembly. A resilient member is positioned between the electrical load and the device under test such that a force directed on the electrical load compresses the resilient member to allow contact between a plurality of electrical contacts of the electrical contact assembly and the plurality of the electrical contacts on the device under test. Removing the force decompresses the resilient member and disconnects the plurality of contacts of the electrical contact assembly from the plurality of electrical contacts of the device under test.
US08714975B2

A method for preparing a surgical guide for positioning of a dental implementation. The method includes positioning a positioning device relative to a model jawbone, translating the positioning device in a BL direction, adjusting a BL angle of the positioning device about a BL pivot axis corresponding to a desired position of a top of the dental implementation, and fixing the BL position, BL angle, and z-height of the positioning device. A mounting assembly mounts to the positioning device and includes a removable rotation block with a guide hole. The mounting assembly is movable in the MD direction while the BL position is fixed. A template fixes the mounting assembly for transferring the positioning information to a patient's mouth. Various aspects of the design process can be performed on a computer. The guide and a method of using the guide to perform an implant procedure are also disclosed.
US08714974B2

A module for attaching an orthodontic bite corrector to an orthodontic buccal tube appliance includes two segments, and each segment includes a rotation stop for limiting undesired rotational movement of bite corrector during movement of the patient's jaws. The segments are movable relative to each other during installation of the attachment module for facilitating placement of the rotation stops in regions next to the buccal tube appliance that might otherwise be difficult to access.
US08714969B2

The invention relates to a fuel combustion method in which one jet of fuel and at least two jets of oxidant are injected. According to the invention, the first jet of oxidant, known as the primary oxidant jet, is injected such as to be in contact with the jet of fuel and to produce a first incomplete combustion, the gases produced by said first combustion comprising at least one part of the fuel, and the second jet of oxidant is injected at a distance from the jet of fuel such as to combust with the part of the fuel present in the gases produced by the first combustion. Moreover, the primary oxidant jet is divided into two primary jets, namely: a first primary oxidant jet, known as the central jet, which is injected at the centre of the jet of fuel; and a second primary oxidant jet, knows as the sheathing jet, which is injected coaxially around the fuel jet.
US08714966B2

The apparatus (1) for the injection molding of containers in plastic material comprises a mold (2) having a female matrix die (3) and a corresponding male element (4) that can be coupled to one another, between the female matrix die (3) and the male element (4) being defined a forming inter-space (5) of at least a container, and at least a centering stem (10) for centering the male element (4) with respect to the female matrix die (3), which comprises a first extremity (12) having a locator surface (12a) for the male element (4), is sliding along a sliding direction (D) substantially transversal with respect to the male element (4) inside a corresponding centering hole (11) obtained in the female matrix die (3), and is mobile with reciprocating motion between a backward configuration, in which the locator surface (12a) is substantially arranged in correspondence to the inner surface of the female matrix die (3), and a forward configuration, in which the locator surface (12a) is up fast on the male element (4), the first extremity (12) of the centering stem (10) having a cross section substantially decreasing towards the locator surface (12a).
US08714965B2

An injection nozzle that can be used in an injection blow molding system without use of an external heat source comprises a two-piece structure broadly including a structural outer body for coupling the nozzle to a resin manifold and a thermally conductive insert. At least a portion of an axial length of the insert has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of a coinciding coaxial portion of the outer body, such that the differences in the inner and outer diameters present an insulating air gap along at least a portion of the nozzle length. A sufficient operating temperature for hot melt resin can then be obtained without use of the external heat source.
US08714956B2

Universal mold frames for producing multi-piece golf balls are provided. The mold frames include lower and upper frame plates having locator pins that are inserted into corresponding locator slots in the mold cavities. The eccentric pin layout of the frame plates and corresponding slots in the cavities means the cavities can be fitted easily and aligned in the frame plates. The interior surfaces of the mold cavities define a specific dimple pattern such as icosahedron or tetrahedron-based patterns. The mold frames can accommodate cavities having different dimple patterns. A castable liquid polymer, for example, polyurethane is dispensed into the mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form the spherical cover for the ball.
US08714943B2

A mounting and damping system for a compressor including a mounting lug removably coupled to at least a portion of a housing of the compressor and a damping member disposed therebetween. The mounting lug and the damping member include at least one aperture formed therein to receive a bushing therethrough, wherein an outer diameter of the bushing is substantially smaller than a diameter of the aperture formed in the mounting lug to militate against contact therebetween.
US08714937B2

A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The nozzle defines, and extends about, an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle also includes a heater for heating the air flow upstream of the mouth.
US08714932B2

A method of making a ceramic matrix composite blade includes laying up at least one ply of the plurality of fibrous ceramic plies in a preselected arrangement to form an airfoil and dovetail preform, laying up at least one additional ply of the plurality of fibrous ceramic plies on the airfoil and dovetail preform in a second preselected arrangement to form an integral platform as part of the non-rigidized blade preform, rigidizing the blade preform to form a rigidized blade preform, and densifying the rigidized blade preform to form a ceramic matrix composite blade having an integral platform structure. A tool for making the ceramic matrix composite blade and a ceramic matrix composite blade are also disclosed.
US08714931B2

The present application provides a turbine bucket including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The airfoil profile sections at Z distances may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08714926B2

A mesh (35) of cooling channels (35A, 35B) with an array of cooling channel intersections (42) in a wall (21, 22) of a turbine component. A mixing chamber (42A-C) at each intersection is wider (W1, W2)) than a width (W) of each of the cooling channels connected to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber promotes swirl, and slows the coolant for more efficient and uniform cooling. A series of cooling meshes (M1, M2) may be separated by mixing manifolds (44), which may have film cooling holes (46) and/or coolant refresher holes (48).
US08714906B2

A turbine engine includes a turbine, a compressor for compressing air and a combustor for receiving the compressed air through an inlet passage and operable to burn fuel therewith to deliver hot exhaust gas to the turbine. Also included is a wheel space defined proximate to the combustor. Further included is a cooling air passage extending between the compressor and the wheel space. Yet further included is a valve assembly having a valve member disposed in the cooling air passage and operable to admit a cooling air to the wheel space in response to a condition therein.
US08714905B2

A pressure-balancing device for balancing pressure in at least one bearing enclosure of a turbojet, the enclosure including a mechanism feeding the bearing with lubricating liquid, an air intake, at least one sealing system placed between the stator and the rotor in front of and/or behind the bearing, a recovery mechanism recovering the lubricating liquid, and a removal mechanism removing the mixture of air and of traces of lubricating liquid towards a venting circuit. Downstream from the bearing enclosure and in the venting circuit, the balancing device includes a regulator system regulating the air removal flow rate, thereby enabling the flow rate to be variable as a function of the speed of the engine, to remain non-zero, and, at high speeds, to be lower than when the regulator system is not included.
US08714902B2

A system and method for unwrapping round modules is disclosed. Specifically, a method for unwrapping a round module is disclosed. The method comprises supporting a round module wrapped in a module wrapper on a tilting module feeder having a tilting module feeder first side and a tilting module feeder second side, cutting the module wrapper substantially horizontally from a round module first side to a round module second side, and applying tension to a module wrapper top flap.
US08714879B1

A method of forming a field joint for a subsea pipeline includes the steps of positioning an end of a first pipe adjacent to an end of a second pipe, welding the end of the first pipe to an end of the second pipe, and applying a coating material over an exterior surface of the first pipe, over the welding, and over an exterior surface of second pipe such that the coating material is in sealing relationship therewith. The coating material has air-filled glass spheres therein. A mold is placed over the adjacent pipe sections and the coating material is injected under pressure into the mold.
US08714861B2

A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.
US08714857B1

A leak-proof container for a liquid cosmetic product is provided with a cap assembly including a cap and a spring activated retaining ring moveably secured to the cap; a dispensing assembly including a flexible dome, a hollow seat, and an applicator retained in the dome wherein the seat is partially disposed in the dome and includes a hollow shank, and a sealing member put on an upper portion of the seat to block any leaking paths through a joining surface of the dome and the seat wherein a bottom of the seat is seated on an intermediate, annular protruding member on an inner surface of the dome in a friction fit; and a reservoir assembly including a shell and a liquid reservoir including a top bossed opening, the reservoir disposed in the shell and the shank lockingly inserted into the bossed opening.
US08714856B2

Provided are a ballpoint pen tip which can, even if ink having properties which assures that the amount of supply of the ink to the pen tip by shear of a writing ball is sufficient is adopted, prevent partially faint written traces from occurring and provide smooth writing, a ballpoint pen refill, a ballpoint pen, and a method of manufacturing a ballpoint pen tip. A triangular pyramid-shaped recess (42) gradually tapered toward an ink guide hole (36) is provided in the bottom of a ball housing (31), and troughs (44) formed in the recess (42) are utilized as ink reservoirs and ink paths. Because the troughs (44) have sufficient length, width, and depth, the amount of containment of the ink and the amount of supply of the ink are increased. Also, even if ink which is supplied to the pen point mainly by shear of a writing ball (2A) is adopted, the supply of the ink to the pen point is not interrupted, the occurrence of partially faint written traces of ink is sufficiently prevented, and friction between the writing ball and a ball receiving seat surface can be reduced.
US08714835B2

A re-terminable, no-crimp ST-type optical connector assembly includes a spring-loaded ferrule holder assembly and a reusable activation system for termination of the assembly. The optical connector can be terminated by a suitable cam activation tool. The connector includes a housing, such as a bayonet, matable to a mating adapter, a backbone retained within a rear of the housing, a ferrule holder provided within the backbone, and a cam provided between the ferrule holder and the backbone. The ferrule holder includes an alignment key exposed to mate with a cam activation tool to lock rotation of the ferrule holder relative to other connector components. The cam includes a cam activation cutout at a front face thereof that mates with a cam activation tool interface to enable rotation of the cam between de-activated and activated positions, the cam activation cutout also receiving the alignment key of the ferrule holder therethrough.
US08714834B2

An optical coupler is used to transmit optical data across a temporary connection. A housing is configured with a transparent interface window and positioned in front of a receiving optical coupler so that optical signals pass through the transparent interface window for reception by receiving optical coupler. The receiving optical coupler has a capability of accepting alignment errors caused by aligning the housing with a mating housing in an aquatic environment. Alignment is achieved via an alignment mechanism that mechanical positions the mating optical coupling components with sufficient alignment accuracy to permit the optical coupler to receive and transmit signals.
US08714833B2

A radial cage in which roll forming is carried out in such a manner that straight side sections of all axial crossbars continue to have at least approximately a material thickness of a starting material for the radial cage, while side rings of the radial cage and axial center sections of the axial crossbars are implemented by rolling down during roll forming to each have material thicknesses that are smaller than the material thickness of the straight side sections and that reduce their centrifugal mass.
US08714827B2

A bearing assembly for a transmission, which is capable of avoiding an ingress of foreign matter, reducing seal torque and reducing shear resistance between a retainer and balls, includes a recessed portion in an inner face of a pocket of the retainer, in which the surface area of contact with a ball is smaller than the surface area of contact when no recessed portion is provided. A sealing member is a contact seal and material of a tip portion of a sealing lip region is highly wearable material which, when the bearing assembly is rotated, wears to define a non-contact or the like. A grease contains a base oil and a thickening agent and the base oil is a mineral oil alone or a mixed oil of mineral oil and poly-α-olefin oil and has base oil kinetic viscosity not higher than 100 mm2/s at 40° C.
US08714822B2

An opening/closing mechanism enabling a first housing and a second housing to open to a so-called fully flat state includes a fixed plate that is fixed to a first housing, a moving plate that is fixed to a second housing, an intermediate member that is slidably coupled to the fixed plate by way of a first slide mechanism, a slide member that is slidably coupled to the intermediate member by way of a second slide mechanism, and a raising/lowering mechanism that raises/lowers the moving plate relative to the slide member.
US08714821B2

A cutting tape includes a leading portion, a first base, a second base and a seal layer. The leading portion is welded on a sealant layer with the seal layer interposed therebetween. The first base and the second base, which are laminated on the leading portion, respectively include thin laminated portions and body portions to be welded on the sealant layer. The laminated portions are welded on the leading portion. The body portions respectively have a substantially trapezoidal cross section projecting toward the sealant layer and having an inclined surface adjacent to the leading portion.
US08714817B2

A radiation imaging apparatus includes a grid holding unit including a grid for preventing scattering of X-rays, an imaging unit configured to capture an X-ray image, and a handle unit including a gripping handle. One of the grid holding unit, the imaging unit, and the handle unit includes a first detaching regulation unit configured to combine the grid holding unit and the imaging unit, a second detaching regulation unit configured to combine the imaging unit and the handle unit, a third detaching regulation unit configured to combine the grid holding unit and the handle unit, and an unlocking mechanism.
US08714808B2

A container for mixing two liquids and the like includes: a container; a pouring cylinder that is provided extending upwards on a top portion of the container; an upward facing step portion that is formed on the container so as to be positioned below the pouring cylinder; a cap whose inner circumferential surface is screwed onto an outer circumferential surface of the pouring cylinder; a small container that is placed on an inner side of the cap; a cuttable first sheet that forms a bottom surface of the small container; a removable cylinder that is provided at a bottom end of the cap and is interposed between the cap and the upward facing step portion, and that is removed from the cap prior to the cap being screwed down onto the pouring cylinder; and a first cutter that is provided on the container so as to face a bottom surface of the small container that is placed on the inner side of the cap, wherein the small container is made to approach the first container as a result of the cap being screwed down onto the pouring cylinder, and the first sheet is then cut by the first cutter.
US08714801B2

An input device with multiple layers of luminous patterns is provided. The input device includes an input interface, a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a light guide plate. The light guide plate includes an upper light-guiding layer, a lower light-guiding layer, and a gap. The upper light-guiding layer and the lower light-guiding layer are separated from each other by the gap. The light guide plate has multiple layers of luminous patterns, which are selectively visible. Consequently, the overall thickness of the input device is reduced.
US08714799B2

A projection assembly is arranged to be added onto or built into at least one LED-unit or other light-unit of an illuminated object that has more than one LED or other light source to cause the object to be illuminated and show the object's design or appearance while also offering illumination to people. The illuminated object may include all kinds of seasonal lighting, regular light fixtures, track lights, desktop lights, and battery operated lights having more than one light-unit or LED-unit.
US08714798B2

An illumination module includes a light bar, an LED assembly, a positioning member, a sleeve and a lamp receptacle. The light bar has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A microstructure layer or a reflective layer is formed on the light bar, and a positioning pillar is formed on an outer side of the light bar. The emitting light of the LED assembly is diffused by the microstructure layer or reflected by the reflective layer to spread over the entire light bar. The positioning member, the sleeve, the LED assembly or the lamp receptacle has at least one guide slot that engages with the positioning pillar of the light bar.
US08714780B2

Display devices with a grooved luminance enhancement film on its viewing side and at least an auxiliary layer and/or edge sealing. The luminance enhancement film comprises columns and grooves in alternating order and each of the grooves has a cross-section comprising an apex angle and two edge lines.
US08714775B2

Light fixtures, lighting methods, and devices for mounting ornaments are provided. The light fixtures and methods overcome the limitations of the prior art by permitting electrical power transmission to the light sources, such as, LEDs, through the light fixture suspension elements. The light fixtures include a first ring suspended by a plurality of first cords; and a second ring suspended by a plurality of second cords from the first ring; wherein at least one of the first ring and the second ring comprises a plurality of light sources; and wherein at least one of the plurality of first cords and at least one of the plurality of the second cords are adapted to transmit electrical power to the plurality of light sources. Methods of mounting light sources and ornament mounting arrangements are also disclosed.
US08714769B2

A light system is provided. It includes a lamp in a light assembly. The light assembly is pivotally mounted to a mount device by a pivot assembly. The light assembly may be pivoted about two different axes of rotation to direct the light at an area of interest. With the light system mounted on a person, movement by the person can redirect the light beam as desired.
US08714763B2

The present invention aims at providing a lighting device configured to suppress uneven brightness, and a display device or a television receiver which includes the lighting device. The lighting device of the present invention includes a plurality of LEDs 16, an LED board 17S, a chassis 14, a connecting component 60, and a reflection sheet 21. The LEDs 16 are mounted on the LED board 175. Both of the LED boards 17S and 17C are attached to the chassis 14. The connecting component 60 electrically connect the LED boards 17S and 17C to each other. The reflection sheet 21 is overlaid on light source mounted surfaces 17A. In the lighting device, the connecting component 60 is arranged on a connecting component attached surface 17B of the LED board 17S. The connecting component attached surface 17B is opposite to the surface on which the reflection sheet 21 is overlaid.
US08714761B2

A glass carrier plate that includes a front side, a back side and a circumferential edge zone. A mirror plate with a mirror plate front side, a mirror plate back side and a circumferential edge, wherein the mirror plate back side is attached by means of an adhesive layer on the front side of the glass carrier plate. Holding bars extend from the circumferential edge zone of the front side of the glass carrier plate. The holding bars are distributed over the circumferential edge zone and the circumferential edge of the mirror plate engages the holding bars so that the mirror plate is spaced from and positioned over the front side of the glass carrier plate.
US08714756B2

A holder to hold a projector includes a support. One side of the projector is capable of being attracted by a magnet. The support includes a base board and a supporting board connected to the base board. The base board is to be supported by a supporting surface. The support further includes a first magnet fixed on the supporting board to attract the side of the projector, for adjustably and magnetically supporting the projector on the supporting board.
US08714749B2

A projection display device having a projection device projecting an image on a surface, and a position detection function of detecting an object's position between the surface and the projection device, includes: a light source emitting light beams toward the object; a light detector detecting the light beams reflected by the object; and a position detector detecting the object's position in an imaginary plane based on the light detector's result, wherein the light source emits, as the light beams, first through third light beams having first through third intensity distributions, the second intensity distribution having a highest intensity at a position failing to overlap a highest intensity of the first intensity distribution, and the third intensity distribution having a highest intensity portion at a position failing to overlap a straight line connecting the highest intensity portions of the first and second intensity distributions.
US08714737B2

The present disclosure is drawn to a coated print medium, a method of preparing a print medium, and a printing system. The coated print medium includes a substrate and a coating applied to the substrate at coat weight from 1 gsm to 6 gsm. The coating include, by solids, 20 wt % to 90 wt % of non-film forming polymer particulates having a particle size from 50 nm to 300 nm and a glass transition temperature greater than 85.degree. C.; 1 wt % to 25 wt % water soluble polymer binder; 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % fixing agent; and 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % slip aid.
US08714735B2

A recording apparatus includes: a platen in which first suction holes passing through from a medium support surface to a rear surface are formed; first pressure chambers provided to communicate with the first suction holes; a second pressure chamber disposed on the side opposite to the platen and communicating with the first pressure chambers; a wall section which is disposed between the first pressure chambers and the second pressure chamber and in which second suction holes each making the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other are formed; a suction mechanism which suctions rolled paper on the medium support surface through the first and second suction holes; and a slide plate movable in a parallel fashion along the wall section and provided with blocking portions having different lengths in a direction of parallel movement and capable of blocking the second suction holes.
US08714728B2

An inkjet recording method comprising a jetting step using a paper sheet, wherein a decay rate of ultrasonic transmittance through the paper sheet after five seconds with respect to ultrasonic transmittance through the paper sheet immediately after immersion of the paper sheet in pure water is from 4% to 26%, and jetting aqueous ultraviolet-curable ink onto a front surface of the paper sheet with an inkjet recording head; a conveyance step of conveying the paper sheet to an exposure section such that an amount of time from the jetting step until exposing the aqueous ultraviolet-curable ink on the paper sheet to ultraviolet light is from 1 second to 8 seconds; and an exposure step of exposing the aqueous ultraviolet-curable ink on the paper sheet to ultraviolet light to thereby cure the aqueous ultraviolet-curable ink.
US08714727B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a support portion including a support surface that supports a target; a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid onto the target supported by the support surface, from a position opposed to the support surface; a housing portion that includes the support portion in a wall portion opposed to the liquid ejecting head and that is formed in a location so that an air suction port that takes in air from the exterior is further from the liquid ejecting head than the support surface in a direction that is orthogonal to the support surface; and an air exhaust unit that exhausts air from the interior of the housing portion.
US08714726B2

A printing apparatus includes a nozzle that ejects, to a medium, photo-curing ink cured when irradiated with light, and an irradiation unit that irradiates, with the light, the photo-curing ink landed on the medium. Here, when printing an image on the medium by coating with the photo-curing ink, the photo-curing ink is ejected from the nozzle so that unevenness is formed in an original edge of the image by having a pixel that forms a dot along the edge and a pixel that does not form the dot appeared, and the photo-curing ink is cured by irradiating the image with the light from the irradiation unit.
US08714725B2

A thin wall ink image receiving member enables the ink image receiving member to reach operational temperatures from a cold state more quickly than image receiving members used in previously known printers. The thin wall image receiving member includes at least one annular support member fixedly mounted against the inner surface of the cylindrical wall to enable the image receiving member to provide adequate pressure in a nip formed with a transfix roller to transfer an ink image from the image receiving member to media in the nip.
US08714717B2

An agitating device includes: a movement portion which is provided in a liquid accommodation portion that has an accommodation chamber accommodating a liquid containing a functional material and a deformation portion that is deformed so as to change a volume of the accommodation chamber, and is moved along with deformation of the deformation portion; and an agitating portion which agitates the liquid in the accommodation chamber along with movement of the movement portion.
US08714716B2

The present subject matter relates to a method and system for pulsed air-actuated micro-droplet on demand jetting, especially for jetting high viscosity liquids. A needle extends from a liquid chamber and terminates in a drop-forming orifice outlet from which micro-droplets are generated. At least two air jets direct a timed pulse of air at the drop-forming orifice outlet of the needle. The pulsed air is synchronized with the formation of a desired volume of liquid at the orifice outlet to extract and propel a micro-droplet at high velocity to a substrate. The air jets are turned on prior to the forming of the desired volume at the orifice outlet of the needle, and turned off after the micro-droplet had been produced.
US08714713B2

A piezoelectric element comprises a silicon oxide layer, an intermediate layer provided above the silicon oxide layer, a first electrode provided above the intermediate layer, a piezoelectric layer provided above the intermediate layer, and a second electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is configured of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure and containing at least bismuth and iron. The intermediate layer contains magnesium oxide and/or aluminum oxide.
US08714710B2

Thermal inkjet print head, comprising a fluid feed channel for delivering fluid, fluid chambers arranged near the fluid feed channel for receiving fluid from the fluid feed channel, resistors for actuating the fluid in the chambers, arranged in a staggered pattern with respect to a fluid feed channel wall, and a cantilever extending over the fluid feed channel wall, having a staggered edge that follows the staggered pattern of the resistors.
US08714703B2

Apparatus, articles of manufacture, and image forming apparatus for capturing aerosols are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a corona wire, and an excitation source to provide to the corona wire a composite signal having a direct current component and an alternating current component, the alternating current component having a cycle, a first portion of the cycle being sufficient to cause the composite signal to exceed an inception voltage at which ions are generated by the corona wire and a second portion to cause the composite signal to fall beneath the inception voltage, the excitation source to avoid causing the corona wire to substantially charge a substrate.
US08714702B2

An ink jet printhead maintenance system, which can be part of an ink jet printer, for removing ink residue from a printhead faceplate. The printhead maintenance system can include a supply of liquid which can be applied to the ink residue on the printhead faceplate using various techniques, such as those described. The liquid can include a monomer and/or an oligomer. The wet clean system described can be more effective in removing ink residue which can result from certain inks, such as ultraviolet curable gel inks, than previous printhead maintenance techniques.
US08714691B2

A printing system includes a print media and one or more non-objectionable test patterns formed or printed on the print media. An integrated imaging system captures images of the one or more non-objectionable test patterns. The integrated imaging system includes a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from a moving print media, a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance, and an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures one or more images of the one or more non-objectionable test patterns. A processing device can process the one or more images to determine if one or more size variations have occurred in the print media.
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