US08803825B2
A method of filtering a touch screen input is disclosed that includes the steps of detecting a position of a first touch on a touch screen, determining a validation area that includes the position of the first touch, detecting a position for each of one or more second touches on the touch screen, and providing a touch event signal if the positions of all of the second touches are within the validation area.
US08803824B2
Methods and systems for enabling a tablet input object is described. A tablet input object can take various inputs from touch, a mouse, and a pen and send their information to an application.
US08803823B2
The present invention relates to touch detection technology and provides a capacitive touch sensor which comprises a driving electrode layer and a sensing electrode layer. An insulating isolation layer is disposed between the sensing electrode layer and the driving electrode layer. A touch panel is disposed over the sensing electrode layer, and the sensing electrode layer has hollowed-out sensing electrodes. The present invention provides a new sensor structure in which the sensing electrode layer (such diamond, rectangular, round etc.) is hollowed-out to improve sensitivity of touch detection and the signal to noise ratio (SNR).
US08803812B2
A method is for input of text symbols into an electronic device having a reduced keyboard. The reduced keyboard has keys representing a plurality of characters. The method includes receiving character inputs from the reduced keyboard and identifying symbol variants based on the received character inputs. A list of symbol variants is displayed. An input symbol from the list of symbol variants is selected, wherein the input symbol is a Korean Hangul syllable. At least one Chinese Hanzi syllable is designated, to correspond to at least one Korean Hangul syllable. The Korean Hangul syllable is replaced with a Chinese Hanzi syllable.
US08803811B2
An operational terminal device may include a control unit to control display on a display screen of at least one operation button to control a display control device, based on button information associated with the operation button and received from the display control device.
US08803809B2
The invention provides an optical touch device, including a main body, a keyboard and a light emitting member. The keyboard, placed on the main body and having a first end portion and a second end portion, includes a supporting frame, a keycap and a stopping member. The keycap is connected to the supporting frame and moves between a first position and a second position. The stopping member is connected to the keycap and moves simultaneously with the keycap. The light emitting member generates a light beam to the keyboard. When the keycap is in the first position, the light beam passes through the first end portion to the second end portion, and when the keycap is in the second position, the light beam is terminated by the stopping member, such that the light does not reach the second end portion.
US08803806B2
A portable information handling system, user interface components thereof, and methods of user control interface and assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment a keyboard assembly, including a large plurality of contacts for a keyboard matrix, connects directly to a palmrest assembly. The palmrest assembly includes a keyboard controller, which decodes keystrokes and then passes the decoded keystrokes to, e.g., an I/O controller on the motherboard of the portable information handling system. This arrangement can greatly improve layout and usage of the motherboard routing spaces, can improve reliability, and can simplify assembly, among other advantages.
US08803801B2
A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system (20) and a method (100) of operating the system (20) are presented. The system (20) incorporates a three-dimensional time-of-flight sensor (22), a three-dimensional autostereoscopic display (24), and a computer (26) coupled to the sensor (22) and the display (24). The sensor (22) detects a user object (40) within a three-dimensional sensor space (28). The display (24) displays an image (42) within a three-dimensional display space (32). The computer (26) maps a position of the user object (40) within an interactive volumetric field (36) mutually within the sensor space (28) and the display space (32), and determines when the positions of the user object (40) and the image (42) are substantially coincident. Upon detection of coincidence, the computer (26) executes a function programmed for the image (42).
US08803800B2
Embodiments distinguish among user interface elements based on head orientation. Coordinates representing a set of at least three reference points in an image of a subject gazing on the user interface elements are received by a computing device. The set includes a first reference point and a second reference point located on opposite sides of a third reference point. A first distance between the first reference point and the third reference point is determined. A second distance between the second reference point and the third reference point is determined. The computing device compares the first distance to the second distance to calculate a head orientation value. The computing device selects at least one of the user interface elements based on the head orientation value. In some embodiments, the head orientation value enables the user to navigate a user interface menu or control a character in a game.
US08803796B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and system for providing haptic feedback in a user interface. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a manipulandum, a resistive actuator, and a biasing element disposed between the manipulandum and the resistive actuator. Further, the biasing element is coupled to one of the manipulandum or the resistive actuator and releasably coupled to the housing, the manipulandum or the resistive actuator.
US08803795B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of using haptic effects to relate location information includes: receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device (100); determining the position of the handheld communication device (100) relative to a predetermined location; and providing a haptic effect associated with a distance between the position of the handheld communication device (100) and the predetermined location. In another embodiment, a handheld communication device (100) can be used as a two-way haptic remote control.
US08803790B2
Disclosed herein is a system for controlling the interactions of light between adjacent subsections of a dynamic LED backlight. Preferred embodiments contain a dividing wall positioned between each adjacent subsection of the LED backlight. The dividing wall may be in contact with the LED backlight and extend away from the LED backlight. The dividing wall may prohibit light from a first subsection from entering an adjacent second subsection at its full luminance. The luminance for each adjacent subsection may be approximately half of the full luminance of each subsection, when measured at the location of the dividing wall.
US08803789B2
A display comprises a front-end component having light shutters and a plurality of backlight devices, wherein the display operates in a full screen video display mode and partial screen energy-saving auxiliary mode. In the full screen video display mode, the backlight devices are activated and in the partial screen energy-saving auxiliary mode, at least one backlight device is not activated. In the auxiliary mode, the light shutters can control luminance or the light shutters along with attenuating the backlight device control luminance. In the auxiliary mode, the backlight devices are driven via enabled inputs, a digital bus system, or an analog control signal.
US08803786B2
This invention relates to a backlight unit that is adaptive for reducing light loss caused by an intermediate light guide panel and reducing sag of the intermediate light guide panel. A backlight unit may include a bottom cover where a reflection plate is formed, a plurality of light emitting diodes installed inside the bottom cover, a plurality of intermediate light guide panels installed on the light emitting diodes and separated from each other, a diffusion plate for diffusing the light from the intermediate light guide panels and the reflection plate, and a plurality of optical sheets placed on the diffusion plate.
US08803782B2
A bidirectional shift register outputs pulses from a plurality of cascaded unit register circuits in a shift order which is one of a forward direction and a reverse direction. A λth stage of unit register circuit (38) has two set terminals connected to respective outputs of (λ−1)th and (λ+1)th stages and two reset terminals connected to respective outputs of (λ+2)th and (λ−2)th stages. The unit register circuit (38) sets, when a pulse is input to any one of the set terminals, a reference point N1 to an H level, and, when a pulse is input to any one of the reset terminals, N1 to an L level. The order of phase change of clock signals is reversed according to the direction of a shift, and whether a start trigger signal is applied to a top stage or a bottom stage is switched.
US08803775B2
A motion image data sequence, a method for generating the sequence, and a display device using the sequence are provided. The display device includes an image data input device and an image data processor. The image data input device transmits an initial image data to the image data processor. The image data processor inserts a mask frame between a first timing image frame and a third timing image frame to generate an output image data sequence. The mask frame includes a plurality of mask units and a plurality of image units. The mask units and the image units are disposed in an array form.
US08803774B2
A liquid crystal display is provided, including a conversion circuit to convert a first image data to a second image data, a frame memory to store the second image data, a difference circuit to output in units of pixel a difference data between the second image data of the present frame to be converted and a third image data of an antecedent frame to be outputted from the frame memory, a correction circuit to correct the difference data based on one of the first to third image data, and an adding circuit to add the corrected difference data and the first image data.
US08803770B2
A pixel includes an OLED between first and second power supplies; a first transistor between the first power supply and the OLED, including a gate electrode connected to a first node; a second transistor between the first transistor and a data line, including a gate electrode connected to a current scanning line; a third transistor between the first transistor and the first node, including a gate electrode connected to the current scanning line; a fourth transistor between the first transistor and the OLED, including a gate electrode connected to a light emitting control line; a fifth transistor between the second or third power supply and the first node, including a gate electrode connected to a previous scanning line; a sixth transistor between the second or third power supply and the fourth transistor, including a gate electrode connected to the previous scanning line.
US08803763B2
An electro-optical device displays a right-eye image and a left-eye image for each display period. In each of the display periods, a driving circuit executes first synchronization selection driving where a first group where scanning lines are segmented into units of two is sequentially selected and a gradation potential is supplied to each of the signal lines according to a gradation in the odd rows, and executes second synchronization selection driving where a second group which is different to the first group is sequentially selected and a gradation potential is supplied to each of the signal lines according to a gradation in the even rows. A display control circuit which controls the driving circuit so that the gradation potential is supplied to each of the signal lines according to a specific gradation which corresponds to the first scanning lines of a display region.
US08803761B2
In the field of antenna reflectors with a deformable reflecting surface, an actuation system, with which such a reflector may be equipped wherein the reflector includes a chassis, a flexible membrane fixed to the chassis, comprises: a support fixed to the chassis, a set of deformation devices, each deformation device including a pusher element adapted to be driven in translation relative to the support along an axis, the pusher element including a part adapted to come into contact with the flexible membrane at a point to deform it, an actuation device adapted to drive the pusher element of one of the deformation devices in translation at the same time, and a selector device adapted to move the actuation device toward each of the deformation devices.
US08803760B2
An antenna device has a first antenna branch and a second antenna branch. Both the first and the second antenna branches have the shape of a non-closed conductor loop and are connected to each other to form a cohesive conductor loop. The respective loop ends are disposed parallel to each other at a distance directed perpendicular (z axis) to the course of the loop. The antenna device has two connections that are disposed in the center section of the cohesive conductor loop at a distance from each other.
US08803757B2
Various embodiments of a patch antenna, element thereof and method of feeding therefor are described. In general, the patch antenna is configured to generate orthogonal beams and comprises an array of patch elements each contributing to the orthogonal beams and comprising one or more resonators, a base reflector, and a dual feed mechanism. The dual feed mechanism generally comprises two pairs of feeding elements, each one of which comprising substantially balanced feeds configured to drive a respective one of the orthogonal beams via substantially anti-phase capacitive coupling.
US08803746B2
There is provided a portable device which includes a first housing, a housing member removable from the first housing, where the housing member includes an exposed portion, the exposed portion projecting from the first housing when the housing member is inserted in the first housing, a second housing coupled with the first housing so as to be allowed to be folded on the first housing, the second housing including a wall made of electrical insulating material, and an antenna disposed in the second housing and surrounded partially with the wall, a part of the antenna and the exposed portion facing each other via the wall when the first and second housings are folded on each other.
US08803743B2
A portable electronic device which can be changed between a first state and a second state includes an antenna that forms a loop in the first state and does not form the loop in the second state. A mobile telephone includes an operation unit-side casing, a display unit-side casing, a linking part which links the operation unit-side casing and the display unit-side casing; and a loop antenna. The loop antenna includes a first part disposed at the operation unit-side casing; a second part disposed at the display unit-side casing; a contacting part disposed at the operation unit-side casing; and a contacted part disposed at the display unit-side casing.
US08803741B2
Antennae are described. The antennae may be GPS antennae configured to receive GPS signals at both the L1 and L2 frequencies. The antennae may include patches and polarizers which allow the antennae to receive right-hand circularly polarized GPS signals from GPS satellites. In some situations, the polarizers may include a meta-material. The meta-material may in some situations include circuit components formed on a suitable substrate.
US08803738B2
A gradient index lens for electromagnetic radiation includes a dielectric substrate, a plurality of conducting patches supported by the dielectric substrate, the conducting patches preferably being generally square shaped and having an edge length, the edge length of the conducting patches varying with position on the dielectric substrate so as to provide a gradient index for the electromagnetic radiation. Examples include gradient index lenses for millimeter wave radiation, and use with antenna systems.
US08803729B2
In a multibeam radar sensor apparatus having at least two transmission/reception channels, whose signal paths each include an antenna and a mixer, at least one first mixer is configured bidirectionally as a transfer mixer, and at least one second mixer is switchable from a first into a second operating state; in the first operating state, the mixer is bidirectionally configured as a transfer mixer, and in the second operating state, the mixer being configured in an at least approximately isolating manner as a receiving mixer. In addition, in a method for determining a distance and/or a speed of a target, a radar signal is transmitted in a direction of the target and a reflected radar echo is received, for which at least two transmission/reception channels are used whose signal paths each include an antenna and a mixer; at least one mixture is switched over from a first into a second operating state, in order to use the mixer, in the first operating state, bidirectionally as a transfer mixture, and, in the second operating state, in an at least approximately isolating manner as a receiving mixer.
US08803722B2
Resistor-2 resistor (R-2R) digital-to-analog converter with partial resistor network reconfiguration
A resistor-2 resistor (R-2R) digital-to-analog converter with partial resistor network reconfiguration. A circuit includes a plurality of resistor stacks. The circuit also includes a plurality of separation resistors which separate each of the plurality of resistor stacks. The circuit further includes a first selection circuit connected to a first resistor stack of the plurality of resistor stacks and a plurality of selection circuits connected between the plurality of separation resistors. The circuit also includes a termination resistor stack connected to a drain of the first resistor stack.
US08803719B2
A sample and hold circuit and the method thereof are disclosed. The sample and hold circuit may be applied in voltage regulators or other circuits. The sample and hold circuit comprises: an input terminal configured to receive an input signal; an output terminal configured to provide an output signal; a control circuit configured to receive the input signal and the output signal, and wherein based on the input signal and the output signal, the control circuit generates a digital signal, and wherein the digital signal increases when the output signal is lower than the input signal, and maintains when the output signal is larger than or equal to the input signal; a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the digital signal to the output signal.
US08803718B2
A dynamic element matching (DEM) scheme is implemented in a crawling code generator for converting a b-bit binary input code into a (2b−1)-bit digital output code. A random generator determines for every conversion step a direction. A decimal difference between the current and previous binary input is calculated. The new crawling output code is determined based on the previous crawling output code, the direction and the decimal difference. The DEM scheme is used in a digital-to-analog converter such that the crawling output code switches digital-to-analog converting elements that output analog signals that are then summed to be the final analog signal.
US08803717B2
A modulation system and method for a converter system, preferable a Delta Sigma converter, is described. The system is operable to adjust the modulation performed depending on the specified format of the input and output signals for the converter. The feedback and feed forward pulsed may be adjusted depending on the requirements of the converter.
US08803716B1
A chip with a built-in self-test (BIST) component capable of testing the linearity of an ADC is described herein. The BIST component uses hardware registers to facilitate a sliding histogram technique to save space on the chip. A subset of detected digital codes are analyzed, and DNL and INL calculations are performed by a controller to determine whether any of the digital codes in the subset exceed maximum or minimum DNL and INL thresholds. New digital codes being detected by the ADC are added to the subset as lower-value digital codes are pushed out of the subset, maintaining the same number of digital codes being analyzed as the subset moves from lower codes detected during lower voltages to higher codes detected at higher voltages. A synchronizer and pointer ensure that the subset moves through the digital codes at the same rate as the analog input ramp source.
US08803713B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able to generate artificial variants in certain circumstances. Each artificial variant is compared with N-gram data on the handheld electronic device and is suppressed from being output if the artificial variant is determined to have a low probability of being the input intended by a user.
US08803707B2
A parking assistance system for a vehicle includes multiple on-board cameras (11, 12, 13, 14) each configured to capture an image of a surrounding area of the vehicle, overhead image generating means (21) for joining the captured multiple images and generating an overhead image viewed from above the vehicle, and display means (22) for displaying the generated overhead image and a steering wheel turning frame corresponding to a steering wheel turning position at which steering wheel turning is performed on the way of reverse movement of the vehicle to a predetermined target parking position.
US08803699B2
When the sight impaired become mobile, they often bump their heads on unseen objects and/or hazards that could result in injury. The object detection device uses signal emitting proximity sensors that alert the user to unseen objects. The object detection device notifies the user of detected objects. Stimulators contact the user to warn the user that an object has been detected and the distance between the object and the user. Each stimulator contacts the user at a specific contact point. The stimulator finger contacting the user at a specific contact point informs the user of the distance between the user and the detected object.
US08803697B2
A method, an apparatus and a computer program, where the method includes storing an association between a user notification and an event, detecting the event by an apparatus and detecting movement of an external object in a range outside the apparatus in response to the detected event. Furthermore, the method includes determining characteristics of the user notification based on the step of detecting movement.
US08803695B2
A system for identifying non-events comprising an event capture device and one or more processors in communication with the event capture device. The event capture device is associated with a vehicle that captures driving event data. The one or more processors is configured to receive the captured driving event data; classify the captured driving event data as a non-event or driving event by comparing the captured driving event data to a non-event profile; in the event that the captured driving event data is classified as a non-event, store an abbreviated record of the captured driving event data.
US08803693B2
Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention provide an alerting alarm system designed to keep drowsy or otherwise inattentive drivers safe while driving. The system comprises an electronic device which comprises an ON/OFF switch, a reset button, a power source; for example a battery housing; a cover, a sound producing member, and a speaker. In some implementations, the device may be permanently affixed within the passenger compartment of a car. In other implementations, the device may be detachably affixed within the passenger compartment of a car. In still further implementations, the device may be free standing, and placed wherever the user desires without being affixed to anything.
US08803687B2
A signal receiver unit for retail systems is provided. The signal receiver unit may include a receiver, a processor, and an output transmitter, and may be configured to receive and process an alarm signal and to transmit an output signal in response. The output signal may be configured to be received by an output receiving device such that store personnel may be alerted to a possible theft.
US08803684B2
A surveillance method and system is provided for receiving image data from a plurality of said cameras; storing the received image data identifying each camera from which the image data originated; enabling each of a plurality of camera users who own or operate respective cameras to assign a said camera owned or operated by the camera user to at least one said set of cameras and to authorize selected users of the system to access image data from said at least one set of cameras, wherein said users of the system can include camera users and/or users not owning or operating any cameras; storing camera set data identifying the assigned camera as belonging to said set of cameras; storing user data identifying the users authorized to access image data from said set of cameras; and outputting image data to users dependent upon said camera set data and said user data.
US08803683B2
A system for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in a storage tank includes a sensing device having a fluid level sensor, an accelerometer, a wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller for detecting the volume of liquid in the storage tank in response to determining that the storage tank is not moving and sending an alert message if the volume of liquid in the storage tank has changed from a previous volume by a threshold amount. The system also includes a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet, and a master control unit attached to the storage tank. The master control unit is for: receiving the alert message from the sensing device; obtaining the location of the storage tank; and communicating the alert message and the location of the storage tank to the central tracking computer for storage in the tracking database.
US08803682B2
In a system for protecting a user from injury sustained during sleep, a sensing device is operated to automatically monitor orientation or posture of a user during sleep of the user. A signal is transmitted from the sensing device to a control unit, which is operated to activate an appliance so that the appliance generates an alert signal upon detection by the sensing device and control unit of an undesirable orientation or posture of the user.
US08803677B1
An automobile carbon monoxide detector that is removably interconenctable with an automobile cigarette lighter socket, said detector operable thereat to detect and signal the presence of carbon monoxide within an automobile interior by means of a carbon monoxide sensor disposed in operational communication with a microprocesor, said microprocessor causing the illumination of a caution light when the sensor detects the presence of carbon monoxide, said microprocessor then signaling a buzzer to alert occupants of the vehicle that levels of carbon monoxide are approaching dangerous concentrations and that corrective action is emergently requried.
US08803676B2
A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle wherein the display apparatus includes at least two display units operable to display graphics and/or video, a wire connector connecting the at least two display units together, and a control system connected to the wire connector wherein the control system is operable to play video or graphics on the at least two display units. A method is provided to all the system to be universal for both audio and navigation systems wherein each system calls for a predetermined delay of the animation. The display units are in communication with one another providing for a coordinated or synchronized display of graphics. If, by way of example, a firework explodes on the main display screen, the remnants of that single firework will be exploded onto the secondary display screens.
US08803666B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for providing a universal access device. Providing a universal access device can include storing access data for each of a number RFID readers, wherein each of the RFID readers accepts a particular RFID protocol. Providing a universal access device can also include selecting a particular RFID protocol for one of the number of RFID readers while the universal access device is within an activation zone of the RFID reader. Furthermore, providing a universal access device can include providing the access data for the particular RFID reader via the particular RFID protocol.
US08803662B2
The present invention is directed to a method for remotely collecting metering information via a light emitting diode (LED) based street light. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting information from a utility meter coupled to a home, establishing a two-way communication path via a communication module to a central office, wherein the communication module is coupled to the LED based street light and sending the information from the utility meter to the central office via the two-way communication path.
US08803660B2
In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method to provide management of a plurality of electronic elements in a datacenter is disclosed. The system includes a datacenter management system coupled to a wireless network to receive information regarding a spatial location of a handheld device within the datacenter. The datacenter management system provides information to the handheld device related to each of the plurality of electronic elements. The datacenter management system includes a management processor to process information related to each of the plurality of electronic elements and a database to store information related to each of the plurality of electronic elements.
US08803654B2
A safety apparatus includes: a latch circuit which retains an inconsistent state record when input signals from a plurality of sensors are in an inconsistent state, and frees the inconsistent state record when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an OFF state; and an AND circuit which performs a sensor fault determination at timing when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an ON state, the sensor fault determination including determining that at least one of the plurality of sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains the inconsistent state record and determining that none of the plurality of the sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains no inconsistent state record.
US08803649B2
A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
US08803643B2
Systems and methods utilize a rotating magnetic field to drive a magnetically actuated device where the source of the rotating magnetic field is not constrained to a particular orientation with respect to the device. In one embodiment a rotating permanent magnet is utilized to actuate a magnetically actuated device where the magnet is not constrained to any position relative to the magnetically actuated device, such as the radial or axial position. Accordingly, the rotating permanent magnet may be directed in a manner to avoid collisions or other obstacles in a workspace while still effectively driving the magnetically actuated device.
US08803638B2
A microwave device having a narrow gap between two parallel surfaces of conducting material by using a texture or multilayer structure on one of the surfaces. The fields are mainly present inside the gap, and not in the texture or layer structure itself, so the losses are small. The microwave device further comprises one or more conducting elements, such as a metal ridge or a groove in one of the two surfaces, or a metal strip located in a multilayer structure between the two surfaces. The waves propagate along the conducting elements. At least one of the surfaces is provided with means to prohibit the waves from propagating in other directions between them than along the ridge, groove or strip. At very high frequency the gap waveguides and gap lines may be realized inside an IC package or inside the chip itself.
US08803637B1
Terahertz metamaterials comprise a periodic array of resonator elements disposed on a dielectric substrate or thin membrane, wherein the resonator elements have a structure that provides a tunable magnetic permeability or a tunable electric permittivity for incident electromagnetic radiation at a frequency greater than about 100 GHz and the periodic array has a lattice constant that is smaller than the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation. Microfabricated metamaterials exhibit lower losses and can be assembled into three-dimensional structures that enable full coupling of incident electromagnetic terahertz radiation in two or three orthogonal directions. Furthermore, polarization sensitive and insensitive metamaterials at terahertz frequencies can enable new devices and applications.
US08803632B2
A high-frequency circuit for use in a multiband wireless apparatus for switching the connection between an antenna and transmission/reception circuits depending on signals for pluralities of communications systems, comprising a single-pole, multi-throw switch circuit comprising FET switch circuits between a common port connected to an antenna-side circuit and pluralities of single ports connected to the transmission/reception circuits, and a first matching circuit connected to the common port; the first matching circuit comprising a first inductance element connected in series to a signal path between the antenna and the common port, and a first capacitance element connected to the first inductance element on the antenna side and grounded; the first inductance element making the impedance of the single-pole, multi-throw switch circuit inductive when the single port is viewed from the antenna side; and the first capacitance element adjusting impedance matching between the antenna-side circuit and the transmission/reception circuits.
US08803627B1
A Direct VCO (DCO) modulation apparatus and method that provides a wideband modulated signal output. The wideband response is obtained via signal processing to counteract a high-pass frequency characteristic as seen from the VCO modulation input. That is, low frequency components of data signals are compensated before being applied to a VCO input. The high-pass characteristic in combination with the compensated signal provides a relatively flat, wideband frequency response of the DCO modulator.
US08803626B2
A piezoelectric vibration reed includes a pair of vibrating arm portions arranged in parallel to each other and a base portion. The base portion is integrally coupled to proximal ends of the pair of the vibrating arm portions in a longitudinal direction that the vibrating arm portions extend. The base portion includes a connecting portion, a mount portion, and a narrow portion between the connecting portion and the mount portion. The base portion further includes a pair of notched portions notched respectively inwardly from both sides of the base portion in the width direction and ribs projecting outwardly in the width direction of the base portion and arranged in the interiors of the notched portions.
US08803622B1
Oscillator circuits include a MEMs resonator, a variable impedance circuit (e.g., varistor) and an adjustable gain amplifier. The variable impedance circuit includes a first terminal electrically coupled to a first terminal of the MEMs resonator and the adjustable gain amplifier is electrically coupled to the variable impedance circuit. The adjustable gain amplifier may have an input terminal electrically coupled to the variable impedance circuit and a second terminal of the MEMs resonator may receive, as feedback, a signal derived from an output of the adjustable gain amplifier. A Q-factor control circuit may be provided, which is configured to drive the variable impedance circuit and the adjustable gain amplifier with first and second control signals, respectively, that cause an impedance of the variable impedance circuit and a gain of the adjustable gain amplifier to be relatively high during a start-up time interval and relatively low during a post start-up time interval.
US08803619B1
A relaxation oscillator for generating an output clock signal includes an RC circuit, a self-biased comparator stage, and a logic circuit. The RC circuit generates first and second comparator input signals that are provided to the self-biased comparator stage. The self-biased comparator stage includes first and second input stages and a voltage reference circuit. Each of the first and second input stages in conjunction with the voltage reference circuit forms a comparator, i.e., first and second comparators corresponding to the first and second input stages, respectively. The self-biased comparator stage generates first and second comparator output signals, based on the first and second comparator input signals. The first and second comparator output signals are provided to the logic circuit that generates the output clock signal.
US08803617B2
Oscillator circuitry having a switching inverting amplifier arranged in a ring oscillator configuration of at least two stages. A bias generator for supplying the amplifiers of neighboring stages, is responsive to an enable signal to supply the amplifiers only when the enable signal is asserted. A first pair of transistors, coupled to an input of one of the amplifiers and the other coupled to an output of the amplifier, the transistors being driven in common by the enable signal such that when the enable signal is deasserted the transistors of the pair are turned on to impose conflicting levels at the input and the output such that the amplifier is forced to switch.
US08803612B1
A low-noise amplifier with high linearity has two common source FET amplifying stages, where the amplifier performance is linearized by use of a second stage active biasing circuit including a current mirror with a feedback network. The linearity improvement technique is employed on a 0.5-2 GHz flat gain amplifier. The improvement causes nodegradation to other RF parameters and allows for the amplifier circuit to be realized in a gallium arsenide microwave monolithic integrated circuit.
US08803605B2
An integrated circuit is described for providing a power supply to a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA). The integrated circuit includes a low-frequency power supply path including a switching regulator and a high-frequency power supply path arranged to regulate an output voltage of a combined power supply at an output port of the integrated circuit for coupling to a load. The combined power supply is provided by the low-frequency power supply path and high-frequency power supply path. The high-frequency power supply path includes: an amplifier including a voltage feedback and arranged to drive a power supply signal on the high-frequency power supply path; and a capacitor operably coupled to the output of the amplifier and arranged to perform dc level shifting of the power supply signal.
US08803604B2
A control circuit is for generating upper and lower voltages that define a range of a data voltage for controlling a driving transistor of an electroluminescent component coupled to a supply line through the driving transistor. The control circuit may include a first input terminal configured to have a common voltage, and a pair of amplifiers coupled together at the first input terminal and configured to generate the upper voltage and the lower voltage to correspond to a difference between the common voltage and, respectively, first and second analog intermediate voltages representing respective threshold values of the upper voltage and of the lower voltage. The control circuit may include an auxiliary amplifier configured to adjust the upper voltage and the lower voltage based upon fluctuations of an input voltage, and generate the common voltage to correspond to the difference between the input voltage and a reference voltage.
US08803603B2
There is disclosed an amplifier arrangement comprising a plurality of amplifiers each arranged to amplify one of a plurality of different input signals, the arrangement comprising an envelope tracking modulator for generating a common power supply voltage for the power amplifiers, and further comprising an envelope selector adapted to receive a plurality of signals representing the envelopes of the plurality of input signals, and adapted to generate an output envelope signal representing the one of the plurality of envelopes having the highest level at a particular time instant as the input signal for the envelope tracking modulator.
US08803598B2
A semiconductor element layer has a pixel region in which a plurality of photodiodes are provided and a peripheral circuit region in which a peripheral circuit for processing the device is provided, a power supply line to supply an electric power to the peripheral circuit, provided at a first side of the semiconductor element layer in the peripheral circuit region, a first wiring layer to supply the electric power to the power supply line, provided at a second side of the semiconductor element layer in the peripheral circuit region, and a plurality of first through-electrodes, provided in the peripheral circuit region and passing through the semiconductor element layer between the first side and the second side. At least a part of the first through-electrodes electrically connect between the power supply line and the first wiring layer.
US08803595B2
This invention provides a common mode noise cancellation circuit for the unbalanced signals. The unbalanced signals come from a signal source with a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal having a first grounding potential. The common mode noise cancellation circuit comprises a grounding terminal and a subtractor. The grounding terminal with a second grounding potential is electrically coupled to the second signal terminal of the signal source through an impedance unit. The subtractor comprises a first receiving terminal, a second receiving terminal and a signal output terminal. The first receiving terminal and the second receiving terminal are electrically coupled to the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal respectively for receiving the unbalanced signals. The subtractor subtracts the noise coming from the first receiving terminal and the noise coming from the second receiving terminal to reduce the output noise of the signal output terminal.
US08803594B2
A device for electromagnetic noise reduction in a hybrid automotive vehicle includes at least one sensor that measures a conducted noise generated by at least one noise source, a reducer that reduces a radiated noise, referred to as modified, on a signal of interest made noisy by the modified radiated noise, where the reducer includes a determiner that determines the noise corrected signal of interest from a noisy signal of interest, where the determiner includes an estimator that estimates the modified radiated noise from the conducted noise, and a selector that selects a frequency for receiving a radiofrequency signal.
US08803592B2
A data persistence control apparatus for an RFID tag is provided. The apparatus includes a capacitor to be charged, a charge circuit to charge the capacitor, a discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor, a switch switched on to electrically connect the charge circuit to the capacitor or the discharge circuit to the capacitor, and an output circuit to output a logic high signal or a logic low signal according to an input voltage determined based on a discharged degree of the capacitor.
US08803591B1
Forward bulk biasing circuitry for PMOS and NMOS transistors is provided. The bulk biasing circuitry includes two N-type MOS transistors, two P-type MOS transistors, and two capacitors. The forward bias to a bulk terminal of a transistor increases a threshold voltage of a transistor, thereby reducing a transition time and improving the performance of the transistor. The forward bias is provided only when the transistor transitions from one state to another, thereby reducing leakage power dissipation during active and standby modes of an integrated circuit that includes the transistor.
US08803590B2
A fuse circuit having a fuse unit cell containing two fuses. In the program/write mode, only one of the fuses in the fuse unit cell will be blown. In read mode, since only one fuse is blown, the current that goes through the two fuses in the fuse unit cell will be very small. Hence, the read power consumption for the fuse circuit is also very small and its sensing speed is also very high.
US08803588B2
A temperature compensation circuit is disclosed. A temperature compensation circuit may include a temperature coefficient generator configured to generate a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is proportional-to-absolute-temperature (ptat) and the second signal is negatively-proportional-to-absolute-temperature (ntat), a first programmable element configured to multiply at a first programmable ratio an amplitude of a third signal having a negative temperature coefficient from a first temperature to a second temperature, and a second programmable element configured to multiply at a second programmable ratio an amplitude of a fourth signal having a positive temperature coefficient from the second temperature to a third temperature.
US08803585B2
Dual path level shifter methods and devices are described. The described level shifter devices can comprise voltage-to-current and current-to-voltage converters.
US08803579B2
A system and method for controlling pulse width for electronic devices in real time is disclosed. The system includes a Digital Pulse Width Modulator (DPWM), a real time calibration circuit and a delay line circuit. The real time calibration circuit is configured to ensure proper fractional delay is applied to yield correct duty cycle of the DPWM. The delay line circuit comprising a multiplexer delay line with built in decoders, modulates the pulse width for fractional clock cycle delay.
US08803570B2
In a multiphase electrical power assignment, a processor: receives instructions to connect a bi-directional power device to a multiphase premise power source; determines that the power device is to be coupled to a target phase's phase connection; confirms that the power device is not coupled to any phase connections; and couples the power device to the phase connection, where the power device's power signal is synchronized with the phase connection's power signal. When the power device is in a connected state, the processor: issues a command to place each phase connection switch in an open state; in response to confirming that the phase connection switches are in the open state, issues commands to the power device so that a power signal of the power device will be synchronized with the target phase; and closes the phase connection switch corresponding to the target phase.
US08803569B1
A ramp generator circuit for generating sawtooth waveforms based on a clock signal may include an operational amplifier, a first switched capacitor device within a first feedback path of the operational amplifier, and a first plurality of switch devices within the first feedback path, whereby upon actuation of the first plurality of switches, the first switched capacitor generates first ramp waveforms during first alternate clock periods of the clock signal. The circuit may also include a second switched capacitor device within a second feedback path of the operational amplifier, and a second plurality of switch devices within the second feedback path, whereby upon actuation of the second plurality of switches, the second switched capacitor generates second ramp waveforms during second alternate clock periods of the clock signal. The first alternate clock periods of the clock are followed by an adjacent one of the second alternate clock periods of the clock.
US08803564B2
Disclosed herein are a tunable capacitance control circuit and a tunable capacitance control method. The tunable capacitance control method is a tunable capacitance control method by a tunable capacitance control circuit including an MIM capacitor, a plurality of FET switches, and a control unit, wherein the control unit outputs control signals allowing only one of the plurality of (n) FET switches to be switched on and the remaining (n−1) FET switches to be switched off to the plurality of FET switches, thereby obtaining a desired tunable capacitance value.
US08803557B2
A comparator circuit includes a first comparator configured to store an offset during a first period, and to compare first and second input signals while compensating for the stored offset to generate a first comparison signal during a second period, a second comparator configured to compare the first and second input signals while compensating for an offset to generate a second comparison signal, and a compensation amount controller configured to control an offset compensation amount of the second comparator when the first and second comparison signals have different values.
US08803541B2
The invention relates to the operation of illuminants, in particular OLEDs. The invention relates to a method and a measuring instrument for determining the electrical properties of an OLED, the equivalent circuit diagram of which is composed of the parallel connection of an equivalent diode DE and an equivalent capacitance CE as well as an equivalent resistance RE that is connected in series to said parallel connection. The values for the equivalent resistance RE and the equivalent capacitance CE are determined at a different time than are the values for the equivalent diode DE.
US08803538B2
A contactless measuring system having at least one test probe forming part of a coupling structure for the contactless decoupling of a signal running on a signal waveguide, wherein the signal waveguide is designed as a conductor of the electric circuit on a circuit board and as part of an electric circuit. To this end, at least one contact structure is configured and disposed on the circuit board such that said contact structure is galvanically separated from the signal waveguide, forms part of the coupling structure, is displaced completely within the near field of the signal waveguide, and has at least one contact point, which may be electrically contacted by a contact of the test probe.
US08803526B2
The present invention provides a technique for maintaining a function for effectively blocking common mode noise with a simple configuration, even in the case where unbalance occurs in characteristic impedance of a coaxial cable in an MRI apparatus, and improving the performance of an RF coil. In a circuit where a balun is established by parallel connection with the coaxial cable, multiple serial resonance circuits having different resonance frequencies are connected in parallel. A value of each constitutional element of each of the serial resonance circuits is adjusted in such a manner that the frequency for blocking the common mode noise of the entire balun falls into a range between the resonance frequencies of these serial resonance circuits.
US08803525B2
A local coil for a magnetic resonance device includes a connector apparatus for establishing a connection to a plug-in station on a patient couch and at least one storage facility. The storage facility may be used to read out by way of the connection and may store at least one non-modifiable data item describing a property of the local coil. The storage facility may include at least one detection facility for acquiring measurement values describing the state of the local coil and at least one evaluation facility configured to modify the readout address of the storage facility as a function of the measurement values.
US08803517B2
A first equation is created, using the physical property data of a user-specified target to be analyzed, to calculate a first magnetic field due to a current vector in the target to be analyzed in such a manner that a finite element method and a boundary integral method are applicable to the first equation. A second equation is created, using the physical property data of the user-specified target to be analyzed, to calculate a second magnetic field due to a magnetization vector in the target to be analyzed in such a manner that the finite element method and the boundary integral method are applicable to the second equation. A first magnetic field and a second magnetic field are calculated using the first equation and the second equation, respectively. The sum of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field is set to the magnetic field of the target.
US08803514B2
A sensor used to sense the position of an attached movable object. The sensor can be mounted to a pneumatic actuator. The sensor includes a housing that has a pair of cavities or pockets separated by a wall. A magnet carrier is positioned within one of the cavities and a magnet is coupled to the magnet carrier. The magnet carrier is coupled to the moveable object. A magnetic sensor is positioned in the other of the cavities. The magnetic sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the movable object.
US08803511B2
The invention relates to a motor vehicle gearbox position detector comprising a sensor (3) designed to cooperate with a moving target (5) connected to a gearbox ratio actuation element so as to provide at least one analog signal representative of the position of the neutral point of the gearbox, characterized in that it additionally comprises a unit for processing the signal (9) comprising an analog-to-digital converter designed to convert the analog signal into a digital output signal (17) so as to provide periodic predefined information corresponding to the position of the neutral point only when, on the one hand, the target (5) is in the neutral point position and, on the other hand, when the sensor (1) is in the normal operating state.
US08803508B2
In a semiconductor device utilizing a power semiconductor element provided with a main cell and a current sensing cell, a load overcurrent is accurately detected and a short circuit current is rapidly detected. The output of a current sensing cell is connected to an inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier, and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the source of the main cell. A current/voltage conversion circuit configured with the operational amplifier and a sensing resistor converts an output current of the current sensing cell into a sensing voltage. A first error detection circuit compares the sensing voltage with a first reference voltage and outputs an error signal. A second error detection circuit compares a voltage at the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier with a second reference voltage set to be higher than a source-bias voltage and outputs an error signal.
US08803507B2
A digital multimeter includes a body having a function selector and a first coupler and includes a head having a display and a second coupler. The function selector selects a parameter to be measured, and the display displays a measurement corresponding to the parameter to be measured. The first and second couplers are engaged in a first arrangement joining the body and the head, and the first and second couplers are disengaged in a second arrangement separating the body and the head.
US08803505B2
Systems and methods are provided for calibrating a transmitter system. A directional coupler is configured to provide a first signal representative of a forward power of an RF signal and a second signal representative of a reflected power of the RF signal. A splitting assembly is configured to generate respective third and fourth signals, each representative of the forward power, from the first signal. A switching assembly is configured to select between the second signal and the third signal. A system control is configured to determine an associated power of each of the fourth signal and a signal provided by the switching assembly.
US08803498B2
An apparatus and method is presented for implementing and controlling a voltage converter with one input voltage and multiple output voltages. In the case of boost and buck-boost converters, a converter circuit with one inductor and a switched group of parallel connection capacitors is realized, one parallel connection for each output voltage. A duty ratio is monitored for the inductor and the switched group of capacitors to provide a set of duty ratios. The duty ratios form a control vector which describes the control inputs. The output voltages are the control outputs describing a MIMO system. A generalized Cuk-Middlebrook modeling approach is applied to the voltage converter, along with linearization and MIMO control methods to regulate all output voltages to desired levels.
US08803497B2
A current detector of an inductive load includes: an inductive load 100; a switching element 101 connected in series with the inductive load and controls an electric current to be carried through this inductive load by ON/OFF operation; a current circulating diode 102 connected in parallel with the inductive load and circulates an electric current of the inductive load when the switching element is OFF; current detecting device 103 making a sampling in a cycle of a predetermined sampling period to detect an electric current to be carried through the switching element 101; and current correction device 104 making a correction with respect to an electric current value having been detected at the current detector, and in which the current correction device 104 changes the correction rate based on DUTY of a pulse with which the switching element is brought in ON/OFF operation.
US08803492B2
A power converter includes a first conversion stage for converting an input voltage to a first output voltage and a second conversion stage for converting the first output voltage to a second output voltage. An error signal is generated according to a reference voltage and a feedback signal extracted from the second conversion stage, and a feed forward signal is generated from the error signal and injected into the first conversion stage to stabilize the first output voltage. The feedback signal is a function of the second output voltage and thus, the error signal varies with the second output voltage. As a result, the first output voltage will be stabilized when the second output voltage varies, due to the varied feed forward signal.
US08803491B2
A power module includes at least two pairs of two power semiconductor units (PSUs), each of which includes a switch element and a rectifier element connected in anti-parallel. One of two PSUs in one pair and one of two PSUs in another pair are connected in series between primary and secondary positive terminals of a DC/DC voltage converter. Another of two PSUs in the one pair and another of two PSUs in the another pair are connected in series between the primary positive terminal and a secondary negative terminal in a direction reverse to a direction of the ones of two PSUs. Control is performed to suppress transient voltage fluctuations that occur in switching between the state where the polarity of a reactor current is only one of positive and negative and the state where the polarity remains one of positive and negative.
US08803487B2
A rotating device for multi-megawatt, fast response frequency regulation for the electric grid. The device generally has a main shaft coupled to a motor-generator, a main spring concentric to the main shaft, and several radially-symmetric arms, each connected to the main spring via a four-bar mechanism. As the rotational speed of the device increases, centrifugal force acting on the arms causes them to rise, the four-bar mechanism compresses the main spring, and energy is stored in the device as a combination of kinetic rotational energy, elastic potential energy, and gravitational potential energy. The device can be configured with additional springs, which can be compression springs, tension springs, or a combination thereof, in order to increase the amount of energy produced. Symmetrically-spaced gliding masses can be arranged on the arms as well.
US08803485B2
A power conversion system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of power conversion modules and a controller that turns on/off each power conversion module separately based on changing load conditions, and manages to keep each power conversion module running at its peak efficient state.
US08803471B2
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is only used as required by the state-of-charge (SOC) of the first battery pack or as a result of the user selecting an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles. The second battery pack may be used to charge the first battery pack or used in combination with the first battery pack to supply operational power to the electric vehicle.
US08803470B2
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is used when the user selects an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles.
US08803467B2
A partial arc servomotor assembly having a curvilinear U-channel with two parallel rare earth permanent magnet plates facing each other and a pivoted ironless three phase coil armature winding moves between the plates. An encoder read head is fixed to a mounting plate above the coil armature winding and a curvilinear encoder scale is curved to be co-axis with the curvilinear U-channel permanent magnet track formed by the permanent magnet plates. Driven by a set of miniaturized power electronics devices closely looped with a positioning feedback encoder, the angular position and velocity of the pivoted payload is programmable and precisely controlled.
US08803466B2
A motor control apparatus includes a position detector to detect a position of a motor. A speed operator calculates a first speed of the motor. A position controller outputs a first speed command. A speed controller acquires a difference between the first speed command and a second speed of the motor to output a first torque/thrust command. A phase compensator includes a lowpass filter to advance a phase of the second speed, and acquires the first speed and the first torque/thrust command to output the second speed. An inertia variation inhibitor includes a disturbance observer estimating a disturbance torque/thrust. The inertia variation inhibitor acquires the first speed and a second torque/thrust command, and adds the disturbance torque/thrust to the first torque/thrust command to output the second torque/thrust command. A torque/thrust controller acquires the second torque/thrust command to control a motor torque/thrust.
US08803465B1
A motion command is constructed based on an optimized acceleration pulse designed to control the spectral content of the commanded acceleration. By way of judicious design of the pulse shape, the majority of the energy in the command is contained in a narrow baseband and rolls off rapidly in frequencies outside that band. Additionally, the command can be constructed to suppress selected frequency content in one or more attenuation bands outside the baseband. The resulting motion command permits rapid motion control, while avoiding the excitation of unwanted resonant response in the system while remaining tolerant of system uncertainty.
US08803459B2
Disclosed is a steering control apparatus having a structure by which it is possible to efficiently dissipate high heat that may be generated, simplify a manufacturing process, and reduce manufacturing costs.
US08803457B2
An AC motor drive control device including: an inverter, having a plurality of switching elements subjected to on-off control, for converting a DC voltage to an AC voltage with a desired frequency to drive an AC motor; a motor opening contactor connected between the inverter and the AC motor; a switching operation beforehand detection unit for detecting a switching operation of the motor opening contactor prior to the contact or detach of main contacts and outputting a switching operation beforehand detection signal; and a control unit having an inverter control unit for performing the on-off control for the plurality of switching elements and switching control for the motor opening contactor, and controlling the inverter based on the switching operation beforehand detection signal.
US08803444B2
The invention provides a method and system of controlling illumination characteristics of a plurality of lighting segments. According to the invention, there is provided an illumination system, comprising: a plurality of lighting segments; a detecting subsystem configured to detect an illumination intensity and/or color of lights emitted from each lighting segment; a controller configured to receive the detecting subsystem's output signals representing illumination intensity and/or color of lights emitted from each lighting segment and to generate sets of driving signals to respectively adjust the driving currents of each lighting segment in response to the output signals, so as to adjust the illumination intensity and/or color of the lights emitted from each lighting segment in accordance with a predetermined illumination setting, wherein each set of driving signals has a unique period feature which is distinguished from that of other sets of driving signals corresponding to other lighting segments.
US08803440B2
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes a power supply module. A controllable switch and a voltage dividing resistor module are successively connected in series between an output end of the power supply module and a grounding end of the LED backlight driving circuit. A control end of the controllable switch is coupled with a power management chip. The LED backlight driving circuit further includes a first resistor and a current regulation module, an output current of the current regulation module is regulable. One end of the first resistor is connected between the controllable switch and the voltage dividing resistor module, and another end of the first resistor is connected with a first reference voltage, the first reference voltage is constant. An output end of the current regulation module is coupled between the first resistor and the first reference voltage. In summary, brightness regulation of the LED lightbar may be independently accomplished without use of the power management chip.
US08803436B2
A dimmable ballast circuit for a compact fluorescent lamp controls the intensity of a lamp tube in response to a phase-control voltage received from a dimmer switch. The ballast circuit generates a lamp current through the lamp tube having a substantially constant envelope such that flicker in the lamp tube and electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise on an AC voltage supply are minimized. The dimmable ballast circuit comprises a high speed control circuit characterized by a cutoff frequency much greater than a frequency of a voltage ripple on a bus voltage of the ballast circuit. The dimmable ballast circuit may also comprise a non-linear amplifier circuit amplifying a lamp-current-feedback signal representative of the magnitude of the lamp current through the lamp.
US08803428B2
An LED apparatus includes an LED component and a current-limiting device. The LED component includes at least one LED having a corresponding current-limiting resistance value. The current-limiting device includes a plurality of PTC devices connected in series. The plurality of PTC devices are capable of effectively sensing the temperature of the LED and are electrically coupled to the LED component. The resistance value of the current-limiting device increases with the increment of sensed temperature. The current-limiting device has a resistance close to or equal to the current-limiting resistance value at a temperature at which the LED operates normally. When the temperature of the LED gradually increases to an abnormal temperature, current allowable to be flowed through the current-limiting device gradually decreases to be lower than LED operating current.
US08803424B2
A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to transmit an AC process signal to a physical vapor deposition chamber via an RF matching network. A detector circuit may be configured to sense the AC process signal and output a DC magnitude error signal and a DC phase error signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC magnitude and phase error signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC magnitude and phase error signals.
US08803423B2
To obtain effective luminance and light efficiency while avoiding discharge, it is necessary to sufficiently increase a current luminous efficiency of gas and an electron emission efficiency of an electron source. In a fluorescent lamp, an anode electric field is increased by setting a pressure of a noble gas or a molecular gas enclosed to 10 kPa or higher, setting an anode voltage to 240 V or lower, and setting a substrate distance to 0.4 mm or smaller. Furthermore, the resulting effect that the current luminous efficiency is increased in proportion to the electric field is used. Also, by applying a MIM electron source having an electron emission efficiency exceeding 10% as an electron source, a non-discharge fluorescent lamp having a light emission luminance equal to or larger than 104 [cd/m2] and a light emission efficiency equal to or larger than 120 [lm/W] is achieved.
US08803422B2
A light emitting device comprises a plurality of light emitting elements sealed with a fluorescent material containing member, each of the plurality of light emitting elements having an upper surface. The plurality of light emitting elements are arranged such that, in a planar view of a light emitting surface, when the plurality of light emitting elements are projected in a parallel direction in a plane of the light emitting surface, traces of the upper surfaces of the plurality of the light emitting elements merge into a single trace. A light emitting apparatus comprises a light-concentrating device, and the light emitting device.
US08803420B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes an anode, an emitting layer, an electron-transporting region, and a cathode, the anode, the emitting layer, the electron-transporting region, and the cathode being stacked in this order, the emitting layer including a host material, and a dopant material that emits fluorescence having a main peak wavelength of 550 nm or less, the electron-transporting region including a barrier layer that is adjacent to the emitting layer, and the barrier layer including a barrier material that includes an electron-transporting structural part, and a triplet barrier structural part that includes a fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound, and satisfies the relationship “ETb>ETh” (where, ETh is the triplet energy of the host material, and ETb is the triplet energy of the barrier material).
US08803418B2
The present invention is directed to a light emitting device structured so as to increase the amount of light which is taken out in a certain direction after emitted from a light emitting element, and a method of manufacturing this light emitting device. An upper end portion of an insulating material 19 that covers an end portion of a first electrode 18 is formed to have a curved surface having a radius of curvature, a second electrode 23a is formed to have a slant face as going from its center portion toward its end portion along the curved surface. Light emitted from a light emitting layer comprising an organic material 20 that is formed on the second electrode 23a is reflected at the slant face of the second electrode 23a to increase the total amount of light taken out in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1A.
US08803407B2
The piezoelectric device comprises a piezoelectric vibrating piece having a base portion, a pair of vibrating arms extending in a specified direction from the base portion, and a pair of connection portions disposed on the pair of the supporting arms; a package having a bottom surface which accommodates the piezoelectric vibrating piece and side faces surrounding the bottom surface, in which a pair of electrode pads corresponding to the connection portions are formed on the bottom surface; and adhesive for bonding the pair of the electrode pads with the pair of connection portions. One electrode pad and the other electrode pad, with adhesive applied to the electrode pads, are shifted with respect to each other in a predetermined direction.
US08803406B2
There are provided a flexible nanocomposite generator and a method of manufacturing the same. A flexible nanocomposite generator according to the present invention includes a piezoelectric layer formed of a flexible matrix containing piezoelectric nanoparticles and carbon nanostructures; and electrode layers disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of both sides of the piezoelectric layer, in which according to a method for manufacturing a flexible nanocomposite generator according to the present invention and a flexible nanogenerator, it is possible to manufacture a flexible nanogenerator with a large area and a small thickness. Therefore, the nanogenerator may be used as a portion of a fiber or cloth. Accordingly, the nanogenerator according to the present invention generates power in accordance with bending of attached cloth, such that it is possible to continuously generate power in accordance with movement of a human body.
US08803405B2
An ultrasonic transducer includes a resin substrate, a support film and a piezoelectric element. The resin substrate has an opening. The support film blocks off the opening in the resin substrate. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the support film in a region that blocks off the opening in plan view from a thickness direction of the support film. The piezoelectric element includes a lamination of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric body, and an upper electrode.
US08803396B2
The invention relates to a rotor assembly which is mounted such as to rotate around an axis of rotation (X-X′) and which comprises two magnet wheels with claws (10). The aforementioned magnet wheels are separated by an axial space and are disposed opposite one another. Moreover, each wheel (10) comprises an end shield (11) which is essentially perpendicular to the aforementioned axis (X-X′), and claws (12) extended axially from said end shield (11) towards the other wheel (10). The claws (12) of one wheel (10) are solidly connected to the end shield (11) by respective bases (121) which are separated from one another by peripheral spaces (13). The inventive assembly comprises at least one fan (30) which is positioned on an axial face of the end shield (11) of one of the wheels (10) opposite the other wheel (10), such that the fan (30) axially seals at least part of one of the peripheral spaces (13).
US08803394B2
In a rotor for a rotary electric machine, a plurality of magnetic poles are provided in a radially outer portion of the rotor iron core, at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each magnetic pole includes a pair of permanent magnets disposed apart from each other in the circumferential direction, and a magnetic flux-restraining hole that is formed and extended radially inwardly between radially inner end portions of the permanent magnets and that restrains flow of magnetic flux. The magnetic flux-restraining hole is extended so as to project beyond a position of the radially inner end portions to a radially outer side, between the pair of permanent magnets.
US08803390B2
Engaging protrusions of a lower end housing are axially snap-fitted into through holes, respectively, of a yoke housing to couple therebetween. Each of spacers is circumferentially placed between and is press-fitted between corresponding adjacent two of permanent magnets fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the yoke housing. Each spacer axially contacts a corresponding contact part of the end housing. A lower ball bearing and an upper ball bearing are supported by the lower end housing and an upper end housing, respectively, to rotatably support a shaft. A wave washer is axially positioned between the lower ball bearing and the lower end housing to exert an urging force between the lower end housing and the upper end housing through the shaft.
US08803388B2
The present invention is directed to an actuator assembly (10) having an actuator device (26) operably associated with a housing (16), one or more rotating gear members (46, 48, 52) operably associated with the actuator device (26), a bearing member (76) operably associated with the one or more rotating gear members (46, 48, 52), and a cam (66) operably associated with the one or more rotating gear members (46, 48, 52), for translating rotary motion of the gear members (46, 48, 52) to axial motion. When the actuator 0 device (26) is actuated, the one or more rotating gear members (46, 48, 52) rotate, causing the bearing member (76) to move on the cam (66).
US08803387B2
An electric machine that includes a machine housing, a stator positioned at least partially within the machine housing and comprising a plurality of stator windings, a rotor positioned at least partially within the machine housing and configured to rotate with respect to the stator, and a motor controller configured to selectively provide power to the plurality of stator windings is described. The electric machine also includes an interface module configured for coupling to the motor controller. The interface module includes a processing device, a first communication interface coupled to the processing device and configured for coupling with the motor controller, and a second communication interface coupled to the processing device and configured to receive a control signal.
US08803359B2
A pick-up circuit for an inductive power transfer (IPT) system includes a series-tuned pick-up coil and a plurality of parallel AC processing circuits provided between the series-tuned pick-up coil and an output, each processing circuit being adapted to produce an output signal based directly or indirectly at least in part on a voltage of the series-tuned pick-up coil and including a switch for selectively coupling the processing circuit to the output so as to selectively provide the respective output signal to the output of the pick-up circuit.
US08803355B2
The invention consists of a system for converting wind energy (SCEE) into mechanical and then electrical energy. This system (SCEE) is not subject to the theoretical Betz limit (59%). The system (SCEE) has a wheel (F) provided with a series of blades arranged all around it. The wheel (F) rotates in a pivot connection about a fixed axle (L). Set on the axle (L), a support (E) ensures the fastening of the end-plates of a series of double-acting actuating cylinders (D). The rods of the latter are in a ball-jointed connection with the body (A) in order to offer the latter a maximum degree of freedom in space. A rigid arm (C) is set on one side of the wheel (F) and held on the other side, in a pivot connection, on a U-shaped section piece (B). Having a circular satellite motion, the latter rotates with the wheel (F) while sliding over a peripheral region of the body (A). When the wind acts on the body (A), the latter pivots with the section piece (B) and pushes the rods of the actuating cylinders (D). Having a circular satellite motion, the section piece (B) rotates while sliding over a peripheral region of the body (A), thus changing the fulcrum of the moment of the resultant force of the wind (the pivot connection of the section piece (B)) which is applied to the body (A). The rods of the actuating cylinders (D) will consequently be pulled and pushed, while having a cyclical translational motion. Set on the axle (L), a nacelle (J) primarily contains a hydraulic motor (H) and an electric generator (G), which can be coupled via a speed-increasing gear. During the reciprocal motions of the pistons of the actuating cylinders (D), a set of valves ensures a one-way flow of hydraulic fluid in the “go and return” hydraulic circuits, whether by pulling or by pushing. The “go and return” hydraulic circuits are, moreover, linked to the hydraulic motor (H). In order to allow the system (SCEE) to be held facing the wind and to pivot on the mast (1), its orientation can be ensured by a tail vane (K) fastened, via a support, to the nacelle (J).
US08803353B2
A turbine assembly, which may be part of a turbine generator assembly, includes a turbine flywheel assembly and a magnet motor within a turbine casing. The turbine flywheel assembly comprises a turbine flywheel rotatably coupled to a shaft, turbine blade assemblies mounted thereon and a magnet motor rotor assembly coupled to the shaft. The magnet motor rotor assembly includes rotor permanent magnets arranged in a ring around the shaft. The same pole of each includes rotor permanent magnet faces outward away from the shaft. A magnet motor stator assembly comprises stator magnet assemblies, each comprising a stator electromagnet and a stator permanent magnet, arranged in a ring around the magnet motor rotor assembly to exert replusive force on the nearest rotor permanent magnet. Selectably controllable nozzles inject compressed air onto the turbine blades. Electromagnet controller(s) individually and selectably activate, deactivate and polarity-switch the stator electromagnets.
US08803352B1
Wind turbines and methods for controlling wind turbine loading are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of determining a current wind speed. The method further includes determining a tip speed ratio and a pitch angle that maximize a power coefficient under at least one of the following conditions: a thrust value is less than or equal to a pre-established maximum thrust, a generator speed value is less than or equal to a pre-established maximum generator speed, or a generator torque is less than or equal to a pre-established maximum generator torque. The method further includes calculating a desired generator speed value based on the current wind speed and a tip speed ratio. The method further includes calculating a desired generator power value based on the desired generator speed value.
US08803348B2
A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes at least one generator adapted to generate electric power and a plurality of electrical converter units adapted to convert electric power generated by the generator and electrically connectable or connected to the generator and to a utility grid. The generator includes a stator being segmented in stator segments. Each stator segment includes a plurality of stator windings. The stator windings of the respective stator segments are divided into at least a first and a second group of stator windings with each group including at least one stator winding. Several or all first groups of stator windings are electrically connected to a first electrical converter unit and several or all second groups of stator windings are electrically connected to a second electrical converter unit.
US08803343B2
A mobile server system with an energy regeneration function includes a container, at least one server placed within the container, and at least one power generating mechanism received in the receiving portion. Top surface defines a receiving portion. The container defines a through hole communicating with the receiving portion in a position where the at least one server is placed. The power generating mechanism includes an impeller element, a generator and a shaft fixed between the impeller element and the generator. Hot air generated from the at least one server is transmitted to the receiving portion through the through hole to cooperate with cold air from the air to generate airflow. The airflow drives the impeller element to rotate. The shaft is driven by the impeller element to rotate. The generator is driven by the shaft to rotate to generate power.
US08803336B2
A semiconductor package includes a substrate; a driving chip having first bumps on a first surface and bump pads on a second surface facing away from the first surface, and mounted to the substrate by the medium of the first bumps; a support member disposed on the substrate substantially horizontally with respect to the driving chip; and a plurality of memory chips substantially horizontally disposed on the driving chip and the support member such that one corner portions of the memory chips are positioned on the driving chip while being centered about the driving chip, wherein the respective memory chips have second bumps which are electrically connected with the respective bump pads of the driving chip, on one surfaces of the one corner portions of the memory chips which face the driving chip.
US08803326B2
A chip package includes: a substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a side surface connecting the first and the second surfaces; a dielectric layer located on the first surface; conducting pads comprising a first and a second conducting pads located in the dielectric layer; openings extending from the second surface towards the first surface and correspondingly exposing the conducting pads, wherein a first opening of the openings and a second opening of the openings next to the first opening respectively expose the first and the second conducting pads and extend along a direction intersecting the side surface of the substrate to respectively extend beyond the first and the second conducting pads; and a first and a second wire layers located on the second surface and extending into the first the second openings to electrically contact with the first and the second conducting pads, respectively.
US08803325B2
A stacked semiconductor package includes a plurality of semiconductor chips each including a substrate having one surface, the other surface which faces away from the one surface and side surfaces which connect the one surface and the other surface, through-silicon vias which pass through the one surface and the other surface of the substrate, repair pads which are exposed on the side surfaces of the substrate, and wiring lines which electrically connect the through-silicon vias with the repair pads, the plurality of semiconductor chips being stacked such that through-silicon vias of the semiconductor chips are connected with one another; and interconnections electrically connecting the repair pads of the semiconductor chips.
US08803324B2
A semiconductor device and methods directed toward preventing a leakage current between a contact plug and a line adjacent to the contact plug, and minimizing capacitance between adjacent lines.
US08803313B2
A circuit substrate has one or more active components and a plurality of passive circuit elements on a first surface. An active semiconductor device has a substrate with layers of material and a plurality of terminals. The active semiconductor device is flip-chip mounted on the circuit substrate and at least one of the terminals of the device is electrically connected to an active component on the circuit substrate. The active components on the substrate and the flip-chip mounted active semiconductor device, in combination with passive circuit elements, form preamplifiers and an output amplifier respectively. In a power switching configuration, the circuit substrate has logic control circuits on a first surface. A semiconductor transistor flip-chip mounted on the circuit substrate is electrically connected to the control circuits on the first surface to thereby control the on and off switching of the flip-chip mounted device.
US08803312B2
A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices is disclosed. A semiconductor wafer is provided having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first glass substrate is provided which has at least one of cavities and openings at the bonding surface. The first glass substrate is bonded to the first surface of the semiconductor wafer such that the metal pads are arranged within respective cavities or openings of the first glass substrate. The second surface of the semiconductor wafer is machined. At least one metallization region is formed on the machined second surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US08803307B2
Stacked microelectronic devices and methods of manufacturing stacked microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device includes forming a plurality of electrically isolated, multi-tiered metal spacers on a front side of a first microelectronic die, and attaching a back-side surface of a second microelectronic die to individual metal spacers. In another embodiment, the method of manufacturing the microelectronic device may further include forming top-tier spacer elements on front-side wire bonds of the first die.
US08803304B2
There is provided a semiconductor package that includes: a wiring board; a first semiconductor chip mounted on the wiring board; a second semiconductor chip mounted on the first semiconductor chip, wherein a size of second semiconductor chip is larger than that of the first semiconductor chip when viewed from a thickness direction of the semiconductor package; an insulating resin provided between the wiring board and the second semiconductor chip and between the wiring board and the first semiconductor chip so as to cover the first semiconductor chip; a base disposed on the wiring board to face a surface of the second semiconductor chip, wherein the insulating resin is provided between the base and the second semiconductor chip so as to cover the base.
US08803303B2
In a QFP with a chip-stacked structure in which a lower surface of a die pad is exposed from a lower surface of a sealing member, a semiconductor chip having a BCB film, which is made of a polymeric material containing at least benzocyclobutene in its backbone as an organic monomer and formed on its surface, is mounted at a position (second stage) that is away from the die pad. As a result, even when moisture invades through the interface between the die pad and the sealing member, it is possible to prolong the time required for the moisture to reach the semiconductor chip, and subsequently to make moisture absorption defect less likely to occur.
US08803302B2
A packaged semiconductor device may include a termination surface having terminations configured as leadless interconnects to be surface mounted to a printed circuit board. A first flange has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface provides a first one of the terminations, and the second surface is opposite to the first surface. A second flange also has a first surface and a second surface, with the first surface providing a second one of the terminations, and the second surface is opposite to the first surface. A die is mounted to the second surface of the first flange with a material having a melting point in excess of 240° C. An electrical interconnect extends between the die and the second surface of the second flange opposite the termination surface, such that the electrical interconnect, first flange and second flange are substantially housed within a body.
US08803298B2
With the use of a conductive shield formed on the top or bottom side of a semiconductor integrated circuit, an electrostatic breakdown (malfunctions of the circuit or damages of a semiconductor element) of the semiconductor integrated circuit due to electrostatic discharge is prevented, and sufficient communication capability is obtained. With the use of a pair of insulators which sandwiches the semiconductor integrated circuit, a highly reliable semiconductor device that is reduced in thickness and size and has resistance to an external stress can be provided. A semiconductor device can be manufactured with high yield while defects of shapes and characteristics due to an external stress or electrostatic discharge are prevented in the manufacturing process.
US08803292B2
A device includes a semiconductor substrate and a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) transistor. The MOS transistor includes a gate electrode over the semiconductor substrate, and a source/drain region on a side of the gate electrode. A source/drain contact plug includes a lower portion and an upper portion over the lower portion, wherein the source/drain contact plug is disposed over and electrically connected to the source/drain region. A gate contact plug is disposed over and electrically connected to the gate electrode, wherein a top surface of the gate contact plug is level with a top surface of the top portion of the source/drain contact plug. A Through-Substrate Via (TSV) extends into the semiconductor substrate. A top surface of the TSV is substantially level with an interface between the gate contact plug and the gate electrode.
US08803285B2
A semiconductor device has a capacitive structure formed by sequentially layering, on a wiring or conductive plug, a lower electrode, a capacitive insulation film, and an upper electrode. The semiconductor device has, as the capacitive structure, a thin-film capacitor having a lower electrode structure composed of an amorphous or microcrystalline film or a laminate of these films formed on a polycrystalline film.
US08803279B2
A structure for picking up a collector region is disclosed. The structure includes a pair of polysilicon stacks formed in the isolation regions and extending below the collector region; and a pair of collector electrodes contacting on the polysilicon stacks, wherein the pair of polysilicon stacks includes: a first polysilicon layer located below the isolation regions, and a second polysilicon layer located on and in contact with the first polysilicon layer, the first polysilicon layer being doped with a dopant having a higher diffusivity or higher concentration than a dopant of the second polysilicon layer, wherein a depth of the polysilicon stacks is greater than a depth of the collector region; the depth of the collector region is greater than a depth of the second polysilicon layer; and the depth of the second polysilicon layer is greater than a depth of the isolation regions.
US08803277B2
An electronic device includes a semiconductor layer, a primary junction in the semiconductor layer, a lightly doped region surrounding the primary junction and a junction termination structure in the lightly doped region adjacent the primary junction. The junction termination structure has an upper boundary, a side boundary, and a corner between the upper boundary and the side boundary, and the lightly doped region extends in a first direction away from the primary junction and normal to a point on the upper boundary by a first distance that is smaller than a second distance by which the lightly doped region extends in a second direction away from the primary junction and normal to a point on the corner. At least one floating guard ring segment may be provided in the semiconductor layer outside the corner of the junction termination structure. Related methods are also disclosed.
US08803275B2
A Peltier element is provided so that an electrically conductive plate forming a heat absorbing portion is in close proximity to an insulating layer and an electrically conductive plate forming a heat radiating portion is provided in close proximity to an insulating layer. The Peltier element has one end connected to a branch line branched from a power line, and has the other end electrically connected to an electrode plate. Further, the Peltier element receives from the branch line a portion of electric power supplied to a power transistor, and outputs it to the electrode plate. In other words, the Peltier element uses the portion of the electric power supplied to the power transistor, to absorb heat generated by the power transistor and radiate it toward a heat radiating plate.
US08803267B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes a first magnetic film having a variable magnetization direction, a second magnetic film having an invariable magnetization direction, and a magnesium oxide film provided between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film and being in contact with both the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film, and doped with at least one element selected from a first group consisting of copper, silver, and gold.
US08803259B2
Systems, apparatus, and associated methods of forming the systems and/or apparatus may include imaging devices that may comprise multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements for use in a variety of applications. These multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be arranged to form a three-dimensional imaging device. Non-coplanar arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be coupled together. These imaging devices may be used as medical imaging devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08803257B2
A hollow part is formed in a silicon substrate through the front and the back. A vibration electrode plate is arranged on an upper surface of the silicon substrate to cover the opening on the upper surface. A fixed electrode plate covers the upper side of the vibration electrode plate while maintaining a microscopic gap with the vibration electrode plate, where the peripheral part is fixed to the upper surface of the silicon substrate. The fixed electrode plate has the portion facing the upper surface of the silicon substrate through a space supported by a side wall portion arranged on an inner edge of the portion fixed to the upper surface of the silicon substrate without interposing a space. The outer surface of the side wall portion of the fixed electrode plate is covered by a reinforcement film made of metal such as Au, Cr, and Pt.
US08803246B2
An electronic component includes a high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. A source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, and a gate electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically coupled to the source electrode of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. The on-resistance of the enhancement-mode transistor is less than the on-resistance of the depletion-mode transistor, and the maximum current level of the enhancement-mode transistor is smaller than the maximum current level of the depletion-mode transistor.
US08803242B2
A novel semiconductor transistor is presented. The semiconductor structure has a MOSFET like structure, with the difference that the device channel is formed in an intrinsic region, so as to effectively decrease the impurity and surface scattering phenomena deriving from a high doping profile typical of conventional MOS devices. Due to the presence of the un-doped channel region, the proposed structure greatly reduces Random Doping Fluctuation (RDF) phenomena decreasing the threshold voltage variation between different devices. In order to control the threshold voltage of the device, a heavily doped poly-silicon or metallic gate is used. However, differently from standard CMOS devices, a high work-function metallic material, or a heavily p-doped poly-silicon layer, is used for a n-channel device and a low work-function metallic material, or heavily n-doped poly-silicon layer, is used for a p-channel FET.
US08803241B2
The disclosure relates to a dummy gate electrode of a semiconductor device. An embodiment comprises a substrate comprising a first surface; an insulation region covering a portion of the first surface, wherein the top of the insulation region defines a second surface; and a dummy gate electrode over the second surface, wherein the dummy gate electrode comprises a bottom and a base broader than the bottom, wherein a ratio of a width of the bottom to a width of the base is from about 0.5 to about 0.9.
US08803236B1
An LDMOS device includes: a semiconductor layer formed over a semiconductor substrate; a gate structure disposed over the semiconductor layer; a first doped region disposed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to a first side of the gate structure; a second doped region disposed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to a second side of the gate structure; a third doped region disposed in the first doped region; a fourth doped region disposed in the second doped region; a trench formed in the third doped region, the first doped region and the semiconductor layer under in the first doped region; an insulating layer covering the third doped region, the gate structure, and the fourth doped region; a conductive layer conformably formed over a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench; a dielectric layer disposed in the trench; and a diffused region disposed in the semiconductor layer under the trench.
US08803231B2
Trench portions (10) are formed in a well (5) in order to provide unevenness in the well (5). A gate electrode (2) is formed via an insulating film (7) on the upper surface and inside of the trench portions (10). A source region (3) is formed on one side of the gate electrode (2) in a gate length direction while a drain region (4) on another side. Both of the source region (3) and the drain region (4) are formed down to near the bottom portion of the gate electrode (2). By deeply forming the source region (3) and the drain region (4), current uniformly flows through the whole trench portions (10), and the unevenness formed in the well (5) increases the effective gate width to decrease the on-resistance of a semiconductor device 1 and to enhance the drivability thereof.
US08803229B2
One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for forming a transistor. According to an embodiment of the method, a pillar of amorphous semiconductor material is formed on a crystalline substrate, and a solid phase epitaxy process is performed to crystallize the amorphous semiconductor material using the crystalline substrate to seed the crystalline growth. The pillar has a sublithographic thickness. A transistor body is formed in the crystallized semiconductor pillar between a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A surrounding gate insulator is formed around the semiconductor pillar, and a surrounding gate is formed around and separated from the semiconductor pillar by the surrounding gate insulator. Other aspects are provided herein.
US08803227B2
A transistor includes a substrate and an electrically conductive material layer stack positioned on the substrate. The electrically conductive material layer stack includes a reentrant profile. A first electrically insulating material layer positioned is in contact with a first portion of the electrically conductive material layer stack. A second electrically insulating material layer is conformally positioned in contact with the first electrically insulating layer, and conformally positioned in contact with a second portion of the electrically conductive material layer stack, and conformally positioned in contact with at least a portion of the substrate.
US08803218B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a floating gate formed over a semiconductor substrate, an insulator formed on a first sidewall of the floating gate, a dielectric layer formed on a second sidewall and an upper surface of the floating gate, and a control gate formed over the dielectric layer.
US08803215B2
A semiconductor device includes a bit line and a common source line formed on a cell array region of a substrate, a first channel layer coupled to the common source line and extending higher than the common source line, a second channel layer coupled to the bit line and extending higher than the bit line, and a coupling pattern coupling a top of the first channel layer opposite to the common source line and a top of the second channel layer opposite to the bit line.
US08803214B2
Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US08803207B2
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a trench disposed in a semiconductor region, a shield dielectric layer lining a lower portion of a sidewall of the trench and a bottom surface of the trench, and a gate dielectric lining a upper portion of the sidewall of the trench. The apparatus can also include a shield electrode disposed in a lower portion of the trench and insulated from the semiconductor region by the shield dielectric layer, and an inter-electrode dielectric (IED) disposed in the trench over the shield electrode where the shield electrode has a curved top surface.
US08803206B1
A 3D semiconductor device, including: a first layer including first transistors; a second layer including second transistors; where the second transistors are aligned to the first transistors, and a first circuit including at least one of the first transistors, where the first circuit has a first circuit output connected to at least one of the second transistors, and where at least one of the second transistors is connected to a device output, and where the device output includes a contact port for connection to external devices, and where at least one of the second transistors is substantially larger than at least one of the first transistors.
US08803202B2
A semiconductor structure includes an array of unit metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Each of the unit MOS devices includes an active region laid out in a row direction and a gate electrode laid out in a column direction. The semiconductor structure further includes a first unit MOS device in the array and a second unit MOS device in the array, wherein active regions of the first and the second unit MOS devices have different conductivity types.
US08803198B2
Group III Nitride based field effect transistor (FETs) are provided having a power degradation of less than about 3.0 dB when operated at a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of about from about 28 to about 70 volts, a gate to source voltage (Vgs) of from about −3.3 to about −14 volts and a normal operating temperature for at least about 10 hours.
US08803197B2
Provided is a semiconductor wafer including a base wafer, a first crystalline layer, a second crystalline layer, and an insulating layer that are positioned in the stated order, the semiconductor wafer further including: a third crystalline layer positioned either between the first crystalline layer and the second crystalline layer or between the base wafer and the first crystalline layer. The second crystalline layer and the third crystalline layer are made of a crystal that either lattice matches or pseudo lattice matches a crystal making the first crystalline layer, and has a wider band gap than the crystal making the first crystalline layer. The third crystalline layer includes a first atom that will be a donor or an acceptor. When the third crystalline layer includes a first atom that will be a donor, the second crystalline layer includes a second atom that will be an acceptor.
US08803195B2
The present nanomembrane structures include a multilayer film comprising a single-crystalline layer of semiconductor material disposed between two other single-crystalline layers of semiconductor material. A plurality of holes extending through the nanomembrane are at least partially, and preferably entirely, filled with a filler material which is also a semiconductor, but which differs from the nanomembrane semiconductor materials in composition, crystal orientation, or both.
US08803190B2
Aspects of the invention can include a semiconductor device that includes an output stage IGBT and a Zener diode on the same semiconductor substrate. The IGBT can include a first p well layer, an n emitter region on the surface region of the first p well layer, a gate electrode deposited on a gate insulating film, and an emitter electrode on the emitter region. The Zener diode can include a p+ layer formed in the surface region of a second p well layer in the place different from the first p well layer and has a higher concentration than the second p well layer, an anode electrode in ohmic contact with the surface of the p+ layer, an n− layer having a lower concentration than the second p well layer, and a cathode electrode in Schottky contact with the surface of the n− layer.
US08803188B2
One object is to provide a light-emitting element which overcomes the problems of electrical characteristics and a light reflectivity have been solved. The light-emitting element is manufactured by forming a first electrode including aluminum and nickel over a substrate; by forming a layer including a composite material in which a metal oxide is contained in an organic compound so as to be in contact with the first electrode after heat treatment is performed with respect to the first electrode; by forming a light-emitting layer over the layer including a composite material; and by forming a second electrode which has a light-transmitting property over the light-emitting layer. Further, the first electrode is preferably formed to include the nickel equal to or greater than 0.1 atomic % and equal to or less than 4.0 atomic %.
US08803185B2
A light emitting diode package and a method of fabricating the same. The package includes a light emitting diode chip having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, a metal frame (or TAB tape) having leads connected to the light emitting diode chip, and a light-pervious encapsulant encapsulating the light emitting diode chip, wherein the second surface of the chip is exposed from the first light-pervious encapsulant. The metal frame (or TAB tape) connects the light emitting diode chip to an external circuit board. The LED package does not need wire-bonding process. A method of fabricating a light emitting diode package is also provided.
US08803183B2
An LED heat-conducting substrate and its thermal module wherein the composite heat-conducting substrate is incorporated by multiple heat-conducting wires or fibers and insulating material. Said wires or fibers are arranged at interval, and penetrate the front and rear faces. The wires or fibers are segregated by insulating material. An electrode pad is incorporated onto the front face of the composite heat-conducting substrate, and is electrically connected with the electrode pin of LED unit. A heat-conducting pad is incorporated and kept in contact with the heat sink of the LED component for heat conduction. An insulating layer is incorporated onto the rear face of the composite heat-conducting substrate, and located correspondingly to the electrode pad. The LED heat-conducting substrate and thermal module can be constructed easily for high heat conduction in the thickness direction and high electrical insulation in the direction of plane, enabling quick heat transfer to the heat-sinking component.
US08803176B2
A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor layer, a active layer, a second semiconductor layer, a third optical symmetric layer, a metallic layer, a fourth optical symmetric layer, and a first optical symmetric layer stacked in sequence. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second semiconductor layer constitute a source layer. A refractive index of the third optical symmetric layer or the fourth optical symmetric layer is in a range from about 1.2 to about 1.5. A refractive index difference between the source layer and the first optical symmetric layer is less than or equal to 0.3.
US08803161B2
A semiconductor device includes one or more unipolar compound semiconductor element; and bypass semiconductor elements externally connected to the respective compound semiconductor elements in parallel. A turn-on voltage of the bypass semiconductor elements is smaller than a turn-on voltage of the compound semiconductor elements in the direction from the source to the drain.
US08803157B2
A display device is provided, which includes a transparent substrate, an active device array, a solar cell structure and an electrophoretic display film. The transparent substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to each other. The active device array has a plurality of pixel structures, in which the pixel structures are disposed on the upper surface of the transparent substrate. The solar cell structure is directly disposed on the lower surface of the transparent substrate. The electrophoretic display film is disposed over the transparent substrate and includes a transparent protection film, an electrode layer and a plurality of display media, in which the electrode layer is disposed between the transparent protection film and the display media and the display media are located between the electrode layer and the active device array.
US08803155B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thin-film transistor (TFT) sensor, including a bottom gate electrode on a substrate, an insulation layer on the bottom gate electrode, an active layer in a donut shape on the insulation layer, the active layer including a channel through which a current generated by a charged body flows, an etch stop layer on the active layer, the etch stop layer including a first contact hole and a second contact hole, and a source electrode and a drain electrode burying the first and second contact holes, the source and drain electrodes being disposed on the etch stop layer so as to face each other.
US08803151B2
A semiconductor device (100) includes: a first thin film transistor (105) of a first conductivity type formed on a substrate for each pixel; and a plurality of photosensor sections (200). Each photosensor section (200) includes a photodetecting portion including a thin film diode (202), a capacitor (206) for storing a photocurrent occurring in the thin film diode (202), and a second thin film transistor (204) of the first conductivity type, the photodetecting portion being connected to the capacitor (206) via the second thin film transistor (204); the first and second thin film transistors (105, 204) and the thin film diode (202) have semiconductor layers made of the same semiconductor film; and a characteristic of the first thin film transistor (105) and a characteristic of the second thin film transistor (204) are different. As a result, the characteristics of the thin film transistors for use in the pixels and the thin film transistors for use in the photosensor sections can be controlled in accordance with the characteristics required of the respective thin film transistors.
US08803146B2
A structure by which electric-field concentration which might occur between a source electrode and a drain electrode in a bottom-gate thin film transistor is relaxed and deterioration of the switching characteristics is suppressed, and a manufacturing method thereof. A bottom-gate thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer is provided over a source and drain electrodes is manufactured, and angle θ1 of the side surface of the source electrode which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and angle θ2 of the side surface of the drain electrode which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer are each set to be greater than or equal to 20° and less than 90°, so that the distance from the top edge to the bottom edge in the side surface of each electrode is increased.
US08803142B2
An object is to provide a memory device including a memory element that can be operated without problems by a thin film transistor with a low off-state current. Provided is a memory device in which a memory element including at least one thin film transistor that includes an oxide semiconductor layer is arranged as a matrix. The thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer has a high field effect mobility and low off-state current, and thus can be operated favorably without problems. In addition, the power consumption can be reduced. Such a memory device is particularly effective in the case where the thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is provided in a pixel of a display device because the memory device and the pixel can be formed over one substrate.
US08803138B2
The light emitting element of the embodiment includes an anode; a cathode; a visible light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode and emitting visible light; and a carrier trapping layer containing a thiadiazole based compound represented by the following formula (1). [In formula (1), A indicates a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an arylamino group, or a triaryl amine, and B indicates a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an arylamino group, or a triaryl amine, or may form a ring.]
US08803136B2
A highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element or a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. Alternatively, a method of manufacturing a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element, or a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. The light-emitting module has a structure in which a light-emitting element formed over a first substrate and a viscous material layer are sealed in a space between the first substrate and a second substrate which face each other, with a sealing material surrounding the light-emitting element. The viscous material layer is provided between the light-emitting element and the second substrate and includes a non-solid material and a drying agent which reacts with or adsorbs an impurity.
US08803131B2
An integrated circuit includes a graphene layer, the graphene layer comprising a region of undoped graphene, the undoped graphene comprising a channel of a transistor, and a region of doped graphene, the doped graphene comprising a contact of the transistor; and a gate of the transistor, the gate comprising a carbon nanotube film. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit comprising graphene and carbon nanotubes, includes forming a graphene layer; doping a portion of the graphene layer, resulting in doped graphene and undoped graphene; forming a carbon nanotube film; and etching the carbon nanotube film to form a gate of a transistor, wherein the transistor further comprises a channel comprising the undoped graphene and a contact comprising the doped graphene. A transistor includes a gate, the gate comprising a carbon nanotube film; a channel, the channel comprising undoped graphene; and a contact, the contact comprising doped graphene.
US08803129B2
A structure includes a substrate having a carbon nanotube (CNT) disposed over a surface. The CNT is partially disposed within a protective electrically insulating layer. The structure further includes a gate stack disposed over the substrate. A first portion of a length of the CNT not covered by the protective electrically insulating layer passes through the gate stack. Source and drain contacts are disposed adjacent to the gate stack, where second and third portions of the length of CNT not covered by the protective electrically insulating layer are conductively electrically coupled to the source and drain contacts. The gate stack and the source and drain contacts are contained within the protective electrically insulating layer and within an electrically insulating organic planarization layer that is disposed over the protective electrically insulating layer. A method to fabricate a CNT-based transistor is also described.
US08803127B2
In at least one embodiment, an infrared (IR) sensor comprising a thermopile is provided. The thermopile comprises a substrate and an absorber. The absorber is positioned above the substrate and a gap is formed between the absorber and the substrate. The absorber receives IR from a scene and generates an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene. The absorber is formed of a super lattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate. In another embodiment, a method for forming an infrared (IR) detector is provided. The method comprises forming a substrate and forming an absorber with a plurality of alternating first and second layers with a super lattice quantum well structure. The method further comprises positioning the absorber about the substrate such that a gap is formed to cause the absorber to be suspended about the substrate.
US08803125B2
Memory devices utilizing memory cells including a resistive element and a diode coupled in series between two conductors. The diodes include a ruthenium material and a silicon material. The diodes further include an interface on the silicon material of ruthenium or ruthenium silicide. A ruthenium silicide interface may be a polycrystalline ruthenium silicide.
US08803118B2
Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having an electrically conductive interconnect with an upper surface, and having an electrically conductive structure over the interconnect. The structure includes a horizontal first portion along the upper surface and a non-horizontal second portion joined to the first portion at a corner. The second portion has an upper edge. The upper edge is offset relative to the upper surface of the interconnect so that the upper edge is not directly over said upper surface. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
US08803114B1
An ion generation unit (1) provided with an ion generation element (20) for generating ions through application of voltage, and a casing (10) housing the ion generation element. The casing is constituted by a casing body (11) and a rear cover (12). To the inside face of the casing are attached suppressing members (30, 31, 32, 33) for suppressing the radiation noise associated with ion generation. Openings (13, 14) through which the ions generated by the ion generation element are emitted to the outside are formed in the casing body, and the suppressing members are attached at locations other than the openings.
US08803113B2
A scraper for an applicator to be used in electron radiation therapy includes a three layer arrangement. A first layer of the three layer arrangement faces an incident direction of electrons and consists of a first material of a first atomic number. The first atomic number is smaller than a second atomic number of a second material of a second layer of the three layer arrangement, The second atomic number is smaller than a third atomic number of a third material of a third layer of the three layer arrangement. The third layer faces away from the incident direction of the electrons.
US08803110B2
Beam current is adjusted during ion implantation by adjusting one or more parameters of an ion source. The ion beam is generated or provided by a non-arc discharge based ion source, such as an electron gun driven ion source or an RF driven ion source. A beam current adjustment amount is determined. Then, one or more parameters of the ion source are adjusted according to the determined beam current adjustment amount. The beam current is provided having a modulated beam current.
US08803109B1
A multi-spectrum screen exposure system for curing printing emulsions, including an enclosure with a platen that is transmissive to at least some ultraviolet wavelengths of light, a cover shiftable between an open orientation wherein the platen is accessible to an operator and a closed orientation wherein the platen is covered and inaccessible to the operator, a light emitting diode illumination (LED) light source assembly supported within the enclosure and oriented to direct illumination toward the platen, the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly emitting at least some light in the ultraviolet wavelengths, and a control unit operably coupled to the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly by which the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly can be operated in a controlled fashion.
US08803102B2
A retarding field analyzer uses the existing components of a charged particle beam system eliminating the need for inserting a separate retarding field analyzer device. Using components of the existing column reduces the time required to analyze the beam. Using the imaging capabilities of the existing column facilitates alignment of the beam with the analyzer.
US08803100B2
There are provided a radiation image pickup apparatus that may suppress deterioration of the transistor characteristic in the circuit in the periphery of the pixel section, and a radiation image pickup/display system including the apparatus. The radiation image pickup apparatus includes a pixel section provided on a substrate and having photoelectric conversion elements, a circuit section provided in the periphery of the pixel section on the substrate to drive the pixel section, and a wavelength conversion layer provided on the pixel section to convert a wavelength of radiation into a predetermined wavelength within a sensitivity range of the photoelectric conversion elements. The circuit section is provided in a region not facing an end of the wavelength conversion layer.
US08803092B2
The present invention relates to a quantum infrared sensor and a gas concentration meter using the same, the quantum infrared sensor having a small and simple device shape and also being capable of performing stable measurement against disturbance changes such as changes in the flow amount and the temperature of gas to be measured. The quantum infrared sensor includes a pair of quantum infrared sensor elements, a pair of optical filters and a holding frame. The pair of optical filters is provided closer to an infrared light source than is the pair of quantum infrared sensor elements. The pair of optical filters is configured to selectively transmit infrared rays in specific different wavelength ranges, respectively. The pair of optical filters is housed in an upper level of the holding frame and provided while facing the pair of quantum infrared sensor elements through a pair of through holes, respectively.
US08803086B2
Elements are arranged so that a straight ion-beam axis extending from an ion source through a first ion lens and a front-stage quadrupole mass filter and a straight ion-beam axis extending through the ion guide in a collision cell and a rear-stage quadrupole mass filter obliquely intersect with each other at a predetermined angle in a space between the front-stage quadrupole mass filter and the collision cell. Metastable helium molecules generated in the ion source may pass through the front-stage quadrupole mass filter but will be removed before reaching the exit of the collision cell. On the other hand, precursor ions which have passed through the front-stage quadrupole mass filter are made to bend along an inflected ion-beam axis under the influence of a direct-current electric field created by an entrance ion lens, to be efficiently introduced into the collision cell.
US08803081B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion trap and a fragmentation device. Ions are fragmented in the ion trap to form first generation fragment ions. The ion trap has a relatively high mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are then transferred to a fragmentation device which is arranged to have a substantially lower low mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are fragmented within the fragmentation device any may optionally be stored in an ion accumulation region prior to being passed to a mass analyzer for subsequent mass analysis.
US08803079B2
An apparatus for elemental analysis of particles such as single cells or single beads by mass spectrometry is described. The apparatus includes means for particle introduction; means to vaporize, atomize and ionize elements associated with a particle; means to separate the ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio; means to detect the separated ions, means to digitize the output of the means to detect the ions; means to transfer and/or to process and/or record the data output of the means to digitize, having means to detect the presence of a particle in a mass spectrometer; and means to synchronize one of the means for ion detection, data digitization, transfer, processing and recording with the means to detect the presence of a particle. Methods and computer readable code implementing aspects of the apparatus, and for reducing the rates of data generation, digitization, transfer, processing and recording are also described.
US08803078B2
A neutron logging tool includes a neutron source and at least one position sensitive thermal or epithermal neutron detector. The logging tool further includes an electronic controller configured to estimate the axial location of detected neutrons. Measurement of the axial neutron flux distribution enables other formation and borehole parameters such as formation porosity and sensor standoff to be computed. In logging while drilling embodiments, a borehole caliper may also be computed form the axial neutron flux distribution.
US08803074B2
An electromagnetic radiation detection device including multiple elementary detectors grouped into one or more sub-assemblies each including several elementary detectors, where each elementary detector is connected by an interconnection to an impedance-matching device. The impedance-matching device is common to all the elementary detectors of a single sub-assembly, in each sub-assembly the interconnections have roughly the same resistance value.
US08803071B2
An apparatus including a housing defining at least one interior cavity; at least one optical sensor located within the at least one interior cavity of the housing adjacent a first portion of the housing; wherein the first portion of the housing includes a plurality of distributed optical windows through the housing. A housing part of an apparatus including a housing wall comprising a plurality of distributed micro-windows through the housing wall.
US08803065B2
Pulsed operation of a light barrier that can be operated in a normal mode and in a compensation mode includes repeating a cycle of transmitting electromagnetic radiation over a transmission period recording measured radiation values at various measurement times and establishing whether extraneous light is incident on the detector by examining a measured value curve of the recorded measured radiation values. The respectively next cycle in the normal mode being run through when no extraneous light is incident, and in the compensation mode when extraneous light is incident, at least one compensation measure being carried out in the compensation mode in order to compensate the influence of extraneous light.
US08803061B2
Circuitry and method for collecting image array data in which pixels are addressed and dynamically clamped separately. In accordance with one embodiment, pixels are addressed and clamped during different time intervals, thereby allowing faster pixel data readout while still allowing sufficient time to remove all pixel charges.
US08803059B2
A sensor and a corresponding method for the determination of the incidence angle of a radiation source are provided. The sensor has a diode assembly of avalanche photodiodes in a semiconductor layer and an application specific integrated circuit, a distance layer, an aperture structure located on the distance layer, and contacts for electrically connecting the sensor. The layers and structures are positioned directly on top of each other and match in their shape, size or thickness.
US08803053B2
A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.
US08803045B2
A cavity divider is provided for use within an appliance cavity to partition the appliance cavity into a plurality of sub-cavities. The appliance cavity has a sending coil. The cavity divider comprises a pick-up coil and a heating element, whereby the sending coil is configured to be inductively coupled to the pick-up coil, whereby an electrical current generated in the pick-up coil provides power to the heating element.
US08803041B2
A flow heater (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) with a tube arrangement including at least one tube (105, 106, 205, 206, 305, 306, 404, 405, 406) for passing through a fluid to be heated or a plurality of fluids to be heated, and with a heater with a metal jacket, especially with a tubular heating body (102, 202, 302, 402, 502), in which the tubes (105, 106, 205, 206, 304, 305, 306, 404, 405, 406, 505) surround the heater. At least in partial areas of the heater, wall sections (113, 114, 213, 214, 311, 312, 313, 411, 412, 413, 513) of the tube arrangement (105, 106, 205, 206, 304, 305, 306, 404, 405, 406), which wall sections face the heater, are adapted to an outer contour of the heater, which heater may or may not include a heat transport tube (117, 317, 517), so that the wall sections are in flush contact with sections of this outer contour. The tube arrangement (105, 106, 205, 206, 304, 305, 306, 404, 405, 406, 505) is connected together and/or with the heater by a connection device. A process for manufacturing such a flow heater is also provided.
US08803037B2
A steering wheel is provided and may include an armature having a rim and a coating at least partially surrounding the rim. A pair of electrodes may be respectively disposed within a pair of grooves formed in the coating. A polymer paint may be disposed on the coating and may include a plurality of carbon filaments that receive voltage from at least one of the pair of electrodes to selectively generate heat.
US08803035B2
An equalizing mechanism of a welding apparatus connects an apparatus body and a fixed bracket, and includes a fixed member on the fixed bracket, and a pressure shaft on an apparatus body close to a bottom face of the fixed member. A cutout is at a position facing the fixed member A movable member on the apparatus body accommodates the fixed member. A restrictive member located by side faces of the fixed member and the movable member restricts relative movement thereof to a direction parallel to the pressure shaft. A driven lever is supported by a front portion of the fixed member to abut on an inner front face of the movable member at one end and abut on the pressure shaft at an other end. A spring between a back portion of the fixed member and an inner back face of the movable member presses the two members to move away from each other.
US08803030B1
A system for removal of slag during laser cutting of a hypotube by a laser cutting system may include a cooling system and a cooling fluid inlet regulator. The cooling system may be configured to be coupled to a laser nozzle of a laser cutting system. The cooling system may include a supply of gas and a gas inflow valve configured to regulate the gas that flows into the laser nozzle from the supply of gas. The cooling fluid inlet regulator may be configured to inject cooling fluid into an inner lumen of a hypotube during laser cutting by the laser cutting system at a velocity configured to facilitate removal of slag generated during the laser cutting of the hypotube. The cooling fluid inlet regulator may be configured to cool the hypotube during the laser cutting.
US08803021B2
A switch unit for a DC circuit is disclosed, which includes a first switch contact, and a second switch contact, which is movable between a first position, wherein the first switch contact contacts the second switch contact, and a second position, wherein the second switch contact is separated from the first switch contact. A positioning element to position an arc chute on the switch unit, the arc chute comprises a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates, the positioning element arranged to guide an arc, which is created between the first switch contact and the second switch contact, into the arc chute in an arc displacement direction in order to be extinguished. At least one gas emitting element, wherein at an interruption operation of the circuit breaker at its nominal current, the arc between the first switch contact and the second switch contact vaporizes a portion of the gas emitting layer.
US08803020B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting leaded pieces of glass in a single-layer material flow of objects composed predominantly of waste glass, with the objects being irradiated with substantially monochromatic UV light (3) and the fluorescent light resulting therefrom being detected.It is provided therein that the object is additionally irradiated with visible or infrared light (4); the transmission light of the visible or infrared light (4) is detected after the passage through the object; and an object is defined as containing lead if both the fluorescent light for at least one predetermined wavelength range corresponding to the fluorescence of leaded glasses is present in a predetermined intensity range and also transmission light in a predetermined intensity range with an intensity of larger zero.
US08803019B2
Disclosure is an electrode array of a touch panel, which includes a plurality of rhombus-shaped electrodes, dumbbell-shaped electrodes, and bridge wires. The rhombus-shaped electrodes are arranged along a first direction and interconnected in the first direction. The dumbbell-shaped electrodes are arranged along a second direction. Each dumbbell-shaped electrode has a first enlarged part, a second enlarged part, and a narrow part. Here, each rhombus-shaped electrode is disposed between two adjacent dumbbell-shaped electrodes along the second direction. The bridge wires are used for electrically coupling the two first enlarged parts and the two second enlarged parts of the two adjacent dumbbell-shaped electrodes, respectively. The production reliability of the present invention is increased according to the dumbbell-shaped electrodes.
US08803017B2
A push-button switch comprises a lower housing, an upper housing, four terminals, a spring, a driven wheel, and a driving wheel. The terminals are integrally molded with the upper housing and only the contact portions thereof are exposed, such that the movable contacts of an annular conductive plate face upward and remain hovering for the annular conductive plate rotating smoothly before the annular conductive plate contacts with the terminals in order to avoid a deformation and an impact damage between the terminals and the tactics contacts.
US08803005B2
Certain embodiments herein are described to protect electronic equipment from electromagnetic interference (EMI). A cabinet and one or more associated input/output panels may be configured to block EMI from entering the interior of the cabinet where electronic equipment may be stored. The input/output panel may include a printed circuit board, an input/output header, and an input/output connector that may be configured to pass electronic signals transmitted via cables, for example, from one side of the input/output panel to another without accompanying EMI. Certain materials and components included on the printed circuit board may assist in deflecting or absorbing EMI so that it does not enter the cabinet. For example, one or more filters may also be mounted onto the printed circuit board to further filter out unwanted EMI.
US08802997B2
Disclosed is a PCB having multiple layers of heavy copper. A prepreg having a nonwoven glass web substrate is used alone or together with another prepreg having a glass fabric substrate so that the space between heavy copper, which is comparable to a thick film, can be filled efficiently without creating voids. The PCB includes a copper clad laminate having first copper patterned on one surface or both surfaces of a core substrate; at least one first prepreg laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the copper clad laminate, nonwoven glass web being used as the substrate of the first prepreg; at least one second prepreg laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the first prepreg, glass fabric being used as a substrate of the second prepreg; and second copper laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the second prepreg.
US08802985B2
Various embodiments of the apparatus and/or methods are described for routing power to a wall-mounted appliance, particularly for routing electrical wiring and audio/video cabling up through a wall to power and communicate with a wall-mounted presentation device. The apparatus and systems include input and output enclosures with wiring therebetween and mechanisms for mounting the input and output enclosures adjacent to pre-cut wall openings. There exists at least one electrical input connector, disposed within the input enclosure, configured to electrically couple with a power source, and at least one electrical output connector, disposed within the output enclosure, configured to electrically couple with a wall-mounted appliance.
US08802976B2
The present invention is a dye-sensitized solar cell including a working electrode having a conductive substrate that is capable of transmitting light, and a porous oxide semiconductor layer that is provided on the conductive substrate; a counter electrode that is provided to face the porous oxide semiconductor layer of the working electrode; a photosensitizing dye that is supported in the porous oxide semiconductor layer of the working electrode; and an electrolyte that is disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode, in which solar cell the average particle size of the entirety of the semiconductor particles that constitute the porous oxide semiconductor layer is 100 nm or less, the electrolyte contains inorganic particles and is gelled by the inorganic particles, and the reflectance of the electrolyte is higher than the reflectance of the porous oxide semiconductor layer.
US08802973B2
A solar battery according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of solar battery cells formed on a first area of a substrate to include a rear electrode pattern, a light-absorbing layer, a buffer layer and a front electrode layer respectively; a metal film pattern formed on a second area of the substrate to electrically connect to each a plurality of solar battery cells and space each other; and a connection unit formed between the mutually spaced metal film patterns.
US08802970B2
Formulations and methods of making solar cell contacts and cells therewith are disclosed. The invention provides a photovoltaic cell comprising a front contact, a back contact, and a rear contact. The back contact comprises, prior to firing, a passivating layer onto which is applied a paste, comprising aluminum, a glass component, wherein the aluminum paste comprises, aluminum, another optional metal, a glass component, and a vehicle. The back contact comprises, prior to firing, a passivating layer onto which is applied an aluminum paste, wherein the aluminum paste comprises aluminum, a glass component, and a vehicle.
US08802962B2
The present invention is a device for use on a playing surface by a musician using a foot to generate an electrical signal indicative of a bass drum. The device generally comprises a body having a horizontally disposed base, a pivot body secured to the bottom surface of the base, and a strike body secured to the base. The pivot body is adapted to rest upon playing surface allowing body to pivot relative to the playing surface between a first position where the strike body is off the playing surface and a second position where the strike body hits or impacts the playing surface. The device further comprises electronic sensing circuitry adapted to generate an electrical signal indicative of a base drum in response to the strike body hitting the playing surface.
US08802952B2
A keyboard device includes plural white and black keys 11w,11b that rock according to a key depression/release operation. Positions of key support portions 13w,13b supporting the plural white and black keys 11w,11b in the longitudinal direction are set to be different from one another. The keyboard device also includes hammers 16w,16b that rock with the rocking movement of the plural white and black keys 11w,11b. The plural white and black keys 11w, 11b include drive units 11w1, 11b1 that drive the hammers 16w, 16b respectively. The pivot center of the hammer 16b is located posterior to the pivot center of the hammer 16w. An upper-limit stopper 21 and a lower-limit stopper 20, which restrict the rocking movement of the hammers 16w, 16b are provided to extend in the lateral direction.
US08802949B2
A system for altering the pitch produced by a reed of a reeded instrument. The system comprises a reed having a first portion structured to be coupled to the instrument and a second portion generally free to vibrate and a magnet adjustably disposed adjacent the reed. The reed comprises a magnetic material.
US08802940B2
An improved Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivar having a fruit characterized by a relatively thin skin in comparison to other Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivars, such that mechanized peeling of fruit results in an average recovery, excluding skin, seed, and placenta, that is at least 5% higher in comparison to the peeling of an existing Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivar. The improved cultivar further is characterized by a mature seed content of less than 20 pounds per 1000 pounds of fruit and by fruit that is readily de-stemmed by mechanized de-stemming.
US08802931B2
The present invention provides transgenic plants transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella plasma membrane (PM)-ATPase. The transgenic plant has increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant. The present invention also provides nucleic acids encoding a chimeric PM-ATPase, which comprise a first portion encoding a plant PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof, and a second portion encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof. The present invention also discloses a method of producing a transgenic plant having an increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant, a method of modifying a plant capacity to survive salt shock, and a method of modifying plant recovery after exposure to salt stress, by introducing into one or more cells of a plant an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase. Also provided by the present invention are plant cells comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase, and plant seeds and progeny obtained from the transgenic plants.
US08802926B2
The subject invention pertains to novel mutant polynucleotide molecules that encode enzymes that have increased heat stability. These polynucleotides, when expressed in plants, result in increased yield in plants grown under conditions of heat stress. The polynucleotide molecules of the subject invention encode maize endosperm ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) and soluble starch synthase (SSS) enzyme activities. Plants and plant tissue bred to contain, or transformed with, the mutant polynucleotides, and expressing the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides, are also contemplated by the present invention. The subject invention also concerns methods for isolating polynucleotides and polypeptides contemplated within the scope of the invention. Methods for increasing yield in plants grown under conditions of heat stress are also provided.
US08802917B2
An absorbent article comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber mounted between the top sheet and the back sheet. A heat absorbing material is provided inside the absorber, and depressions and projections are formed on that front side of the top sheet which faces the human body.
US08802914B2
A process for separating para-xylene from a plurality of xylene isomers, wherein the process introduces at a first feed point a first mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a first adsorptive separation unit to produce a first para-xylene enriched stream and a first raffinate stream, and introduces a second mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a second adsorptive separation unit to produce a second raffinate stream. The process feeds both the first raffinate stream and the second raffinate stream into a raffinate column. The process further introduces an extract stream from the second adsorptive separation unit into a first input of a split extract column comprising an internal partition defining a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone.
US08802909B2
A method for improving productivity and process stability in styrene monomer manufacturing system using a reaction system having multiple reactors connected in series, which can prevent destruction of the embedded catalyst and bending of a screen which supports catalyst and achieve homogeneous catalyst inactivation during the reaction by divergence of some portions of the feed containing steam and ethylbenzene and injection thereof into a certain point of the system.
US08802908B2
Process and systems for alkane bromination and, in one or more embodiments, to separate, parallel methane and higher alkanes bromination in a bromine-based process. An embodiment discloses a bromine-based process for converting alkanes to liquid hydrocarbons that includes alkanes bromination, the process comprising: brominating a methane stream comprising methane and having less than about 2 mol % of ethane to form methane bromination products comprising brominated methane and a first fraction of hydrogen bromide; separately brominating a C2+ alkane stream comprising an alkane having 2 or more carbon atoms to form C2+ methane bromination products comprising brominated alkanes having 2 or more carbon atoms and a second fraction of hydrogen bromide; and catalytically reacting at least a portion of the brominated methane and the brominated alkanes to form higher molecular hydrocarbons.
US08802906B2
Described is an apparatus and method for recovery of energy and by-products from automobile and truck tires. The tires are heated in an oxygen poor environment, and the off gases are condensed to recover a liquid oil product and compressible natural gas. The tires are reduces to ash and steel, both of which can be feed streams for other processes. The apparatus includes a condenser with cooled plates, and oil recovery structures.
US08802900B2
The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene glycol from ethylene. An ethylene glycol stream comprises inorganic chloride contaminants and the process comprises steps of converting the inorganic chloride contaminants to 2-chloroethanol by reaction with ethylene oxide in one or more dehydration columns, and removing 2-chloroethanol in a waste water stream.
US08802898B2
Isomerization of β-keto-allenes of the general formula I wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, in particular hydrogen or methyl; R2 is hydrogen or methyl; R3 is hydrogen or methyl, in particular methyl and R4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 1-37 carbon atoms, into corresponding α,γ-dienones of formula II by treatment with a basic ion exchange resin.
US08802894B2
A process for preparing an aqueous solution of a methylglycine-N,N-diacetic acid trialkali metal salt at a high yield and purity by Strecker synthesis, the process including: reacting an aqueous solution containing α-alanine with formaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid, to obtain α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile in one reaction unit; and saponification of the α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile with a base, to obtain the methylglycine-N,N-diacetic acid trialkali metal salt, wherein the α-alanine is partially neutralized and the addition of formaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid are controlled such that a concentration of free hydrocyanic acid in the liquid reaction mixture at any time is limited such that secondary reactions that produce formaldehyde cyanohydrin, consecutive reactions of formaldehyde cyanohydrin, and the polymerization of hydrocyanic acid, only occur insofar as the specification requirements, such as nitrilotriacetic acid content and color, for methylglycine-N,N-diacetic acid trialkali metal salts are observed.
US08802892B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, which are functionalized phenolic compounds, and polymers formed from the same. Ar—[O—(X)p—R′]q I Polymers formed from the functionalized phenolics are expected to have controllable degradation profiles, enabling them to release an active component over a desired time range. The polymers are also expected to be useful in a variety of medical applications.
US08802885B2
The present invention relates to processes for preparing 3-methylsulfonylpropionitrile. The processes provide a good yield and a good purity of the final product and provide a controllable reaction. The present invention also relates to a crystalline form of 3-methylsulfonylpropionitrile having X-ray diffraction peaks at 13.9±0.1, 19.2±0.1, 20.0±0.1, 22.5±0.1, 23.2±0.1, 25.7±0.1, 28.1±0.1, 29.9±0.1, and 30.6±0.1 degrees 2θ, and wherein the most intense peak is the peak at 13.9±0.1 degrees 2θ.
US08802879B2
The invention describes process for demetallation of vegetable oils and animal fats to reduce metal content below 1 ppm to make them suitable for hydroprocessing feedstocks. The process comprises acid treatment with very low concentration of acids, utilizing synergistic effect of phosphoric acid and citric acid, followed by counter-current treatment with clay without intermediate step of water washing and treatment with ion exchange resin.
US08802878B2
A process for producing fatty acid methyl esters includes mixing an alcohol with a feedstock oil to prepare an alcohol/oil mixture, then reacting the alcohol/oil mixture using a first heterogeneous catalyst in an acid esterification process to produce a glycerin-containing product. The glycerin is separated from the glycerin-containing product using a coalescer to produce a biodiesel-containing feedstock and glycerin. Biodiesel is separated from the biodiesel-containing feedstock using a coalescer to produce unreacted feedstock and biodiesel. The unreacted feedstock is reacted using a second heterogeneous catalyst in a trans-esterification process to produce a glycerin-biodiesel-methanol mixture. Biodiesel and glycerin are separated in separate streams from the glycerin-biodiesel-methanol mixture, using a coalescer, to produce additional glycerin and additional biodiesel.
US08802877B2
The present invention refers to a process for modifying epoxidized or non-modified vegetable oils. More specifically, it refers to the process through which vegetable oils and alcohols are converted into fatty acid alkyl esters through transesterification. The present invention also refers to the products obtained through the process disclosed herein.
US08802876B2
An effective process for producing fatty acids catalyzed by double metal cyanide complex or a supported group VIb transition metal oxide, wherein the catalyst is stable and reusable.
US08802875B2
Novel synthetic routes, which are highly applicable for industrial preparation of therapeutically beneficial oxidized phospholipids are disclosed. Particularly, novel methods for efficiently preparing compounds having a glycerolic backbone and one or more oxidized moieties attached to the glycerolic backbone, which are devoid of column chromatography are disclosed. Further disclosed are novel methods of introducing phosphorous-containing moieties such as phosphate moieties to compounds having glycerolic backbone and intermediates formed thereby.
US08802855B2
A method for preparation of iloperidone is provided which comprises reacting 6-fluoro-3-(4-piperidinyl)-1,2-benzoisoxazole hydrochloride with 1-[4-(3-chloropropoxyl)-3-methoxyphenyl]ethyl ketone in an inorganic alkaline aqueous solution. A crystallization method of iloperidone is also provided which comprises adding seed crystal to the iloperidone solution in ethyl acetate, and then iloperidone crystal is obtained with high purity by controlling the temperature and the stirring speed.
US08802852B2
Novel mono-azide substituted rylene-imide derivatives, their use in methods for the detection of analytes and reagents kits for the detection of analytes comprising said novel mono-azide substituted rylene-imide derivatives.
US08802847B2
The present application relates to a novel and efficient process for preparing novel substituted 5-fluoro-1H-pyrazolopyridines of the formula (VI) which are suitable as an intermediate for production of medicaments and for production of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders. More particularly, the 5-fluoro-1H-pyrazolopyridines of the formula (VI) are suitable for preparation of the compound of the formula (I) which serves for production of medicaments, for production of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US08802837B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides that are capable of killing tumor cells. The molecules comprise a targeting agent covalently attached to a channel-forming moiety. In a preferred embodiment, the channel-forming moiety comprises a colicin and the targeting agent is a reconstructed antibody mimetic derived from monoclone antibody against Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220.
US08802822B2
A polypeptide is provided that comprises an actinohivin variant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS: 4-12. The polypeptide can be provided as part of a fusion protein that includes the actinohivin variant polypeptide and either a fragment crystallizable domain of an antibody (Fc), a fragment antigen-binding domain of an antibody (Fab), or a single chain variable fragment of an antibody (scFv). Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides are also provided along with vectors and plant cells capable of expressing the polypeptides. Methods of treating an infection of a subject by an enveloped virus are further provided and include administering an effective amount of the polypeptides to a subject.
US08802810B2
A method for manufacturing a solution of a diacid and diamine salt for manufacturing polyamide is described. A method for manufacturing an aqueous solution of diacid and diamine salts produced by mixing at least two diacids and at least one diamine, with a weight concentration of salt between 40% and 70%, including, in a first step, preparing an aqueous solution of diacid(s) and diamine(s) with a diacid/diamine mole ratio of less than 1 using one diacid and one diamine, and in a second step, adjusting the mole ratio of diacids/diamine(s) to a value of between 0.9 and 1.1, and fixing the weight concentration of salt by adding another diacid and, optionally, additional water and/or diamine is also described.
US08802807B2
Polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer and method for its manufacture. The hybrid polymer has the form of an inorganic core carrying organic branches. The core is first prepared by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of a silane with a structure: X—B—Si(—Y)3 in which X═NP1R2, while R1, R2 are chosen among hydrogen, alkyl and aryl, or R1, R2 are chosen among condensation products, addition products of one or more type of chemical substances such as acids, alcohols, phenols, amines, aldehydes or epoxides. B is a linkage group chosen among alkylene and arylene which may include oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, silicon and boron. Y is chosen among hydrolyzable residues such as alkoxy, carboxyl, and halogen. The organic branches are developed by substituting N—H hydrogen atoms in the X—B group by reactions that are typical for primary and secondary amines, and/or by adding an acid that causes an addition to the N atoms of the X—B group in the core. Specific uses of the hybrid polymers are also indicated.
US08802800B2
A production method for a water-absorbent resin, comprising a polymerization step for obtaining hydrogel by subjecting a monomer aqueous solution to a polymerization reaction, and a drying step for drying the hydrogel, wherein drying in the drying step is performed using a continuous through-flow belt-type drying machine, the pore opening rate of the through-flow belt in the continuous through-flow belt-type drying machine is 20 to 50%, the solid content of the hydrogel supplied to the drying step is 35% by weight or more, and the area occupancy rate of the hydrogel is 85 to 100% relative to the through-flow belt.
US08802796B2
A catalyst and/or precatalyst for olefin oligomerization comprising one or more coordination complexes having one or more central palladium metal atoms. Each palladium atom is bonded to four ligand donor atoms. Two of the donor atoms are group 16 elements and two of the donor atoms are group 15 elements. Also provided are neutral or cationic coordination complex dimers, so that the two palladium atoms are both bonded to one or two donor atoms from group 16, and each palladium atom is bonded to two donor atoms from group 15. In some instances, each of the two group 16 donor atoms are oxygen and each of the four group 15 donor atoms are nitrogen.
US08802794B2
Interlock for use in a process for degassing of a polymer powder in a degassing vessel. The interlock includes the steps of 1. measuring the temperature of the polymer powder within or exiting the degassing vessel, 2. comparing the measurement value to a threshold value in order to ascertain whether it is lower than the threshold value or not, and 3. if the measured temperature is lower than the threshold value taking one or more actions to reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons in the polymer powder exiting the degassing vessel and/or to stop the polymer powder withdrawal from that degassing vessel.
US08802791B2
An abrasive product includes a plurality of abrasive particles and a resin cured with a polythiol group. A method of preparing the abrasive product includes contacting the plurality of abrasive particles with a curable composition that includes a resin and a polythiol group, and curing the curable composition to produce the abrasive product. A method of abrading a work surface includes applying an abrasive product to a work surface in an abrading motion to remove a portion of the work surface. A curable composition includes a formaldehyde resin and a polythiol group. A formaldehyde resin is crosslinked by a polythiol group. A method of crosslinking the formaldehyde resin includes reacting the polythiol group with the formaldehyde resin.
US08802789B2
A process for producing a solution blend of a polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK). The PBI is mixed with sulfuric acid at a temperature between 40° C. and 80° C. for 30 minutes to 2 hours to produce a PBI solution then cooled to room temperature to form a cooled PBI solution. Then PEKK is added to the cooled PBI solution to form a mixture and that mixture is stirred from 30 minutes to 2 hours at room temperature to form a stirred mixture. The stirred mixture is poured into an excess of water being stirred swiftly to form an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture is filtered to produce a blend. The blend is washed with water and dried. The resulting blend can yield a blend in all proportion from 1/99 PBI/PEKK to 99/1 PBI/PEKK.
US08802780B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an article, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a component (i) which comprises a blend of (a1) an unsaturated first polyolefin having a certain total amount m1 of carbon-carbon double bonds/1000 carbon atoms, (a2) a crosslinking agent, (a3) optionally an unsaturated low molecular weight compound having a certain total amount m2 carbon-carbon double bonds/1000 carbon atoms, (b) providing a component (ii) which comprises a second polymer having a certain total amount m3 of carbon-carbon double bonds/1000 carbon atoms, wherein m1, m2 and m3 satisfy a certain relationship, (c) forming a blend of component (i) and component (ii) wherein the weight ratio of the component (i) to the component (ii) is within the range of 10:90 to 99:1, (d) applying one or more layers of the blend onto a substrate.
US08802778B2
The invention provides golf ball materials which include, in admixture, (A) an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound, (B) one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of multi-component polyamides, and (C) an acid-containing polymer, and additionally includes, if the oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound (A) does not include a zinc cationic species, (D) a zinc ionomer. The invention also provides methods for preparing such golf ball materials, and golf balls made with the materials. The golf ball materials are multi-component polyamide blend compositions having an excellent flow and processability and a suitable hardness, making them ideal as materials for obtaining high-performance golf balls which are endowed with outstanding durability and scuff resistance without any loss in rebound resilience.
US08802774B2
Embodiments of the invention provide block composites comprising a soft copolymer, a hard polymer and a block copolymer having a soft segment and a hard segment, wherein the hard segment of the block copolymer is the same composition as the hard polymer in the block composite and the soft segment of the block copolymer is the same composition as the soft copolymer of the block composite and their use as impact modifiers.
US08802773B2
The present invention is directed compositions for delivery of RNA interference (RNAi) polynucleotides to cells in vivo. The compositions comprise amphipathic membrane active polyamines reversibly modified with enzyme cleavable dipeptide-amidobenzyl-carbonate masking agents. Modification masks membrane activity of the polymer while reversibility provides physiological responsiveness. The reversibly modified polyamines (dynamic polyconjugate or DPC) are further covalently linked to an RNAi polynucleotide or co-administered with a targeted RNAi polynucleotide-targeting molecule conjugate.
US08802772B2
A method for reducing the concentration of poly(aryl ether ketone) in an original polymer composition that is exposed to an aggressive chemical environment that is more aggressive against poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) than it is against the poly(aryl ether ketone) while maintaining or exceeding at least one of the original polymer composition's tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus retention ratio after exposure to the aggressive chemical environment.
US08802770B2
The present invention discloses a semicrystalline, thermoplastic polyurethane which is comprised of the reaction product of (1) a hydrophobic polyol, (2) a polyisocyanate, and (3) a linear chain extender containing 5 carbon atoms or 7 to 12 carbon atoms; wherein the hydrophobic polyol has a number average molecular weight which is within the range of about 1,000 to about 4,000; wherein the semicrystalline, thermoplastic polyurethane has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 50,000 to 1,000,000; and wherein the semicrystalline, thermoplastic polyurethane has a melting point which is within the range of 80° C. to 150° C. This hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane offers a unique array of characteristics that are highly desirable for utilization in manufacturing a variety of products. For instance, it can be used in overmolding soft grips onto consumer products, in adhesives, and in protective coatings.
US08802769B2
A stabilized composition containing a metal hydride of boron, including complex metal hydrides of boron, in a polyalkylsiloxane amorphous fumed silica mixture is provided. In a preferred embodiment the composition is a stabilized mixture of aluminum borohydride, polydimethylsiloxane and amorphous fumed silica. A method to prepare the stabilized mixture is also provided.
US08802768B2
A novel polymer composition is described comprising ethylene homopolymers and/or copolymers of ethylene with C3-C8-alpha-olefins which polymer composition has a density of from 0.940 to 0.949 g/cm3, a melt index (HLMI) according to DIN EN ISO 1133:2005, condition G at 190° C. and 21.6 kg, of from 3 to 7 g/10 min. and a Hostalen Long Chain Branching Index (HLCBI) of from 3 to 8, and which polymer composition is produced by polymerisation with one or more Ziegler catalysts in a series of at least two polymerization reactors. The new polymer composition can in particular be used for blow moulding of intermediate bulk containers.
US08802764B2
The present invention provides a nucleating agents comprising: a) ethylene-acrylic acid ionomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid calcium ionomers and ethylene-acrylic acid zinc ionomers and combinations thereof; wherein the ionomers have a molecular weight between about 1000 and about 10000; b) talcum; and c) ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers. The present invention also provides plastic compositions comprising: a) nylon and b) a nucleating agent, as well as a processes of making such plastic compositions. The present invention also provides nucleating agents comprising only one or two of the above types of compounds, as well as plastic compositions comprising such nucleating agents and processes of making such a plastic compositions.
US08802752B2
A process for the production of a particle composition containing, at least one resin and at least one pigment is described, said process comprising the following steps: •extrusion of a mixture containing said at least one resin and said at least one pigment without induced heating; •subsequent extrusion, with induced heating, of the mixture obtained from the preceding extrusion; •granulation of the mixture thus obtained. With the abovementioned process it is possible to obtain a composition having granules with an average diameter less than 2 microns and a greater homogeneity than the known processes.
US08802745B2
The present invention relates to a porous resin bead containing a first aromatic monovinyl compound-divinyl compound-(meth)acrylonitrile-second aromatic monovinyl compound copolymer, in which the second aromatic monovinyl compound contains a group capable of binding with a carboxyl group by dehydration condensation reaction, and in which the porous resin bead has a swelling volume in acetonitrile of from 3 to 6 ml/g.
US08802739B2
Disclosed are low VOC defoaming agents comprising at least one active defoaming compound or combination of defoaming compounds, and a liquid carrier comprising one or more organic compounds having a viscosity of less than about 100 centistokes (cSt) at 40° C. as measured by ASTM D445, having a VOC content as measured by ASTM method D3960 “Standard Practice for Determining Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content of Paints and Related Coatings” of not greater than about 1% by weight.
US08802724B2
The invention described herein pertains to processes and compounds useful in the preparation of bis-tetrahydrofurans. The invention described herein also pertains to compounds useful for treating HIV infections.
US08802723B2
A metabolic syndrome relieving agent that is free from a problem of side effects and can be taken for a long term is provided. Aurapten is used as an agent for relieving a metabolic syndrome. Since aurapten has functions of activating PPARα and PPARγ, promoting the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes and inhibiting the generation of VLDLs in hepatic cells, it is possible to prevent or treat diseases such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity, visceral fat obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis and the like and thus prevent or treat the metabolic syndrome. Also, as understood from the fact that citrus fruits such as a hassaku orange, a sweet summer orange or the like containing aurapten have been eaten for many years, they have no problems in terms of safety and have a low calorie content, and therefore, they can be taken for a long term. Further, since aurapten is tasteless and odorless, it does not impair the unique taste of a food when added to this food, so that it can be added to foods and taken.
US08802708B2
The present invention provides a fungicide composition having stable and high harmful bio-organism control effect on crop plants infected with plant diseases due to plant diseases. Specifically, the present invention provides a fungicide composition for agricultural or horticultural use, which comprises: (a) an indole compound represented by formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents C1-4 alkyl, etc.; Y represents H, halogen, etc.; R3 and R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl, etc.; R5, R6, R7 and R8 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl, etc., and (b) at least other fungicide selected from the group consisting of Dimethomorph, Chlorothalonil, a copper compound, Iprovalicarb, Zoxamide, phosphorous acid or a salt thereof, Fluazinam, Cyazofamid, Flumorph, Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, Ethaboxam, Methalaxyl-M and Benalaxyl-M.
US08802703B2
The invention provides novel arylamino N-heteroaryl MEK inhibitors of Formula (I): Such compounds are MEK inhibitors that are useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation. Also disclosed is the treatment of a hyperproliferative disease in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US08802698B2
The invention provides 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octyl-2-hydroxybenzamide compounds of formula (I): wherein R2, R7, and m are defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, that are antagonists at the mu opioid receptor. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat conditions associated with mu opioid receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08802696B2
Novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinyl-6-yl-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines are described in the present invention. These compounds and crystalline forms SA1 and N-2 are used in the treatment of various neurological and physiological disorders. Methods of making these compounds and crystalline forms SA-1 and N-2 are also described in the present invention.
US08802691B2
The invention relates to the use of domperidone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof at low doses to prevent and/or treat a disease associated with an alteration of the immune response such as Leishmaniosis.
US08802685B2
Solid forms comprising 3-(5-amino-2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione, compositions comprising the solid forms, methods of making the solid forms and methods of their uses are disclosed.
US08802684B2
Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 is C1-6alkylamino, or C1-6alkoxy; R2 is a group having the structure: n is an integer having a value of 1 to 6; Het is a 6-membered saturated heterocycle containing one nitrogen atom wherein Het is attached to the —(CH2)n— moiety at any carbon atom of the heterocycle; R3 is hydrogen, C1-8alkyl, or C3-7cycloalkylC0-6alkyl; and salts thereof are inducers of human interferon. Compounds which induce human interferon may be useful in the treatment of various disorders, for example the treatment of allergic diseases and other inflammatory conditions for example allergic rhinitis and asthma, the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer, and may also be useful as vaccine adjuvants.
US08802679B2
Compounds of formula (I) defined herein exhibit VAP-1 inhibitory activity, and as a result, are useful for preventing and/or treating VAP-1-related diseases, in particular, diabetic nephropathy or diabetic macular edema, thereby completing the present invention.
US08802668B2
A method and medicament for treating mixed lineage leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia based acute myelogenous leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia based acute lymphoid leukemia; a non-MLL based chronic myeloproliferative disorder, or non-MLL based acute lymphoid leukemia is provided.
US08802664B2
The present patent application concerns new ligands of the H4-receptor of formula (I), their process of preparation and their therapeutic use.
US08802654B2
Herein are disclosed novel compounds according to Formula (I) and aggregates comprising such compounds. These aggregates are useful to treat and prevent ocular infections caused by a vims, which virus binds to terminal sialic residues present on the cell surface of the cell to be infected by the virus.
US08802653B2
A deodorant composition contains β-cyclodextrin, a fixative, a preservative, and a solvent.
US08802651B2
The present invention addresses the treatment of ocular conditions by the enhancement of lens regeneration. This is accomplished by the administration of a high viscosity composition including a hyaluronic acid compound. Excess high viscosity composition may be removed by focal laser photophacoablation. Additionally, a collagen product may be injected within the lens capsule to improve lens cell proliferation and differentiation, and to improve the configuration, shape and structure of regenerated lenses. Various embodiments involving the enhancement of lens regeneration are described. For example, lens regeneration may be enhanced by filling the lens capsule bag with the inventive hyaluronic acid compound; by inserting at least one collagen patch in the lens capsule; and/or by injecting a collagen-based product into the lens capsule.
US08802648B2
The present invention is directed to the identification of a novel repressor located between ˜1.2 kb to ˜1.6 kb from the translation start site of the IFN-λ1 promoter. The present invention provides a method of using siRNAs against ZEB1 (binds to the repressor region) and BLIMP-1 (binds outside the repressor region) and increases the promoter activity of IFN-λ1 (i.e., increases the production of IFN-λ1 protein). siRNAs against ZEB1 mRNA or BLIMP-1 mRNA increase IFN-λ1 gene activity. There is provided a therapeutic application of siRNAs against ZEB1 and BLIMP-1 mRNAs in treating a mammal (including a human) by increasing the production of IFN-λ1 protein that promotes an anti-viral response as well as treats asthma diseases.
US08802647B2
The subject invention concerns a method of inhibiting an RNA virus infection within a patient by increasing the amount of 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 AS) activity within the patient. Preferably, the preventative and therapeutic methods of the present invention involve administering a nucleotide encoding 2-5 AS, or at least one catalytically active fragment thereof, such as the p40, p69, p100 subunits, to a patient in need thereof. The present inventors have determined that overexpression of 2-5AS causes a reduction in epithelial cell damage, reduction in infiltration of mononuclear cells in the peribronchiolar and perivascular regions, and reduction in thickening of the septa in the lungs. Levels of chemokines, such as MIP1-α, are also reduced upon overexpression of 2-5AS. The subject invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions containing a nucleotide sequence encoding 2-5 AS and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as vectors for delivery of the 2-5 AS nucleotide sequence.
US08802644B2
The invention features a cationic lipid of formula I, an improved lipid formulation comprising a cationic lipid of formula I and corresponding methods of use. Also disclosed are targeting lipids, and specific lipid formulations comprising such targeting lipids.
US08802639B2
The instant application relates to methods and reagents for modulating the Hedgehog signaling pathway using RNA interference technology (RNAi). The application provides potential targets of the Hedgehog RNAi, methods to identify additional Hedgehog signaling pathway components, methods to inhibit Hedgehog signaling targets using siRNA, and their uses in the treatment of a number of disease conditions.
US08802638B1
The flavonoid luteolin reduces amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) generation. Luteolin is also a selective GSK-3 inhibitor that 1) decreases amyloidogenic γ-secretase APP processing, and 2) promotes presenilin 1 (PS1) carboxyl-terminal fragment (CTF) phosphorylation. GSK-3α activity is essential for both PS1 CTF phosphorylation states and PS1-APP interaction. These findings were validated in vivo, using a Tg2576 Alzheimer's Disease model system. Luteolin treatment decreased soluble Aβ levels, reduced GSK-3 activity, and disrupted PS1-APP association. In addition, Tg2576 mice treated with diosmin, a glycoside of a flavone structurally and functionally similar to luteolin (diosmetin), displayed significantly reduced Aβ pathology as well.
US08802635B2
Potent compounds having combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation and metal chelating properties are described. Short peptides having these properties, and methods and uses of such short peptides in clinical and cosmetic applications are described.
US08802629B1
The invention relates to methods of promoting the expression of pro-angiogenic factors and decreasing the expression of anti-angiogenic and fibrotic factors in a cell, as well as the treatment of cardiomyopathy and wounds.
US08802617B2
The present invention includes a cleaning composition that includes at least one alkalinity source, at least one surfactant, water and at least one polyglycerol graft polymer. The polyglycerol graft polymer includes a polyglycerol and a residue of at least one carboxylic acid or carboxylate containing compound in an amount less than or equal to about 40% by weight of the polyglycerol graft polymer.
US08802616B2
A detergent composition having at least two components. The first component is from 8 to 50 wt % surfactants. The second component is from 0.05 to 4 wt % of a polymer which has polymerized residues of 40 to 80 wt % C1-C4 alkyl acrylates, 20 to 52 wt % C3-C6 carboxylic acid monomers, and 0 to 10 wt % of monomers having an alkyl group having at least ten carbon atoms.
US08802613B2
The present invention is directed to a stabilized hydrogen peroxide solution containing stabilizers that maintain relatively high hydrogen peroxide stability in both concentrated form and when formulated into a cleaning solution that has a pH above 6 and contains components that normally would have a destabilizing effect on the hydrogen peroxide. The stabilizers include a first cyclic amino methane diphosphonic acid compound stabilizer in combination with a second phosphonic acid based stabilizer (different from the cyclic amino methane diphosphonic acid compound), wherein the weight ratio of the first stabilizer to the second stabilizer is at least about 2:1.
US08802608B2
A composition for cleaning and corrosion inhibition which is used in a step of manufacturing a semiconductor device or a display device having a copper-containing metallic wiring is provided, wherein the corrosion inhibitor component is any one of pyrazole, a pyrazole derivative such as 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, a triazole derivative such as 1,2,4-triazole, an aminocarboxylic acid such as iminodiacetic acid or ethylenediaminedipropionic acid hydrochloride, or a disulfide compound such as diisopropyl disulfide or diethyl disulfide; and the cleaning agent component is any one of ammonium fluoride, tetramethylammonium fluoride, ammonium acetate, acetic acid, glyoxylic acid, oxalic acid, ascorbic acid, 1,2-diaminopropane or dimethylacetamide. Also, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device or the like using the composition for cleaning and corrosion inhibition is provided.
US08802605B2
A lubricant composition includes a base oil and one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s) having the formula; In this formula, R is a straight or branched chain C6-C18 alkyl group and n is a number of from 0 to 5. The lubricant composition can be utilized in a method for reducing corrosion of a steel article. The method includes the steps of providing the base oil and providing the one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s). The method also includes the step of combining the base oil and the one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s) to form the lubricant composition including less than about 0.1 weight percent of the one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s). The method further includes the step of applying the lubricant composition to the steel article wherein the steel article passes corrosion testing according to ASTM D 665 B.
US08802603B2
This invention relates to medical articles, such as a syringe assemblies, including a substrate having a coating on a surface thereof, the coating including: (1) at least one organopolysiloxane and (2) a deposition product applied to the at least one organopolysiloxane by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a composition including at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl acetate, ethylene oxide, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, acrylamide, acrylic acid, and mixtures thereof, and methods of making and using the same.
US08802601B2
A method of treating a sandstone-containing formation penetrated by a wellbore is carried out by forming a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid containing a hydrogen fluoride source and an amorphous silica precipitation inhibitor. The treatment fluid is introduced into the formation through the wellbore at a pressure below the fracture pressure of the formation to facilitate dissolution of formation materials, optionally as a single stage. The amorphous silica inhibitor may be a polycarboxylate and/or polycarboxylic acid, an organosilane or a phosphonate compound. The amorphous silica inhibitor may be capable of inhibiting precipitation of amorphous silica so that the treatment fluid contains at least about 500 ppm of silicon after at least about 100 minutes subsequent to the treatment fluid being introduced into the formation.
US08802592B2
The present invention relates to a resin composition for protective layer transfer sheets which includes a polyester resin produced by polycondensing a polyhydric alcohol component containing a hydrogenated bisphenol A in an amount of 30 mol % or more and a polycarboxylic acid component containing a benzenedicarboxylic acid in an amount of 50 mol % or more.
US08802590B2
An indium adsorbent is provided that is obtained by the following process. A hydrophilic polymer having a carboxyl group in which indium is incorporated in advance is caused to absorb an aqueous solution of a water-soluble monomer, a cross-linking agent, and a polymerization initiator, and an acid treatment is performed on a polymer obtained by polymerizing the water-soluble monomer, to obtain the indium adsorbent. The indium adsorbent has a template architecture with respect to indium. Accordingly, the indium adsorbent is capable of adsorbing indium with a high selectivity. An indium selection rate is 2.0 or more with respect to zinc.
US08802581B2
A glass that is down-drawable and ion exchangeable. The glass has a temperature T35kp at which the viscosity is 35 kilopoise. T35kp is less than the breakdown temperature Tbreakdown of zircon.
US08802578B2
A method for forming titanium nitride by PVD is disclosed, comprising: generating ions of a noble gas by glow discharge under a vacuum condition that a nitrogen gas and the noble gas are supplied; nitriding a surface of a wafer and a surface of a titanium target with the nitrogen gas; bombarding the surface of the titanium target with the ions of the noble gas after they are accelerated in an electric field so that titanium ions and titanium nitride are sputtered; and forming a titanium nitride layer by depositing titanium nitride on the surface of the wafer in a magnetic field, while titanium ions are injected into the surface of the wafer so that stress is introduced into the titanium nitride layer, wherein non-crystallization fraction of the titanium nitride layer and stress in the titanium nitride layer are increased by increasing kinetic energy of titanium ions which are injected into the surface of the wafer. In the method for forming titanium nitride by PVD according to the present disclosure, kinetic energy of titanium ions which are injected into the surface of the wafer is increased by controlling process parameters so that non-crystallization fraction of the titanium nitride layer and stress in the titanium nitride layer are increased.
US08802574B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein involves creating an overall target pattern that includes an odd-jogged feature with a crossover region that connects first and second line portions, wherein the crossover region has a first dimension in a first direction that is greater than a second dimension that is transverse to the first direction, decomposing the overall target pattern into a first sub-target pattern and a second sub-target pattern, wherein each of the sub-target patterns comprise a line portion and a first portion of the crossover region, and generating first and second sets of mask data corresponding to the first and second sub-target patterns, respectively.
US08802568B2
In a method for manufacturing a chemical sensor with multiple sensor cells, a substrate is provided and an expansion inhibitor is applied to the substrate for preventing a sensitive material to be applied to an area on the substrate for building a sensitive film of a sensor cell to expand from said area. The sensitive material is provided and the sensitive film is built by contactless dispensing the sensitive material to said area.
US08802567B2
In a plasma torch unit, copper rods forming a coil as a whole are disposed inside copper rod inserting holes formed in a quartz block so that the quartz block is cooled by water flowing inside the copper rod inserting holes and cooling water pipes. A plasma ejection port is formed on the lowermost portion of the torch unit. While a gas is being supplied into a space inside an elongated chamber, high-frequency power is supplied to the copper rods to generate plasma in the space inside the elongated chamber so that the plasma is applied to a substrate.
US08802557B2
A method for forming a micro bump includes forming a first nano-particle layer on a substrate and forming a second nano-particle layer on the first nano-particle layer. The first and second nano-particle layers include a plurality of first nano particles and a plurality of second nano particles, respectively. The method further includes irradiating a laser beam onto the second nano-particle layer, where the laser beam penetrates through the second nano-particle layer and is at least partially absorbed by at least some of the first nano particles to generate heat. The first nano particles and the second nano particles have different absorption rates with respect to the laser beam.
US08802552B2
A method for manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of: forming a gate oxide film on an active layer, forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film, forming a source contact electrode in ohmic contact with the active layer, and forming an interlayer insulating film made of silicon dioxide so as to cover the gate electrode after the source contact electrode is formed. The step of forming a source contact electrode includes the steps of forming a metal layer including aluminum so as to be in contact with the active layer, and alloying the metal layer.
US08802551B1
A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming first holes arranged along a first direction on an etch-target layer, forming dielectric patterns in the first holes, conformally forming a barrier layer on the dielectric patterns, forming a sacrificial layer on the barrier layer to define a first void, partially removing the sacrificial layer to expose the first void, anisotropically etching the barrier layer to form second holes below the first void, and etching portions of the etch-target layer located below the first and second holes to form contact holes. The first void may be formed on a first gap region confined by at least three of the dielectric patterns disposed adjacent to each other, and the sacrificial layer may include a material having a low conformality.
US08802550B2
First flash irradiation from flash lamps is performed on an upper surface of a semiconductor wafer supported on a temperature equalizing ring of a holder to cause the semiconductor wafer to jump up from the temperature equalizing ring into midair. While the semiconductor wafer is in midair above the temperature equalizing ring, second flash irradiation from the flash lamps is performed on the upper surface of the semiconductor wafer to increase the temperature of the upper surface of the semiconductor wafer to a treatment temperature. Cracking in the semiconductor wafer is prevented because the second flash irradiation is performed while the semiconductor wafer is in midair and subject to no restraints.
US08802547B2
A method of forming an amorphous silicon film includes: forming a seed layer on a surface of a base by heating the base and supplying an amino silane-based gas to the heated base, forming the amorphous silicon film with thickness for layer growth on the seed layer by heating the base and supplying a silane-based gas containing no amino group to the seed layer on the surface of the heated base, and decreasing a film thickness of the amorphous silicon film by etching the amorphous silicon film formed with thickness for layer growth.
US08802542B2
The invention pertains to a combination of a substrate and a wafer, wherein the substrate and the wafer are arranged parallel to one another and bonded together with the aid of an adhesive layer situated between the substrate and the wafer, and wherein the adhesive is chosen such that its adhesive properties are neutralized or at least diminished when a predetermined temperature is exceeded. According to the invention, the adhesive layer is only applied annularly between the substrate and the wafer in the edge region of the wafer.
US08802535B2
Techniques for fabricating a field effect transistor (FET) device having a doped core and an undoped or counter-doped epitaxial shell are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a FET device is provided. The method includes the following steps. A wafer is provided having a semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon germanium and silicon carbon. At least one fin core is formed in the wafer. Ion implantation is used to dope the fin core. Corners of the fin core are reshaped to make the corners rounded or faceted. An epitaxial shell is grown surrounding the fin core, wherein the epitaxial shell includes a semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon germanium and silicon carbon.
US08802532B2
Disclosed are example bipolar transistors capable of reducing the area of a collector, reducing the distance between a base and a collector, and/or reducing the number of ion implantation processes. A bipolar transistor may includes a trench formed by etching a portion of a semiconductor substrate. A first collector may be formed on the inner wall of the trench. A second collector may be formed inside the semiconductor substrate in the inner wall of the trench. A first isolation film may be formed on the sidewall of the first collector. An intrinsic base may be connected to the third collector. An extrinsic base may be formed on the intrinsic base and inside the first isolation film. A second isolation film may be formed on the inner wall of the extrinsic base. An emitter may be formed by burying a conductive material inside the second isolation film.
US08802527B1
A gate dielectric as formed includes a first interfacial dielectric layer and a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer containing a dielectric metal oxide. A polycrystalline semiconductor material layer is deposited on the high-k dielectric layer, and a second interfacial dielectric layer is formed at an interface between the polycrystalline semiconductor material layer and the high-k dielectric layer. A scavenging-metal-containing layer including a scavenging metal in an elemental form or in a metallic non-metal-element-containing compound is formed over the polycrystalline semiconductor material layer. A metallic compound such as a metallic nitride and a metallic carbide may be present above and/or over the scavenging-metal-containing layer. After formation of a gate stack by patterning, an anneal is performed, during which the oxygen in the interfacial dielectric layers diffuses into the scavenging-metal containing layer so that the thicknesses of the interfacial layers are reduced.
US08802520B2
In one implementation, a method of forming a field effect transistor includes etching an opening into source/drain area of a semiconductor substrate. The opening has a base comprising semiconductive material. After the etching, insulative material is formed within the opening over the semiconductive material base. The insulative material less than completely fills the opening and has a substantially uniform thickness across the opening. Semiconductive source/drain material is formed within the opening over the insulative material within the opening. A transistor gate is provided operatively proximate the semiconductive source/drain material. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US08802508B2
Forming a packaged semiconductor device includes placing a semiconductor die attached to a carrier into a mold cavity having an injection port, wherein the semiconductor die has an encapsulant exclusion region on a top surface of the semiconductor die within an outer perimeter of the top surface; and flowing an encapsulant over the semiconductor die and carrier from the injection port, wherein the encapsulant flows around the encapsulant exclusion region to surround the encapsulant exclusion region without covering the encapsulant exclusion region. The encapsulant exclusion region has a first length corresponding to a single longest distance across the encapsulant exclusion region, wherein the first length is aligned, within 30 degrees, to a line defined by a shortest distance between an entry point of the injection port into the mold cavity and an outer perimeter of the encapsulant exclusion region.
US08802503B2
An LED package with an extended top electrode and an extended bottom electrode is formed from a first metal and a second metal. An LED is on an inner end of the first metal. An outer end of the first metal has been bent upward twice 90 degrees to form a top flat as an extended top electrode of the package. An outer end of the second metal has been bent downward twice 90 degrees to form a bottom flat as an extended bottom electrode of the package. The LED and a bonding wire may be encapsulated with glue.
US08802502B2
A semiconductor device of an illustrative embodiment includes a die, a lead frame including a plurality of leads having substantial portions arranged in a lead plane and electrically connected to the die. Most preferably, the package includes at least a substantial portion of one conductive element arranged in a plane positioned adjacent the lead frame and substantially parallel to the lead plane, the conductive element being capacitively coupled to the leads such that the conductive element and at least one of the leads cooperatively define a controlled-impedance conduction path, and an encapsulant which encapsulates the leads and the conductive element. The leads and, desirably, the conductive element have respective connection regions which are not covered by the encapsulant.
US08802497B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that enable forming semiconductor chip connections. In one embodiment, the semiconductor chip includes a body having a polyhedron shape with a pair of opposing sides; and a solder member extending along a side that extends between the pair of opposing sides of the polyhedron shape.
US08802495B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package includes preparing a parent substrate including package board parts laterally spaced apart from each other, mounting a first chip including a through-via electrode on each of the package board parts, forming a first mold layer on the parent substrate having the first chips, planarizing the first mold layer to expose back sides of the first chips, etching the exposed back sides of the first chips to expose back sides of the through-via electrodes, forming a passivation layer on the planarized first mold layer, the etched back sides of the first chips, and the back sides of the through-via electrodes, and selectively removing the passivation layer to expose the back sides of the through-via electrodes.
US08802493B2
The contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor film and a metal film is reduced. A transistor that uses an oxide semiconductor film and has excellent on-state characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device capable of high-speed operation is provided. In a transistor that uses an oxide semiconductor film, the oxide semiconductor film is subjected to nitrogen plasma treatment. Thus, part of oxygen included in the oxide semiconductor film is replaced with nitrogen, so that an oxynitride region is formed. A metal film is formed in contact with the oxynitride region. The oxynitride region has lower resistance than the other region of the oxide semiconductor film. In addition, the oxynitride region is unlikely to form high-resistance metal oxide at the interface with the contacting metal film.
US08802490B2
Techniques related to nanocomposite dielectric materials are generally described herein. These techniques may be embodied in apparatuses, systems, methods and/or processes for making and using such material. An example process may include: providing a film having a plurality of nanoparticles and an organic medium; comminuting the film to form a particulate; and applying the particulate to a substrate. The example process may also include providing a nanoparticle film having nanoparticles and voids located between the nanoparticles; contacting the film with a vapor containing an organic material; and curing the organic material to form the nanocomposite dielectric film. Various described techniques may provide nanocomposite dielectric materials with superior nanoparticle dispersion which may result in improved dielectric properties.
US08802489B2
A device for depositing an organic material includes a substrate; a mask having an opening portion and a shield portion; a fixing member for fixing the substrate and the mask to each other; a deposition source comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction and configured to spray the organic material; and a plurality of shield plates near the plurality of nozzles on the deposition source. An angle θ between the substrate and a line extended from a distal end of one of the nozzles to a center of a distal end of a corresponding one of the shield plates is greater than or equal to a taper angle Φ of the shield portion of the mask.
US08802485B2
In the frame of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell a layer (3) of silicon compound is deposited on a structure (1). The yet uncovered surface (3a) is treated in a predetermined oxygen (O2) containing atmosphere which additionally contains a dopant (D). Thereby, the silicon compound layer is oxidized and doped in a thin surface area (5).
US08802476B2
Conventional “on-chip” or monolithically integrated thermocouples are very mechanically sensitive and are expensive to manufacture. Here, however, thermocouples are provided that employ different thicknesses of thermal insulators to help create thermal differentials within an integrated circuit. By using these thermal insulators, standard manufacturing processes can be used to lower cost, and the mechanical sensitivity of the thermocouple is greatly decreased. Additionally, other features (which can be included through the use of standard manufacturing processes) to help trap and dissipate heat appropriately.
US08802473B1
A method embodiment includes providing a MEMS wafer comprising an oxide layer, a MEMS substrate, a polysilicon layer. A carrier wafer comprising a first cavity formed using isotropic etching is bonded to the MEMS, wherein the first cavity is aligned with an exposed first portion of the polysilicon layer. The MEMS substrate is patterned, and portions of the sacrificial oxide layer are removed to form a first and second MEMS structure. A cap wafer including a second cavity is bonded to the MEMS wafer, wherein the bonding creates a first sealed cavity including the second cavity aligned to the first MEMS structure, and wherein the second MEMS structure is disposed between a second portion of the polysilicon layer and the cap wafer. Portions of the carrier wafer are removed so that first cavity acts as a channel to ambient pressure for the first MEMS structure.
US08802472B2
A pixel and a pixel array of an image sensor device of the present invention have small pixel sizes by resetting sensed charge using a diode built vertically above a substrate. The pixel and the pixel array also have low noise performance by using a JFET as a source follower transistor for sensing charge. The pixel includes a floating diffusion node configured to sense photo-generated charge, a reset diode configured to reset the floating diffusion node in response to a reset signal, and a junction field effect transistor configured to output a signal having an output voltage level corresponding to a charge level of the floating diffusion node.
US08802470B2
An optical device processing method including a protective layer includes forming a protective layer of an insulator on the front side of an optical device wafer so as to insulate at least the electrodes from each other, forming a groove on the front side of the wafer along each division line, forming a reflective film on the front side of the wafer to thereby form the reflective film on at least the side surfaces of the groove, removing the protective layer formed on the electrodes on the front side of the wafer to thereby expose the electrodes, and grinding a back side of the wafer to thereby reduce the thickness of the wafer to the finished thickness until the groove is exposed to the back side of the wafer to divide the wafer into individual optical device chips.
US08802465B2
Systems and methods for fabricating a light emitting diode include forming a multilayer epitaxial structure above a carrier substrate; depositing at least one metal layer above the multilayer epitaxial structure; removing the carrier substrate.
US08802458B2
A laser diode capable of independently driving each ridge section, and inhibiting rotation of a polarization angle resulting from a stress applied to the ridge section without lowering reliability and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A laser diode includes: three or more strip-like ridge sections in parallel with each other with a strip-like trench in between, including at least a lower cladding layer, an active layer, and an upper cladding layer in this order; an upper electrode on a top face of each ridge section, being electrically connected to the upper cladding layer; a wiring layer electrically connected to the upper electrode, in the air at least over the trench; and a pad electrode in a region different from regions of both the ridge section and the trench, being electrically connected to the upper electrode through the wiring layer.
US08802455B2
A process is provided for fabricating a wafer including a plurality of chips separated by scribe lines. The method includes locking at least one chip on the wafer using a secret key, and writing the secret key into at least one memory present on the wafer.
US08802450B2
Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.
US08802426B2
A device for assay can evenly develop solution, and performs highly accurate and sensitive measurement. A first device part (10) maintains a second insoluble carrier (12) and a third insoluble carrier (13) in such a manner that they overlap with each other at a detection portion (14) of a first insoluble carrier (11). These three carriers (11), (12) and (13) are housed not in contact with each other. A pressing unit (18) having a pressing surface (18a) that is parallel to the detection portion (14) is provided on an inner surface of the second device part (20) facing the detection portion (14). The pressing surface (18a) is displaced by being pressed toward the detection portion (14), and presses, from the upper side of the first insoluble carrier (11), the second insoluble carrier (12) and the third insoluble carrier (13) onto the first insoluble carrier (11). The first device part (10) and the second device part (20) are joined together.
US08802416B2
The present invention relates to a thermostable protease useful as an enzyme for industrial use, a gene encoding the same and a method of producing the enzyme by genetic engineering technique. More particularly, the present invention discloses a thermostable organic solvent tolerant protease and its code gene and application. The invention also discloses a method for preparing protease by isolating from Bacillus subtilis isolate Rand bacteria. The activity and stability of protease (preferably named Rand protease) at high temperature, and can be used in fields of washing agent industry, foodstuff industry, biological pharmacy and environmental biological technique.
US08802414B2
This document provides methods and materials related to reducing biofilms. For example, enzymes (e.g., glycosyl hydrolases), nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes, host cells containing nucleic acid encoding enzymes, and methods for using enzymes to reduce biofilms and infections associated with biofilms are provided.
US08802413B2
This invention relates to altered forms of members of the RNase A superfamily. An RNase A can be modified to be cytotoxic by altering its amino acid sequence so that it is not bound easily by the ribonuclease inhibitor while still retaining catalytic properties. While earlier work had identified some modifications to RNase A that would result in cytotoxicity, the use of the FADE algorithm for molecular interaction analysis has led to several other locations that were candidates for modification. Some of those modifications did result in RNase A variants with increase cytotoxicity.
US08802410B2
There is disclosed an analytical method and a sensor suitable for carrying out the method. More specifically, there is disclosed a method for preparing a mass sensitive chemical sensor capable of detecting binding analyte species to a surface comprising cells.
US08802407B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing isoprene hydrocarbons from cyanobacteria.
US08802406B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol from biomass, and in particular to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol using two separate fermentation step subjecting the biomass feedstock to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to 700° C. and so as to convert the biomass to a product predominantly comprising acetic acid and butyric acid with at least a 2:1 ratio by weight of acetic acid to butyric acid, c) treating the product of stream of step (b) to separate a solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid by: (i) separating a solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid from any residual solids and (ii) separating bacteria and/or pasteurizing or sterilizing the solution from the first fermentation step, and d) in a second fermentation step fermenting the solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid from the step (c) to form ethanol and butanol.
US08802399B2
A method for the production of natural L-cysteine by fermentation in a production fermenter in which a microorganism strain is cultured in a fermentation medium, characterized in that the fraction of the compounds L-cysteine, L-cystine and thiazolidine in the fermentation medium is controlled in a targeted manner by an iron concentration of a maximum of 8 mg/l in the fermentation medium.
US08802396B2
Provided are activated collagen scaffold materials as well as their special fused active restoration factors useful for promoting tissue repair, such as bone damage repair or nerve injury repair. The special fused active restoration factors are fusion proteins comprising a collagen-binding domain (CBD) at N-/C-terminus of cytokines, wherein the collagen-binding domain is a polypeptide consisting of 7-27 amino acid residues with a conservative sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 at N-terminus.
US08802394B2
Provided herein are methods for expressing proteins with disulfide bridges such as Vicrostatin (VCN), a chimeric variant of native snake venom disintegrin Contortrostatin (CN). The methods include what is believed to be a more efficient natural selection process that results in generating increased amounts of correctly-folded active conformers of proteins with disulfide bridges. In an aspect, this is achieved by growing Origami B cells in a more optimal redox environment during the induction of heterologous recombinant protein production.
US08802387B2
The present invention relates to compounds for and a method of detecting beta-lactamase activity in a sample. The sample is contacted with a nanoparticulate tag. The nanoparticulate tag comprises a metal or a combination of metals, or it comprises a nanotube of a metal, boron nitride and/or carbon. The respective metal is capable of forming one of a covalent bond, a coordinative bond and a non-covalent interaction with a thio or a seleno group. The sample is contacted with a compound of one of general formulas (I)-(III) and (VII)-(IX). At least one beta-lactam moiety of the compound is cleaved by the beta-lactamase activity in the sample. As a result a cleavage moiety Z-A-Z, Z-A-Z—R15, Z-A-Z—R16, Z-A-Z—R17, Z-A-Z—R18 or Z-G-N(R8)R9 is released that is immobilised on the surface of the nanoparticulate tag by a covalent bond via a Z atom. The presence of beta-lactamase activity is determined based on the presence of the cleavage moiety immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticulate tag.
US08802385B2
The present invention relates to a new suspension medium or diluent solution for red blood cells for use in haematological methods. The suspension medium or diluent solution for red blood cells may comprise a combination of two or more amino acids of any group, and preserves the red blood cells in the sample for at least 8 weeks.
US08802381B2
The present invention provides a method of predicting pregnancy outcome in a subject by determining the amount of an early pregnancy associated molecular isoform of hCG in a sample. The present invention further provides a method for determining the amount of early pregnancy associated molecular isoforms of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a sample. The present invention also provides a diagnostic kit for determining the amount of early pregnancy associated hCG in a sample. The present invention additionally provides an antibody which specifically binds to an early pregnancy associated molecular isoform of human chorionic gonadotropin. Finally, the present invention provides methods for detecting trophoblast or non-trophoblast malignancy in a sample.
US08802374B2
A non-immunogenic selection epitope may be generated by removing certain amino acid sequences of the protein. For example, a gene encoding a truncated human epidermal growth factor receptor polypeptide (EGFRt) that lacks the membrane distal EGF-binding domain and the cytoplasmic signaling tail, but retains an extracellular epitope recognized by an anti-EGFR antibody is provided. Cells may be genetically modified to express EGFRt and then purified without the immunoactivity that would accompany the use of full-length EGFR immunoactivity. Through flow cytometric analysis, EGFRt was successfully utilized as an in vivo tracking marker for genetically modified human T cell engraftment in mice. Furthermore, EGFRt was demonstrated to have cellular depletion potential through cetuximab mediated antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) pathways. Thus, EGFRt may be used as a non-immunogenic selection tool, tracking marker, a depletion tool or a suicide gene for genetically modified cells having therapeutic potential.
US08802372B2
The present invention provides methods for rapid forensic analysis of mitochondrial DNA and methods for characterizing heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA, which can be used to assess the progression of mitochondrial diseases.
US08802369B2
The present invention provides a biological substance-immobilized gel which comprises a gel containing 2%-7% by mass of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and a biological substance immobilized on and/or in the gel.
US08802347B2
Coating compositions include a polymer including: wherein R1 is a silicon containing moiety, R2 is an acid stable lactone functionality, and R3 is an acid labile lactone functionality; X1, X2, X3 are independently H or CH3; and m and o are non-zero positive integers and n is zero or a positive integer representing the number of repeat units; a photoacid generator; and a solvent. Also disclosed are methods for forming a pattern in the coating composition containing the same.
US08802346B2
The present invention relates to a process for forming metal-containing films by applying a photosensitive metal-containing composition on a substrate, drying the photosensitive metal-containing composition, exposing the photosensitive metal-containing composition to a source of actinic radiation and applying a post-treatment to the metal-containing composition. The process also includes exposing the photosensitive metal-containing composition to a source of actinic radiation through a mask or mold and developing the unexposed portion of the composition. Another embodiment of the invention is a metal-containing film, three-dimensional object or article formed by the process. The invention is useful in producing a directly patterned metal-containing film and a microdevice.
US08802345B2
The present disclosure provides a process for the preparation of developer compositions comprising: a first developer comprised of carrier and toner comprised of resin, pigment, polyolefin, compatibilizer, charge control agent, and metal oxide surface additive, and adding thereto a second developer comprised of carrier, and second compatibilizer, charge control agent, and metal oxide surface additive. The second developer can be directly dispensed into a developer housing.
US08802341B2
A black toner composition is disclosed. The composition includes toner particles prepared by a chemical process of manufacture including carbon black pigment, a first addition polymer comprising carboxylic acid groups along the polymer backbone, and a thermoplastic second polymer binder distinct from the first addition polymer. In the composition, the first polymer has an Acid Value of from 30 to 220 and is present at a weight ratio of greater than 1:2 relative to the amount of carbon, and at a relatively lower weight percent than the second polymer.
US08802334B2
Provided is a mask blank surface treatment method for surface-treating, using a treatment liquid, a surface of a thin film, to be formed into a transfer pattern, of a mask blank having the thin film on a substrate. The thin film is made of a material that can be etched by ion-based dry etching. The concentration of an etching inhibitor contained in the treatment liquid is 0.3 ppb or less.
US08802325B2
A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells in a stacking direction, and first and second end plates at both ends in the stacking direction. Long sides of the first and second end plates are fixed together by a pair of tightening members. The tightening member includes a bent portion bent in a direction along a surface of the second end plate, and coupled to the pressure application adjustment device, and a wide portion having a width extended toward the first end plate.
US08802322B2
An interconnecting-type solid oxide fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell includes a unit cell, a first current collecting member, a first insulating member, and a second current collecting member. The unit cell has a first electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer sequentially formed from an inside thereof, and has an interconnector configured for electrical connection to the first electrode layer and exposed to an outside thereof in a state in which the interconnector is insulated from the second electrode layer. The first current collecting member is formed on an outside of the interconnector and configured to collect current. The first insulating member is formed on an outside of the first current collecting member. The second current collecting member is wound around an outer circumferential surface of the second electrode layer and an outside of the first insulating member.
US08802320B2
An electrolytic membrane for a fuel cell including a crystalline organic and inorganic porous composite, an electrode for a fuel cell including a crystalline organic and inorganic porous composite, and a fuel cell including the electrolytic membrane and/or the electrode.
US08802319B2
The present invention relates to block copolymer electrolyte composite membranes with improved ionic conductivity. The block copolymer electrolyte composite membrane in accordance with an aspect of the present invention can comprise a plate-like inorganic filler as surface-modified with a sulfonic group; and a block copolymer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic group, a carbonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group.
US08802318B2
A compound that is a polymerization product of a compound composition that contains a diisocyanate-based compound and an aromatic polyol, a composition that contains the compound and an interpenetration polymer, a fuel cell electrode including either the compound or the composition, a fuel cell electrolyte membrane including either the compound or the composition, and a fuel cell including at least one selected from the group consisting of the fuel cell electrode and the fuel cell electrolyte membrane.
US08802316B1
Solid-oxide fuel cells include an electrolyte and an anode electrically coupled to a first surface of the electrolyte. A cathode is provided, which is electrically coupled to a second surface of the electrolyte. The cathode includes a porous backbone having a porosity in a range from about 20% to about 70%. The porous backbone contains a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) of a first material infiltrated with an oxygen-reducing catalyst of a second material different from the first material.
US08802315B2
A composition including a cross-linkable compound and at least one selected from compounds represented by Formula 1, a composite obtained from the composition, an electrode including the composition or the composite, a composite membrane including the composite, and a fuel cell including the composite membrane, wherein, in Formula 1, a and R are as defined in the specification.
US08802310B2
When a request power for a fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined value, a fuel cell system stops the supply of an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and lowers the output voltage of the fuel cell from a use upper limit voltage to a reduction voltage to perform catalyst activation processing. When the output voltage of the fuel cell lowers to an air blow voltage because of the shortage of the oxidizing gas, the fuel cell system resupplies the oxidizing gas to recover the output voltage of the fuel cell.
US08802306B2
A fuel cell system having improved driving performance is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a stack, which may include a membrane electrode assembly, a separator and end plates provided on the both sides of the stacked membrane electrode assembly and the separator. The membrane electrode assembly may include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte membrane. The separator may be positioned with respect to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, respectively. The end plate may include an oxidant inlet configured to supply oxidant to the cathode electrode, an unreacted oxidant outlet configured to output the unreacted oxidant from the cathode electrode, and a absorption member in fluid communication between the oxidant inlet and the unreacted oxidant outlet.
US08802285B2
An organic electrolytic solution includes a lithium salt; an organic solvent containing a high dielectric constant solvent; and a polymerizable cycloolefin monomer, and an lithium battery employing the same. The organic electrolytic solution prevents decomposition of an electrolyte, and thus the lithium battery employing the organic electrolytic solution has improved cycle characteristics and lifetime.
US08802279B2
A battery and a battery cover assembly thereof are provided. The battery cover assembly comprises a cover (1) having a through hole; an extraction electrode terminal (3); and an insulating seal member disposed between the cover and the extraction electrode terminal. The extraction electrode terminal (3), starting from its top, includes a columnar seal part (31), a position part (32) and a weld part (33) that are consecutively connected together, the columnar seal part (31) passing through the through hole of the cover and having a seal groove formed along a circumferential surface thereof, the position part (32) having a horizontally-oriented platform, and the weld part (33) having a sheet-like shape and being perpendicular to the horizontally-oriented platform of the position part.
US08802278B2
A rechargeable battery having improved temperature detection performance of a resistor element. The rechargeable battery comprises a pouch in which an electrode assembly is embedded, a first terminal and a second terminal that are connected to the electrode assembly to be drawn out to one side of the pouch, a resistor element connected to the first terminal, and a pressing member that is coupled to the pouch and closely contacts one surface of the resistor element, having a positive temperature coefficient, to the pouch.
US08802268B2
Provide an electrochemical device offering a large capacity per current collector and a low internal resistance, which is also easy to assemble. Provided is a laminated sheet body 16S by inserting a negative-electrode continuous body 11BW between an adjacent pair of first current collectors 12a, 12a with their first current collector main units 12a1 connected together, and also between an adjacent pair of first current collectors 12a, 12a with their first tabs 12a2 connected together, with respect to a plurality of positive electrodes 11A arranged in the width direction apart from each other, after which the negative-electrode continuous body of the laminated sheet body is cut to the unit width dimension of an element to obtain a plurality of laminated bodies 16.
US08802261B2
Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured such that an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode stack structure is mounted in a changeable cell case in a state in which the electrode assembly is impregnated with an electrolyte, wherein the electrode assembly and the cell case are curved in the same direction on axial vertical sections thereof in a state in which opposite ends of the electrode assembly and opposite ends of the cell case are directed in the same direction about a middle part of the electrode assembly and a middle part of the cell case. When the battery cell is mounted in an electronic device the external shape of which is curved or in an electronic device configured such that a battery mounting region thereof is curved, the tight contact between the battery cell and the electronic device is achieved, thereby maximizing space utilization and thus providing high efficiency. Also, electronic devices having aesthetically pleasing appearance and various designs satisfying liking of consumers are developed using the battery cell.
US08802257B2
A battery pack and a driving method thereof. The battery pack includes a battery cell; a charge switch and a discharge switch installed in a charge/discharge line of a battery cell; and a microcontroller to sense and store voltages of the battery cell, to compare the voltages of the battery cell before and after the microcontroller is reset, and to controls the charge switch and the discharge switch based on the sensed voltages of the battery cell such that the microcontroller turns off only one of the charge switch and the discharge switch when there is a change between the voltages of the battery cell before and after the microcontroller is reset.
US08802255B2
A secondary battery has a depression having a thickness less than that of other portions of the periphery of a cap plate or a can. The depression includes a rupture section having a smallest thickness in the depression and further includes wrinkles between the rupture section and the periphery of the depression. Furthermore, the secondary battery is manufactured by a method including: a first coining step of forming the thickness of some portions of the cap plate or the can to be less than that of other peripheral portions thereof; a second coining step of forming wrinkles on the periphery of some portions where the first coining has been performed; and a third coining step of forming a rupture section having the smallest thickness in the depression on an inner side of the wrinkles.
US08802241B2
In an embodiment of a steel sheet having high Young's modulus, the steel can include in terms of mass %, e.g., C: 0.0005 to 0.30%, Si: 2.3% or less, Mn: 2.7 to 5.0%, P: 0.15% or less, 0.015% or less, Mo: 0.15 to 1.5%, B: 0.0006 to 0.01%, and Al: 0.15% or less, with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. One or both of {110}<223> pole density and {110}<111> pole density in the ⅛ sheet thickness layer can be 10 or more, and a Young's modulus in a rolling direction can be more than 230 GPa. Other embodiments can include, e.g., Mn: 0.1 to 5.0%, N: 0.01% or less, and one or more of Mo: 0.005 to 1.5%, Nb: 0.005 to 0.20%, Ti: at least 48/14×N (mass %) and 0.2% or less, and B: 0.0001 to 0.01%, at a total content of 0.015 to 1.91 mass %.
US08802238B2
An optical compensation film composition is disclosed herein having a polymer film and a substrate, wherein the polymer film has a positive birefringence greater than 0.005 throughout the wavelength range of 400 nm<λ<800 nm, the film having been cast from a polymer solution comprising a solvent and a polymer having a moiety of wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, substituted alkyl groups, or halogens, wherein at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is a fluorine atom, and wherein R is hydrogen or a substituent on the styrenic ring.
US08802230B2
An electrically-insulative coating for minimizing an electrical conductivity of a metal substrate includes a polymer component formed from a monomer precursor, and a powder component substantially dispersed in the polymer component. The powder component is present in the electrically-insulative coating in an amount of from about 5 parts to about 80 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrically-insulative coating. The electrically-insulative coating does not substantially degrade when exposed to from about 100 V to about 330 V at a temperature of from about −50 ° C. to about 500 ° C., and has a dielectric strength of at least about 2,000 VAC/mil. An electrically-insulative coating system and a method of forming an electrically-insulative coating on a metal substrate are also disclosed.
US08802225B2
An article includes a ceramic matrix composite substrate with a heat-exposure surface and a monocoating disposed directly on the heat-exposure surface. The monocoating includes vitreous glass to seal the ceramic matrix composite from the surrounding environment.
US08802224B2
Disclosed is a reinforcing material for the local reinforcement of a component formed with a composite material, in particular in areas of force introduction and/or connecting areas. The reinforcing material is formed by a metallic sheet-like formation, the metallic sheet-like formation having a surface with increased roughness to improve adhesion and a coating applied to the surface to provide a seal and improve the bond with the composite material. As a result of the presence of a coating on the metallic sheet-like formation, once it has been rolled up on supply rolls, said sheet-like formation can be drawn off from the supply rolls and at the same time processed in an automated manner by means of known computer-controlled laying devices with CRP prepreg materials in web form by laying layer by layer to produce components, in particular of large format, for aircraft. The reinforcing material thereby ensures a high embedding strength in the case of introduced boreholes or the like, in particular in areas of force introduction and/or connecting areas. Also disclosed is a method for producing a reinforcing material. In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing components, in particular components of large format for aircraft, with the composite material and with the reinforcing material.
US08802218B2
An insulating product utilizing pillars and arches to increase loft without increasing the thickness of the padding.
US08802216B2
A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. Antimony (Sb) is used in the glass to improve stability of the solar performance of the glass upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and/or sunlight. The combination of low iron content, antimony, and/or the patterning of the glass substrate results in a substrate with high visible transmission and excellent light refracting characteristics.
US08802215B2
A fire resistant roofing material includes a core sheet and a sheet of conductive material having a thermal conductivity greater than about 25 W/m-K. The sheet of conductive material is coextensively bonded with the core sheet, and coated with a polymer-modified bituminous material having fire-resistant properties.
US08802210B2
The invention relates to A process for the polymerisation of ethylene to produce a polyethylene resin in at least two slurry loop reactors connected to each other in series, the resin having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, a molecular weight distribution MWD of at least 7.0, an HLMI of from 1 to 100 g/10 min, and a density of from 0.935 to 0.960 g/cm3, wherein in one reactor 30 to 47 wt % based on the total weight of the polyethylene resin of a high molecular weight (HMW) polyethylene fraction is produced having an HL275 of from 0.05 to 1.8 g/10 min (the equivalent of HLMI of from 0.01 to 1.56 g/10 min), a density of from 0.925 to 0.942 g/cm3 and an MWD of at least 5.0, and in the other reactor a low molecular weight (LMW) polyethylene fraction is produced having an HLMI of from 10 to 1500 g/10 min and a density of from 0.960 to 0.975 g/cm3, in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system.
US08802208B2
A breathable polyethylene glove as an overglove, over a cut- and puncture-resistant and nonfuzzing underglove, is useful for the non-contaminating packing of high-purity silicon, such as chunk polysilicon and silicon wafers.
US08802207B2
A method of making a polymer composition comprising dispersed nanoparticles of an oxygen scavenging catalyst includes polymerizing one or more monomers or pre-polymers in the presence of a platinum group metal catalyst or precursor to obtain a polymer composition having dispersed nanoparticles of the platinum group metal. The oxygen scavenging catalyst is added during the polymerization as a solution of the platinum group metal or a compound thereof and a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycols). The food or beverage containers made from such polymer compositions exhibit high clarity and high oxygen scavenging properties.
US08802205B2
A repulpable moisture resistant poultry box having a composite structure with a fluted medium, a top backing board secured to one side of the fluted medium and a bottom backing board secured to the other side of the fluted medium. The backing boards and the fluted medium are impregnated with a hydrogenated triglyceride. The backing boards each have an outer surface coated with PET to provide moisture resistance repulpable and recyclable box.
US08802198B2
The present invention generally relates to a flux for hot dip galvanization comprising from: 36 to 80 wt. % (percent by weight) of zinc chloride (ZnCl2); 8 to 62 wt. % of ammonium chloride (NH4C); from 2.0 to 10 wt. % of a least one of the following compounds: NiCl2, MnCl2 or a mixture thereof. The invention further relates to a fluxing bath, a process for the hot dip galvanization of an iron or steel article as well as to the use of said flux.
US08802180B2
A micronutrient supplement which is made by reacting a metal oxide, or metal hydroxide, or metal carbonate of an essential mineral and an acid and/or a metal salt of an essential mineral containing a digestible binder to form a slurry of micronutrient crystals and a digestible binder and forming agglomerated particles of the micronutrient crystals from the slurry. The agglomerated particles provide a non-dusting, free-flowing micronutrient supplement that can be produced with desired particle sizes and densities so as to be easily mixed with a variety of feed mixtures. The digestible binder in the agglomerated particles reduces the opportunity for interactions between the micronutrient crystals and other ingredients that can be present in complex feed mixtures while allowing release of the micronutrients in an animal's digestive system.
US08802179B2
A method and composition are provided for coating a component to achieve colon-targeted delivery. A component is coated with a fructose-based non-digestible carbohydrate such as a inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide or neosugar. The coated component is orally administered to a monogastric animal. The non-digestible coating causes the composition to pass through the stomach and small intestine without being degraded, and delivers the component to the colon where the coating is digested by microbial fermentation and the component is released.
US08802174B2
The present invention relates to a machine for preparing coffee infusions by means of a liquid under pressure, in particular water under pressure, the machine comprising: a pump assembly (11) arranged to raise the pressure of the liquid outgoing from the pump assembly up to a preset pressure value (PI); one or more dispensing units (14) connected to the pump assembly, each dispensing unit (14) being arranged to dispense the coffee infusion; one or more pressure managing devices (20), each managing device (20) being connected to a certain dispensing unit (14). In the machine (10), the pressure managing device (20) includes a first duct (15) and at least one second duct (16) that are connected in parallel, have a common outlet and are arranged to supply the dispensing unit (14), during the coffee infusion preparation, with liquid at different pressures. The invention further concerns the pressure managing device (20) and a method of preparing the coffee infusion, including dynamically modifying the pressure during the infusion preparation.
US08802173B2
A process for coating frozen confection stick products (20) is provided, the process comprising providing a chamber (2) having two open ends (3,4), two sides (5,6) and a base (7); providing at least one pair of apertures (10A-10D), wherein one aperture of each pair is located on each side of the chamber, and wherein the apertures are vertical slots; supplying a liquid coating material to each aperture thereby forming curtains of the liquid coating material (14A-14D); and conveying the frozen confection (20) through the chamber with the stick uppermost so that the frozen confection passes through the curtains of coating material. An apparatus for operating the process is also provided.
US08802171B2
A live organism product wherein the organisms are in a dormant state and are suspended in a liquid carrier which is sufficiently devoid of moisture so that the organisms will remain in a dormant state for several months. The carrier is comprised of oil. The carrier may also include an absorbent. The product is stored and shipped in a plastic bag and is sprayed onto its target host or the like. The moisture and pH then activates the organisms.
US08802169B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a foaming alcoholic beverage such as beer, low-malt beer, and a beer-flavored foaming alcoholic beverage obtained by producing, without using any kind of barley (e.g., barley, wheat, malt), a pre-fermentation liquid using at least a syrup containing sources of carbon, sources of nitrogen, hops and water as raw materials and fermenting the pre-fermentation liquid with use of brewers' yeasts, wherein germinated grains are used; to thereby increase fermentability and attain superior flavor and improved foam quality. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an alcoholic beverage manufactured by the aforementioned method.Especially, a germinated material, which is obtained by selecting at least one material from a group consisting of corns, potatoes, peas, soy beans, black soy beans, adzuki beans, Taisho Kintoki beans and unpolished rice and germinating the selected material, is used as a part of a raw material of the aforementioned foaming alcoholic beverage. Thereby, a foaming alcoholic beverage can be provided with improved foam quality, flavor quality and fermentability unique to the foaming alcoholic beverage.
US08802166B2
The inventive compositions comprise in a deionized water base, a composition comprising: a preservative, a chelating agent; one or more moisturizer and hydrolyzed keratin protein; an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of citric acid and a vitamin E salt; and an emulsifier-water trap selected from the group consisting of cetearyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate; and PEG-40 castor oil. The composition, which is in liquid form, may be applied in the form of a spray or mist by dipping the affected area in the liquid or by pouring a small amount of the liquid onto the hair or body to be treated.
US08802160B2
Provided are compositions containing amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), and at least one phosphorylated amino acid which stabilizes the amorphous form of said calcium carbonate. The compositions are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.
US08802156B2
A pharmaceutical composition containing a sulfated glycosaminoglycan drug and a polycationic polymer or copolymer wherein the proportion of ammonium groups in the pharmaceutical composition is between 0.01-2.0 μmol ammonium groups/mg pharmaceutical composition, the proportion of glycosaminoglycan in the pharmaceutical form is between 15% to 50% w/w, and the pharmaceutical composition possesses a moisture content of 10% wt or less. A pharmaceutical dosage form containing the pharmaceutical composition, and their use for the treatment of diseases or disorders therapeutically responsive to the glycosaminoglycan.
US08802145B2
The invention relates to a method of manufacture of fast-disintegrating solid dosage forms, characterized in that one or more structure building components in mixed solid powder form are dosed into cavities of blister packs or moulds, the remaining components dissolved in water dosed and added to the powder to form a moistened, plasticized mass, frozen to below −20° C., and the water sublimed in high vacuum. In this way solid dosage forms are obtained with a similar porous structure as usually result from freeze drying processes, but the process requires much less water, which means considerably less time and less energy.
US08802140B2
In-situ methods of applying ethylene response manipulation formulations are disclosed. The formulations comprise at least one ethylene response manipulation agent which is at least partially encapsulated, a polyol liquid medium, or a hydrogel medium, or a combination of polyol and hydrogel medium. A preferred ethylene response manipulation agent is 1-methylcyclopropene.
US08802133B2
Disclosed is 1) a method for greatly increasing the solubility of useful actives in siloxane matrix-forming preparations, and 2) the associated preparations, themselves. Volatilizing coagents are utilized to give novel gels containing heretofore siloxane-insoluble additives.
US08802130B2
A pharmaceutical dosage form adapted to supply a medicament to the oral cavity for buccal, sublingual or gingival absorption of the medicament which contains an orally administrable medicament in combination with an effervescent for use in promoting absorption of the medicament in the oral cavity. The use of an additional pH adjusting substance in combination with the effervescent for promoting the absorption drugs is also disclosed.
US08802126B2
This invention relates to blends of high, optionally medium, and low molecular weight polyesters where at least the low molecular weight polyester is substituted with an acidic moiety, the biodegradation of the blends being controllable by selection of the mean molecular weigh of each fraction, the quantity of each fraction in the blend and the amount and pKa of the acidic moiety(ies).
US08802125B2
The invention concerns a system for biocompatible drug release comprising: (i) a polymer matrix; (ii) an inorganic component located inside said matrix and characterized by a lamellar structure with a net positive or negative charge able to intercalate (iii) a pharmacologically active principle into said lamellar structure, by establishing an ionic type of bond with it and thereby obtaining an intercalation compound. The preparation process for the release system comprises the stages of: treating the lamellar solid in such a way as to give it a net positive or negative charge, then combining it with the chosen active principle, also in an ionic form, to obtain an intercalation compound which is then mixed with the polymer matrix. The release system can be employed in making medical devices, like sutures, membranes, osteosynthesis plaques, multilayered devices, gels and drug delivery systems.
US08802123B2
Endosseous implant to be applied to a human or animal bone, wherein the surface of the implant is made from titanium or a titanium alloy, said implant having a smooth or rough surface texture, which is characterized in that said surface has been treated with at least one selected organic phosphonate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester or an amide thereof; process for producing said implants.
US08802122B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for musculoskeletal tissue engineering. For example, a scaffold apparatus is provided which comprises microspheres of selected sizes and/or composition. The microspheres are layered to have a gradient of microsphere sizes and/or compositions. The scaffold provides a functional interface between multiple tissue types.
US08802112B2
The present invention is drawn to the nucleic and amino acid sequences encoding vaginolysin (VLY) toxin from Gardnerella vaginalis, and biologically active fragments and variants thereof. The invention is also directed to anti-VLY antibodies and to their use therapeutically and in a new ELISA assay of VLY toxin. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to VLY toxoids and to vaccines that use the new VLY toxoids as immunogens.
US08802110B2
The present invention provides, among other things, methods, reagents, and systems for the treatment, detection, analysis, and/or characterization of influenza infections.
US08802109B2
A mutant herpesvirus that has a mutated gene that encodes a mutant infected cell protein 0 (ICP0) can be used in therapeutic methods as well as in diagnostics and research experiments. The encoded mutant ICP0 protein can be altered in one or more regions of ICP0 that are substantially conserved between two or more herpesviruses and/or within a phosphorylation region. The mutant herpesvirus can be substantially avirulent and immunogenic.
US08802106B2
The present invention provides an isolated peptide having an amino acid residue sequence that comprises at least one human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (HCMV-gB) sequence segment, each HCMV-gB sequence segment consisting of at least 8 and not more than 60 consecutive amino acid residues from residues 146 to 315, residues 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or from a sequence variant of residues 146 to 315 or 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1 that has at least 70% sequence identity thereto. The peptides of the invention are useful for treating, preventing, or inhibiting a herpesvirus (e.g., Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Human Cytomegalovirus, and the like) infection in a subject.
US08802103B2
Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to an extracellular domain of human Jagged 1 and inhibit growth of a tumor comprising cancer stem cells are described. Also described is a method of treating cancer that comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal anti-Jagged 1 antibody.
US08802102B2
A liquid aqueous pharmaceutical formulation is described which has a high protein concentration, a pH of between about 4 and about 8, and enhanced stability.
US08802097B2
The present invention relates to RSPO-binding agents and methods of using the agents for treating diseases such as cancer. The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind human RSPO proteins and modulate β-catenin activity. The present invention further provides methods of using agents that modulate the activity of RSPO proteins, such as antibodies that specifically bind RSPO1, RSPO2, and/or RSPO3 and inhibit tumor growth. Also described are methods of treating cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an agent or antibody of the present invention to a patient having a tumor or cancer.
US08802078B2
According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a modified silicone surface for interference to pathogen colonization comprising: an activated silicone layer; a plurality of cross-linking dendrimers adsorbed onto to the activated silicone layer; a plurality of ligand derivatives, each bound to at least one of the plurality of cross-linking dendrimers; and a benign biofilm adhered to the plurality of ligand derivatives. According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for making a modified silicone surface for interference to pathogen colonization comprising activating a silicone surface; adsorbing a plurality of cross-linking dendrimers to the silicone surface; binding a plurality of ligand derivatives to the plurality of cross-linking dendrimers; and adhering a benign biofilm to the plurality of ligand derivatives.
US08802075B2
The invention contemplates a copolymer which is a graft or block copolymer useful to change wettability and surface characteristics of biological surfaces. Methods for use of these formulations and coatings to change wettability and sterically stabilize, and lubricate biological surfaces in a subject, for example, in the treatment of dry eye syndrome, and to prevent adherence of unwanted proteins, for example in the treatment of contact lens intolerance, are provided.
US08802068B2
An agent for treating keratin-comprising fibers, in particular human hair, which includes in a cosmetic carrier at least one cyclic siloxane, at least one C8 to C30 alkyl PEG/PPG dimethicone, and at least one cationic protein hydrolysate.
US08802062B2
Disclosed herein is a pair of dry type patches for teeth whitening, having a patch for upper teeth and a patch for lower teeth, in which the patch for upper teeth has a shape different from the patch for lower teeth, and each patch has a controlled width and shape such that the contact area of each patch with gums is minimized. In the patch for upper teeth, a central portion covering right and left upper central incisors is widest. In the patch for lower teeth, either portion covering right and left lower canine teeth is widest. Since the dry type patches covers all the portions of the teeth while minimizing the contact area with gums, no or little irritation is caused and wearability is excellent.
US08802061B2
The present invention is drawn to disinfectant or sterilant compositions, which are human safe, e.g., food grade, food safe, or skin safe, etc. In one embodiment, an aqueous disinfectant or sterilant composition can comprise an aqueous vehicle, including water, from 0.001 wt % to 50 wt % of a peracid, and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of a peroxide. Additionally, from 0.001 ppm to 50,000 ppm by weight of a transition metal or alloy thereof based on the aqueous vehicle content can also be present. The disinfectant composition can be used in the manufacture and formulation of products for human use or consumption including disinfectant mouthwashes, toothpastes, gums, ointments, and soaps.
US08802058B2
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for dispensing the same using an aerosol whereby the composition takes the form of foam. Additionally, the present invention provides a barrier system including a concentrate separated from a non-chlorine aerosol propellant wherein the concentrate includes a non-aqueous solvent, an emulsifying agent, a thickening agent, at least one medicament and optionally an aqueous solvent.
US08802050B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a ceramic powder having a perovskite structure and a ceramic powder having a perovskite structure manufactured by the same. The method includes: mixing a compound of an element corresponding to site A in an ABO3 perovskite structure as well as a compound of an element corresponding to site B in the same structure, with supercritical water in a continuous mode to form seed crystals; and mixing the seed crystals in a batch mode to conduct grain growth thereof.
US08802046B2
Granular polycrystalline silicon is disclosed, which has a convexity of 0.850-1.000 and a chlorine content of 10-40 ppmw. Also disclosed is a process for producing granular polycrystalline silicon in a fluidized bed reactor, which includes: (a) fluidization of silicon seed particles by gas flow in a fluidized bed heated by a heating apparatus, (b) addition of a silicon- and halogen-containing reaction gas resulting in pyrolytic deposition of elemental silicon on heated seed particle surfaces, (c) forming the granular polycrystalline silicon, (d) removing from the reactor particles and offgas containing hydrogen halide, and (e) metered addition of fresh seed particles. The hydrogen halide concentration in the offgas is determined as the controlled variable. The rate of metered addition of fresh seed particles and heating output of the heating apparatus are controlled as manipulated variables to keep the hydrogen halide concentration in the offgas within an above-defined range during operation.
US08802039B2
Microchannel technology having structures with reduced material and enhanced volumetric productivity
Novel designs for microchannel apparatus are described in which microchannels are shaped to reduce the amount of material needed to build an apparatus. In these designs, some microchannels are shaped, in cross-section, to provide relatively more structural material in areas of greatest stress, while leaving greater area for unit operations in areas of the apparatus that are subjected to relatively less stress.
US08802037B2
A multiple cuvette strip comprises a plurality of wells and a reversible interlocking device. The well strips can be reversibly interlocked to other well strips to form a sample holder system. One embodiment of a well strip comprises a flange and a slot to form a reversible interlocking device.
US08802036B2
A reaction cassette for biochemical assay, a biochemical assay device including a first space configured to accommodate liquid, having a first opening and rounding edges, a direction of the first opening being directed upward. A second space includes a second opening, a direction of the second opening being perpendicular to the direction of the first opening, wherein the first space and the second space are disposed such that when the reaction cassette is rotated allowing the liquid to drain into the second space. A third space is located below the first space and having a third opening, a direction of the third opening being upward such that when the reaction cassette is reversibly rotated allowing the liquid to drain into the third space, wherein an array of bumps is disposed in the third space to create turbulence of the liquid. An inner partition wall, connected with the second opening and the third opening, acts as a liquid flow channel between the second space and the third space.
US08802035B2
Embodiments of the present invention feature a device (1) and method for performing steps of a multi-step process in parallel. The device (1) and method feature a rotor assembly (13) having vessel stations (33) and stator assembly (15) having work positions. The rotor assembly (13) rotates the vessels (17) to the work stations to perform steps of a multi-step process at the same time.
US08802032B2
This invention provides an analyzer that has a liquid dispense pipette dispensing liquids with higher accuracy and precision at higher speeds. The analyzer includes a drive mechanism having a stepping motor as a power source. The drive mechanism transmits power from a rotation output shaft of the stepping motor to a moving unit for executing a target motion via at least one power transmission unit. The amount of idling of the moving unit stemming from the stepping motor getting driven in reverse is calculated from the amount of movement of the moving unit, from the amount of pulses fed to the stepping motor, and from the amount of remaining pulses so as to perform motion control of the drive mechanism accordingly.
US08802028B2
A fluid sample collection device for a disk-based fluid separation system is disclosed. The disk-based separation system includes a compact microfluidic disk with at least one flow channel pattern formed on a side surface of the disk. At least one orifice is formed on an outflow boundary of the disk and is designed in fluid communication with the flow channel pattern through a communication channel. The fluid sample collection device includes at least one collection tube having an open end serving as a fluid receiving end and corresponding to the orifice of the disk with a distance. When the disk is rotated, at least a portion of fluid sample in a sample processing reservoir formed on the disk is delivered by centripetal force through the communication channel and the orifice, and finally the expelling fluid sample is collected in the collection tube.
US08802015B2
An exhaust gas cleaning device (2) for an exhaust system (1) of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas cleaning element (7), which is arranged in a first tubular body (3), and with a second tubular body (4), to which the first tubular body (3) is detachably connected via a clamp connection (5). The clamp connection (5) includes a radially outwardly projecting first ring collar (8), formed at the first tubular body (3) and extending circumferentially in a closed form and a radially outwardly projecting second ring collar (9), formed at the second tubular body (4) and extending circumferentially in a closed form. A sealing ring (10) extends circumferentially in a closed form and is axially in contact with the first ring collar (8) and the second ring collar (9). A first ring body (11) is arranged on the outside at the first tubular body (3) and is axially in contact with the first ring collar on the side facing away from the sealing ring (10). A second ring body (12) is arranged on the outside at the second tubular body (4) and is axially in contact with the second ring collar (9) on the side facing away from the sealing ring (10). A clamp (13) extends over both the first ring body and said second ring body (11, 12) and tightens these axially towards one another.
US08802002B2
A method for making a bonded nonwoven fibrous web comprising extruding melt blown fibers of a polymeric material, collecting the melt blown fibers as an initial nonwoven fibrous web, annealing the initial nonwoven fibrous web with a controlled heating and cooling operation, and collecting the dimensionally stable bonded nonwoven fibrous web is described. The bonded nonwoven fibrous web shrinkage is typically less than 4 percent relative to the initial nonwoven fibrous web.
US08801991B2
A co-injected molded multi-layer article has inner and outer layers, an interior layer contained within the inner and outer layers and a surface portion to which a closure or other component may be heat-sealed. The article is molded by co-injecting the inner, outer and interior layer materials into a mold cavity of a mold. The interior layer material is caused to flow along a steam line offset from the zero velocity gradient of the combined material flow and biased toward a material flow for forming an outer wall of the multi-layer article. The resultant molded multi-layer article contains an interior layer located in a heat sealable region that avoids a breach or failure during a heat seal operation to seal an opening of the molded article.
US08801990B2
A consumable filament for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the consumable filament comprises a first portion of a first semi-crystalline polymeric material, and a second portion of a second semi-crystalline polymeric material, and where the second semi-crystalline polymeric material has a crystallization temperature that is greater than a crystallization temperature of the first semi-crystalline polymeric material.
US08801974B2
A method for making a composite of cobalt oxide is disclosed. An aluminum nitrate solution is provided. Lithium cobalt oxide particles are introduced into the aluminum nitrate solution. The lithium cobalt oxide particles are mixed with the aluminum nitrate solution to form a mixture. A phosphate solution is added into the mixture to react with the aluminum nitrate solution and form an aluminum phosphate layer on surfaces of the lithium cobalt oxide particles. The lithium cobalt oxide particles with the aluminum phosphate layer formed on the surfaces thereof are heat treated to form a lithium cobalt oxide composite. The lithium cobalt oxide composite is electrochemical lithium-deintercalated at a voltage of Vx, wherein 4.5V
US08801969B2
Disclosed herein is a novel group of carbonitride and carbidonitride phosphors and light emitting devices which utilize these phosphors. In certain embodiments, the inventive phosphors are expressed as follows: Cam/2Si12-(m+n)−xCxAlm+nN16-nOnEu2+ (1) M(II)m/2Si12-(m+n)−xCxM(III)m+nN16-nOn-y/2Hy:A (2) Mm/vSi12-(m+n)−xCxM(III)m+nN16-nOn-y/2Hy:A (3) Cam/2Si12-(m+n)+xAlm+n−xN16-n−xCxOn:Eu2+ (4) M(II)m/2Si12-(m+n)+xM(III)m+n−xN16-n−xCxOn-y/2Hy:A (5) Mm/vSi12-(m+n)+xM(III)m+n−xN16-n−xCxOn-y/2Hy:A (6) wherein v is the valence number of M, 0≦m<5, 0≦n≦3, 0≦x<4, and 0≦y<1, M is at least one cation, M(II) is at least one divalent cation, M(III) is at least one trivalent cation, H is at least one monovalent anion, and A is a luminescence activator.
US08801968B2
The invention relates to surface-modified phosphor particles based on luminescent particles which comprise at least one luminescent compound, where (Ca,Sr,Ba)2SiO4 and other silicates having one or more activator ions, such as Eu, Ce and Mn, are excluded as luminescent compounds, and where at least one inorganic layer comprising oxides/hydroxides of Si, Al, Zr, Zn, Ti and/or mixtures thereof and an organic coating of organosilanes or polyorganosiloxanes (silicones) and/or mixtures thereof are applied to the luminescent particles, and to a production process.
US08801967B2
A granulate made of a cured mixture comprising a transparent true light matrix in which at least one photoluminescent luminous pigment and a transparent filler material are present, wherein the filler material comprises a grain size of less than 30μ and/or a grain size between 70μ and 1.2 mm. The granulate may be produced by producing a hardenable binder mixture, introducing and mixing a photoluminescent luminous pigment into the hardenable binder mixture, dispersing a filler in the mixture, and milling the hardened mixture to form the granulate.
US08801964B2
Polymer network liquid crystal materials have improved mechanical properties such as rigidity and hardness and substantially improved electro-optical performance. The PNLC material can be manufactured with an emulsion process so as to simplify substantially the manufacturing process. Each LC droplet can be configured with the polymer network extending substantially across the LC droplet, and the polymer network may comprise a material to lower substantially the switching voltage, such as a fluorinated acrylate that may interact with the liquid crystal so as to lower the surface tension of the LC droplet. The PNLC material may comprise an interfacial layer combined with the polymer network so as to decrease substantially the driving voltage.
US08801961B2
In one embodiment of the present disclosure an electrocatalyst support for a fuel cell is provided which includes a doped titania metal oxide. The dopant includes a valve metal. The doped titania metal oxide has a BET surface area of greater than 20 m2/g.
US08801955B2
Disclosed are water-soluble nanoparticles. The water-soluble nanoparticles are each surrounded by a multifunctional group ligand including an adhesive region, a cross linking region, and a reactive region. In the water-soluble nanoparticles, the cross-linking region of the multifunctional group ligand is cross-linked with another cross-linking region of a neighboring multifunctional group ligand. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of producing water-soluble nanoparticles, which includes (1) synthesizing water-insoluble nanoparticles in an organic solvent, (2) dissolving the water insoluble nanoparticles in a first solvent and dissolving water-soluble multifunctional group ligands in a second solvent, (3) mixing the two solutions from the step (2) to substitute surfaces of the water-insoluble nanoparticles with the multifunctional group ligands and dissolving a mixture in an aqueous solution to conduct a separation process, and (4) cross-linking the substituted multifunctional group ligands with each other.
US08801952B1
A method of etching silicon oxide from a trench is described which allows more homogeneous etch rates up and down the sides of the trench. One disclosed method includes a sequential introduction of (1) a hydrogen-containing precursor and then (2) a fluorine-containing precursor into a substrate processing region. The temperature of the substrate is low during each of the two steps in order to allow the reaction to proceed and form solid residue by-product. A second disclosed method reverses the order of steps (1) and (2) but still forms solid residue by-product. The solid residue by-product is removed by raising the temperature in a subsequent sublimation step regardless of the order of the two steps.
US08801950B2
A substrate processing chamber includes a lift actuator that moves a pedestal between a substrate loading position and a substrate processing position. An adjustable seal defines an expandable sealed volume between a bottom surface of the pedestal and a bottom surface of the substrate processing chamber and is moveable between the substrate loading position and the substrate processing position. When the pedestal is in the substrate processing position, the pedestal and the adjustable seal define a first inert volume and a first process volume. When the pedestal is in the substrate loading position, the pedestal and the adjustable seal define a second inert volume and a second process volume. The second inert volume is less than the first inert volume and the second process volume is greater than the first process volume.
US08801949B2
The method forms forming an open-network polishing pad useful for polishing magnetic, semiconductor and optical substrates. The method provides a polymer sheet or film of a curable polymer and exposes the polymer sheet or film to an energy source to create an exposure pattern in the polymer sheet or film. The exposure pattern having elongated sections exposed to the energy source. After attaching the polymer sheet or film to an open-network substrate, the method removes polymer adjacent from the exposed polymer sheet or film of the intermediate structure with a solvent. This forms elongated channels through the polymer sheet or film in a texture pattern that corresponds to the exposure pattern with the open-network supporting the polymer. The elongated channels extending through the thickness of the polymer sheet or film to form the open-network polishing pad.
US08801948B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display devices and methods for manufacturing display devices. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ a halftone photoresist layer useful for reducing a number of masks needed to manufacture TFT backplane (e.g., thin-film transistors (TFTs) with fringe-field shifting). The halftone photoresist layer defines two areas, one defining an etching area for a first layer (e.g., a common voltage layer) and the other defining an etching area for a second layer (e.g., an organic passivation layer).
US08801944B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write pole of a magnetic write head that achieves improved write pole definition reduced manufacturing cost and improves ease of photoresist mask re-work. The method includes the use of a novel bi-layer hard mask beneath a photoresist mask. The bi-layer mask includes a layer of silicon dielectric, and a layer of carbon over the layer of silicon dielectric. The carbon layer acts as an anti-reflective coating layer that is unaffected by the photolithographic patterning process used to pattern the write pole and also acts as an adhesion layer for resist patterning. In the event that the photoresist patterning is not within specs and a mask re-work must be performed, the bi-layer mask can remain intact and need not be removed and re-deposited. In addition, the low cost and ease of use silicon dielectric and carbon reduce manufacturing cost and increase throughput.
US08801935B2
A process for preparing a reverse osmosis membrane that includes: (A) providing a polyamine, a polyfunctional acid halide, and a flux increasing additive having the formula Z+B− where Z+ is an easily dissociable cation and B− is a beta-diketonate; (B) combining the polyamine, polyfunctional acid halide, and flux increasing additive on the surface of a porous support membrane; and (C) interfacially polymerizing the polyamine and the polyfunctional acid halide, and flux increasing additive on the surface of the porous support membrane to form a reverse osmosis membrane comprising (i) the porous support membrane and (ii) a discrimination layer comprising a polyamide. The reverse osmosis membrane is characterized by a flux that is greater than the flux of the same membrane prepared in the absence of the flux increasing additive.
US08801933B2
Membrane distillation modules using oleophobically and antimicrobially treated microporous membranes
The present invention provides a system for liquid distillation which includes a vapor permeable-liquid impermeable microporous membrane having structures defining a plurality of pores, an oleophobic material that is applied to the structures of the membrane so as to leave the plurality of pores open, a means for supplying non-distilled liquid to the first side of the membrane, and a means for collecting distilled liquid from a second side of the membrane. In a further example, the present invention provides a method for the distillation of liquids.
US08801929B2
A filter device for filtering a liquid which includes trash. The device includes a drum for receiving the liquid and trash, wherein the drum includes at least one drum aperture. The device further includes a first pair of filter panels which are adapted for filtering the liquid. The filter panels are spaced apart to form a cavity for receiving the liquid and trash. The device further includes a frame for supporting the filter panels, wherein the frame is coupled to the drum. The frame includes a frame aperture wherein the frame aperture and the cavity form a volume having a cross sectional area sized substantially equal to or greater than the drum aperture and wherein said volume extends to a second pair of filter panels to enable liquid and trash which pass through the drum aperture to also pass through the frame aperture to the second pair of filter panels.
US08801926B2
A colander assembly having a base member and a basket device removeably connectable to the base member. The basket device includes a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second sidewalls forming a basket or storage area, wherein the bottom wall and first and second sidewalls are positionable between a storage position and an extended or use position.
US08801923B2
A wastewater treatment apparatus that obtains treated water by adding a flocculant and magnetic powder to wastewater accumulated in a tank to thereby generate flocculated magnetic flocs, and recovering the magnetic flocs by means of a magnetic force to thereby remove the magnetic flocs from the wastewater, comprising: a magnetic flocs treatment device which treats the recovered magnetic flocs and which comprises a high pressure pump and a magnetic separation portion; wherein the magnetic separation portion has a structure in which fluid piping is arranged at a magnetic field generating portion, and magnetic powder in the magnetic flocs is recovered by using the high pressure pump to pump the recovered magnetic flocs to the fluid piping of the magnetic separation portion, and causing the magnetic powder in the magnetic flocs to attach to the fluid piping by means of a magnetic force of the magnetic field generating portion.
US08801919B2
The invention provides a fully synthetic aviation fuel or aviation fuel component having: a total naphthenic content of more than 30 mass %, a mass ratio of naphthenic to iso-paraffinic hydrocarbon species of more than 1 and less than 15, a density (at 15° C.) of greater than 0.775 g·cm-3, but less than 0.850 g·cm-3, an aromatic hydrocarbon content of greater than 8 mass %, but less than 20 mass %, a freezing point of less than −47° C., a lubricity BOCLE WSD value of less than 0.85 mm. The invention further provides for the preparation of a fully synthetic coal-derived aviation fuel or aviation fuel component by blending a LFTF and a tar derived blend component. The invention extends to a method of producing a coal-derived, fully synthetic aviation fuel or aviation fuel component from coal gasifier tar and an LTLF derived fraction.
US08801915B2
In the ammonia synthesis method, an anode and a cathode are arranged in an electrolyte phase at a predetermined interval; water (H2O) is supplied to an anode zone and light is radiated so that water is decomposed by a photoabsorption reaction to generate protons (H+), electrons (e−), and an oxygen gas (O2); a nitrogen gas (N2 ) is supplied to a cathode zone, and the electrons (e−) generated in the anode zone are allowed to transfer to the cathode zone through a lead, thereby generating N3− in the cathode zone; and ammonia (NH3 ) is synthesized through the reaction between the protons (H+) that have moved toward the cathode zone from the anode zone in the electrolyte phase and N3−.
US08801892B2
Etching a layer over a substrate is provided. The substrate is placed in a plasma processing chamber. A first gas is provided to an inner zone within the plasma processing chamber. A second gas is provided to the outer zone within the plasma processing chamber, where the outer zone surrounds the inner zone and the first gas is different than the second gas. Plasmas are simultaneously generated from the first gas and second gas. The layer is etched, where the layer is etched by the plasmas from the first gas and second gas.
US08801890B2
The present invention relates to two-part moisture curing compositions useful for adhesive, sealing, potting and other applications. In particular, the present invention relates to two-part room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) compositions which include in one of the parts a moisture curing organic polymer which is substantially free or does not contain siloxane bonds in its backbone.
US08801885B2
The disclosed embodiments offer a solution for controlling the thickness of a finished structural composite part when precise tolerances must be complied with for the quality of the assembly and in order to ease the assembly operations of this part. In order to implement the method according to the disclosed embodiments, an additional layer of plies made out of a non-structural composite material, called calibrating plies, is applied onto the structural plies of the structural part, at least in an area where the thickness must be maintained within close tolerances and, after the composite material has been cured, the calibrating plies are machined in order to obtain the thickness required for the finished part. The thickness of the calibrating plies applied is determined according to the possible thicknesses of structural plies, taking into account the manufacturing spreads so that the machining operation for the calibrating plies does not affect the structural plies.
US08801884B2
A method of forming a tire innerliner having a cylindrical inner rubber layer and a cylindrical film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer blended therewith. The cylindrical film is disposed radially outwardly of the cylindrical inner rubber layer. The method includes the following steps: wrapping an unvulcanized rubber layer cylindrically around a building drum to form the cylindrical inner rubber layer; and subsequently wrapping a sheet-shaped film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer blended therewith cylindrically around the cylindrical inner rubber layer, which is already wrapped around the building drum, to form the cylindrical film. The unvulcanized rubber layer constituting the cylindrical inner rubber layer is a strip-shaped rubber layer, and the cylindrical inner rubber layer is formed by spirally winding the strip-shaped rubber layer.
US08801883B2
A method for producing a fixing-unit member including a base, a rubber elastic layer, and a PFA layer includes a step of forming a primer layer by applying a primer containing a low-melting fluorocarbon resin to the outer circumferential surface of a rubber roller having the rubber elastic layer on the outer circumferential surface of the base; a step of sheathing the rubber roller with a thermally shrinkable tube formed by diametrically expanding a PFA tube so as to have an inner diameter more than the outer diameter of the rubber roller; a step of forming the PFA layer from the thermally shrinkable tube by heating the thermally shrinkable tube so as to be thermally shrunken and fused with the rubber roller; and a reheating step of heating the PFA layer to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the PFA contained in the PFA layer.
US08801881B2
A method of producing a flat panel display including step 1-step 4, or step 1-step 5, where at least one of the optical elements after step 4 or step 5 can be reused as an optical element in step 1: step 1: adhering two optical elements to each other via an adhesive sheet or a curable resin layer, and applying an autoclave treatment to give an optical laminate step 2: checking the appearance of the optical laminate obtained in step 1 step 3: assembling a flat panel display using the optical laminate that passed the check in step 2 step 4: separating the two optical elements in an optical laminate that was rejected by the check in step 2 by relatively rotating them with a vertical line penetrating the opposing faces thereof as a rotation axis step 5: washing the optical element resulting from step 4.
US08801873B2
The present invention provides a carburized steel part obtained by subjecting a base material to a cutting operation and a carburizing operation, in which the base material includes chemical components of: C: greater than 0.3 but less than or equal to 0.6% by mass; Si: 0.01 to 1.5% by mass; Mn: 0.3 to 2.0% by mass; P: 0.0001 to 0.02% by mass; S: 0.001 to 0.15% by mass; N: 0.001 to 0.03% by mass; Al: greater than 0.06 but less than or equal to 0.3% by mass; and, O: 0.0001 to 0.005% by mass, with a balance including iron and inevitable impurities, and in which the carburized steel part has a hardness of HV550 to HV800 in a surface layer portion, and a hardness of HV400 to HV550 in a core portion.
US08801871B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous composition and to a method for the anticorrosion conversion treatment of metallic surfaces, particularly metallic materials which are assembled into composite structures, comprising steel or galvanized or alloy-galvanized steel and any combinations of these materials, the composite structure being composed at least in part of aluminum or the alloys thereof. The aqueous composition according to the invention is based on a phosphating solution and contains, in addition to water-soluble compounds of zirconium and titanium, a quantity of free fluoride in a ratio that both permits phosphating of the steel and galvanized and/or alloy-galvanized steel surfaces and determines low pickling rates with regard to the aluminum substrate with simultaneous passivation of the aluminum. The metallic materials, components and composite structures conversion treated in accordance with the underlying invention are used in automotive body construction, in shipbuilding, in construction and for the production of white goods.
US08801866B1
A non-aqueous solvent composition and method for cleaning and removing oleaginous materials such as hydraulic fluids from reinforced-fiber composites characterized as a cleaning composition free of ozone depletion materials, having a low vapor pressure, a flash point above 140° F., and consists essentially of cyclohexenes, isoparaffinic hydrocarbons, dearomatized hydrocarbons and corrosion inhibitors.
US08801863B2
A dishwasher includes a rack provided with interior and exterior corner nozzles to direct washing fluid onto interior and exterior surface portions of an object placed in a corner of the rack.
US08801860B1
A method for restoring a vehicle headlight lens by removing contaminants begins with wiping the lens surface of a vehicle headlight clean. An alcohol-saturated cleaning substance is used to remove debris and pollution from the surface. The alcohol is specifically selected to also remove moisture from the surface of the lens to the greatest extent possible. For optimal cleaning conditions the headlight is heated either by illumination or direct sunlight to a temperature of about 70 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. A lens restoration solution that includes a dissolving chemical compound such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone and/or tetrahydrofuran is applied to the lens surface, either with an applicator or by spraying. After the lens surface has been restored to a smooth, transparent condition, and adequately hardened, a UV protectant is applied to maintain the lens surface.
US08801854B2
A method for evaluating metal contamination of a silicon single crystal grown by the Czochralski method using a pulling apparatus in which a voltage can be applied between a crystal suspending member and a crucible comprises the steps of: setting the crystal suspending member as a negative electrode while setting the crucible as a positive electrode in a process for growing a non-convertible portion of the silicon single crystal; applying the voltage; collecting a sample from the non-convertible portion grown in association with the voltage application; and evaluating the metal contamination of the sample by an analysis in which Surface Photo Voltage method is adopted. In a process for growing an end-product convertible portion of the silicon single crystal, the voltage is applied such that the crystal suspending member is set as the positive electrode while the crucible is set as the negative electrode, or the voltage is not applied.
US08801853B2
This mechanism for controlling a melt level includes: an optical recording device by which a real image of a furnace internal structural object and a reflected image reflected on the melt surface; and a processing device which, taking a value based on the real image as a reference value, controls the position of the melt surface based on a relationship of a position or a size of the reflected image, a distance between the reflected image and the real image, or amounts of changes thereof to the position of the melt surface. This mechanism for adjusting a melt level includes: the above mechanism for controlling a melt level; and a lifting mechanism which is controlled by the mechanism for controlling a melt level and adjusts the melt surface to the set position.
US08801845B2
An ink composition includes a first saccharide and a second saccharide. The first saccharide is a linear saccharide having 4 or more saccharide units and the second saccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of trehalose, maltotriose, and a cyclic saccharide.
US08801843B1
A system for removing unwanted contaminates from gases using a scrubber, which comprises a housing, a reaction chamber having a liquid level, an inlet connected to a source containing gases to be scrubbed with a contamination concentration greater than zero ppb to saturation. A gas exit port connected to the housing is used for evacuating scrubbed gas and a sintered permeable membrane is disposed across the reaction chamber, which provides a reaction zone in the plurality of pores when gases to be scrubbed are introduced to the membrane on a first side while the membrane is immersed in the lean liquid; and a cleaned gas on a second side wherein the clean gas initially has a drop in contamination concentration of at least 99 percent and gradually decreasing to 70 percent as additional gases to be scrubbed are introduced to the plurality of pores without replacing the lean liquid.
US08801830B2
This invention refers to a pyrometallurgical method for the continuous reduction of oxidized copper through combustion gases in countercurrent to the continuous gravitational flow of liquid copper that disperses through a packed bed reactor with ceramic grains.
US08801828B2
A powder metal material comprises pre-alloyed iron-based powder including carbon present in an amount of 0.25 to 1.50% by weight of the pre-alloyed iron-based powder. Graphite is admixed in an amount of 0.25 to 1.50% by weight of the powder metal material. The admixed graphite includes particles finer than 200 mesh in an amount greater than 90.0% by weight of the admixed graphite. Molybdenum disulfide is admixed in an amount of 0.1 to 4.0% by weight of the powder metal material, copper is admixed in an amount of 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of the powder metal material, and the material is free of phosphorous. The powder metal material is then compacted and sintered at a temperature of 1030 to 1150° C. At least 50% of the admixed graphite of the starting powder metal material remains as free graphite after sintering.
US08801810B1
Provided are methods of preparing a lithium ion cell including forming the cell by charging the lithium ion cell to at least about 5% or, more specifically, to at least about 20% of the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode electrochemically active material, holding the lithium ion cell in a charged state for at least about 0.5 hours, and discharging the lithium ion cell. Holding the lithium ion cell in a partially charged state is believed to significantly improve its Coulombic efficiency during subsequent cycling.
US08801803B2
The present invention relates to a structure for connecting an artificial limb and a socket, in which a magnetic locking device is mounted on one end of the artificial limb. The magnetic locking device includes an electro-permanent magnet comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, and one end of the socket is provided with an attachment member capable of being attached to or detached from the magnetic locking device using magnetic force.
US08801795B2
A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones.
US08801791B2
A spinal spacer for engagement between vertebrae includes a body having a substantially contoured first end surface at a distal end and a second end surface opposite thereto at a proximal end. The body extends between the first and second end surfaces to define top and bottom vertebral engaging surfaces that are opposed to one another. The body extends between the top and bottom vertebral engaging surfaces to define opposed side surfaces. The top and bottom vertebral engaging surfaces intersect with the side surfaces to provide a substantially quadrilateral cross-section with rounded corners. The top and bottom vertebral engaging surfaces have a substantially streamlined convex profile. The surfaces converge at the distal end to define a substantially atraumatic blunt nose having a tip configured with planar and/or convex surfaces.
US08801789B2
Artificial disc replacements (ADRs) and total disc replacements (TDRs) are based upon two, directly articulating components, resulting in a restricted-motion system that better approximates more normal spinal flexion, extension, and lateral bending. Both components are preferably made of a hard material and are highly polished to reduce friction.
US08801785B2
A spinal implant and method of implanting a spinal implant that has a spacer and a plate configured to be fastened to a plurality of vertebral bodies. The plate is coupled to the spacer, with the spacer and the plate being angularly adjustable with respect to each other.
US08801770B2
A stent, composed of linear components, comes into close contact with a tissue in vivo upon being deformed when set indwelling in vivo. The stent has linear components which are deformed to exhibit a force for maintaining dilation when the stent is set indwelling in vivo. The linear components deformed when the stent is set indwelling in vivo are composed of non-biodegradable metallic linear components and a plurality of biodegradable material-made linear components which are bonded to the non-biodegradable metallic linear components. Furthermore, when set indwelling in vivo, the stent exhibits the force for maintaining the dilation owing to both the non-biodegradable metallic linear components and the biodegradable material-made linear components. After a predetermined period of time, biodegradation of the biodegradable material-made linear components proceeds, which results in a lowering of the force for maintaining the dilation.
US08801768B2
Aneurysms are treated by filling at least one double-walled filling structure with a filling medium within the aneurysm, such as filling structures having a membrane that allows water molecules to permeate across the membrane in response to a water potential differential across the membrane. The transport of fluid across the membrane allows the bag to expand or shrink to accommodate changes in the size or shape of the aneurysm, thereby maintaining a seal between the filling structure against the vessel wall and maintaining apposition of the filling structure against the inside surface of the aneurysm. Transport of water molecules into or out of the filling structure is controlled by adjusting for the osmolarity of the filling fluid medium. The filling structures may be delivered over balloon deployment mechanisms in order to shape occlude the aneurysm and open a tubular lumen for flow of blood through the filling structure.
US08801764B2
A method and device for cosmetic surgery, especially fat reduction and collagen reformation, by means of a high power laser operating at about 980 nm is presented. The cosmetic surgery method substantially reduces or removes localized lipodystrophies, and essentially reduces flaccidity by localized laser heating of adipose tissue using an optical fiber inserted into a treatment area. The method and device are particularly well suited for treating Lipodystrophies with flaccidity High power laser energy is applied to “fat” cells to breakdown the cell walls releasing the cell fluid. The laser radiation is applied through an optical fiber which may be held within a catheter-like device having a single lumen. The optical fiber may have a diffuser mounted on the tip to further apply heating to tissues surrounding the whole tip. A saline solution may also be inserted into the treatment site to aid in the heating of the fat cells and their eventual destruction as well as their removal. The pool of cell fluid in the area of treatment is removed by a combination of techniques including allowing the body to remove it by absorption and drainage from the entry sites thus minimizing trauma to the area of treatment and hastening recovery. Additional techniques to remove the cell fluid include direct force application by means of elastic bandages and external suction applied to the entry sites. Quick and lasting cosmetic changes, even in areas having prior untreatable fat tissues, are achieved while minimizing trauma to the treatment areas.
US08801762B2
A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are substantially transverse to the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion.
US08801754B2
A suburethral sling system including a suburethral sling body having first and second ends; a tissue anchor connected approximate to each of the first and second sling ends, the tissue anchors having barbs for retaining the anchors in soft tissue; and an anchor delivery device having a hand-grip and an anchor stay adapted to reversibly mate with the tissue anchors.
US08801745B2
An expandable cage is expanded within a narrowed region of a blood vessel. The expandable cage has openings therein so that plaque protrudes through the openings when the cage is expanded. A material removing element passes within the cage to remove the plaque extending into the openings. The openings are preferably formed by integrally formed elements which provide a smooth internal surface. The material removing element passes along the smooth internal surface when removing the plaque. A collection bag is coupled to the material removing element to capture the material which has been removed.
US08801736B2
A percutaneous thrombus extraction device for removing a thrombus from within a blood vessel includes a flexible outer sheath defining a first passage between a proximal end and a distal end. An inner sheath is movably positionable within the first passage. The inner sheath defines a second passage between a proximal end and a distal end. The inner sheath is moveable in a radial direction between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration along a length of the inner sheath defined between the proximal end and the distal end. A catheter is movably positionable within the second passage, and has an expandable body at a distal end portion of the catheter. The expandable body is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
US08801735B2
Surgical instruments and procedures for performing a circular anastomosis of a tubular organ. The surgical instruments may include selectively deployable tissue acquisition members configured to puncture through a portion of the tubular organ and position the portion of the organ adjacent to a fastener face of a staple cartridge supported in the instrument. At least one cutting member may be radially deployed and rotated to sever the positioned portion of organ from a distal portion of the organ. An anvil may be employed to draw another portion of the organ adjacent to the portion of organ positioned adjacent to the fastener face of the staple cartridge. The staples may then be deployed through the adjacent portions of organ and an annular knife may be advanced through the adjacent organ portions to complete the anastomosis.
US08801729B2
Devices and methods for electrode implantation. A first embodiment includes an electrode insertion tool adapted to tunnel through tissue and attach, at its distal end, to a lead, such that the lead may be pulled into the tunneled space as the electrode insertion tool is removed. Additional embodiments include methods for inserting electrode/lead assemblies, including a method wherein an insertion tool is first used to tunnel through tissue, then to pull an electrode/lead into the tunneled space. In a further embodiment the insertion tool is next used, with a splittable sheath disposed thereon, to create an additional path into tissue, after which the insertion tool is removed, leaving the sheath in place; a lead is inserted to the sheath, and, finally, the splittable sheath is removed over the lead.
US08801692B2
The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.
US08801689B2
A system for mixing or reconstituting a drug contained in a first container with a diluent or fluid contained in a second container. The second container has a port docking assembly for engaging the first container. The first container is rotatable and axially slidable within the port docking assembly. The port docking assembly has an actuator to urge a stopper fluidly sealing the first container into the interior of the first container. The port docking assembly further includes a movable plug constructed to fluidly seal the second container in a first, docked position and to provide access to the interior of the second container in a second, activated position, whereby fluid communication between the first and second containers is provided when the first and second containers are in the second, activated position.
US08801684B2
A coupling part of a drainage tube unit for aspirating body fluids by a suction pump includes a patient-side drainage attachment, a pump-side drainage orifice for connection to a drainage tube, and a drainage channel connecting the drainage attachment and the drainage orifice to each other. The coupling part also includes a pump-side first service orifice for connection to a service tube, a second service orifice ending in the interior of the coupling part, a service channel connecting these first and second service orifices, and a device which separates the service channel from the drainage channel. The device permits delivery of fluid from the service channel into the drainage channel and prevents delivery of particles and liquid from the drainage channel into the service channel. The device is arranged in the coupling part at a location that allows a flow through the drainage channel from the drainage attachment to the drainage orifice without passage through the device.
US08801681B2
A medical device for example a wound dressing having antibacterial and optionally, antifungal properties, are provided together with methods for making the device. An exemplary dressing includes a layer of silver-containing fabric, (optionally) a layer of absorbent material, and (optionally) a layer of flexible air-permeable and/or water-impermeable material. The dressing can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic care and treatment of skin infections and surface wounds (including surgical incisions), as a packing material, and as a swab for surface cleaning.
US08801673B2
A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub; a needle fixed to the hub having a distal end, formed for insertion into a patient, and a proximal end; a shield; a biasing means disposed to urge the shield from a first position to a second position; and, at least one adjustable tab or locking finger on the hub, the tab or finger being adjustable from a first state to a second state. With the tab or finger being in a first state, the tab or finger interferingly engages the shield so as to restrict movement thereof. The tab or finger in the first state retains the shield in its first position with the proximal end of the needle being exposed. With the tab or finger being in the second state, the tab or finger does not interferingly engage with the shield. As such, the shield is permitted to be urged proximally to the second position by the biasing means. In the second position, the shield covers the proximal end of the needle. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a mechanism is provided for shielding a proximal, or non-patient, end of a pen needle, particularly after use.
US08801670B2
A system for accessing a sinus cavity of a subject includes an access tool configured to penetrate into the sinus cavity from a location external the subject. The system further includes an access sheath having a distal tubular portion, a lumen extending through the access sheath and the distal tubular portion and dimensioned to receive the access tool, the distal tubular portion comprising one or more cutting surfaces disposed about an external surface thereof. The one or more cutting surfaces may include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves for flutes disposed about the periphery of the distal tubular member.
US08801661B2
The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a flexible sheath instrument, a flexible guide instrument, and a tool. The flexible sheath instrument comprises a first instrument base removably coupleable to an instrument driver and defines a sheath instrument working lumen. The flexible guide instrument comprises a second instrument base removably coupleable to the instrument driver and is threaded through the sheath instrument working lumen. The guide instrument also defines a guide instrument working lumen. The tool is threaded through the guide instrument working lumen. For this embodiment of the apparatus, the sheath instrument and guide instrument are independently controllable relative to each other.
US08801659B2
Described herein are injection devices capable of automatically injecting substances into the soft tissue of a patient. The devices can inject low to high viscosity materials at predetermined, user selected injection rates, allowing the operator more control than a traditional syringe. The devices can allow mixing of more than one substance and/or reconstitution of a solid substance for injection. The injection devices described herein can allow the operator to easily inject one or more low to high viscosity liquid or gel soft-tissue augmentation fillers, one or more drugs, one or more other biocompatible materials, or combinations thereof.
US08801654B2
A pressure and a vision regulation method and device for irrigation of a body cavity (1), in which an inflow liquid pump (2) pressurizes the irrigation liquid in a feed line (13) and an outflow device (3) or an external suction source (20) drains the irrigation liquid from the body cavity (1) through a tubing (16) into a waste container (17). A control unit (4) controls either the inflow liquid pump (2) only or both the inflow liquid pump (2) and the outflow device (3) depending on an inflow irrigation liquid pressure from a pressure sensor (5). The method and the device are combined with a method for detecting blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin and/or debris in liquid coming from a surgical site to provide an automatic control and rinsing system with clear vision in the viewing area of the operational site.
US08801648B2
Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One implant has an inlet portion configured to extend through a portion of a tissue of an eye and an outlet portion configured to extend into and along a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The implant provides a flow path between an anterior chamber of the eye and the physiologic outflow pathway. One implant includes a body having adjacent regions of differing cross-sectional dimensions configured to anchor the implant and/or stabilize at least a portion of the flow path through the implant. One method involves inserting a fiber optic in an eye, locating a distal end of the fiber optic at a physiologic outflow pathway through which aqueous humor drains from an anterior chamber of the eye, and delivering a material comprising a therapeutic agent along the fiber optic and into the physiologic outflow pathway.
US08801647B2
Method for treating a Roux-en-Y patient having fistulas and leaks as a result of bariatric surgery. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the esophagus and extends through a stomach pouch into an intestine anastomosed to the stomach pouch to prevent fistulas and other damaged tissue from making contact with food and fluids entering the esophagus. The gastrointestinal implant device includes an unsupported flexible sleeve and an anchor coupled to a proximal portion of the sleeve. The flexible sleeve is open at both ends, and adapted to extend below a jejunum. The anchor is adapted to be retained within the esophagus, preferably just above the gastroesophageal (GE) Junction. The anchor can include a stent such as a wave anchor and is collapsible for catheter-based delivery and removal.
US08801645B2
A compression garment, having: (a) a body portion dimensioned to be wrapped around a body limb, the body portion having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of opposite side edges; and (b) a plurality of bands, wherein the bands are each attachable onto the body portion at a plurality of different locations, and wherein the bands wrap around part of the body portion when the body portion is wrapped around the body limb to apply compression force to the body limb.
US08801642B1
A massage tool includes a body that extends from a first end to a second end in a lengthwise direction and has a first side that is spaced from a second side in a widthwise direction. The body defines a peripheral portion and an interior portion. The peripheral portion of the body has a substantially continuous outer periphery that is defined by a concave arc segment that is positioned along the first side of the body and a first convex arc segment that is positioned along the second side of the body. The interior portion has at least one lengthwise member that extends in the lengthwise direction of the body. The peripheral portion of the body cooperates with the interior portion of the body to define a first central aperture that extends through the body and a second central aperture that extends through the body.
US08801639B2
A biomedical device (1) for robotized rehabilitation of a human upper limb, particularly for neuromotor rehabilitation of the shoulder and elbow joint, includes a first rigid rod (2) and a second rigid rod (3), both of which can be associated with the upper limb (4) of a patient (5) and are articulated to each other at two adjacent ends (2a, 3a) thereof by way of a first universal joint (6) which can be arranged proximate to the elbow joint (7) of the upper limb (4). The first rigid rod (2) and the second rigid rod (3) are associable respectively with the forearm (28) and the arm (13) of the upper limb (4) by joints with four degrees of freedom, of which three are rotary (35, 36, 37, 46, 47, 48) and one is translational (38, 49) and aligned with the longitudinal axis, respectively, of the forearm (28) or of the arm (13), the first universal joint (6) having pivoting axes (54, 55) which are mutually perpendicular and angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm (13) to prevent a condition of kinematic singularity during alignment between the forearm (28) and the arm (13).
US08801638B2
The invention relates to a delordosation device for users of a rehabilitation appliance, in particular for the verticalization of a sit/stand exercise machine or a wheel chair with a seating area and support aids for a user, the seating area supported in a swiveling manner swiveling for verticalization. To avoid hyperlordosis while patients with a restricted mobility are being straightened up in rehabilitation measures or a verticalization in a sit/stand exercise machine 1 or wheel chair, it is provided that the seating area is supported in a swiveling manner, and at least a portion of the seating area is mounted in a movable manner. Thus, a pelvis rotation can be initiated during verticalization, whereby hyperlordosis is avoided.
US08801637B2
There is provided a body movement detecting apparatus having a body movement data acquiring unit configured to detect a body movement of a user and acquire body movement data relating to the body movement and a computing unit configured to calculate consumed energy on the basis of the body movement data, including: a time data acquiring unit configured to acquire time data when the body movement data is acquired; a data accumulating unit being capable of accumulating the body movement data in correspondence with the time data; and a detection condition changing unit being capable of changing a detection condition for detecting the body movement on the basis of the body movement data and the time data accumulated in the data accumulating unit.
US08801632B2
A meter system for analyzing body fluids includes a supply magazine for storing a stack of test elements, a meter for analyzing fluid samples, and a transport system for transporting test elements from the supply magazine to the meter. The test element in one embodiment includes a lancet integrated test element that has a lancet coupled to a test strip. The transport system is configured to minimize damage to the test element. In one form, the transport system includes a shuttle that slides the top-most test element from the stack onto a connection portion of the meter. In another form, the transport system includes a drum that rotates to transport test elements from the supply magazine to a testing position and, once used, to a waste magazine for disposal. In a further form, the transport system includes a disc that rotates to transport the test elements.
US08801626B2
Methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device. The neural stimulation tools described herein are configured to be flexible and low-profile, so that they can be used within body regions that may be tortuous or difficult to reach, such as within a compressed or partially occluded neural foramen. In most cases, these tools described herein are ribbon-shaped and adapted to be manipulated bimanually, applying force to the ends of the devices from separate locations outside of the patient's body. Thus, the distal end region of the device may be configured to couple to the proximal end of a guidewire. One or more surfaces of the devices may include an electrode or multi-polar network of electrodes configured to stimulate only nerves within a predetermined distance of a particular face of the device. Methods of using these devices are described.
US08801618B2
A cardiovascular parameter such as cardiac output is estimated from a current pressure waveform data set without needing to directly measure blood flow or arterial compliance. The general shape of an input flow waveform over one beat-to-beat cycle is assumed (or computed), and then the parameters of a flow-to-pressure model, if not pre-determined, are determined using system identification techniques. In one embodiment, the parameters thus determined are used to estimate a current peripheral resistance, which is used not only to compute an estimate of the cardiovascular parameter, but also to adjust the shape of the input flow waveform assumed during at least one subsequent beat-to-beat cycle. Another embodiment does not require computation of the peripheral resistance and still another embodiment computes a flow estimate from an optimized identification of the parameters defining the assumed input flow waveform.
US08801611B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08801608B2
A method for creating a sequence of access channels to provide access for performing surgery on a lumbar spine; through positioning a patient to facilitate surgical access to the lumbar spine; docking a retractor device against a proximal surface of the psoas muscle and maintaining the pre-psoas access channel with the retractor device docked at the proximal surface of the psoas muscle. Making a direct visual inspection of the psoas muscle before splitting the psoas muscle to create and maintain a psoas access channel that extends from the pre-psoas access channel to the spine. Holding open the psoas access channel with a pair of retractor blades. After completing a surgical process on the spine removing the pair of retractor blades from the psoas access channel.
US08801598B2
A highly compliant and elastic cardiac support device is provided. The device is constructed from a biocompatible material is applied to an external surface of a heart. The device can be used to resist dilatation of the heart, to provide acute wall support, or to enhance reduction in the size of the heart using stored potential energy, without interfering with systolic contraction.
US08801596B2
A sling for treating urinary incontinence includes a suburethral support and first and second elongated suspending members. The suburethral support has opposite ends, is formed from a polymer and has first physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The first and second suspending members are formed from the same polymer as the suburethral support and have second physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The density of the suspending members is different than the density of the suburethral support. The first and second suspending members are each formed separately from and attached to one of the opposite ends of the suburethral support. The length of each of the suspending members is greater than the length of the suburethral support, and the width of each of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support.
US08801579B2
A muscle stretching and massaging apparatus enables stretching of the calf at varying levels of intensity and massaging of muscles of the leg while those muscles are in a relaxed state. A support frame provides a stable base for the apparatus and means for receiving and supporting a lateral roller at a plurality of heights and a stretch board at a plurality of angles relative to a supporting surface. The stretch board enables calf stretching at varying levels of intensity, depending on the severity of the angle formed between the stretch board and the surface upon which the support frame rests. The adjustable height of the roller further enables the apparatus to provide calf and hamstring massaging while the muscles are in a relaxed state.
US08801578B2
An exercise machine can include a motivating and instructional user interface or display. The interface can include a virtual coach or other encouraging stimulus to provide key motivation for users of indoor exercise machines.
US08801577B2
Portable fitness monitoring systems with displays, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a portable fitness monitoring device for monitoring an individual during a physical activity may include an article for wearing adapted to releasably fix the portable fitness monitoring device to the individual's body, a sensor adapted to sense performance parameter information, a display adapted to present visual output to the individual, and a memory operatively coupled to a processor. The memory may store computer readable instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the portable fitness monitoring device to generate a first visual output for the display that includes an indication of the intensity level that the individual should be performing at, and generate a second visual output for the display that includes an indication of the intensity level that the individual is currently performing at.
US08801574B2
A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a multi-mode transmission having a plurality of torque machines, and a driveline. A method for deactivating a torque transfer clutch of the multi-mode transmission includes imposing prioritized clutch torque constraints to an off-going clutch. The constraints include minimum and maximum long-term desired clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum soft clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum short-term desired clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum hard clutch torque constraints. The off-going clutch is controlled in response to the prioritized clutch torque constraints.
US08801573B2
A power transmitting apparatus for a vehicle mounted with a torque converter and an idle-stop mechanism can be configured to improve fuel economy without cancelling a fuel-cut-off during vehicle speed reduction and to reduce the manufacturing cost by eliminating an electrically-driven oil pump. A power transmitting apparatus can comprise a torque converter, a clutch mechanism, an oil pump, a continuously variable transmission, a clutch control device, an engine control device, and a flow control device. The flow control device can be configured to limit or prevent the supply of oil to the torque converter by the oil pump and to prioritize the supply of oil to the clutch mechanism and the continuously variable transmission when the vehicle speed is reduced below a predetermined value with fuel being cut off by the engine control device during vehicle speed reduction.
US08801560B2
A transmission system has an input connected to a drive source, and an output connected to a load. The transmission system further has a transmission that includes two input shafts and an output shaft, as well as a clutch module comprising a clutch and a planetary gear set which comprises three rotational members of which a first rotational member is connected to the input, a second rotational member is coupled to the output and a third rotational member is connected to a brake. Between the input shafts and the output shaft are located three speed transforming gears and three gear clutches, and between the two input shafts is located a further clutch.
US08801551B2
Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.
US08801548B2
A portable training device to be used by one practicing the game of tennis or golf. The training device includes a stand to rest on a flat surface, an adjustable hoop through which a tennis ball or a golf ball is hit, and a hoop support extending between the stand and the hoop. The adjustable hoop is rotatable between a vertical position, standing upwardly from and in axial alignment with the hoop support, and a horizontal position, facing the flat surface in perpendicular alignment with the hoop support. The length of the hoop support is adjustable so that the distance between the hoop and the stand can be correspondingly adjusted to meet the needs of the user.
US08801545B2
In a colored golf ball having a core, a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, and a layer of paint applied to a surface of an outermost layer of the cover, the outermost cover layer and/or the paint layer is colored with a fluorescent dye, and the golf ball itself has a color tone which satisfies specific ranges in the Lab color system. The ball is endowed with an excellent spin performance and durability, an appearance characterized by outstanding visibility, stylishness and elegance, and an excellent weather resistance.
US08801538B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discrete orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08801533B2
Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.
US08801530B2
A grip guide apparatus is disclosed for use as a training aid. The grip guide apparatus includes a substrate and chromic material. The substrate is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of an article of sports equipment such as a handle. The chromic material is capable of changing colors in response to one or more external stimuli. Changes in color of chromic material thereby indicate whether the user has proper or improper hand placement on the article of sports equipment. The chromic material may also indicate whether the user has applied the proper or improper amount of pressure to the article of sports equipment. The substrate may include an adhesive backing to affix the grip guide apparatus to the article of sports equipment. By generating feedback from the chromic material, good habits can be formed with respect to taking a proper grip of the article of sports equipment.
US08801523B2
Methods, systems, and products bookmark gaming applications. When a player wishes to pause a gaming application, a bookmark may be created. The bookmark identifies a location in the gaming application at which play is paused. Play may then be resumed from the bookmark, whether at a same device or at a different device.
US08801521B2
A video game apparatus as a sound output apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU detects acceleration data included in input information data transmitted from a controller. The acceleration data is numerical value data for accelerations in three axial directions set to the controller. For example, a swinging motion of the controller in a right direction or a left direction is determined based on the acceleration in a direction of one axis (x-axis) out of three axes. In addition, a downward swinging motion of the controller and a posture of the controller at the time of end of swing are determined based on the acceleration in directions of two axes (y-axis and z-axis) other than the one axis. Accordingly, for example, a performance of a musical instrument displayed on a game screen is individually instructed.
US08801516B2
A card used in a card game includes a code including at least two sets of code elements printed in UV-luminous ink on a surface of the card, the sets of code elements provided on one side of the surface of the card along a reading direction of a code reader.
US08801514B1
A grain conveyor for a combine harvester capable of increasing capacity and reducing component wear is disclosed. The grain conveyor includes a grain elevator, a transition chamber and an auger assembly. The grain elevator has an inlet for receiving a flow of grain. The transition chamber includes an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the transition chamber inlet and the grain elevator inlet. The transition chamber outlet has an asymmetric non-circular opening larger than the non-cylindrical opening of the transition chamber inlet. The auger assembly is operatively connected to the transition chamber and includes an inlet for receiving a flow of grain and an outlet in fluid communication with the transition chamber inlet.
US08801512B2
The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.
US08801509B2
A device is provided for lifting, hanging, or securing an object. The device includes a hanger, a plate, and a ratcheting assembly. The hanger includes a pair of arms with hook members extending from the arms and a strut secured between the pair of arms. The plate is secured to the hanger and the ratcheting assembly. The ratcheting assembly includes a buckle with a lever pivotable relative to a body portion. The buckle also includes a pawl member that selectively engages a ratcheting gear. A strap is secured to the buckle and is selectively extendable and retractable relative to the buckle. A hook is provided at the free end of the strap.
US08801507B2
Apparatus and methods for deheading shrimp using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system and lined with one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads from the shrimp. The cross-sectional areas of the venturis each have a major axis and a shorter minor axis. The major axis is long enough to receive the majority of or all the length of a shrimp and minimize hard collisions with the entrance to the venturi that could damage the shrimp.
US08801504B2
A nozzle for providing carbon dioxide for cleaning is disclosed. The nozzle includes a reservoir for receiving liquid carbon dioxide, a barrel defining a passageway therethrough, the passageway extending to an outlet of the barrel, an orifice effecting fluid communication between the reservoir and the passageway, and a screen member constructed and arranged for interrupting flow of the carbon dioxide pellets greater than a select size from being emitted from the passageway of the barrel. Liquid carbon dioxide flows through the orifice to phase transfer into gaseous carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide pellets in the passageway. An internal diameter of the passageway is smaller than an internal diameter of the reservoir.
