US08823087B2
A semiconductor device includes a trench region extending into a drift zone of a semiconductor body from a surface. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric structure including a first step and a second step along a lateral side of the trench region. The semiconductor device further includes an auxiliary structure of a first conductivity type between the first step and the second step, a gate electrode in the trench region and a body region of a second conductivity type other than the first conductivity type of the drift zone. The auxiliary structure adjoins each one of the drift zone, the body region and the dielectric structure.
US08823085B2
A SGT-production method includes forming a fin-shaped silicon layer on a silicon substrate, forming a first insulating film around the fin-shaped silicon layer, forming a pillar-shaped silicon layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped silicon layer, where the pillar-shaped silicon layer has the same width as the fin-shaped silicon layer, forming a gate insulating film around the pillar-shaped silicon layer, forming, around the gate insulating film, a metal film and a polysilicon film thinner than the width of the pillar-shaped silicon layer, forming a third resist for forming a gate line, performing anisotropic etching to form the gate line, depositing a fourth resist, exposing the polysilicon film on a sidewall of an upper portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer, removing the exposed polysilicon film by etching, removing the fourth resist, removing the metal film by etching, and forming a gate electrode connecting to the gate line.
US08823084B2
A semiconductor device has a source metallization, drain metallization, and semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes a drift layer of a first conductivity contacted with the drain metallization, a buffer (and field-stop) layer of the first conductivity higher in maximum doping concentration than the drift layer, and a plurality of compensation regions of a second conductivity, each forming a pn-junction with the drift and buffer layers and in contact with the source metallization. Each compensation region includes a first portion between a second portion and the source metallization. The first portions and the drift layer form a first area having a vanishing net doping. The second portions and the buffer layer form a second area of the first conductivity. A space charge region forms in the second area when a reverse voltage of more than 30% of the device breakdown voltage is applied between the drain and source metallizations.
US08823082B2
The present invention is a semiconductor device including a first electrode over a substrate; a pair of oxide semiconductor films in contact with the first electrode; a second electrode in contact with the pair of oxide semiconductor films; a gate insulating film covering at least the first electrode and the pair of oxide semiconductor films; and a third electrode that is in contact with the gate insulating film and is formed at least between the pair of oxide semiconductor films. When the donor density of the oxide semiconductor films is 1.0×1013/cm3 or less, the thickness of the oxide semiconductor films is made larger than the in-plane length of each side of the oxide semiconductor films which is in contact with the first electrode.
US08823070B2
In image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same, a substrate has a photoelectric conversion area, a floating diffusion area and a recess between the photoelectric conversion area and the floating diffusion area. A plurality of photodiodes is vertically arranged inside the substrate in the photoelectric conversion area. A transfer transistor is arranged along a surface profile of the substrate having the recess and configured to transfer electric charges generated from the plurality of photodiodes to the floating diffusion area. The transfer transistor includes a gate insulation pattern on a sidewall and a bottom of the recess and on a surface of the substrate around the recess, and a gate conductive pattern including polysilicon doped with impurities and positioned on the gate insulation pattern along the surface profile of the substrate having the recess, wherein a cavity is in an upper surface of the gate conductive pattern.
US08823066B2
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a step of forming a first insulating film around a fin-shaped silicon layer and forming a pillar-shaped silicon layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped silicon layer; a step of implanting an impurity into upper portions of the pillar-shaped silicon layer and fin-shaped silicon layer and a lower portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer to form diffusion layers; and a step of forming a polysilicon gate electrode, a polysilicon gate line, and a polysilicon gate pad. The polysilicon gate electrode and the polysilicon gate pad have a larger width than the polysilicon gate line. After these steps follow a step of depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing and etching the polysilicon gate electrode and the polysilicon gate line, and depositing a metal layer to form a metal gate electrode and a metal gate line, and a step of forming a contact.
US08823065B2
The invention relates to a contact structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a trench below the major surface; a strained material filling the trench, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer having an opening over the strained material, wherein the opening comprises dielectric sidewalls and a strained material bottom; a semiconductor layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the opening; a dielectric layer on the semiconductor layer; and a metal layer filling an opening of the dielectric layer.
US08823059B2
Non-planar semiconductor devices having group III-V material active regions with multi-dielectric gate stacks are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a hetero-structure disposed above a substrate. The hetero-structure includes a three-dimensional group III-V material body with a channel region. A source and drain material region is disposed above the three-dimensional group III-V material body. A trench is disposed in the source and drain material region separating a source region from a drain region, and exposing at least a portion of the channel region. A gate stack is disposed in the trench and on the exposed portion of the channel region. The gate stack includes first and second dielectric layers and a gate electrode.
US08823042B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a display panel, a chip on film, and a printed circuit (PCB) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display panel includes a display area having an OLED and a pixel circuit, and a pad area in an outer side of the display area. The chip on film is connected to the pad area, is bent toward a non-luminescent surface of the display panel, and include an integrated circuit chip. The PCB includes at least a part overlapping with the chip on film in an outer side of the non-luminescent surface of the display panel, and an opening for receiving the integrated circuit.
US08823039B2
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device comprises: a light-emitting stack having an upper surface and a lower surface; a pad, arranged on the upper surface, comprising: a first bonding region; and a second bonding region physically connected to the first bonding region through a connecting region having a connecting width; a first electrode connected to the first bonding region; a second electrode connected to the second bonding region; and a third electrode extending from the pad and arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode has a width smaller than the connecting width.
US08823037B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor body has a front face provided for the emission and/or reception of electromagnetic radiation, a rear face which lies opposite the front face and is provided for application onto a support plate, and an active semiconductor layer sequence which in the direction from the rear face to the front face includes a layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer and a layer of a second conductivity type in this sequence.
US08823036B2
There is provided a light emitting diode package having at least two heat sinks. The light emitting diode package includes a main body, at least two lead terminals fixed to the main body, and at least two heat sinks of electrically and thermally conductive materials, the heat sinks being fixed to the main body. The at least two heat sinks are separated from each other. Thus, high luminous power can be obtained mounting a plurality of light emitting diode dies in one LED package. Further, it is possible to embody polychromatic lights mounting LED dies emitting different wavelengths of light each other in the LED package.
US08823032B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) element is provided. The LED element includes a substrate, a diode structure layer and several light-guide structures. The light-guide structures are formed on at least one of the substrate and the diode structure layer. Each light-guide structure has an inner sidewall, and several spiral slits formed on the inner side wall.
US08823031B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor structure, a transparent electrically-conducting layer, a dielectric film, and a metal reflecting layer. The semiconductor structure includes an active region. The transparent electrically-conducting layer is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor structure. The dielectric film is formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrically-conducting layer. The metal reflecting layer is formed on the upper surface of the dielectric film. The dielectric film has at least one opening whereby partially exposing the transparent electrically-conducting layer. The transparent electrically-conducting layer is electrically connected to the metal reflecting layer through the opening. A barrier layer is partially formed and covers the opening so that the barrier layer is interposed between the transparent electrically-conducting layer and the metal reflecting layer.
US08823027B2
A light emitting device having a relatively simple configuration is provided that emits stable light having a plurality of wavelengths. The light emitting device 1 comprises, in sequence, a composite substrate 3 and a gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 5 including a light emitting layer 9. The composite substrate 3 includes a base 19 and a gallium nitride layer, the gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 5 being disposed on a principal surface of the gallium nitride layer, the angle θ defined by the c-axis of the gallium nitride layer and a normal line N1 to the principal surface S1 of the gallium nitride layer ranging from 50 to 130 degrees, the light emitting layer 9 emitting light with an absolute value of the degree of polarization of 0.2 or more, the base 19 containing a fluorescent material that emits a fluorescent light component induced by irradiation of a light component emitted from the light emitting layer 9. Accordingly, the light emitting device 1 can emit white light produced by superposition of blue light directly emitted from the light emitting layer 9 and yellow light induced by blue light incident on the base 19 from the light emitting layer 9.
US08823021B2
The LED module comprises a flexible wiring substrate and surface mounting type LED packages. The flexible wiring substrate is formed at its surface with power supply terminals which comprises a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad, and is formed with a patterned wiring being electrically connected to the patterned wiring. The surface mounting type LED package comprises an LED chip and a mounting substrate. The mounting substrate is formed at its front surface with a recess, and its rear surface with a first connection electrode and the second connection electrode which are electrically connected to the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad, respectively when the mounting substrate is mounted on the flexible wiring substrate. The LED chip is disposed within the recess so as to receive the electrical current through the outside connection electrode and the power supply terminal.
US08823020B2
An LED includes a substrate, a first n-type GaN layer, a connecting layer, a second n-type GaN layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type GaN layer formed on the substrate in sequence. The connecting layer is etchable by alkaline solution. A bottom surface of the second n-type GaN layer faces towards the connecting layer and has a roughened exposed portion. The GaN on the bottom surface of the second n-type GaN layer has an N-face polarity. A blind hole extends through the p-type GaN layer, the light emitting layer and the second n-type GaN layer to expose the connecting layer. An annular rough portion is formed on the bottom surface of the second n-type GaN layer and surrounds each blind hole.
US08823012B2
Enhancement-mode GaN devices having a gate spacer, a gate metal material and a gate compound that are self-aligned, and a methods of forming the same. The materials are patterned and etched using a single photo mask, which reduces manufacturing costs. An interface of the gate spacer and the gate compound has lower leakage than the interface of a dielectric film and the gate compound, thereby reducing gate leakage. In addition, an ohmic contact metal layer is used as a field plate to relieve the electric field at a doped III-V gate compound corner towards the drain contact, which leads to lower gate leakage current and improved gate reliability.
US08823009B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a highly reliable display device at a low cost with high yield. According to the present invention, a step due to an opening in a contact is covered with an insulating layer to reduce the step, and is processed into a gentle shape. A wiring or the like is formed to be in contact with the insulating layer and thus the coverage of the wiring or the like is enhanced. In addition, deterioration of a light-emitting element due to contaminants such as water can be prevented by sealing a layer including an organic material that has water permeability in a display device with a sealing material. Since the sealing material is formed in a portion of a driver circuit region in the display device, the frame margin of the display device can be narrowed.
US08823002B2
An object of this invention is to provide a semiconductor device in which TFTs with high mobility are arranged in both of display and peripheral circuit areas. A semiconductor device fabricating method according to the present invention includes the steps of: irradiating an amorphous silicon layer (34) with energy, thereby obtaining a microcrystalline silicon layer; and forming a doped semiconductor layer (35) on the amorphous silicon layer (34). In the step of irradiating, the amorphous silicon layer (34) is irradiated with energy that has a first quantity, thereby forming a first microcrystalline silicon layer (34A) including a channel layer for a first TFT (30A), and is also irradiated with energy that has a second quantity, which is larger than the first quantity, thereby forming a second microcrystalline silicon layer (34B) including a channel layer for a second TFT (30B).
US08823000B2
A pixel structure includes a substrate, a gate line, a data line, a semiconductor pattern, a non-metal source electrode pattern, a non-metal drain electrode pattern, and a pixel electrode. The gate line and the data line are disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor pattern is disposed on the gate line, and the semiconductor pattern overlaps two corresponding edges of the gate line along a vertical projective direction. The non-metal source electrode pattern and the non-metal drain electrode pattern are disposed on the semiconductor pattern. The non-metal source electrode pattern and the non-metal drain electrode pattern are respectively disposed on two corresponding edges of the gate line. The non-metal source electrode pattern is partially disposed between the data line and the gate line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the non-metal drain electrode pattern.
US08822992B2
With a non-linear element (e.g., a diode) with small reverse saturation current, a power diode or rectifier is provided. A non-linear element includes a first electrode provided over a substrate, an oxide semiconductor film provided on and in contact with the first electrode and having a concentration of hydrogen of 5×1019 atoms/cm3 or less, a second electrode provided on and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film covering the first electrode, the oxide semiconductor film, and the second electrode, and third electrodes provided in contact with the gate insulating film and facing each other with the first electrode, the oxide semiconductor film, and the second electrode interposed therebetween or a third electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film and surrounding the second electrode. The third electrodes are connected to the first electrode or the second electrode. With the non-linear element, a power diode or a rectifier is formed.
US08822985B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) on a transparent substrate includes a microcavity formed between a reflecting cathode and semi-reflecting anode. The microcavity includes multiple organic layers with at least one light-emitting layer. The OLED is characterized by a transparent planarization layer between the substrate and an upper metallic layer forming the OLED semitransparent anode. A process for making such an OLED is also described.
US08822983B2
An organic electroluminescent display device (10) includes: a substrate (11); a first electrode (14) which is provided on the substrate (11), and in which at least a surface portion located on an opposite side from the substrate (11) is made of silver or silver alloy; and an organic electroluminescent layer (15) provided on the first electrode (14).
US08822968B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first wiring layer. The device includes a second wiring layer intersecting with the first wiring layer. And the device includes a first memory layer provided at a position where the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer intersect. And the first memory layer contacts with the first wiring layer, and the first wiring layer is a layer which is capable of supplying a metal ion to the first memory layer.
US08822964B2
A radioactive substance storage container 100 includes a body 10 and a lid 10 having a sealed structure, and a basket 5 housed in the body 1 to hold fuel assemblies. The basket 5 includes a neutron shielding material. The radioactive substance storage container 100 includes a subcritical-performance reinforcing member 20 including a neutron shielding material and located between an inner periphery of the body 1 and an outer periphery of the basket 5.
US08822954B2
A phosphor (photo-luminescent) material based authentication system in which a blend (mixture) of at least two, preferably three or more, phosphor materials are used as a photo-luminescent security marking which is applied to or incorporated within an article/document to be authenticated. Preferably, the phosphor materials are each excitable by “eye safe” excitation radiation comprising visible light of wavelength 380 nm to 780 nm. Moreover, when excited the security marking preferably also emits visible light thereby minimizing any risk of damage to an operator's eye in the event of accidental exposure to the excitation radiation and/or light generated by the photo-luminescent marking. The authenticity of the article/document can be authenticated by verification of the composition of the phosphor by exciting the marking and comparing one or more selected parameters of light emitted by the security marking with corresponding parameters of the characteristic emission spectrum of the authentic phosphor blend.
US08822943B2
A neutron detector without 3He gas, provided with a translucent type plate neutron scintillator having the structure capable to emit fluorescence from double-sides; the neutron scintillator is composed of ZnS fluorescent substance and a neutron converter which contains 6Li or 10B, and arranged at an angle of 45 degrees from the neutrons which are incident in parallel all together, inside of a cylindrical detector housing with the circular or square section where the specular reflector with the reflectance of 90% or more is arranged internally, andthe fluorescence emitted when the neutron enters the scintillator is detected by two photo multipliers arranged on both sides, and signals output from these two photo multipliers are processed to be taken out as a neutron signal.
US08822942B2
A method for locally resolved measurement of a radiation distribution (24) produced using a lithography mask (16) comprises providing a radiation converter (31, 131) having an at least two-dimensional arrangement of converter elements (32, 132) which can respectively be put in an active and a passive state, and are configured to convert incoming radiation in respect of its wavelength in the active state. The method further includes: manipulating the radiation converter (31, 131) several times such that respectively only a fraction of the converter elements (32, 132) adopts the active state, irradiating the radiation converter (31, 131) with the radiation distribution (24) after every manipulation of the radiation converter (31, 131) so that the active converter elements (32, 132) emit wavelength-converted is measuring radiation (34), recording respective places of origin (54) of the measuring radiation at every irradiation with the radiation distribution (24).
US08822937B2
A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a radiographic-image detecting unit configured to detect radiation and convert the detected radiation to an image signal; a wireless transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the image signal to an external device; and a housing configured to cover the radiographic-image detecting unit and the wireless transmission unit, wherein a first side surface of the housing has a first opening for wireless transmission performed by the wireless transmission unit, and a second side surface of the housing adjoining the first side surface has a second opening for wireless transmission by the wireless transmission unit.
US08822926B2
An inspection apparatus for a sheet of paper subjected to a process to impart a translucent property including a “watermark” or a “security window” includes: an inspection cylinder in which a surface facing the sheet of paper is provided with a blackened portion; IR-LED illuminators which irradiate the sheet of paper with light containing infrared rays; an IR monochrome camera which images the sheet; an IR filter which eliminates visible light in the light emitted from the IR-LED illuminators and reflected off the sheet as well as the inspection cylinder and makes only the infrared rays incident on the IR monochrome camera; and a control device which determines appropriateness of a processed portion on the sheet having the translucent property on the basis of the infrared rays emitted from the IR-LED illuminators, reflected off the sheet as well as the inspection cylinder, and made incident on the IR monochrome camera.
US08822925B1
Proximity sensor devices are described that integrate a light emitting diode with a light sensor assembly in a single, compact package. The proximity sensor devices comprise a substrate having a surface. The light emitting diode and light sensor assembly are mounted to the substrate proximate to the surface. The light emitting diode is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a limited spectrum of wavelengths, while the light sensor assembly is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths emitted by the light emitting diode. An encapsulation layer is formed on the surface over the light emitting diode and light sensor assembly. A trench is formed in the encapsulation layer to receive electromagnetic radiation blocking material configured to block electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths to at least partially mitigate crosstalk between the light emitting diode and the light sensor assembly.
US08822923B2
A sensor head for an X-ray detector is specified. The sensor head includes a first conductor carrier having a frontal face, and a sensor element sensitive to X-ray radiation. The sensor element is arranged on the frontal face of the first conductor carrier, is electrically conductively connected to conductors of the first conductor carrier and has a detection area. Furthermore, the sensor head includes contact elements electrically conductively connected to the sensor element via the first conductor carrier and bonding wires that electrically conductively connect the first conductor carrier to the contact elements. The sensor element is electrically conductively connected to the contact elements. In a plan view of the detection area, the detection area at least partly covers the bonding wires.
US08822919B2
A substrate inspection apparatus 1-1 (FIG. 1) of the present invention performs the following steps of: carrying a substrate “S” to be inspected into an inspection chamber 23-1; maintaining a vacuum in said inspection chamber; isolating said inspection chamber from a vibration; moving successively said substrate by means of a stage 26-1 with at least one degree of freedom; irradiating an electron beam having a specified width; helping said electron beam reach to a surface of said substrate via a primary electron optical system 10-1; trapping secondary electrons emitted from said substrate via a secondary electron optical system 20-1 and guiding it to a detecting system 35-1; forming a secondary electron image in an image processing system based on a detection signal of a secondary electron beam obtained by said detecting system; detecting a defective location in said substrate based on the secondary electron image formed by said image processing system; indicating and/or storing said defective location in said substrate by CPU 37-1; and taking said completely inspected substrate out of the inspection chamber. Thereby, the defect inspection on the substrate can be performed successively with high level of accuracy and efficiency as well as with higher throughput.
US08822906B2
An optical device and method providing multi-channel bulk optical power monitoring is disclosed. The device and method may include a scanning mirror, a plurality of input optical fibers, a plurality of output optical fibers, and at least one sample optical fiber optically connected to a photodetector. The device and method may further include a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface may reflect light from the input optical fibers to the second reflective surface. The second reflective surface may reflect a first portion of the light into the output optical fibers and pass a second portion of the light to the scanning mirror. The scanning mirror may reflect samples of the second portion of the light into the at least one sample optical fiber.
US08822905B2
An apparatus includes a first optical mode coupler having a spatial light modulator with a two-dimensional array of separately controllable optical phase modulators. The optical mode coupler is configurable to cause the spatial light modulator to couple a light source or light detector to an end-face of a multi-mode optical fiber via a plurality of light beams. Each of the light beams couples to a different one of optical modes in the multi-mode optical fiber.
US08822904B2
A plant sensor includes a first light emitter to emit first measuring light with a first wavelength to irradiate a growing condition measurement target therewith; a second light emitter to emit second measuring light with a second wavelength to irradiate the growing condition measurement target therewith; a light receiver to receive reflected light of each of the first and second measuring light from the growing condition measurement target and output a received light signal; a controller to control light emission; a light path merging unit to merge a first outgoing light path of the first measuring light from the first light emitter and a second outgoing light path of the second measuring light from the second light emitter; and a common outgoing light path connecting the light path merging unit to a light exit portion emitting the first measuring light and the second measuring light.
US08822902B2
An optical apparatus for adjusting the position and aperture of a pinhole and a method using the same are provided. A light beam is provided. The light beam is focused on an object and reacts with the object to form a signal beam. The signal beam is focused and projected on a liquid-crystal switch. The projection position of the signal beam on the liquid-crystal switch is determined, and the transparence of the liquid-crystal switch at the projection position is adjusted to form a transparent area. The signal beam passes through the transparent area and reaches a light detecting unit to form a detecting signal. The aperture of the transparent area is adjusted according to the intensity of the detecting signal. The liquid-crystal switch is driven to move, so that the position of the transparent area in the moving direction of the signal beam is adjusted.
US08822900B2
A photodetector includes a photodiode and output circuitry coupled to the photodiode. The photodetector is configurable for operation in at least two modes. A first configurable mode operates the photodetector as an integrating sensor. In this first mode, a bias voltage across the photodiode is set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode. A second configurable mode operates the photodetector as a single photon avalanche detector. In this second mode, the bias voltage across the photodiode is set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an avalanche output voltage.
US08822898B2
Row-control signal monitoring system for an electronic imager includes signal processing circuitry coupled a pixel array of the electronic imager which receives at least one row control signal from the pixel array and provides an output signal corresponding to the selected row control signal. Monitoring circuitry compares the output signal to a target value to test the at least one row-control signal.
US08822887B2
A heater assembly used in connection with a diesel emissions fluid tank in a vehicle, the heater assembly including a first heater connectable to an alternating current power supply; a second heater connectable to a direct current power supply within the vehicle; wherein the first heater is adapted to operate at a higher power than the second heater; wherein the first heater is closer to the tank than the second heater; a temperature sensor in sensing communication with the tank and adapted to provide a tank temperature; a control circuit connected to the second heater and the vehicle power supply, wherein the temperature sensor communicates the tank temperature to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit selectively activates the second heater to obtain a desired tank temperature.
US08822885B2
This invention is related to the conservation of energy. The energy sources are limited and energy usage can cause environmental problems. This invention introduces a method of heating which is small and effective. In this method instead of heating the whole house which expensive and at times uncomfortable a limited heated space under a table means covered with a cover means is introduced that allows a person to warm up his/her body. Also, heating a smaller space can be done quickly and uses a limited energy, which is thus more cost-effective. This unit is designed to fold to a smaller unit for easy storage. In this method, an adjustable table means holds an electrical heating means under a cover and allows the person to use that limited space as heating source. The heating means has its control means and thermostat in order to keep the temp in a desired level. The table is very versatile and allows its dimensions to be changed easily so that the user has the option of choosing a size that fits its need. The unit also provides means for sitting and holding the feet comfortably. The unit also introduces a cover and a heating means for the user's back. This unit allows the persons to have a source of heat that can be set up easily, warm up quickly and to use minimal energy. It can also be stored in a very small space. The use of these units can be life saving in man made or natural tragedies in cold weather.
US08822875B2
Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.
US08822870B2
A dielectric insulation medium including a fluoroketone containing 5 carbon atoms, in a mixture with a dielectric insulation gas component different from the fluoroketone, in particular air or an air component, the dielectric insulation medium, in particular the dielectric insulation gas, having a non-linearly increased dielectric strength that is larger than a sum of dielectric strengths of the gas components of the dielectric insulation medium.
US08822868B2
A simplified construction of a gas-insulated high-power circuit breaker with a saving of components is achieved by at least one hole and at least one leaf spring, which is fastened on one side and is elastically bendable in dependence upon the pressure of the insulating gas in the compression volume, being formed in a valve plate of the valve. The bendable spring closes off the hole when the circuit breaker closes and opens it when the circuit breaker opens as soon as the pressure of the compressed insulating gas in the compression volume exceeds the value of the gas pressure in the low-pressure chamber by at least two bar.
US08822866B2
A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact movable with respect to the first contact, an arcing chamber, and an arc splitter. The arc splitter is located on a first side of the first contact, as is an arc runner. An electrical conductor is connected to the arc runner having a first portion running from the first side of the first contact towards a second side of the first contact, the second side being opposite the first side with respect to the first contact. A second portion is connected to the first portion and the second contact; the second portion is located on the second side of the first contact. A current running through the arc runner and the electrical conductor generates a magnetic force on the arc moving the arc toward the arc splitter.
US08822864B2
A switching apparatus for closing and/or opening an electric circuit. It has an actuating unit and a bistable mechanism. The actuating unit is linearly movable between a first end position in which the switching apparatus is in a closed state and a second end position in which the switching apparatus is in an open state. The linear movement defines an axis. The bistable mechanism is arranged to ensure that the actuating unit is held in either of the end positions. The bistable mechanism includes a cam means mechanically connected to the actuating unit and at least one cam follower. The invention also relates to a use of the invented apparatus.
US08822851B2
A multi-mode keyboard for a portable electronic device is provided. The keyboard comprising: a layer of flexible transparent touch sensors for receiving touch input; a layer of flexible output device; and a dome sheet for receiving key click input.
US08822846B2
A cable holding structure includes a shielded cable that includes a center conductor and a shield conductor on an outer periphery of the center conductor, and a holding portion being electrically conductive, provided on a flat plate portion and configured to hold the shielded cable. The holding portion includes a through-hole aligned in a direction intersecting with the flat plate portion. The shielded cable is held by the holding portion such that at least the center conductor is enclosed in the through-hole and the shield conductor is electrically connected to the conductive holding portion.
US08822843B2
A printed wiring board including a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a network of nanotubes with respective longitudinal axes, the nanotubes arranged such that their longitudinal axes are aligned substantially parallel to one another in a configuration such that electrical current passing through the conductive layer along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the nanotubes experiences one degree of dissipation, and electrical current passing through the conductive layer along a second axis experiences a higher degree of dissipation.
US08822830B2
A multi-layer printed circuit board including a first insulating layer, a first conductor layer having circuits on one surface of the first insulating layer, a second conductor layer having circuits on the opposite surface of the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the second conductor and first insulating layers, and a third conductor layer having circuits on the second insulating layer on the opposite side of the second conductor layer. The first and second insulating layers have first and second via holes formed in openings of the first and second insulating layers and made of conductive materials filling the openings such that circuits in the first and third conductor layers are connected to one or more circuits in the second conductor layer, and the first and second via holes have bottom ends facing the second conductor layer and top ends larger than the bottom ends.
US08822816B2
A method of forming a photovoltaic device includes forming a thermal stress relieving layer on top of a substrate and forming a sacrificial back electrode metal layer on the thermal stress relieving layer. A semiconductor photon absorber layer is formed on the sacrificial back electrode metal layer, and the absorber layer is reacted with substantially an entire thickness of the sacrificial back electrode metal layer, thereby forming a back ohmic contact comprising a metallic compound of the sacrificial back electrode metal layer and the absorber layer, in combination with the thermal stress relieving layer.
US08822806B2
The present inventive foot-operable apparatus and method comprise a generally rectangular housing comprising at least one internally positioned accelerometer sensor component, and also including at least one pedal-type component oriented toward, and operable by, a user, and advantageously enable the operating user to produce one or more control signals, of one or more types, and within one or more ranges, in response to the user's predetermined interaction(s) therewith. The novel utilization by the present invention of at least one accelerometer sensor component provides it with numerous advantageous features (such as extensive flexibility, ease of adaptation/configuration, etc.), and a wide range of functionality, while facilitating its easier transport and operation, and greatly increasing the reliability thereof. The apparatus and method of the present invention can be used to provide a configurable, flexible and reliable foot-operable control interface to virtually any electronic and/or electromechanical system.
US08822804B1
Method and apparatus for playing existing aerophone musical instruments e.g. bagpipe or constructing new instruments or more general human interaction devices by continuous estimation of the impulse response of the acoustic system of the instrument with the use of probing signal. In the proposed apparatus this is done by means of transducers introducing probing signal and capturing and analyzing the signal resulting from the interaction between the probing signal, the instrument and the player. In contrast to the normal way aerophone instruments are used where a player blows air and stimulates vibration of air this method does not require the player to blow, the generated probing signal can be outside of the audiable sound range and the output of the instrument can be outputted as digital data.
US08822800B1
A finger operable percussive device for initiating acoustic signals, which can include a percussive member configured to initiate the acoustic signals upon impact with objects. The percussive member can have a curved top surface configured to allow the percussive member to initiate the acoustic signals upon impact with the objects at any angle. The percussive member can be connected with a top of a base. The base can be configured to contour to the user's finger and allow articulation of the user's finger. A securing member can be connected with the base for securing the base onto a user's finger. The securing member can be made of a flexible material configured to allow articulation of the user's finger.
US08822785B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1DK3 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DK3 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1DK3 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DK3 or a locus conversion of PH1DK3 with another maize variety.
US08822783B1
A novel maize variety designated X90C557 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X90C557 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X90C557 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X90C557, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X90C557. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X90C557.
US08822779B1
A novel maize variety designated X03C269 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X03C269 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03C269 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03C269, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03C269. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03C269.
US08822769B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036056. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036056. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036056 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036056 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08822767B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026862. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026862. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026862 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026862 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08822765B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D2011906. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D2011906. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D2011906 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D2011906 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08822760B2
A novel alfalfa variety designated 09N12CY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant that comprise crossing alfalfa variety 09N12CY with another alfalfa plant. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 09N12CY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the alfalfa seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Alfalfa seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing alfalfa variety 09N12CY or a trait conversion of 09N12CY with another alfalfa plant or population. Alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 09N12CY, methods for producing other alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 09N12CY and the alfalfa populations and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08822752B2
[Problem] To provide a disposable diaper more effective in odor eliminating.[Means for Solving Problem] The above problem is solved by a disposable diaper, comprising a liquid pervious face sheet 30, a liquid impervious sheet 11, an absorbent body 56 interposed therebetween, an outer sheet 12 covering a back surface of the liquid impervious sheet 11, an after-treatment tape on an external surface of a back body part B and an odor eliminating printed sheet 25 interposed between the liquid impervious sheet 11 and the outer sheet 12 in the body part B having the after-treatment tape and formed by printing with ink a sheet base material.
US08822748B2
Process for the production of ethene by the vapor phased chemical dehydration of a feed containing ethanol, water and ethoxyethane in a reactor at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a bed of catalyst comprising a supported heteropolytungstic acid, by maintaining or configuring the reactor so that it operates in a regime which satisfies the following parameters: 0.05<(Pwater/Pethanol+Pethoxyethane))/(8×10−5×GHSV+0.75) (1) and −20
US08822744B2
Processes are provided for producing a diesel fuel product having a sulfur content of 10 ppm by weight or less from feed sources that include up to 10% by weight of a biocomponent feedstock. The mineral hydrocarbon portions of the feed sources can be distillate or heavier feed sources.
US08822743B2
This invention provides adducts, mixtures of adducts and oligomers, and/or mixtures of adducts, oligomers, and low molecular weight polymers formed from monovinylaromatic hydrocarbons.
US08822740B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CF═CH2), performed using the steps of dehydrohalogenating 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (CH3CF2CF3, HFC-245ca) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloropropane, 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (CH2FCHFCF3, HFC-245eb) and/or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-3-chloropropane in the presence of a base, and converting a trifluorodichloropropane or a difluorotrichloropropane or a fluorotetrachloropropane to CH3CF2CF3, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloropropane, CH2FCHFCF3, and/or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-3-chloropropane.
US08822727B2
The present invention provides processes and intermediates useful in the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, a serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonist that is useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of, for example, central nervous system disorders, such as obesity.
US08822717B2
Disclosed is a method for controlling a vinyl acetate production process. The method comprises reacting ethylene, acetic acid, and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to produce vinyl acetate, measuring the concentration of a component involved in or associated with the reaction and/or any of the subsequent steps by Raman spectroscopic analysis, and adjusting the conditions in the reactor or in any of the subsequent steps in response to the measured concentration of the component to achieve a proper control of the reaction or any of the subsequent steps.
US08822712B1
Chemically-modified triglycerides are prepared by reacting epoxidized triglyceride oils with phosphorus-based acid hydroxide or esters. The phosphorus-containing triglyceride derivatives are of the formula: wherein R1″, R2″ and R3″ are independently selected from C3 to C29 aliphatic fatty acid residues, at least one of which comprising one or both of the derivatized methylene groups of the formula: wherein m is 0, 1 or 2, n is 0 or 1, q is 1, 2 or 3, and R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, straight, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons and substituted hydrocarbons, and aryl groups. The phosphorus-containing triglyceride derivatives so produced have utility as antiwear/antifriction additives for industrial oils and automotive applications.
US08822708B2
Triphenylene containing benzo-fused thiophene compounds are provided. Additionally, triphenylene containing benzo-fused furan compounds are provided. The compounds may be useful in organic light emitting devices, particularly as hosts in the emissive layer of such devices, or as materials for enhancement layers in such devices, or both.
US08822705B2
The present invention provides a highly safe pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating bone disease, a pharmaceutical preparation comprising thereof, a health food comprising thereof, a functional food comprising thereof. Since the present invention comprises the arylheptanoid compound shown in the following formula (I) and the derivatives thereof, it enables to prevent and/or treat the bone disease. (In the formula (I), R1 and R5 are a functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, alkyl group having carbon numbers 1 to 3, monosaccharide and disaccharide; R2, R3, and R4 are a functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, alkyl group having carbon numbers 1 to 3, monosaccharide and disaccharide; R5 may be bound on meta-position against heptylene group of another aryl group to form a ring.)
US08822703B2
Novel salt forms of [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid characterized by their X-ray powder diffraction pattern and solid-state NMR spectra are described, as well as methods for the preparation and pharmaceutical composition of the same, which are useful as agents for treating hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Alzheimer's Disease.
US08822702B2
The invention relates in a first embodiment to a method for the manufacture of esters of the formula I, or especially of amides of the formula II, wherein the symbols have the meanings given in the specification, as well as other intermediates and compounds useful in the synthesis of tryptamines and other substances mentioned in the title. The synthesis methods and intermediates are useful in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.
US08822701B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing 1-(2-aminoethyl)imidazolidin-2-one or the thiocarbonyl thereof, and also to the product that can be obtained according to this method, and which has a purity of at least 98%, and to the uses thereof.
US08822691B2
To provide novel carboxamides which exhibit an excellent pesticidal activity as pesticides. Carboxamides represented by the following Formula (I) and use thereof as pesticides and an animal parasite control agent: wherein each substituent is as defined in the specification.
US08822689B2
The present invention relates to novel aryloazol-2-yl-cyanoethylamino derivatives of formula (I): wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, P, Q, V, W, X, Y, Z and a are as defined in the description, compositions thereof, processes for their preparation and their uses as pesticides.
US08822682B2
An object is to provide a novel organometallic complex capable of emitting phosphorescence, an organometallic complex which exhibits deep red emission, and a light-emitting element which provides deep red emission. Provided is an organometallic complex having a structure represented by the following General Formula (G1). In the formula, R1 R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 represent substituents, and M is a central metal and represents either a Group 9 element or a Group 10 element.
US08822679B2
A compound useful as a building block for the manufacture of various compounds is represented by Formula A or D. In Formula A and D, z is 0 or 1; Q is a heteroatom; R1 through R11 and Ra through Rf are each independently hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroatom containing hydrocarbyl group, or a functional group; d, e and f are each independently 0 or greater; each of A, B and D is independently a carbon atom or a heteroatom; and two or more of R1 though R11, Ra through Rf and Y optionally combine to form a ring. In some embodiments, R8 and R9 combine to form a carbonyl group. In some embodiments, R2 and Y combine to form a ring with the Q atom. In some embodiments, the ring includes at least one double bond.
US08822677B2
An improved two stage reaction process for production of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6. In a first stage, the activation reaction between chlorin e6 and a carbodiimide produces a previously unknown anhydride in an activation reaction product (Formula I). This reaction product is purified to remove a significant proportion of the precursors of di-L-aspartyl chlorin e6. The purified activation reaction product contains a higher concentration of the previously unknown anhydride. This purified reaction product is used in a second stage: a coupling reaction of the purified activation reaction product with aspartate. The coupling reaction produces a coupling reaction product that has significantly reduced di-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 concentration. This reduced di-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 concentration facilitates purification of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 from the coupling reaction mixture.
US08822651B2
The invention provides isolated fully human monoclonal anti-HRV antibodies, as well as method of making and using these antibodies. Anti-HRV antibodies of the invention prevent or treat subjects having HRV-infections, and related diseases, including, but not limited to, the common cold, nasopharyngitis, croup, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sinusitis, bacterial superinfection, and cystic fibrosis.
US08822647B2
Integration of costimulatory signaling domains within a tumor targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), such as the IL13Rα2 specific IL13-zetakine (IL13ζ), enhances T cell-mediated responses against tumors even in the absence of expressed ligands for costimulatory receptors.
US08822643B2
The present invention provides a process for purifying FV starting from human plasma or a fractionation intermediate thereof, that is simple, scalable to the industrial level and relatively inexpensive compared to the methods described in the literature to date. The invention consists of the use of two anion exchange chromatography steps, the first of which has the purpose of separating the FV from the PTC component factors, while the second has the purpose of isolating the protein of interest from the majority of plasma proteins by means of selective interaction with the weak anion exchange support used. The process developed has also had a viral inactivation step and a viral removal step included, contributing to the safety of the final product obtained, without however significantly altering the process total recovery of FV, and without necessitating the introduction of additional steps for eliminating the inactivating agents used, thanks to the order in which the various steps are conducted. The process described in the present invention also enables an FV concentrate to be obtained that is stable once frozen at −20° C.
US08822634B2
A copolymer comprising anthracene and benzoselenadiazole, preparing method and uses thereof are disclosed. The copolymer is represented by formula (I), wherein n is a natural number from 10 to 1000, a is 1 or 2, b is 0, 1 or 2, X, Y are O, S, Se, SO2, N—R4 or R5—Si—R6; R4, R5, R6 are selected from C1-C20 straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclo alkyl or alkoxy; R1, R2 are unsubstituted, monosubstituted or polysubstituted functional group Ar1, and said Ar1 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C40 straight-chain or branched-chain or cyclo alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl; R3, R7 are unsubstituted, monosubstituted or polysubstituted functional group Ar2, and said Ar2 is selected from hydrogen, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C40 straight-chain or branched-chain or cyclo alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C40 alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C40 aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C40 aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C40 aryl alkoxy.
US08822632B2
The invention concerns processes for forming a polymer comprising residues of 2-(4-amino phenyl)-5 (6) amino benzimidazole (DAPBI), paraphenylene diamine, and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process comprising: (a) forming a solution of oligomers having chloride end groups from one mole of paraphenylene diamine and 1.3 to 5 moles of terephthaloyl dichloride a solvent system comprising an organic solvent and an inorganic salt; and (b) adding DAPBI and terephthaloyl dichloride to the solution of oligomers to form a polymer.
US08822630B2
A polyamide composition containing a polyamide compound (A) and a transition metal compound (B), wherein the polyamide compound (A) contains: from 25 to 50 mol % of a diamine unit, which contains at least one diamine unit selected from the group consisting of an aromatic diamine unit represented by the following formula (I-1), an alicyclic diamine unit represented by the following formula (I-2) and a linear aliphatic diamine unit represented by the following formula (I-3), in an amount in total of 50% by mol or more; from 25 to 50 mol % of a dicarboxylic acid unit, which contains a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit represented by the following formula (II-1) and/or an aromatic dicarboxylic acid unit represented by the following formula (II-2), in an amount in total of 50% by mol or more; and from 0.1 to 50 mol % of a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (III): wherein m represents an integer of from 2 to 18, n represents from 2 to 18, Ar represents an arylene group, and R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.
US08822626B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for compositions including a crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer having at least one crosslinkable silyl group in each molecule. The crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer comprises a reaction product of at least a isocyanate capped hydrosilylated polymer and a polyol having a nominal functionality of at least 2 which is at least one of a polycarbonate polyol, a natural oil based polyol, a polyoxyalkyleneamine, a difunctional aromatic amine, a polybutyloxide polyether polyol, and a polytetramethylene glycol.
US08822624B2
A thermoplastic polyurethane is obtainable via reaction of the following components A, B, C, and, if appropriate, D and E (e) at least one aliphatic, organic diisocyanate, as component A, (f) at least one compound which is reactive toward component A and which has a weight-average molar mass of from 500 to 10 000 g/mol, as component B, (g) a mixture composed of alkanediols as chain extenders, comprising from 60 to 85 mol % of 1,6-hexanediol as main chain extender C1 and from 15 to 40 mol % of 1,3-propanediol as co-chain extender C2, as component C, (h) at least one catalyst, as component D, (i) conventional additives as component E.
US08822623B2
A transparent, non elastomeric, high refractive index, impact resistant poly(thio)urethane/urea material comprising the reaction product of: a) at least one (α, ω)-diiso(thio)cyanate cycloaliphatic or aromatic polysulfide prepolymer, and b) at least one aromatic primary diamine, in an equivalent molar ratio amine function/iso(thio)cyanate function ranging from 0.5 to 2, wherein, said prepolymer and diamine are free from disulfide (—S—S—) linkage and wherein the (α, ω)-diiso(thio)cyanate polysulfide prepolymer is the reaction product of at least one cycloaliphatic or aromatic diiso(thio)cyanate and at least one (α, ω)-diol prepolymer.
US08822622B2
The invention is directed to coating compositions comprising A) at least one hydroxyl-functional and optionally acid-functional binder, preferably with an acid number of 0 to 150 mg KOH/g binder solids, B) at least one polyisocyanate curing agent with free isocyanate groups, C) at least one thermally latent tetrahydrocarbyl tin catalyst of general formula (I) RnR′4-nSn (I) wherein R is an alkyl group, R′ is an aryl, arylalkyl or alkenyl group and n is 1, 2 or 3, and D) optionally at least one acid-functional compound, that is different from component A), with the proviso that the acid number of a composition, consisting of the at least one binder A) and optionally of the at least one acid-functional compound D), has an acid number of at least 5 mg KOH/g solids, preferably of least 10 mg KOH/g solids, and to a process for coating substrates comprising the steps: I) applying the coating composition to an optionally pre-coated substrate, and II) curing the applied coating composition by means of thermal energy.
US08822615B1
A copolymer composition is provided including a block copolymer having a poly(acrylate) block and a poly(silyl acrylate) block; wherein the block copolymer exhibits a number average molecular weight, MN, of 1 to 1,000 kg/mol; and, wherein the block copolymer exhibits a polydispersity, PD, of 1 to 2. Also provided are substrates treated with the copolymer composition.
US08822614B2
The present invention provides an acrylic thermoplastic resin containing 50 to 95% by mass of a repeating unit (X) derived from a methacrylate monomer represented by the following formula (1), 0.1 to 20% by mass of a repeating unit (Y1) derived from an N-substituted maleimide monomer (a) represented by the following formula (2), and 0.1 to 49.9% by mass of a repeating unit (Y2) derived from an N-substituted maleimide monomer (b) represented by the following formula (3), regarding the total amount of the repeating unit (X), the repeating unit (Y1), and the repeating unit (Y2) as 100% by mass: The absolute value of a photoelastic coefficient (C) of the acrylic thermoplastic resin is not greater than 3.0×10−12 Pa−1. The halogen atom content is less than 0.47% by mass with reference to the mass of the acrylic thermoplastic resin.
US08822609B2
The present invention discloses a method for transforming a single reactor line into a double reactor line wherein the existing single reactor line is equipped with a flash tank for separating the solid polymer product from the flash vapor and wherein the vapor is sent to a system of at least two separating columns allowing the separation of its constituents into monomer, diluent and comonomer.
US08822594B2
Coating compositions comprising a polyurea formed from a reaction mixture comprising: (a) a first component comprising an isocyanate, the first component having a viscosity of ≦2000 centipoise at a temperature ≧7° C.; and (b) a second component comprising an amine. Substrates coated at least in part with such a composition are also disclosed. Footwear coated at least in part with polyurea are also disclosed.
US08822590B2
Maleic anhydride copolymers as soluble support material for fused deposition modelling (FDM) printer
The invention relates to a novel support material for the fused deposition modelling process for producing three-dimensional objects. The invention relates more particularly to a 3D printing process involving support materials which are easier to remove than in the prior art. The support materials according to the invention are styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers for example.
US08822587B2
Vinyl chloride-based resin emulsion, method for producing same, water-based ink, and recording paper
A vinyl chloride-based resin emulsion obtained by using a vinyl chloride-based polymer emulsion, which is obtained by subjecting a vinyl chloride monomer (B) or a monomer mixture comprising a vinyl chloride monomer (B) and an ethylenically unsaturated group-containing monomer (C) to emulsion polymerization in the presence of (A) a styrene-acrylic acid ester oligomer and/or an acrylic acid ester oligomer, as a seed (D), and subjecting a vinyl chloride monomer (E) or a monomer mixture comprising a vinyl chloride monomer (E) and an ethylenically unsaturated group-containing monomer (F) to emulsion polymerization using the seed (D). This vinyl chloride-based resin emulsion exhibits excellent water resistance, moisture resistance, high gloss and alcohol resistance if used in a water-based ink and exhibits excellent color development properties, water resistance, moisture resistance, color visibility, high gloss and release properties if used in a recording paper.
US08822586B2
The invention relates to water-in-water polymer dispersions containing a polymer A with a cationic monomer fraction of up to 60 wt. % and at least one polymer dispersant B, based on cationised dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylamides with an average molecular weight of between 75,000 and 350,000 g/mol. The invention also relates to a method for producing said dispersions and to the use of the latter.
US08822585B2
An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and process for making the aqueous dispersion are disclosed. The polymeric particles have at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a copolymerized macromer with a number average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 50,000 and a cloud point in water of between 25° C. and 90° C.
US08822584B2
Compositions comprising linear polyhydroxyalkanoates and biodegradable aromatic/aliphatic polyesters are disclosed, as well as methods for using same, and articles made therefrom.
US08822579B1
A rubber compound based on propylene-oxide rubber SKPO, including sulfur, stearic acid, zinc oxide, thiuram disulphide, carbon black P-803. The compound is characterized by replacement of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (kaptax), as well as fluoroplastic F-4, with dibenzothiazyl disulfide (altax), phenyl-β-naphthylamine (neozone D), dibutoxyethyl adipate, and natural bentonites. Use of a rubber compound with the proposed composition increases the service life of rubber seals during their operation in sealing devices, due to higher frost resistance and a lower residual compressive strain value. Also, the compound can be manufactured by a simpler method compared to modern production technology, eliminating the stage of joint mechanical activation of zeolite and dibutyl phthalate.
US08822576B2
Flame-retardant PC/ABS compositions having good impact strength, flowability and chemical resistance
The present invention relates to flame resistant molding compositions comprising polycarbonates and graft polymers which, in addition to good flow properties, exhibit good (notched) impact strength and high chemical resistance with a UL94V-0 classification at 1.5 mm. These molding compositions are particularly suitable for thin-walled housing parts in the electrical and electronics sector.
US08822570B2
The photocurable coating composition according to the present invention is characterized in comprising 100 parts by mass of a vinyl monomer (A) and not less than 0.1 parts by mass and not more than 50 parts by mass of a minute polymer particle (B); wherein the volume average particle diameter of the minute polymer particle (B) is not less than 0.05 μm and not more than 1 μm; the vinyl monomer (A) contains one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and a urethane-modified (meth)acrylate as a main component; and the (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer is synthesized from an alcohol having not less than 3 carbon atoms and (meth)acrylic acid.
US08822569B2
A coating containing pigment particles and a polymer matrix is provided. The coating contains pigment particles that have a scattering coefficient with a linear or quasi-linear relationship to the pigment volume concentration of those pigment particles. The coating has improved hiding and is useful as a protective coating or an aesthetic coating on an underlying substrate. Also provided are compositions useful for preparing the coating, including covalently bonded composite particles and aqueous dispersions containing composite particles. The composite particles each contain a pigment particle with a plurality of polymer particles attached by adsorption on the outer surface of the pigment particle or by covalent bonding to the pigment particle through a coupling agent. Methods to prepare the composite particles and coating compositions containing the composite particles are also provided.
US08822567B2
Soil cement slurry is produced by mixing blast-furnace slag fine particles with a specified fineness and Portland cement at a specified ratio to prepare blast-furnace slag cement and using a specified amount of slurry composition for ground improvement including this blast-furnace slag cement with water and an admixture per 1 m3 of ground. The admixture contains specified amounts of a hardening accelerator, a defoamer and a fluidizer.
US08822566B2
A wallboard joint compound includes a base joint compound having a homogeneous, paste-like blend of water and at least one of a filler, a binder, a thickener, a suspending agent, a biocide, a preservative, a mineral filler and expanded perlite; and an additive discretely added to the base joint compound to be available for use once mixed into the base joint compound just prior to application of the wallboard joint compound by a user.
US08822557B2
A process for the production of a resilient foam by foaming a mixture, comprising from 50 to 97% by weight of an aqueous dispersion A) of SiO2 particles which have a mean particle diameter in the range from 1 to 100 nm, from 1 to 45% by weight of a polymer B) dissolved in water from 1 to 50% by weight of a blowing agent C) from 1 to 5% by weight of an emulsifier D) from 0 to 5% by weight of a crosslinking agent E) reactive with the polymer B), and the foam obtainable by the process and the use thereof.
US08822546B2
Flowable pharmaceutical depots are described. The flowable pharmaceutical depot includes a polyester, such as a polylactic acid or a poly(trimethylene carbonate) endcapped with a primary alcohol and a pain relieving therapeutic agent, such as a post operative pain relieving therapeutic agent. Method of making and using the same are also described.
US08822543B2
Disclosed is a method of enhancing the immune response of an animal, including mammals and humans, to prevent or ameliorate immunoinflammatory diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, increase immune system development, maintain or increase CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte levels, increase immune function, increase immune response against viruses and prevent or ameliorate the Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and obesity by administering orally or parenterally a therapeutically effective amount of punicic acid to the animal.
US08822542B2
A method of treating and/or preventing oxidative damage, comprising administering an effective IsoK/NeuroK adduct formation suppressing amount of a phenolic amine compound and/or pyridoxamine or pyridoxamine analog, including embodiments where the phenolic compound is at least one of a pyridoxamine, salicylamine, tyrosine compound or an analog thereof.
US08822540B2
A method is provided for the treatment of vision problems in a subject suffering from one of various forms of albinism, including, for example, oculocutaneous albinism types OCA1a and OCA1b, as well as ocular albinism type 1, resulting from mutations in the GPR143 gene, as well as the OCA2, OCA3 or OCA4 genes, by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the compound (2-[2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]cyclohexane-1,3-dione), also known as NTBC for a sufficient period of time. The administration of NTBC is believed to increase the amount of pigmentation in the subject and alleviate certain symptoms caused by lack of pigmentation in the eye tissues. Also described are methods of use of NTBC for increasing the pigmentation of a subject for cosmetic purposes, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of NTBC.
US08822533B1
Unique volatile pyrethroids and a method for repelling and/or killing insects involving treating an object or area with an insect repelling effective amount or insect killing effective amount of at least one unique volatile pyrethroid and optionally a carrier. Also a method for repelling and/or killing insects involving treating an object or area with an insect repelling effective amount or insect killing effective amount of at least one compound selected from bioresmethrin, D-allethrin, ethofenprox, prallethrin, transfluthrin, permethrin, and mixtures thereof, and optionally a carrier; wherein the object or area is clothing or items attached to clothing.
US08822528B2
This invention relates to novel polyether ionophores, formulations comprising same, and to methods of making and using these compounds and formulations for the treatment and/or prevention of parasitic infection in animals and humans. These compounds exhibit improved safety profiles and/or efficacies as compared to parent compounds.
US08822518B2
Novel compounds which are antagonists or inverse agonists at one or more of the opioid receptors, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to processes for their preparation.
US08822515B2
This invention relates to benzoxazole compounds, compositions and devices for delivering them, processes for manufacturing them, and methods of using them in the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus.
US08822514B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formulas I and II, wherein B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, ring D, L1, L2 and R1-4 are defined herein, synthetic intermediates, and pharmaceutical compositions, comprising such compounds. The compounds and compositions are capable of modulating various protein kinase receptors such as Tie-2 and Aurora and, therefore, influencing kinase related disease states and conditions. The compounds, for example, are capable of treating cancer caused by unregulated angiogenesis, and inflammation as well as other proliferative disorders.
US08822510B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I): (I) or stereoisomers, salts, or prodrugs thereof, wherein: (i) R1 and R2 are independently C1-C4 alkyl, or (ii) R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a cyclic group; and Q is H, C1-6alkyl, phenyl or 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl substituted with zero to 3 substituents, and G is defined herein. Also disclosed are method of using such compounds as selective agonists for G protein-coupled receptor S1P1, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. There compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory disease.
US08822499B2
Polymorphic forms of 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3 dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione are disclosed. Compositions comprising the polymorphic forms, methods of making the polymorphic forms and methods of their use are also disclosed.
US08822485B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of Beta-secretase enzyme activity and for the treatment of Beta-secretase mediated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related conditions. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I, wherein ring A, B1, B2, B3, L, R1, R4, ring Z, m and p of Formula I are defined herein. The invention also includes use of these compounds in pharmaceutical compositions for treatment, prophylactic or therapeutic, of disorders and conditions related to the activity of beta-secretase protein. Such disorders include, for example, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), cognitive deficits, cognitive impairment, schizophrenia and other central nervous system conditions related to and/or caused by the formation and/or deposition of plaque on the brain. The invention also comprises further embodiments of Formula I, intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of Formula I.
US08822481B1
The present invention provides salt forms of (R)-3-(4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-cyclopentylpropanenitrile that are useful in the modulation of Janus kinase activity and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases, skin disorders, myeloid proliferative disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US08822475B2
The present invention is directed to methods of use of a compound of Formula I: and/or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, tautomer, optical isomer, or combination thereof, a composition comprising the thiosemicarbazone, a method of administration thereof, and use thereof to treat a cancer.
US08822469B2
The present invention relates to pyrrolopyrazines compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of this invention; methods of treating of various diseases, disorders, and conditions using the compounds of this invention; processes for preparing the compounds of this invention; intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of this invention; and methods of using the compounds in in vitro applications, such as the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.The compounds of this invention have formula I: wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US08822466B2
The invention relates to new isoxazoline compounds of formula wherein the variables have the meaning as indicated in the claims; in free form and in salt form; and optionally the enantiomers and geometrical isomers thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are useful in the control of parasites, in particular ectoparasites, in and on vertebrates.
US08822462B2
Provided are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating or preventing disorders associated with NMDA receptor activity, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, cognitive disorders, depression, neuropathic pain, stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and related neurologic events or neurodegeneration. Compounds of the general Formulas A-J, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, prodrugs or derivatives thereof are disclosed.
US08822458B2
The invention relates to the field of blood coagulation. Novel oxazolidinone derivatives of the general formula (I) processes for their preparation and their use as medicinally active compounds for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of disorders are described.
US08822445B2
The present invention relates to the crystalline form of carbapenems derivative or hydrate thereof and the preparation methods thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to the crystalline form of carbapenem derivative (4R,5S,6S)-6-((R)-1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-3-(((3S,5S)-5-((4-sulfamoylbenzyl)carbamoyl)pyrrolidin-3-yl)thio)-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid as represented by formula (I) or hydrate thereof, characterized in that the X-ray powder diffraction pattern thereof using Cu-Ka radiation represented as 2θ has characteristic peaks at 18.9±0.2, 19.4±0.2, 21.0±0.2, 21.7±0.2, and 23.4±0.2, the preparation methods thereof, and the use thereof in the preparation of medicament for treating and/or preventing infectious diseases, as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising such compound and one or more pharmaceutical carriers and/or diluents.
US08822444B2
This disclosure concerns novel compounds of Formula (I) as defined in the specification and compositions comprising such novel compounds. These compounds are useful antiviral agents, especially in inhibiting the function of the NS5A protein encoded by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Thus, the disclosure also concerns a method of treating HCV related diseases or conditions by use of these novel compounds or a composition comprising such novel compounds.
US08822439B2
This invention relates to novel glucocorticoid receptor agonists of formula (I): and to processes and intermediates for their preparation. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, to their combination with one or more other therapeutic agents, as well as to their use for the treatment of a number of inflammatory and allergic diseases, disorders and conditions.
US08822435B2
Novel bisphosphonate cyclic acetal compounds are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and administration of the compounds in methods of treating bone metabolism disorders, such as abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism.
US08822426B2
Compositions and methods for reducing susceptibility and enhancing tolerance to Nosema disease (Nosemosis) using RNA interference technology, and more particularly, prevention and treatment of Nosema infections in honeybees by feeding of Nosema-specific dsRNA.
US08822416B2
This invention concerns a synergistic combination of a topical anesthetic and wound barrier forming agent capable of providing extended analgesia of ‘significant open wounds’ (that being, for example, a laceration, surgical incision, abrasion, ulcer or burn, but not being a minor cut, scratch, sting, burn or abrasion) in which conventional management alternatives (such as suturing and/or administration of injected or systemic analgesia) are impractical, unaffordable or otherwise unavailable.
US08822413B2
A bifunctional hormone exhibiting an alpha-MSH activity and a natriuretic peptide activity is described. The bifunctional hormone comprises for example a first domain having alpha-MSH related hormonal activity covalently linked to a second domain having natriuretic peptide related hormonal activity. The bifunctional hormone of the present invention is useful for example for the prevention and/or treatment of renal related diseases or conditions, such as acute renal failure (ARF) or acute kidney injury (AKI).
US08822412B2
Charged nutritive proteins are provided. In some embodiments the nutritive proteins an aqueous solubility of at least 12.5 g/L at pH 7. In some embodiments the nutritive proteins an aqueous solubility of at least 50 g/L at pH 7. In some embodiments the nutritive proteins an aqueous solubility of at least 100 g/L at pH 7. In some embodiments the nutritive proteins comprise at least one of a level of a) a ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in a benchmark protein; b) a ratio of leucine residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of leucine residues to total amino acid residues present in a benchmark protein; and c) a ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in a benchmark protein. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the proteins, recombinant microorganisms that make the proteins, methods of making the proteins using recombinant microorganisms, compositions that comprise the proteins, and methods of using the proteins, among other things.
US08822410B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for noninvasive delivery of therapeutic agents across an intact tympanic membrane. For example, the compositions include a penetration enhancer which increases the flux of a therapeutic agent (e.g., antibiotic) across the tympanic membrane. Such compositions are particularly useful in the treatment of otitis media. Additionally, the composition may include a sustained release agents that, in some embodiments form sustained release reservoirs, in situ, once administered to a patient.
US08822409B2
Polypeptides are identified through an assay based on inhibiting AP-I signalling activity and others to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and clinical disorders associated with the development of ARDS.
US08822406B2
The instant invention provides compositions comprising a prodrug, the prodrug comprising a therapeutically active drug; and a peptide selected from the group consisting of the sequences: Ser-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Gln (SEQ ID NO:1); Gly-Lys-Ser-Gln-Tyr-Gln (SEQ ID NO:2); and Gly-Ser-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Gln (SEQ ID NO:3) wherein the peptide is linked to the therapeutically active drug to inhibit the therapeutic activity of the drug, and wherein the therapeutically active drug is cleaved from the peptide upon proteolysis by an enzyme having a proteolytic activity of prostate specific antigen (PSA). The invention further provides methods of making and using the claimed compositions.
US08822403B2
Solid detergent compositions according to the present invention include at least one alkali metal silicate, at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one saccharide or sugar alcohol and water. Suitable saccharides include sucrose, fructose, inulin, maltose and lactulose, and may be present in the composition in a concentration of at least 0.5 wt %. Compositions according to certain embodiments form stable solid block detergent compositions that do not swell significantly even when subjected to elevated temperatures.
US08822398B2
The present invention relates to a detergent composition for dish washing and clothes washing machines which includes an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, and a foam control agent which includes polydimethylsiloxane, sodium acetate, and mixtures thereof. The detergent composition is in a dry form and is capable to reduce or preclude the formation of suds when combined with water.
US08822390B2
This invention relates to a process for inhibiting scaling in a subterranean oil or gas producing formation, comprising adding to the formation a composition comprising a metal chelant, a scale inhibitor and divalent metal cations, wherein the stability constant of the metal chelant-metal cation chelate at ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the stability constant of the chelate formed from the metal cations and the scale inhibitor, and wherein the solubility of the chelate formed from the metal cations and the scale inhibitor decreases with increasing temperature.
US08822388B2
A water based solution having a controllable gel time is disclosed. The solution has predetermined ratios of a water soluble silicate solution having at least one alkali metal, a predetermined ratio of a water dispersible polymer, and a predetermined ratio of a water soluble initiator containing a reactive carbonyl compound.
US08822384B2
Nanoparticles having one or more attached sensing moieties including uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) and deoxythymidine 5′-triphosphate (dTTP), are disclosed herein. These nanoparticles can, for example, be used for detection of plasticizers, such as phthalates, in the sample. Methods, kits and apparatuses using these nanoparticles for detecting plasticizers in a sample are also disclosed herein.
US08822381B2
There is a need for a selective, low-risk herbicide that can be used to control weeds in cereal cultures and turf. The present invention discloses that a bacterial secondary metabolite, thaxtomin and optionally another herbicide is an effective herbicide on broadleaved, sedge and grass weeds. Thaxtomin A and structurally similar compounds can be used as natural herbicides to control the germination and growth of weeds in cereal, turf grass, Timothy grass and pasture grass cultures with no phytotoxicity to these crops. As a natural, non-toxic compound, thaxtomin can be used as a safe alternative for weed control in both conventional and organic farming and gardening systems.
US08822376B2
There is provided a thermal transfer sheet including a base sheet, and a dye receiving layer formed on the base sheet and containing a mixture of copolymer A including styrene and acrylonitrile as monomers and a copolymer B including 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as monomers.
US08822375B2
Methods and apparatuses for activating colorant in selected regions of an article in which the colorant is incorporated are described. The colorant activation can create various desired visual aspects.
US08822369B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocarbon-producing catalyst for producing a hydrocarbon from a mixed gas of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and provides a method for producing, with stability and at high productivity, a hydrocarbon-producing catalyst with which the rate of conversion of carbon monoxide to hydrocarbon is high, the methane selectivity is low, the high activity can be maintained over a long period, the desorption of the active metal is unlikely to occur, and the durability is excellent. The method includes a precursor film forming step of putting a sol solution of an active metal compound and a metal oxide precursor in contact with a heated catalyst carrier 2 to form a precursor film on a surface of the catalyst carrier 2, and a hydrolysis step of gelling the precursor film by hydrolysis to form a metal oxide gel film 4, with the active metal 6 dispersed uniformly, on the surface of the catalyst carrier 2.
US08822360B2
An article which includes a structure of a ceramic material that has a composition SiOxMzCy, where Si is silicon, O is oxygen, M is at least one metal and C is carbon and wherein x<2, y>0 and z<1 and x and z are non-zero.
US08822348B2
A dummy wafer structure and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The dummy wafer structure includes: a silicon substrate; a silicon nitride layer over the silicon substrate; and a silicon dioxide layer over the silicon nitride layer. The method includes: a first step of forming a silicon nitride layer over a silicon substrate so as to form a silicon-silicon nitride structure; and a second step of forming a silicon dioxide layer over the silicon-silicon nitride structure obtained in the first step so as to form a silicon-silicon nitride-silicon dioxide structure. Dummy wafers with this special structure are able to avoid deposition rate inconsistency in a polysilicon deposition process and are capable of avoiding conventional dummy wafers' adverse effect on deposit layer thicknesses of process wafers and hence providing the process wafers with deposit layers having a high inter-wafer uniformity.
US08822342B2
A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a dielectric layer having first and second regions. The first region comprises wide features and the second region comprises narrow features. A depth delta exists between bottoms of the wide and narrow features. A non-conformal layer is formed on the substrate and it lines the wide and narrow trenches in the first and second regions. The non-conformal layer is removed. Removing the non-conformal layer reduces the depth delta between the bottoms of the wide and narrow features in the first and second region.
US08822330B2
A method for providing an oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a semiconductor substrate. The substrate may have a three-dimensional structure, which may comprise at least one hole. The method may also include forming an oxide layer on the substrate, for example, on the three-dimensional structure, by anodizing the substrate in an acidic electrolyte solution.
US08822325B2
A chip package and a fabrication method thereof are provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The chip package includes a semiconductor substrate containing a chip and having a device area and a peripheral bonding pad area. A plurality of conductive pads is disposed at the peripheral bonding pad area and a passivation layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate to expose the conductive pads. An insulating protective layer is formed on the passivation layer at the device area. A packaging layer is disposed over the insulating protective layer to expose the conductive pads and the passivation layer at the peripheral bonding pad area. The method includes forming an insulating protective layer to cover a plurality of conductive pads during a cutting process and removing the insulating protective layer on the conductive pads through an opening of a packaging layer.
US08822320B2
A method for fabricating the device includes patterning a first structure and a second structure on a semiconductor device. A first angled ion implantation is applied to the second structure such that the first structure is protected and a second angled ion implantation is applied to the first structure such that the second structure is protected, wherein exposed portions of the first and second structures have an altered rate of oxidation. Oxidation is performed to form thicker or thinner oxide portions on the exposed portions of the first and second structures relative to unexposed portions of the first and second structures. Oxide portions are removed to an underlying layer of the first and second structures. The first and second structures are removed. Spacers are formed about a periphery of remaining oxide portions. The remaining oxide portions are removed. A layer below the spacers is patterned to form integrated circuit features.
US08822306B2
According to an embodiment, a composite wafer includes a carrier substrate having a graphite layer and a monocrystalline semiconductor layer attached to the carrier substrate.
US08822305B2
A plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates having a rectangular shape are disposed on a tray. Depression portions are provided in the tray so that the single crystal semiconductor substrates can fit in. The single crystal semiconductor substrates disposed on the tray are doped with hydrogen ions, so that damaged regions are formed at a desired depth. A bonding layer is formed on surfaces of the single crystal semiconductor substrates. The plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates in each of which the damaged region is formed and on which the bonding layer is formed are disposed on the tray and bonded to the base substrate. By heat treatment, the single crystal semiconductor substrates are separated at the damaged regions; accordingly, a plurality of single crystal semiconductor layers which are thinned are formed over the base substrate.
US08822302B2
Methods of forming a storage node in a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming an interlayer insulation layer on a substrate, forming an etch stop layer and a first sacrificial layer on the interlayer insulation layer, patterning the first sacrificial layer and the etch stop layer to form a first sacrificial layer pattern and an etch stop layer pattern that define a storage node contact hole, forming a recessed first storage node conductive pattern that conformally covers a lower sidewall and a bottom surface of the storage node contact hole, forming a second storage node conductive pattern that includes a first portion surrounded by the recessed first storage node conductive pattern and a second portion conformally covering an upper sidewall of the storage node contact hole, and removing the first sacrificial layer pattern. The recessed first storage node conductive pattern and the second storage node conductive pattern constitute a storage node.
US08822298B2
Sophisticated transistors for semiconductor devices may be formed on the basis of a superior process sequence in which an increased space between closely spaced gate electrode structures may be obtained in combination with a reduced material loss in the active regions. To this end, an offset spacer conventionally used for laterally profiling the drain and source extension regions is omitted and the spacer for the deep drain and source areas may be completely removed.
US08822294B2
The present invention provides a method for improving the write margins of the SRAM cells. The method comprises: before etching a polysilicon layer to form the polysilicon gates, performing a pre-implantation process to the polysilicon layer; wherein the polysilicon layer defines SRAM NMOSFETs regions and SRAM PMOSFETs regions; wherein the pre-implantation process comprises pre-implanting the fifth-group elements to the SRAM NMOSFETs regions and the NMOSFETs regions except to the SRAM NMOSFETs regions in the polysilicon layer, and pre-implanting the third-group elements to the PMOSFETs regions excluding the SRAM PMOSFETs regions in the polysilicon layer; wherein the process of pre-implanting the third-group elements comprises forming a pre-implantation photo mask capable of covering the SRAM PMOSFETs regions and using the pre-implantation photo mask to pre-implanting the third-group elements.
US08822293B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate and a sidewall of the gate dielectric has a joint point; forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; forming a mask layer over the semiconductor substrate and the gate electrode, wherein a first portion of the mask layer adjacent the joint point is at least thinner than a second portion of the mask layer away from the joint point; after the step of forming the mask layer, performing a halo/pocket implantation to introduce a halo/pocket impurity into the semiconductor substrate; and removing the mask layer after the halo/pocket implantation.
US08822290B2
A method includes recessing isolation regions, wherein a portion of a semiconductor strip between the isolation regions is over top surfaces of the recessed isolation regions, and forms a semiconductor fin. A dummy gate is formed to cover a middle portion of the semiconductor fin. An Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) is formed to cover end portions of the semiconductor fin. The dummy gate is then removed to form a first recess, wherein the middle portion is exposed to the first recess. The middle portion of the semiconductor fin is removed to form a second recess. An epitaxy is performed to grow a semiconductor material in the second recess, wherein the semiconductor material is between the end portions. A gate dielectric and a gate electrode are formed in the first recess. The gate dielectric and the gate electrode are over the semiconductor material.
US08822289B2
Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods of manufacturing charge-trapping memory by patterning the high voltage gates before other gates are formed. One advantage of such an approach is that a thin poly layer may be used to form memory and low voltage gates while protecting high voltage gates from implant penetration. One approach to accomplishing this is to dispose the layer of poly, and then dispose a mask and a thick resist to pattern the high voltage gates. In this manner, the high voltage gates are formed before either the low voltage gates or the memory cells.
US08822285B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate including a cell region, contact regions and dummy contact regions. The contact regions and the dummy contact regions alternately are disposed. A plurality of word lines stacked at the cell region of the substrate and contact groups stacked at the contact regions and the dummy contact regions of the substrate. The contact groups include a plurality of pad layers being coupled to the word lines, and each of the contact groups has stepped structure disposed at a corresponding contact region.
US08822273B2
A semiconductor package and a method for making the same are provided. In the method, a clip is used to conduct a lead frame and at least one chip. The clip has at least one second connection segment, at least one third connection segment, and at least one intermediate connection segment. The second connection segment is electrically connected to a second conduction region of the chip and a second pin of the lead frame respectively, and the third connection segment is electrically connected to a third conduction region of the chip and a third pin of the lead frame respectively. The intermediate connection segment connects the at least one second connection segment and the at least one third connection segment, and is removed in a subsequent process. Thereby, the present invention does not need to use any gold wire, which effectively saves the material cost and the processing time.
US08822269B2
Even when a stiffener is omitted, the semiconductor device which can prevent the generation of twist and distortion of a wiring substrate is obtained. As for a semiconductor device which has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip by which the flip chip was made to the wiring substrate, and a heat spreader adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor chip, and which omitted the stiffener for reinforcing a wiring substrate and maintaining the surface smoothness of a heat spreader, a wiring substrate has a plurality of insulating substrates in which a through hole whose diameter differs, respectively was formed, and each insulating substrate contains a glass cloth.
US08822258B2
A wafer-level bonding method for fabricating wafer level camera lenses is disclosed. The method includes: providing a lens wafer including lenses arranged in an array and a sensor wafer including sensors arranged in an array; measuring and analyzing an FFL of each lens to obtain a corresponding FFL compensation value for each lens; forming a thin transparent film (TTF) on each sensor of the sensor wafer, and the thickness of TTF is determined by the FFL compensation value of the corresponding lens; aligning and bonding the lens wafer with the sensor wafer having TTFs formed thereon. Since the focal length of each lens is adjusted to compensate the FFL of the lens by adding a TTF of transparent optical material with an index of refraction that is similar to the index of refraction of the sensor cover glass, the FFL variation of each camera lens can be reduced.
US08822253B2
A semiconductor housing is provided that includes a metal support and a semiconductor body, a bottom side thereof being connected to the metal support. The semiconductor body has metal surfaces that are connected to pins by bond wires and a plastic compound, which completely surrounds the bond wires and partially surrounds the semiconductor body. The plastic compound has an opening on the top side of the semiconductor body, and a barrier is formed on the top side of the semiconductor body. The barrier has a top area and a base area spaced from the edges of the semiconductor body and an internal clearance of the barrier determines a size of the opening. Whereby, a portion of the plastic compound has a height greater than the barrier, and a fixing layer is formed between the base area of the barrier and the top side of the semiconductor body.
US08822249B2
A light-emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The light-emitting device includes a compound semiconductor structure having a first N-type compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a P-type compound semiconductor layer, a P-type electrode layer that is disposed on the P-type compound semiconductor layer and electrically connects with the P-type compound semiconductor layer, a plurality of insulation walls disposed at two sides of the compound semiconductor structure and the P-type electrode layer, a plurality of N-type electrode layers penetrating the plurality of insulation walls, and a conductive substrate on which a plurality of N-type electrode connecting layers respectively corresponding to a plurality of N-type electrode layers are separated from a P-type electrode connecting layer corresponding to the P-type electrode layer.
US08822246B2
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting element. An anode is formed on a main surface of a substrate. A hole-injection layer is formed at least above the anode. At least the hole-injection layer is covered with a protective film. A bank which is provided with an aperture through which a portion of the protective film is exposed, is formed on the protective film by a wet process. The portion of the protective film exposed through the aperture is removed so that a portion of the hole-injection layer is exposed, a light-emitting layer is formed on the hole-injection layer exposed through the aperture, and a cathode is formed above the light-emitting layer. The protective film is resistant to a fluid used during the wet process.
US08822245B2
Methods of packaging a semiconductor light emitting device include providing a substrate having the semiconductor light emitting device on a front face thereof. A first optical element is formed from a first material on the front face proximate the semiconductor light emitting device but not covering the semiconductor light emitting device and a second optical element is formed from a second material, different from the first material, over the semiconductor light emitting device and the first optical element. Packaged semiconductor light emitting devices are also provided.
US08822239B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including an active element formation face on which an active element is formed; detection electrodes detecting a remaining amount of ink by being wet in the ink; an antenna transmitting and receiving information; a storage circuit storing information relating to the ink; and a control circuit controlling the detection electrodes, the antenna, and the storage circuit.
US08822230B2
In a chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus according to the present invention, a beam applied from a light source to a chromatography test strip is formed into an elliptical shape by an optical means such as a cylindrical lens, a variation in absorbance that accompanies elution of a marker regent is detected while the elliptical beam is applied between a marker reagent hold part and a detection part, and a measurement is automatically started in a prescribed period of time since the detection of variation. According to the chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus so configured, non-uniform coloration is reduced by shaping the beam elliptically with the optical means, whereby the accuracy of quantitative analysis is enhanced, and the apparatus can be operated easily.
US08822226B2
The present invention discloses a method for quick and simultaneous determination of 16 inorganic anions and organic acids in tobacco by ion chromatography The retention behavior of inorganic anions and organic acids on the anion exchange column was investigated using potassium hydroxide produced by EGC-II KOH eluent autogenerator as eluent. The optimized gradient elution condition was obtained. The samples were prepared through extraction, filtration and dilution before analysis. The separation was performed on an anion exchange column. The time of the gradient elution program was 50 mins. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration of peak area for all the analytes were linear in the ranges of 105. The method in the present invention has the advantages of simplicity, rapidity and accuracy, and is able to simultaneously determine 16 inorganic anions and organic acids in tobacco by one single time of injection.
US08822211B2
The invention concerns a device and a method for concentrating pathogenic germs potentially present in blood products or derivatives and for detecting said germs comprising the following steps: (a) subjecting a sample of said blood product to a blood cell aggregating treatment, (b) eliminating the aggregates formed at step (a) by passing the treated sample over a first filter allowing through the contaminating germs but not the cell aggregates, (c) selectively lyzing the residual cells of the filtrate obtained at step (b), (d) recuperating the contaminating germs by passing the lysate of step (c) over a second filter to detect the contaminating germs possibly trapped.
US08822209B2
A disposable spinner flask includes an asymmetric container, a lid, and a spinning mechanism. The container can be sealingly coupled to the lid, which includes an access port and a cap configured to be coupled to the access port for preventing bacteria, viruses, and fungi from passing therethrough while allowing air to flow between the container and a surrounding environment. The lid may include a structure for retaining the cap when the cap is removed. The spinning mechanism can include a shaft, at least one blade, and a magnetic device. Further, the spinning mechanism can include a receptacle that fixedly receives the magnetic device toward an end of the blade assembly, the magnetic device configured to rotate when subjected to an external magnetic force.
US08822176B2
Provided are methods for preparing chemically modified lipids. The lipids are obtained from heterotrophically cultured microalgae and are subjected to a transesterification or interesterification reaction. The microalgae include those from the genus Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella, or strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca, or Chlorella strain that are cultured in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light.
US08822175B2
The invention relates to a continuous water monitoring system, including components thereof, and a method relating thereto for continuously monitoring, in real-time, a water supply in order to detect contaminants therein. The system employs the use of a live culture of bioluminescent bacteria and suitable light detecting means.
US08822168B2
The present invention includes assays and kits for detecting the assembly of an RNA binding protein-RNA complex and for detecting the activity of an RNA binding protein.
US08822167B2
The present invention provides devices and systems for use at the point of care. The methods devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device are modular to allow for flexibility and robustness of use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical applications.
US08822158B2
The present invention is directed to method for analyzing multiple nucleic acid molecules of interest comprising in the steps of (i) providing a plurality of beads, characterized in that each bead comprises at least two sequence specific amplification primers, further characterized in that at least one of the primers is bound to the bead via a cleavable linker, (ii) capturing the nucleic acid molecules of interest from a sample, (iii) clonally isolating the plurality of beads, (iv) cleaving the at least one primer, (v) clonally amplifying the nucleic acid thereby creating multiple amplification products, and (vi) analyzing the amplification products.
US08822146B2
The present invention relates to a use of non-cofactor compounds, represented by formulas (I) or (II) wherein R and Z are independently selected from H, D, C1-C12-alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, phenyl or -LX, wherein X represents a functional group or a reporter group attached via a linker group L, and QH is selected from —SH, —SeH, —NHNH2 or —ONH2, for a targeted modification or derivatization of a biomolecule by covalent coupling to the biomolecule in the presence of a directing methyltransferase. Further development of the method of targeted modification and derivatization are the method for targeted labeling a biomolecule and method for detecting unmethylated target sites in a biomolecule comprising modification of the biomolecule according to the present invention.
US08822144B2
Described herein are compositions and methods for prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer patients. Specifically the invention relates to microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of prostate cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.
US08822135B2
The invention pertains to a method for preparing a composite printing form from a single precursor that is capable of forming a relief and a carrier. The single precursor can be a single photosensitive element or a single laser-engravable print element having a reinforced elastomeric layer. The single precursor has a size that is at least 70% of a size of the carrier. The single precursor is located on the carrier by approximately positioning the precursor on the carrier that has no registration markings. Precise registration of the single precursor is achieved by using digital information generated from a computer to create the registered image on the composite form. The method is particularly suited for preparing composite printing forms for relief printing, and in particular for preparing composite printing forms for flexographic printing of corrugated substrates.
US08822131B2
Disclosed is a flexographic printing plate precursor in which formation of cracks and wrinkles in an infrared ablation layer is suppressed and the scratch resistance of the layer is improved. The precursor includes a support, photosensitive resin layer, and an infrared ablation layer that are laminated in the order presented. The binder polymer contained in the infrared ablation layer contains a polymer (A) and an acrylic resin (B). The polymer (A) contains the same structural unit as the structural unit contained in the binder polymer in the photosensitive resin layer. The mass ratio (A/B) of the component (A) with respect to the component (B) is within a range of 1/3 to 3/1. The difference between a plastic hardness (Ha) of the infrared ablation layer and a plastic hardness (Hb) of the photosensitive resin layer is 30 mN/mm2 or smaller.
US08822129B2
There is provided a pattern forming method comprising (1) a step of forming a film by using an electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet-sensitive resin composition containing (A) a resin that contains a repeating unit having a partial structure represented by the specific formula and can decrease the solubility for a developer containing an organic solvent by the action of an acid, and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an electron beam or an extreme ultraviolet ray, (2) a step of exposing the film by using an electron beam or an extreme ultraviolet ray, and (4) a step of developing the exposed film by using an organic solvent-containing developer to form a negative pattern.
US08822127B2
A photosensitive resin composition for a black matrix and a black matrix formed with the same are provided. The photosensitive resin composition for a black matrix includes a solvent consisting of 5-30 weight % of a first solvent having a boiling point of 110-159° C., 55-90 weight % of a second solvent having a boiling point of 160-200° C., and 3-15 weight % of a third solvent having a boiling point of 201-280° C., and the first solvent, the second solvent, and the third solvent are an aliphatic compound and use at least one solvent composition selected from a group consisting of alkyl ester, alkyl ketone, alkyl ether, and alkyl alcohol, and thus a uniform thin film having no surface defect can be obtained, and the photosensitive resin composition has an excellent process property while securing a high light shielding property and thus a black matrix pattern having a few defect can be obtained, and is thus useful for a liquid crystal display.
US08822125B2
A composition for forming a pattern includes: about 1% to about 10% by weight of a liquid prepolymer, about 40% to about 60% by weight of an acrylate having a hydrophilic group, about 10% to about 20% by weight of a viscosity modifier, about 1% to about 5% by weight of a photoinitiator, and an additive.
US08822124B2
A method of forming a pattern comprises diffusing an acid formed by irradiating a portion of a photosensitive layer, into an underlayer comprising an acid sensitive copolymer having acid decomposable groups and attachment groups covalently bonded to the surface of the substrate and/or forming an interpolymer crosslink. Diffusing comprises heating the underlayer and photosensitive layer. The acid sensitive group reacts with the diffused acid to form a polar region on the underlayer, with the shape of the pattern. The photosensitive layer is removed, forming a self-assembling layer comprising a block copolymer having a first block with an affinity for the polar region, and a second block having less affinity for the polar region. The first block forms a domain aligned to the polar region, and the second block forms another domain aligned to the first. Removing either domain exposes a portion of the underlayer.
US08822123B2
Polymeric materials, methods for making the polymeric materials, and photoresist formulations utilizing the polymeric materials are disclosed. In one aspect, a polymeric material is provided including a condensation product of a reaction mixture comprising an aldehyde with a phenolic monomer composition comprising m-cresol, p-cresol, 3,5-dimethyl phenol, and 2,5-dimethyl phenol. The polymeric material may be further contacted with a photoactive compound and a solvent to form a photoresist formulation.
US08822120B2
To provide a toner having a superior developing performance while preventing any fixing assembly from being contaminated, the toner has toner particles which have toner base particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and an inorganic fine powder, wherein the wax has a 0.2% by mass heating loss temperature of 200° C. or more and a 1.0% by mass heating loss temperature of 250° C. or more and has a melt viscosity at 120° C. of from 3.0 mPa·s to 15.0 mPa·s.
US08822111B2
A colored photosensitive composition includes: (A) a dye represented by the following Formula (1); (B) a multifunctional thiol compound; (C) a photopolymerization initiator represented by the following Formula (2); and (D) a polymerizable compound. In Formula (1), each of A and B independently represents an organic group containing an aromatic ring or an organic group containing a heterocyclic ring. In Formula (2), each of C, D, and E independently represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group.
US08822106B2
The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a method, for a lithography process for reducing a critical dimension (CD) by a factor n wherein n<1. The method includes providing a pattern generator having a first pixel size S1 to generate an alternating data grid having a second pixel size S2 that is
US08822101B2
A modular fuel cell system includes a base, at least four power modules arranged in a row on the base, and a fuel processing module and power conditioning module arranged on at least one end of the row on the base. Each power module includes a separate cabinet which contains at least one fuel cell stack located in a hot box. The power modules are electrically and fluidly connected to the at least one fuel processing and power conditioning modules through the base.
US08822097B2
A power generator includes a fuel container adapted to hold a hydrogen containing fuel. A sliding valve is coupled between a fuel cell and a fuel container. A pressure responsive actuator is coupled to the two stage valve and the fuel container.
US08822095B2
A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell stack including plural fuel cells sandwiched between two end plates; a fuel supply system supplying a stream of fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer supply system supplying a stream of oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a closed loop coolant circulation system driving a cooling liquid through the fuel cell stack so that the cooling liquid enters the fuel cell stack, absorbs heat from the fuel cells, and exits the fuel cell stack. The coolant circulation system includes a circulation pump driving the cooling liquid, a heat exchanger removing heat from the cooling liquid and for at least partially transferring the heat to the stream of fuel gas and/or the stream of oxidizer gas. The heat exchanger includes a tube made from a heat-conducting material and inserted into a bore in one of the end plates, the tube and the bore defining at least a first fluid channel inside the tube and a second fluid channel in a space existing between the tube and the sides of the bore in the end plate, one of the first and second fluid channels being for the cooling liquid, and the other fluid channel being for the fuel or the oxidizer gas.
US08822092B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1) supplied with fuel gas and oxidizing gas to generate electricity; a fuel gas supply unit supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell (1); an oxidizing gas supply unit supplying the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell (1); an aftercooler (7) cooling the oxidizing gas supplied to the fuel cell (1) by heat exchange with a coolant; an oxidizing gas temperature detector (16, 17) detecting temperature of the oxidizing gas; and a coolant circulation controller (21a) starting circulation of the coolant when the detected temperature of the oxidizing gas exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value is set to a value of not higher than a minimum electricity generation temperature of the fuel cell (1), and a circulation timing and flow rate of the coolant for the aftercooler (7) are controlled such that the supplied oxidizing gas does not become cold. This enables the fuel cell (1) to generate electricity at cold start-up.
US08822091B2
The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, owing to its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used for a variety of purposes and is particularly suitable as a polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) for the production of membrane electrode units for so-called PEM fuel cells.
US08822082B2
A separator for an electrochemical device of the present invention includes a porous film including: a filler; an organic binder; and at least one resin selected from resin A that has a melting point of 80 to 140° C. and resin B that absorbs a non-aqueous electrolyte and swells upon heating and whose swelling degree increases with increasing temperature, and the filler contains boehmite having a secondary particle structure in which primary particles are connected.
US08822076B2
A nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery and a positive electrode for a nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery are provided. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material and a coupling agent represented by a general formula (1). The positive electrode active material includes lithium transition metal oxide particles. At least one rare-earth compound selected from the rare-earth compound group consisting of specific rare-earth hydroxides and specific rare-earth oxyhydroxides is fixed on the surfaces of the lithium transition metal oxide particles in a dispersed form.
US08822074B2
Disclosed is an electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery which includes a porous membrane layer that is inhibited from decreasing in flexibility. The electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery comprises a current collector and, formed thereon in the following order, an electrode active-material layer comprising an electrode active material, a thickener, and a binder and a porous membrane layer containing an inorganic filler, wherein the binder is one which, when used to form a composite film comprising the binder and the thickener, forms a spherical island phase in a cross section of the composite film, the island phase having an average diameter of 0.5 μm or larger. The binder preferably is an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester polymer having a content of alkyl acrylate monomer units of 85 mass % or higher.
US08822068B2
A pouch type secondary battery which can prevent a cut portion from electrically contacting a protective circuit module, thereby preventing an electrical short circuit and acceleration of corrosion of a core material and enhancing safety includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator; a pouch case made of a flexible material, and having a container, insulated at least on its inner surface and accommodating the electrode assembly, and sealing portions along an edge of the container, the sealing portions including a first sealing portion through which electrode taps of the electrode assembly extend from the pouch case, and a second sealing portion and a third sealing portion respectively positioned at opposite sides of the first sealing portion, the second an third sealing portions being folded at least one time; a protective circuit module connected to the electrode tips and mounted on an outer surface of the first sealing portion; and a short circuit protector formed in at least one among the first through third sealing portions to prevent an electrical short circuit between each sealing portion and the protective circuit module.
US08822067B2
A battery pack including a housing connectable to and supportable by a hand-held power tool; a first battery cell defining a first axis and having opposite first cell ends; a second battery cell defining a second axis and having opposite second cell ends; a third battery cell defining a third axis; and a terminal for electrically connecting the battery pack to the hand-held power tool. The second battery cell and the third battery cell may be arranged with the second axis and the third axis in a common plane, the first battery cell may be arranged with the first axis non-parallel to the common plane and have one remote first cell end. The terminal may be supported on the housing, in the direction of the first axis, between the one first cell end and the common plane and, in a direction of the second axis, between the second cell ends.
US08822064B2
A modular battery includes: a first battery cell having a first electrode surface; a second battery cell having a second electrode surface; a compressible interconnector connecting the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and a polymeric material holding the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state. A method is also provided.
US08822054B2
Disclosed is a battery system for a secondary battery including a blended cathode material, and an apparatus and method for managing a secondary battery having a blended cathode material. The blended cathode material includes at least a first cathode material and a second cathode material. The first and second cathode materials have different operating voltage ranges. When the secondary battery comes to an idle state or a no-load state, the battery system detects a voltage relaxation occurring by the transfer of operating ions between the first and second cathode materials.
US08822048B2
A conductor layer is formed on one surface of a base insulating layer. The conductor layer includes a collector portion, and a drawn-out conductor portion extending in an elongated shape from the collector portion. A cover layer is formed on the base insulating layer to cover a predetermined portion of the conductor layer. A material for the cover layer includes a paste composition containing a compound expressed by the formula (1).
US08822044B2
Ceramic material of the general formula: [SE1-xMIIx][Cr1-y-zRyLz]O3, wherein SE stands for one or more rare earth metals, MII stands for one or more metals of the oxidation state +II, L stands for Al and/or Ga, R stands for one or more metals selected from Fe, Zn, Ge, Sn, and it holds that: 0
US08822042B2
The present invention relates to phosphorescent (triplet-emitting) organometallic materials. The phosphorescent materials of the present invention comprise Ir(III)cyclometallated alkynyl complexes for use as triplet light-emitting materials. The Ir(III)cyclometallated alkynyl complexes comprise at least one cyclometallating ligand and at least one alkynyl ligand bonded to the iridium. Also provided is an organic light emitting device comprising an anode, a cathode and an emissive layer between the anode and the cathode, wherein the emissive layer comprises a Ir(III)cyclometallated alkynyl complex as a triplet emitting material.
US08822036B1
Disclosed are sintered silver bonded electronic package subcomponents and methods for making the same. Embodiments of the sintered silver bonded EPSs include topography modification of one or more metal surfaces of semiconductor devices bonded together by the sintered silver joint. The sintered silver bonded EPSs include a first semiconductor device having a first metal surface, the first metal surface having a modified topography that has been chemically etched, grit blasted, uniaxial ground and/or grid sliced connected to a second semiconductor device which may also include a first metal surface with a modified topography, a silver plating layer on the first metal surface of the first semiconductor device and a silver plating layer on the first metal surface of the second semiconductor device and a sintered silver joint between the silver plating layers of the first and second semiconductor devices which bonds the first semiconductor device to the second semiconductor device.
US08822035B1
An erucamide-coated paper and a methods of making the erucamide-coated paper are disclosed.
US08822033B2
A transparent glass or glass ceramic pane is provided that includes a glass or glass ceramic substrate having a thermal expansion coefficient α of less than 4.2 and an infrared radiation-reflecting layer, formed as a single-layer reflection layer and having a refractive index greater than 2.2.
US08822026B2
The present disclosure generally relates to conductive films and methods for forming conductive films. In some examples, a substrate may be provided having a dispersion of silica nanoparticles provided on a surface thereof. Carbon nanotubes may be adhered to the dispersion of silica nanoparticles on the surface of the substrate to provide the conductive film on the substrate.
US08822022B2
The present invention refers a thermal insulation waterproofing and adherible film and method for preparing the same, that for its components and physical and chemical characteristics is easy to apply, durable, and with excellent insulation and waterproofing properties. The adherible film of the present invention is manufactured by applying insulating and waterproofing material on a layer of thermoplastic polymer, preferably polyethylene. In present invention were used different thicknesses, such as 1.2, 1.5, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2 and 4.4 mm, and according to tests carried out, the preferred modality that comply the requirements is 2.8 to 3.0 millimeters.
US08822021B2
Process for the production of polypropylene random copolymers containing 2.5 to 5.0 wt % of ethylene as comonomer and having an MFR2 in accordance with ISO 1 133 (230° C., 2.16 kg load) of ≧25 g/10 min to 100 g/10 min and a hexane-solubles content, determined according to FDA CFR 21 §177.1520 below 5 wt %, said process comprising the step of polymerizing propylene and ethylene in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (i) a Ziegler-Natta procatalyst which contains a trans-esterification product of a lower alcohol and a phthalic ester as internal donor and (ii) an organometallic cocatalyst and (iii) an external donor represented by formula (I) or (II) Si(OCH2CH3)3(NR1R2) (I) or Si(OCH3)2(CH3(cyclohexyl) (II) wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, the polypropylene random copolymers with a low level of odor and taste themselves and their use for injection molding applications, preferably for thin-wall packaging for food packaging in non-cooking applications and for medical packaging.
US08822018B2
The invention relates to a process for obtaining a hydrophobic coating on a substrate, preferably consisting of a glass material, a ceramic or a glass-ceramic, said process being characterized in that it comprises: a) a first deposition step, consisting in applying a primer first layer essentially consisting of the silicon oxycarbide SiOxCy type on said substrate, said primer layer having an RMS surface roughness of greater than 4 nm; b) an activation step, in which said SiOxCy primer layer is activated by a plasma of a gas chosen from the noble gases of the Ar or He type and the gases N2, O2 or H2O or by a plasma of a mixture of these gases; and c) a second deposition step, in which a hydrophobic coating comprising at least one fluorocompound, preferably a fluoroalkylsilane, is deposited on said first layer. The invention also relates to hydrophobic glazing comprising or formed by a substrate as defined above, this glazing being in particular used as glazing for transport vehicles or for buildings.
US08822016B2
The invention relates to a multi-functional label slide, particularly to a label slide adapted to be marked by means of laser induction, thermal induction or ink-jet process. The label slide comprises a substrate wherein at least one area is formed as a mark area. The mark area at least comprises the following structure: a first label layer formed on at least one side of the mark area and a second label layer formed on one side of the first label layer opposite to the substrate. Therefore, the label slide of the invention can be marked by at least two marking ways mentioned above.
US08822015B1
This elastic composite includes a base layer having a pair of side edges and a longitudinal centerline spaced inwardly from the side edges, and a first elastic construction supported by the base layer. The first elastic construction includes a first plurality of spaced apart elastic elements and a first top layer extending over the first elastic construction. The elastic composite also includes a second elastic construction supported by the base layer. The second elastic construction includes a second plurality of spaced apart elastic elements and a second top layer extending over the elastic construction. The first and second top layers are spaced apart and the first and second elastic constructions are spaced apart, so as to define a central non-elasticized region between the first and second elastic constructions.
US08822003B2
A component having a laser track as a fracture initiation line, said laser track being composed of laser holes formed by a laser beam for preparing for a later separation of the component into individual components. In order to ensure that, upon separation, the fracture always extends along the laser track, fractures deviating from the laser track are avoided, and the fracture edges after fracture are formed evenly and do not have jagged edges, it is proposed that the distance between two adjacent laser holes be less than or equal to the diameter of said laser holes, in each case measured on the surface of the component.
US08821985B2
Methods and apparatuses for combinatorial processing are disclosed. Methods include introducing a substrate into a processing chamber. Methods further include forming a first film on a surface of a first site-isolated region on the substrate and forming a second film on a surface of a second site-isolated region on the substrate. The methods further include exposing the first film to a plasma having a first source gas to form a first treated film on the substrate and exposing the second film to a plasma having a second source gas to form a second treated film on the substrate without etching the first treated film in the processing chamber. In addition, methods include evaluating results of the treated films post processing.
US08821983B2
The instant invention is an ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersion, and a continuous process for producing ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersions. The ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersion includes the reaction product of: (1) a first component, wherein the first component is a first polyurethane prepolymer or a first polyurethane prepolymer emulsion; (2) a second component, wherein the second component is a second polyurethane prepolymer, a second polyurethane prepolymer emulsion, a low solid content polyurethane dispersion, a seed latex, or combinations thereof; (3) and a chain extender. The ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersion has a solid content of at least 60 percent by weight of the solid, based on the total weight of the ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersion, and a viscosity in the range of less than 5000 cps at 20 rpm at 21° C. using spindle #4 with Brookfield viscometer. The method for producing a high-solid content polyurethane dispersion includes the following steps: (1) providing a first stream, wherein said first stream comprising a first polyurethane prepolymer or a first polyurethane prepolymer emulsion; (2) providing a second stream, wherein said second stream being a media phase selected from the group consisting of a second polyurethane prepolymer, a second polyurethane prepolymer emulsion, a polyurethane prepolymer dispersion, a seed latex emulsion, or combinations thereof; (3) continuously merging said first stream with said second stream in the presence of a chain extender; and (4) thereby forming a polyurethane dispersion having a solid content of at least 60 percent by weight of the solid, based on the total weight of the ultra-high solid content polyurethane dispersion, and a viscosity in the range of less than 5000 cps at 20 rpm at 21° C. using spindle #4 with Brookfield viscometer.
US08821980B2
A patterned layer is intended to be used in an absorbent article, and has a pattern, for example in the form of a text or an image, which appears clearly legible or interpretable for an observer at a certain distance. The pattern can be formed by a number of dots which, when the layer is in a first state, have a first surface density which forms the legible or interpretable pattern and which, when the layer is in a second and then expanded state, have a second surface density which is lower than the first surface density in the first state, the pattern becoming in the second state essentially illegible or uninterpretable for the observer at the given distance on account of the lower surface density.
US08821979B2
A process for manufacturing a non-woven fabric having on its surface distributed elements having a physical dimension, comprises screen printing on wet fabric a desired shape using a paste that expands under heating by virtue of a puffing agent contained therein.
US08821977B2
A transport device and method of transporting a substrate using a rotatable shaft and baffles may be used to extend cleaning intervals for the transport device and reduce deposition of a vapor deposition material upon the transport device.
US08821965B2
The invention notably concerns a method for depositing nano-objects on a surface. The method includes: providing a substrate with surface patterns on one face thereof; providing a transfer layer on said face of the substrate; functionalizing areas on a surface of the transfer layer parallel to said face of the substrate, at locations defined with respect to said surface patterns, such as to exhibit enhanced binding interactions with nano-objects; depositing nano-objects and letting them get captured at the functionalized areas; and thinning down the transfer layer by energetic stimulation to decompose the polymer into evaporating units, until the nano-objects reach the surface of the substrate. The invention also provides a semiconductor device which includes a substrate and nano-objects accurately disposed on the substrate
US08821960B2
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method that enables a very accurate initial setup of the coating gap for slot die coater and subsequent control of the coating gap during coating operations such that web splices and web defects do not interrupt the coating process. An highly accurate initial set up is achieved via the use of a tapered or wedge-shaped adjustment member mounted perpendicular to the axis of travel of the coating head where the movement of this tapered or wedge-shaped adjustment member in a direction perpendicular to the axis of travel of the slot die housing adjusts the coating gap in increments on the order of ten microns. Substrate splices and defects are detected prior to reaching the coating position such that a feed-forward controller is able to momentarily retract the coating head both avoiding slot die damage and avoiding interruption of the coating process, yet the apparatus is able to return the coating head, with high precision, to its prior position once the splice or defect has passed.
US08821959B2
A method for applying a liquid material in a specific application amount includes an initial parameter setting step of specifying, as a total pulse number, the number of times both ejection pulse signals and pause pulse signals are sent, specifying the number of ejection pulse signals in the total pulse number, which is needed to achieve the specific application amount, and specifying the remainder of the total pulse number as the pause pulse signals; a correction amount calculation step of measuring, per preset correction period, an ejection amount from the nozzle at the timing of the correction period, and calculating a correction amount for the ejection amount; and an ejection amount correction step of adjusting the number of ejection pulse signals and the number of pause pulse signals on the basis of the correction amount calculated in the correction amount calculation step.
US08821948B2
A medicinal composition comprising an apportioned combination of at least eight essential oils selected from the group consisting of calophyllum inophyllum, citrus aurantium, eucalyptus globulublus, eugenia caryophyllata, foeniculum vulgare, helichrysum angustifolia, juniperus virginiana, lavendula officinalis, muristica fragrans, ocimum basilicim, pinus sylvestrius, piper nigrum, rosemarinus officinalis, salvia officinalis lamiacae, salvia sclarea and zingiber officinale. When configured for topical dermal application, this composition has been shown to be therapeutically effective at relieving pain.
US08821931B2
Micro-sized particles having a polymeric structure of cells are provided. Also provided is a method of producing micro-sized particles having a polymeric structure comprising: (1) forming a homogenous solution by heating a mixture of a high molecular weight polymer and a low molecular weight material, wherein said low molecular weight material makes up at least about 50% by weight of the homogenous solution, (2) forming a dispersed solution by dispersing the homogenous solution formed in step (1) into an inert material, (3) cooling the dispersed solution to cause the high molecular weight polymer to phase separate from the low molecular weight material, (4) forming solid particles comprised of said low molecular weight material trapped inside a structure of cells of said high molecular weight polymer, and (5) removing the solid particles from the dispersed solution.
US08821930B2
Controlled-release preparations of oxcarbazepine and derivatives thereof for once-a-day administration are disclosed. The inventive compositions comprise solubility- and/or release enhancing agents to provide tailored drug release profiles, preferably sigmoidal release profiles. Methods of treatment comprising the inventive compositions are also disclosed.
US08821929B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms, for example to a tamper resistant dosage form including an opioid analgesic, and processes of manufacture, uses, and methods of treatment thereof.
US08821922B2
The present invention provides liposomal compositions and methods of using such compositions in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the present invention provides stable, polymer-caged liposomes comprising a pH responsive delivery mechanism for delivery of nucleic acids, peptides, small molecules, drugs, etc. in vitro and in vivo.
US08821909B2
Methods of treating a plant exposed to a phytotoxicant are provided. Embodiments of the subject methods include identifying a plant exposed to a phytotoxicant and applying an assimilable carbon-skeleton energy component-comprising composition to the identified plant. Embodiments of the subject compositions may include one or more of a macronutrient component, micronutrient component, vitamin/cofactor component, complexing agent and microbe. Kits for use in practicing the subject invention are also provided. The subject methods find use in a variety of different applications in which a plant is phytotoxic or at least in danger of becoming phytotoxic due to exposure or potential exposure to a phytotoxicant.
US08821893B2
The present invention relates to vaccines for control of Borrelia infections in animal and human populations. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods comprising recombinant bacteria engineered to express one or more Borrelia burgdorferi antigens for use as Lyme disease vaccines. In some embodiments, the recombinant bacteria are freeze-dried.
US08821888B2
A novel ascomycetous Xylogone ganodermophthora strain has antifungal activity. A composition includes the strain as an active ingredient for preventing plant diseases. The strain suppresses the growth of pathogenic fungi, including Phytophthora capsici, in plants. Therefore, the composition containing the strain, or a culture or extract thereof, as an active ingredient for preventing plant diseases has excellent antifungal activity and can thus be used as an environmentally friendly and pollution-free pesticide.
US08821884B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the targeted bacteriostatic and antibacterial agents and for treatment of sepsis caused by infectious diseases, such as bacterial and fungal diseases. In one aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for decreasing the levels of LPS in the circulation of an individual, e.g., a human patient with sepsis, e.g., gram negative septic shock. In one aspect, the invention is directed to chimeric proteins comprising the MD-2 polypeptide and an opsinizing agent, e.g., antibody Fc domains, or equivalent. In one aspect, the invention is directed to chimeric proteins comprising fragments or altered form of MD-2 polypeptide and an opsinizing agent, e.g., antibody Fc domains, or equivalent. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the chimeric polypeptides of the invention, and methods of making and using them, including methods for ameliorating or preventing sepsis. The invention also provides compositions for transfecting cells with nucleic acid comprising the mutant MD-2 proteins and/or the chimeric polypeptides of the invention.
US08821869B2
The present invention relates to antibodies including human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to c-Met, preferably human c-Met, and that function to inhibit c-Met. The invention also relates to human anti-c-Met antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof. The invention also relates to antibodies that are chimeric, bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulins derived from human anti-c-Met antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunoglobulins. The present invention also relates to methods of making human anti-c-Met antibodies, compositions comprising these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies and compositions for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-c-Met antibodies. The invention also relates to transgenic animals or plants comprising nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.
US08821860B2
Targeted antimicrobials are described and related, compositions, methods and systems.
US08821859B2
Articles and methods for the delivery of drugs and/or nucleic acids. Articles including a nanoparticle are provided that may be used for the delivery of a drug, a nucleic acid, or both, to a subject. The articles may be of polymeric material and may self-assemble.
US08821858B2
This invention relates to an improved Lyophilized platelet rich plasma used to make a platelet gel wound healant, and methods of preparation and use thereof for healing wounds are disclosed. The improved wound healant comprises therapeutically effective amounts of activated growth factors, platelet ghost, plasma (know as the plasma back bone), white blood cells with optional none, one or more additional anti-oxidant such as vitamin A and/or C and/or E, and/or none one or more antibiotics and/or GHK-Cu (produced by ProCyte Inc.)
US08821857B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising human placental telopeptide collagen, methods of preparing the compositions, methods of their use and kits comprising the compositions. The compositions, kits and methods are useful, for example, for augmenting or replacing tissue of a mammal.
US08821855B2
A lytic virus specific for a target strain of a microorganism and substantially free of undesirable genes may be utilized in processes including control of populations of microorganisms. The virus may include a host-range mutant, or “h-mutant.” A method for generating virus includes growing virus-resistant variants of a target strain of a microorganism in the presence of viruses that are specific for the target strain. Only h-mutant viruses will proliferate. Wild-type virus-resistant and virus-resistant variants of a microorganism are also disclosed, as are methods generating such variants. Methods for controlling target strain microorganisms include introducing virus into a treatment site where control of a population of a target strain microorganism is desired or introducing virus-resistant variants of a microorganism into treatment sites where the presence of the microorganism is desired.
US08821850B2
A drug conjugate is provided herein. The conjugate comprises a protein based recognition-molecule (PBRM) and a polymeric carrier substituted with one or more -LD-D, the protein based recognition-molecule being connected to the polymeric carrier by LP. Each occurrence of D is independently a therapeutic agent having a molecular weight ≦5 kDa. LD and LP are linkers connecting the therapeutic agent and PBRM to the polymeric carrier respectively. Also disclosed are polymeric scaffolds useful for conjugating with a PBRM to form a polymer-drug-PBRM conjugate described herein, compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of their preparation, and methods of treating various disorders with the conjugates or their compositions.
US08821836B2
The invention provides SPARC and Albumin binding peptides for the targeting of disease sites, such as tumors, with therapeutic and diagnostic agents. In particular, compositions comprising SPARC binding peptide-Antibody Fc domain fusion proteins and methods of their use are disclosed.
US08821835B2
A flexible or elastic brachytherapy strand that includes an imaging marker and/or a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent such as a drug in a biocompatible carrier that can be delivered to a subject upon implantation into the subject through the bore of a brachytherapy implantation needle has been developed. Strands can be formed as chains or continuous arrays of seeds up to 50 centimeters or more, with or without spacer material, flaccid, rigid, or flexible.
US08821833B2
A process for increasing the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon oxides and having a carbon monoxide content≧45 mole % on a dry-gas basis, including the steps of: (i) combining the synthesis gas with steam to form a steam-enriched feed gas mixture (ii) passing the feed gas mixture at an inlet temperature in the range 220-370° C. over an iron-based water-gas shift catalyst to form a hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture having a carbon monoxide content≦10 mole % on a dry gas basis, and (iii) recovering the hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture, where a portion of the hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture is recycled to the feed gas mixture.
US08821829B2
A reactor (1) for preparing phosgene by gas-phase reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine in the presence of a solid catalyst, which reactor has a bundle of parallel catalyst tubes (2) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the reactor whose ends are fixed in tube plates (3) and have a cap (4) at each end of the reactor (1), and has deflection plates (6) which are aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reactor in the intermediate space (5) between the catalyst tubes (2) and leave free passages (7) located alternately opposite one another on the interior wall of the reactor, and in which the catalyst tubes (2) are charged with the solid catalyst, the gaseous reaction mixture is passed from one end of the reactor via one cap (4) through the catalyst tubes (2) and is taken off from the opposite end of the reactor (1) via the second cap (4) and a liquid heat transfer medium is passed through the intermediate space (5) around the catalyst tubes (2), where the reactor (1) has no tubes in the region of the passages (7), is proposed.
US08821826B2
A method for regenerating silicon from silicon waste includes: placing and mixing silicon waste, a solvent having pH of approximately 5 to approximately 6, and a surfactant within a container; and injecting air into the container to separate floating matters and precipitates. Accordingly, since silicon is easily separated from the silicon waste, the regeneration yield of silicon is increased. Since the regenerated silicon is recyclable, it may be possible to obtain important substitution effect of high-purity silicon the entire amount of which depends on import. Moreover, environmental pollution may be reduced because the amount of the silicon waste disposed of by burial is decreased.
US08821825B2
Methods and systems for producing silane that use electrolysis to regenerate reactive components therein are disclosed. The methods and systems may be substantially closed-loop with respect to halogen, an alkali or alkaline earth metal and/or hydrogen.
US08821822B2
Disclosed herein is a process and a plant for recovering ammonia from a mixture including ammonia, acid gas containing H2S and/or CO2 and low-boiling water-soluble organic components. To avoid an enrichment of volatile organic compounds in the acid gas absorber, a partial stream of the liquid phase is withdrawn from an acid gas absorber and processed such that gaseous ammonia with a reduced content of volatile organic components is obtained, which is recirculated into the acid gas absorber.
US08821813B2
A liquid-feeding chip for feeding a liquid utilizing the action of centrifugal force and gravity by rotating the chip around an axis of rotation, includes a first storage tank (1-1) into which the liquid can be introduced when rotation of the chip is stopped, and two or more liquid-feeding units arranged in a plurality of levels adjacent to each other, each liquid-feeding unit (U-1, U-2, U-3) being composed of a first holding tank (10-1, 20-1, 30-1), a second holding tank (10-2, 20-2, 30-2) positioned in the direction of gravity with respect to the first holding tank, and a channel B (B-1, B-2, B-3) which extends from the first holding tank in the direction of gravity and which connects the first holding tank and the second holding tank, the first holding tank at a first level being connected with a channel A (A-1) which extends from the first storage tank toward an outer circumferential side. In the liquid-feeding chip, the adjacent liquid-feeding units are connected by a channel C (C-1, C-2) which extends from the second holding tank of the liquid-feeding unit at an upper level to an outer circumferential side during rotation, and which is in communication with the first holding tank of the liquid-feeding unit at a lower level.
US08821812B2
An absorbing zone for establishing and/or maintaining fluid transport through or along at least one fluid passage is manufactured on the basis of a non-porous substrate having a surface, the non-porous substrate having projections substantially perpendicular to the surface, and the projections having a height, diameter and a distance or distances between the projections such, that lateral capillary flow of the fluid in the zone is achieved.
US08821810B2
The disclosure provides low cost, portable three-dimensional devices for performing multiplexed assays. The devices comprise at least two substantially planar layers disposed in parallel planes, wherein one of the layers is movable relative to each other parallel to the planes to permit the establishment of fluid flow communication serially between the two layers.
US08821808B2
There is provided an improved sterilization wrap and a method for using the improved sterilization wrap to sterilize an article. The wrap is made of at least one sheet, and preferably two sheets, of sterilization material and in some embodiments, includes an additional sheet which may be made of an absorbent material. The sheet of absorbent material may have a smaller perimeter than at least one sheet of sterilization material. One side of at least one sheet of sterilization material includes a central portion. The absorbent material may be attached to the central portion of at least one sheet of sterilization material. The article to be sterilized is placed on the sterilization wrap and is then wrapped. The absorbent material provides sterility protection for the article in addition to the at least one sheet of sterilization material and also wicks moisture away from the article after sterilization has taken place. A visual indicator may be provided to indicate whether or not the article has been exposed to adequate sterilization conditions.
US08821803B2
Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.
US08821798B2
A method of fabricating a microwell in an array structure is disclosed herein. The array structure can include a plurality of field effect transistors (FETs), where each FET has a gate structure. The method can include disposing a titanium nitride (TiN) layer on at least one conductive layer coupled to the gate structure of at least one FET. A insulation layer can also be disposed on the array structure, where the insulation layer lies above the TiN layer. Further, an opening above the gate structure of the at least one FET can be etched to remove the insulation layer above the gate structure and to expose the TiN layer. A microwell with at least one sidewall formed from the insulation layer and with a bottom surface formed from the TiN layer is a result of the etching process.
US08821796B2
A mechanism is provided for sensing molecules. A twin-nanopore probe includes a first channel and a second channel. A first pressure-controlled reservoir is connected to the first channel to generate a positive pressure. A second pressure-controlled reservoir is connected to the second channel to generate a negative pressure. A container includes ionic solvent with molecules, and a tip of the twin-nanopore probe is submerged in the container of the ionic fluid with the molecules. The first channel, the second channel, the first pressure-controlled reservoir, and the second pressure-controlled reservoir are filled with the ionic fluid. The first pressure-controlled reservoir drives the ionic fluid out of the first channel and the second pressure-controlled reservoir draws in the ionic fluid with the molecules and solvent through the second channel. A flow of ionic current in the twin-nanopore probe is measured to differentiate the molecules that flow through the second channel.
US08821782B2
A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced.A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.
US08821762B2
The invention relates to novel anthra[2,3-b]benzo[d]thiophene derivatives, methods of their preparation, their use as semiconductors in organic electronic (OE) devices, and to OE devices comprising these derivatives.
US08821750B2
The present invention relates to a metal polishing slurry containing abrasive grains, a metal-oxide-dissolving agent, and water, wherein the abrasive grains contain two or more abrasive grain species different from each other in average secondary particle diameter. Using the metal polishing slurry of the present invention, a metal polishing slurry can be obtained which gives a large polishing rate of an interlayer dielectric layer, and is high in the flatness of the polished surface. This metal polishing slurry can provide suitable method for a semiconductor device which is excellent in being made finer and thinner and in dimension precision and in electric characteristics, is high in reliability, and can attain a decrease in costs.
US08821749B2
Azeotrope-like compositions of E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene
Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with E-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene or 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. Also disclosed is a process of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents. Also disclosed is a process of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents. Also disclosed is a process of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media. Also disclosed is a process of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.
US08821748B1
A ceramic or single crystal ferroelectric and a method of manufacture are disclosed. The ceramics and single crystals of the present disclosure are located near phase boundaries between ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases. These ceramics, single crystals, and composite may be used in pulsed power applications.
US08821742B2
A plasma etching method by using a plasma etching apparatus having a depressurizable processing chamber; a lower electrode for mounting thereon a substrate to be processed in the processing chamber; an upper electrode facing the lower electrode in the processing chamber with a plasma generation region formed therebetween; a radio frequency power supply unit for applying a radio frequency power between the upper electrode and the lower electrode to thereby form a radio frequency electric field in the plasma generation region, the method comprising: supplying a first gas including etchant gas to an upper gas inlet to introduce the first gas through the upper electrode into the plasma generation region; and feeding a second gas including dilution gas to a side gas inlet to introduce the second gas through a sidewall of the processing chamber into the plasma generation region.
US08821730B2
The present invention includes a dehydration method comprising the steps of providing a distilled process-target fluid to a water separation membrane device via a heat exchanger; separating the process-target fluid into a dehydrated product and water by using the water separation membrane device; detecting a temperature of any one of the water separation membrane device and the process-target fluid supplied to the water separation membrane device by using a temperature monitoring device; and controlling the temperature of the process-target fluid so that the temperature of the distilled process-target fluid being maintained at a temperature higher than the condensation temperature of the distillate by 5 to 10° C. by using a temperature adjustment device provided in the water separation membrane device.
US08821729B2
The invention relates to a carrier element for an aerobic biological water treatment system. The carrier element has a first end and a second end at a distance from each other, the maximum diameter of the first end being larger than the maximum diameter of the second end. It also has biofilm growing surface structures that extend from the first end to the second end and from inner part of the element towards periphery of the element and at least two support structures that encircle the growing surface structures at the periphery of the element and connect the growing surface structures to each other. The support structures define the outer boundary surface of the carrier element, whereby the support structures are spaced from each other so that apertures allowing access to the biofilm growing surface structures are formed between the support structures. The invention relates also to a water treatment system employing the carrier elements.
US08821715B2
An electrochemical catalytic method for the hydrodesulfurization of a petroleum-based hydrocarbon stream is described involving a hydrogen-containing gas in an electrochemical cell employing Non Faradic Electrochemical Modification of Electrochemical Activity.
US08821713B2
A method and system for processing naphtha, including a high shear mechanical device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a dispersion of gas in a naphtha hydrocarbon liquid in a high shear device prior to introduction in a cracking reactor/furnace. In another instance the system for processing naphtha comprises a high shear device for mechanically shearing hydrocarbons.
US08821712B2
A process for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is disclosed. The process involves separating the feedstock into a residue component and a light component, the residue component having a lower API gravity than the light component and treating at least a portion of the light component to produce a synthetic transport diluent suitable for combining with at least a portion of the residue component to produce a product which meets applicable criteria for pipeline transport.
US08821711B2
A method for recycling of thin film Cadmium Telluride photovoltaic modules at the end of their life, and manufacturing scrap, has been developed. This method allows for minimum glass fine generation, requires little or no acid compared to other methods, and generates a pure cadmium and tellurium product at recoveries in excess of about 80 percent. In addition, the process allows for the recovery of a clean soda-lime plate glass product.
US08821705B2
A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.
US08821704B2
Isotachophoresis (ITP) is exploited to control various aspects of chemical reactions. In a first aspect, at least one of the reactants of a chemical reaction is confined to an ITP zone, but the resulting product of the chemical reaction is separated from this ITP zone by the ITP process. In a second aspect, one or more reactants of a chemical reaction are confined to an ITP zone, and one or more other reactants of the chemical reaction are not confined to this ITP zone. In a third aspect, ITP is employed to confine at least one reactant of a chemical reaction to an ITP zone, and at least one reactant of the chemical reaction is delivered to the ITP zone in two or more discrete doses. These aspects are especially relevant to performing polymerase chain reactions using chemical denaturants as opposed to thermal cycling.
US08821702B2
A microdevice for supporting a flowing nonpolar fluid is disclosed. The microdevice includes a substrate that is at least partially coated by one or more amphiphilic layers. Methods for using the device in biological and chemical assays are also disclosed.
US08821701B2
A target for use in an ion beam sputtering apparatus made of at least two target tiles where at least two of the target tiles are made of different chemical compositions and are mounted on a main tile and geometrically arranged on the main tile to yield a desired chemical composition on a sputtered substrate. In an alternate embodiment, the tiles are of varied thickness according to the desired chemical properties of the sputtered film. In yet another alternate embodiment, the target is comprised of plugs pressed in a green state which are disposed in cavities formed in a main tile also formed in a green state and the assembly can then be compacted and then sintered.
US08821696B2
Embodiments of extraction unit and an analysis method are provided. In one embodiment, the analysis method includes the steps of providing a feed stream and a species-selective solvent to the distillation column, drawing a vapor sample from the distillation column, condensing the vapor sample, and analyzing at least a portion of the condensed vapor sample.
US08821680B2
The multilayer film serves as a laminate. In some embodiments, the film is a multilayered structure that, in its base form, encompasses an intermediate layer with first and second outer layer affixed to opposing sides of the intermediate layer. In some embodiments, the first outer layer is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer includes a polyester and the second outer layer is an olefinic polymer.
US08821671B2
Process for waterproofing a semimanufactured product (3) of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories, said semimanufactured product (3) having a three-dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and one outer surface, characterized in that it comprises the following operative steps: arranging on a shaped support (1, 1a, 1b) the semimanufactured product (3) with at least one waterproofing sheath (4) shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (3), at least one glue layer being applied between these surfaces and the waterproofing sheath (4); sealing the semimanufactured product (3) and/or the waterproofing sheath (4) for preventing the transfer of fluids from the outside between the sheath (4) and the shaped support (1, 1a, 1b); inserting the shaped support (1, 1a, 1b) provided with the semimanufactured product (3) and with the sheath (4) into an autoclave (7) for joining under pressure the sheath (4) to the semimanufactured product (3). The present invention also relates to a system that carries out said process, as well as the products obtained with said process or system.
US08821666B2
The present invention relates to a production method for a workpiece composed of a fiber-composite material, having the following steps: at least one support means is provided. A main material composed of a pre-impregnated fiber semi-finished product and/or of a secondary material are/is applied to the at least one support means in order to form at least two blank-mold areas, in such a manner that at least one of the at least two blank-mold areas has the main material, and at least one of the blank-mold areas has the secondary material. The blank-mold areas are pressure-bonded to one another to form a workpiece blank such that the at least one support means is provided on a surface of the workpiece blank. The at least one support means and the secondary material are removed from the workpiece blank in order to form the workpiece.
US08821662B2
To fill insulating glass with a gas other than air, between the spacer (5) and the glass pane (3), an open space (15) for the entry of gas into the interior (7) of the insulating glass is ensured in that in the region of the cement strand (11), which is applied to the inside of the glass pane (3) or a side surface of the spacer (5), there are distance elements, for example in the form of projections (13) of the cement strand (11). These projections (13) are pressed into the cement strand (11) when the packet of panes consisting of (at least) two glass panes (3) with a spacer (5) inserted in between is being pressed to form an insulating glass blank (1), whereupon the insulating glass blank (1) is supplied to a sealing station for sealing.
US08821660B2
A method for manufacturing ecotypic artificial leather or leather-like includes the following steps: a first step of forming a surface layer; a second step of spray foaming which is to coat the partly cured surface layer with a reactive solvent-free multicomponent polymer using a multicomponent reaction injection molding device and a spray gun; a third step of once-molding roller pressing which is to press the substrate, foaming layer, surface layer and release paper together between the multicomponent polymer foaming stage and curing stage using a roller press device; and a fourth step of maturing and stripping, in which the substrate, foaming layer, surface layer and release paper are heated up, and then are cooled down while the release paper is removed. The production process utilizing the manufacturing method described in this invention is totally environmentally friendly. The physical and chemical properties of the product are excellent. The equipment utilized has high degree of automation and is easy to industrialize.
US08821657B2
In a device and a method for recovering energy from at least one metal hot strip bundle (B) which has a temperature of more than 200° C. and is produced in a hot rolling mill (H), the at least one hot strip bundle (B) passes through an energy recovery device (3). In order to recover energy, a gaseous medium (G) flows around the at least one hot strip bundle (B) within the energy recovery device (3) such that said hot strip bundle absorbs energy, particularly heat, dissipated by the at least one hot strip bundle (B), thereby providing a technically simple method and a corresponding device for recovering energy, both of which can be used for any kind of hot strip, independently of the further processing thereof. Furthermore, CO2 and energy can be saved.
US08821656B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a vertical heat treatment apparatus which is a vertical heat treatment furnace comprising at least: a reaction tube; a heat treatment boat configured to hold a substrate; a heater configured to heat the substrate; a gas introduction tube configured to introduce an atmospheric gas into the reaction tube; a gas supply tube connected to the gas introduction tube; and a gas port portion that is formed at a flange body provided under the reaction tube or the reaction tube and into which the gas introduction tube is inserted, wherein the gas introduction tube is connected to the gas supply tube through a joint outside the reaction tube, the joint has at least a metal short tube having a flange portion, and the gas introduction tube is inserted into a through hole formed by connecting the flange portion of the metal short tube to the flange portion provided at the gas port portion through an O-ring and further connected to the gas supply tube through the joint. As a result, there can be provided the vertical heat treatment apparatus that can avoid damages to the gas introduction tube and easily achieve connection between the gas introduction tube and the gas supply tube without haze on a substrate.
US08821650B2
A process for mechanically strengthening a permanent magnet includes providing nanofibers or nanotubes, providing a ferromagnetic metal, defining a mixture by mixing the ferromagnetic metal with the nanofibers or nanotubes and sintering the mixture.
US08821648B2
Multi-purpose cleaning compositions, in particular multi-purpose aqueous alkaline compositions for cleaning surfaces, and base preparations for this purpose. Such base preparations comprise one or more solvents that are at least partially water-miscible, one or more alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids, and water. Such multi-purpose cleaning compositions comprise at least such base preparation, a surfactant, a basifying agent, and water.
US08821645B2
A method of removing makeup from skin of humans comprising providing a system comprising: multiple, individual conical elements having an at least adsorbing surface; at least some of the individual conical elements each seated in contact with a respective underlying next individual conical element as an upper and a lower pair of individual conical elements; contacting a tip of an uppermost individual conical element with skin adjacent to an area of skin having makeup thereon; moving the tip into contact with makeup; wiping off and at least adsorbing excess makeup onto the tip; and removing the uppermost individual conical element with makeup at least adsorbed thereon from contact with the skin and from seating with the next individual conical element to expose an at least adsorbing surface of the next individual conical element without any makeup being present on the exposed surface of the next individual conical element.
US08821631B1
A packaged concrete additive includes ground, expanded perlite with a volume weighted mean particle size of approximately 10-100 μm. The perlite optionally includes at least one additional component to improve workability and compensate for the natural tendency of expanded perlite to absorb water from the concrete mix. The additional component can include: water; a superplasticizer such as polycarboxylates, naphthalene sulfonate, and melamine sulfonate; or a hydrophobic compound, such as salts of fatty acids, fatty acids, silanes, and siloxanes. The additive is a flowable powder and for convenience of use it is packaged in a bag that can be directly added to the concrete batch and disappears on mixing. Concrete containing this additive displays superior properties to conventional concrete. Expanded perlite is a readily available raw material and the finished concrete is suitable where high strength structural concrete must withstand high temperatures.
US08821629B2
A pre-mixed mortar, stucco or masonry composition includes from 70 to 80 percent sand and from 20 to 30 percent of a light-weight cement mix composition that comprises either slag cement, Gypsum or a combination of slag cement and gypsum; Portland cement; clay; and polystyrene.
US08821597B1
The present invention relates to a method for and apparatus for processing sugar bagasse which produces a significantly increased level of thermal output. More specifically, the thermal output of the processing method and the apparatus used therefore produces far more energy for transfer to an electricity generating module of the plant for generating electricity.
US08821594B2
Disclosed herein is a fuel oil composition with enhanced conductivity. The oil composition comprises a Petroleum Based Component and a combination of Lubricity and Conductivity additives. In one aspect, additional additives can be added such as: (a) low temperature operability/cold flow additives, (b) corrosion inhibitors, (c) cetane improvers, (d) detergents, and (e) dyes and markers (f) anti-icing additives, (g) demulsifiers/anti haze additives, (h) antioxidants, (i) metal deactivators, (j) biocides, and (k) thermal stabilizers. Further, the present disclosure describes a method of using such composition is described.
US08821590B2
Liquid hydrous laundry treatment agent containing hydrogen peroxide and omega-6 fatty acid, and optionally further ingredients compatible with said components.
US08821589B2
An artificial foot device may include a core, a talus body operatively coupled with the core by a first joint, and a toe operatively coupled with the core by a second joint. The first joint may provides for constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core. The second joint may provide for constrained relative movement between the core and the toe. In some embodiments, the core may include a core assembly including a core body, an Achilles sheave coupled with the core body and a toe bracket coupled with the core body. The toe bracket may be operatively coupled with the toe, and the Achilles sheave may be operatively coupled with the talus body. Constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core may substantially correspond to a coordinated movement of a first natural joint and a second natural joint during ambulation of a natural human foot.
US08821587B2
A prosthetic device control apparatus includes at least one sensor worn by a user. The sensor(s) determines a user's movement. A control module is in communication with the sensor(s). The control module communicates movement information to a prosthetic. A method for controlling a prosthetic device includes sensing a user's movement, communicating the movement through a control module to a prosthetic device; and controlling the movement of a prosthetic device.
US08821584B2
The present invention relates to a device for intermittently obstructing a bodily opening, such as a gastric opening, and includes a proximal member connected to a distal member by a tether. The proximal member includes an apron member surrounding a first occluding member, which is formable from an elongated and narrower configuration to a contracted or expanded but wider configuration. When employed in the stomach, the device of the present invention is arranged transluminally, with the distal member disposed in the duodenum and the proximal member disposed against the pyloric valve, intermittently occluding the pyloric valve and preventing or delaying the flow of gastric contents through the pyloric valve. In certain embodiments, a reservoir may be included for releasing a substance of interest, for example for releasing insulin from a reservoir disposed in the distal member. Sensors, actuators, and data transmission devices may also be included.
US08821580B2
A method and system is provided for repairing bone fractures at locations where high levels of stability are required. The system employs two plates to buttress a fracture from both the dorsal and volar sides. The plates are affixed to one another using screws that are installed from a volar plate, through the bone and into a dorsal plate. The method provides for use of a directional guide that allows the precise placement of Kirschner wires for temporary fixation of the fracture, installation of a first bone fixation plate using the installed K-wires for alignment, installation of a second bone plate adjacent the bone to be repaired and opposite the first bone plate, and installation of cannulated fasteners between the two opposing bone plates such that the fasteners rigidly engage both of the bone plates.
US08821561B2
A catheter assembly and related methods include first and second catheter branches that are configured to travel over separate guidewires to a vessel bifurcation treatment site within a patient. The catheter branches can each include a plurality of markers. The position of markers on one catheter branch relative to the position of markers on the other catheter branch provide a visual indication of relative twist between the catheter branches, can help distinguish one catheter branch from the other, and help with visual alignment of the catheter branches relative to the vessel bifurcation.
US08821555B2
A system for spinal surgery includes a prosthesis comprising a plurality of bone anchors which engage an intervertebral construct for fusion or motion preservation. The fusion construct comprises a spacer optionally encircled by a jacket. The motion preservation construct may comprise an articulating disc assembly or an elastomeric disc assembly. Any of the constructs may occupy the intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae after removal of an intervertebral disc. The anchors slidingly engage the construct to securely fix the prosthesis to the vertebrae. The anchors and jacket of the fusion construct provide a continuous load path across opposite sides of the prosthesis so as to resist antagonistic motions of the spine.
US08821554B2
Embodiments of bony region stabilization are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08821553B2
Spinal fusion system utilizing an implant plate having at least one integral lock.
US08821542B2
Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.
US08821540B2
A barbed suture with a first end and a second end and a body with a plurality of barbs extending from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. Projections extend from said suture. The projections can also engage tissue. The barbs cover the projections when the first end of the suture is moved in tissue and exposes the projections in order to engage tissue when the suture is moved in the direction of the second end through tissue.
US08821539B2
A barbed suture includes a flexible thread having a core with a leading end, a trailing end, and a central axis. The barbed suture includes a first flexible flap connected to the core, the first flap extending between the leading and trailing ends of the core, and a second flexible flap connected to the core, the second flap extending between the leading and trailing ends of the core. The flexible flaps and the core have an S-shaped profile when viewed in cross-section. The barbed suture includes first and second slots formed in the respective first and second flaps for dividing the flaps into first and second barbs projecting from the core, whereby each slot extends outwardly from the core and rearwardly toward the trailing end of the core.
US08821532B2
A device for closure of an opening formed through a wall of a body vessel of a patient is provided, as well as an introducer system for delivery of the closure device. Various embodiments include the closure device having hook members configured to engage the tissue interior of the body vessel wall, hook members configured to engage interstitial tissue adjacent to the body vessel, a plug member to contact sealably the opening from inside the body vessel, and combinations thereof. A retraction member is removably attached to the each of the embodiments to permit manipulation of the device. Remodelable material may be included with each of the embodiments to promote quicker healing. The introducer includes a sheath that is insertable through the opening and a pusher disposed within the lumen of the sheath and movable within the sheath lumen to deploy the device.
US08821527B2
A surgical cannula system. The surgical cannula system includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. A tissue attachment ring, being configured to be coupled to a biological tissue, includes a lumen extending therethrough. A locking mechanism has a first locking state, in which the cannula is configured to move with respect to the tissue attachment ring, and a second locking state, in which movement of the cannula with respect to the tissue attachment ring is resisted.
US08821526B2
A trocar is described. The trocar is formed of a biocompatible material, such as but not limited to stainless steel. Accordingly, the trocar is reusable for a relatively large number of surgical procedures assuming conventional sterilization techniques are employed after each surgical procedure. Additionally, the trocar is provided with an angled blade design formed on a distal portion of the trocar shaft. More specifically, the blade design includes a first portion extending substantially co-planar to a proximal portion of the tip portion of the trocar shaft and a second portion extending angularly inwardly towards a distal portion of the tip portion of the trocar shaft.
US08821519B2
An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.
US08821516B2
A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and a shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween. The surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate use of the device, including features to align a clip with the jaws, features to prevent unintentional migration of a clip, and features to prevent clip fallout during formation.
US08821507B2
The tissue augment sheet delivery system includes a tube funnel adapter and a tissue augment sheet delivery instrument. The tube funnel adapter includes a oval/conical shaped funnel. The tissue augment sheet delivery instrument includes a handle. A cylindrical tube is connected to the handle. A wire is inserted in the tube. The wire is formed in a large loop with small loops formed in the large loop. A tissue augment sheet is attached to one side of the large loop using a monofilament. In use, the tube funnel adapter is inserted in body. The tissue augment sheet is placed in mouth of the oval/conical shaped funnel and gently moved down. While moving down, the tissue augment sheet conforms to the internal diameter of the tube funnel adapter. The handle is withdrawn to remove the large loop from the body leaving the tissue augment sheet in body.
US08821505B2
A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprises a cannula, a bone filler material delivery nozzle for performing the procedure through the cannula, and a retainer for securing the delivery nozzle relative to the cannula. The retainer eliminates the need to manually stabilize and position the delivery nozzle during the procedure, thereby allowing the physician to perform the procedure outside of the fluoroscopic radiation field used to visualize the procedure location. The retainer can be attached to the cannula, and can provide either selective or constant clamping force onto the delivery nozzle.
US08821495B2
Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the hyoid bone, such as to treat obstructive sleep apnea. An implant is positioned adjacent a hyoid bone. The spatial orientation of the hyoid bone is manipulated, to affect the configuration of the airway. The implant restrains the hyoid bone in the manipulated configuration. The implant is positioned adjacent to pharyngeal structures to dilate the pharyngeal airway and/or to support the pharyngeal wall against collapse.
US08821494B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a surgical instrument including an instrument body including a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a length therebetween; and a bushing having a length, wherein at least a portion of the length of the bushing includes a spring portion including a resilient member, wherein the bushing is cannulated such that the shaft of the instrument is positioned therethrough.
US08821492B2
A system for locking an intramedullary nail to a bone includes a first plate sized and shaped to be inserted through a channel of an intramedullary nail and dimensioned to prevent its passing through a locking hole of the intramedullary nail and a second plate sized and shaped to be positioned along a portion of an exterior of a hole drilled in the bone and dimensioned to prevent its passing through the hole drilled in the bone along with a connector couplable to the first and second plates and slidable through the channel of the intramedullary nail to extend through the locking hole from an interior of the channel to an exterior of a bone in which the intramedullary nail has been inserted.
US08821489B2
Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue.
US08821488B2
Device, system and method for ablating tissue of a heart of a patient. The tissue is clamped between a pair of opposing jaws. A portion of the tissue is ablated at a first generally linear position on the tissue by applying ablative energy to two of a plurality of elongate electrodes, each of the two of the plurality of elongate electrodes being coupled in opposing relationship to each other and the pair of opposing jaws, respectively. An effectiveness of the ablation is sensed at a second generally linear position on the tissue with at least one of the plurality of elongate electrodes positioned on one of the pair of opposing jaws. The second linear position on the tissue is laterally distal to the first linear position on the tissue with respect to the atrium of the heart.
US08821473B2
Methods, devices, kits and compositions to treat a myocardial infarction. In one embodiment, the method includes the prevention of remodeling of the infarct zone of the ventricle. In other embodiments, the method includes the introduction of structurally reinforcing agents. In other embodiments, agents are introduced into a ventricle to increase compliance of the ventricle. In an alternative embodiment, the prevention of remodeling includes the prevention of thinning of the ventricular infarct zone. In another embodiment, the prevention of remodeling and thinning of the infarct zone involves the cross-linking of collagen and prevention of collagen slipping. In other embodiments, the structurally reinforcing agent may be accompanied by other therapeutic agents. These agents may include but are not limited to pro-fibroblastic and angiogenic agents.
US08821464B2
Disposable elements for use in ostomy. In one embodiment a cap with an integral bag is provided. In another embodiment a sealable bag is provided with means for sealing. In another embodiment, the ostomy port itself is disposable.
US08821451B2
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device comprising a drive means configured to act on a medicament container for expelling a medicament; a holding means configured to hold said drive means in a pre-tensioned state; an activation means configured to interact with said holding means for releasing said drive means from the pre-tensioned state; wherein the device further comprises feedback means configured to interact both with said holding means and with said drive means for generating an audible and/or tactile and/or visual signal indicating that the medicament has been completely expelled.
US08821450B2
A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient that includes a length of material adapted to transmit or propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough. The length of material includes at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material. The first indicator is adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable. The presence (or absence) of the first indicator provides or corresponds to information about the syringe configuration. The indicator(s) of the present invention can, for example, provide information about syringe configuration by the number and/or position thereof. A plurality or set of such syringes can be provided, with the configuration of each such syringe being represented by the presence or absence of indicator(s) of that syringe.
US08821440B2
An injection device has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, and a temperature control device. The dispensing chamber housing has a first part and a second part. The first part is thermally coupled to a needle. The second part is thermally coupled to the first part. The second part has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with an inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, is capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing and is capable of altering a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber. The second part has a greater thermal coefficient than the first part.
US08821438B2
A catheter having a fluid circuit to control and modulate flow of inflation fluid to and from a balloon.
US08821437B2
Biological materials such as vaccines can be stabilized in certain glassy materials soluble in water. It has been proposed to form these glassy materials as a powder suspended in a non-aqueous liquid for injection into a patient. This method is complicated by the need to find suitable compatible liquids and to stop the glassy particles from congregating in liquid. These problems have been obviated by supporting the glassy material on a porous membrane remote from the eluant. When the biological material requires administration, the eluant can be passed across the membrane dissolving the glass and causing the substance to be carried by the liquid into the patient.
US08821435B2
The invention provides a medicine dispenser device for liquids intended to be swallowed, particularly by children and patients who find it difficult to cooperate, the device comprising an elongated cylinder serving as a container for the liquid, the device being provided, in accordance with the requirements of its use and the type of liquid to be dispensed, with at least one dispensing exit outlet at the distal end of the cylinder, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis and the at least one dispensing outlet being positioned to direct at least one stream of dispensed liquid at an angle of between 20° and 170° relative to the distal end of the longitudinal axis of the container, the safety arrangement of the device being such that upon introduction of the distal end of the device into the mouth of a patient, the at least one stream of dispensed liquid is directed to exit towards at least one enveloping surface of the mouth cavity and not in a direction toward the patient's windpipe and the throat opening.
US08821427B1
An ankle brace includes a foot and ankle holder made from a flexible fabric having a foot portion transitioning to an upper ankle portion with opposite first and second sides. The upper ankle portion has an open front and back. A rear portion is attached to partially enclose the open back. The rear portion has opposite first and second panels that removably attach to the first and second sides of the upper ankle portion, respectively. An optional tongue is located at the open front and laces overlie the tongue. A rigid heel support is disposed inside the foot portion, and the heel support may include pivoting joints. Elongated support straps extend under the foot portion and wrap around the ankle holder. Retention straps extend around the ankle holder.
US08821424B2
In one embodiment, a spinal orthosis includes a left shoulder portion and a right shoulder portion connected to a retracting device through a retractable connector. The retractable connector is connected, at a first end, to the left shoulder portion and the right shoulder portion and is connected at a second end to the retracting device. The retractable connector is configured to pull the left shoulder portion and the right shoulder portion so as to move the shoulders of a patient in a rearward direction. The retractable connector is further configured to release the left shoulder portion and the right shoulder portion, thereby allowing the shoulders of the patient to return to a relaxed position.
US08821419B1
The present invention is a vacuum chamber tissue expander with a flexible sliding interface, which is applied externally over a specific region of tissue to apply a vacuum thereto so that the skin or other organ tissue can be expanded for treatments such as the subcutaneous grafting of fat cells. The flexible sliding interface accommodates and seals against flat or irregular tissue and slides along a mating groove in the vacuum chamber to provide an adjustable seal.
US08821416B2
A portable apparatus for managing a plurality of events related to a patient and for recording and storing input data related to said events is disclosed. The portable apparatus comprises a man machine user interface; a timer unit; a control unit, arranged to provide an invitation to the patient as an instruction via the interface to perform a motion exercise, upon a trigger from the timer unit or upon a patient self initiation. In an embodiment the apparatus comprises a sensor to record measurements related to said motion exercise. Further, a storage unit is arranged to retrievably store patient input data and said measurements. This enables diagnosing a degree of a neurological disease or an effect of a medication on said neurological disease.
US08821414B2
A device for predicting a loss of control over a muscle of a human being has a detector for detecting a sound of the muscle, an acquirer for acquiring an acceleration of the human being and an evaluator for evaluating the sound and the acceleration to determine an imminent loss of control over the muscle from the sound and the acceleration.
US08821410B2
A method is provided for calibrating a surgical biopsy system. The biopsy system includes a biopsy instrument and control unit. The biopsy instrument includes a piercer, rotatable cutter, and a port for receiving tissue samples. The method comprises the steps of translating the cutter distally until the translation of the cutter is stopped at an extended position and recording the extended position. The cutter is then translated from the extended position proximally until the translation of the cutter is stopped at a retracted position proximal to the extended position. The retracted position is recorded. The method further comprises the step of rotating the cutter to a rotation speed while the cutter is located at the retracted position and, if determined that the rotation speed is within a predetermined rotation speed range, a feedback signal is provided on the display allowing the operator to progress to the next procedural step.
US08821401B2
According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a Doppler processing unit which generates a Doppler spectrum from an ultrasonic signal reflected from a predetermined region in a heart, a trace waveform generation unit which generates temporal changes in a predetermined spectrum component in the Doppler spectrum as a plurality of trace waveforms, a corrected trace waveform generation unit which generates a corrected trace waveform with the loss being interpolated by using a trace waveform, of the plurality of trace waveforms, which has a loss portion, and at least one estimation point input for the trace waveform, and an output unit which outputs a plurality of trace waveforms including the corrected trace waveform.
US08821395B2
A vaginal speculum apparatus includes a disposable speculum and a releasably attachable illumination assembly. A handle portion of the disposable speculum includes a receiving cavity that is adapted to interchangeably receive either a first or a second illumination assembly.
US08821389B2
An endoscopic aspiration device is mounted on a manipulating head of an endoscope, from which an elongated insertion rod member is extended forward, the endoscopic aspiration device being composed of a valve casing which is mounted on the manipulation head in communication with an aspiration passage running through the insertion rod member, and a valve assembly unit including a valve member, a valve guide member and a connector member attached to the valve guide member to communicate same with a proximal aspiration passage on the side of a suction source. The valve member is put in a sliding displacement along the valve guide member to bring the aspiration passage into and out of communication with the proximal aspiration passage on the side of a suction source. The valve guide member is coupled with the valve casing through a coupling mechanism which permits to turn the valve assembly unit on and relative to the manipulating head. The coupling mechanism is arranged to perform a function of coupling and uncoupling the valve guide unit with and from the valve casing, and a function of locking the valve guide member in the valve casing to prevent spontaneous dislodgement from the latter.
US08821379B2
This endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion configured to include a bend portion; an image pickup portion configured to capture an image of an object to be inspected; an operation portion configured to perform a bending operation of the bend portion; a storage portion configured to store at least an image of the objected to be inspected as a recorded image; a display portion configured to display the image, and a display control portion configured to: determine a display orientation of a superimposition information; display the image captured by the image pickup portion without rotating the image; and display the superimposition information, the display control portion being further configured to: determine a display orientation of at least one of the recorded image and a Graphical User Interface; and display the at least one of the recorded image and the Graphical User Interface.
US08821370B2
A system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes first and second soft tissue anchors, a suburethral support, an introducer, and a filament. The first soft tissue anchor has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a base having a hollow tubular structure, a plurality of barbs, and a tip. The sub-urethral support portion has first and second ends, the first and second soft tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support portion. The introducer has an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end with an aperture extending through the distal end. The filament extends through the hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor and through the aperture in the distal end of introducer.
US08821367B2
An apparatus and method for providing patient access in a warming therapy device (e.g., incubator, warmer, etc.) is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a mattress tray assembly having at least two axes of rotation, and in another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a mattress tray assembly having at least four axes of rotation.
US08821365B2
A centrifugal blood pump apparatus includes an impeller provided in a blood chamber, a plurality of permanent magnets provided in the impeller, and a plurality of sets of magnetic materials and coils provided in a motor chamber for driving the impeller to rotate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The plurality of permanent magnets are aligned with a gap therebetween in a rotation direction of the impeller. Accordingly, if the weight of the permanent magnets is maintained at a constant value, a magnetic field can be strengthened even with a wide motor gap due to the diaphragm, as compared to an example where there is no gap between the permanent magnets.
US08821359B1
An anchor device for elastic exercise bands mountable on a vertical support member (e.g., a door) and includes a vertically oriented strap member and a plurality of horizontal strap members attached to a front section of the vertically oriented strap member in vertically spaced relationship to each other. At least two, transversely spaced-apart loop members for receiving an elastic exercise band therethrough are attached to at least one of the plurality of horizontal strap members. At least two, transversely spaced-apart ring members are attached to at least one of the plurality of horizontal strap members for receiving one or more elastic exercise bands.
US08821358B1
This invention is for a starting apparatus for an inertial pendulum. The apparatus is provided with elastic strands twisted about each other and inelastic strands wound about the twisted strand and the ends of the strands are secured to each other so that when one end of the strands is attached to an inertial element and tension is applied to the other end the strands are caused to untwist and the inertial element caused to rotate.
US08821351B2
A solution for managing access to exercise equipment in a fitness facility is provided. A planned exercise routine for a user, which includes data corresponding to a plurality of exercises desired to be performed by the user at the fitness facility is used for providing location information for presentation to the user. Each exercise can require use of an exercise apparatus. The exercise can be mapped to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility. A target exercise apparatus can be identified from the mapped exercise apparatus(es). Location information for one or more of the target exercise apparatuses can be provided for presentation to the user.
US08821348B2
A vehicle includes an engine configured for automatic shutdown and restart. The vehicle is provided with a controller that is configured to restart the engine when a difference between an actual brake pressure and a filtered brake pressure is greater than a threshold value. The filtered brake pressure is dependent upon a magnitude of the actual brake pressure and a rate of change of the actual brake pressure.
US08821342B2
An accessory drive motor configuration is disclosed. One embodiment of the accessory drive motor configuration is an apparatus including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, wherein the crankshaft is structured to provide traction power. The apparatus further includes an accessory drive system operably coupled to a shaft. The shaft is selectively coupled to an electro-mechanical device and selectively coupled to the internal combustion engine. The shaft extends through at least a portion of the electro-mechanical device.
US08821340B2
A system and method for controlling the endload force of a variator includes reducing a net force applied to a variator input disc of the variator. The variator includes an endload chamber, a subtraction chamber, and a valve fluidly coupled between the endload chamber and the subtraction chamber. Each of the endload chamber and the subtraction chamber applies an opposing force to the variator input disc. The valve is activateable to reduce the net force applied to the variator input disc. The valve may be activated based on the variator ratio, the position of the variator roller, and/or other parameters of the variator or operation thereof.
US08821339B2
A sun gear member, planetary gear members, a first ring gear member, and a second ring gear member together form a paradox gear mechanism. A clutch mechanism is disposed between an input gear member and the first ring gear member. The clutch mechanism rotates the first ring gear member, when the input gear member rotates. The clutch mechanism disconnects transmission of the power to the input gear member when the first ring gear member rotates. The sun gear member and the first ring gear member are individual input elements. When one of the sun gear member and the first ring gear member exclusively rotates, the second ring gear member rotates in accordance with the rotation. The sun gear transmits power more reliably without increasing manufacturing cost and without thwarting downsizing of the product.
US08821336B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish at least ten forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. At least one of the torque transmitting mechanisms includes a backing plate having an annular outlet for distributing cooling fluid.
US08821328B2
A belt tensioning device for a belt drive which comprises a driving machine with a driving belt pulley drivable by a driveshaft around a driving axis, and a plurality of further belt pulleys and with an infinite belt which is wrapped around the driving belt pulley and the further belt pulleys wherein the belt tensioning device comprises a housing in which two tensioning arms are supported so as to be pivotable around a common pivot axis, in which tensioning arms there are supported tensioning rollers with axes of rotation extending parallel to the driving axis, wherein the tensioning arms are supported relative to one another by spring means, wherein, with the driving belt pulley mounted at the driving machine, the housing can be mounted in that, in an annular region surrounding the driveshaft of the driving belt pulley, the housing is contact-free relative to the driving machine.
US08821327B1
An engine includes an engine structure defining a plurality of cylinders. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine structure and a plurality of pistons are each disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of cylinders and drivingly connected to the crankshaft. A drive pulley is drivingly connected to the crankshaft. An accessory is mounted to the engine structure and includes a driven pulley connected to the drive pulley by a belt. The belt has a load direction extending through an axis of rotation of the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The accessory includes a housing having two slots extending generally parallel to the load direction of the belt and each receiving a fastener therein. A tensioner bolt is located between the two slots and extends generally parallel to the load direction to apply a tension force on the housing in the load direction.
US08821326B2
In a ratchet-type tensioner having a plunger with rack teeth formed thereon and a piston with ratchet teeth that engage the rack teeth, the ratchet teeth can be disengaged from the rack teeth by insertion of a tool through a tool insertion hole in the tensioner housing and exerting a prying action on the toothed end of the piston to move the piston away from the plunger. Alternatively if an oblique camming surface is formed on the toothed end of the piston, the ratchet teeth can be disengaged from the rack teeth by pushing the tool inward against the oblique camming surface. The piston and the hole in which it slides are shaped to prevent rotation of the piston. The ratchet teeth on the piston and the rack teeth on the plunger can be oblique to allow setback of the plunger when excessive force is exerted on the plunger.
US08821325B2
A tracking apparatus secures a transmitting device onto a target game animal. The tracking apparatus engages with a target and separates the apparatus from the arrow. The apparatus includes a transmitting device for transmitting a signal to a receiving device; a stopping component for detaching the tracking apparatus from the arrow after the arrow collides with the target; and a securing component for securing the tracking apparatus to the target, said securing component including barbs angled towards the rear of the arrow for stopping rebound motion of the tracking apparatus after the arrow collides with the target. In one embodiment, the barbs are reinforced with reinforcing arms. In another embodiment, the securing component includes a torsion spring. In another embodiment, the stopping component includes one or more wings with a front edge facing the front of the arrow that is relatively perpendicular to the axis of the arrow.
US08821320B2
A golf ball includes a plurality of circular dimples formed on the surface thereof, each of the circular dimples having a flat bottom surface; and a plurality of noncircular dimples formed on the surface of the golf ball, at least about 10 percent of dimples of all the dimples on the surface being the noncircular dimples, wherein a boundary line between a land part of the golf ball and the noncircular dimples each comprise a curved line part and a straight line part. The plurality of noncircular dimples each having a flat bottom surface. The bottom surface of the noncircular dimple may has a planar shape approximately similar to the boundary line. The lift coefficient CL at Re 70000/2000 rpm may be at least about 70 percent of the lift coefficient CL at Re 80000/2000 rpm, and the drag coefficient CD at Re 180000/2520 rpm is up to about 0.225.
US08821314B2
A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
US08821312B2
A hollow golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature including an aperture located on the crown or sole of the club head. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and aperture, and their relationship to one another, play a significant role in selectively increasing deflection of the face.
US08821298B2
A game system capable of determining, and reflecting in games contents, nervousness of a player due to fear or the like is provided. A game device main body 110 performs the game processing based on an operation of the player on the first controller 121, and calculates, in a scene of a game, a nervousness parameter indicating the degree of nervousness of the player in the scene based on an operation of the player on the first controller 121. Specifically, the game device main body 110 calculates the nervousness parameter in such a way that the degree of nervousness increases according to the number of operations of the player on the first controller 121 that are irrelevant to the progress of the game, or the like, and causes the nervousness parameter to be reflected in the game processing.
US08821296B1
A network (e.g., Internet) based gaming system and one or more casino management systems (CMS) are connected to manage patron data, loyalty programs, and other data. The connection may be implemented as an abstracted integration. As such, the connection mechanism may be used to connect the network based gaming system to a variety of proprietary and other CMS types. The connection mechanism may be synchronous, such as for example via a web service using XML over SOAP, or asynchronous, such as for example using a message sender/listener system such as system-2-system (S2S).
US08821284B2
According to various embodiments of the invention an adapter apparatus is provided that is combinable with a computer or video game controller. In accordance with one embodiment, the adapter apparatus is a controller adapter, comprising: a housing configured to attach to a controller having a controller input, wherein the housing at least partially covers the controller input when the housing is attached to the controller, the housing comprising: a holding mechanism configured to secure the housing to the controller when the housing is attached to the controller; an adapter input disposed on an exterior surface of the housing opposite the controller input; and a translation element positioned between the adapter input and the controller input such that a user input to the adapter input translates to a corresponding user input to the controller input.
US08821264B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a controlled entity hybrid game. The controlled entity hybrid game, includes a real world engine constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits from at least one wager in a gambling game, an entertainment software engine constructed to execute an entertainment game providing outcomes based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game, and a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment software engine and communicate, to the gambling game, a gameplay gambling event occurrence based upon a player's instruction of a controlled entity to consume an enabling element of the entertainment game that triggers a wager in the gambling game.
US08821262B2
A gaming system and method disclosed herein enable players to earn promotional awards at gaming machines without sacrificing or surrendering player tracking points. The gaming system and method also provide value to players without the casino absorbing the cost of such value. The gaming system and method disclosed herein creates a new type of currency redeemable for a good or service (or a discount on a good or service) associated with a point-of-sale independent of the casino. In one form, the player tracking currency does not cost the casino or the player anything.
US08821260B1
Disclosed herein is technology for providing in-game bonuses to a user's in-game persona. The technology involves virtual items that provide quality-based bonuses and level based bonuses. The technology provides systems and methods for upgrading an item's level and enhancing the item's quality. If an upgrade or enhancement is unsuccessful, the item may be broken and the quality bonuses and level bonuses may be decreased until the item is repaired.
US08821257B2
A method of operating a market for a plurality of participants to invest in a plurality of competitors using a computer system includes: storing a plurality of share holdings of the participants in the computer system; storing a plurality of credit balances of the participants in the computer system; and redeeming shares at the conclusion of a period in the computer system, wherein redeeming shares includes: calculating an amount that the credit balance of each corresponding participant of the participants should be modified in accordance with a plurality of values of corresponding ones of the shares at the conclusion of the period and the share holdings of the corresponding participant, and determining the values of the shares based on a benchmark ranking of the competitors at the conclusion of the period.
US08821239B1
An electronic gaming table for hosting live table games involving wagers can include a physical surface, a dealer station, a plurality of player terminals, and a table controller. The physical surface permits the play of live table games with a live dealer and physical game components. The dealer station is situated proximate the physical surface and allows the presence of a live dealer who facilitates game play. Player terminals allow live players to play the games and include player terminal processors coupled to player interfaces having input and output devices. A table controller coupled to the player terminals controls various table functions and administers a live table game pitting a first hand against a second hand. Each of multiple live players can make different live game decisions independently based upon the same second hand, wherein resolution of the game varies by player depending upon the different live game decisions.
US08821238B2
There is provided a personalized game system comprising a user account database containing user accounts for a plurality of users, a pattern database containing recognition data for a plurality of patterns, a controller in communication with the user account database and the pattern database, and a game installation. The game installation comprises an audiovisual presentation system, an identification interface in communication with the controller to read a user identifier to identify a user account of a user from the user account database, and an optical interface in communication with the controller to optically read a card pattern on a game card to match the card pattern with a pattern in the pattern database, the game card having no physical contact with the game installation. The controller is configured to change a state of the game system based on the matched pattern.
US08821228B1
A dual bin combine system for combine harvesters which increases the storage capacity of harvested grain products when compared with previous systems. The dual bin combine system generally includes a combine harvester having a frame and a first tank for storing material harvested by the combine harvester. A frame extension, which extends in a rearward direction from the frame, includes a second tank. A transferring conduit extends from the first tank to the second tank. When operating the harvester, material may be fed from both tanks to reduce downtime unloading and thus more efficiently harvest crops.
US08821226B2
A vent member (1) includes a support body (2) provided with a through-hole (3), a permeable membrane (6) closing the through-hole (3) in the support body (2), and a cover part (10) covering the permeable membrane (6). A ventilation hole (10a) is made in a ceiling portion (11) of the cover part (10) and a notch (10b) is made in a side wall portion (12) thereof. These ventilation hole (10a) and notch (10b) function as a passage for ventilation between the interior and the exterior of the cover part (10). The ventilation hole (10a) establishes a positional relation that it does not overlap a permeable region of the permeable membrane (6) in the axial direction. Further, the side wall portion (12) extends to the lower side in the axial direction below a position at which the permeable membrane (6) is disposed, and the permeable membrane (6) is protected entirely along a circumferential direction by the side wall portion (12). The permeable membrane (6) is disposed on a mesa-like portion (14) that is convex to the upper side in the axial direction.
US08821218B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic disk is provided that includes the steps: forming a layer of a lubricant material on a surface of a magnetic storage medium, the layer of lubricant material also being located on an interior and/or exterior edge of the medium; and removing at least some of the lubricant material from the edge 160 of the medium.
US08821213B2
Embodiments of abrasive jet piercing and/or cutting devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a piercing device includes a holding or positioning device coupling a mixing tube to a secondary tube. The holding device has one or more passages extending to at least an intermediate portion of the piercing device. The one or more passages allow air to contact or mix with an abrasive waterjet as it travels through the piercing device. In some embodiments, a cutting device includes two plates configured so as to form a slot between the two plates. The cutting device can be placed directly on a workpiece, and an abrasive waterjet can be directed at the workpiece through the slot. An abrasive waterjet system utilizing the piercing and cutting devices disclosed herein can pierce holes and cut slots in materials that have reduced hole diameters and kerf widths, respectively.
US08821208B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for interacting amusement. The apparatus includes an acoustic receiver, a decoder and an interaction generating apparatus. The acoustic receiver receives an external acoustic wave signal and transfers the external acoustic wave signal into an acoustic signal. The decoder receives the acoustic signal. When the external acoustic wave signal has a high-frequency modulation signal, the decoder decodes the high-frequency modulation signal into a complete packet message according to a specific decoding procedure. The interaction generating apparatus receives the complete packet message, and generates an interaction according to the message.
US08821207B1
A method and apparatus for teaching skills to a child includes a toy barn kit which has a plurality of structural elements including walls, gables, and roof panels which can be assembled into a completed toy barn. The structural elements have color coded connectors and mating connectors which assist the child in the assembly process. In performing the assembly, the child learns skills of (1) principles of construction, (2) spatial relationships, (3) sequential thinking, and (4) color recognition and matching.
US08821200B2
A gondola drive for a floating device has an underwater housing circulated around by water. The gondola drive contains a drive module which has a drive module housing and a shaft disposed therein, a transmission module with a transmission module housing and a transmission disposed therein and a propeller. The drive module and the transmission module are each configured as separate components connected to one another such that the drive module housing and the transmission module housing form at least a part of the underwater housing and that the shaft is coupled to the transmission for driving the propeller.
US08821190B2
A fuse unit includes a first connection part to which power is fed and a second connection part to be connected with a mating terminal. The second connection part includes a bolt connection portion to which the mating terminal is connected by a bolt and a connecter connection portion to which the mating terminal is connected by a connector.
US08821184B2
A power connector includes an insulative housing, a number of power contacts received in the insulative housing, a terminal contact assembled at a rear side of the insulative housing, a contact bus bar and a fastening member attached to the insulative housing. The contact bus bar and the fastening member connect the number of power contacts with the terminal contact.
US08821182B2
An electrical connector for an electrical connection is disclosed, comprising a female receptacle to connect to either a male shorting cap or a male plug. The male plug and female receptacle can be fastened to a standard knockout in a light fixture. The male plug and female receptacle have alignment means such that they can only fit together one way, and once together are positively connected by means of a twist-lock ring. The male plug is connected to the female receptacle by aligning the two fins to the two corresponding grooves, and pushing inward such that the protrusions of the female receptacle pass through the indentations in the ring of the male plug. The twist-lock ring is turned and the nubs on the protrusions engage the notches of the female receptacle, creating a removable twist-lock ring.
US08821180B2
A plug-type connector having an external conductor part, at least one internal conductor part, and a housing, wherein a radially acting latching device for mechanically releaseably locking the plug-type connector in a plugged-in state is provided on an outer circumference of the housing, the latching device being produced from a spring-elastic material in the form of a ring which has a gap in the circumferential direction, wherein a bolt which can be moved between a locking position and a release position is arranged on the housing such that the bolt engages in the gap in the ring preventing radial compression of the ring in the locking position, and, in the release position, releases the gap in the ring so that the ring can be radially compressed when a stop edge runs onto one of the chamfers on the sides of the ring when the plug-connected state is established or released.
US08821166B2
An object is to provide an artificial lens for use in an artificial eye device for cataract surgery practice. The artificial lens includes an artificial nucleus corresponding to a human eye lens nucleus and an artificial cortex corresponding to a human eye lens cortex. The artificial nucleus is formed of an agar gel of agar concentration 1.0 wt % to 5.0 wt %. The artificial cortex is formed of an agar gel of agar concentration 0.5 wt % to 1.5 wt % which is lower than the agar concentration of an agar gel forming the artificial nucleus. In another embodiment, an artificial lens includes an artificial nucleus corresponding to a human eye lens nucleus and an artificial cortex corresponding to a human eye lens cortex. The artificial nucleus is formed of cheese or a cheese-like substance, and the artificial cortex is formed of pulp fiber.
US08821165B2
A hoof mounting for a farrier training includes a positioning block with a fixture for attaching to a central shaft of an artificial horse leg. The block has a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces and first and second securing ledges that extend laterally from the side surfaces. An artificial hoof has an open interior space with a partially open top, a closed bottom, a closed front wall, closed first and second side walls and an open back. The side walls have mating grooves sized and shaped to fit slidably about the securing ledges. At least one securing channel extends from a closed portion of the partially open top into one the mating grooves. A fastening latch has an activating tab and a locking portion that is slidably mounted to the positioning block and fits the securing channel when the block is within the hoof.
US08821156B2
An expansion screw for regulating teeth has two expansion-screw bodies, the spacing between which can be changed by means of a spindle, and has at least one guide pin which is aligned parallel to the spindle and engages in guide openings of the two expansion-screw bodies, the spindle having a first and a second threaded portion, each of which is connected to an expansion-screw body, and an actuating portion, with at least one point for application of a tool for rotating the spindle, and the expansion screw has a locking mechanism which interacts with the actuating portion in order to secure the spindle against unintended rotation. The locking mechanism has at least one locking element with a locking member which is disposed laterally alongside the actuating portion and subjects the actuating portion to an axial spring force when the spindle is rotated.
US08821151B2
Disclosed is a side gate nozzle assembly (108) having a nozzle body (210) and at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly (112) wherein the nozzle body (210) and the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly (112) are slidably engaged to each other.
US08821150B2
A manufacturing method of a color filter substrate includes forming a black matrix on a substrate, the black matrix including first, second, third and fourth openings, forming first, second and third color filter patterns in the first, second and third openings, forming an overcoat layer on the substrate, disposing a soft mold on the organic material layer, the soft mold including first depressed portions and a second depressed portion, the first depressed portions corresponding to the black matrix, and the second depressed portion corresponding to the fourth opening, wherein a first depth of the first depressed portions is larger than a second depth of the second depressed portion, applying pressure to the soft mold such that the first and second depressed portions are filled with the overcoat layer, first curing the overcoat layer, detaching the soft mold from the overcoat layer, and second curing the overcoat layer.
US08821148B2
A sheet forming apparatus includes a supply port for supplying a slurry, a discharge port for discharging a green sheet, a first slurry spreading chamber, a second slurry spreading chamber, and a third slurry spreading chamber that are disposed between the supply port and the discharge port, and joining holes through which the first, second, and third slurry spreading chambers are joined to each other. At least two of the joining holes are disposed one on each side of the supply port along a transverse direction of the green sheet.
US08821142B2
A pump or motor for fluid or gaseous media comprising a shaft (4), which faces a working part (13) and has a common inclined sliding surface (14) with the same, whereby the working part (13) limiting the pump working spaces (12) wobbles in a positionally fixed housing (10).
US08821138B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber.
US08821125B2
A turbine blade, airfoil configuration, and rotor stage are disclosed in which through the airfoil profile disclosed in Table 1, a modification in airfoil flutter and swirl are achieved. Through the airfoil configuration, the swirl and improved platform sealing configuration, result in the turbine blades having the airfoil profile with an increased performance output from the turbine.
US08821121B2
A rotor assembly for a wind turbine includes a hub adapted to be carried by a shaft of the wind turbine, a plurality of prop arms extending from the hub, a plurality of blades carried by the plurality of prop arms, and a rotor speed regulating mechanism adapted to alter a pitch of the plurality of blades responsive to varying wind speeds, thereby regulating the speed of the plurality of blades.
US08821117B2
A fluid turbine apparatus which is able to increase the fluid velocity and consequently increase the rotation speed of the fluid turbine. The fluid turbine apparatus has a convergent section, a fluid turbine section and a divergent section. The fluid enters into the fluid turbine through the convergent section, passes through the fluid turbine and exits through the divergent section. The combination of the convergent section and the divergent section creates a Venturi effect and increases the fluid velocity and thus the energy density entering turbine for increasing the energy extracted by the turbine.
US08821116B2
An abradable coating system (2-8) for a turbine or a compressor is proposed has at least one layer of woven or non-woven tissue (15) or foam made of: ceramic, glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic-metal composite and combinations thereof. A free-standing preformed element (18) has at least one layer of such a woven or non-woven tissue or foam is filled with fillers and/or binder. A method prepares such a system. Finally, a method for the repair of an abradable coating portion of a turbine or the compressor component (9) includes in a first optional step that the damaged portion is at least partly removed and/or cleaned and/or surface treated, and in a second step at least one free-standing preformed abradable coating element (18) or a complete abradable coating system is attached to the component (9), preferably by using a matrix, wherein for example only a center part (2) or a fraction of a center part (2) is replaced.
US08821115B2
A seal assembly arranged adjacent to a primary flow region, the seal assembly including: first and second components; a seal arranged between the first and second components to seal a secondary flow region from the primary flow region; and a first recess portion provided in the first component and arranged adjacent to the seal and the primary flow region, the first recess portion further being arranged to receive flow from at least one of the primary flow region and the secondary flow region and shed flow to the primary flow region, wherein the first recess portion is configured to promote a first flow feature within the first recess portion, the first flow feature flowing with a portion of the first flow feature adjacent to the primary flow region and the portion of the first flow feature being shed to the primary flow region in substantially the same direction as the flow in the primary flow region.
US08821114B2
A turbine section having a plurality flow path components forming a plurality of guide vane rings and ring segments arranged in axial succession to define a boundary of a hot gas duct. A vane carrier located around the gas duct, and sealing elements extend radially between circumferentially extending grooves in the vane carrier and respective grooves in the flow path components. The sealing elements include radially inner and outer edges, and at least one axially facing side defining a chamfered portion extending to one of the edges to accommodate axial movement of the sealing element about the one edge within a respective groove.
US08821105B2
The nozzles include inlet ports circumferentially arranged into a group and an opening and closing valve disposed so as to be commonly functioned. This arrangement realizes a gas turbine with no deterioration of efficiency against fluctuation of gas inflow rate by only one heat-resistant moving component additionally installed. The variable nozzle number turbine according to this invention also realizes a turbine compressor with no surge limit when used as a regenerator. These turbines further realizes a small-sized gas turbine with improved fuel economy under partial load conditions and a turbocharger for regenerating electric power as well as improving efficiency of a displacement engine.
US08821102B1
An apparatus and method for a collapsible arched ramp includes an arched vertically extending middle ramp section, two arched vertically extending outer ramp sections, and two arched vertically extending connecting ramp sections. The connecting ramp sections connect the outer ramp sections to opposing vertical sides of the middle ramp section so that the outer ramp sections are substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart with the middle ramp section. The arches of the outer ramp sections arch in a same direction of the arch of the middle ramp section and arch in the opposite direction of the middle ramp section. When collapsing the ramp, the direction of the arched sections line up, allowing for a compact assembly that may be easily carried and stored. The method of extending and collapsing the ramp allows for a ramp that is rapidly and efficiently assembled.
US08821101B2
An automatic pallet exchange device includes: a pallet magazine 1 that accommodates a plurality of pallets 3 respectively having a plurality of horizontally extending protrusions 16 so as to be taken in and out in horizontal directions; a pallet fixing part 23 that allows the plurality of protrusions 16 to be engaged with a plurality of depression parts 17 to horizontally fix the pallet 3 and a pallet fixing table 20 on which the pallet fixing part 23 is arranged. The pallet 3 horizontally fixed by the pallet fixing part 23 is horizontally turned and horizontally moved to exchange the pallets 3 between the pallet fixing table 20 and the pallet magazine 1.
US08821097B2
A conveyor shuttle having a conveyor belt for conveying textiles across a wash alley from a washing machine (selected from among a plurality of washing machines) to a drying machine (selected from among a plurality of drying machines). The shuttle travels along the work alley among and between the washing machines and the drying machines. Some embodiments further include guide hardware to help guide soiled laundry into the washing machine. Some embodiments include an operator platform and an operator control system so that a human user can ride on the shuttle and help control various wash alley functions.
US08821087B2
An attachment method for attaching a piece of plant machinery such as a mini-excavator to mount, for example a mount on a transporter or trailer. The piece of plant machinery is moved to a mounting location and a moveable portion arrangeable relative to the body is arranged in cooperative engagement with the mount to attach the piece of plant machinery thereto. The moveable portion may for example comprise a moveable drive 10 portion, a scraping blade or an arm.
US08821085B2
The invention relates to a tool holder (1) for clamping tools by shrink fit. The tool holder, due to its specific shaping in the area of the shrink-fit head (6) and the shrink-fit base (5) of the tool holder, is less prone to oscillate than known tool holders, therefore allowing inter alia higher speeds so that the cutting capacity, determined by the speed of the tool, the tool feed and the cutting depth of the tool, can be increased and the machine running times required to produce a workpiece can be reduced. The tool holder (1) of the present invention allows to produce and machine workpieces in a substantially more efficient and economical manner.
US08821083B2
The invention relates to a machine tool (1), comprising a plurality of fixed tool spindles (3) and such that can optionally be displaced from a retracted idle position to an extended working position and can be positioned at different positions in a frame-like rack (2), and a workpiece carrier (4) with at least one workpiece holder (5), with the workpiece (4) carrier being movable at least in several axes in a translational manner and preferably also in a rotational manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that at least one of the tool spindles (3) is associated with a tool magazine (7) plus tool changer (8).
US08821080B2
A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.
US08821078B2
A fluid-based radial distribution system includes an internal passageway and a plurality of openings radially spaced around the internal passageway. A plurality of gate members are associated with at least some of the plurality of openings, with the gate members are configured to move between an open position that allows product to move through the opening associated with that gate member and a closed position that restricts product from moving through the opening associated with that gate member.
US08821071B2
A conical piled monopod provides a fixed, ice worthy structure used in cold weather offshore environments for accessing hydrocarbon deposits under the seafloor.
US08821069B2
Linear pipe recovery/lay tensioners can include one or more pivot assemblies for rotatably moving an upper track away from a lower track to facilitate placement of a pipe segment between the two tracks. In addition, or alternatively, the tensioners can include one or more hydraulic cylinders that provide flexible suspension to the upper and lower tracks so the tracks can move and rotate as necessary due to differing pipe segment shapes. In addition, or alternatively, the upper and lower tracks include one or more gripping pad having one or more gripping member that is sheathed by a compliant member until such time as the pipe segment compresses the compliant member causing the gripping member(s) to protrude from the compliant member and bite into the pipe segment. Rotation of the tracks is controlled by a hydraulic pump capable of rotating the tracks at the same rate or at different rates.
US08821062B2
A concrete lid for an in-ground utilities box includes a reinforcement structure filled with concrete. The reinforcement structure includes a plastic frame and one or more reinforcing trusses that extend between opposing sidewalls of the plastic frame. The reinforcing trusses also extend substantially between the upper and lower edges of the opposing sidewalls. For example, a reinforcing truss may include a flat truss member that is substantially coplanar with the lower edges of the sidewalls, and an arched truss member that extends towards (but does not reach) a plane defined by the upper edges of the sidewalls. The reinforcing trusses include openings that allow wet concrete to pass through. The sidewalls of the plastic frame protect the edges of the lid from damage. The reinforcing trusses reinforce the concrete lid, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement material.
US08821060B2
A method of joining a first component to a second component, the method comprising preparing the first component by forming an array of projections extending from a bond surface of the first component, each projection having a base, a tapered tip and a tapered overhang beneath the tip, wherein the overhang has an undercut surface which is inclined and faces towards the local bond surface; bringing the components together so as to embed the projections in the second component; and hardening the second component after the array of projections has been embedded into it. Also, a joint so formed.
US08821052B2
A cutting device includes a conveyance unit for conveying a recording medium in a conveyance direction, a guide configured to guide a recording medium, a blade movable in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction, for cutting the recording medium when the blade moves with a leading end side thereof inclined to the upstream side, a presser member movable to a first position where the presser member holds down the recording medium and to a second position where the presser member does not hold down the recording medium, wherein the presser member holds down the recording medium at a position separated farther than a thickness of the recording medium from the guide in the first position, and wherein the presser member holds down the recording medium at least from before the blade starts to cut the recording medium to when the blade is cutting the recording medium.
US08821049B2
An electrically-assisted mechanical Braille writer includes a main solenoid to apply force to emboss Braille onto a printing medium, and advance an embossing mechanism to the next cell. A second solenoid engages a mechanical stop to prevent one or more embossing keys from being fully depressed, to prevent kickback from the keys mechanically coupling to the main solenoid. In unpowered operation, the mechanical stop is disengaged, and the embossing keys may be fully depressed to apply force to emboss Braille and advance the embossing mechanism. Accordingly, with electrical power, the user may supply a lesser amount of force and still fully emboss Braille cells, while without electrical power, the Braille writer remains fully operational.
US08821040B2
An interposer, comprising: (a) a planar substrate having top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface defining at least one ferrule alignment structure, and fiber bores, each bore hole being in a certain position relative to the ferrule alignment structure and adapted to receive a fiber; (b) at least one ferrule having an end face and comprising one or more fibers protruding from the end face, and at least one alignment feature cooperating with the ferrule alignment structure to position the ferrule precisely on the bottom surface such that the fibers are disposed in the fiber bores and protrude past the top surface; and (c) at least one optical component having one or more optical interfaces and being mounted on the top surface such that each of the optical interfaces is aligned with one of the fiber bores and is optically coupled with a fiber protruding from the fiber bores.
US08821034B2
This application describes an MPO type connector with an internal assembly having a pin clamp, ferrule, and fiber array. The pin clamp that has a pair of contact surfaces abutting the ferrule. The contact surfaces are located along the mid-point of the height of the ferrule on either side of and proximate to the fiber array.
US08821020B2
The motion guide device has a raceway rail having a rolling-element rolling part; a moving block having a loaded rolling-element rolling part facing the rolling-element rolling part and a rolling-element circulation passage including a rolling-element return passage extending approximately in parallel with the loaded rolling-element rolling part; and a plurality of rolling elements arranged in the rolling-element circulation passage. The moving block has a rolling part made of steel and having the loaded rolling-element rolling part, a mounting part connected to the rolling part, having a mounting surface for mounting the moving block onto a counterpart device and having a specific gravity lower than that of the rolling part, and a return part made of resin and having the rolling-element return passage.
US08821019B2
A seal (1) for a hydrostatic linear guide with a given adjustment direction (5), with a longitudinal seal section (7, 7′) extending essentially parallel to the adjustment direction (5), and with a transverse seal section (8, 8′) extending essentially transverse to the adjustment direction (5), wherein a first lip seal with a projecting lip portion (12) extends along the longitudinal seal section and a second lip seal with a projecting lip portion (14) extends along the transverse seal section. A height of the projecting lip portion (12) of the first lip seal oscillates in a wave shape in the adjustment direction. With such a seal (1), both a high degree of static oil tightness and also a high degree of dynamic oil tightness are achieved for a hydrostatic linear guide.
US08821018B2
Improved merchandise bag with reinforced bag wall is formed of thinner than normal specially selected film material with a thickened center section. For merchandise bags, the thickened center section provides a stronger bag bottom and stronger areas for the formation of bag handles. Handle bags include soft loop, round die cut oval die cut, wave top, patch and rigid handles. For T-shirt style bags, thinner plastic in the gusset and handle areas is made up for by multiple layers of film in these regions. T-shirt bags may have single, triple or folded gussets providing as many as eight layers of film in these regions. The thickened center section will substantially match the thickness of the gusseted areas and provide for a more easily stacked bag. The bags are formed of mono layer or multi-layer film and at least a portion of the bag walls is corona treated to improve adhesion.
US08821003B2
A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a light exit surface; and a bottom surface opposite the light exit surface. The light incident surface includes many first micro structures and many second micro structures. Each second micro structure cover some of the first micro structures.
US08821000B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a first covering part, an upper frame and a lower frame. The first covering part is disposed on the display panel. The upper frame is disposed under the first covering part and includes a first combining portion. The lower frame is combined with the upper frame through the first combining portion, and overlaps a peripheral portion of the display panel.
US08820997B2
A light source device includes: a light guide plate having a first internal reflection face and a second internal reflection face, and having one or more side faces; one or more first light sources applying first illumination light into the light guide plate; and a second light source disposed to face a surface, of the light guide plate, corresponding to the second internal reflection face, the second light source externally applying second illumination light to the second internal reflection face. One or both of the first and second internal reflection faces each have scattering regions allowing the first illumination light from the first light source to be scattered and to exit from the first internal reflection face to outside the light guide plate, each of the scattering regions being provided with one or more pass-through regions each allowing the second illumination light from the second light source to pass therethrough.
US08820996B2
An illumination optical device includes a light source, a light pipe guiding illumination light from the light source, a diffuser arranged on an emitting surface side of the light pipe. A width of the emitting surface of the light pipe in the horizontal direction is set greater than a width of an illuminated object, and a width of the emitting surface of the light pipe in the vertical direction is set smaller than a width of the illuminated object.
US08820993B2
Projection headlights for vehicles with a reflector, with a light source assigned to the reflector, with a lens arranged in the main direction of the beam in front of the reflector and with a screen arranged in the region of the focal point of the lens, said screen being arranged between the light source and the lens and comprising an elongated screen edge surface having a contour on an upper edge in order to form a light/dark boundary of a light distribution arrangement, wherein the elongated screen edge surface comprises a light beam reduction section in a middle area, so that at least part of the light beam emitted from the light source and hitting the light beam reduction section is not further reflected in the main direction of the beam, wherein the light beam reduction section is designed as a recess.
US08820992B2
A headlamp assembly includes a bezel defining a first surface and a second surface inclined with respect to the first surface and located at an outboard periphery, a series of fingers separated by slots, each slot extending through the first surface and the second surface, light sources, and light guides, each light guide fitted into one of the slots, for transmitting light from one of the light sources, along and through one of the slots.
US08820990B2
A vehicle lamp has at least one transparent element (10), and at least one main light source, whose emitted light passes the optical boundary layers of the at least one transparent element (10) substantially perpendicularly. The at least one transparent element (10) has at least two optical areas (12, 20, 26) with different optical indices of refraction which adjoin one another along at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and at least in one of the adjoining optical areas (12), whose index of refraction is greater than the index of refraction of the adjoining optical area (20, 26), the light of at least one light source is coupled via at least one light coupling point (22) into a direction pointing substantially along the at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and the introduced light is decoupled via at least one light decoupling point (14).
US08820987B2
A lighting device for a motorcycle includes a first lamp, a second lamp, a first outer proximate portion, and a first inner proximate portion. The first outer proximate portion is provided on one of first and second lenses and extends toward another of the first and second lenses along a surface of said one of the first and second lenses. The first inner proximate portion is provided on said one of the first and second lenses and extends toward said another of the first and second lenses. A first gap is provided between the first outer proximate portion and said another of the first and second lenses. A second gap is provided between the first inner proximate portion and said another of the first and second lenses. The second gap is smaller than the first gap.
US08820983B2
A downlight support to enable installation of a downlight luminaire within a fixture is provided. The support includes has a tubular band. The tubular band has a first section, having a first diameter, and a second section, having a second diameter. The first diameter and the second diameter are arrayed about a longitudinal axis. A plurality of leaf springs is positioned on the second diameter. Each leaf spring in the plurality of leaf springs extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of pairs of tension spring receptors is arrayed about the first diameter. Each pair of tension spring receptors extends inwardly toward the longitudinal axis.
US08820980B2
A display apparatus for an electric hob may have a colored, such as reddish-brown, hob plate, which may be composed of glass ceramic and have an inhomogeneous transmission profile for light with high transmission in the region of wavelengths of greater than 700 nm and with low transmission in the region below 700 nm. The display apparatus may have one light source with a defined output spectrum. The color locus of the light source may be shifted to the left starting from white and have a blue tinge. This configuration may provide a display that is visible or that correspondingly lights up as a substantially white illuminated display through the colored cover.
US08820975B2
An LED lighting device includes: an LED module; a thermal base coupled with the LED module and configured to absorb heat; and a heat-pipe loop formed in a tubule shape and having working fluid injected thereinto and comprising a heat-absorption portion coupled with the thermal base and configured to absorb heat and a heat-dissipating portion configured to dissipate the heat absorbed by the heat-absorption portion, wherein each coil of the heat-pipe loop is formed in a thin and long shape, and one side of the thin-and-long coil is coupled to the thermal base, and the other side of the thin-and-long coil is protruded to an outside from an edge of the thermal base.
US08820963B2
A light fixture may include LEDs that each emits light into a particular zone on a lens, where each zone has its own focal properties. Each LED may be grouped into one (or more) subset(s) that corresponds to the zone(s) struck by its emitted light. The LEDs may be selectively electrically controllable, so that the amount of light transmitted through each zone may be controllable by the electrical control system of the fixture. Because light transmitted through different zones emerges from the fixture having different widths, the electrical control system can directly control the amount of light emerging at each width. By mixing relatively narrow light with relatively wide light in the proper proportions, the electrical control system of the fixture may produce light having any desired angular profile between “narrow” and “wide”.
US08820961B2
A lamp for a camera-attachable streetlight is provided, which includes a camera-integrated bulb module. In the camera-integrated bulb module, there is a bulb portion, a camera module has a camera for capturing a predetermined area and a transceiver for transmitting data captured by the camera to an external server, a connector is inserted into a commercial socket, for receiving an external commercial power and has the same structure as a commercial connector inserted into a commercial socket, for receiving a commercial power, and a power distributor distributes the power received through the connector to the bulb portion and the camera module.
US08820956B2
The present invention relates to a lighted pick tool. The lighted pick tool includes a lighted pick tool, comprising a handle; a pick tool extending from the handle; and a light mounted in the handle and arranged to direct light toward a distal end of the pick tool, and further including a power source within the handle operable to selectively activate the light.
US08820953B2
The present invention provides a backlight system, which includes a light source, a first primary assembling piece, a second primary assembling piece, a third primary assembling piece, a fourth primary assembling piece, a fifth primary assembling piece, a sixth primary assembling piece, and at least one secondary assembling piece. The first primary assembling piece, the second primary assembling piece, the third primary assembling piece, and the fourth primary assembling piece are joined to form a main frame structure of the back frame of the backlight system. The secondary assembling piece is arranged inside the main frame structure and joined to the main frame structure. The light source is arranged on the second primary assembling piece and the fourth primary assembling piece. The fifth primary assembling piece, the first primary assembling piece, the sixth primary assembling piece, and the third primary assembling piece are joined to form a central frame of the backlight system. The backlight system of the present invention has a simple structure, saves the material for back frame, and thus lowers down the cost of flat panel display device.
US08820946B2
A projection optical system substantially consists of a first optical system composed of a plurality of lens groups and a second optical system composed of one reflection mirror having a convex aspherical surface arranged in this order from the reduction side, in which all optical surfaces constituting the first and second optical systems are formed so as to have rotationally symmetrical shapes around one common axis, the projection optical system is configured such that focus adjustment is performed by individually moving two lens groups in the first optical system along the common axis, and the lens disposed on the most magnification side in the reduction side lens group of the two lens groups is a lens having a convex surface on the magnification side, thereby magnifying and projecting an image formed on a conjugate plane on the reduction side to a conjugate plane on the magnification side.
US08820943B2
A projection apparatus includes a first optical system, an aperture disposed on the light exiting-side of the first optical system, a second optical system disposed on the light exiting-side of the aperture, and a reflector disposed on the optical path between the first optical system and the second optical system, the reflector having a reflection surface that reflects the light having exited from the first optical system toward the second optical system. The optical axis of the second optical system is disposed along the optical axis of the first optical system. The reflection surface of the reflector is disposed along the optical axis of the first optical system. At least part of the first and second optical systems that is on the side opposite the reflection surface of the reflector is cut off.
US08820940B2
An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; and a fluorescent member that includes a fluorescent substance that, when it is irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, transmits a part of the excitation light and reflects another part of the excitation light, and a first reflective film provided at a side of the fluorescent substance, which is opposite to an excitation light incidence side, the fluorescent member emitting multiplexed light including an excitation light component reflected from the fluorescent substance and the first reflective film and a light component emitted from the fluorescent substance.
US08820936B2
An electronic device having a 3-D image projection mechanism is provided. The electronic device comprises a display panel, a processing module, a projection screen and at least two micro projectors. The display panel is formed on a main body of the electronic device to display a 2-D display frame. The processing module determines whether a 3-D display request is received and generates a 3-D display command when the 3-D display request is received. The projection screen is formed according to the 3-D display command and is substantially vertical to the display panel, in which a light refractive rate of the projection screen is different from that of the air around the projection screen. The micro projectors are disposed in a circumference of the display panel and project image on the projection screen according to the 3-D display command such that a 3-D display frame is formed thereon.
US08820925B2
Contact lenses, such as hydrogel contact lenses, are described. The present contact lenses include a lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes one or more monomers and a crosslinker that crosslinks the one or more monomers during polymerization. The polymerization of the one or more monomers occurs in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer that is present in the polymerizable composition, which comprises a polymer of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. The present lenses are capable of releasing the hydrophilic polymer from the contact lens for prolonged periods of time and also have a reduced surface friction compared to similar lenses without the hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also relates to packaging systems for use with such lenses and methods of producing such lenses.
US08820924B2
An ophthalmic lens incorporating clearly identifiable, highly visible inversion marking(s) that become invisible when placed on the eye may be utilized to allow an individual to easily distinguish between the normal state of the lens and the inverted state of the lens. The ophthalmic lens comprises a thin material layer capable of changing its optical state from diffusive light scattering, colored, or both, to invisible transparent at the corneal temperature of a normal person, at the influence of ambient light, or a combination thereof.
US08820923B2
Described herein are devices, compositions, and methods for improving color discernment.
US08820921B1
A system and method for connecting eyeglasses or a similar device to the ear of a person, while enabling the device to be selectively raised and lowered as needed. A set of ear anchors attach to a wearer's head. Each of the ear anchors has a pinna loop that is sized to encircle the pinna of the ear. An arm is supported by each of the ear anchors. Each arm extends forward of the ear anchors toward the eyes of the wearer. The temple elements of the eyeglasses interconnect with the arms using connectors. The connectors can be formed into the structure of the arms or can be separate elements that mechanically attach to the arms. The connectors engage the temple elements yet enable the temple elements to be selectively manipulated between a functional position and a raised position.
US08820919B2
The invention provides an adjustment method for adjusting a binocular display, the display comprising for each eye of the wearer, an optical imager for shaping light beams corresponding to an image emitted by a beam generator device and for directing them towards each of the wearer's eyes so as to enable information content contained in a virtual image to be viewed, the display being associated with a pair of eyeglasses having two lenses supported by a frame. According to the invention, the method consists in moving at least one said lens (10A, 10B) relative to said frame (11) with three degrees of freedom, in order to obtain superposition of the two virtual images, each said imager being contained in said lens (10A, 10B) of said pair of eyeglasses.
US08820904B2
A microfluid ejection system includes a fluid path having proximate and distal ends, the proximate end having an inlet to receive fluid from a fluid supply, a vacuum chamber for suctioning of air from both the proximate and distal ends of the fluid path, and a pre-ejection chamber disposed in the fluid path between a proximate end and a distal end. The pre-ejection chamber includes a ceiling inclined upward toward each of the proximate and distal ends from a low point to direct air toward either the proximate or distal end for suctioning from the pre-ejection chamber. The microfluid system further includes a first and second air chambers disposed respectively at the proximate and distal ends of the fluid path to receive and direct air to the vacuum chamber.
US08820901B2
An elastic member for inkjet includes a resin composition including at least a (b)-(a)-(b) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer including an isobutylene-based polymer block (a) and a styrene-based polymer block (b), and a styrene-based polymer.
US08820891B2
An inkjet printing apparatus includes two or more units. Each of the two or more units has a drive circuit, a nozzle row including a plurality of aligned nozzles configured to be driven by the drive circuit to eject ink, and an ink discharge passage configured to discharge a remainder of the ink supplied to the nozzles of the nozzle row from the nozzle row. The ink discharge passage of a first unit of the two or more units and the drive circuit of a second unit of the two or more units are thermally in contact with each other. The ink discharge passage of the second unit and the drive circuit of the first unit are thermally in contact with each other.
US08820877B2
A printing apparatus includes a replaceable set tray on which a target printing material is set, an ink discharge unit which prints by discharging ink according to printing data onto the target printing material, a storage unit which stores the type of set tray specified in the printing data when printing is performed, a detection unit which detects the type of set tray, and a control unit which controls the tray detection operation. The tray detection operation is performed by the detection unit before printing starts and detects the type of set tray when necessary. The control unit compares the type of set tray specified in newly acquired printing data and the type of set tray stored in the storage unit. When the types are different, the tray detection operation is performed. When the types are the same, the tray detection operation is omitted.
US08820875B2
An image forming method including applying a processing fluid for inkjet recording to both sides of a recording medium and, after applying the processing fluid, discharging ink onto at least one side of the recording medium to form an image thereon. The processing fluid for inkjet recording comprises water and a hydrosoluble organic solvent.
US08820873B2
A printing apparatus: the medium-conveying part conveying the medium; the nozzles discharging ink droplets curable by light irradiation onto the medium; the light-irradiation part irradiating the medium with light; the medium-deforming part being arranged on the downstream side of the light-irradiation part, holding the medium from the front and back, and deforming the medium so that an irregular shape is formed in cross section; the controller performing an image-forming step, a light-irradiating step, and a medium-deforming step; in the image-forming step, the ink droplets being discharged by the nozzles to form an image on the surface of the medium; in the light-irradiating step, the ink droplets discharged onto the medium being irradiated with light by the light-irradiation part to cure the droplets; and in the medium-deforming step, the medium being released by the medium-conveying part after the medium is deformed by the medium-deforming part.
US08820872B2
A printing method includes selecting any one of a first printing mode and a second printing mode based on a printing position error data and an permissible printing position error; and performing a printing process based on the selected printing mode, wherein the first printing mode is a mode in which after a first liquid is discharged to the recording medium, the recording medium is transported to a upstream side in the transportation direction and other liquid is discharged, and the second printing mode is a mode in which the first liquid is discharged from the upstream nozzles in the transportation direction to the recording medium and other liquid is discharged from nozzles that are positioned from downstream side in transportation direction.
US08820860B2
A housing includes a first panel having a keeper, a hinged door shiftable between a first position generally perpendicular to the first panel and a second position, and a lock mounted on the door, the lock comprising a rotatable cylinder having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the door and a cam. The cam has a first end connected to the cylinder for rotation with the cylinder and a second end spaced from the first end by a cam body, the second end extending at an angle to the cam body and lying in a second plane parallel to the axis of rotation. When the door is in the first position, the cam is shiftable from a first orientation with the cam second end spaced from the keeper to a second orientation with the cam second end overlying a side of the keeper opposite the cylinder to lock the door.
US08820847B2
A method of block cave mining comprising excavating undercut tunnels (21) at an undercut level; drilling undercut blast holes (25) through the undercut tunnel roofs and setting and detonating explosive charges in those holes to blast rock above the undercut tunnels to initiate the formation of broken rock caverns (26) above the undercut tunnels (21); excavating extraction level tunnels (22) at an extraction level below the undercut level; drilling drawbell blast holes (33) upwardly from the extraction level tunnels at selected drawbell locations toward the broken rock caverns (26) and setting and detonating explosive charges in those holes to blast drawbells (32) through which broken rock falls down into the extraction level tunnels (22); and progressively removing such fallen rock from the drawbell locations through the extraction level tunnels (22); wherein some of the excavation is done mechanically by tunnel boring machinery.
US08820846B2
Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes accessing at least one coordinate of a cutting face stored in a computer-readable medium, automatically operating a first actuator to position a platform a predetermined clearance distance from the at least one coordinate, the platform supporting a cutterhead, and automatically operating a second actuator to position an arm at a tramming position after positioning the platform the predetermined clearance distance from the at least one coordinate, the arm coupled to the platform and including the cutterhead.
US08820840B2
A headrest for a motor vehicle seat comprises at least one spindle for assembling the headrest in a backrest of the seat; and a body provided with at least one housing in the shape of a sleeve for receiving one end of said spindle, the spindle comprising, in an upper portion, a shoulder capable of cooperating with a horizontal rib, protruding inside of a housing of the body, to lock any translation of the spindle in its housing.
US08820838B1
An apparatus is provided for facilitating sleeping while seated. Typically the device includes a headband, which may be a portion of a hat or a cap, and the device includes a tensioning device made of a flaccid or pliant material such as a ribbon or flexible cord. A user wears the headband and the tensioning device is positioned between the user's back and the backrest of a chair. With any forward motion of the person's head a tension is increased in the tension tie and that limits the forward motion of the person's head and facilitates sleep.
US08820834B2
A device for imparting a rocking motion to a rockable object having a curved bottom surface comprises a wedge-shaped housing and a reciprocating drive mechanism. The wedge-shaped housing comprises an upper housing having an upper surface configured for contacting the curved bottom surface of the rockable object, the upper housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a lower housing having a base configured for sitting on a surface, the lower housing having a proximal end and a distal end; and a hinge portion hingedly joining the proximal ends of the upper and lower housings. The reciprocating drive mechanism alternatingly moves the distal end of the upper housing upward to an extended position and downward to a retracted position.
US08820827B2
A removable seating system includes a mounting receptacle, a seat, and a retractable coupling device coupled to the seat. The retractable coupling device couples the seat to the mounting receptacle when inserted into the mounting receptacle. The retractable coupling device disengages the seat from the mounting receptacle when retracted from the mounting receptacle. The retractable coupling device retracts into the seat when the seat is disengaged from the mounting receptacle. The system further includes a mounting face in the mounting receptacle and a mounting slot in the mounting face. The retractable coupling device includes a rotating bolt that couples the seat to the mounting receptacle by entering the mounting slot, rotating, and engaging the underside of the mounting face. The rotating bolt disengages the seat from the mounting receptacle by rotating so as to become aligned with the mounting slot and retracting from the mounting slot and into the seat.
US08820825B2
The present application provides a supporting frame of a folding chair, including a frame body and backrest support rods arranged on two sides of the frame body. The backrest support rod includes a first support rod hingedly connected to a top connecting member of the frame body, a second support rod sleeved to the first support rod, a sliding sleeve hingedly connected to an end portion of the second support rod, and a return member arranged between the first support rod and the second support rod. The sliding sleeve is sleeved on a forward-tilting chair rod of the frame body. The present application further provides a folding chair with an adjustable backrest which allows the user to easily adjust the angle of the backrest when sitting on the folding chair.
US08820815B2
A vehicle includes a passenger compartment, a cargo compartment, a battery, and a ducted seat. The battery is disposed in the cargo compartment and dissipates heat when energized such that air in the vehicle becomes heated air. The ducted seat is operatively disposed in the passenger compartment. The ducted seat includes a base layer, a ducting layer, and a cover layer. The ducting layer covers the base layer. The cover layer covers the ducting layer. The ducting layer presents a leading opening and trailing opening in fluid communication with one another such that the ducting layer is configured to receive air therein through the leading opening and exhaust air through the trailing opening. The trailing opening is disposed in fluid communication with the cargo compartment such that the exhausted air flows from the trailing opening into the cargo compartment.
US08820810B2
An acceleration pedal is arranged on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a steering column cover covering a steering column so as to move forward or slant forward through a press operation of a press face thereof. A guide face is provided at a specified portion of a lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned in front of a lower-face rear end portion in a steering-shaft axis direction and on an acceleration-pedal-arrangement side, wherein the guide face is configured to project downward below an extension line extending from the lower-face rear end portion in the steering-shaft axis direction and extend forward. Accordingly, a passenger's foot can be properly restrained from moving, in the vehicle width direction, off the pedal in a vehicle head-on collision, ensuring an appropriate ingress-and-egress performance of a passenger.
US08820809B2
A robot hand according to embodiments includes a holding unit, a bottom end, an optical sensor, and a reflecting member. The holding unit holds a thin-plate-shaped workpiece. In the bottom end, its leading part is coupled to the holding unit and its tail part is rotatably coupled to an arm. The optical sensor is provided in the bottom end and has a projector and a photoreceiver. The reflecting member is provided in the holding unit. The reflecting member reflects light from the projector, makes it pass through the holding area of the workpiece, and makes it reach the photoreceiver to form an optical path.
US08820797B2
A hose coupling is described. The hose coupling includes a stem to which is staked a ferrule. The stem includes a radially inwardly directed groove into which a radially inwardly directed wedge of the ferrule is staked. The wedge includes a width that is greater than the width of the groove before staking. Moreover, the groove includes a bottom surface from which first and second canted sides extend at a first angle, while the wedge includes an inner surface from which first and second canted sides extend at a second angle. The first and second angles are not parallel but within five degrees of one another. The stem and ferrule form at least six distinct regions of surface contact to guard against rotation of the ferrule relative to the stem.
US08820794B1
A hose-in-hose system defined by a first inner hose assembly, a second inner hose assembly, a first outer hose assembly and a second outer hose assembly. The first inner hose assembly is carried within the first outer hose assembly. The second inner hose assembly is carried within the second outer hose assembly. A first spacer member is nested between the first inner hose assembly and the first outer hose assembly. A second spacer member is nested between the second inner hose assembly and the second outer hose assembly. Said first outer hose assembly is mateable to said second outer hose assembly such that said first inner hose assembly is held in mated contact with said second inner hose assembly.
US08820790B2
A vehicle seat includes a sitting part structure and a seatback structure which is arranged so as to pivot at its lower end on the sitting part structure and is covered by a seatback cover and to which, in its upper region on the vehicle sill side, is secured a belt deflector. The belt deflector has a belt runner opening for a seatbelt, which faces in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The seatbelt is guided out of an automatic belt roller mechanism, which accommodates one end of the seatbelt, through the belt runner opening in the belt deflector. The belt deflector is covered by the seatback cover which has a belt-passage through-opening which coincides with the belt runner opening and is covered on the front face of the seatback by a belt cover which has a belt-guide slot and is connected to the seatback cover.
US08820782B2
Vehicle including a seat support structure, a cushion arranged thereon and having an upper surface for supporting an occupying item and that deflects downward as a function of weight of the occupying item, and a sensor system including a force-measuring device that responds to downward deflection of the cushion. An interrogator sends a signal to the force-measuring device and the force-measuring device transmits, after receipt of the signal from the interrogator, a return signal to the interrogator related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion. In a method for obtaining an indication of weight of an occupying item of the seat, a signal is transmitted from the interrogator on the vehicle to the force-measuring device and from the force-measuring device, the transmitted return signal related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion is received.
US08820780B2
A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a back frame, and a foam cushion assembly positioned adjacent the back frame. A trim cover is secured over the foam cushion assembly. The trim cover includes a first edge and a second edge sewn together to define a tear seam. A side airbag module is attached to the back frame. The side airbag module includes an airbag that is deployable through the tear seam. A guide chute includes a first strap end attached to the trim cover adjacent the tear seam, and a second strap end attached to a component of the seat assembly other than the back frame, such as the foam cushion assembly.
US08820775B2
A folding golf cart composed of a frame, pillar, handle, handle connector secured to the top of the pillar, and a frame connector secured to the rear end of frame. The handle is rotatably connected with the handle connector, the bottom end of the pillar is pivoted to the frame connector and the rear wheel carrier is connected on both sides of the frame connector. A frame lock is connected between the pillar and frame connector, a handle lock is connected between the handle and handle connector. The handle lock is composed of a manipulator rotatably connected with the handle connector and two gear joint sockets connected with the handle. The two gear joint sockets are pivoted respectively on both sides of the handle connector. Clutch gears for engaging with the gear joint socket are arranged between the manipulator and two gear joint sockets.
US08820774B2
A foldable cart is described. The cart may be collapsed for transport in the bed of a pickup truck to a jobsite. Upon reaching the jobsite, the cart is removed from the pickup truck, unfolded and used to transport construction materials.
US08820769B2
A ski comprising a front runner (1), a centre runner (2) and a rear runner (3); the runners (1, 2, 3) connectable together to form a longitudinal running surface, the centre runner further comprising a locking mechanism (4) operable to urge the front and rear runners into engagement with the centre runner. Part (5, 7) of the locking mechanism is concealed within the body of the ski and the remaining part (12, 13) is positioned in-between the ski boot (16) bindings so that when the ski boot is clamped into the bindings it forms a protective canopy over the locking mechanism and the assembly takes on the appearance of a one piece ski When the ski is dismantled it can be carried in a case compatible with automated luggage handling systems and inside automobiles without the need for a roof rack.
US08820764B2
A bicycle frame comprising: a head, top, down and seat tubes along with a bottom bracket; a pair of seat and lower chain stays; and a pair of upper chain stays, the upper chain stays attached to at least one frame component selected from the down tube, the seat tube, and the bottom bracket, whereby, the addition of the upper chain stays adds rigidity to the frame to resist torque forces applied to the bottom bracket.
US08820762B2
A pressure buffer device includes a bypass path configured to form a channel of the oil from the a second oil chamber to the a first oil chamber, a slit valve connected to the bypass path, configured to form an inflow route of the oil from the bypass path to a pressure chamber, and having a channel sectional area smaller than a channel sectional area of the bypass path, and a communication path connected to the bypass path, configured to form an inflow route of the oil from the bypass path to an annular recess, and having a channel sectional area larger than the channel sectional area of the slit valve and smaller than the channel sectional area of the bypass path.
US08820760B2
A wheel axle suspension comprises an axle body, a flexible trailing arm extending crosswise to the axle body, an axle pad arranged between the axle body and the trailing arm, and a clamping assembly for tightening the axle body, the axle pad and the trailing arm together. The axle body is provided with an elongated indent in the region where it is clamped, which indent extends in a longitudinal direction of the axle body. The axle pad has an elongate protrusion that fits in the indent in the axle body. The axle pad furthermore has a rigid rear portion, which comprises a rear engagement zone engaging on the rear half of the axle body, and a front portion which comprises a front engagement zone engaging on the front half of the axle body. The axle pad comprises a flexible intermediate portion interconnecting the front and the rear portion.
US08820757B2
The disclosed universal paint tray cart has a top surface for setting various sizes of paint trays on, wheels for moving the universal paint tray cart and one or more paint tray coupling devices. Each paint tray coupling device is coupled to a slot opening in the universal paint tray cart body. Each paint tray coupling device has a first end that is coupled to the slot opening of the universal paint tray cart, and a second end which couples to a paint tray. The paint tray coupling devices hold the paint tray to the universal paint tray cart so that the cart and the paint tray can be moved about without the paint tray falling off of the universal paint tray cart. The paint tray coupling devices slide along the length of the slot openings to adjust to the size of the paint tray being held.
US08820756B2
A carrier for transporting bulky, relatively heavy goods, the carrier capable of being operated by a single individual.
US08820753B2
Disclosed is a lubricant sealing structure for a gear coupling, which can firmly prevent the leaking of the lubricant due to vibration or the like in the axial and radial directions inside the gear coupling. A sealing member is a cloth-inserted rubber 21 having flexibility. The cloth-inserted rubber 21 has a first end being fixed to a fixing member 24s on a cover plate 20 mounted on a side of an outer ring 7 and a second end being fixed to another fixing member 25s on a side of the drive shaft 10 in liquid tight manner in the axial direction of a drive shaft 10. Each of the first and second ends of the cloth-inserted rubber 21 has a face extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction. The cloth-inserted rubber 21 seals the lubricant at the face of said each of the first and second ends.
US08820752B2
A segmented intershaft seal assembly for use between inner and outer shafts within a turbine engine is presented. The intershaft seal assembly includes annular end rings, an annular seal element with an inverted “T”-shaped cross section, at least one resilient element, an annular spacer ring, carriers, counterweights, and hydrodynamic grooves. The intershaft seal assembly is secured to the inner shaft. The resilient element(s) biases seal segments away from the inner shaft toward the outer shaft. The counterweights are disposed about the seal segments and substantially negate forces imposed by the seal segments outward toward the outer shaft. The hydrodynamic grooves are disposed along an inner annular surface of the outer shaft and direct fluid onto an outer surface along the seal segments when the outer shaft rotates. The hydrodynamic grooves form a thin-film layer and non-contact seal that separates the seal segments from the outer shaft which otherwise provide a contact-type seal.
US08820747B2
A seal assembly, method for sealing a seal assembly and a modular seal unit for a rotating control device for use in an offshore environment. The modular seal unit includes a first outer housing, a first seal housing lockable within the first outer housing, and a first sealing element disposed on a lower end of the first seal housing. The first sealing element includes a throughbore configured to receive a drill pipe, and a sealing surface configured to seal against the drill pipe. The modular seal unit also includes a first connector configured to couple the first seal housing to the first outer housing, and a second connector configured to couple the first seal housing to one selected from a second outer housing of a second modular seal unit or a running tool adapter.
US08820743B2
A printing device is provided with a housing, and a card stacker is disposed above the housing. The card stacker stores cards to be placed parallel in a laminate manner. The housing houses a card rotating section, linear card transport path each being disposed below the card stacker, printing section provided below the card transport path, various sensors, and control section. A card storage section is disposed on the most downstream side of the card transport path. The card storage section stores processed cards to overlap in a laminate manner. The card stacker enables the supply number of cards to be increased, and it is possible to increase the height of the card storage section by the card transport path positioning in the upper portion inside the housing.
US08820739B1
A method and apparatus that adjusts the step count at which a tray low paper condition is declared based on the number of outstanding feed commitments and the average number of feeds between tray increments. After a first tray increment has occurred, feeder software will wait a pre-determined number of additional tray increments, and will then calculate the average number of feeds between increments. Using this average and the number of outstanding feed commitments a low paper condition is declared when a predetermined logical test is true.
US08820728B2
A system and a method for protecting semiconductor wafers is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a carrier with a central region and an exterior region. The exterior region preferably has a thickness that is greater than the central region, to form a cavity in the carrier. An adhesive is preferably placed into the cavity, and a semiconductor wafer is placed onto the adhesive. The edges of the semiconductor wafer are protected by the raised exterior region as well as the displaced adhesive that at least partially fills the area between the semiconductor wafer and the exterior region of the carrier.
US08820727B2
A log rolling, support and clamp assembly includes a longitudinal frame having a plurality of rollers coupled to and positioned along the length of the frame from a first end to a second end and permitting rolling of a log on the assembly. A log rest and an opposing log dog are coupled to the frame, the log dog being slideably moveable towards the log rest. The assembly is attachable to a portable sawmill and assists in handling the logs after being loaded on the bed of the sawmill. Also disclosed is a sawmill and a kit having such an assembly.
US08820725B2
An assembly device includes a bottom base, two baffles, two screws, and two magnetic members. The bottom base includes a receiving portion configured to receive a camera module. The receiving portion includes two adjacent fixed members and two adjacent moveable members. The baffle is secured to a sidewall of the bottom base. The screw passes through one baffle and can push one moveable member. The magnetic member is arranged on one moveable member. When the screw is rotated toward a first direction, the one screw pushes the corresponding moveable member to move toward the opposite fixed member, when the one screw is rotated toward a second direction, the attraction between the one screw and the first magnetic member draws the corresponding moveable member away from the opposite fixed member.
US08820724B2
Spring-mounted vibration system to reduce vibration with a first spring-mounted part and a second spring-mounted part, wherein the first spring-mounted part and the second spring-mounted part can oscillate relative to each in at least one vibration direction and at least one of the spring-mounted parts can be exposed to a return force on a vibration movement. A control unit is arranged with at least one travel linkage which is connected with at least one of the spring-mounted parts and in which is arranged displaceably at least one guide element connected with a spring element generating the return force and/or the other spring-mounted part.
US08820712B2
A pilot valve is provided with a conical first contact surface, and a pilot valve seat is provided with an annular second contact surface of which an initial contact portion with respect to the first contact surface has a circular-arc cross-section. The first contact surface is formed of a resin with elasticity, and the second contact surface is formed of metal. When a pressure-contact load is small, the first contact surface and the second contact surface come into line-contact with each other. When a pressure-contact load increases, the first contact surface and the second contact surface come into plane-contact with each other.
US08820709B2
A turbine housing includes a wastegate chamber with a wastegate opening; and a wastegate disposed in the wastegate chamber where the wastegate includes a plug configured to plug the wastegate opening and where the plug includes a surface; a shaft configured for receipt by a bore in a wall of the wastegate chamber; and a rotatable arm extending from the shaft where the arm has a surface configured for contacting the surface of the plug for a closed orientation of the plug with respect to the wastegate opening to transmit force from the arm more centrally to the plug. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08820708B2
Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An example valve trim assembly for use with fluid valves includes a cage and a seal assembly to be positioned in at least one of the cage, a cage retainer or a plug. The seal assembly includes a first seal and a first scraper. The first seal is to provide a load to the first scraper to prevent the ingress of contaminate to a dynamic sealing surface to be engaged by the first seal. Additionally, the seal assembly includes a second seal and a second scraper. The second seal is to provide a load to the second scraper. Further, the seal assembly includes a spacer between the first and second seals.
US08820703B2
A double action directional fluid flow valve includes a stepped piston connected with a poppet valve and moveable by a controller between open and closed positions by applying a continuous pressure to a small diameter piston face and selectively applying and removing pressure from a large diameter piston face to move the poppet valve between an open position and a closed position.
US08820701B1
A mounting arrangement is for supporting an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel extending in a fore-aft plane. The mounting arrangement comprises first and second mounts that each have an outer shell, an inner wedge concentrically disposed in the outer shell, and an elastomeric spacer between the outer shell and the inner wedge. Each of the first and second mounts extend along a axial direction, along a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and along a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the vertical direction. The inner wedges of the first and second mounts both have a non-circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axial direction. The non-circular shape comprises a first outer surface that extends transversely at an angle to the horizontal and vertical directions. The non-circular shape comprises a second outer surface that extends transversely at a different, second angle to the horizontal and vertical directions. A method is for making the mounting arrangement.
US08820698B2
A break-away hook assembly is adapted for installation for use with a low-voltage residential communication cable. A pair of members is coupled. One of the members has a connector with a terminal portion which receives a terminus of the other member. The connector breaks to release the second member from coupled engagement with the first member so that upon application of a stress in excess of a pre-established load, the cable will sag while maintaining the communication integrity of the cable.
US08820694B2
A lower rail or an upper rail has a first wall provided at a position on a first one of opposite sides in a widthwise direction thereof, and a second wall provided at a position on the other, second, side in the widthwise direction and disposed opposed to the first wall. At least one of the first wall and the second wall has an opening. At least one of an outer portion of the holding member in the widthwise direction and an outer portion of the nut member in the widthwise direction is inserted in the opening and disposed opposed to an inner side-surface of the opening facing in a frontward-rearward direction.
US08820679B2
The invention relates to landing gear mounted on an aircraft in such a way as to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the landing gear incorporating: a barrel mounted in a hinged way on the aircraft; a folding strut with two arms; a stabilizing member to stabilize the strut in an aligned position, having two rods hinged to each other; a telescopic unlocking member having one end coupled to one of the rods, the telescopic member being selectively activatable to break an alignment of the rods. According to the invention, said rod has an aperture in which the end of the telescopic unlocking member engages and which is arranged in such a way that, when the telescopic member is activated, said end interacts with an end of the aperture to move the associated rod toward a non-aligned position which said rod reaches when the telescopic member reaches an internal stop, the aperture allowing any hinged movement of the rod beyond the non-aligned position.
US08820676B2
Swiveling engines attached to the fuselage by struts, for example to the rear part of the fuselage are used to control the pitch and yaw movements of an aircraft.The swivel axes of the engines are oriented to form a V so that swiveling one engine creates a variation of the vertical and lateral components of the engine thrust. Controlled swiveling of the two swiveling engines makes it possible to generate a component of the resultant thrust in a vertical plane that can be controlled in direction and intensity to generate pitch and yaw torques.The swiveling engines also include pods provided with jet deflection flaps for the engine considered, and the struts are profiled and provided with a trailing edge control surface using ruddervator architecture.
US08820665B2
A nozzle is provided for dispensing a liquid from a container in a desirable, nearly rectangular spray pattern. The nozzle includes an actuator having an inlet end adapted to receive liquid from the container and an outlet end, the actuator outlet end defining an outlet chamber. An insert is coupled to the actuator outlet end and defines an insert passage in fluid communication with the outlet chamber. The insert includes at least a first convex shoulder disposed downstream of the outlet chamber, and a nozzle outlet disposed downstream of the first convex shoulder. The convex shoulder may have a radius of curvature and side walls may be provided at an angle of convergence. The radius of curvature and the angle of convergence may be provided within certain ranges to obtain the desired spray pattern at the desired flow rate using typical aerosol can pressures.
US08820657B2
A temperature changing device has a tubular member with a restricting portion that changes the air speed and pressure of liquids flowing there. An air inlet is provided to allow cooling or warming air to be drawn in and mix with the liquid in a mixing region. The air inlet is placed close to the bottom portion of the restricting portion. The restricting portion and inlet opening are placed far enough from the open top portion to allow for sufficient temperature change. In one embodiment, a stirring portion is provided to allow a user to stir a beverage such as coffee or tea.
US08820655B2
Provided is a temperature sensitive actuator attaching structure wherein the ease of attachment is improved. A heat generating element (51) generates heat by energizing a temperature sensitive actuator (2) via conducting terminals (41, 42). The generated heat expands a wax (W) to project a piston (21), and an elastic member (23) biases the piston (21) in a direction opposite to the projecting direction. In order to attach the temperature sensitive actuator (2) to an attachment portion (11) of an object member (1), fixing protrusions (41a) are provided in the conducting terminal (41) of the temperature sensitive actuator (2), and receiving portions (14) which can receive the fixing protrusions (41a) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the piston (21) are provided in the attachment portion (11). The temperature sensitive actuator (2) is attached to the object member (1) by inserting the fixing protrusions (41a) into the receiving portions (14).
US08820641B2
A magnetic read device including: a magnetic read head including a first conductive winding; and a second conductive winding connected in phase opposition to the first winding.
US08820634B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for redeeming a closed loop card/code funded with an amount of money. The system receives from a merchant point of sale an indication of use of a closed loop card/code not issued by the merchant and presented by a consumer, queries and receives a confirmation of an amount of money in an account associated with the closed loop card/code, presents the consumer with an offer to buy the closed loop card/code at a discount price, and upon accepting the offer, closes out the closed loop card/code and pays the discount price to the consumer. Paying the discount price can include applying the discount price to a purchase by the consumer at the merchant. The merchant can provide cash back to the consumer for excess value of the discount price over the consumer's purchase. Merchants can apply more than the discount price.
US08820632B1
A system for object tracking may comprise a system for displaying consumer account information on a wireless device comprising at least one subsystem that receives transaction information regarding a purchase of the consumer, at least one subsystem that sends selected transaction information regarding the transaction to a wireless device, and at least one subsystem that displays on the wireless device account information based on the sent selected transaction information.
US08820628B2
A system for displaying a QR code in vicinity of a commercial sign, the system comprising a panel comprising a QR code displayed thereon; and a fastener to attach the QR code panel to a signage system such that size of the QR code is larger than a 2×2 cm square where interested parties are able to scan the QR code from more than 10 feet away.
US08820625B2
Methods and systems for barcode integration in packaging design and printing are described. A barcode server may supply an FPO barcode to a designer, and the FPO barcode may include a selectable link that, when selected, generates an HTTP request to the barcode server associated with the specific FPO barcode. The barcode server manages the finalization and approval processes from design to prepress and printing.
US08820620B2
Folded storage boxes are assembled into an array of joined folded storage boxes provide a sliding drawer at a front face of each box, such that stacked and laterally joined boxes are accessible from the front of each box. Fasteners join side walls of juxtaposed boxes at intermediate heights to define short beam wall structures. A drawer retention device limits the degree of front withdrawal of each drawer so that drawers on higher courses than the ground course are protected from accidental falls. A divider system in the drawer is supported on side rail sheets that are secured by inertia hooks.
US08820615B2
The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a steel component (6, 11) comprising a first steel part (7) and a second steel part (8), the first (7) and second (8) steel part having a carbon content up to 1.5 weight percent, The method is comprising: Heating (1), at least partly, the first steel part (7), and at least partly, the second steel part (8), to above the alpha/gamma transformation temperature, and joining (2) the first steel part (7) and the second steel part (8) by welding, the welding taking place at a temperature above the alpha/gamma transformation temperature, and cooling (3) such that hardening effects are avoided. The invention further concerns weld seams (9), welded steel components (6, 11), and bearing components (11, 15, 20, 22, 26, 27, 31).
US08820613B2
A method of shortening an end of a well car includes removing a plurality of parts that would inhibit the shortening process; cutting a shear plate and a set of side sill angles at a location on the well side of the end assembly; detaching the end assembly from a main body of the well car; on each side of the main body: cutting the top tube at a location above a monument plate that is just beyond a reinforcement plate attached to the monument plate; cutting through a weld between the monument and reinforcement plates and a side sheet; cutting through the side sheet generally at the attachment location of the monument and reinforcement plates; and cutting the shear plate of the main body with a contoured cut such that the remaining shear plate has a contoured pattern substantially matching the cut shear plate under the removed end assembly.
US08820604B2
An apparatus includes grasping ends movable between an open position to a closed position and a shaft coupled to the grasping ends. The apparatus also includes a handle coupled to the shaft and configured to cause the grasping ends to move from between the open and closed positions and a stapler actuator that causes a stapling mechanism within the grasping ends to deploy one or more staples. The apparatus also includes a blade coupled to the shaft and a blade actuator that causes the blade to translate between extended and detracted positions.
US08820601B2
An improved hand tool for dispensing plastic fasteners having a novel anvil design that reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during operation of the hand tool and a needle having a novel casing that further reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during the replacement of the hand tool needle. The hand tool has a gun shaped casing with a barrel portion and a handle portion. The casing has a needle assembly opening at the front of the barrel portion and a trigger slot at the front of the handle portion. The hand tool further has a hollow needle disposed on one end of a needle assembly. The needle assembly is slidably movable back and forth between a retracted position disposed substantially within casing and an extend position disposed substantially out of the casing through the needle assembly opening. The hand tool further has a trigger that is pivotally mounted within the casing that extends out from the trigger slot. The trigger is capable of moving the needle assembly between the retracted and extended positions. The hand tool further has an anvil. The anvil has a finger guide portion, a main portion, and a tag slot. The tag slot separates the finger guide portion from the main portion.
US08820599B2
Process for removing peripheral portions such as bead regions of a glass sheet including a step of pushing the glass sheet in the peripheral portion using a pushing mechanism such as a pushing bar, and corresponding apparatus. As a result of the use of the pushing mechanism, the engagement completion time for suction cups, if used, are reduced significantly. A process without using suction cups is enabled with enhanced yield. The increased process stability and enlarged process window are particularly advantageous for processing glass sheets having high flexibility.
US08820580B2
A dispensing nozzle assembly for dispensing a number of micro-ingredients into a fluid stream. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a micro-ingredient mixing chamber, a number of micro-ingredient lines in communication with the micro-ingredient mixing chamber such that the micro-ingredients mix therein, and a mixed micro-ingredient exit such the mixed micro-ingredients are dispensed into the fluid stream.
US08820577B2
A device for dispensing a liquid is connectable to a container containing the liquid and detachably connectable to a base station having a drive member, the device including a liquid duct and a pump actuated by the drive member for effecting passage of liquid through the duct, characterized in that the device includes a cutter for piercing a tamper resistant foil positioned across the outlet of the container and that a push pin for actuating the cutter is operable from outside the device.
US08820570B2
A pressure vessel for storing a fluid, the pressure vessel including an annular inner boss having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a passage adapted to receive a utility device therein, wherein the inner boss includes a liner channel formed intermediate the inner surface and the outer surface, a vessel liner having a portion thereof disposed in the liner channel of the inner boss, and an outer boss secured to the outer surface of the inner boss.
US08820568B1
A trash can assembly positionable upon a surface is provided. The assembly comprises a trash bag restable on a base having a back edge and a front edge. A back wail extends from the base and has a first and second back connection edges. A door is provided having first and second door connection edges. The first door connection edge is liingedly connected to the first back connection edge and closable to completely encase the trash bag between the back wall and the closed door. Upon the door being in the closed position, the distance of the first and second door connection edges to the back edge of the base is less than the distance of the first and second back connection edges to the front edge of the base. The trash bag is completely contained within the assembly and removable upon opening of the door.
US08820565B2
A closure (10) for sealing fluid within a pressure vessel having a hub (70) with an opening therein includes a door (12) and a plurality of clamp ring segments (14) for fitting over an exterior portion of both the closed door and the hub. A plurality of interconnecting members (18) connect ends of adjacent clamp ring segments, and an actuator mechanism (20) moves the plurality of clamp ring segments into and out of engagement with the door.
US08820564B2
One container lid embodiment includes a body and a cap pivotably attached to the body via a hinge assembly. The body has internal threads configured to engage external threads on a fluid port of the container. The body has an opening corresponding to less than all of an area of the fluid port. The opening, configured as a modified teardrop opening through the body, includes an arc portion adjacent a circumference of the body opposite the hinge in fluid cooperation with an elongate vent extending perpendicularly from the arc portion towards the hinge. The body has a lip adjacent to the arc portion of the opening, extending radially away from the opening. The cap is configured to seal the body when articulated in proximity with the body.
US08820560B2
A collapsible bin is provided. The bin includes a pair of opposing side panels. The bin further includes a pair of opposing end panels. At least one of the end panels has a first plurality of male interlocking members extending outward a first distance along an upper portion of a first side edge, and a second plurality of male interlocking members extending outward a second distance greater than the first distance along a lower portion of its first side edge. At least one of the side panels includes a plurality of female interlocking members along a first side edge for receiving the first and second pluralities of male interlocking members extending along the first side edge of the at least one side panel.
US08820558B2
A large container (2) comprises a bottom part (3) and four side walls (4, 8), of which at least one is fastened with at least one hinge to the bottom part (3) and, by these means, can be folded down to the bottom part (3). At least one of the side walls (4, 8) has a movable side part (10), which is constructed so that by moving the movable side part (10), the corresponding side wall (8) can be opened partially.
US08820551B2
A fluid preservation system for use with a container containing both fluid and gas where there exists a transition between the fluid and the gas and where the container has an opening with a first inside diameter and a first inner surface and a body with a second inside diameter and a second inner surface. The fluid preservation system comprises an elongated member with a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable sealing member near the distal end of the elongated member, where the expandable sealing member has an expanded state and a compressed state. Means to change the expanded sealing member between the expanded state and the compressed state is located near the proximal end of the elongated member. The expandable sealing member in the expanded state is in contract with the second inner surface of the container near the transition between the fluid and the gas. The expandable sealing member in the compressed state is able to pass through the first inside diameter of the opening of the container. The means to change the state of the expandable sealing member remains outside of the container and the expandable sealing member in the expanded state displaces less than substantially all of the gas in the container.
US08820549B1
A multi-chamber beverage container. The container includes an insert having an opening. The insert also includes a first chamber containing a first set of contents and a second chamber containing a second set of contents. The first and second chambers are separated by a frangible seal. The frangible seal is ruptured to mix the first set of contents with the second set of contents in an interior of the insert. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a container shell to house the insert. The insert may also include a cap that accommodates a nipple assembly.
US08820532B2
A leak-proof package for at least one defective battery containing corrosive liquid. The inventive package has at least three layers and includes an inner container configured to accept the battery therewithin, a fluid-impermeable intermediate container sealing the inner container therewithin, and an outer container enclosing the intermediate container such that the liquid-containing defective battery is protectively packaged for leak-free transportation. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for packaging at least one battery containing corrosive liquid by loading the battery into the inner container which is sealed within the intermediate container inside the locked outer container such that the liquid-containing defective battery is protectively packaged for leak-free transportation.
US08820521B2
Packaging for moist smokeless tobacco can be provided in the form of a refill unit comprising a base portion (10) configured to fit in the bottom of an existing moist smokeless tobacco product container and a lid portion (30).
US08820519B2
A egg belt comprises a belt extending in a conveying direction for conveying eggs in the conveying direction. The belt is provided with a plurality of openings, each being triangular in shape.
US08820505B2
A pivot ring for a clutch assembly which has a first annular segment, a second annular segment, and a radial segment. The first annular segment has a first face on a front side of the pivot ring and the second annular segment has a second face, predominately opposing the first face, on a back side of the ring. The radial segment is disposed between the first annular segment and the second annular segment, connecting the first annular segment and the second annular segment. The first annular segment, the second annular segment, or both the first annular segment and the second annular segment can include axial protrusions with arcuately shaped pivot portions. Preferably, in the clutch assembly, the pivot ring is disposed between the diaphragm spring and the pressure plate, allowing for rotational freedom between the pressure plate and the diaphragm spring.
US08820501B2
A pumping device for a vehicle seat cushion, which rotates a link gear mounted to the seat cushion as an actuating lever is rotated, thereby controlling the height of the seat cushion. This pumping device generates a uniform clutch force at the same position at all times and prevents undesired movement of the actuating lever so that the actuating lever can be located at the regular position at all times. In addition, when operating the actuating lever in the same direction continuously, the pumping device can minimize the degree of angle at which the actuating lever idles, so that the pumping device can improve the controllability of the actuating lever, thereby effectively transmitting the operating force of the actuating lever to the link gear. Therefore, this invention causes the user inconvenience and improves the quality of the vehicle seat, and remarkably improves assemblability and productivity of the pumping device.
US08820499B2
Disclosed is a conduit cart for supporting conduits above at least one rail. The conduit cart has a base; and at least two right-side protrusions, namely, a right-side sub-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base; and a right-side super-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base. The right-side sub-rail protrusion and right-side super-rail protrusion are adapted to straddle a flange of a first rail and the first rail is one among the at least one rail. Further, the base has at least two left-side protrusions, namely, a left-side sub-rail protrusion extending in a direction opposite to the right-side sub-rail protrusion from the base; and a left-side super-rail protrusion extending to the right-side super-rail protrusion from the base. The left-side sub-rail protrusion and left-side super-rail protrusion can straddle a substantially horizontal flange of a second rail, and the second rail is among the at least one rail.
US08820496B2
A damper includes at least one substantially longitudinal damping body with two end surfaces and one substantially longitudinal surface between. The damping body is placed in a substantially longitudinal cavity, which includes a cavity surface, with a damping fluid that includes a liquid and a gas. At least one of the cavity surface, end surfaces or longitudinal surface is broken, and the damping body can pulsate in the cavity when the damper is in operation.
