US08969929B2
A general insulated gate power semiconductor active element with many gate electrodes arranged in parallel has a laminated structure including a barrier metal film and a thick aluminum electrode film formed over the gate electrodes via an interlayer insulating film. When the aluminum electrode film is embedded in between the gate electrodes in parallel, voids may be generated with the electrodes. Such voids allow the etchant to penetrate in wet etching, which may promote the etching up to a part of the electrode film in an active cell region which is to be left. Thus, an insulated gate power semiconductor device is provided to include gate electrodes protruding outward from the inside of the active cell region, and a gate electrode coupling portion for coupling the gate electrodes outside the active cell region. The gate electrode coupling portion is covered with a metal electrode covering the active cell region.
US08969923B2
Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for a memory layer layout for a three-dimensional memory. The memory layer includes a plurality of memory array blocks; a plurality of memory lines coupled thereto; and a plurality of zia contact areas for coupling the memory layer to other memory layers in a three-dimensional memory. The memory lines extend from the memory array blocks, are formed using a sidewall defined process, and have a half pitch dimension smaller than the nominal minimum feature size capability of a lithography tool used in forming the memory lines. The zia contact areas have a dimension that is approximately four times the half pitch dimension of the memory lines. The memory lines are arranged in a pattern that allows a single memory line to intersect a single zia contact area and to provide area between other memory lines for other zia contact areas. Other aspects are disclosed.
US08969912B2
A vertical III-nitride field effect transistor includes a drain comprising a first III-nitride material, a drain contact electrically coupled to the drain, and a drift region comprising a second III-nitride material coupled to the drain. The field effect transistor also includes a channel region comprising a third III-nitride material coupled to the drain and disposed adjacent to the drain along a vertical direction, a gate region at least partially surrounding the channel region, having a first surface coupled to the drift region and a second surface on a side of the gate region opposing the first surface, and a gate contact electrically coupled to the gate region. The field effect transistor further includes a source coupled to the channel region and a source contact electrically coupled to the source. The channel region is disposed between the drain and the source along the vertical direction such that current flow during operation of the vertical III-nitride field effect transistor is along the vertical direction, and the channel region extends along at least a portion of the second surface of the gate region.
US08969895B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: a light emission structure in which a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer are sequentially stacked; a first electrode formed on the first conductive semiconductor layer; an insulating layer formed on the second conductive semiconductor layer and made of a transparent material; a reflection unit formed on the insulating layer and reflecting light emitted from the active layer; a second electrode formed on the reflection unit; and a transparent electrode formed on the second conductive semiconductor layer, the transparent electrode being in contact with the insulating layer and the second electrode.
US08969894B2
A light emitting diode (LED) with a micro-structure lens includes a LED die and a micro-structure lens. The micro-structure lens includes a convex lens portion, at least one concentric ridge structure surrounding the convex lens portion, and a lower portion below the convex lens portion and the at least one concentric ridge structure. The lower portion is arranged to be disposed over the LED die. A first optical path length from an edge of the LED die to a top center of the microstructure lens is substantially the same as a second optical path length from the edge of the LED die to a side of the micro-structure lens.
US08969890B2
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a solid state light emitting device having a plurality of light-sources, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a growth surface; providing a mask layer on the growth surface, the mask layer having a plurality of openings through which the growth surface is exposed, wherein a largest lateral dimension of each of said openings is less than 0.3 μm and wherein the mask layer may comprise a first mask layer portion and a second mask layer portion, having the same surface area and comprising a plurality of openings wherein the first mask layer portion exhibits a first ratio between an exposed area of the growth surface and an unexposed area of the growth surface, and wherein the second mask layer portion exhibits a second ratio between an exposed area of the growth surface and an unexposed area of said growth surface, the second ratio being different from the first ratio; growing a base structure on the growth surface in each of the openings of the mask layer; and growing at least one light-generating quantum well layer on the surface of each of the base structures.
US08969887B2
A light emitting device includes: a support substrate; at least one light emitting laminate having a structure in which semiconductor layers are laminated and formed on the support substrate; a wall unit formed on the support substrate and surrounding the at least one light emitting laminate; and a wavelength conversion layer disposed above the at least one light emitting laminate.
US08969881B2
There are disclosed herein various implementations of a transistor having a segmented gate region. Such a transistor may include at least one segmentation dielectric segment and two or more gate dielectric segments. The segmentation dielectric segment or segments are thicker than the gate dielectric segments, and is/are situated between the gate dielectric segments. The segmentation dielectric segment or segments cause an increase in the effective gate length so as to improve resistance to punch-through breakdown between a drain electrode and a source electrode of the transistor when the transistor is off.
US08969877B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer made of first conductivity type SiC; a second conductivity type well region formed on the semiconductor layer and having a channel region; a first conductivity type source region formed on the well region and including a first region adjacent to the well region and a second region adjacent to the first region; a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer and having a first portion that contacts the first region; a second portion that contacts the well region and that has a thickness that is the same as that of the first portion; and a third portion that contacts the second region and that has a thickness that is greater than that of the first portion; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film and opposed to the channel region where a channel is formed through the gate insulating film.
US08969864B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting diode device including an anode, a cathode, an emission layer between the anode and the cathode, and a buffer layer positioned between the emission layer and the anode. The buffer layer includes an oxide, fluoride, quinolate, or acetoacetate compound of an alkaline metal or an alkaline-earth metal, as well as a material having a work function of about 2.6 to about 4.5 eV. The buffer layer also has a thickness of about 30 Å to about 400 Å.
US08969862B2
A main object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element including an electron injection and transport layer containing an organic boron compound, which has excellent characteristics such as efficiency and service life. The present invention achieves the object mentioned above by providing an organic EL element including: an anode; a light emitting layer formed on the anode; an electron injection and transport layer that is formed on the light emitting layer, contains an organic boron compound, and has a crystalline structure; and a cathode formed on the electron injection and transport layer.
US08969856B2
Optoelectronic devices that have enhanced internal outcoupling are disclosed. The devices include a substrate, an anode, a cathode, an electroluminescent layer, and a hole injecting layer. The hole injecting layer includes inorganic nanoparticles that have a bimodal particle size distribution and which are dispersed in an organic matrix.
US08969855B2
An organic light emitting device includes, a base part, patterned first electrodes on the base part, conductive material layers spaced apart from the patterned first electrodes and between the first electrodes, pixel defining layers between the patterned first electrodes, the pixel defining layers overlapping only a portion of upper surfaces of the conductive material layers, light emitting layers on the first electrodes, and a second electrode on the light emitting layers.
US08969854B2
To provide a highly efficient organic light-emitting element. An extremely thin layer (a monomolecular film or the like) containing an organic light-emitting material such as an iridium complex is provided between a layer of an n-type organic material (an organic material having a high electron-transport property) and a layer of a p-type organic material (an organic material having a high hole-transport property). In a structure described above, in a layer of the organic light-emitting material, electrons are injected from the LUMO of the n-type organic material to the LUMO of the organic light-emitting material, and holes are injected from the HOMO of the p-type organic material to the HOMO of the organic light-emitting material, whereby the organic light-emitting material is brought into an excited state and emits light.
US08969853B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) emitting light downward through a transparent substrate. The OLED embeds a microcavity formed between a cathode and an anode and includes a plurality of organic layers including a light emitting layer. The plurality of organic layers include at least a first layer made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of electrons; and at least a second layer made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of holes. The anode is obtained by deposition of a semitransparent layer of silver (Ag) over the transparent substrate to be directly in contact with the first doped organic layer. Then, thicknesses of the first and second doped organic layers can be freely adapted to best adjust the optical characteristics of the microcavity for the wavelength of monochromatic light to be produced by the OLED.
US08969848B2
A field emission device is configured as a heat engine. Different embodiments of the heat engine may have different configurations that may include a cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode arranged in different ways according to a particular embodiment. Different embodiments of the heat engine may also incorporate different materials in and/or proximate to the cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode.
US08969843B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes first and second conductive layers, a variable resistance portion, and a multiple tunnel junction portion. The variable resistance portion is provided between the first and second conductive layers. The multiple tunnel junction portion is provided between the first conductive layer and the variable resistance portion, and includes first, second, and third tunnel insulating films, and first and second nanocrystal layers. The first nanocrystal layer between the first and second tunnel insulating films includes first conductive minute particles. The second nanocrystal layer between the second and third tunnel insulating films includes second conductive minute particles.
US08969842B2
A photointerrupter includes a base, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a light-transmissive detector resin member covering the light receiving element, a light-transmissive emitter resin member covering the light emitting element, and a light shield layer covering the detector resin member and the emitter resin member. The emitter resin member is spaced apart from the detector resin member with an intervening clearance between them. The detector resin member includes a light incidence surface exposed from the light shield layer, and the emitter resin member includes a light output surface exposed from the light shield layer. The light incidence surface and the light output surface are arranged to face the clearance between the two resin members.
US08969837B2
A multi charged particle beam writing method includes dividing a maximum irradiation time per a shot into a digit number of first irradiation time periods, each of which is calculated by multiplying a corresponding second gray scale value by the quantization unit, where second gray scale values are gray scale values defined in decimal numbers converted from each digit value of data of binary numbers; dividing second irradiation time periods, which are a part of the first irradiation time periods into third irradiation time periods; dividing irradiation of each beam into the first irradiation steps of the third irradiation time periods and second irradiation steps of the remaining undivided first irradiation time periods; and irradiating a target object, in order, with the multi beams such that the groups are respectively composed of combination of at least two irradiation steps of first irradiation steps and second irradiation steps and the groups continue in order.
US08969830B2
The present invention provides for a programmable processor in a disinfecting radiation base unit for working in conjunction with a storage case for an ophthalmic lens. The processor is operative via executable software to provide disinfecting radiation base radiation for disinfecting an ophthalmic lens. A disinfecting radiation base unit and storage case may also include sensors for providing data and a digital storage for storing the data.
US08969825B2
The invention pertains to the field of nuclear physics and can be used in system for identifying nuclear explosions based on the measured activities in the atmosphere of naturally-occurring radioactive gases (NORG). The technical result is an increase in the determination efficiency and in the reliability of punctual estimations of deposits from various types of fission in the global activity for each krypton and xenon isotope.
US08969821B2
An apparatus for detecting an X-ray includes a photo diode having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a switching transistor, and a first storage capacitor that has one end connected to the cathode electrode and another end connected to the switching transistor.
US08969818B2
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation image detection unit including a flexible substrate, photoelectric conversion elements arranged on the substrate, and a phosphor member disposed on an upper part of the substrate, a housing accommodating the radiation image detection unit, and a support member having the substrate disposed along a side surface for non-radiation transmission in the housing from a surface for radiation transmission in the housing.
US08969817B2
The subject matters of the invention is a matrix device and method for determining the place and time of the gamma quanta interaction as well as the use of the device for determining the place and time of the gamma quanta interaction in positron emission tomography.
US08969816B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of a data processing unit for an integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system, the PCB assembly includes a plurality of PCB layers disposed in a stacked arrangement, first and second PET signal processing circuits carried by a first layer of the plurality of PCB layers, first and second ground plane structures carried by a second layer of the plurality of PCB layers and configured relative to the first and second PET signal processing circuits, respectively, and a ground partition that separates the first PET signal processing circuit from the second PET signal processing circuit on the first layer. The ground partition extends through the first layer to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding between the first and second PET signal processing circuits.
US08969813B2
A scintillation detector includes: a photodetector; a scintillating material configured to emit light in response to exposure to ionization particles; an optically transparent material having a light absorption coefficient that is less than a light absorption coefficient of the scintillating material, the optically transparent material optically coupled to a surface of the scintillating material and configured to transmit the emitted light; and a reflective material at least partially surrounding the scintillating material and the optically transparent material, the reflective material configured to reflect the emitted light and direct the emitted light toward the photodetector.
US08969807B2
A carrier includes attachment holes to which a catalyst attaches, and non-attachment holes to which the catalyst does not attach. An attachment quantity measurement device includes an electromagnetic wave output device that outputs a terahertz wave toward the carrier, an electromagnetic wave detector that detects the terahertz wave which has transmitted through the carrier, a reference value obtainer that obtains, based on a result detected by the electromagnetic wave detector, any one of an absorption rate, a group delay, and a dispersion of the terahertz wave in the non-attachment holes, and an attachment quantity obtainer that obtains, based on the result detected by the electromagnetic wave detector and the result obtained by the reference value obtainer, a weight or a density of the catalyst present in the attachment holes.
US08969805B2
The base plate is transmissive to terahertz waves, and a sample is disposed at the base plate. In the conductive periodic structure, plural transmission portions that transmit terahertz waves are arrayed with a predetermined period. The conductive periodic structure is disposed apart from a position at which the sample is disposed. The waveguide includes a total reflection surface provided at a boundary face with the conductive periodic structure. The total reflection surface totally reflects incident terahertz waves, and the waveguide guides incident terahertz waves toward the total reflection surface. The magnitudes of one or more of a distance between the position at which the sample is disposed and the conductive periodic structure, a property of the base plate, and the predetermined period are set such that a dip showing a characteristic absorption is formed in a predetermined frequency region of a spectrum of terahertz waves.
US08969804B2
A device for analyzing a sample using radiation in the terahertz frequency range is provided. The device comprises a transmitter (3) comprising a THz signal generator (5, 6, 7; 51) for generating an electromagnetic THz signal, the THz signal generator comprising a nonlinear transmission line (7; 52). The device further comprises a surface plasmon polariton generating unit (8) adapted to convert the THz signal into a surface plasmon polariton. The transmitter (3) and the surface plamon polariton generating unit (8) are either integrated on one common substrate or on two separate substrates.
US08969802B1
A method of reading suit and rank of playing cards is enabled on a system for controlled provision of image content of faces of a playing card that has: e) a support surface for playing cards; f) a source of infrared radiation; g) an infrared sensitive camera; and h) a processor. The infrared sensitive camera positioned to capture infrared radiation transmitted through the playing cards and transmit information based on the captured radiation to the processor; and the processor configured to provide suit and rank information of a playing card through which the infrared radiation was transmitted.
US08969796B2
The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserializer configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserializer as parallel data.
US08969793B2
Systems and methods for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays in a subterranean formation are provided. In one example, a downhole tool for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays may include a neutron source and a gamma-ray detector. The neutron source may emit neutrons according to a pulsing scheme that includes a delay between two pulses. The delay may be sufficient to allow substantially all neutron capture events due to the emitted neutrons to cease. The gamma-ray detector may be configured to detect activation gamma-rays produced when elements activated by the emitted neutrons decay to a non-radioactive state.
US08969789B2
A signal output unit generates an A phase output signal of a rectangular wave and a B phase output signal of a rectangular wave from the A phase sinusoidal wave signal and the B phase sinusoidal wave signal, respectively and outputs the generated signals. An internal signal generating unit (comparator) generates an A phase internal signal of a rectangular wave and a B phase internal signal of a rectangular wave from the A phase sinusoidal wave signal and the B phase sinusoidal wave signal, respectively, which are further processed by counters, and an abnormality detector. Each counter resets in response to a pulse edge of a signal for detection. The abnormality detector detects an abnormality when the count value of at least one of counters reaches a prescribed value.
US08969787B2
An optical detecting apparatus, which comprises: a detecting surface; a first light source, for providing light parallel to the detecting surface; an image sensor, for detecting an object close to the detecting surface, to generate object image data; and an object location determining apparatus, for computing location information of the object according to the object image.
US08969786B2
An optical proximity switch includes an optical transmitter for emitting a light signal, a transmitting lens with total internal reflection-using the light signal to form and transmit a light beam , a receiver, an imaging receiving lens for receiving and transmitting to the receiver the light signal, and an electronic circuit for evaluating the light signal received by the receiver.
US08969784B2
In one embodiment, an optical lens assembly comprising a primary lens and an optical structure located at an outer portion of the lens is disclosed. The primary lens is configured to direct a substantial amount of light to a predetermined first distance whereas the optical structure is configured to direct light towards a second distance that is relatively close to the optical lens assembly compared to the first distance. Other embodiments disclose light-emitting devices and proximity sensors having such an optical lens assembly. Alternative embodiments of the optical lens assembly are disclosed, including but not limited to an optical structure defining an optical surface located at a lens flange and optical structure defining a light guide located at a base portion of the optical lens assembly.
US08969781B2
An optical biosensor pixel for detecting the amount of light that is generated by the biosensing process and a biosensor array architecture that includes such biosensor pixels. The optical biosensor pixel includes a photodiode configured to convert an incident photon flux into a current. Additionally, the optical biosensor pixel includes an optical filter configured to select specific wavelengths and/or photon flux angles to reach the photodiode from a biological sample. The biosensor pixel further includes a trans-impedance amplifier coupled to the photodiode, where the trans-impedance amplifier is configured to convert the current into a voltage signal. Additionally, the biosensor pixel includes a 1-bit comparator coupled to the trans-impedance amplifier and a 1-bit digital-to-analog converter coupled to the 1-bit comparator, where the 1-bit digital-to-analog converter injects different levels of charge into an input of the trans-impedance amplifier at each cycle based on an output of the 1-bit comparator.
US08969779B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, including a photodetecting structure with one or more photon sensing layers of graphene; and an integrated graphene field effect transistor configured to function as a pre-amplifier for the photodetecting structure, where the graphene field effect transistor is vertically integrated to the photodetecting structure.
US08969778B2
An electronic device may be provided with imaging modules or communications modules. Imaging modules and communications modules may be improved with the use of plasmonic light collectors. Plasmonic light collectors exploit the interaction between incoming light and plasmons in the plasmonic light collector to redirect the path of the incoming light. Plasmonic light collectors may be used to form lenses for image pixels in an imaging module or to form light pipes or lenses for use in injecting optical communications into a fiber optic cable. Plasmonic lenses may be formed by lithography of metallic surfaces, by implantation or by stacking and patterning of layers of materials having different dielectric properties. Plasmonic image pixels may be smaller and more efficient than conventional image pixels. Plasmonic light guides may have significantly less signal loss than conventional lenses and light guides.
US08969774B2
An image sensor includes a pixel array having pixels arranged in rows and columns, a first successive-approximation-register (“SAR”) analog-to-digital-converter (“ADC”), a second SAR ADC, and first and second control circuitry. The first SAR ADC includes a first capacitor array (“FCA”) that shares a first common terminal coupled to a first comparator and coupled to receive first analog pixel signals. The second SAR ADC includes a second capacitor array (“SCA”) that shares a second common terminal selectably coupled to a second comparator and coupled to receive second analog pixel signals. The first and second control modules are coupled to selectably switch bottom plates of the FCA from a low reference voltage to the high reference voltage at a same time as selectably switching bottom plates of the SCA from a high reference voltage to the low reference voltage.
US08969771B2
An imaging system includes an A/D converter including a holding unit holding a pixel signal as a voltage level, a comparator comparing the voltage level held with a reference level, a circuit capable of changing the voltage level so as to approach the reference level at first and second rates, wherein the voltage level is changed at the first rate to determine higher bits in accordance with inversion of a relationship between the reference level and the voltage level, after that, the voltage level is changed at the second rate to determine lower bits in accordance with inversion of the relationship between the reference level and the voltage level, and an adjusting unit which adjusts the voltage level during a period until the voltage level is changed at the second rate after determination of the higher bits so that the lower bits and the voltage level hold a linear relationship.
US08969761B2
A laser beam machining method and a laser beam machining device capable of cutting a work without producing a fusing and a cracking out of a predetermined cutting line on the surface of the work, wherein a pulse laser beam is radiated on the predetermined cut line on the surface of the work under the conditions causing a multiple photon absorption and with a condensed point aligned to the inside of the work, and a modified area is formed inside the work along the predetermined determined cut line by moving the condensed point along the predetermined cut line, whereby the work can be cut with a rather small force by cracking the work along the predetermined cut line starting from the modified area and, because the pulse laser beam radiated is not almost absorbed onto the surface of the work, the surface is not fused even if the modified area is formed.
US08969758B2
A method and apparatus for the laser machining of an unfinished object into a cutting tool with a cutting edge and a free surface. A laser generates laser beam impulses which are directed by a redirecting arrangement onto a surface of the unfinished object. An impulse reaches an impact location on the surface of the unfinished object under an inclination angle between the laser beam direction (R) of the impulse and the surface to be formed. The redirecting arrangement is controlled so that the laser beam impulses impact at adjacent impact locations and form a pulse zone. With a positioning arrangement a relative movement between the pulse zone and the unfinished object of predetermined speed is established so that the pulse zone formed by the impact locations moves along the surface of the unfinished object and an ablation layer of a layer thickness (dS) is removed with each contour pass.
US08969748B2
A switch device including a bus bar, and a switch knife, wherein the knife is arranged so as to pivot around an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bus bar. The bus bar presents a projection which is an integrated part of the bus bar, and the knife is pivotable to a first position, in which it directly contacts said projection, and to a second position in which it is removed from contact with said projection.
US08969731B2
A patterned transparent conductor includes a substrate and additives at least partially embedded into at least one surface of the substrate and localized adjacent to the surface according to a pattern to form higher sheet conductance portions. The higher sheet conductance portions are laterally adjacent to lower sheet conductance portions.
US08969719B2
In one example embodiment, a method includes sputtering one or more absorber layers over a substrate. In a particular embodiment, the substrate is pre-heated to a substrate temperature of at least approximately 300 degrees Celsius prior to the sputtering and during the sputtering of each of one or more of the absorber layers, and the sputtering of at least one of the absorber layers is performed in a sputtering atmosphere having a pressure of at least 0.5 Pascals. Additionally, in a particular embodiment, the sputtering of at least one of the absorber layers comprises sputtering from a sputter target that comprises a chalcogenide alloy that comprises copper (Cu) and one or more of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), or tellurium (Te).
US08969716B2
The invention relates to a photovoltaic device for direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy, which comprises a concentrator lens system and at least one solar cell. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for producing a concentrator lens system which can be used in a corresponding photovoltaic device but also in other devices for, e.g. thermal, use of radiation.
US08969714B2
The solar cell module comprises: a string including solar cell elements, each including a first main surface being rectangular in shape and an electrode extending along a longitudinal direction on the first main surface, and an interconnection connecting the solar cell elements adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction; a light-transmitting member located to cover the string; and a sealing material located between the string and the light-transmitting member. Each of solar cell elements includes a silicon substrate with the first and second main surface, and a first and second side surfaces each connecting the first and second main surface, the second side surface being located on the back side of the first side surface. The first and second side surfaces are arranged along the longitudinal direction, where silicon is exposed on the first side surface and the second side surface is covered with an insulating layer.
US08969710B2
An electromagnetic energy collector and sensor use enhanced fields to emit electrons for energy collection. The collector and sensor collect energy from visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. The collector and sensor include a waveguide with a geometry selected to enhance the electric field along a conductor to create a high, localized electric field, which causes electron emission across a gap to a return plane.
US08969707B2
The present invention provides an adhesive tape 10 for electrically connecting a plurality of solar battery cells, which adhesive tape has a metal foil 1 and an adhesive layer 2 composed of an adhesive provided on at least one surface of the metal foil 1, and a solar battery module using the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape of the present invention can suppress the decrease in the product yield and can improve the connection workability of solar battery cells.
US08969702B2
A pickup unit of an electric stringed instrument is constituted of a vibrator supporting strings, a support which is installed inside the recess of a lower bridge so as to support the vibrator, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements which convert vibrations of strings transmitted thereto via the vibrator into electric signals. At least one presser member is interposed between the vibrator and the support. The presser member is constituted of a screw that is put into the lower surface of the vibrator from the lower surface of the support, thus upwardly pressing the piezoelectric elements onto the vibrator. This makes it possible to efficiently transmit vibrations of strings to the piezoelectric elements, thus improving the tone color and sound quality of an electric stringed instrument.
US08969678B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV013497. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV013497, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV013497 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV013497 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV013497.
US08969658B2
The invention relates to a method for producing haploid H, doubled haploid HD and/or dihaploid DH plants, the HD and DH being homozygous or essentially homozygous, this method being a method such as those which come under the technique of gynogenesis induced by irradiated pollen. This method comprises a step of irradiating the reproductive material of the male parent at a dose of between 160 and 190 gamma ray and/or a step of selecting the haploid H and/or DH plants by using one or more molecular marker(s). The invention also relates to a method for producing homozygous haploid, doubled haploid and/or dihaploid plants, comprising a step of determining the appropriate irradiation dose(s) for increasing the yields of said plants according to multiple given factors such as the plant species, the genotypes of the male parent and of the female parent, the climatic and weather conditions, the time at which the fruits are harvested, the level of growth of the embryos collected with a view to the culturing thereof, the level of development of the embryos placed in culture. Moreover, the invention concerns the molecular marker(s) used in the selection step and also the haploid embryos and the dihaploid embryos obtained by means of the method of the invention, and the progeny and the seeds of the plants obtained by means of the method of the invention.
US08969654B2
Provided is a protein having an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the protein, and a method of using the protein and the gene. The protein can be obtained from a plant belonging to the genus Glychyrrhiza, which has an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene. Also provided is a transformant producing a triterpene oxidase into which a gene encoding the triterpene oxidase is introduced.
US08969650B2
The present invention provides a bodily fluid-absorbent structure improved so as to facilitate bodily fluids to disperse in a thickness direction of the structure. Core material of a bodily fluid-absorbent structure is formed of an aggregation of fluff wood pulp fibers. The aggregation has a basis mass in a range of 150 to 500 g/m2 and a specific volume in a range of 3 to 20 cc/g. In the aggregation, a relationship between horizontal orientation index IH and specific volume VSP of fluff wood pulp fibers is represented by a formula as follows: IH is less than or equal to −0.099VSP+2.4.
US08969645B2
We provide a process comprising: a. feeding a chlorinated-hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit at an elevated temperature to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon and HCl; and c. collecting the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides are removed. A second process comprises: a. creating an ionic liquid catalyst-rich zone in a distillation unit; b. passing chlorinated-hydrocarbon to the distillation unit; c. operating the unit under conditions causing removal of alkyl chloride to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon having a final boiling point close to a first final boiling point. A third process comprises: a. feeding alkylate gasoline blending component and ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit; and c. collecting a dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides have been removed and the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon has a second RON that is close to a first RON.
US08969629B2
Disclosed are: a cyclic compound which has high solubility in a safe solvent, is highly sensitive, enables the formation of a resist pattern having a good shape, and rarely causes resist pattern collapse; a process for producing the cyclic compound; a radiation-sensitive composition containing the cyclic compound; and a resist pattern formation method using the composition. Specifically disclosed are: a cyclic compound having a specific structure; a process for producing the cyclic compound; a radiation-sensitive composition containing the compound; and a resist pattern formation method using the composition.
US08969625B1
A single step method for producing a redox shuttle having the formula 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-phenylene tetraethyl bis(phosphate) is provided, the method comprising phosphorylating tert butyl hydroquinone with a phosphate-containing reagent. Also provided is method for producing 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-phenylene tetraethyl bis(phosphate), the method comprising solubilizing tert-butyl hydroquinone and tetrabutylammonium bromide with methyltetrahydrofuran to create a mixture; heating the mixture while adding base to the mixture in an amount to turn the mixture orange; and adding diethyl chlorophosphate to the orange mixture in an amount to phosphorylate the hydroquinone.
US08969613B2
A system and method for removing acetaldehyde from an acetic acid system, including providing a solution from the acetic acid system, the stream having methyl iodide and acetaldehyde, and contacting the solution with an ion-exchange resin and/or liquid catalyst.
US08969609B1
Provided is a ruthenium complex that is represented by general formula (1*) and is useful as an asymmetric reduction catalyst. (In the formula, * is an asymmetric carbon atom; R1 is an arenesulfonyl group, and the like; R2 and R3 are a phenyl group, and the like; R10 through R14 are selected from a hydrogen atom, C1-10 alkyl group, and the like, but R10 through R14 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms; X is a halogen atom and the like; j and k are each either 0 or 1; and j+k is 0 or 2.)
US08969598B2
A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction vessel at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst to generate a liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture containing the acid catalyst without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture from the reaction vessel as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds and/or acid catalyst to the reaction vessel. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in high yields. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.
US08969597B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing Nebivolol and, more in particular, to a fractional distillation method of a mixture of stereoisomers of formula intermediates useful in the preparation of nebivolol.
US08969595B2
This invention is directed to a process for preparation of acetal derivatives, 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (DMDBS) and 1,3:2,4-bis(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol (MDBS) by carrying out a dehydrocondensation reaction between an aldehyde and an alditol using an aqueous ionic fluid as the acid catalyst.
US08969593B2
Organic dyes and photoelectric conversion devices are provided. The Organic dye has the structure represented by formula (I), wherein, n is an integral of 2-11; the plurality of X is independent and elected from the group consisting of and combinations thereof; R, R1, and R2 comprise hydrogen, halogen, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group, or R1 is connected to R2 to form a ring having 5-14 members; R3 comprise hydrogen, halogen, nitro group, amino group, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C1-18 sulfanyl group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group; and Z is hydrogen, alkali metal, or quaternary ammonium salt.
US08969585B2
Provided is a process for producing an optically active compound represented by Formula (3): (wherein R1 is an alkyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkenyl group, an aliphatic heterocyclic group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group, and any hydrogen atom of R1 may be replaced with a substituent; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a group which is not reactive in the reaction below; and * represents a chiral center) or a salt thereof by subjecting a compound represented by Formula (1): (wherein R1 and R2 have the same meanings as defined in Formula (3)) to a ring closure reaction in the presence of a chiral ligand having 1 or more coordination sites, a Lewis acid represented by Formula (2): MmZn (2) (wherein M is a metal ion, Z is a counter anion of M, and m and n are integers of 1 to 4), and a sulfonyl halide having an optionally substituted alkyl or phenyl group.
US08969579B2
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel oxadiazole derivative as a substance having high excitation energy, in particular, a substance having high triplet excitation energy. One embodiment of the present invention is an oxadiazole derivative represented by General Formula (G1) below. In General Formula (G1), R1 represents either an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), R21 to R27 separately represent any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), α represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In General Formula (G1), Z represents either a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom.
US08969577B2
The present invention relates to curable compositions comprising a thermolatent amidine base and an organic material which is polymerizable or crosslinkable with a basic or nucleophilic catalyst. In particular, the invention relates to curable coating compositions, especially powder coating compositions, and curable adhesive compositions, as well as to the use a thermolatent amidine base as a curing catalyst for thermally induced base-catalyzed polymerization or crosslinking reactions.
US08969572B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing tetrazole-substituted anthranilamide derivatives of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and Z are each as defined in the description, and to a novel crystal polymorph of these derivatives and to the use thereof in agrochemical formulations.
US08969566B2
The present invention relates to compounds and processes for preparing compounds of Formula (I), including compounds such as trans-7-oxo-6-(sulphooxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3,2,1]octane-2-carboxamide and salts thereof (e.g., NXL-104).
US08969560B2
A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group X1 may be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18° C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Q2 atom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group X2 is defined as X1, X3 or X4 or represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q2. Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.
US08969556B2
A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting at least protein kinase in a cell of a subject includes a purine based triazole.
US08969554B2
Disclosed are compounds exhibiting sufficient herbicidal activity at low application dosage when they are applied to soils and foliage, and an agrochemical composition using the same, in particular herbicides. The compounds are triazine derivatives represented by following Formula 1 or salts thereof, and the herbicides containing them: [Chem. 28] wherein in the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom; a C1-C12 alkyl group; a C2-C6 alkenyl group, etc., R2 represents a C1-C12 alkyl group, etc., Y and Z represent an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and A represents a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group which may contain a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom.
US08969548B2
Amine chelates capable of antioxidant capacity and amyloid disaggregation are shown which may be useful in targeting metal-based oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disorders. Pyclen, a backbone commonly investigated for contrast agent imaging, may be repurposed as an anti-oxidant chelator for disaggregating amyloid. The antioxidant capacity of pyclen was enhanced dramatically via conversion of the pyridine backbone to a pyridol with cellular studies showing superior antioxidant capacity while retaining chelation ability to protect amyloid from metal ions aggregation and also disaggregate amyloid aggregates.
US08969547B2
Method for preparing fluticasone furoate (6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-17α-[(2-furoyl)oxy]-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester) by directly subjecting a compound of Formula III and a complex of a fluoromethylating reagent in presence of an organic base to a replacement reaction to obtain the target compound. Generation of impurities in a process via Compound IV is avoided; the method is simple with mild reaction conditions, suitable for industrial production, and yields products with purity of 98% by HPLC.
US08969542B2
The present invention is directed to HPV polyepitope construct and the use thereof for the prevention and/or treatment of HPV infection.
US08969531B2
The present invention discloses a method for assaying the binding of L104EA29YIg to a receptor. The receptor is preferably CD86 or CD80. The present invention also discloses antibodies to be used in the assay, as well as hybridomas expressing the antibodies.
US08969529B2
The invention is based on the discovery of the epitope in the Stx2 protein for the 11 E1O antibody. The invention features compositions containing non-full length Stx2 polypeptides that include the 11 E1O monoclonal antibody epitope. The invention also features methods of producing anti-Stx2 antibodies specific for the 11 E1O epitope of the Stx2 protein. Additionally, the invention features methods for treating a subject having, or at risk of developing, a Shiga toxin associated disease (e.g., hemolytic uremia syndrome and diseases associated with E. coli and S. dysenteriae infection) with a polypeptide that includes the 11 E1O epitope or with an anti-Stx2 antibody developed using the methods of the invention. Furthermore, the invention features the detection of Stx2 in a sample using the antibodies developed using the methods of the invention.
US08969525B2
Provided is a derivative of 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Also provided is a protein conjugated to the above derivative. Further provided is an antibody composition comprising antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Additionally, a method of making antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Also, a method of assaying for 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Additionally provided is a kit for detecting 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. A method of detecting an enzyme or enzymes utilized in phase II drug metabolism is also provided. Also, a method of detecting an enzyme that synthesizes 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Further provided is a method of evaluating progression of multiple sclerosis in a patient. Also provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for multiple sclerosis in a patient is effective. Further, a method of evaluating progression of Huntington's disease in a patient is provided. Additionally provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for Huntington's disease in a patient is effective.
US08969523B2
An object is to provide a sebum secretion inhibiting composition and a food or drink product using the same. The present inventors have conducted extensive studies and consequently found that the sebum secretion is inhibited by orally ingesting a collagen peptide, which is hydrolyzed collagen, and provide an oral sebum secretion inhibiting composition comprising a collagen hydrolysate and a food or drink product containing the composition.
US08969520B2
To provide a reagent for assaying anti-Treponema pallidum antibody which reagent contains a polypeptide antigen and which reagent provides high assay sensitivity and high specificity, and to provide an assay method employing the assay reagent.The reagent for assaying anti-Treponema pallidum antibody, for use in an assay of anti-Treponema pallidum antibody on the basis of antigen-antibody reaction is characterized in that the reagent contains, as an antigen, a recombinant polypeptide containing at least domain C and domain D of Treponema pallidum 47 kDa antigen but containing no domain A1 of the 47 kDa antigen.
US08969516B2
This invention relates to a method of hydrolysis of the peptide bond between R1 and B in a specific designed amino acid sequence R1BXJZR3R2, where R1 represents a polypeptide of interest, R2 represents a sequence capable of specific binding to another component or molecule or another domain which needs to be cleaved, R3 represents an optional short peptide sequence, B represents a residue capable of accepting an acyl group, J represents a residue capable of metal ion binding, and X and Z represent amino acid residues, wherein the said method is based on a novel molecular mechanism of peptide bond hydrolysis, occurring in a specific complex of this metal ion with the BXJZ sequence. This method can be used to remove BXJZR3R2 domains in recombinant polypeptides, such as sequences capable of specific binding to another component or molecule to yield pure, unmodified R1 polypeptides of interest. The intermediate hydrolysis product can be reacted with other compounds to obtain derivatives of polypeptides of interest modified covalently at the C-terminus.
US08969515B2
The proposed pharmaceutical compositions and methods connected thereto relate to the field of biotechnology and medicine, in particular to pharmaceutical compositions having an antiproliferative activity, and to a method of treating oncologic diseases, which includes introducing the aforementioned chimerical peptide into a mammal requiring such treatment. The object of the proposed compositions and methods is the development of a preparation that effectively penetrates the target cells and has a high cytostatic and cytotoxic action.
US08969514B2
This invention also provides a method to prevent, control, and treat a lipid metabolism disorder, a billary disorder, cardiovascular disease, obesity or an endocrine disorder by administering at least one agonist of guanalyte cyclase receptor either alone or in combination with a compound typically used to treat the disorder and or with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodieasterases.
US08969500B2
The present disclosure describes fluoropolymers having long chain branches and methods of making these fluoropolymers. These fluoropolymers may have improved melt processing properties. Shaped articles containing these fluoropolymers are also provided.
US08969499B2
A method for producing polymer particles includes a preparation step for preparing a first oily liquid containing an oily olefin monomer, a radical polymerization initiator, and an iodine molecule; a synthesis step for obtaining a second oily liquid containing at least an iodine compound produced by a reaction between a radical generated by cleavage of the radical polymerization initiator and the iodine molecule in the first oily liquid; a suspension step for obtaining an oil droplet of the second oily liquid by suspending the second oily liquid in an aqueous solution containing an oxidizing agent, an acid, and a dispersant; and a polymerization step for polymerizing the oily olefin monomer in the oil droplet.
US08969495B2
The present invention relates to compositions and processes of making ethylene/α-olefins. More particularly, the invention relates to processes of producing ethylene/α-olefin compositions having a controlled molecular weight distribution. The molecular weight distribution is controlled, for example, by controlling the relative monomer concentrations during contact with a pre-catalyst and/or using a catalyst comprising a catalytic amount of a molecule having the structure: wherein M=group 2-8 metal, preferably group 4 as a neutral or charged moiety; Y=any substituent including fused rings; L=any ligating group, especially a pyridyl or pyridylamide; X=alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, H or hydride, halide, or other anionic moiety; y=an integer from 0 to the complete valence of M; R=alkyl, aryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl, hydrogen, etc; x=1-6, especially 2; Dashed line=optional bond, especially a weak bond; and X and (CR2)x may be tethered or part of a ring.
US08969493B2
The present invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for continuous living polymerization of cationically polymerizable monomers, in which at least three feedstocks are mixed in one or more mixers with microstructures and then polymerized in at least one reaction zone.
US08969487B2
A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes. In particular, the coating shows no oil on the coating surface after curing.
US08969485B2
The present disclosure relates to coated biodegradable materials having a reduced amount of residual catalysts and methods thereof.
US08969484B2
Provided herein are methods for the preparation of mono- and multi-functional telechelic polyolefins via polymerization reaction with a terpene-based initiator.
US08969481B2
Thermoplastic elastomer compositions and methods for making same. The elastomer composition can include at least one partially cured rubber component that is an ethylene-alpha-olefin-vinyl norbornene elastomeric polymer, and at least one thermoplastic component. The rubber component is at least partially cured using a peroxide curative in an amount effective to yield a cure level of the rubber component of at least 85%. The rubber component has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) less than 6, and a branching index greater than 0.60.
US08969479B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a dispersion-based or hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesive based on at least one polymer, which involves crosslinking the at least one polymer, the polymer having functional groups Y, the polymer additionally being admixed with at least one kind of functionalized particles which have at least one polymeric base unit, characterized in that the particles have a monomer as base unit, the monomer having at least one kind of functional groups Z which are not able to enter into any reaction with the functional group Y and which, by thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy, are converted into the group X, the crosslinking of the polymer being brought about at least in part by a reaction of the functional groups X of the particles and of the functional groups Y of the polymer, and additionally to pressure-sensitive adhesives based on at least one crosslinked polymer component, wherein the crosslinking of the polymer component is brought about at least partly through incorporation of functionalized particles, the particles having at least one polymeric base unit and also a monomer with one kind of functional groups Z, these groups Z, following conversion into the groups X by means of thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy, being capable of reacting with functional groups Y that are present in the polymer component, and also to the use of surface-modified functionalized particles having a polymeric base unit as crosslinking reagents for the crosslinking of polymers for preparing pressure-sensitive adhesives.
US08969475B2
Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have superior gas barrier properties, but are inferior in bending fatigue resistance. The present invention improves bending fatigue resistance without reducing the gas barrier property and heat resistance. An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 50 percent by mole is modified by incorporating 0.01 to 1% mol of a structural unit expressed by the following formula (3): wherein, n indicates an integer of 2 to 5, m indicates an integer of 10 to 20, and R1 indicates a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group provided that R1 may contain a mercapto group, thioester group, sulfenamide, vinyl group, methacryloxy group, or acryloxy group. The modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer may be used as a gas barrier resin and this gas barrier resin may be shaped or laminated and used in various applications such as in pneumatic tires and hoses.
US08969469B2
Described herein is a method of coagulating a fluoropolymer latex comprising: providing an amorphous fluoropolymer latex; providing unmodified inorganic nanoparticles; contacting the amorphous fluoropolymer latex with a sufficient amount of unmodified inorganic nanoparticles to coagulate the amorphous fluoropolymer.
US08969467B2
The present invention relates to innovative materials which can be crosslinked by means of two different crosslinking mechanisms, the first crosslinking mechanism being an irreversible crosslinking. The second crosslinking mechanism is a thermoreversible mechanism.As a result of this thermoreversible change in the arc length, properties of the crosslinked material can be decisively changed and controlled, including flexibility, elasticity and other mechanical properties, but also chemical properties, the gas permeability and vapor permeability and storage capacity of the network. In this way it would be possible, for example, to store energy sources such as fuels.
US08969456B2
A method of making a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive. The method includes extruding a melt composition that includes a polymer, wherein the polymer has acidic groups covalently attached thereto, and a metal salt hydrate, wherein the metal salt hydrate has a melting point that is less than the maximum processing temperature.
US08969451B2
A method of producing a base compound for a liquid fluoroelastomer which is unaffected by the storage state of the added silica powder, and yields minimal fluctuation in the viscosity between production lots. Specifically, a method of producing a base compound for a liquid fluoroelastomer containing: (A) a linear fluoropolyether compound having at least two alkenyl groups within each molecule and having a perfluoroalkyl ether structure within the main chain, and (B) a hydrophobic silica powder, the method including: (1) heating the component (A) under normal pressure at a temperature of 50 to 100 ° C., (2) adding 20 to 60 parts by mass of the component (B) to 100 parts by mass of the component (A) that has been heated in step (1) while performing kneading to obtain a kneaded product, and (3) kneading the kneaded product obtained in step (2) at a temperature exceeding 100° C., either under conditions of heat and reduced pressure or under conditions of heat and pressure.
US08969435B2
The present invention relates to a method for enhancement of the minimal shear molding process utilizing pellets and/or micropellets produced through controlled extrusional and pelletization processes in combination with nonpowder melt flow rheology that incorporates reduced molding temperature and/or reduced cure time, reduced rotation axis ratios and/or reduced rotation rates. Molding can be uniaxial, biaxial, or multiaxial rotational or oscillatory or both. The molded items produced can be single or multiple layers and can be produced in one or more molding sequences using similar or different chemical compositions.
US08969433B2
This disclosure relates to thermoplastic compositions, in particular polycarbonate thermoplastic compositions containing a surface-treated talc, methods for the manufacture of such compositions, and articles formed from the compositions.
US08969429B2
Disclosed are low-tack, hydrophobic, high refractive index, acrylic materials. These materials, especially useful as intraocular lens materials, contain one or more aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers as principal device-forming monomers, a tack-reducing block copolymer additive and a glistening-reducing additive. In addition to their use as intraocular lens materials, the present materials are also suitable for use in other implantable ophthalmic devices.
US08969427B2
The present invention aims to provide a surface modification method for a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, which can impart excellent sliding properties and excellent durability against repeated sliding motion and can allow the surface to maintain the sealing properties, without using expensive self-lubricating plastics. The present invention relates to a surface modification method for modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer as an object to be modified, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on the object to be modified; step 2 of radically polymerizing a monomer, starting from the polymerization initiation points, by irradiation with LED light at 300 nm to 400 nm to grow polymer chains on a surface of the object to be modified; and step 3 of esterifying, transesterifying or amidating side chains of the polymer chains.
US08969419B2
This invention relates to animal feed compositions. The invention also provides comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of increasing and optimizing feed in animals.
US08969418B2
A cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation comprising licochalcone A and phenoxyethanol. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08969417B2
Pharmaceutical compositions are provided for treatment of Parkinson's disease comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a fixed dose combination of two active agents selected from compounds having either neuroprotective or symptomatic effects, or both, in Parkinson's disease patients, wherein the molar ratio of the two compounds is in the range of 1:1 to 1:100. The compositions are formulated for immediate release, controlled release, or both immediate and controlled release.
US08969415B2
Biodegradable implants sized and suitable for implantation in an ocular region or site and methods for treating ocular conditions. The implants provide an extended release of an active agent at a therapeutically effective amount for a period of time between 10 days and one year or longer.
US08969405B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having anticancer activity; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating disorders associated with uncontrolled cellular proliferation using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended to be used as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08969401B2
Compounds of a certain formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective HDAC inhibitors.
US08969396B2
The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsp90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for treating Bcr-Abl, FLT-3, EGFR, c-Kit, B-raf, and NPM-ALK associated cancers, in a subject in need thereof.
US08969391B2
The invention relates to the use of quaternary pyridinium salts of formula (I), wherein R is NH2, CH3, or N(H)CH2OH group, and X is pharmaceutically acceptable counterion, for the preparation of vasoprotective agent for the treatment or prevention of conditions or diseases associated with dysfunction of vascular endothelium, oxidative stress, and/or insufficient production of endothelial prostacyclin PGI2, in particular but not exclusively if the above coincides with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL level.
US08969387B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula: wherein A is pyridyl group having at least one substituent wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by halogen, R4 and R6 are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen, R5 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by halogen, and R7 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by halogen or a salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition containing the same.
US08969386B2
Compounds of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating CFTR mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US08969384B2
The present invention relates to flavanoid compounds of general formula (X1) wherein: R1 is selected from a group consisting of morpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylamino groups, and n ranges from 3 to 6, and process for preparation thereof. The present invention relates to the demonstration of anti Helicobacter pylori activity and gastric antisecretory activity of semisynthetically designed flavonoid compounds, to be used for the prevention and treatment of gastroduodenal disorders in general and peptic ulcer diseases in particular. The present invention also relates to a hetero-dimeric bi-functional molecule that can be used as monotherapy substituting/replacing/overcoming currently used triple/quadruple therapy, thereby implicating/anticipating/envisaging its commercial applicability.
US08969382B2
The present invention relates to modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”), compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using modulators of CFTR.
US08969379B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising: an active ingredient consisting of 4-(3-chloro-4-(cyclopropylaminocarbonyl)aminophenoxy)-7-methoxy-6-quinolinecarboxamide, salt thereof, or solvate of the foregoing; and (i) a compound, a 5% (w/w) aqueous solution or suspension of which has a pH of 8 or more, and/or (ii) silicic acid, salt thereof, or solvate of the foregoing is a highly stable pharmaceutical composition, wherein under humidified and heated storage conditions, the decomposition of said compound is sufficiently reduced, or the gelation on the surface of the pharmaceutical composition is sufficiently inhibited.
US08969378B2
The present invention is to provide an inhibitor that inhibits differentiation of T cells into Th1 cells.The inhibitor that inhibits differentiation of T cells into Th1 cells contains, as an active ingredient, pitavastatin or a salt thereof.
US08969374B2
Provided herein are novel iso-ergoline derivatives and compositions thereof. In other embodiments, provided herein are methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a variety of medical disorders such as, for example, migraine using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of agonizing receptors such as, for example, the 5-HT1D and/or the 5-HT1B receptor, without agonizing the 5-HT2B receptor using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of antagonizing or inhibiting activity at receptors such as, for example, the adrenergic alpha2A and/or the alpha2B receptors using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein.
US08969369B2
Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US08969363B2
Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that modulate kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, and compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, are described herein.
US08969348B2
Disclosed are small molecule inhibitors which are useful in treating various diseases and conditions involving chymase. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using and making the same.
US08969346B2
Provided are compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, X and m are as defined herein. Also provided is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.Also provided are methods of using a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08969339B2
The present disclosure is directed to methods of identifying a compound that binds to or interacts with a protein receptor involved in bone formation. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to methods of identifying a compound that regulates a Wnt pathway in a cell by binding to or interacting with cavities in proteins such as LRP5, LRP 6 and/or frizzled receptor and interfering with receptor binding to other proteins in a Wnt pathway. The present disclosure is further directed to methods and compositions that comprise an identified compound for treating or preventing a disease in a mammal in which Wnt pathway suppression plays a role.
US08969332B2
The present invention discloses an aryloxy dihalopropenyl ether compound with the structure shown as general formula (I), of which the group definitions can be seen in the specification. The present invention also discloses the use of the compound with general formula (I) as an insecticide in the agricultural field and an insecticidal composition using the compound with general formula (I) as an active component.
US08969330B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R is ethyl, propyl or allyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or amino acid conjugates thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as FXR agonists.
US08969328B2
The invention relates to 17-hydroxy-17-pentafluoroethyl-estra-4,9(10)-dien-11-aryl derivatives of formula I with progesterone-antagonizing action and methods of production thereof, use thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and use thereof for producing medicinal products for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, in particular uterine fibroids (myomata, uterine leiomyomata), endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, meningiomata, hormone-dependent breast cancers and menopause-associated complaints or for fertility control and emergency contraception.
US08969327B2
The disclosure relates to novel C4 and C6 substituted androst-4-ene diones as well as andros-1,4-diene diones and derivatives thereof, their process of preparation, pharmaceutical compounds containing them, and the use of said compounds for the treatment of hormone-related disorders in mammals. This includes hormone-dependent cancers, particularly those caused by elevated levels of estrogen and its intermediates. These compounds can also be used in the treatment of other hormone-related disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
US08969324B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 11-deoxy-prostaglandin compound represented by formula (I): and a fatty acid ester. By mixing the compound of formula (I) and a fatty acid ester, the compound of formula (I) will be stabilized.
US08969321B2
The present invention provides a method for using processed cellulose. Preferably, the processed cellulose is a highly refined cellulose (HRC). The HRC is useful in a number of medical and nutritional applications. These medical and nutritional applications can include, but are not limited to, administering effective amounts of the HRC for lowering values of risk factor measurements for such diseases as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Treatment of other diseases and conditions with the HRC is also possible.
US08969319B2
An agent for applying to mucosa capable of persistently exerting a therapeutic effect on disorders such as inflammation and lesions in the mucosa even by a lower frequency of administration because the agent can stay at a diseased site for a long period of time by exhibiting a high staying property in a mucosal epithelial layer is provided, said agent for application to mucosa containing glycosaminoglycan (GAG) into which a hydrophobic group is introduced via a binding chain, as an active ingredient.
US08969318B2
Disclosed are bispecific aptamers binding with high specifity to a tumour specific antigen (TSA) and a effector cell specific antigen (ESA) for treatment of cancer.
US08969315B2
Provided herein are methods of producing enhanced placental stem cells by modulatory RNA molecules. Also provided herein are methods of using enhanced placental stem cells, for example, to treat individuals having a disease, disorder or condition caused by, or relating to, an unwanted or harmful immune response. Further provided herein are compositions comprising said enhanced placental stem cells.
US08969307B2
A composition comprising from about 0.001% to about 0.4% cyclosporin A, a surfactant, and an oil having a specific gravity from 0.8 to 0.95 is disclosed herein.
US08969302B2
A method of alleviating a symptom of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in a human patient suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or a patient who has experienced a first clinical episode and is determined to be at high risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis comprising administering to the human patient three subcutaneous injections of a therapeutically effective dose of glatiramer acetate over a period of seven days with at least one day between every subcutaneous injection so as to thereby alleviate the symptom of the patient.
US08969299B2
Methods for modulating serum phosphorus levels are described, wherein calcimimetic agents are administered to a subject in need thereof. In one embodiment, the compound is cinacalcet, and in other embodiments the compound is comprised of a contiguous sequence of subunits, X1—X2—X3—X4—X5—X6—X7, wherein the X1 subunit comprises a thiol-containing moiety and the distribution of charge on the X2-X7 subunits. The compound, when administered at selected times to a patient undergoing dialysis, lowers serum phosphorus levels, relative to pre-dosing levels, and achieves a sustained reduced level for a period of time after administration.
US08969297B2
Provided herein are methods for the induction of hypothermia and the treatment of clinical insults in a subject through the administration of a regulated hypothermic multidrug combination. The compositions or multidrug combinations of the invention comprise a regulated hypothermic compound or a dopamine receptor agonist; a vasoactive compound; and an antiarrhythmic compound or a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Additional agents can be included in the composition including at least one of an antioxidant, a vitamin, N-acetylcysteine, and an antihyperglycemic compound. The invention further recognizes that a two phase delivery of multidrug combinations, a rapid infusion of the composition to induce hypothermia followed by a period of slow infusion to maintain the hypothermic state for a sustained period of time. Using the two phase delivery method of the invention, the composition may comprise ethanol and, optionally, at least one of a vasoactive compound, an antiarrhythmic compound, a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, an antioxidant, a vitamin, N-acetylcysteine, and an antihyperglycemic compound. This two phase delivery method can be used to deliver any of the compositions of the invention and provides significant benefits to a patient.
US08969295B2
The present invention provides methods for identifying genes and pathways involved in plasticity. The invention applies some of these methods to identify genes that are differentially regulated in at least a portion of the nervous system of an individual subjected to conditions known to result in altered nervous system plasticity, i.e., dark rearing (DR) or monocular deprivation (MD). The genes are targets for pharmacological agents that modify plasticity. The invention also identifies biological pathways that are enriched in genes that are differentially regulated under conditions known to result in altered nervous system plasticity. The present invention further provides methods and compositions for modifying plasticity in the nervous system of a subject. The invention includes a method for modifying plasticity in the nervous system of a subject comprising administering a plasticity-modifying agent to the subject, wherein the plasticity-enhancing agent modulates a gene or pathway that is differentially regulated in developmental conditions that alter nervous system plasticity (e.g., DR or MD). The methods and compositions may be administered to a subject suffering from damage to the nervous system or from a neuropsychiatric disorder in order to enhance recovery, reorganization, or function of the nervous system. The methods optionally include administering a proteolysis-enhancing agent to the subject.
US08969291B2
The present invention is directed to methods for modulating the Th1 /Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells in a subject comprising decreasing the amount, the expression, or the activity of leptin in a subject sufficient to modulate the Th1 /Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells. The invention is also directed to methods of treatment of an immune-related disorder in a subject comprising decreasing the amount, the expression, or the activity of leptin in the subject sufficient to treat the immune-related disorder.
US08969289B2
The present invention relates to an antibody-like protein based on the tenth fibronectin type III domain (10Fn3) that binds to serum albumin. The invention further relates to fusion molecules comprising a serum albumin-binding 10Fn3 joined to a heterologous protein for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US08969287B2
Disclosed here is a method for measuring the kinetics (i.e., the molecular flux rates-synthesis and breakdown or removal rates) of a plurality of proteins or organic metabolites in living systems. The methods may be accomplished in a high-throughput, large-scale automated manner, by using existing mass spectrometric profiling techniques and art well known in the fields of static proteomics and static organeomics, without the need for additional biochemical preparative steps or analytic/instrumental devices.
US08969281B2
According to the present invention there is provided a pearlescent liquid treatment composition suitable for use as a laundry or hard surface cleaning composition comprising a rheology modifier providing a pouring viscosity at 20 sec−1 of from 50 to 700 cps, a viscosity at constant low stress of 0.1 Pa which is at least 300 cps, preferably 500 cps and a pearlescent agent, said pearlescent agent having D0.99 volume particle size of less than 60 μm.
US08969280B2
The present invention is directed to visually contrasting aesthetic particles having increased water solubility, particularly useful for combination with granular laundry detergent composition.
US08969263B2
A treatment fluid comprises: water; a carboxylate; and a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises silicone, an ether monomer residue, and an amine functional group; wherein a test fluid consisting essentially of the water, the carboxylate, and the corrosion inhibitor, and in the same proportions as in the treatment fluid, is capable of providing a corrosion weight loss to a metal plate of less than 0.05 pounds per square feet (lb/ft2) under testing conditions of 200° F. (93.3° C.), a pressure of 500 psi (3.4 MPa), and a time of 24 hours whereas a substantially identical test fluid without the corrosion inhibitor provides a corrosion weight loss of greater than 0.05 lb/ft2 under the testing conditions. A method of treating a portion of a well comprises: forming the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well.
US08969260B2
The present invention relates to glycerol based drilling fluids. In particular, the invention relates to drilling fluids comprising a 95-20 volume % glycerol/water solution capable of stabilizing water-sensitive formations during drilling and the use of such solutions for drilling a well having water-sensitive formations.
US08969259B2
A method is provided involving altering the viscosity of bio-derived paraffins to produce a paraffinic fluid, where the altering step includes oligomerizing bio-derived paraffins, unsaturating bio-derived paraffins, chlorinating bio-derived paraffins, or a combination of any two or more thereof; the bio-derived paraffins are produced by hydrodeoxygenating a bio-based feed; the bio-based feed comprises bio-derived fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or a combination thereof; the bio-derived paraffins comprise n-paraffins; and the n-paraffins have a biodegradability of at least 40% after about 23 days of exposure to microorganisms. Also provided are methods of protecting a substance by applying a paraffinic fluid and a method of producing an orifice in a substrate by at least injecting a paraffinic fluid into the substrate.
US08969257B1
A reactor assembly having a plurality of reaction chambers defined therein is provided. The reactor assembly includes a fluid flow module that provides a pressurized control flow of fluid from an open container. In another embodiment, the reactor block includes a plurality of passageways defined over a surface of a substrate to accommodate the combinatorial processing in order to obtain multiple data points from a single substrate.
US08969255B2
The invention provides arrays of compound for use in profiling samples. The arrays include compounds bind to components of the samples at relatively low affinities. The avidity of compounds binding to components of the samples can be increased by forming arrays such that multivalent components of the samples (e.g., antibodies or cells) can bind to more than one molecule of a compound at the same time. When a sample is applied to an array under such conditions, the compounds of the array bind to component(s) of the sample with significantly different avidities generating a profile characteristic of the sample.
US08969254B2
Oligonucleotide-based microarrays for tissue typing (e.g., HLA tissue typing) are provided. More particularly, the microarrays are high resolution arrays useful for diagnostic evaluations and determining donor/recipient transplant compatibility.
US08969253B2
The present invention relates to a method for screening phage display libraries against each other. In particular, the invention relates to a method for screening at least two phage display libraries against each other to identify and/or select one or more interacting binding partners or binding molecules making up such interacting binding partners. Kits providing two bispecific phage display libraries are also provided.
US08969252B2
The present invention includes methods for producing magnetic nanocrystals by using a biological molecule that has been modified to possess an amino acid oligomer that is capable of specific binding to a magnetic material.
US08969247B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling aquatic weeds by applying a herbicidally effective amount of at least one inhibitor of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) or an agriculturally acceptable salt, ester or amide thereof to aquatic weeds and/or their aqueous habitat containing seeds or other propagating organs of said aquatic weeds.
US08969245B2
A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.
US08969244B2
A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.
US08969243B2
Hybrid topcoat formulations comprising a water soluble polymer and a water dispersible polymer provide improved adhesion to underlying surfaces. Paper products coated with these formulations, such as thermal paper, achieve high stain resistance and improved adhesion of UV cured silicone release layers.
US08969237B2
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods of forming coated substrates for use in catalytic converters, as well as washcoat compositions and methods suitable for using in preparation of the coated substrates, and the coated substrates formed thereby. The catalytic material is prepared by a plasma-based method, yielding catalytic material with a lower tendency to migrate on support at high temperatures, and thus less prone to catalyst aging after prolonged use. Also disclosed are catalytic converters using the coated substrates, which have favorable properties as compared to catalytic converters using catalysts deposited on substrates using solution chemistry. Also disclosed are exhaust treatment systems, and vehicles, such as diesel vehicles, particularly light-duty diesel vehicles, using catalytic converters and exhaust treatment systems using the coated substrates.
US08969234B2
A method of preparing a fuel cell electrode catalyst by preparing a platinum-carbon core-shell composite, which has a platinum nanoparticle core and a graphene carbon shell, using a simultaneous evaporation process, a method for preparing a fuel cell electrode comprising the catalyst prepared thereby, and a fuel cell comprising the same. A fuel cell comprising an electrode catalyst consisting of the core-shell composite prepared by simultaneously evaporating the platinum precursor and the organic precursor can have high performance and high durability, because the platinum particles are not agglomerated or detached and corroded even under severe conditions, including high-temperature, long use term, acidic and alkaline conditions.
US08969232B2
This invention is for a catalyst for conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst contains a zeolite with one element from Group 13, Group 14, or the first series transition metals and, optionally, germanium and/or aluminum in the zeolite framework. At least one Group 10 metal, such as platinum, is deposited on the zeolite. Examples of the elements in the framework are tin, boron, iron or titanium. The catalyst is prepared by synthesizing a zeolite with one element from Group 13, Group 14, or the first series transition metals and, optionally, germanium and/or aluminum in the zeolite framework; depositing the metal; and calcining after preparation of the zeolite and before or after depositing the metal. The catalyst may be used in a process for the conversion of hydrocarbons, such as propane to aromatics, by contacting the catalyst with alkanes having 2 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule and recovering the product.
US08969231B2
A method of producing an alumina-supported cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, which comprises: calcining an initial γ-alumina support material at a temperature to produce a modified alumina support material; impregnating the modified alumina support material with a source of cobalt; calcining the impregnated support material, activating the catalyst with a reducing gas, steam treating the activated catalyst, and activating the steam treated catalyst with a reducing gas.
US08969227B2
Sintered bodies containing zirconia-based ceramic materials and partially sintered bodies that are intermediates in the preparation of the sintered bodies are described. The zirconia-based ceramic material is doped with lanthanum and yttrium. The grain size of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be controlled by the addition of lanthanum. The crystalline phase of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be influenced by the addition of yttrium.
US08969224B2
A sea-island composite fiber has an island component which is ultrafine fibers having a noncircular cross-section, the ultrafine fibers being uniform in the degree of non-circularity and in the diameter of the circumscribed circle. The sea-island composite fiber includes an easily soluble polymer as the sea component and a sparingly soluble polymer as the island component, and the island component has a circumscribed-circle diameter of 10-1,000 nm, a dispersion in circumscribed-circle diameter of 1-20%, a degree of non-circularity of 1.2-5.0, and a dispersion in the degree of non-circularity of 1-10%.
US08969223B2
A three dimensional woven preform, a fiber reinforced composite incorporating the preform, and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The woven preform includes one or more layers of a warp steered fabric. A portion of the warp steered fabric is compressed into a mold to form an upstanding leg. The preform includes the upstanding leg and a joggle in a body portion. The body portion and upstanding leg are integrally woven so there is continuous fiber across the preform. A portion of the warp steered fabric includes stretch broken carbon fibers in the warp direction, and another portion includes conventional carbon fibers. The warp steered fabric can be woven on a loom equipped with a differential take-up mechanism. The warp steered fabric can be a single or multilayer fabric. The preform or the composite can be a portion of an aircraft window frame.
US08969222B2
A coated fabric includes a reinforcement, a first coating disposed on the reinforcement, and a second coating disposed on the first coating. The first coating includes perfluoropolymer. The second coating includes perfluoropolymer and a silicone polymer in an amount in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt %.
US08969212B2
A method of etching exposed patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a reactive precursor. The plasma power is pulsed rather than left on continuously. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents selectively remove one material faster than another. The etch selectivity results from the pulsing of the plasma power to the remote plasma region, which has been found to suppress the number of ionically-charged species that reach the substrate. The etch selectivity may also result from the presence of an ion suppression element positioned between a portion of the remote plasma and the substrate processing region.
US08969211B2
The present invention provides a plasma processing method that uses a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma processing chamber in which a sample is plasma processed, a first radio-frequency power supply that supplies a first radio-frequency power for generating plasma, and a second radio-frequency power supply that supplies a second radio-frequency power to a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, wherein the plasma processing method includes the steps of modulating the first radio-frequency power by a first pulse; and controlling a plasma dissociation state to create a desired dissociation state by gradually controlling a duty ratio of the first pulse as a plasma processing time elapses.
US08969207B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a patterned hard mask layer comprised of a plurality of discrete openings above a structure, wherein the patterned hard mask layer is comprised of a plurality of intersecting line-type features, forming a patterned etch mask above the patterned hard mask layer that exposes at least one, but not all, of the plurality of discrete openings, and performing at least one etching process through the patterned etch mask and the at least one exposed opening in the patterned hard mask layer to define an opening in the structure.
US08969176B2
A package for a plurality of semiconductor devices having: an electrical interconnect structure, comprising: an electrical interconnect structure; and an active device structure, comprising the plurality of semiconductor devices on an active device substrate. The electrical interconnect structure is bonded to the active device structure and the electrical interconnect structure provides electrical interconnection among the semiconductor devices.
US08969174B2
A spalling method is provided that includes depositing a stressor layer on surface of a base substrate, and contacting the stressor layer with a planar transfer. The planar transfer surface is then traversed along a plane that is parallel to and having a vertical offset from the upper surface of the base substrate. The planar transfer surface is traversed in a direction from a first edge of the base substrate to an opposing second edge of the base substrate to cleave the base substrate and transfer a spalled portion of the base substrate to the planar transfer surface. The vertical offset between the plane along which the planar transfer surface is traversed and the upper surface of the base substrate is a fixed distance. The fixed distance of the vertical offset provides a uniform spalling force. A spalling method is also provided that includes a transfer roller.
US08969173B2
A method of fabricating an electronic component includes: mounting a device chip on an upper surface of an insulative substrate; forming a sealing portion that seals the device chip; cutting the insulative substrate and the sealing portion; and forming a plated layer covering the sealing portion by barrel plating.
US08969170B2
A method comprises forming a first layer of an electrically insulating material over a semiconductor structure. A recess is formed in the first layer of electrically insulating material. A capacitor layer stack is deposited over the first layer of electrically insulating material. The capacitor layer stack includes one or more bottom electrode layers, a dielectric layer and a top electrode layer, wherein a first portion of the capacitor layer stack is arranged in the recess and a second portion of the capacitor layer stack is arranged over a portion of the first layer of electrically insulating material adjacent the recess. A chemical mechanical polishing process is performed. The chemical mechanical polishing process removes the second portion of the capacitor layer stack, wherein the first portion of the capacitor layer stack is not removed.
US08969162B2
Provided is a three-dimensional semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same. The device includes a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure stacked sequentially on a substrate. The first and second electrode structures include stacked first electrodes and stacked second electrodes, respectively. Each of the first and second electrodes includes a horizontal portion parallel with the substrate and an extension portion extending from the horizontal portion along a direction penetrating an upper surface of the substrate. Here, the substrate may be closer to top surfaces of the extension portions of the first electrodes than to the horizontal portion of at least one of the second electrodes.
US08969154B2
A semiconductor device structure is disclosed. The semiconductor device structure includes a mesa extending above a substrate. The mesa has a channel region between a first side and second side of the mesa. A first gate is on a first side of the mesa, the first gate comprising a first gate insulator and a first gate conductor comprising graphene overlying the first gate insulator. The gate conductor may comprise graphene in one or more monolayers. Also disclosed are a method for fabricating the semiconductor device structure; an array of vertical transistor devices, including semiconductor devices having the structure disclosed; and a method for fabricating the array of vertical transistor devices.
US08969151B2
An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including a first region and a second region; forming a first device over the first region and a resistance device over the second region; forming a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; and annealing the integrated circuit system to remove dopant from the resistance device.
US08969141B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a programmable poly fuse includes a P type resistive poly segment forming a P-N junction with an adjacent N type resistive poly segment. The programmable poly fuse further includes a P side silicided poly line contiguous with the P type resistive poly segment and coupled to a P side terminal of the poly fuse. The programmable poly fuse further includes an N side silicided poly line contiguous with the N type resistive poly segment and coupled to an N side terminal of the poly fuse. During a normal operating mode, a voltage less than or equal to approximately 2.5 volts is applied to the N side terminal of the programmable poly fuse. A voltage higher than approximately 3.5 volts is required at the N side terminal of the poly fuse to break down the P-N junction.
US08969140B2
A reconstituted wafer includes a rigid mass with a flat surface and a base surface disposed parallel planar to the flat surface. A plurality of dice are embedded in the rigid mass. The plurality of dice include terminals that are exposed through coplanar with the flat surface. A process of forming the reconstituted wafer includes removing some of the rigid mass to expose the terminals, while retaining the plurality of dice in the rigid mass. A process of forming an apparatus includes separating one apparatus from the reconstituted wafer.
US08969134B2
A tape capable of laser ablation may be used in the formation of microelectronic interconnects, wherein the tape may be attached to bond pads on a microelectronic device and vias may be formed by laser ablation through the tape to expose at least a portion of corresponding bond pads. The microelectronic interconnects may be formed on the bond pads within the vias, such as by solder paste printing and solder reflow. The laser ablation tape can be removed after the formation of the microelectronic interconnects.
US08969123B2
In an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell, a photosensitization dye solution makes contact with an electrode material layer that functions as a working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell so that the photosensitizing dye is adsorbed on the layer. Such an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell has a substrate housing section to house a substrate with the electrode material layer formed on its surface, and a circulation mechanism to circulate the photosensitization dye solution in such a way that the solution passes a surface of the substrate housed in the substrate housing section. In such an apparatus, a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in a portion facing the substrate in the substrate housing section is set smaller than a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in other portions.
US08969115B2
A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted carbon-containing material is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of a carbon-containing material and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of carbon-containing material to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of carbon-containing material and no work function modifying material.
US08969098B2
Disclosed are methods and systems adapted to provide mixing of a liquid reagent in an automated clinical analyzer. The methods include aspirating an air separator (e.g., an air slug) into the interior of a probe. A relatively small volume of reagent liquid is also aspirated into the probe adjacent to the air separator; the volume of liquid reagent being entirely contained within the probe. The volume of liquid reagent may be repeatedly aspirated and dispensed at a relatively high frequency to accomplish reagent mixing in the reagent container. Improved sample and reagent mixing may be promoted using a similar method. Systems carrying out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.
US08969097B2
Disclosed are devices, arrangements and methods for quantifying the concentration of an analyte present in bodily fluid, including: an assay pad having at least one chemical reagent capable of producing a detectable signal in the form of a reaction spot upon reaction with the analyte; a light source; a detector array; a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising: (a) at least one value indicative of one or more of: (i) the level of hematocrit contained in the sample; (ii) the volume of the sample applied to the assay pad; or (iii) imperfections present in the reaction spot; and (b) at least one algorithm for calculating the concentration of the analyte contained in the sample.
US08969094B2
The present invention relates to a method for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber and a kit for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber.
US08969086B2
A sample processing system 101 that may be automated and methods are disclosed where sample(s) 198 are arranged on a carrier element 197 and a process operation control system 171 automatically processes the sample(s) perhaps robotically according to an desired aggregation of event dictated by an input 173. Alteration of an initial aggregated event topology may be accepted while the system is processing an initial aggregation and varied-parameter robotic control simulation functionalities 606 may be accomplished to determine an enhanced sequence for processing. Suggested operator actions may be displayed that might further enhance the scheduling of the altered aggregated event topology together with an automatic operator need prompt 608 that may inform an operator of a need for a particular action in order to accomplish the desired tasks. Reversibility to proposed changes may be made available so that an operator may avoid having to activate proposed changes if they cause a processing result that is not acceptable.
US08969083B2
A method that identifies the compounds contributing to a fish-like odor from an air conditioner and artificially reproduces the fish-like odor, and prepares a corresponding fish-like odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the fish-like odor from an air conditioner are identified and quantified. The fish-like odor is reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced fish-like odor provides significant data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odor.
US08969078B2
There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.
US08969070B2
Disclosed herein is a thin-film layered centrifuge device and an analysis method using the same. One example of an embodiment of the present invention is a thin film layered centrifuge device where a device, such as a lab on a chip, a protein chip and a DNA chip, for diagnosing and detecting a small amount of material in a fluid is integrated into a rotatable thin-film layered body, and to an analysis method using the thin-film layered centrifuge device.
US08969064B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein) comprising: (a) providing a host cell comprising a first recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a first chaperone protein, a second recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a second chaperone protein and a third gene, such as a third recombinant gene, encoding a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein), wherein the first and second chaperones are different; and (b) culturing the host cell in a culture medium to obtain expression of the first, second and third genes.
US08969061B2
Compositions, methods and a kit are described relating to a novel family of enzymes which preferentially bind to a hydroxymethylated cytosine or a glucosylated hydroxymethylated cytosine and cleave double-stranded DNA at a defined distance 3′ of the recognition site to produce a cleavage fragment with a 1-3 base overhang.
US08969056B2
The present invention relates to a process for integrated production of ethanol and seaweed biofertilizer from fresh red seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii. Specifically, the present invention describes a process for the production of ethanol, as a byproduct, from Kappaphycus alvarezii. The process includes crushing the fresh weeds to release the sap, a proved biofertilizer, and recovering the residual carrageenan rich biomass, hydrolyzing the biomass using dilute acid at elevated temperature, neutralizing the hydrolysate by using inexpensive calcium hydroxide and removing the insoluble salts through filtration or centrifugation, desalting soluble salts from the hydrolysate by electrodialysis, enriching with nitrogen source, inoculating with yeast and fermenting it to form a fermented broth containing ethanol and separating ethanol from the fermented broth by distillation and using residual hydrolysate, generated CaSO4 and reject obtained from electrodialysis as manure.
US08969055B2
A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.
US08969054B2
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB). Also provided is a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathways, the pathways include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate:CoA transferase, 4-butyrate kinase, phosphotransbutyrylase, α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase or an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Additionally provided are methods for the production of 4-HB and BDO.
US08969053B2
The present invention concerns a method for the production of a biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of the biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the desired biochemical which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a YqhD enzyme which catalytic efficiency toward NADPH is increased.The present invention also relates to a mutant YqhD enzyme comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the YqhD activity of the parent enzyme and the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the mutant YqhD is increased as compared with the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the parent enzyme.
US08969049B2
Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (dgat2) gene are disclosed and have been found to be particularly effective for the expression of heterologous genes in yeast. These promoter regions will be useful for driving high-level expression of genes involved in the production of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
US08969041B2
The present invention refers to: 1) the method for the production of recombinant FVIII in human Sk-Hep-1 cells, comprising von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and 2) the population of human cells transduced with a vector encoding the clotting protein (FVIII). The technical object of the present patent application is intended for the cultivation of human cells in suspension and in adhesion and isolation of the culture medium containing the desired protein. The object of the invention is to provide a safer product (free of potential human viruses), that is cheaper and more stable, by means of a method that provides sufficient amounts and on industrial scale to meet the National demand.
US08969022B2
The invention provides a method and system for developing and using diagnoses of lymphosarcoma in feline subjects using thymidine kinase (TK) and haptoglobin (HP) as biomarkers. The invention provides a method for obtaining the level of each biomarker and computing an index for a feline subject. The invention provides predefined index ranges to which the index value may be matched in order to determine whether the subject has a high probability of being affected by lymphosarcoma, even when the subject shows apparent symptoms that may be common with inflammatory bowel disease.
US08969020B2
An isolated sequence SGSSEEKQNAVSSEET (OPNcPEP) SEQ ID NO: 8, and uses thereof. The peptide enhanced soft agar clone formation but did not support the growth of cells in plastic dishes, consistent with supporting anchorage-independence rather than growth. This sequence represented and is unique for a domain around the splice junction of OPN variant -c (OPN-c). OPN-c was expressed in a variety of tumor cell lines, but not in normal tissues (e.g., non-cancerous tissue) or in benign tumors. OPN-c antibody may be administered to a patient with a cancer associated with OPN-c expression to prevent the formation and growth of metastases. OPN-c may be used as a diagnostic to determine whether a patient has a malignant, rather than a benign, growth. OPN-c may be used to detect or identify agents that inhibit or mimic OPN-c expression or activity.
US08969007B2
A microchamber electrochemical cell and method of using the cell for performing quantitative analysis of various charged macromolecules is presented. The microchamber electrochemical cell includes a substrate, opposing electrodes and at least one nanoslot. The substrate is configured to define a pair of opposing fluid reservoirs. The pair of opposing electrodes are respectively positioned within the opposing fluid reservoirs. Each nanoslot is configured to fluidly connect the opposing fluid reservoirs together. The opposing fluid reservoirs of the microchamber electrochemical cell are fluidly connected to each other only through each nanoslot. Each nanoslot is physically restricted to less than 500 nanometers. One method includes the steps of coupling, filling, measuring, obtaining, performing and preparing.
US08969004B2
The present invention provides methods for determining the presence of immobilized nucleic acid employing unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that are derivatives of thiazole orange, a staining solution and select fluorogenic compounds that are characterized as being essentially non-genotoxic. The methods comprise immobilizing nucleic acid, single or double stranded DNA, RNA or a combination thereof, on a solid or semi solid support, contacting the immobilized nucleic acid with an unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound and then illuminating the immobilized nucleic acid with an appropriate wavelength whereby the presence of the nucleic acid is determined. The cyanine dye compounds are typically present in an aqueous staining solution comprising the dye compound and a tris acetate or tris borate buffer wherein the solution facilitates the contact of the dye compound and the immobilized nucleic acid.
US08969002B2
The present invention provides for methods and systems for Electronic DNA sequencing, single molecule DNA sequencing, and combinations of the above, providing low cost and convenient sequencing.
US08968991B2
Numerous embodiments of a system and method for treating cardiac tissue are described. In one embodiment, bone marrow cells are extracted from a patient. The cells are then processed to isolate mononuclear cells, which can then be delivered back near the cardiac tissue of the patient.
US08968990B2
A method of forming a resist pattern, including: step (1) in which a resist composition including a base component, a photobase generator component and an acid supply component is applied to a substrate to form a resist film; step (2) in which the resist film is subjected to exposure without being subjected to prebaking; step (3) in which baking is conducted after step (2), such that, at an exposed portion of the resist film, the base generated from the photobase generator component upon the exposure and an acid derived from the acid supply component are neutralized, and at an unexposed portion of the resist film, the solubility of the base component in an alkali developing solution is increased by the action of the acid derived from the acid supply component; and step (4) in which the resist film is subjected to an alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern.
US08968985B2
The presently described embodiments use a printing process, e.g. a wax printing technique, to pattern a mask layer (such as a soldermask layer) of, for example, a printed circuit. Substantially all other conventional processes in developing soldermask and exposure processes can be maintained. According to the presently described embodiments, each printed circuit will have a unique pattern that matches uniform and non-uniform runout. In one form, the pattern is comprised of wax single drops having a specified gap to make the process transparent to the current industry practice. Furthermore, the single drops can be used for both large and small areas without any development time differences. In at least one form, the wax pattern and the soldermask in the gap are removed during development.
US08968978B2
A method for reclaiming an out-of-spec emulsion material includes recovering the out-of-spec emulsion material from a scrap manufacturing batch; distilling the out-of-spec emulsion material to raise a solids content of the out-of-spec emulsion material to about 45 wt % or more based on a total weight of the emulsion material; dissolving the distilled emulsion material in a solvent to form a first mixture; adding a base to the first mixture to neutralize acid groups present in the distilled emulsion material, forming a second mixture; emulsifying the second mixture by adding water to the second mixture; and forming particles having an average particle diameter (D50v) within a target range, wherein the out-of-spec emulsion material has an average particle diameter falling outside of the target range.
US08968974B2
Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.
US08968969B2
A reflective extreme ultraviolet mask includes a mask substrate having an exposing region and a peripheral region, the mask substrate including a light-scattering portion in the peripheral region, a reflective layer on an upper surface of the mask substrate, the reflective layer having a first opening exposing the light-scattering portion, and an absorbing layer pattern on the reflective layer, the absorbing layer pattern having a second opening in light communication with the first opening.
US08968966B2
Provided is a fuel battery including: a fuel battery cell assembly having at least two fuel battery cells coplanarly disposed, the fuel battery cell including a membrane electrode assembly having an anode, an electrolytic membrane, and a cathode stacked on one another in this order, and a flow channel plate provided on an anode side and having on an anode-side surface thereof an in-cell fuel flow channel through which liquid fuel flows; and a fuel distributor having an out-cell fuel flow channel connected to each of the in-cell fuel flow channels to distribute the liquid fuel to the fuel battery cells.
US08968963B2
A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 20 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and an anionic group; (iii) 15 to 45 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; wherein the molar ratio of (i):(ii) is 0.1 to 1.5. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes.
US08968958B2
A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system.
US08968956B2
A repeat unit for a fuel cell stack, the repeat unit having: a conductive interconnect plate; an electrolyte-supported fuel cell, wherein a dense sealing perimeter extends around the entire perimeter of the fuel cell; a cathode gasket adjacent the cathode side of the fuel cell; and an anode gasket adjacent the anode side of the fuel cell. First and second air manifolding ports, and first and second fuel manifolding ports are provided in each of the interconnect plate, dense sealing perimeter of the fuel cell, cathode gasket and anode gasket. An SOFC stack having an aligned stack of a plurality of repeat units is also provided, as well as an SOFC stack configured for cascade fuel flow.
US08968951B2
A system and method for controlling an output of a dynamic fuel cell is provided. A dynamic fuel cell has a membrane wherein a dimension of the membrane is variable during operation of the dynamic fuel cell in response to a control signal from an intelligent controller. By varying the dimension of the membrane, the output voltage of the dynamic fuel cell can be altered. An intelligent controller is provided that can measure a number of outputs and input parameters of the dynamic fuel cell and approximate input parameters using the measured values to adjust the input of the dynamic fuel cell to the approximated values.
US08968947B2
The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.
US08968929B2
The present disclosure is directed at an electrode and methods for forming such electrode for a battery wherein the electrode comprises silicon clathrate. The silicon clathrate may include silicon clathrate Si46 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 24-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings and/or silicon clathrate Si34 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 28-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings. The silicon clathrate may be present as particles having a largest linear dimension in the range of 0.1 μm to 100.0 μm.
US08968927B2
A biodegradable battery is provided. The battery includes an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic and a cathode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode, wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material presents a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.
US08968923B2
Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte composition (electrolytic solution), characterized in that: the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material represented by: aLi[Li1/3M12/3]O2.(1−a)LiM2O2 (where M1 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Zr and V; M2 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cr, Fe, V, Mg and Zn; and a represents a composition ratio and satisfies a relationship of 0
US08968922B2
In one aspect, a rechargeable lithium battery including a positive electrode having a positive active material, a negative electrode having a negative active material, and an electrolyte is provided. The positive active material can include manganese-based oxide, and the electrolyte can include fluoroethylene carbonate, lithium bis(oxalato)borate, and tris(trialkylsilyl)borate.
US08968916B2
An apparatus is provided that includes a two or more cell elements stacked internally to create a single cell with a non-uniform height. A first bus bar may electrically couple to a first side or first end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements. A second bus bar may electrically couple to a second side or second end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements.
US08968912B2
A battery module assembly and method of assembling a battery. The battery module assembly includes a plurality of modules in which a plurality of battery cells are preassembled. The modules are compressed by end plates that are held together under compression by a plurality of linking members. The end plates may include a protrusion that applies pressure to the central portion of the battery cells within the modules. The central portion of the end plates may be partially spherical, partially cylindrical or a flat surface.
US08968911B2
A battery assembling device has two brackets and an assembling unit. The brackets abut each other and can be securely mounted around two battery units. The assembling unit has a quick-release housing and two clamps. The quick-release housing has two electrode holes. The clamps are respectively mounted in the electrode holes and each clamp has two opposite threaded inner surfaces. The battery units can be bundled by the brackets in advance to form regular battery modules. Because the assembling unit is easily and quickly connected with the battery modules, the assembling of a cell of an electrical vehicle is greatly convenient and fast.
US08968910B2
A lithium rechargeable battery, and more particularly, a lithium rechargeable battery having a multidirectional lead-tab structure is provided. The lithium rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly in which a separator and an electrode plate having a current collector, an active material, and a tab are alternately stacked; a lead electrically connected to the tab; and a battery case, wherein the lead is divided into a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, and at least one positive electrode lead and at least one negative electrode lead are provided. The lithium rechargeable battery is appropriate for using a high current even while using a conventional lead-tab size.
US08968898B2
Disclosed herein is a cap assembly disposed at an open upper end of a cylindrical container of a battery in which an electrode assembly (jelly roll) of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in the cylindrical container, wherein an electrode lead of the jelly roll is electrically connected to the lower end of a safety vent having notches, which are ruptured to discharge high pressure gas when high pressure is generated in the battery, and a safety element to interrupt current at a predetermined temperature is provided between the safety vent and the electrode lead.
US08968892B2
A battery pack includes a plurality of bare cells electrically connected in series or parallel to one another, and a protection circuit module provided with a thermistor. In the battery pack, the protection circuit module is electrically connected to the bare cells, and the thermistor is provided to be parallel in the length direction of the protection circuit module between the bare cells and the protection circuit module so as to measure a variable resistance by sensing a temperature of the bare cells and to transfer the measured resistance as an electrical signal to the protection circuit module.
US08968889B2
A novel organic compound suitable for emitting green light and an organic light-emitting device including the organic compound are provided. The organic compound is represented by general formula (1). In general formula (1), R1 to R18 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.
US08968869B2
A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) at least one photoactivatable composition that, upon exposure to radiation, generates at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof; wherein at least one of the components (a) and (b) has an average reactive silane functionality of at least three.
US08968865B2
In one embodiment, an aerogel includes a layer of shaped particles having a particle packing density gradient in a thickness direction of the layer, wherein the shaped particles are characterized by being formed in an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using an impurity. In another embodiment, a method for forming a functionally graded porous nanostructure includes adding particles of an impurity and a solution to an EPD chamber, applying a voltage difference across the two electrodes of the EPD chamber to create an electric field in the EPD chamber, and depositing the material onto surfaces of the particles of the impurity to form shaped particles of the material. Other functionally graded materials and methods are described according to more embodiments.
US08968859B2
A heat extensible fiber comprises a conjugate fiber including a first resin component having an orientation index of 30% to 70% and a second resin component having a lower melting point or softening point than the melting point of the first resin component and an orientation index of 40% or more, the second resin component being present on at least part of the surface of the conjugate fiber in a lengthwise continuous configuration. The conjugate fiber is a heat-treated or crimped fiber and being configured to thermally extend when heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of the first resin component. The heat extensible fiber has higher heat self-extensibility than conventional extensible fibers.
US08968855B2
A component includes a cast portion and an insert. The cast portion includes a sacrificial suspension device. The insert is configured to provide damping to the component. The sacrificial suspension device is dissolved during a casting process, into a molten material, forming the cast portion such that the insert is fully encapsulated by the cast portion, including the dissolved suspension device.
US08968849B2
Polyester compositions for use in injection stretch blow molded articles having intrinsic viscosities in the range from about 0.65 to about 0.78 dl/g, and carboxyl end group concentrations of about 47 mmole/kg or more are provided. Stretch blow molded articles formed from these polyester compositions and methods to produce these articles are also described.
US08968831B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles including anti-fingerprint and/or smudge-reducing coatings, and/or methods of making the same. Oil from fingerprints and the like may easily transfer to the surface of an article. However, it has been found that in certain example embodiments, a reduced-smudge and reduced-glare effect on a glass substrate may be achieved by micro-engineering a glass surface's properties, such as surface morphology and/or roughness. In certain example embodiments, a thin film coating may be introduced to the glass surface in order to alter the contact angle of the article, or for other optical, electrical, mechanical, chemical and/or environmental purposes and/or durability. It has further advantageously been found that by altering the contact angle of the surface, the anti-smudge and anti-glare effects of the substrate may be further improved.
US08968826B2
The invention relates to a laminated strip, in particular a decorative strip, comprising an upper layer (12) consisting of metal, preferably aluminum, whose upper face (22) is embossed with a structure in relief (18) and whose underside (24) is fixed to a reinforcement layer (14) consisting of plastic. During the production of the strip, the reinforcement layer (14) and the protective layer (16) are applied after the structure in relief (18) has been embossed on the upper layer (12).
US08968815B2
The present invention discloses a safer, more effective and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low which comprises, upon removing by crystallization a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride each of which is contained in fats and oils comprising 50 to 90 mass % of a XUX triglyceride in total triglycerides, the step of conducting such removing by crystallization in the presence of a fatty acid lower alkyl ester. This method is a more efficient and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low.
US08968812B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a liquid mixed product from at least one liquid base component and at least one liquid additive, which is added to the base component in a metered manner, wherein the at least one liquid additive is metered into the base component depending on the amount of the mixed product removed from the mixing chamber (2.3).
US08968803B1
A powdered teat dip for use on an organic dairy is disclosed. The powdered teat dip may include Chlorhexidine or Chlorhexidine Acetate at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, Comfrey leaf powder at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, and corn starch at about 40 to about 65 percent by weight.
US08968792B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical combination for the treatment of renal failure in pets, caused by various diseases or ineffective to traditional renal therapy or renal replacement therapy thereby incapable of restoring health. The pharmaceutical combination of the present invention is administered by subcutaneous injection to pets in need thereof, with various advantages including simple use, no requirement for surgery, hospitalization and/or fluid infusion, faster recovery of health status, reduced medical costs, significantly improved recovery rate, reduced mortality and the likes. The pharmaceutical combination of the present invention can also be used for the continuous care treatment of pets with renal failure.
US08968789B2
The present invention is directed to sulfonic esters of metal oxides including those of formulas I and II:
US08968781B2
The present invention provides oral formulations of poorly bioavailable and/or poorly absorbable, and/or poorly water soluble therapeutic agents. The invention features pharmaceutical composition including a biopolymer, a therapeutic agent, for example an antimicrobial agent such as ceftriaxone, and an absorption enhancer, for example a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether absorption enhancer. Methods of making and using the pharmaceutical compositions is also described.
US08968765B2
The present disclosure provides a brush polymer, including: a linear polymer main chain; and brush structural side chains, including: a hydrophobic molecular branch, and a hydrophilic molecular branch and/or an anti-biofilm/or an anti-microbial molecular branch, wherein the linear polymer main chain is conjugated to the side chains by covalent bonds formed between a hydroxyl group and a reactive functional group, wherein the reactive functional group includes: isocyanate, carboxyl, or epoxy. The present disclosure also provides a medical application of the brush polymer.
US08968755B2
The invention provides skin-protecting and penetrating, easy-to-administer base and active agent-containing compositions, such as those including hydrocortisone, for treating the skin of mammals for different dermatologic disorders. This is effected by topically administering effective amounts of the compositions thereto in forms that address the skin and mucosa of the mouth and lips, and the rest of the body. Additionally, an optional flavoring addition to these products affords significantly better tasting, and less bitter, compositions, allowing a more pleasant experience and better compliance by patients. The compositions include a unique formulation of FANCOL VB, Natunola Castor 1023, Finsolv TN, bees wax and, optionally, one or a plurality of plant or plant seed oils, fatty alcohols, fats and flavorings, in desirable weight percents thereof, in various forms, and preferably in a form of a solid roll-on stick in a variety of sizes and of a jar or pot.
US08968746B2
The present invention is directed to a polymeric carrier cargo complex, comprising as a cargo at least one nucleic acid (molecule) and disulfide-crosslinked cationic components as a (preferably non-toxic and non-immunogenic) polymeric carrier. The inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex allows for both efficient transfection of nucleic acids into cells in vivo and in vitro and/or for induction of an (innate and/or adaptive) immune response, preferably dependent on the nucleic acid to be transported as a cargo. The present invention also provides, pharmaceutical compositions, particularly vaccines and adjuvants, comprising the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen, as well as the use of such the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen for transfecting a cell, a tissue or an organism, for (gene-)therapeutic purposes as disclosed herein, and/or as an immunostimulating agent or adjuvant, e.g. for eliciting an immune response for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases as mentioned above. Finally, the invention relates to kits containing the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and/or the inventive pharmaceutical composition, adjuvant or vaccine in one or more parts of the kit.
US08968743B2
The invention concerns the development of a system to deliver vaccines via cutaneous route. The invention more particularly concerns the use of a device comprising a condensation compartment for epicutaneous vaccination. The invention also concerns protocols for epicutaneous vaccination allowing an efficient immune response to be obtained without any skin treatment. The invention can be implemented in any mammal, preferably in human beings, to induce a therapeutic or preventive immune response against any type of antigen.
US08968739B2
The present invention provides compositions, methods, and assays for treating an inflammatory and/or autoimmune disease, and/or transplanted tissue rejection using anti-αβ TCR antibodies and antibody fragments. Anti-αβ TCR antibodies are antibodies which bind to a αβ TCR. Anti-αβ TCR antibodies produced by the hybridoma TOL101 MCB are also provided. Methods for treatment of an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease and for tissue transplant rejection using therapeutic dosing regimen of anti-αβ TCR antibodies and antibody fragments and for upregulating the numbers of Treg T-cells are also provided
US08968738B2
Methods of using anti-FceRI or anti-IgE antibodies for treating an autoimmune disease are disclosed. Also disclosed is a composition comprising an anti-FceRI antibody or anti-IgE antibody for use in treating an autoimmune disease. Also disclosed are non-antibody compounds that specifically activate basophils and/or mast cells, either by cross-linking IgE or FceRI, or by activating the cells through an FceRI-independent pathway and methods of using the same to treat autoimmune diseases.
US08968735B2
Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. Methods are described for treating demyelinating diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system of humans and domestic animals, using polyclonal IgM antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies sHIgm22(LYM 22), sHIgm46(LYM46) ebvHIgM MSI19D10, CB2bG8, AKJR4, CB2iE12, CB2iE7, MSI19E5 and MSI10E10, active fragments thereof and the like. The invention also extends to the use of human antibodies, fragments, peptide derivatives and like materials, and their use in above referenced therapeutic applications, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, that may be administered in desirably low doses to treat conditions involving demyelination and to promote remyelination.
US08968732B2
Use of antagonists to IL-31 are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08968727B2
The present invention provides a telomerase activity inhibiting polypeptide. The expression of the polypeptide in tumor cells can inhibit significantly tumor cell telomerase activity, tumor cell growth, and lead to the death of such cells. The present invention further provides a preparation method for the polypeptide and an application thereof in targeted treatments of tumors.
US08968726B2
Compositions are described which contain lactoferrin and angiogenin. The described compositions are useful in treatment of a variety of conditions, particularly in promoting bone health and relief of menopausal symptoms.
US08968724B2
The invention relates to the use of viral inactivated-plasma cryoprecipitate concentrate (VIPCC) comprising a suitable fibronectin/fibrinogen ratio for treating a spine disease, disorder or condition such as intervertebral disc degeneration.
US08968720B2
The invention provides a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a heat shock protein (hsp) gp96 polypeptide. The invention also provides a method of stimulating an immune response to a tumor by administering a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a gp96 polypeptide.
US08968718B2
A bacterial mixture usable in an inoculum usable in a bioremediateion method for accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region includes a plurality of isolated cold-adapted autochthonous bacterial strains. Each of the bacterial strains has petroleum hydrocarbons degrading activity at an ambient temperature of −3° C. and each has a different temperature tolerance range, a different salinity tolerance range, a different petroleum hydrocarbons degradation spectrum, and a different capacity to emulsify oil.
US08968705B2
The present disclosure is directed generally to gold/lanthanide nanoparticle conjugates, such as gold/gadolinium nanoparticle conjugates, nanoparticle conjugates including polymers, nanoparticle conjugates conjugated to targeting agents and therapeutic agents, and their use in targeting, treating, and/or imaging disease states in a patient.
US08968701B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of radiotracers. In particular, this invention relates the isolation of radiotracers with containers filled with a stationary phase.
US08968697B2
The present invention discloses a method for thermochemical production of hydrogen and oxygen from water by a low temperature, multi-step, closed, cyclic copper-chlorine (Cu—Cl) process involving the reactions of copper and chlorine compounds. A method for production of hydrogen via Cu—Cl thermochemical cycle consists of four thermal reactions and one electrochemical reaction and one unit operation. The cycle involves six steps: (1) hydrogen production step; (2) copper production step; (3) drying step; (4) hydrogen chloride production step; (5) decomposition step; (6) oxygen production step. The net reaction of the sequential process is the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The methods for production of copper oxide which comprises contacting copper chloride particles with superheated steam and production of oxygen comprises reaction of copper oxide with dry chlorine as a part of hydrogen production by thermochemical Copper-Chlorine (Cu—Cl) cycle. The reactions are performed in a flow through type quartz reactor as fixed bed type at high temperature and atmospheric pressure.
US08968684B2
Microplates, reaction modules and optical detection systems for chemical and/or bio-chemical reactions including polymerase chain reactions.
US08968683B2
The invention relates to a tissue sample handling apparatus, in particular for grasping histological samples after infiltration of an embedding medium such as, for example, paraffin, which is characterized in that a sample is immobilizable on the handling apparatus, in particular in a sample holding position, by means of negative pressure.
US08968681B2
A method and device is provided for collecting filterable material to perform assays on a filtration apparatus by applying negative-pressure to the inlet chamber of the filtration apparatus which is independent of negative or positive pressure applied to its fluid path. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber serves to actively aspirate fluid and promote flow into the inlet chamber via the fluid pathway. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber facilitates the use of either negative or positive-pressure based fluid-filtration approaches. Use of the invention improves the functionality and scope of applications that can be performed with enclosed filtration apparatuses.
US08968679B2
A multi-well assembly including a filter plate and receiver plate. Each plate includes a plurality of wells, which, when the filter plate is placed in nesting relationship with the receiver plate, each filter plate well has a corresponding receiver plate well into which it extends. The receiver plate wells are of a non-uniform cross-section in order to increase the gap between the outer walls of the filter plate wells and the inner walls of a corresponding receiver plate well when the receiver plate and filter plate are in nesting relationship. The increased gap size reduces wicking and cross-contamination. A multi-section well of maximum cross-section in an upper region and a minimized cross-section in a lower region, with a gradual transition between the regions, is thus provided. The multi-well assembly of the present invention also improves the repeatability of positioning the filter plate and receiver plate in proper nesting relationship and provides stability during handling, mixing and shaking operations.
US08968675B2
In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.
US08968638B2
The apparatus for injecting slurry contains the first member having the cavity therein; and the second member having a plurality of convex sections, each of the convex sections having the injection hole formed therein communicating with the cavity, wherein the protrusion length of the convex section is in a range from 3 to 5 mm, and the distance between centers of adjacent convex sections is in a range from 3 to 13 mm.
US08968636B2
A mold device and a method related thereto for forming a plastic container from a preform. The mold device comprises a mold defining a mold cavity, a stretch initiation rod system for engaging an interior portion of the preform to define a stretch initiation area, and a centrally disposed pressure source positionable within the preform for introducing a pressurized fluid.
US08968630B2
An imprint lithography template is provided with an alignment mark, wherein the alignment mark is formed from dielectric material having a refractive index which differs from the refractive index of the imprint lithography template, the dielectric material having a thickness which is such that it provides a phase difference between alignment radiation which has passed through the dielectric material and alignment radiation which has not passed through the dielectric material.
US08968626B2
Devices and methods for high-throughput manufacture of concentrically layered nanoscale and microscale fibers by electrospinning are disclosed. The devices include a hollow tube having a lengthwise slit through which a core material can flow, and can be configured to permit introduction of sheath material at multiple sites of Taylor cone formation.
US08968624B2
A method for producing a three dimensional green article includes: (a) providing a slurry composition that contains an inorganic powder, a binder, and a solvent; (b) forming a slurry layer made of the slurry composition; (c) removing the solvent of the slurry layer from an upper surface of the slurry layer so as to form the slurry layer into a green layer with a plurality of pores; (d) scanning the green layer with an energy beam having a power sufficient to vaporize or burn the binder such that the vaporized binder or the burnt binder escapes from the green layer through the pores, while leaving the inorganic powder which is not bound by the binder; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d).
US08968623B2
A method for demolding concrete blocks which are cast in a resilient mold supported in a rigid frame, the mold having a top surface and at least one cavity with an opening on the top surface, which cavity holds a cured cast concrete block. The mold has two opposing edges. The demolded blocks are stacked on a collection surface. A support is positioned over the cavity and the mold, the support and the frame are inverted and positioned in demolding apparatus. After two opposing edges of the mold are engaged by the demolding apparatus, the support is withdrawn to allow the mold to sag. The blocks may release from the mold and fall onto the collection surface. If any blocks remain in the mold, a plunger mechanism is pushed against the sagging mold to release the blocks. Guide members may facilitate positioning the blocks on the collection surface.
US08968615B2
A bulk of polyester polymer particles comprising polyester polymer comprising greater than 75% virgin polyester polymer, the particles having: A) an It.V. of at least 0.72 dl/g, and B) 10 ppm or less of residual acetaldehyde; and C) at least two melting peaks, wherein one of said at least two melting peaks is a low peak melting point within a range of 140° C. to 220° C. and having a melting endotherm area of at least the absolute value of 1 J/g. The particles may also have a degree of crystallinity within a range of 20% and a maximum degree of crystallinity Tcmax defined by the equation: Tcmax=50%−CA−OH where CA is the total mole % of all carboxylic acid residues other than terephthalic acid residues, based on 100 mole % of carboxylic acid residues, and OH is the total mole % of all hydroxyl functional compound residues other than ethylene glycol residues, based on 100 mole % of hydroxyl functional compounds residues. The preforms and bottles made from these particles can be obtained by melt processing these particles at either lower overall power, faster screw speeds, lower residence time, or lower overall cycle time to thereby reduce the level of residual acetaldehyde generated in the melt.
US08968613B2
A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.
US08968608B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a conductive material that allows a low electric resistance to be generated, and that is obtained by using an inexpensive and stable conductive material composition containing no adhesive. The conductive material can be provided by a producing method that includes the step of sintering a first conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm, and a metal oxide, so as to obtain a conductive material. The conductive material can be provided also by a method that includes the step of sintering a second conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm in an atmosphere of oxygen or ozone, or ambient atmosphere, at a temperature in a range of 150° C. to 320° C., so as to obtain a conductive material.
US08968600B2
Disclosed herein are phosphor compositions having high gadolinium concentrations. Some embodiments include a thermally stable ceramic body comprising an emissive layer, wherein said emissive layer comprises a compound represented by the formula (A1-x-zGdxDz)3B5O12, wherein: D is a first dopant selected from the group consisting of Nd, Er, Eu, Mn, Cr, Yb, Sm, Tb, Ce, Pr, Dy, Ho, Lu and combinations thereof; A is selected from the group consisting of Y, Lu, Ca, La, Tb, and combinations thereof; B is selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Si, Ga, In, and combinations thereof; x is in the range of about 0.20 to about 0.80; and z is in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.10. Also disclosed are thermally stable ceramic bodies that can include the composition of formula I. Methods of making the ceramic body and a lighting device including the ceramic body are also disclosed.
US08968596B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal reactive monomer on a polyimide surface of an alignment film and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal reactive monomer has a hard core and is contained in a liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal reactive monomer is represented by the formula (I) or the formula (II), and the molecular weight thereof is greater than or equal to 300. The solubility of the liquid crystal RMs is significantly improved in a liquid crystal matrix while the returning force of liquid crystal molecules is increased, so as to solve the image sticking issue, increase the polymerization capacity of the liquid crystal molecules, raise the curing speed of the curing reaction between the liquid crystal RMs and the polyimide surface and shorten the curing time, so that the purpose of energy saving and carbon reduction can be achieved.
US08968585B2
Methods to fabricate reaction cartridges for biological sample preparation and analysis are disclosed. A cartridge may have a reaction chamber and openings to allow fluids to enter the chamber. The cartridge may also have handles to facilitate its use. Such cartridges may be used for polymerase chain reaction.
US08968581B2
A square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other like printing presses, includes a container having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section with an open top, an outlet port on one side approximate the bottom of the container, a sloped bottom, where the sloped bottom being toward the outlet port, an inlet port on one side approximate the top of the container, and an internal ledge. A lid is adapted to close the open top of the container. A hinge couples the lid to the container, where the lid is hinged to the container on one side. A lid compression device is adapted to compress the lid to the container. A containment basket is adapted to fit inside the container, and has a plurality of holes on all sides and a lip adapted to rest on the internal ledge of the container.
US08968579B2
A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.
US08968573B2
Method for cleaning hydraulic liquid in a industrial truck, wherein said industrial truck is an electrically powered industrial truck having a battery as an energy source with a hydraulic system comprising, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and a return pipe to the hydraulic reservoir with a return filter, wherein the method comprises the steps of, the hydraulic pump is activated for hydraulic activity, the hydraulic pump pumps the liquid for the hydraulic activity and in relation to this return flow through the return filter to the hydraulic reservoir occurs, the hydraulic pump can be activated by means comprised in the industrial truck, when hydraulic activity is not present, by that achieving a circulation to the hydraulic reservoir through the return filter such that sufficient filtration of the hydraulic liquid is reached, further a time Tb for circulation without hydraulic activity can be accumulated and/or a sensor for determining the quality of the hydraulic oil can be arranged in the industrial truck. Termination of the circulation is based on Tb and/or the measured quality. The application also relates to a computer program product, a control unit and an industrial truck that can perform the method.
US08968566B2
A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least two permeate exhaust conduits and not comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit. Each permeate exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the permeate exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said permeate exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least two permeate carrier layers, and at least two membrane layers. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element.
US08968564B2
A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
US08968563B2
A fractionating and refining device includes a solution sending flow path for supplying a solution, including a fractionated target component, a gas supply flow path, a collecting vessel, a warming mechanism for warming the collecting vessel, and a probe formed by integrating tip end portions of the solution sending flow path and the gas supply flow path with each other. A lid of the vessel includes a solution inlet to which the tip end portion of the solution sending flow path is connected, gas inlets to which the tip end portion of the gas supply flow path is connected, and gas discharge ports connecting an inside and an outside of a vessel main body of the vessel.
US08968562B2
The present is a hydrophilic polymer microparticle, which has a DW/DA ratio of 2.0 or less, the DW representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in water, the DA representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in acetone, each of the particle diameters measured by a particle size distribution analyzer after the hydrophilic polymer microparticle is dispersed in water or acetone, subjected to irradiation with ultrasonic waves for 15 minutes, and allowed to stand at a temperature of 25° C. for 240 hours for equilibration; and has a contact angle with water of 70° or less, the contact angle measured using a contact angle measurement apparatus at a temperature of 25° C. by forming a droplet of pure water on a single layer of the hydrophilic polymer microparticles arranged with no space therebetween.
US08968559B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a biodegradable, disposable debris bag for a pool cleaner. The debris bag includes biodegradable fabric filtration media stitched together to form an opening capable of being coupled to an outlet of the pool cleaner and a hollow interior portion to capture debris from the pool cleaner. The biodegradable fabric filtration media is folded over and stitched together to create the opening and the hollow interior portion.
US08968556B2
A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.
US08968547B2
A method for stabilizing a nuclear material may include electrolytically reducing the nuclear material in a first molten salt electrolyte of an electroreducer to produce a reduced material. A reducer waste may accumulate in the first molten salt electrolyte as a byproduct of the electroreduction. After the electroreduction, the reduced material may be electrolytically dissolved in a second molten salt electrolyte of an electrorefiner to produce a purified metal product on a refiner cathode assembly of the electrorefiner. As a result of the electrorefining, a first refiner waste may accumulate in the second molten salt electrolyte and a second refiner waste may accumulate in a refiner anode assembly of the electrorefiner. The reducer waste from the electroreducer and the first refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a ceramic waste form, while the second refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a metallic waste form.
US08968544B2
An apparatus to remove ions, the apparatus having a housing including an inlet to let water in an interior of the housing, an outlet to let water out of the interior of the housing, a first electrode having a current collector, a second electrode, and a spacer to separate the first and second electrodes and to allow water to flow between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus also has a connector to connect the first electrode, or the second electrode, or both first and second electrodes, with an electrical source. The connector may have two connector parts to clamp the current collector in between the connector parts, the connector constructed and arranged to avoid water-metal contact.
US08968539B2
Disclosed here are methods useful for incorporating protein into lipid bilayers using voltage induced insertion. The methods presented herein can decrease time and costs associated with incorporation of proteins into naturally derived or artificially created lipid bilayers. A method for incorporating a protein capable of translocating a ligand also is disclosed herein.
US08968532B2
A substrate plating processor has a vessel on a support structure and a head support fixed in place relative to the support structure. A head having a rotor is attached to the head support. A lifter associated with the head support moves the head into and out of engagement with the vessel. An alignment assembly attachable to the rotor has at least one sensor adapted to detect a position of an inside surface of the vessel when the head is engaged with the vessel. The sensor may be a physical contact sensor positioned to contact the inside surface of the vessel.
US08968531B2
In an electro processor for plating semiconductor wafers and similar substrates, a contact ring has a plurality of spaced apart contact fingers. A shield at least partially overlies the contact fingers. The shield changes the electric field around the outer edge of the workpiece and the contact fingers, which reduces or eliminates the negative aspects of using high thief electrode currents and seed layer deplating. The shield may be provided in the form of an annular ring substantially completely overlying and covering, and optionally touching the contact fingers.
US08968525B2
A method of reducing a film of graphite oxide. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a film of graphite oxide with a thickness d0; and delivering optical energy in a single pulse to the film of graphite oxide at a distance no more than 1.0 cm away from the film of graphite oxide to reduce the film of graphite oxide to a film of graphene with a thickness d, wherein the optical energy has a radiant exposure in the range of between 0.1 and 2 J/cm2, and wherein the thickness d is greater than the thickness d0. In one embodiment, the thickness d≧10×d0.
US08968517B2
A multi-layer through air dried tissue including an interior layer having an ionic surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant, introduced as wet end additives.
US08968515B2
A method of alkaline pretreatment of biomass, in particular, pretreating biomass with gaseous ammonia.
US08968512B2
Provided is a temperature adjusting mechanism, which can keep deviation of a temperature of a portion in contact with the temperature adjusting mechanism to be small by controlling the temperature accurately at a high speed. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus using such temperature adjusting mechanism is also provided. A cooling jacket (6) is provided with a cooling channel (61), and a heat lane (62). The heat lane (62) is provided with a heat receiving section (63), and a heat dissipating section (64), and seals a two-phase condensable working fluid (hereinafter referred to as the working liquid) in an annular narrow tube alternately folds back and forth therebetween. The heat dissipating section (64) is a portion to be cooled by the cooling channel (61), and the heat receiving section (63) is a portion having a temperature higher than that of the heat dissipating section (64). In the heat receiving section (63), heat is received, the working liquid is self-excited by nucleate boiling, and the working liquid transfers sensible heat while being circulated. Furthermore, in the heat receiving section (63), a liquid phase absorbs heat and the phase is transformed into a vapor phase, and in the heat dissipating section (64), a vapor phase dissipates heat and is cooled and condensed, the phase is transformed into a liquid phase, and latent heat is transferred by vapor-liquid phase transformation. Heat is transferred between the heat receiving section (63) and the heat dissipating section (64), and the temperature is uniformized in a short time.
US08968509B2
Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.
US08968505B2
A process of manufacturing a stretch composite is disclosed. The process comprises providing a polyolefin based substrate, providing a letterpress adhesive application system comprising a pattern roll and an applicator roll, and depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the applicator roll. The process further comprises transferring only a portion of the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, from the applicator roll to the pattern roll, by contacting the pattern roll with the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, and transferring substantially all of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate, by contacting the substrate with the elastomeric composition that is on the pattern roll, without damaging the substrate.
US08968502B1
A method for coating an artificial athletic turf made of a backing having a top face and a bottom face and having yarn tufted through the backing such that cut pile extends from the top face and backloops of yarn are closely adjacent the bottom face so that a porous coat is disposed over the backloops and bottom face in order to bind the yarn to the backing. Tiny droplets of coating material are sprayed onto the bottom face of the tufted backing at an inclination angle of less than 45 degrees to the plane of the backing and under conditions which cause sprayed droplets of material to bind the backloops to the backing, but not deposit along narrow areas of the backing between rows of backloops, thus, allowing the turf to remain porous.
US08968498B2
A method of fabricating a crystal oscillator includes applying an adhesive to an electrode pad; determining whether the applied adhesive is in an area outside of the electrode pad; removing at least part of the adhesive in the area outside of the electrode pad using a laser beam when a portion of the applied adhesive is determined to be in the area outside of the electrode pad; and disposing an electrode of a crystal resonator on the adhesive applied to the electrode pad.
US08968495B2
A method of thermo-mechanically processing a preform composed of tool steel and a tool to modify a workpiece. The preform has a region containing austenite. The method comprises establishing the region at a process temperature between a martensitic start temperature and a stable austenitic temperature. While at the process temperature, the region is deformed to change an outer dimension and to modify the microstructure to a depth of 1 millimeter or more. The tool comprises a member composed of tool steel. The member includes a first region that extends from the outer surface to a depth of greater than 1 millimeter and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of grains having an average misorientation angle greater than about 34°, an average grain size that is at least 10% smaller than the second region, and has a different grain orientation than the second region.
US08968489B2
A ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon, a method of fabricating a ribbon and a wound transformer core are provided. The ribbon includes an alloy of FeaSibBcCd where 80.5≦a≦83 at. %, 0.5≦b≦6 at. %, 12≦c≦16.5 at. %, 0.01≦d≦1 at. % with a+b+c+d=100, and is cast from a molten state of the alloy, having a-surface tension of greater than or equal to 1.1 N/mi,. A defect length along a direction of the ribbon's length is between 5 mm and 200 mm, a defect depth less than 0.4 ×t μm and a defect occurrence frequency less than 0.05 ×w times within 1.5 m of ribbon length, where t is the ribbon thickness and w is the ribbon width in mm. The ribbon has a saturation magnetic induction exceeding 1.60 T and a magnetic core loss of less than 0.14 W/kg when measured at 60 Hz and at 1.3 T induction level in an annealed straight strip form, and a core magnetic loss of less than 0.3 W/kg and an exciting power of less than 0.4 VA/kg in an annealed wound transformer core form and is suitable for use in transformer cores, rotational machines, electrical chokes, magnetic sensors and pulse power devices.
US08968483B2
A method of operating a dishwasher having a treating chamber for washing dishes includes dispensing a detergent, supplying liquid to mix with the detergent to form a wash liquid, storing a first portion of the wash liquid in a reuse tank and using a second portion of the wash liquid in the treating chamber, supplying the first portion of the wash liquid from the reuse tank to the treating chamber.
US08968476B2
An atomic deposition apparatus is provided for simultaneously loading/unloading a plurality of substrates. The atomic deposition apparatus which may load/unload the plurality of substrates when transmitting the plurality of substrates to a process module, includes a loading/unloading module for loading/unloading a substrate, a process module including a plurality of process chambers for simultaneously receiving a plurality of substrates and performing a deposition process, each of the plurality of process chambers including a gas spraying unit having an exhaust portion by which an exhaust gas is drawn in from inside the process chamber and the drawn in gas is exhausted above the process chamber, and a transfer module including a transfer robot provided between the loading/unloading module and the process module, the transfer robot being adopted for simultaneously holding the plurality of substrates while transporting the substrate.
US08968475B2
A substrate processing apparatus, which is provided with a processing chamber configured to process a substrate and capable of being depressurized, includes a substrate placing table configured to place a substrate; a baffle plate disposed around the substrate placing table so as to divide an inside of the processing chamber into a processing space and an exhaust space; and an exhaust port configured to exhaust the inside of the processing chamber. A gap is formed between the substrate placing table and the baffle plate and a plurality of communication holes are formed in the baffle plate so that the processing space and the exhaust space communicate with each other.
US08968473B2
One embodiment provides a reactor for material deposition. The reactor includes a chamber and at least one gas nozzle. The chamber includes a pair of susceptors, each having a front side and a back side. The front side mounts a number of substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically so that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates mounted on different susceptors. The gas nozzle includes a gas-inlet component situated in the center and a detachable gas-outlet component stacked around the gas-inlet component. The gas-inlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to inject precursor gases into the chamber. The detachable gas-outlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to output exhaust gases from the chamber.
US08968469B2
A structure including a substrate, an intermediate layer provided and formed directly onto the substrate, a transition region, and a group II-VI bulk crystal material provided and formed as an extension of the transition region. The transition region acts to change the structure from the underlying substrate to that of the bulk crystal. In a method of manufacture, a similar technique can be used for growing the transition region and the bulk crystal layer.
US08968462B2
The subject matter of the invention relates to aqueous pigment preparations containing (A) 30 to 75% by weight of at least one inorganic white or colored pigment or a mixture of different inorganic white or colored pigments, (B) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one fatty acid ethanol amide ethoxylate of the formula (I), in which R1 is a linear or branched alkyl radical or alkenyl radical with 7 to 21 carbon atoms, and n is a whole number from 2 to 40, (C) 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one amine of the formula (II), in which R2 is a linear or branched alkyl radical or alkenyl radical with 8 to 22 carbon atoms, identical to or different from R1, A represents an iminopropyl group —NH—CH2—CH2—CH2—, an oxyethyl group —O—CH2—CH2— or an oxypropyl group —O—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—, and a is a whole number from 0 to 5, wherein the compound of the formula (II); can be present in the form of an ammonium salt, and (E) water.
US08968459B1
A durable superhydrophobic coating, which coating has the ability to self-heal, similar to the regeneration function observed in biological systems. The coating composition comprises the reaction products of at least one fluorine-containing silane compound (A), at least one hydrolysable compound (B), at least one polysiloxane compound (C), at least one relatively large-sized ceramic particle (I), at least one nano-sized ceramic particle (II) and at least one solvent.
US08968458B2
A composition for a resist underlayer film is provided. The composition has excellent storage stability and can form a resist underlayer film which has excellent adhesion to a resist film, can improve reproducibility of a resist pattern and is resistant to an alkaline liquid used in development and to oxygen asking during the removal of a resist. The composition comprises a hydrolyzate and/or a condensate of a silane compound of the following formula (A), R1bR2cSi(OR3)4-a (A) wherein R1 is a monovalent organic group having at least one unsaturated bond, R2 individually represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent organic group, R3 individually represents a monovalent organic group, R1 is a group other than OR3, a is an integer of 1 to 3, b is an integer of 1 to 3, and c is an integer of 0 to 2, provided that a=b+c.
US08968454B2
The invention relates to single phase solid solutions containing 65 to 98 wt.-% unsubstituted quinacridone, 1 to 34 wt.-% 2,9-dimethylquinacridone and 1 to 10 wt.-% 2,9-dichloroquinacridone, relative to the total weight of the single phase solid solution.
US08968440B1
The present invention provides a fertilizer utilizing the inexpensive waste and by-product materials of biosolids, gypsum, and/or other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum. The combination of biosolids, gypsum and other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum produces a fertilizer that provides for soil nitrogen needs while limiting the availability of phosphorous to minimize environmental pollution.
US08968439B2
The composite microporour filter material comprises a base-cloth layer, an upper adhesion layer attached to a top side of the base-cloth layer, and a lower adhesion layer attached to a bottom side of the base-cloth layer. The base-cloth layer is made of either polymide yarn base-cloth, polysulfoneamide yarn base-cloth, or polytetrafluoroethylene filament base-cloth. The upper adhesion layer is made of a mixture of polysulfoneamide short-staple and polymide short-staple; the lower adhesion layer is made of a pure polysulfoneamide short-staple. The upper adhesion layer and the lower adhesion layer are attached to two sides of the base-cloth layer by entangling which is adopted by needle punching, spunlacing or a combination thereof. The present filter material is temperature-resistant and corrosion-resistant and has features of a low manufacturing cost and the high filter precision.
US08968438B2
A particle collection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a baghouse housing comprising an entrance port, a collection port, a baghouse configured between the entrance port and the collection port, and a vacuum port coupled to the baghouse. The apparatus also includes a collection mechanism coupled to the collection port; and, a compression mechanism coupled to the baghouse.
US08968426B2
The present invention relates to a liquid fuel composition comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons and a cyclic hydrocarbon compound that suppresses the emission of soot particulates. The present invention also relates to a method for reducing the emission of soot particulates in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. It is desirable for the cyclic hydrocarbon compound to contain one or more oxygen atoms.
US08968423B2
A technique for forming a cathode of a wet electrolytic capacitor is provided. The cathode contains a metal substrate having a roughened surface and a conductive coating that contains a substituted polythiophene. The degree of surface contact between the conductive coating and the roughened surface is enhanced in the present invention by selectively controlling the manner in which the conductive coating is formed. More particularly, the conductive coating is formed by applying a precursor solution to the roughened surface that includes both a precursor thiophene monomer and an oxidative catalyst. Contrary to techniques in which either the monomer or catalyst is applied separately and initially contacts the metal surface, the presence of the monomer and catalyst within the same solution allows polymer chains to grow immediately adjacent to the surface of the metal substrate and within the pits. This can significantly increase the degree of contact between the conductive coating and metal substrate, thereby resulting in improved mechanical robustness and electrical performance (e.g., reduced equivalent series resistance and leakage current). To minimize the likelihood of premature polymerization, the oxidative catalyst is also employed in an amount less than what is required to fully react all of the reagent assuming 100% yield (i.e., “stoichiometric amount”). This can slow the polymerization of the monomer, creating oligomers that are shorter than if fully polymerized, which can better penetrate into the roughened regions of the metal substrate.
US08968410B2
A glenoid support for shoulder prostheses, able to be applied to the glenoid cavity of a shoulder blade. The glenoid support includes at least an attachment plate, an anchoring pin, and a glenoid articulation element. The attachment plate and the anchoring pin are made in distinct parts and able to be selectively separated from each other.
US08968407B2
The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.
US08968403B2
The present invention is directed to an implant device, in particular an implant device placed between bony, cartilaginous or soft tissues or between prosthetic surfaces to restore or create a gap. More particular the present invention is directed to an implant device made from polymeric material and having a stiffness gradient as well as a limited dimensional deformation, wherein the implant device has a stiffness gradient and a limited dimensional deformation and preferably is at least partially anisotropic.
US08968394B2
An improved holder and storage system for a tissue-type prosthetic mitral heart valve that constricts the commissure posts of the valve and prevents suture looping. A rod axially movable relative to the holder tensions lengths of attachment sutures that extend between the commissure post tips to create a tent and flex the tips inward, thus helping to prevent looping of any of an array of pre-implanted sutures around the leading tips during delivery of the valve. The holder has a safety mechanism that prevents valve delivery before the rod is deployed. One embodiment automatically deploys the rod upon opening a storage jar. One embodiment permits a delivery handle to directly deploy the rod, while another uses a separate worm screw and coupling. A holder clip that attaches to a packaging sleeve may be formed of flexible members meshed together from which the heart valve and holder are easily pulled free to eliminate a step of decoupling the clip from the sleeve.
US08968391B2
Methods for ameliorating stent graft migration and endoleak using treatment site-specific cell growth promoting compositions in combination with stent grafts are disclosed. Also disclosed are application of cell growth promoting compositions such as, but not limited to, autologous platelet gel compositions directly to treatment sites during or after stent graft implantation.
US08968387B2
Bioabsorbable scaffolds having high crush recoverability, high fracture resistance, and reduced or no recoil due to self expanding properties at physiological conditions are disclosed. The scaffolds are made from a random copolymer of PLLA and a rubbery polymer such as polycaprolactone.
US08968386B2
A stent comprises (a) a first segment that is radially compressible and expandable and (b) a second segment that is substantially rigid in a radial direction. The second segment is bendable to assume a curved configuration while remaining substantially rigid in the radial direction and thereby resisting radial compression and expansion.
US08968385B2
An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones.
US08968378B2
Closed loop heat exchange catheter systems and methods for preparing and using such systems wherein a reservoir or fluid bag is connected to the catheter system and used for at least priming of the system with a heat exchange fluid.
US08968374B2
A biocompatible interference screw for soft tissue or bone-to-bone fixation comprises a screw body extending from a screw head to a distal tip of the screw. The screw body has an outer surface, and comprises polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) material. Advantageously, the body outer surface has a textured surface finish for substantially improving pull-out strength of the interference screw. The textured surface finish is textured, in preferred embodiments, with a minimum of approximately 16 micro inches of surface roughness. The screw head comprises a tapered square keyhole for receiving a distal end of a driver instrument. The screw comprises a series of threads, which have a relatively smooth profile, in order to prevent graft tissue laceration as the screw is being inserted. The distal tip of the screw body comprises a narrow tip, and a distal end of the screw body is angled inwardly toward the narrow distal tip.
US08968366B2
A flexible connection unit for spinal stabilization, including: a first end portion having a first longitudinal channel and configured to be coupled to a first securing member secured to a patient's spine; a second end portion having a second longitudinal channel and configured to be coupled to a second securing member secured to the patient's spine; and a flexible wire extending through at least a portion of the first and second longitudinal channels and flexibly linking the first and second end portions.
US08968355B2
An articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument includes an articulation assembly, a plurality of cables, and a trigger. The cables are coupled to the articulation assembly at a proximal end thereof and extend distally therefrom. The cables are configured to engage an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument at a distal end thereof. The trigger is coupled to the articulation assembly and is selectively moveable from a shipping position to a use position. In the shipping position, the cables are substantially un-tensioned. In the use position, the cables are disposed in an initial tensioned position. In the use position, the trigger is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the cables are selectively tensionable to articulate the end effector assembly. In the locked position, the tensions on the cables are maintained to lock the end effector assembly in position.
US08968352B2
The present invention is a method for treating aneurysms of various shapes and sizes.
US08968347B2
An illuminated surgical instrument is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an illuminated vitrectomy probe. The vitrectomy probe has a cutting port disposed at a distal end of a cannula. An array of optical fibers terminates near the cutting port. The array of optical fibers is located adjacent to the cannula and encircling the cannula. The array of optical fibers can comprise two sets of fibers, one for providing illumination in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vitrectomy probe and another for providing illumination in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the vitrectomy probe. The light source providing light to each set of fibers can be independently controlled so as to provide illumination cooperatively or singly.
US08968346B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of micro-scale or millimeter scale devices and to the use of multi-layer multi-material electrochemical fabrication methods for producing such devices with particular embodiments relate to shredding devices and more particularly to shredding devices for use in medical applications. In some embodiments, tissue removal devices are used in procedures to removal spinal tissue and in other embodiments, similar devices are used to remove thrombus from blood vessel.
US08968340B2
An end effector for use in an endoscopic stitching device includes a fixed jaw, a moveable jaw, a linkage member, needle engaging blades and a rotatable member. The moveable jaw is pivotably associated with the fixed jaw about a first pivot axis. The linkage member is pivotably associated with the moveable jaw about a second pivot axis. The needle engaging blade is slidably supported in each of the fixed and moveable jaws. An axial movement of the linkage member causes the moveable jaw to pivot about the first pivot axis with respect to the fixed jaw, and rotation of the rotatable member causes opposed axial movement of the pair of needle engaging blades.
US08968336B2
A device and method for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. The device accesses at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and punctures through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein are made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip is disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state by a tube assembly until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip are brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.
US08968328B2
An intraocular lens insertion instrument capable of smoothly pushing out a preset lens is provided. An intraocular lens insertion instrument (1) comprises: a main body (3) including a lens setting section (8) on which a lens (2) is set, a transition section (22) that deforms the lens (2), and a nozzle piece (21) that releases the lens (2); and a lens push-out mechanism (4) that pushes out the lens (2) set on the lens setting section (8). The instrument (1) further includes a releasing means (11) for releasing the lens (2) pushed by the lens push-out mechanism (4) from the lens setting section (8). The releasing means (11) has a posture holding mount (12) that holds the lens (2) with a forward tilt relative to an axial line (A) of lens movement. The posture holding mount (12) has a passage (15) through which the lens push-out mechanism (4) passes.
US08968325B2
A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a base having a tray, a first member and a second member. A first and second top arm are coupled near the proximal end of the base. At least one bottom finger is coupled to the distal end of the first member and at least one top finger is coupled to the distal end of the first top arm. At least a first lifting arm is located between the first member and the first top arm, said lifting arm comprising a cam for engaging the first top arm. Rotation of an adjustment member positioned near the proximal end of the first member engages at least one lifting arm. As the lifting arm moves towards the distal end of the first member, the cam engages and lifts the first top arm, displacing the first top finger to a separation distance from the bottom finger.
US08968313B2
An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members one of which being movable from an open configuration for positioning tissue therebetween, to a clamping configuration for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife blade assembly includes a knife blade that is translatable within the first and second jaw members when the first and second jaw members are in the clamping configuration. The knife blade assembly includes a medial portion defining an opening therethrough having proximal and distal ends. A knife blade stop in operative communication with the knife blade assembly includes a pair of leading and trailing stops thereon that are configured to contact respective distal and proximal ends of the opening to limit translation of the knife blade assembly.
US08968303B2
In a method suitable for tissue fusion or coagulation, after the start of treatment of the tissue, i.e., after completion of a first phase, a second phase is commenced, during which the biological tissue is treated for a certain specified process time with moderate energy input. The specification of a negative internal resistance of a supplying source enables the process in the second phase to have a treatment time that remains constant and thus avoids premature drying-out of the tissue. A sufficient and reliable bonding of the participating proteins in the moist milieu is reached.
US08968296B2
An electrosurgical energy delivery apparatus includes an energy delivery circuit, a control circuit and an energy-harvesting system with a plurality of energy-harvesting circuits and a voltage regulator that provides a regulated DC voltage to the energy delivery circuit and/or the control circuit. The energy delivery circuit receives an electrosurgical energy signal having a primary frequency and selectively provides the electrosurgical energy signal to an energy delivery element. The control circuit connects to the energy delivery circuit and selectively enables the flow of electrosurgical energy to the energy delivery element. The plurality of energy-harvesting circuits each include an energy-harvesting antenna tuned to a particular frequency, a matched circuit configured to receive an RF signal from the energy-harvesting antenna, rectify the RF signal and generate a DC signal, and an energy storage device that connects to the voltage regulator to receive and store the DC signal.
US08968289B2
Disclosed is a spacer, configured to position microwave energy delivery devices, including a housing, with a housing body and a compression body, and at least one compression mechanism. The housing body forms a housing body cavity and a plurality of housing device apertures. The compression body forms a plurality of compression body apertures that each correspond to a housing device aperture. The compression body slideably engages the housing body cavity and at least a portion of the compression body is positioned within the compression body cavity. A compression mechanism is positioned between the housing body and the compression body and configured to provide a biasing force between the housing body and the compression body. In a first position the housing device apertures are misaligned with the compression body apertures and in the second position the housing apertures are aligned with the compression body apertures forming a plurality of aligned apertures.
US08968278B2
Disposable loading units (DLUs) configured for mounting to a robotic arm for performing at least one surgical task are presented. Each DLU includes an attachment platform having at least one connector for engaging at least one connector on a distal end of the robotic arm for connecting the DLU to the robotic arm, a head portion connected to the attachment platform at one end and configured for housing an electromechanical actuation assembly therein, and at least one surgical tool member extending from the head portion and operatively associated with the electromechanical actuation assembly for controlling the operation and movement of the at least one surgical tool member. The at least one surgical tool member may include a cutting assembly, an aortic hole punch assembly, a lasing assembly, a coring assembly, or a vascular suturing assembly.
US08968275B2
Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for effecting at least one anatomical structure of a body can be provided. For example, at least one first arrangement can be provided which is structured to be at least partially inserted into the body and including an opening. In addition, at least one second arrangement can be provided which configured to increase and/or decrease a size of the opening by a motion thereof in a first direction. Further, at least one third arrangement can be provided which can be coupled to the second arrangement(s), and configured to move at least in a second direction which is at least approximately parallel to the second direction. In particular, when the anatomical structure(s) is/are provided or inserted in the opening and is pressed on by the second arrangement(s), a first motion of the second arrangement(s) toward the anatomical structure(s) in the first direction is reduced and/or terminated while a second motion of the third arrangement(s) in the second direction either (i) remains at least approximately the same, and/or (ii) is reduced to a lesser extent than that of the first motion.
US08968274B2
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled substance delivery device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, a delivery device or related device may be placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. The concentration of a substance in the fluid to be delivered may be modified by a remote control signal. In selected embodiments, an acoustic control signal may be used.
US08968272B2
A closed system for harvesting fat through liposuction, concentrating the aspirate so obtained, and then re-injecting the concentrated fat into a patient comprises as its main components a low pressure cannula having between about 7 to 12 side holes of about 1-2 mm by 2.0 to 4.0 mm, a spring loaded syringe holder with a constant force or coiled ribbon spring to apply a substantially constant pressure over the full excursion of the plunger, and a preferably flexible collection bag which is also preferably graduated, cylindrical over most of its body and funnel shaped at its bottom, all of which are connected through flexible tubings to a multi-port valve. The multi-port valve has two flutter/duck bill valves which restrict the fluid flow to a one way direction which effectively allows the syringe to be used to pump fat out of a patient and into a collection bag in a continuous manner. After the bags are centrifuged to concentrate the fat, the excess fluids are separated and the valve is re-connected to permit the syringe pump to reverse fluid flow to graft the concentrated fat back into the patient.
US08968266B2
A sanitary undergarment, comprising a fabric body, a crotch portion, a waist opening, and a thigh opening, each comprising one or more layers made of a breathable leak-proof material for blocking flow of the body fluid through the fabric body. The sanitary undergarment generally comprises a boxer brief construction. The fabric body constitutes a front portion and a rear portion and blocks flow of the body fluid of the wearer outside the sanitary undergarment and prevents staining of the outer garment. The front portion covers a front part of a pelvic region of the wearer. The rear portion covers a rear part of the pelvic region of the wearer. The crotch portion covers a crotch region of the wearer and comprises one or more of a first layer and a second layer. The second layer prevents chafing at the inner thigh regions of the wearer.
US08968265B2
The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis defining a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and back waist region. The article includes a fastening system that includes one or more fastening devices, each having at least one tab member configured to releasably connect to a slot member when, for instance, fastening the article to the body of the wearer. A variable stiffness member is associated with at least a portion of the fastening device that, in response to a predetermined external stimulus, reduces its stiffness to correspondingly reduce the stiffness of the fastening device.
US08968261B2
A medical valve has an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a rotating member having a protruding member, and a resilient member with a complimentary surface that mates with the protruding member. The inlet portion and outlet portion of the housing compress the protruding member into the resilient member to bias the valve to the closed mode.
US08968258B2
A resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device comprising a housing and a drive member rotatable in a second direction for delivering a dose. A piston rod driven distally when a drive member rotates in the second direction. A stop member prevents rotation of the drive member in a first direction opposite the second direction, when the stop member engages the drive member. A clutch member is movable between a delivery and reset position. When the clutch member is in the delivery position, the stop member and the drive member engage and the drive member is prevented from rotating in the first direction. When the clutch member is in the reset position, the drive member and the stop member disengage. The drive member is rotatable in the first direction.
US08968257B2
A coded cartridge holder system is disclosed for use with a cartridge assembly (20) containing a fluid and a delivery device (10), where the system has keyed connectors (5, 5′, 6, 6′) to prevent accidental attachment of the wrong fluid delivery device (10). The system comprises a coupling (1) attachable to the dose setting portion (12) of the device (10) and keyed to the proximal end of the cartridge holder (14). The cartridge holder (14) may also contain medical coding (27, 28) to correspond to matching coding (27′, 28′) on the distal end of a cartridge assembly (20).
US08968252B2
An integrated vascular delivery system having a frame configured to receive a catheter insertable in a patient to deliver fluid at an insertion site. The frame includes a first hub, a second hub, and a pair of flexible lateral members extending between the hubs and including a tubular lateral member. The system also includes a fluidic channel that fluidically communicates with the catheter, wherein the fluidic channel passes through the tubular lateral member and at least one of the hubs, and includes a fixed turnabout portion in which fluid flows in a direction different from that within the catheter. The first and second hubs provide anchoring points on the patient distributed around the insertion site and on opposite ends of the catheter, thereby anchoring the frame to the patient and stabilizing the catheter. A method is provided for using an integrated vascular delivery system.
US08968251B2
An access assembly is provided. The access assembly includes an access member defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for reception and passage of surgical instrument, the access member dimensioned for positioning within tissue to provide access to underlying tissue, and first and second seal members mounted to the access member in juxtaposed relation, the first seal member defining an opening therethrough, the second seal member defining an elongated arcuate passage, wherein the first and second seal members are adapted for rotational movement about the central longitudinal axis whereby the opening of the first seal member is axially alignable with the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to permit reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith, the first and second seal members further adapted for relative rotational movement whereby the first seal member is capable of rotating relative to the second seal member during manipulation and traversal of the surgical instrument through the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to maintain the substantial sealed relation about the instrument.
US08968250B2
A surgical access port or trocar is provided. The trocar has a trocar seal housing and a trocar cannula with an optical obturator insertable through the trocar seal housing and the trocar cannula. The trocar is configured to access a body cavity, to maintain positive pressure and to prevent loss of surgical insufflation gas used in laparoscopic procedures. The trocar seal housing can be releasably attached to the trocar cannula. The trocar seal housing may also have a shield and/or alignment channel that provide protection or assist in operation of instrument and zero seals housed in the trocar seal housing.
US08968248B2
A feeding tube and method for introducing a feeding tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, whereby the feeding tube is introduced by using a variation of the Ponsky “pull” method of feeding tube placement. The feeding tube comprises an elongate shaft having a distal end and proximal end. The feeding tube also comprises a coupling structure for coupling the feeding tube to a pull wire, the coupling structure be proximal of the distal end of the feeding tube shaft. The feeding tube further comprises a guiding structure for aligning the pull wire with the distal end of the shaft. The feeding tube is introduced within the patient by attaching the previously placed pull wire to the coupling and guiding structures of the feeding tube, and then pulling the pull wire so as to pull the feeding tube into and through the gastrointestinal tract of the patient.
US08968245B2
Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a rigid structure and a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion. The beam structure includes one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure and a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion to inhibit displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure. Each beam has a sensing element disposed thereon.
US08968238B2
Mixing systems and methods include a mixing device comprising a primary tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface and an inner lumen and at least one secondary tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface and an inner lumen. The at least one secondary tube is substantially parallel to the primary tube. The distal end of the at least one secondary tube is fluidly connected to the primary tube at a junction located on the primary tube close to the distal end of the primary tube.
US08968234B2
A mammal undergoing an energy-based therapy is treated by administering at least one vasoconstrictive agent to the mammal prior to or during the procedure. The at least one vasoconstrictive agent is added in amounts sufficient to reduce or prevent vasodilation. This treatment method increases or promotes the size of the coagulation zone created after energy-based therapy.
US08968227B2
Disclosed and claimed herein is an improved leg brace having a thigh frame, a shank frame, a knee assembly rotatably coupling the thigh frame to the shank frame, and a shoe component attached to the shank frame; the knee assembly having a spring, clutch, means for engaging the clutch; and programmable means for engaging the clutch at a selected angle between the thigh frame and shank frame.
US08968220B2
The present invention relates to a wearable robot system for rehabilitation training of the upper limbs that has an improved structure to reproduce in detail motion of a human body by selecting a wearing type structure such that robot links move correspondingly to the motion of the upper limbs while decreasing the volume of a rehabilitation and assistance device based on a robot for rehabilitation training of the upper limbs. According the present invention, it is possible to decrease the volume and increase the available space, in addition to creating smooth motion without interfering with the human body by creating a plurality of robot motion paths and selecting the best path from them, because an operation of four degrees of freedom can be achieved by an operation procedure using redundant.
US08968218B2
A gait-enhancing system and method of enhancing gait includes generating a reference signal having substantially equal durations between occurrences and providing the reference signal to a user. Contact between the feet of the user with a surface is received and occurrence of a trigger signal is generated in response to the contact. An occurrence of the trigger signal is compared with an occurrence of a reference signal, and a guidance signal is produced as a function of the amount of time that the trigger signal led or lagged the reference signal. The guidance signal is provided to the user in order to promote symmetry in stride between one foot and the other foot of the user, enhancing the user's gait.
US08968214B2
A protector which is used to cover a distal portion of a guide wire protruding from a distal opening of a tube body includes a first half body and a second half body which are movable between an open state and a closed state. Each of the first half body and the second half body includes a guide wire sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the distal portion of the guide wire cooperatively in the closed state of the protector. Each of the first half body and the second half body also includes a tube body sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the tube body cooperatively in the closed state of the protector.
US08968208B2
An apparatus and method for quantifying myocardial kinetics by positioning two sensors on a myocardial substrate site so that one sensor is directly opposing the other along a ventricular wall; tracking a relative displacement between the two sensors; and determining whether there is an infarct based on the tracked relative displacement.
US08968207B2
Method and apparatus are provided for computing signals related to cardiac output from physiologic input signals related to circulatory pressures or flows. Method and apparatus are provided for constructing a transforming filter and applying said filter to the physiologic input signals in order to obtain a signal proportional to phasic cardiac output or time-averaged cardiac output. This invention provides a means for real-time monitoring of cardiac output and stroke volume which is of great clinical importance but not otherwise feasible by present techniques.
US08968205B2
Sub-aperture control is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. Test transmissions are made sequentially from different sub-apertures. The tissue response at the focal regions is determined and used to select sub-apertures. For example, one or more sub-apertures are not used where temperature does not rise above certain threshold or tissue displacement is weak, such as associated with intervening bone or attenuating tissue. Other factors may be used instead or in addition to tissue response at the focal region. Relative proximity of the sub-apertures to a lesion, angular distribution of the sub-apertures, shape or size of the sub-aperture focal regions as compared to the tissue to be treated, or combinations thereof may be used. Once selected, the relative weight for each sub-aperture may be adjusted based on measured tissue response for each sub-aperture, such as to provide more equal treatment contribution from different sub-apertures.
US08968202B2
There are provided an ultrasound imaging system and a method of forming a plurality of scan lines and frames by using receiving signals provided by transducers in a probe. Main scan lines, which are selected among the scan lines and supplement scan lines determined with the others, are assigned to each scan line data forming unit in the ultrasound imaging system. A partial data of the main scan line and a first supplement data of the supplement scan line are formed with receive data obtained from receive signals from at least one transducer. A second supplement data provided from other scan line data forming units is applied to the partial data of the main scan line to form a scan line data of the main scan line.
US08968199B2
Embodiments for forming an ultrasound spatial compound image by correcting refraction of ultrasound signals in an ultrasound system are disclosed herein. An ultrasound data acquisition unit forms a first set of ultrasound frame data and a second set of ultrasound frame data by using non-steered scan lines and steered scan lines, respectively. The processor, which is coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit, forms a plurality of sets of resampled ultrasound frame data based on the second set of ultrasound frame data, selects one particular set of ultrasound frame data from the group consisting of the second set of ultrasound frame data and the plurality of sets of resampled ultrasound frame data based on the first set of ultrasound frame data and spatially compounds the one particular set of ultrasound frame data and the first set of ultrasound frame data to form an ultrasound spatial compound image.
US08968198B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08968190B2
A surgical apparatus includes a housing member and an inner member. The housing member includes an expandable material that is adapted to transition between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, an outer surface of the housing member is adapted for a substantial sealing relationship with tissue upon insertion of the housing member within the tissue for accessing an underlying tissue site. The housing member has leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. The inner member is operably associated with the housing member and includes one or more longitudinal portals extending therethrough adapted for substantially sealed reception of a surgical object. The inner member may be less compliant than the housing member. The inner member may rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing member.
US08968173B2
A non-invasive method of using electromagnetic field energies to reduce or arrest the growth rate and proliferation of cancer cells, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells, and reduce or arrest the growth and survival of foreign pathogens, relatively without significantly harming normal cells beyond their physiologic threshold of survival are provided.
US08968169B2
The invention is a decanter centrifuge for separating a first substance and a second substance with different densities, comprising a bowl rotating in use around a horizontal axis of rotation in a direction of rotation, said axis of rotation extending in a longitudinal direction of said bowl, a radial direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a base plate provided at one longitudinal end of said bowl, said base plate having an internal side and an external side, an outlet opening provided in said base plate for discharge of one of said substances. A slide valve body is adapted for covering an adjustable part of the outlet opening to delimit an effective area of the outlet opening.
US08968164B2
Exercise apparatus and method including a slidable handle assembly. In one embodiment, a support arm structure, pivotally mounted on an upright frame, enables alternatively fixed positioning of a rod at various vertical distances above a ground plane, in a generally horizontal orientation. A pair of left and right handle bracket assemblies are sildably mounted on the rod, and can be engaged by a user for moving the slidable handle bracket assembly across the rod while overcoming a resistance established by an adjustable resistance mechanism (e.g., weight stack). In one embodiment, the apparatus and method are used for developing muscles used during trunk rotation of a user in a standing position.
US08968160B2
A treadmill comprising: a pair of rollers mounted on a frame; an endless running belt wound around the rollers under a selected tension; at least one of the rollers having a roller pulley for receiving a drive belt; a drive mechanism comprising a driven rotor having a drive pulley; the drive belt being wound around the roller pulley and the drive pulley at a drive tension created by the selected tension in the running belt.
US08968156B2
We have disclosed methods of determining workout plans and sessions for an individual. The methods may include receiving input from the individual, determining a first type of workout based on the input, determining a plurality of workout sessions for the first type of workout for a workout plan, determining a second type of workout that is different than the first type of workout based on input from the individual, determining a plurality of workout sessions for the second type of workout for the workout plan, and storing data describing the workout plan, including data describing the workout sessions for the for the first and second types of workouts, in a memory accessible by a server computer system.
US08968154B2
A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine configured to execute autostop and autostart operations, and a multi-mode transmission with an electrically-powered hydraulic pump configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic circuit. A Method for controlling operation of the hydraulic pump includes operating the hydraulic pump in a low power mode only when the engine is in an engine-off state, operator inputs to a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, and a transmission range selector are within allowable states, temperatures of select transmission components are within respective predetermined temperature ranges, and transmission output torque is less than a threshold torque request.
US08968152B2
A transmission arrangement for transmitting power from a power source to an electrical generator. The transmission arrangement comprises a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an alternative transmission that is more efficient at transmitting power than the CVT. The transmission arrangement further comprises a power mixing mechanism for combining power from the CVT and the alternative transmission into a combined power output to be provided to the electrical generator. The percentage of CVT power within the combined power output decreases as the power supplied by the power source increases.
US08968149B2
A wind turbine gear mechanism with a planetary gear stage arranged on the drive input side and with first and second spur gear stages arranged, in a gear mechanism housing, downstream of the planetary gear stage. The first spur gear stage rotationally and functionally connects a sun gear shaft of the planetary gear stage to an intermediate shaft, the second spur gear stage rotationally and functionally connects the intermediate shaft to a drive output shaft, and only one intermediate shaft is provided. In this case, the gear mechanism housing has a separation joint along which the gear mechanism housing can be divided into a main housing portion and a housing cover in such manner that a separation joint plane passes through the central axis of the intermediate shaft and the separation joint plane extends a distance away from the central axis of the sun gear shaft.
US08968138B2
A drive device for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine having at least one rotor element which is configured to delimit an installation area in a radial direction, and an active rotor part which is operably connected to the rotor element and has a ring structure to guide a magnetic flux of the electric machine. At least one transmission device is disposed, at least partly, in the installation area and configured to be driven by the electric machine via the rotor element.
US08968137B2
Drive train for a motor vehicle, having an electric machine for providing motive power, and a transmission arrangement. The transmission arrangement has a transmission input shaft and a first and a second gear stage. The transmission input shaft is connected to the electric machine. The drive train has a differential, which is connected to an output of the transmission and is set up to distribute motive power to two drive shafts. The differential is connected to a helically toothed driving gear, which is in engagement with a helically toothed pinion of the transmission output. A pressure pad arrangement absorbs axial forces arising from the helical toothing.
US08968135B2
A transmission for a vehicle including a hydrostatic regenerative braking system includes a first rotatable shaft having a first end adapted to be driven by a first prime mover and a second end adapted to be coupled to a vehicle driveline. A second shaft selectively drives the first shaft and is adapted to drive a hydraulic pump of a second prime mover. A planetary gearset includes a first member restricted from rotation, a second member and a third member. A transfer mechanism includes a first sprocket fixed for rotation with the second member, a second sprocket fixed for rotation with the input shaft and a flexible member interconnecting the first and second sprockets. A clutch transfers torque between the third member and the first shaft.
US08968133B2
A fluid driven rotary prime mover assembly including a turbine, a first generator, a second generator and a speed increaser is provided. The gear assembly includes a first epicyclic and a second epicyclic. The first epicyclic includes a first carrier rotationally connected to the turbine, a first sun rotationally connected to the first generator, a first annulus, and a first planet in meshing engagement with the first sun and the first annulus. The second epicyclic includes a second carrier rotationally grounded, a second sun rotationally connected to the second generator, a second annulus connected to the first annulus, and a second planet in meshing engagement with the second sun and the second annulus.
US08968124B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods for releasably securing a structural member of a movable goal, such as a soccer goal, to a surface, such as the ground. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising: (1) an enclosure structured to be placed at least substantially below the surface, the enclosure defining a cavity; (2) a goal engaging member movable relative to the surface and structured to engage the structural member of the movable goal; and (3) a tightening mechanism mounted within the enclosure and operatively connected to the goal engaging member, the tightening mechanism being structured to urge the goal engaging member toward the tightening mechanism so that the goal engaging member releasably secures a portion of the structural member of the movable goal.
US08968123B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for securing a movable soccer goal to a playing surface. When in use, the apparatus functions to prevent the soccer goal from being moved, thereby, making it considerably safer and more sturdy than an unsecured soccer goal.
US08968110B2
An apparatus includes a support frame, a resilient member, a seat, and a retainer. The resilient member has a first end portion configured to be coupled to the support frame and a second end portion, opposite from the first end portion. The seat is configured to be coupled to the second end portion such that the seat is suspended from the support frame by the resilient member. At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion includes multiple sleeves, each defining an opening therein. A portion of the retainer is configured to be disposed within a first one of the sleeves and coupled to at least one of the seat and the support frame such that a position of the seat relative to the support frame is adjustable by disposing the portion of the retainer within a second one of the sleeves.
US08968104B2
The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may trigger reveals based on multiplayer interactions, such as, for example, a player-versus-player (“PvP”) interaction, a tournament interaction, a massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) interaction, and/or other types of multiplayer interactions. Regardless of the type of multiplayer interaction, the system may manage reveals based on an individual user's unrevealed balance, which includes payouts resulting from real-world wagers (and/or other value) that have not yet been revealed to the user.
US08968096B2
A game server through which a game can be played by operating one's own operation character in a virtual space therein, has a memory that stores an attainment state of a succeeding quest every each player every partial quest, controller that controls not to execute the partial quest that has been already cleared again, judger that judges whether each game terminal is able to execute the partial quest when inputting an order entry notice showing execution of the partial quest through cooperation play, and a changer that rewrites and changes attainment state of the partial quest into “before execution of quest” for the game terminal judged to be impossible to execute such a partial quest so as to execute the partial quest.
US08968091B2
Human body motion is represented by a skeletal model derived from image data of a user. The model represents joints and bones and has a rigid body portion. The sets of body data are scaled to a predetermined number of sets for a number of periodic units. A body-based coordinate 3-D reference system having a frame of reference defined with respect to a position within the rigid body portion of the skeletal model is generated. The body-based coordinate 3-D reference system is independent of the camera's field of view. The scaled data and representation of relative motion within an orthogonal body-based 3-D reference system decreases the data and simplifies the calculations for determining motion thus enhancing real-time performance for multimedia applications controlled by a user's natural movements.
US08968075B2
Electronic fund transfer (EFT) systems and methods are disclosed for managing and transferring electronic funds from a patron's financial account to provide gaming or amusement credit in physical or electronic form. The systems comprise an electronic fund transfer (EFT) device, a secure payment gateway configured to connect to the patron's financial accounts via a financial network, a host system, and a funds management portal connected to the host system and to the secure payment gateway. The EFT device is configured to communicate with the patron's financial account via a secure connection to the secure payment gateway and to transmit instructions for transferring electronic funds from the patron's financial account to a credit system via the secure payment gateway and the funds management portal.
US08968063B2
A method for installation of an adhesive vent over an aperture in a surface is described, the adhesive vent has at least one substantially straight serrated edge and an air permeable venting region, an adhesive region having adhesive disposed thereon surrounding the air permeable venting region. The method comprises providing an edge guide adjacent to the aperture, the edge guide adapted to inhibit motion in at least one direction on the surface, positioning the serrated edge on the surface such that the edge of the adhesive vent engages with the edge guide and pressing the adhesive vent onto the surface such that the air permeable region of the adhesive vent covers the aperture and the adhesive vent is fixed to the surface by the adhesive.
US08968062B2
A vehicle air conditioner provided with an airflow structure for an intake box, wherein, in an HVAC comprising, in an intake box, a control device for controlling the number of rotation, the control device is reliably cooled by airflow regardless of the ratio of mixing between internal air and external air. A vehicle air conditioner of center-concentrated type, wherein a control device (6) for controlling the number of rotation is mounted to a vehicle interior-side wall surface inside an intake box (2) and wherein an air delivery guide (22) is provided in the intake box (2), the air delivery guide (22) delivering to the control device (6) a part of air introduced from a direction crossing the direction of opening of a suction opening (7) of a blower (8).
US08968058B2
Polishing pads with alignment marks are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with alignment marks are also described.
US08968047B1
The balloon display system used in indoor and outdoor show rooms and the like. The system includes a heavy plastic inflatable balloon. The balloon is mounted on top of a circular balloon holder cup. The cup and the balloon are attached to an upper end of a flexible rod. A lower end of a flexible rod can be attached to a flexible or a rigid, hollow mounting pole. A lower end of the mounting pole can be attached to an upper end of a ground stake. A lower end of the ground stake is inserted into a ground surface. Also the lower end of the mounting pole can be mounted on top of a weighted base stand or other upright objects. The system is designed to display one balloon or a plurality of balloons in a balloon cluster.
US08968036B2
A high-amperage connector with visual alignment features is described. The connector can comprise a male connector with a male skirt where the male skirt has two keys on an outer surface. At least one of the keys on the outer surface of the male skirt can have an alignment feature. The connector also comprises a female connector with a female skin where the female skirt has two keyways on an inner surface of the female skirt. At least one of the keyways can have a corresponding alignment feature located on the outer surface of the female skirt. The alignment features on the male skirt and the female skirt allow a user to easily align the two connectors before connecting them.
US08968035B2
Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. A first portion of the first conductive path and a first portion of the second conductive path are routed as a transmission line, and a first portion of the sixth conductive path is routed therebetween.
US08968034B2
An electrical connector is used to mate with a first plug connector and a second plug connector, the first and second plug connectors have different mating interfaces. The electrical connector includes a housing, defining a mating tongue, a plurality of signal terminals with contacting portion arranged on the mating tongue, and a metallic shell surrounding the mating tongue, thereby defining a mating cavity into which the mating tongue extends. The housing defines a pair of extending posts extending into the mating cavity and located at two opposite sides of the mating tongue and spaced from the mating tongue with a gap. The extending posts are loaded with a pair of power terminals thereon. The mating cavity constructs a first mating port and the extending posts excluding the extending posts and two subsidiary ports into which the pair of extending posts extend.
US08968031B2
Connector receptacle assemblies that may be simple to manufacture, provide multiple receptacles, and provide a good ground contact path. One example may provide a connector receptacle assembly formed of a housing having a tongue that may include openings on one or more sides for contacts as well as openings on its sides for ground contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having at least two tongues, where each tongue may be aligned with a corresponding opening in a device enclosure. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a tongue with a center ground contact, where the center ground contact may be located between the top row and the bottom row of contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a titanium-copper center ground contact.
US08968026B2
A network interface adapted for high speed networks. The interface includes isolation circuits with a transformer containing two primary coils and two secondary coils. A wire making up each primary coil may be twisted with a wire making up a secondary. These two coils may then be co-wound on a common core. The transformer may be connected to a common mode choke. The isolation circuit may be packaged such that the transformer and coil are in a line, with isolation circuits for a plurality of pairs arranged in parallel. The interface circuit may be packaged in a connector housing, which also may be adapted for high speed performance. The housing may receive multiple isolation circuits in parallel. The housing may also include a mating contact portion in which mating contacts for signal conductors of each pair are positioned along the same side of a cavity.
US08968023B1
The wiring harness provided herein affords adjustability of the relative orientation between the connecting cable and its interface connector in real time, during field applications. The harness rotates to accommodate varying access angles to the desired test point connector. A cable conduit of the harness can be adjusted vertically relative to the axis of its interface connector, as well. Cable wire integrity is maintained during manipulations of the cable conduit relative to the harness electrical connector and stress on the wires is minimized. The harness can be sealed from moisture and environmental factors. The harness can provide shielding from electromagnetic interference for the cabling housed therein. The present harness is well suited for service in high heat environments in, for example, testing of aircraft systems. A cylinder receives the cabling conduit and swivels within a slotted backshell. Slot configuration can limit the translation of the cable conduit.
US08968020B2
An electric connector includes a housing having a groove configured to receive a signal-transmission medium, and a lock device including a locker configured to lock the signal-transmission medium at the groove, the locker being configured to move up beyond and down below a first inner surface of the groove extending in parallel with a direction in which the signal-transmission medium is received in the groove, the locker being energized towards a second inner surface of the groove, the second inner surface being disposed opposite to the first inner surface, and the lock device further including a compressor configured to compress the signal-transmission medium towards the second inner surface.
US08968019B2
Sockets that provide easy access for users to change cards while allowing the use of thinner device enclosures. One example provides a socket having two positions. When the socket is in an open state, the card may be oriented in a direction substantially away from the main logic board. When the socket is in a closed state, the card moves such that it is oriented at least closer to being in parallel to the main logic board.
US08968014B2
A connector cover may be used to protect a connector from exposure to environmental contaminants and physical abuse. In some examples, the connector cover includes a housing defining an opening that is configured to receive a connector positioned on the end of a transmission line. The housing may contain a complementary connector for mating with the transmission line connector. The connector cover may also include first and second doors positioned to cover different portions of the opening. In use, the doors may bias together when the connector is not inserted into the housing so as to keep the opening closed. Upon inserting the connector into the opening, the connector cover doors may move apart in response to the connector physically contacting the doors. This may allow a user to insert the connector into the connector cover without using their hands to touch the doors, which may transfer contaminants.
US08968008B2
The present invention discloses a universal circuit board module and an electric connector using the same. The electric connector includes a housing and a universal circuit board module. The housing includes an electric connecter with a plurality of connecting ports and a recess. The recess is used for assembling the universal circuit board module. The electric connector is expanded by increasing the universal circuit board module having electric connecting head with demanded standard or particular function, such that the expansibility can be enhanced.
US08968005B2
A circuit-terminal connecting device comprising a first connector having a first housing fixed to a main circuit board and first contacts supported by the first housing to be connected with first circuit-terminals provided on the main circuit board and a second connector having a second housing attached to a flat circuit member and second contacts supported by the second housing to be connected with second circuit-terminals provided on the flat circuit member. The first housing of the first connector fits into a hole formed in the second housing of the second connector so as to create an electrical piling connection between the main circuit board and the flat circuit member wherein the flat circuit member is laid on top of the main circuit board and the first circuit-terminals are electrically connected with the second circuit-terminals through the first and second connectors.
US08968002B2
A dental implant system having a dental implant, an abutment and a threaded screw is provided. The abutment has a guiding and lock structure and the dental implant has a complementary guiding and lock structure, for associating the abutment to the dental implant, with each guiding and lock structure having an anti-rotational structure. Threaded engagement of the threaded screw to a threaded section of the dental implant is not possible, when the anti-rotational structure of the abutment is held in an intermediate position on the anti-rotational structure of the dental implant, which intermediate position is a position where the longitudinal axes of the guiding and lock structures of the abutment and of the dental implant are coaxial with one another.
US08967999B2
The present invention is a surgical guide for guiding the insertion of a dental implant into a desired location in a patient's mouth. The implant includes a non-rotational structure. The surgical guide includes a structure and a master tube. The structure has a negative impression surface to be fitted on and placed over gingival tissue, bone, and/or teeth in the patient's mouth. The structure includes an opening through which the dental implant is placed. The master tube is located at the opening. The master tube includes indicia for alignment with the non-rotational structure on the implant such that the non-rotational structure of the implant is at a known angular orientation with respect to the master tube. The present invention includes kits of various components used with the surgical guide and with the dental surgery using the surgical guide.
US08967998B2
Provided is a rotary kiln having a cylindrical shell having an inner cylindrical surface and a longitudinal axis and a kiln lining disposed on the inner cylindrical surface of the shell. The kiln lining includes one or more radial portions of a first size of shaped refractory material disposed on the inner cylindrical surface of the shell along the longitudinal axis for at least a portion of the shell and one or more lifter sections comprising a second size of shaped refractory material that extend along the longitudinal axis for at least a portion of the shell and are between radial portions of the first size of shaped refractory material, wherein the second size of shaped refractory material is greater than the first size of shaped refractory material, such that the second size of shaped refractory material extends orthogonally from the inner cylindrical surface for a greater portion of the diameter of the shell than the first size of shaped refractory material, the second size of shaped refractory materials thereby forming a series of blunt faces. Also included are methods of processing materials using the inventive kiln lining, and methods of assembling the inventive kiln lining.
US08967997B2
A burner for a fire plume generator includes a liquid fuel nozzle directed along a first axis, a peripheral shield extending around the liquid fuel nozzle, the peripheral shield extending substantially along the first axis and defining an upper end and a lower end, and a pilot flame manifold located at or above the upper end of the peripheral shield, the pilot flame manifold defining a plurality of pilot flame outlets. A fire plume generator, a fire safety protection evaluation system, and a method of evaluating a fire safety protection device are also disclosed.
US08967993B2
A device has a freely rotatable rotor (13), which is equipped at its circumference with multiple nozzle heads (14). The rotor (13) is arranged above a row of preforms (1), wherein these preforms (1) are moved onto feed rails (7, 8) in conveying direction (9). At least one of the nozzle heads (14) respectively immerses into the hollow space (11) of a preform (1) and is taken along by the latter in conveying direction (9). During the immersion, a gas stream is blown into the hollow space (11) of the preform (1) by a nozzle (16) in the nozzle head (14).
US08967985B2
A stator for a helical gear device is formed from multiple rigid disks and support rings bonded to the disks. Each disk forms part of a profile consisting of radially equally spaced or opened lobes which interact with the convex portions of rotor lobes. The disks are arranged into a desired helical configuration and bonded to one another to form a disk stack defining a helically convoluted elongated chamber therein. The support rings are fixed concentrically against respective end disks of the disk stack. The rings are sized with an inside diameter substantially equal to the major diameter of the central aperture defined by the radially extending lobes of the rigid disks. As a rotor rotates and nutates inside the helically convoluted elongated chamber of the stator, it is supported at both ends of the disk stack by the support rings touching the tips of the rotor lobes. Thus the full force of the rotor's operational inertia is not borne by the disks alone, thereby increasing their life.
US08967982B2
A mechanical coolant pump for an internal combustion engine includes a main pump body configured to be stationary. A pump wheel is rotatably supported by the main pump body. The pump wheel comprises a central axial inlet opening. The pump wheel is configured to pump a coolant from the central axial inlet opening radially outwardly. A valve disk configured to be axially shiftable is arranged in the pump wheel. An actuator is configured to actuate the valve disk so as to close the central axial inlet opening in a closed position of the valve disk.
US08967975B2
There is provided a centrifugal air blower that can reduce driving force (consumed driving force) when an air blower is rotated, and also increase an airflow amount of air to be blown out from the air blower. A centrifugal air blower having an impeller 1 comprising a main plate 3 and plural vanes 2, and a side plate having a suction port and a blow-out port is characterized in that when the height of the suction port is represented by H, the height of the blow-out port is represented by h, the diameter of the impeller is represented by D and the diameter of the suction port is represented by d, 0.5
US08967967B2
The present disclosure relates to a propfan engine comprising: one or more rotor stages comprising a plurality of rotors; and an outer wall comprising an outer profile, at least a portion of the outer profile defining a substantially circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the substantially circular cross-section increases in the direction of flow over the outer wall and downstream of a leading edge of the rotors, and the diameter increases at substantially all points defining the circumference of the substantially circular cross-section.
US08967965B1
An apparatus and method for providing orthosonic lift by deflection includes a support surface and a wing surface in close proximity to the support surface. The space between the support surface and the wing surface defines a volume of air. An orthosonic lift generator causes the oscillating movement of air in the volume parallel to the wing surface. The oscillating movement of air results in a static air pressure on the wing surface of less than the ambient air pressure, resulting in a net force acting on the wing member.
US08967959B2
A turbine of a turbomachine is provided and includes opposing endwalls defining a pathway into which a fluid flow is receivable to flow through the pathway; and a nozzle stage at which adjacent nozzles extend across the pathway between the opposing endwalls to aerodynamically interact with the fluid flow. The adjacent nozzles are configured to define a throat distribution exhibiting endwall throat decambering and pitchline throat overcambering.
US08967957B2
A rotating airfoil component equipped with one or more angel wings that inhibit the ingress of a hot working fluid into interior regions of a turbomachine in which the component is installed. The component includes an airfoil and a feature for mounting the component to enable rotation of the component within the turbomachine. An angel wing projects from the component to have a first surface facing the airfoil, an oppositely-disposed second surface facing the mounting feature, and at least one lateral surface therebetween. A thermal-insulating coating system is present on the first surface to inhibit heat transfer from the working fluid to the angel wing but not on the second or lateral surfaces so as not to inhibit heat transfer from the second and lateral surfaces of the angel wing.
US08967947B2
A system accepts outside kinetic energy in various forms such as wind, rain or waterfall and produces electricity by use of traditional coils and magnets or other means. During lulls in obtaining outside kinetic energy, a wind wheel, water wheel or arm system will slow down and eventually stop. A system of magnets installed upon an arm system and upon a surrounding stationary housing 800 assists in rotating an arm system such that the arm system will require additional time to stop after a lull in outside kinetic energy. The artful placement and orientation of stationary housing magnets 250 in relation to moving arm magnets 200 assists in rotating an arm system powered by outside kinetic forces. The angles of the stationary housing magnets urge the arm magnets to move in the desired direction 900 of rotation. The system increases mechanical efficiency.
US08967940B2
A seed carrier includes a main hopper coupled with a frame via leg members. The main hopper has a discharge. A base plate is coupled with the frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled with the base plate at a first end. A belt driven conveyor having a conveyor hopper at a first end and a discharge at a second end is rotatably coupled with a second end of said support arm at an approximate center of gravity thereof. A latch mechanism is provided for detachably coupling the first end of the conveyor with the first end of the support arm such that the conveyor hopper is position below the main hopper discharge. When the conveyor is uncoupled from the first end of the support arm, the conveyor can rotate to a loading position wherein the discharge thereof can be positioned over the main hopper.
US08967939B2
An apparatus for moving parked aircraft with a tractor via an aircraft lift dolly which includes a hinged gate to entrap the aircraft nose gear. The aircraft lift dolly may be removably detachably coupled to the tractor through two attachment points to an intermediate connecting towbar. The aircraft lift dolly includes a lift mechanism having a lift carriage which is selectively elevated. The lift carriage includes a fixed forward chock and a rear chock that it repositioned longitudinally with respect to the forward chock and is hingedly coupled. The chocks are positioned about the aircraft nose gear without movement of the aircraft. Elevating the lift cradle elevates the chocks and the nose gear cradled therebetween.
US08967936B2
A sump clearing device having a elongated tube attached to a backboard of a sweep auger. A second tube is attached to and extends through a sidewall of a grain bin. The second tube is aligned with the elongated tube. An elongated member having a clearing device is inserted through the second and elongated tube such that the clearing device is positioned above a center sump of the bin.
US08967934B1
A bale loading and transporting trailer apparatus comprises a transport assembly having wheels, and a bale support frame on the transport assembly to support the bale support frame above the ground surface. The bale support frame is movable with respect to the transport assembly between a load condition for supporting bales and a dump condition for rolling bales off of the bale support frame. A lift frame is configured to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale support frame onto the support frame. A bale shifting assembly is configured to shift a bale rearwardly from a load position on the bale support frame to a store position behind the load position. The bale shifting assembly may include a sled movable in a longitudinal direction on the bale support frame to carry a bale positioned thereon along the bale support frame.
US08967933B2
The present invention relates to a fast extraction threaded nut intended to be used on a threaded bolt or male member wherein the fast extraction threaded nut comprises at least an outer face and an axial bore as to allow insertion of a male member or like, wherein the fast extraction threaded nut and the threaded bolt have tightening means with common geometry, and the fast extraction threaded nut and the threaded bolt or male member are intended to join or connect two elements that need to be attached or coupled to each other, wherein the fast extraction threaded nut comprises in at least the outer face a notch of variable section and the notching is formed by at least two faces wherein the maximum cross-section of the notch is positioned in the outer area and the minimum section is positioned prior to the axial bore at such a distance that allows for the generation of an increase area which extensively grows until reaching the inner surface of the axial bore where the common tightening means is formed thus generating the split of the fast extraction threaded nut.
US08967930B2
A transport system for transporting large items wherein the large items comprise at least three through going holes and said system comprises a frame to support the items. Said frame has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises two parallel longitudinal beams connected by two parallel transverse beams and further comprises at least two transverse support bars to support the items, which transverse support bars are located between the two parallel transverse beams. The transport system further comprises a first and a second rod to be mounted in two through going holes in the items where each end of the first and second rod can be connected to the longitudinal beams to secure the items to the frame in such a way that no part of the large items extends over the rectangle defined by the two parallel longitudinal beams and the two parallel transverse beams.
US08967920B2
A cutting insert has at least first and second side surfaces, with a chip-control arrangement. The chip-control arrangement includes at least one projection disposed at an intersection of a corner of the cutting insert. When the chip-control arrangement includes two projections they can be disposed symmetrically on both sides of the intersection. Each of the at least one projections is elongated and extends longitudinally along an associated side surface.
US08967917B1
A retaining wall system has a plurality of pilasters, a plurality of spiralnails, a wire truss system, and a plurality of face panels. The plurality of pilasters are horizontally spaced along the earthen embankment, and each have an elongate pilaster body that is vertically mounted on the earthen embankment. The plurality of spiralnails that have each been driven into the earthen embankment are attached to one of the plurality of pilasters to anchor the pilasters in the earthen embankment. The wire truss system is operably mounted on the plurality of pilasters, and includes a pilaster attachment portion, a wire lattice body with a V-shaped portion, and an interlocking portion that interlocks with at least one adjacent truss element. The plurality of face panels are operably attached to the wire truss system to cover the V-shaped portions of the truss elements.
US08967913B2
A mooring leg connector (4) is configured for use with a mooring chain part (3) of a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to moor a floating structure (1) to the seabed. The connector has an elongate tubular element (5) extending in the mooring leg direction and a latch mechanism (6) for fixation of the mooring chain part to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement along the mooring leg in the direction of the seabed. The elongate tubular element has a passage for the mooring chain to pass through and includes at the top a double articulation axis including a roll articulation (7) and a pitch articulation (8). The roll and pitch articulations are coplanar.
US08967905B2
A paving system for paving or flooring includes a top layer of a plurality of paving elements, and an underlayment support layer of a polymeric material configured into panels. The panels are suitable to support the paving elements, the panels having a generally planar support surface.
US08967904B1
A tactile plate assembly used as a tactile warning device on walkways comprises a plurality of tactile plates with texture for providing tactile awareness. A connecting bracket attaches first and second tactile plates to each other to form a pair of tactile plates. Interlocking brackets, having first and second ends, attach two pairs of tactile plates together, forming a tactile plate subassembly. The interlocking brackets each includes a first end with a tab extending at an angle and a second end with a hole. The interlocking brackets can mate with one another to allow connection of multiple tactile plate subassemblies together. The interlocking brackets include multiple holes of sufficient size to allow a substrate such as concrete or asphalt to flow therethrough to anchor the tactile plate assembly in place. The connecting brackets may also include similar holes of sufficient size to allow a substrate to flow therethrough.
US08967902B2
A fastening device for furniture fittings on furniture parts which includes at least one dowel core that can be inserted into a hole of a furniture part. The dowel core can be arranged inside a dowel sleeve, and an actuating device moves the dowel sleeve relative to the dowel core, so that the dowel sleeve spreads on the dowel core. The dowel core and the dowel sleeve have at least two, preferably more, corresponding inclined surfaces that are offset in the axial direction, so that if the dowel sleeve is moved relative to the dowel core, the dowel sleeve spreads substantially evenly at two, preferably more, axially offset locations.
US08967901B1
A sauce brush cap for a squeeze bottle including a housing for an applicator devised to engage a threaded upper end of a squeeze bottle and having a brush with inflammable bristles to dispense sauce from the squeeze bottle onto a food item being grilled without igniting the bristles. The housing and the applicator are hollow to permit the dispensing of the sauce as well as to permit an unused portion of the sauce to return into the squeeze bottle.
US08967899B1
A writing pen, including a first pen portion containing an ink cartridge, a ferro rod extending from the first pen portion, and a removable second pen portion removably positionable over the first pen portion. The second pen portion includes a whistle integrally formed therewith. A third pen portion is removably positionable over the first pen portion and overlys the ferro rod to substantially conceal the ferro rod. A removable striker having a first end configured for contacting the ferro rod is installable onto the third pen portion so that either the first end of the striker or the second end of the striker extends outwardly from the third pen portion.
US08967898B1
A multi-function back and body scrubber to enable a user to wash, scrub, massage and exfoliate his back and other areas of his body while taking a bath or a shower. The multi-function scrubber includes a shaft that is filled with fluid (e.g., body wash), a flexible thumb pump detachably connected to one end of the shaft, and a double-sided scrubbing head connected to the opposite end. The scrubbing head has first and second cleaning surfaces (e.g., a loofah sponge and a plurality of raised bumps) that are detachable and interchangeable with one another. When the thumb pump is squeezed, fluid is forced from the shaft to one of the cleaning surfaces of the double-sided scrubbing head. The scrubbing head is detachable from the shaft to be held in a hand of the user so that fluid can be dispensed from the shaft thereto.
US08967890B2
A recording apparatus includes a conveying unit, recording processing unit, recording detection unit provided downstream of the recording processing unit to check plural maintenance patterns recorded on a continuous sheet, cutter unit, plural discharge units to selectively receive cut sheets, discharge unit changeover unit to select one discharge unit to receive a cut sheet, conveyance failure detection unit, and control unit. The control unit controls the discharge unit changeover unit such that, when a continuous sheet conveyance failure is detected upstream of a position where the cutter is, and a maintenance pattern previously checked is present downstream of the cutter when the conveyance failure is detected, a present sheet unit between the maintenance pattern and the cutter position is discharged to a second discharge unit. The second discharge unit is different from a first discharge unit used for a sheet unit other than the present sheet unit.
US08967882B2
An optical fiber connector for positioning a number of optical fibers is provided. The optical fiber connector includes an assembling portion and a number of guiding blocks protruding from the assembling portion. The assembling portion defines a number of positioning holes corresponding to the optical fibers in position. The guiding blocks and the positioning holes are alternatively arranged on the assembling portion. Each guiding block includes a wedge portion at an end away from the assembling portion for guiding a corresponding one of the optical fibers into a corresponding one of the positioning holes.
US08967871B2
Embodiments relate to tilting superhard bearing element bearing assemblies and apparatuses. The disclosed assemblies/apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a support ring and a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring and distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements includes a bearing surface and a base portion. The base portion of the at least one of the superhard bearing elements may include a tilting feature configured to allow the at least one of the superhard bearing elements to be tiltable about a tilt axis. The bearing assembly includes retaining features that secure the superhard bearing elements to the support ring.
US08967868B2
A threaded bearing retainer for a spherical bearing may include an annular top surface, an annular bottom surface, and an externally threaded cylindrical outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and meshing with the internal threads of a housing bore. The bearing retainer may further include an annular sealing rib extending downwardly from the bottom surface and engaging the bore shoulder of the housing bore to form a substantially water-tight seal when the bearing retainer is screwed into the housing bore.
US08967866B2
A hydrodynamic bearing is provided that includes an annular main foil having axially spaced inner and outer surfaces. Bump foils are supported circumferentially on the outer surface. Top foils are supported circumferentially on the inner surface opposite the bump foils. In one example, spacers are arranged between the top foils and the main foils. The spacers can be provided by chemically etching the main foil, in one example. The bump foils include first and second corrugated portions respectively providing first and second axially heights. The first axial height is less than the second axial height and is arranged at a leading edge of the bump foil relative to the direction of airflow across the hydrodynamic bearing.
US08967863B1
A bearing ring for use in bearing apparatuses is disclosed. Such a bearing ring may comprise a body having a first array and a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. The body may have an annular shape and the first array and the second array may be a concentric elliptical shapes, including circles. The body may comprise a plurality of bearing element pockets into which the bearing elements are disposed. In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the material of the bearing elements comprises polycrystalline diamond. A bearing apparatus comprising a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring is also disclosed. A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations employing the bearing apparatus is also disclosed.
US08967860B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for measuring, calibrating, and controlling substrate temperature during low temperature and high temperature processing. In one embodiment, the method includes epitaxially forming a layer stack on a substrate placed on a support plate, measuring a temperature of the substrate with a first pyrometer disposed over the substrate, measuring a temperature of the support plate with a second pyrometer disposed below the support plate, calibrating the first pyrometer at multiple temperature points based on actual temperature readings of the substrate to generate a first set of calibrated temperature readings associated with the substrate, calibrating the second pyrometer using the set of calibrated temperature readings as a reference to generate a second set of calibrated temperature readings associated with the support plate, and controlling a power supplied to a heat source configured to heat the substrate based on the second set of calibrated temperature readings.
US08967858B2
A method for monitoring at least two temperature sensors of a turbomachine that is aligned along a reference plane, the two temperature sensors being located in the same transverse plane of the turbomachine, the method including detecting the stoppage of the turbomachine; waiting for a period at least equal to a predetermined threshold period; measuring the temperature with each of the two temperature sensors; comparing the two temperatures measured.
US08967850B2
A multiscrew extruder device for production of elastomeric compounds is intended for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels. The device includes a holding body; a mandrel inserted in the holding body extending along a longitudinal axis and delimiting an annular chamber with the holding body; and a plurality of extrusion screws disposed in the annular chamber and parallel to the longitudinal axis. A first circuit for a heat-exchange fluid for temperature control is formed in the mandrel and includes a central channel extending in the mandrel along the longitudinal axis and a plurality of parallel peripheral channels extending in a peripheral portion of the mandrel close to the annular chamber and in fluid communication with the central channel.
US08967847B2
An illumination assembly is adapted to illuminate a display module that is visible by reflecting environmental lights. The illumination assembly includes a substrate, a visual-light source, and a light guide. The substrate includes a top surface. The visual-light source is disposed on the top surface and is provided for emitting a visual light. The light guide is disposed corresponding to the top surface of the substrate. The light guide includes a light-incidence surface and a light-emergence surface. The visual light enters the light guide through the light-incidence surface and is reflected at least once. The visual light then exits the light guide through the light-emergence surface and travels along a light-emergence direction.
US08967840B1
A vehicle auxiliary lighting system (VALS 10) having attached to the side of a vehicle a set of side lights that automatically illuminate in synchrony with a corresponding set of vehicle lights are activated by a vehicle driver. The side lights are attached to four moisture-resistant enclosures namely: a left front light enclosure (12), a right front light enclosure (28), a left rear light enclosure (38) and a right rear light enclosure (54). The enclosures, which are attached to a structure adjacent a set of disk brakes and a set of drum brakes, are viewed through openings on a set of spoked vehicle wheels. The side lights, which correspond to the vehicle's front facing lights, produce an amber light; the side lights that correspond to the vehicle's rear facing lights produce a red light; and the side light that corresponds to a vehicle's reverse light produces a white light. By utilizing the VALS (10) the margin of safety for both pedestrians and other motorists is increased.
US08967831B2
An LED bulb, lamp holder, or adaptor includes a module that extends beyond a shade, cover, or other light blocking element to permit signal or light transmission to or from the module.
US08967828B2
A light source apparatus includes an outer casing. A light source member and a light source module having a cooling body which cools the light source member are disposed in the outer casing. A wind tunnel which surrounds a heat pipe unit as the cooling body of the light source module is provided in the outer casing. The wind tunnel includes a wind passage which allows cooling wind to pass through the heat pipe unit. An intake-opening is formed in a surface of the outer casing, and cooling wind is taken into the outer casing from outside thereof through the intake-opening. One end of the wind passage of the wind tunnel is connected to the intake-opening.
US08967823B2
Combination light diffusion with either sound diffusion or absorption is provided in a single lighting fixture, to provide uniform luminosity and sound control. The traditional flat light diffuser is replaced with a translucent acoustical element which either diffuses sound or absorbs the sound. The sound diffuser topology includes random surfaces, geometrical shapes, number theoretic diffusers or optimized rectilinear or curvilinear surfaces. The translucent sound absorber includes microperforated or microslit panels, as well as translucent fabrics and microperforated, translucent wood veneers.
US08967819B2
A light curing device (10) for dental purposes which is provided with a housing (12), at least one control element for controlling the operation of the light curing device and an actuating member (26) which is mounted moveably relative to the housing for the actuation of the control element. The light curing device is provided with at least two control elements (44, 46) spaced apart from each other which are electrically connected in parallel. Furthermore, at least one of the control elements (44, 46) can be actuated by actuation of the actuating member (26).
US08967817B2
The disclosure generally relates to imaging optical systems that include a plurality of mirrors, which image an object field lying in an object plane in an image field lying in an image plane, where at least one of the mirrors has a through-hole for imaging light to pass through. The disclosure also generally relates to projection exposure installations that include such imaging optical systems, methods of using such projection exposure installations, and components made by such methods.
US08967816B2
A rear under mirror that is placed near a top edge portion of a rear window glass on a vehicle compartment interior side thereof, the rear under mirror including: a reflecting mirror that reflects a lower area behind a vehicle towards a driver's seat, the reflecting mirror comprising a concavo-convex mirror having a mirror surface that is formed as a concave surface in a substantially vertical direction and as a convex surface in a substantially horizontal direction, the reflecting mirror having a radius of curvature of the convex surface in a substantially horizontal direction of the reflecting mirror in the bottom portion area is larger than that of the top portion area, the reflecting mirror having a trapezoidal shape whose bottom side is longer than top side when viewed from a front thereof.
US08967815B2
A process for manufacturing mirrors with increased reflectance includes forming a silver layer on a surface of a glass substrate, during which the surface is contacted with a silvering solution, and painting at least one paint layer to cover the silver layer. Between forming the silver layer and the painting, the process includes reheating the silver layer to a temperature of at least 200° C.
US08967813B2
A lens frame configured to hold a lens of an optical system of a projector comprising: a holder being formed along the periphery of the lens, holds the lens which is inserted by an elastic force of the frame main body, the holder includes a first holding portion configured to hold a peripheral end surface of the lens, and a second holding portion configured to hold a luminous flux incidence surface and luminous flux exit surface of the lens.
US08967810B1
A method of determining the location of the scleral spur, to allow measurements of the anterior chamber of the eye to facilitate diagnosis or treatment of the eye. The method utilizes ultrasonic biomicroscopy apparatus to image the anterior chamber and several millimeters of sclera and align indicators, or along the scleral-uveal interface and the corneal-aqueous interface. These indicators can be lines, dots or any shape or colors. The intersection of these indicators is used as an estimated location of the scleral spur for measuring anterior chamber angle, angle opening distance, or other aspects of the eye. The disclosure includes methods of locating the scleral spur, software for locating the scleral spur using computerized imaging apparatus, and systems including computerized imaging apparatus and software for locating the scleral spur.
US08967801B2
A refraction device determines a refraction end point to provide corrective optics for a test subject. The device includes an adjustable optical system providing corrective optics to the test subject and an adjustable viewing target disposed along an optical path such as to be viewable through the adjustable optical system by a test subject. The adjustable viewing target includes a directional indicator linked synchronously to at least two choices of corrective optics presented to the test subject.
US08967799B2
A method of preparing a water extractable silicon-containing biomedical device is disclosed. The method involves curing a monomer mixture comprising one or more silicon-containing biomedical device-forming monomers in the presence of a diluent to produce a silicon-containing biomedical device; wherein the diluent comprises a boric acid ester of a C1 to C8 monohydric alcohol.
US08967797B2
Adjustable focus eyeglasses where the range of adjustment can be moved. That is, if a pair of adjustable focus eyeglasses have a range of 0 diopters to 2.75 diopters (to provide a 2.75 D ADD for reading for an emmetrope), this invention could, for example, permit the user to move the range from 0 D to 2.75 D to 2.00 D to 4.75 D so as to accommodate a short term change in the user's distance vision requirement. Each eye can be adjusted independently.
US08967789B2
A method of operating a printer produces duplex images in print jobs including ink images to be printed to tabbed, hole-punched, and differently sized media sheets with improved throughput. The method synchronizes a media transport to insert a differently sized media sheet with reference to the type of media sheet, enabling the media sheet to contact a portion of the roller bearing substantially less release agent than the rest of the roller, minimizing release agent transfer to a second side of the media sheet.
US08967787B2
There is provided a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes: a support member which supports a recording medium; a recording head which applies a recording material to one surface of the recording medium supported on the support member; and a fixing unit which fixes the recording material adhered to the one surface of the recording medium transported from the support member, wherein the support member and the fixing unit are arranged to be partly overlapped with each other in an up and down direction.
US08967784B2
A method of increasing the optical density of a printed image includes treating a first layer of deposited ink with a corona discharge. An apparatus for increasing the optical density of a printed image includes a print head for depositing a first layer of ink; and at least one electrode in proximity to the print head for treating the first layer of ink with a corona discharge.
US08967782B2
A non-aqueous ink comprising a carbon black and a non-aqueous solvent is provided, wherein the carbon black comprises: a carbon black (A) having a primary particle size of at least 18 nm but less than 30 nm, a DBP absorption of at least 80 cm3/100 g but not more than 130 cm3/100 g and a pH of at least 6.0 but not more than 9.0, and a carbon black (B) having a primary particle size of at least 30 nm but not more than 50 nm, a DBP absorption of at least 40 cm3/100 g but less than 80 cm3/100 g and a pH of at least 6.0 but not more than 9.0.
US08967781B2
An image recording composition including a curable material that is cured upon application of an external stimulus, water-absorbing resin particles, and a nonionic surfactant.
US08967776B2
Provided is a liquid injecting apparatus equipped with a liquid injecting head, which is mounted on a carriage and moved reciprocally in a widthwise direction of a target, and a valve unit, which is mounted on the carriage to be supplied with liquid via a supply passage from a liquid retainer and to supply liquid to the liquid injecting head. The valve unit has a pressure chamber connected to the liquid retainer via the supply passage; a valve, which opens or closes the supply passage to supply liquid to the pressure chamber; and a flexible film member, which is displaced based on a negative pressure generated as liquid in the pressure chamber decreases to thereby operate the valve.
US08967774B2
A liquid jet head includes an actuator substrate having ejection grooves and non-ejection grooves partitioned by walls each including a piezoelectric body. The non-ejection grooves have, at ends on one side thereof, respective inclined surfaces rising from bottom surfaces thereof to upper surface openings at upper portions thereof. Common electrodes are provided in a strip form along a longitudinal direction of the walls on both side surfaces of the walls facing the ejection grooves, and active electrodes are provided in a strip form along the longitudinal direction of the walls on both side surfaces of the walls facing the non-ejection grooves. The active electrodes extend from positions in the vicinity of the ends on one side of the non-ejection grooves to ends on the other side thereof.
US08967767B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles; a liquid accommodation body having a liquid receiving surface configured to accommodate the liquid flushed from the nozzles; a pump that discharges the liquid; a liquid supply flow path that discharges the liquid discharged by the pump toward the liquid receiving surface in the liquid accommodation body; and a liquid discharge flow path that discharges the liquid from the liquid accommodation body.
US08967762B2
Image processing of printed patterns of arrays of dots generated by an array of inkjet heads uses a vision system, including an HD color camera that can be a fixed focus or include autofocus and zoom capabilities. Pattern recognition techniques are used to analyze as many patterns as necessary to perform multiple alignment functions, such as dot size, shape, and integrity; unidirectional, bidirectional, and step alignments; physical position and straightness of jet packs; flatness of platen or media belt; mapping imperfections in rods and rails of guiding systems; and checking jet alignments from a reference jet to all other jet packs. From such image analysis, correction values are generated that are used to effect manual or automatic adjustment of the inkjet heads physical position, voltage, temperature, and firing pulse timing and/or duration; and to position the printed dots fired from the nozzles in the inkjet heads in the appropriate position.
US08967758B2
An ink-jet recording device is capable of correcting a recording position due to a leaning of a printing head and correcting of driving timing between multiple printing heads. Each nozzle row of a printing head is classified into multiple nozzle groups, and the driving timing of the nozzle groups other than the nozzle group serving as a reference of correction of the multiple nozzle groups is adjustable to correct for any leaning of the printing head. Moreover, in the event of performing the driving timing between printing heads, the driving timing of a non-reference printing head is adjustable relative to a reference printing head employed for leaning correction of multiple printing heads.
US08967753B2
An image forming apparatus including an image forming device that ejects the droplets onto a printing medium, and forms an image on a surface of the printing medium; a pre-processing device that applies a pre-processing liquid to the surface of the printing medium before the image forming device forms the image; and a dryer configured to dry the printing medium on which the pre-processing liquid was applied, wherein the pre-processing device applies on amount of the pre-processing liquid that is determined based on resolution of the image formed on the printing medium, and the dryer dries using a drying strength that is determined based on the resolution of the image formed on the printing medium.
US08967749B2
To reduce noise during paper conveyance while ensuring printing efficiency of an inkjet printer, a printing device is equipped with a control unit for moving a recording head back and forth in the scan direction according to the rotation of a carriage motor, a conveyance unit for extracting and feeding paper, conveying the paper in the sub scan direction to match the movement of the recording head to print the fed paper, and ejecting the printed paper according to the rotation of a conveyance motor, a paper reversal unit for coordinating with the rotation of the rotation means of the conveyance motor to reverse the front and back of the paper, and a printing control unit for controlling spraying of the ink from the recording head, as well as controlling the carriage motor and the conveyance motor.
US08967742B1
A shoe storage system disposed on ceiling or roof. The system comprises a multiple compartment shoe attic and a mounting base. The mounting base has a base board and two flanges. The base board is attached on a ceiling via a plurality of mounting rod through mounting holes. The shoe attic is pivotably attached to the mounting base via two mounting hinges on both flanges. The shoe attic comprises a plurality of storage compartment with each compartment for a pair of shoes. Each compartment has a clear plastic door pivotably attached to the compartment via a door hinge disposed on the top the compartment. The shoe attic can be moved between a storage position hidden within the mounting base and deployed position. The attic comprises a handle for the convenience of user grip when a user moves the attic from storage position to deployed position.
US08967729B1
A saw assembly controllably moves in a cutting plane defined by two orthogonal tracks of a gantry. The cutting plane is configured to intersect a trip hazard on a walkway. A vacuum port of a shroud connects to a dust-removal vacuum via a hose. The shroud includes a vertically moveable shield that moves along the ground. The gantry is mounted to a utility vehicle in a manner that allows deployment for use and stowing for storage and transportation.
US08967719B2
A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion and a seat back for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a forwardly dumped position. A recliner mechanism is provided for selectively actuating between a locked and unlocked condition allowing the pivotal movement of the seat back. A seat track assembly provides selective actuation between a locked and unlocked condition allowing fore and aft sliding movement of the seat assembly between a design position and a full forward position. An easy entry memory mechanism is operatively coupled to the recliner mechanism and the seat track assembly for selectively actuating the seat track assembly to the unlocked condition and provide movement of the seat assembly to the full forward position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back to the forwardly dumped position while maintaining memory of the design position.
US08967714B2
A stackable and nestable chair includes a seat assembly, a pair of rear legs spaced apart by a first distance, and a pair of front legs spaced apart by a second distance different than the first distance. The front legs and the rear legs mutually connected by a crossbar, and the seat assembly is supported by the crossbar when the seat is in an operable position. A plurality of casters are each attached to a bottom of each of the front and rear legs, wherein each caster includes a notch that is configured to couple with a leg of an adjacently stacked chair.
US08967705B2
A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.
US08967701B2
A shotgun rail, or deflector, is provided as part of a front end structure of a vehicle. The shotgun rail includes a triangular shaped bulkhead having a front surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the front of a vehicle and a rear surface that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the rear of the vehicle. A laterally facing surface of the bulkhead is attached to a frame rail. Loads resulting from an impact with a small offset rigid barrier are distributed between longitudinal load paths and lateral load paths through the shotgun rails, frame rails, and sub-frame.
US08967696B2
The present application discloses a fuel port and methods of installing a fuel port. In certain embodiments, the fuel port comprises a fuel receptacle, a body portion that forms a cavity for the fuel receptacle, and one or more securing portions movably coupled to the body portion. The body portion comprises a first end, a second end, at least one sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, and at least one flange extending from the sidewall. The one or more securing portions are configured to hold a portion of a device between the flange of the body portion and the one or more securing portions to secure the fuel port to the device.
US08967691B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a chute arrangement comprising an element for objects, such as, test tubes, caps, etc. released by a gripper unit such that the released objects may be collected in a container. The element may comprise a plurality of slots for a plurality of gripper fingers in the gripper unit to pass through. The element may be configured to restrain the object as the plurality of gripper fingers release the object.
US08967690B2
A strap guide used in connection with a container having at least one opening for receiving a strap. The strap guide can include a boss defining a strap slot. The boss can have a periphery and two sides. A lip on the one of the two sides can extend outward relative to the boss, and a flange on the other of the two sides can also extend outward relative to the boss. At least a strap protector and a container for use with strap guide inserts can also be provided.
US08967688B2
The invention provides a device (10, 210, 510) for collecting material from a surface. The device is particularly but not necessarily exclusively suited to collection of animal excreta, it has a jaw arrangement (22, 224, 524) which is able to be opened to define a mouth (28) for receiving the material to be collected, and to be closed to collect the material. A conveyor mechanism (44, 46, 364) is provided for advancing collected material into a housing (12, 512). A liner (33) is placed over the jaw arrangement to separate it from the material being collected. The conveyor mechanism serves to advance the liner along with the material collected therein, whereby the material is able to be collected into the housing and retained in the liner without making contact with surfaces of the device.
US08967686B2
A fitting arrangement for mounting a handle to a door, the door having a predetermined thickness and an interior lock chamber. A rod interconnects two handles extending through the lock chamber. A washer or cover plate is connected to an adjustment device for adaptation of the position of the washer or cover plate to the predetermined thickness. The fitting arrangement includes an adjustment device having a coupling with a magnet for fixing of the adjustment device on the lock chamber. The adjustment device has an outer part intended for securing on the washer or cover plate and an inner part with the magnet, the outer and the inner parts being adjustably connected to one another by the intermediary of a thread union.
US08967682B2
In a vehicle door latch, a motion restriction device is coupled to an auxiliary pawl that is connected to the pawl of a ratchet and pawl combination. The auxiliary pawl must be actuated by one or more release levers in order to actuate the pawl and release the ratchet from a striker-containing position and open the latch. Because the only criterion for selectively prohibiting movement of the auxiliary pawl is its speed, it is possible to prevent the latch from unintentionally opening in a crash situation regardless of the direction the inertial forces of the crash are applied to the latch or the release levers therein or the outside or inside handles.
US08967676B1
A coupler for coupling adjacent end portions of corrugated plastic pipe includes first and second arcuate members that cooperate with each other to surround and interfit with the corrugations of the plastic pipe. A stop member on one of the members enables the other member to be properly positioned over the other member when forming the coupler. Circumferentially aligned and spaced-apart attachment members resist relative movement of the two coupling members when backfilling the coupler and the pipes coupled by the coupler.
US08967675B2
A tubular connector connects two tubulars of a string of tubular members. The tubular connector has a pin end tubular member having an axis and a pin end. A pin end flange is positioned on an outer diameter of the pin end and has an undercut adjacent the union of the pin end flange with the pin end. The tubular connector also has a box end tubular member having a box end. A box end shoulder is adjacent the union of the box end with the box end tubular member. The box end shoulder has an undercut thereon. The pin end is secured to the box end so that the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are joined, stresses applied to the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are distributed through the undercuts.
US08967668B2
A container having substantially the shape of a cornet for receiving and carrying elongate objects, the container includes a container cladding having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first container opening on one end of the container cladding, and one or more mounting elements for mounting the container to a stroller, the mounting elements being arranged at a portion of the outer surface of the container.
US08967661B2
A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.
US08967657B2
A cart for use in supporting an infant carrier which includes an articulating frame having front and rear pairs of spaced apart and elongated members. Pairs of wheels are secured to lower ends of the elongated members. First and second latch sub-assemblies each include a pair of pivotally connected and conduit shaped bodies, these sliding over intermediate locations of the pairs of elongate members and such that the elongate members are permitted to pivot between expanded and collapsed positions. A perimeter defined frame is supported upon pivotally inter-connecting upper ends of the elongated members, the frame adapted to support the infant carrier thereupon during ambulatory traversing of the cart.
US08967650B1
An elevated vehicle surface access apparatus comprising a step; a first and second rail extending from the step in a spaced relationship to each other so that the step and the first and second rail cooperate to define a foot receiving space; a first hook extending from the first rail and configured to engage one side of a vehicle stake pocket; a second hook extending from the second rail and configured to engage another side of the stake pocket; the first and second rail movable relative to one another such that the first and second hook are positionable in an engagement position wherein the first and second hook are spaced to supportingly engage opposing sides of the stake pocket and in a non-engagement position wherein the first and second hook are spaced relative one another to pass around the sides of the stake pocket.
US08967645B2
A vehicle suspension includes a pair of leaf springs arranged to extend longitudinally on opposed sides of a vehicle frame. Each leaf spring has a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle with a first bracket attached rigidly to the frame at a first position. A second end is connected to the vehicle frame with a spring shackle pivotably connected to a second bracket attached rigidly to the frame at a second position, in order to compensate for length changes of the leaf spring under load conditions. The suspension further includes an axle extending transversely of the vehicle frame which axle is mounted to each leaf spring at a position intermediate its first and second ends. At least an upper leaf of the leaf spring is a parabolic spring having a convex portion extending towards the frame, and the convex portion is located between the first end and the intermediate position.
US08967637B2
A tail wheel transporter with an off-center single-beam chassis in a tricycle carriage coupled to a towing arm. The single beam chassis pivotably supports a lifting foot member of a four bar mechanism that is side mounted on the single-beam chassis. The lifting foot supports two studs, one fixed and one adjustable, for engaging a tail wheel. The lifting arm is coupled to the four bar mechanism and is manually operated to lift the tail wheel off the ground. In the lifted position, the lifting arm is latched to the towing arm so that constant manual force to maintain lift is not required. The tail wheel is received on the studs between the front and rear axles and exerts force below the height of the rear axle, so no manual force is required to maintain balance during operation. A low-profile bifurcated front wheel allows use under low-hanging vehicle parts.
US08967621B2
Card shuffler apparatuses include a card repositioner used to randomly reposition a plurality of cards on-edge over an aperture extending through a card support surface to allow cards to sequentially pass through the aperture in a random order. The apparatuses may be capable of continuously and sequentially forming playing card hands for use in a game. Shuffler apparatuses may be used to obtain a measurement relating to a thickness of the deck of cards. Methods involve the use of card shuffler apparatuses to form one or more playing card hands in a playing card game. Additional methods involve counting playing cards present within a stack of playing cards using a shuffler apparatus. In further methods, a number of shuffler apparatuses and a lesser number of shuffler activation devices are provided in a gaming establishment so as to preclude simultaneous use of all the shuffler apparatuses in the establishment.
US08967619B2
An image reading apparatus has a separation section configured to supply a sheet one by one, at least three driving rollers arranged downstream of the separation section in a sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet, at least three driven rollers configured to be urged by the driving rollers and driven to rotate by rotation of the driving rollers, respectively, and an image reader unit configured to read an image of the sheet conveyed in the conveying direction. Sheet conveying forces by one of at least three driven rollers and one of at least three driving rollers arranged at the central portions in the sheet width direction is greater than sheet conveying forces by others of the at least three driven rollers and others of the at least three driving rollers arranged at both side portions in the sheet width direction.
US08967615B2
A reversing transporting device includes a transport-in path, a first transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a second transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a reversing path connected to the transport-in path, a third transporting section provided at the reversing path, a transport-out path connected to the reversing path, a fourth transporting section provided at the transport-out path, and a fifth transporting section provided at the transport-out path.
US08967608B2
A glass substrate-holding tool employed during the production of a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography includes an electrostatic chuck and a mechanical chuck. A caught and held portion of a glass substrate caught and held by the electrostatic chuck, and pressed portions of the glass substrate pressed by the mechanical chuck are located outside a quality-guaranteed region on each of a film deposition surface and a rear surface of the glass substrate. The sum of a catching and holding force applied to the glass substrate by the electrostatic chuck and a holding force applied to the glass substrate by the mechanical chuck is at least 200 kgf. A pressing force per unit area applied to the glass substrate by the mechanical chuck is at most 25 kgf/mm2.
US08967602B1
One embodiment of a hand protector device suitable for protecting the hand of the user of pneumatic or other nailing devices, by providing a shield sufficient to stop, impede, or deflect the momentum of a nail projectile from a nailing device. The device also contains gripping plates to easy the user's grip upon the materials to be fastened by the nailing device. In addition, the device is secured solely by the power of the user's grip, such that it can easily be removed simply by the user relaxing his or her grip on the device.
US08967591B2
A trip cock device includes a housing, a cam dog, a handle engaging the cam dog, a piston assembly at least partially received within the housing, and a fault detection valve secured to the piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a piston and the fault detection valve is configured to open and close. The fault detection valve engages the cam dog when closed.
US08967589B2
The present disclosure relates to seals and sealing arrangements, especially those used in wireline valves. The seal comprises an elastomeric seal body with a sealing surface, a plurality of generally planar inserts embedded within the elastomeric seal body adjacent the sealing surface, and having elastomeric seal material disposed between the plurality of generally planar inserts. The generally planar inserts may have a slightly wedge shape and may be embedded into the elastomeric seal body in a generally fan-shaped orientation. They may be orientated such that upon contacting a substantially tubular shaped body to be sealed around and the subsequent deformation of the seal body about said substantially tubular shaped body, the plurality of generally planar inserts become orientated such that they extend radially from the substantially tubular shaped body.
US08967584B2
A power slide device for a vehicle seat includes a lower rail and an upper rail slidable relative to the lower rail, a front support member fixed to the lower rail, a screw rod, a rear support member provided with a rear orthogonal plate portion and a fixed plate portion, a movement limiter which limits movement of the screw rod, a worm wheel, and a collision load receiving portion which limits forward tilting of the rear orthogonal plate portion by contacting the base surface of the lower rail when a force is exerted on the screw rod forwardly from the worm wheel. The collision load receiving portion is positioned in front of the rear orthogonal plate portion and is spaced downward from the screw rod and integrated with the rear support member that is mounted to the screw rod.
US08967581B2
A seat connector which connects a vehicle seat with a base support, and method of connecting the same. The set connector has a base interface which connects to the base support, and a seat interface which connects to the vehicle seat. Both interfaces cooperate together by having the seat interface slide along the base interface. Both during and before this sliding engagement, the weight of the seat interface and the attached seat are supported by the base interface and other weight supports. Upon completing the sliding engagement, the vehicle seat is temporarily in a locked position where movement of the vehicle seat in all directions relative to the base support is restrained, even without the use of mechanical fasteners to secure the connection. The vehicle seat is then secured to the base support with mechanical fasteners. The vehicle seat can be removed from the base support by sliding the vehicle seat in a rearward direction along the base interface.
US08967578B2
A swivel device on which a chair can be secured, and which is configured to allow the easy elimination or reduction of accumulated dirt and/or sand. The swivel device may include a mounting device, and a base, wherein the mounting device is connected to the base so that the mounting device can rotate with respect to the base. The swivel device may further include a device for keeping a chair stationary on the mounting device, a first cavity located between the mounting device and the base, and a device for aiding rotation of the mounting device with respect to the base located in the first cavity. There may be a first opening of the mounting device leading to the first cavity, leading to a first opening of the base, which leads to an area outside of the swivel device. The swivel device accommodates all straight and lounge chairs.
US08967577B2
A cable locking system is provided. The cable lock system 100 includes a base member 110 having at least one aperture 120, a device latch 130, a cable latch 140, and a lock assembly 150 that is operably connected to the device latch and the cable latch. A device 610 can be detachably attached to the device latch. A cable 300 can be detachably attached to the cable latch. The cable latch can be disposed proximate the at least one aperture. The lock assembly can have at least three modes.
US08967575B1
An adjustable hanger bar assembly including an adjustable hanger bar having tubular inner and outer bar members, an electrical box having a top wall with a deep channel therein, and a mounting plate having one or more tensioner tangs. The inner bar member is adapted to slide within the outer bar member. The adjustable hanger bar assembly includes mounting fasteners and an interior channel in which the mounting plate is assembled. With the electrical box mounted to the hanger bar assembly by the mounting fasteners, the hanger bars are tightly held between the channel walls of the electrical box. The tensioner tangs create tension between the mounting bars, the mounting plate, and the electrical box, thereby forming a secure connection between the components that will withstand vibrational forces and prevent separation of the electrical box from the mounting bars.
US08967568B2
An adjustable roller shade bracket comprising a first plate, a second plate and a bracket member. The bracket member is adapted for mounting to a surface. The second plate is rotationally secured to the bracket member. The first plate is releasably securable to an end of a roller tube of a roller shade and slidably secured to the second plate such that the first plate may be slid along the second plate in a first plane. Rotation of the second plate about the bracket member through 90 degrees permits the first plate to be slid along the second plate in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.
US08967567B2
A bracket pin assembly includes a support plate having an end plate which has at least one opening. The pin includes a base, a support member, a first installation member, a second installation member, and a resilient member. The base has a chamber and the support member is connected to the base. The first and second installation members respectively have a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The support member has an engaging section. The resilient member is located in the chamber of the base to bias the first and second installation members. When the installation members of the pin extend through the first installation holes of the first post, the first and second engaging portions are engaged with the engaging section of the support members to secure the first and second installation members relative to the support members.
US08967559B2
This invention relates to a stand attachment structure for attaching a stand that supports a low-profile display unit, such as a liquid crystal display, in an upright position, and to a rear cabinet. In the rear cabinet (1), a stand mounting part (10) including a temporal fixing means (13) is provided to allow temporal fixation of a stand (5) to the rear cabinet (1). The stand mounting part (10) includes a hook (11) for retaining the stand (5) in a predetermined orientation, and a reinforcing rib (12) having functions of reinforcing the hook and of guiding an engagement tab (52) disposed on the stand (5) for insertion. Then, the stand (5) is temporarily fixed to a display unit (P) by engaging the engagement tab (52) disposed on the stand (5) with the hook (11), and finally secured to the display unit (P) with a set screw (B1) after temporal fixing.
US08967554B2
A gutter system incorporating a gutter clip and a gutter hanger to affix a gutter to a retaining clip attached to a fascia board of a building, thereby eliminating the need to place holes in the gutter with screws or nails. The gutter hanger is constructed of a single piece which has an intermediate section which is disposed substantially within the gutter and spans the width of the gutter to maintain the shape and structural integrity of the gutter. The gutter hanger has a contiguous platform disposed along its intermediate section for slidably and detachably attaching a leaf protection support apparatus. The leaf protection support apparatus has a groove that snugly but slidably receives the platform of the gutter hanger. The leaf protection support apparatus extends toward the roof of the building, and has a vertical member terminating in an angled member extending upward to support a leaf protection device.
US08967552B2
According to one embodiment, a stability augmentation system includes a master linkage, a stability augmentation motor, and three linkages. A first linkage is coupled to the master linkage and operable to receive movements representative of pilot commands from a pilot command system. A second linkage is coupled between the stability augmentation motor and the master linkage and operable to receive movements representative of augmentation commands from the stability augmentation motor. A third linkage is coupled to the master linkage and operable to transmit movements representative of blade position commands to a blade control system in response to the movements representative of pilot commands and the movements representative of augmentation commands.
US08967545B2
A microsatellite comprising a propulsion module for moving and/or pointing the microsatellite and an imaging device (100) mounted to the propulsion module. Furthermore there is a fuel supply (210) located within the imaging device (100).
US08967533B2
Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) causing a balloon to operate in a first mode, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, a high-pressure storage chamber, and a solar power system, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) operating the solar power system to generate power for the balloon and (ii) using at least some of the power generated by the solar power system to move gas from the envelope to the high-pressure storage chamber such that the buoyancy of the balloon decreases; (c) causing the balloon to operate in a second mode; and while the balloon is operating in the second mode, moving gas from the high-pressure storage chamber to the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon increases.
US08967532B2
An aircraft (200) provided with a power plant (300) driving a rotary wing (60) and at least one propulsion means (7, 7′) possessing a propeller (6, 6′), said power plant (300) including at least one engine (1, 1′) having an outlet shaft (2, 2′) driving a drive train (400) in order to drive said rotary wing (60). The aircraft includes one coupling member (8, 8′) per engine (1, 1′) provided with a drive shaft (4, 4′) and with a first toothed wheel (13) that are coupled together by a clutch (15) and by a main controllable freewheel (25) arranged in parallel with the clutch, said drive shaft (4, 4′) driving at least one propulsion means (7, 7′) provided with brake means (9, 9′) for braking its propeller (6, 6′), said first toothed wheel (13) meshing with said drive train (400).
US08967526B2
A flight-operable, truly modular aircraft has an aircraft core to which one or more of outer wings members, fuselage, cockpit, leading and trailing edge couplings, and empennage and tail sections can be removably coupled and/or replaced during the operating life span of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments the aircraft core houses the propulsive engines, avionics, at least 80% of the fuel, and all of the landing gear. The aircraft core is preferably constructed with curved forward and aft composite spars, that couple to outer wing sections and possibly other sections using hardpoints. The aircraft core preferably has a large central cavity dimensioned to interchangeably carry an ordnance launcher, a surveillance payload, electronic countermeasures, and other types of cargo. Contemplated aircraft can be quite large, for example having a wing span of at least 80 ft.
US08967519B2
A self-locking safety belt retractor has a blocking apparatus for a belt shaft mounted rotatably in a housing. The blocking apparatus includes a pawl inserted into a recess of the shaft front of the belt shaft which can be pivoted radially outward into engagement with the blocking apparatus. A blocking gearing (12) is oriented with respect to stop surfaces of the pawl (16) and to force transmission surfaces (25, 32) of the recess (15) such that, when the gear teeth of the pawl (16) are engaged in the blocking gearing (12) under normal load, a force acts between the blocking gearing (12) and the belt shaft (13) in a radial direction. If the load increases in a crash case, a force is transmitted in the circumferential direction due to plastic deformation of at least one housing gear tooth (28, 26) of the blocking gearing (12).
US08967517B2
A spool brake device for a dual-bearing reel is provided. The spool brake device is configured to apply a braking force to a spool. The brake device includes a conductor, a magnet, and a braking force adjusting unit. The magnet is configured to move along an axial direction of a spool shaft of the spool with respect to the reel unit and face the conductor in a radial direction relative to the axis of the spool shaft. The braking force adjusting unit is configured to adjust the braking force which is applied to the spool by a magnetic force acting on the conductor when the conductor is rotated, in such a way to change magnetic fluxes acting on the conductor by changing an axially facing range between the conductor and the magnet according to the movement of the magnet along the axial direction relative to the reel unit.
US08967514B2
A food chopper includes a housing and a central shaft supported in a vertically movable configuration inside the housing. The central shaft has a lower end with at least one center blade, an upper end operably connected to a plunger, and a middle segment with two lateral arms. Two blade assemblies are rotatably connected to the two lateral arms of the central shaft. Each of the two blade assemblies includes a shaft connected to an outer blade. The vertical motion of the central shaft is converted into rotational motion of the blade assemblies using a conversion mechanism operably connected to each of the two blade assemblies. Depressing the plunger causes the at least one center blade of the central shaft to move vertically downward within the housing and the two outer blades to move vertically downward and rotate within the housing.
US08967509B2
Paper shredder thickness calibration using a Hall effect torque detector coupled to a paper shredder motor, producing a signal corresponding to the paper shredder motor rotation, a controller receives the signal and determines a paper shredder motor torque from the signal corresponding to the rotation of the paper shredder motor, with the torque corresponding to shreddant thickness. Signal is compared to predetermined maximum signal beyond which overload is signaled.Also, a method of operating a paper shredder having a rotating motor to comminute shreddant, including providing a Hall effect rotor and sensor; creating a torque signal based on a full load motor torque, and comparing the current torque signal to the full load torque signal.
US08967506B2
Fly ash contaminated with activated carbon is treated to neutralize the activated carbon by placing the contaminated fly ash in a rotary mill and introducing ozone. The result is that entrained air in concrete made from activated fly ash will contain greater than 4 percent entrained air.
US08967504B2
A horizontal shaft impact crusher comprises a crusher housing having an inlet for material to be crushed, an outlet for material that has been crushed, an impeller being mounted on a horizontal shaft in the crusher housing and being operative for rotating around a horizontal axis, a curtain against which material accelerated by the impeller may be crushed, and an adjustment bar for adjusting the position of said curtain relative to the impeller. The crusher is further provided with a cross beam to which said adjustment bar is connected, said crossbeam being adjustable relative to the impeller, and a curtain position indicator device indicating the position of the cross beam relative to the impeller, thereby indicating the position of the curtain relative to the impeller.
US08967503B2
The invention relates to a method for comminuting refrigeration appliances (12), in which the refrigeration appliances (12) are introduced into the comminution chamber (16) through a supply opening (14) of a comminution chamber (16), are continuously comminuted in the comminution chamber (16), and comminuted refrigeration appliance material (24) is discharged from the comminution chamber (16) through a discharge opening (26) of the comminution chamber (16), the comminution chamber (16) is flushed with air in that, per time unit, a predetermined volume (L1) of the air which is present in the comminution chamber (16) and which is enriched with process gases which occur during comminution of the refrigeration appliances (12) is supplied to the gas processing means (34) through a gas conveying line (32) which is connected in a gas conveying manner to the discharge opening (26) and a gas processing means (34), and a volume of air (L4) corresponding to that predetermined volume (L1) is supplied to the comminution chamber (16) through the supply opening (14).
US08967502B2
A dual fuel injector may be used to injector both gas and liquid fuel into a cylinder of a compression ignition engine. An injector body defines a first set of nozzle outlets, a second set of nozzle outlets, a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet. A dual solenoid actuator includes a first armature, a first coil, a second armature and a second coil that share a common centerline. The dual solenoid actuator has a non-injection configuration at which the first armature is at an un-energized position and the second armature is at an un-energized position. The dual solenoid actuator has a first fuel injection configuration at which the first fuel inlet is fluidly connected to the first set of nozzle outlets, the first armature is at an energized position and the second armature is at the un-energized position. The dual solenoid actuator has a second fuel injection configuration at which the second fuel inlet is fluidly connected to the second set of nozzle outlets, the first armature is at the un-energized position and the second armature is at an energized position. The dual solenoid actuator may also include a combined fuel injection configuration.
US08967499B2
A shower plate and a water-saving shower using the same are disclosed. The shower plate provided in a head body of a shower used to supply fluid along an inner path thereof, the shower plate includes a plurality of spray holes configured to spray the supplying fluid out, wherein a predetermined amount of the spray hole are direction changing spray holes comprising a direction changing parts projected inwardly there from. The water-saving shower includes a shower plate provided in a head body of a shower used to supply fluid along an inner path thereof, the shower plate comprising a plurality of spray holes configured to spray the supplying fluid out, wherein a predetermined amount of the spray hole are direction changing spray holes comprising a direction changing parts projected inwardly there from, and a filter provided in the head body to filter foreign substances contained in the supplying fluid before the supplying fluid reaches the shower plate.
US08967497B2
A handheld showerhead including a showerhead portion, a handle portion, and a movable mode selector portion. The mode selector portion includes a rotationally-fixed first end coupling and a rotationally-fixed second end coupling, which is concentrically aligned with the first end coupling, and a rotatable control knob body. The movable mode selector includes a fluid seal coupled to the rotatable knob body, the first fluid seal including at least one fluid control aperture. The second end coupling also includes a fluid inlet aperture and a fluid outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the control knob body. A second fluid seal is positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body. A single mechanical fastener axially couples the control knob body to the first end coupling and the second end coupling.
