US07719761B2
A filter or lens for a star-tracking telescope includes a clear center portion and an attenuating peripheral portion. The peripheral portion attenuates off-axis images through any radial line extending from a center of the filter or lens to a circumference edge of the filter or lens. The attenuation is for passing on-axis images with high signal to noise ratios, for attenuating off-axis images, and for attenuating but not completely blocking the off-axis images. The telescope with such a filter or lens is well suited for improved star tracking systems, and well suited for reducing off-axis glare in handheld optical apparatus such as binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and eyeglasses.
US07719760B2
Provided is an optical microscope system for detecting nanowires to allow for use of an existing optical microscope in fabricating an electronic device having the nanowires and including: a light source for emitting light to provide the light to a nanowire sample; a rotational polarizer provided on a path of the light emitted from the light source for polarizing the light; an optical microscope for detecting a nanowire image using light that is polarized by the rotational polarizer and incident on the nanowire sample; a CCD camera provided in a region of the optical microscope for photographing and storing the nanowire image detected by the optical microscope; and a data processor for performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the nanowire image stored in the CCD camera. Intensity of reflected light varies, due to optical anisotropy of the nanowires, along a polarizing orientation of light incident on the nanowires.
US07719751B2
A window assembly comprises a first conductive material layer, an electrochromic stack, a second conductive material layer and a seal. The first conductive material layer is formed on a substrate and comprises at least two zones electrically isolated from each other. The electrochromic stack is formed on a first selected zone of the first conductive material layer to overlap an edge of a second selected zone of the first conductive material layer. The second conductive material layer is formed on the electrochromic stack to overlap an edge of the second selected zone. A first bus bar is formed on the second selected zone to be within a sealed volume of the window assembly. A second bus bar is formed on the first selected zone to be outside the seal volume of the window assembly. The seal defines the sealed volume of the window assembly and seals the window assembly.
US07719746B2
An electro-optic device with a doped semiconductor base and a plurality of pixels on the semiconductor base, each pixel including: a multiple quantum well formed on the semiconductor base, an oppositely doped semiconductor layer on the multiple quantum well, and a top electrode on the semiconductor layer, the top electrode shaped to produce an approximately uniform lateral resistance in the pixel. An embodiment is a large area modulator for modulating retro-reflector systems, which typically use large area surface-normal modulators with large lateral current flow. Uniform resistance to each part of the modulator decreases location dependence of frequency response. A chirped grid electrode balances semiconductor sheet resistance and metal line resistance components of the series resistance.
US07719739B2
A light scanning apparatus makes a light beam scan along a main scanning direction on an effective scanning region which has a predetermined width. The apparatus comprises: a light source which emits the light beam; a deflector which includes an oscillation mirror which oscillates about an oscillatory axis which is orthogonal or approximately orthogonal to the main scanning direction, deflects the light beam emitted from the light source using the oscillation mirror, and makes the light beam scan a second scanning range which contains but extends beyond a first scanning range which corresponds to the effective scanning region; a detector which detects the scanning light beam which moves through a position which is outside the first scanning range but is within the second scanning range, and outputs a signal; and a controller which controls a mirror drive signal fed to the oscillation mirror based on the output signal from the detector and accordingly adjusts the amplitude of the oscillation mirror. In the apparatus above, the controller stops driving the oscillation mirror when confirming based on the output signal that the oscillation mirror is under abnormal control.
US07719733B2
A diffractive security element has a half-tone image comprising diffractive structures in a reflection layer, which are embedded in a layer composite between a transparent embossing layer and a protective lacquer layer. The half-tone image is divided into image elements of at least one dimension less than 1 mm, wherein the surface of each image element is divided up into a background field and an image element pattern. The proportion of the image element pattern to the surface of the image element determines the surface brightness of the half-tone image at the location of the image element. The background field has a first diffractive structure from which the image element pattern differs by its light-modifying effect. Pattern strips of a width of up to 0.3 mm additionally extend over the surface of the half-tone image. The pattern strips occupy a small proportion of the surface of the background fields and/or the image element patterns and produce coloured strips on the half-tone image.
US07719722B2
A system and method for halftoning for multi-pass rendering of an image in which different pixel locations are rendered in each pass which reduces the effects of inter-pass mis-registration errors. The method of halftoning includes restricting a substantial majority of the pixels turned on to render a tone to the minimum number of passes required to produce the tone. The halftoning method can include generating a stochastic halftone turn-on sequence and re-ordering the turn-on sequence. The halftoning method can also use error diffusion, adding a zero mean bias signal to either the image input pixels or the threshold values. The halftoning method is applicable to color or black and white rendering.
US07719719B2
Images that include halftone structures are sharpened. A copy of received halftone image data is blurred, thereby reducing a detectability of edges of the halftone structures. Edges remaining in the blurred image data are detected. An edge enhancement image is generated based on the detected edges. The original received halftone image data is combined with the edge enhancement image, thereby generating sharpness enhanced image data having halftone structures. The sharpness enhanced image data having halftone structures can be rendered through a halftone screen that is compatible with a halftone screen that was used to generate the originally received image data. Alternatively, the sharpness enhanced image data having halftone structures is rendered according to error diffusion techniques, such as, rank order error diffusion in order to achieve or maintain dot or halftone structure compaction.
US07719714B2
There is disclosed technology of a color conversion definition for converting coordinate points in a color reproduction area of a printer into coordinate points in a color reproduction area of a print. This technology makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom of designation for K-plate restraint conditions of print, and also permit to widely take the color reproduction area within the range of ink total amount limitation. The vertex of K is established to be points (C, M, Y, K)=(CSH, MSH, YSH, KSH) in which K-plate restraint conditions are designated. There is created a virtual device profile tracing the color reproduction area of a print on not only edge lines coupling W with C, M and Y, and edge lines coupling K with R, G and B, but also diagonals edge lines coupling W with R, G and B, and diagonals edge lines coupling K with C, M and Y.
US07719705B2
In a method and system to generate a function presenting document data stream, at least one structured field is provided that comprises at least one data region. The structured field is provided with a padding region. Coded additional control data are stored in the padding region.
US07719680B2
A spectroscope designed to utilize an adaptive optical element such as a micro mirror array (MMA) and two distinct light channels and detectors. The devices can provide for real-time and near real-time scaling and normalization of signals.
US07719677B2
A method and apparatus for improved defocus detection on wafers. The use of hyperspectral imaging provides increased sensitivity for local defocus defects, and the use of Fourier Space analysis provides increased sensitivity for extended defocus defects. A combination of the two provides improved overall sensitivity to local and extended defocus defects.
US07719675B2
Methods for evaluating an optically variable device (“OVD”) or optically variable media (“OVM”) are disclosed. The methods include the steps of applying light of a single wavelength from a calibrated light source to the OVD or OVM; measuring the light diffracted by the OVD or OVM with an integrating sphere; measuring the total incident light on the OVD or OVM; and calculating a diffraction efficiency for the OVD or OVM at the single wavelength based on the measurement of light diffracted and the measurement of total incident light.
US07719673B2
In a defect inspection for a semiconductor substrate, inspection objects include, in addition to a bare Si wafer, a wafer with various films formed on the surface thereof. For a sample formed with a metal film in particular, scattering light generated by surface roughness thereof is large, thus making it difficult to detect a minute defect and a minute foreign substance. It is desirable that a minute defect and a minute foreign substance be detected regardless of scattering light generated by the roughness of the sample surface. Insertion of an analyzer in an optical path of a detection optical system at such an angle that the scattering light generated by the roughness becomes minimum permits suppressing the scattering light generated by the roughness.
US07719665B2
The invention is to provide a wavelength dispersion measuring method for an optical fiber capable of measuring a wavelength dispersion in a section extending from an incident end of the optical fiber to an arbitrary point along the way by using a scattering phenomenon in which a scattering coefficient at a local point on the optical fiber is independent of time. Incident light having a known spectral density function S(ω) is caused to be incident on the optical waveguide, and a wavelength dispersion of the section extending from the incident end of the optical waveguide to the arbitrary point along the way by a correlational function between a signal being proportional to a scattered light amplitude generated at a first halfway point and a signal being proportional to a scattered light amplitude generated at a second halfway point.
US07719664B1
A method and apparatus image a target in a SAL system. The method includes receiving on-board a platform a target designation originating from a laser source off-board the platform; homing the platform on a target responsive to the received target designation; imaging the target from the target designation; and aiming the platform at a point on the target selected from the image. The apparatus includes a receiver capable of receiving and imaging a target designation originating from a laser source off-board the apparatus; at least one flight control mechanism; and a controller. The controller is capable of processing a received target designation and issuing navigation control guidance commands to the flight control mechanism to: home the apparatus on a target responsive to a received target designation; and aim the apparatus at a point on the target selected from the image of the target.
US07719659B2
An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a mask onto a substrate, a holder for holding the substrate and having a first channel for the fluid to flow, and a fluid supply unit for supplying the fluid from the first channel of the holder to at least part of a space between the projection optical system and the substrate, the exposure apparatus exposing the substrate via the projection optical system and the fluid.
US07719657B2
The present application relates to a liquid crystal lens element and an optical head device, in particular order, to a liquid crystal lens capable of switching the focal length among a plurality of different focal lengths according to switching of applied voltage among a plurality of applied voltages, and an optical head device employing the liquid crystal lens, for writing and/or reading an information to/from an optical recording medium.
US07719654B2
A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes a first panel and a second panel facing each other, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second panels, and a plurality of column spacers each having a pillar and a base supporting the pillar. The width of the pillar is less than that of the base portion.
US07719649B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The active device array substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel units. The scan lines, the data lines and the pixel units are disposed on the substrate. Each of the pixel units is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly and crosses over two sides of the corresponding scan line. The opposite substrate includes a plurality of alignment protrusions. The alignment protrusions are located over the scan lines. Besides, the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the opposite substrate and the active device array substrate. The above-mentioned liquid crystal display panel has higher aperture ratio.
US07719648B2
A manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates facing each other, an oriented film formed on an facing surface of at least one substrate in the pair of the substrates, and a liquid crystal held between the pair of substrates, includes: a film formation chamber; an evaporating section having an evaporation source, evaporating an inorganic material on the substrate in the film formation chamber by a physical vapor deposition, and forming an oriented film and a base film arranged under the oriented film; a base film formation area forming the base film and located substantially above the evaporation source in the film formation chamber; and an oriented film formation area located obliquely above the evaporation source in the film formation chamber, forming the oriented film and having a shielding plate having an elongated opening for selectively evaporating an inorganic material.
US07719642B2
A backlight device for a liquid crystal display device includes a light source providing light; a light waveguide plate 40 guiding light from the light source, having an emitting surface, a front surface and a bottom surface, the emitting surface adjacent to the light source; a reflector arranged under the bottom surface of the light wave guide plate, reflecting light; and at least one cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film arranged over the front surface of the light wave guide plate, collimating light.
US07719639B2
A transflective-type liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate to define a plurality of pixel regions, a thin film transistor at each crossing of the gate and data lines, the thin film transistor including a semiconductor layer, and source and drain electrodes contacting source and drain regions, respectively, a projection seed pattern within the pixel region along a same layer as the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor, and a reflective electrode contacting the drain electrode of the thin film transistor and having a reflective projection corresponding to the projection seed pattern.
US07719635B2
The present invention provides an optical sheet having one generally planar surface and composed of transmissive material, wherein on the other surface of the optical sheet, a concavo-convex pattern formed of a convex portion having a triangular top portion and a concave portion of a surface parallel to the one surface of the optical sheet is formed alternately in a generally parallel array.
US07719631B2
An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a hyperboloidal face or a paraboloidal face and have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+√{square root over ( )}(R2−(1+K)X2)) (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, and K is a conic constant).
US07719619B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that performs more appropriate black stretch processing to display a high quality video. The image processing apparatus includes a luminance characteristics detection unit that analyzes a received video signal to detect a frequency of each of a plurality of luminance areas with a luminance at least equal to or lower than a predetermined luminance, a black stretch processing unit that performs black stretch processing for a luminance signal with a luminance equal to or lower than a predetermined luminance level, and a microcomputer that uses the frequency of each of the plurality of luminance areas, detected by the detection unit, to control the black stretch processing of the black stretch processing unit.
US07719612B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
US07719605B2
A video camera includes a gate circuit for extracting a sharpness signal relative to an area which is set in a portion of a picture, a focus adjusting device for performing focus adjustment on the basis of the sharpness signal relative to the area, and an area selecting circuit for controlling the gate circuit to vary the area in size and determining a size of the area during a driving of a variator lens in accordance with a size of the area and a focal length used before the driving of the variator lens.
US07719595B1
A processing system for a charge coupled device (CCD) or CMOS imaging system includes a correlated double sample (CDS) circuit for receiving data from an imager, a variable gain amplifier (VGA) having amplifiers of selectable current level to enable reduced data resolution in a preview display, a low power mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a selectable narrow bit-width output and coupled to said VGA circuit, and a gain circuit coupled to said ADC. The single chip low-power analog front end produces digitized CCD data in either 13-bit, 12-bit or 10-bit formats at a first current level and 9-bit, 8-bit, or 6-bit formats at a second current level. The VGA amplifier includes symmetrical subcircuits which are independently actuable to enable full or reduced data resolution levels respectively for still image capture operation and video previewing on a separate preview screen.
US07719592B2
A new kind of pixel is formed of two floating diffusions of different sizes and different conductivity type. The two floating diffusions have different image characteristics, and hence form a knee-shaped slope.
US07719587B2
An image sensing apparatus includes a photoelectric converter having a plurality of pixels covered by a color filter composed of a plurality of colors, a plurality of common readout units adapted to sequentially output signals from the plurality of pixels, a time division multiplex (TDM) unit for time division multiplexing signals from the plurality of common readout units, and a readout control unit for reading the signals from the plurality of pixels to the common readout units in such a way that signals from pixels covered by color filters of the same color are continuously multiplexed.
US07719567B2
A surveillance system and method for activating emergency communication between a third party and a system having at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, wherein the emergency access is operable following a trigger event, thereby providing a secure surveillance system with emergency access having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.
US07719562B2
A method and system for handling multimedia calls is disclosed in which an IP multimedia terminal initiates a multimedia call request to a 3G terminal via a video inter-work device; the video inter-work device negotiates with 3G network and sets up a speech bearer between the video inter-work device and the 3G terminal when the 3G network is unable to support the multimedia call, then sets up a logical speech channel between the video inter-work device and the IP multimedia terminal, and makes the multimedia call fallback to a speech call. In accordance with the disclosed handling method and system provided, a multimedia call will fallback to a speech call when the 3G terminal does not support the multimedia call initiated by an IP multimedia terminal such that an H.324M video service is made more acceptable to users and complexity in using the service is reduced while improving user experience.
US07719557B2
An apparatus for providing delay signals to perform print scan line synchronizations within a laser printer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage-control oscillator, a frequency divider and multiple output control modules. The voltage-control oscillator converts a clock signal to a higher frequency signal. The frequency divider then reduces the frequency of the higher frequency signal. Then, each of the output control modules generates a delay signal, and each of the delay signals is delayed by no more than one tenth of a clock cycle from an adjacent one of the delay signals.
US07719556B2
An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.
US07719552B2
A display device for displaying a three dimensional image such that different views are displayed according to the viewing angle, the display device including a display panel having a plurality of separately addressable pixels for displaying said image. The pixels are grouped such that different pixels in a group correspond to different views of the image, each pixel in a group being positioned relative to a respective discrete light source, and pixel being separately controllable to vary an optical characteristic of each pixel to generate an image according to received image data. The pixel sizes within a group vary as a function of the viewing angle of the pixels with respect to the respective light source, so that the characteristics of the different views are independent of viewing angle.
US07719549B2
The present invention provides a method of making an imaged media and a method of displaying an image, comprising the steps of providing a color image, creating a modified image by transforming a first color portion of the color image into a gray-scale portion, wherein a second color portion of said color image remains in color in said modified image, and reproducing said modified image on a fully or partially light transmitting media which can be used to display the modified image in color.
US07719545B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for programmable vertex processing. Initially, a vertex program is identified including branch labels and instruction sequences with branch commands. The vertex program is then converted to a binary format capable of being executed by a hardware graphics pipeline. The vertex program may then be executed in the binary format utilizing the hardware graphics pipeline for transforming vertices. As an option, the vertex program is initially written in a textual format capable of being read by a human prior to being converted.
US07719543B2
Systems and methods are provided for optimizing visual consistency for a dataset of images by using observed and formulated display attributes. The formulated display attributes are derived from an analysis of a first set of images from the image repository. The formulated display attributes from the first set are combined with observer's display attributes to determine scaling factors. The optimized display attributes are then derived from the calculated scaling factors for a second set of images. In another aspect, a system and method is described where a digital image is processed in order to enhance viewing of the image on a display device in accordance to the optimized attributes associated with the observer.
US07719541B2
A method and apparatus for hardware rotation is described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a direct access address translation component. The apparatus also includes a frame buffer coupled to the direct access address translation component. The apparatus further includes a 2D coordinate translation component. The apparatus also includes a 2D engine coupled to the 2D coordinate translation component and to the frame buffer. The apparatus further includes a 3D engine. The apparatus also include a 3D coordinate translation component coupled to the 3D engine and the frame buffer. As will be appreciated, further embodiments of the invention are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, and the specific details of a specific embodiment as described need not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
US07719538B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to rasterize an image by generating assignments and allocating the assignments among multiple processor threads such that no two processor threads are rasterizing concurrently into overlapping regions of a pixel array. Multiple assignments are generated. Each assignment specifies one or more graphics objects and a region of the pixel array into which the specified graphics objects are to be rasterized. Multiple processes are established for rasterizing objects into a pixel array. Each process is operable to receive an assignment and to rasterize the objects of the assignment into the region of the assignment. Assignments are selected for concurrent execution by processes so that no two selected assignments have overlapping regions. The selected assignments are concurrently executed by separate processes to rasterize the respective objects of the assignments into their respective regions.
US07719537B2
A method for compressing font instruction data. The method includes analyzing a set of pixel-per-em values and fractional pixel shifts contained in font instruction for each glyph in a font data set to construct a database of values. The pixel-per-em values and fractional pixel shifts are converted into operational codes and argument values and these values are compressed into a compressed data stream including a series of multiple-bit words representing font instruction specifications for each glyph in the font data. In addition, fixed environmental variable values are set for each glyph based on the font instruction data. When a glyph is to be rendered using the compressed font instruction, the compressed instruction is decompressed and only relevant multiple-bit word or words corresponding to font instruction specifications for the respective glyph are executed, but not any of the 16-bit words corresponding to font instruction for the fixed environmental values.
US07719525B2
To reduce EMI and current consumption in internal wiring after display data have been input to a data driver. Display data DN/DP constituted by RSDS signals input to a data driver in a first stage are converted to display data DA constituted by CMOS signals, subjected to primary inversion control according to a data inversion signal INV generated inside, and transferred into internal wiring 31 in a data capturing circuit 30. Then, the display data are subjected to secondary inversion control by a secondary data inversion circuit 33 disposed immediately before data registers 34 according to the data inversion signal INV, and then captured by the data registers 34. Further, chip-to-chip transfer of the display data DA and the data inversion signal INV to the data drivers in second and subsequent stages is performed through the internal wiring 31 and internal wiring 32. Then, as in the data driver in the first stage, the display data DA are captured by the data registers 34.
US07719523B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying gestures performed by a user to control an interactive display. The gestures are identified based on a bounding box enclosing the points at which a user contacts a touch sensor corresponding with the display surface. The invention thus permits the use of inexpensive and highly reliable grid-based touch sensors that provide a bounding box to describe contact information. In identifying the gestures, the position, motion, shape, and deformation of the bounding box may all be considered. In particular, the center, width, height, aspect ratio, length of the diagonal, and orientation of the diagonal of the bounding box may be determined. A stretch factor, defined as the maximum of the ratio of the height of the bounding box to the width of the bounding box and the ratio of the width of the bounding box to the height of the bounding box, may also be computed. Finally, gestures may be identified based on the changes in time of these characteristics and quantities.
US07719507B2
A liquid crystal display controller includes a circuit which generates a signal for driving a signal line with the polarity of the signal controlled by a control signal; an inductance element into which current flows in synchronization with the control signal; and a switching unit which connects selectively one of the inductance element and the circuit to the signal line. The signal line of a liquid crystal display device is driven by the inductance element, whereby the power consumption is reduced.
US07719506B2
A display device includes a display panel including a bus line section; and at least one driver for driving the bus line section included in the display panel. Each of the at least one driver includes an amplifier for generating a non-driving signal based on an input signal, the non-driving signal not contributing to driving of the bus line section.
US07719495B2
An organic light emitting diode display device capable of reducing power consumption by limiting a current to lower the total luminance if an area exhibiting a high luminance is larger than a threshold, and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a luminance controller for controlling an emission time of the pixel unit by determining a luminance limit of the pixel unit corresponding to a sum of the values of the video data input into one frame; and a power source controller for controlling driving of the luminance controller to correspond to the luminance limit of the pixel unit.
US07719488B2
A set-up voltage generating circuit for a plasma display panel (PDP) is disclosed. The circuit is capable of generating a set-up voltage by way of a method of charging a predetermined capacitor using a sustain voltage Vs without recourse to a DC/DC converter in forming a set-up voltage necessary for a set-up period of the PDP. As a result, the circuit is simple in its structure and a manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced because there is no need for a DC/DC converter for supplying a set-up voltage.
US07719477B1
A method of changing phase of a microwave electromagnetic beam in free space is provided wherein a cascade of device layers is located transverse to a path of the microwave beam. Each of the device layers have one or more columns. Each column has a device combination series-coupled to an adjacent device combination in the column. Each device combination has a first device having inductive characteristics at microwave frequencies and a second device series-coupled to the first device. The second device has at microwave frequencies characteristics of a fixed capacitance in parallel with a variable capacitance. The capacitance of one or more of the second devices is variable to establish a desired phase shift and a desired frequency band edge within a desired frequency pass band.
US07719466B2
The present invention discloses methods, apparatuses, and systems for eliminating auto- and cross-correlation in weak signal CDMA systems, such as GPS systems. The invention uses parallel data paths that allow standard correlation of signals in parallel with verification of the lock signal to determine whether the system has locked onto the proper signal within the scanned signal window. The invention can be made with multiple CPUs, a single CPU with dual input modes, on multiple IC chips, or as a single IC chip solution for small, low cost reception, downconversion, correlation, and verification systems.
US07719463B2
The reflectarray comprises an array of patch elements (10-13). Each patch element has a cut ring shape formed of a conductive ring with at least one crossing gap. The outer diameter and inner diameter and crossing gap are adjusted so that a phase shift β defined by the following relations is different from zero: φ(Eox)=φ(Eix)+α (1) φ(Eoy)=φ(Eiy)+α+β (2) where: −φ(Eox) and φ(Eoy) are the phases of the orthogonal components and of the reflected wave, respectively, −φ(Eix) and φ(Eiy) are the phases of orthogonal components and of the incident wave, respectively, −α is a phase angle.
US07719452B2
Signal converter system embodiments are provided to substantially reduce symmetrical and asymmetrical conversion errors. Signal-processing stages of these embodiments may include a signal sampler in addition to successively-arranged signal converters. In system embodiments, injected analog dither signals are initiated in response to a random digital code. They combine with a system's analog input signal and the combined signal is processed down randomly-selected signal-processing paths of the converter system to thereby realize significant improvements in system linearity. Because these linearity improvements are realized by simultaneous processing of the input signal and the injected dither signal, a combined digital code is realized at the system's output. A first portion of this combined digital code corresponds to the analog input signal and a second portion corresponds to the injected analog dither signal. The final system digital code is realized by subtracting out the second portion with a back-end decoder that responds to the random digital code.
US07719448B2
In one embodiment, a mechanism for coding a non-increasing sequence of values is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a sequence of values to encode, the sequence of values being non-increasing, encoding a first value of the sequence using a number of bits that are required for fully representing the first value in an encoded format, and for each subsequent value in the sequence, encoding the subsequent value using a number of bits required for a minimal bit encoding of a previous value in the sequence.
US07719447B2
A variable length decoding device comprises a CPU, a variable length decoding unit, an encoded data memory, a decoded data memory, and a mass memory. The variable length decoding unit comprises a decoding table memory operable to store decoding table, a standard information storage unit operable to store standard information of encoded data, and a frequency information storage unit operable to store information on frequency of usage of each table element of the decoding table. According to the structure, the decoding table is not necessary to transfer when decoding the encoded data based on the same standard of the previously-decoded encoded data. The decoding table to be stored in the decoding table memory can be composed by table elements of higher frequency of usage, thereby decreasing occurrence of cache error.
US07719444B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for modulation coding of input data. In a first scheme, a modulation encoder applies a modulation code to input data to produce an (L,K)-constrained encoded bit-sequence, where K is maximum run-length of 0's, and L is the maximum run-length of 0's in each of the odd and even interleaves of the encoded bit-sequence. Then, a precoder effects 1/(1⊕D4) preceding of the encoded bit-sequence. In a second scheme, a modulation encoder applies a modulation code to the input data to produce a K-constrained encoded bit-sequence. In this scheme, a precoder then effects 1/(1⊕D⊕D2⊕D3) preceding of the encoded bit-sequence. In both schemes, the effect of the precoder is to produce a precoded sequence in which, in addition to other constraints, the maximum length of the variable frequency oscillator pattern is constrained to a predetermined value CVFO.
US07719432B1
Long range, battery powered, wireless environmental sensor interface devices that can be connected to a plurality of sensors and wirelessly communicate the sensor readings back to a central collection device or Internet terminal. Instead or additionally, sensors can be integrated with the device for added efficiency. The devices incorporate a rugged enclosure and an internal power supply that allows them to be placed in harsh environmental conditions and operate for multiple years without maintenance due to unique power-saving design features. The RF circuitry is specially optimized for long-range outdoor communications of small quantities of data. Line-of-sight communication range of several miles is possible with this device. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US07719429B2
Among the embodiments of the present invention are pest control devices (1010, 1110, 1210) each operable to detect the presence of pests. The pest control device (1010, 1110, 1210) has a bait (1032) that is consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest, a pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252), and a monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269). The pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252) can be altered by pest activity. The monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269) detects this alteration and reports it automatically or in response to an external stimulus or interrogation to indicate pest presence.
US07719424B2
A table monitoring system and method for monitoring a table games. In one embodiment, the system comprises an RFID system and a processing engine. The system may include a camera, and image controller, or both. The system creates RFID data and image data in response to table events and its processing engine cross-references this data with time stamps to monitor table events such as wagers, payouts, or other occurrences. The data is associated with a tag which represents a table event. Table events are tracked during play. In one embodiment, the RFID data and image data is mapped to a coordinate grid. With the coordinate mapping and by cross-referencing this data, the system can distinguish individual table events occurring within the detection zone of a single RFID antenna such as distinguishing wagers placed on multiple bet locations within the detection zone of a single antenna.
US07719423B2
System and method for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products. First RFID tags are associated with respective products or groups of products. Second Active RFID tags are associated with respective first containers for the multiplicity products. A third Active RFID tag is associated with a second container for the first containers. First RFID tags broadcast their respective identifications. Second Active RFID tags hash the identities of the first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broad their hashed values. Third Active RFID tag hash the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags. An expected value is compared to a result of the third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags.
US07719422B1
The present invention provides a wireless internet protocol-based action-oriented system comprising an actuator, which may be worn on or carried by a user, and which may be activated by the user to wirelessly communicate, via an access point on a LAN, a signal to a base station server to execute an action command, such as a stoppage of nearby associated machinery or vehicles. Alternatively, sensors and/or detectors disposed on the actuator may independently transmit data to the base station server, which the base station server may then act upon. The system further includes a computer software program product, which links the actuator, access points, base station server and associated machinery and/or vehicles, and which allows the base station server to communicate with a corresponding machine or vehicle to order an execution of an action thereby. The system may further have a barcode scanner in communication with the base station server, and each actuator may further contain a barcode or unique identification number, such that actuator data may be entered into the base station server with ease and active controls set on the actuator. Thus, the actuator, in conjunction with the system and corresponding computer program product, allows a user to have the ability to immediately initiate a remote action, such as the halting of operation of industrial equipment or vehicles in communication with the system of the present invention operating over a wireless LAN, and allows system managers to easily set controls associated with each actuator.
US07719418B2
A system and method for locating objects in an approximate immediate proximity to a user is disclosed. A two-way radio transponder system is employed with a Coordinator as a parent device and multiple Identification Tags as child devices. The system is low-cost and consumes relatively low power using advancement in microcircuit technology and additionally the system employs predetermined timing cycles to further optimize power consumption. The Coordinator has a microprocessor programmed to compare signal strength in successive communication cycles to help determine the proximity of the Coordinator to the multiple Identification Tags. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, motion sensors are used to assist in determining relative motion between Coordinator and Identification Tags. A USB port is further included for the system to interface with a PC. A method for associating the various Identification Tags, each having a unique electronic address to all others manufactured, with the particular Coordinator is also disclosed.
US07719413B2
An occupant detection system includes occupant sensors on each of plural seats, first resistors in connection to each of the occupant sensors with different resistance values, a power supply line that supplies electric power to the sensors and resistors from a power source by connecting those parts and the power source, and a control unit that detects occupancy of each of the plural seats based on an electric current value of the power supply line. The occupant detection system having the above configuration detects the occupancy of each of the plural seats without increasing the number of input terminals on the control unit.
US07719407B2
A voice alarm system, coupled to a fire monitoring system responds to received wireless signals. The signals can be emitted by a portable wireless control unit that can be carried or worn by first responders.
US07719397B2
The invention is directed to a transformer and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the transformer has a cylindrical disc-wound coil that includes a layer of cooling ducts disposed between first and second conductor layers. The first and second conductor layers each have a plurality of disc windings arranged in an axial direction of the disc-wound coil. Each of the disc windings includes a conductor wound into a plurality of concentric turns.
US07719396B2
A first virtual axis orthogonally intersects with a second virtual axis, and a third axis (axis passing a support center point) vertical to the first and second virtual axes is permitted to be a reference axis. A magnetic drive mechanism is provided with first magnetic drive sections for applying a drive power to a movable axis, which is supporting an object to be controlled, in a rotating direction of the first virtual axis or in a rotating direction parallel to the first virtual axis, and second magnetic drive sections for applying a drive power to the movable axis, in a rotating direction of the second virtual axis or in a rotating direction parallel to the second virtual axis.
US07719395B2
A magnetizing coil generates a magnetic field to magnetize a magnet in a magnetizing area, in which a direction of the magnetic field is generally parallel to a magnetization direction of the magnet. A magnetizing yoke holds the magnet and is made of a magnetic material, which exhibits a magnetic potential that is generally equal to a magnetic potential of the magnet in the magnetic field at time of magnetizing the magnet. The magnetizing yoke and the magnet substantially fill a projected area of the magnet in the magnetizing area on each of first and second sides of the magnet that are opposite from each other in the magnetization direction of the magnet in the magnetizing area.
US07719373B2
A device and a method are presented for generating an intermitted oscillating signal comprising a plurality of oscillating portions separated from each other in time. The device and method are suited for communication systems, in particular for Ultra-Wide Bandwidth (UWB) applications. The device comprises a variable oscillator for generating the oscillating portions; switching circuitry for switching on/switching off the variable oscillator at the beginning/end of each oscillating portion; and circuitry for setting initial conditions in the variable oscillator to impose a predefined transient and a characterizing frequency upon each start-up.
US07719359B1
A variable gain amplifier may include a gain block, a voltage control block, and a unity gain buffer block. The gain block may include a plurality of amplifiers having a fixed gain. The voltage control block is coupled to the output of the gain block. Moreover, the voltage control block controls, based on control voltages applied to the plurality of amplifiers having fixed gain, current output by the plurality of amplifiers. The unity gain buffer amplifier is coupled to receive the current output by the plurality of amplifiers of the voltage control block. The unity gain buffer amplifier provides an output signal of the variable gain amplifier. Related systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US07719356B2
An amplifier stage capable of delivering a peak limited voltage pulse with sharp transitions, at a desired width and duty cycle, and with high efficiency is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment relates to a circuit that includes a tuned class D amplifier that receives an input signal and generates a pulsed RF output signal in response to the input signal. The pulsed RF output signal has a greater power than that of the input signal.
US07719352B2
Active circuits with isolation switches are described. In one design, an apparatus includes first and second amplifiers coupled in parallel. Each amplifier receives an input signal and provides an output signal. Each amplifier has a switch that isolates the amplifier when the amplifier is turned off. The first and second amplifiers may be high and low gain amplifiers or two low noise amplifiers (LNAs). The first and second amplifiers may be for different communication systems, different frequency bands, and/or different gain ranges. In general, any number of amplifiers may be coupled in parallel, and each amplifier may have a switch to isolate that amplifier when turned off. A switch for an amplifier may be a shunt switch coupled between an internal node of the amplifier and ground. The shunt switch may be closed when the amplifier is turned off and may be opened when the amplifier is turned on.
US07719351B2
An embodiment is directed to an instrumentation amplifier. The instrumentation amplifier includes an output stage for generating an output voltage, a low-frequency path coupled with the output stage, and a high-frequency path coupled with the output stage. The high-frequency path dominates the low-frequency path at frequencies above a particular frequency, and the low-frequency path dominates the high-frequency path at frequencies below the particular frequency. The low-frequency path includes an input stage for sensing a differential input and generating an intermediate current based thereon, a feedback stage coupled with the input and output stages, the feedback stage for generating a feedback current based on the output voltage, and an auto-zeroing circuit coupled with the input, feedback, and output stages, the auto-zeroing circuit for generating a nulling current. The nulling current compensates for errors in the intermediate and feedback currents resulting from input offsets in the input and feedback stages.
US07719344B1
A stabilization component for substrate potential regulation for an integrated circuit device. A comparator is coupled to a charge pump to control the charge pump to drive a substrate potential. A stabilization component is coupled to the comparator and is operable to correct an over-charge of the substrate by shunting current from the substrate.
US07719337B2
A semiconductor device includes a circuit having a first data holding node and a second data holding node; a first MOS field-effect transistor coupled to the first data holding node; a second MOS field-effect transistor coupled to the second data holding node; and a clock generation circuit coupled to a first gate electrode of the first MOS field-effect transistor for outputting a clock signal, wherein the first gate electrode is coupled to the second data holding node via the second MOS field-effect transistor, and a second gate electrode of the second MOS field-effect transistor is coupled to the first data holding node via the first MOS field-effect transistor.
US07719330B2
A phase locked loop device is provided. The phase locked loop device includes a phase/frequency detector, a charge pump, a low pass filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a control unit. The phase/frequency detector generates a compared signal corresponding to a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The charge pump coupled to the phase/frequency detector generates a pump current according to the compared signal. The low pass filter coupled to the charge pump generates an operating voltage corresponding to the pump current. The voltage-controlled oscillator coupled to the low pass filter generates an output clock signal in response to the operating voltage. The control unit coupled to the low pass filter and the voltage-controlled oscillator constrains the operating voltage to a predetermined voltage level when the frequency of the output clock signal is out of a predetermined frequency range.
US07719328B2
The present invention discloses a self-bias PLL including a phase frequency detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage control oscillator, a divider and a bias current converter. A charging or discharging current output from the charge pump equals to a first control current. A resistor of the loop filter is controlled by a first control voltage a second control voltage which is adjusted according to the first control voltage and a second control current. The loop filter increases or decreases the first control voltage according to the charging or discharging current output from the charge pump. The voltage control oscillator generates a bias current and an oscillation voltage according to the first control voltage and increases or decreases an oscillation frequency according to the increase or decrease of the oscillation voltage. The circuit structure of the self-bias PLL is simple and the self-bias PLL has a low jitter.
US07719327B2
A frequency divider has an inverting unit and a plurality of switch inverters in series. Each switch inverter comprises two inphase switches and is controlled by a clock. The two inphase switches of each switch inverter are respectively supplied by a first voltage and a second voltage, while any two switch inverters in series are respectively controlled by two inverted clocks. The two inphase switches are selectively turned on and off synchronously.
US07719319B2
In a dynamic flip-flop circuit with a data selection function, for example, when data having an H value is selected using a selection signal, a first node N1 is L, a second node N2 of a second dynamic circuit is H, so that an output signal has an H level. In this case, when none of a plurality of pieces of data is selected using a selection signal, the first node N1 is H, so that the electric charge of the second node N2 is discharged and the output signal erroneously has an L level. However, in this case, an output node N3 is H and a fourth node N4 is L, so that an n-type transistor of the second dynamic circuit is turned OFF, thereby preventing the second node N2 from being discharged. Therefore, a normal operation is performed while securing a satisfactorily high-speed operation even when none of the pieces of data is selected.
US07719316B2
Disclosed herein is a digital system that includes a distribution network to carry a reference clock and a plurality of circuit domains coupled to the distribution network to receive the reference clock for synchronous operation in accordance with the reference clock. Each circuit domain of the plurality of circuit domains includes a respective clock generator driven by the reference clock to generate a resonant clock signal, respective circuitry coupled to the clock generator to operate in accordance with the resonant clock signal, with the circuitry including a capacitive load for the resonant clock signal and a respective inductance coupled to the circuitry and the clock generator to resonate the capacitive load of the circuitry.
US07719315B2
A programmable clock generator circuit receives control signals and a global clock and generates a pulsed data clock and a scan clock in response to gating signals. The clock generator has data clock and scan clock feed-forward paths and a single feedback path. Delay control signals program delay elements in the feedback path and logic gates reshape and generate a feedback clock signal. The global clock and the feedback clock signal are combined to generates a pulsed local clock signal. A scan clock feed-forward circuit receives the local clock and generates the scan clock. A data clock feed-forward circuit receives the local clock and generates the data clock with a logic controlled delay relative to the local clock signal. The feedback clock is generated with controlled delay thereby modifying the pulse width of the data and scan clocks independent of the controlled delay of the data clock feed-forward path.
US07719308B2
An on-die termination circuit of a semiconductor apparatus can include: a code converting unit configured to change a code value of a termination code in response to a termination control signal; and a plurality of on-die termination blocks configured to commonly receive the termination code, and perform a termination operation.
US07719300B2
Reliability of results of a test such as a wafer burn-in test is raised. The present invention is a method for testing a plurality of semiconductor devices in a semiconductor wafer held in a cartridge. Each of the semiconductor devices has electrodes and the cartridge has a lower cartridge portion provided with a chuck holding the semiconductor wafer thereon, and an upper cartridge portion provided with a probe assembly having probes capable of contacting said electrodes. After constituting the cartridge and before placing the cartridge in the thermostatic chamber, a contact check to determine whether or not electrical contact between the electrodes of the semiconductor devices in the cartridge and the probes of the probe assembly is appropriate is performed.
US07719299B2
In an apparatus and method for monitoring defects in wafers, a monitoring circuit is fabricated on an area of each one of the wafers. The monitoring circuit includes representative devices that replicate similar devices located in a die area of the wafers. Defects if present in the representative devices contribute to a generation of a noise, thereby causing an imbalance in a differential signal measurable across selected ones of the representative devices. A digitizing circuit that uses a common mode voltage as a reference to measure the imbalance digitizes the differential signal to a digital signal, the digital signal being indicative of the noise generated by the defects. The digital signal is stored over a configurable time interval to form a digital bit stream. The digital bit stream is compared to a reference to determine whether the defects are within an allowable range.
US07719290B2
A circuit configuration for measuring air humidity includes a measuring system which includes an oscillator unit and a signal-processing unit, as well as a frequency-determining impedance, which is determined largely by a parallel connection of a capacitive humidity sensor and a parasitic resistance. The frequency-determining impedance is connected to the oscillator unit, which includes an oscillator having an oscillation frequency that is a function of the frequency-determining impedance. The oscillator unit includes a switchable impedance, which can be connected in addition to the frequency-determining impedance, the oscillator thereby being switchable from a first frequency range to a second frequency range. An oscillator signal having the oscillation frequency of the oscillator is supplied to the signal-processing unit in which the frequency of the oscillator signal is able to be measured, and a correction value to compensate for the influence of the parasitic parallel resistance on the oscillation frequency of the oscillator is ascertainable as a function of the difference between a first measurement of the frequency of the oscillator signal in the first frequency range and a second measurement of the frequency of the oscillator signal in the second frequency range.
US07719288B2
A device for measuring and isolating noise-creating imbalances in a paired telecommunications line has an internal circuit which comprises a balanced center tapped termination consisting of precisely equal resistor pairs. The circuit includes an adjustable sine wave burst generator which generates a low voltage longitudinal ac signal that is transmitted across the balanced pathways. A differential amplifier in the circuit measures this difference and displays it in units of noise or balance. The output of the differential amplifier is transmitted to an analog-to-digital converter. A microprocessor collects the samples in an array, and filters the results for presentation on a display. Advantageously, the microprocessor provides for adjustable and selectable bandpass filtering. Preferred bandpass filtering preferably occurs at 1 kHz, 200 KHz, 1 MHz, and 5 MHz with a preferred frequency bandpass of 3 harmonics to provide bandpass ranges of 200-600 KHz, 1-3 MHz, and 5-15 MHz, respectively, and a bandpass of 3 Hz at 1 kHz.
US07719287B2
A port width module operating in association with SAS controllers determines the operational state of communication across an SAS cable by comparing the number of links at opposing controllers that are capable of supporting communication with the number of links in DWord synchronization. For example, an information handling system capable of communication of four links at an SAS connector communicates in a normal state across two links where the opposing device is a switch that supports only two links at an SAS connector. An LED at the information handling system indicates normal operations with two links in DWord synchronization by receiving the port width of the opposing device, retrieving its own port width, and comparing the port widths with the number of links in DWord synchronization.
US07719284B2
An apparatus measures a voltage of a cell while scanning a group of cells in a cell stack, in which a plurality of cells is electrically connected in series. The apparatus has a first switching device and a voltage detecting device. The first switching device is connected in series with a signal line carrying a voltage of a cell. The voltage detecting device detects the voltage of the cell, which is electrically connected with signal lines carrying voltages of cells belonging to a group. When the first switching device is electrically connected with a connecting point between two successive groups of cells, the first switching device is shared by the two groups.
US07719276B2
A phased array coil for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system is provided that includes a first coil, a second coil adjacent the first coil, and a third coil adjacent the second coil. The first, second and third coils are configured in a parallel arrangement in a left-right direction of the MRI system.
US07719259B2
A current sensor system that uses a sensor resistor to sense current flow and in which the level of voltage drop across that resistor is used to control the current flow through another resistor, the input resistor, into a current integrator. The ratio of input resistor to sensor resistor resistance values determines the ratio of sense current to integrator input current level. By matching the temperature coefficients of the resistors the effects of temperature are reduced. The integrator output provides either directly or indirectly a voltage level, frequency, or duty cycle output signal to indicate the sensor resistor current level.
US07719255B2
An input circuit for an input component is disclosed for enabling the safe reading of input signals applied to the input component. The disclosed input circuit for an input component, particularly a bus input component, enables the safe reading of input signals applied to the input component, particularly according to the standards Category 4 DIN EN 954 and SIL 3 IEC 61508, which is characterized by at least one signal input circuit with a one-channel periphery connection for the connection of at least one signal generator, an evaluation circuit, which can be connected electrically to the signal input circuit via a first coupling element, and a comparison circuit, which is connected electrically to the signal input circuit, for setting a reference voltage for the activation and deactivation of the coupling element.
US07719254B2
A method for setting a reference potential of a current sensor in a power semiconductor device is disclosed. On the basis of a specific geometry and a typical two-dimensional potential distribution of the power semiconductor device, a plurality of tapping points is predetermined on an area of the power semiconductor device. On the basis of the specific geometry of the power semiconductor device, a line course between the tapping points and a measuring point for measuring a potential average value is determined and realized. Respective potential values are detected at the tapping points and fed to the measuring point. The potential average value is determined at the measuring point. The potential of the current sensor is set to the potential average value thus determined.
US07719252B2
A power supply is provided, which is capable of stabilizing a generated output of the fuel cell using neither a voltage nor a current outputted from the fuel cell as a negative feedback signal. The power supply includes a fuel cell 110, a DC-DC converter 120 that adjusts a voltage outputted from the fuel cell 110 according to a PWM signal and then outputs the voltage to a load device 200, a switching controller 130 that generates the PWM signal and outputs this signal to the DC-DC converter 120, a voltmeter 140 that measures a voltage Vout outputted from the DC-DC converter 120, and a rechargeable battery 150 connected to the load device 200 in parallel. The DC-DC converter 120 calculates a duty ratio of the PWM signal by performing a specific computation using the voltage Vout and a target fuel cell voltage Vt.
US07719248B1
A switch-mode converter controller and method utilizes a comparator for receiving and comparing a sensed current and a peak current that is determined by a product of a multiplying factor, that is greater than or equal to two, and a target current. A finite state machine (FSM) is configured to operate the switch-mode converter in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Responsive to the comparator, the FSM turns on the switch and observes an on-time duration of the switch until the sensed current reaches the peak current; calculates a switching period responsive to the peak current and the observed on-time duration; and varies the switching period responsive to the on-time duration and the multiplying factor such that an average of the sensed current equals the target current. The FSM can also be configured to alternatively operate the switch-mode converter in a continuous conduction mode (CCM).
US07719245B2
Methods and apparatus for a self-tracking high-side pre-driver control are described. In an example, a method is described comprising charging a first terminal associated with a first capacitive element to a first voltage with respect to ground and a second terminal associated with a second capacitive element to a second voltage with respect to ground, changing the first voltage and the second voltage with respect to ground by changing a swing voltage, selecting one of the first voltage or the second voltage based on a first switched-mode power supply topology or a second switched-mode power supply topology and driving a transistor using the selected voltage.
US07719234B2
In a cordless power tool system, a battery pack which may removably attachable to a cordless power tool and to a charger may include at least one battery cell and a power limiting device. The power limiting device may be arranged in series with the at least one battery cell for limiting power output of the battery pack based on the component that is connected to the pack. Current and hence power out of the battery pack may be controlled as a function of total internal impedance in the battery pack, which may be adjusted depending on the component that is connected to the pack.
US07719233B2
A battery assembly of a battery pack has a structure in which a substrate holder abuts on a side surface of a cell with a protecting circuit being held. The substrate holder includes a first side plate having a circuit part fitted part in which a circuit element of the protecting circuit is fitted and a second side plate along which a first lead is situated. Above the first side plate, a brim is provided that protrudes by an amount substantially equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the substrate and the circuit element, that is, the thickness of the protecting circuit substrate. Above the second side plate, a brim is provided that protrudes by an amount greater than the thickness of the first lead.
US07719230B2
A kit comprising a plurality of power tools configured to operate on different operating voltages and a plurality of receivers configured to provide different output charging voltages for charging the power tools. Each receiver is configured to engage and charge only the one or more power tools having an operating voltage equal to or greater than the output charging voltage of that receiver.
US07719229B2
A charging system for a legged mobile robot that facilitates positioning of a robot to be charged and does not put a load on the robot is provided. The charging system includes a battery 2, a power receiving connector 4 and a movable shutter member 5 capable of being opened and closed on a rear cover 3, which are provided on a robot 1, and a holder 21, a power supplying connector 22, a slide mechanism 23, a base plate 25, a charging power supply 26 and the like, which are provided on a charging station 20. The robot 1 performs a predetermined positioning on the base plate 25 and then moves the center of gravity rearward to connect the power receiving connector 4 to the power supplying connector 22. In this step, when the rear cover 3 of the robot 1 is guided by a first guide section 21a of the holder 21, the slide mechanism 23 allows the holder 21 to move horizontally. Thus, even if the robot 1 and the charging station 20 are slightly misaligned with each other, the robot 1 can be easily positioned correctly.
US07719218B2
A motor control apparatus for computing or outputting motor load information, comprises: a storage unit which stores a function or table obtained in advance based on parameters used for the computation of the load information and on an actually measured value of a motor output or motor torque; and a load meter computing unit which computes the load information from the function or table stored in the storage unit by using the parameters used for the computation of the load information. With the above configuration, the load meter is computed in such a manner as to accurately indicate the load condition of a motor in real time over the entire speed range of the motor including the nonlinear control region of the motor, and the motor is controlled using the thus computed value or the computed value is displayed on a display unit.
US07719215B2
A system and method for controlling any number of devices, such as one or more window shades, using a control system that can be connected to a wall switch by using only two wires. The various embodiments of the present invention enable a user to control a shade while using a motor that is controlled by use of two power lines.
US07719214B2
In order to reduce the time and expense of designing and operating a motor control system with multiple motors of different types, a motor control system is provided with motor control modules that monitor and record status information and update settings in a uniform manner regardless of the motor type under control. Each motor control module includes an output power stage and a motor control unit connected to each other. The status information includes status information about the output power stage or a current control loop connected to the output power stage. The settings include conditions monitored by each motor control module and corresponding actions taken by each motor control module based on the conditions. A host processor connected to the multiple motor control modules may request the common status information and send messages to update common settings of the motor control modules.
US07719195B2
An electrodeless plasma lamp is described comprising a lamp body including a solid dielectric material. The lamp includes a bulb received at least partially within an opening in the solid dielectric material and a radio frequency (RF) feed configured to provide power to the solid dielectric material. A conductive material is provided adjacent to the bulb to concentrate the power proximate the bulb. The conductive material may be located below an upper surface of the solid dielectric material. The conductive material may modify at least a portion of an electric field proximate the bulb so that the portion of the electric field is oriented substantially parallel to an upper surface of the lamp body.
US07719193B2
A discharge lamp includes a cathode and an anode which face each other in an arc tube, wherein the cathode is made of tungsten in which thorium oxide is doped. The cathode has a cylindrical body portion, a tip portion having a cone shape, and a middle portion formed between the body portion and the tip portion, wherein an angle θ1 of the tip portion is set to a range of 55 degrees≦θ1≦65 degrees, and an angle θ2 formed by side faces of the middle portion is smaller than that of the tip portion.
US07719175B2
A liquid crystal display contains one or more external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFL). Each EEFL has a tube filled with a discharge gas. Opposing first and second electrodes are disposed on an outer surface of the tube. Each of the first and second electrodes includes a cap electrode at one end of the tube and a first line electrode along a length direction of the tube; and a second electrode on the outer surface, the second electrode including a second cap electrode at the other end of the tube and a second line electrode along the length direction of the tube.
US07719169B2
A micro-electromechanical device includes a first piezoelectric actuator and a second piezoelectric actuator. The first piezoelectric actuator includes a first beam fixed on a substrate and a second beam extended in parallel to the first beam from a first connecting end to a first working end. A second piezoelectric actuator includes a third beam, spaced from the first beam, fixed on the substrate and a fourth beam extended in parallel to the third beam from a second connecting end to a second working end. The second working end faces the first working end in a perpendicular direction to a surface of the substrate.
US07719168B2
A braking device for an electric motor includes two brake pads, which are connected to brake disks, which cooperate with a brake rail. The two brake pads are rigidly connected by a connecting element, which is able to experience a certain deflection under the influence of a piezoelectric element, which is used to distance the two brake pads from each other. An assembly, which includes the two brake pads and their connecting element, is fastened on a support by a fastening device, which is elastically deformable along the direction at right angles with respect to the brake rail and to the two brake pads. The elastically deformable fastening device is formed of plates, which are connected on one end to the assembly and on the other end to the support.
US07719162B2
An electrostatic actuator and a method of driving the same are provided. The actuator controls the displacement of a target object by adjusting a voltage between fixed comb electrodes and a moving comb electrode. The actuator includes an actuator control signal generator generating an actuator control signal by pulse-width modulating an actuator driving signal and a carrier signal; and an actuator unit including the fixed comb electrodes and the moving comb electrode and adjusting the voltage according to the actuator control signal. Accordingly, the displacement can be easily controlled using the pulse-width-modulated actuator driving signal even when both the voltage of the actuator driving signal and the frequency of the carrier signal are high.
US07719155B2
A two-phase synchronous electric motor, comprising a permanent-magnet rotor rotating around a rotation axis, and a core lamination pack stator. First and second pairs of pole pieces define: a housing/rotation seat for the rotor. Each pole piece comprises a core, having an end associated to the core lamination pack, a free end portion facing the rotor housing/rotation seat, and a coil. The free end portion of the core of each pole piece comprises a core lamination pack extending in parallel planes to the rotation axis of the rotor. The core laminations have a variable length to form a surface of the free end portion of the core of each pole piece that is concave in the axial direction and partially wraps the rotor. A coupling between the rotor and a load is through a motion transmission joint having driving and driven elements associated in a kinematic series.
US07719153B2
A method and apparatus in which a stator (11) and a rotor (12) define a primary air gap (20) for receiving AC flux and at least one source (23, 40), and preferably two sources (23, 24, 40) of DC excitation are positioned for inducing DC flux at opposite ends of the rotor (12). Portions of PM material (17, 17a) are provided as boundaries separating PM rotor pole portions from each other and from reluctance poles. The PM poles (18) and the reluctance poles (19) can be formed with poles of one polarity having enlarged flux paths in relation to flux paths for pole portions of an opposite polarity, the enlarged flux paths communicating with a core of the rotor (12) so as to increase reluctance torque produced by the electric machine. Reluctance torque is increased by providing asymmetrical pole faces. The DC excitation can also use asymmetric poles and asymmetric excitation sources. Several embodiments are disclosed with additional variations.
US07719138B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for a two-source series inverter. The systems and methods combine operation of a first voltage source and a second voltage source in series powering a novel voltage combining arrangement and a conventional inverter via a switch configuration to power a load. The switch configuration is controlled by a plurality of control signals generated by a controller based on a variety of control modes, and feedback signals.
US07719131B2
In order to monitor an electrical supply system, in particular of a motor vehicle, which is at least partially mounted on a carbon-fiber supporting structure, a monitoring unit is provided and electrically connected to the carbon-fiber supporting structure at preferably a plurality of measurement points. Voltage values are tapped off at the measurement points and compared with permissible voltage values. If the voltage values exceed permissible maximum limits, on account of a short circuit for example, this is judged to be an indication of an impermissible current across the carbon-fiber supporting structure, and a power source is disconnected from the supply system, in particular.
US07719127B2
A wind power energy system includes a compression system that produces pressurized air with a first temperature that is received by a storage system at a second temperature that is approximately equal to the first temperature. The wind power energy system is insulated with about ten centimeters of glass-wool insulation to create an essentially adiabatic system. The pressurized air is utilized by a generator and generate electricity for a power grid. The generator also includes a combustion engine input. A control system detects fluctuation in wind power and commands the combustion engine to provide an appropriate amount of input energy to the generator such that the sum of the wind energy and combustion engine inputs produces a predetermined amount of electrical output by the generator.
US07719115B2
A computer automated design system includes a subject routing module configured to set a first grid area and a first diagonal grid area and route a first wire in the first grid area and a first diagonal wire extending diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the first wire and a next routing module configured to set a second grid area and a second diagonal grid area and route a second wire in the second grid area and a second diagonal wire extending diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the second wire.
US07719111B2
A nanowire electronmechanical device with an improved structure and a method of fabricating the same prevent burning of two nanowires which are switched due to contact with each other while providing stable on-off switching characteristics. The nanowire electromechanical device comprises: an insulating substrate; first and third electrodes spaced apart from each other on the insulating substrate, wherein a negative voltage and a positive voltage, varying within a predetermined range, are applied to the first and third electrodes, respectively; a second electrode interposed between the first and third electrodes, a constant positive voltage, lower than the voltage applied to the third electrode, being applied to the second electrode; a first nanowire vertically grown on the first electrode and charged with a negative charge; a second nanowire vertically grown on the second electrode and charged with a positive charge; and a third nanowire vertically grown on the third electrode and charged with an amount of positive charge corresponding to the magnitude of the varying voltage applied to the third electrode.
US07719107B2
A semiconductor device comprises an IC chip body and a package substrate that has thereon many external electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional grid configuration. Groups of signal lines that are likely to emit noise (noisy signal lines) are separated and spaced apart from groups of signal lines that are susceptible to noise (noise susceptible signal lines). Each of the noisy signal lines and noise susceptible signal lines is connected to an associated member of an associated IC pad group separated and spaced apart from other IC pad groups. Further, each of the noisy signal lines and noise susceptible signal lines is connected to an associated member of an associated external electrode group selected from the multiplicity of external electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional grid configuration on the package substrate. Thus, groups of potentially interfering signal lines are mutually separated and spaced apart from one another, thereby suppressing the noise.
US07719105B2
A high speed electrical interconnection system is provided. The interconnection system comprises one or more electrical signal lines, or differential pairs of signal lines, and an inhomogeneous dielectric system. The dielectric system further comprises a homogeneous dielectric layer interposed between the electrical signal lines, and electrical conducting planes including a periodic array etched in the conducting material of the conducting plane. The inhomogeneous dielectric system exhibits a lower dielectric constant as compared to the dielectric constant of the homogeneous dielectric layer, resulting in lower microwave loss, reduced signal propagation delay, reduced signal skew, and increased signal bandwidth. The interconnection system may be implemented for connecting one or more high speed electron elements on-chip, off-chip, chip-chip connection on multilayer printed circuit boards, high speed die-package, high speed connectors, and high speed electric cables.
US07719104B2
The present invention provides a circuit board structure with an embedded semiconductor chip and a method for fabricating the same. The circuit board structure includes a carrier board having a first surface, a second surface, and a through hole penetrating the carrier board from the first surface to the second surface; a semiconductor chip having an active surface whereon a plurality of electrode pads are formed and a non-active surface, embedded in the through hole; a photosensitive first dielectric layer formed on the first surface of the carrier board and an opening formed thereon to expose the non-active surface of the semiconductor chip; a photosensitive second dielectric layer formed on the second surface of the carrier board and the active surface of the semiconductor chip.
US07719102B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of this invention includes forming metal pads on a Si substrate through a first oxide film, bonding the Si substrate and a holding substrate which bolsters the Si substrate through a bonding film, forming an opening by etching the Si substrate followed by forming a second oxide film on a back surface of the Si substrate and in the opening, forming a wiring connected to the metal pads after etching the second oxide film, forming a conductive terminal on the wiring, dicing from the back surface of the Si substrate to the bonding film and separating the Si substrate and the holding substrate.
US07719096B2
A semiconductor device mountable to a substrate is provided. The device includes a semiconductor die and an electrically conductive attachment region having a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface is arranged for electrical communication with the semiconductor die. An interlayer material is formed on the second attachment surface of the electrically conductive attachment region. The interlayer material is a thermally conductive, dielectric material. A housing at least in part encloses the semiconductor die and the interlayer material.
US07719095B2
A lead frame and a semiconductor device having a lead frame are disclosed. The lead frame is provided with a mount bed to mount a semiconductor chip, first and second lead terminals and first and second extension portions of band-shapes. The first and the second extension portions extend from sides of the first and second lead terminals and are bent. An electronic component is attached to Tip portions of the first and the second extension portions with connection conductors interposed in between.
US07719094B2
A semiconductor package includes a lead frame, at least one chip, and an encapsulation. The lead frame has a plurality of leads, and each of the leads includes at least one first conductive part, at least one second conductive part, and at least one third conductive part. The first conductive part is not electrically connected to the second conductive part, and the second conductive part is electrically connected to the third conductive part. The chip is electrically connected to the first conductive part. The encapsulation encapsulates the chip and at least a portion of the lead frame, and forms a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first conductive part and the third conductive part are exposed from the first surface, and the second conductive part is exposed from the second surface.
US07719092B2
The power semiconductor module includes a module package housing power semiconductor devices therein and a magnetic core set around the module package, such that magnetic core surrounds the power semiconductor devices such as IGBTs. Alternatively, the magnetic core is built in the module package such that the outer circumference faces of magnetic core and the side faces of module package form side faces of the power semiconductor module. The power semiconductor module according to the invention facilitates replacing the magnetic core, setting the magnetic core around the module package thereof, reducing the size thereof, simplifying the structure thereof, and easy manufacture thereof.
US07719085B2
A semiconductor device 1 includes an interconnect 12, a conductive layer 14 (first conductive layer), an insulating layer 20 (first insulating layer), another conductive layer 30 (second conductive layer), another insulating layer 40 (second insulating layer), a via plug 52 (first via plug), and another via plug 54 (second via plug). In the semiconductor device 1, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 constitute a MIM capacitor (capacitor element). To be more detailed, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 serve as a lower electrode, an insulating capacitor film and an upper electrode, respectively. The insulating layer 40 covers both the conductive layer 30 and the interconnect 12. The insulating layer 40 works as the etching stopper for the via plugs 52, 54.
US07719084B2
An embodiment is an inductor that may include a laminated material structure to decrease eddy currents therein that may limit the operation of the inductor at high frequency. An embodiment may employ electroless plating techniques to form a layer or layers of magnetic material within the laminated material structure, and in particular those magnetic layers adjacent to insulator layers.
US07719081B2
In a semiconductor device of the present invention, an epitaxial layer is formed on a P type single crystal silicon substrate. Isolation regions are formed in the epitaxial layer, and are divided into a plurality of element formation regions. An NPN transistor is formed in one of the element formation regions. An N type diffusion layer is formed between a P type isolation region and a P type diffusion layer which is used as a base region of the NPN transistor. This structure makes the base region and the isolation region tend not to be short-circuited. Hence, the breakdown voltage characteristics of the NPN transistor can be improved.
US07719074B2
A sensor is implemented in an integrated circuit. The sensor includes one or more sensor pads that are provided at or near a surface of the integrated circuit. One or more integrated circuit components such as a sense amplifier are provided in the integrated circuit die adjacent the sensor pads. One or more other components are provided in the integrated circuit die adjacent the sensor pads.
US07719060B2
By embedding a silicon/germanium mixture in a silicon layer of high tensile strain, a moderately high degree of tensile strain may be maintained in the silicon/germanium mixture, thereby enabling increased performance of N-channel transistors on the basis of silicon/germanium material. In other regions, the germanium concentration may be varied to provide different levels of tensile or compressive strain.
US07719057B2
Techniques associated with providing multiple gate insulator thickness for a semiconductor device are generally described. In one example, an apparatus includes a semiconductor fin having an impurity introduced to at least a first side of the fin, a first oxide having a first thickness coupled with the first side of the fin, and a second oxide having a second thickness coupled with a second side of the fin, the second thickness being different from the first thickness as a result of the impurity introduced to the first side of the fin.
US07719056B2
This disclosure concerns a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device comprising forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor substrate; forming a semiconductor layer provided on a cavity by connecting lower spaces of the trenches to one another and closing upper openings of the trenches in a heat treatment under a hydrogen atmosphere; etching the semiconductor layer in an isolation formation area; forming an insulating film on a side surface and a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer; filling the cavity under the semiconductor layer with an electrode material; and forming a memory element on the semiconductor layer.
US07719055B1
A normally-off cascode power switch circuit is disclosed fabricated in wide bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride and which is capable of conducting current in the forward and reverse direction under the influence of a positive gate bias. The switch includes cascoded junction field effect transistors (JFETs) that enable increased gain, and hence blocking voltage, while minimizing specific on-resistance.
US07719054B2
All low-temperature processes are used to fabricate a variety of semiconductor devices in a substrate the does not include an epitaxial layer. The devices include a non-isolated lateral DMOS, a non-isolated extended drain or drifted MOS device, a lateral trench DMOS, an isolated lateral DMOS, JFET and depletion-mode devices, and P-N diode clamps and rectifiers and junction terminations. Since the processes eliminate the need for high temperature processing and employ “as-implanted” dopant profiles, they constitute a modular architecture which allows devices to be added or omitted to the IC without the necessity of altering the processes used to produce the remaining devices.
US07719051B2
A charge holding insulating film in a memory cell is constituted by a laminated film composed of a bottom insulating film, a charge storage film, and a top insulating film on a semiconductor substrate. Further, by performing a plasma nitriding treatment to the bottom insulating film, a nitride region whose nitrogen concentration has a peak value and is 1 atom % or more is formed on the upper surface side in the bottom insulating film. The thickness of the nitride region is set to 0.5 nm or more and 1.5 nm or less, and the peak value of nitrogen concentration is set to 5 atom % or more and 40 atom % or less, and a position of the peak value of nitrogen concentration is set within 2 nm from the upper surface of the bottom insulating film, thereby suppressing an interaction between the bottom insulating film and the charge storage film.
US07719046B2
The present invention includes floating gate transistor structures used in non-volatile memory devices such as flash memory devices. In one embodiment, a system includes a CPU and a memory device including an array having memory cells having columnar structures and a floating gate structure interposed between the structures that is positioned closer to one of the structures. In another embodiment, a memory device includes an array having memory cells having adjacent FETs having source/drain regions and a common floating gate structure that is spaced apart from the source/drain region of one FET by a first distance, and spaced apart from the source/drain region of the opposing FET by a second distance. In still another embodiment, a memory device is formed by positioning columnar structures on a substrate, and interposing a floating gate between the structures that is closer to one of the structures.
US07719045B2
In a capacitor having a high dielectric constant, the capacitor includes a cylindrical lower electrode, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode. A metal oxide layer is formed on inner, top and outer surfaces of the lower electrode as the dielectric layer. A first sub-electrode is formed on a surface of the dielectric layer along the profile of the lower electrode and a second sub-electrode is continuously formed on the first sub-electrode corresponding to the top surface of the lower electrode, so an opening portion of the lower electrode is covered with the second sub-electrode. The first and second sub-electrodes include first and second metal nitride layers in which first and second stresses are applied, respectively. Directions of the first and second stresses are opposite to each other. Accordingly, cracking is minimized in the upper electrode with the high dielectric constant, thereby reducing current leakage.
US07719043B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a Fin type field effect transistor (FET) having a protrusive semiconductor layer protruding from a substrate plane, a gate electrode formed so as to straddle the protrusive semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film between the gate electrode and the protrusive semiconductor layer, and source and drain regions provided in the protrusive semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor device has on a semiconductor substrate an element forming region having a Fin type FET, a trench provided on the semiconductor substrate for separating the element forming region from another element forming region, and an element isolation insulating film in the trench; the element forming region has a shallow substrate flat surface formed by digging to a depth shallower than the bottom surface of the trench and deeper than the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor raised portion protruding from the substrate flat surface and formed of a part of the semiconductor substrate, and an insulating film on the shallow substrate flat surface; and the protrusive semiconductor layer of the Fin type FET is formed of a portion protruding from the insulating film of the semiconductor raised portion.
US07719035B2
A low contact resistance CMOS integrated circuit and method for its fabrication are provided. The CMOS integrated circuit comprises a first transition metal electrically coupled to the N-type circuit regions and a second transition metal different than the first transition metal electrically coupled to the P-type circuit regions. A conductive barrier layer overlies each of the first transition metal and the second transition metal and a plug metal overlies the conductive barrier layer.
US07719034B2
A semiconductor device having an improved gate process margin includes two active regions spaced apart from each other on a semiconductor substrate and respectively having bent sides with recesses and protrusions corresponding to each other, and two line-shaped gate patterns respectively formed in the longitudinal directions of the active regions. A gap at which the two gate patterns are spaced apart from each other by the recesses and the protrusions in the active regions is relatively narrower by a width difference between the recesses and the protrusions.
US07719030B2
A low contact resistance ohmic contact for a III-Nitride or compound semiconductor wafer or die consists of 4 layers of Ti, AlSi, Ti and TiW. The AlSi has about 1% Si. The layers are sequentially deposited as by sputtering, are patterned and plasma etched and then annealed in a rapid thermal anneal process. The use of AlSi in place of pure Al reduces contact resistance by about 15% to 30%.
US07719029B2
A single-photon avalanche detector is disclosed that is operable at wavelengths greater than 1000 nm and at operating speeds greater than 10 MHz. The single-photon avalanche detector comprises a thin-film resistor and avalanche photodiode that are monolithically integrated such that little or no additional capacitance is associated with the addition of the resistor.
US07719024B2
Both ends of the lead arrangement project outward from side surfaces of a package to form outer lead regions. Each of the outer lead regions includes a pair of outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections that are located between the outer lead projections. The outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections project outward. Adjustment is made to the projection amount of end surfaces of the lead smaller projections lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lead arrangement, whereby the end surfaces projecting less than end surfaces of the outer lead projections. Thus, cut surfaces of lead connection portions with edged corners are not exposed. This arrangement prevents that the cut surfaces damage other devices.
US07719011B2
An emissive device includes a substrate; a switching element disposed on a surface of the substrate; an insulating layer covering the switching element; a contact hole disposed in the insulating layer; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the insulating layer and electrically connected to the switching element via the contact hole in the insulating layer; a second electrode disposed at a side opposite the substrate with respect to the first electrode; a luminescent layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a light shield disposed at a side from which light from the luminescent layer emerges and having a portion covering the contact hole when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.
US07719006B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip; a package for accommodating the chip, wherein the package has a box shape with an opening and a bottom; and a cover for sealing the opening of the package. The semiconductor chip is disposed on the bottom of the package. The cover has a plate shape. The cover includes a protrusion, which is disposed at a center of the plate shape. The protrusion protrudes toward an outside of the package.
US07719002B2
Disclosed herein are a perfluoroalkyleneoxy group-substituted phenylethylsilane compound and a polymer thereof. The perfluoroalkyleneoxy group-substituted phenylethylsilane compound represented by Formula 1 has excellent thermal and chemical stability to be solution-processed in a monomer state, and the polymer prepared by thermally crosslinking the compound has a high resistance to organic solvents. Moreover, since an insulating layer prepared by applying the same shows improved thermal and physical properties, it is possible to manufacture organic thin-film transistors having a high on/off ratio in a simple process such as a photolithography for a large-size substrate: wherein R1, R2, R3, Z1, Z2, Z3, and n are the same as defined in the detailed description of the invention.
US07718998B2
An electronic device, such as a thin film transistor, containing a semiconductor of Formula/Structure (I) wherein each R′ is independently at least one of hydrogen, and a suitable hydrocarbon; Ar is an aryl, inclusive of heteroaryl substituents; and M represents at least one thiophene based conjugated segment.
US07718995B2
A nanowire according to the present invention includes: a nanowire body made of a crystalline semiconductor as a first material; and a plurality of fine particles, which are made of a second material, including a constituent element of the semiconductor, and which are located on at least portions of the surface of the nanowire body. The surface of the nanowire body is smooth.
US07718987B2
A memory cell for an electrically writeable and erasable memory medium as well as a memory medium thereof is provided. The memory cell comprises a data recording element, the data recording element has a plurality of multiple-layer structure disposed one on top of another; each the multiple-layer structure comprising a plurality of sequentially disposed individual layers. At least one of the plurality of individual layers is capable of changing phase between a crystalline state and an amorphous state in response to an electrical pulse, one of the plurality of individual layers having at least one atomic element which is absent from other one of the plurality of individual layers, and the plurality of multiple-layer structure is of a superlattice-like structure to lower a heat diffusion out of the data recording element to shorten a phase change time of the respective individual layers.
US07718971B2
The present invention provides a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus and image data generation method that achieves restarting of the generation of projection data and at an early stage while monitoring a variation of count values for detecting an occurrence of non-permissible body movement of a patient. The image processing apparatus consistent with the present invention detects a pair of gamma-rays successively emitted from an object with a radioactive isotope through a pair of detector modules in a data detecting unit. A data processing unit and an incident direction calculating unit in the image processing apparatus respectively calculate a gamma-ray detection position and a gamma-ray incident direction based on the acquired detection signals. A projection data generating unit in the apparatus generates monitoring projection data based on each count value of the detection signals in correspondence to the gamma-ray detection position and the gamma-ray incident direction. A projection data monitoring unit calculates a body movement index of the object by comparing count values of the monitoring projection data that are generated in each of two preferably adjoining monitoring periods. A system control unit generates an alarm signal for performing repetition of the monitoring projection data when the body movement index exceeds a threshold value and displays the alarm signal on a display unit.
US07718961B1
A photoelectron microscope with a magnetic projections lens incorporating a cyclotron orbit radius filter. The microscope can be used with a monochromatic source of photons to image surface potential and Fermi level shifts with sub micron spatial resolution.
US07718959B2
The invention relates to instruments for storing ions in more than one ion storage device and to the use of the storage bank thus created. The ion storage bank includes several storage cells configured as RF multipole rod systems, where the cells contain damping gas and are arranged in parallel. Each pair of pole rods is used jointly by two immediately adjacent storage cells such that the ions collected can be transported from one storage cell to the next by briefly applying DC or AC voltages to individual pairs of pole rods. The ions can thus be transported to storage cells in which they are fragmented or reactively modified, or from which they can be fed to other spectrometers. In particular, a circular arrangement of the storage cells on a virtual cylindrical surface makes it possible to accumulatively fill the storage cells with ions of specific fractions from temporally sequenced separation runs.
US07718944B2
A charge coupled device is provided with: an output gate; a main CCD region operated in response to a set of clock signals; and an output region positioned between the output gate and the main CCD region and designed to transfer electric charges received from the main CCD region to the output gate. The main CCD region includes first and second transfer electrodes. The output region includes third and fourth transfer electrodes receiving clock signals which are phase-reversed from each other. The set of clock signals received by the main CCD region and the clock signals received by the output region are outputted from different driver circuits.
US07718939B2
An optical pickup apparatus includes a light source to emit light of a predetermined wavelength, an objective lens to focus the light emitted from the light source to form a light spot on an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers, a photodetector to detect a signal and an error signal by detecting the light reflected from the optical disc, and a light scattering portion to reduce an amount of the light reflected from a non-target layer of the recording layers and incident on the photodetector by scattering part of the light reflected from the optical disc during a reproduction of data from the optical disc.
US07718934B2
An aircraft induction oven excitation arrangement includes at least one connection for an on-board power supply system, at least one power supply rectifier that can be connected to a phase of the power supply system, a converter that is arranged downstream of the at least one power supply rectifier and that includes a switching element, a controller that drives the at least one converter, a rectifier that is arranged downstream of the converter in order to produce an intermediate circuit voltage, an inverter that is connected to the intermediate circuit voltage. The switching element has a turn-on resistance Rdson ≦about 0.1Ω and a self-capacitance ≦about 200 pF at voltages of ≧about 200 V across the switching element.
US07718930B2
A thermal processing system has a processing vessel 4, a support post 30 stood on the bottom wall of the processing vessel 4, and a support table 32 internally provided with a heating means 38 and supported on the support post 30. A workpiece W is placed on the upper surface of the support table 32 and is subjected to a predetermined thermal process. The upper, the side and the lower surface of the support table 32 are covered with heat-resistant covering members 72, 74 and 76 to prevent the thermal diffusion of metal atoms causative of contamination from the support table 32. thus, various types of contamination, such as metal and organic contamination, can be prevented.
US07718928B2
A multifunction safe electric pressure cooker includes a lid, an outer body, a warming container, a control panel, an inner tank, a sealant washer, a heating plate under the inner tank, and a control device. The control device comprises a control circuit, a pressure switch, and a temperature control device. The lid has a floating valve, a pressure discharging valve, and a safety valve. Between the heating plate and the warming container there is a spring device. Under the heating plate is a pole. The control device employs a sensor to determine whether the inner tank is placed in the cooker. Between the lid and the body sets a lid safety control switch that connected to the control circuit. The electric pressure cooker is more convenient and durable, can fry and sauté food, and includes multiple safety devices.
US07718927B2
A micro solder pot includes a dielectric substrate having at least one hole formed therein, a conductive coating coupled to the interior of the hole, and at least one heat transfer pad spaced from the hole in thermal communication with the conductive coating of the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the conductive coating inside the hole is heated. The micro solder pot may also include a thermally activated conductive material disposed within the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the thermally activated conductive material becomes liquidus such that a component can be inserted into the liquidus material. When the heat source is removed, the thermally activated conductive material cools to couple the component to the conductive coating in the hole.
US07718912B2
A outer surface-inspecting method for judging whether a defect of a defective portion (27) extracted from an inspection area in an image (21A) of an object to be inspected through comparison with a template is acceptable or not, including: dividing the inspection area into a plurality of sections (22, 23, 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b, 28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels (CONDITION 1-6); judging, when at least one extracted defective portion (27) spreads out over some of the sections (28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels, whether the defect of the defective portion (27) is acceptable or not based on a strictest acceptable level (CONDITION 3) of all the acceptable levels (CONDITION 3-5) respectively set on the plurality of sections (28a, 28b, 28c) on which the defective portion (27) is located.
US07718902B2
The current invention provides a method of attaching a plurality of cores wherein a core has a via with a conductive surface to be electrically connected to a conductive surface on another core. The method provides for applying a metallurgical paste to a conductive surface, removing a portion of the flux from the paste and joining the two cores. The current invention also provides a structure including a plurality of cores wherein a metallurgical paste electrically connects a via with a conductive surface on a core to a conductive surface on another core.
US07718901B2
An electronic parts substrate includes a base substrate, a plurality of insulating resin layers provided on the base substrate, at least one conductive circuit, and at least one filled via provided in the plurality of insulating resin layers. The at least one conductive circuit is sandwiched between the plurality of insulating resin layers and/or between the base substrate and the plurality of insulating resin layers. At least one opening is formed in at least one of the plurality of insulating resin layers.
US07718895B2
A device for electrical connection of two sections of a pre-fabricated electrical canalization electrical canalization has a certain number of conducting bars extending substantially parallel to one another. This device includes a first set of at least one portion of bars and a second set of at least another portion of bars, where the portions of bars of the first set at least partially and respectively overlap the portions of bars of the second set, and the portions of bars of the first set of bars are in electrical contact respectively with the portions of bars of the second set over a contact zone. The two sets of portions of bars are movable with respect to one another to modify the overlap length of the portions of bars and the length of the connection device. The device includes means for securing the two sets of portions of bars in a selected adjustment position.
US07718894B2
A line guide device for guiding lines can comprise a plurality of links, connected to each other in articulated fashion, where at least some, or all, of the links each display a bottom element, opposite side walls and at least one cover element, the plurality of links are integrally moulded on one another in one piece, forming a continuous strand, and the line guide device can be arranged to form a lower run, a curved section and an upper run. For the purpose of low-cost manufacture and versatile utility with comparatively small cross-sections of the links, it is proposed that the bottom element (3) and both opposite side walls (4) of the links are designed in one piece as essentially rigid U-sections, and the cover element (5a, 5b) of the respective link is integrally moulded on at least one side wall (4) of said link and designed to be moveable, and can be moved into a position closing the link and a position releasing it.
US07718884B2
A system for seamless integration of a handheld device, as a secondary display and input device, to remotely interact with a host device. The host device receives data from a remote location. One or more handheld devices, receive data provided by the host device. Each of the handheld devices includes one or more controllers. Each of the controllers provides control input data to the associated handheld device. The handheld devices each have one or more input modules, such as a microphone, or Wi-Fi port, to receive the control input data as well as one or more output modules, such as a display screen and/or speaker that outputs processed data, such as video and/or audio data. The output data is specific to a particular one of the handheld devices.
US07718874B2
A guitar pick having a planar and generally triangular main body with three sides. Two sides of the main body join in a rounded nose protruding outwardly from one side. A wing extends outwardly from the top of the main body so that at least a portion of the wing lies in a plane oblique to a plane of the main body. The wing may be curvilinear in shape or include plural planar sections.
US07718866B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH350141. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH350141, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH350141 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH350141.
US07718864B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH607807. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH607807, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH607807 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH607807.
US07718863B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH465107. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH465107, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH465107 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH465107.
US07718862B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH029910. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH029910, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH029910 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH029910.
US07718860B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV911339. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV911339, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV911339 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 CV911339 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 CV911339.
US07718858B1
An inbred maize line, designated HLA18ND, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred maize line HLA18ND, to the plants of inbred maize line HLA18ND and to methods for producing a maize plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line HLA18ND with itself or another maize line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from the inbred HLA18ND.
US07718856B1
A novel inbred maize variety designated PHE2E and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize variety PHE2E with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHE2E through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred variety PHE2E or a trait conversion of PHE2E with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from inbred maize variety PHE2E, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from inbred maize variety PHE2E and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07718852B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola cultivar, designated DN040241. Also included are seeds of canola cultivar DN040241, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola DN040241 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola DN040241 with itself or another canola cultivar, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola DN040241.
US07718851B2
The invention is directed to seed and seed extract compositions containing levels of a human milk protein between 3-40% or higher of the total protein weight of the soluble protein extractable from the seed. Also disclosed is a method of producing the seed with high levels of extractable human milk protein. The method includes transforming a monocotyledonous plant with a chimeric gene having a protein-coding sequence encoding a protein normally present in human milk under the control of a seed maturation-specific promoter. The method may further includes a leader DNA sequence encoding a monocot seed-specific transit sequence capable to target a linked milk protein to a storage body.
US07718847B2
The present invention provides a method of producing a non-human vertebrate that harbours germ cells having a desired gene transferred thereto, comprising injecting the desired gene to the testis of a non-human vertebrate wherein no tight junction exists between Sertoli cells to transfer the desired gene to germ cells, so as to obtain a non-human vertebrate that harbours the germ cells having the desired gene transferred thereto. Using the method of the present invention, even in animal species and lines for which in vitro transduction has been difficult to date, it is possible to obtain an individual harbouring germ cells, particularly spermatogonial stem cells, having a desired gene transferred thereto, at extremely high efficiency. Also, the fertility of the male to receive an injection of the gene is retained, compared to in vitro transduction of germ cells, because gene transfer is achieved without reducing the number of spermatogonial stem cells in the testis and transgenic sperms and transgenic animals can easily be prepared.
US07718845B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a protein of interest, comprising making a non-human transgenic mammal that produces said protein in its milk, obtaining said milk from the non-human transgenic mammal and purifying said protein of interest from the milk. Transgenic bovine animals were generated, which are able to produce human growth hormone in mammary glands. The method involves cloning of a genetic construct encoding hGH gene and beta casein promoter conveniently in an expression vector. It also includes transfection procedures into fetal bovine somatic cells, generally fibroblasts, and the nuclear transfer into enucleated bovine oocytes, generating thus transgenic embryos. The method also includes other procedures to generate transgenic embryos for the further expansion of the transgenic herd, such as the subcloning of transgenic female bovines, the superovulation of transgenic cows and their insemination with semen from a non-transgenic or a transgenic male bovine, and the superovulation of non-transgenic cows and their insemination with semen from a transgenic male bovine. Afterwards, transgenic embryos give rise to transgenic cattle that produce human growth hormone in huge amounts in their milk, from which the hormone is completely purified and analysed to fulfill all the requirements for the manufacture of a pure biopharmaceutical product.
US07718840B2
Disclosed is a process for producing light olefins from hydrocarbon feedstock. The process is characterized in that a porous molecular sieve catalyst consisting of a product obtained by evaporating water from a raw material mixture comprising a molecular sieve with a framework of Si—OH—Al— groups, a water-insoluble metal salt, and a phosphate compound, is used to produce light olefins, particularly ethylene and propylene, from hydrocarbon, while maintaining excellent selectivity to light olefins. According to the process, by the use of a specific catalyst with hydrothermal stability, light olefins can be selectively produced in high yield with high selectivity from hydrocarbon feedstock, particularly full-range naphtha. In particular, the process can maintain higher cracking activity than the reaction temperature required in the prior thermal cracking process for the production of light olefins, and thus, can produce light olefins with high selectivity and conversion from hydrocarbon feedstock.
US07718837B2
A metal-modified alkylation catalyst including a metal/zeolite is provided where the metal is one or two selected from the group consisting of yttrium and a rare earth of the lanthanide series other than cerium. Where two metals are used, one may be Ce or La. The metal-promoted zeolite is useful as a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst for the production of ethylbenzene by the ethylation of benzene in the liquid phase or critical phase. An alkylation product is produced containing ethylbenzene as a primary product with the attendant production of heavier alkylated by-products of no more than 10-60 wt % of the ethylbenzene.
US07718818B2
The present invention pertains to a process for preparing a compound of Formula I that is achiral, racemic or enantiomerically enriched at the hydroxylation center indicated by * comprising contacting a compound of Formula II with an oxidant selected from oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, peracids or alkyl hydroperoxides in the presence of a zirconium complex, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the disclosure. This invention also pertains to zirconium complexes useful in this procedure comprising zirconium and a ligand of Formula III or its enantiomer wherein J, R6 and n are as defined in the disclosure. This invention further pertains to a compound of Formula III or its enantiomer.
US07718816B2
To provide: a carboxamide derivative having reduced content of amide ester; a method for producing thereof; and a detergent composition containing the carboxamide derivative and having excellent low-temperature stability. One method for producing a carboxamide derivative is to react carboxamide, produced with a manufacturing method of carboxamide including 0.02% by weight to 0.18% by weight of amide ester, with hydrogen peroxide, wherein the method includes a carboxamide synthesis process to synthesize carboxamide by reacting diamine with fatty acid ester at a molar rate of 1.20 to 1.60. Another method for producing a carboxamide derivative is to react the carboxamide with monohaloalkylcarboxylic acid or a salt thereof. A carboxamide derivative is produced by the method for producing a carboxamide derivative. A detergent composition includes the carboxamide derivative. The carboxamide derivative is preferably amidoamine oxide or amide betaine.
US07718815B2
Methods of using certain α-aminoamide derivatives to treat lower urinary tract disorders. The therapeutic agents of the invention are able to reduce or even stop the lower urinary tract disorders substantially without side effects.
US07718814B2
The present invention provides an antiproliferative compound having a structural formula where X and Y independently are oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; R1 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carboxylic acid, carboxylate, carboxamide, ester, thioamide, thiolacid, thiolester, saccharide, alkoxy-linked saccharide, amine, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, alcohol, ethers or nitriles; R2 and R3 are hydrogen or R4; R4 is methyl, benzyl carboxylic acid, benzyl carboxylate, benzyl carboxamide, benzylester, saccharide or amine; and R1 is alkenyl; where when Y is nitrogen, said nitrogen is substituted with R6, wherein R6 is hydrogen or methyl. Also provided are methods for treating a cell proliferative disease and for inducing apoptosis in a cell comprising administering this compound is also provided.
US07718808B2
(Wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 3; R1 is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic heterocyclic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group; R2 is halogen, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic heterocyclic group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, —COR8, or the like; R3 and R4 may be the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, —COR12, or the like)For example, provided are adenosine A2A receptor antagonists comprising, as the active ingredient, a thiazole derivative represented by a general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the like.
US07718805B2
The invention provides an improved process for preparing rebamipide that is useful as a medicament, which makes it possible to prepare rebamipide with high purity and high yield. The invention is an improved process for preparing rebamipide of the formula (1), comprising subjecting a carbostyril amino acid compound of the formula (5) or a salt thereof containing a compound of the formula (11) as an impurity to a reduction treatment in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst in a basic aqueous solution, thereby selectively reducing the impurity compound (11) to transform into the carbostyril amino acid compound (5); and then acylating the compound (5) in a basic aqueous solution to give rebamipide (1).
US07718793B2
A method for producing a 6α-fluorinated corticosteroid or derivative thereof by reacting a 17-hydroxy-21-ester epoxide of Formula II with a stereoselective fluorinating agent to stereoselectively form a 21-ester-17-hydroxy 6α-fluorinated compound of Formula VII R1 can be OC(O)—Rd; R4 can be C(O)—Rd; R3 can be H or Rd. Each Rd may be the same or different and is independently selected from (C1-4)alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl. The dashed line can be a single or a double bond. R4 may be, for example, acetyl; R3 may be, for example, alpha or beta methyl; R1 may be, for example, acetate or propionate, The stereoselective fluorinating agent used in the reaction may be, for example, a fluoropyridinium or fluoroquinuclidium compound, for example, Selectfluor®.
US07718792B2
A method to stereospecifically prepare a steroidal sapogenin or a derivative thereof by reducing a 3-keto,5β-H steroidal sapogenin with a hindered organoborane or an organo-aluminium hydride. A 3β-hydroxy,5β-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof may be prepared by reducing the 3-keto,5β-H steroidal sapogenin using as reducing agent a relatively highly hindered organoborane reagent or by SN 2 inversion of a 3α-hydroxy,5β-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof. The organo-aluminium hydride may be used to prepare a 3α,5β-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof. The invention provides a convenient route to useful steroidal sapogenins such as sarsasapogenin, episarsasapogenin, smilagenin, epismilagenin and esters thereof, from readily available or easily preparable starting materials (e.g. diosgenone, preparable from diosgenin).
US07718791B2
A process for reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth prior to purification is described. Utilizing pH reduction after cellular lysis has resulted in a purified polysaccharide that consistently meets the protein specification, and higher recovery yields of polysaccharide during the purification process.
US07718782B2
A sophorolid produced by a method involving reacting a compound of formula I with a compound of formula II wherein R1 and R2 are H, C1-C18 alkyl, C3-C18 alkenyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or C1 through C18 acyl or alkoxycarbonyl, R1 and R2 are not both acyl, R3 is H, CH3, CH2-phenyl, CH2—C6H4—OH, CH2CO2H, CH2CH2CO2H, CH(CH3)2, CH2CH(CH3)2, CH(CH3)CH2CH3, CH2OH, CH(CH3)OH, CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2, CH2CH2CONH2, CH2CONH2, CH2—C3N2H3(histidine), CH2CH2CH2NHC(NH)NH2, CH2CH2SCH3, R2 and R3 may be joined in a ring, R4 is H, C1-C18 alkyl, C3-C18 alkenyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, or phenyl, n is 0-6, R5 and R6 are H, C1-C18 alkyl, C3-C18 alkenyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, or phenyl, and X is C1-C18 alkyl or C1-C18 alkenyl; optionally followed by acidolytic (treating with an acid) or hydrogenolytic deprotection (treating with a hydrogenolysis catalyst) which removes one of the groups R1 or R2 and replaces it with hydrogen. Also a sophorolipid containing composition containing a carrier and at least one sophorolipid described above.
US07718760B2
The present invention provides a π-conjugated polymer containing a repeating unit expressed by the following General Formula (I): where, in the General Formula (I), Y and Ar represent one of a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a substituted or unsubstituted divalent group of aromatic heterocyclic ring, Y1 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a substituted or unsubstituted divalent group of aromatic heterocyclic ring and R represents one of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group.
US07718759B2
The invention is directed to polyester processes that utilizes a pipe reactor in the esterification, polycondensation, or both esterification and polycondensation processes. Pipe reactor processes of the present invention have a multitude of advantages over prior art processes including improved heat transfer, volume control, agitation and disengagement functions.
US07718754B2
A promoter for a polycondensation reaction used together with a catalyst in a polycondensation reaction, the promoter for a polycondensation reaction comprising a pyrogallol compound having a benzene ring of which three hydrogen atoms adjacent to each other are substituted by hydroxyl groups; and a polycondensation resin obtained by polycondensing raw material monomers using the promoter as defined above and the catalyst. A polycondensation resin can be produced using the promoter of the present invention together with a catalyst in a polycondensation reaction, and the polycondensation resin can be used in various applications including, for example, films, sheets, fibers, toner materials for electrophotography, and the like.
US07718746B2
Anion-binding polymers are described. The anion-binding polymers in some cases are low swelling anion-binding polymers. In some cases, the anion-binding polymers have a pore volume distribution such that a fraction of the polymer is not available for non-interacting solutes above a certain percentage of the MW of the target ion for the polymer. In some cases, the anion-binding polymers are characterized by low ion-binding interference, where the interference is measured in, for example, a gastrointestinal simulant, relative to non-interfering buffer. Pharmaceutical composition, methods of use, and kits are also described.
US07718745B2
Provided is a method for the production of an olefin polymer, which method comprises polymerizing an olefin monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, which catalyst comprises one or more alkyl moieties having a terminal olefin group, and is selected from a catalyst of formula (I): R″ (CpRq)XMQp wherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl or fluorenyl ring; R″ is a structural bridge between Cp and X imparting stereorigidity to the component; each R is the same or different and is selected from a hydrocarbyl group having from 1-20 carbon atoms, a halogen, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkylamino group or an alkylsilylo group; q is an integer from 0-8; X is a heteroatom from group VA or group VIA; M is a metal atom from group 11113, IVB, VB or VIB in any of its theoretical oxidation states; and each Q is a hydrocarbon having from 1-20 carbon atoms or is a halogen; p is an integer which is the oxidation state of M minus 2; wherein the alkyl moiety having a terminal olefin group is a substituent on R″, Cp and/or X; and from a catalysts of formula (II): (L)nM(Q)p wherein L is an heteroatom containing ligand; n is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; M is selected from Ti, Zr, Sc, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, or a lanthanide metal; each Q is independently a hydrocarbon having 1-20 carbon atoms or a halogen; and p is the valence of M minus the sum of the coordination numbers of all L; wherein the alkyl moiety having a terminal olefin group is a substituent on L, and/or Q.
US07718743B2
Methods and system for in-situ measurement of polymer growth within an olefin polymerization reactor are provided. The method includes polymerizing one or more olefins within a reactor at a first temperature sufficient to deposit a polymer coating therein. A second temperature is created within the reactor, and a rate of temperature change is measured from the first temperature to the second temperature. The rate of temperature change is correlated to a thickness of the polymer coating deposited within the reactor.
US07718732B2
Process for polymerising an olefin monomer in at least one continuous tubular loop reactor of a multiple reactor system, optionally together with an olefin comonomer, in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent, to produce a slurry containing solid particulate olefin polymer and diluent. The average internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the continuous tubular loop reactor is at least 700 mm. A high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in a first reactor and a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in a second reactor, the first (HMW) reactor having a space time yield (defined as production of polymer in kg/h per unit volume of reactor) greater than 100 kg/m3/h, and the ratio of space time yield in the first (HMW) reactor to the second (LMW) reactor is greater than 1.
US07718720B2
Nucleants and related compositions, articles, and methods are described.
US07718718B2
A resin composition contains poly(lactic acid) and a cellulosic ester, a resin composition excellent in transparency, mechanical properties, and thermostability; a biaxially drawn film containing poly(lactic acid) and at least one compound selected from cellulosic esters, poly(meth)acrylates, and polyvinyl compounds having a glass transition temperature of 60° C. or higher; and a biaxially drawn film excellent in transparency, mechanical properties, and thermostability. The resin composition is obtained by melt-kneading a poly(lactic acid) polymer with a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 or higher and a cellulosic ester; a resin composition excellent in transparency and having luminous transmittance of 40% or higher for visible light with 400 nm; a molded article and a film made of the resin composition; a poly(lactic acid) biaxially drawn film containing a poly(lactic acid) polymer with a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 or higher and at least one compound selected from cellulosic esters, poly(meth)acrylates, and polyvinyl compounds having a glass transition temperature of 60° C. or higher; a poly(lactic acid) biaxially drawn film excellent in transparency and having film haze of 10% or lower.
US07718717B2
A rubber composition usable for the manufacture of tyres, based on at least a diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler and a coupling agent, characterised in that said filler comprises a synthetic metal hydroxide covered with silica, the metal of the hydroxide being selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Mg and mixtures of these metals. Use as reinforcing filler, in a diene rubber composition, of such a metal hydroxide. The metal hydroxide is preferably constituted of aggregates (secondary particles) of anisometric form, the primary particles possibly themselves being of anisometric form, for example in the form of rods, which imparts to the compositions of the invention anisotropic properties which are advantageous for separating their mechanical properties. Use of such a rubber composition for the manufacture of rubber articles, in particular of tyres or semi-finished products made of rubber intended for these tyres, in particular of treads.
US07718716B2
A chromonic nanoparticle mixture prepared by combining (i) a continuous water-soluble polymer phase and (ii) a discontinuous chromonic phase comprising a chromonic material; and non-covalently crosslinking the resulting chromonic nanoparticles with a polyvalent cation salt.
US07718710B2
A method for manufacturing stable concentrated colloids containing metal nanoparticles in which the colloid is stabilized by adding a base. This allows the metal particles to be formed in higher concentration without forming larger agglomerates and/or precipitating. The method of manufacturing the stable colloidal metal nanoparticles of the present invention generally includes (i) providing a solution comprising a plurality of metal atoms, (ii) providing a solution comprising a plurality of organic agent molecules, each organic agent molecule comprising at least one functional group capable of bonding to the metal atoms, (iii) reacting the metal atoms in solution with the organic agent molecules in solution to form a mixture comprising a plurality of complexed metal atoms, (iv) reducing the complexed metal atoms in the mixture using a reducing agent to form a plurality of nanoparticles, and (v) adding an amount of a base to the mixture, thereby improving the stability of the nanoparticles in the mixture. The base may be added before or after forming the nanoparticles.
US07718707B2
A set of nanoparticles is disclosed. Each nanoparticle of the set of nanoparticles is comprised of a set of Group IV atoms arranged in a substantially spherical configuration. Each nanoparticle of the set of nanoparticles further having a sphericity of between about 1.0 and about 2.0; a diameter of between about 4 nm and about 100 nm; and a sintering temperature less than a melting temperature of the set of Group IV atoms.
US07718697B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and age-related macular degeneration. More specifically, the present invention describes the use of agents that down-regulate expression of tanis and/or p21Waf1/Cip1/Sd1 genes to treat such disorders of the eye.
US07718695B2
The present invention relates to an inclusion compound of fumagillol derivative or its salt with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin or sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The inclusion compound according to the present invention has superior water solubility and stability while exhibiting low toxicity, rendering it valuable as an anticancer agent or inhibitor of tumor metastasis.
US07718692B2
Hetero-substituted acetanilide derivatives are disclosed as analgesic agents. The compounds of the invention are useful in methods for treating a disease or condition in a mammal characterized by pain and/or fever.
US07718691B2
The present invention discloses novel compounds which have HCV protease inhibitory activity as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds as well as methods of using them to treat disorders associated with the HCV protease.
US07718690B2
N-arylsulfonyl-3-aminoalkoxyindoles indole compounds, radioisotopes, stereoisomers, geometric forms, N-oxides, polymorphs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
US07718689B2
A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, wherein R1 to R8, X, and Y are as defined in the specification; a process for preparing such compounds; a pharmaceutical composition comprising such compounds; and the use of such compounds in medicine.
US07718686B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds having a positive allosteric GÀBAB receptor (GDR) modulator effect, methods for the preparation of said compounds and to their use, optionally in combination with a GABAB agonist, for the inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A compound of the general formula I.
US07718681B2
The present invention relates to a 5-(1,3-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylmethylene)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivative or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a method for preparing the same and an anticancer agent composition comprising the same as an active ingredient.
US07718674B2
The present invention relates to the S-isomers of anesthetic compounds, the methods of treatment therewith, the compounds being useful for inducing local anesthesia, analgesia and sleep.
US07718666B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is as defined in the description, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with DPP-IV, such as diabetes, particularly non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and impaired glucose tolerance.
US07718665B2
Compounds of the formula (1) in which R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective compounds with Eg5 inhibitory, anti-proliferative and/or apoptosis inducing activity.
US07718658B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels and calcium channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US07718650B2
The present invention relates to substituted bis-arylsulfonamide and arylsulfonamide compounds of the general formula (I) or the formula (II), which compounds are potentially useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of medical conditions relating to obesity, type II diabetes and/or disorders of the central nervous system.
US07718645B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (1), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, Q, A, Z, and R7 are as described herein; compositions thereof; and uses thereof.
US07718640B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, formulated for injectable administration, which comprises a testosterone ester, in particularly testosterone undecanoate, in a vehicle comprising castor oil and a co-solvent. Upon injecting the compositions according to a particular administration scheme, reliable levels of testosterone in serum in the normal physiological range is achieved for a long period. This allows for the use of the compositions in hormone replacement therapy and male contraception without concomitant monitoring of testosterone levels in serum by a physician.
US07718639B2
7-Hydroxyepiandrosterone may be used for protection against acute or chronic neuronal damage.
US07718635B2
In a triterpenic acid having hydroxyl groups, at least one of the hydroxyl groups is phosphorylated to produce a phosphorylated triterpenic acid and/or a salt thereof, thereby improving the solubility of the triterpenic acid in a preparation for external application for the skin and allowing the physiological activity of the triterpenic acid to be exerted satisfactorily. The phosphorylated triterpenic acid is preferably, for example, ursolic acid phosphate and/or a salt thereof. The preparation for external application for the skin is preferably a cosmetic, particularly preferably a quasi-drug.
US07718629B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the Eg5 gene (Eg5 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the Eg5 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by Eg5 expression and the expression of the Eg5 gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the Eg5 gene in a cell.
US07718624B2
Methods for modulating inflammation by administering HIF-1α inhibitors or compounds affecting HIF-1α expression and/or transcriptional activities are disclosed. HIF-1α affecting compounds include compounds that directly inhibit HIF-1α and/or interfere into expression of other proteins and regulation of biochemical pathways that target HIF-1α for degradation in vivo. Also disclosed are methods to enhance the inflammatory response and the destruction of pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria) and thereby preventing or minimizing pathogen-induced tissue injury. Also disclosed are methods to enhance the anti-tumor T cell response and the destruction of cancerous tumors and thereby preventing or minimizing metastasis-induced tissue injury. Also provided are methods to accomplish the opposite goal and decrease collateral damage by overactive T cells and thereby protect tissues of vital organs in a novel anti-inflammatory treatment.
US07718621B2
A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, having antimicrobial activity, processes for their preparation, compositions containing them and to their use in medicine.
US07718614B2
A method for treating a prostate cancer, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a cancer antigen peptide-associated agent and a lower dose of an estramustine or a salt thereof to a patient in need thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition thereof are provided.
US07718611B2
The invention relates to cyclic nonapeptide amides and to methods for their preparation and to their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially bacterial infectious diseases.
US07718609B2
A combined rapid acting-long acting insulin formulation has been developed in which the pH of the rapid acting insulin is adjusted so that the long acting glargine remains soluble when they are mixed together. In the preferred embodiment, this injectable basal bolus insulin is administered before breakfast, provides adequate bolus insulin levels to cover the meal, does not produce hypoglycemia after the meal and provides adequate basal insulin for 24 hours. Lunch and dinner can be covered by two bolus injections of a fast acting, or a rapid acting or a very rapid acting insulin. As a result, a patient using intensive insulin therapy should only inject three, rather than four, times a day.
US07718606B2
The invention relates to methods of treating diseases and disorders of the muscle tissues in a vertebrate by the administration of compounds which bind the p185erbB2 receptor. These compounds are found to cause increased differentiation and survival of cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle.
US07718597B2
Aqueous fabric softening composition having good high temperature stability comprising a cationic fabric softening compound and water soluble polysaccharide polymers comprising hydrophobic groups selected from aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl each having at least 14 carbon atoms and cationic quaternary ammonium salt groups such that the cationic degree of substitution is from 0.01 to 0.2, the polymers having a molecular weight in the range from 100,000 to 700,000.
US07718589B2
The inventions relate to hygiene and cosmetology, in particular to skin care. The inventive method for washing the skin by applying washing or cleaning agents and water is characterized in that it uses water with pH level ranging from 3.0 to 6.0, wherein the water flow rate ranges from 0.1 to 5 ml per 1 cm3 of the skin surface. The inventive composition comprises water, mineral salts and oxygen dissolved in said water, and also one or several types of essential proteinogenic amino acids with isoelectric point ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 pH, and its hardness is equal to or less than 0.5 mg-equivalent unit/dm3. The inventive method and composition make it possible to correct complex unfavourable changes of the skin surface layers by providing it with the required pH values during and after the washing and also by maintaining the normal chemical and bacteriological condition of the face skin.
US07718585B2
A lubricant composition is disclosed comprising a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces. The superabsorbent polymer absorbs from about 25 to greater than 100 times its weight in water and may comprise a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile or acrylamide, including co-polymers thereof or starch graft co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof. In the composition, the material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum lubricant containing an additive, water containing an additive, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant, wherein the synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant optionally contain an additive. A method of lubricating a surface is also disclaosed comprising coating said surface with the lubricating composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, wherein the material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum lubricant, water, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant, and optionally an additive.
US07718576B2
A compound is provided having the formula: where C* is an sp2 coordinated carbon atom; A is defined by the formula wherein R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18 and R19 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkoxy, aldehyde, keto, amino, nitro, halo, sulfate, sulfonyl, carboxy, carboxyester, phosphate or phosphoester, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted; Z is a moiety that is covalently bonded to C* selected from the group consisting of O, S, N—R1, and +N—R1R2 where R1 and R2 are selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkoxy moieties, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted; and Q is a suitable leaving group yields a compound which is capable of exhibiting a chemiluminescent reaction in the presence of a peroxide or peroxide-like compound under aqueous or mixed aqueous-organic conditions.
US07718573B2
A method for producing an oxide superconductor by partially melting and solidifying the precursor of the oxide superconductor is a method wherein the precursor is placed on a substrate material containing pure metal or a compound which is meltable in the precursor when the precursor is in a partially molten state, and partially melting and solidifying the precursor in said state.
US07718570B2
A method for manufacturing a carbon molecular sieve with increased microporosity; a method for manufacturing a carbon molecular sieve with increased microporosity and improved structural regularity; a carbon molecular sieve with increased microporosity; a carbon molecular sieve with increased microporosity and improved structural regularity; a catalyst for a fuel cell using the carbon molecular sieve; and a fuel cell using the catalyst are provided.
US07718567B2
An exhaust gas purging catalyst, includes: an integrated carrier; and a catalyst coat layer formed on the integrated carrier. The catalyst coat layer includes a catalyst component and meets the following expression (A): P≧0.17W−0.04 - - - (A). P denotes a summation (ml) of a capacity of a void per mass (g) of the catalyst coat layer. The void has a pore diameter of 0.1 μm to 1 μm. W denotes a volume (ml) of the catalyst coat layer per the mass (g) of the catalyst coat layer.
US07718554B2
Methods and systems for processing semiconductor materials with a focused laser beam. Laser light may be focused on a sample to alter material properties at the sample surface. The laser beam has a peak power, a pulse width and is modulated to a selected duty cycle to provide a selected energy per pulse and average power to the sample surface. The focused laser beam is scanned over the sample surface to provide controlled process effects limited to the area of the beam diameter and along the scanning path. For example, process effects such as curing, annealing, implant activation, selective melting, deposition and chemical reaction may be achieved at dimensions limited by the focused beam diameter. The wavelength may be selected to be appropriate for the process effect chosen.
US07718551B2
A method for forming a photoresist layer is provided. The method includes following steps. A wafer is provided in a semiconductor machine. The wafer is spun at a first spin speed. A pre-wet solvent is dispensed on the spinning wafer by using a nozzle disposed at a fixed position. The pre-wet solvent then stops dispensing. The spin speed of the wafer is adjusted from the first spin speed to a second spin speed which is faster than the first spin speed. Thereafter, a photoresist layer is coated on the wafer.
US07718550B2
The present invention involves a method and apparatus for depositing a silicon oxide onto a substrate from solution at low temperatures in a manner that produces homogeneous growth of the silicon oxide. The method generally comprises the following steps: (a) Chemically treating a substrate to activate it for growth of the silicon oxide. (b) Immersing the treated substrate into a bath with a reactive solution. (c) Regenerating the reactive solution to allow for continued growth of the silicon oxide. In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a first container holding a reactive solution, a substrate on which the silicon oxide is deposited, a second container holding silica, and a means for adding silica to the reactive solution.
US07718539B2
Methods for forming a photomask using a carbon hard mask are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a photomask includes etching a chromium layer through a patterned carbon hard mask layer in the presence of a plasma formed from a process gas containing chlorine and carbon monoxide.
US07718528B2
A semiconductor process technique to help reduce semiconductor process effects, such as undesired line edge roughness, insufficient lithographical resolution, and limited depth of focus problems associated with the removal of a photoresist layer. More particularly, embodiments of the invention use a photoacid generator (PAG) material in conjunction with a sacrificial light absorbing material (SLAM) to help reduce these and other undesired effects associated with the removal of photoresist in a semiconductor manufacturing process. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow a PAG to be applied in a semiconductor manufacturing process in an efficient manner, requiring fewer processing operations than typical prior art techniques.
US07718524B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming an interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal mask on the interlayer insulating film; forming a pattern trench in the metal mask and the interlayer insulating film by etching away parts of the metal mask and the interlayer insulating film; forming a conductive layer on the interlayer insulating film so as to fill in the pattern trench; and polishing the excessive conductive layer and the metal mask on the interlayer insulating film so as to leave the conductive layer in the pattern trench.
US07718512B2
A metal interconnect structure formed over a substrate in an integrated circuit that traverses a scribe-line boundary between a first die and a second die includes at least one metal interconnect line that traverses the scribe-line boundary. A switch is coupled between the at least one metal interconnect line and the substrate, the switch having a control element coupled to a scribe-cut control line. The control line turns the switch on if the two dice are separated into individual dice and turns the switch off if the two dice are to remain physically connected so that the interconnect line may be used to make connections between circuits on the two dice.
US07718511B2
A processing method for a wafer includes: preparing a wafer which has a device region having plural devices formed on a surface of the wafer; and a peripheral reinforcing portion which is integrally formed around the device region and has a projection projecting outwardly on a rear surface of the wafer. The processing method further includes: holding the wafer on a holding surface of a rotatable holding table such that the rear surface of the wafer is exposed and the surface of the wafer closely contacts the holding table. The processing method further includes: thinning the peripheral reinforcing portion by cutting and removing at least the projection of the peripheral reinforcing portion of the wafer by using a cutting tool having a rotational shaft parallel to the holding surface, while rotating the wafer by rotating the holding table after the holding of the wafer. The peripheral reinforcing portion is thinned so as to have a thickness equal to or thinner than that of the device region by the thinning.
US07718509B2
A bonded wafer is produced by comprising a step of implanting oxygen ions from a surface of a wafer for active layer to form an oxygen ion implanted layer at a given position inside the wafer for active layer; a step of bonding the wafer of active layer to a wafer for support substrate directly or through an insulating film; a step of subjecting the resulting bonded wafer to a heat treatment for increasing a bonding strength; a step of removing a portion of the wafer for active layer in the bonded wafer to a given position not exposing the oxygen ion implanted layer by a given method; a step of exposing the entire surface of the oxygen ion implanted layer; and a step of removing the exposed oxygen ion implanted layer to obtain an active layer of a given thickness, wherein the step of exposing the entire surface of the oxygen ion implanted layer is carried out by a dry etching under given conditions.
US07718506B2
A method for forming isolation structure for MOS transistor is disclosed, which includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificed oxide layer of a semiconductor substrate, patterning the first photoresist layer to define a PMOS active region and a PMOS isolation region; implanting nitrogen ions into the PMOS isolation region through the sacrificed oxide layer by using the first photoresist layer as a mask; removing the first photoresist layer; forming a second photoresist layer over the sacrificed oxide layer, patterning the second photoresist layer to define a NMOS active region and a NMOS isolation region; implanting oxygen ions into the NMOS isolation region through the sacrificed oxide layer by using the second photoresist layer as a mask; removing the second photoresist layer and the sacrificed oxide layer; and annealing the semiconductor substrate to form isolation structures of PMOS and NMOS, respectively.
US07718504B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device having an align key and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell area and an align key area. An isolation layer that defines a cell active area is disposed in the cell area of the semiconductor substrate. A cell charge storage layer pattern is disposed across the cell active area. An align charge storage layer pattern is disposed in the align key area of the semiconductor substrate. An align trench self-aligned with the align charge storage layer pattern is formed in the align key area of the semiconductor substrate.
US07718497B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a sidewall spacer on a sidewall surface of a gate electrode; forming a pair of second conductive type source and drain regions in an active region; covering top surfaces of a semiconductor layer, a device isolation region, the sidewall spacer and the gate electrode with a metal film; reducing resistance of the source and drain regions and the gate electrode partially by making the metal film react with the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode; and removing an unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer simultaneously by using an etchant which readily etches the unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer while hardly etching the device isolation region, resistance-reduced portions of the gate electrode and resistance-reduced portions of the source and drain regions.
US07718492B2
Electronic circuitry is described having a first transistor having a first gate dielectric located between an electrically floating gate and a semiconductor substrate. The first injection current flows through the first gate dielectric to establish a first amount of electrical charge on the gate electrode. The electronic circuitry also includes a second transistor having a second gate dielectric located between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. A band-to-band tunneling current flows between valence and conduction bands of the second transistor to create a second injection current that flows through the second gate dielectric to establish the first amount of electrical charge on the gate electrode. Non-volatile memory cell circuits having the above described circuitry are also described.
US07718485B2
An integrated circuit that has logic and a static random access memory (SRAM) array has improved performance by treating the interlayer dielectric (ILD) differently for the SRAM array than for the logic. The N channel logic and SRAM transistors have ILDs with non-compressive stress, the P channel logic transistor ILD has compressive stress, and the P channel SRAM transistor at least has less compressive stress than the P channel logic transistor, i.e., the P channel SRAM transistors may be compressive but less so than the P channel logic transistors, may be relaxed, or may be tensile. It is beneficial for the integrated circuit for the P channel SRAM transistors to have a lower mobility than the P channel logic transistors. The P channel SRAM transistors having lower mobility results in better write performance; either better write time or write margin at lower power supply voltage.
US07718480B1
In an NMOS active clamp device and an NMOS active clamp array with multiple source and drain contacts, the robustness against ESD events is increased by reducing channel resistance through the inclusion of one or more p+ regions formed at least partially in the source and electrically connected to the one or more source contacts.
US07718478B2
To provide a manufacturing method for a field-effect transistor, such as a thin-film transistor, enabling reductions in the number patterning steps and the number of photomasks and improvements in the throughput and the yield. In the method, an oxide film is formed by processing the surface of a crystalline semiconductor with ozone water or hydrogen peroxide water. Using the oxide film thus formed as an etch stop, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode of the field-effect transistor are simultaneously formed from a same starting film in one patterning step by use of one photomask. After forming the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, heating is performed thereon at 800° C. or higher for a predetermined time. Thereby, the contact resistances between the source electrode and the crystalline semiconductor and between the drain electrode and the crystalline semiconductor are reduced, whereby improving the electrical conductivity.
US07718471B1
A semiconductor package has a substrate with a plurality of contact pads. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate. First wire bonds are formed between each of the center-row contact pads of the first semiconductor die and the substrate contact pads. The first wire bonds include an electrically insulative coating formed over the shaft that covers a portion of a surface of a bumped end of the first wire bonds. An epoxy material is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the epoxy material. Second wire bonds are formed between each of the center-row contact pads of the second semiconductor die and the substrate contact pads. The second wire bonds include an electrically insulative coating formed over the shaft of the second wire bonds that covers a portion of a surface of a bumped end of the second wire bonds.
US07718469B2
The present invention relates to alternative methods for the production of crystalline silicon compounds and/or alloys such as silicon carbide layers and substrates.
US07718460B2
A method for manufacturing a solid state imaging device includes steps of forming a photodiode layer buried in a semiconductor substrate by ion injection and of forming a shielding layer buried in the photodiode layer by ion injection. At least in the ion injection process in the step of forming the shielding layer, an ion injection pause period is provided at least one time during whole ion injection step. According to the method, crystal defects are prevented from generating even if ion injection is performed with high energy, thereby suppressing dark current without complexity in manufacturing process.
US07718455B2
A method of forming a buried aperture in a nitride light emitting device is described. The method involves forming an aperture layer, typically an amorphous or polycrystalline material over an active layer that includes a nitride material. The aperture layer material typically also includes nitride. The aperture layer is etched to create an aperture which is then filled with a conducting material by epitaxial regrowth. The amorphous layer is crystallized forming an electrically resistive material during or before regrowth. The conducting aperture in the electrically resistive material is well suited for directing current into a light emitting region of the active layer.
US07718452B2
Disclosed is a display apparatus, and method of making same, including a plurality of lower electrodes patterned on a substrate on the basis of each pixel, an auxiliary wiring composed of the same layer as the lower electrodes and arranged in the state of being insulated from the lower electrodes, an insulating film formed on the substrate and provided with pixel openings for exposing central portions of the lower electrodes and connection holes reaching the auxiliary wiring, organic layers so patterned as to cover bottom portions of the pixel openings and to have end portions partly overlapping on each other between the adjacent pixels, and an upper electrode so formed as to cover the organic layers and to be connected to the auxiliary wiring through the connection holes between the organic layers.
US07718451B2
A method for patterned metallization of a plastic-containing body, which comprises the steps of producing the body via a two-component injection-molding process with at least two plastics, one of which is non-metallizable, and metallizing the body in such a way that a metallized region and a non-metallized region are formed, wherein the non-metallized region is determined by the non-metallizable plastic. A method for the patterned metallization of a plastic-containing body in particular a package body for an optoelectronic device is also provided.
US07718450B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device which has a p-type nitride semiconductor layer having a high carrier concentration (low resistance) by activating an acceptor without raising a problem of forming nitrogen vacancies which are generated when a high temperature annealing is carried out over an extended time. A semiconductor lamination portion (6) made of nitride semiconductor is formed on a substrate (1) so as to form a light emitting layer, and irradiated by a laser beam having a wavelength λ of λ=h·c/E or less (E is energy capable of separating off the bonding between Mg and H) from the front surface side of the semiconductor lamination portion. Then, a heat treatment is carried out at a temperature of 300 to 400° C. And, similarly to a process for normal nitride semiconductor LED, a light transmitting conductive layer (7) is provided, an n-side electrode (9) is formed on an n-type layer (3) exposed by removing a part of the semiconductor lamination portion by etching, and a p-side electrode (8) is formed on a surface of the light transmitting conductive layer, thereby a LED is obtained.
US07718447B2
By performing x-ray analysis of stacked metallization layers on the basis of data reduction, the crystalline structure of individual metallization layers may be determined. Consequently, a relationship between electromigration and crystallinity, as well as a correlation between process parameters and materials and the finally obtained crystalline structures of metal lines, may be estimated in a highly efficient manner compared to measurement techniques based on charged particles.
US07718446B2
The present invention provides an evaluation method for a crystal defect in a silicon single crystal wafer based on an infrared laser scattering tomograph method, wherein at least, the silicon single crystal wafer is irradiated with a laser beam, and light that enters the silicon single crystal wafer is scattered by a crystal defect, and the scattered light is detected to evaluate a Direct Surface Oxide Defect (DSOD) and a void defect smaller than the DSOD in the silicon single crystal wafer. As a result, the evaluation method for a crystal defect in a silicon single crystal wafer that can simply and precisely evaluate, e.g., a small DSOD, which can be conventionally evaluated based on a Cu deposition method alone, without requiring a wasteful cost.
US07718445B2
The present invention concerns a novel means by which specific chosen reactions can be accelerated through the use of a new type of artificial enzyme. The invention allows specific reactions to occur at an accelerated rate, even in the presence of other non-chosen molecules, which may be very similar in structure to the chosen reactant. The reactions may be stoichiometric or catalytic.
US07718437B2
Method for analyzing adducts in a fluid and/or a solid material suspected of containing the adducts by bringing the material in contact with an isothiocyanate reagent containing a fluorescent. The reagent do not have the isothiocyanate group directly bound to an unsubstituted phenyl or pentafluorophenyl group. A method for manufacturing a standard material for use in the analyzing method, a standard material obtainable by this manufacturing method. Compounds suitable for use as standard material and use of the standard material, and a container for analyzing the adducts are also disclosed. A method for analyzing hazardous substances, a kit including standard material or a compound set out above, an apparatus for performing the analyzing method, and a computer program stored on a data carrier for performing the analyzing method or the manufacturing method are also disclosed.
US07718430B2
A disposable apparatus for cell expansion, having at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor has a cellular growth area and a supply area, the cellular growth area being separated from said supply area by a membrane. A fluid recirculation path in fluid communication with the cellular growth area allows for hermetically removing a sample containing cellular matter. This may comprise an elongated tube, or a plurality of parallel tube segments. The parallel tube segments have inflow ends and outflow ends, and the inflow ends are joined at a first common juncture and the outflow ends are joined at a second common juncture. The common junctures may comprise valves.
US07718428B2
The identification of the HYAL1 hyaluronidase enzyme as a human plasma-derived myeloid colony-stimulating factor (CSF), designated CSF5-hyaluronidase, its recombinant production and methods of use are described. This protein may be used for the treatment of myelosuppression as may occur after irradiation, chemotherapy or other diseases where an increase in leukocyte levels may be beneficial. For example, CSF5-hyaluronidase may be used to enhance the immune response to viral infection or other diseases associated with immune suppression.
US07718415B1
Acetyl esterase producing bacterial strains or functional mutants thereof and methods of using acetyl esterase producing bacterial strains as forage additives are disclosed.
US07718411B1
The present invention relates to protein engineering, and concerns especially family G/11 xylanases, and genes encoding said enzymes. In specific, the invention concerns Trichoderma reesei XYNII gene, which codes for endo-1,4-β-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8). The invention describes how site-directed mutagenesis can be used to improve the properties of an enzyme to match the industrial conditions where it is used. Protein engineering can be used to improve thermoactivity and thermostability of xylanases, as well as to broaden their pH range.
US07718409B2
Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in either individual or multiple biological cells or biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general. In addition, a particular method and apparatus are disclosed in which electroporation and/or mass transfer across a cell membrane are accomplished by securing a cell across an opening in a barrier between two chambers such that the cell closes the opening. The barrier is either electrically insulating, impermeable to the solute, or both, depending on whether pore formation, diffusive transport of the solute across the membrane, or both are sought. Electroporation is achieved by applying a voltage between the two chambers, and diffusive transport is achieved either by a difference in solute concentration between the liquids surrounding the cell and the cell interior or by a differential in concentration between the two chambers themselves. Electric current and diffusive transport are restricted to a flow path that passes through the opening.
US07718405B2
A fermentation process uses substantially pure oxygen as the sole gas introduced into a fermentation vessel while fermentation reactions are active. The oxygen is introduced at multiple locations along the height of the vessel, and is preferably introduced in the vicinity of the blades of an impeller. The invention enhances the rate at which oxygen can be transferred to the fermentation medium, and is especially useful for fermentation media which become very viscous as the process continues. The invention can be used in the manufacture of viscous products such as xanthan gum, or other products having viscosities greater than about 100 cp.
US07718402B2
This invention relates to reagent comprising: any one of cells, viral particles, organelles, parasites, cells comprising organelles, cells comprising viral particles, cells comprising parasites, cells comprising bacterial cells and any combination thereof, the cells, viral particles, organelles or parasites comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence serving as an internal control (IC) target for nucleic acid testing (NAT) assay; wherein the reagent is suitable to be added to a test sample undergoing sample preparation to release, concentrate and/or purify nucleic acids and amplification and/or detection of nucleic acids so as to be used to verify: (i) the efficiency of sample preparation; and (ii) the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification and/or detection. The present invention also relates to a method to verify or validate the preparation and amplification and/or detection of a nucleic acid target sequence in a sample spiked with a reagent of the present invention.
US07718400B2
DNA sequences comprising nucleic acids encoding fusion proteins comprising an Fc portion of an antibody attached at the N-terminus of an OB protein moiety, vectors comprising such DNA sequences, host cells comprising such vectors or DNA sequences, and processes for preparing such fusion proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins, are described. The DNA sequences, vectors comprising such DNA sequences, host cells comprising such vectors or DNA sequences, and processes for preparing such fusion proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins are useful, for example, in providing therapeutically effective amounts of compositions useful for, for example, increasing insulin sensitivity, decreasing the dose of insulin required for the treatment of diabetes, controlling serum glucose levels, increasing lean tissue mass, increasing overall body strength, or regulating bone resorption, or effecting any combination of such, in subjects in need or desirous thereof to which the compositions are administered.
US07718393B2
The present invention provides a method for determining susceptibility to an anthracycline anticancer agent, comprising the steps consisting of detecting the expression of activated Akt in a cancer cell or cancer tissue and determining the susceptibility of the cancer cell or cancer tissue to the anthracycline anticancer agent on the basis of the detection result. The method for determining the susceptibility to an anticancer agent can be used in objective and accurate determination of the susceptibility of a cancer cell or cancer tissue to an anthracycline anticancer agent without imposing a heavy burden on a patient.
US07718390B2
Protozoal cyclic GMP dependent protein kinases have been isolated and cloned. These enzymes may be used in screening assays to identify potential antiprotozoal agents.
US07718377B2
The present invention provides a screening method for a compound which is highly safe and has a prophylactic or therapeutic effect on diabetes, and a highly safe pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes. Specifically, a drug for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes, which contains, as an active ingredient, a compound having PPARγ activation activity and PTP inhibitory activity, and a method of screening for the drug are provided.
US07718373B2
The present invention provides assays for detecting the presence of the PV-BNGT04(RT73) canola event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the canola genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site.
US07718370B2
The invention provides a method useful for detection of genetic disorders. The method comprises determining the sequence of alleles of a locus of interest, and quantitating a ratio for the alleles at the locus of interest, wherein the ratio indicates the presence or absence of a chromosomal abnormality. The present invention also provides a non-invasive method for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in a fetus. The invention is especially useful as a non-invasive method for determining the sequence of fetal DNA. The invention further provides methods of isolation of free DNA from a sample.
US07718363B2
The present invention is directed methods for identifying compounds that have a tissue protective activity using a heteromultimer receptor complex that mediates the tissue protective activities. The complex consists of at least one EPO-R in complex with at least one βc Receptor. These compounds used in the assays to identify tissue protective compounds include, but are not limited to, small molecules and biologics. The compounds identified using these assays can be used to treat various conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as those of other erythropoietin-responsive or excitable cells, tissues, and organs.
US07718353B2
A protein sensing molecule is capable of binding an analyte in a sample. The protein sensing molecule includes a first detectable quality that changes in a concentration dependent manner when the protein sensing molecule is bound to the analyte. The protein sensing molecule also includes a second detectable quality that does not undergo substantial change when the protein sensing molecule is bound to the analyte. The protein sensing molecule may be used in methods for characterizing samples and may also be used in sensors.
US07718339B2
Provided is an electrostatic image developing toner excellent in blocking resistance at high temperature and humidity, as well as in low temperature-fixing property, having a polyester resin toner binder. Provided is the electrostatic image developing toner containing at least one noncrystalline polyester resin and a crystalline polyester resin, wherein the polyester resins are formed in the presence of at least one titanium-containing catalyst expressed in the following Formulas: Ti(—X)m(—OH)n O═Ti(—X)p(—OR)q where X is a residue resulting from removing an H atom in one hydroxyl group from (poly)alkanolamine having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, R represents an H atom or an alkyl group that has 1 to 8 carbon atoms and may contain 1 to 3 ether bonds, m, n, p, and q are integers; m, n, p, and q are 1-4, 0-3, 1-2, 0-1, respectively; and the sum of m and n, and p and q are 4 and 2, respectively.
US07718334B2
The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an additive of porphine or porphine derivatives to eliminate ghosting in specific conditions and improve image quality.
US07718317B2
The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is a counter electrode to said first electrode, and an electrolyte material interposed there between. The first electrode includes an alkali metal phosphorous compound doped with an element having a valence state greater than that of the alkali metal.
US07718313B2
An anode material capable of improving cycle characteristics, and a battery using the anode material are provided. A disk-shaped cathode contained in a package can and a disk-shaped anode contained in a package cup are laminated with a separator in between. The anode includes an alloy or a compound including iron in addition to at least either tin or silicon. The ratio of iron in the alloy or the compound is preferably about 15% by mass or less. Moreover, it is preferable that the alloy or the compound further includes chromium in an amount of less than 1500 ppm by mass.
US07718311B2
A battery capable of improving battery characteristics such as cycle characteristics is provided. An electrolytic solution is impregnated in a separator. The electrolytic solution contains 4-fluoro-1,3-dioxolane-2-one. Fluorine ion content in the electrolytic solution is preferably from 10 weight ppm to 3200 weight ppm. Thereby, chemical stability of the electrolytic solution is improved, and cycle characteristics are improved. The present invention is effective for the case using an anode active material containing Sn or Si as an element for an anode.
US07718309B2
The present teachings are directed toward electrocatalyst composition of an alloy of platinum and tungsten for use in fuel cells. The alloy consists essentially of platinum metal present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 20 percent and about 50 percent, and tungsten metal present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 50 percent and about 80 percent.
US07718296B2
A liquid fuel cartridge having a bistable structure includes a housing, a storage unit that is placed in the housing and stores a liquid fuel, a fuel outlet that is connected to an end of the storage unit and extends to an outside of the housing, a bistable structure that is connected to the storage unit and shows bistable states of a full state and an exhausted state thereof, and a window through which the bistable states of the bistable structure is detected.
US07718290B2
A cogeneration system of the present invention includes: an electric power generator (5); a cooling circuit (10) configured to cool the electric power generator (5) with a first heat transfer medium; a heat exchanger (16) provided on the cooling circuit (10); an exhaust heat recovery circuit (12) through which a second heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the first heat transfer medium via the heat exchanger (16) flows; a heat storage unit (20) connected to the exhaust heat recovery circuit (12) and configured to store the second heat transfer medium that has undergone a heat exchange by the heat exchanger (16); and a controller (21), wherein a first temperature sensor (17), and a heater to which electric power is supplied from the electric power generator (5), are connected, in this order, downstream of the heat exchanger (16) in a direction in which the second heat transfer medium flows, and the controller (21) controls a flow rate of a circulating pump (13) so that, based on a temperature detected by the first temperature sensor (17), the detected temperature becomes a predetermined target temperature. In addition to preventing water temperature decrease in heat recovery and ensuring safety, this configuration can keep water temperature high at all times.
US07718280B2
A surface having an abrasive coating which includes silicon carbide (SiC) particles bound to the surface so as to form the abrasive coating. The SiC particles include a self-healing barrier layer that is in contact with an outer surface of the SiC particles. The self-healing barrier layer prevents degradation of the SiC particles.
US07718276B2
An OLED device comprises a cathode, an anode, and has therebetween a light emitting layer comprising a phosphorescent emitter represented by Formula (I): LnM (I) wherein each L is a cyclometallated ligand with at least one containing a coumarin group, M is Ir or Pt, and n is 3 when M is Ir and 2 when M is Pt. The invention also comprised the compound of formula (I).
US07718275B2
An electroluminescent material is a metal complex of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-trimethylacetyl-pyrazol-5-one of formula (I). An electroluminescent device comprising the compound of formula (I) in the luminescent layer is also part of the invention.
US07718272B2
A laminated product comprising (i) a layer containing a sulfur-vulcanized rubber composition, and (ii) a layer containing a thermoplastic elastomer composition produced by dynamically heating (A) an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubber, (B) a propylene resin, (C) a mineral oil, (D) a cross-linking agent, and (E) an ethylene resin; and a process for producing a laminated product comprising the steps of (1) dynamically heating the above components (A) to (E), and (2) laminating the above layers (i) and (ii).
US07718270B2
The multifunctional material can readily adsorb even VOCs, which exhibits high photocatalytic activity and functions as visible-light-responsive photocatalyst by virtue of a large surface area and of being doped with carbon, has high hardness and exhibits excellent exfoliation resistance, wear resistance, resistance to chemicals, and heat resistance. The multifunctional material has a large number of protrusions of titanium oxide or a titanium alloy oxide on at least a portion of a surface of the material for example forest microcolumns of titanium oxide, the layer being exposed on the surface and the microcolumns being doped with carbon.
US07718260B2
This invention provides hollow fibers impregnated with gel in which the gel firmly adheres to the inner walls of the hollow fibers due to the introduction of comb polymers on the inner walls of the hollow fibers. These hollow fibers impregnated with gel have no gaps at the interfaces between the inner walls thereof and the gel. Accordingly, analysis can be performed with high accuracy. Also, thin slices obtained by bundling these hollow fibers and then slicing this bundle have sufficient adhesion between the gel and the inner walls of the hollow fibers. This also prevents gel from becoming detached from the inner walls at the time of slicing or during operations such as hybridization.
US07718258B2
A film adhesive having an adhesive layer (C) mainly containing a thermoplastic polyimide having a glass transition temperature of not more than 100° C. and an adhesive layer (D) having a storage shear modulus of not more than 106 Pa at 50° C. Furthermore, the film adhesive further comprises a base material (A) and an adhesive layer (B). The film adhesive can exhibit excellent low-temperature adhesive property and covering capability functioning as a die bonding adhesive film which can be used in a semiconductor package. In addition, the film adhesive can exhibit excellent low-temperature adhesive property and covering capability which functions both as a die bonding adhesive film and as a dicing tape.
US07718255B2
The invention provides cleaning sheets for use in cleaning, e.g., various substrate-processing apparatus, systems for conveying exposure masks (reticles) in microfabrication, etc., and a method of cleaning these with the cleaning sheets. A cleaning sheet which comprises a sheet material comprising a thermoset resin layer having porosity and, formed on one side of the sheet material, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprising a thermoplastic resin.
US07718253B2
A prefabricated cover board has a high-density polymer or predominantly polymer material core layer having a density between 6 lbs/ft3 and 25 lbs/ft3. A prefabricated roofing panel composite includes the cover board and an insulation board that has a low-density polymer or predominantly polymer material foam core layer having a density less than 6 lbs/ft3. The cover board may have a waterproofing membrane forming the top major surface of the cover board. When making the roofing panel composite, the low-density foam core layer of the insulation board may be formed with the high-density core layer of the cover board being currently or subsequently formed over and bonded to a top major surface of the low-density foam core layer in the same operation or preformed insulation boards may be fed into a production line with the high-density core layer of the cover board being formed over and bonded to top major surfaces of the low-density foam core layers of the insulation boards.
US07718250B2
The invention relates to an adhesive strip for the bonding of sheeting in the area of a building envelope, with a carrier material and an adhesive coating arranged on the carrier material, wherein the adhesive strip is vapor permeable with a diffusion resistance with an sd value of ≦12 m and the carrier material can elongate elastically with a difference value between the percentage of total elongation under loading εg and the percentage of permanent elongation after loading εb in the range of 6-80. The invention also relates to the use of such an adhesive strip for the bonding of sheeting in the outer area in house construction.
US07718245B2
Ballistic resistant fabric laminates are provided. More particularly, reinforced, delamination resistant, ballistic resistant composites are provided. The delamination resistant, ballistic resistant materials and articles may be reinforced by various techniques, including stitching one or more ballistic resistant panels with a high strength thread, melting the edges of a ballistic resistant panel to reinforce areas that may have been frayed during standard trimming procedures, wrapping one or more panels with one or more woven or non-woven fibrous wraps, and combinations of these techniques. The delamination resistant, ballistic resistant panels may further include at least one rigid plate attached thereto for improving ballistic resistance performance.
US07718242B2
A recording layer including a novel dye for a high density optical recording medium, employing short wavelength laser source with a wavelength not longer than 530 nm for recording high density information and reproduction/playback of the high density information recordings, is provided. The dye incorporated in the recording layer has the following general chemical structural formula (III):
US07718238B2
Plastic articles, and in particular polycarbonate articles, provide an appealing aesthetic look in the form of a colored glow at locations defined by cuts and/or protrusions in the surface of the article as a result of incorporation of a photoluminescent material in the polycarbonate from which the article is formed. The cuts and/or protrusions define a graphic image, for example one or more letters (i.e., an initial or name), an abstract design, a drawing or a trademark or logo. Ambient light entering the plastic body results in luminescence from the photoluminescent material which is conducted as a result of internal reflectance within the plastic body to the edges of the cuts in the bodies surface.
US07718237B2
An inkjet recording element comprising an absorbent support, a porous base layer nearest the support, a porous ink-receiving intermediate layer above the base layer, and a porous ink-receiving upper layer above the intermediate layer. The base layer and intermediate layers are each present in an amount of at least 25 g/m2 and the total dry weight coverage of the base layer, the intermediate layer, and the upper layer is 60 to 130 g/m2 in order to handle high fluxes of ink compositions during printing and to provide high gloss upon calendering. Also disclosed is an advantageous method of making such inkjet recording materials.
US07718236B2
An inkjet recording element having a support having thereon in sequence (a) a transparent, non-porous layer that can be swelled by water less than 0.67 of its original weight, and (b) a fusible, porous image-receiving layer. The inkjet recording element exhibits improved adhesion and excellent image quality. A method of inkjet printing is also disclosed.
US07718235B2
The invention relates to an overcoat composition for an imaged image-recording element, the overcoat composition comprising an aqueous carrier, an optional humectant, an optional surfactant, and 0.05 to 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the overcoat composition, of an addition polymer having an acid number greater than about 110. The invention also relates to a method of making an imaged image recording element having a transparent overcoat, which method comprises forming an image on the image recording element and applying over the image an overcoat composition of the present invention.The overcoat compositions of the invention provide advantageous stain resistance.
US07718226B2
A method of forming a coated body composed of small columnar crystals coated using the MTCVD process. Wear resistance of the prior-art Ti(C,N) layers can be considerably enhanced by optimising the grain size and microstructure. Considerably better wear resistance in, for example in many carbon steels, can be obtained by modifying the grain size and morphology of prior art MTCVD Ti(C,N) coatings. The method includes a step of doping by using CO, CO2, ZrCl4, HfCl4 and AlCl3 or combinations of these to ensure the control of the grain size and shape. Doping has to be controlled carefully in order to maintain the columnar structure and also in order to avoid nanograined structures and oxidisation. The preferred grain size should be in the sub-micron region with the grain width of from about 30 to about 300 nm. The length to width ratio should be more than 5, preferably more than 10 and the coating should exhibit a strong preferred growth orientation along 422 or 331. The XRD line broadening should be weak.
US07718225B2
Methods are disclosed for adjusting the temperature of at least a portion of the surface of a reaction chamber during a film formation process to control film properties. More than one portion of the chamber surface may be temperature-modulated, and may be accomplished by actively keeping the temperature of a first wall of the reaction chamber above the temperature of a second wall during the film formation process.
US07718220B2
Reinforcing fibers with small particles having a longest average dimension of approximately 0.01 nanometer to approximately 30 micrometers physically and/or chemically bonded directly to their surfaces to form protuberances thereon and a method and system for making these modified fibers are disclosed. The particles directly bonded to the surfaces of the fibers, serve to enhance physical properties of composite articles which incorporate such fibers as reinforcement.
US07718216B2
A method for low temperature bumping is disclosed. A resin capable of being cross-linked by free-radical or cationic polymerization at low temperature is provided. Electrically conductive particles are then added to the resin to form a mixture. The mixture is then activated by heat or exposure to light to polymerize the mixture. In an alternative embodiment, a vinyl ether resin is used, to which electrically conductive particles are added. The mixture is polymerized by exposure to light.
US07718213B1
A holding device and method is provided for efficiently applying a coating on the exterior surface of a tubular hollow body, while preventing coating application on the interior surface and coating defects. The holding device of the present invention comprises at least two structures contacting the inner surface of the tubular hollow body and extending to a portion where the structures are connected and rotary motion is induced to rotate the tubular hollow body. The structures are arranged and shaped so that an inner hollow section is formed in which excess coating material can accumulate.
US07718212B2
An electrosurgical device including a reinforcing underlayment having a non-stick, anti-microbial coating. In one embodiment, the coating includes a non-stick material having anti-microbial particles interspersed in the non-stick material. This coating is applied to the surfaces of the electrode to minimize the build-up of charred tissue on the surfaces of the electrode. Also, the coating tends to kill harmful organisms residing on the surfaces of the electrode. In another embodiment, a primer coating is initially applied to the surfaces of the electrode. A plurality of anti-microbial particles are then applied to the primer coating layer and engage and are embedded in the primer coating layer. A top coat including a non-stick material is applied to the anti-microbial particle layer. In either embodiment, the coating layers applied to the surfaces of the electrode are cured to harden and adhere the layers to the electrode.
US07718203B2
The invention relates to a protecting and regenerating composition.This composition comprises an association of a first cosmetically active ingredient comprising a dried vine shoot extract, and a second cosmetically active ingredient comprising a component of the ectoine type.This composition makes it possible to affect anti-ageing cosmetic care and skin revitalization.
US07718199B2
The present invention refers to the use of extracts from selected and stabilized cell lines comprising phenylpropanoids with high anti-oxidant capacity having a verbascoside titre of between 20% and 90% and a chromophore-free fraction of between 80% and 10%, in human and veterinary medicine, and for nutritional and cosmetic purposes.
US07718197B2
This invention relates to novel colonic purgative compositions in a solid dosage form, comprising at least one purgative and at least one soluble, or soluble, nonfermentable binder, such as polyethylene glycol. Further, this invention relates to methods of using the colonic purgative compositions. The present compositions and methods are designed to improve patient tolerance and compliance, while at the same time improving the quality of bowel cleansing. The formulations and methods of this invention are particularly useful to cleanse the bowel prior to diagnostic and surgical procedures and can also be employed in lower dosages as a laxative to promote elimination and/or to relieve constipation.
US07718192B2
Disclosed is an oral dosage form comprising (i) an opioid agonist in releasable form and (ii) a sequestered opioid antagonist which is substantially not released when the dosage form is administered intact.
US07718188B2
A transdermal patch for external use having a backing layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one surface of the backing layer, which contains polyisobutylene, a mineral oil and fentanyl employed as the active ingredient in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and in which the contents of polyisobutylene and fentanyl in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer respectively range from 75.2 to 94.2% by mass and 1 to 6% by mass while the content of the mineral oil is from 0.25 to 0.05 parts by mass based on polyisobutylene. This patch can be easily produced, has a long-lasting effect and is excellent in adhesion to the skin and tolerability against movement to the body parts.
US07718163B2
A powder for use in a dry powder inhaler includes active particles and carrier particles for carrying the active particles. The powder further includes additive material (4) on the surfaces of the carrier particles to promote the release of the active particles from the carrier particles on actuation of the inhaler. The powder is such that the active particles are not liable to be release from the carrier particles before actuation of the inhaler. The inclusion of additive material (4) in the powder has been found to give an increased respirable fraction of the active material.
US07718162B2
The invention comprises a medicinal aerosol composition comprising a propellant, an excipient comprising a functionalized polyethyleneglycol, and a drug. The invention also comprises particulate medicinal compositions comprising particles with a mean mass aerodynamic diameter of less than about 10 microns that incorporate an excipient comprising a functionalized polyethyleneglycol.
US07718154B2
This idea relates to the synthesis of salts of dodecahydrododecaborate B12H12 (2-). In the proposed process a metal hydride is reacted with an alkyl borate in the presence of a Lewis base to produce Lewis base-borane compex, which is thermally decomposed to produce salts of B12H12 (2-), while alkyl borare is recovered from the reaction by-product and is recycled.
US07718138B2
The present invention relates to a device and a process for introducing gas into a fluidised bed reactor having at least one gas inlet pipe (2, 3) located underneath and/or above the fluidised bed for introducing gas into the fluidised bed, characterized in that the gas inlet pipe (2, 3) has gas-swirling means upstream of and/or at its mouth.
US07718137B2
A system for processing large quantities of a reaction medium while maintaining the reaction medium in sheets. The system includes a reactor having a plurality of vertically-spaced downwardly-sloped trays over which the reaction medium flows while it is subjected to reaction conditions. The slope of the trays increases downwardly to accommodate for the increased viscosity of the reaction medium while the reaction medium flows downwardly through the reactor. An upper portion of the trays have a uni-directional configuration, while a lower portion of the trays have a bi-directional configuration. Further, the orientation of flow across the uni-directional trays is rotated by 90 degrees in at least one location as the reaction medium flows down the uni-directional trays.
US07718136B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a microparticle diffusing apparatus capable of largely elongating the spray travel distance of microparticles emitted from the microparticle diffusing apparatus and, also, capable of emitting the microparticles in a wide range, enhancing the effect of the microparticles and reducing the noise. The microparticle diffusing apparatus includes a microparticle generating apparatus which generates microparticles from a microparticle generating part, a wind-blowing path which transfers the microparticles generated from the microparticle generating apparatus, and a blowout opening which is formed in an end of the wind-blowing path and which discharges the microparticles, and an aspect ratio of a cross section of the wind-blowing path is gradually increased from a start point to an end point.
US07718116B2
A method for obtaining a selectively non-carburized powdered metal part. The steps include compacting, sintering, removing, forging and cooling. A metal powder is compacted to form a preform having at least one first surface in which a forged part is required to have a case depth and at least one second surface in which a carburized portion is required to be removed prior to forging. The preform is then sintered and carburized. After carburizing the at least one second surface of the preform is removed and subsequently forged and cooled. The forged part has at least one second surface having improved post forging properties and at least one first surface having improved performance features. A part made from the present method is also provided.
US07718109B2
Techniques for generating tissue support structure are presented. A curved minimal surface shape is determined as a template for generating a tissue support structure. The determined curved minimal surface shape is numerically or functionally defined to create data representing the shape. The data is exported to a rapid prototyping system to generate a plurality of tissue support structures having a curved minimal surface. The tissue support structure can have a pore sub-section and a non-pore sub-section divided by a non-intersecting two-sided surface. A number of characteristics of the tissue support structure can be modulated including porosity and mechanical strength.
US07718104B2
A process for the production of a polymeric film comprising a copolyester having an acid component and a diol component, said acid component comprising a dicarboxylic acid and a sulfomonomer containing a sulfonate group attached to the aromatic nucleus of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, said process comprising the steps of: (i) melt-extruding a layer of said copolyester; (ii) stretching the extrudate in at least one direction; (iii) heat-setting the film by raising the temperature of the stretched film to a temperature T1 in a first heating zone such that (TM-T1) is in the range of from 5 to 30° C., and then raising the temperature of the film to a temperature T2 in a second heating zone such that (TM-T2 is in the range of from 0 to 10° C., wherein TM is the peak melting temperature of the polymeric film; wherein T2 is greater than T1; and wherein the times which a transverse section of the film spends in the first and second heating zones are defined by t1 and t2, respectively, such that the ratio of t1 to t2 is at least 2:1; and a polymeric film obtainable thereby having an ultimate tensile strength at destruction in the range of 2 to 15 kgf/mm2 in the machine direction and 2.5 to 17 kgf/mm2 in the transverse direction.
US07718089B2
Disclosed is a method for removing residue from a surface comprising: contacting the surface with a composition comprising at least one unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of compounds having the formula E- or Z—R1CH═CHR2, wherein R1 and R2 are, independently, C1 to C6 perfluoroalkyl groups, or C1 to C6 hydrofluoroalkyl groups, and recovering the surface from the composition.
US07718088B2
A wavelength converting material including a wavelength converting activator and a scatter is provided. The wavelength converting activator is suitable for being activated by a light with a wavelength λ1, so as to emit a light with a wavelength λ2. The scatter is disposed on the wavelength converting activator. The scatter is suitable for scattering a first light and a second light irradiated to a surface thereof. As a result of that the scatters on the wavelength converting activators increases the gap of two wavelength converting activators adjacent to each other, the wavelength converting activators could be sufficiently activated for emitting a light with wavelength λ2 while the wavelength converting materials are irradiated by the light with λ1. Therefore, the brightness of a light emitting diode with the wavelength converting material is enhanced.
US07718086B2
The present invention provides one or more dichroic dyes which exhibit high solubility in liquid crystal and a high order parameter. The dichroic dyes each have a first substituent having at least one cis-cyclohexane ring and/or a second substituent having at least one trans-cyclohexane ring. The dichroic dye(s) may be provided as a mixture including at least a first dichroic dye having at least the first substituent and a second dichroic dye having at least the second substituent. The dichroic dye(s) may also be provided as a plurality of dichroic dyes, each of the molecules of which has at least the first substituent and the second substituent. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal element including the one or more dichroic dyes.
US07718081B2
A method of etching a substrate is provided. The method of etching a substrate includes transferring a pattern into the substrate using a double patterned amorphous carbon layer on the substrate as a hardmask. Optionally, a non-carbon based layer is deposited on the amorphous carbon layer as a capping layer before the pattern is transferred into the substrate.
US07718076B1
Efficient methods and apparatus for separating both settleable-particles and finer-non-settlable-particles from particle-laden fluid are provided by combining many successive settling, filtration, and treatment stages in one basin. A sludge and finer-particle removal system combined into the one basin is configured with a common gantry drive having many arms hanging from an overhead beam, each arm carrying a particle remover configured for the corresponding stage. In one stage, a practical method of removing sludge from between closely-spaced settler flow trays is provided by one pair of arms that straddle the trays and move an array of pushers during movement of the common gantry drive. During that movement the common gantry drive also removes the finer-non-settleable-particles from all downstream stages of filtration and treatment, and each stage continues operating while the common gantry drive operates to perform the respective removal.
US07718066B2
Methods and apparatus for continuing, automated control of wastewater treatment processes. In certain preferred embodiments, method and apparatus for control of aeration in suspended growth biological treatment processes, especially in activated sludge processes.
US07718054B2
A modular water treatment system includes a plurality of water treatment components selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component. The water treatment system also includes a plurality of interfaces for coupling to the selected water treatment components, and plumbing lines providing flow communication between the selected components, the plumbing lines comprising a system water inlet and a system water outlet.
US07718053B2
A process for jointly carrying out selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated compounds into monounsaturated compounds contained in gasolines, and for transforming light sulphur-containing compounds into heavier compounds by reaction with unsaturated compounds employing a supported catalyst, comprising at least one metal from group VIB and at least one non-noble metal from group VIII used in the sulphurized form deposited on a support and having a controlled porosity, and comprising bringing the feed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 220° C. at a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 1 h−1 to 10 h−1 and at a pressure in the range of 0.5 to 5 MPa.
US07718052B2
A process for independently and concurrently cracking at least two different hydrocarbon feedstocks to olefins. The process is carried out in a furnace for cracking hydrocarbon feed which has at least a first and second independent radiant cracking zone to produce a first cracked product and second cracked product that are separately withdrawn from the furnace.
US07718048B2
Base sequence detecting electrode, base sequence detecting device and base sequence detecting method
A conductive detecting electrode (2), first blocking molecules (21) formed so as to cover a surface of the detecting electrode (2), the first blocking molecules decreasing adsorption of an intercalating agent to the surface of the detecting electrode (2), a target-complementary probe (23) immobilized to the detecting electrode (2) via a spacer member (22) comprising straight chain organic molecules, the target-complementary probe including a base sequence complementary to a target base sequence which is an object of detection, a conductive comparison electrode (3), and second blocking molecules (31) formed so as to cover a surface of the comparison electrode (3), the second blocking molecules decreasing adsorption of an intercalating agent to the surface of the comparison electrode (3), are provided.
US07718043B2
A multilayer hard coating for tools for machining applications with a multilayer structure for improving the wear resistance of workpieces includes at least one (AlyCr1-y)X layer (0.2≦y≦0.7), wherein X is one of the following elements N, C, B, CN, BN, CBN, NO, CO, BO, CNO, BNO, CBNO, but preferably N or CN, and/or a (TizSi1-z) layer (0.99≧z≧0.7). The hard coating also includes at least one layer stack with one (AlCrTiSi) X mixed layer, followed by another (TizSi1-z)X layer, followed by another (AlCrTiSi) X mixed layer, followed by another (AlyCr1-y)X layer.
US07718033B1
A one step method and system for producing nanofluids by a particle-source evaporation and deposition of the evaporant into a base fluid. The base fluid such (i.e. ethylene glycol) is placed in a rotating cylindrical drum having an adjustable heater-boat-evaporator and heat exchanger-cooler apparatus. As the drum rotates, a thin liquid layer is formed on the inside surface of the drum. A heater-boat-evaporator having an evaporant material (particle-source) placed within its boat evaporator is adjustably positioned near a portion of the rotating thin liquid layer, the evaporant material being heated thereby evaporating a portion of the evaporant material, the evaporated material absorbed by the liquid film to form nanofluid.
US07718032B2
A dry non-plasma treatment system and method for removing oxide material is described. The treatment system is configured to provide chemical treatment of one or more substrates, wherein each substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry, including HF and optionally NH3, under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. Furthermore, the treatment system is configured to provide thermal treatment of each substrate, wherein each substrate is thermally treated to remove the chemically treated surfaces on each substrate.
US07718025B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a plunger, a heating element, and first and second arms. The plunger affixes a first unit to a second unit with adhesive. The first and second units are on a strip of a flexible tape. The strip is on a folding base unit. The folding base unit folds the first unit on top of the second unit. The heating element is attached to the plunger to cure the adhesive. The first and second arms are positioned on first and second sides of the plunger via first and second hinges, respectively, to secure the first and second units underneath the plunger. Another embodiment of the invention includes a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly supports a first unit. The first sub-assembly, when activated, folds the first unit on top of a second unit. The first and second units are on a strip of a flexible tape. The second sub-assembly supports the second unit.
US07718020B2
Method and apparatus for manufacture and inspection of swatch bearing sheets using a vacuum conveyor
An apparatus and method of high speed manufacture of swatch bearing sheets wherein each sheet is directed through various operating stations via sequentially releasing a suction force from an endless vacuum belt conveyor while sequentially pulling the sheet onto another endless vacuum belt conveyor with a suction force to allow for substantially continuous engagement of the sheet with the endless vacuum conveyors during the manufacture and inspection of the sheets.
US07718008B2
The present invention provides a method for cleaning a photo mask without the need for removal of the pellicle mounted on the photo mask, without the large scale equipment for washing with a solution, with a small number of steps for cleaning and inspection, and without the increase of the production cost. The method for cleaning a photo mask with a pellicle mounted, in which the pellicle frame has a gas introducing hole and a gas discharging hole, comprises: a step of introducing a gaseous substituting substance from the gas introducing hole in a pellicle inner space surrounded by the photo mask and the pellicle, substituting foreign substances on the photo mask, and discharging the foreign substances from the gas discharging hole; and a step of irradiating an ultraviolet ray to the photo mask, while an air or a nitrogen gas or a rare gas is introduced from the gas introducing hole, for degrading the substituted substituting substance so as to be gaseous, and discharging the same from the gas discharging hole.
US07717992B2
Color enhancing compositions for enhancing, changing and concealing the color of substrates to which the compositions are applied are provided. The compositions include chromatically selective scattering particles having small sizes and narrow size distributions. Inks, paints and other coatings made from the color enhancing compositions are also provided.
US07717990B2
A multi-color inkjet ink set includes a first ink composition including a first colorant and a heterocyclic amine compound, and a second ink composition include a second colorant having an, in which the acid moiety of the second colorant within the second ink composition reacts with the heterocyclic amine compound within the first ink composition to form a precipitate to prevent the second colorant from moving on a printing medium.
US07717984B1
An electrostatic precipitator unit used for the removal of coolant liquid and particles generated by a machine tool includes an electrostatic precipitator cell. The electrostatic precipitator cell includes power and collector ground fins and an ionizer grid positioned below the fins. The lower edges of the power fins are spaced above the collector ground fins to prevent contact of the liquid on the ground fins with the power fins. An electrical contact assembly for supplying electrical current to the ionizer grid and power fins is electrically isolated from all ground contacts by dielectric standoffs which define an insulating air gap. The likelihood of liquid tracking to ground is therefore eliminated.
US07717983B2
An air separation module comprising a bundle of hollow elongated membranes, and a pressure vessel enclosing the bundle. The pressure vessel includes an outer tube, end caps at opposite ends of the tube, and an inner tube located within the fiber bundle. The inner tube is fixedly mechanically connected at opposite ends to the end caps to form a structural spine of the pressure vessel, whereby loads acting on the air separation module are transferred between the end caps primarily by the center tube.
US07717975B2
A web can comprise a substantially continuous fiber mass and a separation means dispersed into the fiber. The web having a preferred thickness resulting from forming a polymer material and a particulate into a fine fiber layer can have a variety of end uses. A filtration media can include a structure comprising such a web of fine fiber and a substantial volume of particulate embodiment of the separation means. The resulting fine fiber structure provides an improved filtration medium having substantial depth, thickness, and a layered structure. The improved properties of the web results from inclusion of the separation or spacer particulate.
US07717972B2
A diamond disc manufacturing process includes the following steps. Firstly, a container is provided, and an adhesion layer is formed in the container. A hollow member having a plurality of meshes is covered on the adhesion layer. A plurality of diamond particles is implanted on the hollow member and embedded into the meshes of the hollow member, so that the diamond particles are adhered onto the adhesion layer. Then, a resin material is infused into the container, so that the diamond particles are bonded on the resin material. Finally, the resin material together with the diamond particles is released from the container, so as to obtain a diamond disc base with the diamond particles having uniform distribution and orientation.
US07717969B2
An emulsified liquid fuel utilizes minor proportions of petroleum, maximum proportions of water (H2O) and minimal amounts of acetone and alcohol, all readily available, plentiful and inexpensive.
US07717967B2
A method for manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor has the steps of: mixing valve metal powders with organic binder for granulation, press-molding granulated powders embedded with a valve metal lead, sintering a press-molded compact in vacuum to produce a sintered body, and anodizing the sintered body to form a dielectric oxide film layer. The method further has a step of performing a cathode electrolytic cleaning to the sintered body before the step of forming the dielectric oxide film layer. The cathode electrolytic cleaning is performed in an acid solution, which is a mixed acid solution of hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.
US07717963B2
Excellent water repellency and Oil repellency are imparted to a textile by a method including (1) preparing a treatment liquid comprising a water- and oil-repellent agent, (2) adjusting pH of the treatment liquid to at most 7, (3) applying the treatment liquid to a textile, (4) treating the textile with steam, and (5) washing the textile with water and dehydrating the textile, wherein the water- and oil-repellent agent comprises at least one fluorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing polymer and a fluorine-containing low molecular weight compound, and the water- and oil-repellent agent or the treatment liquid contains a cationic emulsifier and/or a salt.
US07717959B2
An intervertebral disc replacement device is disclosed and includes a first implantable member having a first anchor plate and a concave body detachably coupled to the first anchor plate, and a second implantable member having a second anchor plate and a convex body detachably coupled to the second anchor plate, the convex body configured to engage the concave body in movable relation thereto.
US07717953B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a prosthesis delivery system comprising a delivery catheter having an expandable member and a prosthesis carried over the expandable member. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable scaffold section and at least two anchors extending axially from an end thereof; and means for capturing at least the anchors to prevent the anchors from divaricating from the expandable member as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature.
US07717940B2
A novel cross-connector assembly for interconnecting first and second bracing members or rods, one to the other. The cross-connector assembly is capable of multi-directional articulation in three dimensions, length, azimuth, and elevation and is also capable of having one end rotated along its longitudinal axis in relation to the other end so as to custom fit and securely connect the assembly to two opposing bracing members or rods. Also provided is a kit including the device and ancillary instrumentation to facilitate the method of the present invention.
US07717937B2
A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end of fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, releasably connected to the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible.
US07717931B2
A surgical handpiece having a motor for actuating a cutting accessory. The handpiece has a bore for receiving the cutting accessory. A suction conduit extends through the handpiece from the bore. An irrigation conduit extends through the handpiece to the bore. The irrigation conduit opens into the bore at point where irrigating fluid can be introduced into the cutting accessory. When the cutting accessory is fitted in the bore, a suction is drawn from the handpiece through the suction bore. At the same time, irrigating fluid is introduced into the cutting accessory through the irrigation conduit.
US07717927B2
The invention relates to a medical knot pusher having a shaft, a handle on the proximal end of the shaft, and a guide device on the distal end of the shaft, for holding and guiding surgical sewing material, as well as with an additional cutting device positioned on the shaft for severing the surgical sewing material positioned in the guide device. A medical knot pusher, which is both simple to operate and has a range of uses, is characterized according to the invention in that the shaft consists of a shaft tube that contains the guide device for the surgical sewing material and is positioned in the handle, as well as a cutting tube that can be mounted on the shaft tube and constitutes the cutting device.
US07717910B2
An electrosurgical generator for supplying RF power to an electrosurgical instrument for cutting or vaporizing tissue has an RF output stage (42) with an RF power bridge (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), a pair of output lines (74) and a series-resonant output network (48). The output impedance of the output stage (42) at the output lines (74) is less than 200/√P ohms, where P is the maximum continuous RF output power of the generator. The generator offers improved cutting and vaporizing performance, especially in relation to the reliability with which an arc can be struck when presented with an initial low impedance load. Overloading of the output stage is prevented by rapidly operating protection circuitry responsive to a predetermined electrical condition such as a substantial short-circuit across the output lines. In the preferred embodiment, the output stage is capable of maintaining output pulses at least 1 kW peak by supplying the power bridge from a large reservoir capacitor (60). Pulsing is dynamically variable in response to load conditions by controlling the maximum energy per pulse in response to the reservoir capacitor voltage.
US07717899B2
A catheter assembly employs an outer catheter with a pre-formed distal end and an open lumen. An inner catheter having an open lumen and a pre-formed distal end is movably disposed within the outer catheter. Relative rotation and extension of the inner and outer catheters provides the distal end of the catheter assembly with an adjustable range of two- and three-dimensional shapes. The inner catheter can include sections of varying stiffness, such that extension of the inner catheter within the outer catheter modifies the shape of the outer catheter's pre-formed distal end. The adjustable shaping of the catheter assembly's distal tip provides an improved system for locating and cannulating cardiac venous structures, particularly the coronary sinus via the right atrium.
US07717896B2
A disposable pull-on wearing article has its waist region divided into a front section and a rear section and connector sheet strips adapted to connect these two sections together. Each of the connector sheet strips has zones to be joined to the front sections and a non-joint zone interposed between the zones to be joined to the front and rear sections and adapted to be easily torn apart in the vertical direction of the article. The front and rear sections respectively have ears lying on the outer side. These ears have respective inner surface releasably joined to each other by a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
US07717893B2
An absorbent article comprising at least one topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined with the topsheet; an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and a slow recovery elastomer. The slow recovery elastomer exhibits a normalized unload force at 37° C. of greater than about 0.04N and at least about 20% post elongation strain at 22° C. after 15 seconds of recovery.
US07717892B2
A method for treating urinary incontinence includes the steps of inserting into the woman's vagina a first disposable device, removing the first disposable device, and inserting a second disposable device substantially identical to the first disposable device. The disposable devices have a generally cylindrical working portion with opposed faces to provide support to an associated urinary system and an anchoring portion to maintain the disposable device in place during use. The working portion also has an initial equivalent diameter ranging from about 20 to about 170 mm, an insertion equivalent diameter ranging from about 5 to about 25 mm, a use equivalent diameter ranging from about 20 to about 40 mm and a length ranging from about 20 to about 60 mm. The anchoring portion also has an initial equivalent diameter ranging from about 20 to about 60 mm, an insertion equivalent diameter ranging from about 10 to about 25 mm, a use equivalent diameter ranging from about 20 to about 60 mm and a length ranging from about 10 to about 50 mm.
US07717891B1
A device includes a housing that can be transported between remote locations. The housing includes base and cover members conjoined therewith. The base member includes an open top end and a divider position in a cavity thereof, defining isolated chambers within the housing. The cover member includes a divider mateable with the divider of the base member. A mechanism is included for locking the cover member to the base member. A mechanism is included for collecting body excrements from the patient and is in fluid communication with one of the chambers. A mechanism is included for cleansing a selected portion of the patient and is in fluid communication with another chamber. The cleansing mechanism and the collecting mechanism are independently and simultaneously operable, and are electrically mated to an external power supply source.
US07717889B2
A disinfectant delivery system and method of providing alcohol-free disinfection to a body to be disinfected, as well as a method of infection reduction by preparation of a patient before an invasive procedure. A blended cloth comprising first fibers and second fibers is provided with the first fibers generally being greater in quantity by weight than the second fibers. A disinfectant solution impregnates the blended cloth, with the disinfectant solution having chlorhexidine gluconate as an active ingredient and having no alcohol. In the method according to the invention, at least one impregnated blended cloth is used to disinfect at least a portion of a body. A plurality of blended cloths can be provided for disinfecting discrete portions of the body. When an invasive procedure is to be performed on a patient, a further method according to the invention of infection reduction comprises using a CHG-impregnated cloth to disinfect at least a portion of the patient at least one day prior to the invasive procedure proximate the location of the invasive procedure.
US07717882B2
A medical access device provides needleless access to patient fluid lines such as intravascular catheters. A preformed crimp ring is attached around a septum and the top end of the housing of the medical access device. The crimp ring is configured to hold the septum in place. The septum provides access for a tubular portion of a medical device such as a male luer taper of a syringe. The crimp ring is then attached by mechanical attachment and/or chemical adhesion to the housing to minimize axial and rotational movement between the septum and the housing.
US07717881B2
A medical device for use with a fluid transfer device includes a hub having an open proximal end with a frusto-conically-shaped cavity therein, a distal end and a passageway therethrough. The cavity is part of the passageway. A release element in the passageway of the hub is positioned to block fluid-tight engagement of the frusto-conically-shaped tip with the cavity of the hub. Structure is provided to release at least part of the release element, upon application of a proximally directed force on the hub, to allow the abrupt fluid-tight engagement of the tip and the cavity in the hub.
US07717878B2
A surgical seal system is adapted for use with a cannula assembly having a cannula housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the cannula housing. The surgical seal assembly includes a seal assembly and an adapter assembly. The seal assembly is mountable to the cannula housing. The seal assembly includes a seal housing and a seal defining inner portions adapted to form a substantial seal about an instrument with a first cross-sectional dimension. The adapter assembly includes an adapter body adapted for releasably coupling to the seal housing of the seal assembly. The adapter body has an adapter seal and a tether. The adapter seal is adapted to form a substantial seal about an instrument with a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. The tether is mountable to the cannula sleeve thus securing the adapter assembly to the cannula.
US07717864B1
The present invention is directed to an intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire, and method for making the device. The guidewire of the present invention is formed, at least in part, of a composite elongate core formed, at least in part, of precipitation hardened material. The elongate core members of the present invention will have an ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity greater than the same for an identically dimensioned elongate member formed from superelastic NITINOL alone.
US07717861B2
A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.
US07717851B2
An ultrasonic observation apparatus in which the frame rate can be made higher than that in a mechanical or conventional electronic scan method. The ultrasonic observation apparatus includes: an ultrasonic endoscope including ultrasonic transducers; a transmission aperture setting unit for setting ultrasonic transducer groups as transmission apertures; a transmission frequency setting unit for setting respective frequencies of drive signal groups for the transmission apertures; a drive signal generating unit for generating the drive signal groups having the set frequencies; a reception aperture setting unit for setting ultrasonic transducer groups as reception apertures; a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on reception signal groups respectively outputted from the ultrasonic transducer groups; and a control unit for controlling the transmission aperture setting unit to sequentially change regions of the ultrasonic transducer groups to be set as the transmission apertures at a predetermined time interval.
US07717839B2
An interfolding apparatus and method, utilize, first and second sheet-cutting-and-overlapping arrangements and an interfolding arrangement simultaneously mounted and operatively interconnected in a common frame, for alternatively selectively forming a first or a second interfolded pattern having a given folded width, without replacement of components of the interfolding apparatus. The first interfolded pattern is formed from a first stream of overlapped sheets of a first length cut from a web of sheet material fed along a first path extending through the first sheet-cutting-and-overlapping arrangement to the interfolding arrangement. The second interfolded pattern is formed from a stream of overlapped sheets of a second length cut from the web of sheet material fed along a second path extending through the second sheet-cutting-and-overlapping arrangement to the interfolding arrangement.
US07717838B2
A machine for forming a case from a blank of sheet material includes a body, a mandrel mounted on the body and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the case, a member mounted on the body adjacent the mandrel for applying a force to the blank for at least one of folding a portion of the blank around the mandrel, moving the blank, and securing portions of the blank together, and a servomechanism operatively connected to the member for driving and controlling movement of the member to apply the force to the blank.
US07717833B1
Disclosed are adjustable exercise machines, apparatuses, and systems. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically include an adjustable, reversible mechanism that utilizes pivoting arms and a floating pulley. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically are configured for performing pushing and pulling exercises and may provide for converging and diverging motion.
US07717832B2
A shoulder press exercise machine has a main frame, a user support frame movably mounted on the frame for supporting a user in an exercise ready position, at least one exercise arm movably mounted on one of the frames and movable between a start position in which handles are located in front of the shoulders of a user on the user support frame and an end position in which the handles are located above the head of the user. A connecting linkage connects movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support frame, so that movement of the exercise arm from the start to the end position simultaneously moves the user support frame. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine. The combined motion of the user, user support frame and exercise arm between the start and end position substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight shoulder press exercise.
US07717831B2
The subject invention provides an exercise machine for exercising the lower torso. As described herein, the exercise machine includes a stabilizer pad, which effectively immobilizes the user's lower body to maintain proper pelvic positioning during execution of the exercise. The stabilizer pad can be part of a user support structure having a seat surface, a pelvic stabilizer pad and a footrest. The footrest is positioned so the user can apply a force using the leg muscles to push the pelvis into the pelvic stabilization pad. The spatial arrangement of the stabilization assembly which comprises: pelvic stabilizer pad, seat, and footrest combination effectively immobilize the user's pelvic area, preventing it from rotating in either the anterior or posterior direction.
US07717827B2
The invention relates to method and system for controlling a training plan for a user having a chosen aim for training, where at least one parameter describing physical characteristics of the user is determined, and a training plan consists of plurality of days, each day having one or more training sessions or rest, and each performed and coming session having a training load described by one or more parameters a training template is determined according to the aim and the said one or more parameters describing physical characteristics, each training template having a cumulative training load target according to the said parameter and the chosen aim and consisting of one or more training sessions or rest in each day, each training session of the template having a pre-selected training load, and an adapting window is determined, the adapting window consisting of a plurality of days, which include one or more previous sessions and one or more coming sessions according to the training template, and training loads of each session in the adapting window are combined into a cumulative training load, which is compared relatively to the cumulative training load target in the template, and depending on the comparison one or more coming sessions in the adapting window are adapted by changing one or more training loads of these so that the performed training load and the training load of the coming sessions as a combination meets the cumulative training load target.
US07717824B2
Isokinetic rehabilitation apparatus including a motor-driven pedal assembly having associated therewith a pair of foot pedals and at least one hand engagement element and a computerized motor controller operative to drive the motor-driven pedal assembly at a generally constant, selectable speed, generally irrespective of the extent to which forces are applied to the pedal assembly.
US07717816B2
To provide a transmission capable of using pump/motors or generator/motors of smaller maximum torque and of small size. The transmission includes input shaft (4), output shaft (16), a mechanical transmission part interposed between input shaft (4) and output shaft (16) including planetary gear mechanisms (5), (6), and a hydrostatic transmission part interposed between input shaft (4) and output shaft (16) including three pump/motors (21), (25), (31). A rotating shaft of first pump/motor (21) and a rotating shaft of second pump/motor (25) are coupled to the mechanical transmission part. Clutches (34), (35), (36) are provided for coupling a rotating shaft of third pump/motor (31) to at least one of the rotating shaft of first pump/motor (21) and the rotating shaft of second pump/motor (25).
US07717813B2
A base for baseball or softball including a bottom surface wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface includes a prepared surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface in its unprepared state and wherein the base will move from its resting position when a human body applies a lateral force thereto, the force being low enough to avoid substantial injury to the human body, but will remain in position when a force applied to the base includes a downward force component that is substantial in comparison to the lateral force component.
US07717807B2
A wood-type golf club head (20) with a main body (22) and a minor body (24) is disclosed herein. The main body (26) has a front portion (30), a crown portion (25), a partial toe portion (27), a partial heel portion (26), a partial rear portion (28) and a partial sole portion (29). The minor body (24) preferably has a sole wall (31), a partial toe wall (33), a partial heel wall (32) and a partial rear wall (34). The minor body (24) is preferably welded to the main body (22). The minor body (24) preferably has a mass ranging from 80 grams to 110 grams. The minor body (24) is preferably from 50 weight percent to 35 weight percent of the total mass of the wood-type golf club head (20).
US07717803B2
A C-shaped golf club head is disclosed herein. The body has a striking plate wall, a crown section, a sole section and a rear wall. The golf club head also has a plurality of weight members positioned on the rear wall of the body. Each of the plurality of weight members is movable along the rear wall.
US07717802B2
The putting training device positions a plurality of objects and a practice ball on a practice surface, and, in the preferred embodiment, comprises an arm arrangement of two connected rods having telescoping ball receptacles at each end. Four golf balls contained within perimeter receptacles are guiding balls. A golf ball positioned within a fifth receptacle is a practice ball to be putted once the putting training device is removed from the five positioned golf balls. The method comprises: providing an alignment device comprising; two ball sockets that define a take-away gap; two ball sockets that define a follow-through gap; the take-away gap and follow through gap further defining a putting arc distance gap; placing a plurality of objects on a putting surface; overlaying the alignment device on the objects so that the sockets contain an object; and removing the device, thereby leaving the objects on the putting surface.
US07717791B2
Methods and systems that enable cashless gaming dispense with the need to set up and operate a complex centrally controlled system or dispense with the need to distribute expensive smart cards. The patrons' gaming session meters (including, for example, a measure of winning and/or available credit) are distributed amongst an estate of peer networked gaming machines and are stored in redundant storage for fault tolerance.
US07717786B1
A game has the potential for multiple levels. Each level comprises a symbol matching event in which a set of base symbols are compared against a set of game symbol for potential matches. If a required minimum number of matches or another event is realized, the game may continue to the next level. The game symbols may be displayed in rows, such as rows of a matrix having m rows by n columns. The base symbols may then be displayed in a row having n positions, where the base symbol in an individual nth position is compared to the corresponding game symbol in the same nth position. The game may be played as a wagering game offering awards for individual symbol matches or matches of patterns of symbols in the matrix. The game may include additional features such as wild symbols, automatic advance features and mystery bonuses.
US07717782B2
A virtual game environment in which characters are allowed to give help to one another and in which the game tracks the amount of helpfulness of each character is provided. Characters may be rewarded or paid for giving help to each other. In some embodiments, help may be given in the form of advice.
US07717765B2
A flat-type fluorescent lamp device includes a first substrate, a plurality of first and second electrodes arranged on the first substrate at fixed intervals, a first fluorescent layer on an entire surface of the first substrate including the first and second electrodes, a second substrate having a plurality of projection portions for maintaining a uniform gap between the first and second substrates, and a second fluorescent layer on the second substrate except at regions of the projection portions that contact the first substrate.
US07717764B2
A method of manufacturing an image display panel, having one or more cells formed in an isolated manner from one another by partition walls and accommodating image display media and a plurality of image display elements, in which the image display media are sealed between opposed two substrates, at least one of the two substrates being transparent, and, in which the image display media, to which an electrostatic field is applied, are made to move so as to display an image, characterized in that the improvement comprises the steps of: (1) manufacturing a substrate with the partition walls on one substrate; applying an adhesive mixture obtained by mixing a photo-curing resin and a heat-hardening resin on the partition walls; and then connecting the other substrate to the partition walls through the adhesive mixture, the steps of: (2) manufacturing a substrate with the partition walls by forming the partition walls on one substrate; performing a washing by a dry treatment with respect to the thus manufactured substrate with the partition walls; applying an adhesive on the partition walls; and connecting the other substrate to the partition walls through the adhesive, or the steps of: (3) manufacturing the partition walls on one substrate by means of a pale color resist; applying an adhesive colored by a dark color on the partition walls; and connecting the other substrate to the partition walls through the adhesive.
US07717762B2
A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connectable to a vessel keel having a combined axial/radial bearing. A segmented ring, fastened to the buoy, forms the bearing outer ring. An inner bearing hub slidingly carried on the bearing outer ring is connectable to a vessel structural connector. In a first embodiment, the structural connector includes an inner cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable within an outer cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture plural collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially move in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward into the bearing hub and releasably engage an interior groove therein, thereby dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. In a second embodiment, the bearing hub is simply bolted directly to a cylindrical connector member of the vessel.
US07717759B2
The female terminal with guiding piece according to the present invention comprises a tubular body and a connecting part. Two vertical walls of the body are provided respectively with spring pieces cut and raised therefrom and formed to have an end on the rear side in the depth direction serving as a fixed end and an end on the front side serving as a free end and the free end coming closer to the vertical wall opposing to said vertical wall. The two vertical walls are provided respectively with guiding pieces at the front ends in the depth direction thereof, said guiding pieces being provided by plate pieces bent inward from the vertical walls into the body to cover spaces between the front ends in the depth direction of said vertical walls and the top ends of the spring pieces.
US07717755B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) and at least one contact (2) received and retained in the housing. The housing defines a mating face (10), a receiving cavity (101) running through the mating face for receiving a mating connector (200) and at least one groove (131) disposed at a sidewall of the receiving cavity and communicating with the receiving cavity. The at least one contact defines a retaining portion (21) retained in the at least one groove, a contacting portion (23) bending into the cavity and at least one guiding portion (24) extending from the contacting portion along a mating direction for guiding the mating connector to enter into the receiving cavity, and a free edge (241) of the at least one guiding portion extends into the corresponding at least one groove.
US07717752B2
A memory subsystem system including a rectangular printed circuit card having a first side and a second side, a length of between 149.5 and 153.5 millimeters, and first and second ends having a width smaller than the length. The memory system also includes a first plurality of pins on the first side extending along a first edge of the card that extends the length of the card, and a second plurality of pins on the second side extending on the first edge of the card. The memory system further includes a positioning key having it center positioned on the first edge of the card and located between 84.5 and 88.5 millimeters from the first end of the card and located between 62.5 and 66.5 millimeters from the second end of the card.
US07717748B2
A lamp-connection socket for a lamp for a display device, and a backlight unit and LCD device using the same are disclosed. The lamp-connection socket includes a body that includes a lamp receiving portion that supports an end portion of a lamp; a first terminal that extends from within the body to the outside of the body to receive a potential for driving the lamp; a balance device arranged within the body and electrically connected to the first terminal; and a clip arranged in the body that releaseably clamps a lamp electrode at the end of the lamp, the clip electrically connected to the balance device.
US07717747B2
A vehicular power inverter connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing, a plurality of first engagement formations on the housing shaped to mate with a plurality of inverter engagement formations on a vehicular power inverter, a plurality of second engagement formations on the housing shaped to mate with a plurality motor engagement formations on a vehicular motor, and a plurality of current sensors connected to the housing and configured to detect current flowing between the vehicular power inverter and the vehicular motor.
US07717737B2
A battery contact apparatus has one fixed contact formed on a printed circuit board and a displaced movable contact. At least one battery is insertable into the space between the contacts. The movable contact biases the battery toward the fixed contact to provide a complete electrical circuit.
US07717735B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: a housing; a circuit board that is housed in the housing; a connector that is mounted on the circuit board and has a jack opening disposed to be exposed from the housing; and an LED unit that is detachably installed on the connector.
US07717731B2
An electrical connector mounted on a printed circuit board 8 for receiving an IC package includes a socket (2) with a plurality of contacts (3) received therein, a load plate (4) supported by a supporting member (5) and capable of rotating toward or away from the socket (2), a pair of retaining seats (6) separated from each other and spaced from the socket (2), and a load lever (7) secured by the retaining seats (6) and engaging the load plate (4) to fasten the load plate (4) in a closed position.
US07717729B2
Provided herewith a land grid array socket comprises an insulative housing having a plurality of contacts and a metallic reinforce plate positioned at a bottom surface of the housing. The insulative housing has a top surface for receiving a land grid array package. A cover member is pivotally mounted on a first end of the insulative housing. The cover member is pivotal between an open position and a closed position where the cover member presses the land grid array package toward the top surface of the insulative housing so that the land grid array package electrically connects to the contacts. A lever, with an operating rod, is pivotally mounted on a second end of the insulative housing and has a tilted shaft portion biasing against the second end thereof so as to create a self-biasing elastic force with respect to the reinforce plate so that the lever, when set to a locked position, moves pivotally in a horizontal direction due to the elastic force to tightly engage with a latch of the reinforce plate to assure locking between the lever and the reinforce plate.
US07717720B2
An electric connection box having a main body, a guide wall disposed on the main body for retaining an electric component in a final connected state, and a protrusion disposed on an inner face of the guide wall for preventing movement of the electric component. The guide wall has flexibility and the protrusion contacts with the electric component, with the guide wall being bent outwardly when the electric competent is positioned in the final connected state. The electric connection box further includes a second cover having a locking member; wherein the locking member extends vertically and passes trough an aperture formed in the main body for engaging and locking the electric component.
US07717719B2
To provide a connector that enhances the reliability of connection between the ground and a shield constituting a shell. A socket constitutes the connector together with a header which is mounted on a different printed wiring board. The socket includes a socket body which is provided with a connection recess, a plurality of socket contacts which are held by the socket body, and a pitch direction shield and a terminal direction shield constituting the shell which surround the connection recess and which prevents electromagnetic noise from coming in and out. The pitch direction shield and the terminal direction shield are provided with terminals soldered to conductive pattern of the ground.
US07717717B1
A new user-friendly USB (Universal Serial Bus) male connector is physically and functionally compatible to the existing and future USB female connectors. Unlike the conventional keyed, polarized and position dependent USB male connector. The new user-friendly USB male connector provides spare connections, eliminates potential connector damage and allows normal and opposite insertions to the USB female connectors.
US07717713B2
A writing guide system including a piece of sheet-like material having a depressed area in the shape of an alphanumeric character. In another embodiment the invention is a progressive writing guide system including a first set of papers including a writing guide feature, and a second set of papers including a writing guide feature. The second set of papers are coupled to the first set of papers. The writing guide feature of the first set of papers provides more guidance to a user that the writing guide feature of the second set of papers.
US07717707B2
An improved transpalatal arch wire assembly comprising a transpalatal arch wire, wherein the transpalatal arch wire comprises a first vertically sloping component, a second vertically sloping component, and a intermediate adjustment section disposed between the first and second vertically sloping components; and a first auxiliary wire coupled to the transpalatal arch wire, wherein the first auxiliary wire is substantially rigid and defines a first attachment arm approximate to an end of the first auxiliary wire, wherein the first attachment arm is suitable for receiving an orthodontic force module.
US07717697B2
Disclosed is a preferred mold design for producing plastic, molded preforms, which may be blow-molded into a container of a final, desired shape. A preferred mold includes a temperature control system for maintaining the preform mold at a desired temperature. The temperature control system can pass fluid through channels within the preform mold to cool plastic that is injected into the preform mold. In some arrangements, a mold comprises a neck finish mold, the neck finish mold configured to transfer heat away from the molding surface toward a channel conveying a working fluid. A heat transfer member may be at least partially positioned within the channel to transfer heat to the working fluid. In some embodiments, the mold comprises a high heat transfer material.
US07717692B2
A multiple extrusion head (1) for blow molding extrusion machines has a plurality of first extrusion heads (2) fixedly arranged side by side in a first row forming a first plane (3). A plurality of second extrusion heads (4) are fixedly arranged side by side in a second row forming a second plane (5) that extends parallel to the first plane (3). Per row, distributing devices (6, 6a, 6b) are provided with first distributing channels (7, 10) that are arranged in the first plane (3) and the second plane (5), respectively. The distributing devices (6a, 6b) are separated in the region of the first plane (3) and second plane (5), A third distributing device (15) is provided with third distributing channels (18) that are arranged in a third plane (16) extending at a right angle relative to the first plane (3) and to the second plane (5).
US07717685B2
Pumping cartridges useful for medical and surgical pumping and infusion procedures. In one aspect, a series of pumping cartridges include cylinders and pistons which have a sealing component including a circumferential, flared sealing flange and can be configured to enable the pumping cartridge to generate high liquid pumping pressures. Many of the pumping cartridges can be configured to be detachable from a pump drive unit and disposable after a single use. Some pistons include or at least partially form a valve and/or are relatively movable with respect to a connected piston rod. Valves include a valve seat and a movable sealing element able to create a seal capable of withstanding differences in fluid pressures thereacross of at least about 1,000 psi. The movable sealing element is concave in shape, and may be curved for improved sealing performance. Methods for pumping or infusing a liquid for delivery to the body of a patient or a surgical or medical instrument.
US07717680B2
A charging system used for supplying compressed air to a destination includes a compressor for generating the compressed air and a reservoir capable of being alternately discharged and recharged with the compressed air. A supply line fluidly connects the compressor, the reservoir, and the destination. A control valve positioned along the supply line is used in controlling flow of the compressed air from the charging system to the destination. A first branch line and a second branch line are positioned between the reservoir and the supply line. A check valve is positioned along the first branch line that when opened allows the compressed air to flow out of the reservoir into the supply line and when closed prohibits the compressed air from flowing into or out of the reservoir. A pressure protection valve is positioned along the second branch that opens to allow the compressed air to flow into the reservoir when the pressure in the supply line is above a threshold pressure.
US07717676B2
A turbine engine component, such as a turbine blade, has an airfoil portion having a pressure side wall and a suction side wall, a first cooling circuit embedded within the pressure side wall, which first cooling circuit has at least two passageways embedded within the pressure side wall, a second cooling circuit embedded within the suction side wall, which second cooling circuit has at least two passageways embedded within the suction side wall, at least one cooling fluid supply cavity located between the pressure and suction side walls, each cooling fluid supply cavity having at least one projecting portion extending between adjacent ones of the embedded passageways in the first cooling circuit or adjacent ones of the embedded passageways in the second cooling circuit, and each projecting portion communicating with at least one film cooling hole. A method for forming the turbine blade component is also described.
US07717674B2
A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed having a motor (13) and motor housing (11) suspended from a ceiling by a downrod (12). The motor rotatably drives an annular array of blades (15). The ceiling fan also includes a tubular screen or shroud (20) mounted about the motor housing and blades so as to substantially conceal a large portion of these components from view. The shroud includes an annular lower mounting plate (21) and an annular side wall (23) extending upwardly from the lower plate. The side wall is formed of a series of candles (24) having the appearance of flickering wicks (25) through incandescent bulbs. The lower plate is coupled to the downrod through a coupler (27) and a series of first arms (28).
US07717672B2
A radial diffuser comprises a housing, a plurality of diffuser vanes, and a plurality of integral service vanes. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet, and defines a radial section extending radially outward from the air inlet, an axial section extending axially to the air outlet, and a transition including a bend and extending between the radial and axial sections. The diffuser vanes are coupled to the housing, and are disposed in, and define diffusion flow passages. The integral service vanes are coupled to the housing, extend around the bend, and define transition flow passages, each in fluid communication with at least one diffusion flow passage. At least some of the integral service vanes include a service passage extending therethrough and configured to allow a service conduit to extend therethrough without crossing either a diffusion flow passage or a transition flow passage.
US07717668B2
A gas turbine engine simulator comprising a simulator rotor disc which has substantially the same maximum external dimensions as a rotor disc and is manufactured from a material which has a density of less than 220 kg/m3. The simulator rotor disc is manufactured from a foamed plastic material with a closed cell structure. The simulator rotor disc is provided with a cavity in flow communication with a source of simulator coolant fluid, at least one flow outlet, at least one heater unit and at least one thermocouple mounted within said cavity for the measurement of simulator coolant fluid temperature within said cavity.
US07717667B2
A method for operating a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a fan, a high pressure turbine coupled downstream from the fan, and a low pressure turbine downstream from the high pressure turbine. The method includes channeling a portion of air discharged from the fan through a clearance control system including an inlet assembly that includes a plurality of louvers, and directing air from the inlet assembly into a first pipe and second pipe coupled to the inlet assembly such that pressure losses associated with the airflow are facilitated to be reduced.
US07717656B2
A device and method for transferring cargo are disclosed, including a device having a directional diverter and a means for securing the directional diverter to an ANSI/ISO corner fitting having a vertical face. The directional diverter may facilitate the conversion of horizontal movement of the container to inclined travel on an inclined surface, for example the inclined surface of a cargo transfer bed, such that when a force pulls the container in a direction generally normal to the vertical face and along the inclined surface, the directional diverter may contact the inclined surface prior to contact between the corner fitting and the inclined surface. In some embodiments, the directional diverter may be a sloped surface. In other embodiments, the directional diverter may be a roller or wheel.
US07717647B2
A pipe conveyor system which operates to assemble and disassemble a plurality of pipes.
US07717642B2
A bridge and pier structure are disclosed for extending over a waterway, wherein the pier structure includes a chamber filled with air or other buoyant material such that a buoyancy force is produced. The chamber is sized and filled such that the buoyancy force offsets at least eighty or ninety percent of the weight of the bridge that is supported by the pier. The pier structure includes a footing portion that is embedded into the bed of the waterway, and an optional piling extends downwardly from the footing to engage more stable strata. In an embodiment of the invention, the pier includes a relatively large upper portion that defines the buoyant chambers, and a relatively narrow portion that extends down to the footing portion of the pier. In an embodiment, a bumper assembly is disposed about the pier, to protect the pier and provide a platform for other activities.
US07717628B2
A system package using flexible optical waveguides and electrical wires, and a signal processing method thereof are disclosed. Several rigid substrates having highly integrated electronic elements and optical elements mounted thereon can be electrically and optically connected by using flexible substrates that are electrically wired and optically connected. The package can be variously changed when configuring the package by the flexible substrate and the heat dissipation device and the electromagnetic shielding device are installed in the inside of the package, making it possible to solve electromagnetic wave interference problems and thermal problems occurring in the inside of the package.
US07717613B1
The invention is an improved portable blender for use in a vehicle that has a self-righting base capable of pivoting in order to balance out the contents contained in the blender while the vehicle is moving. The base also has a power cord with a cigarette lighter adapter.
US07717593B2
Interior lighting and illumination systems for aircraft, particularly commercial passenger airplanes. Efficient beam forming optical light emitting diode arrangements having offset apertures for maximizing effectiveness are positioned in the ceiling panels above the aisles between sets of seats in the passenger cabins for cross bin illumination of stowage areas. The efficient beam forming optical LED devices are positioned to shine on opposite storage/stowage bins and are positioned to overcome line of height light source restrictions such as may be imposed by a valence. The devices are effective for illuminating across the aisles, thus creating a cross-bin lighting system.
US07717591B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a support having circuitry disposed thereon, at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip mounted on the support and in electrical communication with the circuitry and a reflective layer on the support adjacent the at least one chip.
US07717585B2
String and support for light-emitting diodes having a capsule and, at a rear end of said capsule, electrical connecting pins, in which encapsulating blocks embed the rear parts of said diodes, said pins, the end parts of the connecting wires connected to these pins and the adjacent end parts of their sheaths. Also described is a chain of light-emitting diodes, comprising sheathed flexible electrical supply wires and a multiplicity of strings, of which the end wires are connected respectively to said supply wires. Additionally, a luminous device with light-emitting diodes, comprising at least one board having a multiplicity of traversing holes, at least one string of light-emitting diodes and/or at least one chain of light-emitting diodes, of which the diodes are engaged respectively in at least some of said holes of the board, from one side of the latter and are held.
US07717577B2
A rearview mirror device includes an elongated mirror body and a housing. The mirror body is formed with a first curved section having two opposite ends, and second and third curved sections extending integrally and respectively from the opposite ends of the first curved section. The first curved section has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the second curved section and a radius of curvature of the third curved section. A ratio of the radius of curvature of the first curved section to the radius of curvature of either one of the second and third curved sections is not greater than 1.65. The housing includes a frame body with first and second mounting portions. Each of the second and third curved sections is mounted on a respective one of the first and second mounting portions of the frame body.
US07717574B1
For objects with non-Lambertian surfaces, an object surface is mapped by effectively modifying the reflective properties of the object surface being sensed. By effectively making the surface Lambertian with high albedo, a calibration imaging task is achieved using a typical camera from a single or small number of camera positions. The calibration method temporarily modifies the surface properties of the imaged object by applying a thin and opaque layer, such as a coating, covering, or veneer, to the object for the duration of the calibration imaging task. The surface of this layer is a Lambertian reflector, with medium to high albedo. The layer is snugly applied, so a shape of the layer is as close as possible to that of the surface. Once the layer is applied, imaging of the layer surface essentially yields the same shape as the underlying object.
US07717572B2
An adjusting device for positioning an integration rod within an optical engine module is provided. The optical engine module includes a casing having four sidewalls defining an optical path. The integration rod is disposed in the optical path. Each sidewall has a screw hole. The adjusting device includes two adjusting screws extending through the screw holes in two adjacent sidewalls of the casing in order to abut against the integration rod, thereby adjusting the position of the integration rod in the optical path and two positioning screws extending through the screw holes in remaining two adjacent sidewalls of the casing to abut against the integration rod for immobilizing the integration rod within the casing.
US07717567B2
Disclosed is a lighting optical system, including: a lighting optical system, comprising, a light separating means for separating incident light into three colored lights according to wavelength bands, and progressing the three separate colored lights for the same amount of distance from a light source of the incident light through different optical paths, and emitting the three separate colored lights to a first, a second and a third LCD, a first, a second and a third LCD for respectively receiving the three colored lights from the light separating means, and forming images therefrom; and a light combining means for synthesizing the three colored lights emitted from the first, second and third LCD, and outputting the synthesized light outside.
US07717566B2
The invention was made to provide a light source unit which can enhance the utilization efficiency of the dichroic prism which emits light that is emitted from a plurality of light sources in a direction which is parallel to an optical axis and a projector which employs the light source. The light source unit has a first light source, a second light source and a third light source which have different colors and includes a substantially cubical dichroic prism which combines light from the respective light sources for emission thereof. One of surfaces which intersect an optical axis of the dichroic prism is made to constitute a first incident surface, a surface which faces the first incident surface is made to constitute an emitting surface, and side surfaces are made to constitute a second incident surface and a third incident surface, respectively. The first light source is disposed in the vicinity of the first incident surface, the second light source is disposed in the vicinity of the second incident surface, and the third light source is disposed in the vicinity of the third incident surface, and the first incident surface, the second incident surface and the third incident surface are made up of filters which let light from the first light source, the second light source and the third light source pass through and reflect light of all other colors.
US07717564B2
A projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. The intrinsic polarizer can be an intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive.
US07717562B2
Wavefront measurements of eyes are normally taken when the pupil is relatively large, and the results are often represented by a set of Zernike coefficients. Different sets of Zernike coefficients can be calculated to represent aberrations at smaller pupil sizes. While recently described techniques allow scaling of the expansion coefficients with Zernike polynomials, a more intuitive approach would be desirable. Such an approach may optionally derive an equivalent result as known techniques, but may employ a much simpler and nonrecursive formula between the new and the original sets of Zernike polynomial expansion coefficients of a wavefront when the aperture size is scaled.
US07717551B2
The image forming method includes the steps of: depositing a first liquid containing at least a dispersion inhibitor, a polymerization initiator, and a high-boiling-point organic solvent, onto an image forming region of a recording medium where an image is to be formed according to image data, and onto a peripheral region of the image forming region; ejecting a second liquid containing at least a radiation-curable polymer compound and a coloring material, onto the recording medium according to the image data after the first liquid is deposited onto the image forming region and the peripheral region of the image forming region; ejecting a third liquid containing at least a radiation-curable polymer compound, onto at least the peripheral region of the image forming region after the first liquid is deposited onto the image forming region and the peripheral region of the image forming region, the third liquid having a transparent color, the same color as the recording medium, or a similar color to the recording medium; and irradiating radiation onto the first liquid, the second liquid and the third liquid on the recording medium.
US07717547B2
An inkjet head includes a flow path unit and a reservoir unit. The reservoir unit stores ink and includes an ink flow path, a reservoir flow path and an ink drop flow path. The reservoir flow path includes a main flow path formed with plural tributary communication ports, and plural tributary flow paths. A section area of the main flow path taken along a width direction of the reservoir unit is larger than each of section areas of the tributary flow paths taken along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of ink. The ink drop flow path drops ink onto a substantially center of the main flow path as viewed in a plan view. The tributary communication ports are substantially equal to each other in an opening area.
US07717545B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage unit, a vibrator unit, a case and a reinforcing plate. The flow passage unit includes a liquid flow passage and a diaphragm portion. The liquid flow passage includes a pressure chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening. The diaphragm portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the pressure chamber and varies a volume of the pressure chamber. The vibrator unit includes a piezoelectric vibrator that is bonded to the diaphragm portion. The piezoelectric vibrator displaces the diaphragm portion. The case has an accommodation chamber formed therein to accommodate the vibrator unit. The reinforcing plate has an insertion opening portion that is formed at a position corresponding to the diaphragm portion and through which a free end portion of the piezoelectric vibrator is insertable. The reinforcing plate is interposed between the case and the flow passage unit.
US07717544B2
The invention provides apparatuses and methods for acoustically ejecting the fluid from a reservoir contained in or disposed on a substrate. The reservoir has a portion adapted to contain a fluid, and an acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir. Acoustic radiation generated by the acoustic radiation generator is transmitted through at least the portion of the reservoir to an analyzer. The analyzer is capable of determining the energy level of the transmitted acoustic radiation and raising the energy level of subsequent pulses to a level sufficient to eject fluid droplets from the reservoir. The invention is particularly suited for delivering fluid from a plurality of reservoirs in an accurate and efficient manner.
US07717542B2
An inkjet drop ejection apparatus includes a chamber with a plurality of nozzles grouped in pairs, and a plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of actuators is associated with a pair of nozzles and operable to cause ink to be ejected from either one of the pair of associated nozzles. Each of the plurality of the actuators is provided midway between its associated pair of nozzles, adapted to simultaneously move towards one nozzle of the pair and away from the other nozzle of the pair, whereby ejection of ink through the nozzle towards which the actuator is moving is effected.
US07717538B2
An inkjet printer includes a body housing a print engine. The print engine is configured to transport and print upon print media. A retractable cover is pivotally mounted relative to the body and is able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing. A capping mechanism configured to cap the printhead assembly. In one embodiment, the capping mechanism comprises a sponge surrounded by an elastomeric seal.
US07717529B2
An image recording apparatus including: a medium-convey belt; a recording head; an image sensor being movable together with the recording head and including an image-pickup element, an image-forming optical system, and a light-entering surface which is more distant from the medium-convey belt than an ejection surface of the recording head, and a raising and lowering mechanism which positions the recording head, wherein the recording head is positioned, when in an inspecting mode in which the recording head is inspected, at a first height at which an optical image of an image recorded on the medium-convey belt or recorded on the recording medium on the medium-convey belt is formed on the image-pickup element by the image-forming optical system, while positioned, when in a normal recording mode, at a second height at which the ejection surface is more distant from the medium-convey belt than at the first height, and wherein the image sensor picks up the image when the recording head is positioned at the first height.
US07717526B2
A suspension system having an axle, at least a portion of which is made of a composite material. In a described embodiment, a suspension system includes an axle assembly which has a composite axle portion. Metal spindles are attached at each end of the axle for mounting wheels thereto. Two beams may be attached directly to the composite axle portion, to a sleeve overlying the composite axle portion, or to an axle seat attached to the sleeve or directly to the composite axle portion.
US07717519B2
An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
US07717517B2
A headrest for vehicles including a stationary plate secured to the seat back of a vehicle; an attachment shaft supported by the stationary plate; a coil spring wound on the attachment shaft and having a fixed end and a free end with its inner diameter being smaller than the outer diameter of the attachment shaft; and a headrest base plate attached to the stationary plate so as to turn forward and rearward. The fixed end of the coil spring is fixed to the base plate so as to secure the attachment shaft to the base plate or the fixed end of the coil is fixed to the stationary plate so as to secure the attachment shaft to the base plate, and the winding direction of the coil spring is set in a direction that tightens the spring when the base plate is turned rearward, thus restricting this rearward turning.
US07717513B2
There is provided a chair that realizes a state preferably following a motion of a sitter in accordance with a posture of the relevant sitter, and a state preferably supporting the sitter. The chair includes a lower frame portion supported so as to be capable of rocking between a standing position and a rearward tilting position with respect to a base, and an upper frame portion supported so as to be capable of rocking between a normal position and a rear end position with respect to the relevant lower frame portion. Furthermore, upper frame portion biasing that elastically biases the upper frame portion from the rear end position to the normal position is provided. This upper frame portion biasing is adapted to change an elastically biasing force to the upper frame portion corresponding to a position in the rocking movement of the lower frame portion.
US07717512B2
A seat back for a vehicular seat has a plate member for supporting a back of a pad and an elastic support mechanism for elastically holding the plate member for moving the plate member in a forward and backward direction with respect to a seat back frame. The plate member includes a first plate portion, a second plate portion positioned on the lower side of the first plate portion, and a third plate portion positioned on the lower side of the second plate portion. The first and third plate portions are more narrow than the second plate portion. The elastic support mechanism includes a rod-shaped elastic bridge member extending horizontally over the seat back frame on the back of the second plate portion. In addition, the elastic bridge member includes a bent portion at the center position as bent along the second plate portion toward the first plate portion.
US07717510B2
The specification discloses a modular transportation seating assembly that includes a support frame and seats mounted on the frame. The frame includes a seat beam and a cantilever beam. The cantilever beam includes a body and a connector inserted into the body and held together by compressive force. The body has an end defining a plurality of receivers, and the connector includes a plurality of lugs each received within one of said receivers. The seat beam includes a body, a tee nut slidably received within the body, a second connector outside the body, and a fastener intersecuring the two connectors to retain them in position along the length of the body. A single fastener intersecures the connectors on the seat beam and the cantilever beam. The seat includes a flange hooked about the back edge of the seat beam and one or more fasteners connecting the seat to the forward edge of the seat beam. The backs of adjacent seats define a vee, and a seat tie fills the lower portion of the vee to prevent objects from accidentally catching in the vee. The seats are molded and can include an integrally molded grab rail.
US07717509B2
A vehicle seat apparatus includes a pair of vehicle-width spaced lower arms attached to a seat cushion, each of the lower arms having a rear portion; a connecting member fixed to the rear portion of each of the lower arms; a pair of vehicle-width spaced upper arms attached to a seat back, each of the upper arms being pivoted by a rotational shaft to the rear portion of the corresponding lower arm to rotate relative thereto; a reclining apparatus provided at one of the connecting member and serving for restricting and allowing the upper arms to rotate; and a load receiving portion provided at one of the lower arms for receiving a downward load, when the downward load is transmitted from the connecting member to the rear portion of one of the lower arms, by being brought into engagement with at least one of the upper arm, the reclining apparatus, and the connecting member.
US07717507B2
A head rest of a vehicle seat may include a head support portion for supporting a head of a passenger, and a drive unit for moving the head support portion. The drive unit has a moving mechanism that is arranged and constructed to move the head support portion toward and away from the passenger head, an actuator for actuating the moving mechanism, a load detecting device that can detect a load applied to the actuator and generate a control signal representative of the detected load, and a controller that can control the actuator so as to control the moving mechanism. The controller controls the moving mechanism so as to move the head support portion toward the passenger head. The controller controls the moving mechanism based on the control signal so as to stop the motion of the head support portion.
US07717506B2
A child restraint apparatus relates to holding a child within a vehicle interior. The apparatus has a body with an internal area for receiving a child. An energy absorbing member extends in use over at least part of an external surface of the body. This energy absorbing member faces away from the internal area.
US07717505B2
A cushioned saddle is provided. The saddle is defined with a crotch portion and a buttocks portion. The saddle comprises a pad, a base disposed beneath the pad, at least one cushion, a first fastening device and a second fastening device. The cushion is disposed between the base and the pad, with a contour substantially the same as that of the pad at the buttocks portion and adapted to space the base and the pad apart from each other. The first fastening device is adapted to fasten the cushion and the base together. The second fastening device is adapted to fasten the cushion and the pad together. The pad and the base are cushioned by the cushion disposed therebetween.
US07717502B2
A spring locking knob and a fixed stop at the upper ends of the front legs of a chair frame cooperate to restrict movement of a slideset joining the front legs, rear legs and seat support struts of a chair in making the chair more stable and resistant to an inadvertent folding closure.
US07717499B2
The supporting structural element (1) comprises a shaped rigid body (2) in which are formed: two transversely adjacent cellular formations (3), intended to receive corresponding padding means (4, 5) to form seats; each of the said cellular formations (3) has a seat portion (3a) and a backrest portion (3b); an intermediate formation (6) shaped like an inverted channel, which interconnects the seat portions (3a) of the aforesaid cellular formations (3), forming a tunnel (7); a horizontal or virtually horizontal upper planar formation (9), which interconnects the upper backrest portions (3b) of the cellular formations (3), and a rear formation (10), essentially in the shape of a dihedral, with a first wing or skirt (10a) which is substantially horizontal and extends behind the seat portions (3a) of the cellular formations (3), and with a second wing or skirt (10b) which extends between the upper planar formation (9) and the said first wing or skirt (10a), behind and distant from the backrest portions (3b) of the cellular formations (3) such that a compartment or receptacle (11) is formed.
US07717498B2
A vehicle frame component, such as a siderail or a cross member, is formed with a generally C-shaped cross section in which the vertical web member has a greatly reduced mass, as compared to a comparable C-channel section of uniform construction. The reduced mass web member has a corresponding reduced effective cross section to substantially reduce the component weight without adversely affecting its vertical stiffness.
US07717493B2
A sliding door system for a motor vehicle, including a door that is configured to be disposed within a door opening that is formed in the vehicle body, a trim panel connected to the door, and an opening formed through the trim panel. A hinge arm extends through the opening in the trim panel and has a first end connected to the vehicle body and a second end slidably connected to the door for movement of the door between a closed position and an open position. A closure panel is moveable between a deployed position, wherein the closure panel obstructs at least a portion of the opening in the trim panel, and a stowed position, wherein the closure panel does not obstruct the opening in the trim panel.
US07717489B2
One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicular seat having a first member, a cooperatively moving apparatus configured to release a lock apparatus from being locked in cooperation with a movement of the first member, and a second member configured to be adjusted when the lock apparatus is released. Further, the cooperatively moving apparatus includes a main cooperatively moving member connected to the first member and capable of cooperative movement with the first member, and a sub cooperatively moving member connected to the lock apparatus and capable of being moved by receiving a force from the main cooperatively moving member. Also, a hold mechanism is provided between the main cooperatively moving member and the sub cooperatively moving member, the hold mechanism is capable of holding the lock apparatus in a lock release state by holding a portion of the sub cooperatively moving member by a predetermined amount while operating the main cooperatively moving member. And, when the lock apparatus is maintained in the lock release state, the second member is set to one of a plurality of set states, the lock apparatus is able to be brought into a lock state before and after operating the hold mechanism.
US07717483B1
A serving tray assembly has a substantially circular plate including, a top and a bottom and two substantially elongated oval openings extending from the top to the bottom. The plate has an outer perimeter having an integrally coupled upwardly extending edge including a top having a lip. A tray is integrally coupled to the plate. A substantially elongated rectangular strap including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first end and a second end. The first end includes a substantially square and hollow clasp, wherein the top surface of the second end includes two substantially elongated strips of hook and loop fastener spaced apart.
US07717481B2
A robotic end effector or blade suitable for transferring a substrate in a processing system is provided. In some embodiments, an end effector can include a body having opposing mounting and distal end, the body fabricated from a single mass of ceramic. The body can include a pair of arcuate lips extending upward from an upper surface of the body. Each lip is disposed on a respective finger disposed at the distal end of the body. An arcuate inner wall extends upward from the upper surface at the mounting end of the body. The inner wall and lips define a substrate receiving pocket. A plurality of contact pads extend upward from the upper surface of the body for supporting the substrate thereon. A recess is formed in a bottom surface of the body to accommodate a mounting clamp.
US07717476B2
An end structure for a pipe is provided, through which air is drawn from a lower position to an upper position relative to a vertical direction of a vehicle. An area of an opening at an end of the pipe is adapted to be greater than a cross section area of the pipe.
US07717468B2
A clipboard including a board having first and second surfaces, a clip integral with the first surface, and a plurality of recesses formed in the second surface, the recesses are adapted to receive one or more models.
US07717466B2
A fuel pump mounting structure has an opening in a side surface or a bottom surface of a fuel tank. A fuel pump assembly including a cylindrical pump body and a filter connected to a suction side of the pump body is accommodated in a space located inside of the opening. A flange section of a housing that encloses the pump body engages an outside surrounding area of the opening. A mounting plate covers the outside of the flange section. The fuel pump assembly is fixed to the opening through the flange section and the mounting plate. The axis of the pump body extends generally parallel to a mounting surface of the mounting plate, and the pump body and the filter overlap each other relative to a position in a direction of the axis. The mounting structure reduces the moment against the mounting plate, reliably supports the fuel pump under a stable condition without requiring a large and rigid construction, and improves the seal with the fuel tank.
US07717461B2
A motor vehicle with a roof configuration which can be displaced between a closed position and open position and has a roof skin. At least one rollover protection element which, in a retracted inoperative position, is concealed under a covering, is moveable, by displacing the covering, into an extended protective position and has a manipulation element for the roof skin in order to be able to penetrate the roof skin to reach the protective position. In order to be able to reliably extend the rollover protection element, it is provided that, on its lower side facing the rollover protection element, the covering has a contact structure which prevents the manipulation element from making contact with the covering.
US07717458B2
Interior parts for vehicles such as a front pillar garnish having a mounting bracket 32 to which a mounting clip 40 is connected so that the front pillar garnish is mounted to a front pillar. The mounting bracket 32 is formed on the inner side (that faces the front pillar) of the garnish main body 30 and has an inclined guiding portion 70 in its accommodating space 36 so that the flexible portion 46 of the mounting clip 40 inserted into the accommodating space 36 is bent inside the mounting bracket 32 by the inclined guiding portion 70, and the second engaging portion 50 at the distal end of the flexible portion 46 is prevented from contacting the garnish main body 30 by way of the opening 72 of the mounting bracket 32, thus allowing the mounting clip 40 not to be forcibly pressed against the garnish main body 30.
US07717456B2
The stroller applies a first link of the linkage assembly pivotally connecting between the handle and the protecting guard and a second link of the linkage pivotally connecting between the front frame and the protecting guard. During the folding process of the stroller, the first and the second links drive the protecting guard to move and rotate to a position that is substantially parallel with the handle, the front frame, the rear frame, and the bottom frame, bringing the stroller to a smallest size when in the folded position.
US07717450B2
A wheelchair luggage towing device to securely attach a luggage to the back of a wheelchair and pull the luggage along with the wheelchair. The device can be used with wheeled, as well as unwheeled luggage using a wheeled luggage carrier. The device comprises of a single or multiplicity of bars. A single bar is used with wheelchairs which have long vertical bars on their back. Two bars are used with wheelchairs which have a horizontal bar at their upper back. And three bars are used with wheelchairs which have two short vertical bars and no horizontal bar. In this case, a first bar is connected horizontally to the vertical bars of the wheelchair. A second bar is connected vertically to the first bar. And a third bar is connected horizontally to the lower end of the second bar. In all cases, the luggage is secured on the horizontal bar located close to the ground.
US07717445B2
Disclosed herein is a detachable side step assembly for use with a vehicle. The side step assembly comprises a side step with a first elongate section and a second elongate section. Each section has longitudinal edges attached to each other by a plurality of hinges. The side step is pivotal about the hinges into a first position wherein the bottom surface of the first elongate section faces the bottom surface of the second elongate section, and a second position wherein the top surfaces of the first and second elongate sections are planar. The side step is configured for releasable attachment to the vehicle when the side step is in the first position and configured for releasable attachment to a tailgate of the vehicle when the side step is in the second position. Also disclosed are a method of using the side step assembly and a vehicle comprising the same.
US07717427B2
A distinct dealing shoe having no shuffling functionality receives shuffled, randomized or ordered group of cards. The cards may be mechanically moved one at a time from a receiving area for the deck to a buffer area where more than one card is temporarily stored. The cards in the buffer area are then mechanically moved to a card delivery area where the cards may be manually removed, one-at-a-time, by a dealer. The cards are read one-at-a-time inside of the dealing shoe, either before the buffer area or after leaving the buffer area, but preferably before the cards are being manually removed from the card delivery area. The information from the card reading may be used for game tracking, hand tracking, player information, and other security issues at casino table card games.
US07717422B2
A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of securing a sufficient sheet bundle processing time period even with a short sheet conveying path to thereby maintain required capability of processing sheets conveyed at constant intervals. Rollers that convey sheets are controlled such that the conveyance speed of a sheet being conveyed by the rollers is increased in first timing so as to set the sheet at an increased distance from a succeeding sheet being conveyed by the rollers. When a sheet preceding the sheet being conveyed is the last sheet of a set of sheets to be processed by the sheet processing apparatus, the rollers are controlled to increase the conveyance speed of the sheet being conveyed in second timing later than the first timing.
US07717421B2
A system for sensing a media stack to detect a given stack height includes a stack site in an output bin and a mechanical flag mounted adjacent to a side thereof in a counterbalanced state at a home position where an exposed portion of the flag extends into a media sheet delivery path where it is struck by an edge of repetitive media sheets moving to the site. The striking of the exposed portion by the sheet edge causes the flag to deflect to a displaced position outside of the delivery path, allowing the sheet to land on the site increasing the height of a media sheet stack at the site. The counterbalanced state further allows the flag to return to the home position with its exposed portion in the media path until a given stack height is reached where the stack blocks further return of the flag indicating that the output bin is full.
US07717420B2
An apparatus for feeding sheets in sheet-processing machines includes a transport belt which transports sheets from a first location to a second location. The transport belt can be driven at variable speed by a drive. The speed of the transport belt can be controlled by a control device in such a way that, through the use of a combination of at least two speed profiles, the number of sheets on the transport belt and the transfer of the sheets at the first and second locations can be adjusted. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
US07717418B2
An apparatus for processing envelopes. A support plates and a pressure sensing lever support a stack of envelopes in a generally upright orientation. The pressure sensing lever pivots in accordance with pressure exerted by the stack of envelopes. A feeding apparatus is operatively coupled to a sensor such that pivotal movement of the pressure sensing lever is detected by the sensor and the feeding apparatus changes the pressure exerted against the stack of envelopes.
US07717413B2
A paper-handling unit serves for generating groups of items, wherein each group includes a plurality of items. The paper-handling unit includes at least one input channel for receiving the items, a portion to generate groups from the received items, a drive-out station for driving out a generated group, a detector detecting predetermined features from the items of a driven-out group, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine whether a predetermined event has occurred to drive the drive-out station to drive out a group if the predetermined event has occurred, to determine whether information was obtained from the detector during a predetermined interval, to stop the paper-handling unit if no information was obtained from the detector during the predetermined interval, and to stop the paper-handling unit if information was obtained from the detector during the predetermined interval which indicates that the driven-out group does not meet at least one predetermined criterion.
US07717408B2
In a V6 engine that can switch between a first running state and a second running state which differ in the number of cylinders that are permitted to operate, when switching from L3 selective cylinder operation to V4 selective cylinder operation is determined to be required, control of an active vibration isolation support system corresponding to L3 selective cylinder operation is normally continued for one cycle. However, in this case of switching from L3 selective cylinder operation to V4 selective cylinder operation, a vibration pattern of L3 selective cylinder operation continues for longer than usual, that is, for a period greater than one cycle. Therefore, control of the active vibration isolation support system corresponding to the vibration pattern of L3 selective cylinder operation is continued for two cycles of the vibration pattern, thereby further effectively improve a vibrational state when switching between running states from L3 selective cylinder operation to V4 selective cylinder operation.
US07717407B2
The invention relates to a sleeve, in particular an outer sleeve assembly for an elastomer bearing (3), with a first, outer sleeve part (1) forming a slit (S1) being arranged coaxially with a second, inner sleeve part (2), which likewise comprises a slit (S2). The outer sleeve part (1) is, on its inner peripheral surface (I1), and the inner sleeve part (2) is, on its outer peripheral surface (O2), provided with a bonding-agent layer (HS1, HS2). The slits (S1, S2) of the sleeve parts (1, 2) are staggered in relation to one another.
US07717401B2
An adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus comprising an elongated rigid main body having a first end and a second end, a first rigid arm extending from the first end of the elongated rigid main body with the first rigid arm including a driveshaft-supporting bracket thereon, a second rigid arm extending from the second end of the elongated rigid main body with the second rigid arm having a driveshaft supporting bracket thereon, and a mounting device attached to the main body for securing the rigid main body to a lifting device.
US07717400B2
A body 20 has body wall surfaces 21, 22 defining a body space inside. A core 30 is disposed within the body 20. The core 30 has a core wall surface defining a core space inside which has a bottom having an opening 33a. A valve 50 is inserted through the opening 33a of the core 30 with a clearance and can move along the core wall surface of the core 30. The valve 50 has a hole with a bottom which is comprised of holes 52a, 53a, 57a, a contact surface 58 that contacts the core wall surface of the core 30, a valve head 59 that can contact a valve seat 40, at least one first communication hole 55 that provides communication between the hole 53a and a second inflow fuel passage 30a within the core space, and at least one second communication hole 54 that provides communication between the hole 52a and the first inflow fuel passage 21a, 22a within the body space.
US07717393B2
A field easel with an integrated sketch box is provided. The sketch box comprises cavities for art supplies, allowing art supplies to be stored inside the cavity and secured with plates covered in memory foam. An easel is hinged to the rear wall of the box such that the easel can display painting support in a multitude of angles, and the easel provides adjustable support clamps that accept different sizes of painting support and can raise and lower the height of the painting support with respect to the box. Optionally, the field easel can be secured to a standardized tripod.
US07717389B2
Provided herein is an item holder assembly that includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the assembly to an object such as a laptop computer, an item support or holder, and a member for connecting the attachment mechanism to the item holder or support.
US07717386B2
A support device includes a support arm and a support plate in which the support arm has two opposite clamps each having an arrangement for laterally moving a height adjustment mechanism so that after performing both vertical and horizontal adjustments of the clamps pressing pivotably connected arm members will secure a visual display (e.g., computer LCD display) onto the support plate.
US07717377B1
A foldable and collapsible instrument stand, for securely holding an instrument, having a first support portion, a second support portion, and an adjustable head. The instrument stand may be placed in either a deployed state or a collapsed state. When in the deployed state, the first support portion is in the substantially upright position, while the second support portion is in the extended position. In contrast, when the instrument stand is in a collapsed state, several portions including the first support portion, the second support portion, and the base are each positioned in a folded and substantially parallel position, enabling an easy transporting of the instrument stand. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
US07717372B2
Aircraft that have fuselages including a series of frames spaced apart according to a frame pitch. The series of frames are covered by an aircraft skin to define an interior volume of the aircraft. The interior volume contains a series of rows of seats separated according to a seat pitch. The seat pitch may be indexed to the frame pitch such that seats are located between adjacent ones of the series of frames to permit a reduced-perimeter aircraft fuselage with substantially equal passenger comfort metrics. In some embodiments, in addition, a series of windows are located adjacent outboard seats of the series of rows of seats to permit ergonomically appropriate viewing through the series of windows by passengers seated in the outboard seats.
US07717364B2
An apparatus to separate components of a solid feedstock is described. The apparatus may include a threaded shaft that has a plurality of reaction zone segments along the length of the shaft that are separated from each other by dynamic plug segments. The threads of the shaft have a first thread pitch in the reaction zone segments, and a second thread pitch in the dynamic plug segments. The apparatus may also include a motor to rotate the shaft, and an outlet coupled to a second end of the shaft, where one or more solid components of the solid feedstock exit the apparatus through the outlet. The apparatus may additionally include a feeder to supply the solid feedstock to the threaded shaft, and a pump to provide a rinse fluid to the threaded shaft, where the rinse fluid flows in the opposite direction of the solid feedstock along the shaft.
US07717356B2
An aerial application dispersal system that comprises an aerial vehicle and an aerial dispersal unit. The aerial dispersal unit provides an insect control substance, a flake auger, and a motor to drive the flake auger for transporting the insect control substance to a dispensing chamber. The aerial dispersal unit also provides a glue substance, a pump, and a motor to drive the pump for transporting the glue substance from a storage container to the dispensing chamber for mixing with the insect control substance. The dispensing chamber is provided with a motor for forcing the insect control substance mixed with the glue substance out an exit portal for disbursement over the designated area. A control box, control switches, global positioning satellite system, and dispersal unit operator interface are also provided for automatically regulating the mixing and dispensing rate of the insect control substance and glue substance in relation to the ground speed of the aerial vehicle for maintaining a constant, uniform disbursement of a bonded substance over a designated area.
US07717354B1
A cleaning system of the invention may include an operator wearable torso belt, a swivel hook fastened to the belt, and a holder releasably hung on the hook, with the holder sized to releasably hold a chemical container. The cleaning system further may include a chemical container, a spray gun, a chemical draw line connecting the chemical container to the spray gun, and a liquid supply line extending from a multi-functional cleaning machine to the spray gun. If desired, the chemical holder may include a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment. The first compartment holds the spray gun when the spray gun is not in use, the second compartment holds the chemical container, and the third compartment is sized to hold a tool such as a squeegee or the like.
US07717352B2
A rail seat for rails having a lower patten provided on both sides with upper support surfaces, with a ribbed plate which is connected to a support by fastenings and with push-down elements for retaining the rail. The rail seat including an elastic intermediate plate arranged between the ribbed plate and the support, wherein the intermediate plate presses the ribbed plate, in a load-free condition, against an upper abutment. The ribbed plate is pressed down in a direction of the support with compression of the elastic intermediate plate. The rail seat further includes a spring element arranged between the support and the ribbed plate, wherein the spring element is connected in parallel to produce a spring action of the elastic intermediate plate.
US07717351B2
A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).
US07717342B2
There is described a data collection device that can incorporate an encoded information reading unit that can operate within a system including an access point that is wireline connected to a server. The encoded information reading unit can include at least one of a bar code reading unit, an RFID tag reading unit and a credit/debit card reading unit. Further incorporated in the data collection device can be dynamic access module. The dynamic access communication module enables the data collection device to participate in a self organized network that supports multi-hop data packet transmissions between data collection devices and which further enables the device to transmit data received from a peer device to the system access point.
US07717340B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for enabling the use of machine-readable codes. A computer program receives data generated by reading a machine-readable code and detects the presence of formatting information indicating whether the data's payload is in a first or second format. The program uses a first or second procedure to decode the payload depending on whether the formatting information is detected and what it specifies. In some embodiments, the formatting information can include information about how to decode the payload. The machine-readable code can have been produced according to an encoding instruction associated with an electronic document. The first and second formats can be open and closed formats, respectively. The use of multiple formats can enable multiple, co-existing business models in a document workflow, whereby different parties in the workflow can be charged or required to obtain authorization for the use of machine-readable codes.
US07717327B2
Controlling, monitoring and managing system applied in self-service equipment for banking, a system (1) that previews, inside each of the self service banking terminals (2) associated to a specific bank, a Local Management Feature (3), connected through a Local Server (4), to a Control, Monitoring and Management Center (5), responsible for the general administration of the system, and provided with a Security Module (6), being that, when the administration of the place is local, Control, Monitoring and Managing Consoles are previewed (7); at the back part of the terminal (2), a command panel is previewed (8) bearing an interface to communicate with the Local Management Feature (3) previewed inside the above-mentioned terminal (2), as well as the Control, Monitoring and Management Center (5) and with Local Consoles for Control, Monitoring and Management (7); such control panel (8) is endowed with a keyboard (9), LCD display (10), magnetic and “smart card” reader (11, digital printing reader (12) and a biometric data comparison system; internally the command panel (8) is endowed with a Cryptography Module (13); the system (1) still previews one sole master key for each banking agency, being that each master key can be used in all terminals (2) associated to that specific agency.
US07717320B2
A container made from corrugated paperboard has a bottom wall, opposite side and end walls, and a self locking arrangement on the end walls holding the container in erected condition. The self locking arrangement includes first and second end panels on opposite ends of the side walls, and a third end panel on opposite ends of the bottom wall. The end panels form the end walls of the container. The first and second end panels have at least one notch formed in an upper edge, and a roll over flap is foldably joined by at least one web to an upper edge of each of the third end panels and is folded inwardly and downwardly over the upper edges of the first and second end panels into a locked position to hold the end panels and thus the container in erected condition. In the locked position, the web is engaged in the notch. In particular, the web has a thickness less than the thickness of an end panel, so that it fits deeply into the notch, producing a tight fit and reliable interlocking of the components of the self locking arrangement.
US07717313B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion; an actuation assembly operatively supported at a proximal end of the body portion; an anvil assembly movably mounted at the distal end of the body portion for movement toward and away from the body portion; an approximation assembly extending between the body portion and the anvil assembly for moving the anvil toward and away from the tubular body portion; a dispersion assembly operatively associated with the approximation assembly, the dispersion assembly including at least one angled surface defining at least one channel interposed between the anvil assembly and the body portion and being configured to dispense a fluid therefrom; and at least one conduit for conducting wound treatment material to the dispersion assembly.
US07717312B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument for operating on tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector including a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member in juxtaposed relation to the first tissue engaging member; a gap determination element operatively associated with each of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member for measuring a gap distance between the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member; and a tissue contact determining element operatively associated with a respective tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the surgical instrument.
US07717309B1
A tent and backpack combination apparatus includes a satchel has a front wall, a back wall, a first end wall and a second end wall. A pair of shoulder straps is attached to the back wall. The satchel has an elongated opening therein for accessing an interior thereof. A support is attached to and extends through the satchel. The support includes a lower portion extending away from the first end wall of the satchel that is configured to engage a ground surface. The support includes an upper portion extending away from the second end wall that is configured to support the satchel in a spaced relationship with the ground surface and to angle the satchel upwardly from the first end wall to the second end wall. A sleeve has an open end and the support is positionable in the open end and covered by the sleeve to define a tent.
US07717273B2
The invention provides porous membranes with at least a partially modified surface as well as methods of making and using the same.
US07717265B2
A device for the storage, shipment and display of merchandise is provided. The device comprises a display bin and a frame disposed under the display bin. The frame comprises top and bottom supports and a cavity between the top and bottom supports. At least one storage bin disposed in the cavity of the frame and a sleeve comprising walls is disposed around at least a portion of the frame.
US07717255B2
A conveying system includes a robotic arm, an end-of-arm-tool, carried by the robotic arm, and a conveyor. In one example, the end of arm tool includes a plurality of engagement mechanisms arranged in an array. Each engagement mechanism includes at least two opposed fingers moveable between engaged and released positions, and is thereby adapted to grasp a soft-sided article from the conveyor. The conveyor includes a plurality of parallel tracks, each track separated from an adjacent track by a groove. A plurality of stops is configured to stop a plurality of soft-sided articles in an array analogous to the arrayed engagement mechanisms of the end-of-arm tool. In operation, the opposed fingers of each engagement mechanism pass through the grooves defined within the conveyor, to grasp upstream and downstream sides of an article, respectively, and underneath the article, which is then lifted by the robotic arm.
US07717252B2
A power drive unit for propelling cargo containers and pallets in a desired direction over a plurality of cargo deck roller elements includes an elongated yoke having a pivot end and an opposite end. The pivot end is pivotally connected to a deck support structure. A drive roller is rotatably mounted to the yoke. At least one resilient member is disposed between the opposite end of the yoke and the support portion of the deck structure. A drive motor coupled to the drive roller selectively rotates the drive roller in two opposed directions. A reaction member connected to the drive motor is at least partially movably engaged with the deck support structure to permit at least some pivotal movement of the yoke, and to substantially prevent rotation of the drive motor relative to the yoke.
US07717249B2
An electromagnetic gear-clutch assembly (1) is disclosed. The device comprises a gear (10) having grooves (10c) that open inwardly toward the axis and extend axially. A hub (12) is located within the gear (10) where it is capable of rotating within the gear (10). The hub (12) has grooves (12k) that open outwardly away from the axis and extend axially. Keys (17) are located within the grooves (12k) of the hub (12) and are capable of moving radially toward and away from the axis, the arrangement being such that when the keys (17) are permitted to move away from the axis, at least one will enter one of the grooves (10c) in the gear (10) to couple the gear (10) and huh (12) so that they will rotate in unison. The device also comprises an actuator assembly (3) for effecting radial displacement of the keys (17).
US07717239B2
A linear damper includes a conical housing with a friction cone in the housing and a rod extending therethrough and axially moveable relative thereto. The friction cone is axially moveable in the housing and radially expandable and contractible to provide clamping force against a rod when the rod is moved in one axial direction and to relieve clamping force from the rod when the rod is moved in the opposite axial direction.
US07717232B2
A portable ladder stand for supporting a hunter or naturalist above the ground includes a ladder portion, an upper assembly portion and a seat portion. The ladder portion includes a plurality of components including an intermediate ladder segment, ladder extension segment and lower ladder segment. The ladder segments are include vertical rails and horizontal rungs extending between the rails, and the segments are nestingly connected together. The vertical rails include male peg connectors and female socket connectors that are configured in such a way as to limit the number of ladder extension segments that can be included in the ladder portion of the ladder stand.
US07717222B2
A snowmobile throttle control apparatus includes a pair of bushings with a hole and closed ends and a separate axle pin. The bushings are assembled to a thumb lever and mounted over the axle pin. The axle pin allows for a controlled gap to be maintained between the throttle lever, bushing assembly and the control housing. The thumb lever is allowed to flex open when a side load is applied. Thus allowing the thumb lever assembly to travel without binding on the control housing. This insures proper functioning of the RPS feature.
US07717219B2
A unitary rear frame mounting an engine and hydrostatic transmissions to the rear of a ZTR mower is disclosed. The unitary rear frame includes a lower mounting surface supporting the engine, an upper mounting surface above and forward of the lower mounting surface; a wall extending between the upper and lower mounting surfaces; and a pair of integral side panels depending downwardly from the upper mounting surface and extending forwardly of the wall. Each side panel may have a side pocket for mounting a hydrostatic transmission thereto.
US07717218B2
A swiveling work machine includes a traveling apparatus, a swivel base mounted on the traveling apparatus to be pivotable about a vertical axis, a hood disposed at a rear portion of the swivel base, the hood accommodating therein an engine, a support frame being disposed across over the engine, and a ROPS having a front end thereof fixed to the swivel base and a rear end thereof fixed to an upper portion of the support frame. The support frame includes a front leg member disposed on one lateral side of the ROPS, the front leg member extending to vicinity of a position forwardly of the swivel base.
US07717204B2
An opening portion is formed at an upper-side portion of a shroud panel so as to penetrate the panel longitudinally. A face member and a face support member form a duct that guides part of outside air coming in through an outside-air intake of the face member to an opening portion of the shroud panel. Accordingly, there can be provided a bumper structure that can properly guide the outside air to an engine room behind the heat exchanger.
US07717203B2
In a wheel rotating apparatus including a motor and a planet gear mechanism to generate a drive force, the planet gear includes first and second gears having different diameters, connected to each other in an axial direction thereof with planet gear shaft. The first gear is inside the stator and the rotor in radial and axial directions of the wheel and the second gear is outside the first gear in an axial direction of the wheel. A vehicle may include a suspension connected to the base of the wheel rotating apparatus.
US07717201B2
Disclosed is an undercarriage having a shock absorption function, including a pair of roller frames facing each other, each roller frame having a plurality of vibration-proof rollers inside thereof, at a lower portion thereof, a main frame disposed between the roller frames and provided with a turn table at a center portion thereof, and a shock absorption bridge for connecting the main frame to the roller frame. According to the present invention, vibration-proof rollers are installed inside a roller frame instead of conventional rollers and the shock absorption bridge is fixed between the main frame and the roller frame, thereby absorbing an external shock in two steps and thus enhancing ride comfort.
US07717199B2
Cutting elements and bits incorporating such cutting elements. The cutting elements include a substrate having an interface surface over which is formed an ultra hard material layer. A plurality of lands are formed on the interface surface including a land surrounded by spaced-apart lands extending to a periphery of the substrate.
US07717192B2
A drill includes a housing and a motor coupled to an output member by a transmission. The transmission can selectively couple the output member to an output spindle through a low speed output gear or a high speed output gear for rotating the output spindle at a first speed or a second speed, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, a low speed mode can be provided by actuating an electronic switch that limits the speed of the motor. A rotatably fixed hammer member and a rotatable hammer member can be mounted around the output spindle. A mode collar can be rotatably mounted on the housing and around the output member for movement to positions that correspond to various mode of operation, including a low speed mode, a high speed mode, and a hammer-drilling mode. In the hammer-drilling mode, the transmission operates in the high speed mode.
US07717191B2
A shift bracket can be mounted on a shift rod for movement between a first, high-speed drilling mode and a second, low-speed drilling mode. Cooperating shift lock surfaces can be associated with the shift bracket and the shift rod, respectively. For example, a groove in the can create a shift lock surface on the shift rod. The shift bracket can be moved into a locked configuration where the cooperating shift lock surfaces can engage each other preventing movement of the bracket out of the high-speed drilling mode. The hammer mode can correspond to the high-speed drilling mode, but not to the low-speed drilling mode. A spring member can bias the bracket toward the locked position. An actuation member can be coupled to the shift bracket to overcome the biasing member and to rotate or perpendicularly move the bracket into an unlocked position. The actuation member can also move the shift member from the first mode to the second mode.
US07717187B1
A self-protecting barrier for retarding fire has a combustible hydric member or a network of combustible hydric members having an ignition temperature above 100° C., at least a first surface which is water-permeable and may be flammable, and a sufficient water absorption capacity for fire retardation. The hydric members may be foamed-polymer elements, or superabsorbent polymer-filled matrixes, or loose superabsorbent polymer-filled pouches or pockets. A self-protecting barrier system for retarding fire further includes fire adjacent the water-permeable surface and steam between the water-permeable surface and the fire, and may further include a combustible object adjacent the barrier opposite the fire. A method of isolating a combustible object from the flames of a fire includes the steps of providing at least one fire-retardant barrier between the object and the flames, volatilizing or boiling a portion of the hydration water at a temperature of about 100° C. to form a first steam layer at the first surface and deterring ignition of the hydric member and preventing the flames from reaching the object by substantially extinguishing the flames with the first steam layer. The method may also include the steps of allowing the first steam layer to dissipate, and then removing the barrier, and other steps.
US07717180B2
Methods are provided that include a method of reducing fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising placing a lost circulation composition comprising a base fluid and a swellable elastomer in at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a lost circulation zone; allowing the swellable elastomer to at least partially swell upon contact with a fluid; and allowing the lost circulation composition to at least partially reduce the loss of fluid to the subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.
US07717178B2
A coupler for gravel packing completions comprising an annular member having an upper end, a lower end, at least one flange disposed along an inner wall surface of the annular member intermediate the upper and lower ends, and at least one deformable portion is disclosed. The coupler may be used to connect one or more screens to a base pipe in a gravel packing completion by deforming the deformable portion such as by passing a swage over the outer wall surface of the annular member. In a similar manner, the coupler may also be used to connect a gravel packing completion component, such as an inflow control device to the base pipe of the gravel packing completion, to contemporaneously connect a screen section and a gravel packing completion component to the base pipe.
US07717175B2
The invention provides an improved method for extracting heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The invention involves directing the formation of a solvent fluid chamber through the combination of directed solvent fluid injection and production at combinations of horizontal and/or vertical injection wells so as to increase the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The wells are preferably provided with flow control devices to achieve uniform production.
US07717173B2
A method of improving oil or gas well production has the steps of (a) collecting contaminated water having 0.15% or more by weight of the salts of Na, Ca, Mg, K, Cl, SO4 or CO3 or combinations thereof (b) separation processing the contaminated water to produce i.) a first separated liquid product having increased sodium chloride and decreased magnesium chloride and calcium chloride or combinations thereof than the collected water, and ii) a second solid or liquid product having decreased sodium chloride and increased magnesium chloride and calcium chloride or combinations thereof than the collected water, and (c) injecting the first liquid product into an oil or gas well formation to improve production.
US07717170B2
An upper stripper rubber canister system comprises a canister body and a canister body lid. The canister body includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion and a central passage extending therebetween. The central passage is configured for having a stripper rubber assembly disposed therein. The upper end portion of the body includes a plurality of bayonet connector structures. The canister body lid includes an exterior surface, an upper end portion, a lower end portion and a central passage extending between the end portions thereof. The exterior surface is configured for fitting within the central passage of the canister body. The canister body lid includes a plurality of bayonet connector structures integral with its exterior surface. Each canister body lid bayonet connector structure is configured for being engaged with one of the canister body bayonet connector structures for interlocking the canister body lid with the canister body.
US07717167B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool to operate downhole. The tool includes a heater. The tool also includes a cooler. The tool includes a controller to control allocation of power between the heater and the cooler based on a temperature downhole, power usage, a time delay or a pressure downhole.
US07717164B2
The invention relates to a stacked plate heat exchanger (1), in particular, an oil cooler for motor vehicles, made up into an assembly from alternating dished plates and baffle sheets (3), stacked one on top of and inside the other, each comprising first and second through openings (7, 8), for the formation of distribution and collector channels, which are welded together to form said first and second flow channels, whereby the baffle sheets (3) form a stay between the stacked plates and the assembly is enclosed by a base plate (4) and a cover plate (5).
US07717151B2
A material placement head for dispensing and compacting a plurality of strips of a material onto a surface with a plurality of independently movable roller assemblies. Each roller assembly of the placement head comprises a compacting roller and may be rotatably and linearly moved in six-degrees of freedom independent of the other roller assemblies of the placement head. The roller assemblies may be arranged in a staggered configuration and substantially simultaneously apply the plurality of strips of the material to the surface, such that the strips of the material are applied to adjacent paths on the surface. Each compacting roller may be malleable and substantially crowned around its outer circumferential surface to provide even compaction to the strips of the material.
US07717150B2
A shuffling hand feeling and unwanted non-uniform absorption characteristics in the case of using a tow (fiber bundle) are prevented.An absorbent body includes a fiber aggregate 21 formed by opening the tow, a super absorbent polymer 54, and a sheet covering these components; and includesthe super absorbent polymer 54 bonded to the sheet 58 with an adhesive that is applied in a continuous plane to the entire surface or the substantially entire surface of at least the portion to be provided with the super absorbent polymer 54 in this sheet 58.
US07717146B2
A pneumatic tire and noise damper assembly comprises a pneumatic tire, a noise damper being attached to an inner surface of the tire and extending in the circumferential direction of the tire, and a protective cover being detachably attached to the tire and protecting the noise damper from ultraviolet rays and water.
