US07839390B2
An apparatus comprises an input keypad having a plurality of keys. The input keypad outputs an output signal that is indicative of either a single depressed key or a plurality of depressed keys. The apparatus includes a processor for receiving the output signal by the input keypad and associating an alphabetic character with the output signal.
US07839388B2
An optical navigation system and method for reducing the power consumption of the system uses a surface quality value of a captured image frame of a target surface to selectively reduce the number of photosensitive pixel elements to be used to capture a subsequent image frame.
US07839384B2
Infrared light is emitted towards a surface. The infrared light is redirected by an object positioned on the surface. The infrared light as redirected by the objected is detected. A position of the object on the surface is determined based on the infrared light detected.
US07839382B2
A sensing baseball game apparatus (10) has a game machine (12) connected to a television monitor (18). A bat input device (32) is provided with an acceleration sensor. An acceleration signal is transmitted by an infrared-ray LED (34) to an infrared-ray receiving part of the game machine (12) whereby the game machine (12) determines a moving speed of the bat input device (32) to calculate a moving parameter of a ball to be batted. Accordingly, a batted ball is moved in the game scene according to the parameter.
US07839375B2
Disclosed is a display device together with a method of modifying image signals. The display device includes a plurality of pixels with first and second pixels, and an image signal modifier for generating a modified image signal by modifying the input image signal of the first pixel based on the previous image signal of the first pixel and the input image signal of the second pixel. Dynamic capacitance compensation is made for a pixel where the gray variation thereof with respect to the pixels neighboring thereto is low, but over-compensation that is greater than the dynamic capacitance compensation is made for a pixel where the gray variation thereof with respect to the pixel neighbors is high, thereby decreasing the blurring, and preventing the image quality from being deteriorated.
US07839364B2
A pixel circuit of an organic light emitting display includes a first transistor that transmits a data signal from a data line in response to a scan signal from a scan line; a first capacitor that stores the data signal received from the first transistor; a second transistor for threshold voltage compensation; a third transistor that transmits the threshold voltage of the second transistor; a fourth transistor that connects the gate and drain of the second transistor in a diode-connected configuration in response to a control signal from a control line; a second capacitor that stores the threshold voltage received through the third transistor; a fifth transistor that generates a driving current corresponding to a combined voltage of the first and the second capacitors due to the turned on third transistor; and an organic light emitting diode that emits light according to the driving current.
US07839363B2
To reduce variation in characteristics of a voltage-current conversion circuit for supplying a data signal to a data line for driving a transistor arranged in a pixel of an organic EL display device. Two sets A, B of voltage-current conversion circuits are provided in a data driver for driving a transistor arranged in a pixel, and RGB signals are supplied to these circuits. The voltage-current conversion circuits of sets A and B are controlled so as to be switched for every frame or every frame and line.
US07839361B2
A method of driving an organic light emitting display is provided in which, during a standby mode, a display operation is performed using only eight colors. In the alternative, the luminance of a plurality of pixels is reduced by adjusting a duty ratio of the emission control signals. By reducing the luminance, power consumption and image sticking are reduced, and the life span of the pixels is increased.
US07839357B2
An image display apparatus for displaying gray-scale images by writing display information to an image display area of a panel. The display information includes values of a plurality of sub-fields that constitute one field. The image display apparatus converts an input image signal into a piece of display information so that a difference between sub-fields in correspondence with each other in adjacent high gray-scale levels becomes less. The image display apparatus displays a gray-scale image in accordance with the piece of display information.
US07839354B2
An image display system is provided that has a plurality of compact, easy to carry, and easy to use display devices. The image display system having the feature of transmitting image data and also supplying power successively for every prescribed number of display apparatuses from a host machine to a plurality of display devices provided with a reflection type display device having a memory effect.
US07839341B2
An antenna and a mobile terminal using the same is provided. The mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes a shielding unit and an antenna comprising a feed unit and a ground unit formed over the shielding unit, a first pattern connected to a top surface of the feed unit and the ground unit and isolated from the shielding unit, and a second pattern connected to a first end of the first pattern and having an open end formed close to a portion of the first pattern second end connected to the ground unit. The first pattern has a high frequency band characteristic, and the second pattern has a low frequency band characteristic.
US07839334B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a package substrate, a die, and an antenna structure. The die includes a functional circuit module and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that processes inbound and outbound RF signals. The antenna structure is coupled to the RF transceiver and is on the die and/or the package substrate. The antenna structure receives the inbound RF signal within a frequency band of approximately 55 GHz to 64 GHz and transmits the outbound RF signal within the frequency band.
US07839333B2
A satellite search method and a receiver implementing such a method are disclosed. In the present invention, a predetermined range is sampled into multiple possible positions or space-time points, each of which is defined by a specific position and a time sample. The possible positions or points are sieved according to a search result of a satellite selected from candidate satellites each time. By repeatedly doing so, the finally remaining position will approach a user's position, and accordingly the candidate satellites converge to the most possible ones as to facilitate satellite search.
US07839331B2
Devices and methods are described for determining position information without broadcast ephemeris data for a spanned time period using predictions of future satellite states. These predictions include predictions of satellite clock bias. During the spanned time period, broadcast ephemeris is received such that a broadcast-ephemeris-derived satellite clock bias may be determined. The predictions of satellite clock bias subsequent to the receipt of the broadcast ephemeris may then be corrected based upon the broadcast-ephemeris-derived satellite clock bias.
US07839327B2
Methods and apparatuses for the processing of false alarms in position determination. At least one embodiment of the present invention estimates and uses measurement false alarm probabilities in the position determination process. In one embodiment, the estimated measurement false alarm probabilities are combined to determine the reliability of the determined position solution or the reliability of the set of measurements as a collection. In one embodiment, the estimated measurement false alarm probabilities are used in the isolation and elimination of faulty measurements. For example, the traditional geometry based metric for identifying a faulty measurement is further weighted according to the measurement false alarm probabilities in order to determine the faulty measurement.
US07839322B2
A method of detecting obstacles on board an aircraft while in the vicinity (44) of a touchdown point (27, 42), includes the following operations: selecting/determining a path (41) to be followed by the aircraft overflying the touchdown point; the aircraft overflying the touchdown point following the overflight path, and during the overflight recording signals/data delivered by an on-board rangefinder observing a portion of space extending below the aircraft; analyzing the rangefinder data to detect the presence of obstacles and to determine their positions in a terrestrial frame of reference, where appropriate to determine their dimensions; and recording the detected obstacle position data, and dimensions, if any, in a memory.
US07839319B2
The analog-to-digital for converter (ADC) for converting an analog value into a digital equivalent using a parallel digital data path is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the ADC includes a switched capacitor DAC having an input to receive an analog value via analog sample and hold circuit. A comparator is coupled to the switched capacitor DAC. A successive approximation register (SAR) is coupled to the comparator. A plurality of logic blocks is coupled to the SAR. A plurality of thermometric encoders is coupled to the associated plurality of logic blocks. A plurality of MUXs is coupled to the associated plurality of thermometric encoders and the comparator, wherein the plurality of MUXs having associated outputs that is coupled to the input of the switched capacitor DAC.
US07839314B2
In a satellite radio navigation receiver receiving a transmitted radio navigation signal, a method of removing I/Q-mismatches in the received signal, comprising: resolving the received signal into I and Q signal component, and providing them as inputs to a demixing stage which removes unwanted signals, the demixing stage including first and second cross-coupled adaptive filters, whose coefficients are updated by the outputs of the demixing stage, the outputs of the demixing stage representing an IQ mismatch corrected signal. The coefficients are updated only by the polarity values of the outputs, resulting in great simplification. The receiver may be a zero-IF or low-IF receiver, and may operate on time domain or frequency domain signals.
US07839303B2
The vehicle detecting apparatus includes an image sensor mounted on a host vehicle so as to be able to take an image ahead of the host vehicle, a light source area extracting function of extracting, from image data outputted from the image sensor, an area having luminance higher than a predetermined value as a light source area, a vehicle detecting function of detecting existence of at least one of an oncoming vehicle and a preceding vehicle by recognizing which of a headlight of the oncoming vehicle, a taillight of the preceding vehicle, and a roadside reflector causes the light source area in the image data. The vehicle detecting function is configured to lower a probability that the vehicle detecting function recognizes that the light source area is caused by the roadside reflector when the headlight of the host vehicle is in a low-beam position.
US07839285B2
The present invention provides electronic communication devices, methods of forming electrical communication devices, and communications methods. An electronic communication device adapted to receive electronic signals includes: a housing comprising a substrate and an encapsulant; an integrated circuit provided within the housing and comprising transponder circuitry operable to communicate an identification signal responsive to receiving a polling signal; an antenna provided within the housing and being coupled with the transponder circuitry; and a ground plane provided within the housing and being spaced from the antenna and configured to shield some of the electronic signals from the antenna and reflect others of the electronic signals towards the antenna. A method of forming an electronic signal communication device includes providing a substrate having a support surface; providing a conductive layer adjacent at least a portion of the support surface; providing a dielectric layer over the conductive layer; providing an antenna over the dielectric layer; coupling an integrated circuit with the antenna; and encapsulating the antenna, the dielectric layer, and the integrated circuit using a flowable encapsulant.
US07839280B2
A remote wireless network includes a plurality of sensors/transmitters wherein each sensor is uniquely identifiable and lends its unique identity to the transmitter to which it is attached.
US07839276B2
This invention includes the system and method for the manufacture and use of a hermetically sealed Faraday cage in the retail/consumer goods environment. It is called the “Secure Self Scan” and is constructed using meshed glass, sheet metal and edge level elastomers as agents of containment and reflection. The invention prevents unauthorized access to communication protocols between RFID tagged consumer items and an RFID interrogator. It also prevents unauthorized access to communication protocols between an RFID interrogator and contact less smart card. This invention takes the mal ware writer and hacker plus the skimmer and eavesdropper out of the RFID equation in relationship to consumer goods, contact less smart cards and consumer privacy. Furthermore, this invention magnifies RFID interrogation signals within the Secure Self Scan unit thereby increasing read rates while concurrently obviating external electromagnetic interference, thereby increasing RFID tag read rates.
US07839272B2
A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus includes an image pickup apparatus for taking an image of the surroundings of a vehicle, a preceding-vehicle detecting apparatus for detecting a preceding vehicle from the taken image, a monitored-region setting means for setting predetermined monitored regions around the preceding vehicle on the image, a predicting apparatus for predicting a brightness of an environment the preceding vehicle is going to enter, on the basis of brightnesses of pixels in the monitored regions, and an adjusting apparatus for adjusting at least one of an exposure amount of the image pickup apparatus and the brightnesses of the pixels output from the image pickup apparatus beforehand in accordance with the brightness of the environment predicted by the predicting apparatus.
US07839271B2
The invention concerns a driving aid system for supplying data to a vehicle running on an infrastructure, and comprising a magnetic marking formed on the infrastructure and adapted to encode data addressed to the vehicle, the data being modifiable, and a detection device comprising a plurality of magnetic sensors onboard the vehicle for detecting a total magnetic field including the magnetic field generated by the magnetic marking and for producing signals representing the total magnetic field, and a processing unit adapted to process the representative signals, and to determine a first distance between the vehicle and the magnetic marking, and to decode the data encoded on the magnetic marking.
US07839265B2
A fire exit alert system, preferably integrated into an exit device or automatic fire exit door closer, uses sound and light to signal the location of a fire exit in darkness and smoke-obscured rooms. The alert system includes a voice signal, such as “EXIT LOCATED HERE,” to signal that the location of the voice is also the location of the exit. A white noise signal generator is used to supplement the voice signal and produces a sound that is particularly localizable by the human ear. A strobe light and a laser are used to produce a visual guide to the location of the exit. The strobe light is flashed when the word “HERE” is used in the voice signal. The laser is used to produce a cone of light that points towards the fire exit alert system.
US07839248B2
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US07839245B2
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US07839242B1
A MEMS magnetic flux switch is fabricated as a ferromagnetic core. The core includes a center cantilever that is fabricated as a free beam that can oscillate at a resonant frequency that is determined by its mechanical and material properties. The center cantilever is moved by impulses applied by an associated motion oscillator, which can be magnetic or electric actuators.
US07839241B2
The disclosure relates to an electrical service switching device, e.g., a circuit breaker, having a magnetic release with a magnet armature, a thermal release, a fixed and moving contact piece, a switching mechanism which can be tripped by the thermal and magnetic release and has a latching point which is formed by a tripping lever and a catch lever which is mounted in a fixed position such that it can rotate and has an elongated hole in order to guide a clip, wherein the magnet armature can act on the contact lever, to which the moving contact piece is fitted, in order to open the contact point in the event of a short, and the switching mechanism can hold the contact lever permanently in the open position, having a switching toggle for manual operation of the switching mechanism, and having an intermediate lever which is articulated at one of its ends with the contact lever and at its other end on the clip, wherein the clip is articulated with at least one limb on the switching toggle.
US07839238B2
The present invention relates to a coaxial device comprising: a cartridge defined by a side wall including at least one electrically conductive region; and an electrical component fastened in the cartridge and including an electrical element connected to said electrically conductive region via at least one electrical connection; wherein said side wall is pierced by a through orifice giving direct access to the electrical connection.
US07839236B2
Techniques, apparatus and systems that use composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial structures to combine and divide electromagnetic signals at multiple frequencies. The metamaterial properties permit significant size reduction over a conventional N-way radial power combiner or divider. Dual-band serial power combiners and dividers and single-band and dual-band radial power combiners and dividers are described.
US07839229B2
The present invention provides a voltage-controlled oscillator operating from microwave frequencies to millimeter wave frequencies, which is capable of outputting a large power with an output impedance thereof being set up to a predetermined level at low power consumption, and a communication device using the same. The voltage-controlled oscillator includes: a differential alternating current generator including a resonator capable of varying resonant frequency according to an input control voltage, for generating a pair of differential alternating current each of which having the same frequency with the resonant frequency of the resonator yet being 180 degrees out of phase in mutual; a pair of transformers each of which having a primary inductor and a secondary inductor, for conducting the alternating current to the primary inductor; and an impedance-matching circuit connected to the secondary inductor of the transformers, wherein an output signal is outputted from the secondary inductors of the transformers.
US07839223B2
A method and apparatus for tuning the operational frequency of an electrical generator coupled to a time-varying load is described. One illustrative embodiment rapidly calculates an error (reflection coefficient magnitude) at the current operational frequency of the electrical generator; adjusts the frequency of the electrical generator by an initial step size so; rapidly calculates a second error; and if the magnitude of the second error is smaller than the magnitude of the first error, then the step size is increased and the frequency is adjusted by the increased step size.
US07839221B2
A phase locked loop (PLL) which includes a phase frequency detector coupled with a time to digital converter capable of comparing a reference signal with an oscillator signal and generating a digital value representing the phase difference between the reference signal and the oscillator signal. The PLL further includes a state machine for phase acquisition that is capable of generating a control value depending on the digital value, and a controllable oscillator that is capable of generating the oscillator signal depending on the control value.
US07839218B2
The RF power amplifier apparatus has an RF power amplifier and a power-supply circuit. The power-supply circuit controls the level of a source voltage supplied to the RF power amplifier in response to the level of a power-control signal. A sensing resistance produces a sense signal Vsen corresponding to a source current with respect to a source voltage. The current-control unit controls the source current ILDO in response to the sense signal Vsen. When Vsen coincides with an allowable sense signal level Vsh corresponding to a source current allowable level ILDO(Max), the current-control unit controls the source current ILDO to a limit current smaller than the allowable level ILDO(Max). Preferably, the limit current is a shutdown current when a shutdown switch is in an OFF state. Thus, the draining of the battery of a mobile-phone terminal can be reduced even when an impedance mismatch condition lasts for a long time.
US07839215B2
A method and apparatus for power conversion in a class D amplifier is provided. The power conversion is achieved using synchronous rectifiers in a regulated half bridge power supply, taking the sum of the positive and negative rails as feedback, in order facilitate energy transfer between positive and negative output rails. This minimizes the effects of off side charging and rail sag, as well as achieving good line regulation, while allowing use of very small, low value output capacitors.
US07839208B2
An integrated circuit and a method for operating an integrated circuit is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semi-conductor component, an electronic system, and a method for operating an integrated circuit. A method for operating an integrated circuit provides applying a voltage to a line or a connection in accordance with data to be input. A current is applied to the line or the connection in accordance with data to be output.
US07839202B2
A bandgap voltage reference circuit and methods for generating a bandgap reference voltage are disclosed. An operational amplifier receives first and second input voltages from a first and second current path, respectively. A buffer stage is coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and generates third and fourth voltages on the first and second path. A temperature dependent current is generated using the third and fourth voltages in combination with a first diode, second diode and a resistor. A third current path mirrors the temperature dependent current and a temperature independent voltage is generated for the bandgap reference voltage in the third current path using the temperature dependent current in combination with a second resistor and related diode.
US07839196B2
A multi-phase clock generation circuit having a low skew imprecision is presented. The circuit includes a phase clock generation block and a phase correction block. The phase clock generation block is configured to generate a plurality of phase clocks having phases different from each other with response to a pair of input clocks. The phase correction block is configured to generate final output interpolated phase clocks in which each has a center phase by adjusted by multiple phase clocks that have adjacent phases.
US07839195B1
In general, this disclosure is directed to a duty cycle correction (DCC) circuit that adjusts a falling edge of a clock signal to achieve a desired duty cycle. In some examples, the DCC circuit may generate a pulse in response to a falling edge of an input clock signal, delay the pulse based on a control voltage, adjust the falling edge of the input clock signal based on the delayed pulse to produce an output clock signal, and adjust the control voltage based on the difference between a duty cycle of the output clock signal and a desired duty cycle. Since the DCC circuit adjusts the falling edge of the clock cycle to achieve a desired duty cycle, the DCC may be incorporated into existing PLL control loops that adjust the rising edge of a clock signal without interfering with the operation of such PLL control loops.
US07839194B2
Clocking circuitry includes a first clock generator to generate a first clock signal and having a first duty cycle correction input, and a second clock generator to generate a second clock signal and having a second duty cycle correction input. Some embodiments have more than two clock generators. A multiplexer selects between the clock signals from the clock generators. The multiplexer has a first input coupled to the first clock signal and has a second input coupled to the second clock signal, and has a clock output coupled to a clock input of a duty cycle circuit. The duty cycle circuit receives the selected clock signal from the multiplexer and generates a duty cycle correction signal.
US07839192B1
Duty cycle correction (DCC) methods and circuits are provided for improving the quality of clock signals and reducing or eliminating duty cycle distortion. The performance of known duty cycle correction circuits, such as cross-coupled inverter or transmission gate DCC circuits, may be improved by coupling two or more DCC circuits in series to form a multi-stage DCC circuit. In multi-stage DCC circuits, the performance and sizing requirements imposed on the individual circuit stages are reduced as compared to single-stage DCC circuit implementations. Good duty cycle correction performance over a wide range of input signal duty cycles may therefore be ensured regardless of the performance of individual stages. Clocked-CMOS DCC circuits are also presented, the circuits operative to produce duty cycle corrected output signals while consuming minimal current and power. The clocked-CMOS DCC circuits include as few as four transistors, and are operative over wide ranges of input signal duty cycles.
US07839191B2
A DLL circuit includes a coarse delay adjustment circuit and a fine delay adjustment circuit, which further includes a first fine delay circuit and a second fine delay circuit serving as an interpolation circuit. The coarse delay adjustment circuit delays a reference clock signal by a plurality of delay stages so as to provide the first fine delay circuit with two phase signals having the phase difference of two delay stages, which are then converted into two delay signals having the phase difference of one delay stage. The delay signals are subjected to interpolation, thus producing an output clock signal. Due to a reduction of the phase difference in the first fine delay circuit, it is possible to reduce the minimum operation cycle of the interpolation circuit and to thereby increase the maximum operation frequency of the DLL circuit.
US07839176B2
Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one embodiment of the invention, a switching element includes an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube, and a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node. The channel at least includes said nanotube channel element. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the control electrode is arranged in relation to the nanotube channel element to form said conductive channel by causing electromechanical deflection of said nanotube channel element. Under another embodiment of the invention, the output node includes an isolation structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element so that channel formation is substantially invariant from the state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the isolation structure includes electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element and said electrodes produce substantially the same electric field. Under another embodiment of the invention, a Boolean logic circuit includes at least one input terminal and an output terminal, and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. The Boolean function transformation includes a Boolean inversion within the function, such as a NOT or NOR function.
US07839170B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for shifting the voltage level of signals from a low voltage domain to a high voltage domain, where VDDH is the supply voltage of the high voltage domain and VDDL is the supply voltage of the low voltage domain. A level shifting circuit uses a single input rather than dual rail inputs and does not produce a direct current flow in order to reduce the power consumption. The voltage level shifting circuit may also be used to shift a clock signal since the delays of the rising and falling edges of the clock signal are matched by using a delay element.
US07839167B2
A programmable logic integrated circuit device has a plurality of regions of programmable logic disposed on the device in a plurality of intersecting rows and columns of such regions. Interconnection resources (e.g., interconnection conductors, signal buffers/drivers, programmable connectors, etc.) are provided on the device for making programmable interconnections to, from, and/or between the regions. At least some of these interconnection resources are provided in two forms that are architecturally similar (e.g., with similar and substantially parallel routing) but that have significantly different signal propagation speed characteristics. For example, a major or larger portion of such dual-form interconnection resources may have what may be termed normal signal speed, while a smaller minor portion may have significantly faster signal speed. Secondary (e.g., clock and clear) signal distribution may also be enhanced, and so may be input/output circuitry and cascade connections between adjacent or nearby logic modules on the device.
US07839165B2
A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a configuration circuit, and first and second freeze-logic circuits. The configuration circuit provides configuration data for configuring programmable resources of the PLD during a configuration mode of the PLD. One of the two freeze-logic circuits provides a freeze logic signal during the configuration mode of the PLD. The other freeze-logic circuit provides a freeze logic signal during a user mode of the PLD.
US07839164B1
An apparatus having a plurality of first circuits, second circuits, third circuits and fourth circuits is disclosed. The first circuits may be configured to generate a plurality of first signals in response to (i) a priority signal and (ii) a request signal. The second circuits may be configured to generate a plurality of second signals in response to the first signals. The third circuits may be configured to generate a plurality of enable signals in response to the second signals. The fourth circuits may be configured to generate collectively an output signal in response to (i) the enable signals and (ii) the request signal. A combination of the first circuits, the second circuits, the third circuits and the fourth circuits generally establishes a programmable priority encoder. The second signals may be generated independent of the enable signals.
US07839150B2
A detecting device for detecting the electrical connection between several first pads and second pads of a package substrate is provided. The first and the second pads are disposed on two opposite sides of the package substrate. The detecting device includes a socket unit, several first detecting components and several second detecting components. The socket unit is disposed on and coupled to the first pads. The first detecting components are disposed on and coupled to the socket unit. The second detecting components are disposed under and coupled to the second pads. The socket unit and the second detecting components are disposed on two opposite sides of the package substrate. While detecting, the first detecting components, the socket unit, the first pads, the second pads and the second detecting components are electrically connected sequentially, so as to determine whether the first pads are respectively and electrically connected to the second pads.
US07839148B2
A method and related system calibrating downhole tools for drift. Some of the illustrative embodiments are a logging tool comprising a tool body, a transmitter antenna associated with the tool body, a transmitter electronics coupled to the transmitter antenna, a first receiver antenna associated with the tool body, a first receiver electronics coupled to the first receiver antenna, and a signal generator separate from the first transmitter electronics, the signal generator coupled to the first receiver electronics, and the first signal generator provides a calibration signal to the first receiver electronics.
US07839145B2
An imaging system that uses a directed-energy device can include a directed-energy device configured to generate an excitation signal to impinge a region of interest of a target and excite elements therein and receive resonance signals emitted from the region of interest of the target after the excitation signal is terminated. The directed-energy device can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The imaging system can also include plural gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and configured to impress a polarizing magnetic field on a target and a communications interface.
US07839143B2
At least one time-varying signal is applied to a plurality of coil elements in cooperative relationship with and spanning different portions of a vehicle. The coil elements generate an associated plurality of magnetic field components that interact with the vehicle. At least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to signal components from the coil elements so as to provide for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of the vehicle.
US07839142B2
At least one time-varying signal is applied to a plurality of coil elements in cooperative relationship with and spanning different portions of a vehicle. The coil elements generate an associated plurality of magnetic field components that interact with the vehicle. At least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to signal components from the coil elements so as to provide for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of the vehicle.
US07839136B1
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor device having an RF shield has a shield box. A test board is positioned in an interior of the shield box. A first surface of the test board has an area for attaching the semiconductor device. A shield device is attached to a second surface of the test board and beneath the area for attaching the semiconductor device. An antenna is positioned in the interior of the shield box and above the area for attaching the semiconductor device.
US07839102B1
A circuit system and process utilizes back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage to assist in safe power down of devices, such as the read/write head in from low factor disk drives or similar devices. The BEMF voltage from a motor device, such as a spindle motor utilized in a circuit using negative voltage to drive some switches, such as positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (“PMOS”) driver transistors, to reduce and/or effectively minimize the on-resistance of the switches while delivering the current from BEMF voltage of the motor to another device, such as a motor that retracts controls a read/write head.
US07839094B2
A lighting ballast (10) includes an inverter portion (12) and a resonant portion (14). During a preheat phase, a filament transformer (110) supplies preheat glow currents to lamp cathodes. Also during the preheat phase, the filament transformer boosts the oscillation frequency of the inverter portion (12) to a frequency above a resonant frequency of the resonant portion (14). Once the lamp cathodes are sufficiently heated, the filament transformer (110) is removed from the circuit and the inverter (12) is allowed to start oscillating. A feedback network (150) monitors a high frequency bus (26) and provides input to a shunt regulator (170). The shunt regulator drives the gate of a switch (128) of a bias network (126) and adds or removes the filament transformer (110) to the circuit depending on the conductive state of the switch (128).
US07839089B2
A system and method for hermetically sealing a lamp. Certain embodiments of the lamp have an arc envelope having an open end and, also, an end structure diffusion bonded to the arc envelope at the open end. The end structure also has a dosing passageway extending into the arc envelope. In other embodiments, a lighting device is provided with an end structure adapted to close an open end of an arc envelope, and a dosing tube diffusion bonded to the end structure. Another embodiment of the lighting device has an arc envelope and an end structure diffusion bonded to an open end of the arc envelope.
US07839087B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device. The method includes: mounting a light emitting chip on a substrate; forming a transparent resin portion and a phosphor layer by using a liquid droplet discharging apparatus, the transparent resin portion being formed in a shape of a dome and covering the light emitting chip to fill an exterior thereof on the substrate, a phosphor layer containing phosphor and being formed on an exterior of the transparent resin portion close to at least a top side thereof; and forming a reflecting layer at a position exterior of the transparent resin portion and the phosphor layer close to the substrate.
US07839086B2
An electroluminescent device may be provided that includes a substrate, a first electrode provided on the substrate, a light emitting layer provided on the first electrode, and a first metal layer provided on the light emitting layer. An oxide layer may also be provided at an interface of the first metal layer and a conductive particle. Other embodiments as described herein may also be provided.
US07839084B2
A light-emitting device may include a light-emitting element, a microresonator, and a color filter. The light-emitting element may include first and second electrode and an emissive layer provided between the first and second electrodes, and may emit light of a predetermined color when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes to allow a current to flow in the emissive layer. The microresonator may repetitively reflect light of a predetermined color emitted from the emissive layer within an interval having an optical length corresponding to the predetermined color, and thereby intensifying and selecting the light of the predetermined color. The color filter may pass the light intensified and selected by the microresonator and further limiting to light having a wavelength of the predetermined color.
US07839068B2
The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp including a visible radiation and/or UV-radiation transmissive discharge vessel, at least one luminescent layer coated onto the inner wall of the discharge vessel for converting UV-radiation to other wavelengths of UV-A, UV-B and/or visible radiation characterized in, that at a section to which no luminescent layer is applied on the inner surface area of said discharge vessel at least one substrate layer is applied on the outer surface of this area of said discharge vessel, and/or at least a section to which luminescent layer is applied on the inner surface area of said discharge vessel at least one substrate layer is applied on the outer surface of this area of said discharge vessel; whereby said substrate layer comprises at least one volatile organic material being releasable over an extended time period, whereby the volatile organic material is released by UV-radiation and/or thermal heat generated from said fluorescent lamp and, whereby at operation the temperature of the outer surface of the discharge vessel of said fluorescent lamp is ≦70° C.
US07839067B2
A carbon film of the present invention has an elongated needle shape whose radius decreases toward a tip. The shape is, preferably, a shape in which a field concentration coefficient β in the Fowler-Nordheim equation is expressed by h/r where r denotes the radius in an arbitrary position and h denotes height from the arbitrary position to the tip.
US07839060B2
Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition which enables the attainment of sufficiently high Qmax and good temperature characteristics of oscillation frequency F0 when applied in an oscillator utilizing third harmonic mode of thickness longitudinal vibration. The piezoelectric ceramic composition contains a composite oxide having a perovskite structure. The composite oxide has a composition expressed by the chemical formula (1), while satisfying 0.91≦α≦1.00, 0<β≦0.08, 0.125≦x≦0.300, 0.020≦y≦0.050, and 0.040≦z≦0.070 (PbαLnβ)(Ti1−(x+y+z)ZrxMnyNbz)O3 (1) where Ln signifies at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
US07839057B2
A movement detector which is rotatably installed on a base member includes a rotating member which has a body portion, and a connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, a piezoelectric layer which is formed on the connecting portion, and a plurality of electrodes which are provided on the piezoelectric layer, to be arranged in a direction of a rotation axis of the body portion, and which detect a voltage generated in the piezoelectric layer corresponding to a deformation of the connecting portion when the body portion has displaced with respect to the base member. Since the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes are provided to the connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, it is possible to detect a plurality of types of movements of the body portion by the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes.
US07839045B2
A permanent magnet motor is provided. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator having a stator shaft having an outer surface, K salient teeth formed upon the outer surface, and K winding slots formed among the K salient teeth, and a rotor having a first inner surface facing the outer surface, and P pairs of permanent magnets formed on the first inner surface, each of which has a second inner surface facing the outer surface and at least a groove formed on the second inner surface to reduce a cogging torque.
US07839043B2
A rotary structure of a permanent magnet electric machine including a stator and a rotor is provided. The stator has K salient teeth peripherally spaced with equal intervals for forming K winding slots, wherein K is a natural number greater than 1. The rotor has an annular inner surface and has P pairs of permanent magnets peripherally spaced with equal intervals along the inner surface for rotating around the stator, wherein P is a natural number. Each permanent magnet having two sides along a peripheral direction of the rotor includes a pair of inclined surfaces on the two sides, the pair of inclined surfaces is symmetric with respect to a radial plane of the each permanent magnet, and an inclined angle α between the inclined surface and the radial plane is selected from a range of 90(1−1/(4P))<α<90(1+1/(4P)).
US07839036B2
A can of a wet-running electric motor can be produced from a non-metallic material, wherein the non-metallic material is provided with at least one additional hermetically sealing layer. A pump unit having a can of this type is also provided.
US07839032B2
An automotive alternator mounted on a vehicle for generating electric power includes front and rear frames, a cylindrical stator and a rotor. The cylindrical stator is contained in the frames, and the rotor is rotatably supported in the cylindrical stator. A rectifier device for rectifying alternating current generated in the stator into direct current is mounted on a rear surface of the rear frame and covered with a rear cover. To sufficiently cool minus rectifier elements positioned at a place not easily cooled only by the outside cooling air introduced into the alternator, a base portion of the minus rectifier element is contacted to the rear frame thereby to establish heat conduction therebetween. A resilient heat-conductive member is disposed between the base plate and the rear frame to absorb any dimensional discrepancies therebetween.
US07839018B2
A method of hybrid power management is provided in the present invention, comprising steps of: providing a hybrid power output device being coupled to a load and comprising a fuel cell module and a secondary cell module; determining a plurality of threshold values, each representing one of output power modes of the hybrid power output device respectively; and monitoring a characteristic value output from the fuel cell module and comparing the characteristic value with the threshold values to determine one of the output power modes to supply power to the load. Moreover, the present invention further provides a system of hybrid power management using the foregoing method to control switches to select from the output power modes such as supplying power from the fuel cell module only, from both the fuel cell module and the secondary battery, or cutting off power supply to the load according to the power state of the fuel cell module.
US07839017B2
Systems and methods for remotely controlling an electrical load are provided. A switch is associated with controlling one or more electricity-consuming devices. After electrically isolating the switch from the electricity-consuming device, an adapter is communicatively coupled to and used to detect the state of the switch. The adapter generates and wirelessly transmits a signal indicative of the detected state of the switch to a controller that controls operation of the device based on at least the state of the switch as detected by the sensor and indicated by the wirelessly transmitted signal.
US07839010B2
A generator device is arranged for use with a roof ventilator including a base arranged to be supported in a roof opening in a roof and a ventilating turbine rotatably supported on the base so as to be arranged for ventilating a space below the roof through the roof opening when rotated. The generator device includes a generator having an input shaft and being arranged to produce electricity when the input shaft is rotated and a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the input shaft of the generator to the turbine. A roof top ventilating turbine can thus be readily converted for capturing wind energy at low cost using existing equipment.
US07839003B2
While a semiconductor device is provided with a plurality of element electrodes 5 formed on a semiconductor element 4 and a plurality of lead terminal electrodes 6 formed on a lead frame, the semiconductor device is equipped with a coupling conductor which electrically connects at least one electrode among the above-described element electrodes 5 to at least one electrode among the above-described lead terminal electrodes 6; the above-described coupling conductor is manufactured by a first conductor 1 and a second conductor 2, the major components of which are metals; the first conductor 1 has been electrically connected to the second conductor 2; and the element electrodes 5 and the lead terminal electrodes 6 have been electrically connected to the second conductor 2 respectively.
US07839002B2
An electronic device. The device including a module having opposite top surface and bottom surfaces; a first set of pads on the top surface of the module and a second set of pads on the bottom surface of the module substrate, wires within the module electrically connecting the first set of pads to the second set of pads; a set of solder interconnects in electrical and physical contact with a the second set of module pads; and a dielectric underfill layer formed on the bottom surface of the module, the underfill layer filling the space between lower regions of the solder interconnects of the set of solder interconnects, upper regions of the solder interconnects of the set of solder interconnects extending past a top surface of the underfill layer.
US07839001B2
A method for making substrates for use in optics, electronics, or opto-electronics. The method may include transferring a seed layer onto a receiving support and depositing a useful layer onto the seed layer. The thermal expansion coefficient of the receiving support may be identical to or slightly larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the useful layer and the thermal expansion coefficient of the seed layer may be substantially equal to the thermal expansion coefficient of the receiving support. Preferably, the nucleation layer and the intermediate support have substantially the same chemical composition.
US07838999B1
An integrated circuit/substrate interconnect apparatus and method of manufacture are provided. Included is a substrate with a plurality of wells and a landing pad formed in each of the wells. The substrate further includes a seed layer deposited in each of the wells over the landing pad, and a metalized layer deposited in each of the wells over the seed layer. Before assembly, an upper surface of the metalized layer forms a well.
US07838985B2
A semiconductor assembly includes a first subassembly comprising a heat sink and a first patterned polymer layer disposed on a surface of the heat sink to define an exposed portion of the first surface. The exposed portion of the first surface extends radially inward along the heat sink surface from the first layer. The subassembly also includes a second patterned polymer layer disposed on a radially outer portion of the first patterned polymer layer. The first and second layers define a cell for accommodating a power semiconductor die. Solder material is disposed on the exposed portion of the heat sink surface and in the cell. A power semiconductor die is located within the cell on a radially inward portion of the first layer and thermally coupled to the heat sink by the solder material.
US07838982B2
A semiconductor package and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed, whereby an environmental problem is solved by using external connection terminals or semiconductor element-mounting terminals containing a smaller amount of lead, while at the same time achieving a fine pitch of the terminals. The semiconductor package includes a board (20) including a plurality of insulating resin layers, semiconductor element-mounting terminals (18) formed on the uppermost surface of the board, and external connection terminals (12) formed on the bottom surface thereof. Each external connection terminal (12) is formed as a bump projected downward from the bottom surface of the package, and each bump is filled with the insulating resin (14) while the surface thereof is covered by a metal (16). Wiring (24), (26) including a conductor via (26a) electrically connect the metal of the metal layer 16 and the semiconductor element-mounting terminals (18).
US07838970B2
A semiconductor component has a first and a second contact-making region, and a semiconductor volume arranged between the first and the second contact-making region. Within the semiconductor volume, it is possible to generate a current flow that runs from the first contact-making region to the second contact-making region, or vice versa. The semiconductor volume and/or the contact-making regions are configured in such a way that the local flow cross-section of a locally elevated current flow, which is caused by current splitting, is enlarged at least in partial regions of the semiconductor volume.
US07838962B2
In manufacturing a semiconductor device including a substrate having a (111)-plane orientation and an off-set angle in a range between 3 degrees and 4 degrees, a capacitor, a transistor and a diffusion resistor are formed in the substrate, each of which are separated by a junction separation layer. A first silicon nitride film is formed by low pressure CVD over a surface of the substrate except a bottom portion of a contact hole and a portion over the junction separation layer, and a silicon oxide film is formed by low pressure CVD over the first silicon nitride film. A second silicon nitride film as a protecting film is formed by plasma CVD so as to cover the semiconductor device finally. Therefore, the semiconductor device having high reliability can be obtained.
US07838951B2
A semiconductor sensor and a manufacturing method of the same capable of making the specific gravity of a weight part to be greater than that of a weight part made of semiconductor material only is disclosed. The semiconductor sensor includes the weight part, a supporting part, a flexible part, and plural piezoresistive elements. The weight part includes a weight part photosensitive resin layer made of photosensitive resin in which metal particles are included. The supporting part surrounds and is separated from the weight part. The flexible part is provided between the weight part and the supporting part to support the weight part. The flexible part includes a flexible part semiconductor layer where the plural piezoresistive elements are formed. This configuration allows the specific gravity of the weight part photosensitive resin layer greater than that of the weight part semiconductor layer due to the metal particles.
US07838949B2
A sensor is disclosed. A representative sensor includes a silicon substrate having a porous silicon region. A portion of the porous silicon region has a front contact is disposed thereon. The contact resistance between the porous silicon region and the front contact is between about 10 ohms and 100 ohms.
US07838945B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second active regions on a semiconductor substrate, separated by an element isolation region; a line-shaped electrode disposed from over the first to over the second active region via the element isolation region; first and second FETs including a gate insulating film on the first and second active regions, respectively, a gate electrode composed of the line-shaped electrode and a source/drain region. Parts of the line-shaped electrode over the first and second active regions are formed of different materials. The line-shaped electrode includes a diffusion restraining region having thickness in a direction perpendicular to the substrate thinner than that over the first and second active regions. The diffusion restraining region is over the element isolation region and spans the whole width of the line-shaped electrode in the gate length direction.
US07838934B2
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which an insulating layer may be formed in a strained silicon layer under source/drain regions to substantially overcome conventional problems resulting from a channel decrease in the semiconductor device. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device may include growing a germanium layer on a first silicon layer; forming at least two trenches in the germanium layer; forming an insulating layer in the germanium layer including the trenches; forming at least two gate insulating layer patterns by polishing the germanium layer and the insulating layer to coplanarity in the bottom of the trenches; re-growing and planarizing the germanium layer; forming a second silicon layer on the germanium layer; forming a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode on the second silicon layer between the at least two insulating layers; and forming source/drain regions by implanting impurity ions into the second silicon layer at sides of the gate electrode.
US07838932B2
An embedded silicon carbon (Si:C) having a substitutional carbon content in excess of one percent in order to effectively increase electron mobility by application of tension to a channel region of an NFET is achieved by overfilling a gap or trench formed by transistor gate structures with Si:C and polishing an etching the Si:C to or below a surface of a raised gate structure in a super-Damascene process, leaving Si:C only in selected regions above the transistor source and drain, even though processes capable of depositing Si:C with sufficiently high substitutional carbon content are inherently non-selective.
US07838931B2
High voltage semiconductor devices with Schottky diodes are presented. A high voltage semiconductor device includes an LDMOS device and a Schottky diode device. The LDMOS device includes a semiconductor substrate, a P-body region in a first region of the substrate, and an N-drift region in the second region of the substrate with a junction therebetween. A patterned isolation region defines an active region. An anode electrode is disposed on the P-body region. An N+-doped region is disposed in the N-drift region. A cathode electrode is disposed on the N+-doped region. The Schottky diode includes an N-drift region on the semiconductor substrate. The anode electrode is disposed on the N-drift region at the first region of the substrate. The N+-doped region is disposed on the N-drift region at the second region of the substrate. The cathode electrode is disposed on the N+-doped region.
US07838920B2
Memory cells utilizing dielectric charge carrier trapping sites formed in trenches provide for non-volatile storage of data. The memory cells of the various embodiments have two control gates. One control gate is formed adjacent the trench containing the charge carrier trap. The other control gate has a portion formed over the trench, and, for certain embodiments, this control gate may extend into the trench. The charge carrier trapping sites may be discrete formations on a sidewall of a trench, a continuous layer extending from one sidewall to the other, or plugs extending between sidewalls.
US07838915B2
Provided are a semiconductor device having a mesa-type active region including a plurality of slabs and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first active region and a second active region. The first active region is formed in a line-and-space pattern on a substrate and includes the slabs, each slab having a first surface, a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first side, and a top surface. The first active region and the second active region are composed of identical or different materials. The second active region contacts at least one end of each of the slabs on the substrate to connect the slabs to one another. The method includes forming a first active region in a line-and-space pattern on the substrate and forming the second active region.
US07838910B2
Memory devices include a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of wordlines on the semiconductor substrate. A ground select line is on the semiconductor substrate on a first side of the wordlines and a string select line is on the semiconductor substrate on a second side of the wordlines. The wordlines extend between the ground select line and the string select line. First spacers are disposed between the wordlines, between the ground select line and an adjacent one of the wordlines and between the string select line and an adjacent one of the wordlines. Second spacers are disposed on sidewalls of the ground select line and the string select line displaced from the first spacers. The second spacers are a different material than the first spacers. The memory devices may be nonvolatile memory devices. Methods are also provided for forming the memory devices.
US07838900B2
A single-chip common-drain JFET device comprises a Drain, two gates and two source arranged such that two common-drain JFETs are formed therewith. Due to the two JFETs merged within a single chip, no wire bonding connection is needed therebetween, thereby without parasitic inductance and resistance caused by bonding wire, and therefore improving the performance and reducing the package cost. The single-chip common-drain JFET device may be applied in buck converter, boost converter, inverting converter, switch, and two-step DC-to-DC converter to improve their performance and efficiency. Alternative single-chip common-drain JFET devices are also provided for current sense or proportional current generation.
US07838897B2
The invention provides a light-emitting device 10 including a light-emitting element 12 and a substrate 11 where the light-emitting element 12 is arranged, characterized in that a housing part 28 housing the light-emitting element 12 and having a shape that is tapered upward from the substrate 11 and a metal frame 15 surrounding the light-emitting element 12 and including the side face 28A of the housing part 28 made into a almost mirror-polished surface are provided on the substrate 11.
US07838896B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a blue light emitting diode (LED), a first and second phosphor layers. The second phosphor layer is between the blue LED and the first phosphor layer. When a blue beam of a shorter wavelength excites the phosphor layers, the excitation efficiency of the first phosphor layer is greater than that of the second phosphor layer. When a blue beam of a longer wavelength excites the phosphor layers, the excitation efficiency of the first phosphor layer is less than that of the second phosphor layer. Moreover, the wavelength of the peak intensity of the light beam from the first phosphor layer is shorter than that of the second phosphor layer. And, the dividing value between the shorter wavelength and the longer wavelength is within the range from a first wavelength to a second wavelength.
US07838889B2
A solid-state area illumination system includes multiple LED devices, each LED device is formed on a separate substrate and each LED device emits differently colored light at different angles relative to the substrate. The peak frequencies of each color of light differ by at least the smallest of the full width half maximums of the frequency distributions of emitted light. Also included is a support for positioning each of the LED devices at multiple orientations relative to an area of illumination upon a surface, so that any point within the area of illumination will receive multiple colors of light from more than one of the LED devices at different angles. Each LED device includes one or more light-emitting elements, each light-emitting element having multiple sizes of core/shell quantum-dot emitters formed in a common polycrystalline semiconductor matrix.
US07838886B2
A thin film transistor array panel, in which a middle storage electrode and a storage electrode overlapping a drain electrode of a thin film transistor thereby forming a storage capacitance are formed. Accordingly, sufficient storage capacitance may be formed without a decrease of the aperture ratio and fight transmittance of a liquid crystal display. Also, the capacitance may be sufficiently formed through the connecting member connected to a gate metal layer.
US07838885B2
A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of fabricating the TFT, and a display device including the TFT are provided. The TFT includes a semiconductor layer having a channel region and source and drain regions is crystallized using a crystallization-inducing metal. The crystallization-inducing metal is gettered by either a metal other than the crystallization-inducing metal or a metal silicide of a metal other than the crystallization-inducing metal. A length and width of the channel region of the semiconductor layer and a leakage current of the semiconductor layer satisfy the following equation: Ioff/W=3.4E-15L2+2.4E-12L+c, wherein Ioff (A) is the leakage current of the semiconductor layer, W (mm) is the width of the channel region, L (μm) is the length of the channel region, and “c” is a constant ranging from 2.5E-13 to 6.8E-13.
US07838873B2
A method of forming a stochastically based integrated circuit encryption structure includes forming a lower conductive layer over a substrate, forming a short prevention layer over the lower conductive layer, forming an intermediate layer over the short prevention layer, wherein the intermediate layer is characterized by randomly structured nanopore features. An upper conductive layer is formed over the random nanopore structured intermediate layer. The upper conductive layer is patterned into an array of individual cells, wherein a measurable electrical parameter of the individual cells has a random distribution from cell to cell with respect to a reference value of the electrical parameter.
US07838871B2
An organic-field effect transistor, a method of manufacturing the same, and a flat panel display device including the organic-field effect transistor. The organic-field effect transistor includes an organic semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and a charge carrier blocking layer. The charge carrier blocking layer is interposed between the gate electrode and the organic semiconductor layer, and it comprises a semiconducting material.
US07838861B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to integrated circuits, to methods for manufacturing an integrated circuit and to a memory module. In an embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit is provided having a programmable arrangement. The programmable arrangement includes a substrate having a main processing surface, at least two first electrodes, wherein each of the two first electrodes has a side surface being arranged at a respective angle with regard to the main processing surface, the side surfaces facing one another. The programmable arrangement may further include at least one second electrode and ion conducting material between each of the at least two first electrodes and the at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged partially between the side surfaces of the two first electrodes facing one another.
US07838858B2
First, an operator inputs various parameters required for a mark recognition operation including a designated position coordinate designated via a mouse and a keyboard (step 201). Then, an edge potential position closest to the designated position is selected (step 205), or an edge potential position within a predetermined range having the designated position as a datum is selected (step 207), and a mark recognition operation is performed at the selected edge potential position (step 209). The recognition results are shown on a display (step 211).
US07838855B2
A charged particle irradiation system that positions the beam at a target position to avoid irradiation of normal tissue includes an acceleration system 6 for extracting a charged particle beam, scanning magnets 24 and 25, and charged particle beam position monitors 26 and 27. On the basis of signals received from the charged particle beam position monitors 26 and 27, the control unit 70 calculates a beam position at a target position and then controls the scanning magnets 24 and 25 so that the charged particle beam is moved to a desired irradiation position at the target position. The control unit 70 corrects the value of an excitation current applied to each of the scanning magnets 24 and 25 on a specified cycle basis on the basis of information about the position and the angle of the charged particle beam.
US07838852B2
A medical radiation apparatus has a beam source and a deflection apparatus, which can be activated by means of a data processing device according to a radiation schedule generated using a recording of tissue to be irradiated produced using a medical imaging diagnosis device, said data processing device being set up for data purposes such that characteristics of the radiation acting on the tissue according to different irradiation scenarios can be visualized in a common display.
US07838849B2
The present invention relates to components in ion implanters having surfaces, such as graphite surfaces, adjacent to the path of the ion beam through the ion implanter. Such surfaces will be prone to sputtering, and sputtered material may become entrained in the ion beam. The present invention sees the use of surfaces that are formed so as to present a series of angled faces that meet at sharp intersections. In this way, any material will be sputtered away from the ion beam.
US07838847B2
Substrates, systems and methods for analyzing materials that include waveguide arrays disposed upon or within the substrate such that evanescent fields emanating from the waveguides illuminate materials disposed upon or proximal to the surface of the substrate, permitting analysis of such materials. The substrates, systems and methods are used in a variety of analytical operations, including, inter alia, nucleic acid analysis, including hybridization and sequencing analyses, cellular analyses and other molecular analyses.
US07838843B2
An apparatus 1A for processing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) includes: a processing chamber 3 for housing to-be-processed liquid 2 with CNT raw material 5 to be fragmented being suspended in a solvent 4; and a pulse irradiation light source 10 for applying pulse light having a predetermined wavelength for fragmentation of the CNTs in the solvent 4 to the to-be-processed liquid 2 housed in the processing chamber 3. This achieves a method and apparatus for processing carbon nanotubes that can fragment CNTs efficiently, and carbon nanotube dispersion liquid and carbon nanotube powder produced by the same.
US07838837B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor detector, in particular a pnCCD detector, for radiation detection, including a guard ring (12, 14) and a readout anode (3, 4) arranged inside the guard ring (12, 14) for reading out radiation-generated signal charge carriers (e−), and also including a clearing contact (9) arranged outside the guard ring (12, 14) for removing the collected signal charge carriers (e−) from the readout anode (3, 4). According to the invention, the semiconductor detector furthermore includes a gap (15, 16) in the guard ring (12, 14) and also a controllable gate (17, 18) which is arranged over the gap (15, 16) in the guard ring (12, 14) and makes the gap (15, 16) in the guard ring (12, 14) permeable or impermeable to the signal charge carriers (e−) to be removed, depending on an electrical actuation of the gate (17, 18).
US07838836B2
A method for detecting a phenomenon affecting visibility generated by an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of emitting a first beam of light, which beam of light can be reflected by an obstacle; emitting a second reference beam of light using a second emitting source; receiving on a receiver the reflected beam of light resulting from the first beam of light being reflected by an obstacle, and the second beam of light sent directly to the input of the receiver; generating one or more detection signals as a function of a combination of the reflected beam of light in the event of an obstacle and a reference beam; and comparing the modulation of one or more detection signals generated using reference data. According to the invention, the first and second beams of light are infra-red beams, and they are directed towards the rear of the vehicle.
US07838835B2
The present invention relates to a sealable cell for measuring a liquid sample comprising a spectroscopic probe and a removable cap that can accommodate at least the head of the probe, wherein the internal wall of the cap comprises one or more grooves which are disposed so as to allow a liquid sample to enter the head of the probe and air to escape from the head of the probe to enable improved spectra to be obtained.
US07838831B2
A substrate inspection method includes forming a conductive thin film on a surface of an inspection target substrate with a pattern formed thereon, generating an electron beam and irradiating the substrate having the thin film formed thereon with the electron beam, detecting at least any of secondary electrons, reflected electrons and backscattered electrons released from the surface of the substrate and outputting signals constituting an inspection image, and selecting at least any of a material, a film thickness and a configuration for the thin film, or at least any of a material, a film thickness and a configuration for the thin film and an irradiation condition with the electron beam according to an arbitrary inspection image characteristic so that an inspection image according to an inspection purpose can be obtained.
US07838828B2
A semiconductor device inspection apparatus having a noise subtraction function includes an electron gun, a stage for holding a sample, a main detector for detecting a signal discharged from the sample, and at least one or more sub detector for detecting noise generated from the sample or apparatus so that there can be obtained an image in which the noise caused by discharge generated on the sample or in the apparatus is removed from the signal. The noise subtraction function subtracts the noise detected by the sub detector from the signal detected by the main detector to remove or reduce the noise from the signal.
US07838817B2
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an operational state of a MEMS device of a scanner system may be determined. In the event it is determined that the MEMS device is possibly operating in an unsafe mode, the laser may be turned off and/or the MEMS device may be shut down. An operational state of the MEMS device may be determined for example by obtaining a MEMS drive voltage sense signal and/or a MEMS drive current sense signal, and a potentially unsafe mode of operation may be identified if one or more of such signals are not at proper values with respect to predetermined threshold values.
US07838807B2
A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air and microwave energy in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. At least one of the impingement plates is installed and removed by a sliding motion. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber. Intake ports for cooling air are located in a bevel between the side walls and bottom wall of the oven's outer enclosure so as to allow the oven to be located right next to other structures, such as a wall. An interlock assembly is also provided for the oven door.
US07838800B2
A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system includes a temperature controlled support base having a first temperature, a substrate support opposing the temperature controlled support base and configured to support the substrate, and one or more heating elements coupled to the substrate support and configured to heat the substrate support to a second temperature above the first temperature. An erosion resistant thermal insulator disposed between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support, wherein the erosion resistant thermal insulator includes a material composition configured to resist halogen-containing gas corrosion.
US07838793B2
A system (10) for coating surfaces of a workpiece (12) comprises a biasing system (242) for connection to said workpiece (12) and an anode (76) such as to negatively bias the workpiece relative to the anode and a vacuum source (42, 44) for evacuating an interior of the workpiece (12). A gas supply (224, 226, 228) is employed for introducing a gas containing a treatment material to said workpiece and a control system (244) controls the biasing system (242), the vacuum source (42, 44) and the gas supply (224, 226, 228) so as to establish a hollow cathode effect within the workpiece (12). A pair of coupling heads (16, 18) are supported on articulated arms (22, 24, 26) movable in one or more of three axes and include removable shields (78) to protect the heads (16, 18) and an anode mount (74) for receiving an anode (76). The articulated arms allow the system to accommodate a plurality of different shaped and different sized workpieces while the shields protect the coupling heads during a deposition process.
US07838788B2
The disclosure relates to an electrical switching device, in particular a thermal relay having at least one contact point in which, in a first position, the contact point is open and, in a second position, the contact point is closed, having a swivelling contact carrier on which the at least one moving contact piece is held and having an actuator for driving the contact carrier. The actuator is a swivel element, which can rotate about a first axis of rotation, said swivel element being made up of two partial elements, which can be slid in mutually opposing directions and are pushed apart by spring force, of which the first partial element is rotatably mounted and the second partial element acts together with the contact carrier at its free end.
US07838766B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for stabilizing a wire, cable (10), line, or cord system. The present invention involves systems that allow a cable (10), such as a power line cable (10) and the insulator strings (20), the ability to extend during loading conditions and to regain their previous geometry once loads, such as ice loads, have been shed. The present invention may be utilized in a number of applications, including but not limited to, being used with anchor, angle, and dead-end structures and with suspension structures to counterbalance loads on cables (10) and supports included by ice and wind. A combination of suspension structure with anchor structure and the present invention may, on any given section of a cable (10), result in uniformity of supports and in reduction of their weight and cost, in addition to providing reliability.
US07838765B2
An electrically conducting wire structure and a method for its manufacture where the wire structure has at least one elongated electrically conducting wire and a liquid crystal polymer coating of insulation formed by cross-head extrusion as a layer around the electrically conducting wire. An abrasion layer is preferably formed over the liquid crystal polymer coating, the elongated electrically conducting wire is selected from the group that includes copper, silver, tinned copper, aluminum, and conducting polymers, and the liquid crystal polymer material is a thermotropic thermoplastic.
US07838757B2
A process for converting standard musical notes to Ra format musical notes comprising inputting a signal of standard musical notes, analyzing the frequency of each note in the signal, selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, converting the frequency of each note in the signal to a Ra format frequency corresponding to the selected Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and outputting signal consisting of the converted notes. An apparatus including a processor capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes. The apparatus (12) includes a signal input port (14) and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding frequency of Ra musical notes, means for selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer (26).
US07838754B2
A performance system capable of improving operability of switching local-on/off of performance terminals. T performance system comprises a performance terminal and a controller capable of communicating with each other. The performance terminal is comprised of a performance operation device, a tone generator, and a control device adapted to transmit performance data generated by the performance operation device to the controller, execute a communication process for inputting performance data received from the controller to the tone generator, and execute a mode switching process for switching between a local-on mode in which the performance operation device inputs the generated performance data to the tone generator to generate a tone and a local-off mode in which the performance operation device does not input the generated performance data to the tone generator. The controller is comprised of a storage device adapted to store musical piece data consisting of a plurality of performance data strings, and an automatic performance control device adapted to determine a tempo and/or a beat timing of automatic performance based on performance data received from the performance terminal, read out a performance data string from the musical piece data, and transmit the read-out performance data to the performance terminal. The automatic performance control device is adapted to transmit a local-off instruction message to the performance terminal upon commencement of automatic performance according to the musical piece data, and the control device is adapted to switch the mode to a local-off mode upon receiving the local-off instruction message from the controller.
US07838720B2
A wetness event counter, which can be utilized in a disposable absorbent article, has at least one indicating member. The indicating member can provide a first indication to a caregiver for a first wetness event and a second indication, which is different from the first indication, to a caregiver upon a second wetness event.
US07838713B2
The process includes at least two adsorptive separation zones to separate para-xylene from a feed stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons and at least one C9 aromatic hydrocarbon component. An adsorbent comprising X or Y zeolite and a heavy desorbent are used in the first adsorptive separation zone to produce an extract stream comprising para-xylene and a raffinate stream comprising para-xylene depleted C8 aromatic hydrocarbons, the C9 aromatic hydrocarbon, and the desorbent. The raffinate stream is separated in a raffinate distillation zone to produce a stream comprising the first desorbent component and the C9 aromatic hydrocarbon which stream is further separated in a second adsorptive distillation zone to produce a stream comprising the desorbent and a C9 aromatic hydrocarbon stream.
US07838708B2
Improvements in previously disclosed methods of and apparatuses for converting alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics to olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes includes: safety improvements, use of alternative feedstocks, process simplification, improvements to the halogenation step, improvements to the reproportionation step, improvements to the solid oxide reaction, improvements to solid oxide regeneration, improvements in separations, maintenance, start-up, shut-down, and materials of construction.
US07838701B2
Disclosed is a method of controlling a separation process for removing permanganate reducing compounds from a process stream in the methanol carbonylation process for making acetic acid, where the method includes the steps of measuring the density of a stream containing acetaldehyde and methyl iodide, optionally calculating the relative concentrations of acetaldehyde and methyl iodide in the stream, and adjusting distillation or extraction process parameters based on the measured density or one or more relative concentrations calculated therefrom.
US07838698B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to hydrolysis-resistant silicone compounds. In particular, disclosed are sterically hindered hydrolysis-resistant silicone compounds and improved purity hydrolysis-resistant silicone compounds. Also disclosed are processes for making hydrolysis-resistant silicone compounds; the products of the disclosed processes; compositions and polymers comprising the disclosed compounds and products of the disclosed processes; and ophthalmic lenses, for example contact lenses, intraocular lenses, artificial cornea, and spectacle lenses, comprising the disclosed compositions, disclosed polymers, disclosed compounds, and products of the disclosed processes. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US07838697B2
A manufacturing method for one of, or a mixture of, an optically active allylboron compound and racemic or optically active boryl cyclopropane, including a coupling reaction, in the presence of a catalyst, between allyl compound and diboron compound. It is preferred that a copper (I) complex is used as the catalyst. It is preferred that a counterion of the copper (I) complex is an alkoxide or a hydride. It is preferred that the copper (I) complex has a phosphine ligand. It is preferred that the phosphine ligand is a chiral phosphine ligand.
US07838694B2
A process is provided for the semi-synthesis and isolation of taxane intermediates useful in the preparation of paclitaxel and docetaxel, in particular, the semi-synthesis and isolation of 10-deacetylbaccatin III, the semi-synthesis of a mixture of 10-deacetylbaccatin III and baccatin III, and protected derivatives thereof, from a mixture of taxanes.
US07838691B2
Organic compounds having Formulas I and II are provided where the variables have the values described herein. Pharmaceutical formulations include the organic compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can be prepared. Methods of preparing the compounds includes deprotecting protected precursor compounds. Methods of treating cancer or inhibiting ATPase include administering the organic compounds to a subject in need thereof.
US07838687B2
The present invention provides a monomer comprising the structure: wherein R1 and/or R1′ are selected from the group consisting of MeO, EtO, COF3, SO4H, SO3−, SO3H, H, CHNO4S2F3, C5H4N2O6S2F6, C10H10N4S2, CH3, n-Bu, Cl, NH2, EtN, Br, alkyl, ether, ester, sulfonate, ammonium, carboxylate, phosphonate and any combination thereof, R2 and/or R2′, are selected from the group consisting of EtO, SO3H, H, C10H10N4S2, CH3, Cl, C6H14N2S and any combination thereof, R3 and/or R3′ are selected from the group consisting of CH3, Cl, H and any combination thereof, and R4 and/or R4′ are selected from the group consisting of CH3, H, C2H5, C4H9, C6H5, C8H17, C2H5S, C3H7S, C4H8Br, C10H23N, C20H21N2, C18H25N2, C21H23N2, C31H29N2O2, C22H25N4, C20H25N2, C3H7OS, and any combination thereof.
US07838682B2
The present invention provides the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. It is indicated that the agonists have good binding capability to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor by pharmacological tests. The present invention also provides the preparation of the agonists.
US07838667B2
A method of grafting galactomannan-type polysaccharide polymers, preferably guar, to a functional group by irradiation with high energy electron beams in the presence of an unsaturated monomer-compressing the described functional group. The method may include the depolymerization of the grafted polymer to a pre-selected low molecular weight. The preferred galactomannans for treatment according to this method are guar gum, guar splits and hydroxypropyl guar. In a preferred embodiment the guar gum is also depolymerized, preferably to a molecular weight of below about 700,000 Daltons, and most preferably to a molecular weight of between about 100,000 Daltons to about 250,000 Daltons. The depolymerized guar most preferably has a polydispersity of less than about 3.0 and is useful in oil well fracturing to enhance oil production.
US07838657B2
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions capable of blocking the inhibitory effect of a newly-identified intronic inhibitory sequence element, named ISS-N1 (for “intronic splicing silencer”), located in the SMN2 gene. The compositions and methods of the instant invention include oligonucleotide reagents (e.g., oligoribonucleotides) that effectively target the SMN2 ISS-N1 site in the SMN2 pre-mRNA, thereby modulating the splicing of SMN2 pre-mRNA to include exon 7 in the processed transcript. The ISS-N1 blocking agents of the invention cause elevated expression of SMN protein, thus compensating for the loss of SMN protein expression commonly observed in subjects with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
US07838626B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a polycarbosilane having excellent solubility in common organic solvents and a method for production thereof. The polycarbosilane of the present invention is a polymer which is represented by the following general formula (1) and has an oxetanyl group in a side chain. R1 is an alkyl group having no oxetanyl groups, aryl group having no oxetanyl groups, or an organic group having an oxetanyl group, R2 is an organic group having an oxetanyl group, R3 is an alkylene group, an arylene group, or an aralkylene group, and n is an integer of 5 to 200.
US07838619B2
The present invention relates to biodegradable biocompatible polyketals, methods for their preparation, and methods for treating animals by administration of biodegradable biocompatible polyketals. In one aspect, a method for forming the biodegradable biocompatible polyketals comprises combining a glycol-specific oxidizing agent with a polysaccharide to form an aldehyde intermediate, which is combined with a reducing agent to form the biodegradable biocompatible polyketal. The resultant biodegradable biocompatible polyketals can be chemically modified to incorporate additional hydrophilic moieties. A method for treating animals includes the administration of the biodegradable biocompatible polyketal in which biologically active compounds or diagnostic labels can be disposed. The present invention also relates to chiral polyketals, methods for their preparation, and methods for use in chromatographic applications, specifically in chiral separations. A method for forming the chiral polyketals comprises combining a glycol-specific oxidizing agent with a polysaccharide to form an aldehyde intermediate, which is combined with a suitable reagent to form the chiral polyketal. A method for use in chiral separations includes the incorporation of the chiral polyketals in the mobile phase during a chromatographic separation, or into chiral stationary phases such as gels. The present invention further relates to chiral polyketals as a source for chiral compounds, and methods for generating such chiral compounds.
US07838618B2
A process for producing a phenylene ether oligomer comprising oxidative polymerization of a specific bivalent phenol compound and a specific monovalent phenol compound in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent of a phenylene ether oligomer solution obtained after the termination of the polymerization is replaced with a water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point higher than that of the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and the resultant phenylene ether oligomer solution is brought into contact with water, thereby precipitating the phenylene ether oligomer as particles.
US07838613B2
The invention relates to polyorganosiloxane monocomponent compounds (POS) which are stable when stored without humidity and crosslinking into elastomer in the presence of water. The inventive compounds comprise at least one type of crosslinkable linear polyorganosiloxane (POS), a mineral filler and a crosslinking catalyst of formula (I) which provides said compound with an excellent compromise between cross linking kinetics and a storage stability (i.e. more than 6 months).
US07838612B2
Described herein are aromatic sulfonimide compositions that can be used to prepare polymers useful as membranes in electrochemical cells.
US07838610B2
The present invention is to provide a super-absorbent resin which can be used to design an absorbing core or absorbing goods capable of being flown into a flushing toilet. The present invention relates to a super-absorbent resin having as a main component thereof a repeating unit having an ionic dissociation group in its main or side chain, wherein said resin has absorption capacity without load to saline solution (CRCs) for 4 hours of not smaller than 10 g/g, and solubility in ion-exchanged water of not lower than 50% by weight.
US07838609B2
A polyvinyl alcohol type resin, which renders possible preparation of a packaging material having high gas barrier property under a high humidity condition even as a monolayer film, is provided. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) type resin of the invention has at least a PVA structural unit and also has an alicyclic structural unit in the main chain. A monolayer film containing this PVA type resin and a laminate containing at least one layer comprising this PVA type resin can be used as a packaging material which shows high gas barrier property even under a high humidity condition.
US07838606B2
Efficient and reproducible production of a copolymer for lithography, which has stable quality, with little lot-to-lot variations, and is suited for film-forming and coating compositions. Radical polymerization of a monomer, which contains at least one ethylenic double bond, with an initiator, in a solvent, and purification of the reaction mixture by precipitation and filtration, in a hermetically-closable single vessel divided by a filter medium, into a first section provided with fluid feeding means and agitating means, and a second section with fluid drawing means. Feeding the reaction mixture from the fluid feeding means into the first section of the vessel, containing a poor solvent, and contacting the reaction mixture with the poor solvent to precipitate a solid; and filtering the resulting fluid, containing the precipitated solid, through the filter medium, drawing the resultant filtrate through the fluid drawing means, and then separating the precipitated solid.
US07838602B2
A multilayer article comprises a substrate layer, and a coating layer in contiguous superposed contact with the substrate layer, the coating layer comprising a thermostable, weatherable polymer comprising structural units derived from at least one 1,3-dihydroxybenzene moiety, at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid moiety, at least one bisphenol moiety, and at least one soft-block moiety derived from a siloxane oligomer, in which the multilayer article comprises the substrate layer and the coating layer, or the substrate layer with coating layers on each side of the substrate layer.
US07838582B2
A hyperdispersant for use in a fluorocarbon coating composition is disclosed. The fluorocarbon coating composition generally comprises a fluorocarbon resin, a binder resin, a cross-linking agent, and the hyperdispersant. The hyperdispersant comprises the reaction product of a polyglycidyl oligomer and at least one amino compound. The polyglycidyl oligomer comprises a carbon chain having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms with at least one of an internal ether linkage and an internal ester linkage and comprises a plurality of epoxy groups. The at least one amino compound has a cyclic, heterocyclic, alkyl, or heteroalkyl structure substituted with at least one primary or secondary amine group for reacting with and opening at least one of the epoxy groups.
US07838581B2
The present invention relates to a polypropylene resin composition, more particularly to a composition comprising an ethylene/propylene block copolymer, an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber, a styrene-based polymer rubber, a polypropylene-silicone rubber master batch, a magnesium compound and an inorganic filler.The polypropylene resin composition of the present invention exhibits superior rigidity, scratch resistance and glossiness, outstanding laser processability and low-temperature impact resistance, and also superior fluidity. Therefore, it is applicable to manufacture interior materials of a vehicle such as an instrument panel. Especially, the present invention is suitable to manufacture an air bag deployable instrument panel assembly requiring no coating.
US07838577B2
The present invention has its object to provide an adhesive for electronic components, excellent in coatability, having high preventability of stains in bonded electronic components, and capable of providing highly reliable electronic components. The present invention relates to a liquid adhesive for electronic components, containing: a curable compound; a curing agent; and inorganic fine particles, a liquid portion in the liquid adhesive having a solubility parameter (SP value) in the range of 8 to 11 (including 8 and not including 11), the inorganic fine particles including a mixture of at least inorganic fine particles (A) and inorganic fine particles (B), the inorganic fine particles (A) having an average primary particle diameter of 50 nm or less and a hydrophobization degree (M value) in the range of 30 to 50 (including 30 and 50), and the inorganic fine particles (B) having an average primary particle diameter of 50 nm or less and a hydrophobization degree (M value) of 60 or more.
US07838576B2
An object of the invention is to provide a poly(phenylene ether) resin composition that allows production of laminated sheets excellent in heat resistance and processability, even in case of using a low molecular weight PPE for convenience in prepreg manufacturing without the sacrifice of dielectric characteristics.The poly(phenylene ether) resin composition according to the present invention comprises poly(phenylene ether) and a crosslinking curing agent, wherein the poly(phenylene ether) is represented by the following formula (I) and the number averaged molecular weight thereof is in the range of 1,000 to 7,000. [wherein, X is an aryl group; (Y)m is a poly(phenylene ether) moiety; Z is a phenylene group and the like; R1 to R3 each independently is a hydrogen atom, and the like; n is an integer of 1 to 6; and q is an integer of 1 to 4.]
US07838571B2
Photopolymerizable polymer composites based on dimethacrylate systems have been increasingly utilized as dental restorative materials. One of the biggest drawbacks of current dental resin systems is the volume shrinkage and shrinkage induced stresses that arise during the polymerization. Other major problems include incomplete double bond conversion and insufficient wear resistance. This invention involves the development of an entirely novel approach to the photopolymerization process that utilizes thiol-ene systems as low shrinkage and ultra-low shrinkage stress dental restorative materials. Compared with the traditional dimethacrylate dental resins, these novel photopolymerizations have demonstrated a dramatically decreased volume shrinkage, extremely rapid polymerization, abilities to photopolymerize ultrathick materials and achieve much higher conversion, lack of oxygen inhibition and ultra-low shrinkage stress due to low volume shrinkage and drastically delayed gel point conversion. These polymers have thus shown outstanding suitability as dental restorative materials.
US07838563B2
Methods, compounds, and topical formulations for treatment of telangiectasias are disclosed. The methods comprise topically applying a composition comprising an α-adrenergic receptor agonist to telangiectatic skin. Amelioration of telangiectasia symptoms begins within minutes after topical application of a disclosed composition. A single application can significantly lessen telangiectasia discoloration for at least about 2 hours.
US07838550B2
Processes for preparing sulfonamide trifluoroalkyl substituted alcohol compounds are provided. Desirably, the compounds are heterocyclic sulfonamide trifluoroalkyl substituted alcohol compounds or phenyl sulfonamide trifluoroalkyl substituted alcohol compounds.
US07838548B2
The present invention relates to compounds and methods useful in the prevention or treatment of diseases or conditions associated with Toll-like receptor 2 activation.
US07838545B2
Compounds of Formula 1 where the variables have the meaning defined in the specification are agonists of alpha2 adrenergic receptors. Several compounds of the disclosure are specific or selective to alpha2B and/or alpha2C adrenergic receptors in preference over alpha2A adrenergic receptors. Additionally some of the claimed compounds have no or only minimal cardiovascular and/or sedatory activity. The compounds of Formula 1 are useful as medicaments in mammals, including humans, for treatment of diseases and or alleviations of conditions which are responsive to treatment by agonists of alpha2 adrenergic receptors. Compounds of Formula 1 which have no significant cardiovascular and/or sedatory activity are useful for treating pain and other conditions with minimal side effects.
US07838542B2
The invention relates to compounds of the class of 2-carboxamide substituted indoles and methods for modulating one or more components of a kinase cascade. The compounds of the invention are useful for osteoporosis, hepatitis B, opthalmic disease, diabetes, athrosclerosis, obesity, chronic neuropathic pain, and stroke.
US07838527B2
Methods of treating cancer using 4-amino-5-fluoro-3-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]quinolin-2(1H)-one are provided. In particular, the methods are effective for the treatment of solid tumors or leukemias, including prostate, colorectal, breast, multiple myeloma, pancreatic, small cell carcinoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, or myelo-proliferative disease. Further provided are methods of measuring the amount of 4-amino-5-fluoro-3-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]quinolin-2(1H)-one and determining a metabolic profile therefore.
US07838523B2
At least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof is described herein. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one chemical entity of the invention, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle chosen from carriers adjuvants, and excipients, are described.Methods of treating patients suffering from certain diseases responsive to inhibition of Btk activity and/or B-cell activity are described. Methods for determining the presence of Btk in a sample are described.
US07838512B2
Methods and compositions for enhancing cancer cell death using therapeutically effective amounts of DNA damaging agent(s) that act in combination to enhance cancer cell death, e.g., nucleic acid precursors, and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, e.g., that inhibit EGFR activity. The agents and inhibitors are administered in an amount effective to kill cancer cells, that is, the combined effect is sufficient so that cancer cell death is enhanced. If not administered at the same time, the DNA damaging agent(s) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are administered close enough in time so they are still able to enhance cancer cell death. The methods and compositions are useful to treat neoplastic disease, e.g., pancreatic cancer.
US07838490B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for regulating vascular permeability. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for blocking proteins and signal transduction pathways involved in increasing vascular permeability.
US07838487B2
The present invention is directed to novel compounds of the structure and a method for enhancing a perfume composition by incorporating an olfactory acceptable amount of the compounds provided above.
US07838486B2
Methods and compositions for enhancing the score of an individual in a sport activity are disclosed.
US07838483B2
The invention relates to processes for producing and using amidoxime compounds with low trace metal impurities. The invention further relates to compositions comprising amidoxime compounds with low trace metal impurities, such compositions useful for cleaning or removing residues from semiconductor substrates and/or equipment.
US07838481B2
A formaldehyde-free cleaner composition and method of use for maintaining a blood analyzer are disclosed. The cleaner composition includes surfactants, a proteolytic enzyme, non-formaldehyde releasing antimicrobials, alkaline metal salts, and a buffer. The cleaner composition has a pH in a range from about 7 to about 12 and a formaldehyde concentration equal or less than 1 ppm.
US07838474B2
This invention encompasses lubricating oil compositions comprising a base oil, a biodiesel fuel and a detergent. The detergent can be a metal phenate detergent such as alkaline metal phenates. The lubricating oil compositions can further comprise at least one antiwear agent such as zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate compounds. Methods of making and using the lubricating oil compositions are also described.
US07838453B2
A ceramic powder contains a principal component that is a perovskite-type complex oxide represented by the formula ANbO3 (A is at least one selected from alkali metal elements and contains 10 mole percent or more of K) and also contains 0.0001 mole or more of an element per mole of the principal component. The element is at least one selected from the group consisting of Yb, Y, In, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy, Sm, Ho, Er, Tb, and Lu. The ceramic powder preferably further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, and Sn. This enables that a non-deliquescent alkali niobate-based ceramic powder is produced at a high yield.
US07838438B2
A dielectric layer, an MIM capacitor, a method of manufacturing the dielectric layer and a method of manufacturing the MIM capacitor. The method of manufacturing the dielectric layer includes chemically reacting a metal source with different amounts of an oxidizing agent based on the cycle of the chemical reactions in order to control leakage characteristics of the dielectric layer, the electrical characteristics of the dielectric layer, and the dielectric characteristics of the dielectric layer.
US07838436B2
Formation of a bottom electrode for an MTJ device on a silicon nitride substrate is facilitated by including a layer of ruthenium near the silicon nitride surface. The ruthenium is a good electrical conductor and it responds differently from Ta and TaN to certain etchants. Adhesion to SiN is enhanced by using a TaN/NiCr bilayer as “glue”. Thus, said included layer of ruthenium may be used as an etch stop layer during the etching of Ta and/or TaN while the latter materials may be used to form a hard mask for etching the ruthenium without significant corrosion of the silicon nitride surface.
US07838435B2
A method for forming a fine-pitch pattern on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes patterning the semiconductor substrate to form a plurality of fine lines, forming a thermal oxide layer on the fine lines, polishing the thermal oxide layer to expose a top surface of the fine lines; etching the fine lines using the thermal oxide layer as a mask to expose first portions of the semiconductor substrate, etching a central bottom portion of the thermal oxide layer to expose second portions of the semiconductor substrate, and etching the semiconductor substrate using the etched thermal oxide layer as a mask.
US07838433B2
A method and apparatus for process integration in manufacture of a photomask are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cluster tool suitable for process integration in manufacture of a photomask including a vacuum transfer chamber having coupled thereto at least one hard mask deposition chamber and at least one plasma chamber configured for etching chromium. In another embodiment, a method for process integration in manufacture of a photomask includes depositing a hard mask on a substrate in a first processing chamber, depositing a resist layer on the substrate, patterning the resist layer, etching the hard mask through apertures formed in the patterned resist layer in a second chamber; and etching a chromium layer through apertures formed in the hard mask in a third chamber.
US07838424B2
An improved Wafer-Level Chip-Scale Packaging (WLCSP) process is described that includes forming a plurality of conductive pillars on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer. One or more grooves are dry etched into the first surface of the semiconductor wafer, where the grooves define at least one boundary between each of a plurality of die within the semiconductor wafer. A layer of encapsulating material is deposited over the first surface. A recess is then cut in each of the grooves through the encapsulating material, where the cutting leaves a piece of semiconductor material on the second surface of the semiconductor wafer. The second surface is then ground to remove the piece of semiconductor material, where the removal of this material separates the plurality of die.
US07838423B2
Methods of forming capping structures on one or more different material surfaces are provided. One embodiment includes disposing a semiconductor structure in a reduced pressure chamber, forming a capping GCIB within the reduced pressure chamber, and directing the capping GCIB onto at least one of the one or more different material surfaces, so as to form at least one capping structure on the one or more surfaces onto which the capping GCIB is directed.
US07838418B2
Embodiments of a method for applying a thermal-interface material are described. During this method, a first surface of a heat-removal device and a second surface of a semiconductor die are prepared. Next, a region on a given surface, which is at least one of the first surface and the second surface, is defined. Then, the thermal-interface material is applied to at least the region, where the thermal-interface material includes a material that is a liquid metal over a range of operating temperatures of the semiconductor die.
US07838417B2
A semiconductor package includes a support plate made of an electrically non-conducting material. Electrical connection vias are formed outside a chip fixing region provided on the front face of the support plate. Electrical connection wires connect pads on a front of the chip to pads on the front of the support plate associated with the electrical connection vias. The front face of the support plate is further provided with at least one intermediate front layer made of a thermally conducting material extending at least partly below the chip. The rear face of the support plate is provided with at least one rear layer made of a thermally conducting material extending at least partly opposite the front layer. The front and rear layers are connected by vias made of a thermally conducting material that fills through-holes made through the plate.
US07838416B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a memory cell, which in turn includes an electrode and a phase change material. The electrode may be disposed on a substrate and include a sublithographic lateral dimension parallel to the substrate. The phase change material may be coupled to the electrode and include a lateral dimension parallel to the substrate and greater than the sublithographic lateral dimension of the electrode. Various semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods are also provided.
US07838413B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a phase-change memory in which the lower electrode of the phase-change memory device is formed using barrier metal for forming a metal interconnection and a via in damascene and dual damascene processes. The method includes the steps of patterning an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, sequentially forming barrier metal and metal on the patterned insulating layer, polishing the metal by a CMP process to planarize the metal and patterning the planarized barrier metal to a lower electrode of a desired phase-change memory device, depositing an insulating layer on the patterned lower electrode, forming a hole in the deposited insulating layer, and forming an upper electrode on the resultant material to pattern the upper electrode, and depositing an insulating layer on the upper electrode and forming a via for connecting a metal interconnection and the lower electrode to each other. Therefore, additional deposition for forming the lower electrode is not necessary. Also, copper (Cu) and copper alloy are used, interconnection resistance is reduced to be stabilized so that it is possible to improve the characteristic of the semiconductor device.
US07838398B2
In a method for producing epitaxially coated semiconductor wafers, a multiplicity of prepared, front side-polished semiconductor wafers are successively coated individually with an epitaxial layer on their polished front sides at temperatures of 800-1200° C. in a reactor, while supporting the prepared semiconductor wafer over a susceptor having a gas-permeable structure, on a ring placed on the susceptor which acts as a thermal buffer between the susceptor and the supported semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer resting on the ring, and its backside facing but not contacting the susceptor, so that gaseous substances are delivered from a region over the backside of the semiconductor wafer by gas diffusion through the susceptor into a region over the backside of the susceptor, the semiconductor wafer contacting the ring only in an edge region of its backside, wherein no stresses measurable by means of photoelastic stress measurement (“SIRD”) occur in the semiconductor wafer.
US07838397B2
In a laser annealing process: the first to fourth sections of a bandlike area of a nonmonocrystalline semiconductor film are consecutively scanned and irradiated with laser light so as to produce a fused region in the bandlike area, where the fourth section contains a portion required to have higher crystallinity than other portions of the bandlike area. In the first section, the width of the fused region is substantially uniform. In the second section, the width of the fused region is stepwise or continuously decreased from the width of the fused region in the first section. In the third section, the width of the fused region is stepwise or continuously increased from the width of the fused region at the boundary between the second and third sections. In the fourth section, the width of the fused region at the boundary between the third and fourth sections is substantially uniformly maintained.
US07838396B2
A semiconductor substrate is bonded to a joining face of a sheet and is dividable along predetermined dividing lines of the semiconductor substrate by expanding the sheet so as to form semiconductor chips. A bonding layer for bonding a substrate face of the semiconductor substrate and the joining face of the sheet to each other can be formed in each region encircled with the predetermined dividing lines, between the substrate face and the joining face of the sheet. Thus, when the substrate face of the semiconductor substrate and the joining face of the sheet are bonded to each other, the bonding layer does not reach any of the predetermined dividing lines set between the regions. The bonding layer can be formed in dotted segments or a pattern of lattice between the substrate face of the semiconductor substrate and the joining face of the sheet.
US07838393B2
The invention relates to a process for collective manufacturing of cavities and/or membranes (24), with a given thickness d, in a wafer said to be a semiconductor on insulator layer, comprising at least one semiconducting surface layer with a thickness d on an insulating layer, this insulating layer itself being supported on a substrate, this process comprising: etching of the semiconducting surface layer with thickness d, the insulating layer forming a stop layer, to form said cavities and/or membranes in the surface layer.
US07838388B2
Provided is a method for producing an SOI substrate having a thick-film SOI layer, in which an ion-implanted layer is formed by implanting at least one kind of ion of hydrogen ion and a rare gas ion into a surface of a bond wafer, an SOI substrate having an SOI layer is produced by, after the ion-implanted surface of the bond wafer and a surface of a base wafer are bonded together via an oxide film, delaminating the bond wafer along the ion-implanted layer, heat treatment is performed on the SOI substrate having the SOI layer in a reducing atmosphere containing hydrogen or an atmosphere containing hydrogen chloride gas, and, after the surface of the SOI layer is polished by CMP, a silicon epitaxial layer is grown on the SOI layer of the SOI substrate.
US07838387B2
A silicon wafer includes a principal face for forming electronic devices; an end region; and a tapered region which is located between the principal face and the end region, in which the thickness of the silicon wafer is gradually reduced, and which has a slope that makes an angle of greater than zero degree and less than 9.5 degrees or an angle of greater than 19 degrees with the principal face. An SOI wafer prepared by forming a buried oxide layer in a silicon wafer includes a principal face, end region, and tapered region that are substantially the same as those described above. A method for manufacturing an SOI wafer includes the steps of implanting oxygen ions into a silicon wafer; and heat-treating the resulting silicon wafer such that a buried oxide layer is formed in the silicon wafer.
US07838384B2
Methods, articles and design structures for capacitance circuits are provided disposing a lower vertical-native capacitor metal layer above a planar front-end-of-line semiconductor base substrate, planar metal bottom plates spaced a bottom plate distance from the base and top plates above the bottom plates spaced a top plate distance from the base defining metal-insulator-metal capacitors, top plate footprints disposed above the base substrate smaller than bottom plate footprints and exposing bottom plate remainder upper lateral connector surfaces; disposing parallel positive port and negative port upper vertical-native capacitor metal layers over and each connected to top plate and bottom plate upper remainder lateral connector surface. Moreover, electrical connecting of the first top plate and the second bottom plate to the positive port metal layer and of the second top plate and the first bottom to the negative port metal layer impart equal total negative port and positive port metal-insulator-metal capacitor extrinsic capacitance.
US07838381B2
The present teachings relate to a method of forming a container capacitor structure on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method comprises etching a recess in the substrate, depositing a first conductive layer on the substrate so as to overlie the substrate and the recess, depositing a filler layer so as to overlie the first conductive layer and fill the recess, and etching the first and second conductive layers so as to define a lower electrode within the recess. The method further comprises forming a cap layer on the lower electrode so as to overlie the first conductive layer and the filler layer and etching at least a portion of the substrate away from the lower electrode to thereby at least partially isolate the lower electrode. Subsequently, the remainder of the capacitor structure may be formed by depositing a dielectric layer on the lower electrode and depositing a second conductive layer on the dielectric layer so as to form an upper electrode.
US07838373B2
A process includes planarizing a microelectronic device that includes a gate stack and adjacent trench contacts. The process also includes removing a gate spacer at the gate stack and replacing the gate spacer with a dielectric that results in a lowered overlap capacitance between the gate stack and an adjacent embedded trench contact.
US07838362B2
The cell comprises a substrate having a drain region and a source region. An oxynitride layer is formed over the substrate. An embedded trap layer is formed over the oxynitride layer. An injector layer is formed over the embedded trap layer. A high dielectric constant layer is formed over the injector layer. A polysilicon control gate formed over the high dielectric constant layer. The cell can be formed in a planar architecture or a two element, split channel, three-dimensional device. The planar cell is formed with the high dielectric constant layer and the control gate being formed over and substantially around three sides of the embedded trap layer. The split channel device has a source line in the substrate under each trench and a bit line on either side of the trench.
US07838361B2
A method for fabricating a recess gate in a semiconductor device includes etching a silicon substrate to form a trench that defines an active region, forming a device isolation layer that gap-fills the trench, forming a hard mask layer over the silicon substrate, the hard mask layer comprising a stack of an oxide layer and an amorphous carbon layer, wherein the hard mask layer exposes a channel target region of the active region, and forming a recess region with a dual profile by first etching and second etching the channel target region using the hard mask layer as an etch barrier, wherein the second etching is performed after removing the amorphous carbon layer.
US07838360B2
A memory array with staggered local data/bit lines extending generally in a first direction formed in an upper surface of a substrate and memory cell access transistors extending generally upward and aligned generally atop a corresponding local data/bit line. Selected columns of the memory cell access transistors are sacrificed to define local data/bit access transistors which are interconnected with overlying low resistance global data/bit lines. The global data/bit lines provide selectable low resistance paths between memory cells and sense amplifiers. The sacrificed memory cell access transistors and staggered local data/bit lines provide increased footprints for sense amplifiers to facilitate increased circuit integration.
US07838358B2
An upper electrode of a capacitor has a two-layer structure of first and second upper electrodes. A gate electrode of a MOS field effect transistor and a fuse are formed by patterning conductive layers used to form the lower electrode, first upper electrode and second upper electrode of the capacitor. In forming a capacitor and a fuse on a semiconductor substrate by a conventional method, at least three etching masks are selectively used to pattern respective layers to form the capacitor and fuse before wiring connection. The number of etching masks can be reduced in manufacturing a semiconductor device having capacitors, fuses and MOS field effect transistors so that the number of processes can be reduced and it becomes easy to improve the productivity and reduce the manufacture cost.
US07838355B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit structure with field effect transistors having differing divot features at the isolation region-semiconductor body interfaces so as to provide optimal performance versus stability (i.e., optimal drive current versus leakage current) for logic circuits, analog devices and/or memory devices. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of forming the integrated circuit structure embodiments. These method embodiments incorporate the use of a cap layer pullback technique on select semiconductor bodies and subsequent wet etch process so as to avoid (or at least minimize) divot formation adjacent to some but not all semiconductor bodies.
US07838351B2
A thin film transistor manufacturing method includes the steps of: forming a gate electrode, gate insulating film and amorphous silicon film in succession on an insulating substrate; forming a channel protective film only in the region which will serve as a channel region of the amorphous silicon film; and forming an n-plus silicon film and metal layer on top of the channel protective film and amorphous silicon film in succession. The method further includes the step of patterning the amorphous silicon film and n-plus silicon film to selectively leave the region associated with source and drain electrodes, using the channel protective film as an etching stopper to selectively remove the region of the n-plus silicon film and metal layer associated with the channel region so as to form source and drain regions from the n-plus silicon film and also form source and drain electrodes from the metal layer.
US07838350B2
A bottom-gate thin film transistor having a silicide gate is described. This transistor is advantageously formed as SONOS-type nonvolatile memory cell, and methods are described to efficiently and robustly form a monolithic three dimensional memory array of such cells. The fabrication methods described avoid photolithography over topography and difficult stack etches of prior art monolithic three dimensional memory arrays of charge storage devices. The use of a silicide gate rather than a polysilicon gate allows increased capacitance across the gate oxide.
US07838347B2
According to one feature of the present invention, a display device is manufactured according to the steps of forming a semiconductor layer; forming a gate insulating layer over the semiconductor layer; forming a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer; forming source and drain electrode layers in contact with the semiconductor layer; forming a first electrode layer electrically connected to the source or drain electrode layer; forming an inorganic insulating layer over part of the first electrode layer, the gate electrode layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer; subjecting the inorganic insulating layer and the first electrode layer to plasma treatment; forming an electroluminescent layer over the inorganic insulating layer and the first electrode layer which are subjected to plasma treatment; and forming a second electrode layer over the electroluminescent layer.
US07838344B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes steps of forming an embedded channel 12 in a semiconductor substrate 11, forming a resist layer on the embedded channel 12 through an oxide film 14, exposing the resist layer using a grating mask the light transmissivity of which varies toward transfer directions of electric charges, developing the exposed resist layer to form a resist mask having a gradient, forming a first impurity region 13 having a concentration gradient by injecting ions into the embedded channel 12 through the resist mask, and arranging transfer electrodes 15 at prescribed positions on the first impurity region 13 through the oxide film 14 after removing the resist mask, wherein a potential profile becomes deeper toward the transfer directions of the electric charges.
US07838339B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of stamping to form features on a lead frame of a semiconductor device package. In one embodiment, portions of the lead frame such as pins are moved out of the horizontal plane of a diepad by stamping. In certain embodiments, indentations or a complex cross-sectional profile, such as chamfered, may be imparted to portions of the pins and/or diepad by stamping. The complexity offered by such a stamped cross-sectional profile serves to enhance mechanical interlocking of the lead frame within the plastic molding of the package body. Other techniques such as selective electroplating and/or formation of a brown oxide guard band to limit spreading of adhesive material during die attach, may be employed alone or in combination to facilitate fabrication of a package having such stamped features.
US07838330B1
A technique for creating high quality Schottky barrier devices in doped (e.g., Li+) crystalline metal oxide (e.g., ZnO) comprises field-controlled diffusion of mobile dopant atoms within the metal oxide crystal lattice. When heated (e.g., above 550 K) in the presence of an electric field (e.g., bias to ground of +/−50 V) the dopant atoms are caused to collect to form an ohmic contact, leaving a depletion region. The size of the depletion region controls the thickness of the Schottky barrier. Metal-semiconductor junction devices such as diodes, photo-diodes, photo-detectors, MESFETs, etc. may thereby be fabricated.
US07838328B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having flexibility by separating an element that is manufactured by a comparatively low-temperature (temperature of less than 500° C.) process from a substrate is provided. The element is separated from a glass substrate by the following steps: forming a silicone layer over a glass substrate; performing plasma treatment to the surface of the silicone layer to weaken the surface of the silicone layer; stacking an organic compound layer over the silicone layer; and forming an element that is manufactured through a process at a comparatively low-temperature, typically, a temperature that the organic compound can withstand, over the compound layer.
US07838324B2
A method of fabricating a neutron detection structure includes temporarily bonding a carrier to a passivated SOI SRAM wafer, removing a first substrate, depositing a conversion layer where at least a portion of the first substrate was removed, permanently bonding a second substrate to the conversion layer, removing the carrier, and providing at least one electrical contact to the device layer. A method of fabricating a neutron detection structure, corresponding to an alternate embodiment, includes temporarily bonding a carrier to a passivated SOI SRAM wafer, removing a first substrate, depositing a conversion layer onto a second substrate, permanently bonding the coated substrate where at least a portion of the first substrate was removed, removing the carrier, and providing at least one electrical contact to the device layer.
US07838301B2
A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay apparatus is provided, in which a flow channel, a sensing surface and an optical assay unit are used. The sensing surface is associated with the flow channel, and contacted by a sample in the flow channel. The optical assay unit applies illuminating light to the sensing surface in contact with the sample, and measures reaction of the sample according to the illuminating light being reflected. A fluid dispenser, after measuring the reaction of the binding, introduces washing fluid on the sensing surface to wash the sensing surface. A cleanliness evaluator, according to the assay signal in the washing, checks whether a regenerated state of the sensing surface is such that the sensing surface is regenerated to an initial state prior to the reaction of the binding. A controller ends up the washing if the sensing surface has been regenerated to the initial state.
US07838299B2
The invention relates to compounds, to the complexes they form with a lanthanide, and to the use of the complexes for fluorescence marking or NMR imaging. The complex consists of an Ln ion and a ligand R2—C(X—R1)(R3)—NR4R5. R1 is a functional group, X is a single bond or a hydrocarbon-based chain consisting of at least one alkylene or alkenylene group optionally comprising at least one hetero atom or an arylene. R2 is an anionic group A2 or a C1-C4 alkylene or alkenylene group bearing at least one such group A2 and optionally comprising at least one hetero atom. R3 is H or a C1-C5 alkylene or alkenylene group optionally containing at least one hetero atom, and optionally bearing at least one anionic group A3. R4 is a substituent with light-absorbing properties that forms chelate rings with Ln. R5 is a substituent that forms chelate rings with Ln.
US07838294B2
JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP-1), an inhibitor of the JNK1 protein, and methods of treating a pathological condition or of preventing the occurrence of a pathological condition in a patient by the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of JIP-1 polypeptides, peptides, peptide mimetics, or nucleic acids are described.
US07838288B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides capable of promoting odorant receptor cell surface localization and odorant receptor functional expression. The present invention further provides assays for the detection of ligands specific for various odorant receptors. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of screening for odorant receptor accessory protein polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states, as well as methods of screening for therapeutic agents, ligands, and modulators of such proteins.
US07838271B2
The present invention provides for microorganisms capable of tolerating acetonitrile concentrations of at least 3 M, enzyme extracts obtainable from these microorganisms, a nitrile hydratase obtainable from these microorganisms, a method for preparing amides using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom, and a method for removing acetonitrile from solutions using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom.
US07838270B2
The present invention comprises novel methods, compositions and kits that use N4 vRNAP deletion mutants to detect and quantify analytes comprising one or multiple target nucleic acid sequences, including target sequences that differ by as little as one nucleotide or non-nucleic acid analytes, by detecting a target sequence tag that is joined to an analyte-binding substance. The method consists of an annealing process, a DNA ligation process, an optional DNA polymerase extension process, a transcription process, and, optionally, a detection process.
US07838265B2
Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNA's, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNA's/synthetases are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins using these orthogonal pairs.
US07838242B2
The present disclosure relates to the isolation of a novel reagent selected for its binding characteristics to the proteins internalin B or internalin A. InIB is a surface-localized protein of Listeria monocytogenes that binds and activates the receptor tyrosine kinase Met. InIB promotes invasion of a number of cells including hepatocytes, endothelial and epithelial cell lines and causes activation of the actin-mediated internalization of the bacterium. InIA belongs to a large group of surface-localized leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins identified in the Listeria genome. InIA enables Listeria monocytogenes to invade non-phagocytic cells such as those of the human intestinal epithelium and is sufficient for adhesion to and inducing uptake into epithelial cells. The disclosed nucleic acid ligands to internalin B and internalin A may be useful for determining the presence or absence of internalin B, internalin A, or Listeria in food, clinical or environmental samples; they may also be useful as an agent for combating Listeria infection by binding to and inactivating the infection-promoting inlB or inlA proteins. One object is to incorporate these nucleic acid ligands into an in vitro diagnostic or biosensor platform designed to detect the presence or absence of internalin B, internalin A, or Listeria in food, clinical or environmental samples. Another object is to employ these nucleic acid ligands in methods for treating or preventing Listeria infection.
US07838238B2
The present invention elucidated the interaction between host-side factors and HIV particles, and provided a method for screening anti-HIV-1 drug targeting a new host-side factor. Furthermore, the present invention provided a new diagnostic method of AIDS based on the interaction.
US07838234B2
Described herein are methods and compositions for determining whether a particular cancer is resistant to or susceptible to a histone deacetylase inhibitor or to histone deacetylase inhibitors. The methods include analysis of the expression levels of at least four biomarker genes associated with response to a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Also described herein are methods and compositions for increasing the likelihood of a therapeutically effective treatment in a patient, comprising an analysis of the expression levels of at least four biomarker genes associated with response to a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Also described herein are isolated populations of nucleic acids derived from a cancer sensitive to or resistant to a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Further described are kits and indications that are optionally used in conjunction with the aforementioned methods and compositions.
US07838231B2
The present invention relates to Nephronophthisis, in particular to the NPHP6 protein (nephrocystin-6) and nucleic acids encoding the NPHP6 protein. The present invention also provides assays for the detection of NPHP6, and assays for detecting NPHP6 polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states.
US07838212B2
A cartridge comprising: a container having a lower end; an aqueous suspension of dinoflagellates contained in the container; a gas port operatively coupled to the container, the port capable of directing a gas into the aqueous suspension in the lower end of the container; a gas vent operatively coupled to the container; and a shipping seal operatively coupled to the container to prevent the aqueous suspension from exiting the container.
US07838204B2
A large mask with random apertures may be formed by forming a smaller mask (also called a cell mask) with a random pattern of transmissive apertures which is then repeatedly replicated to create the large mask. The random pattern may be created by perturbing the aperture locations by a small amount or the apertures may be randomly placed within the cell mask provided certain criteria are met. Alternatively, a large mask with a random pattern of transmissive apertures may be formed without using a cell mask. This large mask may be used to fabricate diffusers and other devices that do not suffer from the interference, diffraction and other optical effects common in devices having structures that are non-randomly patterned.
US07838190B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member having excellent electrophotographic properties, a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. The surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a polymer having a specific repeating structural unit and fluorine-atom-containing resin particles. The fluorine-atom-containing particles in the surface layer are dispersed so as to be provided with particle sizes almost up to those of primary particles.
US07838182B2
A container is adapted to receive a mask blank having a resist film and includes a container body having an upper opening and a cap put on the container body. The container body has an opening edge provided with an annular elastic member made of polyolefin elastomer or the like and extending throughout entire circumference. When the cap is put on the container body, the elastic member is interposed at a joint portion between the cap and the container body to hermetically seal the container.
US07838179B2
In a method for fabricating a photo mask, first resist patterns are formed on a transparent substrate where a light blocking layer and a phase shift layer are formed. Line widths of the first resist patterns are measured to define a region requiring a line width correction. Second resist patterns exposing the defined region are formed on the first resist patterns. The line width of the light blocking layer is corrected by over-etching the exposed light blocking layer to a predetermined thickness. The second resist patterns are removed. Phase shift patterns and light blocking patterns are formed using the first resist patterns as an etch mask. Then, the first resist patterns are removed.
US07838176B2
A photo mask and the method for fabricating the same wherein the photo mask includes: a mask substrate; a frame pattern formed along a contour of a target pattern to be transcribed to a wafer on the mask substrate, which includes a first pattern arranged in the aperture orientation of an illuminating system and a second pattern arranged perpendicularly to the aperture orientation of the illuminating system; and a third pattern disposed in a inner region of the frame pattern, which has the same transmittance as the second pattern.
US07838172B2
A composite porous body, a gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a cell member for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The composite porous body is a metallic composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. The gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. Also, the gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a separator plate, and the conductive porous body placed on at least one surface of the separator plate. A resin frame is integrally provided so as to cover the peripheries of separator plate and the conductive porous body.
US07838161B2
A reformer that directly receives heat and performs an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction. The reformer includes: a reforming reactor to reform hydrogen containing fuel into reformed gas having abundant hydrogen by performing an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction; a heat source contacting one side of the reforming reactor and providing the reforming reactor with heat; and an air feeder to feed the reforming reactor with air by an air flow control unit. Thus, the ATR catalyst reaction featuring a relatively short preheating time is performed while the reformer is initially operated, so that hydrogen can be produced when the reformer is initially operated, thereby efficiently operating a fuel cell.
US07838157B2
A fuel cell system capable of proper driving even at times of low temperature, below freezing or the like. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, piping, a pressure regulator, and a control unit. The piping discharges hydrogen or air that is used in electricity generation from the fuel cell stack. The pressure regulator regulates pressure of gases which are supplied and discharged to and from the fuel cell stack in accordance with the size of a load. The control unit judges whether or not there is a likelihood of the pressure regulator freezing, and when it is judged that there is a likelihood of freezing, prohibits a degree of openness of the pressure regulator from going below a predetermined degree of openness.
US07838156B2
A thickener for use in an alkaline battery provides a gel viscosity ratio (N1h/N12h) of 0.7 to 1.3, the gel viscosity ratio (N1h/N12h) being a ratio of a viscosity (N1h) of a gel after being left to stand for one hour to a viscosity (N12h) of the gel after being left to stand for twelve hours (where the gel viscosity is a viscosity of a gel composed of 2.0 parts by weight of the thickener, 200 parts by weight of zinc powder, and 100 parts by weight of 37 wt % aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, measured at 40° C. according to JIS K7117-1: 1999). An alkaline battery having a negative electrode gel in which the thickener of the present invention is used is provided. The alkaline battery exhibits improved long-term retention of discharge characteristics (discharge amount and discharge time), and improved impact resistance.
US07838151B2
A positive electrode active material including lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and a transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state is used. As the transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state, for example, one or both of tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) can be used. As the positive electrode active material including a plurality of materials as mentioned above, LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 can be used. As a negative electrode, a carbon material or a silicon material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions can be used.
US07838150B2
A nonaqueous lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein: 1) the positive electrode comprises a porous carbonaceous material whose BET specific surface area is at least 500 m2/g, or a mixture of a porous carbonaceous material whose BET specific surface area is at least 500 m2/g and a material capable of electrochemically occluding and releasing lithium; and 2) the negative electrode comprises a carbonaceous material whose BET specific surface area is 20 to 1000 m2/g.
US07838147B2
The invention provides an electrode which can improve cycle characteristics by reducing structural destruction of an active material layer and reaction between the active material layer and an electrolyte according to charge and discharge, and a battery using it. A current collector made of a metal material containing a metal element which does not form an intermetallic compound with Li, such as Cu, Ni, Ti, Fe, and Cr; the active material layer containing Si, Ge, or an alloy thereof, and a thin film layer made of a metal material containing at least one of metal elements and metalloid elements which can make a solid solution with lithium and do not form an intermetallic compound with lithium, e.g. Cu, Ni are layered in this order. The current collector is alloyed with the active material layer, and the thin film layer is alloyed with the active material layer.
US07838143B2
A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 9 kg/cm2. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. More preferably, the first conductive plate includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end. More preferably, the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld. A battery, preferably a lithium-ion battery, comprises a CID as described above. A method of manufacturing such a CID comprises forming first and second conductive plates as described above, and welding the second conductive plate onto the first conductive plate while a temperature of the first conductive plate is controlled so as not to exceed the melting point of a surface of the first conductive plate opposite the weld.
US07838135B2
A novel heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium and the fabrication method therefor are provided. The exchange coupling effect occurring at the interface of FePt/CoTb double layers is adopted, and thus the resulting magnetic flux would be sufficient enough to be detected and readout under the room temperature. The provided HAMR medium exhibits a relatively high saturation magnetization and perpendicular coercivity, and thus possesses a great potential for the ultra-high density recording application.
US07838124B2
Preservative compositions for wood products are described. The compositions include at least one boron-containing material, such as but not limited to boric anhydride, and at least one silane-containing material, such as but not limited to methyltrichlorosilane. Optionally, at least one solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, pentane, or water, may also be employed in the compositions. The compositions impart protection to the treated wood products, especially damage caused by exposure to water and insects.
US07838116B2
An extremely durable, stable and fast-curing elastomeric composition suitable for coating all types of architectural and decorative glass is disclosed.
US07838108B2
A nano-cellular polymer foam is disclosed, which has an average pore size from about 10 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; and a foam density that is from about 1 percent to about 50 percent of the bulk density of the material of the nano-cellular foam.
US07838104B2
Disclosed is a multilayer film or sheet, which comprises at least one vapor barrier layer and at least one vapor transmission-adjusting layer wherein the vapor transmission-adjusting layer comprises a neutralized acid copolymer or ionomer thereof, an organic acid, and optionally other polymers, having a ratio of wet cup permeance to dry cup permeance greater than 10. The vapor barrier layer comprises ethylene polymer, propylene polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, polyester, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, PVC, or combinations of two or more thereof. The film is useful as a variable vapor barrier for moisture control of buildings. Also disclosed are articles comprising the multilayer film.
US07838092B2
A gas barrier film comprising a gas barrier laminate on a substrate film, in which the gas barrier laminate comprises at least one three-layer unit consisting of a silicon oxynitride layer, a silicon oxide layer, and a silicon oxynitride layer disposed in this order.
US07838090B2
Disclosed are dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media containing a dielectrically positive component, component A, which contains one or more dielectrically positive compounds of formulae IA, IB and IC: and optionally a second dielectrically positive component, component B, containing one or more dielectrically positive compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of greater than 3, and optionally a dielectrically neutral component, component C, and liquid-crystal displays containing these media, especially active-matrix displays and in particular TN, IPS and FFS displays.
US07838089B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining good display characteristics and good response characteristics is provided. A liquid crystal material being a paraelectric material, the liquid crystal material includes: a liquid crystal molecule exhibiting a nematic liquid crystal phase at room temperature and including one or more cyclic structures; and a bent-shaped molecule including cyclic structures which are large in number compared to the cyclic structures included in the liquid crystal molecule.
US07838086B2
A method for processing a substrate is provided. The substrate is placed in a process chamber. A gas is provided from a gas source to the process chamber. A plasma is generated from the gas in the process chamber. The gas flows through a gap adjacent to at least one confinement ring to provide physical confinement of the plasma. Magnetic confinement of the plasma is provided to enhance the physical confinement of the plasma.
US07838085B2
An apparatus for coating surfaces of a workpiece configured to establish a pressure gradient within internal passageways through the workpiece, so that the coating within the internal passageways exhibits intended characteristics, such as those relating to smoothness or hardness. The coating apparatus may include any or all of a number of cooperative systems, including a plasma generation system, a manipulable workpiece support system, an ionization excitation system configured to increase ionization within or around the workpiece, a biasing system for applying a selected voltage pattern to the workpiece, and a two-chamber system that enables the plasma generation to take place at a first selected pressure and the deposition to occur at a second selected pressure.
US07838084B2
The invention includes atomic layer deposition methods of depositing an oxide on a substrate. In one implementation, a substrate is positioned within a deposition chamber. A first species is chemisorbed onto the substrate to form a first species monolayer within the deposition chamber from a gaseous precursor. The chemisorbed first species is contacted with remote plasma oxygen derived at least in part from at least one of O2 and O3 and with remote plasma nitrogen effective to react with the first species to form a monolayer comprising an oxide of a component of the first species monolayer. The chemisorbing and the contacting with remote plasma oxygen and with remote plasma nitrogen are successively repeated effective to form porous oxide on the substrate. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07838077B2
This invention is generally related to a method of making a molecule-surface interface comprising at least one surface comprising at least one material and at least one organic group wherein the organic group is adjoined to the surface and the method comprises contacting at least one organic group precursor with at least one surface wherein the organic group precursor is capable of reacting with the surface in a manner sufficient to adjoin the organic group and the surface.
US07838075B2
A method for strengthening a surface of a metal member. The method includes the following steps in the sequence set forth: (a) coating the surface of the metal member with a carbon-based film having a thickness of not smaller than 0.2 μm; and (b) repeatedly applying a pressing force onto the surface of the film-coated metal member in a condition of maintaining a contact pressure of not lower than 2.5 GPa at the surface of the film-coated metal member.
US07838072B2
An adaptive real time thermal processing system is presented that includes a multivariable controller. The method includes creating a dynamic model of the MLD processing system and incorporating virtual sensors in the dynamic model. The method includes using process recipes comprising intelligent set points, dynamic models, and/or virtual sensors.
US07838067B2
An information-storage media is provided that includes: (a) a substrate disk 312 having first and second opposing surfaces; (b) a first selected layer 304 on the first surface, the first selected layer having a first thickness; (c) a second selected layer 308 on the second surface, the second selected layer having a second thickness, wherein the first and second selected layers have a different chemical composition than the substrate disk; and (d) an information-storage layer 412 adjacent to one or both of the selected layers. The first and second thicknesses are different to provide an unequal stress distribution across the cross-section of the media.
US07838063B2
Provided is a process for preparing an absorption layer of a solar cell composed of a 1B-3A-Se compound, comprising applying a metal selenide nanoparticle as a precursor material to a base material and subjecting the applied nanoparticle to thermal processing, whereby the crystal size of the 1B-3A-Se compound can be increased as compared to a conventional method using a metal in the form of an oxide as a precursor material, consequently resulting in an enhanced efficiency of the solar cell, and the manufacturing process can be simplified with omission of hydrogen reduction and selenidation processes.
US07838061B2
Disclosed herein is a method of fabricating a high temperature superconducting film in a vacuum chamber through auxiliary cluster beam spraying using an evaporation method, wherein a high temperature superconducting material is deposited on a substrate in a vapor state by evaporating the high temperature superconducting material, and at the same time, a cluster beam material is formed into gas atoms by heating the cluster beam material charged in a housing, and the formed gas atoms pass through a nozzle of an inlet of the housing and then are sprayed and grown on the substrate in the form of the cluster beam, thereby forming pinning centers in the high temperature superconducting film.
US07838055B2
The present invention relates to a microcrystallized polyol comprising at least two polyols, wherein said polyols are selected from the group consisting of maltitol, xylitol and lactitol and wherein said composition contains at least 25% by weight of each of at least two of said polyols microcrystallized together into a solid microcrystalline product. The present invention also relates to a process for the microcrystallization of polyols into a polyol composition. The microcrystallized polyol composition can be used in confectionery, foodstuffs, oral hygiene products and pharmaceuticals and in dietetic products.
US07838053B2
According to the invention, there is provided null-LOX-1 barley and plant products produced thereof, such as malt manufactured by using barley kernels defective in synthesis of the fatty acid-converting enzyme lipoxygenase-1. Said enzyme accounts for the principal activity related to conversion of linoleic acid into 9-hydroperoxy octadecadienoic acid, a lipoxygenase pathway metabolite, which-through further enzymatic or spontaneous reactions-may lead to the appearance of trans-2-nonenal. The invention enables brewers to produce a beer devoid of detectable trans-2-nonenal-specific off flavors, even after prolonged storage of the beverage.
US07838052B2
A method of producing a pine cone extract and the pine cone extract produced there from, wherein the pine cone extract is useful in increasing the effects of nucleic acid vaccines and medicaments; and useful in the production of phenotypically immature and/or mature dendritic and/or fibrocyte cells.
US07838046B2
Plant extracts obtainable by extracting various plant materials with an alkaline agent, methods for preparing such extracts, compositions comprising such extracts, and methods for using the extracts or compositions thereof are described.
US07838041B2
The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of multiple myeloma. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for inducing apoptosis in myeloma cells by administration of a K121-like antibody.
US07838040B2
Disclosed is a method for regenerating articular cartilage in an animal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a non-demineralized particulate articular cartilage having a distribution of particle sizes within the range of from about 60 microns to about 500 microns.
US07838039B2
Provided are methods of applying biological compositions, that is, autologous bioadhesive sealant compositions containing one or more biological agents, to an individual, wherein all the blood components used in preparing the composition are derived from the patient who is to receive the biological composition. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a whole blood sample from an individual; forming an inactive platelet rich plasma from the whole blood sample; mixing a biological agent into the inactive platelet rich plasma; obtaining thrombin from the whole blood sample; mixing the thrombin into the inactive platelet rich plasma to form a biological composition; and applying the biological composition to the individual.
US07838031B2
A method for providing partial doses of a drug or drugs is disclosed. The method includes breaking of a tablet configured to have an active layer as a first segment and an inactive support layer or substrate as a second segment, or breaking a layered tablet through a first active segment which is deeply or completely scored.
US07838030B2
The present invention relates to solid dietary and/or nutraceutic pharmaceutical compositions for oral use based on SAMe, or salts thereof, in combination with inositol and/or derivatives thereof and to a process for their preparation.The present invention relates to a method of stabilising a solid composition for oral use based on SAMe or salts thereof, making use of inositol and/or derivatives thereof with the addition of magnesium oxide.
US07838026B2
A composition comprising a high molecular weight, water soluble polymer having a cloud point from about 20 to about 90° C. and at least one carrageenan is provided. The composition may be used as a component of a pharmaceutical dosage form, such as the shell of a dosage form, to provide burst release of active ingredient contained therein.
US07838023B2
The invention provides novel furoxan compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and novel compositions comprising at least one compound, and, optionally, at least one nitric oxide enhancing compound and/or at least one therapeutic agent. The compounds and compositions of the invention can also be bound to a matrix. The invention also provides methods for (a) treating cardiovascular diseases; (b) inhibiting platelet aggregation and platelet adhesion caused by the exposure of blood to a medical device; (c) treating pathological conditions resulting from abnormal cell proliferation; (d) treating transplantation rejections, (e) treating autoimmune, inflammatory, proliferative, hyperproliferative or vascular diseases; (f) reducing scar tissue or for inhibiting wound contraction; (g) treating diseases resulting from oxidative stress; (h) treating endothelial dysfunctions; and (j) treating diseases caused by endothelial dysfunctions.
US07838013B2
The currently used method for immunological diagnosis of tuberculosis infection, the tuberculin skin test, is problematic for a number of reasons; it has low specificity in BCG vaccinated individuals, a high interobserver variance and requires skill to be read and interpreted. Furthermore it requires an extra visit to the clinic to have the test read. Both people vaccinated with BCG and those exposed to non-tuberculosis mycobacteria give a positive skin test result similar to that seen in a TB infected individual. This also applies for purified protein derivative (PPD) when used in a blood cell based test. The present invention discloses the development of an immunological TB diagnostic tool based on a combination of epitopes from proteins encoded by regions of the M. tuberculosis (M. tub.) genome, that are not present in the BCG vaccine strain or in the most common non-tuberculosis mycobacteria.
US07838003B2
The invention provides BASB205 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB205 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.
US07838001B2
Synthetic peptides of the monomer type with 13 to 33 amino acids, in linear form or in a form cyclized by means of inter-cysteine disulphide bridges, have the general formula (I): Δ-Z-TrpGlyCys-Θ-CysTyrThrSer-Ω (I) wherein Δ is a biotinyl radical, a biocytinyl radical, a hydrogen atom, an acetyl (CH3CO—) radical, an aliphatic chain which may contain one or two thiol, an aldehyde functional group, or an amine functional group, Z represents peptide sequence -Ξ1-Ser-Ξ2-, -Ξ1-Gln-Ξ2-, or -Ξ1-Asn-Ξ2-, wherein -Ξ1 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 9 amino acids and -Ξ2 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 5 amino acids, Θis -Arg Gly Arg Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 15), -Arg Gly Arg Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 16), -Arg Gly Lys Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 17), -Arg Gly Lys Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 18), -Lys Gly Arg Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 19), or -Lys Gly Arg Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 20), Ω, attached to the —CO— group of serine, is a hydroxyl (—OH) radical, an amino (—NH2) radical, an alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a peptide sequence of formula Val-Σ-Ψ wherein Σ represents a sequence of formula -(AA1)-Trp Asn-(AA2)-(AA3) wherein (AA1) represents an amino acid different from lysine, (AA2) represents an amino acid, and (AA3) is serine or a threonine residue, and Ψ, attached to the —CO— residue of the free AA3 amino acid, is OH, NH2, or an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a peptide sequence of formula -Val-Ψ wherein Ψ, attached to the —CO— residue of valine, is OH, NH2, or an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US07838000B2
Disclosed are treatment agents and methods of treatment utilizing the agents directed toward diseases in which the disease causing pathogen includes α6β1 integrin receptors and/or α6β4 integrin receptors on the surface of the pathogen. In one embodiment, the disease can be breast cancer. The therapeutic agents disclosed include a polypeptide comprising at least a portion of the G domain of the laminin-5 α3 chain that has been shown to bind α6β1 integrin receptors and α6β4 integrin receptors. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agents can be fused or chimeric materials in which the laminin-5 α3 chain polypeptide has been chemically bound to another material that can be useful in the destruction or neutralization of the pathogen.
US07837992B2
A mutant prourokinase plasminogen activator (M5) was developed to make prouPA less subject to spontaneous activation during fibrinolysis. C1-inhibitor complexes with tcM5. The effect of C1-inhibitor on fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis by M5 was determined. Supplemental C1-inhibitor restores the stability of M5 but not that of prouPA. Clot lysis by M5 with supplemental C1-inhibitor showed no attenuation of the rate of fibrinolysis, whereas fibrinogenolysis was prevented by C1-inhibitor. Due to higher dose tolerance of M5 with C1-inhibitor, the rate of fibrin-specific lysis reached that achievable by nonspecific fibrinolysis without inhibitor. Plasma C1-inhibitor stabilized M5 in plasma by inhibiting tcM5 and thereby non-specific plasminogen activation. At the same time, fibrin-specific plasminogen activation remained unimpaired. This unusual dissociation of effects has significant implications for improving the safety and efficacy of fibrinolysis. Methods of reducing bleeding and non-specific plasminogen activation during fibrinolysis by administering M5 along with exogenous C1-inhibitor are disclosed.
US07837978B2
A process for directly preparing aluminum-containing molecular sieve SSZ-26 using a structure directing agent comprising a cis-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation or mixture of a cis-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation and a trans-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation.
US07837975B2
A process for producing hydrogen, comprising the steps of: (a) gasifying a fuel into a raw synthesis gas comprising CO, hydrogen, steam and sulfur and halide contaminants in the form of H2S, COS and HX, where X is a halide; (b) passing the raw synthesis gas through a water gas shift reactor (WGSR) into which CaO and steam are injected, the CaO reacting with the shifted gas to remove CO2, sulfur and halides in a solid-phase calcium-containing product comprising CaCO3, CaS and CaX2; (c) separating the solid-phase calcium-containing product from an enriched gaseous hydrogen product; and (d) regenerating the CaO by calcining the solid-phase calcium-containing product at a condition selected from the group consisting of: in the presence of steam, in the presence of CO2, in the presence of synthesis gas, in the presence of H2 and O2, under partial vacuum, and combinations thereof. The CaO may have a surface area of at least 12.0 m2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.015 cm3/g, the CaO having a sorption capacity of at least about 70 grams of CO2 per kilogram of CaO.
US07837968B2
A carbon nanosphere has at least one opening. The carbon nanosphere is obtained by preparing a carbon nanosphere and treating it with an acid to form the opening. The carbon nanosphere with at least one opening has higher utilization of a surface area and electrical conductivity and lower mass transfer resistance than a conventional carbon nanotube, thus allowing for higher current density and cell voltage with a smaller amount of metal catalyst per unit area of a fuel cell electrode.
US07837963B2
A method to efficiently reduce lead content of cement without exerting influence upon quality of the cement. The method comprises the steps of: controlling O2 concentration of combustion gas in an inlet end of a cement kiln to 5% or lower and/or CO concentration thereof 1000 ppm or more; extracting a part of combustion gas from the cement kiln and collecting dust contained in the combustion gas; and collecting lead from the dust collected. With this, the area where raw material temperature in the cement kiln is between 800° and 1100° can be turned into reducing atmosphere to sharply increase volatilization rate of lead, and collection of lead from the dust allows lead content of cement to efficiently be reduced without exerting influence upon quality of the cement.
US07837962B2
A method of reducing particulate matter and mercury emissions in a combustion flue gas includes, in an exemplary embodiment, combusting a fuel resulting in generation a flue gas flow, cooling the flue gas flow within a duct, positioning a flow conditioning apparatus within the duct, enhancing a reaction rate of the mercury and carbon-containing fly ash particles by directing the flue gas flow through the flow conditioning apparatus to mix the carbon-containing fly ash particles and mercury within the flue gas flow and to facilitate at least one of oxidation of the mercury and binding the mercury to the carbon-containing fly ash particles, collecting a portion of the carbon-containing fly ash particles in the flow conditioning apparatus, and directing the flue gas flow to a particulate collection device to remove the remaining portion of the fly ash particles from flue gas flow.
US07837958B2
The present invention is a system for and method of providing an autonomously mobile air purifier and surface cleaner in combination with a source of air fragrance in a single device for home or office use. The autonomously mobile air and surface cleaner and fragrancing system includes an air purifier, a fragrancer, a floor cleaner, an input means, a power system, operational and auxiliary sensors, robotics that drive and steer the device, and a central controller operatively connected to each of the aforementioned items to control the operation of the device. The present invention also provides a method for the operation of the device using the air purifier, fragrancer, floor cleaner and robotics to clean a room, and for modifying the operation of the device in response to signals sent from the sensors or from the input means.
US07837955B2
A continuous process and related system for producing high purity silica are disclosed. The process and system utilize a unique high temperature rotary reactor which excludes oxygen. The use of one or more anoxic gases is described, that upon administration into the system promote the exclusion of oxygen.
US07837953B2
Provided are improved carbon monoxide removal articles and processes for treating hydrogen gas streams to achieve very low threshold levels of carbon monoxide. The articles have a substrate with an inlet end, an outlet end, a length extending between the inlet end to the outlet end, wall elements and a plurality of cells defined by the wall elements. A first layer is deposited on the wall elements from the inlet end and extending at least partially toward the outlet end. The first layer has a preferential carbon monoxide oxidation catalyst. A second layer contains a methanation catalyst, and is deposited on at least part of the first layer from the outlet end. The second layer has a length that is about 10-70% of the substrate length.
US07837952B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for removing hydrogen peroxide from a liquid media. This is accomplished by adding an oxidizable metal to the photoreactive slurry. The oxidizable metal is then oxidized, which then causes the oxidized metal particles to bond to the particles of photoreactive slurry to create oxidized metal catalyst particles. Once bonded to the slurry particles, the metal remains in the decontamination system and its presence destabilizes and catalyzes the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide in the contaminated media. Once destabilized, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen particles, which are not detrimental to the operation of the system. The oxygen molecules may be vented from the system, while the water molecules simply mix with the liquid media flowing through the system. The photoreactive slurry and the oxidized metal are recovered and recycled so as not to have to be continuously replenished.
US07837951B2
An ozone generator for providing ozone enriched air that comprises a body for defining a chamber for air flow therethrough and an ultraviolet lamp disposed in said chamber for irradiating the air passing through said chamber to convert oxygen molecules to ozone molecules. The device further comprises an air inlet for introducing air and a diffuser for diffusing the introduced air about said lamp. The diffuser has an annular flange with a plurality of apertures therein, said annular flange extending inwardly from a cylindrical portion encircling the annular flange, the cylindrical portion abutting and extending from the annular wall. The device further comprises an air outlet for discharging ozone enriched air.
US07837946B2
A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyzes. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyzes requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyzes.
US07837944B2
A flow unit for microfluidic particles separation and concentration is disclosed. The unit comprises a nozzle segment, a turn segment, and a diffuser segment. The nozzle segment is defined by a first member and a second member, and has an opening through which fluid and microfluidic particles enter. The nozzle segment has a narrowing portion at which the first and second members narrow from the opening to increase momentum of the fluid therethrough. The turn segment is defined by the first member flaring outwardly downstream from the narrowing portion to change flow direction of the fluid consistent with the first member. The diffuser segment is defined by the second member extending past the turn segment to facilitate separation of the microfluidic particles from the fluid due to the inability to follow the fluid flow.
US07837938B2
A system and method for measuring substance concentrations is provided. The system has a test strip container for receiving a test strip(s). The container has a sealing device, a counter device that counts a number of opening processes of the sealing device, a data carrier that stores batch-specific data of the test strip(s), a data transmission device for wireless transmission of the data and of the number. An analysis module has a device for measuring substance concentrations by the test strip(s), and a data-receiving device for wireless reception of the data from the data transmission device and of the number. The method records the number and stores the number on the data carrier; sends data and the number by wireless transmission to the analysis module, and determines a substance concentration by the test strip(s). Also or instead, the counter device counts a time duration of the opening processes.
US07837937B2
A biological agent detector detects the presence of any biological agents, such as anthrax or other biological warfare agents, in a sample of air. The biological agent detector includes a bio-concentrator that concentrates an aerosol and a pyrolyzer portion including two detecting devices. One detecting device operates in a sample collection mode and collects a sample of air when the other detecting device operates in a sample analysis mode and analyzes a sample of air. After a predetermined amount of time, the detecting devices switch functions, providing continuous sampling of air.
US07837931B2
A corrosion inhibitor package containing an acetylenic amine or acetylenic alcohol enables a sulfur-free method for protecting metal tubulars and equipment. The package has particular applicability in the protection of carbon steel tubulars in high density brines at elevated temperatures. The corrosion inhibitor package may contain a transition metal oxide as a corrosion inhibitor intensifier.
US07837929B2
Molybdenum titanium sputter targets are provided. In one aspect, the targets are substantially free of the β(Ti, Mo) alloy phase. In another aspect, the targets are substantially comprised of single phase β(Ti, Mo) alloy. In both aspects, particulate emission during sputtering is reduced. Methods of preparing the targets, methods of bonding targets together to produce large area sputter targets, and films produced by the targets, are also provided.
US07837925B2
A method of drilling holes in a component made of a ceramic matrix composite with a laser beam. The method includes: a percussion first step during which an initial hole having an initial diameter and a hole axis is drilled; a trepanning second step during which an intermediate hole, coaxial with the initial hole and having a larger diameter than that of the initial hole, is drilled by shifting the laser beam and then making it rotate about the hole axis; and a third step during which the focal point of the laser beam is moved along the hole axis and then pulses are triggered, to obtain a final hole.
US07837920B2
A forming method using a pressing and injection-molding multifunction die for forming a metal-resin molded product by integrating metal with resin, includes: forming a resin-molded portion on the metal; and performing, after the resin-molded portion is formed on the metal, at least one of a pressing process and an injection-molding process on the metal in the state in which the metal-resin molded product is supported by only the resin.
US07837915B2
The invention provides an injection molding process, in which a gate is cut off within a mold in resin molding to obtain a good gate-cut surface, as well as a resin molded product and a resin molding mold. In the injection molding process, a cutting pin, which is connected to a cutting pin working plate provided in parallel with a driving device or an ejector plate provided in a mold, slides on a mold parting line between a fixed-side block, on which corner cutting or a R shape is provided at the approach port, and a movable-side block opposed to the fixed-side block. The wall thickness of a compression shape portion opposed to the cutting pin is larger than that of a gate and a product shape portion. The cutting pin compresses a resin in this portion toward the product shape portion at predetermined timing to cut off the gate portion and integrate the resin with the product shape.
US07837909B2
Mesostructured inorganic-organic materials, in the form of patterned films, monoliths, and fibers, can be prepared with controllable orientational ordering over macroscopic length scales. They are synthesized by controlling solvent removal rates across material interfaces, in conjunction with the rates of surfactant self-assembly and inorganic cross-linking and surface interactions. A method for controlling the rates and directions of solvent removal from a heterogeneous material synthesis mixture that allows the nucleation and directional alignment of self-assembling mesostructures to be controlled during synthesis is disclosed. The aligned mesostructured inorganic-organic materials and mesoporous inorganic or carbon materials can be prepared in the form of patterned films, monoliths, and fibers with controllable orientational ordering. Such materials possess anisotropic structural, mechanical, optical, reaction, or transport properties that can be exploited for numerous applications in opto-electronics, separations, fuel cells, catalysis, MEMS/microfluidics, for example.
US07837899B2
The instant invention discloses a composition, preferably a nanocomposite material, comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a filler selected from a natural or synthetic phyllosilicate or a mixture of such phyllosilicates, preferably in nanoparticles, and (c) a dispersing agent prepared by controlled free radical polymerization (CFRP).
US07837898B2
A green-light-emitting phosphor of a high emission brightness when excited by blue light emitted from a blue LED is provided. The green-light-emitting phosphor is represented by a formula M1-aSi2O2-1/2nXnN2:Eua, wherein M is at least one element of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and calcium (Ca); X is at least one element of chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br); a is 0.005≦a≦0.15 and n is 0.02≦n≦0.2. Substitution of a part of the oxygen (O) in a matrix with at least one halogen element of chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br) gives a green-light-emitting phosphor of higher brightness.
US07837893B2
A sintered ferrite magnet having an M-type ferrite structure and comprising Ca, an R element which is at least one rare earth element indispensably including La, Ba, Fe and Co as indispensable elements, which is represented by Ca1-x-yRxBayFe2n-zCoz, wherein (1-x-y), x, y, z and n are numbers representing the amounts of Ca, the R element, Ba and Co and a molar ratio, meeting 0.2≦x≦0.65, 0.001≦y≦0.2, 0.03≦z≦0.65, and 4≦n≦7.
US07837890B2
The present invention relates to a novel printable etching medium having non-Newtonian flow behavior for the etching of surfaces in the production of solar cells and to the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to corresponding particle-containing compositions by means of which extremely fine structures can be etched very selectively without damaging or attacking adjacent areas.
US07837881B2
A process for continuous purification of a multi-component mixture by means of individual chromatographic columns though which the mixture is fed by means of at least one solvent. The multi-component mixture comprises at least light impurities, an intermediate product, and heavy impurities. The columns are grouped into at least four sections (α, β, γ, δ) and the fourth section contains three sub-sections (δr, δf, δg). The process operates, alternatingly, in a batch-mode position and in an interconnected-mode position. After or within a switch time, the columns are moved in their function in a counter direction to the general direction of flow of the solvent. The combination of batch chromatography with elements of simulated moving bed techniques, or rather, countercurrent-principles, allows for the separation of a true multi-component mixture, even if one of the products is only present in a small amount, comparatively.
US07837880B2
A crosslinked polymeric membrane, such as a crosslinked polyvinyl sulfate membrane or a crosslinked copolymer polyvinyl sulfate and polyvinyl alcohol membrane, is provided. The membrane is suitable for use in an acid environment, and is suitable for recovering acid from a feed mixture comprising acid, hydrocarbons and water.
US07837874B2
A water treatment system to be installed in a tanker or other cargo ship for destruction of aquatic organisms and microorganisms that may be contained in the water, usually seawater, being pumped into the ship's ballast tank or tanks. Included is a ballast pump having an intake conduit for drawing water from the sea, and a delivery conduit for delivering the water under pressure to the ballast tank. The delivery conduit has mounted therein a slitted or otherwise open-worked screen for mechanically killing the aquatic lifeforms contained in the water by shearing action. For chemical treatment, on the other hand, part of the water being delivered by the ballast pump is bypassed into an ozone impregnator thereby to be impregnated with ozone from an ozonizer. A bypass pump repressurizes the ozone-impregnated water for returning the same into the delivery conduit.
US07837873B2
Disclosed is a method for producing botanical oil with no by-produced trans fatty acids comprising the steps of;(1) introducing a raw oil obtained by squeezing plant seeds into a column having activated carbon filled therein from the upper part of the column;(2) allowing the oil to transfer in the column by the action of gravity toward the lower part of the column and allowing the oil to discharge from the column through a filter cloth placed adjacent to the bottom part of the activated carbon layer, wherein the filter cloth has a pore size of 13 to 45 μm, and(3) introducing the oil discharged from the column into an activated carbon separation device comprising a filter having a pore size of 3-7 μm, and discharging from said separation device an oil having no activated carbon microparticles by the action of a sucking force.
US07837872B2
An adsorption apparatus comprising a column filled with an adsorbent, wherein the surface of the adsorbent and its vicinity mainly comprise an apatite which is represented by the formula (Ca1-aMa)10(PO4)6((OH)1-bXb)2, where the M represents at least one kind of rare earth metal elements, the X represents at least one kind of halogen elements, 0
US07837870B2
An ion-removing apparatus includes a housing, a first ion-removing unit and a second ion-removing unit. The housing includes an inlet port, a liquid discharge port and a gas discharge port. The first ion-removing unit is disposed within the housing, so that the fluid that has entered the housing via the inlet port flows through the first ion-removing unit. The first ion-removing unit serves to remove a first ion, such anions, contained in the fluid. The second ion-removing unit is disposed within the housing, so that the fluid that has flown though the first ion-removing unit flows through the first ion-removing unit. The second ion-removing unit serves to remove a second ion, such as cations contained in the fluid. The liquid contained in the fluid that has flown through the second ion-removing unit is discharged from the liquid discharge port. The gas contained in the fluid that has flown through the second ion-removing unit is discharged from the gas discharge port.
US07837865B2
The present invention relates to a container (2) for purifying water by utilization of sunlight, comprising a first surface (4, 8′, 9′, 10′, 12′) that is formed of a permeable layer for sunlight and a second surface (6, 8″, 9″, 10″, 12″) that is formed of an absorbing layer for sunlight. Further, the container comprises a first opening (14) and a second opening (16), respectively, provided with filter elements (18, 19). Filling with water is intended to be done in the first opening (14) and discharge of water is intended to be done through the second opening (16) after the water in the container (2) has been heated to a temperature of at least 600 C after exposure by sunlight and also exposure of ultraviolet radiation in order to make it possible to kill undesired micro-organisms.
US07837856B2
A reactor for carrying out a continuous oxydehydrogenation of a feed gas stream of saturated hydrocarbons after premixing with an oxygen-comprising gas stream over a moving catalyst bed which is introduced in the longitudinal direction of their reactor between two concentric cylindrical holding devices so as to leave a central interior space and an intermediate space between the moving catalyst bed and the interior wall of the reactor to give a reaction gas mixture, wherein the reactor has two or more reactor sections which are separated from one another by disk-shaped deflection plates arranged alternately in the central interior space and divided in subregions by annular deflection plates arranged in the intermediate space between the moving catalyst bed and the interior wall of the reactor, in each case with a mixing-in device which is located upstream of the moving catalyst bed in the flow direction of the reaction gas mixture and comprises the following elements: two or three rows arranged behind one another of tubes which have turbulence generators on their outside and constrict the flow cross section for the feed gas stream to from ½ to 1/10 of the free flow cross section, with the oxygen-comprising gas stream being passed through the interior spaces of the tubes and being injected via openings in the tubes into the feed gas stream, and a perforated plate upstream of the tubes and a perforated plate downstream of the tubes, is proposed.
US07837847B2
A pH sensor is provided. The pH sensor includes a body, a glass electrode, a reference electrode and a solution ground. The glass electrode is disposed on the body to contact a liquid sample. The reference electrode has a reference fill solution disposed within the body. The solution ground electrode is operably coupled to the body and has a portion of the solution ground electrode that is disposed within a harbor such that a portion of the solution ground electrode is configured to contact the liquid sample. The body has a passageway that extends from the reference fill solution to an aperture proximate the liquid sample.
US07837845B2
A sensor card for determining analytes in liquid and gas samples with films connected to one another in sheetlike fashion, namely a sensor film facing the sample with openings and a covering film remote from the sample with openings for electrical tapping, at least one sensor being provided and arranged between the sensor film and the covering film. There is provided between the sensor film and the covering film at least one intermediate film, in which cutouts are provided, the sensor being arranged in one of the cutouts. The sensor card provides a homogeneous thickness, which brings about a reliable sealing of the flow channels for the liquid sample if the sensor card is connected to a plate that partially forms the flow channels within the analysis system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such a sensor card.
US07837839B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for galvanically depositing an electrically conductive layer onto a carrier on which, at least in some regions, a starter layer suitable for electroplating is disposed. The apparatus has an electroplating bath in which an electrolyte for depositing conductive material is provided, at least two contact rollers which are disposed outside of the electroplating bath and which can be connected as cathode and/or anodes, and at least one deflection roller which is connected between the contact rollers, the position of the deflection roller being changeable between two contact rollers such that by changing the position of the deflection roller a distance to be covered by the carrier and which is formed between two contact points of two adjacent contact rollers corresponds to the extension of the starter layer to be coated.
US07837835B2
The present invention simplifies the equipment in an on-machine coater in which a size press and a post-metering style of coater are alternatively used. In an on-machine coater including a size press 3, an air turn 4 arranged diagonally downward on the downstream side of the size press 3, a post-metering style of coater 6 arranged in the downstream side of the air turn 4, and non-contact dryers 11 arranged above the coater 6, when the coating is performed using the size press 3 the two surfaces of a web A are dried by a pair of the non-contact dryers 11 opposingly provided about the diagonally upward-moving web A on the downstream side of the air turn 4. When the coating is performed using the post-metering style of coater 6, the dryer of the pair of non-contact dryers 11 used to dry the lower surface side of the web A is moved in such a way as to oppose the lower surface side of the web A which, beyond the coater 6, moves upward.
US07837825B2
A plasma reactor comprises a chamber, a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a first set of confinement rings, a second set of confinement rings, and a ground extension. The top and bottom electrodes, the first and second sets of confinement rings, and the ground extension are all enclosed within the chamber. The first set of confinement rings is substantially parallel to the bottom electrode and the top electrode and surrounds a first volume between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The second set of confinement rings is substantially parallel to the bottom electrode and the top electrode and surrounds a second volume between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The second volume is at least greater than the first volume. A ground extension is adjacent to and surrounds the bottom electrode. The first set of confinement rings and the second set of confinement rings are capable of being raised and lowered to extend into a region above the ground extension.
US07837821B2
A method for making a polymeric microfluidic structure in which two or more components (layers) of the microfluidic structure are fixedly bonded or laminated with a weak solvent bonding agent, particularly acetonitrile or a mixture of acetonitrile and alcohol. In an aspect, acetonitrile can be used as a weak solvent bonding agent to enclose a microstructure fabricated in or on a non-elastomeric polymer such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylic or other linear polymer to form a three-dimensional microfluidic network. The method involves the steps of wetting at least one of the opposing surfaces of the polymeric substrate components with the weak solvent bonding agent in a given, lower temperature range, adjacently contacting the opposing surfaces, and thermally activating the bonding agent at a higher temperature than the lower temperature range for a given period of time with RF or ultrasonic energy. The contacted polymeric substrates may also be aligned prior to thermal activation and compressed during thermal activation. A laminated, polymeric microfluidic structure is also disclosed.
US07837813B1
Stone Wales defect pairs in a carbon nanostructure are used to store energy. Energy is released by a chain reaction of phonons disrupting the defect pairs to generate more phonons until the lattice returns to its original hexagonal form and the energy is released in the form of lattice vibrations. Devices may be configured as a battery to release electrical energy in a controlled manner or as an explosive to release energy in an uncontrolled manner.
US07837806B2
Articles of manufacture and methods of making and using same concern a container having an internal space and a passivated internal metal surface. The container contains a composition of an acid gas and a balance gas contained within the internal space and in contact with the passivated internal metal surface. The stability of the acid gas concentration over time is enhanced.
US07837805B2
Some embodiments include methods of treating surfaces with aerosol particles. The aerosol particles may be formed as liquid particles, and then passed through a chamber under conditions which change the elasticity of the particles prior to impacting a surface with the particles. The change in elasticity may be an increase in the elasticity, or a decrease in the elasticity. The change in elasticity may be accomplished by causing a phase change of one or more components of the aerosol particles such as, for example, by at least partially freezing the aerosol particles, or by forming entrained bubbles within the aerosol particles. Some embodiments include apparatuses that may be utilized during treatment of surfaces with aerosol particles.
US07837804B2
In a dry process after a cleaning process using a cleaning-liquid nozzle and a rinse process using a side rinse nozzle are performed on a wafer W, the wafer W is turned, feeding of pure water to a center point of the wafer W from a pure-water nozzle is started, and substantially at the same, injection of a nitrogen gas from a gas nozzle to a center portion of the wafer W at a point at an adequate distance apart from the center of the wafer W is started. Next, while the pure-water nozzle is caused to scan toward the periphery of the wafer W, the gas nozzle is caused to scan toward the periphery of the wafer W in an area radially inward of the position of the pure-water nozzle after the gas nozzle passes the center of the wafer W.
US07837798B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor or liquid crystal is provided with a reaction chamber housing a ceramic holder with an embedded resistive heating element, and a cylindrical support member one end of which supports the ceramic holder and the other end of which side is fixed to the reaction chamber. One end of the cylindrical support member is hermetically bonded to the ceramic holder; and a partition plate and sealing material hermetically seal the other end of which side. Embodiments include partitioning the space within the cylindrical support member with the ceramic holder, and the partition plate and depressurizing to vacuum or to a reduced pressure atmosphere of an inert gas. Advantageously the cylindrical support member can easily be hermetically sealed, corrosion and oxidation of electrode terminals exposed on the rear surface of the ceramic holder prevented, the thermal uniformity and thermal efficiency of the holder improved, and the length of the cylindrical support member reduced, thereby reducing the size of the reaction chamber.
US07837797B2
A method of forming (and an apparatus for forming) a metal containing layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly for use in manufacturing a semiconductor or memory device structure, using one or more precursor compounds that include niobium and/or vanadium and using an atomic layer deposition process including a plurality of deposition cycles.
US07837792B2
In a method for manufacturing a crystalline silicon film by utilizing a metal element that accelerates the crystallization of silicon, an adverse influence of this metal element can be suppressed. A semiconductor device manufacturing method is comprised of the steps of: forming an amorphous silicon film on a substrate having an insulating surface; patterning the amorphous silicon film to form a predetermined pattern; holding a metal element that accelerates the crystallization of silicon in such a manner that the metal element is brought into contact with the amorphous silicon film; performing a heating process to crystalize the amorphous silicon film, thereby being converted into a crystalline silicon film; and etching a peripheral portion of the pattern of the crystalline silicon film.
US07837789B2
A method of epitaxial growth of a 4H—SiC single crystal enabling growth of an SiC single crystal with low defects and low impurities able to be used for a semiconductor material at a practical growth rate, comprising growing a 4H—SiC single crystal on a 4H—SiC single crystal substrate by epitaxial growth while inclining an epitaxial growth plane of the substrate from a (0001) plane of the 4H—SiC single crystal by an off-angle of at least 12 degrees and less than 30 degrees in a <11-20> axial direction, and a 4H—SiC single crystal obtained by the same.
US07837788B2
This invention is a fiber reinforced cement composition comprising the following raw materials: a hydraulic inorganic material, a siliceous material, and a woody reinforcement wherein the siliceous material is a mixture of an average particle size of not less than 15 um and not more than 50 um which is burned ash of coal and/or rhyolite and an average particle size of not less than 1 um and not more than 15 um which is burned ash of coal and/or rhyolite.
US07837778B1
This application is directed to a method of treating tires so that the tires will have better performance, especially when used for racing. The method disclosed herein is especially suited for use in go kart racing, although the method can be used for other applications in which the adhesion and hardness of tires, after their manufacture is to be altered. The method also includes cleaning steps and formulations. This method involves the selective use of various esters to alter tire characteristics as desired.
US07837773B2
An air treatment system includes features for maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. In one embodiment, a sensor air passage utilizes a low pressure region created by the blower to draw air through the passage. In another embodiment, a filter frame includes a plurality of connectors formed integrally with the filter frame. In another embodiment, a screen is positioned adjacent to the blower intake. The screen includes a plurality of angled strands oriented in a particular direction. In another embodiment, a remote control holder is formed integrally with the housing. In another embodiment, a gasket is positioned between the blower and the housing, forming a seal between the blower and the housing.
US07837772B2
A vacuum cleaner filter assembly having a filter frame with a frame sidewall defining an enclosed perimeter. A filter is mounted in the filter frame and has a surface through which air can pass. A deodorizer chamber has a first sidewall connected to a first portion of the frame sidewall, and a second sidewall connected a second portion of the frame sidewall. The deodorizer chamber has a filter-facing portion facing a first portion of the filter, and defines a passage from there to a portion of the chamber not facing the filter. A number of deodorizer pellets are contained in the chamber. The filter assembly has parallel first and second air paths. The first path extends through the first portion of the filter and the chamber. The second path extends through a second portion of the filter that is not covered by the pellet chamber and not through the chamber.
US07837770B2
An apparatus for efficiently collecting reaction by-products in exhaust gases of a semiconductor processing or flat panel display processing device is provided. The collection apparatus includes a heating section connected to a process chamber of the semiconductor processing or flat panel display processing device. The heating section is designed to preheat the reaction by-products to prevent or reduce liquefaction of the reaction by-products. A by-product pile up section then rapidly cools the heated reaction by-products to convert the same into a solid form.
US07837763B2
The invention under consideration concerns novel his-molecular-weight polyazoles, which are suitable for the production of fibers, films, membranes, and molded articles, on the basis of their high molecular weight, expressed as intrinsic viscosity, of at least 1.3 dl/g. Moreover, the invention under consideration describes a method for the production of high-molecular-weight polyazoles.
US07837751B2
An apparatus for collection and reduction of yard debris combining a frontally facing vacuum pick up with a chipper-shredder-blower unit to induce airflow for entraining debris collected at the vacuum pick up; reduce the entrained debris to a more manageable volume; impel the reduced debris to a two-stage free-flow-separator device for removing the debris from the air in which it is entrained; and deposit the debris in a detachable accumulator for subsequent dumping.
US07837750B2
A method for cleaning a diesel particulate filter includes a step of coupling an acoustic generator directly to the diesel particulate filter via a support fixture. Ash deposited within the diesel particulate filter is dislodged with acoustic energy deposited by the acoustic generator. The ash may fall clear of the diesel particulate filter under the action of gravity and/or via pressurized air flow.
US07837743B2
A high voltage capacitor anode for an implantable medical device is fabricated by sintering, anodizing and heat treating a pressed tantalum powder slug. The sintering may be performed at a temperature between approximately 1500° C. and approximately 1600° C. for a time between approximately 3 minutes and approximately 35 minutes; subsequent anodization may be performed by immersing the slug in an electrolyte at a temperature between approximately 15° C. and approximately 30° C. and then applying a voltage across the slug, the voltage being between approximately 175 Volts and approximately 375 Volts; subsequent heat treating may be performed at a temperature between approximately 400° C. and approximately 460° C. for a time between approximately 50 minutes and approximately 65 minutes. Following heat treating, the anode is reformed by a second anodization.
US07837742B2
A cosmetic composition suitable for use on mammalian skin, hair, and nails. These compositions contain a polymer and a colorant. The polymer of the composition mitigates staining caused by the colorant, and the polymer and colorant are opposite in charge. The present invention is also directed to methods of mitigating skin staining through using the cosmetic compositions.
US07837735B2
Bone implantable devices and methodologies permit careful application of biologically active substances and management of bone growth processes. The device includes a body defining a carrier receiving area for locating adjacent bone. Carrier material is located in the carrier receiving area. Substance is delivered onto carrier material through a port. A pathway delivers substance from the carrier receiving area to the bone surface. The body may be in the form of a spinal fusion cage, facet fusion screw, artificial joint, bone fixation plate, interbody graft, IM nail, hip stem, or other bone-to-bone appliances or bone-to-device appliances. In use, carrier is installed in the carrier receiving area of the device. The device is then implanted adjacent a bone. The substance is applied to the carrier for subsequent delivery to the bone. By doping carrier material after device implantation, inadvertent contact of the substance with non-target bone is more easily eliminated.
US07837728B2
One aspect of the invention is a method of treating mitral valve regurgitation in a patient. The method includes the steps of delivering a tissue shaping device to the patient's coronary sinus in an unexpanded configuration within a catheter having an outer diameter no more than nine or ten french, with the tissue shaping device including a connector disposed between a distal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire and a proximal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire, the device having a length of 60 mm or less; and deploying the device to reduce mitral valve regurgitation, such as by anchoring the distal expandable anchor by placing the distal expandable anchor flexible wire in contact with a wall of the coronary sinus, e.g., by permitting the distal expandable anchor to self-expand or by applying an actuating force to the distal expandable anchor and possibly locking the distal expandable anchor after performing the applying step. The invention also includes a device for performing the method.
US07837726B2
A crack-resistant endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen can be comprised of a multilayered material. The multilayered material can include at least two layers having a boundary layer therebetween. The boundary layer is configured to inhibit cracks from propagating from a first layer-to a second layer. The different layers can be comprised of the same materials or different materials. It can be preferred that the multilayered material have layers that are comprised of resiliently-flexible materials, shape memory materials, and/or radiopaque materials.
US07837724B2
A control mechanism comprises an elongate handle 10 having an external thread 12 and a barrel 20 with internally projecting pins 21 threaded over handle 10. Rotation of barrel 20 causes handle 10 to move back and forth along its longitudinal axis to retract and advance a catheter sheath to which handle 10 is coupled, thereby enabling an implant to be deployed by the catheter. Rotation movement of barrel 20 and longitudinal movement of handle 10 can be disassociated to enable speedy retraction or advancement of the catheter sheath.
US07837719B2
A method for treating an infected area on a subject, comprising the steps of: exposing the infected area to an aqueous solution; and providing direct current to the aqueous solution to treat the infected area.
US07837718B2
A surgical method and implant for directing and securing a replacement ligament into the femur or tibia of the knee. A transverse tunnel may be formed in the femur approximately perpendicular to a femoral tunnel. A flexible strand passing through the transverse tunnel may be used to draw the replacement ligament into the femoral tunnel. The implant may then be placed into the transverse tunnel and through the replacement ligament to secure the replacement ligament in place. The implant may include an eyelet to receive the flexible strand and a tapered portion forming a shoulder to prevent the implant from being inserted too far into the transverse tunnel. The implant may also have a multi-angular configured portion to secure the implant within the transverse tunnel through an interference fit.
US07837716B2
A thread is located on a cylindrical closure for an open headed medical implant. The thread has a leading surface and a trailing surface that both slope rearwardly from an interior edge to an exterior edge thereof.
US07837709B2
The invention relates to a bone fixation means (1) comprising: A) a longtitudinal shaft (2) with longtitudinal axis (3), and; B) an anchoring element (4), which can be fixed inside a bone and which has the same longitudinal axis (3) and is characterized in that; C) interacting means (5; 6) are provided on the shaft (2) and on the anchoring element (4), which either permit or prevent a rotation of the anchoring element (4) about the longitudinal axis (3) relative to the shaft (2).
US07837706B2
The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for use with tissue, more particularly the present disclosure relates to a device including a frame with a surface defining a pinch point region with a predefined shape. The device also includes a tab with an opening defining an anchor attachment on the frame. The frame can elastically deform under a stress to alter the predefined shape of the pinch point region.
US07837703B2
A guidewire for use with an embolic protection filter and a method of deploying an embolic protection filter are provided. The guidewire includes a core wire; a core wire tip disposed at a distal end of the core wire; and a hypo shaft, coaxially disposed around the core wire, wherein the hypo shaft is moveable proximally and distally along the core wire with the core wire tip limiting a distal movement of the hypo shaft.
US07837695B2
Apparatus for abrading skin and simultaneously delivering a liquid topical solution to the skin includes a vacuum source, a hand-held applicator wand including a skin abrading brush, and a collection canister for collecting exfoliated skin particles and any liquids associated therewith entrained by an air flow between the hand-held applicator wand and the collection canister. The vacuum source also creates a flow from a container containing the liquid topical solution to the skin abrading brush.
US07837694B2
Systems and methods for identifying surgical instruments by use of radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) are disclosed. In the systems and methods, each of a plurality of surgical instruments is provided with at least one RFID transponder tag storing identification information associated with the corresponding instrument. The tag may be adhered to, embedded, or potted within a portion of the instrument. Using an RFID reading device, a user may interrogate the tag, thereby identifying the particular instrument. This identification information may be used to index a database and retrieve a data record unique to that instrument. The systems and methods allow a user to track, inspect, and verify inbound and outbound surgical instruments, to assess, for example, the surgical instruments' duty life cycle usage.
US07837691B2
A device for performing a surgical procedure on a knee comprises a femoral assembly comprising a stationary femoral member attachable to the distal femur, an adjustable femoral member movably coupled with the stationary member to adjust tension in at least one ligament of or adjacent the knee and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the assembly. The adjustable member includes at least one positioning feature that moves relative to the distal femur as the adjustable member is adjusted and identifies at least one position on the distal femur. The adjustable member is movably couplable with a tibial member engaged with a proximal tibia to allow the knee to be moved through a range of motion without removing the femoral and tibial members. The mechanism includes an actuator positioned proximate a medial or lateral portion of the adjustable member. The actuator is configured to adjust an opposite portion of the adjustable member.
US07837688B2
Interspinous process implants are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and kits including such implants, methods of inserting such implants, and methods of alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the spinal column.
US07837685B2
Various safe switching mechanisms are provided for use with electrosurgical instruments which prevent arcing between the high-energy contacts as the high-energy source is activated. The switching mechanisms generally include a pair of high-energy contacts and a pair of activation contacts. An actuator is provided which initially engages the high-energy contacts in advance of engagement of the activation contacts to prevent arcing and subsequently disengages the activation contacts in advance of the high-energy contacts as the energy source is deactivated. A method of switching power to an electrosurgical instrument while avoiding damage to high-energy contacts is also disclosed.
US07837684B2
A method of ablating tissue in the heart to treat atrial fibrillation introduces into a selected atrium an energy emitting element. The method exposes the element to a region of the atrial wall and applies ablating energy to the element to thermally destroy tissue. The method forms a convoluted lesion pattern comprising elongated straight lesions and elongated curvilinear lesions. The lesion pattern directs electrical impulses within the atrial myocardium along a path that activates the atrial myocardium while interrupting reentry circuits that, if not interrupted, would cause fibrillation. The method emulates the surgical maze procedure, but lends itself to catheter-based procedures that do not require open heart surgical techniques. A composite structure for performing the method is formed using a template that displays in planar view a desired lesion pattern for the tissue. An array of spaced apart element is laid on the template. Guided by the template, energy emitting and non-energy emitting zones are formed on the elements. By overlaying the elements, the composite structure is formed, which can be introduced into the body to ablate tissue using catheter-based, vascular access techniques.
US07837682B2
A system comprises a first signal handling unit sized and shaped for insertion to a reference distance within a first body cavity and a probe sized and shaped for insertion into a second body cavity the probe including an energy emitting head and a second signal handling unit, wherein one of the first and second signal handling units comprises a transmitter and the other of the first and second signal handling units comprises one of a receiver adapted to receive signals from the transmitter and a signal reflecting element, wherein, when the other of the first and second signal handling units comprises a signal reflecting element, the one of the first and second signal handling units comprises a receiver in combination with a controller operatively connected to the receiver, the controller generating an output varying as a distance between the first and second signal handling units varies. In addition, a system comprises a probe sized and shaped for insertion in a first body cavity and a measuring element extending from the probe to contact tissue adjacent to an opening to a second body cavity, the measuring element being movably coupled to the probe to vary a depth to which the probe may be inserted into the first body cavity before the measuring element contacts the tissue adjacent to the opening of the second body cavity.
US07837679B2
The present invention includes a system for delivering energy to an airway wall of a lung comprising an energy delivering apparatus and a PID controller having one or more variable gain factors which are rest after energy deliver has begun. The energy delivering apparatus may include a flexible elongated member and a distal expandable basket having at least one electrode for transferring energy to the airway wall and at least one temperature sensor for measuring temperature. The PID controller determines a new power set point base on an error between a preset temperature and the measured temperature. The algorithm can be Pi+1=Pi+G(αei+βei−1+γei−2) where α, β and γ are preset values and α is from 1 to 2; β is from −1 to −2; and γ is from −0.5 to 0-5. In another variation, the controller is configured to shut down if various measured parameters are exceeded such as, for example, energy, impedance, temperature, temperature differences, activation time and combinations thereof. Methods for treating a target medium using a PID algorithm are also provided.
US07837669B2
The present invention provides devices and methods for attachment of an endolumenal gastrointestinal device, such as an artificial stoma device, a gastrointestinal bypass sleeve or other therapeutic or diagnostic device, within a patient's digestive tract. In one application of the invention, an endolumenal bypass sleeve is removeably attached in the vicinity of the gastroesophageal junction to treat obesity and/or its comorbidities, such as diabetes. The bypass sleeve may be at least partially deployed by eversion.
US07837664B2
A disposable wearing article includes first and second engagement members attached to the outer surface of a front waist region along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof so as to be spaced from each other by a given dimension in a longitudinal direction and third engagement members attached to in the inner surface of a rear waist region along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof. The first engagement members are laid on the respective side edge portions in longitudinally upper zones, the second engagement members are laid on the side edge portions in longitudinally lower zones, the third engagement members are laid on the side edge portions in longitudinally intermediate zones and hooks are respectively formed on the outer surface of the first and second engagement members and on the inner surface of the third engagement members.
US07837660B2
A flow measurement device 100 is provided that includes an electrode terminal chamber 102 with an inlet 104 in communication with a flow channel 108 for receiving fluid and viscoelastic material aspirated from a surgical site, and an outlet 106 that tapers into a flow channel 108. The outlet 108 has a taper angle that is sufficient to smooth flow and cause viscoelastic material entering the electrode terminal chamber 102 to flow substantially within a center portion of the chamber and through the outlet 106. The electrode terminal chamber 102 further includes first and second electrode terminals 130 and 140 disposed on generally opposite sides of the electrode terminal chamber 102 in a spaced-apart manner. The first and second electrode terminals 130 and 140 are positioned a distance from the center of the chamber 102 that is sufficient to substantially avoid contact between the terminals and viscoelastic materials flowing through the chamber 102.
US07837659B2
A luer connector assembly is provided for enhancing the frictional engagement between medical devices such as syringes and needle assemblies. The assembly needle includes a female luer fitting having a passageway and a relatively soft, resilient member bounding the passageway. The passageway is also bounded by the body of the fitting, which is harder than the soft, resilient member. A male luer fitting inserted into the passageway engages both the soft, resilient member and the body of the female luer fitting. A method of manufacturing such a connector assembly is further provided. A first material is injected into a mold to form the body of a female luer fitting, the fitting including a passageway and a recess extending into the body. A second material is then injected such that it extends into the recess and bounds the passageway. The second material, when cool, is softer than the first material.
US07837651B2
Disclosed is a drug delivery infusion pump assembly containing a drug delivery pump, a drug delivery cassette, a pump door, and a housing adapted to receive a drug vial. A drug vial centering mechanism ensures varieties of drug vial sizes are compatible with this device. The drug delivery cassette is capable of being positioned on the drug delivery infusion pump assembly so the drug delivery pump will interface with a drug delivery tube located on the drug delivery cassette.
US07837650B1
Embodiments of a method and apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury. In one embodiment, blood flow proximal to a lesion is occluded. An infusion catheter is advanced to a region distal to the lesion and an anti-reperfusion injury drug is delivered. The lesion may then be treated with a dilating device to reintroduce blood flow to the region distal to the lesion.
US07837648B2
A medicament dispensing system for treatment of a disease is disclosed, the system comprising: (i) detecting means for detecting one or more biochemical marker(s) indicative of the disease; (ii) electronic processing means for processing information obtainable from the detecting means; and (iii) medicament dispensing means for dispensing a quantity of medicament determinable by the electronic processing means. The medicament dispensing system is particularly useful for the treatment of respiratory disorders, such as asthma, or for other disorders which may be treated by inhalation, either through the nose or mouth.
US07837646B2
A shunt system quick connector assembly to quickly connect and disconnect a catheter to a hydrocephalus shunt system comprising a valve in a valve housing. The catheter is affixed to the quick connector assembly. The quick connector assembly snaps over an external barb on the valve housing of the shunt system with an audible sound, so that the surgeon knows that connection has been made. The connector assembly can be operated quickly, minimizing the time for the surgical procedure and the opportunity for infection. The connector assembly has smooth surfaces to minimize the growing of tissue into the connection.
US07837633B2
A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes a drive mechanism, an activation mechanism, and an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism includes a linear-pull slide that is moved in and out to operate an indexing ratchet mechanism, a cam-guided charger mechanism, and a cam-guided lancet cap displacement mechanism. The indexing ratchet mechanism sequentially advances the lancets in the cartridge to an active position. The cam-guided charger mechanism charges the drive mechanism and separates the cap from the active lancet. And the cam-guided cap displacement mechanism moves the separated cap from the lancing stroke path of the active lancet. The activation mechanism then releases the charged active lancet to traverse the unobstructed lancing stroke path to pierce the subject's skin at a desired lancing site.
US07837617B2
An intrabody introduced device comprising: a power storage section for supplying driving power to a function executing section; a detecting section for detecting a supply voltage of the power storage section; and a timing output section for outputting a detection signal for use in detecting the supply voltage using the detecting section at given timing. The detection timing of the supply voltage can be controlled in this manner, and therefore the supply voltage can be detected at timing at which the load of function executing section is low, thereby enabling efficient voltage detection. For example, if the aforementioned timing is synchronized with the blanking period of a picked-up image, a stable voltage measurement is enabled at timing at which the intrabody introduced device applies a low load.
US07837603B1
An exercise wheel having a central shaft with counter locking handles is described. The device is adapted to enable rapid assembly and disassembly of the exercise wheel for and compactness. The device takes up the least amount of space as possible to carry on a person or in a small container, such as a gym bag, brief case, and the like.To this effect, the device contemplates at least one wheel mounted on an elongated, rigid, shaft adapted to extend through a central opening in the wheel to allow the wheel to rotate on the shaft. The shaft is adapted to receive a removable handle at each opposite ends of the shaft. The handles are configured to engage the shaft and lock in place while permitting the wheel to rotate on the shaft.
US07837595B2
A controller is disclosed, especially but not exclusively, for use in combination with an exercise apparatus. The controller comprises in one arrangement a handlebar assembly and one or more input devices, of at least one of the input device being responsive to movement of the handlebars. The controller may include a support such as a handlebar stem, and may provide output signals to a microprocessor in turn to control operation of a programme running on the microprocessor.
US07837594B2
A method for starting or stopping a vehicle on a gradient. In order to protect the clutch (12) against overheating and therefore against excessive wear during the actuation of at least one brake (48) and simultaneous pressing of the accelerator pedal (44), a torque reduction in the form of a torque reduction request is transmitted to the engine control unit (40) taking into account the position of an accelerator pedal, and a reduced torque is transmitted to the clutch on the basis of said torque reduction request.
US07837593B2
An automotive transmission transitions from a drive gear to a neutral gear when an engine is shutdown. During a rolling pull-up, a crankshaft of the engine will be spun up to a desired speed and the transmission will transition from the neutral gear to an appropriate gear based on a shift schedule. A target transmission input speed is commanded to be a synchronous speed plus an offset to smoothly transition out of electric axle drive propulsion.
US07837592B2
A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.
US07837590B2
A transmission assembly includes a clutch housing, a gear arrangement disposed within the clutch housing, and a fixed component. A brake having a housing and a hub is also included. The housing is coupled to the fixed component and the hub is coupled to the gear arrangement. The brake is disposed external to the clutch housing and cooperates with the gear arrangement to provide at least one forward or reverse gear ratio.
US07837573B1
A golf putting training device including a circular target having a substantially flat body having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces. A bumper formed of rubber or an elastomeric polymer is attached to or integral with the peripheral edge of the target. The upper surface of the target has a plurality of substantially equally spaced-apart primary lines extending from the center to the peripheral edge to form a lane between each adjacent pair of primary lines. The width of each lane is substantially the width of a regulation hole. The circular target can be divided into partially circular targets having a 90 degree, 180 degree, or 270 degree circumference.
US07837571B2
A device for displaying information, in particular for bowling alleys, comprises first detector mechanism, to detect an arrangement pattern of one or more bowling pins and generate a corresponding main detection signal, incorporating an identification code, and a control unit, connected to the first detector mechanism, for receiving the main detection signal at input; the control unit is set up in such a way that at output it transmits at least one animation according to the identification code incorporated in the main detection signal. The device is also equipped with a display element, connected to the control unit, for receiving the animation at input and allowing it to be displayed.
US07837569B2
This invention relates to a manual swing drive mechanism to be mounted on a swing in order to transmit the swinging movement to a person who cannot do it alone, notably a child. Through a hand operated rocking arm, the assisting person transmits a swinging movement to a swaying member which transfers a pendulum swinging movement to the seat lines of the swing through a set of elongated swinging arms fixed perpendicularly to the swaying member. The functionality of the invention could be expanded into a multi-swing drive mechanism thus allowing one or several assisting persons to transmit a swinging movement to a group of two or more assisted persons.
US07837567B2
There is provided a method of customizing a theme park experience comprising designating a theme park experience motif, selecting customizable features associated with the designated motif, and assembling the designated motif and the selected customizable features into a custom virtual theme park experience suitable for adaptation as a customized theme park experience. In one embodiment, the method includes hosting the custom virtual theme park experience, rating the popularity of the custom virtual theme park experience among a community of users, and adapting the custom virtual theme park experience to a customized theme park experience.
US07837560B2
A computer gaming system and method of operation thereof are provided that both drastically reduce the cost of gaming stations and allow contemporaneous access to multiple game programs from a single gaming station. The computer gaming system of the present invention allows for transparent modifications and upgrades to the gaming programs by executing gaming programs on a server/host computer connected to a plurality of client/terminal computers via communication pathways. Each client/terminal computer comprises a client/terminal program that allows input and output streams of the gaming program executed on the server/host computer to be separated and redirected to the client/terminal computers. Since the gaming programs are executed entirely on the server/host computer, with only wagering input and display output operations being executed on the client/terminal computers, the cost of the hardware and software required for each client/terminal computer is greatly reduced. A patron of a client/terminal computer can access any of the gaming programs executed on the server/host computer. Modifications and upgrades of the gaming programs only need to be performed on the server/host computer. By using a stereo head-mounted display together with a joystick input device and wireless communication pathways, the present invention allows a patron to participate in a mobile gaming environment.
US07837538B2
Blade for a knife of an apparatus for cutting off the rectum of slaughtered animals, wherein the ground section of the hollow cylindrical blade (11) is at a specific angle to the cutting edge (20) at the cutting edge of said hollow-cylindrical blade. The blade (11) is ground over a short portion (A) of its length with a first angle (α) and then in the axial direction on this portion with a second angle (β) which is smaller than the first-mentioned angle (α).
US07837534B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for heating or cooling a polishing surface. This apparatus includes a heat exchanger arranged so as to face the polishing surface when the workpiece is polished. The heat exchanger includes a medium passage through which a heat-exchanging medium flows, and a bottom surface facing the polishing surface. At least a part of the bottom surface is inclined with an upward gradient above the polishing surface such that a polishing liquid on the polishing surface generates a lift exerted on the bottom surface during movement of the polishing surface.
US07837529B2
A manufacturing method of an electron-emitting device according to the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode, and a conductive film for connecting the first electrode and the second electrode; and forming a gap on the conductive film by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein a planar shape of the conductive film has a V-shape portion between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US07837521B2
A terminal including a tube-shaped electrical contact portion into which an insert portion of a mating terminal is inserted. The electrical contact portion includes: a pair of walls arranged in parallel to each other, which the insert portion is inserted between; and a plurality of elastic pieces provided at one wall of the pair of walls so as to be formed projecting from the one wall to the other wall of the pair of walls, and pushing the insert portion toward the other wall so as to hold the insert portion between the plurality of elastic pieces and the other wall. The plurality of elastic pieces is arranged in parallel to each other at an interval along an insertion direction of the insert portion.
US07837508B1
A standard ceiling recessed lighting fixture can be modified to a low-slung AC or DC light fixture with a screw-in extension rod. The extension rod with bulb can be used to light a restaurant table or a pool table or a workbench and the like. A series of extension rods can be screwed together for a desired length. Rigid and flexible extension rods are disclosed. A dome light and ceiling fan mounting bracket for a recessed lighting fixture are disclosed.
US07837502B2
A coaxial cable connector formed via multi-shot injection molding has a body formed by multiple injection molding layers of different injection moldable materials about a central inner contact to form an integral connector body. The connector body is provided with a coaxial dielectric spacer of dielectric polymer surrounding the inner contact; a coaxial inner body of injection molded metal composition surrounding an outer diameter of the dielectric spacer; and an outer body of polymer surrounding the inner body. Interlock features provide axial and/or rotational interlock between the layers of the connector.
US07837498B2
The present invention relates generally to multi-position metering apparatus. More particularly, the invention encompasses a wire distributed 5th jaw system for multi-position metering. The present invention is also directed to a novel multi-position metering device with multiple optional 5th terminals. The invention further provides a way to use a single wire as potential to connect all 5th terminals in a multi-position metering device. A single wire with insulation, one end of which is connected to line neutral, is laid out to pass by all meter sockets through designated channel on each meter socket base. The single wire is then stripped on a specified area when it passes on each meter socket for electrical connection to a 5th terminal through a potential. Additionally, an inventive meter socket base has been designed to constraint the 5th terminal distribution wire, 5th terminal potential, and the 5th jaw sub-assembly, and to provide provisions for the 5th jaw sub-assembly to be installed in either a 6 O'clock position or a 9 O'clock position. This invention also encompasses a multiple wire relay distribution system between each individual meter socket. The present invention also provides an alternative way to use multiple wire with terminals chained together to connect all 5th terminals in a multi-position metering device.
US07837497B1
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a connector, and a flexible printed wiring board having a board main body provided with a first surface with a conductor provided thereon, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a front end contacting the connector, and a reinforcing plate contacting the second surface at the front end to reinforce the board main body. A projection is provided on the connector in contact with the flexible wiring board. The reinforcing plate includes a recess portion in which the projection is fitted. The recess portion has a space increased in size toward and opening to an end face of the reinforcing plate corresponding to the front end, and an opening provided in the end face and communicating with the space.
US07837496B1
An electrical panel connector has a base plate and multiple posts protruding through the base plate. The posts are connected to the base plate via multiple insulation rings, and each of the insulation rings is electrically resistive and thermally conductive.
US07837489B2
A novel electrical connector that is thin and can hold a belt-like body. The electrical connector has two kinds of contact elements. When an actuator is rotated, an operation section of the actuator presses one connector element downward, and force from the one connector element causes the rotation shaft of the actuator to move upward. As a result, a portion near one end of a bar-like section, supported in air, of the other contact element is elastically deformed upward. By the principle of leverage, a portion near the other end of a bar-like section of the other contact element is moved downward.
US07837487B2
A card socket assembly used to mount a data card includes a body member, and a controlling member. The body member defines a battery receiving space and a card slot adjacent to the battery receiving space. The card slot is used to receive the data card. The controlling member is used to abut against the data card, thus ejecting the data card out of the card slot.
US07837484B2
A cover mechanism for an electronic device includes a base member and a cover combination. The base member defines a hole. The cover combination includes a cover member and at least one elastic member. One end of the at least one elastic member is attached to the cover member, another end of the at least one elastic member is attached to the base member. The cover member is slidably assembled into the base member, and the at least one elastic member provides an elastic force to allow the cover member to releasably cover the hole.
US07837480B2
An electric junction box, which is arranged at the front in a motor vehicle, having a box body including: an electric connection block partitioned into a plurality of spaces by a plurality of partition walls, the spaces receiving respective cassette blocks and each cassette block being connected to an end of at least one electric wire; and a power supply branching block branching off electric power from a power supply, wherein the electric connection block is arranged at the front side of the motor vehicle in the electric junction box, while the power supply branching block is arranged at the rear side of the motor vehicle in the electric junction box, wherein a power supply connecting part of the power supply branching block is arranged at the rear of the electric connection block, the power supply connecting part being connected to the power supply.
US07837474B1
A residual limb model may be a model of a residual limb. A residual limb model may include a residual limb portion and a bladder complementary in shape to the residual limb portion. A prosthesis donning and doffing training system may include a check socket and a residual limb model complementary in shape to the check socket. A method of training in the care of a residual limb may include providing a residual limb model and training in the care of a residual limb using the residual limb model. A method of training in the donning and doffing of a prosthesis may include providing a prosthesis training system and training in the donning and doffing of a prosthesis using the prosthesis training system.
US07837472B1
A computerized Neuropsychological/NeuroCognitive and Psychomotor Performance Assessment and Rehabilitation system is designed for use on handheld computer systems. Components of the system include an executive program, test modules, interpretive and report modules, and supporting utilities. The system provides point-of-use interpretations and result reports. The system is designed for use in clinical settings, occupational medicine, and research. Medical applications include use as a diagnostic, evaluation, and treatment instrument. In industrial settings it can be used as a fitness/readiness for work assessment. The assessment and rehabilitation system also contains modules for use in forensic mental competency, mental and emotional status examinations.
US07837471B2
A dental filling material comprising an inner core and outer layer of material disposed and surrounding the inner core, both the inner core and outer layer of material each containing a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic polymer may be biodegradable. A bioactive substance may also be included in the filling material. The thermoplastic polymer acts as a matrix for the bioactive substance. The composition may include other polymeric resins, fillers, plasticizers and other additives typically used in dental materials. The filling material is used for the filing of root canals.
US07837470B2
The present invention relates to an articulator capable of completely and faithfully reproducing movements of a mandibular cast and maxillary cast. The articulator introduces a suspended mandibular member, the mandible being similar to that of in human beings. The mandible is suspended from the condyles in the glenoid fossa of the tempero mandibular joint. The articulator and the mandibular member are suspended between the maxillary member and the base representing the feet or base in a human. The articulator has a mechanism for anterior incisal guidance by providing incisal pins attached to the mandibular member. The incisal pin attached to the mandibular member creates the anterior guidance on an incisal table resting on the base. The articulator creates the possibility of the condyle executing pure rotary movement in the centric position until a vertical opening between the upper and lower jaws.
US07837465B2
An orthodontic expansion screw having two bodies whose distance from each other can be changed by means of a spindle that engages both bodies. The spindle includes an actuation part for effecting a torque for readjusting the spindle, and a straight-line guide for engaging both bodies and guiding the bodies along two guide axes that are parallel to each other while preventing a relative rotation of the bodies when their distance from each other is being changed. A friction brake is provided that presses onto the actuation part of the spindle and thus generates a frictional force that renders a rotation of the spindle in both directions of rotation more difficult in order to prevent inadvertent readjustment of the spindle.
US07837464B2
Locating desired placement locations of brackets for a patient's teeth includes obtaining an array of data points from a cast of the teeth and generating a virtual model from the array of scanned data points. Individual teeth from the virtual model can be manually severed or “cut” and manually dragged from a start position to a finished position to determine a treatment plan. The orthodontist virtually marks the position on the virtual model where a physical bracket is desired. Brackets can then be automatically placed onto a cast of the teeth at corresponding positions.
US07837463B2
A wall structure for bordering a combustion chamber of a burner has a top plate that is exposed to the combustion chamber and a bottom plate in contact with the top plate in contact zones on a side facing away from the combustion chamber. The top plate and/or the bottom plate are shaped so that a channel system is created between the top plate and the bottom plate. The top plate contains first openings which communicate with the channel system. In addition, the top plate and the bottom plate have joint second openings in the contact zones communicating with a feed space which is arranged on a side of the bottom plate facing away from the combustion chamber.
US07837462B2
A burner has a port facing into a combustion chamber along an axis. A secondary fuel injector structure has secondary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber at locations spaced radially outward from the burner port. A tertiary fuel injector structure has tertiary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber in directions perpendicular to the axis at locations spaced axially downstream from the secondary fuel injection ports.
US07837460B2
A molding apparatus is configured by a first, a second sliding die, a first, a second fixed die, and a sliding film forming chamber. The first, the second sliding dies are moved in directions reverse to each other to take a primary molding position, a film forming position and a secondary molding position. The sliding film forming chamber includes a first, a second masking plate and are arranged to be remote from the first, the second fixed dies. Further, the sliding film forming chamber is slid in an up and down direction. The first, the second sliding dies are respectively formed with recess portions and cores, the first, the second fixed dies are respectively formed with cores and recess portions.
US07837458B2
A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. The device has a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and support legs (51) that are mounted at the machine frame and by which the device (1) is supported on a substrate. The support legs (51) are arranged such that a three-point support of the device (1) at the substrate is given and at least two support legs (51) are mounted at the machine frame such that they are adjustable in height.
US07837451B2
A positive displacement capture device contains a rotor portion positioned inside a casing portion to act as a least area rotor which captures a volume and moves the volume along the length of the separator. The rotor portion contains a plurality of lobes which interact with grooves in the casing portion, such that the interaction of the lobes and grooves create barriers which capture the volume. The creation of the volume creates a flow barrier between a downstream end of the separator and an upstream end of the separator. The flow separator is coupled to a combustion portion to provide a flow of material to the combustion portion. There is a non-contact seal between the lobes and the grooves, and the lobes have channels or depressions at their ends.
US07837441B2
Turbine components, and in particular turbine blades, are provided with impingement cooling channels. Air is delivered along central channels, and the central channels deliver the air through crossover holes to core channels adjacent both a pressure wall and a suction wall. The air passing through the crossover holes impacts against a wall of the core channels.
US07837438B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a vane assembly formed by a forward airfoil segment and an aft airfoil segment. The aft segment is made of metal and can define the trailing edge of the vane assembly. The forward segment can be made of ceramic, CMC or metal. The forward and aft segments cannot be directly joined to each other because of differences in their rates of thermal expansion and contraction. The forward and aft segments can be positioned substantially proximate to each other so as to form a gap therebetween. In one embodiment, the gap can be substantially sealed by providing a coupling insert or leaf springs in the gap. A separate metal aft segment can take advantage of the beneficial thermal properties of the metal to improve cooling efficiency at the trailing edge without limiting the rest of the vane to being made out of metal.
US07837436B2
A method for regulating fluid flow through a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes coupling an outer fairing to a radially outer duct wall and coupling an inner fairing to a radially inner duct wall. An annular valve is coupled between the radially outer and the radially inner duct walls such that an outer bypass flow area is at least partially defined between the annular valve and the outer fairing, and such that an inner bypass flow area is at least partially defined between the annular valve and the inner fairing. The annular valve is selectively positioned between a first operational position and a second operational position, such that at least one of the outer bypass and the inner bypass flow areas is varied during a transition from a first turbine operation to a second turbine operation.
US07837431B2
In an impeller 11, an inlet portion and an outlet portion are provided at one end side and the other end side in the axial direction, respectively. An inlet 29 is formed in the lower part of the inlet portion, and an outlet is formed in the side face of the outlet portion. The inlet portion and the outlet portion are partitioned by a flange portion 40. The impeller 11 includes a primary vane 36 and a secondary vane 38. The primary vane 36 defines a spiral primary channel 35 that connects the inlet 29 and the outlet. The secondary vane 38 is formed in a shape that a part of the outer periphery of the outlet portion is gouged inward so as to define a secondary channel 37 connected to the primary channel 35 and extending circumferentially around the outer periphery.
US07837423B2
A silo for storing viscous material such as sludge, the silo comprising a floor and a perimeter wall connected to the floor, is disclosed. The silo further comprises a moveable frame adjacent to the floor wherein the frame defines an area less than the area of the floor, and an opening in the floor. A crosspiece having opposite ends mounted to generally opposing portions of the perimeter wall is provided within the silo adjacent to the moveable frame. The crosspiece contains a surface facing the floor and is positioned adjacent to the frame. The crosspiece further comprises one or more diverter portions connected to the crosspiece which extend from the floor facing surface of the crosspiece towards the floor.
US07837421B1
A tie-down arrangement uses a draw-string bag to provide securement to a wide variety of loads.
US07837416B2
An indexable cutting insert (1) of the present invention includes at least one face (2), at least two flanks (3), at least one edge line (4), at least one corner (9), and a base layer having a different color from a use-state indicating layer. The use-state indicating layer is formed on at least one of the flanks (3) so that the use-state indicating layer is formed on the base layer over the entire surface or a part of a region A2 excluding at least one region A1 of 2 mm2 containing at least one corner (9).
US07837414B2
A gabion 10 comprising side walls 12 defining a cavity 20 suitable for retaining a quantity of fill material 36 and a base 14 connected to at least one side wall 12 for substantially closing the bottom of the gabion 10, said base 14 comprising two or more apertures 27 defining channels 22 arranged to receive lifting means therethrough.
US07837411B2
Methods and apparatus for improved power generation through movement of water retrofitting existing hydroelectric dams with draft tube inserts and tailrace walls to increase water velocity for production of power using hydrokinetic turbines installed in the tailrace. By initial design or by draft tube inserts and tailrace walls, increased and streamlined water flow leads to higher efficiencies of the hydrokinetic turbine, thus more efficiently converting available kinetic energy of the water into usable energy.
US07837409B2
Detailed are systems and techniques for protecting structures from vehicular attack. The systems incorporate deformable materials sufficient to disable or otherwise inhibit certain vehicular traffic yet support weights and weight distributions typically associated with pedestrian or other non-threat traffic. Bodies of deformable materials further may include rigid structures or vehicle-immobilization devices.
US07837408B2
A board fixing module fixes a board to a base body. The board fixing module includes: a fixing element embedded into the base body, a bottom portion passed through the board and a latch element latched with the fixing element, and a passing rod passed into the latch element for maintaining the latch condition of the latch element and the fixing element. The invention is characterized in that users simply need to press the passing rod inward to release the latch condition of the latch element and the fixing element in order to separate the board from the base body, and thus the invention achieves the effect of a convenient installation or dismount.
US07837400B2
An optoelectronic transceiver module includes a cage, a transceiver module and a release mechanism. The cage defines an opening and includes a retaining tab formed around the opening. A retaining hole is defined in the retaining tab. The transceiver module received in the cage through the opening includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A fixed latch disposed on the first surface mates with the retaining hole so as to lock the transceiver module in the cage. The release mechanism includes a release trigger and a release lever inflexibly connected together. The release lever is disposed between the retaining tab and the transceiver module. The release trigger abuts the second surface. When the release trigger is pressed towards the second surface, the release lever is subsequently driven to disengage the fixed latch from the retaining tab.
US07837399B2
In one example embodiment, an optoelectronic module comprises a body, a signal ground, and an OSA. The body is connected to chassis ground and defines a cavity within which one or more components are disposed. The optical subassembly is disposed in the body cavity, has one or more components connected to signal ground, and comprises a header assembly, a housing, and one or more containment structures. The header assembly houses one or more components that generate EMI emissions and includes an optical aperture. The housing includes a port and a barrel. The port defines a fiber receptacle and the barrel defines a cavity that at least partially receives the header assembly. The containment structure(s) at least partially contain the EMI emissions within the OSA.
US07837396B2
This disclosure describes techniques for attaching a connector to a fiber optic cable. As described herein, lengthwise slits are made into the jacket and the buffer tube of a fiber optic cable, thereby exposing interior segments of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable. A loop is then made in the fiber optic cable at the slits. The ends of the optical fibers can then telescopically slide out the end of the fiber optic cable. When this happens, the exposed interior segments of the optical fibers slide out of the buffer tube and the jacket through the slits, forming a smaller loop within the loop. A connector may then be attached to the exposed ends of the optical fibers. When the fiber optic cable is unlooped, the exposed interior segments of the optical fibers slide back into the buffer tube and jacket. The jacket may then be resealed.
US07837384B2
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided for detecting when a temperature reaches a specified value. The circuit includes a differential circuit block having first and second transistors. A control terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first voltage source, and a control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a second voltage source. The second transistor has an area larger than the first transistor. The differential circuit block compares a first current flowing into the first transistor and a second current flowing into the second transistor. The differential circuit block outputs a signal to indicate that the specified temperature has been reached when the first current equals the second current according to specified values of the first voltage source, the second voltage source, and the ratio of the areas of the first and second transistors. A single-ended circuit block amplifies the output signal of the differential circuit block to a predetermined amplitude.
US07837370B2
A low profile side-emitting lens for an LED die has two tiers of different waveguides radially extending out from a center side-emitting lens. An LED emits light into the center side-emitting lens, which has a curved surface that internally reflects the LED light outward approximately parallel to the top surface of the LED die. The center lens has a height of 2 mm, required for reflecting the LED light outward. Radially extending from the periphery of the bottom half of the center lens is a bottom tier of waveguides, each having a height of 1 mm, and radially extending from the periphery of the top half of the center lens is a top tier of waveguides, each having a height of 1 mm. The light output areas of the top and bottom tiers of waveguides are parallel with each other so that the 2 mm high side emission is reduced to a 1 mm side emission without reducing the emission area.
US07837362B2
An LED lamp includes a housing, a heat sink received in the housing, a plurality of LED modules thermally attached to the heat sink and a cover covering on the housing and engaging with the housing. The cover includes a base plate and an annular flange extending towards the housing from the base plate. The heat sink includes a base and fins extending from the base. The base is mounted on the annular flange of the cover. The fins extend through the cover to be exposed outside. A waterproof gasket is firmly and intimately compressed between the annular flange of the cover and the base of the heat sink, whereby the housing and the base of the heat sink defines a hermetical cavity receiving the LED modules therein.
US07837357B2
An illumination system has a light source, an optical train, and a wavelength beam splitter. The optical train focuses light from the light source into a defined geometrical pattern on a surface. The wavelength beam splitter transmits light of a first wavelength and redirects light of a second wavelength. One of these wavelengths is included by the light from the light source, while the other is an emission wavelength generated by thermal excitation of the surface by the focused geometrical pattern.
US07837352B2
An apparatus is provided for facilitating servicing of an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a light source, which includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The plurality of light-emitting diodes are secured to the electronics rack or a floor tile disposed adjacent to the electronics rack, and are configured to illuminate at least a lower portion of the electronics rack at either the air inlet or air outlet side of the rack. A power supply is also provided for selectively supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting diodes. In one implementation, the light source includes an elongate light bar, which is configured to mount to either the inlet door or outlet door of the electronics rack, and the plurality of light-emitting diodes are secured to an elongate housing structure which pivotally couples to a base plate for adjustment of a direction of illumination by the light-emitting diodes.
US07837351B2
The present invention provides a luminous assembly, more particularly, a decorative luminous assembly having a fiber-formed shaped part. The luminous assembly includes a light source and a shaped part of fiber with a predetermined shape. The light source is installed on the shaped part of fiber. The luminous assembly may further comprise a light reflecting element arranged in the back thereof. Light from the light source to the light reflecting element is reflected back substantially towards the shaped part. The luminous assembly has advantages of simple manufacturing process, lower cost, and convenience for mass production etc.
US07837347B2
The present invention provides a luminaire comprising a lamp housing having an upper surface and at least one opposed pair of lamp holders extending downwardly from opposing ends of said housing. The housing includes a plurality of apertures in the upper surface thereof to permit transmission of light therethrough and a reversible reflector capable of being secured to said housing in a plurality of positions having a plurality of apertures therein wherein in a first position the apertures in said reflector are aligned with the apertures in said housing to permit light transmission therethrough and wherein in a second position the apertures in said housing are covered by said reflector to prohibit light transmission therethrough.
US07837346B2
An illumination tool fixture is generally provided. The fixture comprises an illumination tool receiving sleeve and a clamping assembly operatively received at an end thereof. The sleeve is generally characterized by first and second sleeve segments, each having first and second sleeve ends. The second sleeve end includes an interior circumferential wall segment characterized by a taper, and a thread bearing outer surface segment. Manipulation of a portion of the clamping assembly, namely a clamping ring thereof, establishes a wedged interference engagement for an illumination tool within the fixture.
US07837345B2
An aquatic light emitting device comprising a plurality of point light emitting units and a plurality of linear light emitting units is disclosed. The point light emitting unit comprises a floating member, a light source part, and a power supply part. The floating member includes a hollow body which has an internal space isolated from the outside so as to give buoyancy, one or more junction portions formed on an outer surface thereof, and has a light inlet opening formed on an upper part, and a string connected to a lower surface of the hollow body. The light source part is attached to the upper surface of the floating member, has an isolated internal space with light outlet openings provided at the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a light source and a light source control circuit contained in the isolated internal space. The power supply part is located on the upper surface of the light source part and includes a solar cell. The linear light emitting unit comprises at least one optical fiber which is introduced into the hollow body through a hole formed at the junction portion, one end of which is arranged at the light inlet opening of the hollow body, and part of which extends outwards through the junction portion, and is surrounded by a transparent tube.
US07837343B2
An illuminating device includes a light-condensing sheet, a light-emitting portion, and a control unit. The light-condensing sheet includes a plurality of lenses each with a light-condensing function ranged on a light transmittance substrate. The light-emitting portion is opposed to the light-condensing sheet and includes light-emitting areas with respective dimensions. The control unit switches a luminous state of the light-emitting area to a non-luminous state or vice versa. A display device is provided with the illuminating device described above.
US07837337B2
A projection apparatus includes an illumination system, a projection module and at least a filter. The illumination system is for generating an illumination light beam. The projection module is for receiving the illumination light beam from the illumination system and projecting an image according to the illumination light beam. The filter is disposed in the illumination system and located on a light path defined by the illumination light beam. The filter comprises a first filtering part and a second filtering part. A minimum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the second filtering part is larger than a minimum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the first filtering part, or a maximum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the second filtering part is smaller than a maximum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the first filtering part.
US07837336B2
A projection device comprises a color wheel module, wherein, the color wheel can be detached from the color wheel module. The color wheel module can be detached from the body of the projection device, so that users can conveniently change, clean or maintain the color wheel as desired.
US07837335B2
A projector includes a lamp, a fan for dissipating heat generated by the lamp, a housing, a number of blades received in the housing, and a elongated-slider. The housing receives the lamp and the fan, and includes a top cover, a sidewall connected to the top cover, and a bottom cover connected to the sidewall. The top cover defines an through opening therein. The blades can be rotated in cooperation with the slide of the elongated-slider in the through opening. As described above, the projector can exhaust thermal formed by the lamp or electronic elements from the air outlet. At the same time, the flow direction of the air from the air outlet can be changed in cooperation with the slider. Therefore, when a user sits by the air outlet, the user can adjust the flow direction of the air from the air outlet at any time.
US07837333B2
A projector projecting several images simultaneously is provided. The projector includes a main body having a first opening and a second opening, and an optical system disposed in the main body and projecting a first image through the first opening and a second image through the second opening. The optical system includes a laser source comprising a plurality of mono laser sources, and a first reflector with a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface corresponding to the first opening and the second opening.
US07837326B2
The present invention relates to lenses that are capable of post-fabrication power modifications. In general, the inventive lenses comprise (i) a first polymer matrix and (ii) a refraction modulating composition that is capable of stimulus-induced polymerization dispersed therein. When at least a portion of the lens is exposed to an appropriate stimulus, the refraction modulating composition forms a second polymer matrix. The amount and location of the second polymer matrix may modify a lens characteristic such as lens power by changing its refractive index and/or by altering its shape. The inventive lenses have a number of applications in the electronics and medical fields as data storage means and as medical lenses, particularly intraocular lenses, respectively.
US07837324B2
An ophthalmic lens (10) comprises an optical component (1) and a layer (2) placed on a face of the optical component (1a). The layer (2) has a variable refractive index and is structured so that a second order derivative of the index with regard to a linear spatial coordinate along the face of the optical component (1a) is greater than a fixed threshold. The layer (2) makes it possible to alter the optical power and astigmatism of the lens (10) with regard to corresponding values only relative to the optical component (1). In the event that the ophthalmic lens (10) is a progressive lens, the layer (2) makes it possible to change an addition, a length of progression and/or a design of the progressive lens.
US07837319B2
A method and apparatus a digital ink-jet printer are presented. A radiation-curable ink is continuously applies to successive locations on a substrate along a print line extending across the substrate. Concurrently with the continuous application of the radiation-curable ink along the print line, first curing radiation of a predetermined first intensity is continuously applied to the applied ink on the successive locations on the substrate along said print line, with a certain time delay, constant for all the locations on the substrate, between the applications of ink and the first curing radiation. Second curing radiation of a predetermined second intensity is applied to the locations on the substrate a certain time period, constant for all the locations on the substrate, after the application of the first curing radiation to said locations.
US07837318B2
The present invention is drawn to photo-curable ink-jet ink compositions, systems, and methods. One exemplary ink-jet ink composition includes a liquid vehicle, a milled pigment which has been milled in a milling solvent having minimal to no gas solvency for the milled pigment, and a photo initiator. In this embodiment, the composition can be ink-jettable at frequencies of at least 29 KHz without requiring degassing during printing.
US07837317B2
A solid ink stick comprises an ink stick body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The plurality of side surfaces defines a perimeter of the ink stick body. At least one key contour is formed in at least one side surface in the plurality of side surfaces extending at least partially between the top surface and the bottom surface. A witness mark is formed along at least a portion of the perimeter of the ink stick body with a portion of the witness mark following the at least one key contour.
US07837316B2
A correction ink of the present invention is used for correcting a micro defect in a color pattern, which includes a coloring agent, polymer, monomer having reactivity functional group and a solvent, wherein an amount of the solvent is from 25% by weight to 70% by weight of the whole ink, and a viscosity is from 40 to 300 mPa·sec.
US07837299B2
A liquid ejecting head with a nozzle forming member in which plural nozzle sequences formed by aligning nozzles configured to eject a liquid drop of recording liquid are arranged such that nozzles of respective sequences are provided in a zigzag pattern and a water-repellent layer comprising a resin layer is applied and formed on a surface thereof at a side of liquid drop ejection, is provided, wherein the respective nozzle sequences are arranged at an interval(s) which is/are not greater than a diameter of a nozzle.
US07837298B2
A print head mounting assembly and a method of mounting and positioning a print head on a print head carriage framework suitable for mounting in a printing system includes a print head positioning device for receiving a print head, and a print head mounting tile having a mounting surface for mounting the print head positioning device. The print head mounting tile is adjustably mounted on the print head carriage framework such that it provides a mounting surface for the print head positioning device that is level with a reference printing surface, when the print head carriage framework is mounted in the printing system. The print head positioning device is adjustably mounted on the print head mounting tile such that the print head, being received in the print head positioning device, is accurately positioned on the mounting surface of the print head mounting tile.
US07837297B2
A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (68) with nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure (64, 174, 176) for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure having ink conduits (182) for supplying the array of nozzles. A plurality of cavities (200), each cavity having an opening that establishes fluid communication with the ink conduits, the openings being configured such that the cavities do not prime with ink when the ink conduits are primed from the ink supply. By leaving unprimed cavities throughout the support structure, any pressure pulses in the ink are damped by compression of the trapped gas pockets. Distributing the cavities rather than using one relatively large cavity, means that the pressure pulse is being damped along the length of the printhead IC, instead of allowing the pulse to travel the length of the ink conduit until it reaches the single damper and compresses the gas.
US07837293B2
Provided herein is a suction device that is provided in an inkjet liquid droplet ejection apparatus and sucks functional liquid while contacting with nozzle surfaces of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads. The suction device has a plurality of head caps, a suction channel having a plurality of individual channels, a plurality of channel opening/closing unit that is disposed on the individual channels and opens and closes the respective individual channels, a waste liquid tank, an ejector, a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts pressure of the compressed air at the primary side of the ejector, and a control unit that controls the pressure adjustment unit. The control unit controls the pressure adjustment unit according to the number of open-channel opening/closing units opened out of the plurality of channel opening/closing units such that a suction pressure is constant in the plurality of head caps.
US07837292B2
An inkjet type printer having a recording head is disclosed. The printer includes a cap and a raising and lowering unit. The raising and lowering unit moves the cap between a sealing position at which the cap contacts the recording head and a retreat position at which the cap is separated from the recording head. The raising and lowering unit includes a selection cam, a cleaning mechanism, and a lift lever. The cleaning mechanism supports the cap and the selection cam, and is movable along the moving direction of the cap. The distal end of the lift lever is engaged with the selection cam at a position near the outer circumference of the selection cam, and the proximal end of the lift lever is coupled to a pressure adjustment shaft. The selection cam is raised or lowered while being rotated about the distal end of the lift lever, so that the cap is moved between the sealing position and the retreat position.
US07837281B2
A braking force maintaining apparatus of a vehicle includes a reference braking force setting section, a threshold value setting section, a braking force change rate detecting section, and a change rate determining section. The reference braking force setting section sets, as a reference braking force, a braking force acting on wheels of the vehicle after a reference time has elapsed since stopping of the vehicle. The threshold value setting section sets a threshold value by adding the reference braking force to a predetermined reference value. The braking force change rate detecting section detects a change rate of the braking force acting on the wheels after the threshold value has been set. The change rate determining section determines whether the detected change rate is a negative value. If the detected change rate is a negative value, the reference braking force setting section resets, as the reference braking force, the braking force acting on the wheels after the threshold value has been set, and the threshold value setting section resets the threshold value by adding the reset reference braking force to the reference value.
US07837280B2
A hydraulic brake unit applies braking force to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle according to the operation of a brake pedal. A pressure increase linear control valve supplies hydraulic fluid from an accumulator to wheel cylinders of disc brake units of the respective wheels. Pressure-sustaining valves are placed in passages that extend from a first passage to the rear wheel cylinders. A pressure-increase response-delay reduction section closes the pressure-sustaining valves for a predetermined period of time after starting the hydraulic pressure control to temporarily limit the inflow of hydraulic fluid into the wheel cylinders that communicate with the first passage. Thus, the amount of the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the second passage is increased, and it is possible to reduce the hydraulic pressure response delay in the second passage.
US07837274B2
A device is provided for supporting a portion of the upper body during forward lean. The device comprises a hinge joint provided on a base plate. A central pillar extends upwards from the hinge joint, the hinge joint enabling movement of the central pillar through a range of motions. A support plate is situated on the central pillar at an opposite end from the hinge joint, the support plate providing support to a user in the region of the user's breast plate. At least one resistor element is operably associated with the central pillar to receive stresses delivered via at least one linkage unit during periods of forward lean, thereby transferring at least a portion of the upper body weight to the at least one resistor element.
US07837273B1
A seat suspension that includes at least one beam spring that extends across a seat pan. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of such springs is carried by the pan. The springs preferably differ in compliance from one another and from a mesh load supporting grid that is connected to each spring. One such arrangement produces a suspension of progressive construction that enables the seat to handle a wide range of shocks, bumps, jolts, and vibration of varying frequencies and magnitudes.
US07837254B2
A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, a first side surface adapted to be attached to a first side of the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface, and a second side surface adapted to be attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface. Each of the top and first and second side surfaces has a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle, as well as a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge.
US07837243B2
An apparatus is provided for locking a first door of a motor vehicle in place relative to a second door as the first and second doors abut against each other when closed. The apparatus includes a base plate mounted to the first door. A latch release lever is pivotally mounted to the base plate for movement between a neutral position and a release position. In the release position, the latch release lever actuates at least one door latch to release the first door. A plunger is slidably mounted to the first door and movable between an open position and a closed position engaging the latch release lever. Closing the second door while the first door is closed moves the plunger from the open position to the closed position to prevent the latch release lever from pivoting into the release position.
US07837242B1
This is a device, which will be inserted over the doorknob and behind a deadbolt. It will prevent a deadbolt from turning in the event that someone with a key tries to enter the home or business while the space is being occupied. This device is not meant to function as a security device but only to insure greater privacy for a homeowner or business owner.
US07837235B2
A fluidic component is arranged in an elastomeric shaped part, the contour of which is matched to the outer contour of the component and to the inner contour of a holder. The elastomeric shaped part is chamfered towards the fluidic component on its pressure side. When the holder is assembled, the elastomeric shaped part is deformed by a projection provided on a mating part and is put under uniformly distributed internal tension, after which the elastomeric shaped part surrounds the fluidic component to its full height.
US07837228B2
An airbag and an airbag device, a vent hole of which remains closed or is made open to a small extent until the internal pressure of the airbag becomes equal or more than predetermined, and becomes opened or is made open to a large extent when the internal pressure of the airbag becomes equal or more than predetermined and also when an occupant comes in contact with the airbag. A vent hole 18 is provided to a rear panel 14 of an airbag 10, and is covered with a cover member 60 from the inside of the airbag 10. A hanging rope 80 connecting a front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 in the inside of the airbag 10 is connected to the cover member 60 with a tether 70. On the center side of the airbag 10 with respect to the vent hole 18, the tether 70 is sandwiched between the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14, and these are joined together with line-like joining portions 22, 24 so as to be disengageable.
US07837223B2
Inflatable devices principally for vehicle occupant protection are addressed. Included among the devices are curtains or other cushions (18) with braided portions (42) along their lower edges (30) designed to form semi-rigid members when deployed. Unlike commercially-available vehicle curtains, inflation occurs from the bottom (where the semi-rigid member is formed) upward. The devices additionally optionally may include inflatable nodes (46) within the curtains (18) or otherwise extending from the cushions.
US07837218B2
A sports board binding and foot traction apparatus for use in sports boards such as surfboard, skateboard, wakeboards, and the like. The apparatus includes a sports board having a deck and a bottom and at least one cutout box disposed in one or both of the deck and bottom. One or more permanent magnets is disposed and retained in one or more of the cutout boxes to form a magnetic region on the deck of the board. An article of sports footwear having a sole is provided, and a ferromagnetic plate is disposed in at lest a portion of each footwear sole. When the footwear is brought into proximity with the magnetic field, a binding force is applied to the footwear and the wearer is thereby enabled to manipulate the sports board in ways not possible without the inventive apparatus.
US07837213B2
A bicycle frame assembly having a number of rotatable members configured to absorb shocks and impacts associated with operation of the bicycle. The assembly includes a frame constructed to support a rider and a chain stay having a rearward end that extends toward a wheel hub and a forward end that is pivotably connected to the frame. An absorber is pivotably connected to the forward end of the chain stay and extends to a rocker arm that is pivotably connected to the frame. A seat stay is pivotably connected to a rearward end of the rocker arm and extends to the rearward end of the chain stay. The rearward ends of the seat stay and the chain stay are pivotably connected to rotate about a common axis.
US07837205B2
The invention concerns a collapsible compartment of a shopping cart comprising a seat panel for closing leg holes avoiding small objects or groceries to fall out. The panel has a rear edge having a tube-shaped portion hingely connected to the swinging rear wall of the compartment. The panel may be urged in an up or down position thanks to a cam element positioned longitudinally on the tube-shaped portion so as to face a vertical wire of the swinging rear wall of the collapsible compartment acting as a spring. The cam is also positioned radially on the tube-shaped portion so as to strike the vertical wire when the seat panel is pivoted from either the down position to the up position or the up position to the down position. The invention is also directed to a shopping cart including the same collapsible compartment.
US07837204B1
An adjustable hanger pivot angle and kingpin board apparatus includes a truck having wheels, a hanger, and a kingpin, a truck base plate attached to said truck, and, a curving track adjustably connected to said base plate to adjust the kingpin in relation to the curving track. An adjustable hanger pivot angle and kingpin board apparatus, includes a truck having wheels, a hanger, and a kingpin, a truck base plate attached to said truck, a truck round attached fixedly to said truck, said truck round including a flat bottom and curved top, and, a curving track attached adjustably to said truck base plate through said truck round to adjust said hanger pivot angle and kingpin angle in relation to the curving track. A skateboard provided with one or more adjustable hanger pivot angle and kingpin board apparatus.
US07837201B2
The present invention provides an assistant apparatus for surmounting a barrier, which comprises a carrier body, an assistant mechanism, and a sensing/driving apparatus. The assistant mechanism, disposed at a side of the carrier body, having an assistant block disposed at the end thereof, functions to place the assistant block on the ground between the carrier body and the barrier so that the carrier body is capable of surmounting the barrier through the assistance of the assistant block. The sensing/driving apparatus, coupled to the assistant mechanism, functions to drive the assistant mechanism to generate the adjusting movement according to whether the barrier is detected or not. By means of the design of the present invention, the assistant block is adopted to reduce the height surmounted by the carrier each time so that the carrier is capable of surmounting the barrier section by section.
US07837199B2
A face seal includes a seal seat and a seal element carried by a seal housing. The seal element cooperates with the seal seat to establish a seal. The housing includes a support for the seal element and a shroud for effecting a gradual transition between a normal condition and a deteriorated condition. The shroud may have a tip whose properties differ in lubricity, hardness or abradability relative to other portions of the seal housing.
US07837194B2
A feeding apparatus including a feeding device including (a) a feeder which feeds, in each of a plurality of feeding operations, an object in a feeding direction in a state in which an external force is exerted to the object in a direction parallel to the feeding direction, and (b) a motor which operates the feeder and thereby feeds the object; and a controller which controls, in each feeding operation, the motor by supplying, in a first control mode, a first power to the motor so as to feed the object to a control-end position distant from a target stop position by a predetermined amount, and supplying, in a second control mode, a second power different from the first power, to the motor so that the feeder applies, to the object, a resisting force resisting the external force and thereby prevents at least a portion of a movement of the object in the direction parallel to the feeding direction that is caused by the external force.
US07837190B2
A strike plate (266) against which sheets (150) exiting a printer contact prior to falling into a receiving tray, the strike plate comprising: a) at least one strike face (268); and b) a generally outward directed abutment surface (254) at an upper portion of the strike face, said direction being referenced to said strike face.
US07837186B2
A sheet finishing apparatus includes an inlet roller to receive a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, a sheet introduction unit to guide the sheet received by the inlet roller to a finishing unit, a sheet ejection unit to guide the sheet subjected to the finishing by the finishing unit to an ejection port and to eject from the ejection port, a storage tray to receive the ejected sheet, a drive unit including plural motors to drive respective devices, and a control unit to control operations of the plural motors. In a trial operation of the sheet finishing apparatus, the control unit controls the plural motors, and shifts the timings and performs driving to prevent plural motors with sound pressure levels not less than a previously set reference level from being simultaneously operated.
US07837179B2
A tire carrier assembly is operative to provide a controlled payout of cable in response to an application of a minimum predetermined amount of force upon the tire carrier assembly. The tire carrier assembly includes a housing having a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall defining an interior space. A rotation shaft is coupled to the housing and having a longitudinal axis. A sheave is coupled to the shaft and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A gear member extends from the sheave and is rotatable therewith about the longitudinal axis. A pin fixedly secured to the housing. A torque plate has a gear portion epicyclically engaged with the gear member of the sheave. The torque plate has an arm portion extending generally radially outwardly with respect to the gear portion. The torque plate has a closed-ended slot formed in the arm portion and receiving the pin therethrough. The arm portion has legs extending along opposite sides of the slot. At least one of the legs has a weakened area at which the arm portion deforms in response to an application of a predetermined amount of force upon the tire carrier assembly and contacts an inner surface of the housing to provide a controlled payout of a cable from the sheave.
US07837167B2
A container support device for use in removing and delivering multiple fluids from a patient is disclosed. The container support device includes an attachment member for coupling the container support device to a weight scale, a joint body attached to the attachment member and configured to rotate about a vertical axis thereof, a support body secured to the joint body, and at least one container support extending from the support body.
US07837160B2
A simple heat-dissipation pad for a notebook computer includes two symmetrical pad elements which can be coupled to each other via engaging blocks and engaging holes formed thereon, so as to form a decorative object having a spherical shape or other shapes. The pad elements, when separated from each other, can be used to support the notebook computer at a higher position and provide anti-slip and proper heat-dissipation effects.
US07837152B2
An article of manufacture, a retractable safety ripcord device for use with a reserve parachute; the device uses a non-metallic flexible line between a first end with handle, a second end with a loop and at least one rubber shock cord integrated into the line. Also used is a single handle and reserve pin releasably attached via the loop wherein the pin separates from the loop after activation.
US07837151B1
A system for the hookup of either a manned or unmanned air vehicle with a refueling air vehicle. A probe extending from an air vehicle being refueled is joined to a drogue at the end of a boom on a refueling air vehicle. In bringing the probe into the drogue an optical sensor on one of the vehicles is employed in conjunction with optical beacons on the other vehicle with the sensor measuring the relative motion between the probe and the drogue and generating a control signal for controlling motion of the probe relative to the drogue. The positioning of the probe relative to the drogue is accurately controlled during the fueling operation by a rigid actuator mechanism formed by a rod sidably fitted within a sleeve, the rod being driven by a tensioned reel in response to control signals. One end of the actuator is connected to the drogue while the other end is connected to the refueling aircraft to form a triangular configuration, allowing only small interaction forces thereby restraining relative motion between the probe and the drogue.
US07837148B2
Embodiments of integral composite panels and joints for composite structures are described In one implementation, an integrated panel spanning substantially the entire wingspan of an aircraft, includes at least a center portion and a pair of outwardly projecting wing portions. The portions may include a skin formed from successive layers or plies of composite material which overlap and offset at the joint between respective sections creating a pad-up area to carry loads between the portions. In a particular implementation, the skin is laid over one or more structural stringers which are transitioned into the joints between sections such as by tapering of the thickness and/or stiffness of the stringer.
US07837144B2
A fluid contact surface actuation system for a vehicle, including a first fluid contact surface constructed and arranged to act against a first fluid passing over the first fluid contact surface; and a first fluid actuator coupled to the first fluid contact surface to move the first fluid contact surface between a first position and a second position to enable control of the vehicle in a predetermined manner, the first fluid actuator having a first resilient bladder that receives a second fluid such that pressure of the second fluid moves the first bladder between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration.
US07837140B2
A new and improved film wrapping machine includes a new and improved film changer, operatively associated with the film wrapping machine, for automatically exchanging rolls of wrapping film, wherein a depleted roll of wrapping film, or a roll of wrapping film that has experienced a breakage in the wrapping film, can be automatically removed from the film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly, and wherein further, a fresh roll of wrapping film can be positionally exchanged for the depleted roll of wrapping film, or for the roll of wrapping film that has experienced the breakage.
US07837139B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a tubular part, which includes an insert made of a metal matrix composite and within which ceramic fibers extend. The process comprises the following steps: the filaments of a filament bundle are fixed close to one end of a support part, said filaments being separate from one another and each filament comprising a ceramic fiber coated with a metal sheath; and all the filaments of the bundle are wound around the support part along a helical path.
US07837134B2
An emitter electrode is cooled by a cooler to generate condensed water which is charged by a high voltage applied between the emitter electrode and an opposed electrode and is discharged as a mist of charged minute water particles. A controller is provided to vary a temperature drop to a predetermined minimum temperature in dependence of an environmental temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The temperature drop is made variable in proportion to the environmental temperature. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water can be condensed on the emitter electrode simply by controlling the cooling of the emitter electrode without relying upon an environmental humidity.
US07837130B1
Overspray eradicator. A portable spray and overspray capture system including a portable vacuum filtration and spray gun air power supply unit including an air pressurization system, a vacuum creation system, a high efficiency particulate air filter, and an organic vapor filter, the portable vacuum filtration and spray gun air power supply unit in pressurized air communication with, and vacuum communication with, a visibility sparing spray shroud, the shroud including a spray gun or a spray gun fitting, a vacuum fitting and a plurality of extensions each with an aperture allowing fluid communication between the interior of the shroud and the exterior of the shroud the shroud having internal fluid passages to allow fluid communication between each of the extensions and the vacuum fitting.
US07837123B2
In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes enabling operation of an RFID integrated circuit of a first card in an identification token using a first switch; and enabling operation of an RFID integrated circuit of a second card in an identification token using a second switch. In accordance with some embodiments, an identification token includes: a first card including an RFID integrated circuit; a second card including an RFID integrated circuit; a first switch to enable operation of the RFID integrated circuit of the first card; and a second switch to enable operation of the RFID integrated circuit of the second card.
US07837113B2
A data reader system includes a plurality of indicia readers for reading symbol indicia and producing a symbol signal representative of the symbol indicia. At least two of the indicia readers includes a processor for controlling the indicia reader, the processor having memory for storing firmware. A communication module is configured to communicate with other indicia readers and the indicia reader system is configured to transfer firmware to other indicia readers utilizing the communication modules.
US07837110B1
A point of sale terminal includes a microcontroller integrated circuit. In one aspect, a regulator within the IC receives power from a supply voltage terminal and/or a battery terminal. If the regulator does not receive adequate power from either terminal, then energy stored on-chip in a capacitor is used to erase secure memory. In another aspect, pulses of current are made to pulse through conductors of a conductive mesh. A tamper condition is detected if an improper voltage is detected on the IC terminal through which the pulse is conducted. In another aspect, each vendor signs his/her firmware with his own vendor ID. A bootloader uses the vendor ID to lookup a public key that is then used to verify a private key supplied by the firmware to be executed. In another aspect, a magnetic card reader includes a digital peak detector circuit involving programmable positive and negative thresholds.
US07837109B2
In a method of processing recording media containing magnetic ink characters, the media is transported at a first speed along a transportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed. Character recognition is performed by analyzing signals outputted from the magnetic head in comparison with stored signal patterns. Until it is decided whether the characters are correct or can be recognized, transportation of the media is stopped or temporarily slowed to a significantly lower second speed downstream of the magnetic head. A processing apparatus includes appropriate components and functionality for carrying out such a method. In some embodiments, the analysis and comparison includes determining whether the check is inverted or upside down.
US07837102B2
A method and an apparatus utilizing the RFID technology for the login security of a computing device are disclosed. The computing device includes a processing unit, an RFID reader, and a memory. The RFID reader is coupled to the processing unit for communicating with an external RFID tag in which a user data is stored. The memory is coupled to the processing unit for storing a login data. The RFID reader reads the user data from the RFID tag and the processing unit compares the user data with the login data. If the user data matches the login data, the processing unit allows the computing device to be accessed.
US07837099B2
A loyalty program business model includes entering into an agreement with loyalty program partners and agreeing on exchange rates between a variety of loyalty unit types. Partner accrual records (PAR's) arc accepted from the loyalty program partners related to the business activity of related loyalty program members. Loyalty units credits are calculated for a member from data obtained in the step of accepting. A partner loyalty account balance is updated according to the standardized loyalty unit debit obtained in the step of calculating. Then an invoice can be billed to a partner according to the partner loyalty account balance.
US07837091B2
A method for operating a laser system for a medical procedure, or a similar system, comprises detecting presence of a portable memory device like a smart card coupled to the laser system, and reading data on the portable memory device usable to identify an associated delivery device. An identifier is read from the associated delivery device after it is coupled to the laser. A process is executed to verify the configuration including matching the identifier read from delivery device with the delivery device associated with the portable memory device, verifying that the portable memory device includes a data structure adapted for storage of an event log, and enabling delivery of laser energy if said authenticating and said verifying are successful. A kit comprising a delivery device and a portable memory device supporting the process is provided to users of the laser system.
US07837078B2
A plank top set tool for driving hardwood staples including a body having an underside base surface which contacts a base top and an angled stop surface fitting over the vertical surface leading to the tongue base. Extending at a 45 degree angle through the block is a staple slot bore having a staple slot width. A rod is insertable into the bore and has a first end acting as a hammering head to receive an impact force and a second end configured to receive a staple head and transfer the force.
US07837071B2
A valve device of an application device for applying fluid to a substrate comprises a valve body, a valve housing with inner chamber and valve seat, a supply fluid chamber, an electromagnetic valve actuating device with valve piston and an adjusting piston. The valve nozzle is detachably mounted on the nozzle side of the valve device. The valve device has a nozzle plate which closes the valve body at the bottom on the nozzle side, with mounting opening for the valve piston. The valve housing is designed in the form of a nozzle orifice which is a closure member that can be fitted on the mounting opening from below and removed. The valve nozzle forms part of the valve housing. The valve piston is exposed through the mounting opening of the nozzle plate for removal and fitting when the closure member is removed. The valve device is provided with at least one rectilinear fluid duct that connects the supply fluid chamber to the valve seat. The valve piston and part of the adjusting piston together form a wall of the straight fluid duct which, when the nozzle orifice closure member is removed, is exposed for cleaning through the mounting opening. An application device comprises the valve devices arranged in a row.
US07837060B2
A standalone portable dispenser assembly for sanitary items includes a base portion that provides resistance to the dispenser assembly against being tipped from an upright condition, an extension portion extending upwardly from the base portion, an upper cover portion attached to the extension portion above the base portion and a dispensing unit below the upper cover portion. One or more dispensing devices are disposed upon or within the dispensing unit for dispensing at least one sanitary item, such as hand towels and liquid hand soaps. The dispensing unit is at least partially shielded from weather by the upper cover portion, and the assembly is provided in a modular configuration for the convenient replacement of damaged components.
US07837055B2
An LNG full containment system is provided. The LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
US07837053B2
A shock-resistant and environmentally sealed container comprising a first section and a second section. A latching system for the container comprises a deflectable pin coupled to the first section of the container with a latch coupled to the second section. The latch includes a deflectable pin engaging member. When the deflectable pin engaging member is engaged with the deflectable pin, the deflectable pin absorbs relative movement between the first section and the second section of the container. Another embodiment of the container employs a latch containing a deflectable member. The latch is pivotally coupled to a latch pin that is mounted to either the first section or the second section of the container. The deflectable member is positioned between the latch pin and the latch, and the deflectable member is configured to absorb relative movement between the first section and the second section.
US07837050B2
A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.
US07837046B2
A self-lubricating, non-metallic type F coupler carrier improves upon state of the art railroad car coupler carrier arrangements. The coupler carrier is mounted within a cage, which coupler carrier comprises certain structures formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer. The coupler carrier is shaped to define a load support surface for supporting a coupler shank. Further, oppositely facing forward and back carrier walls define vertically disposed slide surfaces formed for close fitted engagement with the inner and outer walls of the striker cage. Lugs, integrally formed with the coupler carrier comprise outwardly and upwardly facing slide surfaces for close fitted engagement with cage side walls and retainer plates, respectively. The lugs may further comprise concave relief portions intermediate the lug slide surfaces and the walls to which the lugs are integrally formed to provide stress concentration relief to said type F non-metallic coupler carrier.
US07837045B2
A rail vehicle having a vehicle body (WKA) comprising on at least one vehicle end a compression zone (STA) located behind an end carrier (ETR) of the vehicle body, and having a central buffer coupling (KUP) extending from a substantially vertical pivot axis (SWA) to the vehicle end and connected to said vehicle body via a coupling carriage (KSL) wherein said coupling carriage (KSL) is attached to said end carrier (ETR) and extending from said end carrier (ETR), bridging said compression zone (STA), towards the vehicle center, and which is guided longitudinally slidable on the vehicle body (WKA).
US07837043B2
A team dugout organizer for sports such as baseball and softball. The device efficiently organizes player's batting and fielding equipment that must be exchanged in a dugout during the course of a game. A peg bar including a plurality of glove pegs extends across the base plate and is rotatable between use and stowed positions. A helmet strap and hat hook is vertically associated with each glove peg to provide storage for all of the equipment accessed by each player during a field change event. The storage locations may be organized by field position, player name or jersey number, with appropriate indicia being provided. An offset handle and the rotatable peg bar allow the device to be safely and conveniently carried. Adjustable straps and clips provide use flexibility.
US07837029B2
A connector for connecting modular conveyor links to form a belt includes a rod-like core and a powder coating forming a protective shell. The core may be stainless steel and the powder coating may be nylon.
US07837024B2
A packaging machine includes an article conveyor for transporting articles in a flow direction and a plunger assembly for displacing articles from the article conveyor. The plunger assembly is supported and positioned by a system that includes a frame assembly and a pressure sensitive coupling as means for releasably fixing the position of the plunger assembly. The frame assembly includes a first frame structure that is attached to the plunger assembly and a second frame structure. The first frame structure and the second frame structure are slidably coupled to one another such that a resistive force that overcomes the holding power of the pressure sensitive coupling will cause the first frame structure to slide and translate the plunger assembly out of its operating position in which it can displace the articles.
US07837023B2
A device (10) for orienting tubular cores made of card for supporting rolls of toilet or kitchen paper includes elements for imparting an angular movement to each long item (11) in such a way that it is fed out of the device at a suitable angle. The elements for the angular orientation of the item (11) are designed to cause the item to be fed forward while keeping it substantially-transversal to the direction of feed and include first mobile members (12) for feeding a corresponding portion of the item (11) and extending along a respective path, which has a curved section (12a) , and second mobile members (14) for feeding a second portion of the item (11) and extending along a respective path having a curved section (14a) which is concentric with and radially inside the curved section (12a) of the first mobile feed members (12).
US07837022B2
A device for conveying closures (D) made from metallic sheet in an essentially vertical direction from a collecting point (1) to a release point (6) is proposed. The closures are selected to be in correct position during conveying in order to release at the release point (6) only same-lying closures in a row of closures following one another closely. A conveyer belt (10) serves for the transport (v1, v2) of the closures. A sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3) serves for detecting wrong-position closures and for lateral discharge (q1, q2) of individual wrong-position closures. In the course of the conveyer belt (10) upstream of the sensor and discharge device, a bar (15) is arranged above the conveyer belt, which terminates after the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3). More than one row (R1, R2) of closures next to one another may be supplied separately to the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3). The performance itself is thus increased if the speed of the belt (10) is reduced. Performance is understood to mean the number of conveyed lids/minute which hitherto reached an order of magnitude of about 800 lids/minute.
US07837015B2
A brake lining for a disc brake of a road vehicle has a blade-type retaining spring for the lining. At least two peripheral lining springs are situated on each brake lining, adjacent to the retaining spring, and exert a compressive force on at least some sections of the periphery of the lining carrier. The springs are configured in such a way that they respectively cover an edge region of the brake lining carrier, with the latter having at least two corner regions.
US07837012B2
The present invention provides an elevator controller including: a main control unit for controlling running of an elevator, in which the main control unit predictively calculates a continuous temperature state of a predetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs an operation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperature state such that the componential equipment is not overloaded. Accordingly, a temperature rise in the componential equipment is suppressed, thereby enabling to prevent the elevator from becoming inoperable.
US07837011B2
In addition to the construction of a typical elevator control device in which power generated during regenerative operation is dissipated by a resistance chopper (18), an elevator control device is newly provided with: an electric double layer capacitor (21) connected in parallel with the DC capacitor (3) that smoothes the DC ripple of the rectifier circuit (2) that rectifies the AC power of the AC power source (1) and having an electrostatic capacitance that is considerably larger than this DC capacitor; a voltage detection circuit (22) that detects the terminal voltage of this electric double layer capacitor; and a drive control unit (5) that uses a voltage in the vicinity of the rated voltage of the electric double layer capacitor as the operating voltage of resistance chopper and, when the terminal voltage detected by a voltage detection circuit reaches the voltage in the vicinity of the rated voltage of the electric double layer capacitor, operates and controls the resistance chopper.
US07837008B1
A capsule contains fluid and a solid inertial mass that is free to move within the capsule. The capsule is embedded in a foam panel. A plurality of such foam panels are attached to the internal wall of a launch vehicle fairing. This device augments acoustic energy dissipation with damping the resonant frequency of the fairing to reduce the amount of energy that is transmitted into the acoustic volume contained within the wall. Incorporating a plurality of capsules respectively tuned to many frequencies provides broadband structural attenuation. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and is intended to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07837007B2
A sound absorption element for means of transport, in particular for aircraft, comprising at least one sound absorption panel arranged on a base panel with the base panel comprising a multitude of recesses, in particular a hole grid or the like, for the transmission of sound.According to the invention, the sound absorption panels are each framed by a frame, wherein on the at least one frame at least in some sections a transition profile, in particular to prevent fatigue fractures due to stepwise changes of rigidity between the at least one frame and the base panel is arranged.Due to the base panel comprising a multitude of recesses, in particular comprising a hole grid, in connection with the sound absorption panels an air-permeable sound absorption element can be achieved.
US07836999B2
A sub-frame structure, which mounts a fuel cell thereon and is supported by a vehicle body, the sub-frame structure including: front and rear cross members which support front and rear ends of the fuel cell on upper surfaces thereof and extend in a vehicle width direction; an intermediate cross member that is provided between the front and rear cross members and extends in the vehicle width direction; and a pair of side members that connects the front and rear cross members and the intermediate cross member and extends along side surfaces of the fuel cell, wherein a space having a predetermined size is formed between (a) a portion of the intermediate cross member, which is provided between the pair of side members, and (b) a lower surface of the fuel cell.
US07836997B2
A lower rail is fixed to a vehicle floor, and an upper rail 4 is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to the lower rail. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail 4. A rectangular frame is attached onto the load sensor, a rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring 44 is wound around the rod. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. The coil spring 44 is sandwiched between a flange of the spring holder and the web and is compressed by tightening the nut.
US07836994B2
The disclosed seat belt retractor and seat belt apparatus may comprise: an electric motor; a spool that is capable of winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint in association with the driving of the electric motor; and a controller for controlling the electric motor. A starting condition can be defined by the state of the seat belt relative to a vehicle occupant and the state of a vehicle door corresponding to the seat belt and, in cases where a starting condition is satisfied, the controller can be configured to control the electric motor to rotate in the belt winding direction such that the motor output of the electric motor is varied according to a satisfaction pattern of the starting condition.
US07836990B2
Vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles, can be provided with a battery box. The battery box comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall which together define a battery retention chamber having a front opening configured for passage of a battery. Vehicles having a battery box are also provided.
US07836987B2
An engine, motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled to ensure a torque demand Tr* to a ring gear shaft without an operation of the engine while restricting a discharge of a battery within a range of an output limit Wout when a driving power demand Pr* is less than an engine start determination power Pref obtained by subtracting an engine start electric power Wcrk and the like from a base output limit Woutb while the operation of the engine is stopped. When the driving power demand Pr* becomes equal to or more than the engine start determination power Pref while the operation of the engine is stopped, the engine, motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled to ensure the torque demand Tr* to the ring gear shaft with a start of the engine while restricting the discharge of the battery within the range of the output limit Wout.
US07836982B2
A compact crawler type tractor having an excellent turning feeling is provided. A hydraulic speed change mechanism for turning includes a hydrostatic transmission pump for turning and a hydrostatic transmission motor for turning, and is characterized in that the hydrostatic transmission pump for turning is a variable displacement pump, and an output of the hydrostatic transmission motor for turning is input into a differential mechanism. By combining the hydrostatic transmission pump for turning and the hydrostatic transmission motor for turning and the differential mechanism, an excellent turning feeling can be obtained.
US07836979B2
A drill bit having a bit body includes a blade face surface on at least one blade extending longitudinally and radially outward over a face of the bit body. The blade face surface of the at least one blade includes a contact zone and a sweep zone. The sweep zone rotationally trails the contact zone with respect to a direction of intended bit rotation about a longitudinal axis of the bit body provides reduce rubbing contact when engaging with a subterranean formation.
US07836971B2
An elastic unit includes a transatory unit including a first elastic support member, a second elastic support member and not-shown four round bar-shaped elastic bodies made of rubber. A rotation urging unit is composed of a Neidhart spring including an outer frame, a shaft, a rotary member, and four rubber rods. The rotary member is in a state where it is rotated at 10° counterclockwise from an initial state. Therefore, the rubber rod deforms upon reception of rolling friction from the outer frame and the rotary member, and the rotation urging unit gives the handle portion the urging power by which the handle portion is rotated so that one end of the handle portion is spaced away from a gear housing 31 in the direction of the handle portion.
US07836970B2
A manually swingable hammer-type stapling tool having an elongate housing having a striker movably mounted thereon. A staple driving blade is mounted on the housing and movable relative to the striker along a staple discharge path when the striker impacts against a surface. A staple magazine is carried on the housing for containing a clip of staples so that a leading staple of the clip is disposed in a staple discharge path below the driving blade. A cap supply and feeding arrangement is mounted on the housing for positioning a cap in a discharge position wherein it is disposed below the leading staple, which arrangement includes a cap magazine containing a significant number of individual caps, and inertia energy activated feeding mechanism for advancing a leading cap into the discharge position.
US07836967B2
A radiator of a cooling system is disposed within an engine compartment, between a rear mounted engine and a cab on a wheeled machine. The remaining components within the engine compartment are arranged such that they are lower in height than the radiator, the engine compartment enclosure generally angling down from the cab rearward. The enclosure includes an air intake that opens into a gap between the enclosure and cab. A fan disposed rearward the radiator may pull cooling air through the air intake and past the radiator.
US07836965B2
The object of the inventive method and device for controlling and/or extinguishing fires is to extend the range of means for transporting devices to a fire site, substantially reduce the time for the operating preparation thereof and to exclude a fragmentation field caused by the device explosion which ensures the momentary conversion of a fire-extinguishing composition into a fine cloud associated with a simultaneous airblast effect produced to a fire area and a maximum distribution of said fire-extinguishing composition through the fire volume. Said method for controlling and/or putting out a fire consists in effecting the fire area by an airblast and the high-speed flow of the air-dispersed mixture of the fire-extinguishing composition (7) produced by the explosion of a fire-suppressing device (2) which comprises a dispersing charge (8) and a container (6) with the fire-extinguishing composition (7). The container is provided with structural elements for transporting the fire-suppressing device (2) to the fire site and/or for placing said device on a fire travel path, said structural elements being detached from the container (6) prior to the dispersing charge (8) explosion. The fire-suppressing device (2) for carrying out said method comprises the container (6) with the fire-extinguishing composition (7) and a dispersing charge (8), a blasting fuse (9) and a stabilizer (10). Said device also comprises a suspension system (3) which is provided with releasing mechanism (15) and force-separating elements (16), mounted on the external surface of the container (6) symmetrically to a plane passing through the device center-of-mass, is embodied in the form of container (6) embracing elements which are spaced from each other and rigidly connected by means of a faceplate (12) provided with hasps (13) and connected to the stabilizer (10) bottom by a flexible connection (14).
US07836959B2
To assemble a sensor array having plural sections, the sections of the sensor array are sealably attached, where the sections include sensors and cable segments. An inert gas is flowed through at least one inner fluid path inside the sensor array when the sections of the sensor array are being sealably attached.
US07836949B2
A method and apparatus for controlling the production of well treatment fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a sand system, a water system, a pumping system, a blender tub, and a virtual rate control system. The method includes determining an output rate from a sand system; sensing an output rate from a water system; sensing an output rate from a pumping system; sensing the height within a blender tub of a mixture of sand from the sand system and water from the water system; providing a virtual rate control system; and producing a drive signal to the pumping system using the virtual rate control system using a desired rate of well treatment fluid to be delivered to a well, the output rate of the sand system, the output rate of the water system, and the output rate of the pumping system.
US07836947B2
A cleaning device connectable to a downhole tool for use within a well bore, the cleaning device comprising: a base member non-rotatably mountable to the downhole tool; and at least one sleeve member rotatably mountable to and around the base member, the sleeve member having a support member and at least one protruding member which protrudes from the support member and which, in use, contacts an inner surface of the well bore, wherein the support member comprises a bearing material.
US07836939B2
An apparatus (100) for transferring heat from a first substrate (140) rotatably mounted to a second substrate (150). The apparatus (100) is comprised of at least a first fin ring (145) disposed concentrically on a first side surface (141) of the first substrate (140). A plurality of heat generating devices (130) is disposed on a second side surface (142) of the first substrate (140). There is at least a second fin ring (155) disposed concentrically on a first side surface (151) of the second substrate (150). The first fin ring (145) interleaves with the second fin ring (155) while allowing the first substrate (140) to rotate unobstructed relative to the second substrate (150). The second substrate (150) has at least a first port (160) for introducing moving air into a gap (G) defined between the first fin ring (145) and the second fin ring (155) for improving heat convection there between.
US07836929B2
A tire, which has a maximum section width, an upper section above the maximum section width, and a lower section below the maximum section width, includes a circumferential tread, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions. The tire further includes at least one carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire from one bead portion to the other and first and second reinforcement plies extending circumferentially about the tire. The first and second reinforcement plies are provided between the at least one carcass ply and at least one of the sidewalls of the tire. The first and second reinforcement plies include lower ends that terminate in the lower section of the tire and upper ends that terminate in the upper section of the tire.
US07836923B2
A ring slicer with easily removable knife and knife assembly. According to one aspect of the invention, a ring assembly comprises two end plates for rotation about an axis of rotation. Each of the knife assemblies comprises an elongate knife having a cutting edge extending along an elongate axis, a base, and a clamp for clamping the knife to the base. The knife assemblies are adapted for installation between the end plates such that the shoulder portions of at least two shoulder bolts extend through one of the end plates into the base.
US07836922B2
Powder dispensing and sensing apparatus and methods are provided. The powder dispensing and sensing apparatus includes a tray support structure to receive a cartridge tray holding cartridges, a powder dispenser assembly including powder dispenser modules to dispense powder into respective cartridges of a batch of cartridges in the cartridge tray, a powder transport system to deliver powder to the powder dispenser modules, a sensor module including sensor cells to sense respective fill states, such as the weights, of each of the cartridges in the batch of cartridges, and a control system to control the powder dispenser modules in response to the respective sensed fill states of each of the cartridges of the batch of cartridges.
US07836912B2
A fuel cartridge coupler to couple a cartridge body storing fuel to a fuel cell system, the fuel cartridge coupler including: a first coupling member arranged in the cartridge body; a second coupling member assembled with the first coupling member in the fuel cell system; a first nozzle assembly including a first fluid path to discharge fuel stored in the cartridge body, the fuel cartridge being elastically supported by the first coupling member and biased by the second coupling member to open and close the first fluid path; and a second nozzle assembly including a second fluid path to inject the fuel passing through the first fluid path into the fuel cell system, the second nozzle assembly being elastically supported by the second coupling member and biased by the first nozzle assembly to open and close the second fluid path.
US07836905B2
An electrical system (60, 200) for a tent or shelter (98, 201). Wires (60) are routed through a tent or shelter (98, 201) either by attaching the wires to the tent or shelter, running the wires through hems, seams (100), or sleeves, or integrating the wires into the fabric for the tent or shelter. In accordance with an embodiment, an appliance (208) is connected to the wiring harness (60) and is mounted or attached in the tent or shelter. The appliance (208) may be mounted in a socket (234) that includes contacts that may engage a fixture or appliance, such as a light. An opposite end of a cord (222) leading to the socket is attachable to an electrical power supply, such as a battery pack (203).
US07836900B2
A substrate processing system 1 comprises: a processing tank 3 for processing substrates W with a processing liquid; a drying unit 6 disposed above the processing tank 3; and a carrying mechanism 8 for carrying the substrates W between the processing tank 3 and the drying unit 6. A processing gas supply line 21 for supplying a processing gas into the drying unit 6 and inert gas supply lines 24 and 25 for supplying an inert gas into the drying unit 6 are connected to the drying unit 6. A first discharge line for discharging an atmosphere purged from the drying unit 6 and a second discharge line 27 for forcibly exhausting the drying unit 6 are connected to the drying unit 6.
US07836898B2
A smoking article having reduced ignition propensity is disclosed. The smoking article includes a tobacco column, a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and a filter element. The wrapper has a base permeability, an untreated area and a least one discrete area treated with a composition to reducing the base permeability. The discretely treated area interacts with a coal of a burning tobacco firecone as it advances to self-extinguish the smoking article. The composition of the treated area includes a permeability reducing substance, a burn rate retarding substance and a burn rate accelerating substance. Either the burn rate retarding substance or the burn rate accelerating substance acts as an organoleptic enhancing substance. In this way a smoker's experience when smoking either the at least one treated area or the untreated area is substantially the same.
US07836897B2
The lighting end or tip of the smoking article is configured in such a manner that the entire front or upstream face thereof does not lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. For example, at least a portion of the front face of the smoking article lies in a plane (e.g., a generally flat plane) that is positioned about 40° to about 50° relative to the longitudinal axis of that smoking article. As such, the overall nature or character of the mainstream aerosol generated by a smoking article can be altered. This shape may include an ellipse, or may include a first section in a plane not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the face of the lighting end may have a shape such that its surface area is greater than the cross-sectional area of the smoking article.
US07836883B2
Apparatus, methods, and kits for treating symptoms associated with common ailments, such as headaches, rhinitis, asthma, epilepsy, nervous disorders and the like, are provided. The apparatus comprises dispensers for carbon dioxide and other therapeutic gases. The methods comprise delivering small volumes of these gases to patients in a manner where the gas infuses into a body region in order to bathe the mucous membranes therein. It has been found that even very short exposure of patients to small volumes and high concentrations of such gases can provide significant relief from symptoms.
US07836882B1
An electronic anesthesia delivery apparatus having a chassis including a first anesthetic agent chamber and a second anesthetic agent chamber, each of the first and second chambers including an anesthetic agent therein. At least one electronically controlled valve is in fluid communication with each of the first agent chamber and the second agent chamber and an oxygen source. The oxygen source is in fluid communication with each of the at least one electronically controlled valves. A touchscreen graphic display having controls corresponding to each of the at least one electronically controlled valves for controlling flow rate and concentration of anesthesia.
US07836876B2
An apparatus for transporting and storing cooked food and one-course meals includes a box-shaped, upright container with wheels and at least one pivoting front door. The container can be closed by the front door in an air-tight manner. The container has at least one air valve toward the outside that can be closed and opened, in addition to a device for measuring and storing and displaying the temperature and pressure inside the closed container, so that temperature and pressure can be read from outside of the container. Data can be read by a personal computer and presented in the form of diagrams, as a function of time, over a period of at least 14 days. The cooked food is, initially, cooled at a temperature of between 2° C. and 4° C., and is then exposed to a vacuum for enabling the cooked food to be kept fresh for up to 14 days.
US07836875B2
A speed cooking oven is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means and a vent assembly. Hot air is circulated by the blower motor assembly into the oven cavity where the hot air is directed in a manner wherein a conflicting, colliding turbulent gas flow is directed at a food product providing for the rapid cooking of food products.
US07836871B2
A crossbow having an increased powerstroke and reduced noise. The powerstroke is increased by inverting the limb orientation from the standard crossbow arrangement and locating string guides at least partially forward and rearward of the ends of the limbs. The bowstring is drawn from the tops of the string guides to maximize the powerstroke, reducing noise and increasing the retained and delivered energy over existing crossbows.
US07836867B2
A method is described for cooling fuel for a diesel engine system with a common rail fuel injection system having a coolant pump and a fan. The method comprises passing a returning fuel from the engine through a fuel to coolant heat exchange system to cool the fuel, and adjusting the cooling of the fuel by controlling the coolant pump and/or the engine cooling fan.
US07836866B2
A method of controlling a cylinder deactivation system is disclosed. Information from one or more sensors is received by a control unit. The control unit compares the current values of a parameter with one or more prohibited ranges in order to determine if cylinder deactivation should be prohibited. The one or more prohibited ranges are discrete ranges, each with a lower limit and an upper limit.
US07836865B2
A method for starting an internal combustion engine that is operated with a fuel mixture made of at least two types of fuel. An injection of the fuel into combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine occurs starting at a predefined pressure threshold of the fuel in a fuel supply according to a high-pressure starting mode, and also according to a low-pressure starting mode if the predefined pressure threshold is no longer met. The pressure threshold is selected as a function of the mixture ratio of the fuel types in the fuel mixture. In this way it can be achieved that differences can be taken into consideration in the optimal mixture formation of the fuel types.
US07836864B2
An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Accordingly, both a smolder detection and a preignition detection can securely be performed.
US07836862B2
An engine control system comprises a coolant temperature weighting module that generates a weighting signal based on coolant temperature. A composite temperature generating module generates a composite temperature based on the coolant temperature, an oil temperature and the weighting signal. A delta friction torque module calculates delta friction torque of an engine based on the composite temperature. An engine operating parameter module that adjusts an engine operating parameter based on the delta friction torque.
US07836860B2
A rocker arm includes a first end including a substantially horizontal wall having a receptacle formed therein. A second end of the rocker arm is spaced from the first end and includes a substantially horizontal wall for engaging a valve stem. A pair of spaced substantially parallel vertical sidewalls extend between the first end and the second end. In one embodiment, the sidewalls define a width between the first end and the second end that is less than each of the widths of the first and second ends. In another embodiment, a transverse wall extending between the sidewalls is formed in the second end. In yet another embodiment, rocker arm alignment walls are formed in the second end independently of the sidewalls.
US07836843B2
An improved thermal spray apparatus and method of promotes mixing of axially fed particles in a carrier stream with a heated effluent stream without introducing significant turbulence into either the effluent or carrier streams. An axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons at the distal end of the port. The chevrons are located radially around the circumference of the distal end of the axial injection port to increase the shared area between the two flow streams at the outlet of the port.
US07836840B2
The current invention includes to systems and methods of transferring cryogenic fluids between two locations. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention are related to systems and methods of using cryogenic risers and rotatable connections for transferring cryogenic fluids, including liquefied natural gas, from an ocean going vessel to a second location. One embodiment of the invention includes a system for transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location. The system including a cryogenic riser, a submersible turret connector. The being riser adapted to allow the vertical position of the first end of the riser to be changed, the second end of the first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with the second location. The submersible turret connector connected to the first end of the first riser. The first connector adapted for releasably connecting to a first floating vessel located on the body of water so that a cryogenic fluid can be communicated between the first vessel and the first end of the first riser, the first connector being moored to the bottom of the body of water such that the vertical position of the first connector can be changed, and the first connector adapted to allow the first vessel to rotate around the first connector upon the surface of the body of water while the first vessel is connected to the first connector.
US07836837B2
An embroidery data processing apparatus includes a main data loading device that loads main data, which is original data of a principal pattern, and a main data disposition device that disposes in an embroidery sewing region the main data loaded by the main data loading device. The apparatus also includes a sub-data loading device that loads sub-data, which is original data of one or more patterns other than the principal pattern, and a sub-data disposition determination device that determines a position and a size of the sub-data loaded by the sub-data loading device, in accordance with a position and a size of the main data disposed by the main data disposition device. The apparatus further includes an embroidery sewing data generating device that generates embroidery sewing data based on the main data disposed by the main data disposition device and the sub-data determined by the sub-data disposition determination device.
US07836835B2
The invention relates to a gas incinerator device comprising a combustion chamber having a heater body producing combustion gas, at least one fan feeding the heater body with cool air to ensure combustion, and an exhaust chimney for exhausting the mixture formed by the combustion gas and the cool air, the combustion chamber being mounted in the exhaust chimney in such a manner as to leave an annular duct between the combustion chamber and the exhaust chimney to pass a flow of combustion cool air and/or of cooling air coming from said at least one fan, said combustion chamber having a plurality of injection orifices and/or tubes enabling a fraction of the cool air flowing in the annular duct to be injected therein.
US07836832B2
A stowable table assembly (10) includes a frame (14) having first and second side rails (16 and 18), wherein the frame (14) is selectively translatable between at least a stowed position and an extended position. The stowable table assembly (10) further includes a track (29,29) in communication with the first and second side rails (16 and 18) and a flexible element (12) slidably disposed within at least one of the track (29,29) or the first and second guide rails (16 and 18).
